Mayoral appointments approved by council
</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[At the Chester City Council meeting the council approved the Mayoral appointments of Jeff Kerkhover as city attorney; Glenn Andrews to fill the vacancy on Zoning Board of Appeals.?They also reappointed Lawrence Montroy and Marlene Seymour to the Zoning Board. Five members were appointed to the Tourism Commission. They are Linda Sympson, Sandra Starr, Teri?Crum, Cynthia Lawder and Nancy?Crossland.
In regard to summer workers, the New Hire committee narrowed down the list to ten workers to hire. The council approved Dylan Clark, Bobby Schroeder,?Jeff Frazer, Lucas Bohnert, Matt Hamilton,?Adam Diercks,? Craig Rust, Steve Kern,? Shane Wagner, and Shane Lawrence. Ron Caron was also approved by the council as a part-time flower maintenance employee.
The council then approved to amend the ordinance relative to the regulation of solid waste. The ordinance states that each resident will be provided with one tote per residence. Residents may request another tote at a dollar more a month (limit 2 total).
Gas valve replacements were approved by the council for the high school at the cost of $6,430 for one, and for various defective valves throughout the city at the cost of $14,720.
An ordinance granting easement to AmerenIP at the Chester Welcome Center was approved. The council also approved Orkin to provide termite treatment for the welcome center at the cost of $800. They will begin the work once the gravel is laid down.
In other council news:
An ordinance designating four handicap parking spaces on Hyland Drive was approved.
The council discussed sloping issues at Cole Park and approved Holcomb Engineering to proceed with boring at the cost of $2,410.
The council then entered into executive session. No action was taken when the council exited the session.
Police Chief Ryan?Coffey reported having attended a conference held in Fairview Heights concerning church security on May 18. Chief Coffey attended with representatives of Grace Church and First Baptist Church of Chester. Several hundred people were in attendance representing the area churches and law enforcement agencies throughout the region. Plans are being made to offer assistance to the area churches regarding security and evacuation plans. Chief Mike Lochhead and his department will participate in this program as well.
Chief Coffey reported on behalf of the Chester Fire and Police Commission in an effort to update the council on the testing process for the eligibility list for police officers. Chief Coffey reported that the commission has completed the background checks and have sent invitations to the first phase of testing. On Saturday morning, June 13, 2009, the Police Commission and the Police Chief will hold orientation with the applicants at city hall. The orientation will be followed by a physical agility test, to be held at the Cohen Complex. Applicants that successfully complete the PAT will be invited back to city hall that afternoon to participate in the written examination. Individuals who pass the written exam will be invited to an oral interview with the Commission and Police Chief at a later date.
Chief Coffey also reported on a new policy he plans to implement in the department's policy manual. The policy addresses "bias-based policing" (profiling).
Chief Coffey informed the council that he has spent the last month meeting with his full time staff reviewing foot patrol and proactive policing and analyzing performance and participation specific to these areas.?Chief Coffey reported plans to sit with each fulltime officer to review these issues once a month through the spring, summer and fall; and to conduct a similar review with the part-time staff every two to three months.
Chief Coffey provided updates regarding the Community Service Worker program and mentioned his interest in finding volunteers to assist in the supervision of these workers for times when they are working out in the community.
At the request of the mayor and some of the members of the city council, the Chief reported on a protocol for the police department to take over the responsibilities of the enforcement of certain city ordinances with the regard to nuisances (weeds and grass, derelict vehicles, and garbage and debris). Chief Coffey presented a plan for monitoring follow-ups on property owners in violation and a method for managing cases. Chief Coffey also presented a monthly activity report for the city council regarding the status of these problem areas. The next regularly scheduled city council meeting will be Monday, June 15 at 7:00 p.m. at city hall.