City Council Debates Levy Options, Still No Vote

(NIEMERG'S STEAK HOUSE WAS HONORED WITH THE CITY'S BUSINESS APPRECIATION AWARD TUESDAY NIGHT. FROM LEFT ARE DENNIS SANDSCHAFER, JASON SANDSCHAFER, GENE NIEMERG AND EFFINGHAM MAYOR JEFF BLOEMKER)

Effingham city council spent considerable time at Tuesday night's meeting again discussing the tax levy for the coming fiscal year, but again came away with no decision.

City Administrator Jim Arndt had offered three proposals at the previous Council meeting after the City had a 0% levy increase last year. Increases of 4.99% and 8.77% are options as well as a 10.57% increase. Arndt said the highest increase would generate enough funding to hire four additional police officers. He said the additional officers would decrease overtime costs, but Mayor Jeff Bloemker, who oversees the police department under the city's commission form of government, said it's a matter of public safety.

It has been noted that the city police force is about the size it was in the 1970s, but others have noted the city population is about the same as it was then. 

Proponents of additional officers, though, say that a look is needed at the amount of calls and the nature of those calls to get a true measure of whether additional officers are needed. 

Commissioner Kevin Willis, a retired city police officer, said there are some shifts where only three officers are on duty. Willis said there are domestic cases or family matters involving underage children where an officer can be detained for a matter of hours, meaning there are only two officers free to cover the entire city.

Commissioner Merv Gillenwater, a retired State Police officer, said this is the toughest decision he's had since taking office more than eight years ago. Gillenwater said you can't know when things will get really busy for officers so you need an adequate staffing level, but understands the reluctance to hike the tax levy.

Mayor Bloemker said he doesn't want to be the mayor that ushers in such a tax increase like the 10.57% hike, but noted problems in communities elsewhere and doesn't want to see those problems in Effingham.

Commissioner Don Althoff said, though, that 62% of the city budget is for pensions and that "hiring four people is a 30-year commitment".

Council members heard a presentation from city police sergeant Matt Sager on the level of activity in Effingham, sharing calls for service but also reviewing the goals of many communities to enhance community-oriented policing. The effort would include time while on a shift to interact with the community in hopes of heightening the sense of security in the city.

Eventually, the Council agreed to schedule a Truth in Taxation hearing at the first Council meeting in December based on the 10.57% increase with a vote at the second Council meeting in December, but they also agreed that no decision has been reached as to how large the levy increase will be. The minimum levy increase being proposed would allow the City to maintain existing operations.

Another lengthy discussion ensued over whether to provide funds for a 14-foot addition to the Animal Control facility on Eiche Avenue. Jim Beam of Effingham Animal Rescue Shelter, or EARS, said the increase would allow space for those seeking to adopt an animal would have more space to work with the dogs away from the other animals at the shelter, and would provide additional area for those employed at the facility. After some discussion, it was decided to get a bid on the cost of the project before deciding whether to fund the work.

Council members also heard that an economic development entity working to bring businesses to Effingham would like to buy the Effingham Visitors Center site off Keller Drive.

Obsidian Development has been working for over a year to land retail developments in Effingham, particularly around the Fayette Avenue interchange and Outer Belt West, but suggested the Visitors Center site would be ideal for development. Obsidian Development and City officials agreed that if the sale is agreed to, the City would have the right to reject any proposed development it doesn't feel is suitable for the location.

City Economic Development Director Todd Hull said it would be tough to sell the site, and hard to find a similar site for the Visitors Center. Obsidian Development indicated any project, if the sale goes through, would start in the spring and take two to three months to complete. The indication was that a number of projects are a possibility for Effingham, but delays are due to matters "out of their control" among the prospective businesses.

The Council voted to adopt a resolution, urging Illinois state leaders to release non-general fund revenues payable to local governments. Arndt said the lack of funds from Springfield will badly skew his next financial report to the Council regarding income.

A proposed change to the personnel policy manual brought some dialogue mostly between Mayor Bloemker and former mayor, now Commissioner, Gillenwater. Bloemker is proposing to have events at City Hall that would involve the use of alcohol. Gillenwater said city personnel are told they can't use controlled substances while on the job, and thinks allowing alcohol on city property would violate personnel policy guidelines. Althoff agreed with Gillenwater, while Willis said he would go along with Bloemker on the issue. There was no vote on the matter.

The Council approved a business redevelopment project with Orr Law for their expansion on North 4th Street. The City will contribute $33,000 toward the cost of the $74,000 project. Also approved was an agreement with the 911 Board for the next four years. 911 pays the City and the County for using their telecommunicators as 911 dispatchers. There will be no increase in the fee this first year of the agreement, a 3% increase in 2017 and 2018, and then a 2% increase in 2019.

Council members also abated the levy since other funds are available to make payments on bonds issued for various public works projects, contracted with Farnsworth Group for engineering work on an East Route 40 water main project, and awarded a $78,000 bid for carpet work in City Hall.

The Council also heard about upcoming Christmastime activities sponsored by the City Convention and Visitors Bureau or that the CVB is working on with other entities, formally switched all City Hall office hours to 7:30am to 4:30pm each weekday as of December 1, voted to grant Thelma Keller Convention Center $25,000 for staging and banquet tables with Commissioner Don Althoff voting against the motion, agreed to allow Mayor Bloemker to not participate in the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund program, and honored Niemerg's Steak House with the latest in a series of Business Appreciation Awards. Gene Niemerg, Dennis Sandschafer and Jason Sandschafer were on hand for the presentation. Sasha Althoff of the City's Economic Development staff announced the presentation, saying as a former Niemerg's employee, she knew it was a great place to work. Gene Niemerg said he appreciates the good working relationship the restaurant has with the City, and appreciates their local workforce and customer base. The restaurant has doubled in size over its 37-year history and employs more than 150 people.