City employees to get 3% salary increase
Chester city employees will receive a 3% increase in salary in the coming fiscal year after the city council passed a resolution Monday to remove the salary caps for city employees and reset starting salaries.
Each part-time adult worker, those who do not receive any benefits from the city, will receive a dollar an hour increase.
Appointed positions had their salaries set as follows: sewer plant superintendent, $59,148; water plant superintendent, $59,148; maintenance superintendent, $54,597; water distribution superintendent, $53,788; gas superintendent, $48,813; cemetery sexton, $60,153; cemetery clerk, $3,034; chief of police, $80,376; zoning administrator, $3,000; emergency management director- $1,800; assistant emergency management director, $1,200; fire chief, $4,800; assistant fire chief, $3,300; recreation director, $35,400; animal control officer, $5,000 per year; code enforcement officer, $49,650; Cole Park superintendent, $52,481; and Cohen Park superintendent, $48,059. Firefighters will receive an increase in salary in the second hour of service.
<b>Surplus property</b>
The surplus property bids opened at the previous meeting were organized by City Clerk Bethany Berner and presented and accepted by City Attorney Jeff Kerkhover as follows: Philip Siscella for $1,251.76 for the Allis Chalmers tractor; Christopher Dillman, $3,000 for the 2000 Dodge Ram truck; Derek Nierman for the 2003 Ford F-350 with plow, $2,500; Philip Siscella for the 2011 Ford F-250 truck bed, $501.77; Joe Deutschmann for the L-10 pipeline inspection camera for $1,500. All bids for the manure spreader were rejected. The council approved these bids.
<b>In other action</b>
The council gave its approval to hire six students for summer work.
The Welcome Center Observation Deck replacement was revisited after being tabled at the last meeting. The low bid received from New Concepts for the flooring, hangers, hand rails and understructure was accepted and approved for $29,736
Action was taken to approve the recommendation from the Planning Commission to have Heartlands Conservancy and Steadfast City conduct a housing market assessment and comprehensive housing needs study for the community for $15,700.
After hearing from City Engineer Harold Sheffer concerning the Wastewater Treatment Plant and Collection System Improvements loan for $2.1 million, the council approved an ordinance for the agreement.
Approval was given for Change Order 1 from Red Dot Construction for the water main replacement at Oak Terrace Drive and Lawder Lane, a reduction of $807.75 and Periodic Estimate 2 for water main replacement for $20,384.72.
The next meeting of the city council will be June 6.