West Central Reporter

City of Rushville City Council met Feb. 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; and Moe Billingsley of The Rushville Times.

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 February 3, 2025

b) Approve the Minutes of the Public Buildings Committee Meeting held February 6, 2025; & Sidewalk & Lighting Committee Meeting held February 6, 2025

c) Approve “Claims for Council Approval Dated 02/18/25” & Accept Monthly Reports

d) Approve Closing the Inside parking & Driving Lanes on Tuesday, March 11th, for the Night of Worship

e) Approve Reserving Central Park on Saturday, August 16th, for The HUB’s Night Market

f) Approve Reserving Central Park on Sunday, June 22nd, July 13th, & July 27th, for Community Band

g) Approve $1,200 Donation to Schuyler Co. Humane Society (as per past practice)

h) Pass & Adopt Ordinance No. 1386, Ordinance Relating to Animal Control

i) Consider 2nd Reading of Ordinance No. 1388, Ordinance Regarding Storage and Cargo Containers

Farniok 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 2ND READING OF ORDINANCE NO.1389, ORDINANCE REGARDING BORING RULES & REGULATIONS WITHIN THE CITY OF RUSHVILLE

Mayor Ervin reported since the last meeting the city has had two (2) more companies wanting to come in to meet with Superintendent of Operations, Drew Ralston and sign permits and contracts to bore more fiber optic. Ordinance Review Committee member, Bryan Matteson asked if there was anything in the revised ordinance regarding the use of the city dump, and City Attorney, Erin Wilson-Laegeler said there was. Dodds MOVED TO SUSPEND THE RULES REGARDING ORDINANCE NO. 1389, AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE CODE OF THE CITY OF RUSHVILLE BY ENACTING ARTICLE V OF CHAPTER 58 ENTITLED CUTS AND DIRECTIONAL BORING. Ryan SECONDED, AND THE MOTION CARRIED WITH AN ALL “YEA” ROLL CALL VOTE AS FOLLOWS: 8 YES – Davis, Dodds, Farniok, Fishel, Matteson, Ryan, Trimble, & Acker; 0 NAYS; 0 ABSENT.

Farniok MOVED TO PASS & ADOPT ORDINANCE NO. 1389, AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE CODE OF THE CITY OF RUSHVILLE BY ENACTING ARTICLE V OF CHAPTER 58 ENTITLED CUTS AND DIRECTIONAL BORING. Fishel 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.

8. OPEN BIDS FOR SURPLUS PROPERTY

Mayor Ervin opened bids for surplus property. The bids were reviewed by the city council and awarded. Awarded bids are attached and a part of these minutes with the highest bidder being in bold text.

9. DISCUSS & CONSIDER APPROVING BIDS FOR SURPLUS PROPERTY

Fishel MOVED TO APPROVE THE BIDS FOR SURPLUS PROPERTY AS PRESENTED. Trimble 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.

10. DISCUSS & CONSIDER REPAIRS TO CITY MAINTENANCE SHED

Public Buildings Committee Chairman, Richard Davis reported the committee met and reviewed estimates for repairs to the salt shed and water shed. Davis stated the estimate for the salt shed was One Thousand Four Hundred Twenty-Five Dollars and Twenty-Four Cents ($1,425.24) and the water shed estimate was Two Thousand Three Hundred Sixty-Eight Dollars and Seventy-Four Cents ($2,368.74), totaling Three Thousand Seven Hundred Ninety-Three Dollars and Ninety-Eight Cents ($3,793.98).

Davis MOVED TO APPROVE THE REPAIRS TO THE SALT SHED AND WATER SHED AT A COST OF THREE THOUSAND SEVEN HUNDRED NINETY-THREE DOLLARS AND NINETY-EIGHT CENTS ($3,793.98). Matteson 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 APPROVE TIF AGREEMENT FOR THE BREAD BASKET

Mayor Ervin stated this agreement has already been approved. TIF Committee Chair, Susan Acker reported the committee toured The Bread Basket and everything is okay and looks very nice. Mayor Ervin noted there will be a ribbon cutting on March 1st at 10:00 a.m. for anyone that would like to attend.

12. COUNCIL MEMBER & OFFICIALS’ REPORTS

Water Committee Chairman, Bryan Matteson reported valve #3 & #4 have failed and the committee and engineers feel the valves should be replaced with the new tanks going in. Matteson said this would be an additional Nineteen Thousand One Hundred Seventy Dollars and Ninety Cents ($19,170.90). Mayor Ervin noted if the city decides to replace these valves at a later time it will cost a lot more. Matteson stated he thinks this is the appropriate time to do it. Consensus agreed. City Clerk, Stacey Briney was directed to place Approve Change Order #4 on the Consent Agenda for the next council meeting.

Matteson reported he talked to Carey Foxall of Hood Construction and Foxall said the manhole plans will be approved this week. Matteson stated McAllister Street will be shut down on February 24th to allow Hood’s to get the proper elevations. Matteson said Hood’s are hoping to start the first week of March. Matteson noted North Liberty Street from Jefferson to McAllister and McAllister Street will be shut down during this time. Matteson stated he has already spoken to the business owners about this.

Sidewalk & Lighting Committee Chairman, Terry Dodds reported the committee met with the TIF Committee to ask for funds for the sidewalk on North Congress Street. Dodds stated the TIF Committee agreed to give the city One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000). Mayor Ervin noted the advertisement will be in next week’s newspaper.

Dodds said the bicycle rodeo is coming along. Dodds noted Kerr Homecenter is willing to store the items that we get from them. Dodds said the fliers will go out at the end of the month and he will be putting up posters.

Public Buildings Committee Chairman, Richard Davis reported he reached out to Rex Powell after the committee meeting to see if he would be willing to pay Three Thousand Dollars ($3,000) for the property located at 147 E. LaFayette Street. Davis stated Powell said he will pay that and is planning on putting up a spec home. Davis noted this is a good thing because the city will get tax dollars from that. Clerk Briney was directed to place Discuss & Consider Approving the Sale of Surplus Property located at 147 E. LaFayette St. on the next council agenda.

City Clerk, Stacey Briney reported surrounding communities were so generous with donations during the time after the school bus/semi accident, so with the fatal accident that took the life of a 15-year old girl from Pittsfield, along with another female, she decided to be a place to accept donations for the families. Clerk Briney said she will collect donations and mail them out.

Mayor, Jeff Ervin reported the appropriations were in everyone’s packet and need to be turned into Clerk Briney as soon as possible so she can get everything done to be ready to pass by May 1st.

Mayor Ervin said the meeting with the Chamber, Schuy-Life, SCEDC, etc. has been changed to March 12th at the Rushville State Bank annex.

Mayor Ervin noted that the meeting with FHWA stakeholder meeting and Dave Schneider will be March 13th, from 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. at the Fitness Center.

13. ADJOURN

Matteson MOVED TO ADJOURN. Acker 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. THE MEETING STOOD ADJOURNED ACCORDINGLY AT 7:31 P.M.

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