A new Aldi grocery store will be opening this fall in Charleston, and Charleston Mayor Brandon Combs said this will benefit our community greatly.

Combs made the announcement of the new store opening at the city council meeting on Tuesday and said the construction will start in May. Aldi will be located across from Wal-Mart, at 2240 Shawnee Drive.

“The new Aldi store location will provide an additional option for residents in central Illinois who are looking to stretch their dollars without compromising quality,” Combs said. “It’s an honor to be able to announce this, it’s another big project we have coming our way here in Charleston.”

Combs said he is very appreciative of all the help the council has put towards new projects, and he said it is an exciting time to be mayor despite the challenges our state is facing.

“We’re not letting that get us down, and we are just going to continue to look forward,” Combs said. “The state will come through and things with Eastern will come through, but in the meantime, we’re picking up some slack here.”

The council also approved an amendment that will give a 3.5 percent increase in sewer and water rates.

All metered users within corporate limits except for Eastern, using 1,000 gallons or less will have a new monthly charge of $13.64, rather than the current charge of $13.18.

For the next 9,000 gallons used, citizens will be charged monthly $13.64 per 1,000 gallons, instead of $13.18.

If citizens use over 10,000 gallons, the charge will be $13.12 per 1,000 gallons, instead of the current charge of $12.68.

Eastern’s sewer and water rate will be a monthly charge of $13.12 per 1,000 gallons for all usage amounts.

Citizens within corporate limits using only water services currently pay $11.93 monthly for use of 1,000 gallons or less.

Now these users will be charged monthly $12.35 as a minimum charge of 1,000 gallons or less used. For the next 9,000 gallons used, users will be charged $12.35 per 1,000 gallons and $11.35 for the use of 10,000 gallons or more.

In further business, the council approved an amendment to increase the number of liquor licenses from seven to a new maximum of eight licenses enforced at any time during the year.

The council also approved authorization of city manager R. Scott Smith to be allowed to purchase electrical services on the city’s behalf at a time most convenient to the city.

Combs said this will let Smith purchase a new rate from Homefield Energy of .00456 percent, which will remain the same for three and a half years.

The council approved the purchase of a new Ford F-150 for the Charleston Fire Department from Pilson Auto Center. The agreement includes the purchase of the vehicle, costing no more than $29,750 and the bidding requirement to be waived.

The council also approved the waiving of bidding procedures for the purchase of two squad cars from Pilson Auto Center. The cars purchased for the Charleston Police Department will cost no more than $54,722.

Combs announced the re-appointment of Steve Hutti to a two-year-term on the Police Pension Fund Board of Trustees and Larry Shobe to a one-year-term on the Charleston Tree Commission.

Lynnsey Veach can be reached at 581-2812 or at lmveach@eiu.edu