City of Chester Council met Nov. 4.
Here is the minutes provided by the Council:
I. Call to Order
The City Council of Chester, Illinois, met in regular session on Monday, November 4, 2019, 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 Allison
Alderman Robert Platt
Alderman Dan Ohlau
Alderman Daniel Geisen
Alderman Randy Dudenbostel
Alderman Russ Rader
Alderman D. Michael Blechle
Absent: None
III. Pledge of Allegiance
IV. Reading of Minutes of Previous Meeting
Alderman Ohlau moved to dispense with the reading of the minutes of the previous is to approve them as prepared by the city clerk. Alderman Geisen seconded the motion. Upon Roll Call: Ayes: Aldermen Ohlau, Platt, Rader, Geisen, Allison, Blechle, Dudenbostel. Nays: None. Absent: None. Motion carried.
V. Correspondence
The following correspondence was acknowledged:.
• Chester Community Tree Lighting on Dec. 6th at 7:30 p.m.
• Information on the Cops and Kids at Christmas Program
VI. Reports
City Attorney:
Attorney Kerkhover presented the proposed amount of $901,669.40 to be levied in 2019 payable in 2020. The city clerk will prepare the Tax Levy Ordinance and this item will be on an upcoming agenda.
VII. Committee Reports
Cemetery and 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. Alderman Rader seconded the motion. Upon Roll Call: Ayes: Aldermen Platt, Dudenbostel, Rader, Geisen, Ohlau, Allison, Blechle. Nays: None. Absent: None. Motion carried.
Chairman Platt moved to approve the October report of the Evergreen Cemetery Clerk as presented. Alderman Rader seconded the motion. UPON ROLL CALL: Ayes: Aldermen Platt, Dudenbostel, Rader, Geisen, Ohlau, Allison, Blechle. Nays: None. Absent: None. Motion carried.
Streets and Alleys Committee (Chairman Blechle):
Chairman Blechle provided an update on various street department projects.
VIII. Department Heads:
Chief of Police (Robert Helmers):
Chief Helmers summarized the department's monthly status report. Currently, the department has only one part-time officer. Chief Helmers has received three qualified applicants which will be placed on an upcoming agenda.
Fire Chief (Marty Bert):
Chester Fire Department responded to two calls during the month of October with 58 calls for the year. Secondly, the fire department purchased a Polaris UTV from the Foreign Fire Tax Fund. Chief Bert noted the Chester Fire Department completed the fire prevention program with the local schools.
IX. Public Discussion
X. Old Business
XI. New Business
Fiscal Year 2019 Audit:
The council met with the city's auditor during the finance committee meeting held prior to this council meeting. Alderman Allison moved to approve the audit for Fiscal Year 2019. Alderman Dudenbostel seconded the motion. Upon Roll Call: Ayes: Aldermen Rader, Dudenbostel, Rader, Geisen, Ohlau, Allison, Blechle. Nays: None. Absent: None. Motion carried.
Lift Station #1 Rehabilitation:
Mayor Page presented a quote from RP Coating for a leak repair and four foot of floor coating in lift station #1 for $16,200.00. Sewer Superintendent Marty Reynolds recommended ten foot of the lift station wall be coated for $22,700.00 by RP Coating. Alderman Platt moved to approve the bid of $22,700.00 to repair and coat ten foot of the lift station wall and to waive formal competitive bidding. Alderman Geisen seconded the motion. Upon Roll Call: Ayes: Aldermen Platt, Dudenbostel, Rader, Geisen, Ohlau, Allison, Blechle. Nays: None. Absent: None. Motion carried.
Sewer Plant – Internet and Phone Service:
City Clerk Berner presented a quote from Clearwave Communication for a phone line and internet service for $299.00 per month with a 36 month contract for the sewer plant. Alderman Platt moved to approve the contract with Clearwave Communication and Alderman Dudenbostel seconded the motion. Upon Roll Call: Ayes: Aldermen Platt, Dudenbostel, Rader, Geisen, Ohlau, Allison, Blechle. Nays: None. Absent: None. Motion carried.
Police Department – Vacancy:
Alderman Blechle moved to ratify the council's decision declaring that a vacancy existed on November 1st in the police department and authorized the police commissioners to appoint a full-time officer from the eligibility list. Alderman Ohlau seconded the motion. Upon Roll Call: Ayes: Aldermen Platt, Dudenbostel, Rader, Geisen, Ohlau, Allison, Blechle. Nays: None. Absent: None. Motion carried.
Police Officer – Jeff Hammel:
Police Chief Bobby Helmers introduced the Chester Police Department's new full-time officer Jeff Hammel to the council.
Christmas Party:
Mayor Page advised that he would like to have a Christmas party this year for city employees to be held on Friday, December 13th, at the Chester Eagles. Alderman Platt's motion to approve the mayor's request was seconded by Alderman Rader. Upon Roll Call: Ayes: Aldermen Platt, Dudenbostel, Rader, Geisen, Ohlau, Allison, Blechle. Nays: None. Absent: None. Motion carried.
Transfer of Funds:
Alderman Ohlau moved to approve the transfer of $100,000.00 from the General Fund to the Fire Protection Fund. Alderman Platt seconded the motion. Upon Roll Call: Ayes: Aldermen Platt, Dudenbostel, Rader, Geisen, Ohlau, Allison, Blechle. Nays: None. Absent: None. Motion carried.
Transfer of Funds:
Alderman Ohlau moved to approve the transfer of $461,000.00 of residual equity from the Natural Gas Fund to the Fire Protection Fund. Alderman Geisen seconded the motion. Upon Roll Call: Ayes: Aldermen Platt, Dudenbostel, Rader, Geisen, Ohlau, Allison, Blechle. Nays: None. Absent: None. Motion carried.
Integra Flex – HRA Payment Processing:
Currently, Accupay prints and issues checks for the health insurance claims from the City's HRA plan. Accupay will no longer provide this payment service for the city. Per recommendation from Einstein Consulting Group, Integra Flex will process the monthly payments through a city monitored checking account. Einstein Consulting Group has always paid for the services to run the HRA with Accupay, and will continue to pay these fees charged by Integra Flex. Alderman Platt moved to authorize the city clerk to open a new bank account to process HRA payments and allow Integra Flex to issues HRA payments for the city. Alderman Dudenbostel seconded the motion. Upon Roll Call: Ayes: Aldermen Platt, Dudenbostel, Rader, Geisen, Ohlau, Allison, Blechle. Nays: None. Absent: None. Motion carried.
Irrigation System – Cohen Complex
Park Superintendent Billy Belton presented a quote from MPR Supply Company for irrigation for field 1, field 2 and the softball field at the Cohen Complex for $18,000.00. The city workers will install the irrigation systems on the fields. After numerous questions from Alderman Allison, Alderman Ohlau moved to approve the installation of irrigation on the fields at the Cohen Complex. Alderman Platt seconded the motion. Upon Roll Call: Ayes: Aldermen Platt, Dudenbostel, Rader, Geisen, Ohlau, Blechle. Nays: Alderman Allison. Absent: None. Motion carried
Appointment of Alderman:
Mayor Page recommended that James D. Maes be appointed to fill the aldermanic vacancy in Ward 2 created by the resignation of Scott Stumpe, who moved from the ward. Alderman Platt moved to approve the mayor's appointment of James D. Maes to fill the aldermanic vacancy in Ward 2. Alderman Geisen seconded the motion. Upon Roll Call Ayes: Aldermen Platt, Dudenbostel, Rader, Geisen, Ohlau, Allison, Blechle. Nays: None. Absent: None. Motion carried. Alderman Maes was sworn into office by the city clerk.
XII. Adjournment
At 6:28 p.m., Alderman Ohlau moved to adjourn the meeting. Alderman Dudenbostel seconded the motion. Vote: Ayes: Aldermen Ohlau, Dudenbostel, Platt, Geisen, Rader, Allison, Blechle. Nays: None. Absent: None. Motion carried.
http://www.chesterill.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/11-4-19-Minutes.pdf
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