Council Hears About Roundabout Option for Rickelman and 4th

When we see street construction projects underway, we often aren't aware of how many years have gone into the planning of the project.

Andy Hanfland spoke to Effingham City Council members Tuesday about a roundabout for the intersection of 4th and Rickelman on the city's north side. 

The anticipation for years is that Ford Avenue will be extended east, eventually to 4th Street, or swinging north to Rickelman. The second option appears to be the favorite.

Hanfland told the Council that the decision was for Farnsworth Group, Milano and Grunloh Engineers and Civil Design...three local firms...to partner with the City in designing what would be the intersection of 4th and Rickelman and to utilize a roundabout, rather than a traditional intersection.

Hanfland said a roundabout would direct traffic approaching the intersection from all four directions to the right. He said such movement of traffic has shown to result in fewer crashes and better traffic flow. The roundabout would also result in fewer lanes of traffic and result in a more "green" project. 

The estimate is that just under $80,000 in engineering study expenses would be needed to get things moving.

Mayor Mike Schutzbach told Hanfland that the City would consider the idea before a decision is made whether to proceed with the project design.

Council members also got to meet the designer of the winning entry in this year's City Christmas Card contest. She is Brooklyn Brown, a third grader at Central Grade School. The second and third place finishers are also Central third graders, Marleigha Tucker and Kennedy Jones. City Commissioner Libby Moeller announced the winning entries.

Brooklyn is shown posing with her winning design, which will appear on all Christmas cards being sent by Mayor Schutzbach this season.

The Council finalized the tax levy for the next fiscal year, a 14.64% reduction from the previous year's levy. Because of growth in the city's EAV, the City will still see a $140,000 growth in revenue from the levy. 

Much of the growth is related to the end of the city's original Tax Increment Financing district. No more funding will be collected for the TIF district, but this is the last year for expenditures for specific use in the district.

City Commissioner Hank Stephens, who was Effingham City Attorney when the TIF program was established in Effingham in 1986, said TIF has been a huge benefit for the city. He said people...including some involved in the development of the district...laughed when a $37 million list of projects was developed back then. Now, $120 million in projects later, Stephens said TIF has been a resounding success. 

Also Tuesday, the City Council voted to use the interest earned on four bond issues to make the annual payments on the bonds and to abate the city's levy by the amount equal to the bond payments. The Council contracted with ESS Clean for cleaning services; and accepted low bids on street maintenance aggregate material and for stockpiling the material.

The Council also executed a partial release of a lease of farm ground with Thomas Haarmann, and executed an agreement with CivicServe for software to assist in grant-writing programs.

There was discussion of selling off two of three lots purchased in the past to line up St. Anthony Avenue and Rollin Hills Boulevard and retaining the land that would be needed for such a project, and discussion of engineering needed for sanitary sewer force mains at Rollin Hills and at Rickelman. The Council also welcomed new city staff members including new paid-on-call firefighters.