City Council Discusses Street Projects

(CITY COMMISSIONER LARRY MICENHEIMER PRESIDED OVER TUESDAY'S COUNCIL MEETING)

Effingham City Council members Tuesday discussed the eventual construction of a street east from Maple Street to 4th Street.

Specifically, the Council discussed engineering for the extension, which will be known as Santa Maria Avenue, since it will extend west of the existing portion of Santa Maria, which runs east from 4th Street. The project is possible due to Tax Increment Financing funds from the original TIF district, which has ended. The City recently acquired the Holste farm to make way for the street project.

The engineering agreement with Milano and Grunloh of Effingham will cost $420,184. 

There was also more discussion of improvements to East Evergreen Avenue. An agreement with Farnsworth Group of Effingham was extended by $14,800 to cover engineering on a box culvert that will be part of the reconstuction of Evergreen from Willenborg Street east to Oceola Street. The reconstruction will take place as funds are available. The construction of the box culvert will be let for bids on January 30.

Also Tuesday, council members approved a liquor license for The Local to be located on Keller Drive; approved the allocation of motor fuel tax funds for design engineering on the next easterly extension of Ford Avenue and construction of a box culvert for that extension; approved agreements for billboards promoting Effingham with Dusty's Outdoor Media for another year; approved engineering work for sanitary sewer improvements on Mt. Vernon Avenue and Jaycee Avenue; approved the purchase of utility easements; and approved a plat at Pike Avenue and Heartland Boulevard for the sixth addition to American Way Industrial Park.

City Planner Greg Koester shared with the Council about a data center as it's related to crypto-data mining, and Tourism Director Jodi Thoele reported that 11,168 vehicles traveled through Wonderland in Lights in Community Park and that $24,366,24 in donations were collected from those who traveled through. By the way, the lights are expected to be on for the next few lights.

Mayor Mike Schutzbach and Mayor Pro-Tem Hank Stephens did not attend Tuesday's meeting, so Commissioner Larry Micenheimer presided over the session.