Chester Council approves reestablishment of sergeant position
<span>CHESTER -- After a brief discussion during its Monday meeting, the Chester City Council unanimously approved an ordinance reestablishing the position of sergeant within the Chester Police Department.</span>
<span>Two of the CPD's current officers will be chosen for the positions, which will satisfy the need to establish "consistent supervision" within the department, according to Police Chief Ryan Coffey.</span>
<span>The new position will add between 60 and 70 hours of supervision per week.</span>
<span>"Everything revolves around the need for consistent supervision," Coffey said. "Supervision when I'm not there. I'm there approximately 22 percent of the time.</span>
<span>"We operate 24 hours per day, we never close and me working 40 or more hours still only reaches 22 percent of the time."</span>
<span>In a separate agenda item, the council also approved the Chester Police Commission to begin testing for the positions. Testing will include a written exam and an oral interview, as well as a chief's report.</span>
<span>"It's just citing their history of performance based upon their personnel file," Coffey said, describing the report. </span>
<span>Coffey said the commission will score the candidates.</span>
<span>"The program is very similar to our police officer testing if we were to fill a new hire," he said.</span>
<span>According to salary.com, the median expected annual salary for police sergeants in the United States is $72,942.</span>
<span>"(The unions) were brought in on this project initially, and essentially there is very little involvement," Coffey said. "The primary issue with it is salary, probably. As you know, our salary for sergeants exists in our current union contract under the former program.</span>
<span>"The fact that that's still active allows us to reimplement that already-set salary."</span>
<span>In other action, the council approved a $5,900 bid from Red Dot Construction and Equipment to tear down the house at 1047 George Street, ending a saga that began in October 2014 when the property was deemed "dangerous and unsafe" by the council.</span>
<span>The property was later bought, sight unseen, by Carbondale resident Clarence Johnson based upon an ad on Craigslist. After giving him a month to improve the house, the council rejected Johnson's rehabilitation plan at its Jan. 20. meeting.</span>
<span>After the meeting, City Attorney Jeff Kerkhover told the media the cost of the demolition will be filed as a lien on the property, which Johnson still owns. The house will be sprayed again for a cockroach infestation before demolition.</span>
<span>"I have no problem bombing it again before we tear it down," said Chester Mayor Tom Page.</span>
<span>The council also approved a request from the Chester Fire Department to increase the cost for out-of-town fire tags. </span>
<span>The cost increase was originally proposed to $55 from $45, but after discussion, the council bumped up the new fee to $60. Chester Fire Chief Marty Bert said the fee increase is still less than other departments.</span>
<span>"Fire tags are for people who live outside of the city limits," Bert said in a follow-up interview with the Herald Tribune. "People who live in city limits pay it on their taxes. For fire tags, every August you pay $60 and are good for a year."</span>
<span>Bert added that if people don't have a fire tag, it doesn't mean the fire department won't show up. Those without a fire tag will be charged $1,500 for the first hour of service.</span>
<span>"If you don't have a fire tag, we'll still show up, it just costs more," Bert said. "If you have a fire tag, it doesn't matter how many times we show up."</span>
<span>The next meeting of the Chester City Council is scheduled for May 18 at 7 p.m.</span>
Roundup
<span>The council approved the mayor's appointments for 2015-16.</span>
<span>The council approved the summer student workers, to begin May 18. Those workers are Kramer Eggemeyer, Garret Hoffman, Tyler Redeker, Jordan Berner, Matthew Smith, Lucas Rock, Luke Hartman, Christian Mitchell, Cody Brant and Matthew Kirchhofer.</span>
<span>The council tabled an agenda item regarding a donation to the Chester Stingrays swim team due to no representation from the organization at the meeting.</span>
<span>The council approved a $2,500 donation to the Popeye Picnic Committee, the same sponsorship it had in 2014.</span>
<span>The council approved Chester Recreation Director Patti Carter's schedule of events.</span>
<span>The council approved a Relay For Life agreement.</span>
Department Heads
<span>Coffey reported to the council that there have been resignations of long-term part-time employees and said more detail would be forthcoming regarding the reasons for their resignation.</span>
<span>He said his department is researching sponsorship opportunities for its Challenging Ourselves and Promoting Safety (COPS) program and reported on active shooter training at area schools.</span>
<span>Coffey said he and Randolph County Sheriff Shannon Wolff are scheduled to make a presentation to the Monroe-Randolph Regional Office of Education on June 9 regarding the active shooter program.</span>
<span>Bert reported to the council on a skid unit that fits in the back of his department's brush truck. The $16,000 piece of equipment, which includes a 250-gallon water tank, was paid for through foreign fire tax money and helps the CFD fight brush fires.</span>
<span>Bert also reported his department will be participating in a wildland fire fighting class in October, with possible locations at Randolph County Lake or the Turkey Bluffs area.</span>
Committee Reports
<span>The Cemetery and Finance Committee approved a pay estimate of $61,336.86 to Haier Plumbing and Heating for the Route 3 water line project and an invoice of $11,931.40 to J.T. Blankinship Inc. for engineering services for the same project.</span>
City Treasurer
<span>Chester City Treasurer Donna Clendenin reported that $400,505.40 has been invested, at 0.8 percent interest, in an account at Chester National Bank for pensions "in the long run."</span>
<span>The account is for two and a half years.</span>
<span>"This is long-term," Clendenin said. "It's not something we're going to get in and out of."</span>
<span>Clendenin also reported that some extra money in the general fund has been put into a CD at Buena Vista National Bank for a time period of one year.</span>
City of Chester appointments for fiscal year 2015-16
<p dir="ltr"><strong>Cemetery and Finance Committee</strong></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>Alderman Robert Platt, Chairman</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>Alderman Ray Allison</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>Alderman Russ Rader</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><strong>Water and Sewer Committee</strong></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>Alderman Russ Rader, Chairman</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>Alderman Dan Geisen</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>Alderman Nancy Crossland</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><strong>Ordinance Committee</strong></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>Alderman Ray Allison, Chairman</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>Alderman Dan Ohlau</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>Alderman Nancy Crossland</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><strong>Park and Recreation Committee</strong></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>Alderman Donnie Clark, Chairman</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>Alderman Dan Geisen</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>Alderman Russ Rader</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><strong>Streets and Alleys Committee</strong></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>Alderman Mike Blechle, Chairman</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>Alderman Donnie Clark</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>Alderman Ray Allison</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><strong>Fire, Police and Public Safety Committee</strong></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>Alderman Dan Geisen, Chairman</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>Alderman Mike Blechle</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>Alderman Robert Platt</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><strong>Gas Department and Public Property Committee</strong></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>Alderman Dan Ohlau, Chairman</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>Alderman Mike Blechle</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>Alderman Donnie Clark</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><strong>Economic Development, Chamber and Beautification Committee</strong></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>Alderman Nancy Crossland, Chairman</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>Alderman Dan Ohlau</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>Alderman Robert Platt</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><strong>Department Heads</strong></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>Tim Crow (Water Plant Superintendent)</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>Kenneth Surman (Sewer Superintendent)</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>Kevin Diercks (Park Superintendent)</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>Dennis Hartenberger (Water Distribution Superintendent)</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>Jeremy Homan (Gas Superintendent)</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>Randy Eggemeyer (Maintenance Superintendent)</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>Mark Gibbs (Cemetery Sexton)</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>Randy Wofford (Cemetery Clerk)</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>Ryan Coffey (Chief of Police)</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>Marty Bert (Fire Chief)</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>Ron Shemonic (assistant Fire Chief)</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>Charlie Bargman II (EMA coordinator)</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>Scott Stirnaman (assistant EMA coordinator)</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>Patti Carter (Recreational Director)</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>Elanna Bradley (Animal Control officer)</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>Dave Bargman (Code Enforcement officer)</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>Dean Andrews (Zoning administrator)</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><strong>City Attorney</strong></p>
<p dir="ltr"><strong>(Appointed Each Year)</strong></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>Jeff Kerkhover</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><strong>City Engineer</strong></p>
<p dir="ltr"><strong>(Appointed Each Year)</strong></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>J.T. Blankinship, Inc.</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><strong>Park and Recreation Board</strong></p>
<p dir="ltr"><strong>(Three-year terms)</strong></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>Steve Jany</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>Gwendy Garner</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>Collette Powley</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>Bruce Williamson</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>Karen Bert</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>Brandy Maes</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>Melinda Pierson</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><strong>Library Board</strong></p>
<p dir="ltr"><strong>(Three-year terms)</strong></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>Steve Wallace</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>Mary Ann Stumpe</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>Caroln Schwent</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>Linda Egge</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>Richard Pautler</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>Barbara Brown</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>Dr. Stephen Miller</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>Betty Welge, President</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>Melissa Gross</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><strong>Chester Police and Fire Commission</strong></p>
<p dir="ltr"><strong>(Three-year terms)</strong></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>Ron Rathert</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>James Holder</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>Gary Knop</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><strong>Police Pension Board of Trustees</strong></p>
<p dir="ltr"><strong>(Two-year terms)</strong></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>Don Welge</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>Bill Rabe</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><strong>Cemetery Board of Managers</strong></p>
<p dir="ltr"><strong>(Three-year terms)</strong></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>Richard Brown</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>Richard Allison</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>Andy Schuwerk</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><strong>Zoning Appeals Board</strong></p>
<p dir="ltr"><strong>(Five-year terms)</strong></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>Jeff Bohnert, Chairman</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>Dennis McDonald</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>Armin Montroy</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>Glenn Andrews</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>Lee Davis</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>Marlene Seymour</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>Kenneth Taggart</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><strong>Tourism Commission</strong></p>
<p dir="ltr"><strong>(One-year terms)</strong></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>Sandra Starr</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>Cynthia Lawder</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>Carol Harrison</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>Barbara “Bobbi” Junkin</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>Linda Rader</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>Brenda Owen</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>Norma Baughman</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>Toni Hosick</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>Pam Fraley</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>Lauren Rinne</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>Betty Wagner</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>Linda Sympson, Chamber of Commerce Liaison</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>Nancy Crossland, Alderman Liaison</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>Patti Carter, Recreation Director</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><strong>Beautification Commission</strong></p>
<p dir="ltr"><strong>(Two-year terms)</strong></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>Pam Fraley</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>Andrea Costilow</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>June Combs</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>Marlene Seymour, Int. Secretary</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>Sandra Starr</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>David Eggemeyer</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>Tom Sauer, Int. President and Treasurer</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>Cathy Sauer</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>Linda Sympson, Executive Director of Chamber of Commerce</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>Nancy Crossland, Alderman Liaison</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><strong>Part-Time Police Officers</strong></p>
<p dir="ltr"><strong>(Appointed Each Year)</strong></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>Brad Coleman</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>Aaron Runge</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>Chris Bradley</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>Ken Stout</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>Kevin Woods</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>Robert Hughes</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>Tony Lochhead</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>James Winters</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><strong>Chester Police Department</strong></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>Ryan Coffey, Chief of Police</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>Officer Daniel Walls</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>Officer Robert Young</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>Officer Robert Helmers</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>Officer Joe Jany</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>Officer Brandon Crain</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>Officer Marc Stout</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>Officer Steve Laramore</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>Officer Joe Crain</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>Deb Stout, Telecommunicator</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>Kim Gross, Telecommunicator</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>Michelle Fortman, Telecommunicator</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><strong>Chester Fire Department</strong></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>Marty Bert, Fire Chief</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>Ron Shemonic, Asst. Fire Chief</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>Captain Jerre Atchison</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>Captain Dan Hecht</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>Captain Glen Andrews</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>Captain Lorin Mott</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>Lieutenant Tim Crow</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>Lieutenant Charles Bargman II</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>Firefighter Paul Gaertner</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>Firefighter Roy Heldebrant Jr.</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>Firefighter Robert Smith</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>Firefighter Jimmy D. Smith</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>Firefighter Scott Stirnaman</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>Firefighter Jerrod Hasemeyer</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>Firefighter Jeff Hammel</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>Firefighter Nick Schweizer</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>Firefighter James Brockmeyer</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>Firefighter Steve Bicket</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>Firefighter Jonovan Richelman</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>Firefighter Zach Heldebrandt</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>Firefighter Josh Louveau</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>Brandan Braun, Auxiliary</span></p>
<p><span> </span></p>