City Council Commends Citizen Who Helped Locate Bank Robbery Suspect

Effingham City Council members Tuesday adopted the operating budget for the fiscal year that begins May 1.

The budget totals just over $63 million, including a general fund amount close to $26 million. The measure calls for sufficient revenue despite a reduction in the tax levy. 

Also approved was a five-year capital improvements plan. The measure includes a maintenance improvement plan.

The Council also discussed pay ranges for non-union salaried and hourly positions within the City workforce, with a 4.5% increase being considered.

Council members looked on as City Police Chief Jason McFarland presented a man who helped police locate and apprehend the man suspected of robbing First Mid Bank and Trust in March. McFarland presented a plaque to Josh Pointer of Greenup. Pointer said he is a tow truck operator who monitors police calls as part of his work. He said he heard the call about the robbery and the description of the suspect vehicle. Pointer told us he looked up and there went the vehicle, right in front of him, traveling east at about 80MPH. Pointer gave chase and followed the vehicle to the Indiana state line. The suspect, Corey Ellerbe of Indianapolis, was apprehended by Indiana authorities and is awaiting trial.

At the time, McFarland thanked members of the public for their work in alerting police as to the whereabouts of the suspect. 

(McFARLAND AND POINTER)

The Council agreed to entertain a proposal from an entity known as NextSite that is affiliated with Ameren. The proposal has a couple of options, but involves locating commercial ventures and steering them to Effingham. The matter is only at the discussion stage at this point.

Council members approved liquor licenses for Maria's Taco House on South Banker and Lucia's Italian Kitchen near the Banker Street overpass; adopted a revised Downtown/Southtown Business Area Redevelopment Program policy; renewed contracts with Lamar for billboards at three locations in the region promoting Effingham; approved a job description for a customer service representative in the public works department; approved an engineering agreement for work at the waste water treatment plant; and approved changes to the planned residential district in Golden Fields Development along Charlotte Street resulting in fewer duplexes and more single family residences.

The Council approved a special use permit for Rural Med to develop an ambulance base at 1100 West Wabash; approved rezoning property for Kristen Allen and for Alex and April Ritz at Evergreen and 4th Streets for a residence that will later make way for a physical therapy clinic; and approved subdivision plats for McaAllaster Subdivision, North Mor Storage Subdivision, and the 4th addition to Park Ridge Subdivision.

Council members agreed to include a portion of Willenborg Street from the south end of the street to the where the concrete portion of the street begins into the municipal street system; and voted to declare a property at 809 West Richland as dangerous and unsafe and authorizes the City to take steps to make the property uninhabitable. Also, the Council agreed to sell property and to provide property for a construction easement in the area of the Central Fire Station at Fayette and Maple as part of the Fayette Avenue reconstruction project; and approved an intergovernmental grant agreement with the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity for the easterly extension of Ford Avenue.

The Council informally agreed to allocate $15,000 toward the cost of the 4th of July fireworks display to be shared at the Effingham High School sports complex; agreed to consider a promotional video proposal from CGI with CGI agreeing to produce videos promoting Effingham and soliciting funding for the project from local vendors.

City Engineer Luke Thoele reported that bids will be opened next week on the first phase of the City resurfacing program for 2022. Included in the first phase would be the resurfacing of Santa Barbara, Santa Fe and Santa Maria Streets, Sur's Woods Drive, Long Street, Washington Avenue, and Lee Street.