City officials attend Chicago Conference
</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[The Illinois Municipal League Conference was held last weekend in Chicago. Several Chester city officials attended the event held at the Hilton Chicago Hotel September 25-28. Mayor Marty Bert, Alderman Dean Cook, City Attorney Jeff Kerkhover, and their wives traveled on Thursday, September 25 to the Chicago IML Convention.
The Illinois Municipal League was established in 1914 and serves as a common meeting ground for all municipalities and municipal officials of the state. It helps provide a formal voice for Illinois municipalities in matters involving common interests and legislative issues. The organization offers services and programs that provide municipal officials the knowledge, experience and assistance to best carry out their local duties.
While at the conference, the Chester group attended many informational presentations, met with officials from other Illinois communities, enjoyed sponsored programs and banquets, and gathered information from the numerous exhibits. Some of the programs attended by the local representatives included:
Wellness in the Workplace
Negotiating with Developers
Nuts and Bolts of Good Budgetary Practice
New Energy Efficiency Opportunities
Municipal Wind Farms
How to Green Your Fleet
Building Retail Development Strategy
Issues for Economic Development
Grants and Loans for Municipal Projects
Budgeting for Tough Financial Times
Labor and Employment Law
Illinois Zoning Law
Legislative and Case Law Update
Working Effectively with Legislators
The City of Chester appreciates the willingness of these couples to travel and attend this IML sponsored event in order to gain information to improve Chester. The new contacts and programs offered may lead to projects benefiting our community in many areas.