Council Hires Tutko as Fire Chief

Bob Tutko said when he was brought aboard as Interim Fire Chief for Effingham that taking the job on a permanent basis was something he might consider.

The City Council considered it, too, and voted Tuesday night to remove the "interim" title and hire Tutko as Effingham Fire Chief. Tutko was sworn into office by Interim City Administrator Kelsey Lock.

Asked about the hiring, Tutko reminded that he had said when brought on board that he considered people he had met in Effingham "some of the nicest people on the planet". He wasn't ready to retire and put his name in the ring. He said the Council also had the advantage of taking him "on a five-week test drive" and that was a factor in his hiring.

Tutko said his wife will stay in their home in Frankfort until her retirement next year and will then relocate to Effingham.

The Council was updated on the proposed Meijer store project by City Economic Development Director Todd Hull and Todd Kabbes of Kabbes Development Group. Kabbes has asked for a delay in the timetable on the project. Kabbes said a turn lane off Ford Avenue into the street leading into the Meijer site will be built in 2019, with the store construction to begin in 2020 and completion in 2021. He said it would be tough in this retail climate to locate stores in the outlots along Ford Avenue in front of the Meijer site and then be hampered by the Meijer construction project. Kabbes said everything he is hearing is that Meijer plans to come here, saying "Effingham is high on their priority list."

There was also discussion of what the City Council that will take office in May 2019 should be paid. Mayor Jeff Bloemker said the mayor's pay should be returned to the $26,000 annual rate mayors were paid before the advent of a city administrator. Bloemker contends that the mayor "is the CEO of the City of Effingham."

The Council in office when the city administrator position was created also voted to cut the mayor's pay to $16,000 a year and the pay for the four commissioners to $10,000 a year each, assuming the workload of the members of the Council would lessen.

Bloemker contends that "the deployment of a City Administrator has only created more work and more considerations for the Mayor and the Council." He also suggested that increasing the pay might help attract better candidates.

Commissioner Merv Gillenwater, who served as mayor for the term prior to Bloemker's election, agreed that the mayor's pay should be increased. He said, though, he couldn't support an increase to the amount Bloemker suggested.

Commissioner Don Althoff said he had considered increasing the pay of Council members by the same percentage City employees' pay is increased each year. Commissioner Kevin Esker said some sort of percentage increase could be considered.

Commissioner Kevin Willis said he was okay with leaving the commissioner pay at the current rate, saying he ran as a public service.

There were also questions about what other municipalities pay their mayor and council members. Bloemker termed Effingham an "anomaly", that other municipalities pay either much more or much less than the rates paid in Effingham.

Gillenwater encouraged citizens with thoughts on the matter to let them know.

The Council approved two downtown redevelopment program agreements and amended a third agreement. The two adopted were with Midland States Bank contributing $50,000 toward their redevelopment of the former bank building at Jefferson and 5th into lofts for short-term living quarters for those in town working on projects, and with Thompson Law contributing $24,126.12 for renovation of their new home at 125 East Jefferson. The amended agreement is with Register Building, LLC to complete the renovation of the building at Jefferson and Banker including allowing for no more than 49 people on the roof patio at one time to allow for proper egress in case of an emergency. Extensive renovation has been done throughout the historic building to facilitate retail use.

The Council took time to honor the St. Anthony Bulldogs boys golf team for winning the state championship on Saturday. The mayor proclaimed Saturday as "St. Anthony Boys Golf Day".

City Police Chief Jeff Fuesting recognized City Officer Aaron Lange for work he did while assigned to detective duties to gain a confession from a child sex offender who was recently convicted of the crime and is awaiting sentencing. Lange was presented a Chief's Commendation for his efforts.

(OFFICER AARON LANGE AND POLICE CHIEF JEFF FUESTING)

Fuesting also introduced Beth Massey as a new police department staffer.

Also Tuesday, the City Council:

--vacated portions of Virginia Avenue and Cherry Street and a portion of an alley near the County Health Department

--renewed a traffic signal maintenance agreement with Bodine Electric

--approved a plat of the third addition to Crossroads Center Subdivision, creating one lot for a strip mall and one lot for a bank building off Thelma Keller Boulevard

--contracted with Milano and Grunloh Engineers of Effingham for engineering on reconstruction of the sanitary sewer across land along 2nd Street so the lot will be buildable with building on top of the sewer

--created the position of Information Technologies Specialist 

--discussed the temporary closing of certain streets and parking lots for the Hometown Christmas Event that is to include a skating rink downtown

--discussed the amount to be levied to cover the fire pension fund and police pension fund

--heard the quarterly financial report from City Treasurer Caitlin Phillips and the fire prevention activities from Assistant Fire Chief Matt Kulesza

--heard from City Tourism Director Jodi Thoele on Effing Oktoberfest downtown this weekend including a polka band and German food; the Howl-O-Ween Pet Parade this Sunday on Washington Avenue downtown; and the annual Halloween Parade on Sunday, October 28 sponsored by Sunrise Rotary

--heard from Tutko on the Fire Department Open House this past Sunday and on five paid-on-call firefighter spots to be filled and that applications are now available