City Council Approves TIF Agreement w/County, Considers Agreement for Work on Old First National Building

(HERE'S A LOOK AT THE PROPOSED EXTERIOR OF THE RENOVATED FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF EFFINGHAM BUILDING AT JEFFERSON AND BANKER)

The Effingham City Council Tuesday voted to contribute $50,000 in Tax Increment Financing District funds to Effingham County. The funds will help pay for repairs to the elevator in the Effingham County Office Building.

County Board Chairman Jim Niemann said the funds will help pay for electrical work on the elevator. Niemann said the work will cost about $70,000. The County has already spent about $70,000 on the hydraulic system for the elevator.

The City Council also heard about plans to continue a renovation of the former First National Bank of Effingham building at the corner of Jefferson and Banker. Developer Michael Brummer is retrofitting the building that was constructed by the Austin Brothers in 1890 as part of the Austin Block that included the now Gopher's Grill building to the east, but originally was the Austin Opera House. 

The corner building being refurbished by Brummer was a bank from the time it was built until a new bank building that is now the Effingham Public Library was built in the 1970s. The corner building has been used for various commercial purposes since the bank relocated.

Brummer plans new lighting, handrails, windows and exterior doors. The cost of the exterior work is estimated at $108,145. The City can contribute up to $50,000 under its own guidelines.

Brummer said he plans four loft apartments on the top floor of the building, commercial or retail businesses, and commercial development in the first floor. He said he hopes to have the lofts ready for occupancy in January.

The Council could vote on funding at its next meeting.

Council members also heard from Brandon Bloom of GTI, the firm that operates The Clinic Effingham. The business now sells medical marijuana, but is interested in expanding to adult use marijuana sales once it becomes legal in Illinois on January 1.

Effingham Mayor Mike Schutzbach said the Council plans to take testimony at their October 15 meeting on whether to permit sales. No decision is expected at that meeting, though.

Also Tuesday, the Council:

--heard from Director of Public Works Jeremy Heuerman that the City is to receive a $300,000 grant that would fund improvements to the pedestrian railroad crossing by the train depot to bring it up to Quiet Zone status. City Administrator Steve Miller said the project could lead to Quiet Zone status on the CN tracks from Rickelman, south

--Heuerman reported that Phase 5 work on Jefferson Avenue downtown should be completed next week

--Fire Chief Bob Tutko reported that work is moving quickly on the conversion of a building on Jaycee Avenue into a new Fire Station #2

--work moved ahead to hire Economic Development Resources to work on linking the Central District and South Central Industrial Tax Increment Financing Districts so funds can be transferred between the districts

--approved holding a Halloween Parade on Sunday, October 27 sponsored by Effingham Sunrise Rotary

--discussed holding a 2nd Annual Howl-O-Ween Parade sponsored by Stang Arts downtown on Sunday, November 3 with no objections heard

--discussed a bid letting on the second phase of the Jefferson Avenue water main project from Merchant to Maple Streets

--discussed an agreement with Milano and Grunloh Engineers on reconstruction of a portion of 2nd Street

--discussed amending the Appointment Ordinance concerning Police Chief Jason McFarland, who initially was appointed to a six-month term when he took the office in May. That six-month period concludes in October and a change appointing him to a full term for the fiscal year is being discussed