South West Illinois News

City of Chester City Council met March 3.

Here are the minutes provided by the council:

I. CALL TO ORDER

The City Council of Chester, Illinois, met in regular session on Monday, March 3, 2025, in the Municipal Building, 1330 Swanwick Street. Mayor Page called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.

II. ROLL CALL

Present: 

Alderman Bob Buckham 

Alderman Robert Platt

Alderman James Maes 

Alderman Danny Valleroy

Alderman Don Berry 

Alderman Randy Dudenbostel

Alderman Alex Moore 

Alderman Tim Lochhead

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

V. CORRESPONDENCE

• Article from Illinois Rural Water Association announcing Tim Crow as “Runner Up Water System Operations Specialist of the Year”

• Beautification/Tourism Commission minutes dated January 16, 2025

• Memo from the Mayor’s Secretary Dani Valleroy regarding City Safety Policies/Procedures

• Cemetery and Finance Committee meeting minutes

VI. REPORTS

Mayor

Mayor Page advised the deck on the new bridge is now visible.

City Clerk:

The city clerk presented two applications for a raffle license for the Chester Chamber of Commerce and Beta Nu Chapter Beta Sigma Phi. Alderman Maes moved to issue the raffle licenses and waive the fidelity bond required of the raffle managers. Alderman Lochhead seconded the motion. UPON ROLL CALL: Ayes: Aldermen Platt, Maes, Berry, Lochhead, Dudenbostel, Moore, Buckham, Valleroy. Nays: None. Absent: None. Motion carried.

Lastly, City Clerk Berner advised the city’s new website went live today.

VII. COMMITTEE REPORTS

Cemetery & Finance Committee (Chairman Platt):

The Cemetery and Finance Committee met this evening at 5:00 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, Lochhead, Buckham, Dudenbostel. Nays: None. Absent: None. Motion carried.

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

Chairman Platt presented Invoice #22012 payable to J.T. Blankinship, Inc. for engineering for the New Filter Control Panel Project for $1,977.75. Alderman Berry seconded the motion. UPON ROLL CALL: Ayes: Aldermen Berry, Lochhead, Valleroy, Maes, Platt, Moore, Buckham, Dudenbostel. Nays None. Absent: None. Motion carried.

Streets & Alleys Committee (Chairman Berry):

Chairman Berry advised the street department is developing a sidewalk replacement program. Secondly, Chairman Berry noted the street department had issues with residents parking on designated snow routes during the last winter event. The street department would like to remind residents to avoid parking on snow routes during winter storms.

VIII. DEPARTMENT HEADS

Chief of Police (Bobby Helmers):

Chief Helmers advised the police department responded to 377 calls for service in February.

IX. PUBLIC COMMENT

X. OLD BUSINESS

XI. NEW BUSINESS

Accounts to Written Off:

The list of accounts were presented for consideration to be written off the city’s book:

Alderman Maes moved to approve the write-off of the listed accounts. Alderman Platt seconded the motion. UPON ROLL CALL: Ayes: Aldermen Berry, Lochhead, Valleroy, Maes, Buckham, Dudenbostel, Moore, Platt. Nays: None. Absent: None. Motion carried.

No Parking – Swanwick Street:

The city council discussed designating two portions on Swanwick Street as “No Parking” areas. Alderman Maes moved to authorize City Attorney Jason Coffey to draft two Ordinances designating a portion at 1530 Swanwick Street and 1718 Swanwick Street as “No Parking” areas. Alderman Buckham seconded the motion. UPON ROLL CALL: Ayes: Aldermen Berry, Lochhead, Valleroy, Maes, Buckham, Dudenbostel, Moore, Platt. Nays: None. Absent: None. Motion carried.

Swyear Amusements – 2025 Fall Festival:

Alderman Moore moved to waive formal competitive bidding and approve a contract with Swyear Amusements for carnival rides at the 2025 Fall Festival not to exceed $50,000.00. Alderman Valleroy seconded the motion. UPON ROLL CALL: Ayes: Aldermen Berry, Valleroy, Lochhead, Maes, Buckham, Dudenbostel, Moore, Platt. Nays: None. Absent: None. Motion carried.

Street Department – Bobcat Equipment:

Alderman Berry moved to approve the bid from Forklifts of Cape for $12,515.35 for equipment for the street department. Alderman Platt seconded the motion. UPON ROLL CALL: Ayes: Aldermen Berry, Valleroy, Maes, Lochhead, Buckham, Dudenbostel, Moore, Platt. Nays: None. Absent: None. Motion carried.

Street Department – Equipment:

Alderman Maes moved to approve the quote from Nu Way for $5,326.10. Alderman Lochhead seconded the motion. UPON ROLL CALL: Ayes: Aldermen Berry, Valleroy, Maes, Lochhead, Buckham, Dudenbostel, Moore, Platt. Nays: None. Absent: None. Motion carried.

Welcome to Chester Sign:

Alderman Dudenbostel moved to approve the placement modifications for the new sign and authorize the city engineers to apply for an IDOT sign permit. Alderman Lochhead seconded the motion. UPON ROLL CALL: Ayes: Aldermen Berry, Valleroy, Maes, Lochhead, Buckham, Dudenbostel, Moore, Platt. Nays: None. Absent: None. Motion carried.

Executive Session:

At 6:17 p.m., Alderman Platt moved to enter into Executive Session under the Open Meetings Act 5 ILCS 120/2 (C) under exception (1) the appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance, or dismissal of specific employees of the public body or legal counsel for the public body, including hearing testimony of a complaint lodged against an employee of the public body or against legal counsel for the public body to determine its validity. Alderman Valleroy seconded the motion. UPON ROLL CALL: Ayes: Aldermen Berry, Valleroy, Maes, Lochhead, Buckham, Dudenbostel, Moore, Platt. Nays: None. Absent: None. Motion carried.

The council returned from Executive Session at 6:38 p.m. No action was taken in the Executive Session.

XII. ADJOURNMENT

At 6:39 p.m., Alderman Maes moved to adjourn the meeting. Alderman Berry seconded the motion. VOTE: Ayes: Aldermen Maes, Berry, Lochhead, Platt, Buckham, Moore, Dudenbostel, Valleroy. Nays: None. Absent: None. Motion carried.

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