Chester council approves tax abatements
The Chester City Council approved three separate ordinances at their Jan. 21 meeting to abate the tax levied in the year 2019 for the General Obligation Refunding Bonds for the Waterworks and Sewage System Series. The first was to pay the principal of and interest on $1,950,000 Series 2011, the second for $3,795,000 Series 2013, and the third for $1,605,000 Series 2015.
The council heard from City Engineer Harold Sheffer concerning the Sanitary Sewer line along the river front. Sheffer recommended to the Council to accept the low bid of $27,000 by Friedrich Services Inc. He sought four bids and received only two, the other being $34,000.
Friedrich Services will inspect the Sanitary Sewer line with an automated video line. They will assess the damage inside the line and also clean the line. The damage to the line occurred during the flood of 2019 and the cost to repair is expected to be covered by FEMA, officials said.
Sheffer was also granted the Council's authorization to solicit bids for the Water Plant clear well replacement. He explained the project will require an EPA permit, which could take as long as 60 to 90 days. He thinks the entire project will be in the range of $200,000 to $250,000.
Sangiolo & Baker Masonry LLC was the winning bid for maintenance and repairs of several City-owned buildings, the main one being the City Hall but work will also be performed on the Water Treatment Plant and Sewage Plant. The total project bid is $37,590 but each building was listed separately. There was also a bid for masonry work at the City Library which the Library Board will need to address.
The Council was informed about the Riverboat Excursion Schedule for 2020. The first Chester visit will be from the American Duchess on April 18 and the last one on October 21. Other boats coming to Chester will include the American Countess, the American Harmony, the American Queen, the America, and the Queen of the Mississippi.
Chester was recently shown on a map in a national commercial for the American Queen.