City Council Approves Several Projects Related to Improvements

The Effingham City Council, in a meeting that lasted less than a half-hour, still got a lot accomplished.

The Council awarded a contract related to the reconstruction of North Raney Street from Ford Avenue to Rickelman Avenue. Beniach Construction got the contract for $453,308.33. This is the second of two contracts related to the reconstruction work, which involves taking the dip out of the roadway as well as new sewer lines and sidewalks. Also awarded Tuesday was a $64,740 contract to Kinney Construction for reconstruction of sanitary sewer from 4th Street to 5th Street.

Council members approved a plat for Keller Drive Retail Park Subdivision. The project involves separate lots for the Days Inn Motel, the Rodeway Inn site and the former Subway on Keller Drive. The Wortmans plan to locate a Chipotle Mexican Grill in the former Subway location, and have completed negotiations to take down the Rodeway Inn building to make way for further economic development on the site. The Days Inn will remain in operation.

The Council approved a Class P liquor license for Joe's Liquor Central, replacing B&R Beverage Connection; and approved a replat of Johnston Subdivision involving three houses and a shed on North Raney Street owned by Lyle Johnston. The lots will also be rezoned to R-2 single family residential to fit the dimensions of the houses on the lots.

Council members approved a Tax Increment Financing Rehabilitation Program agreement with Del Wortman for improvements to Wortman Printing on South Banker Street; and approved the purchase of materials for a water line replacement project on North Lakewood Drive in Rollin Hills Subdivision. Also approved was a replat of two lots into one lot in Gobbler's Ridge Subdivision near Effingham County Memorial Airport, and granting Sunrise Rotary permission to hold the annual Halloween Parade at 2pm on Sunday, October 25.

The Council approved a special use permit for use of the former TSI Graphics building on South Raney as an indoor shooting range, and witnessed the unveiling of the official portrait of new mayor Jeff Bloemker.