New City Council Off to Busy Start

The re-elected members of the Effingham City Council were sworn in to new four-year terms Tuesday night.

City Clerk Abbey Nosbisch administered the oath of office to Mayor Mike Schutzbach and Commissioners Larry Micenheimer, Libby Moeller, Merv Gillenwater and Hank Stephens.

The newly sworn-in Council had a busy agenda.

The Council awarded the bid for an easterly extension of Ford Avenue to Feutz Contractors of Paris for $1,022,800.45. Also awarded was a concrete gutter replacement project to A&R Mechanical for $112,378; a sidewalk replacement project to Esker and Walker of Teutopolis for $108,777.93; and Phase 1 of the resurfacing program to Effingham Asphalt for $715,552. 

Council members also executed two credit purchase and sale agreements for solar energy to be used by the City.

The Council also approved the appointment ordinance for the new fiscal year that began May 1, and approved appointments to various boards and commissions. That includes:

Effingham Public Library Board--Charlene Topel, Assistant City Administrator Dennis Presley and City Commissioner Hank Stephens

Board of Fire and Police Commissioners--Dave Mahon

Human Relations Commission--Director of Public Works Jeremy Heuerman, Economic Development Director Todd Hull, and Greg Sapp

City Plan Commission--Clint Spruell, Mark Thies, Cindy Vogel and Kevin Gouchenouer

Police Pension Board of Trustees--John Richards

Fire Pension Board of Trustees--Steve Miller

Tourism Advisory Board--Jeff Althoff, Wanda Pitcher, Lori Worman, Nicole Morrison

Zoning Board of Appeals--Ken Wohltman

The Council voted to allow the closing of certain downtown streets for the Village Wine Block Party on May 20, and approved a $2,600 change order on the 2022 Concrete Pavement Patching Program. Council members discussed a $25,000 request for funds from the Effingham City/County Committee on Aging; discussed group medical and health insurance plans for City employees; and the closing of certain streets for the VW Welcome Fest on Friday, June 16. Also discussed was a request for funding from the Effingham Park District for a portion of the cost of the renovated skate park under construction at Hendelmeyer Park.

The Council extended its Downtown/Southtown Business Area redevelopment plan for another year and allocated $200,000 for the plan. Also approved were billboard agreements with Lamar for billboards near Champaign, Mt. Vernon and Putnam County; a software service for the fire department for $27,512; a renewed MABAS agreement for cooperation among fire departments in the area; approved J&J Ventures for the Pick It Up Effingham litter abatement program for the portion of Raney Street from Stevens to Jaycee Avenues; and accepted bids on a 2001 model fire pumper with an award to be considered later.