Fire Chief, Police Lieutenant Presented Lifesaving Awards; More News from Council Meeting

Effingham Fire Chief Brant Yochum and City Police Lieutenant Aaron Lange were honored at Tuesday night's City Council meeting for lifesaving steps they took earlier this year.

(POLICE CHIEF JASON McFARLAND HONORING LIEUTENANT AARON LANGE)

City Administrator Steve Miller and Police Chief Jason McFarland recognized the pair for working together January 13 to save a local resident who was likely suffering a heart attack. Both men had lifesaving training so while Lange drove, Yochum worked in the back seat with the patient until they reached the hospital. Staff at the hospital said if Lange and Yochum had not taken the steps they did, the patient could have lost his life. That patient was present at the Council meeting to offer thanks and to congratulate the pair.

(FIRE CHIEF BRANT YOCHUM)

Council members awarded a bid from Feutz Contractors of Paris for construction services on North 1st Street from Temple to Roadway Avenues for just over $414,000.

Also Tuesday, the Council:

--approved a letter of intent to sell 30 acres of property to a Chicago-based company known as Harvest Renewables for $25,000 per acre

--authorized a tree preservation policy for the City

--purchased new Christmas lighting displays for just over $66,000

--authorized Meghan Rewers of Crisis Nursery to place blue ribbons throughout the downtown area to make note of Child Abuse Prevention Month during April

--purchased replacement remote broadcast system equipment from Granicus for the City Council chambers for just under $56,000

--gave approval to work on a professional services agreement for a westerly extension of Airport Road, west from US Route 45 for just under $542,000

--informally approved plans for street and parking lot closures for Tom Henderson State Farm Insurance's 50th anniversary celebration on June 6th

--indicated approval of a Downtown/Southtown Redevelopment Program project at The Thomas Shop

--heard that the Plan Commission recommended a special use permit for use of 207 West St. Anthony as an office for County Coroner Kim Rhodes and as a county morgue

--heard that the Commission had recommended denial of a tower use permit for PI Tower Development

The Council held a budget workshop ahead of the regular meeting. The budget will be finalized in April, ahead of the start of the new City Fiscal Year May 1. More about the workshop in later newscasts.