Make Carbondale your starting point for exploration, adventure, and a little bit of fun. Start at one of two national parks and end the day dining at one of our many great restaurants downtown. With so many places to explore, Carbondale is the perfect starting point for your vacation.

A rich heritage of culture, education, and history, places Carbondale as the Capital of Southern Illinois.

Starting in Carbondale gives you many choices. All throughout the year you can attend one of several annual events. Just minutes from the Duquoin State Fair, national golf tournaments, and an endless wine trail, there is no short of things to do.

The City of Carbondale operates under a Council-Manager form of Government. The Mayor and six City Council members are elected at-large for four-year staggered terms. The City Council acts as the policy making body for City Government and hires a City Manager to serve as the Chief Administrative Officer. The Mayor is the official head of the City and with City Council consent, is responsible for appointing members to the various boards, commissions, and committees of the City.

The City employs approximately 260 full-time employees. Services provided by the City include police and fire protection, development services, public works, and a public library. The City also operates, on an enterprise basis, water and sanitary sewer operations, parking system maintenance and operations, solid waste collection and recycling operations, and City-owned rental properties maintenance and operations.

The City has several boards and commissions that allow for broad citizen participation in the local Government. Citizens who wish to volunteer their time and participate in local Government should call the Mayor's Office at 618-549-5302, ext. 229.

Regular City Council meetings are held on designated Tuesdays of the month at 7:00 p.m., at City Hall/Civic Center, 200 South Illinois Ave. Check the City Council Meetings Calendar for the appropriated day. All meetings are open to the public. Every agenda includes the item "Citizen Questions and Comments" to permit discussion of any topic by any citizen.