Two resolutions extending city programs were approved at the Charleston City Council meeting at city hall on Tuesday.
The council passed a resolution supporting the application and use of a grant from the Illinois Department of Transportation Economic Development Program.
According to the resolution, the Coles-Moultrie Electric Cooperative wants to relocate its headquarters from Mattoon to Charleston. To accomplish this, there are plans to construct 300 feet of road and 100 feet of cul-de-sac in Charleston. The estimated cost of the project is $1.4 million, which can be fully covered by the grant.
The resolution also says the move is estimated to bring 35 jobs to Charleston.
Kelsey Swing, a partner at the city’s accounting firm, Gilbert, Metzger & Madigan LLP., gave a presentation to the council on the annual city audit.
The audit covers the fiscal year that ended on April 30, 2025, according to Swing.
“Our independent auditors report reflected an unmodified or clean opinion,” Swing said. “That means the city’s financial statements are fairly stated in all material respects.”
Swing said the city had total assets of around $98.4 million, a $1.7 million increase from last year. The city’s liabilities were around $73.4 million, a $1.1 million increase from last year.
This puts the city at a $25 million net position, which was a $386,000 increase from last year.
“Overall, I feel like the city has done a terrific job being good stewards of taxpayer dollars,” Swing said.
The council also passed a resolution to enter an agreement with the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign to build an Illinois State Water Survey monitoring station on Lake Charleston.
The station would include a metal support structure with an arm extending over the lake, sensors, solar panels and other equipment.
According to Charleston Mayor Brandon Combs, the city will have access to all the data collected by the monitoring station.
“It’ll just be nice for us to know what happens out at the lake during droughts or things like that,” Combs said. “It’ll give us the data that we have so we can make sure that we can maintain water levels or maintain the water we need for our community.”
The agreement is not exclusive, and the city maintains full access to the property. It is at no cost to UIUC and lasts for 20 years.
Fees for fiscal year 2026 non-emergency dispatch services to the Coles-Moultrie Emergency Telephone System Board were also approved during the meeting
Fees are set to increase from the initial budget.
Originally for fiscal year 2026, the city budgeted $178,527.72 for the Charleston Police Department’s non-emergency dispatch fee and $48,000 for the Charleston Fire Department’s non-emergency dispatch fee. Coles-Moultrie ETSB increased the non-emergency fees for 2026 by $27,003.24 for CPD and $4,933.29 for CFD, according to the resolution.
The city has now budgeted $200,530.96 for CPD and $57,628.88 for CFD non-emergency dispatch service fees. More specifically, CPD’s non-emergency dispatching fee is $183,884.73, and the software costs $16,646.23. CFD’s non-emergency dispatching fee is $52,933.29, and the software costs $4,695.59.
The council also approved the 2026 Coles County multi-hazard mitigation plan.
According to Combs, the plan identifies natural and man-made hazards and ways to control them. The plan is required for eligibility for federal disaster assistance and hazard programs, including the national flood insurance program.
Finally, the council approved the disposal of the former west entrance sign. This comes after the council approved to replace it. The city is accepting individual bids for the sale of the sign.
Jason Coulombe can be reached at 581-2812 or at [email protected].
