Council Meets Christmas Card Contest Winners

The winners of the Mayor's Christmas Card contest were announced at Tuesday night's Effingham City Council meeting.

Ava Hirtzel, a 3rd grade student in Unit 40, was the first place winner. Josie Jones, a 4th grader in Unit 40, finished second. Arieonna Payne, a Unit 40 4th grader, finished third. The top three finishers received gift cards and copies of their cards. Ava's card had a combination of Santa Claus and Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer. City Commissioner Libby Moeller introduced the winners of the contest.

(CITY COMMISSIONER LIBBY MOELLER WITH FIRST PLACE FINISHER AVA HIRTZEL)

(COMMISSIONER MOELLER WITH SECOND PLACE FINISHER JOSIE JONES)

(COMMISSIONER MOELLER WITH THIRD PLACE FINISHER ARIEONNA PAYNE)

Effingham City Council members Tuesday heard that $960,000 in grant funds have been secured to help pay for an extension of McGrath Avenue in the City Business Park. The funds would be part of a $2 million project that would lead to an expansion of Stevens Industries' plant and an additional 13 jobs.

The Council also voted Tuesday to purchase 3.91 acres of property to provide for construction of a street extending east from Maple Street to 4th Street. The land was acquired for $326,000.

Additional funds totaling $252,484 have been received through a grant that will allow for more work on an extension of Thies Avenue by John Boos and Company and improvements to Airport Road, east from US Route 45. 

The Council awarded a $70,000 water line replacement project from the IC Railroad to 1st Street, and received $550,000 in grant funds along with a local match of $137,500 for sewer and manhole replacement work in the downtown area.

Council members discussed the need for a sewer rate study, which is conducted every four years. Work on the study should be contracted for soon.

Cty Engineer Luke Thoele reported on a plan to install stop signs on Cardinal Drive at North Oceola Street, with the project to be finalized soon.

Also Tuesday, Police Chief Jason McFarland said this will be one of the biggest Shop With A Cop efforts this year, as officers will be working to provide gifts for 60 young people. Also, Fire Chief Brant Yochum shared that Santa Claus will be riding a fire engine on December 18-19 through Effingham.