Chester City Council discusses rate increase
<span>CHESTER -- In a Tuesday meeting, the Chester City Council discussed increasing water and sewer rates to pay for $1.2 million in needed repairs at the city's water treatment plant.</span>
<span>"Our water plant is in a situation where it will need major maintenance in the next few years," said Chester Mayor Tom Page.</span>
<span>The council discussed, but did not take action on, a proposal to increase water and sewer rates by $4 each, which would make minimum monthly rates at $15 for water and $11 for sewer.</span>
Menard Correctional Center would receive a 2 percent increase.
<span>Alderman Robert Platt said the increases would generate $200,000 per year over the next five years, while costing residents less than $100 per household.</span>
<span>"Even with our increase, we are in the ballpark of what other communities are paying," Page said.</span>
<span>Page said the 20-year-old water treatment plant is showing signs of rust on some walls and other issues.</span>
<span>"There is no rust in our water," said Page, who added the increases are only in the "discussion phase" at this point. "I want to be clear on that."</span>
<span>The council also approved the adding of five regular firefighters, which would push the Chester Fire Department's total to 25, and the removal of trees along Union School Road that are impeding bus passage. </span>
<span>Chester Fire Chief Marty Bert told the council the additional firefighters will cost $10,000 for one full year.</span>
<span>"There have been situations where I'm shorthanded through the day," said Bert, who added some of his firefighters have obligations at Gilster-Mary Lee and Menard Correctional Center.</span>
<span>A considerable amount of discussion was spent on the demolition of a house located at 1149 George St. </span>
<span>The council received two bids - from Amrent Contracting and Red Dot Equipment and Construction - for the demolition in the amounts of $7,200 and $7,296, respectively.</span>
<span>"The property that we're looking getting involved in, is there someone interested in buying it and tearing it down themselves?" asked alderwoman Nancy Crossland, who also expressed concern that the city would not be getting any of the investment back if it pursued demolition.</span>
<span>Alderman Ray Allison asked if the Chester Street Department had the equipment to tear the house down.</span>
<span>Street Department Superintendent Randy Eggemeyer, who attended the meeting, said he would have to have a look at the property first.</span>
<span>"I am open to tabling (the proposal)," Page said. "But I don't want to delay taking care of the problem any later than it has to."</span>
<span>The council later passed a motion to accept Amrent Contracting's bid, which resulted in a 4-4 vote. As the tiebreaker, Page voted "yes" to accept the bid.</span>
<span>"The money will become a lien on the property," said Chester City Attorney Jeff Kerkhover.</span>
<span>During the correspondence portion of the meeting, Page said he has received a check, worth $36,383, from the state in motor fuel taxes.</span>
<span>He also said that Burbach Aquatics, which conducted an inspection of the closed Chester Municipal Pool in late July, has notified him the inspection report is between 90 and 95 percent complete and results were "forthcoming."</span>
The report is approaching two weeks overdue.