Council approves $10,000 donation to Chester Stingers Football program

</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[Chester City Council members approved a one time donation to the Chester Stingers Football program at Monday night's meeting. Alderman Nancy Crossland made the motion to donate $10,000 to the program. Crossland's motion included donating the money to the program on May 1 when the city's new budget is complete. The money will come out of the General Fund.

Chester Stingers Football representative Aaron Runge told the council, "We have had an extremely good registration, with more than 1/3 of what we thought we were going to have."

Runge went on to state that they will be buying the jerseys, pants and helmets from Riddell and that the money the program receives from the city will go directly to them (Riddell). He also noted local businesses the program is working with include Mariah Design Agency, Treasured Memories, the Eagles and the VFW.

Cohen Complex will be seeing some changes, as the council approved to split the cost with Chester Sports for new batting cages at Cohen Complex.?The project will cost roughly $3,000, with the city's portion costing $1,500. The money will cover the excavation, rock and cost of concrete. It was noted the work will be done by volunteers. The council also approved and additional port-a-potty at the complex. Lastly, a bid from Ken Hall Electric to repair the ball field lighting contactor was approved in the amount of $2,246.

In other council news:

An ordinance to increase rural fire memberships fees were approved. The fees will raise from $35 to $45 a year.

An ordinance prohibiting trailers on Swanwick Street from Holmes Street to State Street was approved.

The gas department was approved to purchase a laptop from Walmart for $800.

The street department was approved to purchase a mower from Outdoor Products in Perryville in the amount of $3,800.

A donation of $3,000 was approved for the Popeye &?Friends Character Trail for a statue.

The council approved to ratify work done by the street department on Menard Correctional Center's parking lot.

Discussion was held on a new sound system for the Muny Band. It was noted the system they currently use is 20 years old.

The next regularly schedule meeting will be Monday, April 16 at 7:00 p.m. at city hall in the council chambers and is open to the public.