County Board Approves Go Ahead on Bridge Projects

Effingham County board members approved a series of road improvement projects at this month's meeting.

Six projects were acted on. County Engineer Greg Koester said five of the projects were bridge improvements. The work was designed to get preliminary engineering work done on the projects. 

Koester said the County has been receiving $150,000 for such projects for 40 years. The amount of funding from state road dollars has been increased by the State to $600,000, and that allowed some of these projects to be moved on. Koester said the funding allotted for many years was based on a bridge project costing $75,000; those projects can now cost $300,000.

The projects are located along 700th Avenue in Watson Township; along 500th Street in Mound Township; along 1st Street in Lucas Township; along 2100th Street in Bishop Township; and along 1700th Street in Union Township. Koester said this work will get plans in the works for when actual construction can take place. A sixth project approved is in Liberty Township along 400th Street, east of Beecher City. The agreement for that project outlines who will pay for what.

The County Board also approved a law enforcement mutual aid agreement for extreme emergency situations. The agreement involves the County, the City of Effingham, and Lake Land College. Board member Sandy Rich abstained from the vote.

The Board also extended the lease agreement with the Department of Veterans Affairs for space in the County Office Building for another two years; and approved a bid award to Grunloh Construction for just under $39,000 for work on the County 911 control room entranceway. Board members also approved removal of an earmark of just over $40,000 in ARPA funding to the Childcare Research Committee for a CEFS Prevention Initiative Program Playground after a director couldn't be found for the program. The Board approved just under $3,000 in ARPA funds for the Effingham County Dive Rescue Team for a utility trailer, and also set the salaries for the County Public Defender for the next term at $186,044.36 and for the County Sheriff for the next term at $165,372.76. The salaries are 90% of the State's Attorney's salary for the Public Defender and 80% of the State's Attorney's salary for the Sheriff, according to state statute.

The Board also voted to accept an insurance payment from CIRMA to the County of $75,000 in connection with a lawsuit involving the County and Lakeside EMS.