These mintues remain unofficial until approved by the council

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

Town Office.  

Public Hearing & Regular Scheduled Council meeting on December 13, 2023.

 

Submitted by  Clerk/Treasurer

Regular Meeting 

The Town of Chester Council held the Regular Scheduled Council meeting on January 10, 2024, at 6:00 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:                         Ashley Wickum (Clerk/Treasurer)

 

Guests: Susan Sprinkle 

Pledge of Allegiance 

  1. Mayor James Dahlen called the regular meeting to order at 6:00 pm 
  1. Oath of Office was completed for:
  • James Dahlen- Mayor
  • Jim Sivils – Ward 1
  • Garrett Graff – Ward 1
  • Tina Neer – Ward 2
  • Rachel Ghekiere – Ward 3 
  1. Rachel Ghekiere made a motion to accept the minutes from both the Public Hearing Meeting and the Regular Council Meeting, December 13, 2023 with corrections to line #2 & #11.  Sonja Dahlen seconded the motion.  Motion to approve the minutes passed with all voting ayes.  
  1. Claims were presented to the council for approval. The Claim for Energy Lab was added to the claims. Rachel Ghekiere asked about the Glass beads for the streets.  The check for RPA will be held until the funds have been received.  Scott Ross asked about the bill for the radiator, the radiator isn’t complete, so we have not received the claim yet.  Sonja Dahlen made the motion to approve the claims submitted for payment. Ck # 20040-20064, electronic payments -99981 to -99983 & Payroll Advances Ck #19993-19995.  Tina Neer seconded the motion.  Motion to approve claims passed with all voting ayes. 
  1. The council reviewed the adjustments and journal entries made in December. Tina Neer made the motion to approve the JV & Adjustments.  Sonja Dahlen seconded the motion.  Motion passed with all voting ayes.  
  1. Public Comments: none 
  1. Sheriff’s Office Report: was provided to the council.    
  1. New Business:
    1. Motion to appoint Tyler Streit as Urban Supervisor: Rachel Ghekiere made a motion to appoint Tyler Streit as the Urban Supervisor for the Conservation District.  Tina Neer seconded the motion.  Motion passed with all voting ayes.  
  1. Old Business:
    1. Discussion HB 355 Project: One of the projects suggested was to address sidewalks and curbs/gutters.  The council reviewed the current ordinance along with price estimates for both sidewalks and curbs.  The current ordinance states that the sidewalks and curbs are the property owner’s responsibility.  The council reviewed other options from the list.  Discussed the possibility of doing the filter media at the water plant as maintenance project.  Scott Decker talked to a past employee from DEQ that thought that as long as the Town went off of the as builds and put it back to specs it wouldn’t have to be engineered.  Discussion regarding information on the cost of getting the right products.  Jim Sivils and Scott Decker stated that the filter media is past its life span.  Discussion that the taste and odor was caused by stagnant water in the pond, not the media.  The cost for the filter media will be looked into.  Jim Sivils inquired about the valve on the north water pond, Mayor Dahlen stated that it will be repaired as part of the water project.  A project will need to be decided on at the February meeting so that advertising for and holding a public hearing can take place in March and the application can be completed by March 30, 2024.   
  1. Discussion Skating Rink: In further investigation into the sale of the skating rink property it was discovered that the land was quit claim deed to the Town by the Lions Club in 1937. The QCD deeds the land “to be held in trust for… community purposes.”  And upon ‘ceasing to be used for community purposes, it will revert back to the Lion’s club.”  Ashley will talk to Bob Mattson to see if he knows anything about this.  The council decided to not move the skating rink at this time and will look at how to better use the area during the spring-fall time.  
  1. Mayor Report/ Additional Agenda Items:
    1. The Town needs to appoint someone to be on the Bearpaw Development Board now that Scott Ross is no longer on the council.
    2. Mayor Dahlen shared an email from Bill Hunt with the council regarding his legal opinion that the Town would not need to rebid the sewer project. The change order can be made to add in the lining of the sewer lagoon with the additional funds.  
  1. PWD update: Terry Tyler was not present.  Mayor Dahlen updated the council that Terry is currently working with MET to install the new SCADA system at the WTP.  
  1. Clerk update: Ashley Wickum provided the council with the email information for the online training by LGS and information about the chamber annual dinner.    
  1. Council: Garrett Graff inquired about the sewer rate increase.  The bond council will help the Town to make sure that it is done.  Scott Decker asked about the fire hydrant on the corner of Main Street and Jefferson.  Mayor Dahlen will check with Terry about this.  Jim Sivils asked about the road on the north side.  The section across the tracks has been done, but not the other roads.  Mayor Dahlen will talk to Terry about that as well.  
  1. Sonja Dahlen made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Tina Neer seconded the motion.  The meeting was adjourned at 7:01 pm.

 

Submitted by_______________________     Approved by_________________________                                                     Clerk                                                           Mayor