Busy Night for Effingham Council

Effingham city council members agreed informally Tuesday to support the Construction Trades class to begin during the new school year.

The City is setting aside $74,900 from TIF funds to finance the class. A vote is expected at the next Council meeting.

Mayor Merv Gillenwater again asked why the City is footing the entire bill while students from throughout the county will be taking the course. Commissioners Don Althoff and Brian Milleville, who have represented the City in discussions regarding starting the class, said the goal was to get the class going, then work will begin to raise funds from others to help offset the cost.

Local educator Greg Brumleve has been selected to teach the course.

The Council also discussed the budget for the coming fiscal year. The proposed $82,232,955 budget is balanced. City Administrator Jim Arndt said the budget meets the City's required debt service requirements and required reserve requirements. A vote is expected at the next Council meeting.

That budget proposal includes a 2% pay increase for non-union salaried and hourly positions, including Arndt. It's the same percentage increase as union employees will receive.

The Council discussed the City summer street resurfacing program. Streets to be resurfaced include Taylor Street, Martin Street, St. Anthony Avenue, Eiche Avenue and Stevens Avenue.

Other infrastructure work was discussed. That includes painting the elevated water storage tank at Ford Avenue and Raney Street; a water main replacement project along US 40 from Schwerman Street to Henrietta Street; water main replacement on Hillside Drive and along Fayette Avenue from Henrietta Street to Luther Drive; street resurfacing and curb repair on Elm Avenue from Banker to 4th Streets, Fourth Street from Elm Avenue to Jaycee Avenue, and Fifth Street in the area of Clark Avenue; street and drainage improvements on Park Street from Wabash Avenue, south to Douglas Avenue; water main replacement on Lakewood Drive and Henrietta Street; and street and drainage improvements on Lakewood Drive from Jack Court to the end of the City right-of-way.

The Council informally agreed to go halves with Rhodes to Health Chiropractic on renovation of the former Kaufman Conoco building at 3rd and Fayette as a new home for the chiropractic office at a total cost to the City of just over $22,000; agreed to make changes to the City personnel policy manual to match past practice and clarify the intent of the language in the policy; agreed informally to raise the cost of testing a water main to make sure it is reading accurately to $50; and agreed to a five-year capital improvements plan for the City.

Council members terminated a farm lease with Dan Bourgeois and Mark Bourgeois since the land will be developed as the site of Beck's Hybrids development west of the Cross at the Crossroads; agreed to temporary street closures for the EHS Homecoming Parade on September 23, the Martin's IGA Hoop Shoot this Saturday, and for this year's Taste of Freedom public event sponsored by the Effngham Central Business District on June 19; and agreed to expand the number of restaurant liquor licenses for consumption sales and package sales by one to accommodate a new restaurant to be located in the former 221 location in downtown. Developer Arvan Ballazhi said they will feature wood fire pizza and Italian cuisine similar to their successful restaurant in Decatur.

The Council annexed property owned by ARG Ideas, K-A LLC, K&K Investment Company, John Wortman and Mary Koester along with some city right-of-way into the city to be a part of the Northwest Business District under development around Keller Drive and Outer Belt West; honored City employee Kenny Cornell for going beyond the scope of his duties in assisting local resident Betty Brown when she fell and injured herself on the ice downtown on March 3, staying with her until emergency crews arrived including keeping her head out of the melted icy water; and approved a new emergency notification system for the city at a cost of $6,000/year for three years, where citizens are notified of boil orders or emergency situations that could affect their property.

The Council also agreed to consider bids for a lighting project at US 40 and Outer Belt West; heard from Arndt that a reception for departing Council members is set for April 21; and heard from Mayor Gillenwater about plans for a ceremony to observe the 150th anniversary of Abraham Lincoln's death. The mayor is asking for churches or any other entity with a bell to ring those bells at 7:22am on April 15, the time and date of Lincoln's death. He even suggested those with cell phones could use the ringer on their phones to join in the observance. Fire and police vehicles will be sounding their sirens as part of the observance.