West Central Reporter

City of Rushville City Council met Oct. 7.

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, Terry Dodds, Mike Farniok, Bob Fishel, Mike Ryan, & Paul Trimble. The meeting was called to order at 7:00 P.M. Council Members, Richard Davis & Bryan Matteson 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; Sandy Bartlow and Ryan Murray.

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 September 16, 2024

b) Approve the Minutes of the Sidewalk & Lighting Committee Meeting held August 28, 2024; & Police Committee Meeting held September 25, 2024

c) Approve “Claims for Council Approval Dated 10/07/24” & Accept Monthly Reports

d) Approve Setting Trick-or-Treat Hours from 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. on Thursday, October 31st

e) Approve Loan Reimbursements

f) Pass & Adopt Resolution No. 1159, Sale of Surplus Real Estate

Farniok MOVED TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA. Fishel SECONDED, AND THE MOTION CARRIED WITH AN ALL “YEA” ROLL CALL VOTE AS FOLLOWS: 6 YEAS – Acker, Dodds, Farniok, Fishel, Ryan, & Trimble; 0 NAYS; 2 ABSENT – Davis & Matteson.

6. ITEMS TO BE REMOVED FROM CONSENT AGENDA – IF APPLICABLE All items were approved on the Consent Agenda.

7. OPEN BIDS FOR SURPLUS REAL ESTATE

Mayor Ervin stated there were no bids received for the surplus real estate.

8. DISCUSS & CONSIDER APPROVING BID FOR SURPLUS PROPERTY

Mayor Ervin reported since there were no bids received, he would like to extend the bidding date and continue to advertise for two (2) more weeks.

Dodds MOVED TO APPROVE ADVERTISING THE SURPLUS REAL ESTATE FOR TWO (2) MORE WEEKS. Acker SECONDED, AND THE MOTION CARRIED WITH AN ALL “YEA” ROLL CALL VOTE AS FOLLOWS: 6 YEAS – Dodds, Farniok, Fishel, Ryan, Trimble, & Acker; 0 NAYS; 2 ABSENT – Davis & Matteson.

Sandy Bartlow left the meeting at 7:03 p.m.

9. DISCUSS & CONSIDER APPROVING BID FROM G M SIPES CONSTRUCTION FOR STEP AND GRINDING WORK ON WEST WASHINGTON STREET SIDEWALK

Sidewalk & Lighting Committee Chairman, Terry Dodds reported he got an estimate from G M Sipes Construction for a new step to replace the ramp at the Schuyler Penney Event Venue and to take out the corner of the sidewalk by the alley to make more of a graded slope. Dodds stated the estimate was Seven Thousand Eight Hundred Dollars ($7,800). Sidewalk & Lighting Committee Member, Mike Ryan asked if this means there was not going to be ramp there anymore, and Dodds said that was correct. Dodds noted there would be a step and a black handrail.

Ryan Murray said he was in attendance to see about the grinding of the sidewalk in front of his building. Mayor Ervin stated G M Sipes is doing the work free of charge and they will come in and shoot it with a laser and run it towards the street. Mayor Ervin noted this work will probably be done at the last of October or the first of November.

Dodds MOVED TO APPROVE THE BID FROM G M SIPES CONSTRUCTION IN THE AMOUNT OF SEVEN THOUSAND EIGHT HUNDRED DOLLARS ($7,800) TO INSTALL A STEP AT THE SCHUYLER PENNEY EVENT VENUE AND TAKE OUT THE CURB AT THE CORNER OF THE ALLEY ON WEST WASHINGTON STREET SIDEWALK. Ryan SECONDED, AND THE MOTION CARRIED WITH AN ALL “YEA” ROLL CALL VOTE AS FOLLOWS: 6 YEAS – Farniok, Fishel, Ryan, Trimble, Acker, & Dodds; 0 NAYS; 2 ABSENT – Davis & Matteson.

10. ADJOURN TO CLOSED SESSION TO APPROVE CLOSED SESSION MINUTES DATED MARCH 18, 2024; POLICE COMMITTEE MINUTES DATED APRIL 4, 2024, SEPTEMBER 9, 2024, & SEPTEMBER 25, 2024; GRIEVANCE & PERSONNEL COMMITTEE MINUTES DATED MARCH 14, 2024; & CEMETERY COMMITTEE MINUTES DATED MAY 9, 2024 – 5 ILCS 120/2 (c)(21); & DISCUSS PERSONNEL – 5 ILCS 120/2 (c)(1)

Farniok MOVED TO ADJOURN TO CLOSED SESSION APPROVE CLOSED SESSION MINUTES DATED MARCH 18, 2024; POLICE COMMITTEE MINUTES DATED APRIL 4, 2024, SEPTEMBER 9, 2024, & SEPTEMBER 25, 2024; GRIEVANCE & PERSONNEL COMMITTEE MINUTES DATED MARCH 14, 2024; & CEMETERY COMMITTEE MINUTES DATED MAY 9, 2024 – 5 ILCS 120/2 (c)(21); & DISCUSS PERSONNEL – 5 ILCS 120/2 (c)(1). Fishel SECONDED, AND THE MOTION CARRIED WITH AN ALL “YEA” ROLL CALL VOTE AS FOLLOWS: 6 YEAS – Fishel, Ryan, Trimble, Acker, Dodds, & Farniok; 0 NAYS; 2 ABSENT – Davis & Matteson. OPEN SESSION STOOD ADJOURNED TO CLOSED SESSION AT 7:07 P.M.

11. RETURN TO OPEN SESSION

Open Session reconvened at 7:20 p.m. with the following present: Mayor Ervin; Council Members – Acker, Dodds, Farniok, Fishel, Ryan, & Trimble; City Clerk, Stacey Briney; City Attorney, Wilson-Laegeler; Billingsley of The Rushville Times; Superintendent of Operations, Thurman; & Chief of Police, Rick Wright.

12. DISCUSS & CONSIDER PLACING POLICE OFFICER ANDREW HAAS ON PAID ADMINISTRATIVE LEAVE

Dodds MOVED TO APPROVE PLACING ANDREW HAAS ON PAID ADMINISTRATIVE LEAVE UNTIL THE JANUARY 7, 2025 COUNCIL MEETING, WITH OFFICER HAAS DOING OFFICE WORK UNTIL THIS TIME. Fishel SECONDED, AND THE MOTION CARRIED WITH AN ALL “YEA” ROLL CALL VOTE AS FOLLOWS: 6 YEAS – Acker, Dodds, Farniok, Fishel, Ryan, & Trimble; 0 NAYS; 2 ABSENT – Davis & Matteson.

13. COUNCIL MEMBER & OFFICIALS’ REPORTS

Parks & Recreation Committee Chair, Terry Dodds reported Sarah Dodds is the new pool chair and she has a check list of things that need to be taken care of that they are working on. Council Member, Bob Fishel asked if all of the food was out of the concession stand, and Dodds said it was put in containers.

Dodds also reported that a volunteer group and some high school kids replaced the chicken wire and painted one of the pavilions at the park.

Council Member, Mike Ryan reported the trailer on Penny Lane has finished mortaring the blocks and the flashing has been put around it. Ryan stated the trailer on South Congress Street has not had any progress.

City Clerk, Stacey Briney reported she is looking into switching phone carriers from Frontier to Cass Communications.

Mayor Jeff Ervin reported County Engineer, Dave Schneider contacted him regarding the Safety Advisory Commission with IDOT being in town tomorrow for a virtual meeting that the city will be working with the county on. Mayor Ervin stated they will be flying a drone over Route 67 and West LaFayette Street, by the High School, and out by the Old Wilson Vet Clinic on Route 67.

Mayor Ervin also reported he was contacted by Cathy Redshaw and Tim Ward asking if they could use both sides of the city’s poles for more Veteran’s banners. Mayor Ervin noted they have at least eight (8) new ones waiting in line to be displayed. Mayor Ervin said the city purchased the Historic Downtown banners that are up there. Mayor Ervin turned this over to the street committee to discuss. Clerk Briney stated the city just spend around Two Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($2,500) on new Historic Downtown banners. Mayor Ervin said the original plan was to leave the Veteran’s banners up for one (1) year and then replace them but we will have to see. A short discussion followed.

14. ADJOURN

Dodds MOVED TO ADJOURN. Fishel SECONDED, AND THE MOTION CARRIED WITH AN ALL “YEA” ROLL CALL VOTE AS FOLLOWS: 6 YEAS – Dodds, Farniok, Fishel, Ryan, Trimble, & Acker; 0 NAYS; 2 ABSENT – Davis & Matteson. THE MEETING STOOD ADJOURNED ACCORDINGLY AT 7:29 P.M.

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