Council Acts on McGrath Avenue Project; Discusses Thies Avenue and Airport Road Project

Some of the most significant items considered by the Effingham City Council Tuesday night were discussed, with final action to come at a future meeting.

That included a lease agreement extension between the City of Effingham and Effingham County for the animal control shelter. Under the 10-year extension of the lease, the County will continue to operate the shelter that was built by the City.

The City, County and 911 are nearing completion on an intergovernmental agreement under which 911 will pay the City and County for use of city and county telecommunicators. 911 will pay $106,000 the first year, $110,000 the second year, and $115,000 the third year. That's a 4% increase in each of the three years of the agreement.

There was also discussion between the County and the City on improvements to Airport Road, east from US Route 45 to Hetzel's Overland Transport and a northerly extension of Thies Avenue by John Boos and Company. The City will oversee the Thies project and the County will oversee the Airport Road project. Grant funding was obtained to cover the project costs.

Informal approval was given to acquisition of a new pump for use at the Rollin Hills lift station fro $38,800.

There was also information shared that the reconstruction of the intersection of Evergreen Avenue and Willenborg Street is nearing completion. City Director of Public Works Jeremy Heuerman said the project came just under $100,000 under budget, so the Council gave the okay to complete a culvert project that would have been in a future phase of the project and will cost about $50,000.

In the items voted on, the Council entered into a participation agreement with IDOT for a $933,972.50 grant to fund be used in conjunction with $18,450.00 in IDOT/TARP funding, (to be applied for during the next funding cycle), $895,000.00 of CDBG EDA funds, and $20,523.50 in local funding to extend McGrath Avenue, located near the Industrial Park, to support the phased expansion of the Stevens Industries, Inc. facility. Improvements are to consist of concrete pavement, concrete curb and gutter, storm sewers, sidewalks, and other miscellaneous items to complete the work. Also approved was a manhole rehabilitation project, a revision adding traffic signals on North Route 45 to the traffic signal maintenance contract, and a license agreement with Rusty Reel Events allowing the event to park vehicles on City-owned property at Fayette and Willow for busing patrons to and from the event.

The Council also witnessed the promotion of two Effingham Police Department officers. Aaron Lange was promoted from Sergeant to Lieutenant to replace the retired Troy Bloemker. Scott Volpi was promoted from Corporal to Sergeant to fill Lange's former slot.