Chester City Council met July 3.
Here is the agenda as provided by the council:
I.Call to Order
The City Council of Chester, Illinois, met in regular session on Monday, July 3, 2017, in the Municipal Building, 1330 Swanwick Street. Mayor Tom Page called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.
II.Roll Call
Present:Alderman Nancy J. CrosslandAlderman Russ Rader
Alderman Ray AllisonAlderman Robert Platt
Alderman Dan OhlauAlderman D. Michael Blechle
Alderman Donald R. Clark
Absent:Alderman Daniel Geisen
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, Rader, Ohlau, Blechle, Allison, Platt, Clark. Nays: None. Absent: Alderman Geisen. Motion carried.
Alderman Crossland moved to approve minutes of Executive Session held on June 19, 2017, as prepared by the city clerk. Alderman Ohlau seconded the motion. UPON ROLL CALL: Ayes: Aldermen Crossland, Rader, Ohlau, Blechle, Allison, Platt, Clark. Nays: None. Absent: Alderman Geisen. Motion carried.
V.Correspondence
The following correspondence was acknowledged:
•June’s Maintenance Report provided by Supt. Randy Eggemeyer
•City Employee meeting scheduled for July 7, 2017 at 3 p.m.
•Chester Christian Food Pantry Inc. newsletter dated June 14, 2017
•Thank you letter from a citizen regarding new trash service provider
VI.Reports
Mayor:
Mayor Page stated that he has been closely watching the action in Springfield and feels they are moving in a positive direction.
City Clerk:
Four raffle license applications for the Knights of Columbus were presented by the City Clerk. Alderman Crossland moved to issue the licenses and to waive the fidelity bond required of the raffle manager. Alderman Clark seconded the motion. Upon Roll Call: Ayes: Aldermen Crossland, Rader, Ohlau, Blechle, Allison, Platt, Clark. Nays: None. Absent: Alderman Geisen. Motion carried.
Four raffle license applications for the Chester Moose Lodge were presented by the City Clerk. Alderman Crossland moved to issue the licenses and to waive the fidelity bond required of the raffle manager. Alderman Clark seconded the motion. Upon Roll Call: Ayes: Aldermen Crossland, Rader, Ohlau, Blechle, Allison, Platt, Clark. Nays: None. Absent: Alderman Geisen. Motion carried.
City Attorney:
Attorney Kerkhover reminded the council to attend the Appropriation hearing on July 17th at 5:30 p.m.
VII.Committee Reports
Cemetery & Finance Committee (Chairman Platt):
Chairman Platt advised that the committee met prior to the council meeting 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 Allison. Upon Roll Call: Ayes: Aldermen Crossland, Platt, Rader, Ohlau, Blechle, Allison, Clark. Nays: None. Absent: Alderman Geisen. Motion carried.
Chairman Platt moved to approve the June report of the Evergreen Cemetery as prepared by Randy Wofford. Alderman Clark seconded the motion. Upon Roll Call: Ayes: Aldermen Crossland, Platt, Rader, Ohlau, Blechle, Allison, Clark. Nays: None. Absent: Alderman Geisen. Motion carried.
Park & Recreation Committee (Chairman Clark):
Chairman Clark announced that the fence at Cole Park and backstop at Cohen will be installed this coming week.
VIII.Department Heads
Chief of Police (Ryan Coffey):
Chief Coffey informed the council that the new part time police officers will begin firearms training soon. Secondly, Chief Coffey noted that planning continues for the upcoming Solar Eclipse. Mayor Page noted that a preliminary design for the new Memorial Park was included in the packets.
IX.Old Business
X.Public Discussion
Alderman Platt received a phone call from a resident that voiced concern about the possible one-sided parking on Swanwick Street. The resident feared one-sided parking will result in increased speeding on Swanwick Street. If the council chooses to make Swanwick Street one-sided parking only, the resident requested that the parking be located on the opposite side of Chester High School.
Patti Carter addressed the council regarding upcoming plans for the Solar Eclipse. Chester has established view locations at the Welcome Center, Cole Park and Cohen Complex. The start of the partial eclipse begins at 11:51 a.m. and ends at 2:46 p.m. Chester is located on the center line and will observe 2 minutes and 40 seconds of totality. Chester is expected to have 13,000-53,000 visitors for the eclipse. Mayor Page noted that all city employees will be assisting with the event and the council meeting on August 21st will be rescheduled.
XI.New Business
Water Plant Employee:
Tim Crow introduced and recommended that Jacob Eggemeyer be hired as a full-time water plant employee effective July 17, 2017. Mayor Page advised that Joe Clark will be moved to Water Distribution to replace the vacancy that will exist after Dennis Hartenberger retires on July 31, 2017. Alderman Crossland moved to approve the hire of Jacob Eggemeyer effective July 17, 2017 and Alderman Clark seconded the motion. Upon Roll Call: Ayes: Aldermen Crossland, Platt, Rader, Ohlau, Blechle, Allison, Clark. Nays: None. Absent: Alderman Geisen. Motion carried.
Dehumidifiers—Water Plant:
Superintendent Tim Crow addressed the council regarding the need for dehumidifiers to preserve the paint in the water plant. Superintendent Crow presented a quote of $22,086.00 from Sidener Environmental Services for the dehumidifiers and a quote of $9,866.00 from Ken Hall Electric Inc. for electrical work that is necessary for the installation of the dehumidifiers. Alderman Clark moved to waive competitive bidding and approve the purchase of the dehumidifiers and electrical work for a total of $31,952.00. Alderman Ohlau seconded the motion. Upon Roll Call: Ayes: Aldermen Crossland, Platt, Rader, Ohlau, Blechle, Allison, Clark. Nays: None. Absent: Alderman Geisen. Motion carried.
IDOT Resolution – Chester High School Homecoming Parade:
Alderman Crossland moved to pass a resolution to request permission from IDOT to temporarily close a portion of Route 150 from the intersection of Route 150 and Stacey Street to the intersection of Taylor Street and Route 150 on October 6, 2017 from approximately 4-5 p.m. Alderman Clark seconded the motion. Upon Roll Call: Ayes: Aldermen Crossland, Platt, Rader, Ohlau, Blechle, Allison, Clark. Nays: None. Absent: Alderman Geisen. Motion carried.
Resolution – Popeye Picnic Parade Route Road Closure:
Alderman Crossland moved to pass a resolution to request approval from the Illinois Department of Transportation for temporary closure of Route 150 from its intersection with Stacey Street to the intersection of Taylor Street and Route 150 for the purpose of diverting traffic on September 9, 2017 from approximately 11:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. for Popeye Picnic parade. Alderman Ohlau seconded the motion. Upon Roll Call: Ayes: Aldermen Crossland, Platt, Rader, Ohlau, Blechle, Allison, Clark. Nays: None. Absent: Alderman Geisen. Motion carried.
Executive Session – Minutes:
Alderman Crossland moved to determine that minutes of previous Executive Sessions are still confidential and should not be made available to the public. Alderman Clark seconded the motion. Upon Roll Call: Ayes: Aldermen Crossland, Platt, Rader, Ohlau, Blechle, Allison, Clark. Nays: None. Absent: Alderman Geisen. Motion carried.
Executive Session – Verbatim Records:
Alderman Crossland moved to destroy all verbatim records of Executive Sessions more than eighteen months old. Alderman Platt seconded the motion. Upon Roll Call: Ayes: Aldermen Crossland, Platt, Rader, Ohlau, Blechle, Allison, Clark. Nays: None. Absent: Alderman Geisen. Motion carried.
XII.Adjournment
At 6:34 p.m., Alderman Crossland moved to adjourn the meeting. Alderman Clark seconded the motion. VOTE: Ayes: Aldermen Crossland, Platt, Rader, Ohlau, Blechle, Allison, Clark. Nays: None. Absent: Alderman Geisen. Motion carried.
http://www.chesterill.com/city-government/city-council-agendas/
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