Why did the college student cross the road? To use the new stop light.

Within the next few months, crossing Lincoln Avenue at Ninth Street could be substantially easier if Charleston City Council approves a bid for installing traffic signals at that intersection.

Mayor Dan Cougill said Illinois Bodine Electric was the lowest bidder at nearly $106,000.

Should council approve the bid, they must also approve a resolution dedicating the expenditure of motor fuel tax funds toward the project .

“We’re getting all of the ‘I’s dotted and ‘T’s crossed,” Cougill said.

He said he is unsure when construction would begin, but expects the lights to be implemented within three or four months.

“I don’t know exactly when they would start,” Cougill said. “In some cases bigger firms have materials on hand, but some don’t and may have to order before construction.”

In conjunction with the project, a resolution to change Seventh Street to a southbound one-way from Lincoln Avenue to Johnson Avenue is also up for approval.

Also on the agenda is a resolution approving an agreement with Crawford, Murphy and Tilly, Inc. for a portion of construction engineering services for construction of the new water treatment plant. The services are projected to cost $260,000.

“What we’re doing is we’ve got designs done and activities always take place after construction. Things always pop up,” Cougill said. “We want to sign an agreement with the design engineers to work with us as we construct the plant to make sure the drawings match what we built and that it goes according to schedule.”

A $38,681 bid award for three new squad cars for the Charleston Police Department is also on the agenda for approval.

“We usually try to get rid of our cars before they get to 80,000 miles,” Cougill said. “So usually every three or so years we replace three.”

Landmark Ford was the lowest bidder, he said.

“This is our first year buying from Landmark in Springfield,” Cougill said. “All of the Ford dealers in the state apply to get awarded the state bid. Everyone in the state applies to get that bid.”

“In the past, local dealers have met the bid or offered a lower bid, but this year Springfield was way under, so we plan to go with them.”

Also on the agenda:

u In honor of the Charleston Rotary Club’s 75th Anniversary, council will vote to declare November 16-22 as “Rotary Week.”

u Execution of a settlement agreement with the Charleston Firefighters Union, IAFF Local 3200, for firefighters injured in the line of duty who have become unable to continue their duties with the department, is also on the agenda. According to state statutes, the city should provide back pay on insurance.

u Council will vote to authorize Phi Beta Lambda to conduct a raffle raising funds for the Illinois State Leadership Conference.

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