City Council Hears About Proposed Liquor Establishment

Effingham city council members heard at their recent meeting about a proposed liquor sales business that would be basically a self-serve establishment.

The operation, to be known as Tap Out Lounge, would be located in Crossroads Plaza North just off Thelma Keller Avenue. The business would operate under a Class B liquor license. That's a bar or tavern license for consumption sales only, not package sales. The operation would receive the first Class B license in town.

The Council voted to place a stop sign on westbound Flamingo Avenue at North Pelican Street. The stop sign replaces a yield sign.

Council members amended the City's mobile food service establishment ordinance. Under the amendment, any food trucks operating on a city street or right-of-way would indemnify the City against any liability. 

The Council also:

--agreed to temporarily close certain streets and parking lots for the Mid America Corvette Funfest Welcomefest on Friday evening, September 17

--approved a proposal from Civil Design for a GIS database and online mapping portal for just over $36,000

--approved a 2021 agreement with Bodine Electric for maintenance of city-maintained traffic signals

--approved a grant agreement with the IEPA to study where there might be unavailable or inadequate wastewater treatment facilities in town

--awarded a contract for just over $97,000 to K. Wohltman Construction for a salt shed storage building

--heard from City Administrator Steve Miller on a study that determined that Effingham is the only city of a similar size in the region that doesn't charge a fee for plan review or inspections related to construction or renovation of facilities