Chester City Council approves salary cap

During a longer-than-normal city council meeting on Monday, the aldermen and woman approved capping salaries for non-appointed employees at an annual maximum of $55,000.

City attorney Jeff Kerkhover explained that future salary increases for those employees, until they reach the maximum, would be approved annually by the council.

"We just decided collectively that at some point in time we needed to set a salary cap," said Chester Mayor Tom Page to local media after the meeting. "For example, and it's not associated with it, the police department has a salary cap.

"We just want to do the same thing with our employees."

The salary cap was approved after the council spent about 45 minutes in executive session, during which it also discussed setting salaries for appointed officials, approving salary increases for city employees and approving certification/license increases for city employees.

Salaries for appointed municipal officers of the city for fiscal year 2017-18 are as follows: sewer superintendent ($51,553), water plant superintendent ($51,553), maintenance superintendent ($53,500), water distribution superintendent ($53,300), gas superintendent ($51,553), cemetery sexton ($52,500), cemetery clerk ($3,034), police chief ($63,335), zoning administrator ($3,000), EMA director ($1,800), assistant EMA director ($1,200), fire chief ($4,200), assistant fire chief ($3,000), recreation director ($28,000), animal control officer ($11/per hour) and code enforcement officer ($3,000).

All were later approved by the council in open session, with alderwoman Nancy Crossland being the lone no vote on the certification/license increase.

In other news, the council approved an ordinance accepting a quit-claim deed for a house at 314 Church Street. The house was stated to be in "severe condition" and the city was able to contact the heirs of the person who previously owned it.

"It's going to save us some money by putting the bids in for demolition," Kerkhover said.

The council also approved a resolution and agreement with the Illinois Department of Transportation for improvements on Buena Vista Street. The estimated $960,000 project will start at the end of August or early September and will be 80 percent funded by the state.

The city will provide $240,000 in match money, with the funding coming from motor fuel tax funds.

<strong>ROUNDUP</strong>

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<li>The council approved Quivey Sanitation to provide residential garbage collection for the city and authorized Kerkhover to prepare a solid waste collection contract. The city will waive competitive bidding on the contract.</li>

<li>Alderman Donnie Clark made note of wind damage to Field 2 at the Cohen Complex. The roof of one dugout was blown off and there was some damage to the backstop. Clark said nobody can use the field until that is fixed and the city was waiting to hear back from its insurance carrier.</li>

<li>The council approved adjusting water rates to eliminate the bottom two tiers over 42,000 gallons and set a rate of $2.53 per thousand.</li>

<li>The council approved mayoral appointments and Carolyn Rucker as deputy city clerk.</li>

<li>Chester Fire Chief Marty Bert reported nine calls for service in April and 45 total for the year.</li>

<li>Chester Police Chief Ryan Coffey noted several upcoming events to honor fallen CPD officer and volunteer firefighter James Brockmeyer, including today's First Responder Day at Chester High School.</li>

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Coffey said the city's police commission has appointed part-time officer Seth Buch to transition to full-time to fill the vacancy created by the passing of Brockmeyer last year.

"There will be a small transition training and he'll be ready for the road," Coffey said.

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<li>Coffey added that Brockmeyer's parents, Don and Dixie, recently attended the Illinois Chiefs of Police Association and accepted a police cross on behalf of their son. Additionally, Coffey said himself and his two sergeants - Bobby Helmers and Joe Jany - will be traveling to Washington D.C. for another police-related event.</li>

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Coffey noted that the Randolph County Sheriff's Office will help with law enforcement coverage while they are away.

<ul>

<li>During public comment, Paul Powley thanked the city council, Page, Coffey, Steve Renner and Randy Eggemeyer for cutting the weeds on the dilapidated property behind his house.</li>

<li>Bills were approved in the amount of $42,319.70. The Evergreen Cemetery Committee had one transaction for April in the amount of $325. Total transactions for the year are $11,350.</li>

<li>In her final meeting as city treasurer, Donna Clendenin thanked city officials for their support over the years.</li>

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Clendenin noted she had expected to be in office for eight years when she was elected in 2003. Nancy Eggemeyer, Chester's former city clerk, ran unopposed for the treasurer's spot in the April 4 election.

"She knows so much about the city," Clendenin said of Eggemeyer. "I don't think you'll get anything past her."

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<li>City clerk Bethany Berner, Page, Eggemeyer and aldermen Dan Geisen, Dan Ohlau, Robert Platt and Mike Blechle all took the oath of office during the meeting.</li>

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