The Charleston City Council unanimously approved a $780,630 purchase for a new fire engine for the 2024-25 fiscal year on Tuesday.

The council approved the purchase of the new fire engine to replace a current one from 2001, which is due to be replaced in the fiscal year 2024-25, but the council has been advised to make the purchase now to prevent further cost inflation.

The council unanimously approved a $228,894 purchase for a new ambulance for the fire department as well. The new ambulance, expected to be delivered during the 2023-24 fiscal year, is to replace a current ambulance from 2013 with over 180,000 miles.

The council unanimously approved a bid award costing $169,474 for the Lake Charleston Rip Rap Construction project awarded to G & H Marine of Decatur, Ill.

A bid award for the cost of construction materials in the Lake Charleston Rip Rap Construction material was unanimously approved for $31.01 per ton of material. This bid was awarded to Three Sister’s Logistics of Teutopolis, Ill.

The council unanimously approved a fund request from Lincoln Log Cabin for $2,000 from the tourism fund. The requested amount is to help support costs of production from the Harvest Frolic event, which was Sept. 24 and Sept. 25, and help support marketing for the Lincoln Log Cabins to tourists.

An amendment to the Ordinance Title 6-2-12 was unanimously approved for the removal of a loading zone on 8th Street, South of Jackson Ave. The loading zone was established in 1996 to serve the adjacent properties, however, the loading zone is no longer needed and requested to be removed.

An amendment to Title 6-2-11 was unanimously approved to remove a limited time parking of two hours zone on 8th Street intersecting with Jackson Ave. to 90 feet South of the intersection. There are currently no signs for the timed parking limit and businesses of that area use the parking space for employees and requested the timed parking zone be removed.

The council unanimously approved street closures for the Holiday Hustle 5K Walk/Run Fundraiser for One-Stop Community Christmas on Dec. 3 from 8 a.m. to 10:30 a.m..

The street closures include:

• Old Main on Lincoln Ave. to 9th Street
• 9th Street to Roosevelt Ave.
• Roosevelt Ave. to 4th Street
• 4th Street to Lincoln Ave back to Old Main

The council unanimously approved to authorize an intergovernmental agreement for participation in the Mutual Aid Box Alarm System (MABAS) Master Agreement 2022.

Charleston has already used the MABAS as a state wide fire department mutual aid system since 2002. The updated agreement was approved by the council to add the addition of MABAS now being a system used by multiple states and not just in Illinois.

The council unanimously approved entering into a contractual agreement for technical assistance services from the Coles County Regional Planning and Development Commission. Each year, the council agrees to receive technical assistance through the commission. This new contract agreement runs from Dec. 1 to Nov. 30, 2023.

The council approved Charleston Mayor Brandon Combs’ reappointment of Jim Davis, David Kirsch and Ginger Stanfield to three-year terms on the Charleston Tourism Advisory Board.

Madelyn Kidd can be reached at 581-2812 or at dennewsdesk@gmail.com.