Council Hears Preliminary Restaurant Plans

(EFFINGHAM MAYOR JEFF BLOEMKER WITH THERESA AND BILL MORROW OF MORROW SHOE AND BOOT, WHICH RECEIVED A BUSINESS APPRECIATION AWARD)

Effingham City Council members Tuesday heard preliminary information on a restaurant development plan along Keller Drive.

John and Lisa Wortman own the subject property, which is located behind Panda Express, south of Chipotle. The Wortmans said the developer is not ready to publicly identify the restaurant. 

The project will involve a 200 foot long street that will provide access to the lot, with room for another development on adjoining property.

Lisa Wortman said work on the restaurant project is to begin within eight weeks.

The Council Tuesday voted 4-1 to rezone a property at 1000 South 4th Street from single family residence district to two-family duplex dwelling district. The Council rejected the recommendation of the City Plan Commission to deny the rezoning of the property, which has sat empty in recent years. Neighbors also protested the proposed rezoning. Commissioner Merv Gillenwater cast the lone vote against the rezoning.

Council members were introduced to Travis Johnson of Sullivan, who started work Monday in the Engineering Department as an Engineering Technician I. Johnson fills the vacancy existing since Michelle Wilkins was named City Building Official several months ago.

The Council honored Morrow Shoe and Boot in downtown Effingham with the latest Business Appreciation Award for their contributions to the community. Bill and Theresa Morrow were on hand to receive the award from Mayor Jeff Bloemker.

Action on agreements for preliminary engineering work on the bike lane project through the city was pulled from the agenda at the start of the meeting.