CHESTER, ILLINOIS
November 16, 2015
I. CALL TO ORDER
The City Council of Chester, Illinois, met in regular session on Monday, November 16, 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. Crossland Alderman Robert Platt
Alderman Daniel Geisen Alderman Russ Rader
Alderman Donald R. Clark Alderman D. Michael Blechle
Alderman Dan Ohlau Alderman Ray Allison
Absent: None
III. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
IV. READING OF MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING
Alderman Crossland moved to dispense with the reading of the minutes of the previous meeting and to approve them as prepared by the city clerk. Alderman Clark seconded the motion. UPON ROLL CALL: Ayes: Aldermen Allison, Crossland, Geisen, Clark, Ohlau, Platt, Rader, Blechle. Nays: None. Absent: None. Motion carried.
V. CORRESPONDENCE
The following correspondence was acknowledged:
· Letter from the Chamber of Commerce, in regard to the monthly meeting to be held at the Chester Eagles on November 17, 2015
· Monthly Water Plant report provided by Tim Crow
· Information regarding a possible TIF project from J.T. Blankinship, Inc.
· Letter of resignation from Nancy Eggemeyer (City Clerk) effective December 31, 2015
VI. REPORTS
Mayor:
Mayor Page reported: 1) Communication continues with several State Agencies in reference to the outstanding utility bills (due to lack of a state budget). The mayor met with State Representative Jerry Costello II regarding this matter. The city has emailed all outstanding utility bills to the Assistant Director of the Department of Corrections Jason Garnett. The city’s message is that this cannot go on much longer. The mayor is considering a possible shut off date for all state facilities in the near future.
City Clerk:
In the absence of the city clerk, Bethany Berner presented a raffle license application for Veterans of Foreign Wars. Alderman Crossland moved to issue the raffle license and to waive the fidelity bond required of the raffle manager. Alderman Clark seconded the motion. UPON ROLL CALL: Ayes: Aldermen Allison, Crossland, Geisen, Clark, Ohlau, Platt, Rader, Blechle. Nays: None. Absent: None. Motion carried.
Cemetery & Finance Committee (Chairman Platt):
Chairman Platt advised 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 Clark. UPON ROLL CALL: Ayes: Aldermen Allison, Crossland, Geisen, Clark, Ohlau, Platt, Rader, Blechle. Nays: None. Absent: None. Motion carried.
Chairman Platt presented IDOT Change Order #1 for E.T. Simonds Construction Company in regard to the Swanwick Street Overlay Project with a net increase in contract price of $3,180.59. Chairman Platt moved to approve the change order for the contract with E.T. Simonds Construction Company, and Alderman Rader seconded the motion. UPON ROLL CALL: Ayes: Aldermen Allison, Crossland, Geisen, Clark, Ohlau, Platt, Rader, Blechle. Nays: None. Absent: None. Motion carried.
Pay Request #1 for the Swanwick Street Overlay Project was presented. Chairman Platt’s motion to pay $84, 636.36 to E.T. Simonds Construction Company was seconded by Alderman Rader. UPON ROLL CALL: Ayes: Aldermen Allison, Crossland, Geisen, Clark, Ohlau, Platt, Rader, Blechle. Nays: None. Absent: None. Motion carried.
Economic Development, Chamber & Beautification Committee (Chairman Crossland):
Chairman Crossland thanked everyone who attended the annual chicken dinner for the Chamber of Commerce.
VII. PUBLIC DISCUSSION
VIII. OLD BUSINESS
IX. NEW BUSINESS
Appointment – Firefighter:
Assistant Fire Chief Ron Shemonic recommended that Greg Rowold be upgraded from an auxiliary firefighter to a regular firefighter to fill a vacancy. Alderman Clark moved to approve the recommendation of the assistant fire chief, and Alderman Platt seconded the motion. UPON ROLL CALL: Ayes: Aldermen Allison, Crossland, Geisen, Clark, Ohlau, Platt, Rader, Blechle. Nays: None. Absent: None. Motion carried.
Holiday Gift Cards:
Alderman Crossland moved to purchase a $50.00 holiday gift card from Rozier’s Country Mart for each full-time city employee (city to pay $40.00 per card). Alderman Platt seconded the motion. UPON ROLL CALL: Ayes: Aldermen Allison, Crossland, Geisen, Clark, Ohlau, Platt, Rader, Blechle. Nays: None. Absent: None. Motion carried.
Illinois Counties Risk Management Trust:
Alderman Platt moved to approve the insurance program renewal proposal from Illinois Counties Risk Management Trust in the amount of $396,285.00 effective December 1, 2015 (savings of $6,555 from previous year). Alderman Ohlau seconded the motion. UPON ROLL CALL: Ayes: Aldermen Allison, Crossland, Geisen, Clark, Ohlau, Platt, Rader, Blechle. Nays: None. Absent: None. Motion carried.
Tax Levy:
Attorney Kerkhover presented the proposed amount of $835,567.00 to be levied in 2015 payable in 2016. City Clerk Nancy Eggemeyer worked closely with the Assessor’s Office to compute the total amount to be levied. Attorney Kerkhover stated that Art Tepfer with Tepfer Consulting Group, Ltd. completed our actuarial valuation report for the Chester Police Pension Fund. The results of our actuarial valuation report indicated the recommended minimum contribution from the City for the next tax year is $103,000. Keith Brinkmann recommended that $125,000 be levied for Police Pension salaries. Alderman Clark moved to determine the amount of property tax to be levied in 2015, payable in 2016, to be $835,567.00. This recommendation was seconded by Alderman Ohlau. UPON ROLL CALL: Ayes: Aldermen Allison, Crossland, Geisen, Clark, Ohlau, Platt, Rader, Blechle. Nays: None. Absent: None. Motion carried.
Resolution – 2016 MFT Maintenance:
Alderman Crossland moved to pass a resolution to appropriate $210,000.00 of Motor Fuel Tax funds for the purpose of maintaining streets and highways under the applicable provisions of the Illinois Highway Code from January 1, 2016 to December 31, 2016. Alderman Geisen seconded the motion. UPON ROLL CALL: Ayes: Aldermen Allison, Crossland, Geisen, Clark, Ohlau, Platt, Rader, Blechle. Nays: None. Absent: None. Motion carried.
ORDINANCE #1616 – AN ORDINANCE FIXING THE SALARY OF THE SEWER DEPARTMENT SUPERINTENDENT OF THE CITY OF CHESTER:
The ordinance provides that the sewer department superintendent shall receive a salary of $50,053.00 effective January 1, 2016. Alderman Crossland moved to pass the ordinance fixing the salary of the sewer superintendent at $50,053.00 effective January 1, 2016. That motion was seconded by Alderman Geisen. UPON ROLL CALL: Ayes: Aldermen Allison, Crossland, Geisen, Clark, Ohlau, Platt, Rader, Blechle. Nays: None. Absent: None. Motion carried.
Police Vehicle:
Chief of Police Ryan Coffey requested authorization to purchase a new squad car. Chief Coffey has budgeted for two new cars this fiscal year but agreed to purchase only one at this time due to the current budget issues with the State. The State bid for a 2016 Dodge Charger is $24,847.00 and $25,790.00 for a Ford Interceptor. Chief Coffey will be working closely with Steve Renner in the Street Department to determine which vehicle should be purchased. There will be an additional cost of $5,000-$6,000 for installation of all necessary emergency equipment. Alderman Platt voiced his concern about the timing of this purchase and our current budget issues. Alderman Clark moved to approve a new squad car for the Chester Police Department not exceeding the amount of $33,000. Alderman Geisen seconded this motion. UPON ROLL CALL: Ayes: Aldermen Allison, Crossland, Geisen, Clark, Ohlau, Platt, Rader, Blechle. Nays: None. Absent: None. Motion carried.
X. ADJOURNMENT
At 7:22 p.m., Alderman Crossland moved to adjourn the meeting. Alderman Clark seconded the motion. VOTE: Ayes: Aldermen Allison, Crossland, Geisen, Clark, Ohlau, Platt, Rader, Blechle. Nays: None. Absent: None. Motion carried.
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TOM PAGE, MAYOR
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BETHANY BERNER