By Amber Williams

City editor

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.