During Tuesday night’s city council meeting the council members voted to pass a resolution for the application for Community Development Assistance Program grant to be put on record for public inspection.

Before the meeting began, a public hearing was held. During this time Executive Director Doug McDermand of the Coles County Regional Planning and Development Commission spoke about the grant and what the city plans to do with the money.

McDermand said the grant of $420,000 is a “flex” grant that could be used for private or public city improvements.

The city intends to match the grant with $140,000 for the total project being $560,000.

City Manager Scott Smith said if the legal technicalities can be ironed out, they would proceed with the filing of the application for the CDAP grant.

With this grant, the city plans to improve some streetscaping, make curb and gutter improvements and renovate a commercial property on the east side of the square.

“This commercial property in question sits in the middle of the block,” Mayor John Inyart said. “If the structural integrity of the building is in question it could affect the buildings on either side of it. In that respect, it is a very positive thing if we can find the money to make the repairs to that building.”

An ordinance was also passed for the implementation and increase of fees for the Charleston Police Department.

Inyart said previously no fees were established, but with much of the area putting fees into place, it makes economic sense for the police department to have fees of its own.

Fees included will be bonding fees, a sex offender registration fee, a fingerprinting fee, a criminal impound vehicle release, a copying fee, a photo fee and an accident report fee.

Criminal impound vehicle release fee will be the most expensive fee at $50, and photocopying will be the smallest fee at $.75.

The council also approved a resolution for the appropriation of funds from the Motor Fuel Tax Fund for a project on Polk Avenue.

The project included resurfacing and widening of Polk Avenue from Sixth Street to Division Street.

The project funding has already been allocated, but to allow for the state records to match with the city records, additional allocations were required.

Kayleigh can be reached at 581-7943 or at kzyskowski@eiu.edu.