West Central Reporter

City of Rushville City Council met April 21.

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 Moe Billingsley of The Rushville Times; and Mason Vincent & Vic Menely, representing the Smiles Day Committee.

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. NIEMANN FOOD REPRESENTATIVE TO ADDRESS COUNCIL RE: CHANGING LIQUOR LICENSE TO ALLOW FOR GAMING

The representative had a personal matter come up so no one was in attendance at this time.

5. DISCUSS & CONSIDER ALLOWING GAMING IN COUNTY MARKET No action was taken at this time.

6. MASON VINCENT & VIC MENELY – SMILES DAY UPDATE

Vic Menely, representing the Smiles Day Committee reported there are no changes from last year, including the One Thousand Dollar ($1,000) donation. Mason Vincent, also representing the Smiles Day Committee stated last year was the first year the committee shut down the inside lanes early and they will again coordinate with the businesses regarding that again this year. Vincent noted the committee is going back to a carnival this year.

Menely said there is stuff going on uptown on Saturday but that is a different committee. Council Member, Terry Dodds asked if the square was going to be shut down on Saturday as well, and Menely stated the road will be closed but not the highway. Mayor Ervin stressed that they needed to make sure everything is cleaned up before Saturday’s coronation.

7. DISCUSS & CONSIDER DONATION TO SMILES DAY

Dodds questioned if the county board had been approached for a donation, and Menely said it was his understanding that the county is going to help fund Saturday’s events.

Farniok MOVED TO APPROVE A ONE THOUSAND DOLLAR ($1,000) DONATION TO THE SMILES DAY COMMITTEE. 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.

Mason Vincent & Vic Menely left the meeting at 7:12 p.m.

8. PUBLIC COMMENTS

There were no Public Comments at this time.

9. 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 April 7, 2025

b) Approve the Minutes of the Public Buildings Committee Meeting held April 4, 2025; & Combined TIF & Joint Review Board Committee Meeting held April 16, 2025

c) Approve “Claims for Council Approval Dated 04/21/25” & Accept Monthly Reports

d) Approve Closing the South Side of the Square & Reserving Central Park on Friday, May 2, 2025, for Ag Day

e) Approve Hiring Part-Time Employees for Scripps Park (see attached memo)

f) Pass & Adopt Ordinance No. 1391, Ordinance Amending Class A Liquor License

g) Approve 2nd Reading of Ordinance No. 1392, Annual Appropriation Ordinance

h) Consider Suspending the Rules RE: Ordinance No. 1393, An Ordinance Amending Chapter 2, Article II, Section 2-51, Standing Committee Appointment of the Rushville City Code

i) Pass & Adopt Ordinance No. 1393, An Ordinance Amending Chapter 2, Article II, Section 2-51, Standing Committee Appointment of the Rushville City Code

Acker REQUESTED TO HAVE ITEM “9B” REMOVED FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA. Matteson REQUESTED TO HAVE ITEM “9E” REMOVED FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA.

Fishel MOVED TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF ITEMS “9B” & “9E”. Ryan SECONDED, AND THE MOTION CARRIED WITH A ROLL CALL VOTE AS FOLLOWS: 8 YEAS – Davis, Dodds, Farniok, Fishel, Matteson, Ryan, Trimble, & Acker; 0 NAYS; 0 ABSENT.

10. ITEMS TO BE REMOVED FROM CONSENT AGENDA – IF APPLICABLE

Item “9B”: TIF Committee Chair, Susan Acker requested the following changes to the April 16, 2025, minutes: 4th paragraph, from “….approve a TIF application for Rushville Collision to be awarded after eighty percent (80%) of the project is completed at an amount not….” to “….approve a TIF award for Rushville Collision to be for eighty percent (80%) of the funds spent not….”. City Clerk, Stacey Briney made note of said changes.

Acker MOVED TO APPROVE ITEM “9B”, APPROVE THE MINUTES OF THE PUBLIC BUILDINGS COMMITTEE MEETING HELD APRIL 4, 2025; & COMBINED TIF & JOINT REVIEW BOARD MEETING HELD APRIL 16, 2025, WITH NOTED CORRECTIONS. Ryan 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.

Item “9E”: Council Member, Bryan Matteson stated he removed this item because he is not for some of the part-time employees getting paid more than others.

Dodds MOVED TO APPROVE ITEM “9E”, APPROVE HIRING PART-TIME EMPLOYEES AT SCRIPPS PARK. Ryan SECONDED, AND THE MOTION CARRIED WITH A ROLL CALL VOTE AS FOLLOWS: 5 YEAS – Farniok, Fishel, Ryan, Acker, & Dodds; 3 NAYS – Matteson, Trimble, & Davis; 0 ABSENT.

11. DISCUSS & CONSIDER APPROVING CITY ATTORNEY TO NEGOTIATE CONTRACT WITH POTOMAC RENEWABLE ENERGY

Mayor Ervin reported he tried to contact the other company but to no avail and no call back. Mayor Ervin said the committee recommended moving forward with Potomac Renewable Energy. Public Buildings Committee Chairman, Richard Davis stated someone needs to let them know that when they put the cable underground, it needs to be at least five feet (5’) underground so when they turn it back into farming ground they do not have to remove anything.

Farniok MOVED TO APPROVE ALLOWING CITY ATTORNEY, ERIN WILSON LAEGELER TO NEGOTIATE A CONTRACT WITH POTOMAC RENEWABLE ENERGY. Fishel SECONDED, AND THE MOTION CARRIED WITH AN ALL “YEA” ROLL CALL VOTE AS FOLLOWS: 8 YEAS – Fishel, Matteson, Trimble, Acker, Davis, Dodds, & Farniok; 0 NAYS; 0 ABSENT.

12. DISCUSS & CONSIDER APPROVING A TIF AGREEMENT WITH RUSHVILLE COLLISION

Acker MOVED TO APPROVE A TIF AGREEMENT WITH RUSHVILLE COLLISION FOR EIGHTY PERCENT (80%) OF THE FUNDS SPENT NOT TO EXCEED TWENTY-FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS ($25,000). Farniok SECONDED.

Matteson reported that he reviewed the TIF rules and he cannot find anything where fences apply, but the concrete that will be poured does. City Attorney, Erin Wilson-Laegeler stated that the TIF was directed towards cleaning up the blighted areas. Mayor Ervin noted Rushville Collision is in the TIF district so they can apply for the betterment of their property. Matteson asked if the city has used TIF funds for any other fences in town, and Mayor Ervin said he does not think so. Mayor Ervin stressed that Rushville Collision is also a wrecker business so they have a right to have those vehicles there but our ordinance is what makes the need for a fence.

Acker MOVED TO ADJOURN TO CLOSED SESSION TO DISCUSS LITIGATION – 5 ILCS 120/2 (C)(11). Farniok 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. OPEN SESSION STOOD ADJOURNED TO CLOSED SESSION AT 7:17 P.M.

RETURN TO OPEN SESSION

Open Session reconvened at 7:23 p.m. with the following present: Mayor Ervin; Clerk Briney; Attorney Wilson-Laegeler, Council Members – Acker, Davis, Dodds, Farniok, Fishel, Matteson, Ryan, & Trimble; Superintendent Ralston, Chief Wright, and Billingsley.

THE MOTION FAILED WITH A ROLL CALL VOTE AS FOLLOWS: 3 YEAS – Dodds, Trimble, & Acker; 5 NAYS – Matteson, Ryan, Davis, Farniok, & Fishel; 0 ABSENT.

13. COUNCIL MEMBER & OFFICIALS’ REPORTS

Council Member, Bryan Matteson reported this is Council Member, Richard Davis’s last meeting and he congratulated him on a job well done.

Water & Sewer Committee Chairman, Bryan Matteson said he is going to be calling a combined committee meeting to discuss the big problems the city has at the lift station.

Council Member, Richard Davis reported this is his last meeting and he felt it has been a quick four (4) years. Davis said he appreciated working with everyone but he is just too busy with his work schedule and does not feel he can serve the city in the capacity that needs to be.

Street Committee Chairman, Bob Fishel reported he had talked with Superintendent of Operations, Drew Ralston about the street out front of City Hall and the repairs that need to be done on East LaFayette Street by the Rushville State Bank Annex.

City Attorney, Erin Wilson-Laegeler reported she has been in contact with Animal Control Officer, David Edwards regarding a couple of dog bite incidents with Clay Fagan’s dog. Attorney Wilson-Laegeler stated Edwards has deemed that dog dangerous and is concerned about the rabies vaccine because the ten (10) day hold is up tomorrow.

Mayor, Jeff Ervin reported he got a letter from Benton & Associates regarding the CCR report that they have helped complete in the past. Mayor Ervin noted Benton’s will prepare the report for Four Hundred Fifty Dollars ($450). Mayor Ervin stated Randy Dabney might do this report but in case he does not, he would like a consensus to have Benton’s do it. Consensus of the council was to have Benton’s do the report if Dabney does not complete it.

14. ADJOURN

Dodds MOVED TO ADJOURN. Farniok SECONDED, AND THE MOTION CARRIED WITH AN ALL “YEA” ROLL CALL VOTE AS FOLLOWS: 8 YEAS – Ryan, Trimble, Acker, Davis, Dodds, Farniok, Fishel, & Mattson; 0 NAYS; 0 ABSENT. THE MEETING STOOD ADJOURNED ACCORDINGLY AT 7:27 P.M.

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