Council Gets Update on Proposed Police Station

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Published on August 16 2016 8:40 pm
Last Updated on August 16 2016 8:40 pm
Written by Greg Sapp

(NEW POLICE OFFICER TREY DASENBROCK POSES WITH CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS AND OTHER CITY OFFICIALS AT TUESDAY NIGHT'S COUNCIL MEETING. SEATED, LEFT TO RIGHT: BOARD OF CITY BOARD OF FIRE AND POLICE COMMISSIONERS MEMBER DAVE STORM, TREY DASENBROCK, CITY POLICE CHIEF MIKE SCHUTZBACH; STANDING, LEFT TO RIGHT: CITY COMMISSIONER KEVIN ESKER, CITY COMMISSIONER KEVIN WILLIS, MAYOR JEFF BLOEMKER, CITY COMMISSIONER MERV GILLENWATER, AND CITY COMMISSIONER DON ALTHOFF)

Effingham City Council members Tuesday had another look at proposals for a new police station.

The station is proposed to replace the current building south of City Hall. The police department would move into the basement of City Hall during the demolition of the current building and construction of the replacement structure. The project is estimated to take 12-14 months to complete and would cost between $8.1 million and $9.8 million. Bonds would be sold to finance the project.

Next up will be a vote by the Council on whether to approve an architectural design agreement with FGM Architects of Mt. Vernon to design the building. If the design work is approved, the building could be under construction in May 2018.

Council members Tuesday also approved establishment of the Triangle Business District. The district is triangular-shaped, running along the interstate on the west, Keller Drive and Henrietta Street on the east, and Fayette Avenue on the south. The district involves 302 parcels and 294 acres of land. The district would be in effect for 23 years and essentially would replace the TIF District including much of the same area that will expire in 2021. A 1% sales tax would be imposed in the district with the revenue used to make improvements within the district.

A hearing on the business district will be held ahead of the Council's September 20 meeting.

The Council heard from Michael and Blake Yager about the Luke Bryan Farm Tour headed to Mid America Motorworks on October 15. The brothers indicated Effingham is by far the smallest venue for the tour, but is second on the tour in ticket sales. They also requested $30,000 from the City to cover some of the costs of the event. The Council will consider the request at a future meeting.

Council members voted to establish an Enterprise Zone involving property both in Effingham and in Teutopolis, recognized Economic Development Specialist Sasha Althoff as the City's Employee of the Quarter, and welcomed Trey Dasenbrock as the newest member of the Effingham Police Department. Dasenbrock said he is an Air Force veteran who discovered once in the private sector that he needed a change, so pursued a law enforcement career.

(CITY EMPLOYEE OF THE QUARTER SASHA ALTHOFF WITH MAYOR JEFF BLOEMKER)

The Council approved a revised personnel policy indicating that if all things are equal, the City will look to current employees when filling a vacancy, and appointed former First Lady Carol Utz as a member of the Effingham Public Library Board, succeeding Effingham Junior High Principal Bill Myers. It was also agreed to contract with retiring police chief Mike Schutzbach on a month-to-month basis to continue as chief until a successor is chosen, up to six months.

Council members approved holding an event to be known as Heart of the Hops on September 30-October 1 in downtown Effingham. It'll be a craft beer festival featuring various vendors, as well as food and entertainment. The Andrew Gobczynski Big Heart Foundation will also benefit from the event, being organized by Koerner Distributor. The Council discussed a downtown rehabilitation project, with The Red Thread Boutique to move into the former Jefferson Street Gifts building and fix up the building in the process.

Council members informally directed City staffers to enforce zoning and structural standards, with the Council willing to back their efforts, and discussed how to enforce the City's amusement tax. City Clerk Kelsey Lock said she's only collected the tax on two events in two years. Lock and City Administrator Jim Arndt are asking for input as to how to collect the revenue due the City. Arndt said if the revenue is collected, the City would have the resources to help entities that come to them seeking funds for their events.