City of Rushville City Council met July 17.
Here are the minutes provided by the council:
1. ROLL CALL & CALL TO ORDER
The Rushville City Council met in the meeting room of the City Hall Building. Upon convening, Mayor Jeff Ervin directed City Clerk, Stacey Briney to call the roll. Upon ROLL CALL, the following answered present: Council Members: Susan Acker, Richard Davis, Terry Dodds, Bob Fishel, Bryan Matteson, Barry Rebman, and Mike Ryan. The meeting was called to order at 7:00 P.M. Council Member, Paul Trimble was absent.
Others present included: Stacey Briney, City Clerk; Erin Wilson-Laegeler, City Attorney, Eric Thurman, Superintendent of Operations; Rick Wright, Chief of Police; David Haney of The Rushville Times; and Jamie Headen of Benton & Associates.
2. OPENING PRAYER
The Opening Prayer was led by Mayor Jeff Ervin.
3. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Mayor Ervin.
4. PUBLIC COMMENTS
There were no Public Comments at this time.
5. CONSENT AGENDA
All items on the Consent Agenda are considered to be routine in nature and will be enacted in one motion. There will be no separate discussion of these items unless a Council Member so requests, in which event, the item will be removed from the Consent Agenda and considered as the first item after approval of the Consent Agenda.
a) Approve the Minutes of the Regular Meeting held July 3, 2023
b) Approve Claims for Council Approval Dated 07/17/23 & Accept Monthly Reports
c) Approve $500 Donation to the 9/10 Little League Girls Softball Team to help with Expenses for the State Tournament
d) Approve Special Event License for the Lipsticked Pig on August 5, 2023, for the Friends of NRA Banquet to be held at Rushville Fitness & Community Center – 120 Rodewald Dr.
Matteson MOVED TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA. Fishel SECONDED, AND THE MOTION CARRIED WITH AN ALL “YEA” ROLL CALL VOTE AS FOLLOWS: 7 YEAS – Acker, Davis, Dodds, Fishel, Matteson, Rebman, & Ryan; 0 NAYS; 1 ABSENT – Trimble.
6. ITEMS TO BE REMOVED FROM CONSENT AGENDA – IF APPLICABLE All items were approved on the Consent Agenda.
7. PASS & ADOPT ORDINANCE NO. 1363, AN ORDINANCE APPROVING A LOAN AGREEMENT IN THE PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF $3,026,634.56 WITH THE ILLINOIS ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY AND AUTHORIZING AND PROVIDING FOR THE ISSUE OF WATERWORKS AND SEWERAGE REVENUE BONDS IN A LIKE PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF THE CITY OF RUSHVILLE, SCHUYLER COUNTY, ILLINOIS FOR THE PURPOSE OF DEFRAYING THE COST OF EXTENDING AND IMPROVING THE WATERWORKS AND SEWERAGE SYSTEM OF SAID CITY
Matteson MOVED TO PASS & ADOPT ORDINANCE NO. 1363, AN ORDINANCE APPROVING A LOAN AGREEMENT IN THE PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF $3,026.634.56 WITH THE ILLINOIS ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY AND AUTHORIZING AND PROVIDING FOR THE ISSUE OF WATERWORKS AND SEWERAGE REVENUE BONDS IN A LIKE PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF THE CITY OF RUSHVILLE, SCHUYLER COUNTY, ILLINOIS FOR THE PURPOSE OF DEFRAYING THE COST OF EXTENDING AND IMPROVING THE WATERWORKS AND SEWERAGE SYSTEM OF SAID CITY. Rebman SECONDED.
Mayor Ervin reported this ordinance is for the EPA loan the city is getting for the water projects. Mayor Ervin stated the maximum principal forgiveness is One Million Two Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars ($1,250,000). Mayor Ervin said the city will borrow Two Million Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($2,500,000) and the principal forgiveness will be One Million Two Hundred Fifty Dollars ($1,250,000) when the first payment is due.
THE MOTION CARRIED WITH AN ALL “YEA” ROLL CALL VOTE AS FOLLOWS: 7 YEAS – Davis, Dodds, Fishel, Matteson, Rebman, Ryan, & Acker; 0 NAYS; 1 ABSENT – Trimble.
8. APPROVE NOTICE OF AWARD TO HOOD CONSTRUCTION
Dodds MOVED TO APPROVE NOTICE OF AWARD TO HOOD CONSTRUCTION. Ryan SECONDED, AND THE MOTION CARRIED WITH AN ALL “YEA” ROLL CALL VOTE AS FOLLOWS: 7 YEAS – Dodds, Fishel, Matteson, Rebman, Ryan, Acker, & Davis; 0 NAYS; 1 ABSENT – Trimble.
9. APPROVE NOTICE OF AWARD TO NEUMANN CO. CONTRACTORS
Rebman MOVED TO APPROVE NOTICE OF AWARD TO NEUMANN CO. CONTRACTORS. Ryan SECONDED, AND THE MOTION CARRIED WITH AN ALL “YEA” ROLL CALL VOTE AS FOLLOWS: 7 YEAS – Fishel, Matteson, Rebman, Ryan, Acker, Davis, & Dodds; 0 NAYS; 1 ABSENT – Trimble.
10. APPROVE NOTICE OF AWARD TO LEANDER CONSTRUCTION, INC.
Ryan MOVED TO APPROVE NOTICE OF AWARD TO LEANDER CONSTRUCTION, INC. Fishel SECONDED, AND THE MOTION CARRIED WITH AN ALL “YEA” ROLL CALL VOTE AS FOLLOWS: 7 YEAS – Matteson, Rebman, Ryan, Acker, Davis, Dodds, & Fishel; 0 NAYS; 1 ABSENT – Trimble.
11. DISCUSS & CONSIDER FUNDING NEW ROOF FOR LIONS PAVILION AT SCHUY-RUSH
Parks & Recreation Committee Chairman, Terry Dodds reported the Schuy-Rush Park Board met on June 26th and discussed replacing the roof on the Lions pavilion. Dodds noted the park board got three (3) bids and they are asking the council for funding to replace the roof because they do not have the funds to do it. Dodds said the roof is falling completely through and needs done. Dodds noted the park board would really like to go with a metal roof for longevity purposes.
Dodds reported the bids are as follows:
• R & D Roofing – shingled roof - $7,800
• Claassen Construction – metal roof - $11,800
• Veterans Construction – metal roof (40yr metal) - $15,200
Dodds stressed that once a building is built on city property it becomes ours to take care of. Dodds noted this pavilion faces the lake and is on top of the hill so he feels it is very important to take care of it. Dodds stated park board members have approached Lions Club members to help with the cost, but they do not have the funds either. City Clerk, Stacey Briney reported the car club gave the park board Five Hundred Dollars ($500) towards the roof. Parks & Recreation Committee Member, Susan Acker reminded Dodds to make sure the contractors were licensed roofers or the city and park would have issues. A discussion followed.
Council Member, Mike Ryan said he has no problems with a shingled roof and feels Fifteen Thousand Dollars ($15,000) is a lot of money for a roof. Council Member, Richard Davis stated this is just a pavilion and does not think we should get carried away with it.
Dodds MOVED TO APPROVE THE BID FROM R & D ROOFING IN THE AMOUNT OF SEVEN THOUSAND EIGHT HUNDRED DOLLARS ($7,800) FOR A NEW ROOF ON THE LIONS PAVILION AT SCHUY-RUSH PARK. Fishel SECONDED, AND THE MOTION CARRIED WITH AN ALL “YEA” ROLL CALL VOTE AS FOLLOWS: 7 YEAS – Rebman, Ryan, Acker, Davis, Dodds, Fishel, & Matteson; 0 NAYS – 1 ABSENT – Trimble.
12. DISCUSS & CONSIDER RAISE FOR THREE (3) HEAD LIFEGUARDS
Dodds reported at the last Scripps Park Board meeting, the pool manager said there are three (3) head lifeguards that do a little more than the others and she asked the board to give those three (3) One
RUSHVILLE CITY COUNCIL MINUTES, CONT. July 17, 2023
Dollar ($1) per hour over the Thirteen Dollars ($13) per hour they are making. Dodds noted he feels that if they wanted to do this, they should have asked for it before any of the part-time employees started working. Superintendent of Operations, Eric Thurman asked if these three (3) people had any special certifications over the others, and he was told no. Clerk Briney stated there is one (1) employee at the pool that make Fifty Cents ($.50) more than everyone else because she holds a food handler license.
Ryan MOVED TO NOT GIVE THE THREE (3) HEAD LIFEGUARDS A RAISE. Rebman SECONDED, AND THE MOTION CARRIED WITH AN ALL “YEA” ROLL CALL VOTE AS FOLLOWS: 7 YEAS – Ryan, Acker, Davis, Dodds, Fishel, Matteson, & Rebman; 0 NAYS; 1 ABSENT – Trimble.
13. DISCUSS & CONSIDER HIRING CITY MAINTENANCE EMPLOYEES
Grievance & Personnel Committee Chairman, Barry Rebman reported the committee met and interviewed five (5) people for the city maintenance positions. Rebman stated the committee was going to recommend hiring two (2) employees but feel that hiring one (1) right now reposting the job, and reviewing the current applications is the right thing to do at this point.
Rebman MOVED TO HIRE MIKE ARMSTRONG AS A CITY MAINTENANCE EMPLOYEE. Ryan SECONDED, AND THE MOTION CARRIED WITH AN ALL “YEA” ROLL CALL VOTE AS FOLLOWS: 7 YEAS – Acker, Davis, Dodds, Fishel, Matteson, Rebman, & Ryan; 0 NAYS; 1 ABSENT – Trimble.
14. COUNCIL MEMBER & OFFICIAL’S REPORTS
Parks & Recreation Committee Chairman, Terry Dodds reported Mark Coil has been looking at issues at the pool and found a lot of leaks. Dodds noted the pool has a lot of problems that need fixed. Dodds said there is swelling of the pipes in the maintenance building that need addressed once the pool closes. Dodds stated the worst leak is at the bottom of the pit that will have to be fixed later. Dodds noted he called the Beardstown Park District and he was informed that they use Capri Pools to open and close their pool. Mayor Ervin asked if these problems are because the pool was not closed properly, and Dodds said that was correct and feels that we cannot let this go one. A discussion followed.
Dodds also reported he asked Beardstown if they held any free days and was told they do not do that over there.
City Attorney, Erin Wilson-Laegeler reported she was contacted by a Matt from Everett Infrastructure regarding purchasing the US Cellular tower lease. Attorney Wilson-Laegeler said she informed the gentleman that she would take this to the city council.
Police Committee Chairman, Mayor Jeff Ervin called for a Police Committee Meeting to be held on Tuesday, July 25th, at 6:00 p.m. to Discuss Personnel & Discuss Archiving Social Media Pages. Chief of Police, Rick Wright reported there is a company that will archive all Facebook posts so if a comment or post is deleted there is proof of who might have deleted it. Chief Wright stressed this type of service will save the department and city from any lawsuit that might come up when comments are removed. Chief Wright said this service would cost approximately Four Thousand Dollars ($4,000) per year.
Mayor Ervin also reported the county had provided the city a bill for one-half (1/2) of a new radio for the animal control officer. Mayor Ervin said the amount is One Hundred Seventy-Two Dollars and Ninety Cents ($172.90). Consensus was to approve paying the city’s portion.
15. ADJOURN
Acker MOVED TO ADJOURN. Dodds SECONDED, AND THE MOTION CARRIED WITH AN ALL “YEA” ROLL CALL VOTE AS FOLLOWS: 7 YEAS – Davis, Dodds, Fishel, Matteson, Rebman, Ryan, & Acker; 0 NAYS; 1 ABSENT – Trimble. THE MEETING STOOD ADJOURNED ACCORDINGLY AT 7:31 P.M.
https://rushvilleillinois.us/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/23-07-17-1.pdf
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