Eastern will pay an estimated extra $20,000 next year to meet the city’s increase in water rates.

At Tuesday’s City Council Meeting, a 2 percent increase in water rates was passed, coupled with a 50-cent increase in bulk water rates.

Eastern’s bill is currently $980,000 and to match the increase funding will come from state appropriated dollars as well as bond revenue money, Jeff Cooley, vice president for business affairs, had said.

This increase will hurt Eastern’s budget, but efforts to conserve water on campus will prevail.

Also passed at the meeting was the city’s budget for fiscal year 2002-2003 which includes more than a $1 million cut in funds for streets while water treatment is gaining more than $8 million dollars in funding.

In addition, expenses on health insurance funds for city employees increased by $46,000.

The city’s softball program can now anticipate the long-awaited new softball diamonds with the donation of six acres of property by the Cole Family, which will now be called “Neco Fields.”

“We’ve been trying to do this facility for three to four years,” Mayor Dan Cougill said.

To aid funding for the upcoming Cal Ripken World Series in Mattoon this summer, the council passed an expenditure of $2,000 for tourism funds for the series that will be held August 17 to 25.

“We’re trying to create a friendship between Charleston and Mattoon,” Cougill said.

In preparation to construct a new water treatment plant, the council passed a bid for the removal of the old treatment plant for $101 to Jim Ealy of Ashmore. The temporary location will be in a city garage, which will be expanded in order to fit all workers until construction is finished.