Chester City Council has busy meeting
</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[At their Monday night meeting held March 2, the Chester City Council approved Shane Wagner as a seasonal employee at Cole Park beginning May 7, 2009. The rate of pay for Wagner will be $10 an hour.
Mayor Marty Bert twas given the go ahead to seek more information for a seasonal worker for Cohen Complex. The seasonal worker would be responsible for work at the ball fields during the baseball and softball seasons. The council then went on to appoint Steve Jany to the Park and Recreation Board.
The council approved the renewal of the agreement between the City of Chester and Jeremy Homan. Homan resides in the house located at Cole Memorial Park and in exchange for renting the house at a low rate is responsible for duties at the park.
The council gave their approval towards advertising and taking bids for mowing at Cohen Complex.
The engineering agreement for Buena Vista St, Bissel St. and Taylor St. was approved by the council, as well as authorization for the Mayor to execute an ODFI/Originator agreement with Buena Vista National Bank.
An agreement for engineering services to replace 3000 lineal feet of 6" force main from pump station No. 9 and 1000 lineal feet of 6" firce main from pump station No. 10 and all related work was approved by the council.
The council approved AmerenIP to install electrical service from Route 3 to a new transformer located near the new ball diamons at?Cohen Complex diamond at the Cohen Complex in the amount of of $17,823.01 (city trench and install conduit).
In other council news:
The council approved a donation to Chester High School Project Graduation in the amount of $300.
A T-Mobile proposed lease was tabled until a later meeting.
The council discussed and approved Codification (Chapter 27 Offenses (fireworks, burning/pits/wood burners) as well as Chapter 7 Business (merchants, and Chapter 25 Nuisances (signs). The only one they did not act on was Chapter 14 regarding employees.
In Police Chief Ryan Coffey's monthly status report, it was noted that during the month of March he will be working closely with Charlie Bargman on a bicycle safety program. His department is planning an event for some time in April at the public schools.
Chief Coffey spent last week (Monday through Thursday) in Bloomington atteding the first classroom module for the 200 credit course entitled "2009 Police Executive Roles in the 21st Century."
"We've received a grant application for funds to be applied for police vehicles. the grant is through the Illinois Criminal Justice Authority, with funding provided under the Justice Assistance Grant, The warded funds for trditional law enforcement vehicles may be awarded up to $18,000." stated Chief Coffey "The grant is not due until the end of March, but I would like to get the application in early," he added.
Coffey also noted that on March 2 a departmental meeting was held.
Regarding community activities, Coffey stated through out the month of March he will be meeting with memebers of the Chamber of Comemrce regarding the police department's participation in the Main Street Project.
"Recently I spoke at the First Baptist Church at?pastor Fogerson's request, regarding law enforcemnt. The congregation was extremly kind and welcoming. I also gave a presentation at the Chester Women's Club meeting, regarding identity theft." stated Chief Coffey.
In an effort to improve communication between the public and the department, Chief Coffey is in the process of establishing a Survey/Feedback Program.
"I will be adding this program to our available informational programs on our web page." said Chief Coffey.
The next meeting of the council will be Monday, March 16 at 7:00 p.m. at Chester City Hall.