Council Approves Hike in Levy to Add Police Officers

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Published on December 1 2015 7:54 pm
Last Updated on December 1 2015 7:54 pm
Written by Greg Sapp

The Effingham City Council voted 4-1 Tuesday to pass a fiscal year tax levy that is 9.5% higher than what was actually levied for taxes the previous year.

The increase will allow an increase of the city police force by four officers.

Commissioner Don Althoff voted against the increase, saying he feels it is being "shoved down the throats of the taxpayers" six months into the new Council term. Althoff also said a desire for additional officers could have been used as a negotiating tool the next time contract talks are held with the police union. He stated that negotiations were completed with four employee unions, but police bargainers wanted 2% more during the last contract talks.

Commissioner Merv Gillenwater said he was hesitant to support the increase to pay for additional officers until he did his own research that convinced him the increase is necessary. 

Mayor Jeff Bloemker again said a need for continuing public safety warranted the increase, as did Commissioner Kevin Willis. Commissioner Kevin Esker continued wrestling with the issue until the vote was taken and voted in favor of the increase.

The levy and a proposed increase has also been discussed at the three previous Council meetings.

Also Tuesday, Council members heard a proposal from John Boos and Company to purchase 15 acres of City-owned land as the site of a new wood plant, office area, and butcher block retaiil store. The company would relocate those operations from the current East Fayette area to across Thies Avenue from the company's new metal plant operation near Effingham County Memorial Airport along US Route 45. Boos would pay the City $20,000/acre, which is the appraised value for the land. The transaction would leave the City 6-1/2 acres at the site, but Boos would like to have right of first refusal to acquire the property if another prospective purchaser approaches the City.

Company President Joe Emmerich was attending a funeral, so company representative Vic Jansen was present. Jansen said the plan is to start work on the new operation in 2016 and have the relocation completed by the end of 2017.

Gillenwater reminded that the City owns the current plant location, which can then be cleared and marketed for future development.

A vote on the proposal could come at the next Council meeting.

The Council voted 4-1 to approve a drainage improvement agreement with Group Investments, Inc for work along Kentucky Avenue from Keller Drive to Henrietta Street. Althoff voted No, saying the agreement will lead to others approaching the City for similar help on a private development. The City will spend not more than $30,000 on the project, which Bloemker said is a high profile area that needs addressed.

Council members also:

--allowed a special use permit for mini-warehouses for Effingham County Humane Society along Miracle Avenue

--changed guidelines to bring police and fire pension boards into compliance with State law

--contracted with Burton and Associates for a sewer rate study

--contracted with Farnsworth Group for engineering on a water main replacement project

--allocated $75,000 for a box culvert project on East Evergreen

--contracted with Crawford, Murphy and Tilly for engineering on slurry lagoon modifications at the water treatment plant

--extended the 1.5% electric and natural gas utility taxes another eight years

--contracted with Goeckner Backhoe Services for storm sewer work along Holly Drive in Katrina Subdivision

--awarded property/casualty insurance and workers compensation insurance coverage for $351,893.05

--appointed local insurance agent William E. Myers a member of the Police Pension Board and the Fire Pension Board

--heard quarterly reports from Effingham Public Library Director Amanda McKay and City Administrator Jim Arndt on library activities and on the City's fiscal standing

  The Council also heard about work by City staffers and officials that showed a group of foreign dignitaries around Effingham Tuesday in hopes that they will locate their company here. The company was not publicly identified.