The clock is ticking toward reaching a decision on extending bar hours.

Mayor Dan Cougill said Charleston’s external relations committee will continue to meet with Eastern administrators, Charleston police and bar representatives and any other interested parties.

Currently, the bars in Charleston close earlier than the bars in most other college cities in the state.

Stix in Carbondale, like much of its competition, is open until 2 a.m. Monday through Saturday, day manager Megan Vana said.

“We lengthened hours by opening earlier at 11 on Sundays,” Vana said.

Starbuster’s in DeKalb is an entertainment venue for Northern Illinois University students. A bartender there said the bar is open until 1 a.m. on weekdays and an hour later on weekends.

Windjammers in Bloomington entertains customers until 2 a.m. on weekends and closes an hour earlier Sunday through Thursday.

Julie Wilmeth, bartender, said bar hours will probably not go any later there.

“Here, in Bloomington, the city doesn’t really like the bars so I do not think it will ever go past two,” she said.

Hours are similar in Macomb, where Western Illinois University students and town residents can stay in the bars until 1 a.m. weekdays and 2 a.m. weekends.

“I doubt they’ll extend hours, they’re strict with bars and hours here,” Rocky’s bartender Krista Patrick said.

Charleston bars currently close at 1 a.m. every night.

“I am waiting on Student Senate’s decision and then we’ll see what happens,” Cougill said.