Chester City Council OK's CommunityLink contract

<span>CHESTER -- During a brisk session on Monday, the Chester City Council approved a $5,000 contract with CommunityLink, a community marketing service.</span>

<span>"We want to help promote the city, externally and internally," said Karen Smith, senior marketing consultant of the company, who was present at the session. "We want to help the city to move in the right direction."</span>

<span>Smith said CommunityLink would be "cheerleaders" for Chester and help promote its story through mobile, online and print mediums.</span>

<span>CommunityLink is a company of "professional storytellers," according to its website, with experience working with chambers of commerce, economic development agencies, municipalities, non-profit organizations, schools and other organizations.</span>

<span>Smith said she has worked with other community promotion projects in Pinckneyville, Du Quoin and Centralia.</span>

<span>She also said one of the services CommunityLink provides is a social media page that both residents and non-residents of Chester could use.</span>

<span>In other action, the council approved TIF accounting for Welge-Pechacek Funeral Homes, Inc. and a request from the Army Corps of Engineers for parking near the city's boat ramp.</span>

<span>"There will be dredging activity on the Mississippi River and (workers) needed an access point and a place to park vehicles," Page said.</span>

<span>The council also formally adopted ordinances approved during the Sept. 2 session, including the raising of water and sewer rates by $4 each to help pay for $1.2 million in repairs at the Chester Water Treatment Plant.</span>

<span>Alderman Robert Platt previously said the increases would generate $200,000 per year over the next five years, while costing residents less than $100 per household per year.</span>

<span>Alderman Ray Allison was the lone "No" vote on that item, which raises water rates to $15 per month and sewer rates to $11 per month.</span>

<span>The council also tabled a request from the gas department to purchase a used mini-excavator.</span>

<span>"I am waiting for some questions to be answered before we discuss that issue," Page said.</span>

<span>Finally, the council approved an ordinance revising the Property Maintenance Code.</span>

<span>"We think this will eliminate some problems we have had in the past as far as who is where in terms of inspectors," Page said.</span>

<span>Page also reported the city has received a $50,000 grant check from the Illinois Comptroller's office for the construction of the restrooms and concession stand at the Cohen Complex.</span>

<span>Those facilities were completed in April.</span>