Published: May 02, 2008 02:51 pm            

Younger generation takes over

EFFINGHAM — Effingham and St. Anthony high school students got a taste of life as city government officials and departments heads during Elks National Law Day Thursday.

City officials reviewed their positions and responsibilities with their student counterparts and then prepped them for a mock Effingham City Council meeting at 2:15 p.m. However, the students faced challenges real officials never did.

Early in the meeting, student lawmakers accidentally skipped an agenda item. When the actual Police Chief Mike Schutzbach reminded the council of this, Mayor-for-the-day Andrew Schutzbach, who is the son of the police chief, told his dad to be “quiet.”

After the meeting, Andrew Schutzbach admitted he enjoyed telling Dad to be quiet.

What did Mike Schutzbach think about his son being his boss for the day?

“He (Andrew) started off last (Wednesday) night saying he was going to fire me. Then I said he’d probably go hungry if I didn’t have a job. Then he said the first thing he would do is give me a raise,” Mike Schutzbach said.

The biggest controversy came when Tourism Director Shelby Spruell asked the council to consider a Camel Wrestling Championship for a new event at the Illinois National Road Festival in June.

“For those who are not familiar with camel wrestling, it is a Turkish sport in which two male camels wrestle in response to a female camel being led before them. A camel is considered the winner in three ways: by making the other camel retreat, scream or fall. Camel wrestling is not considered a blood-sport, but rather a comedy,” the proposal stated.

Acting Commissioner Brad Weber was the biggest opponent.

“What happens when our athletes get involved like Michael Vick? Is that the kind of role model we want for our children? As we’ve seen in other countries, European sports don’t go over so well in the United States, like soccer or rugby,” he said.

Weber also had concerns about whether gambling would be allowed at the events.

“What happens when the mafia gets involved? Camel wrestling is a bad influence on our children,” he said.

Another discussion item that left the council bewildered was acting Commissioner Courtney Koester’s request to hire a person to perform seances at Oak Ridge Cemetery.

“We’re the only ones in the area who will have this,” she said.

Koester said the seances would he helpful in gaining genealogical information for residents and historians, and a person could be hired for $8,500 per session or $93,000 for a three-year contract.

In another matter, the council approved a request by acting Police Chief A.T. Connerton to purchase truth serum for 50 cents a dose. Connerton said the truth serum was necessary to combat people who know how to beat a polygraph test.

“How do you suggest we get the courts to accept this?” Weber asked.

“You guys say it’s OK,” Connerton said.

Treasurer Kara Feldhake threatened not to pay the mayor’s salary if the council did not approve a debt certificate payment of $321,630 and transfer of $150,000 from utility tax to the General Fund to cover a shortage in payroll funds.

The students finished the meeting by telling the audience what they had learned from the day.

“We got to learn what everyone does. Not everyone sits around like Mayor Lange,” joked acting City Clerk Matt Feldhake.

“And I supported you! You are just like (real city clerk) Rick Goeckner!” Lange responded.

After the council meeting, students didn’t get off scott free. Each participant took a test at the end of the day and answered questions about what they learned about Effingham city government and departments.

City Attorney Matt Hortenstine briefed the students earlier on the city’s responsibilities and the commission form of government.

As an added incentive to pay attention and do well on the test, the student with the highest score won four tickets to a Cardinals baseball game on June 30.

Although city officials had tie-breaker questions ready, only one student finished with a perfect score.

Acting Commissioner Ryan Engel, an EHS student, said he didn’t know who he would take to the game, and Mayor John Lange said he was available.

Even though Engel’s family already has season tickets, the seats he won, six rows behind the third-base line, are better, he said.

“It was very enjoyable. I learned quite a bit about job opportunities. I strongly recommend it for future classes,” Engel said.

Of course, ending the day with a ride on a fire engine and an invitation to the Elks National Law Day Banquet at the Elks Club probably lifted the students’ spirits after having to take a test.

Angie Faller can be reached at 217-347- 7151 ext. 131 or angie.faller@effinghamdailynews.com.