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Council member Larry Rennels filled in for Mayor Inyart on Tuesday. Inyart was away at a Midas conference, and was unable to attend. (Mitch Surprenant/The Daily Eastern News)

Charleston historic district voted in unanimously

By: Matt Hopf/City Editor

Posted: 3/5/08

The Charleston City Council approved the proposed historic district on Sixth and Seventh streets at Tuesday's meeting.

The historic district would require property owners to receive a certificate of appropriateness prior to any major structural changes.

Changes would include adding on to the property, adding a porch or enclosing a porch.

Interior work, paint color, siding, landscaping and fencing would not require a certificate.

There was little discussion as the council approved the district between Eastern and the square by a 4-0 vote.

Mayor John Inyart was absent from the meeting, while he was away on a business trip.

Inyart said at the Feb.19 city council meeting that he was disappointed at not being able to attend the meeting and he also announced his support for the district.

Council member Larry Rennels, who presided over the meeting, did not allow for public comment before the vote as there was a public hearing on Jan. 30 and it was on file for inspection since the Feb. 19 meeting.

The district boundaries are the same boundaries that were approved by the Charleston Historic District Preservation Committee.

At the previous council meeting, Rennels asked whether the council could adjust the boundaries of the district.

City Attorney Brian Bower told him the council could adjust them without sending the proposal back to the commission.

Rennels said the question was just a "point of information."

"There have been some questions about changing (the boundaries) that I have received," he said.

After reviewing the district, there was no need to change it, he added.

The boundaries are different on both streets.

On Sixth Street, the northern boundaries extend to 760 Sixth St., on the east side of the street and to 615 Harrison Ave. on the west side. The southern boundaries extend to 1139 Sixth St. on the east, and 1148 Sixth St. on the west.

On Seventh Street the northern boundaries are 760 Seventh St. on the west side, and 775 Seventh St. on the east side. The southern boundaries are 1075 Seventh St. on the west side, and 1419 Seventh St on the east.

In other business, the council approved to restrict parking in the Fields subdivision located behind the Casey's General Store on 18th Street.

Under the revised parking ordinance, parking will not be allowed on Ridgefield, Fairfield, Woodfield, Copperfield and Stonefield lanes between 2-5:30 a.m.

Rennels said the parking ordinance was rewritten to "clean up" inconsistencies throughout the previous ordinance.

The council also approved a resolution to request $210,826.75 in motor fuel tax funds.

The funds will be used for traffic control items, concrete, salt and storm sewer material for the 2008-2009 fiscal year, which starts May 1.

The council also approved a scavenger license for Dumpster Rental USA in Hindsboro and a lease with ABM Farms to farm 13.39 acres of city land near the Wastewater Treatment Plant.

Snow and ice removal
City Manager Scott Smith said city workers would be working overtime to clear the streets of snow and ice.

"They will be out probably all night," he said.

At the end of the council meeting, council member Larry Rennels said he was driving all over Charleston on Tuesday.

"The Public Works department has been busy today, but have done a great job," he said.

Matt Hopf can be reached at 581-7945 or mthopf@eiu.edu.