City Council Discusses More Parking Along Jefferson Avenue

The Effingham City Council is hopeful of adding parking spaces along Jefferson Avenue when the roadway is reconstructed this year. One option is to switch from parallel to angle parking along the south side of the Courthouse square.

The City will need land from the County to accommodate angle parking in the area. No agreement has been reached on making the land available and on whether the County would kick in toward the additional cost of the project resulting in the extra parking spaces.

City Engineer Jeremy Heuerman said, at this point, the indication is that the County isn't interested in financially supporting the project, nor have they indicated any interest in making land along the south side of the square available for the work.

The City would like to get the matter resolved since design work on the reconstruction of Jefferson has already been awarded. City officials discussed making a presentation to the County Board in hopes of gaining approval of the project.

The Council Wednesday also discussed seeking State grant funds for solar energy systems at six city facilities to cut energy costs. 

The six locations are a sewage lift station along US Route 45, City Hall, Fire Station #1 at Fayette and Maple, the City garage on Eiche Avenue, the Public Properties facility on East Jefferson next to Oakridge Cemetery, and the Water Maintenance Facility along Grove Avenue.

City Director of Public Works Steve Miller said the total cost of the project would be $502,000. The projection is that all of the cost would be recouped in five years, less $58,000. Miller said the following 25 years would result in "very low cost electricity". 

The Council is discussing seeking the grant funds to help finance installation of the solar energy equipment. The cost of the application fees for the grant funds would be about $2,500.

The Council could vote on applying for the grant funds at a meeting later this month.

Council members voted to contract with Swingler Construction on installation of garage doors on the maintenance facility along Eiche Avenue, and seemed favorable toward granting Fieldcrest Homes a six-month extension of time to complete upgrades on their building at St. Anthony and Front. A vote on the extension will come at a future meeting.