The Charleston City Council announced at last night’s meeting that a public hearing on the Water Treatment Plant bond issue will be on March 5 at 7 p.m. in the council chambers.

The earliest estimates were $7 to $7.5 million, but since then, due to a redesign of the system, it’s up to $8.5 million, plus $400,000 for a utility department building, Dean Barber interim-city manager said Tuesday.

Also, the council announced that the screening commitee completed its final interview Monday for the city manager position.

“I can speak for the council that we were impressed with the candidates,” Mayor Dan Cougill said Tuesday.

Cougill noted that it would be a ‘tough’ choice.The first initial discussion by council to go over the four final candidates was last night in executive session. The council hopes to have a decision by then end of this month.

In addition to those announcements, the council voted to pass an ordinance that will implement three street lights at: Fawn Hollow Drive and Lincoln Highway Road, Woodfall and 20 Street and another light just east of that same intersection.

“It is very hard to see at the intersection,” Cougill commented.

In other business, the council passed an ordinance allowing the spending of $11,100 for the 4th of July fireworks celebration at the Coles County Airport with Mattoon.

Although a couple of years ago the fireworks celebration was held at the campus pond at Eastern, it was moved for a couple of reasons, Cougill noted. One of the reasons was liability and the other was no one would sponsor the event.

“It was just beautiful where we were seated,” Council Member John Winnett said.