City Council Holds Final Meeting w/Arndt

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Published on June 19 2018 9:40 pm
Last Updated on June 20 2018 7:38 am
Written by Greg Sapp

(DEPARTING CITY ADMINISTRATOR JIM ARNDT AT TUESDAY NIGHT'S COUNCIL MEETING WITH MAYOR JEFF BLOEMKER)

The Effingham City Council held its final meeting Tuesday night with Jim Arndt on hand as city administrator. Arndt is departing at month's end for a city manager's job in Paducah, Kentucky.

Arndt said it has been a pleasure working for the City of Effingham and said, "I will miss you all." He has served as Effingham's first city administrator for more than seven years.

The Council voted to amend Arndt's contract, allowing him to depart with 30 days' notice, rather than 60 days. The Council also named City Clerk Kelsey Lock the Interim City Administrator. Also approved was a job description for the interim city administrator position. Lock's appointment is effective July 1, the day after Arndt's official departure.

Arndt gave his final quarterly financial report. The number reflect a city operating in the black, including the Tourism Fund, which finished with more income than outgo for the first time in Arndt's tenure.

The Council also took time to honor City Building Official Michelle Wilkins as Employee of the Year. Wilkins was chosen from the four Employees of the Quarter in the past fiscal year.

(EFFINGHAM MAYOR JEFF BLOEMKER AND BUILDING OFFICIAL MICHELLE WILKENS)

Recognition was also given Larry Thies, who is retiring after 43 years' service to the Effingham Fire Department, departing as a second lieutenant among the volunteer corps of firefighters. Thies has had a busy career as well as a long one, also working for the ambulance service including his current duties for an air ambulance service. Mayor Jeff Bloemker took a moment to read the resignation letter due to retirement of Thies' father, William, who also served for many years on the fire department.

(LARRY THIES w/MAYOR BLOEMKER)

The Council also recognized Drs. Sehy and Jones Optometrists with a Business Appreciation Award.

In other business, no one spoke during a public hearing regarding an annexation agreement with Prairie Ace Estates Subdivision northwest of town near Effingham Country Club. The subdivision developers are hoping to obtain utility services from the City. Votes on agreements with the developers were delayed until the July 3 Council meeting as City Commissioners Merv Gillenwater and Kevin Willis were not present at the meeting. Some neighboring landowners have some concerns about the project.

The Council contracted with Milano and Grunloh Engineers for grant administrative services, design engineering services and construction engineering services on a major water line replacement project. City Engineer Jeremy Heuerman said water lines will be replaced along portions of Franklin Avenue, Mulberry Street, Linden Street, and Cherry Street. Heuerman said Milano and Grunloh wrote the grant application that netted the City about half a million dollars to help finance the work.

Heuerman also reported that bids will be opened the morning of Tuesday, June 26 on reconstruction of a portion of Rickelman Avenue. The work will extend from the end of the concrete street, west to the Niebrugge storage units. The project will involve a new concrete surface and curb and guttering, but also will eliminate the dip that now exists in that portion of the street. The project carries an estimated price tag of between $600,000 and $700,000.

Director of Public Works Steve Miller reported on a project to paint the claricones and evaluate of some equipment at the water treatment plant estimated to cost up to $50,000.

The Council also heard from City Tourism Director Jodi Thoele and Effingham County Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Norma Lansing on a proposed expansion of the Hometown Christmas Celebration in downtown Effingham in December. The expansion would involve locating a portable ice skating rink on a downtown parking lot. Lansing estimates the cost of the rink and equipment at $8,000, which she would seek to underwrite with private donations. No objections were heard to the proposal, which would expand the event to a weekend celebration, rather than a day-long event.

Council members were also updated on this week's Moccasin Creek Festival at Lake Sara, the inaugural Middle of America Craft Brew Fest on June 30, and the annual 4th of July fireworks display as well as the Good Neighbors of Lake Sara display the evening of July 3.

The Council approved a mezzanine project at the central fire station, an actuarial services agreement for post-retirement healthcare for City workers, job descriptions for Lock and for Assistant Police Chief Danny Lake, acceptance of a proposal for removal of an underground storage tank in a downtown parking lot, and a proposal to obtain cemetery data through GIS services.