Charleston contractors have something to look forward to with the increase in Illinois wage rates.

During Tuesday’s City Council meeting, the council approved the prevailing wage rates as set by the Illinois Department of Labor.

The prevailing wage rates are set for contract jobs, based on the union scale, for public projects such as the construction on City Hall.

“The city must pay (the wage rates to) any worker for capital improvement to the City of Charleston,” Brian Bower, city attorney, said.

The wage is based on union scale, but the contractor does not have to be in a union. The City still must pay them the wage rates for any public improvement jobs.

The top three highest paid contractors are Machinists at $38.39 per hour, Plumbers at $35.96 per hour and Elevator Constructors at $35.62 per hour.

The lowest paid are Operating Engineers at $19.65 per hour, Asbestos ABT-MEC at $20.80 per hour, and Electric Power Technicians at $21.09 per hour.

The council also approved the sale of surplus equipment, a 1965 Massey Ferguson Tractor.

“The tractor was used for utility and miscellaneous work around the Wastewater Treatment Plant many years ago,” Curt Buescher, director of public works, said.

“It has been sitting around the plant not getting used much in the last five years.”

The city has a backhoe from another public works department that has more uses around the plant, Buescher said.

“We want to sell the little tractor because we don’t use it anymore and it is worth something to someone else as a utility tractor or as an antique,” Buescher said.

The tractor will be advertised on Ebay, in the public paper, and to the Antique Tractor Club Circular. It will be sold to the highest bidder, Mayor John Inyart said.

Also at the meeting, the council placed on file a resolution for street closures for the Boy Scouts of America SoapBox Derby for Aug. 2.

The activity would take place on 8th Street, from Jackson to VanBuren, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Last year, there were concerns with public bathrooms. The board has tabled this decision until it can be worked out.

Ashlei Maltman can be reached at 581-7942 or at anmaltman@eiu.edu.