The Charleston City Council voted to amend an ordinance banning all low-speed vehicles on Tuesday.

Mayor John Inyart said the amendment will allow a certain type of low-speed vehicle that is approved by Illinois and federal government.

“In banning all low-speed vehicles, we banned some that are legal on the road,” Inyart said.

Inyart said there are vehicles, similar to the ones Eastern uses for the maintenance department, that have all the amendments and qualifications to be driven on the road.

He said these vehicles have vehicle identification numbers, are legal by the federal government, proper tires, brakes and roll over protection.

“We are not undoing everything we did,” Inyart said.

City attorney Brian Bower said these vehicles will still be held to standards similar to a car.

Bower said they must have license plates, insurance and subject to traffic violations.

He said the drivers must follow any rules like they would have to in a car.

Inyart said the vehicles will be allowed on any street with the speed limit of 30 mph or less.

He said they can cross roads with higher speed limits, but will not be allowed to drive on them.

Inyart said an example would be that they can cross Lincoln Ave., but would not be allowed to drive down it.

“I’ve driven one, they are zippy,” Inyart said. “They should hold up traffic anywhere on a street that has 30 miles-per-hour speed limit, because they will zip right up to 25-26 mph almost immediately.”

A loan agreement for about $122,000 to purchase a street sweeper with a 1.75-percent rate. The loan is schedules to be paid over five years.

Inyart said the city traded in an old sweeper and paid about $166,000.

The rest will be paid by the loan.

The council approved a concept plan for the Sun Elite Athletic Club that will be build on Loxa Road.

Inyart said the plan was approved by the Corridor Review Committee and it was recommended that it be approved by the council.

The council also tabled an ordinance for a no parking zone around the University Village on the inside of Taurus Loop.

Inyart said there should not be any problems with the zone.

“The area was designed with more than enough off street parking originally and it’s not being used,” Inyart said. “It’s creating a traffic problem when people park on both sides, which reduces the width of the street beyond what we can go.”

He said the road is only about 14 feet wide when people park on both sides, but needs to be about 18 feet.

The item is open for public inspection and community members can present comments or concerns to the council.

The council will vote on it at the next meeting on Nov. 6.

The council also tabled an ordinance that would create a no-parking zone on Kenton Street.

Inyart said the area is about 175 feet long and will allow for better visibility around the curve of the road.

“There is section that is about two houses long, that when there are cars parked on both sides of the street there is a blind spot coming around that corner,” Inyart said.

He said he talked with a few residents on the street about the visibility and the no-parking zone.

“I went out and visited the neighbors in the area and I think they understand what we are trying to do and understand the reason for it,” Inyart said.

The city council will meet at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 6 in Charleston City Hall.

Samantha McDaniel can be reached 581-2812 or slmcdaniel@eiu.edu.