Published on June 17, 2026 2:57 pm
Last Updated on June 17, 2026 2:57 pm
Infrastructure projects were approved Tuesday by the Effingham City Council.
A property swap was involved between the City and the Effingham Park District. The agreement involves a transfer of a portion of the Maple Street right-of-way to the Park District. Portions of the property involves parking lots, walking paths and sidewalks, as well as a fishing pond and other outdoor recreational activities.
The Council approved a $500,000 grant to Effingham Knights of Columbus Building Corporation doing business as Effingham Event Center on West Fayette. The funds will be used for parking infrastructure rehabilitation. Also approved was $115,000 to Vandevanter Engineering for pump station maintenance and $214,000 to the same firm for work at the wastewater treatment plant. Civil Design was retained for $77,000 for engineering work on Phase II of the Merchant Street improvement from Evergreen to Flamingo Avenues, and for $25,526 for engineering work on the Outer Belt West watermain construction work.
Council members also awarded work to Dashiell Contracting for just under $260,000 for construction of water main along Outer Belt West from Avenue of Mid America to Keller Drive, and awarded work to Feutz Contractors of Paris for just over $1.2 million for actual construction of North Merchant from Flamingo to Evergreen Avenues.
The Council approved temporary street closings on July 3 for the USA 250–Let Freedom Ring event downtown and on July 17 for EffingHAM-JAM; approved plats for OBW commercial subdivision along Outer Belt West and for Niebrugge Crossing Subdivision between 1st and Willow Streets and St. Louis and Market Avenues; and approved a $102,000 change order increase for sidewalk replacement work in the city.
Council members also voted to name the roadways in the city cemetery. What is commonly known as Oakridge Cemetery is actually three cemeteries…Oakridge Cemetery, but also “The Old Cemetery” and Memorial Cemetery. The Old Cemetery extends north off Jefferson Avenue along Oak Street and Pine Street as well as Hickory Drive and Lilac Drive. Memorial Cemetery involves Oakridge Drive as well as Willow Drive, Cedar Drive and Maple Court. Oakridge Cemetery runs along the south side of Temple Avenue and involves Potter’s Field Road and Oak Street, as well as 1st through 6th Avenues, Ridge Street, Legion Drive, and Valley Drive.
The project is a further extension of the upgrading of street signs in various parts of the city.
There were items on the Council agenda for discussion. One item was a proposal from Farnsworth Group for $387,000 for design engineering on Phase II of the Ford Avenue connector project, extending Ford to connect it to Rickelman Avenue at 4th Street. Another is an extension of the contract with The Retail Coach for economic development assistance for up to $25,000, and still another is a renewal of the contract with Placer.ai for economic research at a 5% increase in price. It was also reported that bids will be opened for the Community Park storage shed and restroom project on June 30.
