City Council discusses request to help cover gazebo cost

Sep. 19—EFFINGHAM — City officials indicated Tuesday they are willing to help pay for a new gazebo in downtown Effingham, but only if the county pitches in half of the money still needed for the project.

Effingham City Council members discussed the county's request to cover the project's remaining cost, which Administrator Steve Miller said when he was approached was $100,000. However, Miller received an updated amount from County Board Chairman Josh Douthit during the meeting of $104,895.

Effingham County Board accepted a bid last month of $353,195 for the project that includes the removal of the existing gazebo, which was constructed in the mid-1980s, and burying drainage lines off of the old courthouse building that is causing flooding and ice issues over sidewalks. The new 30-by-35-foot gazebo would feature an open design and be centered off to the northwest side of the old courthouse building, which now houses the Effingham County Museum, slightly west of the current gazebo.

The county received a matching grant from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources for $118,300 to help pay for the project, for which the county will be responsible for 50%. The county has pledged not to use general county tax funds for the project. Instead, the County Board has earmarked $130,000 in American Rescue Plan Act funds. However, it will still need just over $100,000 to cover the project's total cost. With an October start date, the county is seeking to secure financing for the project soon.

Miller determined the city's portion should come from tourism funds but recommended the city only provide half since it wasn't in the budget.

Mayor Mike Schutzbach said while the gazebo is important to the city, he noted that it is the county's project.

"So, I think they have to bear most of the responsibility for paying it," he said.

Commissioner Larry Micenheimer supported contributing to the project, noting the new gazebo will be ADA-accessible and "bigger and nicer" than the current one, allowing more use.

"We're on the courthouse square seems like every weekend we got something going there, and this could be a nice addition to the historic courthouse and the grounds," he said. "We got a good thing going, and it only makes sense to invest in something that's right in the heart of our community. People take great pride in the old courthouse."

While some commissioners said they were comfortable with a 50% match, which would be $52,447, Schutzbach was not.

"$50,000 I'm not comfortable with, but I'm willing," he said.

"I can stomach the $50,000, as we always say that the city of Effingham is the heart of Effingham County," he said, but added, "In a way, our taxpayers are getting double popped. For living in the city, they're paying the county, and now they're following up with the city. So, I don't know if it's something we want to make a habit of, but I do realize the importance of the gazebo and the fact that it brings people to Effingham."

Miller noted they are trying to minimize that concern by utilizing the tourism fund, which receives money from the city's hotel-motel tax.

Schutzbach told Miller another concern he has is the city's budget process.

"We know we can't just start randomly throwing out hundreds of thousands of dollars because, as you know, you tell us constantly the budget is tight," he said.

Miller said he would follow up on the matter and bring it back to the council.

Cathy Griffith can be reached at [email protected] or 618-510-9180.