Council Close to Finalizing Beck's Hybrids Agreements

Effingham City Council members didn't get the chance Tuesday to vote on agreements related to the locating of a Beck's Hybrids operation here, but it's getting close.

Two agreements were on the agenda, both related to the Illinois Department of Transportation, and both involving improvements to Pike Avenue, the street that leads from Raney Street west to the site for the Beck's operation. City Administrator Jim Arndt said action needed to be delayed until the agreements are finalized.

Council members informally agreed to renew group health insurance coverage for City employees with BlueCross BlueShield at a 3.97% premium increase over the past year, agreed to establish a Health Savings Account contribution for next year, and amended the personnel policy manual to partially fund any authorized HSA based upon the remaining days in the calendar year. A vote on each of those items is expected at the next Council meeting.

The Council heard a presentation from City Tourism Director Jodi Thoele on the findings by Buxton Company concerning visitors to the Effingham trade area. The goal is to help Effingham better understand who is visiting the City and where similar potential visitors are located. The information is aimed at helping the City better target tourism campaigns and increasing its return on investments.

City Economic Development Director Todd Hull and Assistant Sasha Althoff presented B&B Homes with a Business Appreciation Award to recognize the business' contributions to the City, and Mayor Merv Gillenwater presented an Employee of the Quarter award to Fire and Police Chaplain Paul Bauer for his service. The award to B&B came at the same meeting where the business had property annexed into the city limits. The Council also informally agreed to approve work next meeting on sewer lift station force main design for the area from Airport Road lift station to the gravity sewer at Veterans Drive and Blohm Avenue, and also agreed to vote next time on sanitary sewer lining along Second Street.

Council members thanked City crews for their work on remove snow from city streets, and Mayor Merv Gillenwater shared a desire to recognize the 150th anniversary of the end of the Civil War with an event this spring.