City Council Approves Adult Use Marijuana Legislation; Gets Proposal for EPC Lobby Renovation Help

The Effingham City Council Tuesday approved legislation that will allow the sale of recreational marijuana in the city.

The vote on both measures concerning the issue was 4-1, with Commissioner Merv Gillenwater voting No on both items. Gillenwater had also voted No when the subject of sales first came up, as did Mayor Mike Schutzbach. The mayor voted in support of these two measures, though, noting that the City Plan Commission had recommended approval of both items.

One measure amends the Municipal Code regarding special use regulations to allow adult use cannabis sales in a highway commercial district. The other grants the special use permit to The Clinic to sell recreational marijuana at their location on Ford Avenue where they currently sell medicinal marijuana. The change in the special use regulations required a supermajority Council approval, meaning four Yes votes on the five-person council.

Two local pastors, Brian Newswander and Willie Love, spoke against the sale of recreational marijuana, as did local resident Jim Mayhood. Both pastors voiced concern over the damage that could be done to families if marijuana use is abused.

Also Tuesday, the Council was presented a proposal for financial assistance with the renovation of the lobby area at the Effingham Performance Center. The project is estimated to cost $643,617. Tom Henderson and Dr. Ruben Boyajian of Arts Connection of Central Illinois and Executive Director Kim Jansen said an anonymous donor is pledging $325,000 toward the cost of the project, and asked the City to contribute $80,000 annually for each of the next four years to cover the balance of the project cost. No action was taken last night on the request. The project involves opening up the existing lobby and relocating the concessions area and staff offices to make room for the renovation.

The Council finalized agreements with South Central Illinois Regional Planning and Development Commission and with Coles County Regional Planning and Development Commission to oversee administration of an almost half-million dollar grant that will finance renovation of close to 10 low to moderate income homes in the central and south parts of town. Also accepted was a proposal from Effingham Monument Company for $17,600 for a Columbarium at Oakridge Cemetery that will hold a total of 144 urns. Also approved was the replat of two lots between Banker Street and the Illinois Central Railroad just north of the CSX Railroad.

Council members discussed a project proposed by Effingham Railroad that would expand services and add a set of railroad tracks in the City Business Park between Pike Avenue and the railroad's existing building. There was also discussion of a $13,000 piece of equipment at the water treatment plant, a $313,000 project at the wastewater treatment plant, a bid letting for water main replacement work along South Banker Street from Douglas to Wernsing Avenues with an alternate to add the water main along Banker from Eversman to Vulcan, and improvements to the Effingham County Animal Shelter.

The Council amended the City Appointment Ordinance to appoint Chris Niemerg as Plumbing and Electrical Inspector and to replace a part-time customer service representative in the Engineering Department with a full-time representative, and accepted a three-year proposal from West and Company for audit work for the City.

(FIREFIGHTER AARON MASON IS PINNED BY HIS WIFE, KAMI)

Effingham Fire Chief Bob Tutko welcomed Firefighter Aaron Mason, who has completed his one-year probationary period, and was pinned by his wife, Kami, and also welcomed Cole Marxman and Chris Lipe as new paid-on-call firefighters. Also, Police Chief Jason McFarland reported news from the US Department of Homeland Security that a case the city police department worked with Homeland Security on has been successfully prosecuted, generating more than $10,000 for the City from the case. Also, a straw poll of Council members indicated support for the purchase of additional Christmas light displays for just over $58,000. A formal vote on the purchase will come later.