Published on April 15, 2025 7:15 pm
Last Updated on April 15, 2025 7:15 pm
The Effingham City Council Tuesday passed the budget for the fiscal year that begins May 1. The measure totals $98.3 million, but the general fund calls for expenditures of $46.7 million.
The Council also passed the appointment ordinance for the fiscal year, and established the pay ranges for various non-union salaried and hourly positions.
The Council approved the sale of 30 acres of property off South Banker Street to Harvest Land Holdings for $25,000 per net acre. Harvest plans a solar power development. Also approved was budgeting $200,000 for the Downtown/Southtown Business Area Redevelopment Program for the fiscal year, and budgeting $100,000 for the Housing Redevelopment Program.
Council members approved a special use permit for a county morgue and a county coroner’s office at 207 West St. Anthony Avenue. The new morgue will replace one in the hospital basement that has limited space. Also approved was a $25,000 contribution to Effingham City/County Committee on Aging, as the City has done for many years. The Council also approved an agreement for engineering work by Civil Design for the reconstruction of 1st Street from Temple to Roadway Avenues for just over $52,000.
Another engineering agreement was approved with Milano and Grunloh of Effingham for design of a 10-foot wide bike path on the west side of Veterans Drive and a 10-foot wide bike trail on the south side of Jaycee Avenue, along with a pedestrian bridge and a sidewalk on the north side of Jaycee Avenue to connect US Route 45 with 4th Street at a cost of $75,000. Also approved was a box culvert replacement project along Evergreen Avenue; and a street sweeper agreement with IDOT.
With the start of the new city fiscal year on May 1, a series of appointments were approved to various boards and committees. Those include City Administrator Steve Miller and Lisa Koerner to new terms on the Effingham Public Library Board; Jake Buhnerkempe to another term on the Enterprise Zone Commission; Dave Storm to another term on the Board of Fire and Police Commissioners; Clara Koester to another term on the Human Relations Commission; Ken Wohltman to another term and Andrew Grunloh to a new term on the City Plan Commission; John Richards to another term on the Police Pension Fund Board; Michael McHugh to a new term and Betsy Yager to another term on the Tourism Advisory Board; and Mark Thies and Brandon Weber to new terms and Andrew Grunloh to his first term on the Zoning Board of Appeals.
The Council approved a TIF housing redevelopment program agreement with You and Me and Kelly Butts on 204 West Eiche; approved allowing a classroom relocatable building at South Side School; granted a special-use permit for a 10-acre site to be developed as a cryptocurrency mine or data center and as a solar energy site on East 1700th Avenue; denied a tower use permit just south of Hardee’s Restaurant; and approved a plat for a fifth addition to Cross Pointe Subdivision where the Effingham Performance Center parking lot is being expanded.
There was discussion on spending $20,000 toward the cost of 4th of July fireworks in Effingham. Effingham Noon Rotary raises the balance of the $27,000 cost of the fireworks.
It was also shared that the bid opening is scheduled later this month on the extension of Santa Maria Avenue from 4th Street to the Workman Sports and Wellness Complex. Mayor Mike Schutzbach reminded of the retirement of City Commissioner Merv Gillenwater from the Council and for applicants to contact City Administrator Steve Miller if they’re interested in filling the remainder of Gillenwater’s term.
