City Council Passes Fiscal Year Budget

The Effingham City Council Tuesday passed the budget blueprint for the fiscal year that begins May 1.

The measure totals $94.1 million, up from $76 million for the current fiscal year, but much of that increase covers the cost of the new city police station. City Administrator Jim Arndt said it is a balanced budget.

The Council approved the purchase of land for a box culvert replacement project on East Rickelman Avenue, and approved an agreement with Swagit Productions for video streaming of up to 50 city meetings per year. That includes City Council meetings as well as City Plan Commission and Zoning Board of Appeals meetings. The meetings will initially be streamed on the City's website, but the plan is to eventually stream them on Mediacom.

The Council approved agreements with Lake Sara Area Water Cooperative and EJ Water Cooperative to outline boundaries of each water district, and approved an agreement for preliminary engineering services with Milano and Grunloh of Effingham on the reconstruction of Henrietta Street from Temple Avenue north to Heritage Avenue. Also approved was an agreement with Civil Design for preliminary engineering work on North Main Street downtown from Jefferson Avenue to St. Anthony Avenue, and a preliminary engineering agreement with Civil Design for resurfacing on Clark Avenue and Lawrence Avenue from Banker to Park Streets near Bliss Park. Another agreement approved with Civil Design is for GIS database and online mapping services for the City's sewer system, water distribution system, cemetery and zoning. The Council also revised two job descriptions, one for the position of Customer Service Representative II and amending the position of Account Administrator/City Treasurer, making it a salaried position.

Council members approved temporary street closings for upcoming events including Effingham Cruise Night on May 19, Summer Food Fest on June 16, and the VW WelcomeFest Downtown Party on June 2.

The Council approved an agreement with Farnsworth Group for design of a replacement water main along Banker Street from Wabash Avenue to the south side of the spur line that crosses Banker Street near Village Square Mall. Council members also granted permission to let the city police station construction project out for bids. The bid advertisement is to begin this Thursday, with the bid opening date slated for May 23. Construction would begin July 5.

Council members approved a new Class EEV Entertainment and Event Venue--Consumption Sales Only liquor license. Several outdoor events take place around town where liquor sales could take place. The new class includes guidelines for monitoring the sales. The Council also issued such a license for Legacy Harley-Davidson. The measure also includes an increase in Class R liquor licenses by one to accommodate Dos Rancheros, a Mexican restaurant that is to open along Route 40 between Effingham and Teutopolis in the former Outer Limits and Hangout location.

The Council approved a rezoning of land owned by Tom Grunloh in Mini Hills Subdivision, and the rezoning of land along West Jefferson at Cherry Street that will be the site of a Teutopolis State Bank branch in Effingham, as well as the rezoning of four lots for Keith and Jill Hartman along Blohm Avenue north across from the VFW Home and east of the Willowbrook Memory Care facilities. Also approved was a rezoning of land just off Keller Drive that will serve as the home of Panera Bread in Effingham.

There was also discussion, but no votes, on reconstruction of Luther Drive, the sidewalk replacement program for the coming fiscal year, an extension of North Henrietta Street north to Jenner Avenue, and asbestos removal and demolition of the former police station building that began life as a Kroger store.