The Charleston City Council will be voting to amend several parts of the city code regarding raffle licenses among nine other action items during its meeting Tuesday at 6:30 p.m.

The council will be voting on an ordinance that would potentially amend title 3, chapter 3 of the city code.

Two definitions will be added to the title.

Business organization would be defined as “a voluntary organization composed of individuals and businesses who have joined together to advance the commercial, financial, industrial and civic 3 interests of a community.”

Law enforcement agency would be defined as “an agency of the state or a unit of local government in the state that is vested by law or ordinance with the duty to maintain public order and to enforce criminal laws or ordinances.”

In section 2 a possible amendment would broaden the number of people who can be licensees.

Those who would be able to be licensees if the title is amended are:

“organizations, as defined in section 3-8-1 of this chapter, that operate without profit to their members and which have been in existence continuously for a period of 5 years immediately before making application for a raffle license and which have had during that entire 5-year period been a bona fide membership engaged in carrying out their objects”

“a non-profit fund raising organization that the City determines is organized for the sole purpose of providing financial assistance to an identified individual or group of individuals suffering extreme financial hardship as the result of an illness, disability, accident or disaster”

“a law enforcement agency”

With the proposed amendments those who are not eligible to be licensees will include “any person who has been convicted of a felony that will impair the person’s ability to engage in the licensed position” and “any person who is or has been a professional gambler or professional gambling promoter.”

Several other changes will be voted on during the voting on the ordinance.

The changes to the amendment are being voted on so that the city code will be in compliance with the state rules for raffle licenses.

If approved the amendments would not affect the raffle license being voted on during the meeting.

The council will also be voting on an ordinance regarding liquor licenses.

If amended the number of issued and in force Class C liquor licenses at any one time in any one year would increase from 21 to 22 licenses.

Class C liquor licenses “authorize the sale of alcoholic liquor at retail on the premises specified for consumption on said premises,” according to city code.

The annual fee for the Class C liquor license is $1,250.

The council will be voting on a resolution approving a bid from G & H Marine from Decatur for a shoreline rip rap erosion control project.

G & H Marine was the lowest bidder with a total bid amount of $193,655.

Other bids included $196,100 from Double R Boat Houses from Herrick, a $260,400 bid from American Shoreline, Inc. and a $346,840 bid from CHAT Ltd.

Funds for the project are going to be provided by an IEPA 319 Grant and a Charleston Charitable Foundation Grant, according to the resolution.

An intergovernmental agreement between the City of Charleston and Department of Healthcare and Family Services in regards to Ground Emergency Medical Transport is also going to be discussed.

GMET is a program that helps supplement funding for municipal and fire districts offset the cost of providing ambulance rides to those who use Medicaid as their insurance.

The agreement says GMET provides funding for “Illinois municipal and fire district agencies that provide emergency medical transport to submit for additional Medicaid reimbursement for a percentage of the cost of the service that is outstanding after receipt of the initial Medicaid claim.”

The council will also vote on a resolution that would authorize the sale of surplus equipment from the Charleston Police Department.

The equipment to be voted on is a 2006 Ford Taurus.

The sale will be made to the “highest bidder via eBay, Craig’s List, ILEAS, sealed bids, public auction or if not sold then sold by weight for scrap price, or traded,” according to the resolution.

Halloween Trick or Treat hours will be announced during the meeting.

Trick or Treating will be on Oct. 31 from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.

A proclamation from the mayor will also be voted on to name the week of Oct. 6 – 12 as National 4-H Week to celebrate opportunities that come from 4-H.

The week is meant to “encourage all of our citizens to recognize 4-H for the significant impact that it has made and continues to make by empowering our young people with the skills they need to lead for a lifetime,” according to the proclamation.
Following the action items, time is reserved for members of the public to address the council. No action will be taken on matters not listed on the agenda, and the council is not required to take any further action or to discuss the matter further.

The council asks that those who choose to address the council speak into the microphone, limit the presentation to three minutes and avoid repetitive comments.

The council will go into executive session following the regular meeting.

Corryn Brock can be reached at 581-2812 or [email protected]