City of Chester Council met March 20.
Here is the minutes as provided by the council:
I.Call to Order
The City Council of Chester, Illinois, met in regular session on Monday, March 20, 2017, in the Municipal Building, 1330 Swanwick Street. Mayor Tom Page called the meeting to order at 6:03 p.m.
II.Roll Call
Present:Alderman Nancy J. CrosslandAlderman Robert Platt
Alderman Daniel GeisenAlderman Russ Rader
Alderman Donald R. ClarkAlderman D. Michael Blechle
Alderman Dan OhlauAlderman Ray Allison
Absent:None.
III.Pledge of Allegiance
IV.Reading of Minutes of Previous Meeting
Alderman Crossland moved to dispense with the reading of the minutes of the previous meeting and to approve them as prepared by the city clerk. Alderman Clark seconded the motion. Upon Roll Call: Ayes: Aldermen Crossland, Geisen, Clark, Ohlau, Platt, Rader, Blechle, Allison. Nays: None. Absent: None. Motion carried.
V.Correspondence
The following correspondence was acknowledged:
•Chester Area Christian Food Pantry Inc. newsletter dated March 8, 2017
•Chester Chamber Night Out on March 30, 2017 at 5:30p.m.
•Regional Leaders Breakfast on April 20, 2017
•Chester Chamber Luncheon on March 21, 2017 at noon
•Letter of resignation from Bruce Williamson for Park and Recreation Board effective 4/30/2017
VI.Reports
City Clerk:
A raffle license application for the American Legion Auxiliary Unit 487 was presented by the City Clerk. Alderman Crossland moved to issue the license and waive the fidelity bond required of the raffle manager. Alderman Geisen seconded the motion. Upon Roll Call: Ayes: Aldermen Ohlau, Platt, Blechle, Crossland, Rader, Allison, Geisen, Clark. Nays: None. Absent: None. Motion carried.
A raffle license application for the Breezy Hill R.C. Flyers was presented by the City Clerk. Alderman Crossland moved to issue the license and waive the fidelity bond required of the raffle manager. Alderman Ohlau seconded the motion. Upon Roll Call: Ayes: Aldermen Ohlau, Platt, Blechle, Crossland, Rader, Allison, Geisen, Clark. Nays: None. Absent: None. Motion carried.
Cemetery & Finance Committee (Chairman Platt):
Chairman Platt advised that the committee met this evening at 5:30 p.m. to review city bills. His motion to approve payment of bills as prepared by the city clerk, subject to audit, was seconded by Alderman Rader. Upon Roll Call: Ayes: Aldermen Crossland, Geisen, Clark, Platt, Rader, Blechle, Geisen, Allison. Nays: None. Absent: None. Motion carried.
Chairman Platt moved to approve Invoice #894 payable to Red Dot Construction Inc. in the amount of $82,250.88 for the Kaskaskia and Wall Street waterline replacement. Alderman Allison seconded the motion. Upon Roll Call: Ayes: Aldermen Crossland, Geisen, Clark, Platt, Rader, Blechle, Geisen, Allison. Nays: None. Absent: None. Motion carried.
VII.Public Discussion
Ronnie White addressed the council regarding a 1% Public Safety Tax that will be on the April 4, 2017 ballot. The County’s revenues were significantly reduced due to the loss of sales tax revenue from the sale of coal. With budget shortfalls, deep reductions in budgets of most of the county’s departments have been made over the last several years. In the last five years, the overall number of people employed by the county in the Courthouse, Sheriff’s Department, Health Department, and Highway Department has been reduced by 34 employees. Without this tax increase, citizens of the county are looking at significant reductions and delays in critical services such as road repair and replacement, effectively conducting elections, keeping public records, processing real estate tax bills, and responding to emergency situations in a timely manner. According to state law, the funding from the safety tax can be used for ambulance service, Coroner, Circuit Clerk, courthouse security, Sheriff’s Department, and the jail. After Alderman Platt’s inquiry, Mr. White stated the additional tax revenue will only be used for public safety purposes.
VIII.Old Business
IX.New Business
Ordinance #1639 – An Ordinance Amending Section 21-2-7 of Chapter 21 of The Revised Code of Ordinances of The City of Chester, 2011 Edition, as Amended, which is an Ordinance Designating the Number of Liquor Licenses to be issued within The City of Chester:
Ordinance #1639 increases the number of Class “A” liquor licenses by one to provide for eleven Class ”A” liquor licenses and decreases the number of Class ”B” liquor licenses to provide for four Class “B” liquor licenses. Alderman Platt motioned to approve Ordinance #1639. Alderman Allison seconded the motion. Upon Roll Call: Ayes: Aldermen Crossland, Ohlau, Geisen, Clark, Platt, Rader, Blechle, Allison. Nays: None. Absent: None. Motion carried.
Transfer of Funds:
Alderman Ohlau moved to approve transfer of $150,000.00 residual equity from the Natural Gas Fund to the General Fund. Alderman Clark seconded the motion. Upon Roll Call: Ayes: Aldermen Geisen, Ohlau, Crossland, Clark, Platt, Rader, Blechle, Allison. Nays: None. Absent: None. Motion carried.
Transfer of Funds:
Alderman Geisen moved to approve transfer of $50,000.00 residual equity from the Natural Gas Fund to the Fire Protection Fund. Alderman Clark seconded the motion. Upon Roll Call: Ayes: Aldermen Geisen, Ohlau, Crossland, Clark, Platt, Rader, Blechle, Allison. Nays: None. Absent: None. Motion carried.
Transfer of Funds:
Alderman Clark moved to approve transfer of $70,000.00 residual equity from the Natural Gas Fund to the Water/Sewer Operating Fund. Alderman Platt seconded the motion. Upon Roll Call: Ayes: Aldermen Geisen, Crossland, Clark, Platt, Rader, Blechle, Allison. Nays: Alderman Ohlau. Absent: None. Motion carried.
X.Adjournment
At 6:34 p.m., Alderman Crossland moved to adjourn the meeting. Alderman Clark seconded the motion. VOTE: Ayes: Aldermen Crossland, Ohlau, Geisen, Clark, Platt, Rader, Blechle, Allison. Nays: None. Absent: None. Motion carried.
http://www.chesterill.com/city-government/city-council-agendas/
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