West Central Reporter

City of Rushville City Council met March 18.

Here are the minutes provided by the council:

PUBLIC HEARING REGARDING VACATING ALLEYWAYS

Mayor Jeff Ervin stated the Public Hearing is actually scheduled for April 1, 2024, at 6:45 p.m. to discuss vacating alleyways. Mayor Ervin said it was inadvertently posted for tonight.

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, Terry Dodds, Bob Fishel, Bryan Matteson, Mike Ryan, and Paul Trimble. The meeting was called to order at 7:00 P.M. Council Members, Richard Davis and Barry Rebman were absent.

Others present included: City Clerk, Stacey Briney; City Attorney, Erin Wilson-Laegeler; Superintendent of Operations, Eric Thurman; Chief of Police, Rick Wright; Moe Billingsley of The Rushville Times; Kent Paisley, representing the Late Night Cruiser’s Car Club; Economic Development Director, Schuyler Isley (arrived at 7:01 p.m.); and Lyle Harrison.

Council Member, Richard Davis arrived at 7:01 p.m.

Mayor Ervin asked everyone to join in a moment of silence for the five (5) victims from the fatal bus/semi accident that occurred on March 11th.

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

Kent Paisley, representing the Late Night Cruisers Car Club, reported he was in attendance to ask for approval to close of the north, south, and east side of the square on Sunday, June 16th for the Father’s Day Car Show. Paisley noted there will not be any changes from the years past.

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 March 4, 2024

b) Approve the Minutes of the Combined Water & Sewer Committee Meeting held February 29, 2024; & Cemetery Committee Meeting held March 6, 2024

c) Approve “Claims for Council Approval Dated 03/18/24” & Accept Monthly Reports

d) Approve Reserving Central Park on Saturday, April 27, 2024, for Prom Preview

e) Approve Reserving Central Park & Closing the South Side of the Square on Friday, May 3, 2024, for Ag Day on the Square

f) Approve Reserving Central Park & Closing the North, South, & East Sides of the Square on Sunday, June 16, 2024, for the Father’s Day Car Show

g) Approve Placement of Hometown Hero Banners

h) Approve $500 Donation to Culbertson Memorial Hospital Foundation for the Dr. Russell Dohner Golf Outing (as per past practice)

i) Approve Request for Loan Reimbursement

j) Approve Selling Old Fire Truck for $2,000

k) Approve Request for Variance on Animal Control Ord. No. 1367, Section 14-2.11

l) Approve Hiring Jean Lane as Pro Shop Manager at a Salary of $8,500

m) Approve Hiring Carly Taylor as Pool/Concession Manager at a Salary of $10,000

n) Approve Hiring Part-Time Employees at the Cemetery, Golf Course, & Pro Shop (listing of employees is attached and a part of these minutes)

Matteson REQUESTED TO HAVE ITEM “5J” REMOVED FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA.

Fishel MOVED TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF ITEM “5J”. Matteson SECONDED, AND THE MOTION CARRIED WITH AN ALL “YEA” ROLL CALL VOTE AS FOLLOWS: 7 YEAS – Acker, Davis, Dodds, Fishel, Matteson, Ryan & Trimble; 0 NAYS; 1 ABSENT – Rebman.

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

Item “5J”: Fire & Water Committee Chairman, Paul Trimble reported the city advertised the old city fire truck as surplus property. Trimble said bids were received but the highest bidder turned it down. Council Member, Bryan Matteson noted the council voted to reject all bids. Trimble stated Fire Chief, Vic Menely said he had someone that was wanting to buy the truck but that did not work out. Trimble said the truck was just put up for sale and an offer of Two Thousand Dollars ($2,000) was received. Mayor Ervin said he asked Chief Menely about the truck and Menely said if the truck did not sell, it will just sit and collect dust. City Clerk, Stacey Briney was directed to place this item on the next council agenda.

7. DISCUSS & CONSIDER APPROVING GIS PROPOSAL

Committee Chairman, Trimble reported the committee met with Benton & Associates regarding the options on the GIS mapping. Trimble noted the committee recommended the council approve Option 1 in the amount of Forty-Six Thousand Dollars ($46,000) and to purchase the equipment in the amount of One Thousand Five Hundred Eighty-Two Dollars ($1,582), all of which will be paid from the ARPA funds. Trimble said Benton & Associates will do the work. Mayor Ervin stated the work could take eight to twelve (8-12) months. Mayor Ervin noted Superintendent of Operations, Eric Thurman said the sign ordinance can also be on this mapping and that will help out tremendously. Matteson stressed that this is a great thing and will help those twenty (20) years down the road.

Trimble MOVED TO APPROVE THE GIS PROPOSAL, OPTION 1, IN THE AMOUNT OF FORTY-SIX THOUSAND DOLLARS ($46,000), ALONG WITH THE PURCHASE OF EQUIPMENT AT A COST OF ONE THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED EIGHTY-TWO DOLLARS ($1,582), WITH FUNDS COMING FROM THE ARPA FUNDS. Ryan SECONDED, AND THE MOTION CARRIED WITH AN ALL “YEA” ROLL CALL VOTE AS FOLLOWS – 7 YEAS – Davis, Dodds, Fishel, Matteson, Ryan, Trimble, & Acker; 0 NAYS; 1 ABSENT – Rebman.

8. DISCUSS & CONSIDER 1ST READING OF ORDINANCE NO. 1375, AN ORDINANCE VACATING ALLEYWAYS

Mayor Ervin stated this item will be placed on the next council agenda.

9. DISCUSS & CONSIDER PURCHASING CEMETERY LOTS

Mayor Ervin reported City Hall was contacted by Orson Unger’s daughter, Becky, regarding the nine (9) lots the family has left. Mayor Ervin stated these lots are not going to be used by the family and they were wanting to give them to the families of the bus/semi victims. Mayor Ervin noted if the families did not have a need for these lots, they wanted the city to sell them and divide the money between the four (4) families.

Mayor Ervin said one (1) family would like to have six (6) lots, which would leave three (3) to sell. Mayor Ervin stated it could take quite some time to sell these remaining lots, so he would like the city to purchase them for One Thousand Dollars ($1,000) and then resell them.

Matteson MOVED TO APPROVE PURCHASING THREE (3) CEMETERY LOTS FROM THE IRMA & ORSON UNGER FAMILY IN THE AMOUNT OF ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS ($1,000) WITH PAYMENT TO BE MADE TO THE MILLER, DRISCOLL, SPIKER, AND COUFAL FAMILIES. Dodds SECONDED, AND THE MOTION CARRIED WITH AN ALL “YEA” ROLL CALL VOTE AS FOLLOWS: 7 YEAS – Dodds, Fishel, Matteson, Ryan, Trimble, Acker, & Davis; 0 NAYS; 1 ABSENT – Rebman.

11. ADJOURN TO CLOSED SESSION TO APPROVE CLOSED SESSION MINUTES DATED MAY 1, 2023; JUNE 28, 2023; & MARCH 4, 2024; POLICE COMMITTEE MINUTES DATED MAY 10, 2023; AUGUST 31, 2023; & FEBRUARY 26, 2024; GRIEVANCE & PERSONNEL COMMITTEE MINUTES DATED JULY 12, 2023; & JULY 17, 2023; UNION NEGOTIATING COMMITTEE MINUTES DATED MAY 16, 2024; JUNE 5, 2023; & JUNE 23, 2023; & CEMETERY COMMITTEE MINUTES DATED MARCH 6, 2024 – 5 ILCS 120/2 (c)(21); & DISCUSS PERSONNEL – 5 ILCS 120/2 (c)(1)

Dodds MOVED TO ADJOURN TO CLOSED SESSION APPROVE CLOSED SESSION MINUTES DATED MAY 1, 2023; JUNE 28, 2023; & MARCH 4, 2024; POLICE COMMITTEE MINUTES DATED MAY 10, 2023; AUGUST 31, 2023; & FEBRUARY 26, 2024; GRIEVANCE & PERSONNEL COMMITTEE MINUTES DATED JULY 12, 2023; & JULY 17, 2023; UNION NEGOTIATING COMMITTEE MINUTES DATED MAY 16, 2024; JUNE 5, 2023; & JUNE 23, 2023; & CEMETERY COMMITTEE MINUTES DATED MARCH 6, 2024 – 5 ILCS 120/2 (c)(21); & DISCUSS PERSONNEL – 5 ILCS 120/2 (c)(1). Davis SECONDED, AND THE MOTION CARRIED WITH AN ALL “YEA” ROLL CALL VOTE AS FOLLOWS: 7 YEAS – Fishel, Matteson, Ryan, Trimble, Acker, Davis, & Dodds; 0 NAYS; 1 ABSENT – Rebman. OPEN SESSION STOOD ADJOURNED TO CLOSED SESSION AT 7:11 P.M.

12. RETURN TO OPEN SESSION

Open Session reconvened at 7:22 p.m. with the following present: Mayor Ervin; Council Members – Acker, Davis, Dodds, Fishel, Matteson, Ryan, & Trimble; City Clerk, Stacey Briney; City Attorney, Wilson-Laegeler; Billingsley of The Rushville Times; Economic Development Director, Isley.

10. DISCUSS & CONSIDER HIRING FULL-TIME EMPLOYEE AT CITY HALL

Davis MOVED TO APPROVE HIRING BRINNLEY ROYER AS FULL-TIME EMPLOYEE IN CITY HALL. Matteson SECONDED, AND THE MOTION CARRIED WITH AN ALL “YEA” ROLL CALL VOTE AS FOLLOWS: 7 YEAS – Trimble, Acker, Davis, Dodds, Fishel, Matteson, & Ryan; 0 NAYS; 1 ABSENT – Rebman.

13. COUNCIL MEMBER & OFFICIALS’ REPORTS

Council Member, Susan Acker asked if the city owned the Gordley property on East LaFayette Street yet, and City Attorney, Erin Wilson-Laegeler reported we are nearing completion. Attorney Wilson Laegeler said the final judgement will be signed and sealed tomorrow.

Acker reported she asked Attorney Wilson-Laegeler about the charge for using credit cards, and Attorney Wilson-Laegeler informed her that the city can only charge three percent (3%).

Industrial Committee Chair, Susan Acker also reported she is going to call a committee meeting but has held off because she is not sure what the repercussions are if someone does not abide by the covenants.

Council Member, Bryan Matteson reported that the empathy and outpouring support of this community and outside of the community has been amazing. Matteson said he would like to thank everyone for their support. Mayor Ervin stated he wanted to give a shoutout to Clerk Briney and Mike Grate for all of the work they have done collecting donations for the families. Mayor Ervin noted they have been swamped in City Hall during the last week.

Street Committee Chairman, Mike Ryan reported the committee met to discuss the oil and chipping this year. Ryan said they decided to make plans and they should have a map by April 15th.

Mayor Jeff Ervin reported he was contacted by Conner Amusement saying they have an open weekend April 19-21 and they would like to set up on the square with all of their carnival and maybe a couple food stands. Mayor Ervin noted they will donate all their proceeds to the families of the bus/semi victims. Mayor Ervin said if the rides are set up for Friday night they will have to set up early Friday and he is not sure if he wants to close off the parking for businesses that long. Mayor Ervin thought maybe having them on the square Saturday, April 20th, and Sunday, April 21st, and have them set up after 5:00 p.m. on Friday, April 19th. Consensus agreed to having Conner Amusement set up after 5:00 p.m. on Friday, April 19th, and close off the square on Saturday, April 20th, & Sunday, April 21st. Mayor Ervin said he will call them tomorrow and let them know.

14. ADJOURN

Dodds MOVED TO ADJOURN. Davis SECONDED, AND THE MOTION CARRIED WITH AN ALL “YEA” ROLL CALL VOTE AS FOLLOWS: 7 YEAS – Acker, Davis, Dodds, Fishel, Matteson, Ryan, & Trimble; 0 NAYS; 1 ABSENT – Rebman. THE MEETING STOOD ADJOURNED ACCORDINGLY AT 7:28 P.M.

https://rushvilleillinois.us/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/24-03-18.pdf