Chester council approves Cohen Complex agreement
<span>The project to renovate four fields at the Cohen Complex appeared to clear its final hurdle on Monday.</span>
<span>Approved by a 5-1 vote by the Chester District 139 Board of Education on Sept. 24, the Chester City Council followed suit on Monday in approving an "intergovernmental agreement" between the two entities.</span>
<span>The agreement will have the school district "licensing" the complex from the city for a period of 10 years so that the district can use sales tax funds for its share of the $67,750 project. Chester Sports Inc., which is contributing $3,500 to the project, will also provide equipment and labor under the agreement.</span>
<span>"The amount of labor Chester Sports Inc. is going to save us will be astronomical," said Alderman Donnie Clark.</span>
<span>The city and the school district will provide $30,875 in matching funds to the project, with the Chester Eagles ($1,000), Knights of Columbus ($1,000) and Chester American Legion ($500) also chipping in.</span>
<span>After the meeting, Chester Mayor Tom Page said work is expected to begin immediately, with a target completion date of Oct. 29, weather permitting. Work on each field is expected to last two or three days.</span>
<span>In other action, the council approved constructing a new shelter house at Cohen Complex Field 1 for a price not to exceed $4,500. Chester Parks Superintendent Kevin Diercks is anticipated to complete the project.</span>
<span>The council also approved hiring Noah Wunderlich as a part-time patrolman in the Chester Police Department. Wunderlich previously was a part-time dispatcher with the CPD and is also a part-time deputy with the Randolph County Sheriff's Office.</span>
<span>"There won't be any training time that will affect his work," said CPD Chief Ryan Coffey. "He has already been through the sheriff's (Field Training Officer) program and will go through an abbreviated version for us."</span>
<span>Prior to his monthly report to the council, Coffey, along with City Clerk Nancy Eggemeyer, conducted a formal ceremony recognizing the CPD's new sergeants in Bobby Helmers and Joe Jany.</span>
<span>Both Helmers and Jany took turns reciting the official oath and signing the associated documents in front of Page. The ceremony marked the end of a nine-month process that began on Feb. 5 during a meeting of the Chester Police, Fire and Public Safety Committee.</span>
<span>"Between the first report and today, we have accomplished a great deal," Coffey said.</span>
Roundup:
<span>The council approved continuing the seasonal employment of Aaron Gibbs until Jan. 31. Gibbs had been previously hired to provide seasonal maintenance at Evergreen Cemetery from Aug. 1 to Oct. 31.</span>
<span>"The growing season doesn't end at the end of October," said Alderman Mike Blechle, who suggested getting Gibbs started on a program that would involve fixing headstones in the cemetery.</span>
<span>"I'm very, very supportive of this," Page said.</span>
<span>The council approved a proposal from Empire Earth and Concrete for sidewalk reconstruction at Gilster Mary-Lee. GML and the city are splitting the cost of the $6,400 project.</span>
<span>The council tabled an agenda item involving a GIS mapping system for the Chester Gas Department due to the need for more information.</span>
<span>The council approved a pay request from Quality Assured Industrial Coatings in the amount of $60,952.50 for spot protective coating restoration at the Chester Water Treatment Plant.</span>
<span>In his report, Chester Fire Chief Marty Bert said demolition of Wally's could take place in the next 30 or 40 days. The necessary permits have been applied for.</span>
<span>The next meeting of the Chester City Council is set for Oct. 19 at 7 p.m.</span>