Chester City Council approves bond payments
<span>In a short meeting Tuesday, the Chester City Council approved ordinances abating taxes levied in 2015 to pay the principal and interest on three bonds issued in 2011, 2013 and 2015.</span>
<span>The bonds are general obligation refunding bonds. Amounts are $3,795,000 for Series 2013, $1,950,000 for Series 2011 and $1,605,00 for Series 2015.</span>
<span>City Attorney Jeff Kerkhover told the council income generated by water and sewer fees goes into the water/sewer fund to pay the bonds.</span>
<span>Before the council voted, Alderman Robert Platt asked Kerkhover about money from the state, which is currently being held up by the budget impasse in Springfield.</span>
<span>Kerkhover noted that the taxes were collected last year and shouldn't be a problem.</span>
<span>"Next year will be a whole new ballgame," he said.</span>
<span>In other action, the council approved appointing a negotiating committee of aldermen Dan Ohlau, Russ Rader and Donnie Clark for a labor agreement between the city and Illinois Fraternal Order of Police.</span>
<span>According to Chester Police Chief Ryan Coffey, the union agreement expires in late spring. Ohlau was selected as chairman.</span>
<span>The council also approved extending seasonal employee Aaron Gibbs' employment to Feb. 29.</span>
<span>"We've been using him very, very much, especially on the riverfront," said Chester Mayor Tom Page. "I would like to use him for another 29 days and see where we are from there."</span>
Roundup
<span>The council approved an agreement for concessions with Chester Sports, Inc. once a typo on page 2 of the agreement has been corrected.</span>
<span>The council approved an IDOT resolution for the 2016 Christmas on the River parade. Alderwoman Nancy Crossland said there would be no alternate rain date for the parade this year.</span>
<span>The council decided not to make any minutes of previous executive sessions available to the public based upon confidentiality.</span>
<span>The council also reviewed records - written minutes that had already been approved - of previous closed sessions and determined they should be destroyed.</span>
Mayor's Report
<span>Page noted that he, City Clerk Bethany Berner and Kerkhover had a meeting planned for Friday with Menard Correctional Center officials to discuss the ongoing issue of unpaid utility bills.</span>
Committee Reports
<span>The council approved the Cemetery and Finance Committee's recommendations to approve bills in the amount of $68,970.46 and a final pay estimate in the amount of $9,196.76 to Red Dot Construction and Equipment Rentals for the Opdyke/State street intersection project.</span>
<span>The council approved adjusting the sewer bill of Larry Korando after a recent exterior water leak was discovered on his property.</span>
Public Comment
<span>Alderman Mike Blechle noted he wished to extend gratitude to a person - whom he didn't name - last week for how the city's fire department conducted themselves.</span>
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