The Charleston City Council accepted a grant for the construction of electric vehicle infrastructure at its meeting on Tuesday. 

The $50,000 grant from REACH Strategies, a California-based clean energy company, is in partnership with Ameren Illinois, an energy company. 

The grant is to aid in the installation of three EV chargers in three locations in Charleston: Lake Charleston, Linder Sports Complex and Charleston Carnegie Public Library, according to Charleston Mayor Brandon Combs.  

Along with the grant from REACH Strategies, Charleston was provided a transportation electrification plan.  

The plan identifies the area around Charleston Square and TGM Grain as potential future locations for EV infrastructure.  

The addition of EV charging stations is strategy one of the plan. 

Strategy two calls for the creation of a plan to electrify city-owned vehicles.  

Strategy three is to develop the necessary infrastructure for EV support. 

Strategy four is to create outreach and education programs around EVs. 

With these installations, the total number of charging stations in Charleston rises to five. The current two are located at ITW Hi-Cone and Diepholz Cadillac, according to the “EV Stations Local” website. 

The city council also approved the voting on the removal of parking restrictions in the Fields subdivision during the meeting. 

In 2008, the city council approved the prohibition of parking from 2 a.m. to 5 p.m., according to Combs. 

A petition to remove the restrictions was signed by 42 residents and was presented to the city council at the last meeting. 

According to Combs, both Public Works Director Jeremy Sanders and Police Chief Heath Thornton reviewed the plan and found no problems. 

The vote is scheduled for the next meeting to allow for public review and comment.  

The council then voted to amend the unified development code (UDC) to allow for easements to be in minor subdivisions.  

Previously, a subdivision that wanted an easement would need to be classified as a major subdivision. 

“Staff has identified that easements for access, drainage and utilities do not increase the complexity of the subdivision,” Combs said. 

The UDC was also amended to allow for residential driveways to be expanded from a maximum width of 20 feet to 24 feet.  

Later in the meeting, the Charleston City Code was amended for sections pertaining to administrative employment. 

A public information coordinator role and an assistant to the city manager role were added.  

Two people can now be allocated for the position of deputy city clerk.  

The police department was approved to add one more patrol officer, bringing the total to 25 patrol officers, with a total of 37 overall members in the department. 

Additionally, the fire department was approved to add four more firefighters, bringing its total to 28 firefighters, with 38 overall members in the department. 

Next, the community development department was approved to add a project superintendent, whose job is to supervise project coordination and assignments, according to the job description. The addition of an economic development coordinator position was also approved 

The public works department was approved to add three positions: one treatment plants operations manager and two wastewater treatment plant assistant superintendents. 

Lastly, the department of information technology was approved to add an information services assistant. 

“Not all of these positions are being filled in the near future,” Combs said. “Some of these positions may be a tool to help the future succession planning and be a planning tool for positions that may be necessary in the future.”

Jason Coulombe can be reached at 581-2812 or at jmcoulombe@eiu.edu.