South West Illinois News

City of Chester City Council met April 15.

Here is the minutes provided by the council:

I.CALL TO ORDER

The City Council of Chester, Illinois, met in regular session 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 Ray AllisonAlderman Robert Platt

Alderman Russ RaderAlderman Nancy J. Crossland

Alderman Dan OhlauAlderman Daniel Geisen

Alderman D. Michael Blechle

Absent:Alderman Donald R. Clark

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 Geisen seconded the motion. UPON ROLL CALL: Ayes: Aldermen Ohlau, Rader, Crossland, Allison, Platt, Blechle, Geisen. Nays: None. Absent: Alderman Clark. Motion carried.

Alderman Platt moved to approve minutes of Executive Session held on April 1, 2019, as prepared by the city clerk. Alderman Crossland seconded the motion. UPON ROLL CALL: Ayes: Aldermen Crossland, Ohlau, Geisen, Platt, Rader, Blechle, Allison. Nays: None. Absent: Alderman Clark. Motion carried.

V.CORRESPONDENCE

The following correspondence was acknowledged:

•Letter from Recreation Director Patti Carter regarding a dog park

•Letter from Park Superintendent Billy Belton regarding a dog park

•Chester Chamber of Commerce upcoming events

•Monthly Tax Revenue report provided by City Clerk Berner

VI.REPORTS

City Clerk:

The city clerk presented an application for raffle licenses for St. Mary’s Catholic School. Alderman Crossland moved to issue the raffle license and waive the fidelity bond required of the raffle managers. Alderman Geisen seconded the motion. UPON ROLL CALL: Ayes: Aldermen Crossland, Platt, Rader, Ohlau, Allison, Clark, Geisen. Nays: None. Absent: Alderman Clark. Motion carried.

The city clerk presented an application for raffle licenses for Breezy Hill RC Club. Alderman Crossland moved to issue the raffle license and waive the fidelity bond required of the raffle managers. Alderman Geisen seconded the motion. UPON ROLL CALL: Ayes: Aldermen Crossland, Platt, Rader, Ohlau, Allison, Clark, Geisen. Nays: None. Absent: Alderman Clark. Motion carried.

The city clerk presented an application for raffle licenses for Chester Community Golf Club. Alderman Crossland moved to issue the raffle license and waive the fidelity bond required of the raffle managers. Alderman Geisen seconded the motion. UPON ROLL CALL: Ayes: Aldermen Crossland, Platt, Rader, Ohlau, Allison, Clark, Geisen. Nays: None. Absent: Alderman Clark. Motion carried.

The city clerk presented four applications for raffle licenses for Chester Moose Lodge. Alderman Crossland moved to issue the raffle licenses and waive the fidelity bond required of the raffle managers. Alderman Geisen seconded the motion. UPON ROLL CALL: Ayes: Aldermen Crossland, Platt, Rader, Ohlau, Allison, Clark, Geisen. Nays: None. Absent: Alderman Clark. Motion carried.

The city clerk presented an application for raffle licenses for Memorial Hospital Auxiliary. Alderman Crossland moved to issue the raffle license and waive the fidelity bond required of the raffle managers. Alderman Geisen seconded the motion. UPON ROLL CALL: Ayes: Aldermen Crossland, Platt, Rader, Ohlau, Allison, Clark, Geisen. Nays: None. Absent: Alderman Clark. Motion carried.

VII.COMMITTEE REPORTS

Cemetery & Finance Committee (Chairman Platt):

The Cemetery and Finance Committee met this evening at 5:30 p.m. to review city bills, and found them to be in order for payment. Alderman Platt moved to approve payment of bills, subject to audit, and to include payment for Bert’s Auto Service in the amount of $240.15 (fiscal year total, $2,553.93). Alderman Rader seconded the motion. UPON ROLL CALL: Ayes: Aldermen Rader, Crossland, Ohlau, Allison, Platt, Geisen, Blechle. Nays: None. Absent: Alderman Clark. Motion carried.

Gas Department & Public Property Committee (Chairman Ohlau):

Chairman Ohlau expressed appreciation to the city workers for their assistance with the gas valve replacements on Allendale Street.

VIII.PUBLIC DISCUSSION

Mayor Page signed a Proclamation establishing April 15–22, 2019, National Volunteer Week in Chester, Illinois. Mayor Page and Recreation Director Patti Carter recognized each volunteer.

IX.OLD BUSINESS

X.NEW BUSINESS

Employment – Street Department:

Alderman Geisen moved to approve Bob Misuraca and Danny Hecht as part time employees for the Street Department not to exceed 600 hours at $12.00/hour. Alderman Ohlau seconded the motion. UPON ROLL CALL: Ayes: Aldermen Rader, Crossland, Ohlau, Allison, Platt, Geisen, Blechle. Nays: None. Absent: Alderman Clark. Motion carried.

Employment – Student Workers:

Alderman Platt moved to approve Nicholas Meyer and Ethan Bert as student workers for the Cohen Complex and Cole Park. Alderman Blechle seconded the motion. UPON ROLL CALL: Ayes: Aldermen Rader, Crossland, Ohlau, Allison, Platt, Geisen, Blechle. Nays: None. Absent: Alderman Clark. Motion carried.

Natural Gas – Receipt Points:

Alderman Ohlau moved to ratify the action of the council’s request to move 871 MMBtu/D of Firm Transportation Contract #297 from NGPL receipt point to Main Line Boardwalk and offer a three year extension to the current contract. Secondly, a request to move 340 MMBtu/D from NGPL-Clinton and 550 MMBtu/D from Trunkline of Small Customer Transport #452 to Boardwalk without any contract extensions. Alderman Crossland seconded the motion. UPON ROLL CALL: Ayes: Aldermen Rader, Crossland, Ohlau, Allison, Platt, Geisen, Blechle. Nays: None. Absent: Alderman Clark. Motion carried.

Park House – Air Conditioner:

Alderman Crossland moved to approve the purchase of a Bryant Legacy air conditioner from Korando Heating and Cooling for $4,304.07 for the park house. Alderman Geisen seconded the motion. UPON ROLL CALL: Ayes: Aldermen Rader, Crossland, Ohlau, Allison, Platt, Geisen, Blechle. Nays: None. Absent: Alderman Clark. Motion carried.

ORDINANCE #1708 – AN ORDINANCE AMENDING SECTIONS 28-1-3, 28-1-4, 28-1-5 AND 28-1-13 OF CHAPTER 28 OF THE REVISED CODE OF ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF CHESTER, ILLINOIS, RELATING TO PARKS:

After explanation from Attorney Kerkhover, Alderman Platt moved to pass the Ordinance and Alderman Rader seconded the motion. UPON ROLL CALL: Ayes: Aldermen Rader, Crossland, Ohlau, Allison, Platt, Geisen, Blechle. Nays: None. Absent: Alderman Clark. Motion carried.

New Server and Computers for City Hall and Police Department:

City Clerk Bethany Berner presented a quote from Lazerware Inc. for new computers and a new server for the police department and city hall. City Clerk Berner advised that Brian Ward from Lazerware Inc. informed the city that Windows 7 will be obsolete in January 2020. Currently, the police department is using Windows XP. Alderman Crossland moved to approve the proposal from Lazerware Inc. for $45,597.55 with a full service contract and waive formal competitive bidding. The motion was seconded the by Alderman Rader. UPON ROLL CALL: Ayes: Aldermen Rader, Crossland, Ohlau, Allison, Platt, Geisen, Blechle. Nays: None. Absent: Alderman Clark. Motion carried.

XI.ADJOURNMENT

At 6:22 p.m., Alderman Crossland moved to adjourn the meeting. Alderman Rader seconded the motion. VOTE: Ayes: Aldermen Ohlau, Rader, Crossland, Allison, Platt, Geisen, Blechle. Nays: None. Absent: Alderman Clark. Motion carried.

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