April18, 2016

RUSHVILLE CITY COUNCIL MINUTES

1. ROLL CALL & CALL TO ORDER

The Rushville City Council met in the meeting room of the City Hall Building. Upon convening, Mayor Carson Klitzdirected Deputy City Clerk, Marian Fretueg to call the roll. Upon ROLL CALL, the following answered present: Council Members:Susan Acker, Jeff Albers, Jeff Ervin, Gene Ralston,Don Schuman, Bill White, and Larry Wilson.The meeting was called to order at 7:00 P.M. Council Member, Kent Cox was absent.

Others present included: Marian Fretueg, Deputy City Clerk;David Haney of The Rushville Times; Larry Paisley and Debbie Chancy of the Scripps Park Board; and Economic Development Director, Sean Park.

2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

The Pledge of Allegiance led by Mayor Carson Klitz.

3. PUBLIC COMMENTS

Scripps Park Board Member, Larry Paisley invited the council members to come out to the golf course and let them take them a ride around the course to show what has been done, what they are doing, and what they would like done. Paisley said the golf course is one of the big draws for the City of Rushville. Paisley noted the golf course is beautiful and is getting more beautiful by the day. Mayor Klitz stated he would be happy to take them around and show them what is happening out at the golf course.

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.

  1. Approve the Minutes of the Regular Meeting held April 4, 2016
  2. Approve the Minutes of the Street Committee Meeting held March 29, 2016
  3. Approve “Claims for Council Approval Dated 04/18/16” & Accept Monthly Reports
  4. Reserve Central Park on Thursday, May 5th, for National Day of Prayer
  5. Consider Special Event License for the Toad Stool Pub for Saturday, July 23rd, for Cornfest Street Dance
  6. Approve $150 Advertising Donation for the JPhil/Rocket Booster Golf Outing (per past practice)
  7. Consider 2nd Reading of Ordinance No. 1261, Vacating Alley
  8. Consider 2nd Reading of Ordinance No. 1262, Ordinance Amending Chapter 14, Article 1 – Animals
  9. Consider 2nd Reading of Ordinance No. 1264, Ordinance Establishing Salaries, Wages, and Benefits for City Department Superintendents and Employees
  10. Consider Suspending the Rules RE: Ordinance No. 1265, Ordinance Amending Ordinance No. 1260-1, Amending Chapter 6, Article II, Section 6-31, Classes of Licenses Established, of the Rushville City Code
  11. Pass & Adopt Ordinance No. 1265, Ordinance Amending Ordinance No. 1260-1, Amending Chapter 6, Article II, Section 6-31, Classes of Licenses Established, of the Rushville City Code
  12. Consider Suspending the Rules RE: Ordinance No. 1266, Supplemental Appropriation (Schuy-Rush Park)
  13. Pass & Adopt Ordinance No. 1266, Supplemental Appropriation (Schuy-Rush Park)

WilsonMOVED TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA. SchumanSECONDED, AND THE MOTION CARRIED WITH AN ALL “YEA” ROLL CALL VOTE AS FOLLOWS: 7YEAS –Acker, Albers, Ervin, Ralston, Schuman, White, & Wilson; 0 NAYS; 1 ABSENT – Cox.

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

All items were approved on the Consent Agenda.

RUSHVILLE CITY COUNCIL MINUTES, CONT. April 18, 2016

6. DISCUSS & CONSIDER ALLOWING LIBERTY MUTUAL TO TALK WITH CITY EMPLOYEES RE: INSURANCE

Council Member, Larry Wilson reported City Clerk, Stacey Briney was waiting to hear from Austin Knight about their procedure in contacting the employees. Deputy Clerk, MarianFretueg stated Knight had contacted the Clerk Briney with his information. Mayor Klitz questioned if the interviews were done on the city’s time andDeputy Fretueg noted AFLAC was always done on the city’s time with the times being set up by the City Clerk’s office.

Claims & Insurance Committee Member, Jeff Ervin said he had contacted Terri Quillen of the School District and was told that it was not muchof a problem but it did require a little work for whoever handles it in the office. Council Member, Gene Ralston questioned if there was a certain number of applicants needed to enroll in the program, and Mayor Klitz said Liberty Mutual would determine that after they talked to the employees. A discussion followed about allowing the interviews on the city’s time. Consensus was to allowthe City Clerk to coordinate the interviews so it is not a problem.

Ervin MOVED TO ALLOW LIBERTY MUTUAL TO INTERVIEW OUR CITY EMPLOYEES. White SECONDED, AND THE MOTION CARRIED WITH AN ALL “YEA” ROLL CALL VOTE AS FOLLOWS: 7 YEAS – Acker, Albers, Ervin, Ralston, Schuman, White, & Wilson; 0 NAYS; 1 ABSENT – Cox.

7. DISCUSS & CONSIDER PAY INCREASE FOR CEMETERY WORKERS

Cemetery Committee Chairman, Susan Acker reported the memo in the packet was not correct. Acker stated the proposed hourly wage is Eight Dollars and Fifty Cents($8.50) for Mike Stauffer, Robert Nelson, and Brandon Phillips and Trevor Chockley’s hourly wage would stay at Eight Dollars and Twenty Five Cents ($8.25), subject to council approval tonight. Acker stated she was dividing the Seventy-Five Cent ($.75) raise that was given to Larry Quillen last May between the three (3) cemetery workers with the most seniority. Acker stated Keanua Frank will also make Eight Dollars and Twenty Five Cents($8.25), along with Chockley. Acker noted the city is not really paying out any more money than last year. Wilson noted the pay increase should go in effect at the beginning of the 2016-2017 fiscal year.

Acker MOVED TO APPROVE A PAY INCREASE FOR CEMETERY WORKERS EFFECTIVE AT THE BEGINNING OF 2016-2017 FISCAL YEAR. Wilson SECONDED, AND THE MOTION CARRIED WITH AN ALL “YEA” ROLL CALL VOTE AS FOLLOWS: 7 YEAS – Acker, Albers, Ervin, Ralston, Schuman, White, & Wilson; 0 NAYS; 1 ABSENT – Cox.

8. DISCUSS & CONSIDER HIRING PART-TIME EMPLOYEES & WAGES

Memo was presented to the council with list of part-time employees to consider. Memo is attached and is part of these minutes

Wilson MOVED TO APPROVE THE HIRING OF PART-TIME EMPLOYEES AND WAGES EFFECTIVE AT THE BEGINNING OF 2016-2017 FISCAL YEAR. Schuman SECONDED, AND THE MOTION CARRIED WITH AN ALL “YEA” ROLL CALL

VOTE AS FOLLOWS: 7 YEAS – Acker, Albers, Ervin, Ralston, Schuman, White, & Wilson; 0

NAYS; 1 ABSENT – Cox.

9. DISCUSS & CONSIDER ADVANCING FRANK WERNER, JR. ONE –HALF OF THE LABOR COST FOR THE FLOATING DOCK AT SCHUY-RUSH PARK

Ervin questioned if Frank Werner had requested this. Wilson said they have been working on the floating dock.

Wilson MOVED TO APPROVE ADVANCING FRANK WERNER, JR. ONE-HALF (1/2) OF THE LABOR COST OF THE FLOATING DOCK AT SCHUY-RUSH PARK. Schuman SECONDED, AND THE MOTION CARRIED WITH AN ALL “YEA” ROLL CALL VOTE AS FOLLOWS: 7 YEAS – Acker, Albers, Ervin, Ralston, Schuman, White, & Wilson; 0 NAYS;

1 ABSENT – Cox.

RUSHVILLE CITY COUNCIL MINUTES, CONT. April 18, 2016

10. DISCUSS & CONSIDER 2NDREADING OF ORDINANCE NO. 1263, ANNUAL APPROPRIATION ORDINANCE

Ralston said he had a proposed change to the ordinance. Ralston stated since it is unconstitutional for the salary of an elected official in the State of Illinois to be increased or decreased during their term, the amount for the City Clerk in the 2016-2017 annual appropriation for the City of Rushville should be

adjusted to Fifty-One Thousand Seven Hundred and Fifty-Three Dollars ($51,753), the same as the first year of the term, 2015-2016. A discussion followed.

Ralston MOVED TO ADJUST THE AMOUNT OF THE CITY CLERK’S 2016-2017 ANNUAL APPROPRIATION TO FIFTY-ONE THOUSAND SEVEN HUNDRED AND FIFTY-THREE DOLLARS ($51,753), THE SAME AS THE FIRST YEAR OF THE TERM, 2015-2016.

Council Member, Bill White stated he thought the council did not think it was illegal. Wilson said the Illinois Municipal League has ruled on this and they were not against our original salary adjustments. Ervin asked what City Attorney, Charlie Burton has said about this. Wilson said the first time he was for it and the second time he was against it. Mayor Klitz said Attorney Burton has asked for an opinion from Attorney General, but the Attorney General refuses to give an opinion. A discussion followed.

Schuman SECONDED, AND THE MOTION FAILED BY THE FOLLOWING ROLL CALL VOTE: 2 YEAS – Ralston & Schuman; 5 NAYS – Acker, Albers, Ervin, White, & Wilson; 1 ABSENT – Cox.

Wilson MOVED TO PASS ORDINANCE NO. 1263, ANNUAL APPROPRIATION ORDINANCE TO THE THIRD (3RD) AND FINAL READING. White SECONDED, AND THE MOTION CARRIED WITH AN ALL “YEA” ROLL CALL VOTE AS FOLLOWS: 5 YEAS – Acker, Albers, Ervin, White, & Wilson; 2 NAYS – Ralston & Schuman; 1 ABSENT – Cox.

11. COUNCIL MEMBER & OFFICIAL’S REPORTS

Council Member, Jeff Albersreported he agreed with Mr. Paisley that Scripps Park is very beautiful, but Albers questioned when Mayor Klitz was going to clean up the nasty smelling lake. Albers noted Mayor Klitz said, when he first went on the park board, he was going to attempt to clean up the lake. Albers stated they have tried everything to clean it up, and Mayor Klitz said it is a learning curve. Mayor Klitz noted he has purchased fifty to one hundred pounds (50#-100#) of copper sulfate and he has personally put it in the lake to kill the moss. Mayor Klitz said they can kill the moss but since they use the lake for an irrigation source, it cannot be used until August. Mayor Klitz stated he can see where the moss has encroached on the newest lake so he is going to bring his trolling boat in and apply more copper sulfate in that lake. Mayor Klitz noted Scripps Park Board Member, Gary Holmes has put several grass carp in there as well to eat the moss.

Mayor Carson Klitz reported Attorney Beal called him today and said that former Police Officer, Chris Meyer, whom the city had fired, has agreed to take Two Thousand Dollars ($2,000) and would like to have a neutral recommendationstating the officer worked for the city from thus to then period and be in his record that he was not fired. Mayor Klitz said it is going to cost the city at least Eight Thousand Dollars ($8,000) to try this. Mayor Klitz stated on behalf of the city, he would be negligent in not conveying this to the council. Mayor Klitz said he would like a consensus from the council if they wish him to precede with these stipulations.

Albers questioned what the Two Thousand Dollars ($2,000) was for. Mayor Klitz said it was a nuisance value. Albers stated he does not think Meyer deserves the money. Ervin said if the city fights it, it is going to cost us Eight Thousand Dollars ($8,000) to save Two Thousand Dollars ($2,000). A discussion followed. Consensus of the council was to allow the Mayor to make the deal with Meyer. Mayor Klitz will convey the message to Beal tomorrow.

Albers asked how the other union grievance was going. Mayor Klitz stated he talked to Beal about that also and Beal had said the union labor lawyer that had brought the grievance, had retired so Beal said his advice is to let sleeping dogs lie. Mayor Klitz said noted someone brings it up, the city is going to forget it ever happened.

RUSHVILLE CITY COUNCIL MINUTES, CONT. April 18, 2016

12. ADJOURN

Ervin MOVED TO ADJOURN. Albers SECONDED, AND THE MOTION CARRIED WITH A ROLL CALL VOTE AS FOLLOWS: 7 YEAS – Acker, Albers, Ervin, Ralston, Schuman, White, & Wilson; 0 NAYS; 1 ABSENT – Cox. THE MEETING STOOD ADJOURNED ACCORDINGLY AT 7:29 P.M.

Minutes submittedby,

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Marian Fretueg, Deputy City

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Date Minutes Approved

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