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Council rejects two-year renewal for Dusty's Outdoor Media billboards
Summary
A proposed two-year renewal with Dusty's Outdoor Media covering Vandalia and a Kankakee-area billboard failed after several council members voted 'Nay'; council members debated grant restrictions requiring out-of-area advertising and possible alternative uses of tourism grant funds.
The Effingham City Council declined to renew a two-year contract with Dusty's Outdoor Media for two billboards after a roll-call vote recorded multiple 'Nay' votes.
Staff explained the contract would cover two billboards (Vandalia and the Kankakee-area sign) and said the advertising is funded 100% through an Illinois Office of Tourism state grant, which requires the state logo and restricts spending to locations outside a 50-mile radius. Council members expressed mixed views on whether the Vandalia and Kankakee‑area signs were the best use of grant funds and discussed alternatives such as online targeted advertising or reducing the number of billboards from eight to six.
When the council moved to adopt the renewal, several members cast 'Nay' votes; the transcript records 'Nay' votes from Commissioner Meissenheimer, Commissioner Mohler, Mayor Schutzbach, Commissioner Stevens and Commissioner Neebrief, indicating the motion did not pass. Discussion during the meeting noted the grant must be spent by June 2026 and that some billboard placements are set by geographic constraints and cost.
Council asked staff to explore alternatives and confirmed that grant-funded advertising can sometimes be converted to other media (print, TV or online) but will be subject to state guidelines and branding requirements.
