The city council has a variety of housekeeping items to accomplish which includes addressing a new city ordinance tonight at City Hall.

The council plans to discuss a new ordinance regarding the cleanup and disposal of hazardous chemicals within the Charleston city limits.

In the event of a spill, the new ordinance would require the responsible party to reimburse the city the clean up costs of hazardous chemicals.

“When there is a chemical spill, it takes equipment and man power to contain it,” Mayor John Inyart said. “Many of the items are one time use or disposable; it can get expensive.”

The ordinance is being brought to the table for the first time tonight, but Inyart said he does not expect to have a final decision by then.

“I anticipate there will be some discussion, but it will probably be put on file for public inspection until next time,” Inyart said.

In other business, two resolutions are on the budget. One would release the minutes of the closed meetings from the past six months and the other would authorize the destruction of the audio recordings from the closed meetings.

“Every six months we release the minutes from the closed meeting sessions to the degree that we can,” Inyart said. “This will happen if the event has been satisfied.”

The destruction of the audio recordings occurs every 18 months.

Two contract renewals will be voted on as well.

The first will extend an agreement with ABM Farms to continue maintenance of 13.5 acres of city property located west of town. The land is leased for $125 per acre, at $1,673 annually.

The second will extend the city’s janitorial service contract with Excel Carpet Care.

Excel Carpet Care is responsible for cleaning the city-owned buildings: the city municipal building, the recreation department, the police department, the police training facility and the Lincoln-Douglas Debate Museum.

The council will also vote on the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1592 application for a raffle license.

The winner of the raffle will be announced during halftime of this year’s Super Bowl football game at the VFW building at 1821 20th St.

The money will go toward paying for a smoking section as an addition to the VFW post.

To conclude the meeting, a proclamation will be voted on for Inyart to recognize February 2010 as Black History Month.

The next city council meeting will be at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 16.

Kayleigh Zyskowski can be reached at 581-7942 or at [email protected].