City Council Handles Busy Agenda

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Published on May 18 2016 10:56 am
Last Updated on May 18 2016 10:56 am
Written by Greg Sapp

In addition to outdoor burning guidelines and a proposed police station, the Effingham City Council dealt with a number of other issues Tuesday night.

The Council awarded a bid for this year's street resurfacing program to Effingham Asphalt Company for $434,047.65. The resurfacing program allows streets to be worked on that don't need rebuilt, but could use a smoother driving surface. City Engineer Jeremy Heuerman said Newman Avenue, Flame Avenue and Flamingo Avenue from Martin to Taylor Streets will be resurfaced, along with St. Louis Avenue from 3rd to 4th Streets in front of St. Anthony Catholic Church; the alley behind Midland States Bank's downtown location; Hillside Drive from Luther Street to the cul-de-sac in the Hillside Apartments complex; East Lawrence Court off Pembroke Street; and Industrial Avenue from Banker Street, west.

Also awarded was a $332,305.75 bid to Hoelscher Concrete Construction for the summer sidewalk replacement program involving various sidewalks around the city, and a bid of $572,764.98 to Beniach Constuction for the final phase of the North Raney Street reconstruction project.

Council members approved a redevelopment program agreement with It's Almost Home, a home furnishings resale shop that plans to relocate from the former Nuxoll Food Center building to the former Sunbeam Baked Goods store on South Banker. The program allows qualifying business owners to share the cost of exterior renovations with the City. The Council also approved appointments to boards and commissions, including Heuerman to replace retired Building Official Bruce Devall on the City Human Relations Board, and David Ring, Dan Wormhoudt, Elizabeth Yager and Angie Jones to the Tourism Advisory Board of Directors for three-year terms. Jones is new to the Board; the others are reappointments.

The Council rezoned 1406 East Fayette from general commercial district to light industrial district; rezoned 1408 East Fayette from light indsutrial district to general commercial district; approved prices for water treatment plant chemicals; and approved a special use permit for Midstate Partners for development of a veterinary hospital, animal clinic and kennel in a light industrial district at 1909 South Banker, just south of Bob's Discount. Also approved was an agreement with SDS of Effingham for IT services for the City; a master service agreement with Vision Technology Solutions for development of a new City website; and a temporary closing of certain downtown streets for Scrubby's Downtown Party, which will follow the VW Welcome Fest Downtown Party on Friday, June 3. The total street closure will be from 3-11pm. Also approved was a Summer Food Festival, the former Taste of Freedom, to be sponsored by the Effingham Central Business Group on Friday, June 17 and closing of certain downtown streets for the evening of the event.

Council members also approved an inducement resolution for the Triangle Business District involving much of the northwest part of the city as a way to continue recouping development funds in that area once the TIF District expires in 2021; and approved retirement health care funding plans for city police officers and for non-union certified city employees. Also approved was a contract with PDC Laboratories for water testing at the water treatment plant.