West Central Reporter

City of Rushville City Council met July 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 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, & 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; 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 July 7, 2025

b) Approve the Minutes of the Street Committee Meeting held July 7, 2025; & Industrial Park Committee Meeting held July 15, 2025

c) Approve “Claims for Council Approval Dated 07/21/25” & Accept Monthly Reports

d) Approve $600 Donation to the 11-12 Little League Softball State Tournament Team

e) Approve Yearly Generator Maintenance with Richards Electric at a Cost of $3,700

f) Consider Removing Stumps on W. LaFayette Street at a Cost not to Exceed $3,000

g) Approve 2025 MFT Acceptance of Proposal for Oil & Chip with Illinois Valley Paving at a Cost of $44,941

h) Consider 2nd Reading of Ordinance No. 1396, Ordinance Amending Section 70-41 of the Rushville City Code

Fishel REQUESTED TO HAVE ITEM “5B” REMOVED FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA.

Fishel MOVED TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF ITEM “5B”. Farniok 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

Item “5B”: Street Committee Chairman, Bob Fishel requested the following changes to the minutes of the street committee meeting held July 7, 2025: Line 5 under Discuss Bids for New Truck from “….be paid from the sewer fund.” to “….be paid from the street fund.” City Clerk, Stacey Briney made note of said changes.

Fishel MOVED TO APPROVE ITEM “5B”, APPROVE THE MINUTES OF THE STREET COMMITTEE MEETING HELD JULY 7, 2025; & INDUSTRIAL PARK COMMITTEE MEETING HELD JULY 15, 2025, WITH NOTED CHANGES TO THE STREET COMMITTEE MINUTES. Farniok SECONDED, AND THE MOTION CARRIED WITH AN ALL “YEA” ROLL CALL VOTE AS FOLLOWS: 8 YEAS – Carey, Dodds, Farniok, Fishel, Matteson, Ryan, Trimble, & Acker; 0 NAYS; 0 ABSENT.

7. DISCUSS & CONSIDER 2ND READING OR ORDINANCE NO. 1397, ORDINANCE AMENDING A PORTION OF ORDINANCE NO. 1327

Matteson MOVED TO PASS ORDINANCE NO. 1397, ORDINANCE AMENDING A PORTION OF ORDINANCE NO. 1327 TO THE THIRD (3RD) READING. Carey SECONDED.

Ordinance Review Committee Member, Bryan Matteson stated this ordinance changes the curfew from 10:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. to 12:00 a.m. – 5:00 a.m. and also allows the curfew to be 1:00 a.m. during the week of the fair. Matteson said he had spoken with Chief of Police, Rick Wright about this and he did not see any issues with it.

THE MOTION CARRIED WITH A ROLL CALL VOTE AS FOLLOWS: 4 YEAS – Fishel, Matteson, Trimble, & Carey; 4 NAYS – Dodds, Farniok, Ryan, & Acker; 0 ABSENT, WITH Mayor Ervin VOTING “YEA” AS THE TIE-BREAKING VOTE.

8. DISCUSS & CONSIDER APPROVING LIQUOR LICENSE FOR EL TALISMAN MEXICAN RESTAURANT

Mayor Ervin stated this restaurant will be going into the old Mexican restaurant at the junction of Routes 67 & 24. Mayor Ervin called for a motion. This matter died for a lack of a motion.

9. RECONSIDER PREVIOUS MOTION OF APPROVAL OF TIF APPLICATION WITH RUSHVILLE COLLISION

TIF Committee Chair, Susan Acker stated this item will be placed on the September 15th agenda since the council talked about giving Mike Lamb, owner of Rushville Collision until then to get things cleaned up. City Attorney, Erin Wilson-Laegeler noted she will reduce these terms in writing. No action was taken at this time and this item will be placed on the September 15th council agenda.

10. DISCUSS & CONSIDER APPROVING TIF APPLICATION WITH RUSHVILLE COLLISION

No action was taken at this time and this item will be placed on the September 15th council agenda.

11. DISCUSS & CONSIDER ALLOWING AN ADDITIONAL BUILDING ON LOT 7 IN THE INDUSTRIAL PARK

Committee Chair, Acker reported Tom McMurren had brought the design of the additional building to the committee meeting for review. Acker stated McMurren would like to put up a new building southwest of the existing building. Acker noted McMurren knows he has some covenant issues to work on and informed the committee that the asphalt is coming for the driveway and the concrete is coming for the sidewalk.

Acker MOVED TO APPROVE ALLOWING AN ADDITIONAL BUILDING ON LOT 7 IN THE INDUSTRIAL PARK. Fishel SECONDED.

Matteson noted he hopes McMurren does what he says because that business would flourish. Industrial Park Committee Member, Mike Ryan said the setback distances will have to be checked. Industrial Park Committee Member, Fishel stated his only concern is that McMurren wants to smoke pig’s ears and if the ventilation is not right, we will get a lot of complaints.

THE MOTION CARRIED WITH AN ALL “YEA” ROLL CALL VOTE AS FOLLOWS: 8 YEAS – Farniok, Fishel, Matteson, Ryan, Trimble, Acker, Carey, & Dodds; 0 NAYS; 0 ABSENT.

12. DISCUSS & CONSIDER EXTENDING THE GROUND BREAKING FOR THE NORTH 1/3 OF LOT 10 IN THE INDUSTRIAL PARK

Acker reported she was approached by Mark Tyson regarding the difficult time they were having getting bids for the building on the north 1/3 of Lot 10. Acker noted some of the bids came in but they were not what the owners wanted so they changed the plans and resubmitted. Acker reminded the council that Savana Caputo, owner of the lot, had six (6) months from the day of conveyance to start breaking ground but that is probably not going to happen. Acker said she spoke with Attorney Wilson-Laegeler and wondered about allowing an additional six (6) months to give them time to get bids in.

Acker MOVED TO APPROVE EXTENDING THE GROUND BREAKING AN ADDITIONAL SIX (6) MONTHS FROM THE ORIGINAL FOR SAVANA CAPUTO ON THE NORTH 1/3 OF LOT 10 IN THE INDUSTRIAL PARK. Carey SECONDED, AND THE MOTION CARRIED WITH AN ALL “YEA” ROLL CALL VOTE AS FOLLOWS: 8 YEAS – Fishel, Matteson, Ryan, Trimble, Acker, Carey, Dodds, & Farniok; 0 NAYS; 0 ABSENT.

13. DISCUSS & CONSIDER EXTENDING SEWER ON LOT 8 IN THE INDUSTRIAL PARK

Acker reported Jim Stolp owns this lot was is wanting to add a building on it but he currently does not have sewer. Acker stated this lot was originally purchased by Andy Cassady and then he sold a portion of it to Stolp so the sewer is on the other lot. Acker said she spoke to Superintendent of Operations, Drew Ralston and he said that was more work than his crew could handle so the city would have to hire it out.

Acker MOVED TO ALLOW JIM STOLP TO EXTEND THE SEWER FROM THE CITY’S MAIN TO HIS LOT, LOT 8, IN THE INDUSTRIAL PARK. Fishel SECONDED, AND THE MOTION CARRIED WITH AN ALL “YEA” ROLL CALL VOTE AS FOLLOWS: 8 YEAS – Matteson, Ryan, Trimble, Acker, Carey, Dodds, Farniok, & Fishel; 0 NAYS; 0 ABSENT.

14. COUNCIL MEMBER & OFFICAL’S REPORTS

Parks & Recreation Co-Chair, Paul Trimble reported that the light poles at the ball diamond in Schuy-Rush Park need replaced. Trimble stated Schuy-Rush Park Board President, Brad Thurman got a price of Seventeen Thousand Fifty-Two Dollars ($17,052) on the poles, installation, and delivery. Trimble said they would also have to purchase new bulbs, which would cost approximately One Thousand Six Hundred Dollars ($1,600). Trimble noted it would cost Twenty-Two Thousand Dollars ($22,000) to convert the bulbs over to LED and the board did not think the diamond is used enough to justify that cost. Trimble noted there is approximately Thirteen Thousand Dollars ($13,000) in that appropriation line. Mayor Ervin asked how much money was in the park’s actual fund, and Trimble said they had Twenty Four Thousand Dollars ($24,000) at their June meeting. Trimble stated the board was wondering if the city could help with the remainder of the project which would be about Five Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($5,500).

Trimble said someone has been talking to Adams Electric, who would be the ones putting up the poles, and was told that is would be best to do them all while someone in onsite. Matteson noted the four (4) poles in the infield are in worse shape than the four (4) in the outfield so he thought maybe the park should just replace the infield ones first, but if it is going to cost more then maybe they should do them all. Mayor Ervin suggesting waiting to see how much money they have left after they pay for the electrical upgrade.

Trimble also reported that Schuy-Rush would like to build a fishing pier but they were not sure if the city would agree to help pay for that or not. Trimble stated Thurman got a quote for an 8’x32’ aluminum and work pier in the amount of Thirty-Three Thousand Dollars ($33,000), and a 16’x12” with handrails in treated wood in the amount of Nineteen Thousand Two Hundred Ten Dollars ($19,210). A discussion followed. Mayor Ervin recommended the park board decide which project they want to do because the city cannot afford to do them both.

Water Committee Chairman, Bryan Matteson reported he has a change order directive for the new water salesman on Logan Street. Matteson noted he was not sure if the city wanted to move forward on this project or just let it go because the quote on the salesman is Thirty-Three Thousand Three Hundred Ninety-Five Dollars and Thirty Cents ($33,395.30) and that does not include the gravel drive, taking down the existing building, etc. A discussion followed if this was needed and could be afforded. Mayor Ervin said if the city decides to do this at a later date it will cost a lot more money.

Matteson stated the committee talked about raising the price to One Dollar ($1) per one hundred (100) gallons. Clerk Briney said she thinks the average from the water salesman was Two Thousand to Two Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($2,000-$2,500) per year. Matteson noted he feels it was always busy and it is a service to the public. Consensus was to move forward with the new water salesman. Clerk Briney was directed to place Consider Approving Change Order Directive on the next council agenda.

Sidewalk & Lighting Committee Chairman, Terry Dodds reported the sidewalk is finished on Morgan Street and all that is left is to dress it up. Dodds said the sidewalk in front of the police department looks nice.

Parks & Recreation Committee Member, Mike Carey reported the grass in Central Park looks a lot better since we have been fertilizing it.

Parks & Recreation Co-Chair, Mike Farniok reported Scripps Park Board has lost a couple members, Sarah Dodds and Andree Ambrosius, but other than that, things are going fine.

Ordinance Review Committee Chairman, Farniok called for a committee meeting at 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, July 24th, to Discuss Camper Policy.

Mayor, Jeff Ervin reported the NRA Banquet will be held on Saturday, August 2nd at the Fitness Center and Debbie Hester has applied for a Special Event license. Consensus of the council was to approve said license.

15. ADJOURN

Carey MOVED TO ADJOURN. Dodds SECONDED, AND THE MOTION CARRIED WITH AN ALL “YEA” ROLL CALL VOTE AS FOLLOWS: 8 YEAS – Ryan, Trimble, Acker, Dodds, Farniok, Fishel, & Matteson; 0 NAYS; 0 ABSENT. THE MEETING STOOD ADJOURNED ACCORDINGLY AT 7:35 P.M.

https://rushvilleillinois.us/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/25-07-21.pdf