Street closure for Eastern’s Homecoming parade is up for approval at tonight’s city council meeting.

The council will vote on whether to approve the parade, following years of inappropriate behavior.

Eastern representatives are working with the city to increase security along the route.

Chelsea Fredrick, chair of the Homecoming committee, is developing plans for a more successful parade.

“I am still looking for Chelsea to present final documents,” Mayor Dan Cougill said.

External relations chair and council liaison Kyle Donash, sophomore political science major, said parade plans include increased university and city police patrol and student security representatives.

In April, Cougill discussed parade problems with the council. He said, “A lot of parents really aren’t impressed with Eastern because of what they saw at Homecoming.

“The only reason you have a Homecoming parade is because the city is willing to close the streets. If we don’t do that, there won’t be a parade,” Cougill said.

This year’s parade is scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. Oct. 25.

“Council will be discussing approval of the same streets as in the past,” Cougill said.

The parade route leads north on Seventh Street to the Square, then back south to campus on Fourth Street.

Also on the council agenda is approval of the parks and recreation facility policy. The policy has been on display for public inspection for two weeks without public criticism or appeals from the parks and recreation department members.

“I haven’t had any feedback,” Cougill said. “Scott (Smith, parks and recreation director and interim city manager) presented the proposal last week and heard no opposition from the parks and recreation board.”

Approval of street closure for the Kiwanis Club Halloween Parade will be addressed by the council.

“We do this every year,” Cougill said.

The parade is scheduled for 3-6 p.m. on Halloween.

In the proposal, Sixth Street from Monroe to Jackson avenues will be closed for judging from 3-6 p.m. and the remaining sides of the square will be closed from 3-4 p.m.

Trick-or-Treating hours are also on the council agenda. Cougill said they will discuss the hours.

“Since the parade is scheduled until six, I would suggest 6-9 p.m.”

Cougill said he would prefer hours not going later than 9 p.m. so children are not out crossing streets much after dark.

In other business, the council will discuss a revolving loan recapture strategy, which Cougill said is primarily an internal reaction to state changes.

The revolving loan program works to fund community development.

An auction for the sale of surplus equipment to be held Nov.1 is up for approval as well. City vehicles, firefighter equipment, police equipment and unclaimed bicycles and jewelry will be auctioned off, Cougill said.

The council will vote on authorization of support for a housing redevelopment grant funding home improvements for low-income single-family residences. Cougill said Charleston has received the grant for 10 years.

This year’s $186,000 grant will go toward repairing six homes on the north side of town.

“The beauty of the thing is, if we do two houses in one block area, the neighbors tend to fix their houses up,” Cougill said. “The whole face of the north side has changed.

A lease agreement with the East Central Illinois Antique Tractor Club and a bid award for waste water treatment plant sludge housing are also on the agenda.

The City Council will meet at 7:30 p.m. in the Council Chamber of City Hall, 520 Jackson Ave.

City editor Carly Mullady can be reached at [email protected].