Charleston City Council approved street closure for Eastern’s Homecoming parade at Tuesday’s meeting.

Seventh Street from campus to Monroe Avenue, Monroe west to Sixth Street and back south to campus will be closed beginning at 9 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 27.

Despite conflict from inappropriate behavior at past events, particularly last year’s, all present council members approved street closure.

Eastern representatives and a city external relations committee composed of Mayor Dan Cougill and council members Marge Knoop and Larry Rennels have been working together to prevent future parade problems.

Homecoming committee chair Chelsea Frederick, a junior speech communication major, presented a preliminary parade security proposal titled the “Parade Escort Team,” or P.E.T. Initiative.

An outline of behavioral expectations is being established by Eastern’s Homecoming committee to promote participant and audience awareness of regulations.

“The Parade Escort Team is taking the initiative to create a brochure, pass it out, put ads in the newspaper, radio, T.V., in the dorms, the union, everywhere- the rules will be posted,” Frederick said.

“Basically we’ll post the rules all over the campus, all over the community to stop what is going to happen before it happens.”

Eastern’s parade committee’s proposal lists promoting safety and welfare of spectators and participants and forming a combined effort between Eastern staff, administration, students, city residents and leaders as its purpose.

A “P.E.T.” team composed of police, personnel and peers will monitor the event from the sidelines, Frederick said.

Punishments in the form of fines and submitting names to student judicial affairs will be issued to individuals and groups who fail to meet requirements.

“I want to reaffirm that the vast, vast, vast majority of students at Eastern want to have a good Homecoming,” Cougill said, blaming a select “handful” for the misbehavings.

Junior high and high school bands and other participants are not taking part in this year’s parade because of past harassment and other unruly behavior.

“This year is the opportunity for (parade-goers) to clean their act up,” Rennels said.

City Council liaison Kyle Donash, sophomore political science major, said letters have been sent to former participants, informing them of parade initiatives and inviting their return.

“I think this year is going to be kind of a trial to see how this one goes,” Donash said.

In other business:

– The council approved the Parks and Recreation facilities naming policy that specifies facilities can be named after donors of significant land and money, members of society who are no longer in an influential position or surrounding areas such as subdivision or park names.

– An auction selling surplus city, fire and police equipment was approved to be held Nov. 1 from 9 a.m. to noon at the City Street Garage on Adkins Drive. Vehicles, bicycles, jewelry, fire fighting gear and electronic equipment are included in the auctioned goods.

– Street closure for the Kiwanis Club Halloween Parade was approved. The west side of the square will be closed from 3-6 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 31 and remaining sides will be closed from 3-4 p.m.

– Trick-or-Treating hours were decided for 5-9 p.m. Friday, Oct. 31.

– Council authorized support for the Illinois Housing Development Authority grant used to repair homes for low-income families. This year’s grant for $186,000 will be used to repair six local homes.

– Council adopted the revolving loan fund recapture strategy which requires a committee of the mayor, community development director Jeff Finley, city attorney Brian Bower and two experienced financial commercial bankers.

– A lease agreement was authorized with the East Central Illinois Antique Tractor Club for 21 acres of land near the waste water treatment plant. The club will plant crops and use antique equipment to harvest those crops. As part of the agreement the city will receive one-third of the crops’ profits.

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