Chester city council goes back to Zoom meetings

COVID-19 restrictions forced the Chester City Council to use the Zoom meeting format this past Monday for the second time, and Mayor Tom Page said the Dec. 21 meeting will be on Zoom as well. To join the Dec. 21 meeting, ask City Hall for an invitation to the meeting.

The city's tax levy ordinance for 2021 was approved by the council in the amount of $927,015. City Attorney Jeff Kerkhover said the levy is broken down as follows: $37,000 for the municipal audit, $89,515 for Liability/Worker's Compensation, $103,132 for Social Security/Medicare, $98,070 to Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund, $172,970 to the General Corporate Fund, $4,500 to FEMA, $10,000 to the band, $30,000 to the Park Fund, $95,000 to the Library Fund, $95,000 to The Fire Protection Fund, and $191,828 to the Police Pension fund.

Meanwhile, the council voted Monday to approve the IDOT resolution for the 2021 Motor Fuel Tax program, amounting to $220,000, the same as last year.

Kerkhover went on to explain the TIF accounting for the Pechacek Funeral Homes Inc. and Quality Vending and Distribution Inc. Pechacek will receive $27,260.52 and Quality $2,099.69 from the TIF fund, which sunsets at the end of 2020.

City Engineer Harold Sheffer reporting about the main sewer line replacement bids. The main line was damaged during the flood of 2019. A camera was sent into the line and it was discovered that a portion of the line had been breached and 48 feet of the concrete line will need to be replaced. Sheffer said three bids were received, the lowest from Haier Plumbing out of Okawville for $67,150. This bid was 20% below the estimate and it was his recommendation to approve their bid. The Council gave their approval. The city will be reimbursed by FEMA for the sewer line.

The council approved a resolution citing a certain property on Brenda Street as dangerous and unsafe. This resolution, once it is presented to the owner of the property, will give the owner 30 days to submit their plans to make improvements. If after 30 days, the owner has not made improvements, the city may petition the court to condemn the property and tear it down.