City Council Discusses Rickelman Avenue Improvements

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Published on January 16 2018 7:52 pm
Last Updated on January 16 2018 7:52 pm
Written by Greg Sapp

(TEUTOPOLIS NATIVE JARED PURCELL WAS WELCOMED AS A NEW MEMBER OF THE EFFINGHAM CITY POLICE FORCE AT TUESDAY NIGHT'S CITY COUNCIL MEETING. PURCELL HAS SERVED ON THE MT. VERNON POLICE FORCE THE PAST SIX YEARS)

Effingham City Engineer Jeremy Heuerman got informal City Council approval Tuesday night to move ahead with design work on improvements to a portion of Rickelman Avenue.

The project is to replace a box culvert in a dip on Rickelman west of the Canadian National/Illinois Central railroad crossing. The work would also include taking the dip out of the roadway, curb and guttering along the distance of the project, and a concrete roadway surface for the length of the project. Funding for design of the project is in this year's city budget, while funds for actual construction of the project will be in the budget for the fiscal year that begins May 1.

Formal action to award the design work is expected at the Council's first meeting in February, but Heuerman said "straw poll' approval would give the design firm Milano and Grunloh three weeks more time to complete their work.

The Council voted to amend the Ford Avenue Business District, removing the land that is to be the site of a Meijer store. Effingham Mayor Jeff Bloemker said following a previous meeting that it had always been part of the agreement with Meijer to remove the land from the Business District. It was also voted to amend an agreement with Pro Lube, giving the business on Henrietta Street additional time to complete a project to rehabilitate their building and add signage. The completion deadline is now September 1.

(EFFINGHAM MAYOR PROCLAIMED JANUARY AS MENTORING MONTH IN THE CITY. A GROUP OF LOCAL RESIDENTS WHO SERVE AS MENTORS WERE PRESENT FOR THE CEREMONY)

City Police Chief Jeff Fuesting reported on his first year activities as chief. Fuesting began his duties January 3, 2017, succeeding the retired Mike Schutzbach. Fuesting reported on reviewing policy manuals, obtaining grants, increasing community engagement, and the overall restructuring of the department. He discussed formation of a citizens police academy, increased social media presence, and the disposal of more than 100 seized weapons and their destruction. Some of the weapons had been in police possession since the 1970s. Fuesting also discussed increasing active shooter training both for his department and for the community. Fuesting also reminded of the bike patrols begun in cooperation with the Effingham Park District, and new computer in all police vehicles.

City Commissioner Merv Gillenwater, a retired State Police officer, commended Fuesting on his first year, saying much of what has been undertaken has been tough for many on his police force, but necessary.

The Council also heard from Deputy Fire Chief Matt Kulesza on his activities over the past quarter. Kulesza said the fire department and building department are working well together to make city structures safe, acknowledging that not every property owner has been receptive, but that the large majority have been.

Kulesza got praise from several Council members for his efforts, taking into consideration that he has helped with updating the city building code and completed training while overseeing fire code inspections throughout the city.

The Council granted Village Wine and Thursday Thunder to hold an Effingham Cruise Night downtown on Friday, May 18; welcomed new city police officer Jared Purcell, who returns to his home area after six years on the Mt. Vernon Police Department, and will reside in his hometown of Teutopolis; granted an expanded liquor license to Quick Stop Package Liquor on North Route 45 with Commissioner Don Althoff voting No; and heard from Billie Jansen of Austin Mansion about a liquor license for the Mansion. Jansen said those who have alcohol at their events at the mansion either hire a caterer to handle the alcohol or have a BYOB event. She said if they have a license to provide such services, it increases their responsibility, but can also improve their profits. A vote on the request will come at a future meeting.

Meanwhile, Jansen's neighbor at the Mansion to the north, Stephen McNaughton, shared concerns about a bus bringing patrons to the Mansion that parked in the street for what he felt was a long period of time, has had to deal with some yard damage, and noise from events at the venue.

Gillenwater and Althoff both commended City crews for their efforts outside at various tasks especially during the recent winter weather.