City Council Close to Finalizing Fiscal Year Budget

Effingham City Administrator Steve Miller reported at Tuesday's City Council meeting that the projected budget for the fiscal year that begins May 1 "is a little healthier since our last meeting."

Miller said expenditures from the General Fund haven't changed since the budget review last month, and revenues are still consistent. The budget is to be adopted at the Council meeting on April 15.

Some matters could not be acted on Tuesday since just three of five Council members were in attendance. Commissioners Hank Stephens and Merv Gillenwater were not on hand. No action could be taken on two purchases of property for utility purposes, nor could the granting of a special use permit for a home for the county morgue at 207 West St. Anthony Avenue be voted on.

The Council did vote to contract with Milano and Grunloh of Effingham on engineering work on an extension of Airport Road west of US Route 45. The project will open up additional land in the area for development. Also a Downtown/Southtown business area redevelopment agreement was approved for work on the exterior of The Thomas Shop downtown.

Council members approved a project by the Sexual Assault and Family Emergencies agency to put ribbons up downtown for SAFE Prevention and Awareness Month; approved replatting land from three parcels into two lots at Cleveland Street and Temple Avenue; and approved a final plat of the first addition to Hidden Hills Subdivision.