Council votes against McKinney appointment
</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[After an hour and a half executive session at Monday night's city council meeting the council voted against the Mayoral appointment of former Chief of Police Donal McKinney.
With a councilmen vote of 3-5, (Brueggeman,?Abernathy and Crossland voting yes; Colvis, Rader, Blechle, Schwent and Cowan voting no) McKinney will not be returning to his old position of chief.
McKinney previously served the City as Chief of Police from January 2005 to May 2007.
When asked why he wanted to appoint Donal McKinney to the position of chief and not current Chief Ryan Coffey, Mayor Joe Eggemeyer stated "I was looking for Mac's experience and what he can bring into the police department. His connection within the state, surplus equipment and that kind of stuff. He would have more knowledge than the typical municipal person would have as far as state level is concerned."
He also stated that Chief of Police Ryan Coffey is doing a good job.
Eggemeyer went on to state, "One thing some of the people I had talked to during my campaign told me they wanted Mac and I am working for the public."
At a May 2007 Chester City Council meeting, Mayor Marty Bert did not re-appoint Donal?McKinney as police chief but instead appointed Detective Ryan Coffey as chief of police. Coffey has continued to serve in the position of chief since then.
In a prepared statement provided by Mayor Bert in May of 2007, he announced the following: "Chief Donal McKinney is an excellent patrolman who is well liked in the community. Chief McKinney has served the City and the citizens of Chester well since January 2005.
He has brought the police department up to date with technology and new equipment.
However, during our discussion over the course of the last year, it has become clear to me that our goals, objectives and priorities are not the same and that Chief McKinney and I have different opinions about the direction of the police department.
Because of these differences, I have decided not to reappoint Chief McKinney and instead am conducting a search for a chief who has goals and objectives similar to mine.
I realize that there will be some people who will be disappointed or even upset that I will not be reappointing Donal McKinney as Chief of Police. However, my decisions are based on what I believe is in the best interest of the City of Chester."
At that same city council meeting a crowd of approximately 80 residents filled the council chambers in support of McKinney.
Numerous individuals spoke at that meeting including Joe Eggemeyer. Eggemeyer stated, "When I appointed Mac, I never meant for this to happen. A police chief is more than administrative skills, it is a people person. Most towns would give their arm to have a police chief like Mac."
Some people at that meeting even threatened that if Mac was not reinstated current council members would not be re-elected.
At a special Red Bud meeting held in July 2007, Red Bud Mayor Ken Mueller appointed former Chester Police Chief Donal McKinney to be police chief of Red Bud. Mueller praised McKinney and noted his popularity throughout Randolph County. The aldermen, however, voted 6-2 not to confirm McKinney.
In other council news:
 Other Mayoral appointments were approved at Monday night's meeting including: Mike Lochhead as Fire Chief, David Holder as EMA Coordinator, and Charles Bargman II as assistant EMA Coordinator. J.T. Blankenship Inc. was also approved as City Engineer. The council also approved Chester Park Board members Julie Eggemeyer,? Donnie Clark and Jeremy Williamson.
The proposed budget, $12,166,090, and statement of income, $12,073,311, for Fiscal Year 2010 were approved. The council then authorized the preparation of the Appropriation Ordinance and set a hearing date for Monday, July 20 at 6:30 p.m. at city hall.
An ordinance fixing the salaries of various appointed municipal officers of the city was approved. For fiscal year 2009-2010 the following municipal officers of the City of Chester will receive the following salaries: Sewer Superintendent - $55,017.00; Water Plant Superintendent - $54,193.00; Park Superintendent - $52,277.00; Maintenance Superintendent - $45,150.00; Water Distribution Superintendent - $45,150.00; Gas Superintendent - $45,150.00; Recreational Director - $31,900.00; Cemetery Sexton - $44,919.00; Cemetery Clerk - $3,034.00; Chief of Police - $51,970.00; Deputy Chief of Police - $50,750.00; Zoning Administrator - $2,700.00; EMA Director - $1,800.00; Assistant EMA Director - $1,200.00; Fire Chief - $2,400.00; Assistant Fire Chief - $1,609.00; Animal Control Officer - $11.00 per hour.
The council approved the purchase of a mini van for animal control. The 2002 Chevy Venture will be purchased from?Chester Chrysler in the amount of $4,875.
An IDOT Resolution for Popeye Picnic road closure on?State Street was approved for the days from Sept. 11 at 4:00 p.m. to Sept. 13 at 10:00 p.m.
The council ratified the action of the New Hire Committee regarding summer worker Brandon?Straight.
The council also ratified the action of the Gas Committee in purchasing natural gas on the futures market.
A Zoning Board of Appeals recommendation on an ordinance relating to request for variance of the Rodney and Angela Roy residence regarding setback requirements for Young Avenue and Cass Street and height regulations at the intersection of Young Avenue and Cass Street for their proposed addition to their residence at 157 Branch Street was approved.
The next regular scheduled city council meeting will be held Monday, July 20 at 7:00 p.m. at city hall in the council chambers.