West Central Reporter

City of Rushville City Council met Nov. 18.

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

Others present included: City Clerk, Stacey Briney; City Attorney, Erin Wilson-Laegeler; Superintendent of Operations, Drew Ralston; Chief of Police, Rick Wright; and Moe Billingsley of The Rushville Time.

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 November 4, 2024

b) Approve the Minutes of the Combined TIF & Joint Review Board Meeting held November 4, 2024; Combined Water & Sewer Committee Meeting held November 4, 2024; Combined Street, Water, & Sewer Committee Meeting held November 12, 2024; & Grievance & Personnel Committee Meeting held November 13, 2024

c) Approve “Claims for Council Approval Dated 11/18/24” & Accept Monthly Reports

d) Consider 2nd Reading of Ordinance No. 1385, Annual Tax Levy

e) Approve Change Order #2 (Final) for Neumann Company in a Decreased Amount of $8,442.50

f) Approve Request for Approval of Change of Plan Quantities for 2024 MFT

g) Approve Pay Estimate #1 for 2024 MFT

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

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

7. DISCUSS & CONSIDER PURCHASING NEW TASERS

Police Committee Chairman, Mayor Ervin reported the committee met earlier and Chief of Police, Rick Wright stated ILEAS is offering a grant to purchase five (5) new tasers. Mayor Ervin said the total of tasers, along with the five (5) year maintenance program, is Twenty-Two Thousand Sixty-Eight Dollars ($22,068) and the grants amount is Twelve Thousand Three Hundred Thirty-Six Dollars and Thirty-Two Cents ($12,336.32). Mayor Ervin noted the city will pay Two Thousand Four Hundred Thirty-Two Dollars and Ninety-Two Cents ($2,432.92) for five (5) years starting in 2026.

Farniok MOVED TO APPROVE PURCHASING FIVE (5) NEW TASERS AND A MAINTENANCE PROGRAM AT A COST OF TWENTY-TWO THOUSAND SIXTY-EIGHT DOLLARS ($22,068), WITH TWELVE THOUSAND THREE HUNDRED THIRTY-SIX DOLLARS AND THIRY TWO CENTS ($12,336.32) COMING FROM THE ILEAS GRANT. Fishel SECONDED, AND THE MOTION CARRIED WITH AN ALL “YEA” ROLL CALL VOTE AS FOLLOWS: 8 YEAS – Davis, Dodds, Farniok, Fishel, Matteson, Ryan, Trimble, & Acker; 0 NAYS; 0 ABSENT.

8. DISCUSS & CONSIDER PURCHASE & PAYMENT OF NEW TRUCKS

Street Committee Chairman, Bob Fishel reported the committee met with the sewer committee to discuss purchasing two (2) new trucks. Fishel stated after the funds from the savings account and the remaining balance of the funds from the purchase of the vac trailer, the two (2) trucks will cost each fund approximately One Thousand Nine Hundred Dollars ($1,900). Fishel noted Forty-Four Thousand Dollars ($44,000) will be taken out of the savings account, leaving a small balance to keep the account open, and the remaining balance of the vac trailer is Seventy-Four Thousand Six Hundred Seven Dollars ($74,607).

Fishel MOVED TO APPROVE THE PURCHASE AND PAYMENT OF TWO (2) NEW TRUCKS WITH FUNDS BEING USED FROM THE SAVINGS ACCOUNT, REMAINING VAC TRAILER FUNDS, STREET AND SEWER FUNDS. Matteson SECONDED, AND THE MOTION CARRIED WITH AN ALL “YEA” ROLL CALL VOTE AS FOLLOWS: 8 YEAS – Dodds, Farniok, Fishel, Matteson, Ryan, Trimble, Acker, & Davis; 0 NAYS; 0 ABSENT.

9. DISCUSS & CONSIDER HIRING FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES

Trimble MOVED TO APPROVE HIRING JAMES MOURNING AND MICHAEL GOBEL AS FULL-TIME CITY MAINTENANCE EMPLOYEES. Dodds SECONDED, AND THE MOTION CARRIED WITH AN ALL “YEA” ROLL CALL VOTE AS FOLLOWS: 8 YEAS – Farniok, Fishel, Matteson, Ryan, Trimble, Acker, Davis, & Dodds; 0 NAYS; 0 ABSENT.

City Clerk, Stacey Briney stated James Mourning will have seniority over Michael Gobel.

10. DISCUSS & CONSIDER APPROVING RED GRANTS

Economic Development Committee Chair, Susan Acker reported the committee met earlier to discuss two (2) RED grants. Acker said one (1) does not qualify until 2025 and the other one is for Country Companies in the amount of Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000) to replace windows.

Acker MOVED TO APPROVE A RED GRANT FOR COUNTRY COMPANIES (ANN YOUNG AND ROSALEE SHAW) IN THE AMOUNT OF FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS ($5,000). Davis SECONDED, AND THE MOTION CARRIED WITH AN ALL “YEA” ROLL CALL VOTE AS FOLLOWS: 8 YEAS – Fishel, Matteson, Ryan, Trimble, Acker, Davis, Dodds, & Farniok; 0 NAYS; 0 ABSENT.

11. DISCUSS & CONSIDER REMOVING TREE ON GOLF COURSE BY PARKVIEW ROAD

Sidewalk & Lighting Committee Chairman, Terry Dodds reported he looked at a tree with Superintendent of Operations, Drew Ralston that sits on the golf course but really close to Parkview Road. Dodds stated the tree is too tall for the city crew to cut down, so Todd Zeisler of Zeisler Tree Service said he could take it down for One Thousand Five Hundred Dollars.

Dodds MOVED TO APPROVE REMOVING A TREE ON THE GOLF COURSE BY PARKVIEW ROAD AT A COST NOT TO EXCEED ONE THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS ($1,500). Trimble SECONDED, AND THE MOTION CARRIED WITH AN ALL “YEA” ROLL CALL VOTE AS FOLLOWS: 8 YEAS – Matteson, Ryan, Trimble, Acker, Davis, Dodds, Farniok, & Fishel; 0 NAYS; 0 ABSENT.

12. COUNCIL MEMBER & OFFICIALS’ REPORTS

Parks & Recreation Committee Chairman, Terry Dodds stated everyone had a map of the trails at Schuy-Rush. Dodds stressed that the names of the trails on the map are not the real names. Dodds noted Schuyler County Engineer, Dave Schneider put names the map so we could see what it would look like. Dodds said the Schuy-Rush Park Board will decide on the names.

Dodds also reported the person that owns the triangle by the lost trail would like the city to take over that land in case someone comes in from another direction and gets hurt then they will not be responsible. Acker asked if that was part of the land that the Tomlinson family donated, and Mayor Ervin said he will contact Brian Tomlinson and discuss it with him.

Council Member, Bob Fishel said he wanted to give a shout out to the school for the Veteran’s Day program they held. Fishel noted he attended several and that one was by far the best one.

Fishel reported Ryan Murray approached him and he is still not happy with the sidewalk in front of his building after the grinding work was done. Mayor Ervin stated he watched G M Sipes put a level on that portion of the sidewalk and the water ran away from the building.

Mayor Jeff Ervin reported the city approved paying for Christmas ads on WRMS and WKXQ for the Chamber of Commerce promoting shopping in Rushville. Mayor Ervin said last year it cost One Hundred Dollars ($100) and this year it will cost One Hundred Fifty Dollars ($150). Consensus of the council was to pay for the ads.

13. ADJOURN

Dodds MOVED TO ADJOURN. Fishel SECONDED, AND THE MOTION CARRIED WITH AN ALL “YEA” ROLL CALL VOTE AS FOLLOWS: 8 YEAS – Ryan, Trimble, Acker, Davis, Dodds Farniok, Fishel, & Matteson; 0 NAYS; 0 ABSENT. THE MEETING STOOD ADJOURNED ACCORDINGLY AT 7:14 P.M.

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