City Council Hears About New Auto Dealership

Effingham City Council members Tuesday heard about a new auto dealership planned on the city's west side.

Roy Schmidt Motors Holdings plans to develop a Honda dealership on the site of the former Dixie Truckers Home along I-57/70 south of the Fayette Avenue interchange.  The 76 Truck Stop was located on the site for many years.

Schmidt showed Council members a proposed layout of the dealership.  A contract for private development was discussed outlining infrastructure improvements that would be part of the project, including access to Schwerman Street to provide a way to reach the dealership from both the north and south.

Council members passed the Appointment Ordinance for city employees.  The ordinance differs from those in the past in that it is not an annual ordinance, and since there's no expiration date for the employees.  The Council also approved an engineering agreement for improvements to North Raney Street from Ford Avenue to Rickelman Avenue, and released bonds on a series of projects that have recently been completed including Illini Drive, the extension of Outer Belt West to Route 40, the resurfacing of Holiday Drive, and the pavement marking and sidewalk replacement programs from this year.

The Council contracted for an audit of the City's telecommunications service, denied a rezoning request for property at 500 North Cleveland Street, and heard a review of the audit of the City's books for the past year from Dave Faller of West and Company.  The Council recognized city police officer Matt Sager who has been promoted to sergeant and officer Andy Warner who has been promoted to corporal, along with Josh Douthit who was recently appointed as a police officer.  The moves were made after Sergeant Kevin Willis' retirement from the force.

The Council accepted the donation of land by Dial and Dial Properties as right of way to serve the Casey's General Store and City-owned lots at Wabash and Banker, and also the sale of property by the City to Dial and Dial for redevelopment of the former Fedders site.  Council members also approved the allocation of funds to make various bond payments, considered the fiscal year tax levy with a vote still to come, and got updates from library director Amanda McKay on Helen Matthes Library and from City Administrator Jim Arndt on city finances for the past quarter.  

Council members also discussed a proposal to improve Park Street from Wabash to Douglas Avenues and Douglas Avenue from Park to Fourth Streets in the area of South Side School.