City Council Discusses Koerner Distributor Expansion Plans

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Published on July 6 2016 7:28 am
Last Updated on July 6 2016 10:19 am
Written by Greg Sapp

The Effingham City Council Tuesday heard more about plans for an expansion of Koerner Distributor in Effingham.

Company President Paul Koerner said the plan is to swap land and acquire additional land in the Effingham Business Park and undertake a construction project that will be completed in 2019.

(KOERNER DISTRIBUTOR PRESIDENT PAUL KOERNER AND CITY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR TODD HULL)

The project will involve trading 15 acres Koerner Distributor now owns next to Continental Mills for a larger tract west across Raney Street. The acquisition will lead to the construction of a 200,000 square foot commercial distribution facility. Paul Koerner said an operational efficiency study audit indicated that Effngham is the place to grow.

The proposed agreement with the City provides for a job creation grant for the retention of 70 fulltime jobs and the creation of 35 fulltime positions in an amount not to exceed $350,000.

The Council also discussed establishment of the Triangle Business District, so named because it would be bounded by Keller Drive, Fayette Avenue and Interstates 57/70. The business district would involve 300 some parcels. The district would include a 1% sales tax unless those in the district opt out. If they opt out, revenue generated by the district couldn't be used on those parcels.

There was considerable discussion by the Council, though, whether that should be the guideline, or whether to mandate that everyone in the district had to participate in the district, or just what the guidelines should be.

Commissioner Don Althoff said it should be a Council decision, not an administrative one. 

City Administrator Jim Arndt said they've been using the same guidelines that have been used on the other business districts previously created.

Commissioner Kevin Esker asked what if an owner of a developed property and an undeveloped property wants the developed property out and the undeveloped property included?

The matter will be further reviewed. This would be the fourth business district attempted.

The Council appointed Michelle Wilkins as City Building Official, retroactive to Monday. She has been serving as Interim Building Official since Bruce Devall's retirement. A large group of family and friends was on hand for the announcement of the appointment.

(NEW CITY BUILDING OFFICIAL MICHELLE WILKINS IS SWORN IN TO OFFICE BY CITY CLERK KELSEY LOCK)

Council members discussed boosting the amount of funding for the Downtown Redevelopment Program by $100,000 due to the large number of projects in the hopper. Economic Development Director Todd Hull said 50 projects have been undertaken since the program of going 50/50 with property owners and business operators on exterior renovations began in 2003 under Mayor Bob Utz. The Council approved two such projects last night...one with McDevitt, Osteen, Chojnicki and Deters on Jefferson Avenue to give their two buildings one front and the other with Chad Hawkins and EpLegends to replace windows in their building on North 4th Street.

The Council also rezoned lots for Jerry and Janet Jansen at 803, 805 and 807 North 2nd from single family residential to general commercial district, and rezoned a lot for Mark and Mary Dawn Goeckner at 108 South Cleveland from single family residential to general commercial district.

Council members awarded a $33,000 bid to Huff Sealing Corporation for crack and joint sealing on city streets; awarded a $118,000 bid to Kinney Contractors for reconstruction of West Wernsing Avenue from South Banker to the west and a $104,500 bid to Kinney Contractors for a new sewer lift station as part of the Wernsing project; and honored Mike and Mindy Nosbisch and Homewood Grill with a Business Appreciation Award. Homewood Grill has been operating since 1952 and has been owned by the Nosbisches since 1985.

(MIKE AND MINDY NOSBISCH OF HOMEWOOD GRILL WITH MAYOR JEFF BLOEMKER)

The Council appointed Emily Gravenhorst to fill a vacancy on the Effingham Public Library Board; discussed making the unused portion of Henrietta Street from Wabash Avenue to the CSX tracks unavailable to trucks but open to use by residents of the area; and heard that a public hearing on the application for a new Enterprise Zone will be held at 5pm on August 2.

The final item was Mayor Jeff Bloemker's request for a town hall meeting on the issue of recycling. The mayor said people approach him with the comment that they can't believe a progressive city such as Effingham doesn't have a recycling option. He said, "the city is expecting us to take some leadership" on the issue. We'll keep you up-to-date.