Council Considers Feasibility Study on Showcase Center

Effingham city council members Tuesday agreed informally to contribute up to half the cost of an economic feasibility study for a sports and recreation center.

The proposed development is being called the Effingham Showcase Center and is being promoted by local resident Ryan Engel. The proposed site for the development is just east of the Workman Sports and Wellness Complex and immediately north of Evergreen Hollow Park.

The project carries a price tag of $14 million. The chief item would be a 246,600 square foot dome that could house softball, baseball, soccer, volleyball, football and hittrax fields. The facility could also accommodate tennis, pickleball, ultimate frisbee, golf, rugby and lacrosse, as well as cheer, dance, tumbling, training sessions, camps and FCA events.

Other ideas are to make the indoor venue available to weekend tournaments and non-sports ventures like RV, car and boat shows, along with festivals.

For now, the proposal is for the City and the Effingham Regional Growth Alliance to go halves on the cost of a feasibility study. The price tag for the study is estimated at from $20,000 to $30,000, with the City paying up to half the cost.

The plan is to secure the services for Dr. Patrick Rishe of Washington University in St. Louis to conduct the study. Rishe has studied the economics of numerous Super Bowls, Final Fours and NCAA Wrestling championships. He worked on the economics of the Workman Complex, the Corvette Funfest and the Rosebud Theater, now known as the Effingham Performance Center. A final decision on whether to approve the expenditure will come at the Council meeting on April 19.

That meeting on the 19th is also when the next step in the City budget process can be taken. There were no objections to the budget proposal Tuesday. City Administrator Steve Miller said an earlier decision to lower the levy for the coming fiscal year will still leave the City with sufficient revenue because of growth in the economy.

Also approved Tuesday:

--agreements with IDOT concerning improvements to US Route 45 from downtown to Technology Drive

--award of work to Mid-State Construction and Roofing for $95,000 and walkway canopy roof at Village Square Mall

--a change in the personnel policies and procedures allowing for younger employees to help with summer projects

--an engineering agreement with Milano and Grunloh of Effingham for street improvements on the remaining streets in Rollin Hills Subdivision

--support of a grant program to help pay for the eventual easterly extension of Ford Avenue to North 4th Street

--approval of a one-year extension of a grant request to complete a housing rehabilitation program

--and discussion of liquor licenses for Maria's Taco House and Lucia's Italian Kitchen, as well as discussion of extending for another year billboards promoting Effingham

The Council also heard from City Tourism Director Jodi Thoele on a city rebranding centered around the "Visit Effingham" theme.

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