Big Box Store Coming to Effingham

An as-yet publicly unidentified big box store is coming to Effingham.

The store will be publicly announced at the Effingham City Council meeting on September 20. Store representatives are to attend the meeting.

At Tuesday night's Council meeting, it was shared that the store will be located next to Kohl's Department Store and will be accompanied by a convenience store, according to City Economic Development Director Todd Hull. Under an economic development agreement yet to be voted on by the Council, the store will be required to be under construction in 2019 and completed in 2020, although developer Todd Kabbes thinks it will get underway sooner. It will be a 150,000 square foot facility and, with the convenience store, will be located on 15.2 acres.

Kabbes said he thinks the store "will cause some competition, but that will settle out". He also said he thinks the store's arrival will cause other development to occur in the area.

Hull said City officials have been working with Kabbes on the project for over a year.

The Council also discussed a project already underway; the development of a Joe's Truck Lube on the northwest corner of Fayette Avenue and Outer Belt West. Owner Jeff Clark said the business will have 18 employees and a $550,000 payroll the first year. He said the facility will be finished by year's end. The business is seeking up to $40,000 in City assistance with infrastructure costs.

(CITY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR TODD HULL SPEAKS WHILE JOE'S TRUCK LUBE OWNER JEFF CLARK LOOKS ON)

Council members also approved a liquor license for the Chipotle's Mexican Grill to be located on Keller Drive. The restaurant is to open later this month.

Other liquor licenses were discussed. One is a Class T license allowing venues like the Effingham Performance Center to hold outdoor events with outside liquor sales. The other is a Class HM license allowing venues like the Hampton Inn and Suites to make liquor available for events in their private rooms. The license would only be available to venues with at least 65 rooms. 

Developer Richard Beatty said it would put his facility on an equal footing with the Keller Convention Center as far as hosting certain events. 

Commissioner Merv Gillenwater had concerns, saying this could lead to other motels wanting the same consideration and could lead to gaming in more venues.

A vote on the licenses is expected at the Council meeting on September 20.

The Council discussed an Effingham Cruise Night downtown on Friday, October 7. For the one night, two-way traffic would be restored downtown with vehicles, food and fun. Promoter Boris Bonutti of Thursday Thunder said downtown business owners whose stores could be affected have been polled and all are in favor of the event. The item will be up for a vote on the 20th.

The Council also approved the Heart of the Hops after-party on Saturday, October 1 from 4-10pm. The event will take place along 4th Street beginning at the alley by La Petite Boutique north to Washington Avenue. An earlier plan to close a portion of Jefferson Avenue for the event has been scrapped.

Council members Tuesday also:

--rezoned property at 3401 South Banker to light industrial district for a feed mill for South Central FS

--rezoned property at 406 South 3rd to multiple dwelling district for construction of an apartment building

--rezoned property at 911 West Edgar to two-family dwelling district allowing for development of a duplex

--granted $25,000 to Mid America Motorworks for expenses related to outdoor events like the Corvette Funfest this month and the Luke Bryan concert in October

--approved an architectural design agreement with FGM Architects for design of a new city police station on the site of the current building

--approved Effingham Business Group holding a Chili Fest downtown on Friday, October 14

--awarded work to Capital Painting and Decorating for $35,832 for interior painting at City Hall

--approved a contract services agreement with retired police chief Mike Schutzbach to work as Interim Police Administrator until a new chief is hired, and recognized Schutzbach for his 30 years' service on the police force

(RETIRED CITY POLICE CHIEF MIKE SCHUTZBACH WITH MAYOR JEFF BLOEMKER)

--awarded a $46,000 contract for the start of a software upgrade at the water treatment plant

--approved a Downtown/Southtown redevelopment agreement with Red Thread to locate in the former Jefferson Street Gifts building along Jefferson Avenue

The Council also discussed pavement patching around town, a storm sewer project on Santa Monica Avenue and in the area behind houses along Martin Street on land owned by Heartland Landscaping, reconstruction work on Vulcan Drive west of South Banker, a new city employee pay plan for non-union staffers, and how to better collect those who owe the City under an amusement tax that is often ignored by event promoters. Also, Effingham Public Library Director Amanda McKay reported that the library has given out 22,000 items in the first four months of the fiscal year, about the same number of items as given out in half of last fiscal year. City Administrator Jim Arndt reported that the City's fiscal condition is good after the first quarter of the fiscal year, with the city's equalized assessed valuation up again last year, and up 11% from 2011 to 2016. Arndt also noted that there are 93 capital projects planned this fiscal year, with 22% of those planned and another 58% underway.