County Board Discuss Office Building Roof, Window Project

Effingham County board members Monday continued their discussion of installing solar energy panels on the roof of the County Office Building, and whether to replace the windows in the building.

The project cost has ranged into the hundreds of thousands of dollars. There's a divergence of opinion as to how many windows in the building need replaced. There is also support for seeking requests for proposals. Others want to make sure of the effect of the project on insurance costs.

The project will be revisited at the January meeting.

Also Monday, the Board named Norma Lansing, Ed Hoopingarner and Todd Hull to new terms on the Economic Development Advsory Board, Betsy Scott to a new term on the 708 Board, and city police chief Jason McFarland to a new term on the 911 Board.

The Board approved a local agency agreement on the upcoming reconstruction of a portion of the Airport Road east from US Route 45, approved up to a $3,600 disbursement in ARPA funding for an Effingham Childcare Gap Scholarship applicant, approved a $15,000 disbursement to Effingham County Senior Services, approved a Effingham County Chamber of Commerce membership renewal with members Sandy Gillett and Jeremy Deters voting No, and approved an amended fiscal year salary schedule. The Board also approved membership in Discover Downstate Illinois to promote activities in the county outside the city of Effingham.

Also Monday, Sheriff Paul Kuhns reported that deputy testing is set for February 1st, Coroner Kim Rhodes reported that the last two people injured in the anhydrous ammonia incident in Teutopolis earlier this year are home from the hospital, and Economic Development Advisory Board Chairman Dave Campbell reported that there is $23,950.59 available in funds for new or expanding businesses in the county.