CHAMPAIGN – The city council on Tuesday denied a federal grant that would have added an estimated $11,392 to the city's budget to expand underage-drinking enforcement in Champaign.

Champaign police Sgt. Scott Friedlein said it is not immediately clear whether Champaign's disapproval kills the grant, which also would award money to law-enforcement agencies in four other jurisdictions: Urbana, the University of Illinois, Parkland College and the Illinois State Police.

The grant would have funded three years of extra enforcement targeting underage consumption of alcohol.

Prior to the vote, council member Tom Bruno said he would vote against acceptance of the grant because it raises questions about "the morality of accepting federal grant money for local purposes."

Bruno said he has heard comments questioning the practice of taking dollars from nationwide taxpayers for a project that only benefits the local community.

He also said that council members should remain consistent as they consider their votes on similarly structured grants in the future.

"All I ask is that people are intellectually consistent. If it's always a bad idea to do that, then stay true to your principles," Bruno said. "If it should be taken on a case-by-case basis, then that's another approach."

Mayor Jerry Schweighart's comments prior to Tuesday's denial foreshadowed an anticipated vote on whether the city should accept a much larger grant to build a high-speed Internet network.

"We should be careful in accepting this grant in a small amount or a large amount like $30 million that's coming down the pipe," said Schweighart, who also voted not to accept the grant.

But council member Deborah Frank Feinen, who voted to accept the grant, said she would have been comfortable accepting the federal funds.

"We had an opportunity to pay for something that we're probably going to be doing anyway," Feinen said.

Friedlein said the agency leading the grant effort would be the one to determine whether this kills the grant for the rest of the agencies involved. Charleston, the home of Eastern Illinois University, received a separate grant.

"I think tonight's vote surprised everybody," Feinen said. "Tom (Bruno) made some good points, and the council listened."

The meeting ended with a surprise for City Manager Steve Carter, who is approaching his 25th anniversary as city manager.

Members suspended the council rules to allow for the agenda addition of one more resolution declaring Thursday honorary Steve Carter Day in the Champaign.

Carter was hired on Feb. 18, 1985, and has served through three mayors and 34 different city council members, according to the resolution.

In his 25 years, Carter also "has maintained his sense of humor and manages to find the best in all other persons with whom he deals," according to the resolution.

Carter maintained a smile while council members read the surprise resolution.

"So how did you do this without me knowing about it?" he asked.