County Board Discusses Paying Off Government Center

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Published on July 18 2016 5:27 pm
Last Updated on July 18 2016 5:27 pm
Written by Greg Sapp

Effingham County Board members Monday discussed paying off the amount owed on the Effingham County Government Center early. The move would save the County about $20,000 in interest.

The Center is scheduled to be paid off after the coming fiscal year, which starts December 1. The County is paying $85,000/month toward the cost of the Center.

County Treasurer Steve Dasenbrock's research indicates that there would be no penalty for paying off the debt early.

County Board members also agreed to proceed with resurfacing of Lake Sara Road from the four-way stop north to Illinois Routes 32/33. The local share of the $300,000 project would be $60,000. County Engineer Greg Koester said the work is tentatively scheduled for this fall.

The Board approved a $42,000 payment for legal services, the lion's share of which is on arbitration with employee unions. Also approved was an invoice for codification of county ordinances and resolutions to make it easier to find exactly what are the county guidelines. The total cost of the work is approximately $8,000.

Board members amended the county's fireworks ordinance to distinguish between a temporary and a permanent structure. One local vendor wants to stay in operation year-round. Also, action on an outstanding revolving loan to a local business was to be discussed, but Board Vice-Chairman Dave Campbell, who chairs the board's economic development committee, said it's believed they've resolved the matter, so it's headed back to committee. 

The Board approved a plat of Kabbes/Newsome Subdivision, a 10-acre lot being subdivided into two lots, and a plat of Waldhoff Subdivision, a 10-acre tract being subdivided into three lots, and asked that county officeholders have their tentative budgets for the coming fiscal year submitted to the Tax and Finance Committee by August 1.

Board members also heard that there is no money available in the LIHEAP fund to help pay cooling costs for income-eligible area residents.

Board member Mike DePoister was not in attendance as he was working a crash scene for his business.