The Charleston City Council unanimously approved all items on its agenda, including a resolution for a loan to purchase an ambulance.

The loan will be used to purchase a Type 1 AEV Traumahawk ambulance.

The loan that will not exceed $226,500 was obtained through First Mid Illinois Bank and Trust for a period of five years at an interest rate of 2.31 percent annually.

The city will be responsible for the repayment of principal and interest each month.

The council also approved a contractual agreement between the city and the Coles County Regional Planning and Development Commission.

The contract will ensure that the commission provides:

Part of what the contract will ensure the city receives is:

• Ordinance Codification

• Ordinance Drafting

• Purchasing/Joint Purchasing

• User Charges Studies

• Water Rate Studies

• Budgeting Assistance

• Personnel Studies

• Training/Workshops

• Map Preparation/Graphics

• Census Assistance

For these services the city will pay the commission an annual sum of $7,000 that the city will be billed monthly for.

The council also approved a resolution that amended an agreement between the city and Economic Development Resources, LLC.

The council approved the amendments because the city is currently in need of assistance with:

• “the review and analysis of the Central Area Tax Increment District Plan (TIF Plan) as such review and analysis pertains to the possibility of extending dates by which the redevelopment project must be completed, and obligations issued to finance redevelopment project costs must be retired (TIF Extension)”

• “presenting such TIF extension to any potentially affected party”

• “negotiating any documentation of support by any potentially affected party for such TIF extension”

• “working with the City’s representatives in the State legislature, legislative staff and others in State government in order to have legislation for the TIF extension introduced into the State legislative process”

The additional services that will be provided after the amendments will include preparation, presentations, reports and additional meetings with City officials and staff and with the TIF Joint Review Board, according to the resolution.

The additional costs are expected to be $6,050.

The council also approved a petition for zoning variance from Charles “Chad” Lowell at the address 105 Grant Ave.

The petition is to make improvements to the existing building to allow for 13 dwelling units on the property that currently has 10 four-bedroom dwelling units.

Some reasons for the petition listed in the finding of fact for the ordinance are “with the university enrollment decline over the years, (the) apartments are experiencing a 50% vacancy rate” and “most students desire one and two-bedroom apartment units.”

No one came up to address the council during public presentation.

The consent agenda included the approval of the payroll for Nov. 9, bills payable for Nov. 22, the comptroller’s report for Oct. 2019 and the approval of the Nov. 5 meeting minutes.

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