Chester pays for improvements to riverfront

The Chester City Council gave its approval to pay estimates to Lake Contracting, Inc. for improvements made at the Water Street Boat Launch. The work was made possible by a grant from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.

The first payment of $155,759 was for the initial construction, the second was for changes that added parking spaces in the amount of $54,363. In addition, the city paid three invoices totaling $15,849 to J.T. Blankenship Inc. for engineering the project.

Harold Sheffer said there is still about $13,000 left in the grant. Alderman Ray Allison suggested Sheffer look into the cost of adding more riprap to the north side of the boat ramp. Sheffer will report back to the council.

Numerous bids were received and opened for surplus equipment, including a tractor, a truck, and a pipe inspector device. Clerk Bethany Berner will now sort them by item and best bid, and present the results to the council at its next meeting. Mayor Tom Page also tabled hiring summer student help until the next meeting.

Page, however, presented changes to the ordinance relating to alderman committees and his appointments to various positions in city services, departments, and boards. The council approved his appointments.

The council also approved an ordinance change that amended the park superintendent to include a new position of superintendent at Cole Park, Jay Allison was appointed to the new position.

Chief Bobby Helmers reported the police responded to 502 calls in April and so far 1,665 calls in 2022. Page responded by emphasizing the yearly total, which he said is a disturbing number.

Fire Chief Marty Bert had fewer calls, only seven in April, but he added they have already had three in the month of May, two of which were search and rescue. Bert happily reported the searches were successful and the individuals were OK.

In other action, the council set June 4 as the citywide yard sale day, and also set June 6, 7, 9, and 10 as city cleanup days. The city received three bids for replacing the roof at the water plant; they accepted and approved Morton Roofing's bid for $25,375. The two bids for replacement of the deck framing at the Welcome Center came with several questions from the aldermen.

Action was tabled until these questions can be answered. Mike Fogerson was appointed as Public Safety Chaplain, with Page adding that Fogerson has been helping in that capacity for a long time.

The next council meeting will be at 6 p.m. May 16.