New Police Chief Should Be Hired Later This Month

Effingham city officials are hopeful a police chief will be hired later this month.

Effingham City Administrator Jim Arndt said the issue was discussed in closed session by the City Council Tuesday night. Arndt said the hiring is expected to be on the Council agenda for their December 20 meeting.

Retired Police Chief Mike Schutzbach has been working as police department administrator while the search for his successor has proceeded. Reportedly, the search has narrowed to two or three individuals including one current department member.

The Council also issued general obligation bonds to finance construction of a new police station on the site of the current building. Once the police department relocates to its temporary home in the basement of City Hall, the current building (originally a Kroger store) will be demolished. Arndt hopes construction of the new building will begin in June or July with completion a year or so later.

In other business Tuesday, the Council:

--amended the City's purchase policy prohibiting an unfair advantage in expenditure of funds by elected officials

--approved an agreement with PUSH Wellness Solutions for a wellness program for City employees and their spouses

--adopted a hotel/motel redevelopment program agreement with America's Best Value Inn for improvements to their location on the West Fayette frontage road

--approved amendments to city codes allowing for a relocatable home to be located in an industrial zone, permitting the home to be used as an office for Clayton Homes that is locating along East Route 40 between Effingham and Teutopolis

--approved the sale of no-longer-needed City property

--annexed a lot in Deetz Subdivision along East Evergreen

--approved a plat of Ruth Jennings Trust Subdivision along East Evergreen

--contracted with Farnsworth Group for preliminary engineering on a water main replacement project along East Route 40

--contracted with Milano and Grunloh Engineers for preliminary engineering on a bike lane project throughout the city

--accepted a bid from Hanfland Painting Contractors for repainting the south water tower in the City Business Park

--approved several change orders on infrastructure improvements and closed out the contract on the North Raney Street project

--presented Tuscan Hills Winery with a Business Appreciation Award

--renewed property/casualty and workers compensation insurance coverage at a $42,000, or 12%, increase over last year

--discussed issuing a Class B-1 liquor license to Hampton Inn and Suites

--discussed realigning leases with Thomas Haarmann for farming City-owned land next to the City Business Park to reflect changes in available land

--and heard reports from Effingham Public Library Director Amanda McKay and from Arndt, with Arndt sharing that things are going well except for a continuing deficit in the Tourism Fund. Arndt said, though, that the deficit has been reduced.