Members of the Charleston City Council say Eastern hasn’t held up its end of the bargain in agreements about Homecoming parade security.

Council member Lorelei Sims voiced discontent about the Apportionment Board’s disapproval of parade escort team T-shirts.

“Myself and members of council were amazed and even upset that people are not going to be able to point out the volunteers,” Sims said.

Sophomore political science major Kyle Donash, student senate external relations chair and city council liaison, said the shirts have been ordered with money from other resources.

Council member Larry Rennels said work promised as part of the Homecoming Committee’s parade initiative presented two weeks ago is yet to be done.

“The Homecoming parade is coming up Saturday, two weeks ago we saw a presentation of a number of things put together to alleviate problems of the past,” Rennels said.

Among those possible resolutions were newspaper advertisements and brochures establishing parade rules and the punishments for breaking those rules, neither of which have been completed.

Annual street resurfacing will continue next year on new sections of the city.

Third Street between Lincoln and Polk Avenues, Fox Crest Drive north of Polk Avenue, Stratford Drive west of Fox Crest, Sherwood Drive north of Stratford and Phillips Place west of Rennels Drive are all to be resurfaced next year.

The council awarded NE-CO asphalt company the bid. NE-CO was the only bidder and the $85,958.50 fees will be covered with Motor Fuel Tax fund money.

Public Works Director Dean Barber said that while multiple bidders apply for larger road projects, competition for the annual resurfacing is rare.

“On the asphalt resurfacing bid, no one else really turns one in.”

The council approved two agenda items held for public inspection since the Oct. 7 meeting.

A committee of Mayor Dan Cougill, community development director Jeff Finley, city attorney Brian Bower and two experienced financial commercial bankers will be established to meet state requirements for involvement with the Revolving Loan Fund Recapture Strategy.

The fund is used to promote local business development, Cougill said. Growing businesses approach the city. The city then applies for a state loan, loans the money out to the business and collects with a low interest rate. The money collected then goes into the city’s revolving loan fund for future use.

A lease agreement with the East Central Illinois Antique Tractor Club was finalized. The club will exchange one-third of harvest profits for land near the waste water treatment plant.

The crops will then be harvested using the antique equipment during the club’s July 16-18 event.

“It keeps getting bigger and bigger and better,” Council member John Winnett said.

The farm club will also be receiving $1,500 in tourism funds following council’s approval. An expenditure of $6,500 overall was approved, with $3,000 going to the Charleston Visitor’s Guide and $2,000 dedicated to the “Christmas in the Heart of Charleston” annual event. The council also approved street closure for the Christmas event scheduled for noon to 9 p.m. Dec. 6.

Cougill said Eighth Street between Jackson and Madison Avenues, Monroe Avenue between Sixth and Ninth Streets, Sixth Street between Monroe and Jackson, Jackson between Sixth and Seventh and Seventh from Jackson to Monroe will all be closed for the event.

The street closures will be “the same as in the past” to accommodate the parade setup and carriage rides, Cougill said. The council approved an easement agreement for private traffic across the city-owned Bicycle and Recreation Trail with Compass West, Inc.

The easement will be moved 190 feet west of its current location to ease travel to 45 acres of land where up to five home structures can be developed. Compass, Inc. agreed to pay $350 for signs to be posted on the trail, warning of possible traffic at the roadway.

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