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 September 10, 2025, at 6:00 pm.

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

Members Absent: Tina Neer

Staff Present:  Dave Ghekiere (PWD)

Ashley Wickum (Clerk/Treasurer)

Guests: Bruce Jeppesen (arrived at 6:07 pm)

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

2. Pledge of Allegiance

3. Rachel Ghekiere made the motion to accept the minutes of the Regular Council Meeting, August 13, 2025, Public Hearing Budget Amendment Meeting, August 13, 2025, and Public Hearing FY26 Budget Meeting, August 13, 2025. Sonja Dahlen seconded the motion. Motion to approve all of the minutes passed with all voting ayes.

4. Claims were presented to the council for approval. Scott Decker asked about the claim to Core and Main for the Line Locator, and if there’s been training for it? Public Works Director, Dave Ghekiere, stated that this is the locator that was budget for, and that yes, he went to training about 2 weeks ago.  Sonja Dahlen made the motion to approve the claims submitted for payment. Ck # 21122-21149, electronic payment -99940-99941 & Payroll Advances Ck #21150-21152. Scott Decker seconded the motion. Motion to approve claims passed with all voting ayes.

5. The council reviewed the adjustments and journal entries made in August. Sonja Dahlen made the motion to approve the JV & Adjustments. Garrett Graff seconded the motion. Motion passed with all voting ayes.

6. Public Comments: No public comment.

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

8. New Business:

• Approval – Harvest Festival Activities: Mayor Dahlen and Ashley Wickum presented the council with the information for the Harvest Festival. Peyton Cole has provided the necessary event insurance and documentation, as well as worked with the Seriff’s Office for the open containers.  She is working with PWD Dave Ghekiere for setting up.  He plans to sweep the main streets prior to the festival.   Rachel Ghekiere made the motion acknowledge and document that Paeyton Cole has provided all the necessary insurance for the Harvest Festival.  Jim Sivils seconded the motion.  Motion passed with all voting ayes.
• Approval- Temporary/Part Time Employee and Wage: Discussion to hire Crockett Burrows to fill in for Dave Ghekiere on the garbage truck. Jim Sivils made the motion to hire Crockett Burrows for one day at $22.75/hr.  Scott Decker seconded the motion.  Motion passed with all voting ayes.
• Discussion/Approval- Town purchase Flags for American Legion Flagpole: Discussion, the Lionettes donated two purchase two flags last year, and it will take 3-4 flags a year.  Jim Sivils made the motion for the Town to purchase the flags for the American Legion Flagpole.  Garrett Graff seconded the motion.  Motion passed with all voting ayes.
• Discussion/Approval- Contract for Citywide Mapping project: Ashley Wickum presented the council with the two different options to map the curb stops, fire hydrants, manholes etc. in the Town.  Rural Water is now providing services to members to help communities do this type of mapping and then the Town would pay for services through Diamond Maps to maintain the information.  Jacob Brooks is a college student who is willing to create maps using Arc-GIS.  He would charge the Town either a set amount or an hourly rate depending on the number of maps the Town would like.  Discussion on how Diamond Maps would work vs Arc-GIS.  There is not enough information on how the Rural Water services would work.  Ashley will contact the office and get more information.  Jim Sivils made the motion to table this item.  Sonja Dahlen seconded the motion.  Motion to table passed with all voting ayes.
• Approval of Building Permits:
  • Jessica Scott- 414 2^nd St West- Fence

An additional building permit for Bruce Jeppesen- 559 West Jefferson Ave- garage was added to the agenda.  Bruce Jeppesen was present at the meeting to answer any questions about his garage.  It will be in the back yard and will not have any water or sewer.  The council would like more information on the exact location for the fence at 414 2^nd St. West.  Sonja Dahlen made the motion to approve Bruce Jeppesen building permit.  Scott Decker seconded the motion.  Motion passed with all voting ayes.  Rachel Ghekiere made the motion to table the building permit for Jessica Scott until more information is provided.  Jim Sivils seconded the motion.  Motion passed with all voting ayes.

9. Old Business: none

10. Mayor Report/ Additional Agenda Items: Mayor Dahlen has been in contact with North Central Montana Regional Water Authority and Bill Hunt about setting up a meeting. Jim Sivils will be gone on the 23-26, Scott Decker asked about having it at the Senior Center again.  Once more information is available, Ashley Wickum will send it out and post the meeting.

11. PWD update: Dave Ghekiere, PWD, updated that they have fixed a number of curb stops and are finishing the fencing at the landfill. They are draining the south pond and getting ready to clean it.  There is a small leak on the lake line and once the pond is cleaned they will fix it.  DEQ did a final inspection at the Lagoon, and it went well.  Chad Hedges is going to be tearing down the old B&W building, and the Town can have the tin from the side of the building to possibly build a lean to at the lagoon to protect some of the equipment if we want.  Dave will see how easy it is to remove the tin before proceeding.  Dave is working with the two employees to take their CDL tests.  They are still in their probationary period.  He has talked to Frank Leeds about the curbing at the park and he might still be able to complete it this fall.  Dave shared the quote for the lift station repairs from Lakeside.

12. Clerk update: Ashley Wickum updated the council that the ARPA money for the sewer project has been closed out, and the water project ARPA money needs to be spent before the end of the year. The SRF contingency money is less than we anticipated for the lift station project, and a budget amendment will need to be made to adjust for this repair.

13. Council: Rachel Ghekiere has the Bear Paw meeting on 9/25/25. Scott Decker asked about the North Pond being so full, Dave Ghekiere addressed this as they are putting water from the south pond into the north pond to clean the south pond. Dave stated that it will be a 2-year rotation to clean the pond.  The jar test came back showing algae in the pond.  Scott Decker stated that we should be using both ponds.  Scott Decker is concerned about the fish in the ponds and contamination and stated again that Fish and Game can come take care of them for us.  Scott Decker stated that the park looks nice.  He was also wondering if there is any more information about the leak on Jefferson Ave and whether the water has been tested to see if it is ground water or not.  Dave Ghekiere was not aware that there was a test for that.  Scott will get the information to Dave so he can investigate it.

14. Rachel Gehkiere made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Sonja Dahlen seconded the motion. The meeting was adjourned at 7:26 pm.

Submitted by_______________________     Approved by_________________________                                                     Clerk                                                           Mayor

Special Meeting 

The Town of Chester Council held Special Council meeting on September 22, 2025, at 5:30 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: Bill Hunt- Hunt Law Firm

Jim Zadick – Ugrin Alexander Zadick, P.C.

1. Mayor James Dahlen called the meeting to order at 5:34 pm 

2. Pledge of Allegiance 

3. Public Comment: None 

4. New Business: 

• Discussion: North Central Montana Regional Water Authority. Attorney Bill Hunt and Attorney Jim Zadick reviewed the Town’s involvement with the North Central Montana Regional Water Authority for the new council members.  The Town does not have a water purchase agreement with the North Central Montana Regional Water Authority.  The council has questions about the buy-in cost and if there will be a true up cost at the end, what would that include and when it would be due.  Additional questions included:  when the line would be finished to Chester, when would the Town receive water, would the Town be able adjust the amount of water they are requesting before buy in, would the Town be able to adjust the amount of water they are requesting after the buy in, what will happen to the Towns water rights and how would the financing and payment work for the Town.  Bill Hunt will attend the next meeting for the North Central Montana Regional Water Authority where he will try to get some direct answers for the Town.  He and Jim Zadick will continue to work together on behalf of the Town. 

5. Jim Sivils made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Rachel Ghekiere seconded the motion. The meeting was adjourned at 7:41pm.