The Charleston City Council will be voting today on whether to decrease the speed limit on Fourth Street to 20 mph.

By reducing the speed limit on Fourth Street, City Manager Scott Smith said the street will no longer be considered a school zone and will be 20 mph regardless of whether or not Eastern is in session.

“The recommendation was we just make 20 mph all the time,” Smith said.

Smith said the problem with keeping the 20 mph speed limit through the winter and summer months when Eastern is not as heavily populated is Eastern still has numerous camps, conferences and tours.

By lowering the speed limit to 20 mph permanently, residents will exercise more caution when passing down Fourth Street, Smith said.

“It’s better to get people in the habit of driving 20 mph all the time,” Smith said.

Smith said he has also heard feedback from Charleston residents regarding the proposed speed limit.

“I, personally, have only heard from a few folks,” Smith said “The majority of those have (heard about it have)been in favor it.”

Smith said even if the city council votes to lower the speed limit, the pedestrian crossing markers and other Fourth Street signage will stay.

The city will swap out the signs that mark Fourth Street as a school zone for signs that just read the speed limit if the ordinance is passed, Smith said.

Smith also said the speeding ticket fine for Fourth Street will also be lower if the ordinance is passed, because Fourth Street will no longer be considered a school zone.

The city council will also vote on a resolution that would allow the city of Charleston and Eastern to enter into an agreement for student intern services at the Wastewater Treatment Plant.

“This is a fairly typical agreement,” Smith said.

Smith said there have been student interns at the Wastewater Treatment Plant for the past 20 years. Smith also said student interns are present in different Charleston departments including the Charleston Police Department, the Charleston Parks and Recreation Department and the Charleston Fire Department.

Smith said many current full-time employees also started out as student interns from Eastern and are good opportunities for students who have interest.

“There are a lot of opportunities to get a variety of skills,” Smith said.

Kathryn Richter can be reached at 581-2812 or kjrichter@eiu.edu.