Effingham, IL-(Effingham Radio)- The Effingham City Council voted on numerous items in their Tuesday meeting.
After a closed session to begin the meeting, the Council went through the omnibus vote agenda quickly and then heard some presentations. The Council heard from Maranda Smith of Emerald Gardens, a non-profit therapeutic project centered around horticulture. Smith specifically said this is to help with mental health and food insecurities. The land to be used for this project is an 18-acre plot of land south of Lake Taylorville. The hope is that after she can get proper funding by getting 501(c)3 status (she is paying out-of-pocket at this time), she would like to set up a network from Effingham to Vandalia to Taylorville to Decatur. She said this could also help stock food pantries and feed the homeless.
The Council also heard from Emily Hartke who is looking to start a recycling business that will be called Polygone, which will recycle industrial types 2 & 5 plastics. The idea is to start their business on their own property until it gains traction, and then they will relocate to better facilitate the business. City Planner Greg Koester said an amendment to the city code allowing recycling centers to be located in non-urban areas would work, with lots of requirements. Moving forward, these guidelines would need to be met for any future projects.
The Council also voted to declare the property at 607 3rd Street to be dangerous and unsafe, mainly due to a lack of water service to the building. The City will look at ways to fix the problems with the house now that it has been deemed unsafe for living.
The Council also approved:
- Replat of three lots in the second addition to Historic Hills Subdivision
- Agreement with WCR Enterprises to amend the Enterprise Zone
- Contract with Outfront Media for billboards promoting Effingham
- Downtown redevelopment projects with W.S. Broom and Company and Boots and Soles, City paying 25%
The Council discussed some items as well, including:
- Street light improvements on Technology Drive with the City paying for five lights, Quik Trip paying for labor, installation, and other costs
- Agreement with a firm about plastic particles from firefighter foam
- City Worker yearly clothing allowance boosted from $200/yr to $275/yr
The Council also announced that Jared Harris was hired as a Civil Engineering Technician for the City Engineering Division, and Adam Bohnhoff, Edward Grunloh, William Mette, Donald Niebrugge and William Utz were appointed to the Building Code Board of Appeals for 5 year terms. The Council also heard about the hard work by City workers to land almost $5M in grants in recent years that has led to the bike lanes throughout town. The money will also be put to use upgrading streets and sewer lines.
Council members Merv Gillenwater, Steven Miller, and Public Works Director Jeremy Heuerman were absent from Tuesday’s meeting.
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