West Central Reporter

City of Rushville City Council met Sept. 15.

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 Mike Grate 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. The meeting was called to order at 7:00 P.M. Council Member Paul Trimble, was absent.

Others present included: Mike Grate, City Clerks Office; City Attorney, Erin Wilson-Laegeler; Superintendent of Operations, Drew Ralston, Mike Lamb of Rushville Collision Center; and Connor & Tiffanie Ambrosius.

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 September 2, 2025

b) Approve “Claims for Council Approval Dated 09/15/25” & Accept Monthly Reports

c) Approve Closing Ellen Scripps Drive on Tuesday, September 17th & Wednesday, September 18th

d) Approve Repairs to SCADA System at a Cost of $18,083.19

e) Pass & Adopt Resolution No. 1167, Resolution Pledging Financial Support for a Safe Routes to School Non-Infrastructure Grant Application

f) Consider Suspending the Rules RE: Ordinance No. 1401, Ordinance Authorizing the Adams Electric Cooperative, its Successors and Assigns, to Construct, Operate and Maintain an Electric Light, Heat and Power System in the City of Rushville, County of Schuyler & State of Illinois

g) Pass & Adopt Ordinance No. 1401, Ordinance Authorizing the Adams Electric Cooperative, its Successors and Assigns, to Construct, Operate and Maintain an Electric Light, Heat and Power System in the City of Rushville, County of Schuyler & State of Illinois

Fishel MOVED TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA. Ryan 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.

6. ITEMS TO BE REMOVED FROM CONSENT AGENDA – IF APPLICABLE All items were approved on the Consent Agenda.

7. RECONSIDER PREVIOUS MOTION OF APPROVAL OF TIF APPLICATION WITH RUSHVILLE COLLISION CENTER

Mayor Ervin stated that TIF Committee Chair, Susan Acker, City Attorney, Erin Wilson-Laegeler, and himself walked over to the lot behind Rushville Collison Center and observed that the trash and old parts have been picked up. Mayor Ervin asked Mike Lamb, owner of Rushville Collision Center, if he was going to pick up the rest of the brush on the property and Lamb said he would.

City Attorney, Wilson-Laegeler spoke in favor of the reconsideration and approval of the TIF application and noted this is more than appropriate use of TIF funds. Attorney Wilson-Laegeler stated TIF funds are used to improve blighted areas. Attorney Wilson-Laegeler said she knows there were some concerns regarding the use of TIF funds for ordinance violations, but any time someone asks for TIF funds to make repairs to the exterior of buildings, they would be in violation of an ordinance whether they were issued an ordinance violation or not. Attorney Wilson-Laegeler stated that she and Mayor Ervin have worked hard to bring this deal together to avoid further litigation and feels that this is good outcome for all.

Council Member, Terry Dodds asked what the TIF funds would be used for and Attorney Wilson Laegeler said it would be for the fence. Dodds said he just wanted to make sure that it would not be used for anything else on the property other than the fence.

Mayor Ervin stated that he told Lamb if the TIF fund was approved and once the fence was completed, he would need to bring the bill over to City Hall and we would issue him a check. Acker stated, typically on TIF funds, once project is completed, we go look at it to make sure everything is in order first before issuing payment. TIF Committee Member, Bob Fishel asked how much TIF funds were requested, and Attorney Wilson-Laegeler stated up to Twenty-Five Thousand Dollars ($25,000) or Eighty Percent (80%) of the project.

Council Member, Bryan Matteson said he was concerned that the increase of tax revenue we were going to see from this business would take five hundred (500) years to recoup the money requested. Mayor Ervin stated we could say that about all the businesses in town that we have given TIF funds. Matteson stressed that he does not think this is a good use of TIF money.

No motion was made at this time.

8. DISCUSS & CONSIDER APPROVING TIF APPLICATION WITH RUSHVILLE COLLISION CENTER

Farniok MOVED TO APPROVE TIF APPLICATION WITH RUSHVILLE COLLISON CENTER. Acker SECONDED, AND THE MOTION CARRIED WITH A ROLL CALL VOTE AS FOLLOWS: 6 YEAS – Carey, Dodds, Farniok, Fishel, Ryan, & Acker; 1 NAYS – Matteson; 1 ABSENT – Trimble.

9. DISCUSS & CONSIDER APPROVING A VARIANCE REQUEST FROM REX POWELL FOR PROPERTY LOCATED AT 147 E. LAFAYETTE STREET

Mayor Ervin explained that this variance is for the porch on the west side of the house, to extend one foot (1’) into the setback requirement on the property line. Mayor Ervin said the neighbor to the west has been contacted and does not have a problem with the porch placement. Attorney Wilson-Laegeler confirmed the porch does not encroach over the property line but extends over the setback requirement by one foot (1’) and is still on the property.

Carey MOVED TO APPROVE A VARIANCE REQUEST FROM REX POWELL FOR THE PROPERTY LOCATED AT 147 E. LAFAYETTE STREET. Fishel 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.

10. COUNCIL MEMBER & OFFICAL’S REPORTS

Cemetery Committee Chairman, Bryan Matteson wanted to commend Eagle Scout, Jude Eveland on his raising money for the placement of street signs in the cemetery. Mayor Ervin asked what the total cost of the signs would be, and Dodds said the cost of the signs is Five Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($5,500) and Eveland has raised approximately One Thousand Dollars ($1,000). Dodds also commended Eveland on his diligence on this project.

Water & Sewer Committee Chairman, Matteson reported that Superintendent of Operations, Drew Ralston needs a tiller attachment for the rear of their tractor. Matteson said Ralston has a quote from Mt. Sterling Implement for Three Thousand Six Hundred Seventy-Five Dollars ($3,675). Mayor Ervin stated the city crew has been using a walk-behind rear tine tiller for the West Lafayette Street storm sewer replacement project and he does not know why the city does not have a tiller for the tractor anyways. Mayor Ervin noted this tiller could be used for multiple jobs within the city. Consensus was to have Ralston purchase the tiller and to have this item placed on the next Consent Agenda.

Council Member, Terry Dodds reported that he contacted the health department regarding the display cooler across the street from City Hall. Mayor Ervin stated he would speak with Chief of Police, Rick Wright tomorrow on this matter.

Sewer Committee Member, Mike Carey reported he has a sewer problem in his area and does not know how to handle it. Mayor Ervin stated he would speak with Attorney Wilson-Laegeler and get back with him.

Parks & Recreation Co-Chair, Mike Farniok reported that Scripps Park Board met with some of the Little League Board. Farniok stated Keith DeMoss, representative of the Little League Board, presented all the changes coming to the ballfields this fall and also presented their three to five (3-5) year plan. Farniok commented it was a good discussion with good information. Farniok said he would like to have a representative from the Little League Board at every Scripps Park Board meeting, if possible, to keep the lines of communication open.

Mayor Ervin reported that Little League has decided to charge out-of-town “travel” teams for the use of the ballfields for their games. Mayor Ervin stated the money would be used for field maintenance. Mayor Ervin said the city may have to get into some sort of written agreement with the Little League on several things. A discussion followed.

Street Committee Chairman, Bob Fishel reported that he spoke with Ralston, and with Crane’s Service shutting down, the city workers do not have many places to charge gas. Fishel stated Ralston spoke with Richard Davis of Halcomb Oil and they have five hundred sixty (560) gallon tanks available that they can place out at the City Shed. Fishel noted Davis is taking over topping off the diesel generators since Prairieland FS does not believe it is profitable for them anymore. Fishel would like to have a couple tanks at the City Shed. A discussion followed. Mayor Ervin suggested to have this item put on the agenda for the next meeting.

Fishel also reported that the city’s two-ton (2T) truck needs replaced, but it will not happen this year and needs to be considered for next year.

City Attorney, Erin Wilson-Laegeler reported she is going to the IML Conference and will bring back any new information she receives at the event.

Wilson-Laegeler stated she has the deed for the Industrial Park Lot the city purchased back from Savana Caputo so she will be recording it tomorrow.

Fishel asked Attorney Wilson-Laegeler if she had any additional information on the dogs that were deemed dangerous on East Adams Street, and Attorney Wilson-Laegeler said she had filed a complaint and it should be served soon.

11. ADJOURN

Dodds MOVED TO ADJOURN. Fishel 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.

THE MEETING STOOD ADJOURNED ACCORDINGLY AT 7:23 P.M.

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