CHESTER, ILLINOIS
August 3, 2015
- CALL TO ORDER
The City Council of Chester, Illinois, met in regular session on Monday, August 3, 2015, in the Municipal Building, 1330 Swanwick Street. Mayor Tom Page called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
II.ROLL CALL
Present:Alderman Nancy J. CrosslandAlderman Robert Platt
Alderman Daniel GeisenAlderman Russ Rader
Alderman Donald R. ClarkAlderman Ray Allison
Alderman Dan Ohlau
Absent:Alderman D. Michael Blechle
- PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
IV.READING OF MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING
Alderman Clark moved to dispense with the reading of the minutes of the previous meeting and to approve them as prepared by the city clerk. Alderman Ohlauseconded the motion. UPON ROLL CALL: Ayes: Aldermen Crossland, Geisen, Clark, Ohlau, Platt,Rader, Allison. Nays: None. Absent: Alderman Blechle. Motion carried.
Alderman Platt moved to approve minutes of Executive Session held on July 20, 2015, as prepared by the city clerk. Alderman Rader seconded the motion. UPON ROLL CALL: Ayes: Aldermen Crossland, Geisen, Clark, Ohlau, Platt, Rader, Allison. Nays: None. Absent: Alderman Blechle. Motion carried.
V.CORRESPONDENCE
The following correspondence was acknowledged:
- U. S. Army Corps of Engineers Public Notice #P-2929 in reference to possible construction of a barge loading terminal for grain to be built near Cora (Mayor Page noted that this would appear as though there would be more truck traffic through Chester. Comments can be made until the middle of August.)
- Letter from the recording secretary of the Chester Beautification Commission advising that June Combs will no longer be a member of the commission
- Letter of resignation from Marc Buatte, Chester Sewer Department, effective August 16
- Information in regard to the 2015 Illinois Municipal League Annual Conference to be held in Chicago on September 17 to 19
- Letter from Western Egyptian Economic Opportunity Council, Inc. advising that funding for the senior programs has been held up due to the lack of a state budget and that senior sites will be closed until a budget agreement is reached (Mayor Page advised that he met briefly yesterday with staff from the Chester Senior Site and that he has spoken with Senator Luechtefeld and Representative Costello in this regard.)
- Maintenance report for July, 2015
- Monthly status report for Chester Police Department
VI.REPORTS
City Treasurer (Donna Clendenin):
The city treasurer advised that she cashed in a certificate of deposit for the Natural Gas Fund and that the city has received the first installment of real estate taxes.
Cemetery & Finance Committee (Chairman Platt):
Chairman Plattadvised that the committee met prior to the council meeting to review city bills. His motion to approve payment of bills as prepared by the city clerk, subject to audit, was seconded by Alderman Crossland. UPON ROLL CALL: Ayes: Aldermen Crossland, Geisen, Clark, Ohlau, Platt, Allison. Nays: None. Absent: Alderman Blechle. Alderman Rader abstained from voting. Motion carried.
Chairman Platt moved to approve the July report of the Evergreen Cemetery Clerk as presented. Alderman Allison seconded the motion. UPON ROLL CALL: Ayes: Aldermen Crossland,Geisen, Clark, Ohlau, Platt, Rader, Allison. Nays: None. Absent: Alderman Blechle. Motion carried.
Chief of Police (Ryan Coffey):
Chief Coffey summarized the department’s monthly status report which was included in agenda packets.
Fire Chief (Marty Bert):
Chester Fire Department responded to six fire calls during the month of July and a total of sixty-one calls year-to-date. The chief is getting ready to send out a campaign letter for Fire Prevention Week (October).
VII.PUBLIC DISCUSSION
Tom Smith spoke to the council regarding the Monroe Randolph Transit District explaining that in the next two to three weeks the MRTD will have no funds to operate until the state passes a budget. He asked that the city consider a donation or loan to help the transit district continue in operation until the state budget issue is resolved. Mayor Page noted that he would like to revisit this situation after he sees what happens in Springfield in the next week or two.
VIII.OLD BUSINESS
IX.NEW BUSINESS
Concession Agreement – Wally’s:
Alderman Crossland moved to approve the agreement with Wally’s to provide food service and concessions for sale at the Cohen Complex during the fall baseball season from August 4, 2015, until October 5, 2015, with the exception of August 29 -30, 2015. Alderman Geisen seconded the motion. UPON ROLL CALL: Ayes: Aldermen Crossland, Geisen, Clark, Ohlau, Platt, Rader, Allison. Nays: None. Absent: Alderman Blechle. Motion carried.
Clerical Position – City Clerk’s Office:
Alderman Clark moved to authorize the city clerk to advertise for a clerical position at city hall. Motion was seconded by Alderman Crossland. UPON ROLL CALL: Ayes: Aldermen Crossland, Geisen, Clark, Ohlau, Platt, Rader, Allison. Nays: None. Absent: Alderman Blechle. Motion carried.
ORDINANCE #1608 – AN ORDINANCE AMENDING SECTION 36-3-2 OF CHAPTER 36 OF THE REVISED CODE OF ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF CHESTER, ILLINOIS, RELATIVE TO MUNICIPAL UTILITY TAX:
City Attorney Jeff Kerkhover explained that this Ordinance clarifies language in the original Ordinance and simply states that City of Chester accounts for the purchase of electricity by the city shall not be subject to municipal utility tax. Alderman Clark moved to pass the Ordinance relative to municipal utility tax. Alderman Rader seconded the motion. UPON ROLL CALL: Ayes: Aldermen Crossland, Geisen, Clark, Ohlau, Platt, Rader, Allison. Nays: None. Absent: Alderman Blechle. Motion carried.
Tax Increment Financing – Chester School District #139:
Alderman Crossland moved to approve payment of $50,000.00 from the city’s Tax Increment Financing Fund to Chester School District #139 to offset a portion of the school district’s vocational training costs per intergovernmental agreement. Alderman Clark seconded the motion. UPON ROLL CALL: Ayes: Aldermen Crossland, Geisen, Clark, Ohlau, Platt, Rader, Allison. Nays: None. Absent: Alderman Blechle. Motion carried.
X.ADJOURNMENT
At 7:17p.m., Alderman Crossland moved to adjourn the meeting. Alderman Clarkseconded the motion. VOTE: Ayes: Aldermen Crossland, Geisen, Clark, Ohlau, Platt, Rader, Allison. Nays: None. Absent: Alderman Blechle. Motion carried.
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TOM PAGE, MAYOR
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NANCY J. EGGEMEYER, CITY CLERK