Published on May 20, 2025 6:44 pm
Last Updated on May 20, 2025 6:45 pm
It appears it will be a 3-1 vote for Jacob Niebrugge when a vote to fill a vacancy on the Effingham City Council takes place next week.
When the item was discussed at Tuesday night’s Council meeting, Mayor Mike Schutzbach indicated he would not vote for Niebrugge. He said his decision was because Niebrugge’s father-in-law is Scott Kabbes, who is part of the Square Southtown group, and that the group is seeking $2 million from the City toward the redevelopment of a portion of Village Square Mall. Schutzbach said he is concerned about the appearance of the situation.
All three commissioners indicated that they are strongly supportive of Niebrugge. Larry Micenheimer and Hank Stephens saying they’ve known Niebrugge since his childhood years. Stephens said he is convinced that Niebrugge would know when he should recuse himself from an issue. Micenheimer said Niebrugge has his “total support”. Libby Moeller said community members contacted her “over and over for Jake”.
A special meeting is being scheduled for Tuesday, May 27 at 5pm to take the vote on Niebrugge, who would succeed retired Commissioner Merv Gillenwater.
Also Tuesday, the Council approved a contract with Fraternal Order of Police Labor Council Lodge #209, representing city telecommunicators. It’s a three-year contract. $20,000 was allocated toward the 4th of July fireworks celebration. The City has been the leading donor toward the fireworks show. The Council also approved a TIF Housing Redevelopment program agreement with Kenneth and Colleen Westendorf at 1007 South 5th Street.
The Council granted a special use permit for Storage of America mini-warehouses on South Banker; agreed to an extra $12,000 for Civil Design for additional services on the Merchant Street project; and adopted a Downtown/Southtown Business Area Redevelopment Program agreement with Effingham Storage Solutions to rehabilitate the exterior of their building at 511 Vulcan Drive for $25,000 of the $145,000 project cost.