West Central Reporter

City of Rushville City Council met Dec. 2.

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

Others present included: Mike Grate of the City Clerk’s Office; City Attorney, Erin Wilson Laegeler; Superintendent of Operations, Drew Ralston; Chief of Police, Rick Wright; Moe Billingsley of The Rushville Times; and State’s Attorney, Chuck Laegeler.

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 18, 2024

b) Approve the Minutes of the Economic Development Committee Meeting held November 18, 2024; & Police Committee Meeting held November 18, 2024

c) Approve “Claims for Council Approval Dated 12/02/24” & Accept Monthly Reports

d) Consider Reserving Central Park/Gazebo on Sunday, December 8th, & Sunday, December 22nd, for the Chamber of Commerce Punch Card Drawing

e) Pass & Adopt Ordinance No. 1385, Annual Tax Levy

f) Approve Loan Reimbursement

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, Matteson, & Ryan; 0 NAYS; 2 ABSENT – Davis & Trimble.

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

7. DISCUSS & CONSIDER APPROVING THE REVISED RED GRANT RULES & REGULATIONS

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

8. PASS & ADOPT RESOLUTION NO. 1160, RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE SALE OF SURPLUS REAL ESTATE

Mayor Ervin reported this resolution has to do with the lot on East Lafayette Street. Council Member, Mike Ryan asked if the city was not selling the lot to anyone that submitted a sealed bid, and City Attorney, Erin Wilson-Laegeler said no that if the council agrees to sell the property to someone off the sealed bids we can, but this is just the next step we need to take to move forward since none of the bids met the eighty percent (80%) threshold. Ryan asked if we now must wait until after January 3rd, and Attorney Wilson-Laegeler stated yes, we would have to advertise this again.

Ryan MOVED TO PASS RESOLUTION NO. 1160, RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE SALE OF SURPLUS PROPERTY. Farniok SECONDED, AND THE MOTION CARRIED WITH AN ALL “YEA” ROLL CALL VOTE AS FOLLOWS: 6 YEAS – Farniok, Fishel, Matteson, Ryan, Acker, & Dodds; 0 NAYS; 2 ABSENT – Davis & Trimble.

9. DISCUSS & CONSIDER APPROVING TIF AGREEMENT WITH THE BREAD BASKET

TIF Committee Chair, Susan Acker stated the committee met, but there was not enough members for a quorum so those that were present discussed the application and thought it would be a good business to have on the square. Acker said the Bread Basket is requesting Twenty Thousand dollars ($20,000).

Acker MOVED TO APPROVE THE TIF APPICATION FOR THE BREAD BASKET IN THE AMOUNT TWENTY THOUSAND DOLLARS ($20,000). Fishel SECONDED, AND THE MOTION CARRIED WITH AN ALL “YEA” ROLL CALL VOTE AS FOLLOWS: 6 YEAS- Fishel, Matteson, Ryan, Acker, Dodds, & Farniok; 0 NAYS; 2 ABSENT – Davis & Trimble.

10. DISCUSS & CONSIDER DONATION TO SANTA HOUSE

Mayor Ervin reported the Santa house gives out nice gifts to the children and funds come directly out of Pete Dupoy’s pocket. Mayor Ervin said it is good to have this on the square for the children and thinks the city should consider donating to it. Mayor Ervin stressed no one has asked for any money, but he thinks it would be a nice thing to do. Council Member, Bryan Matteson stated he thought this was a good idea and suggested a donation of Seven Hundred dollars ($700). A discussion followed.

Matteson MOVED TO APPROVE A SEVEN HUNDRED DOLLAR ($700) DONATION TO THE SANTA HOUSE. Farniok SECONDED, AND THE MOTION CARRIED WITH AN ALL “YEA” ROLL CALL VOTE AS FOLLOWS: 6 YEAS – Matteson, Ryan, Acker, Dodds, Farniok, & Fishel; 0 NAYS; 2 ABSENT – Davis & Trimble.

11. COUNCIL MEMBER & OFFICIALS’ REPORTS

Water Committee Chairman, Bryan Matteson reported Superintendent of Operations, Drew Ralston had three (3) pumps fail on Old Macomb Road, so Ralston ordered new pumps at a cost of around Seven Hundred dollars ($700) each. Matteson stated Ralston also had a starter go out on a pump at Logan Street and it has been ordered as well.

Sidewalk & Lighting Committee Chairman, Terry Dodds reported that most of the railing for the Penny Event Center is in and will be installed when everything arrives and the city crew can get to it.

Ordinance Review Committee Chairman, Mike Farniok stated he will be calling an Ordinance Review Committee Meeting next week.

Chief of Police, Rick Wright reported he will be in Chicago Wednesday for the hearing regarding reinstating officer Andrew Haas’s certification.

Superintendent of Operations, Drew Ralston reported the two (2) new city trucks have been ordered and the F150 should be here in a couple of weeks and the F350 with the utility bed will be in after the first of the year.

12. ADJOURN

Dodds MOVED TO ADJOURN. Acker SECONDED, AND THE MOTION CARRIED WITH AN ALL “YEA” ROLL CALL VOTE AS FOLLOWS: 6 YEAS – Ryan, Acker, Dodds, Farniok, Fishel, & Matteson; 0 NAYS; 2 ABSENT – Davis & Trimble. THE MEETING STOOD ADJOURNED ACCORDINGLY AT 7:11 P.M.

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