City Council Allocates $100,000 to Effingham Performance Center

The Effingham City Council Tuesday voted 4-1 to allocate $100,000 to Arts Connection of Central Illinois, the organization that oversees operation of the Effingham Performance Center.

The funds are being allocated to help cover the cost of performances, educational activities and general operation of the EPC. 

Commissioner Brian Milleville voted against the award of the funds.  Milleville said he supports the EPC and all the operators are trying to do, but feels the City has already pledged enough financial support to the Center.

The Council approved a crossing guard agreement with Unit 40 school district and with St. Anthony Schools.  The City will still employ the crossing guards, but the schools will now handle the providing of the service.  Also approved was the purchase of $12,000 in aggregate to be used in street maintenance work.

Council members voted to eliminate stopping, standing and parking on either side of Calico Road and on either side of the Calico Road Trail for its entire length, except where parking is designated west of Outer Belt West and Calico Road.  Some trail users have even been using private property for parking area.  Officials with the Effingham Performance Center have agreed to let some of their parking lot be used as parking for those using the TREC Trail.

The Council purchased two squad cars, one a K9 unit, for $50,000.  The old K9 unit will likely be auctioned off and the other retired patrol car will be used elsewhere in the fleet.  Council members discussed purchase of new Hurst rescue equipment for the Effingham Fire Department.  Fire Chief Joe Holomy said the new equipment is needed to cut through metals used in newer automobiles.  Funds for the equipment will come from revenue non-residents have paid for extrications from their vehicles performed by the city department.

Council members discussed painting work needed at the Waste Water Treatment Plant, discussed fundraising underway to replace the current city K9 Kilo who is being retired in September, heard compliments from Milleville about the Ham City Jamm last weekend targeting local youth and drawing good crowds to the skate park at Hendelmeyer Park, heard the latest on an effort to be known as "Pick It Up Effingham" a citywide cleanup activity being organized, heard that paperwork regarding funding for the Effingham County Economic Development Foundation is in the hands of the foundation for review, and heard that a job description report should be ready in September.