City Council Approves Sale of Land to Gabby Goat

(EFFINGHAM MAYOR JEFF BLOEMKER WITH LINDA AND JIM LANGE AS LANGE ELECTRIC IS HONORED WITH A BUSINESS APPRECIATION AWARD FROM THE CITY)

The Effingham City Council Tuesday voted 4-1 for the sale of property to JT and KT LLC, owners of the Gabby Goat restaurant. The .72 acre tract was sold for $70,599.54. 

The City became owner of the parcel as part of a development agreement with John Boos and Company.

Commissioner Don Althoff voted against the sale, a rezoning of the property and a replatting of the property, saying he thought the transaction was related to a new building, not just parking area.

The Council amended the liquor ordinance to allow facilities on parcels of .75 acres or larger to accommodate outdoor liquor consumption. The change to a smaller allowable area was made after the Effingham Elks Lodge on South Banker didn't have quite enough property to accommodate the previous requirement, but this dimension will now be the standard for any entity seeking such a license. The Council then also approved the license for the Elks allowing the outdoor consumption area.

Council members agreed to allow the annual Heart of the Hops event to take place along 4th Street south of Jefferson on Friday, September 28 from 5-11pm, and approved the rescheduled Cruise Night for Friday, October 5. There will be a judging of vehicles at St. John's Lutheran Church about 5pm and the Cruise Night will follow. Matt Solloday of Legacy Harley Davidson said there won't be a parade as such, but the judging time and the Cruise.

The Council agreed to vacate some drainage easements south of J&J Ventures so a private drainage system can be installed, and approved the issuance of a liquor license for Top Shelf Beer Wine and Spirits, which will be locating in the former Rue 21 building along Ford Avenue, south of Kohl's. Don and Patrick Schutzbach will operate the business.

Council members approved the purchase of tactical safety gear for the city police department for $8,782.01. Police Chief Jeff Fuesting said donations from members of the public and asset forfeiture monies will pay for the equipment, which will include two outfits, safety vests and enough helmets for all officers when they're on duty.

The Council voted to purchase land from Roger and Judith Gordon for a sewer line project along Airport Road for $650; authorized an agreement with Farnsworth Group for design work on Phase 2 of the Jefferson Avenue water main replacement project from Merchant to Maple Streets for $10,500; accepted a proposal for the 2018 street resurfacing project on Wabash Avenue from 4th Street west to the CN Railroad crossing and on some roadways in Oakridge Cemetery from Howell Paving for just under $455,000; and accepted a proposal from Kieffer Brothers Construction of Mt. Carmel for the reconstruction of Second Street downtown from Jefferson to Fayette Avenues for $235,000.

Council members recognized Jim and Linda Lange of Lange Electric for Jim's decades in business. Mayor Jeff Bloemker made a point of recognizing Jim for maintaining the Courthouse clock for more than 50 years, as well, and commended Jim for his success as a land speed recordholder at the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah. It was also noted that the award was presented on Linda Lange's birthday.

Other items from Tuesday's meeting:

Fire Chief Bob Tutko reminded of the fire department's annual Open House on October 14 at the Central Fire Station; Althoff commended Fuesting for the first-ever "National Night Out" event put together by the police department and others earlier this month on the library parking lot; it was announced that the Utility Billing Office at City Hall will be closed this Friday after 11am; and Tourism Director Jodi Thoele reminded about the Corvette Funfest Downtown Welcome Fest this Thursday evening and shared about plans for a pet parade related to Halloween being organized by Stang Arts on Sunday, October 21 with more details forthcoming.