County Board Earmarks ARPA Funds for New Hangar Building

Effingham County board members Monday voted 7-1 to earmark $900,000 in ARPA funds for a 10-bay hangar building at Effingham County Memorial Airport.

Board member Norbert Soltwedel voted No, saying some of his constituents think the funds should go for work on roads and culverts instead. 

County Board Chairman Jim Niemann, who serves on the County Airport Commission, said the hangar building will be paid off within 30 years and said the current building is near the end of its useful life. Niemann also said if the ARPA funds aren't utilized, bonds would have to be let to finance the project.

The Board came back after a brief closed session and indicated that agreement has been reached on a new contract with employees of the County Probation Department. The contract will be referred to Acting Resident Circuit Judge Martin Siemer for his signature to finalize the agreement.

Final action was delayed on naming a waterway wandering from south of Effingham to northeast of Heartville. Muskrat Creek is the suggested name, but some who live in that area are suggesting another name. Board Vice-Chairman Dave Campbell, though, said there is already another waterway in the county with the other name.

The Board heard from Sheriff Paul Kuhns that a quote has been received on emergency tuckpointing on the brick walls of the County Office Building. The brick walls need repaired before the roof can be replaced. That's due to cracks in the brick, allowing water to get behind the walls, then under the roof membrane. One option would address a portion of the work for $35,000 while the other option would repair the entire project for $65,000. Kuhns said another vendor is to check the problem this week, so action was delayed until they get the other quote.

Software and controls for the jail door and a light was approved for just over $155,000 using ARPA funds; donations were approved of $2,000 to Lake Sara Fireworks, $1,000 to Effingham Noon Rotary for Effingham fireworks, and $4,000 to Effingham County Fair for security costs; the salary of the Victim Witness Coordinator was increased to $30,000; the GIS fee was abated for the cities of Altamont and Effingham; the personal property tax replacement distribution was approved; the mileage reimbursement was increased to 62.5 cents a mile; and the intergovernmental agreement between the County, the City of Effingham, and 911 was approved which sets the amount that 911 will pay the City and the County for telecommunicator services.

The Board also approved a Bishop Township bridge aid petition on the Effingham/Jasper county line with the county and the township splitting the cost; a local public agency agreement for Federal participation on the Airport Road was approved, as was a local public agency and company agreement and a resolution establishing a Class II truck route all involving improvements to the Airport Road in the vicinity of Hetzel Trucking; granted a six-month extension to the audit firm to complete an audit on the Circuit Clerk office; a budget line item was created for professional services for the Sheriff's Department; the Public Defender's salary was set at 90% of the State's Attorney's salary; and County Engineer Greg Koester reported that inspections following the deluge of rainfall Friday are not indicating much damage. 

The Board approved a series of appointments, including Bill Evans to the Tri-County Fire Protection District Board; Ronald Voelker, Cletus Bloemer and Todd Wachtel to the Agricultural Area Board; Joe Thoele, John Beckman and Lyle Westfall to the Farmland Assessment Review Board; Natalie Bailey and Michael Tate to the Mental Health Deficient 377 Board; and Brant Yochum, Larry Thies and David Budde to the 911 Board.

County Clerk Kerry Hirtzel, the county's Chief Election Authority, said just 530 people have voted early or by mail one week and one day ahead of Primary Election Day.