South West Illinois News

City of Chester City Council met April 7.

Here are the minutes provided by the council:

I. CALL TO ORDER

The City Council of Chester, Illinois, met in regular session on Monday, April 7, 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 Tim Lochhead

Absent: Alderman Alex Moore

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

V. CORRESPONDENCE

• Letter of Resignation from Jonathan Cooper Beautification/Tourism Commission

• Tax Revenue report provided by City Clerk Berner

• Cemetery and Finance Committee meeting minutes

• Memos regarding FY2026 Congressionally Directed Spending Appropriations

VI. REPORTS

Mayor:

Mayor Page congratulated newly elected Mayor Joe Eggemeyer. Secondly, Mayor Page advised that he will be having a superintendent meeting in the next few weeks.

City Clerk:

The city clerk presented applications for raffle licenses for the Chester Eagles Club (8) and the Chester Moose Lodge (5). 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 Platt, Maes, Berry, Lochhead, Dudenbostel, Buckham, Valleroy. Nays: None. Absent: Alderman Moore. Motion carried.

The city clerk presented an application for a building permit waiver from The Randolph County Jail. Alderman Dudenbostel moved to approve the building permit waiver. Alderman Lochhead seconded the motion. UPON ROLL CALL: Ayes: Aldermen Platt, Maes, Berry, Lochhead, Dudenbostel, Buckham. Nays: None. Absent: Alderman Moore. Alderman Valleroy abstained. Motion carried.

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, to include payment for Bert’s Auto Service in the amount of $111.31 (fiscal year total, $1,195.20). Alderman Dudenbostel seconded the motion. UPON ROLL CALL: Ayes: Aldermen Berry, Valleroy, Maes, Platt, Lochhead, Buckham, Dudenbostel. Nays: None. Absent: Alderman Moore. 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, Lochhead, Buckham, Valleroy. Nays: None. Absent: Alderman Moore. Motion carried.

Chairman Platt presented Change Order #1 ($5,109.10) and Final Pay Estimate payable to Red Dot Construction & Equipment Rental, Inc. for Filter Control System Replacement for $36,153.33. Alderman Berry seconded the motion. UPON ROLL CALL: Ayes: Aldermen Berry, Lochhead, Valleroy, Maes, Platt, Buckham, Dudenbostel. Nays: None. Absent: Alderman Moore. Motion carried.

VIII. DEPARTMENT HEADS

Chief of Police (Bobby Helmers):

The Chester Police Department responded to 441 calls for service in March (1,149 calls for the year).

IX. PUBLIC COMMENT

X. OLD BUSINESS

XI. NEW BUSINESS

Adult Workers:

Alderman Dudenbostel moved to hire Matthew Hoffman and Edward Valleroy as seasonal employees. Alderman Lochhead seconded the motion. UPON ROLL CALL: Ayes: Aldermen Berry, Lochhead, Valleroy, Maes, Buckham, Dudenbostel, Platt. Nays: None. Absent: Alderman Moore. Motion carried.

Student Workers:

Alderman Dudenbostel moved to hire Lannin Caron, Trevin Eggemeyer, Zane Eggemeyer, Brayden Juenger, Nathaniel Maes, Treyton McCartney, Jaden Ramirez and Alex Williamson as summer student workers. Alderman Valleroy seconded the motion. UPON ROLL CALL: Ayes: Aldermen Berry, Lochhead, Valleroy, Buckham, Dudenbostel, Platt. Nays: None. Absent: Alderman Moore. Alderman Maes abstained. Motion carried.

Parks Department – Mower:

Cole Park Superintendent Jay Allison presented a quote from Precision Equipment for a new SCAG mower with the trade in of a Spartan mower for $12,999.00. Superintendent Allison noted the city mows all of Cole Park and the Cohen Complex instead of contracting out the work. Alderman Maes moved to approve the purchase from Precision Equipment for $12,999.00 with the trade-in of the Spartan mower. Alderman Lochhead seconded the motion. UPON ROLL CALL: Ayes: Aldermen Berry, Valleroy, Lochhead, Maes, Buckham, Dudenbostel, Platt. Nays: None. Absent: Alderman Moore. Motion carried.

PFAS Settlements:

Alderman Platt moved to designate all PFAS settlements to be used for water or sewer capital improvement projects. Alderman Valleroy seconded the motion. UPON ROLL CALL: Ayes: Aldermen Berry, Valleroy, Maes, Lochhead, Buckham, Dudenbostel, Platt. Nays: None. Absent: Alderman Moore. Motion carried.

Community Solar Agreement:

Zach Resmann presented a Community Solar proposal offering a 10% reduction on the city’s Ameren invoices. Alderman Dudenbostel moved to authorize City Attorney Coffey to negotiate a contract with Resolute Energy Solutions for Community Solar. Alderman Lochhead seconded the motion. UPON ROLL CALL: Ayes: Aldermen Berry, Valleroy, Maes, Lochhead, Buckham, Dudenbostel, Platt. Nays: None. Absent: Alderman Moore. Motion carried.

Illinois Department of Corrections – Intergovernmental Agreement:

City Attorney Coffey presented the proposed Intergovernmental Agreement between Illinois Department of Corrections and the city of Chester increasing the water rates to $6.00 per 1,000 gallons of water effective August 1, 2025, through July 31, 2028. Alderman Maes moved to approve the Intergovernmental Agreement and Alderman Valleroy seconded the motion. UPON ROLL CALL: Ayes: Aldermen Berry, Valleroy, Maes, Lochhead, Buckham, Dudenbostel, Platt. Nays: None. Absent: Alderman Moore. Motion carried.

Sewer Department – Vactor Truck:

Sewer Distribution Superintendent Heath Menefee presented the proposal and pictures of a

2014 Freightliner Vactor Combination Truck. Alderman Berry moved to waive formal competitive bidding and ratify the action of the city council to approve the purchase of a 2014 Vactor Truck from Midwest Vac Products for $152,000.00. Alderman Valleroy seconded the motion. UPON ROLL CALL: Ayes: Aldermen Berry, Valleroy, Maes, Lochhead, Buckham, Dudenbostel, Platt. Nays: None. Absent: Alderman Moore. Motion carried.

Water Department – Sump Pumps:

Superintendent Tim Crow presented a quote from C & C Pumps and Supply for replacement sump pumps for the main pump house. Alderman Maes moved to approve the pump and installation purchase and not to exceed $8,000.00 from C & C Pumps. Alderman Valleroy seconded the motion. UPON ROLL CALL: Ayes: Aldermen Berry, Valleroy, Maes, Lochhead, Buckham, Dudenbostel, Platt. Nays: None. Absent: Alderman Moore. Motion carried.

Water Main Replacement – State Route 150 Engineering Agreement:

City Engineer Harold Sheffer advised design engineering must be complete to apply for the IEPA loan forgiveness program. The water main under State Route 150 was installed in the 1940’s. City Clerk Berner noted this project was selected to be a Congressional Directed Spending Project. The city is waiting to hear if this project will be funded. Alderman Maes moved to approve the engineering agreement for the Water Main Replacement Project on State Route 150. Alderman Maes moved to approve the engineering agreement. Alderman Berry seconded the motion. UPON ROLL CALL: Ayes: Aldermen Berry, Valleroy, Maes, Lochhead, Buckham, Dudenbostel, Platt. Nays: None. Absent: Alderman Moore. Motion carried.

Lift Station #1 Engineering Agreement:

City Engineer Harold Sheffer advised this project reconstructs Lift Station #1 and move the lift station out of the floodplain. Alderman Maes moved to approve the engineering agreement for the Reconstruction of Lift Station #1. Alderman Lochhead seconded the motion. UPON ROLL CALL: Ayes: Aldermen Berry, Valleroy, Maes, Lochhead, Buckham, Dudenbostel, Platt. Nays: None. Absent: Alderman Moore. Motion carried.

Water Plant Filter Backwash and Filter to Waste Valves – Engineering Agreement:

Alderman Maes moved to approve the engineering agreement for the Water Plant Filter Backwash and Filter to Waste Valves Project. Alderman Valleroy seconded the motion. UPON ROLL CALL: Ayes: Aldermen Berry, Valleroy, Maes, Lochhead, Buckham, Dudenbostel, Platt. Nays: None. Absent: Alderman Moore. Motion carried.

Water Tank Improvements – Engineering Agreement:

Alderman Maes moved to approve the engineering agreement for painting and repairing the 500,000-gallon Grade School elevated tank and the Red Dot 100,000-gallon elevated tank. Alderman Valleroy seconded the motion. UPON ROLL CALL: Ayes: Aldermen Berry, Valleroy, Maes, Lochhead, Buckham, Dudenbostel, Platt. Nays: None. Absent: Alderman Moore. Motion carried.

Activated Carbon Feed Building – Engineering Agreement:

Alderman Maes moved to approve the engineering agreement to demolish the Old Water Plant Building and construct a PAC Feed Building and Chemical Feed/Storage Building to feed activated carbon. This project has been submitted to the IEPA for 100% loan forgiveness through the Clean Water State Revolving Fund Emerging Contaminants Program. Alderman Valleroy seconded the motion. UPON ROLL CALL: Ayes: Aldermen Berry, Valleroy, Maes, Lochhead, Buckham, Dudenbostel, Platt. Nays: None. Absent: Alderman Moore. Motion carried.

Construct New Wells and Raw Water Mains – Engineering Agreement:

City Engineer Harold Sheffer advised this project will not begin for approximately four or five years. The project will require coordination with the Corps of Engineers and Union Pacific Railroad. Alderman Valleroy’s motion was seconded by Alderman Berry. UPON ROLL CALL: Ayes: Aldermen Berry, Valleroy, Maes, Lochhead, Buckham, Dudenbostel, Platt. Nays: None. Absent: Alderman Moore. Motion carried.

XII. ADJOURNMENT

At 6:40 p.m., Alderman Maes moved to adjourn the meeting. Alderman Berry seconded the motion. VOTE: Ayes: Aldermen Maes, Berry, Lochhead, Platt, Buckham, Dudenbostel, Valleroy. Nays: None. Absent: Alderman Moore. Motion carried.

https://cdn.myocv.com/ocvapps/a127162233/fileGalleries/66fc534ceed2ea66d10cabf7/6812286732846-04-07-25.doc