EFFINGHAM – Several City of Effingham employees were recognized recently for the hard work they’ve done.
City Administrator Steve Miller awarded Employee of the Quarter to K-9 Officer Jeremy W. Kyle for his work in Tennessee with the Illinois Fraternal Order of Police Disaster Response Unit to help other police officers impacted by the hurricane.
Lieutenant John Kronewitter, firefighter Wayne Boerngen, firefighter Ken Hayes and Firefighter Aaron “AJ” Tackett were recognized during the Dec. 17 meeting for the Firefighter Commendation Awards for their “bravery, quick thinking and teamwork,” said Fire Chief Brant Yochum. They received the award for the service they provided during a fire at Hillside Drive apartments on the afternoon of Oct. 27.
A bystander informed the firefighters that there were people trapped in the adjacent apartment. They were safely rescued. Once they were out, they heard there was another person still inside, but that resident jumped from the second story window and were unharmed.
City Engineer Luke Thoele discussed the new 2024 sanitary sewer improvements project with the council. The sewer lining is in the central part of town near the Fayette and Evergreen area. Eighty percent of the $1.578 million project will be paid for by grants, and the other 20% will be paid for by the sewer fund.
City Engineer Luke Thoele informed the council of the different bids and concepts of right-of-way lines for Effingham’s first roundabout at 4th and Rickelman, which allows him to enter the negotiations. The project will be brought back to the council at a later date with updates.
Thoele also recapped the year’s capital improvements infrastructure projects, including Fayette Avenue construction, Thies Avenue and Schutzbach Street, street resurfacing, the sidewalk program, pavement preservation and Hendelmeyer concrete reconstruction.
Building Official Polk informed the board of the condition of the house at 511 W Edgar Avenue, which on Nov. 18, Effingham Police Department received a call about the house being vandalized. Currently, the house has been flooded, has broken windows which now have been boarded up and a front porch in disrepair. Polk believes people have gotten into the house because on Dec. 17 the back door was cracked open.
The owner is currently in federal custody, according to Polk, and his fiance couldn’t financially do anything and lives out of town, even though she has power of attorney.
City Administrator Miller discussed the $100,000 extension idea for a runway for an intergovernmental agreement between the County of Effingham, City of Effingham and the Effingham County Airport Commission, which was supported by Commissioner Larry Micenheimer.
“I think it’s important [that] the city and the county work together,” said Commissioner Micenheimer. “The airport is a great example of an economic engine that helps the city a great deal, and our support of that and working with the county can only make things better.”
City Administrator Miller will review the project and bring it back to the Council for further discussion.
This year’s Shop-with-a-Cop program was a success, according to Police Chief Jason McFarland, especially because of three officers: Officer Jeremy Kyle, Detective Matthew Hoelscher and Officer Cody Hartke. Forty six families, 90 children and 27 officers attended the event, which is on par with departments four times their size.
Tourism Director Jodi Thoele informed the board that over 5,000 cars have come through the Wonderland in Lights, and they’ve received over $12,000 in donations, which is put back into the light program.
City Treasurer Bridget Polk was also recognized in Tuesday’s meeting with a certificate from the Association of Public Treasurers of the US and Canada from Deputy City Administrator Dennis Presley. Only 125 certificates are awarded each year, “so it’s pretty impressive,” said Presley.
“That’s just quite a certification,” said Presley. “She constantly works to make herself better and works to make us better, so we’re very proud of her.”