Lock Named Deputy City Administrator

(EFFINGHAM MAYOR JEFF BLOEMKER SWEARS IN KELSEY LOCK AS DEPUTY CITY ADMINISTRATOR)

Kelsey Lock has been sworn in as Deputy City Administrator for Effingham.

The appointment was approved by the Effingham City Council at Tuesday night's meeting. Lock is the first to hold the position in Effingham. Deputy City Clerk Abbey Nosbisch was promoted to succeed Lock as City Clerk.

Effingham Mayor Jeff Bloemker said the possibility of a deputy city administrator was first broached by former city admnistrator Jim Arndt last year and said the idea was revisited after Director of Public Works Steve Miller was named city administrator.

(MAYOR BLOEMKER SWEARS IN ABBEY NOSBISCH AS EFFINGHAM CITY CLERK)

The job description indicates Lock will oversee the administrative offices, will serve as administrator in Miller's absence, and will serve as deputy city clerk in Nosbisch's absence. She will also be involved in the strategic planning for the City and will manage human resource operations.

Bloemker swore in Lock and Nosbisch to their new positions following the action by the Council.

The Council also acted to vacate a never-developed roadway known as Clifford Street. The vacation allows for an addition to the Public Property building next to Oakridge Cemetery on East Jefferson Avenue. The Council also rezoned some of the affected property there and approved a special-use permit so the land is zoned residential but can be utilized as cemetery space.

Council members approved an extended liquor license for Gabby Goat on East Fayette Avenue so they can hold events and serve alcohol outside their building.

The Council decided, despite the low bid coming in over the engineer's estimate, voted to award a water main replacement project that will serve residential areas west of downtown. Much of the project will be grant funded, with the total project cost coming in at $594,096. Water mains will be replaced along portions of Maple Street, Lawrence Avenue, Linden Street, Clark Avenue and Franklin Avenue.

Council members approved a Downtown/Southtown Business Area Redevelopment Program agreement with Bob's Discount for new entrance doors. The project cost is $7,450 with the City and Bob's going halves on the cost.

Items discussed by the Council, but not acted on, included replacement of the west entrance doors on City Hall to make them ADA compliant; assistance to Lee Kaufman for Effingham Storage Solutions, a 47,000 square foot building with loading docks for commercial storage off South Banker Street; and whether to implement public property cafe permits, allowing downtown establishment to sell food and drinks outside the buildings in a cafe-like setting. The mayor said City officials are checking with other communities that have similar initiatives to see how it might work in Effingham.

The Council also recognized City Engineer Jeremy Heuerman, who was presented the Employee of the Quarter Award by Miller for his work on a variety of public works projects.

(EFFINGHAM MAYOR JEFF BLOEMKER WITH CITY ENGINEER JEREMY HEUERMAN)