Council Members Hear About New Truck Dealership for Effingham

Effingham is a transportation hub, and another cog in the wheel is on its way.

City Council members heard Tuesday night about plans for a new full-service truck dealership for Effingham.

Truck Centers Inc. will be locating its 10th full-service operation to town with a goal of opening this fall. The dealership is anticipated to bring 25 new jobs to town and developer Justin Hopkins expects "north of 50 employees" there within 24 to 36 months.

(JUSTIN HOPKINS OF TRUCK CENTERS INC. SPEAKING TO THE CITY COUNCIL TUESDAY NIGHT)

Truck Centers Inc. is a family-owned network of Freightliner/Western Star/Sprinter dealerships in three states; Illinois, Missouri and Indiana. The company currently operates nine premier dealerships, two auxiliary locations and two customer on-site parts facilities in their territory. TCI-Effingham has sister stores in Mt. Vernon and in Evansville.

Justin Hopkins, who is Vice President of Sales for Truck Centers, Inc. said the project "is the perfect capstone for TCI's 46th year and a market that we have planned to enter into for several years and everything has finally aligned to make it happen." City officials and local representative for the venture Gary Greene said the project has been discussed for 16 years.

The facility will be developed east of Truck-O-Mat where the TREC Trail pedestrian and bicycle interstate overpass is located. A street will be developed off Outer Belt West to provide access to the site. A formal development agreement will be acted on by the Council soon.

The Council informally agreed to amend the City liquor ordinance to include a Brew Pub/Extended Premises License for consumption sales and package sales. The addition would allow an interested business owner to open a micro-brewery in the city. The Council also had no objections to amending the ordinance to allow liquor license holders within the state of Illinois to obtain a Beer and Wine permit, rather than restricting it to those in the local community. Of particular interest is some of the wineries that might want to sell merchandise here. Final action on those measures will come at a future meeting.

There was discussion about progress on an interconnection agreement and water supply contract with EJ Water Cooperative and with Lake Sara Area Water Cooperative that would update the boundaries of the co-ops' service areas and that of the City. Also discussed was an ADA transition plan that would outline every sidewalk in the city, its condition and any concern that it doesn't mean ADA guidelines. It also outlines when and how the problem will be corrected. City Director of Public Works Steve Miller said failure to comply with the plan could hurt the City as far as future grant funding.

Mayor Jeff Bloemker asked whether consideration is given in the plan to the aging population, the "Silver Tsunami" as the mayor and others term it. City Engineer Jeremy Heuerman said the plan begins with areas where high concentrations of disabled individuals live or congregate, including the aging population. Miller said they'll deal with the "worst first" and then address other identified needs.

The Mayor works with a committee on the Silver Tsunami issue that, he says, believes the City is not "pedestrian-friendly".

City Administrator Jim Arndt presented a third quarter financial report that indicates the City has a surplus in the water and sewer funds needed for future projects and that the State's fiscal woes is not having too great of a negative impact on the city.

Approval was also given to establishing a 35MPH speed zone on East Rickelman Avenue and North Willenborg Street, east from US 45 to the treated water standpipe and north on Willenborg from Rickelman through Silverlake Estates Subdivision.

The City also honored Chip and Beth Andes and Andes Health Mart Pharmacy with a Business Appreciation Award for their years of service to city residents.

(FROM LEFT, BETH AND CHIP ANDES AND EFFINGHAM MAYOR JEFF BLOEMKER)

The Council also approved:

--a preliminary engineering agreement with CSX Railroad on the planned reconstruction of 3rd Street south from Fayette Avenue past the railroad crossing

--closing certain streets for the 11th Annual Effingham Artisan Fair on May 13-14

--acceptance of easements for a water main project on Luther Drive, Hillside Drive and Fayette Avenue

--an agreement with FGM Architects for pre-design services on a space needs assessment study for the city police station

--a business service agreement with Consolidated Communications

--purchase of a police station generator

--purchase of materials for the Henrietta Street and Lakewood Drive water main replacement project

--a preliminary engineering agreement with Farnsworth Group for reconstruction of Luther Street from the Fayette frontage road to Hillside Drive

--a contract with J.B. Esker and Sons for sidewalk work at 2nd and Grove

--a contract with Effingham Asphalt for street and drainage work on Lakewood Drive

--closing streets for the Martin's IGA Hoop Shoot on April 9

--a contract with Milano and Grunloh Engineers for the West Fayette Avenue water main project

--a contract with Effingham Asphalt for a sanitary sewer extension in Shenandoah Subdivision in connection with the North Raney Street reconstruction project