Tonight will mark the inauguration of Charleston City Council officials Jeffrey Lahr and Larry Rennels, who were both re-elected to new terms.

Rennels received 878 votes on the way to his fifth term. Lahr received 883 votes. Judge Gary Jacobs, of the fifth judicial circuit court, at city hall, will administer the inauguration ceremony.

With the city council back intact, they hope to make things easier on themselves by approving an ordinance at tonight’s meeting.

One of the action items on the city council’s agenda is to amend title 1-6-6.

Mayor John Inyart explained that if the amendment is approved, the cost to place bids on city projects would be raised from $10,000 to $20,000.

This is significant because any bid under $20,000, and currently under $10,000, allows the council to search out the lower prices, and consequently find the best deal for the city. If the bid is over $20,000, the council will have to follow state statute on the deal and would be unable search out the best deal.

“We’ll raise it to $20,000, and if it costs less, it will really speed up the process,” Inyart said.

Inyart believes passing the ordinance will be beneficial and necessary. He said it will save time and effort, and that the ordinance was due for an update.

Other items listed on tonight’s agenda are a conditional permit for 403 W. State St. and a variance in density for 1306 Arthur Ave.

Inyart said the varience for the Arthur property would allow more units to be built on the property than the law normally allows, because the previous contract allowed more units to be built there than the current contracts surrounding the area would allow.