County Board Approves Initial Economic Development Loan

Effingham County Board members Monday approved their initial economic development loan to a local business.

The Board approved a loan of $30,000 to CW Motorsports.  The funds are part of a grant given the County by USDA Rural Development.

Economic Development Committee Chairman Dave Campbell said the loan is made with the promise of CW Motorsports adding at least two jobs.  Campbell said they are attempting to loan $15,000 per job created.  The loan is for five years and carries a 3% interest rate.  CW Motorsports also has put up equipment as collatoral against the loan.

CW Motorsports recently relocated to a new larger facility in the former Habbe Wholesale building along Keller Drive at Franklin Avenue.

County Board members voted 8-1 to continue covering maintenance and utility costs in the old Courthouse that is now the home of the Effingham County Cultural Center and Museum Association.  The County has covered the costs for three years and the previous Board had pledged to cover the costs for five years, so Monday's vote was to reaffirm what was already on the books.  Board member Joe Thoele voted No on the question.  Thoele said he likes the project and hopes that individual citizens will contribute, but doesn't think tax dollars should be allocated for the project.

Additional action was taken to move along the work by Central Illinois Public Transit to form a transportation network in the county.  The entity will be known as Effingham County Public Transportation and their motto is "Get on the Bus, Ride With Us".  They're still working on a logo and are looking for ideas.

Board members renewed its affiliation with the States Attorney's Appellate Prosecutor Service for $11,000, the same rate as the past several years.  The Service provides legal counsel in case of a conflict among prosecutors in a case or if a case goes on appeal.

County Engineer Greg Koester gained approval for engineering agreements on the second segment of the West Evergreen Avenue reconstuction project.  The work will cost no more than $136,000 and will be completed by Milano and Grunloh Engineers of Effingham.  The second segment will extend West Evergreen by one mile from Nazarene Church Road to Lake Sara Road.  Koester hopes they can take bids on the second segment by the end of the year.

As to the first phase, Koester said the contractor has until the end of the year to finish the work, but hopes for a ribbon-cutting ceremony late this summer.

Action was delayed until next month on a door access system for County employees into the north entrance of the County Government Center, and David J. Probst, Steven Rudolphi and Gary Horn were appointed to three-year terms as fire district trustees at Teutopolis, Watson and Dieterich, respectively.

(CHBC COACHES CAROLYN WENDTE AND LARRY YOUNG {left} AND MEMBERS OF THE HORNETS BASKETBALL TEAM ARE RECOGNIZED FOR THEIR FINAL FOUR FINISH AT THE GIRLS 1A STATE TOURNAMENT)

The County Board honored Coaches Carolyn Wendte and Larry Young and the players and managers of the Cowden-Herrick/Beecher City Hornets girls basketball team for their Final Four finish at the Girls 1A State Tournament, and were honored themselves by members of the Effingham County 4-H Youth Ambassadors for their public service.  Kimberly Perkins, Mary Perkins and Rachel Tillman were present to give information and plates of cookies to the County officials.  The Youth Ambassadors focused most of their attention on the P2D2 program initiated in the county where receptacles are provided for people to turn in unused drugs for recycling.

(EFFINGHAM COUNTY YOUTH AMBASSADOR MARY PERKINS READS ABOUT YOUTH AMBASSADOR ACCOMPLISHMENTS WHILE FLANKED BY AMBASSADORS RACHEL TILLMAN AND KIMBERLY PERKINS)

County Clerk Kerry Hirtzel, the chief election official for Effingham County, reminded that the public test of voting equipment for the April 9 election will be tested at 9am Tuesday at the County Office Building, and that election judge training will be this Thursday at the Effingham County Extension Center.

County Board Chairman Jim Niemann brought members up to date on the possibility of fracking for oil deposits in Effingham County.  Niemann said Effingham County appears to be one of 10 primary counties for fracking and said the project, if it grows as large as expected, could mean 47,000 new jobs in Illinois.

Niemann also reported on a visit to Springfield where he said legislators are "scrambling" to get a concealed carry law passed.  The hustle to get something done comes after the courts ordered Illinois, the only state in the nation without concealed carry, to get legislation enacted or else.

Board members also approved a proclamation designating the week of April 1-7 as CASA of Effingham County Week for 2013.  CASA is a court approved program where volunteers advocate on behalf of minor children in family court cases.

(COUNTY BOARD CHAIRMAN JIM NIEMANN READS THE PROCLAMATION THAT APRIL 1-7 IS CASA OF EFFINGHAM COUNTY WEEK FOR 2013 AS CASA OFFICIALS AND ADVOCATES LISTEN)