Much Discussion at Tuesday's Council Meeting

Effingham City Council members Tuesday discussed the coming fiscal year Tuesday. The new year will begin May 1.

The Council is looking at pay raises of 5%, 4% and 4% over the coming three years. Council members also reviewed several appointments to various boards and commissions. Those appointments will be finalized later.

Council members heard from Director of Public Works Jeremy Heuerman about a new project in the south part of town with safety in mind. Heuerman said the plan will involve improvements to Veterans Drive and Jaycee Avenue. The work will include a bike path and pedestrian bridge as well as sidewalk along the west side of Veterans and extending to the existing trail network. Heuerman said the initial part of the project will be the subject of a $75,000 grant request that will pay for right of way acquisition and easements. City Commissioner Larry Micenheimer termed the initial work "an important first step".

The Council also discussed a continuation of the downtown/southown rehabilitation program and the housing redevelopment program, and the start of work on reconstruction of 1st Street from Temple to Roadway Avenues. Civil Design is being selected to do engineering work. The project will begin once the school year ends. 

The Council is also looking at a project to relocate a gas main on East Evergreen Avenue to make way for a box culvert replacement project. The work is valued at over $307,000. Also being explored is an intergovernmental agreement with IDOT concerning street sweeping by the City on IDOT streets, as well as redevelopment of properties in the 200 block of Eiche Avenue.

There was discussion of whether purchase of City vehicles could first be considered utilizing local vendors.