Spring Break
Council approves advertising costs for Celebration
Joe Astrouski / City Editor
Issue date: 2/18/09 Section: News
The Charleston City Council voted to pay advertising costs for Eastern's Celebration Festival of the Arts during their meeting Tuesday night. That will cost the city $2,800 and will be paid with funds from the hotel/motel tax.
"The idea is we take money out of the hotel/motel tax…to encourage more people to come into Charleston and stay (overnight)," said Mayor John Inyart. "It's supposed to be a self-perpetuating fund."
Celebration, which is held at Eastern each year, features musicians, artists and artisans, will be held from May 1 through 3.
"It's a great time for all," said Eric Wilber, Eastern's student representative to the council. "We certainly do appreciate this money."
The Council also voted to hire country musician Heidi Newfield to play a free concert at the city's annual Red White and Blue Days festival in July.
"This is for the night of (July) third, and it is an 8 p.m. show," Inyart said.
Under Newfield's contract, the city will pay $15,000 for the concert.
The City Council also passed resolutions continuing tax levy abatements for renovation to the Rotary Park pool in 2003 and updates to the city's Water Treatment Plant in 2004.
Tax levies mean the city will not raise taxes to pay for the projects. The Water Treatment Plant updates are funded by the city's water and sewer revenues and the Rotary Pool project is paid for by the city's general fund.
The council also approved a Letter of Commitment to Bank of America for a proposed project to lay a new water main between Lincoln Avenue and the Charleston Water Treatment Plant on McKinley Avenue.
The city has already applied for a grant from the Illinois Community Development Assistance Program to pay for the new water main.
"(The letter) says, should we get this grant. (Bank of America) would loan us the balance," Inyart said.
The Community Development Assistance Program grant would give the city $350,000, while the Bank of America loan would give $435,576.
During the public comment portion of the meeting, new resident Marcus Richey said he was grateful that the garbage companies in Charleston now offer curbside recycling.
"I would like to thank the city for their support of curbside recycling," Richey said. "I don't care if it's done by (the city) or a private hauler."
Council member Larry Rennels agreed.
"I really want to commend all three of the licensed haulers," said Rennels, adding that his family has signed up for curbside recycling. "Actually, I think our (garbage) bill went down three dollars a month."
Joe Astrouski can be reached at 581-7945 or at jmastrouski@eiu.edu.
"The idea is we take money out of the hotel/motel tax…to encourage more people to come into Charleston and stay (overnight)," said Mayor John Inyart. "It's supposed to be a self-perpetuating fund."
Celebration, which is held at Eastern each year, features musicians, artists and artisans, will be held from May 1 through 3.
"It's a great time for all," said Eric Wilber, Eastern's student representative to the council. "We certainly do appreciate this money."
The Council also voted to hire country musician Heidi Newfield to play a free concert at the city's annual Red White and Blue Days festival in July.
"This is for the night of (July) third, and it is an 8 p.m. show," Inyart said.
Under Newfield's contract, the city will pay $15,000 for the concert.
The City Council also passed resolutions continuing tax levy abatements for renovation to the Rotary Park pool in 2003 and updates to the city's Water Treatment Plant in 2004.
Tax levies mean the city will not raise taxes to pay for the projects. The Water Treatment Plant updates are funded by the city's water and sewer revenues and the Rotary Pool project is paid for by the city's general fund.
The council also approved a Letter of Commitment to Bank of America for a proposed project to lay a new water main between Lincoln Avenue and the Charleston Water Treatment Plant on McKinley Avenue.
The city has already applied for a grant from the Illinois Community Development Assistance Program to pay for the new water main.
"(The letter) says, should we get this grant. (Bank of America) would loan us the balance," Inyart said.
The Community Development Assistance Program grant would give the city $350,000, while the Bank of America loan would give $435,576.
During the public comment portion of the meeting, new resident Marcus Richey said he was grateful that the garbage companies in Charleston now offer curbside recycling.
"I would like to thank the city for their support of curbside recycling," Richey said. "I don't care if it's done by (the city) or a private hauler."
Council member Larry Rennels agreed.
"I really want to commend all three of the licensed haulers," said Rennels, adding that his family has signed up for curbside recycling. "Actually, I think our (garbage) bill went down three dollars a month."
Joe Astrouski can be reached at 581-7945 or at jmastrouski@eiu.edu.
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