City Council Discusses 2024 Eclipse

Planning is already underway for the solar eclipse scheduled for downstate Illinois.

The eclipse will occur on Monday, April 8, 2024 and is to visit Effingham at 2:03pm for 49 seconds. A complete eclipse is expected over Kinmundy about two minutes before that.

Effingham Police Chief Jason McFarland said he and City Tourism Director Jodi Thoele recently attended a briefing to get updated on the event. Thoele said the briefings will be held monthly in hopes of having plans ready for the event.

Mayor Mike Schutzbach said the goal is to get those interested in the eclipse to travel to Effingham and spend some money here in the meantime.

City Council members Tuesday also heard that the new city website is to go online on Thursday afternoon, sometime after 1pm. 

The Council awarded the proposal from Feutz Contractors of Paris to oversee the reconstruction of the intersection of Evergreen Avenue and Willenborg Street. The proposal totaled $534,870.80. Council members also approved an agreement with Magoo and Associates of Effingham for IT services for the City.