South West Illinois News

City of Chester City Council met Nov. 4.

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 4, 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 Tim Lochhead 

Alderman Robert Platt

Alderman James Maes 

Alderman Danny Valleroy

Alderman Don Berry 

Alderman Randy Dudenbostel

Alderman Alex Moore 

Alderman Bob Buckham

Absent: None

III. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

Presentation of the flags and Pledge of Allegiance by Local Cub Scouts

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

V. CORRESPONDENCE

• Monthly Beautification/Tourism Commission minutes

VI. REPORTS

Mayor:

Mayor Page provided a brief update on the Chester Bridge Replacement Project.

City Clerk:

The city clerk presented an application for a raffle license for the St. Mary’s Sodality. Alderman Dudenbostel moved to issue the raffle license and waive the fidelity bond required of the raffle managers. Alderman Platt seconded the motion. UPON ROLL CALL: Ayes: Aldermen Platt, Maes, Berry, Dudenbostel, Moore, Buckham, Lochhead, Valleroy. Nays: None. Absent: None. Motion carried.

City Clerk Berner announced the new City of Chester App has been released for both android and apple devices.

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. Alderman Dudenbostel seconded the motion. UPON ROLL CALL: Ayes: Aldermen Berry, Valleroy, Maes, Platt, Moore, Buckham, Dudenbostel, Lochhead. Nays: None. Absent: None. Motion carried.

Chairman Platt presented Pay Estimate #2 payable to Red Dot Construction & Equipment Rentals, Inc. for work completed for the Filter Control System Replacement for $56,502.77. Alderman Berry seconded the motion. UPON ROLL CALL: Ayes: Aldermen Berry, Valleroy, Maes, Platt, Moore, Buckham, Dudenbostel, Lochhead. Nays: None. Absent: None. Motion carried.

Alderman 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, Platt, Lochhead, Valleroy, Moore, Buckham, Dudenbostel. Nays: None. Absent: None. Motion carried.

Streets & Alleys Committee (Chairman Berry):

Chairman Berry stated the street department requests citizens be patient while awaiting their leaf pick-up requests.

VIII. DEPARTMENT HEADS

Chief of Police (Bobby Helmers):

Chief Helmers recognized Officer Lake Fogerson and Officer Matthew Holdman for their exceptional performance in several recent drug related cases. Officer Fogerson and Officer Holdman were presented letters of commendation and pins.

IX. PUBLIC COMMENT

X. OLD BUSINESS

XI. NEW BUSINESS

Park Department – Cyclone Blower:

Alderman Valleroy moved to purchase a Cyclone Pro Blower from Erb Turf & Utility Equipment, Inc. for $7,795.00. Alderman Maes seconded the motion. UPON ROLL CALL: Ayes: Aldermen Berry, Valleroy, Maes, Buckham, Dudenbostel, Moore, Platt, Lochhead. Nays: None. Absent: None. Motion carried.

Water Plant Laborer:

Alderman Dudenbostel moved to hire Eric Armstrong as a water plant laborer. Alderman Maes seconded the motion. UPON ROLL CALL: Ayes: Aldermen Berry, Valleroy, Maes, Buckham, Dudenbostel, Moore, Platt, Lochhead. Nays: None. Absent: None. Motion carried.

Water Plant – Carbon Feed System:

Alderman Dudenbostel moved to apply for Illinois EPA funding for the installation of an activated carbon feed system at the water plant. Alderman Maes seconded the motion. UPON ROLL CALL: Ayes: Aldermen Berry, Valleroy, Maes, Platt, Moore, Buckham, Dudenbostel, Lochhead. Nays: None. Absent: None. Motion carried.

ORDINANCE #1823 – AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 24 OF THE REVISED CODE OF ORDINANCES REPEALING THE FOUR DESIGNATED HANDICAPPED PARKING SPACES ON HYLAND DRIVE OF THE CITY OF CHESTER, ILLINOIS:

Attorney Coffey advised the owners of the Hyland apartments requested the removal of the designated handicapped parking spaces. Alderman Maes moved to pass Ordinance #1823. Alderman Berry seconded the motion. UPON ROLL CALL: Ayes: Aldermen Berry, Valleroy, Maes, Buckham, Dudenbostel, Moore, Platt, Lochhead. Nays: None. Absent: None. Motion carried.

Police Pension Levy:

City Clerk Berner presented the recommendation from city auditors to levy $185,721.00 for the Police Pension Fund. Alderman Dudenbostel’s motion was seconded by Alderman Lochhead. UPON ROLL CALL: Ayes: Aldermen Berry, Valleroy, Maes, Buckham, Dudenbostel, Moore, Platt, Lochhead. Nays: None. Absent: None. Motion carried.

Risk Management Insurance Coverage:

Alderman Valleroy moved to approve the proposal from Counties of Illinois Risk Management Agency, Illinois Public Risk Fund and Cowbell Insurance Agency for the city’s risk management insurance coverage. Alderman Moore seconded the motion. UPON ROLL CALL: Ayes: Aldermen Berry, Valleroy, Maes, Buckham, Dudenbostel, Moore, Platt, Lochhead. Nays: None. Absent: None. Motion carried.

XII. ADJOURNMENT

At 6:18 p.m., Alderman Maes moved to adjourn the meeting. Alderman Berry seconded the motion. VOTE: Ayes: Aldermen Lochhead, Maes, Berry, Platt, Buckham, Moore, Dudenbostel, Valleroy. Nays: None. Absent: None. Motion carried.

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