The renovations of the Charleston Rotary Community Aquatic Center plugged a leak in the city’s budget.

City Manager Scott Smith said the pool, whose renovations were completed in 2006, was losing 3 million gallons a year through all the leaks.

While some people believe the city doesn’t pay for water, Smith said the pool actually has the largest water bill in the city because of the amount of water need to fill the pool.

A couple options to save even more on energy are being looked at, such as using solar energy to heat water for showers.

The city is exploring a number of options to maintain energy costs.

“I don’t think there will be a significant reduction in costs,” Smith said.

The goal is to maintain budget costs.

Fuel costs is one area the city is looking at to reduce costs.

The city budgeted $275,000 for fuel for the current fiscal year, up from $193,000 budgeted for 2007-2008.

In the 2006-2007 fiscal year, budget fuel costs were $188,000.

Smith said the city would purchase more fuel-efficient vehicles for the city’s fleet.

Currently, the city uses half-ton Dodge pickup trucks for water billing but will replace them with Ford Rangers.

“The fuel savings will help pay for the replacements,” Smith said.

The older trucks have a fuel mileage of nine to 10 miles per gallon, while the Rangers will get 24 to 28 miles per gallon, he said.

The city will pay for the trucks through the savings on fuel.

Looking at other upgrades, the city can pay for them through energy savings on other finished projects.

The city council approved a Request for Proposals at its Feb. 4 meeting to search for firms to reduce energy costs in the city.

The city could enter into contracts with a firm to update equipment, which could be paid for through energy cost savings.

The process could involve upgrades involving fuel use, lighting, information technology and heating, ventilation and air conditioning.

It is uncertain what the Request for Proposal will be used for, Smith said, but specifics will be released once the proposal is complete.

The city also uses grants to lower energy costs.

In October 2007, Charleston received a $6,250 grant from the Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation to upgrade indoor lighting at both fire stations, the Police Department and the Police and Fire Training Facility Building.

“Replacement of most of these fixtures will be done using in-house labor, and replacement will begin to take place over the next several months,” said Assistant City Planner Steve Pamperin. “Replacement should be complete by spring 2008.”

Other options the city has used to reduce energy costs is replacement of traffic lights with LED light bulbs, installation of insulated garage doors and additional insulation on the outside of City Hall.

Matt Hopf can be reached at 581-7945 or at mthopf@eiu.edu.