South West Illinois News

City of Chester City Council met July 1.

Here are the minutes provided by the council:

I. CALL TO ORDER

The City Council of Chester, Illinois, met in regular session on Monday, July 1, 2024, in the Municipal Building, 1330 Swanwick Street. Mayor Page called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.

II. ROLL CALL

Present: Alderman Robert Platt 

Alderman Bob Buckham

Alderman James Maes 

Alderman Danny Valleroy

Alderman Don Berry 

Alderman Randy Dudenbostel

Alderman Alex Moore

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

V. CORRESPONDENCE

VI. REPORTS

Mayor:

Mayor Page advised the bridge replacement project is proceeding well.

City Clerk:

The city clerk presented three applications for raffle licenses for the Knights of Columbus. Alderman Dudenbostel moved to issue the raffle licenses and waive the fidelity bond required of the raffle managers. Alderman Maes seconded the motion. UPON ROLL CALL: Ayes: Aldermen Buckham, Maes, Berry, Dudenbostel, Moore, Platt, Valleroy. Nays: None. Absent: None. 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. Chairman Platt moved to approve payment of bills, subject to audit. Alderman Dudenbostel seconded the motion. UPON ROLL CALL: Ayes: Aldermen Berry, Valleroy, Maes, Buckham, Moore, Dudenbostel, Platt. Nays: None. Absent: None. Motion carried.

Chairman Platt presented Change Order #8 payable to Korte & Luitjohan Contractors, Inc. for $27,252.35 for installation of an overhead walkway ceiling line and building perimeter metal around the existing water plant building. Alderman Berry seconded the motion. UPON ROLL CALL: Ayes: Aldermen Berry, Valleroy, Maes, Buckham, Moore, Dudenbostel, Platt. Nays: None. Absent: None. Motion carried.

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

VIII. DEPARTMENT HEADS

Chief of Police (Bobby Helmers):

Chief Helmers summarized his monthly status report.

IX. PUBLIC COMMENT

X. OLD BUSINESS

XI. NEW BUSINESS

Cemetery Sexton – Billy Berkbuegler:

Alderman Dudenbostel moved to approve the mayor’s appointment of Billy Berkbuegler as Cemetery Sexton effective July 1, 2024 with an annual salary of $55,500.00. Alderman Maes seconded the motion. UPON ROLL CALL: Ayes: Aldermen Berry, Valleroy, Maes, Dudenbostel, Moore, Buckham, Platt. Nays: None. Absent: None. Motion carried.

Adult Worker:

Alderman Berry moved to hire Gary Rust as an adult worker. Alderman Valleroy seconded the motion. UPON ROLL CALL: Ayes: Aldermen Berry, Valleroy, Maes, Buckham, Moore, Dudenbostel, Platt. Nays: None. Absent: None. Motion carried.

Adult Worker:

Alderman Dudenbostel moved to hire Brian Childs as an adult worker. Alderman Maes seconded the motion. UPON ROLL CALL: Ayes: Aldermen Berry, Valleroy, Maes, Buckham, Moore, Dudenbostel, Platt. Nays: None. Absent: None. Motion carried.

Library Board:

Alderman Dudenbostel moved to appoint Joanie Heffernan as a library board member. Alderman Berry seconded the motion. UPON ROLL CALL: Ayes: Aldermen Berry, Valleroy, Maes, Buckham, Moore, Dudenbostel, Platt. Nays: None. Absent: None. Motion carried.

Resolution – Homecoming Parade:

Alderman Berry 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 Taylor Street for the purpose of diverting traffic on September 20, 2024 from approximately 3:30 p.m. until 5:00 p.m. for the homecoming parade. Alderman Maes seconded the motion. UPON ROLL CALL: Ayes: Aldermen Berry, Valleroy, Maes, Buckham, Moore, Dudenbostel, Platt. Nays: None. Absent: None. Motion carried.

Resolution – Fall Festival Parade:

Alderman Dudenbostel 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 Taylor Street for the purpose of diverting traffic on October 20, 2024 from approximately 1:00 p.m. until 4:00 p.m. for the Fall Festival parade. Alderman Moore seconded the motion. UPON ROLL CALL: Ayes: Aldermen Berry, Valleroy, Maes, Buckham, Moore, Dudenbostel, Platt. Nays: None. Absent: None. Motion carried.

Resolution – Christmas on the River:

Alderman Maes 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 Church Street for the purpose of diverting traffic on December 7, 2024 from approximately 5:30 p.m. until 6:30 p.m. for the Christmas on the River parade. Alderman Dudenbostel seconded the motion. UPON ROLL CALL: Ayes: Aldermen Berry, Valleroy, Maes, Buckham, Moore, Dudenbostel, Platt. Nays: None. Absent: None. Motion carried.

Police Department – Body Cameras:

Alderman Platt moved to ratify the action of the city council and authorize the purchase of body cameras for the police department. Alderman Dudenbostel seconded the motion. UPON ROLL CALL: Ayes: Aldermen Berry, Valleroy, Maes, Buckham, Moore, Dudenbostel, Platt. Nays: None. Absent: None. Motion carried.

Executive Session – Minutes:

Alderman Platt moved to determine that minutes of previous Executive Sessions are still confidential and should not be made available to the public. Alderman Dudenbostel seconded the motion. UPON ROLL CALL: Ayes: Aldermen Berry, Valleroy, Maes, Buckham, Moore, Dudenbostel, Platt. Nays: None. Absent: None. Motion carried.

Executive Session – Verbatim Records:

Alderman Platt moved to destroy all verbatim records of Executive Sessions. Alderman Dudenbostel seconded the motion. UPON ROLL CALL: Ayes: Aldermen Berry, Valleroy, Maes, Buckham, Moore, Dudenbostel, Platt. Nays: None. Absent: None. Motion carried.

Aldermanic Vacancy – Motion to Rescind Prior Vote:

Alderman Dudenbostel moved to rescind the prior vote for the mayor’s aldermanic appointment of Tim Lochhead. Alderman Maes seconded the motion. UPON ROLL CALL: Ayes: Aldermen Berry, Valleroy, Maes, Buckham, Moore, Dudenbostel, Platt. Nays: None. Absent: None. Motion carried.

Appointment – Alderman Ward 1:

Alderman Dudenbostel moved to approve the mayor’s appointment of Tim Lochhead as Alderman – Ward 1. Alderman Maes seconded the motion. UPON ROLL CALL: Ayes: Aldermen Valleroy, Maes, Moore, Dudenbostel, Platt. Nays: Aldermen Buckham, Berry. Absent: None. Motion carried.

XII. ADJOURNMENT

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

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