City of Rushville City Council met Sept. 5.
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, David Haney of The Rushville Times; Mason Vincent & Vic Menely, representing the Smiles Day Committee; and Schuyler Isely, Economic Development Director.
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. SMILES DAY UPDATE – MASON VINCENT & VIC MENELY
Mason Vincent, representing the Smiles Day Committee presented the 2023 requests. Said requests are attached and a part of these minutes. Vincent stated nothing has changed from the past year. Vincent said himself and Vic Menely would work closely with Superintendent of Operations, Eric Thurman with any questions and concerns that come up.
Mason Vincent & Vic Menely left the meeting at 7:03 p.m.
5. PUBLIC COMMENTS
Schuyler Isley, Economic Development Director thanked the council for their support of the Schuyler County Economic Development Commission (SCEDC). Isley reported construction is scheduled to start on September 11th. Isley noted this is a huge win to the city for this remodel.
6. 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 August 21, 2023
b) Approve the Minutes of the Economic Development Committee Meeting held August 21, 2023; & Sidewalk & Lighting Committee Meeting held August 30, 2023
c) Approve Claims for Council Approval Dated 09/05/23 & Accept Monthly Reports
d) Approve $1,000 Donation to Smiles Day Committee
e) Approve Quote from CivicPlus for Social Media Archiving
f) Approve Supper Club License for Mi Pueblo Maya
g) Consider Suspending the Rules RE: Ordinance No. 1365, An Ordinance Approving the Lease of Old City Hall to Schuyler County Economic Development Commission and Vacating Ordinance No. 1347
h) Pass & Adopt Ordinance No. 1365, An Ordinance Approving the Lease of Old City Hall to Schuyler County Economic Development Commission and Vacating
Ordinance No. 1347
Fishel REQUESTED TO HAVE ITEM “6E” REMOVED FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA.
Fishel MOVED TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF ITEM “6E”. Dodds 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.
7. ITEMS TO BE REMOVED FROM CONSENT AGENDA – IF APPLICABLE
Item “6E”: Mayor Ervin reported the CivicPlus quote is for archiving the city’s social media pages to protect us from lawsuits. Mayor Ervin stated Three Thousand Two Hundred Twenty-Nine Dollars and Eighty-Five Cents ($3,229.85) will cover the city until April 30, 2024, and the Four Thousand One Hundred Eighty-Eight Dollars ($4,188) will cover from May 1, 2024, until April 30, 2025. Council Member, Mike Ryan asked if this was the only company that handled this type of insurance because he feels it is very expensive. Mayor Ervin noted we checked with our insurance company and this is something that they do not cover. City Clerk, Stacey Briney stressed that this covers every city entity, i.e., city, police department, library, all of Scripps Park’s, and Schuy-Rush Park.
Fishel MOVED TO APPROVE ITEM “6E”, APPROVE QUOTE FROM CIVICPLUS FOR SOCIAL MEDIA ARCHIVING. Rebman 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.
8. DISCUSS & CONSIDER SUSPENDING THE RULES RE: ORDINANCE NO. 1366, AN ORDINANCE APPROVING THE LEASE OF 72 SQUARE FEET OF THE OLD CITY HALL TO TWO RIVERS REGIONAL COUNCIL
Ryan MOVED TO APPROVE SUSPENDING THE RULES RE: ORDINANCE NO. 1366, AN ORDINANCE APPROVING THE LEASE OF 72 SQUARE FEET OF THE OLD CITY HALL TO TWO RIVERS REGIONAL COUNCIL. Davis 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. PASS & ADOPT ORDINANCE NO. 1366, AN ORDINANCE APPROVING THE LEASE OF 72 SQUARE FEET OF THE OLD CITY HALL TO TWO RIVERS REGIONAL COUNCIL
Rebman MOVED TO PASS & ADOPT ORDINANCE NO. 1366, AN ORDINANCE APPROVING THE LEASE OF 72 SQUARE FEET OF THE OLD CITY HALL TO TWO RIVERS REGIONAL COUNCIL. 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. DISCUSS & CONSIDER ACCEPTING BID FOR SURPLUS PROPERTY
Clerk Briney reported this was for the old police car. Clerk Briney opened the only bid received and stated the bid was from Jacey Rauch in the amount of Seven Hundred Dollars ($700).
Fishel MOVED TO APPROVE THE BID FOR SURPLUS PROPERTY FROM JACEY RAUCH IN THE AMOUNT OF SEVEN HUNDRED DOLLARS ($700). Acker SECONDED, AND THE MOTION CARRIED WITH AN ALL “YEA” ROLL CALL VOTE AS FOLLOWS: 6 YEAS – Matteson, Rebman, Ryan, Acker, Davis, Dodds, & Fishel; 0 NAYS; 1 ABSENT – Trimble.
11. DISCUSS & CONSIDER HIRING PART-TIME POLICE OFFICER(S)
Police Committee Chairman, Mayor Jeff Ervin reported the committee met and held interviews. Mayor Ervin stated everyone was very impressed with Tanner Carson and Gage Hasselbacher and recommended hiring them both and sending them to school. Mayor Ervin noted part-time school starts October 24th.
Matteson MOVED TO APPROVE HIRING TANNER CARSON AND GAGE HASSELBACHER AS PART-TIME POLICE OFFICERS AND SENDING THEM TO PART TIME SCHOOL. Dodds 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 OIL & CHIPPING THE MAIN ROAD IN THE FAIRGROUNDS
Mayor Ervin reported he received a call from a fair board member regarding an agreement that the city has with them to maintain the main road from the south gate to the west gate. Mayor Ervin said he was told our cost for that main road would be Sixteen Thousand Four Hundred Dollars ($16,400). Mayor Ervin noted the fair board was meeting tonight to decide if they are going to do this or not. Clerk Briney stated that Motor Fuel Tax money cannot be spent on this road.
Ryan MOVED TO APPROVE TO OIL AND CHIP THE MAIN ROAD THROUGH THE FAIRGROUNDS AT A COST OF SIXTEEN THOUSAND FOUR HUNDRED DOLLARS ($16,400). 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 SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL (SRTS) GRANT
Sidewalk & Lighting Committee Member, Bob Fishel reported the committee met and came up with two (2) options for the Safe Routes to School (SRTS) grant, one being around Webster School and the other one around the high school. Fishel noted all of these sidewalks need replaced. Fishel said the sidewalk on Maple Avenue also needs work. Fishel stated this grant requires a public meeting and a lot of paperwork, questionnaires, etc.
Fishel stated the engineer and committee are going to look into the grant to see if it will cover a crossing light at Webster School and at Maple Avenue and Clay Street. Fishel noted this light would be where a person would have to push a button to activate the lights. Isley said the SRTS grant ties into the Safe Streets for All (SS4A) grant that has been submitted. Isley noted Benton & Associates should be made aware that the SS4A grant has been applied for because that could help getting the SRTS grant. Isley stated there is also a lot of information in the SS4A grant that would probably be needed in the SRTS grant.
Fishel reported the authorized funds have to be spent within a two (2) mile radius of a school and has to connect with the school. Mayor Ervin thought the SRTS grant could only be used on exiting sidewalks, and Fishel said the engineer said it would include both existing and new. No action was taken and this item will appear on the next council agenda.
14. DISCUSS & CONSIDER PAYING ENGINEERING COST FOR SIDEWALK REPLACEMENT ON WEST WASHINGTON STREET & NORTH CONGRESS STREET
Fishel reported Sidewalk & Lighting Committee Chairman, Paul Trimble is going to contact IMEG to get another estimate on the engineering for the sidewalks. Mayor Ervin noted the sidewalks in question are not ADA compliant and he is hoping TIF funds can be used to replace them. Fishel noted the committee talked about replacing the curb while the sidewalk work was being done. Mayor Ervin stated TIF funds paid for the other sidewalks around the square and the city paid the engineering. Mayor Ervin suggested going ahead and approve the engineering cost at a not to exceed amount to speed up the process.
Dodds MOVED TO APPROVE PAYING THE ENGINEERING COST FOR SIDEWALK REPLACEMENT ON WEST WASHINGTON AND NORTH CONGRESS STREETS AT A COST NOT TO EXCEED TWENTY-TWO THOUSAND DOLLARS ($22,000). 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.
15. COUNCIL MEMBER & OFFICIAL’S REPORTS
Council Member, Susan Acker asked if anyone besides herself think people applying for a liquor license should come to the council meeting and at least introduce themselves. Council Member, Terry Dodds agreed, and Mayor Ervin said he is not opposed to it either. City Attorney, Erin Wilson-Laegeler said the first time someone should come but on renewal they should not have to.
Acker asked Attorney Wilson-Laegeler where the city stood on the Gordley property. Attorney Wilson-Laegeler stated the time ends tomorrow and the Gordley’s received the paperwork on August 28th but she has not heard anything from them. Attorney Wilson-Laegeler stated if she does not hear anything by tomorrow, she will file the needed paperwork on Thursday.
Cemetery Committee Chairman, Bryan Matteson reported himself and Cemetery Sexton, George Vincent met with John Lundgren of Laverdiere Construction regarding the new road. Matteson stated Laverdiere has full intentions of moving equipment in by the end of the month and the work should only take about one (1) week to complete.
Parks & Recreation Committee Chairman, Terry Dodds reported the Schuy-Rush Park Board is trying to figure out pricing of the shelter houses. Dodds read a portion of an agreement dated November 1996 with the 40 et 8 regarding rental of their pavilion. Dodds noted the problem is that most of the members listed are either deceased or no longer members. Dodds said the park board is just looking for some guidance from the council on how to handle this situation. Attorney Wilson-Laegeler stated she will review the agreement and get back to Dodds. Clerk Briney was directed to place Discuss & Consider Contractual Agreement and Fees for Shelter Houses at Schuy-Rush Park on the next council agenda.
Dodds also reported that when the Tomlinson family donated the property to Schuy-Rush Park, the city agreed to pay Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000) per year for two (2) years for the improvements of that property. Dodds stated the park board has come up with a few plans of leveling out the ground and making some primitive sites, along with a trail around the holler. Dodds said he would like to give Clerk Briney permission to pay the first Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000) to the park board. Mayor Ervin stated he does not have a problem with that as long as the money goes for that property. Clerk Briney said she could cut the check and deposit it into the park’s savings account, earmark it for those improvements, and when the bills come in, she can transfer it. Dodds thought that was a better idea.
Dodds stated there are some young people expressing interest in a dog park but he is not sure having one inside the city limits is a good idea. Dodds said he talked to the Schuy-Rush Park Board about maybe having one out there but there just is not any room for it so he wondered about the alfalfa patch by the lagoons. Dodds thought maybe one (1) acre of that property could be used for a dog park. Dodds said the other option was maybe the Scripps Park Addition since there is not anything out there except hunters. Clerk Briney stated the Annex is closed to the public during hunting season. Fishel noted he was concerned that the property by the lagoons would be too close to the shooting range and the dogs could be spooked with the noise. Mayor Ervin told Dodds to keep thinking. Attorney Wilson-Laegeler wondered if anyone had reached out to the Humane Society about this, and Dodds thought that was a good idea and he will pursue that.
City Attorney, Erin Wilson-Laegeler reported the county had reached out to her about a grant that they had applied for to add a permanent handicap ramp on the court house. Attorney Wilson-Laegeler stated the ramp would encroach on the city’s sidewalk but they will maintain it.
Mayor Jeff Ervin reported the Lipsticked Pig would like to close McAllister Street to the back of the bar on Friday, September 15th and Saturday, September 16th for the homecoming events like they have done in the past. Consensus of the council was to allow for this closure.
Mayor Ervin also reported that Attorney Wilson-Laegeler had found out that we already have an ordinance establishing a Historic Preservation Committee so he will just need to appoint members to the committee so then it can encompass a historic district.
Mayor Ervin stated the water projects have been awarded to all of the contractors. Mayor Ervin said Hood Construction will start in the spring, the Washington Street water tank should start the end of March and will take ten to twelve (10-12) weeks to complete, and the work on the ground storage tanks will start in about three (3) months. Mayor Ervin noted the work on the storage tanks will start at Hilltop and make their way in town.
City Clerk, Stacey Briney reported Northwest Water has one (1) more easement to get signed and once they get it back, things should be ready to go for the city to take over.
16. ADJOURN
Rebman MOVED TO ADJOURN. Fishel 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 7:41 P.M.
https://rushvilleillinois.us/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/23-09-05-1.pdf
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