The Charleston City Council will discuss the purchase of a new squad car for the city’s police department, the resurfacing of Reynolds Drive and the purchase of general street maintenance materials.

Pilson Auto Center, a local vendor, plans to provide a squad car with an amount equal to or lower than the lowest bid. Mayor Larry Reynolds said the plan is to purchase from Pilson within the city limits because in the end this will save money and be less cost affecting.

Charleston Police Chief Bryan Baker believes that the purchase of this vehicle is necessary. Baker said it is needed “in order to continue to provide and maintain the existing level of law enforcement services to the community.
The city council will also vote on the resurfacing of Reynolds Drive in Charleston. NeCo Asphalt Company will do the resurfacing for a contract price of roughly $300,000. Public Works Director Curt Buescher said it is in the city’s best interest to accept the bid.

The city council will also vote on the purchase of general street maintenance materials for the city of Charleston. Some of these materials to be purchased are asphalt and concrete, and the council plans to purchase the materials through the city’s MFT Fund, which details the amount of materials needed and cost amount for the entire fiscal year.

Other topics that will be discussed and voted upon during the city council meeting will be the multiple raffle licenses for the Coles County Extension foundation for the upcoming Coles County Fair. The money for these raffels will be used to raise funds for the support of Countywide U of I Extension educational programs and regular maintenance and updates to the 4-H Extension Center Building.

The city council will meet at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday in City Hall.

Blake Warman can be reached at 581-2812 or brwarman@eiu.edu.