City Council Celebrates Fire Department Promotions; Discusses Change in License for Gabby Goat

(LEFT TO RIGHT, FIRE CAPTAIN JASON LEE AND FIRE LIEUTENANT JOHN STROUD)

Effingham City Council members Tuesday recognized two promotions in the Effingham Fire Department.

The promotions are due to the recent retirement of Fire Captain Jim Charters. Fire Lieutenant Jason Lee has been promoted to Captain, and Firefighter John Stroud has been promoted to Lieutenant. The newly-promoted officers were officially "pinned" by their families during the Council meeting.

Fire Chief Bob Tutko also presented a Special Service Award. The award went to Steve and Theresa Kaufman and Heartland Towing "in appreciation and recognition of their continued support and dedication" to assisting the fire department. The company provides space for the department to conduct training exercises.

The Council discussed a request by Gabby Goat for a bar-extended license. The license would allow for outdoor events on their expanded property to the south of their building along East Fayette Avenue and the serving of alcohol outdoors. 

Mayor Jeff Bloemker, as City Liquor Commissioner, quizzed the other Council members whether Gabby Goat should be required to completely enclose their property with the fencing now in place around a portion of the location. The Mayor said after the meeting the consensus was not to require enclosing the property at this time, with the provision that the question can be revisited since liquor licenses are renewed on an annual basis. Bloemker said another consideration is any future neighbors that might locate next to the property. The Council also approved Gabby Goat operating on a portion of City right-of-way.

The Council held two closed sessions during Tuesday's meeting. One of those concerned collective bargaining with City employees with the City's labor attorney.

The Council contracted for an emergency vehicle priority control system and battery backup system for the traffic signals at Fayette and Willow. Bodine Electric will provide the system for $27,700. The systems, in place at several other locations in the city, let emergency vehicles insure they have the green light when headed through intersections on emergency calls.

Council members also awarded bids for water main replacement work along Mulberry Street, from Shelby to Temple Avenues, and along East Route 40 from John Deere Street to Crystal Club Road. Also discussed was a larger water main replacement project on Maple Street, Lawrence Avenue, Linden Street, Clark Avenue and Franklin Avenue in the residential area just west of downtown.

The Council discussed obtaining audit services from West and Company, and discussed a request for Southtown TIF Rehabilitation funds by Bob's Discount on South Banker Street. The project would see replacement of the entry door at a cost of $6,950. The City and the business would go halves on the project, if finalized.

Council members contracted with Civil Design for design work at the public property facility along Eiche Avenue, and contracted with Barlow Lock and Security for monitoring the alarm system at the new police station south of City Hall.