Council Seems Agreeable to Extending Redevelopment Program, Hears Proposal for Funds for EPC

Effingham City Council members Tuesday seemed agreeable to extending downtown and southtown business redevelopment incentives.

The programs have proved helpful in sprucing up buildings in both areas of the city. The proposal is to allocate up to $100,000 for projects in each area. There would be two changes in the guidelines. One would change the project completion deadline from three years to the end of the current Council term. The other would require that work being funded wouldn't start until the Council approves the project.

Another discussion item involved a downtown redevelopment project. Steve Bushue of Bushue Property Management asked for $45,000 for redevelopment of the former Broom's Warehouse Sales building on East Jefferson. Bushue said a Mattoon firm known as Stacy's House of Color, a paint store, would locate in the building.

Yet another matter up for discussion dealt with Dr. Nancy Huels' proposal to build a veterinary clinic on the southeast corner of Evergreen Avenue and Outer Belt West. The project would be located in both the City's new Northwest Business District but also in a TIF district. She is seeking approximately $50,000 in City assistance with the project.

The Council was also agreeable to amending the Ford Avenue Business District guidelines that City Administrator Jim Arndt said would provide flexibility regarding the use of funds for projects in the district. Economic Development Resources is ready to do the work for $4,500.

Council members seemed agreeable with an ordinance establishing a funding policy for the police and firefighter pension plans. This would put into policy what the City already does in providing for funding for the pensions.

The Council heard a request from Arts Council of Central Illinois Chairman Tom Henderson and Executive Director Rich Jorn for $70,000 for the Effingham Performance Center. Henderson said the EPC has basically broken even the past two years, but had "dug a hole" the previous three years and is working to keep up the facility. The requested funds would pay for a marquee in front of the facility, additional TV ad dollars, permanent lighting and rigging so the items wouldn't have to be rented, and a lighting board upgrade more suitable for a concert venue.

There was considerable discussion as to whether a job description should be approved for an assistant fire chief's position. Under the scenario presented, the Assistant Chief would also be the fire inspector for the city. Mayor Jeff Bloemker acknowledged that concerns over how fire inspections are conducted probably gives the fire department its biggest black eye. Arndt and Fire Chief Joe Holomy said that due to concerns expressed by the fire department union, hiring an assistant fire chief to do fire inspections is the best option available. The assistant chief could work an 8-5 M-F schedule and would be more accessible than under the current setup where the various shifts do the inspections in between fire calls. Holomy said having one person do the inspections would also bring consistency to the process.

Commissioner Don Althoff said if the position is created, the person hired should have to live within the city limits. Commissioner Kevin Willis wondered whether something couldn't be worked out with the union that a position wouldn't have to be created. It was decided to have the new Council members meet with Arndt and Holomy to see how the matter could best be addressed.

There seemed to be consensus on awarding $5,000 to the the Golden Circle Nutrition Meals on Wheels program, and $25,000 to the Effingham City/County Committee on Aging, and on moving ahead on considering bids for the hot and cold mix and oil and chip program materials. Also gaining favorable consideration was Phase One of the North Raney Street reconstruction from Ford Avenue to Rickelman Avenue. The first phase would remove the dips on the street and installation of sanitary sewer along the street.

All of the items were up for discussion only Tuesday; votes on all of those items are expected at future Council meetings.

City Administrator Jim Arndt announced that Helen Matthes Library Director Amanda McKay has been announced as Illinois Librarian of the Year and will be honored later this year at a state ceremony. 

In items up for a vote Tuesday, the Council approved purchase of 22 easements and/or rights of way for the North Raney project; approved an easement that will allow the award of the next phase of the TREC trail network; changed easements regarding the property on which HSHS St. Anthony's Memorial Hospital and the parking area to the north is located; hired a firm to detect where storm water is getting into the sanitary sewer system; awarded a $35,000 bid for pavement marking throughout the city; awarded a $116,000 bid for gutter replacement work throughout town; rezoned the land for the Huels Vet Clinic from non-urban to light industrial district; rezoned land owned by the hospital in the area west of Maple Street, north of Eden Avenue and east of Medical Park Drive with Althoff objecting since he believes Eden Avenue should be required to extend west to Medical Park Drive and not be ended in a cul-de-sac as the rezoning allows; heard from City Tourism Director Jodi Thoele that Effingham County is 18th of 102 Illinois counties in the amount of money spent here on tourism; extended an agreement with Koerner Distributor giving the company another one-year extension to complete plans for a new facility in the City Business Park; and finalized an agreement with the entity to be known as Construction Trades Education Curriculum for up to $74,900 for the new construction trades class to begin this fall.

The Council named Mike Mumm and Cindy Vogel to the Zoning Board of Appeals succeeding new mayor Jeff Bloemker and Amanda Hirtzel; and appointing Jon Tipton to the Electrical Commission succeeding Dave Walters. Also, Arndt was authorized to negotiate agreements on the purchase of natural gas with the City's designated vendor rather than the matter having to be brought back to the Council repeatedly since prices change almost day to day; and street closings were approved downtown on July 24 and 25 for the EffingHAM Jam, which has been previously held at Legacy Harley-Davidson and for a later period of time on July 25 for an event hosted by Scrubby's Pub to benefit the Effingham Performance Center.