Posted 6/6/01 151 under age 5; 289 over age 65 By Danielle Strenke The Rush City council reviewed the 2000 census report for Rush City at its May 29 meeting. Total population is 2,102, with 1,149 males and 953 females. The figures include the population housed at the Rush City Correctional Facility. The largest age category was 25-34 years, with the median age at 31.6. It was reported that there are 151 children under the age of 5, and 289 people ages 65 and over. Race composition is 90 percent white, 4.7 percent black or African American, 1.3 American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.2 Asian, .4 Vietnamese, and 2.6 some other race or two or more races. There are 705 households in Rush City, averaging 2.5 members per home. Family households averaged a little more than three members per home. The homeowner and rental vacancy rates total just over two percent, with 724 total housing units in the city. The Council also discussed several issues concerning the proposed expansion of the Rush Meadows development on the southern end of town. Road weight restrictions on Algier Ave. were discussed, as the council debated whether or not ALS Properties could be allowed to haul in manufactured homes, at a weight of 15,000 pounds per half. Council members did not feel it would be a problem. ìWhat we were dealing with in the past was trucks going into the nursing home,î councilor David Bengtson said. ìWe had concerns of the road getting busted up there, rather than farther south.î City Administrator Daniel Hoffman said the city should take pictures of the road, to use if the road is damaged later. The council was also concerned whether a city inspection of the developmentís water and sewer systems should take place. ìAll the utilities will be private, so they feel no inspection is necessary,î Hoffman said. ìBut they are connected to our water and sewer.î He told the council that the developers would have their engineering firm inspect all of the systems. Councilman Mike Louzek felt that any problems would be brought to the city anyway. ìObviously, it would eventually come back to us if thereís a problem,î he said. ìThis wouldnít be like a county inspector coming in.î Mayor Mike Skalsky told him that with a private system, the homeowners would not be able to come to the city and complain if there were a problem. He suggested that the developer be allowed to coordinate its own inspection, with approval from the city. ìWhy we donít negotiate on this, Iím sure their inspectors would allow us to look at their reports,î he said. ©Post Review