Issue date: 9/3/08 Section: News

City Council member Lorlei Sims listens as a motion is passed that allows bars to remain open until midnight on Sundays. (Robbie Wroblewski / The Daily Eastern News)

The Charleston City Council unanimously approved the ordinance to increase hours of sale for liquor on Sundays.

To aid sales and retention of guests in Charleston's bars, hours have increased from 11 p.m. to 12 a.m. Sunday nights with the approval of the ordinance.

"I have received no complaints or pros about it," said Council Member Lorelei Sims. "No one has called me, written me, texted me, e-mail…nothing."

Council Member Jeff Lahr said he had one call opposed to the ordinance's approval.

"They just didn't really see the need for it," he said. "It wasn't a strong opposition."

The council also approved the resolution to support the Chamber of Commerce's campaign, "Buy Local-Choose Charleston." The campaign is aimed to direct community members to purchase within the Charleston community.

Sandy Patterson, 17589 Lake Charleston, addressed the council
on the matter of the campaign's support. He asked the council if the recent renovations to City Hall were done by outside contractors and suppliers.

"It's no secret we hired an outside contractor," Inyart said.

Inyart added supplies were bought in town when possible. Patterson requested numbers on the information to confirm Inyart's statement, and Inyart said the city would comply.

In addition, the city accepted responsibility of Stonefield Lane, a new road developed in the Fields subdivision. Council Member Larry Rennels asked whether the contractors would be building sidewalks.

Currently, it is not required by the state for the contractor to do so. The council unanimously approved the measure with the assumption that the contractors would build the sidewalks themselves, making the city not responsible for constructing them.

The council also decided on a course of action for auctioning off the surplus items of the city with a separate resolution for the vehicles.

City Manager Scott Smith said the city would first act on silent bids for the vehicles and then if the expected price is not met, move either to eBay or public auction.

This will be the first time the vehicles would be sold in an outside auction or with the use of eBay. The auction will take place in October.

Krystal Moya can be reached at 581-7942 or at ksmoya@eiu.edu.

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