City of Chester City Council met Jan. 20.
Here are the minutes provided by the council:
I. CALL TO ORDER
The City Council of Chester, Illinois, met in regular session on Tuesday, January 20, 2026, in the Municipal Building, 1330 Swanwick Street, Chester IL 62233. Mayor Eggemeyer called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.
II. ROLL CALL
Present: Alderman Bob Buckham Alderman Alex Moore
Alderman Danny Valleroy Alderman Randy Dudenbostel
Alderman Don Berry Alderman Nick Bert
Alderman Trenton Wagner Alderman James Maes
Absent: None
III. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
IV. READING OF MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING
Alderman Maes moved to dispense with the reading of the minutes of the previous meeting and to approve them as prepared by the city clerk. Alderman Dudenbostel seconded the motion. UPON ROLL CALL: Ayes: Aldermen Dudenbostel, Buckham, Wagner, Moore, Berry, Bert, Valleroy, Maes. Nays: None. Absent: None. Motion carried.
V. CORRESPONDENCE
• 2025 Cohen Memorial Home Activity
• Beautification/Tourism minutes dated November 20, 2025
• Tax Revenue report for December 2025 provided by City Clerk Berner
• Chester Chamber of Commerce Night at the Races on February 20th
• Chester Chamber Thirsty Thursday event on January 29th
• Chester Fire Department Christmas Party on January 31st
• Gas, Water & Sewer Committee meeting on January 22nd at 1 p.m.
VI. REPORTS
Mayor:
Mayor Eggemeyer stated the camper on Young Avenue has been removed.
City Clerk:
The city clerk presented two applications for raffle licenses for the VFW Kaskaskia Post 3553. Alderman Dudenbostel moved to issue the raffle licenses and waive the fidelity bond required of the raffle managers. Alderman Maes seconded the motion. UPON ROLL CALL: Ayes: Aldermen Valleroy, Maes, Moore, Wagner, Buckham, Dudenbostel, Berry, Bert. Nays: None. Absent: None. Motion carried.
City Attorney:
City Engineer Sheffer advised an IDOT permit application has been submitted for the Welcome Center parking lot.
VII. COMMITTEE REPORTS
Cemetery & Finance Committee (Chairman Wagner):
The Cemetery and Finance Committee met this evening at 5:00 p.m. to review city bills, and found them to be in order for payment. Alderman Wagner moved to approve payment of bills, subject to audit. Alderman Dudenbostel seconded the motion. UPON ROLL CALL: Ayes: Aldermen Bert, Valleroy, Berry, Buckham, Wagner, Moore, Maes, Dudenbostel. Nays: None. Absent: None. Motion carried.
Alderman Wagner presented Invoice #22167, Invoice #22172, Invoice #22154 and Invoice #22155 payable to J.T. Blankinship, Inc. for engineering for the Carbon Feed System Project for a total of $56,838.25. Alderman Berry seconded the motion. UPON ROLL CALL: Ayes: Aldermen Bert, Valleroy, Berry, Buckham, Wagner, Moore, Maes, Dudenbostel. Nays: None. Absent: None. Motion carried.
Alderman Wagner presented Invoice #22168, Invoice #22170, and Invoice #22171 payable to J.T. Blankinship, Inc. for engineering for the Collector Well System Project for a total of $41,172.00. Alderman Berry seconded the motion. UPON ROLL CALL: Ayes: Aldermen Bert, Valleroy, Berry, Buckham, Wagner, Moore, Maes, Dudenbostel. Nays: None. Absent: None. Motion carried.
Gas, Water & Sewer Committee (Chairman Valleroy):
Alderman Valleroy noted a Gas, Water & Sewer Committee meeting will be held on January 22nd at 1 p.m.
Streets & Alleys Committee (Chairman Berry):
Alderman Berry recognized the fire and police departments for their quick response and coordination fighting the house fire on Jefferson Street.
VIII. DEPARTMENT HEADS
IX. PUBLIC COMMENT
Dan Colvis requested that the Chamber of Commerce be invited to the Marketing & Revitalization Committee meetings.
X. OLD BUSINESS
XI. NEW BUSINESS
Executive Session:
Alderman Dudenbostel moved to determine that minutes of previous Executive Sessions are still confidential and should not be made available to the public. Alderman Maes seconded the motion. UPON ROLL CALL: Ayes: Aldermen Bert, Valleroy, Berry, Buckham, Maes, Wagner, Moore, Dudenbostel. Nays: None. Absent: None. Motion carried.
Executive Session – Verbatim Records:
Alderman Dudenbostel moved to destroy all verbatim records of Executive Sessions. Alderman Maes seconded the motion. UPON ROLL CALL: Ayes: Aldermen Bert, Valleroy, Berry, Buckham, Wagner, Maes, Moore, Dudenbostel. Nays: None. Absent: None. Motion carried.
Water/Sewer Fund Transfer:
Alderman Maes moved to transfer $500,000.00 of residual equity from the Natural Gas Fund to the Water/Sewer Fund. Alderman Dudenbostel seconded the motion. UPON ROLL CALL: Ayes: Aldermen Bert, Valleroy, Berry, Buckham, Maes, Wagner, Moore, Dudenbostel. Nays: None. Absent: None. Motion carried.
Cohen Complex – Concessions Agreement:
Alderman Bert moved to approve the concessions agreement between the City of Chester and Granny’s Back from March 1, 2026, until October 31, 2026. Alderman Wagner seconded the motion. UPON ROLL CALL: Ayes: Aldermen Bert, Valleroy, Berry, Buckham, Wagner, Maes, Moore, Dudenbostel. Nays: None. Absent: None. Motion carried.
XII. ADJOURNMENT
At 6:12 p.m., Alderman Maes moved to adjourn the meeting. Alderman Dudenbostel seconded the motion. VOTE: Ayes: Aldermen Bert, Berry, Maes, Valleroy, Moore, Wagner, Buckham, Dudenbostel. Nays: None. Absent: None. Motion carried.
https://cdn.myocv.com/ocvapps/a127162233/fileGalleries/66fc534ceed2ea66d10cabf7/69826701137fb-01-20-26.doc
