Council Approves Building Next Phase of Ford Avenue; Possible Purchase of Property for Housing

Effingham City Council members have okayed the next phase of construction of Ford Avenue.

McCarthy Improvement was the low bidder at $1,173,628.90. 

The Council this week also approved the purchase of a portion of property along the north side of Heritage Avenue, east of Henrietta Street. The purchase is contingent on receiving a grant. The purchase would be from Hospital Sisters Health Systems. The Council has hopes for residential development of the property.

Council members approved the replat of Andes Health Mart Pharmacy Subdivision. The current pharmacy will be replaced by a building immediately to the south and west. Also approved was the plat of Wilson Subdivision, involving property along South Willow Street, on the east side of Salt Creek. An existing house and acreage will be sold and a new house will be built there.

The Council also formally hired Chastain and Associates to lead the work on a new Comprehensive Plan for Effingham. The cost is not to exceed $170,000. We will let you know when the public planning meetings will take place. 

Council members discussed declaring a property at 1001 Ford Avenue as "dangerous and unsafe" and then move ahead with removing the structure. There was also discussion of allowing Village Wine to host the Effingham Cruise Night on September 7th, as well as the City's contribution to the Effingham Regional Growth Alliance membership, and use of funds from the Tax Increment Financing Home Rehabilitation Program for exterior improvements at 1200 South 5th Street.

The Council amended the liquor ordinance to allow liquor licenses to hotels or motels with 65 or more lodging rooms for sale of packaged goods. Also approved was changing the name of the north-south portion of what was Thies Avenue to Schutzbach Street. North-South roadways in Effingham are streets, while east-west roadways are avenues. The east-west portion of the street will remain Thies Avenue. The roadways are named for late Mayor Jack Thies and current Mayor Mike Schutzbach.

Council members awarded $30,000 in hotel/motel funds to Rennels Investment to help develop a trampoline park and amusement facility in the Fritz Krampe building along South Raney Street; contracted with Gardner L&M Glass for new exterior City Hall doors and frames for $28,225; and purchased a responder pickup truck for the fire department for $64,686.