West Central Reporter

City of Rushville City Council met May 19.

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 directed City Clerk, Stacey Briney to call the roll. Upon ROLL CALL, the following answered present: Council Members: Susan Acker, Mike Carey, Terry Dodds, Mike Farniok, Bob Fishel, Bryan Matteson, and Mike Ryan. Council Member, Paul Trimble was absent. The meeting was called to order at 7:00 P.M.

Others present included: Stacey Briney, City Clerk; Erin Wilson-Laegeler, City Attorney, Drew Ralston, Superintendent of Operations; Rick Wright, Chief of Police; Audra Elam, Schuyler County Economic Development (SCEDC) Director; and Megan Crook, IMEG Engineering.

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.

PUBLIC COMMENT

There were no Public Comments at this time.

4. 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 May 5, 2025

b) Approve “Claims for Council Approval Dated 05/19/25” & Accept Monthly Reports

c) Approve Renewing Licensed Water Operator Contract with Randy Dabney

d) Approve Annual Service Agreement with Corrpro for Cathodic Protection Farniok MOVED TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA. Fishel SECONDED, AND THE MOTION CARRIED WITH AN ALL “YEA” ROLL CALL VOTE AS FOLLOWS: 7 YEAS – Acker, Carey, Dodds, Farniok, Fishel, Matteson, & Ryan; 0 NAYS; 1 ABSENT – Trimble.

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

All items were approved on the Consent Agenda.

6. DISCUSS & CONSIDER APPROVING ENGINEERING PROPOSAL FROM IMEG FOR SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL (SRTS) APPLICATION

Megan Crook of IMEG reported she had prepared a Safe Routes to School (SRTS) proposal a few years ago but the city did not get the funding. Crook stated this application is a non-funded grant in the amount of One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000) but at this point the city is not committed to anything. Crook said this application will evaluate walking and biking to school, ADA compatibility, etc. Crook noted Schuyler County Engineer, Dave Schneider is putting together a map on the dangerous intersections and crossings and he will work with the city, county, school, hospital, etc.

Crook said the city received money for a Bicycle Rodeo and that will help with the application. Crook stated she will do the preliminary part and if the city receives this grant, she will go after the construction part of it which could be a larger project. Crook noted the project will connect the west side of town, the parks, and fitness center to the rest of the town. Crook said she would get ahold of Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) to see what their plans are for Route 24 first.

Dodds MOVED TO APPROVE AN ENGINEERING AGREEMENT FROM IMEG FOR A SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL (SRTS) APPLICATION IN THE AMOUNT OF FIFTEEN THOUSAND NINE HUNDRED DOLLARS ($15,900). Ryan SECONDED, THE MOTION CARRIED WITH A ROLL CALL VOTE AS FOLLOWS: 7 YEAS – Carey, Dodds, Farniok, Fishel, Matteson, Ryan, & Acker; 0 NAYS; 1 ABSENT – Trimble.

7. DISCUSS & CONSIDER APPROVING ESTIMATE OF MAINTENANCE COST FOR 2025 MFT OIL & CHIP

Fishel MOVED TO APPROVE THE 2025 MFT ESTIMATE OF MAINTENANCE COST IN THE AMOUNT OF ONE HUNDRED THIRTY-THREE THOUSAND FOUR HUNDRED FORTY-THREE DOLLARS AND FIFTY CENTS ($133,443.50). Farniok SECONDED, AND THE MOTION CARRIED WITH AN ALL “YEA” ROLL CALL VOTE AS FOLLOWS: 7 YEAS – Dodds, Farniok, Fishel, Matteson, Ryan, Acker, & Carey; 0 NAYS; 1 ABSENT – Trimble.

8. DISCUSS & CONSIDER APPROVING RED GRANT FOR BOEHM’S GARDEN CENTER

Economic Development Committee Chair, Susan Acker reported she called a meeting for last week to review the RED Grant application from Boehm’s Garden Center but not one (1) committee members showed up.

Acker stated Boehm’s had to wait until May 2025 to apply again since they had already received a grant. Acker noted all of the work is done so she will get all the money.

Acker MOVED TO APPROVE A RED GRANT FOR BOEHM’S GARDEN CENTER IN THE AMOUNT OF FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS ($5,000). Carey SECONDED, AND THE MOTION CARRIED WITH AN ALL “YEA” ROLL CALL VOTE AS FOLLOWS: 7 YEAS – Farniok, Fishel, Matteson, Ryan, Acker, Carey, & Dodds; 0 NAYS; 1 ABSENT – Trimble.

9. DISCUSS & CONSIDER APPROVING SUBDIVISION OF LOT 7 IN THE INDUSTRIAL PARK

Industrial Park Committee Chair, Acker reported she had a meeting to discuss this and again there was only one (1) other person besides her and City Attorney, Erin Wilson-Laegeler so they just discussed this. Acker stated she does not think this is going to be a subdivision now. Attorney Wilson-Laegeler said after the committee meeting, she reached out to realtor Lacey Cunningham and she informed her that this lot was not going to be subdivided. Acker noted from what she understands, nothing needs to be approved on this issue. No action was taken.

10. DISCUSS & CONSIDER REMOVING THE NO PARKING SIGNS ON PARKVIEW ROAD

Street Committee Chairman, Bob Fishel reported the committee met earlier this evening and recommended putting a new sign that reads No Parking Between Signs about three to four (3-4) car lengths from the south entrance of the main parking lot along Parkview Road. Fishel said the committee also recommends to not allow people to drive through the ditch and across the walking path to park behind the fence of the south ball diamond.

Fishel MOVED TO APPROVE PLACING A NO PARKING BETWEEN SIGNS SIGN ABOUT THREE TO FOUR (3-4) CAR LENGTHS FROM THE SOUTH ENTRANCE OF THE MAIN PARKING LOT ON PARKVIEW ROAD AND TO NOT ALLOW PEOPLE TO PARK BEHIND THE FENCE ON THE SOUTH BALL DIAMOND. Dodds SECONDED, AND THE MOTION CARRIED WITH AN ALL “YEA” ROLL CALL VOTE AS FOLLOWS: 7 YEAS – Fishel, Matteson, Ryan, Acker, Carey, Dodds, & Farniok; 0 NAYS; 1 ABSENT – Trimble.

11. COUNCIL MEMBER & OFFICIAL’S REPORTS

Council Member, Susan Acker stressed that when an alderperson is on a committee they should try really hard to be at the meetings. Acker stated she had one (1) person text her to let her know that they were unable to attend and that was it. Acker said she feels it is very rude to not show or let anyone know if they cannot be there.

Water Committee Chairman, Bryan Matteson reported Leander has started on the west tank at Logan Street and have discovered there is a basement under it and they do not want to put an excavator on it so we might have to fill it in with rock or dirt. Matteson said they might use some dirt from Hilltop. Matteson noted there is nineteen (19) loads of dirt coming into town and Bryan Cannon of Benton & Associates is going to see if Leander might share the cost with the city.

Sidewalk & Lighting Committee Chairman, Terry Dodds reported he is glad G M Sipes had time to pour the sidewalk on North Congress Street. Dodds said he has not heard any complaints during this time.

Dodds stated he has the information on the bicycle rodeo that needs signatures. Dodds noted the paperwork is due by the end of June.

Parks & Recreation Committee Member, Mike Carey reported he has talked to Lawn Pro about spraying in Central Park. Carey stated this is usually a four (4) step program but we only need three (3) of the steps. Carey said if the city decides to only spray for weeds, it will cost One Hundred Seventy-Five Dollars ($175) a time, but if we decide to fertilize, it will cost Seventy-Five Dollars ($75) more. Carey noted the city is spending a lot of money on flowers and need to have nice grass. Matteson and Dodds both agree that the city should do the fertilizing as well. Consensus was to hire Lawn Pro to fertilize and spray for weeds in Central Park at a cost of Two Hundred Fifty Dollars ($250).

Parks & Recreation Committee Co-Chair, Mike Farniok reported the Scripps Park Board met last week and voted Terri Belville as president and hired Katie Park as pool manager. Farniok said there was a lot of discussion and concerns about lifeguards because they lost some of them but he thinks they will be fine with what they have.

City Clerk, Stacey Briney reported she left off approving the hire of Katie Park as pool manager so she asked the council for a consensus. Consensus of the council was to approve hiring Katie Park as pool manager.

City Attorney, Erin Wilson-Laegeler reported she is still working on the paperwork with Potomac Energy and is hoping to have the comments to them in the next couple days. Attorney Wilson-Laegeler said she is trying to make sure the city is protected.

Schuyler County Economic Development Director, Audra Elam reported she is working as the director through August and hopes to come back after her internship is done.

12. ADJOURN

Acker MOVED TO ADJOURN. Fishel SECONDED, AND THE MOTION CARRIED WITH AN ALL “YEA” ROLL CALL VOTE AS FOLLOWS: 7 YEAS – Matteson, Ryan, Acker, Carey, Dodds, Farniok, & Fishel; 0 NAYS; 1 ABSENT – Trimble. THE MEETING STOOD ADJOURNED ACCORDINGLY AT 7:21 P.M.

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