The authorization of the city to purchase right-of-way at 731

Fourth St. to begin work on the Fourth Street Bridge will be

put to a vote at today’s City Council meeting.

The City Council will meet at 7:30 p.m. in City Hall.

City officials plan to begin work on the bridge as soon as

possible, widening it to 30 feet as well as taking out the

sewer line and moving it onto the adjacent property, said City

Manager Bill Riebe.

The city would purchase a 45 foot by 87 foot piece of property

on the southeast side of the bridge to begin construction and

move the sewer line.

Charleston’s sewer lines are becoming filled with storm water

during heavy rains partially because of the sewer line under

the Fourth Street Bridge, said Mayor Dan Cougill. If the volume

of storm water gets too high, the city will have to upgrade its

sewer plant.

We need to get rid of storm water infiltration,” Cougill said.

The City Council also will vote to approve temporarily closing

the 600 block of Jackson Avenue for “A Celebration on the

Square: Taste of Many Cultures.”

The celebration is sponsored by Student Government and is

scheduled for April 21 from 12 to 4 p.m. as a part of cultural

diversity month.

The City Council will consider authorizing the annexation of

property on the northwest side of Polk Avenue owned by Darin

and David Haworth. Annexing the property would allow for the

property owners to receive city water and sewer as well as

police and fire protection.

In other business, the City Council will vote on the

expenditure of tourism funds.