The Charleston City Council voted unanimously on an ordinance that would increase safety for pedestrians around a school zone on Tuesday.

The ordinance states that traffic traveling on Jefferson Avenue will now stop at in intersection at Ninth Street instead of stopping at 10th Street.

The ordinance also approves stops at Jefferson Avenue for those traveling on Seventh Street and 10th Street.

Mayor John Inyart said the safety measures that were approved at both Tuesday’s meeting and the meeting on Feb. 21 are part of the city’s continuing efforts to improve safety.

During the Feb. 21 meeting, the City Council also approved ordinances that would outlaw parking within 20 feet of a crosswalk in a school zone as well as the decision earlier in the year to decrease the speed limit on Fourth Street to 20 miles per hour.

“It’s a part of our continuing plan to increase safety around city schools and the university,” Inyart said.

Another ordinance regarding traffic regulations was also passed unanimously during Tuesday’s meeting.

The ordinance will change the range of the 20 mile per hour speed limit that formerly reached from the intersections of Jefferson Avenue and Sixth Street to the intersection of Harrison Avenue and Sixth Street.

The new ordinance limits the range to the intersections of Jefferson Avenue and Sixth Street to Van Buren Avenue and Sixth Street.

Inyart said the issue of the speed limit was brought to the council’s attention since the original reasons for implementing the speed limit, namely the former senior citizen’s center and entrance to the Charleston Carnegie Public Library, have both relocated.

“It is very difficult to go 20 miles per hour down that hill,” Inyart said. “I see no reason why we shouldn’t change it.”

The council also authorized the emergency purchase of a Ford F250 pick up truck priced at $28,328.04 that was needed for maintenance for the spring season.

City Manager Scott Smith said the exact truck that was needed was not available through the state bidding process.

“We were able to buy it locally,” Inyart said. “In the long run, it was cheaper.”

Two resolutions were passed unanimously regarding the repairs to the building located at 513 7th Street in the square.

A resolution to accept a bid award and a resolution to accept a quote for select construction both passed on Tuesday.

“We have broken this project into several mini projects,” Inyart said.

Inyart said the city plans on rebuilding and making the proper renovations to the building and then selling it.

The Charleston City Council meets at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesdays at City Hall.

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