Published on December 2, 2025 7:14 pm
Last Updated on December 2, 2025 7:14 pm
This is Season 16 at the Effingham Performance Center and the success of the venue was celebrated at Tuesday night’s Effingham City Council meeting.
Executive Director Kim Jansen was joined by Board President Tom Henderson and longtime Board member Ruben Boyajian in reflecting on the draw of the EPC from a 90-mile radius. The City purchased the Center when its future was very much in doubt. Now, the facility is almost debt-free with two more payments to go.
Boyajian said, “This could not have happened without the support of the community. This is one of many things to recommend Effingham.”
The Council also voted to vacate a portion of Glenwood Street from North Avenue to the cul-de-sac. Things were contentious when discussion of how to address the street project began in September. Instead, sidewalk easements were approved that will allow residents in the neighborhood to walk and other residents to have access to their property.
The winners of the Effingham Christmas Card contest were announced. The winners were: first–Samantha Meers, second–Sophia Balda, and third–Anderson Gardner. We will have more on the contest in later newscasts. The Council also recognized Sandi Rich of the Effingham Police Department as the Employee of the Quarter.
City Council members executed a proposal with Stantec for a water rate study. The study is conducted every four years. Also approved was an engineering agreement with Milano and Grunloh for improvements to Jaycee Avenue from South Banker east to Veterans Drive.
The Council rezoned 600, 606 and 608 South 2nd Street from single-family residence district to light industrial district, and rezoned 302 and 304 North 1st Street from single family residence district to attached single family dwelling district.
There was discussion on purchasing right of way and a temporary construction easement for the Rickelman Avenue and 4th Street intersection, both for a roundabout and for the Ford Avenue connector. A vote was taken to execute a memorandum of understanding with National Trail Amateur Radio for providing emergency communication support. There was discussion on executing a disposition of human fetuses, establishing burial services with HSHS St. Anthony’s Memorial Hospital for unborn fetuses.
City Planner Greg Koester updated the Council on the windup of the 2050 Comprehensive Plan with a goal of completing the process in February 2026. City Tourism Director Jodi Thoele reported that 3,800 people turned out for the Walking Thru Wonderland event at Community Park. The Council also formally approved a rescheduled downtown Christmas celebration and the lighted parade after the events got weathered out last Saturday.
