Before yesterday’s City Council meeting was underway, two public hearings were held for the residents of Charleston concerning two resolutions on the agenda.

The first public hearing was for the Council to decide whether to renew the city’s application for a grant program called HOME Single-Family Owner-Occupied Rehabilitation Program, which assists Charleston residents who need financial assistance to rehabilitate their homes.

Doug McDermand, executive director of the Coles County Regional Planning and Development Commission, spoke about the details of HOME and answered any questions regarding the program.

“This is a competitive application, meaning that Charleston – along with other communities throughout the state – has to compete to get these funds,” McDermand said. “I am pleased to say that Charleston has been successful in securing these funds for almost a decade.”

The Council voted unanimously to reapply for HOME on Oct. 25.

The program funds about 4-5 homes a year. However, the max amount of money given for home rehabilitation is $40,000.

“The purpose of the program is to undertake repairs in these homes to bring them up to code to eliminate health and safety threats,” McDermand said.

The second public hearing was held to consider petitions to vacate a north/south alley between Washington and Adams avenues.

The Council unanimously approved the vacating of the alley, which was originally used for Charleston utility vehicles, but now is too narrow to be used. Therefore, the land will be given evenly to the landowners surrounding the alley.

The Council also voted to renew a loan from the Bank of America.

The million-dollar loan originated Oct. 2004 to pay costs associated with 14 city employees who retired early.

“We borrowed $1.2 million at a rate of 3.31 percent with a promise from the bank that they would let us borrow every year with that rate until 2009,” Mayor John Inyart said. “And that was really nice of them.”

The city still owes the bank $522,303, but Inyart said the plan is to have it completely paid off by 2009.

According to City Manager Scott Smith, the city saved about $300,000 because of the loan from Bank of America.

Also at the meeting, the Council also passed a resolution to approve the Charleston police union’s labor agreement that expired in May. The new agreement is a three-year contract.

In addition, the Council also approved street closures for the Jaycees Halloween Parade on Oct. 27, and the Christmas in the Heart of Charleston Parade on Dec. 1.

City council meetings are held the first and third Tuesdays of every month at 7:30 p.m. and are open to the public.

Charleston City Hall is located at 520 Jackson Ave.

Charleston mayor John Inyart looks over a map concerning the north/south alley between Washington and Adams Avenues at Tuesday evening’s city council meeting in City Hall. The ordinance to end the city’s responsiblity of maintaining and upkeeping the alle

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