West Central Reporter

City of Rushville City Council met Aug. 19.

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 called the meeting to order and directed City Clerk, Stacey Briney to call the roll. Upon ROLL CALL, the following answered present: Council Members: Susan Acker, Richard Davis, Terry Dodds, Mike Farniok, Bob Fishel, Bryan Matteson, and Mike Ryan. The meeting was called to order at 7:00 P.M. Council Member, Paul Trimble was absent.

Others present included: City Clerk, Stacey Briney; City Attorney, Erin Wilson-Laegeler; Superintendent of Operations, Eric Thurman; Moe Billingsley of The Rushville Times; Schuyler Isley, Economic Development Director (arrived at 7:03 p.m.); and Sandy Bartlow.

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

Sandy Bartlow said it sounds like the city will be selling the property that was torn down next to her on East LaFayette Street and it also sounds like the big tree in the back is going to stay. Bartlow noted that tree hangs over her garage and she is afraid that her insurance will cancel her because of it. Mayor Ervin stressed that he is not real keen on cutting down a nice shade tree. Council Member, Bryan Matteson stated that according to the law, she can trim the limbs that are hanging on her property. Bartlow reported that she would like to see the tree come down, and Mayor Ervin stated that would be up to whomever purchased the property. Bartlow reported that there are several stumps close to her yard and she does not want anything disrupted, so she would like to be present when this happens.

Bartlow said that, to date, everyone has done a nice job and she has no complaints at all. Bartlow asked if the city would be planting grass because now when it rains, the mud runs her way. Mayor Ervin stated that the person that buys the lot will probably just end up digging it up. Bartlow wondered how long that will take and Mayor Ervin noted the city has to advertise for at least two (2) weeks and then a decision can be made after that. Mayor Ervin reiterated that Bartlow can have someone trim the tree that hangs over onto her lot.

Sandy Bartlow left the meeting at 7:06 p.m.

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 August 5, 2024

b) Approve “Claims for Council Approval Dated 08/19/24” & Accept Monthly Reports

c) Approve Reserving Central Park on Saturday, September 21st from 4:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. for Hometown Hero Banners

d) Approve Appointment of Kolton Mayall to the Scripps Park Board

e) Approve Outside Employment for Bill Thompson

f) Approve Hiring Eric Kunkel & Butch Edlin as Part-Time at the Golf Course

g) Approve Suspending the Rules RE: Ordinance No. 1383, Supplemental Appropriation Ordinance

h) Pass & Adopt Ordinance No. 1383, Supplemental Appropriation Ordinance

i) Approve Suspending the Rules RE: Ordinance No. 1384, Supplemental Appropriation Ordinance (Scripps Park Bar)

j) Pass & Adopt Ordinance No. 1384, Supplemental Appropriation Ordinance (Scripps Park Bar)

Fishel MOVED TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA. Dodds SECONDED, AND THE MOTION CARRIED WITH AN ALL “YEA” ROLL CALL VOTE AS FOLLOWS: 7 YEAS – Acker, Davis, Dodds, Farniok, Fishel, Matteson, & 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 RESOLUTION NO. 1157, RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING A MODIFICATION TO THE COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF RUSHVILLE AND THE INTERNATIONAL UNION OF OPERATING ENGINEERS LOCAL 965

Mayor Ervin reported this resolution was to allow the union employees to take comp time instead of being paid overtime. Mayor Ervin noted the union has approved this language as well.

Dodds MOVED TO PASS & ADOPT RESOLUTION NO. 1157, RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING A MODIFICATION TO THE COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF RUSHVILLE AND THE INTERNATIONAL UNION OF OPERATING ENGINEERS LOCAL 965. Ryan SECONDED, AND THE MOTION CARRIED WITH AN ALL “YEA” ROLL CALL VOTE AS FOLLOWS: 7 YEAS – Davis, Dodds, Farniok, Fishel, Matteson, Ryan, & Acker; 0 NAYS; 1 ABSENT – Trimble.

8. DISCUSS & CONSIDER NO PARKING ON DEWEY STREET

Street Committee Chairman, Bob Fishel reported the police department had brought this to his attention about there not being enough room for an emergency vehicle to get down the street if people are parked along the sides. Fishel stated the committee met and recommended making the east side of the street No Parking.

Fishel MOVED TO APPROVE DESIGNATING THE EAST SIDE OF DEWEY STREET AS NO PARKING. Dodds SECONDED, AND THE MOTION CARRIED WITH A ROLL CALL VOTE AS FOLLOWS: 4 YEAS – Dodds, Fishel, Ryan, & Acker; 3 NAYS – Farniok, Matteson, & Davis; 1 ABSENT – Trimble.

Council Member, Bryan Matteson stated that he looked at Dewey Street and he does not think that street is any different than some of the others around town, for example, Bessie Street. Fishel stressed that this was not brought up by any citizen, but the police. Superintendent of Operations, Eric Thurman stated the residence on the west side of Dewey Street have an alley behind them.

9. DISCUSS & CONSIDER MAKING A PORTION OF AVENUE B ONE-WAY

Fishel reminded the council that Avenue B runs from the Cemetery to Monroe Street. Council Member, Richard Davis said the Street Committee was going to recommend making Avenue B one-way from Liberty Street to Monroe Street. Mayor Ervin asked why, and Fishel said that is a high traffic area with buses and semis driving on it. Davis noted if someone was wanting to travel Avenue B on a UTV, they would have to go all the way down either street in order to get where they needed to go. Mayor Ervin stated it would be easier to just put up No Trucks/Semi signs. City Attorney, Erin Wilson-Laegeler suggested putting a weight limit on Avenue B. Davis stated when a vehicle is meeting another one, one vehicle has to go into the grass.

Mayor Ervin stressed that the city has a lot of alleys in town and he feels this would just be opening up a can of worms. Street Committee Member, Mike Ryan stated some of the homeowners came in and had some good arguments. Mayor Ervin noted if the city makes this portion one-way, we will have a lot more people coming in. Davis said people have put rocks down in their yard and wondered what the setback was on that, but Ryan said that was not the problem. Thurman stated that if speeding is the problem, making it a one-way will not help that matter.

Ryan MOVED TO APPROVE MAKING AVENUE B A ONE-WAY STREET FROM LIBERTY STREET TO MONROE STREET. Fishel SECONDED, AND THE MOTION FAILED WITH A ROLL CALL VOTE AS FOLLOWS: 3 YEAS – Fishel, Ryan, & Dodds; 4 NAYS – Farniok, Matteson, Acker, & Davis; 1 ABSENT – Trimble.

10. DISCUSS & CONSIDER REMOVAL OF TREES ON WEST LAFAYETTE STREET

Sidewalk & Lighting Committee Chairman, Terry Dodds reported he contacted Todd Zeisler of Zeisler Tree Service about the trees on West LaFayette that the council received a letter about. Dodds noted Zeisler was aware of these trees. Dodds noted he has spoken to Thurman about these trees as well and they are not something the city crew can do. Dodds stated Zeisler gave an estimate of Three Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($3,500) to remove both trees.

Dodds MOVED TO APPROVE REMOVING THE TWO (2) TREES IN THE THREE HUNDRED (300) BLOCK OF WEST LAFAYETTE STREET AT A COST OF THREE THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS ($3,500). Farniok SECONDED, AND THE MOTION CARRIED WITH AN ALL “YEA” ROLL CALL VOTE AS FOLLOWS: 7 YEAS – Fishel, Matteson, Ryan, Acker, Davis, Dodds, & Farniok; 0 NAYS; 1 ABSENT – Trimble.

11. COUNCIL MEMBER & OFFICIALS’ REPORTS

Industrial Park Committee Chair, Susan Acker reported she got a call from Dan Herter out of Beardstown regarding his interest in the lot in the Industrial Park. Acker noted Herter owns a laundromat in Beardstown and he would like to put in a three (3) stall store front with a laundromat in one (1) and rent out the other two (2). Acker stated she informed Herter that the city has been saving that lot for a hotel and he understood that. Economic Development Director, Schuyler Isley reported SCEDC is still making a hotel their priority but the investor has cooled off some so they are still trying to make something work. Isely said if SCEDC needs to pay for the lot they will. Isley stressed that she feels a hotel is the best idea for that lot and for all of Rushville and Schuyler County. Acker said the city has had three (3) chances to sell that lot and wonders how long we are going to hold it. Mayor Ervin suggested having a committee meeting to discuss this.

Council Member, Bryan Matteson congratulated The HUB on the outstanding turnout they had for their Night Market.

Parks & Recreation Committee Chairman, Terry Dodds reported the kayak stand should be at the park within the next three (3) weeks. Dodds noted the concrete pad is poured and ready.

Dodds stated the pool is closed and Joe Ackman will paint the lines so water can be put back in for the winter.

Dodds said the Chamber of Commerce held a ceremony for Mark Coil who was chosen as Volunteer of the Quarter. Dodds said Coil has some concerns before the pool was to open next season, so Dodds asked some questions about if there were things that needed to be done before the pool opened next season and he was told no.

Dodds reported there are brand new bathrooms in the Virginia and Cottages.

Dodds said he took a tour of the golf course with Golf Course Superintendent, Andy Ebey, and he cannot believe how beautiful it is out there.

Public Buildings Committee, Richard Davis reported he contacted Brown County about their generator and it appears what they have is too big for what we need so he will continue to look.

Davis also reported that the adjuster is supposed to be coming out to look at the roof on City Hall. City Clerk, Stacey Briney stated he was already here and will get a report together and sent to us and Redshaw Insurance.

City Clerk, Stacey Briney reported a lady came in to report that she had fallen on the sidewalk in from of the Pregnancy Resource Center, located in the Two Hundred (200) block of West Washington Street. Clerk Briney said another business owner in that same block came in to let us know that they have counted over twenty (20) people that have tripped and some fallen in the same section. Clerk Briney noted the building’s owner said it is like there are two (2) sidewalks poured and it the transition from one to another is the problem. Clerk Briney noted the business owner understands why the sidewalk is like that with the ADA compliance, etc.

City Attorney, Erin Wilson-Laegeler reported she has been dealing with a large roach infestation at an abandon house on South Congress Street. Attorney Wilson-Laegeler stated the neighbors have been having issues as well and have had to spray. Attorney Wilson-Laegeler noted the city has had Koch’s spray twice to try to get this under control and there will probably be a lien put on the property.

Mayor Jeff Ervin reminded the council members that the next meeting will be on Tuesday, September 3rd.

12. ADJOURN

Fishel MOVED TO ADJOURN. Dodds SECONDED, AND THE MOTION CARRIED WITH AN ALL “YEA” ROLL CALL VOTE AS FOLLOWS: 7 YEAS – Matteson, Ryan, Acker, Davis, Dodds, Farniok, & Fishel; 0 NAYS; 1 ABSENT – Trimble. THE MEETING STOOD ADJOURNED ACCORDINGLY AT 7:36 P.M.

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