South West Illinois News

City of Chester City Council met Nov. 6.

Here are the minutes provided by the council:

I. CALL TO ORDER

The City Council of Chester, Illinois, met in regular session on Monday, November 6, 2023, in the Municipal Building, 1330 Swanwick Street. Mayor Page called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.

II. ROLL CALL

Present:

Alderman Alex Moore                  Alderman James Maes

Alderman Bob Buckham              Alderman Bryce Hill

Alderman Randy Dudenbostel     Alderman Robert Platt

Alderman Don Berry                    Alderman Danny Valleroy

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 Buckham, Maes, Hill, Berry, Platt, Moore, Dudenbostel, Valleroy. Nays: None. Absent: None. Motion carried.

V. CORRESPONDENCE

VI. REPORTS

Mayor:

Mayor Page expressed this sincere appreciation to all the city employees who made the 2023 Fall Festival a successful event.

City Clerk:

The city clerk presented an application for raffle license for Beta Nu Chapter of Beta Sigma Phi and Kaskaskia VFW Post 3553. Alderman Platt moved to issue the raffle licenses and waive the fidelity bond required of the raffle managers. Alderman Valleroy seconded the motion. UPON ROLL CALL: Ayes: Aldermen Buckham, Maes, Valleroy, Berry, Platt, Moore, Hill, Dudenbostel. Nays: None. Absent: None. Motion carried

City Engineer:

City Engineer Harold Sheffer advised the lime silo for the water plant will be delivered this coming week.

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. Chairman Platt moved to approve payment of bills, subject to audit, and to include payment to Bert’s Auto Service in the amount of $466.97 (fiscal year total, $1,557.37). Alderman Dudenbostel seconded the motion. UPON ROLL CALL: Ayes: Aldermen Berry, Maes, Hill, Valleroy, Moore, Dudenbostel, Buckham, Platt. Nays: None. Absent: None. Motion carried.

Chairman Platt moved to approve the October report of the Evergreen Cemetery Clerk as presented. Alderman Berry seconded the motion. UPON ROLL CALL: Ayes: Aldermen Maes, Berry, Hill, Moore, Dudenbostel, Buckham, Platt, Valleroy. Nays: None. Absent: None. Motion carried.

Chairman Platt moved to approve Invoice #21712 payable to J.T. Blankinship, Inc. for $40,623.56 for engineering for the Reconstruction of Riverview Project. Alderman Valleroy seconded the motion.

UPON ROLL CALL: Ayes: Aldermen Maes, Berry, Hill, Moore, Dudenbostel, Buckham, Platt, Valleroy. Nays: None. Absent: None. Motion carried.

Chairman Platt moved to approve Invoice #21737 payable to J.T. Blankinship, Inc. for $9,000.00 for engineering for the Reconstruction of Riverview Project. Alderman Dudenbostel seconded the motion. UPON ROLL CALL: Ayes: Aldermen Maes, Berry, Hill, Moore, Dudenbostel, Buckham, Platt, Valleroy. Nays: None. Absent: None. Motion carried.

Park & Recreation Committee (Chairman Moore):

Chairman Moore noted the 2023 Fall Festival was a huge success in the new location. Chairman Moore thanked the employees and police department for all of their hard work during the fall festival weekend.

Economic Development, Chamber & Beautification Committee (Chairman Hill):

Chairman Hill advised the Beautification/Tourism Commission will be decorating the pots around town at 9 a.m. on November 9th.

VIII. DEPARTMENT HEADS

Police Department (Chief Bobby Helmers):

Chief Helmers advised the department responded to 541 calls for service in October. Secondly, Chief Helmers advised there were no major issues at the fall festival. Due to the openness at the new location, the police department was able to staff the event with two officers instead of eight.

Fire Department (Chief Marty Bert):

Fire Chief Bert advised the fire department responded to eight calls for service in October. Secondly, the fire department will be doing a walk through at Menard Correctional Center and Chester Memorial Hospital.

IX. PUBLIC COMMENT

X. OLD BUSINESS

XI. NEW BUSINESS

Bridge Bypass Road:

City Engineer Harold Sheffer presented a quote for the milling, guardrail replacements and overlay of the Chester Bypass Road for $1,537,813.75 for all engineering and construction costs. The City is receiving around $153,000.00 per year in FAU allotments and is projected to have $1,341,700.00 in FAU funds through FY2027. Alderman Dudenbostel moved to proceed with improvements to the Bridge Bypass Road as an IDOT FAU Project. Alderman Berry seconded the motion. UPON ROLL CALL: Ayes: Aldermen Berry, Maes, Hill, Valleroy, Moore, Dudenbostel, Buckham, Platt. Nays: None. Absent: None. Motion carried.

Firefighter:

Alderman Hill moved to approve Lake Fogerson as a new part time firefighter. Alderman Valleroy seconded the motion. UPON ROLL CALL: Ayes: Aldermen Berry, Maes, Hill, Valleroy, Moore, Dudenbostel, Buckham, Platt. Nays: None. Absent: None. Motion carried.

City Steps – Plaque:

Alderman Hill advised Matthew Heberlie worked on the city steps for an Eagle Scout Project. Mary Ann Heberlie requested a plaque placed at the city step to describe his Eagle Scout Project. Alderman Hill’s motion was seconded by Alderman Buckham. UPON ROLL CALL: Ayes: Aldermen Berry, Maes, Hill, Valleroy, Moore, Dudenbostel, Buckham, Platt. Nays: None. Absent: None. Motion carried.

XII. ADJOURNMENT

At 6:16 p.m., Alderman Maes moved to adjourn the meeting. Alderman Buckham seconded the motion. VOTE: Ayes: Aldermen Platt, Berry, Hill, Moore, Maes, Dudenbostel, Buckham, Valleroy. Nays: None. Absent: None. Motion carried.

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