Cleaning up chemical discharge and spills are no longer the fiscal responsibility of the city, after Tuesday’s city council meeting.

After being on public inspection for the last two weeks, the hazard substances ordinance was passed, stating the individual or company responsible for the chemical leak will be charged with any costs accumulated during the clean up process.

The Charleston Fire Department is in charge of cleaning up after a chemical incident has occurred, however now the company that caused the spill will pay for the manpower and resources needed to complete the task.

The supplies needed to clean up a chemical spill can only be used one time, such as suits or gloves, Fire Chief Pat Quinn previously said. The charges would apply to labor as well.

A chemical spill may cost the individual or company anywhere from $2,000 to $25,000, Quinn said last week.

This ordinance was passed without any public comment during the meeting, unlike the weapons ordinance brought to the council for the first time tonight.

The weapons ordinance would amend the city’s current weapons law by adding more items to the list of weapons that are illegal to discharge within the city limits.

The new list includes certain toy guns, bows and cannons.

Many of these items are used for target practice within the city on private properties.

“The problem with that is there is a possibility of the projectile going off of one’s property; that’s our concern,” Mayor John Inyart said the day before the ordinance was introduced.

Robert Patterson, a Charleston resident, came forward to speak against the proposed ordinance.

Patterson asked the council when the restrictions would stop, stating that baseball bats, golf clubs and pocket knives, if used improperly, can also be used as weapons. Patterson does not see a reason for the new ordinance if the list items are used responsibly.

The ordinance was put on file for public inspection until the next city council meeting.

After discussion for the weapons ordinance, the council voted in a favor of a resolution to receive a non-point source pollution control grant from the Illinois Environmental Protection agency, which will help pay for a watershed management plan.

The plan will pertain to the Lake Charleston reservoir, which serves as Charleston’s water source.

Along with the grant, the council approved an additional resolution, which allows V3 Companies of Illinois Ltd. to complete the plans for the watershed management plan.

This company was suggested by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency because of the work they have done in the past with the watershed of the Embarrass River, which is the main contributor to Lake Charleston.

The council also approved two tax abatements.

The first was from a 2003 bond, which provided $9 million to pay for the Water Treatment Plant upgrade.

The second was for a 2004 bond, of $1.5 million to pay for the Rotary Pool upgrade.

“We promised the voters we would do this when we asked them to vote for the bonds,” council member Larry Rennels said.

In order for the city’s records to match the new state laws, the council approved a new policy for public information.

In January, the state passed a bill adjusting the Freedom of Information Act.

“We simply wanted our policy to align with the state’s policy,” Inyart said.

The main changes deal with how records are to be requested, Inyart said.

Though City Hall was surrounded by snow, the council approved two resolutions pertaining to outside festivals to occur within the coming months.

The council approved $1,500 from the city’s tourism fund for the Eastern College of Arts and Humanities Celebration: A Festival of the Arts.

The Celebration will be held from April 23 to 24.

The second resolution included the approval of the contract for the Red, White and Blue Days chosen entertainment.

The committee chose Joe Nichols, country music artist, to perform at this year’s Fourth of July events. The council approved the contract for $25,000.

Two raffle licenses were removed from the agenda because council member Jim Dunn was not present.

All members of the council must present to approve a raffle license.

Finally, Inyart reappointed Keith Perry for a second term to the Fire and Police Board of Commissioners.

Kayleigh Zyskowski can be reached at 581-7642 or kzyskowski@eiu.edu.

City council members from left to right, Jim Dunn, Jeff Lahr and John Inyart, discuss the city of Charleston’s agenda Tuesday night at City Hall. Topics ranged from gun control, zoning and water purification.(Megan Mathy/The Daily Eastern News)

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