City Council Delays Votes on Cannabis Legislation

The Effingham City Council Tuesday delayed votes on legislation related to allowing sales of adult use cannabis in the city.

Mayor Pro-Tem Hank Stephens explained at the start of the meeting that one of the pieces of legislation that would have allowed sales needs to pass by a super majority, not just a simple majority. Mayor Mike Schutzbach is still on vacation so was not present at the meeting, so votes on both pieces of legislation were delayed until the Council's February 4 meeting.

A super majority on the five-member City Council would mean at least four votes in favor to pass the legislation.

Also Tuesday, the Council received good news from Director of Public Works Jeremy Heuerman, who reported the City is receiving a housing rehabilitation grant of $498,139. The grant is a cooperative effort of Coles County Regional Planning and Development District and the South Central Illinois Regional Planning and Development Commission, along with City staff. Heuerman said nine or 10 homes should be benefitted from the grant award, with grants of up to $50,000 per home. He said that will allow for significant projects. The homeowners must be low to moderate income. More on the project will be announced later, but it's hoped the work can get underway this year.

City Police Chief Jason McFarland presented a Citizen Service Citation to Anthony Crackel, who was the citizen who spotted the man accused on breaking into a number of vehicles on the St. Anthony High School parking lot in November. McFarland said Crackel not only spotted the suspect, but he got accurate information and contacted city police in a timely fashion. 

(CITY POLICE CHIEF JASON McFARLAND WITH CITIZEN SERVICE CITATION RECIPIENT ANTHONY CRACKEL)

The Council approved a rezoning of land at 2008 N. Steger Drive from non-urban to single-family residential to allow Troy and Laura Hardiek to build a house at the location. The Council rezoned land along the east side of North US 45 between Oneighty and B and L Machine from non-urban to light industrial to allow for a new home for I-70 Truck Center that will locate to the new site from their current location on East Rickelman Avenue. The Council approved a plat of a lot containing a house and an accessory building at Rickelman Avenue and Charlotte Street, leaving the remainder of the land to be used for agricultural purposes. Council members also approved a reviewed agreement with IDOT closing the books on the original downtown redevelopment project from about 2010 and saving the City about $62,000 in the process. 

The Council also briefly reviewed audit proposals from West and Company for the coming three fiscal years, with a vote on the audit work at the next Council meeting. The Council also recognized Government students from St. Anthony High School who were present to watch the Council meeting.