New Chester officials seated on Monday

It was "hello, goodbye" Monday night at the Chester City Council meeting, as new elected officials were sworn in and Mayor Tom Page presented plaques to retiring officials Danny Ohlau, Mike Blechle and Nancy Eggemeyer.

Page spoke of their dedication, saying that Ohlau worked hard to always get the best prices available for Chester's natural gas and that Blechle, the city's longest seated alderman, served for four decades.

Nancy Eggemeyer was praised by Page, saying she had been very helpful to him when he was first elected and helped train the current City Clerk Bethany Berner as well.

The old council had a little business to resolve before they adjourned. They approved amending two ordinances, one which related to increasing water rates inside and outside the city limits and the second one increasing the sewer rates in the City. Each increase will be 3% beginning June 1.

Newly elected Aldermen Bryce Hill, Bob Buckham, Robert Platt and Larry Bert were sworn in along with Mayor Tom Page, City Clerk Bethany Berner, and Treasurer Dan Colvis.

The new Council was seated and quickly approved the change in the ordinance relating to Alderman Committees. The Council also heard and approved various appointments to committees and boards for 2021-22.

The Council heard from Gas Superintendent Jeremy Homan about his department's request to buy a 2021 Hydro-Excavator at a cost of $91,200. Homan said all city departments would benefit, as the equipment is capable of digging with a minimal amount of disturbance.

The purchase price also includes training for operators of the equipment.

City Engineer Harold Sheffer presented his recommendation to approve a bid from Red Dot Construction to remove and replace sanitary manhole frames and grates at various locations in the city.

Sheffer explained most of the work would be done in the evening to avoid traffic congestion. The council approved to proceed with the project.

Mayor Page gave a report from his meetings with four senators from Missouri and Illinois concerning the Chester Bridge. He said there had been an attempt to move the bridge away from Chester to a location further south, possibly in Jackson or Union County. Page said he and the Mayor of Perryville were adamant about it remaining at Chester.

After several meetings, Page is confident the new bridge will be built just 75 feet north of its present location and hopefully sooner than when it was first proposed.

The next City Council meeting will be May 17 at 6 p.m.