Editor’s Note: A previous version of this story misspelled Ne-Co Asphalt Company and has been corrected. The News regrets the error. 

The Charleston Fire Department will be receiving a new ambulance after the City Council approved a bid for a new vehicle on Tuesday.

The bid, totaling $157,338, was awarded to American Response Vehicles for a Type III Chevy Ambulance which is less than the $159,665 the council expected to spend. Charleston mayor Brandon Combs said the new ambulance will be more of a convenience to both firefighters and patients. “We have ambulances that are getting outdated and they’re not up to date with all of the equipment all of the firefighters and paramedics have,” he said. “It’s better to serve the community.”

In addition to the ambulance bid award, the council approved the beginning of a loan repayment to the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency. The loan, dating back to 2010, was used to upgrade the city’s wastewater treatment plant. The city will pay $329,042 per year for about 15 years according to Combs.

A bike trail that leads to Mattoon will be repaired after the council approved the intergovernmental ordinance agreement with Mattoon. The city of Charleston made an agreement with the city of Mattoon to start the repairs to the 20-year-old trail that will connect the two cities. The repairs will include pavement construction and trail extensions. The trail will extend to different attractions in Charleston and Mattoon including the Amtrak train station. Repairs are being funded by a grant from the Illinois Transportation Enhancement Program.

Combs said after the pavement repairs are complete, the old bike trail will lead to multiple attraction stops. “There’s going to be stops by the mall, stops by the Amtrak, and there’s going to be a connect to here [Charleston] and some of the other trails we have.” Combs also stated the trail would make the Amtrak more accessible to students who may need to ride their bike to the Amtrak station. He said overall this project will be a benefit to the Charleston community as well as Mattoon.

The city will also receive seal coat street repairs to oil-and-chipped roads. The Ne-Co Asphalt Company of Charleston was the only bidder for the repairs and was awarded. The repairs will cost $89,450; Combs stated the budget for seal coat repairs ranged around $110,000.

Combs also approved the appointment of Heather Hutti and Laura Smallhorn to the Tourism Advisory Board.

Marcus Curtis can be reached at or mlcurtis@eiu.edu