West Central Reporter

City of Rushville City Council met Nov. 6.

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, Mike Ryan, and Paul Trimble. The meeting was called to order at 7:00 P.M.

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; Mike Grate, City Clerk’s Office; and Schuyler Isley, 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. PUBLIC COMMENTS

Schuyler Isley, Economic Development Director reported the construction on the old City Hall building is almost finished and it is a very nice improvement. Mayor Ervin asked when Two Rivers Regional Council will be moving in, and Isley said possibly December 1st.

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 October 16, 2023

b) Approve the Minutes of the Historic Preservation Committee Meeting held October 17, 2023; TIF Committee Meeting held October 24, 2023; & Claims & Insurance Committee Meeting held November 1, 2023

c) Approve “Claims for Council Approval Dated 11/06/23” & Accept Monthly Reports

d) Approve Closing the Inside Driving Lanes & Parking Spots on the North Side of the Square from 10:00 A.M. – 3:00 P.M. on Saturday, November 25th, for the Annual Carriage Rides

e) Approve Outside Employment for Chris Parr

f) Consider Suspending the Rules RE: Ordinance No. 1370, Supplemental Appropriation Ordinance (Golf Course Irrigation)

g) Pass & Adopt Ordinance No. 1370, Supplemental Appropriation Ordinance (Golf Course Irrigation)

h) Consider Suspending the Rules RE: Ordinance No. 1371, Supplemental Appropriation Ordinance (SCEDC)

i) Pass & Adopt Ordinance No. 1371, Supplemental Appropriation Ordinance (SCEDC)

j) Consider 1st Reading of Ordinance No. 1372, Annual Tax Levy

City Attorney, Erin Wilson-Laegeler REQUESTED TO HAVE ITEM “5J” REMOVED FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA.

Rebman MOVED TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA, EXCEPT ITEM “5J”. Dodds SECONDED, AND THE MOTION CARRIED WITH AN ALL “YEA” ROLL CALL VOTE AS FOLLOWS: 8 YEAS – Acker, Davis, Dodds, Fishel, Matteson, Rebman, Ryan & Trimble; 0 NAYS; 0 ABSENT.

6. ITEMS TO BE REMOVED FROM CONSENT AGENDA – IF APPLICABLE

Item “5J”: Attorney Wilson-Laegeler reported the amount the city has levied for work comp and IMRF exceeds the amounts that were appropriated for 2024. Attorney Wilson-Laegeler noted the council can allocate the excess to other funds. Mayor Ervin stated he and City Clerk, Stacey Briney recommended dividing the excess three (3) ways between the fire department, library, and Scripps Park. Fishel MOVED TO APPROVE ITEM “5J”, PASS ORDINANCE NO. 1372, ANNUAL TAX LEVY TO THE SECOND (2ND) READING, WITH THE NOTED CHANGES. Ryan SECONDED, AND THE MOTION CARRIED WITH AN ALL “YEA” ROLL CALL VOTE AS FOLLOWS: 8 YEAS – Davis, Dodds, Fishel, Matteson, Rebman, Ryan, Trimble, & Acker.

7. DISCUSS & CONSIDER APPROVING REQUEST FOR LOAN DISBURSEMENT

Trimble MOVED TO APPROVE REQUEST FOR LOAN DISBURSEMENT IN THE AMOUNT OF TWO HUNDRED SEVEN THOUSAND THREE HUNDRED FORTY DOLLARS AND THIRTY-SEVEN CENTS ($207,340.37). Rebman SECONDED, AND THE MOTION CARRIED WITH AN ALL “YEA” ROLL CALL VOTE AS FOLLOWS: 8 YEAS – Dodds, Fishel, Matteson, Rebman, Ryan, Trimble, Acker, & Davis, 0 NAYS; 0 ABSENT.

8. DISCUSS & CONSIDER APPROVING DESIGNATED AREA AS A HISTORIC DISTRICT

Historic Preservation Committee Chairman, Richard Davis reported the committee had met and discussed areas within the city that has historic buildings and houses. Davis noted the main focus was to get LaFayette Street in this district because of the brick streets. Davis said the committee wanted to go as far as the old Bill Bartlow home on West LaFayette Street so the line would end just west of his house, extend to Morgan Street to the east to include the old Vic Jackson home, and Congress Street down to Clinton Street to include the hospital and the Jail Museum. Davis stated the committee also wanted to include the alley in front of City Hall to 470 West Washington so the Ray house would be in the district as well.

Davis MOVED TO APPROVE THE HISTORIC DISTRICT AS FOLLOWS: WEST WASHINGTON STREET, STARTING AT 450 WEST WASHINGTON STRET EAST TO THE ALLEY IN FRONT OF CITY HALL; WEST LAFAYETTE STREET STARTING AT THE WEST EDGE OF 554 WEST WASHINGTON STREET GOING EAST TO MORGAN STREET; CONGRESS STREET STARTING AT CLINTON STREET GOING NORTH TO WASHINGTON STREET ON THE NORTH SIDE. Matteson SECONDED, AND THE MOTION CARRIED WITH AN all “YEA” ROLL CALL VOTE AS FOLLOWS: 8 YEAS – Fishel, Matteson, Rebman, Ryan, Trimble, Acker, Davis, & Dodds; 0 NAYS; 0 ABSENT.

9. DISCUSS & CONSIDER APPROVING TIF APPLICATION FOR WORTHINGTON FUNERAL HOME

TIF Committee Chair, Susan Acker reported the committee met with the Joint Review Board to review the application from Worthington Funeral Home. Acker noted the Phoenix Opera House still needs paid and with the Twenty-Five Thousand Dollars ($25,000) the committee is recommending, there will not be enough money left in the TIF fund for the sidewalk projects the city was looking at doing.

Acker MOVED TO APPROVE A TIF APPLICATION FOR WORTHINGTON FUNERAL HOME IN THE AMOUNT OF TWENTY-FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS ($25,000). Davis SECONDED, AND THE MOTION CARRIED WITH A ROLL CALL VOTE AS FOLLOWS: 8 YEAS – Matteson, Rebman, Ryan, Trimble, Acker, Davis, Dodds, & Fishel; 0 NAYS; 0 ABSENT.

10. DISCUSS & CONSIDER RAISING SCHUY-RUSH CARETAKER SALARY

Parks & Recreation Committee Chairman, Terry Dodds reported the Schuy-Rush Park board discussed at their meeting raising the caretaker salary from Nine Thousand Two Hundred Dollars ($9,200) to Eleven Thousand Two Hundred Thirty-Six Dollars ($11,236), which is about a six percent (6%) increase.

Dodds MOVED TO APPROVE RAISING THE SCHUY-RUSH CARETAKER SALARY TO ELEVEN THOUSAND TWO HUNDRED THIRTY-SIX DOLLARS ($11,236). Rebman SECONDED, AND THE MOTION CARRIED WITH A ROLL CALL VOTE AS FOLLOWS: 8 YEAS – Rebman, Ryan, Trimble, Acker, Davis, Dodds, Fishel, & Matteson; 0 NAYS; 0 ABSENT.

11. DISCUSS & CONSIDER RENEWING PROPERTY/CASUALTY, LIABILITY, WORK COMP, & UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE WITH ICRMT & PAYING DOWNPAYMENT

Claims & Insurance Committee Chairman, Davis reported the committee had met with Joe Redshaw of Redshaw Insurance regarding the renewal. Davis stated the premium went up Ten Thousand Two Hundred Thirty-Six Dollars ($10,236) but overall it went down because the increase of property went up to Thirty-One Million Three Hundred Sixty-Five Thousand Eight Hundred Forty-Three Dollars ($31,365,843).

Davis said that all employees, full and part-time, have to take a cyber liability class along with a sexual harassment class. Davis noted Redshaw was going to check to see if the council members had to take these classes as well. Clerk Briney stated she spoke to Redshaw earlier today and he thinks it would be a good idea to bring in a laptop and have the employees come in and take the class altogether and then send in the attendance list. Clerk Briney said that she is going to take the classes first to see how long they last and then will schedule something.

Davis MOVED TO APPROVE RENEWING THE PROPERTY/CASUALTY, LIABILITY, WORK COMP, & UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE WITH ICRMT AND PAYING A DOWNPAYMENT OF FORTY-TWO THOUSAND ONE HUNDRED SEVENTY-ONE DOLLARS ($42,171). Matteson SECONDED, AND THE MOTION CARRIED WITH A ROLL CALL VOTE AS FOLLOWS: 8 YEAS – Ryan, Trimble, Acker, Davis, Dodds, Fishel, Matteson, & Rebman; 0 NAYS; 0 ABSENT.

12. COUNCIL MEMBER & OFFICIAL’S REPORTS

Council Member, Susan Acker reported she was wondering where the city stood with the Gordley on East LaFayette Street. Attorney Wilson-Laegeler stated Mrs. Gordley has been served but the husband does not live in that home anymore so she is waiting on the court ruling to see how to serve him.

Superintendent of Operations, Eric Thurman reported the noise ordinance signs regarding jake braking are not state regulated signs so they have been removed and cannot be put back up. Thurman said he asked if there was some sort of permit from the state and was told no, the signs could still not be put up.

13. ADJOURN

Dodds MOVED TO ADJOURN. Davis SECONDED, AND THE MOTION CARRIED WITH AN ALL “YEA” ROLL CALL VOTE AS FOLLOWS: 8 YEAS – Trimble, Acker, Davis, Dods, Fishel, Matteson, Rebman, & Ryan; 0 NAYS; 0 ABSENT.

THE MEETING STOOD ADJOURNED ACCORDINGLY AT 7:17 P.M.

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