Council Approves Agreement for Pinnacle Foods Expansion

Effingham City Council members Thursday approved an economic development agreement with Pinnacle Foods.

The agreement offers Pinnacle funding for a planned expansion into the Dial and Dial Properties Complex formerly utilized by Fedders Corporation.  Pinnacle guarantees a certain number of jobs at the facility during the term of the agreement.

The Council also discussed a proposal from Versatech, which continues to expand in the City Business Park.  The latest proposal would result in 20 new jobs at the facility along Wernsing Avenue.

Council members approved a rezoning of property along South US 45 west across from Airport Road.  The property is the site of the future J & R Collision, a body shop to be owned and operated by Jake and Roger Buhnerkempe.  A plat of the property was also approved for recording.  Also approved was a plat for Anders Subdivision, a two-lot residential development south of US Route 40 between Effingham and Teutopolis along John Deere Street.  Council members also rezoned property at 414 West Kentucky from single family residential district to attached single family residential district for Gary and Kathleen Koester.  Also approved were a series of changes to the City's Comprehensive Land-Use Plan.

The Council voted to approve new wholesale water rates based on a recent study and discussion by Council members.  The rates will be in effect from 2014-15 through 2017-18.  Also approved was new rates for city water customers.  Those rates will go up by 30 cents per 1,000 gallons used in each of the next four years.  A typical usage of 5,000 gallons of water per month will generate an increase of $2.45/month the first year.

The Council appropriated Motor Fuel Tax dollars for the construction phase of the last section of Blohm Avenue, which will provide a second means of getting in and out of Woodland Heights Subdivision between Red Oak Street and Veterans Drive.  Also approved:

--purchase of a dump truck and a pickup truck through the state purchasing plan

--closing of streets and parking lots for the VW Welcome Fest June 6

--permission for Effingham High School to hold its Homecoming Parade on Wednesday, October 1

--additional mapping to locate sewer lines and see where breaks are located so they can be repaired

--water treatment plant actuator electrical work

--water main and sanitary sewer service extensions along Thies Avenue for the expansion of John Boos and Company off South Route 45

--change orders on water main replacement work along National Avenue and Rinehart Street that will add $39,000 to the project cost

--placing City-owned property at 602 West Clark up for sale

--an engineering agreement with Milano and Grunloh for a concrete patching program

Council members also discussed a hot and cold mix program to repair certain streets, and the possible purchase of a street sweeper.