Council Discusses Project at Tourism Building Site; Recognizes Employees

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Published on September 7 2021 6:07 pm
Last Updated on September 7 2021 10:01 pm
Written by Greg Sapp

(RETIRING CITY PUBLIC WORKS OPERATIONS MANAGER CHRIS HUELSBUSCH)

Effingham city council members Tuesday discussed a possible sale of the former city tourism office to Effingham Builders Supply.

The Mette family plans to take down the current building and replace it with a Rent X business, similar to their location in Mattoon. The sale price would be $450,000. The Mettes would also put $150,000 into an escrow fund. If the project doesn't get finished, the City would get the escrow funds. There's no timetable yet as to when the transaction will be completed.

City Tourism 2021

The City Tourism Office has been relocated back into City Hall, on the main floor.

The Council also discussed the City purchasing 2.19 acres of property from the Keller family. The parcel is located along Raney Street, directly southeast of the Thelma Keller Convention Center. The purchase price would be just over $775,000. 

Also discussed was granting Sunrise Rotary permission to hold the 2021 Halloween Parade on Sunday, October 31, granting permission to close certain streets and parking lots on December 3-4 for the Hometown Christmas Event, and approving an agreement with Crawford, Murphy, and Tilly Engineers for work on the Rickelman Avenue treated water standpipe.

Tuesday's meeting was also a time for commending longtime City employee Chris Huelsbusch, who is retiring as Public Works Operations Manager after some 40 years of service to the City. 

There was also recognition of City Police Lieutenant Tom Webb as Employee of the Quarter. Webb was nominated for his work to promote recruitment and retention in the police department, but also for his work to find help for a local woman who deals with mental health disorders.

(CITY POLICE LT. TOM WEBB AND CITY ADMINISTRATOR STEVE MILLER)

In items up for a vote, the Council approved a bar and tavern license for an establishment to be known as Tap Out Lounge; located at 1304 Thelma Keller Boulevard; contracted with Midco Diving and Marine Services for water tank inspections; amended the hours for the Corvette Welcome Fest downtown to begin at 2 pm rather than 4:30 pm; and contracted with Milano and Grunloh for engineering work to further sewer line replacement work along East Route 40 to Crystal Club Road.

City Commissioner Merv Gillenwater was not present for Tuesday's meeting.