The long awaited renovation to the city’s wastewater treatment plant will commence in the near future.

Charleston City Council unanimously awarded a $6.6 million construction bid Wednesday during its regular meeting to Curry Construction in Mattoon – the lowest bidder – to handle the renovation. The estimated cost to renovate is a total of $6.8 million. Planning for the renovation started three years ago.

Mayor John Inyart said in an interview that the city could receive a low-interest loan through the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency to help with costs.

He said the city would try to acquire the loan now that a construction bid was awarded.

“I think that will happen pretty quick,” Inyart said.

The renovation would make the plant more energy efficient and upgrade its operational capacity.

The last upgrade to the plant was in 1979. The city also has a two-year-old capital development fund that sets aside money for upgrades to the plant. Inyart said the council wants the plant to undergo an upgrade every 20 to 30 years.

In other business, the council unanimously appropriated motor fuel tax funds to pay the city’s portion of two resurfacing projects. The federal government, through the stimulus package, will cover the bulk of the costs.

Of the $639,000 Charleston received from the federal government, $400,000 will be used for a project this fall. Intersections slated for resurfacing this year include University Drive, Fourth Street, Ninth Street, and Polk Avenue and 14th Street.

The city estimated $21,400 of the motor fuel tax would go to this year’s project. The council approved $26,000 to give the city a cushion for possible cost increases.

“Appropriating this amount gives us a little wiggle room,” Inyart said during the meeting.

If the extra money is not used, it is put back into the motor fuel tax fund.

The council approved $64,320 from the fund for next year’s resurfacing projects.

The remaining stimulus money and $53,600 from local funds would likely cover the 2010 project.

Curt Buescher, director of public works, said, in an interview, that the intersections needed attention but were not in horrible condition.

He said the stimulus funds helped ease a financial burden on the city.

“We would have chipped away at the projects by doing a little each year, and will continue to do so, but with other projects in other areas of town,” Buescher said.

Charleston resident Annie Cross addressed the council during public comments about the demolished properties on Fourth Street and Polk Avenue.

The property owners requested a variance that would allow them to build 22 two-bedroom and 12 one-bedroom apartments, instead of three- and four-bedroom units, which current code permits.

The matter has gone through the zoning board twice. During that process, the owners refused to tear down the rental houses, despite pleas from the city and neighboring residents.

After the city filed a lawsuit against the owners, they tore down the dilapidated houses but did not clean the rubble.

Cross, who lives near the area, said the city should put a lien on the owners in order to clean up the rubble.

A lien puts a charge upon a property for the satisfaction of some debt or a performance of some obligation.

Cross said the city, through its inaction, endorses the owners’ decision to leave the rubble on the property.

“This whole debacle has been shameful,” Cross said.

Inyart said the council took too long to intervene and apologized for it. He said he could not comment any further because of the city’s lawsuit against the owners.

Councilmember Tim Newell said the council is working to rectify the issue.

“I, too, am sorry that it has gone on this long,” he said.

The council is scheduled to address the matter in mid-September.

Stephen Di Benedetto can be reached at 581-7942 or at sdibenedetto@eiu.edu.