Council Okays Rezoning for Homes East of Meijer Site

Effingham City Council members have given the okay to a rezoning of property along the west side of North Raney Street, north of Ford Avenue.

The property was rezoned from Class B-5 (highway commercial district) to R-2 (single family residential district) and a plat of the property from one lot into three. The changes will allow for construction of three homes on the property.

The tract is east of the property on which a Meijer store is to be developed. City Director of Public Works Jeremy Heuerman said the footprint of the store is being reduced because of wetlands concerns and ravines on the ground, so the property to the east wasn't needed for the project.

The Council amended an ordinance imposing a Cannabis Retailers' Occupation Tax. The 3% tax was to be imposed beginning in September, but since there is a 90-day period between when the tax dollars are collected and disbursed to the communities, the State directed that the tax would be collected beginning in July, meaning the City should start to see revenue in September. The tax is in addition to the usual 1% sales tax the City collects.

Council members discussed a change in the liquor control ordinance that would allow a license for Steve Kinkelaar and his son, who plan to develop a bar in the former Scrubby's location at Jefferson and 4th. Package sales would also be a part of the operation. The location has housed a bar as long as anyone could remember. Mayor Mike Schutzbach reminisced that used to deliver newspapers there when the location housed the Silver Moon Tavern.

The Council pulled action on a grant to Arts Connection of Central Illinois while wording in the agreement is finalized.