City Administrator Steve Miller presented Police Chief Jason McFarland with the Employee of the Quarter award during a recent Effingham city council meeting.
Nominated by Deputy Chief Kurt Davis, McFarland is a fourth generation law enforcement officer, and he has over 20 years of service working with the Effingham Police Department.
McFarland’s initiatives as a law enforcement officer include developing a fentanyl response plan, obtaining officer safety equipment, recruitment and retention for implementing training for dispatchers with post traumatic stress disorder and partnering with addiction experts to create a model for narcotics-related calls.
“Chief McFarland exemplifies the highest standards of leadership, dedication and service. His forward thinking initiatives, commitment to officers and community wellness and proactive approach to modern policing have made a lasting impact on both the department and the broader Effingham community,” said Miller. “His tireless work and unwavering commitment to excellence make him a truly deserving recipient of the Employee of the Quarter award.”
Everything McFarland has done for the department has been outstanding, especially some of the programs he’s put in place, said Miller.
“Thank you very, very much. Thanks for the council, and thanks for the committee that authorized this,” said McFarland. “I sat on that committee, and we always joke very seriously when we have our meetings that we’re grateful to have so many qualified employees to choose from with these awards. So it reflects well on the city as a whole, so thank you.”
In other business, Wright at Home owner John Wright wants to relocate his business to the two city lots between S. Willow Street and S. 1st Street. The appraised value of each lot is $190,000, and Wright at Home wants to build a 9,750 square foot facility on them.
“If we get approval and get the purchase, a local builder is actually giving us final numbers right now. We would start probably right away,” said Wright. “I think they were telling me it takes about three-and-a-half to four months to get a building, a steel structure. They told me they can get right on it.”
Wright hopes to have the project completed by this time next year.
“I think that’d be a nice improvement to that corner and welcoming to that area,” said Mayor Mike Schutzbach. “We’ve been very picky as to what presentation we wanted as you enter within our community. I think that would be perfect.”
“We’ve been waiting a long time to get the right look,” said City Commissioner Hank Stephens. “We really got the right business.”
If everything goes smoothly, the item will be on the next meeting’s agenda.
Meanwhile, Economic Development Director Todd Hull informed the council that Home City Ice’s owner, Fritz Krampe, wants to make improvements to both the inside and the outside of the building by utilizing the TIF program. The outside improvements would total $228,460, but only $84,867 would qualify under the program. Therefore, the city would contribute $21,216.75, or 25 percent.
“I think that would be a very good improvement to that area. He’s cleaned up that front building,” said Hull. “He’s already made a lot of improvements.”
The Office Pub also wants to make improvements while utilizing the TIF program. The pub wants to do masonry work, reinforce a wall, paint and more. The total cost is $14,100, so the city would contribute $3,525 towards the project. The item will be on the next meeting’s agenda.
Public Works Director Jeremy Heuerman brought a proposal to the council from Milano & Grunloh Engineers to redesign and add another 200 parking spaces to the Thelma Keller Convention Center.
Preliminary engineering would cost $40,000, and construction engineering would cost $30,000. This money would come from the hotel-motel fund.
“Currently, the convention center does not have enough parking to fulfill the obligation of our zoning or planning ordinance, and this would help move it in that direction,” said Schutzbach.
Heuerman informed the council of a bid for sanitary sewer improvements on Mt. Vernon Street and Jaycee Avenue in the amount of $579,750 from A&R Mechanical Services. At first, they received no bids, so Heuerman reached out to multiple contractors for quotes. He received one from A&R Mechanical Services and one from B&T Drainage; A&R was the lower of the two.
“This was a little bit over our budgeted allowance out of the sewer fund, but we do have other projects that will not be happening this year,” said Heuerman. “So there are funds in the sewer fund to authorize this.”
Lastly, Schutzbach appointed Scott Ealy to the Tourism Advisory Board with a three-year term expiring May 1, 2028.
The next Effingham City Council meeting is scheduled for June 17 at 5 p.m. in the council chambers.