Buena Vista street improvements on track for early completion

The Buena Vista Street improvement project is progressing well and could be finished ahead of time, Alderman Donnie Clark told the Chester City Council Monday evening.

Clark said Red Dot Construction has poured all the curb work. If the weather cooperates, pavement will be finished in the next few weeks.

Clark emphasized that additional work will need to be completed before the street is open again to the public. Driveway entrances and sidewalks will need to be put into place. He added that some of the residents asked for the old bricks which made up the cobblestone sidewalk be placed back. Clark said those bricks have been saved and those requests will be honored.

The project to repave, improve and replace the water and sewer lines, and repair and replace the sidewalks began last fall. The projected completion was scheduled for late summer 2018 but Curt Schroeder informed Clark that it looks like they will be finished earlier than predicted.

Buena Vista Street - also known as Chester Hill - is one of the oldest streets in town. The lower portion of the street was repaved about ten years ago and the rest of the work will finally restore passage to Water Street and the Chester riverfront south from the Randolph County Courthouse.

In other council business, Police Chief Ryan Coffey reported Officer Danny Walls has retired and the department now has a vacancy to be filled. Coffey received council approval to hire Nicole Jany as a part-time radio dispatcher. He explained that the dispatchers are in need of part-time help and Jany is already employed by the Sheriff's Department, so she will be able to step in without the need of much training.

Alderman Dan Ohlau expressed concern over the hiring of two summer workers at Cohen Field. Ohlau had questions about which funds will pay these employees, and the issue was tabled until next month to answer his questions.

Alderman Ray Allison questioned the purchase of a new backhoe loader for the Street Department. Street Superintendent Randy Eggemeyer said the department looked at several different makes and brands and tried out two. His operators agreed that they liked the John Deere offered by Erb Equipment Company and it was the one with the best price.

Allison asked Eggemeyer if he had looked at catalogs with used and new equipment. Eggemeyer explained that he did not, that Erb was recommended by state bid and that additional equipment which the department already has could be used with the John Deere selection.

The current backhoe loader would be transferred to the Sewer Department for use there, as the trade-in value did not equal its value to the city. The council approved the purchase proposal from Erb with Allison being the lone dissenting vote.