The City Council will vote at today’s meeting on an ordinance to allow residential rental management offices in residential areas.

Mayor John Inyart said this measure will allow landlords to set up office buildings in any unrented spaces in their rental complex.

Inyart said he views this measure to be positive because it will increase landlords’ availability and allow for better communication to tenants.

“This would improve the landlord’s service and improve the property and lives of the tenants,” he said. “As long as it wasn’t used to disturb tenants or residents, it could actually improve services for tenants and neighbors.”

Inyart said landlords will still have to apply for a conditional use permit issued by the zoning board with the council’s approval.

“We want to know what they’re doing and how they’re doing it,” he said. “It’s just an extra step that property owners need to ensure the use that they have in mind for property is allowed.”

The council will also vote on an ordinance to amend building regulations of the Charleston City Code.

Charleston is currently operating under 2003 building codes.

The council proposed at the Oct. 4 meeting to update one and two family residential homes to 2006 codes and all other buildings to 2009 codes.

Inyart said the ordinance, which will affect only new buildings being built, was put on file after the Oct. 4 meeting for public inspection, but so far he has heard no response from the community.

“I’ve received no feedback, positive or negative, with respect to these changes,” he said.

The council will also vote on Charleston entering into a mutual aid and assistance agreement between the public water utilities with Ashmore.

“If there’s an emergency, like a water main break or draining of the water tower, if we had the ability, equipment and man power, we would help out if we could,” Inyart said. “We will help them if they need us.”

Inyart said Charleston already belongs to the Illinois Public Works Mutual Aid Network, which applies to bigger towns like Mattoon, Champaign and Effingham. He said because Ashmore is not part of IPWMAN, the proposed ordinance would allow Charleston to help them whenever necessary.

The council will also vote on a resolution to resurface Decker Springs Road and South Fourth Street.

Inyart said the bid award, which was issued on Monday, will give the council an idea of how much the project will cost.

“We’ll get a review of the price then and what we’re working with,” he said.

Inyart said the project will most likely run until Thanksgiving or until it gets too cold.

Sara Hall can be reached at 581-2812 or [email protected].