The Charleston City Council approved two resolutions on Tuesday that will abate the tax levy for two of the city’s debts.

The tax abatement was approved for both debts acquired by the Water Treatment Plant and the Rotary Community Aquatic Center in 2012.

Mayor John Inyart said the city abates these debts every year.

He said funds attained from use will pay for the debts instead of property taxes.

“These were two debt service bond issues that we have elected to abate the taxes for, so those funds coming out of other areas,” Inyart said. “In the case of the Water Treatment Plant, those funds come from water bills rather than from property taxes.”

He said the city will receive money from selling water rather than just taking money from the taxes levied.

“Otherwise, it would be a part of our tax levy, and we would be levying property taxes to pay that which would cost the voters more money,” Inyart said.

He also said the debt from the pool will be paid from funds attained from use.

“Same with the pool, those payments are made with funds that come in from the use of the pool,” Inyart said.

The renewal of the city to be the co-guarantor of a loan for the Charleston Carnegie Public Library was approved.

Inyart said being the co-guarantor means the city had to “co-sign” the loan with the library.

Scott Smith, the Charleston city manager, said the library is re-financing the loan.

He said the library has had the loan for three years now and will be financed over the span of 20 years.

Smith said with the renewal, the interest rate has decreased.

He said this will lower the interest rate from more than 4 percent to 1.95 percent.

In addition, the council approved to hire an attorney from the Ancel Glink, Diamond, Bush, DiCianni & Krafthefer, PC in Bloomington, Ill.

Smith said it was basically a renewal of an agreement that started in August last year but ended at the beginning of 2013.

“We already have an existing agreement with the law firm,” he said. “I’m basically updating the terms of the agreement.”

The council approved to award the project to re-paint the Douglas Water Tower to the Quality Assured Industrial Coatings of Alton, Ill.

The company was the lowest bidder for the project with $293,100.

Six companies in total were up for the project with the highest bid at about $650,000.

The council also approved jurisdictional transfer of one-fourth of a mile of roadway to Coles County.

Jarrod Scherle, the student vice president, said at the end of the meeting that council members, citizens and students are invited to attend a mayoral debate on campus.

Scherle said the student body will be hosting the debate in the Grand Ballroom of the Martin Luther King Jr. University Union on March 28.

He said the time for the debate has yet to be determined.

“We would like to include members of the community,” Scherle said. “Primarily, we will be addressing issues students submit.”

The three mayoral candidates, Larry Rennels, Brian Myerscough and Troy Richey, and a moderator have already confirmed they are coming, he said.

“There are over 1,000 students on campus registered to vote in Coles County, and as I said earlier, there are plenty of issues that they care about,” Scherle said. “We’re hoping to reach out and publicize this event and make this both an Eastern and a Charleston event.”

Amanda Wilkinson can be reached at 581-2812 or [email protected].