These mintues remain unofficial until approved by the council

at the next meeting.  All official mintues can be accessed at the

Town Office.  

Regular Meeting 

The Town of Chester Council held the Regular Scheduled Council meeting on October 8, 2025, at 6:00 pm. 

Members Present: Mayor James Dahlen Council Persons, Sonja Dahlen, Scott Decker, Rachel Ghekiere, Garrett Graff (6:03 pm), Tina Neer, Jim Sivils 

Members Absent: 

Staff Present:  Dave Ghekiere (PWD)

                        Ashley Wickum (Clerk/Treasurer)               

Guests:            Sam Mandel – New Miami Colony

Shorty Hofer- Midway Colony

Joseph Mandel- New Miami Colony

Joseph A. Wery- New Miami Colony

1. Mandel- New Miami Colony

Jesse Anderson 

1. Mayor James Dahlen called the meeting to order at 6:00 pm 

2. Pledge of Allegiance 

3. Reminder that the Meeting is Audio Recorded 

4. Tina Neer made the motion to approve the minutes of the Regular Council Meeting, September 10, 2025, with corrections to spelling on line #8 & #14. the Special Council Meeting, September 22, 2025.  Rachel Ghekiere seconded the motion. Motion to approve the minutes passed with all voting ayes. 

5. Claims were presented to the council for approval. Rachel Ghekiere made the motion to approve the claims submitted for payment. Ck # 21169-21195, electronic payment -99938-99939 & Payroll Advances Ck #21196-21197. Sonja Dahlen seconded the motion. Motion to approve claims passed with all voting ayes. 

6. The council reviewed the adjustments and journal entries made in September. Sonja Dahlen made the motion to approve the JV & Adjustments. Scott Decker seconded the motion. Motion passed with all voting ayes. 

7. Public Comments: No public comment. 

8. Sheriff’s Office Report: Provided to the Council. 

9. New Business:

• Update: Bill Hunt -Town Attorney on NCMRWA: Attorney Bill Hunt updated the council on his updates from the NCMRWA (see Attached).  Hunt would like to know what the Town would like to do next.  Discussion about nominated capacity and determining how much water the Town needs.  Sam Mandel, with new Miami Colony stated again that they want to connect to the Town water and would like 50,000 gallons/day.  They are willing to pay a buy in.  Mr. Hunt will research how this works to determine if it is legal.  Mr. Mandel stated that the Colony is willing to work together on a contract or what ever is necessary as they are very serious about getting water.  Council voiced concerns about whether there is room for growth in the amount of water the Town requests, and if the Town requests more, will they have to pay for the gallons requested even if they aren’t being used, and if so, how this could affect the Town.  The Colony is starting to work on easements.  Garrett Graff asked about where the colony would hook on to the Town’s water, and would this affect the water pressure for the rest of the town.  The Council will continue to address the connection to North Central and will meet with the Colony to determine the amount of water they need and the next steps to determine if the Town will provide water to them. The Colony members left the meeting at 6:55 pm.  Mr. Hunt continued the discussion on the next steps.  Mr. Hunt discussed the base rate, and water costs.  Jesse Anderson asked about the drawback to keeping our own system.  Mayor Dahlen explained that the cost to improve our own system would be much larger than connecting to NC.  The council agreed that they would have another meeting to gather more questions and then present them to NC, and then have a meeting with NC, followed by a more involved public hearing.  Garrett Graff inquired about how the Town can get the information out to the public.    
• Discussion/Approval to Proceed – Jesse Anderson Replotting of 411 1st Street West and 14 W Monroe Ave.: Jesse Anderson presented the council with two options (see attached) to split the above lots and have them replotted.  Council reviewed the options, in favor of having Jesse proceed with option 1.   Rachel Ghekiere made the motion to have Jesse Anderson proceed with option one, have the lots surveyed and replotted. Jim Sivils seconded the motion.  Once Jesse has done this, he will bring it to the council for final approval before recording it with the Clerk and Recorder.   Motion passed with all voting ayes.      
• Update HB 588 – Motorized Scooters: Ashley Wickum presented the council with information regarding HB 588.  She will meet with the Sheriff’s office, County Attorney, City Judge and County Commissioner’s to discuss education of the community on this matter and how it will be enforced before the Town works on a new ordinance for this.    
• Approval of Building Permits:
  • Jessica Scott- 414 2nd St West- Fence
  • Jim & Barb Vinson- 554 West Monroe Ave- Move Fence
  • Joe & Cyndy LaSorte- 119 Madison Ave W. – Concrete Slab
  • Bruce Jeppesen – 559 W. Jefferson Ave- Concrete and Fence

An additional building permit for Travon Pfaff- 122 Casey Street NE for a fence.  Jessica Scott’s permit is from last month and Public Works Director, Dave Ghekiere met with her and verified that everything is okay.  Travon Pfaff’s property is in the floodplain, however, under 10-5-1 Uses allowed without permit within Jurisdictional area, Fences, such as those that have a low impact to the flow of water do not need a floodplain permit.  Travon is going to put up a chain link fence and will provide the town with pictures.  Sonja Dahlen made the motion to approve all building permits as presented.  Scott Decker seconded the motion.  Motion passed with all voting ayes.  

10. Old Business:
    • Discussion/Approval- City-wide Mapping project: Ashley Wickum provided more information on the mapping services from Montana Rural Water. These services are free and they work with staff to complete the mapping, most likely beginning in the spring as winter is approaching.  Once in Diamond Maps, the Town can choose to move all of the data to a GIS based mapping system at any point.  Jacob Brooks would be willing at that time to help if the Town needed it or on any other maps if needed.  Sonja Dahlen made the motion to work with Montana Rural Water for the City-wide mapping project.  Garrett Graff seconded the motion.  Motion passed with all voting ayes.  

11. Mayor Report/ Additional Agenda Items: Mayor Dahlen informed the council that there has been one employment application received. The administrative committee will meet to discuss it and determine if they will set up an interview.  

12. PWD update: Dave Ghekiere, PWD, updated the council that they are currently cleaning the south pond and hope to be done in a couple of days, and then they will fix the leak on the line that goes to the lake. The snow guards are almost all installed.  They fixed Pete Woods and Francis Hochberger’s curb stops.  The fences at the landfill and lagoon are fixed.  He is working on getting ahold of Frank Leeds about the curb and entrance at the park.  The sprinklers at the park and everything at the pool have been winterized.  He has on employee scheduled to have his CDL physical and one to take the written portion of the CDL test in the next month.  Scott Decker enquired if the employees are studying for their water tests, but they are not yet.  Dave is getting a quote from Peter Underdal for the pool boiler.  They will be sweeping streets soon as well. 

13. Clerk update: Ashley Wickum updated the council that there is a new County Health Nurse and that a new County DES employee was being interviewed. She provided the council with the dates for the water project advertising, pre-bid and bid opening meetings.  She will advertise a budget amendment for the sewer fund in November.    

14. Council: Jim Sivils asked about the time frame for repairing the holes in the street on Jefferson created by digging to find the water leak. Public Works Director Dave Ghekiere stated that it would probably be in the spring when all the areas could be repaired at once to be most cost effective.  It is too cold to run the pave patcher right now.  

15. Jim Sivils made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Tina Neer seconded the motion. The meeting was adjourned at 8:25 pm.

 

Submitted by_______________________     Approved by_________________________                                                     Clerk                                                           Mayor

Special Meeting 

The Town of Chester Council held Special Council meeting on October 23, 2025, at 5:30 pm. 

Members Present: Mayor James Dahlen Council Persons, Sonja Dahlen, Scott Decker, Rachel Ghekiere, Garrett Graff (5:32), Tina Neer, and Jim Sivils 

Members Absent: 

Staff Present:  Dave Ghekiere (Public Works Director)

                        Ashley Wickum (Clerk/Treasurer)                

 

Guests: Chad Reisenauer Director, Community & Member Relations
Basin Electric Power Cooperative

1. Mayor James Dahlen called the meeting to order at 5:30 pm 

2. Pledge of Allegiance 

3. Public Comment: None 

4. New Business:
5. Phone Presentation by Basin Electric, requesting written letter of support: Chad ReisenauerDirector, Community & Member Relations with Basin Electric Power Cooperative provided the council with a phone presentation about their effort to engage with communities while developing their Community Benefits Plan (CBP) under the USDA New ERA Program.  They would like to support our Volunteer Fire Department as part of their CBP.  They would like a letter of support from the council.  Chad Reisenauer left the meeting at 5:44 pm.  Rachel Ghekiere made a motion to write a letter of support for Basin Electric Power Cooperative.  Garrett Graff seconded the motion.  Motion passed with all voting ayes.  

5. Tina Neer made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Jim Sivils seconded the motion. The meeting was adjourned at 5:47 pm.

Special Meeting 

The Town of Chester Council held Special Council meeting on October 23, 2025, at 5:47 pm. 

Members Present: Mayor James Dahlen Council Persons, Sonja Dahlen, Scott Decker, Rachel Ghekiere, Garrett Graff, Tina Neer, and Jim Sivils 

Members Absent: 

Staff Present:  Dave Ghekiere (Public Works Director)

                        Ashley Wickum (Clerk/Treasurer)                

 Guests: Justin Wickum 

1. Mayor James Dahlen called the meeting to order at 5:47 pm 

2. Public Comment: None 

3. New Business: 

• Discussion: North Central Montana Regional Water Authority. The council discussed the North Central Montana Regional Water Authority.  Justin Wickum asked if there is a plan to maintain the distribution system and if there was a cost analysis for this? The Town is working with the engineers on this.  Jim Sivils asked about how the final decision would be made.  Would it be made only by the council or would the community members be involved?  The council will have the final vote to decide.  Discussed creating an information brochure or flyer for the community.  Additional questions focused on maintenance of the North Central Montana Regional Water Authority system, would it need booster stations, who will operate the plant, and how does North Central Montana Regional Water Authorities plan to maintain a fully licensed staff.  Rachel Ghekiere believes that the cost comparison means that the logical choice is to go with North Central Montana Regional Water Authority.  Scott Decker asked about a plan for if the Town’s current system fails or needs upgrades before a connection to North Central Montana Regional Water Authority can be made and water provided?  Garrett Graff would like to have more information about the water purchase agreements and cost to remove the intake structure at the lake if/when that might happen.  Discussed nominated capacity for the town and current nominated capacity.  The council will compile additional questions and provide them to AshleyWickum by Monday, she will send them to Jim Zadick and Bill Hunt.  Bill Hunt will attend the North Central Montana Regional Water Authority meeting on Tuesday, November 4^th. The council will look to set up a meeting with North Central Montana Regional Water Authority after their November 4^th      

4. Tina Neer made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Sonja Dahlen seconded the motion. The meeting was adjourned at 6:47pm.

Special Meeting 

The Town of Chester Council held Special Council meeting on November 3, 2025, at 5:30 pm. 

Members Present: Mayor James Dahlen Council Persons, Sonja Dahlen, Scott Decker, Rachel Ghekiere, Tina Neer, and Jim Sivils 

Members Absent: Garrett Graff 

Staff Present: Dave Ghekiere (Public Works Director)

                        Ashley Wickum (Clerk/Treasurer)         

 

Guests: Chris Hayes, RPA (phone)

1. Mayor James Dahlen called the meeting to order at 5:31 pm 

2. Pledge of Allegiance 

3. Public Comment: None 

4. New Business:
5. Review Bid Tabulations Chester Water Improvements 2025 Project, Recommendation and Award Bid: Chris Hays (on phone) reviewed the bid tabs and his recommendation to award COP Construction with the low bid of $508,400. This came in higher than the engineers’ estimate, however all bids were in the same range. SRF will add an additional $50,000 for the 10% contingency amount.  Chris would like to get the contract signed and executed by November 15, so that they can begin to order items and start spending the ARPA funds before December 31, 2025.  Scott Decker made the motion to award the contract for the Chester Water Improvements 2025 Project to COP Construction. Jim Sivils seconded the motion.  Motion passed with all voting ayes.  

5. Rachel Ghekiere made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Tina Neer seconded the motion. The meeting was adjourned at 5:38 pm.