West Central Reporter

City of Rushville City Council met June 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 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, Mike Ryan, and Paul Trimble. 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; Moe Billingsley of The Rushville Times/ and Brad Thurman, Schuy-Rush Park Board President.

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 COMMENT

Schuy-Rush Park Board President, Brad Thurman reported there are a couple projects at the park that the board would like to do but do not have the extra funds to do them. Thurman said there are ten campsites that are only 20-amp service but most campers now are at least 30-amp. Thurman stated he got a quote of Six Thousand Nine Hundred Ninety-Five Dollars ($6,995) from SDM to install RV boxes that will allow for 20-amp, 30-amp, and 50-amp services. Thurman noted this quote includes new ground rods as well. Thurman stated he was asking for the council’s permission to move forward and to help out with paying for it. Mayor Ervin said City Clerk, Stacey Briney informed him that the city usually gives Schuy Rush Park Thirty Thousand Dollars ($30,000) at the end of the fiscal year to get them through, but we did not do that last year. Parks & Recreation Committee Member, Mike Carey asked Thurman if he only got one (1) bid, and Thurman said he did because any other bids would be from contractors out of town. Thurman did note that SDM can do the job and be done by the end of July. Consensus of the council was to allow Schuy-Rush Park to move forward with the project. Clerk Briney was directed to place this item on the July 7th council agenda.

Thurman reported the other project that had just come up was to find more accessible fishing areas along the bank or possibly putting in a fishing pier. Council Member, Bryan Matteson stated there is no place to fish out there if you do not have a boat. Matteson said there is one place that a person could go so if someone is already there, you cannot fish. Matteson noted the area is behind the lower restroom. A discussion followed.

Parks & Recreation Committee Co-Chair, Paul Trimble reported there is a dead tree behind the restrooms by the dock. Trimble said he got a quote from Zeisler Tree Service but Superintendent of Operations, Drew Ralston said the city can take it down but some of the limbs will probably fall in the lake. Trimble noted if Zeisler takes the tree down, he will have to cut some of a good tree to get to it.

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 May 19, 2025

b) Approve the Minutes of the Street Committee Meeting held May 19, 2025

c) Approve “Claims for Council Approval Dated 06/02/25” & Accept Monthly Reports

d) Approve Reserving Central Park on Saturday, September 13, 2025, from 4:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. for SCEDC Fish Fry

e) Approve Loan Reimbursements

f) Approve Paying for Employees CDL

g) Approve Supporting the Prescription Drug Affordability Act

h) Approve Hiring Lawn Pro to Treat Central Park

i) Pass & Adopt Resolution No. 1166, Smiles Day Resolution

j) Consider 1st Reading of Ordinance No. 1394, Prevailing Wage Ordinance

Dodds MOVED TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA. Fishel SECONDED, AND THE MOTION CARRIED WITH AN ALL “YEA” ROLL CALL VOTE AS FOLLOWS: 8 YEAS – Acker, Carey, 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 DEMOLITION OF BUILDING ON LOGAN STREET & RELOCATING THE BULK WATER SALESMAN

Water Committee Chairman, Matteson reported the committee met and discussed the building at Logan Street that houses the water salesman. Matteson stated Leander is on site taking down the east storage tank and feels this would be the best time to take that building offline. Matteson noted the building is very dangerous and heat escapes it in the winter. Matteson stated Bryan Cannon of Benton Engineering said he would have to do an asbestos study, which was done on Tuesday, and a flow study to see how things would go with the pumps on and off. Matteson stated he does not have a price on the demolition of the building but he is hoping that since River City is there, it might be cheaper.

Matteson said the committee discussed moving the water salesman to the pump house. Matteson noted the new salesman would accept coins, currency, and debit/credit cards. Matteson stated there is a monthly fee of Seven Dollars and Ninety-Five Cents ($7.95) and a transaction fee that is passed on to the customer when using their debit/credit cards. Matteson stressed that the new machine would not give change.

Chief of Police, Rick Wright left the meeting at 7:17 p.m.

Matteson MOVED TO APPROVE THE DEMOLITION OF THE LOGAN STREET BUILDING AND RELOCATING THE BULK WATER SALESMEN TO THE PUMP HOUSE CONTINGENT UPON A FLOW STUDY, AND CHANGING THE RATE OF WATER TO ONE DOLLAR ($1) PER ONE HUNDRED (100) GALLON. Carey SECONDED, THE MOTION CARRIED WITH A ROLL CALL VOTE AS FOLLOWS: 8 YEAS – Carey, Dodds, Farniok, Fishel, Matteson, Ryan, Trimble, & Acker; 0 NAYS; 0 ABSENT.

8. COUNCIL MEMBER & OFFICIAL’S REPORTS

Council Member, Bryan Matteson reported he would like to suspend the curfew for ATV/UTV during the fair, June 29 – July 5. Consensus of the council agreed.

Parks & Recreation Committee Member, Mike Carey reported he is going to go out to Schuy Rush Park and volunteer to cut some of the long hanging limbs behind the bathhouse and anything else that is lower.

9. ADJOURN

Fishel MOVED TO ADJOURN. Farniok SECONDED, AND THE MOTION CARRIED WITH AN ALL “YEA” ROLL CALL VOTE AS FOLLOWS: 8 YEAS – Dodds, Farniok, Fishel, Matteson, Ryan, Trimble, Acker, & Carey; 0 NAYS; 0 ABSENT. THE MEETING STOOD ADJOURNED ACCORDINGLY AT 7:22 P.M.

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