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 December 10, 2025, at 6:00 pm. 

Members Present: Council Persons, Sonja Dahlen, Scott Decker, Rachel Ghekiere, Jim Sivils 

Members Absent: : Mayor James Dahlen

                        Council Persons Garrett Graff and Tina Neer 

Staff Present:  Dave Ghekiere (PWD)

                        Ashley Wickum (Clerk/Treasurer)          

 Guests:            

1. Council President Rachel Ghekiere called the meeting to order at 6:00 pm 

2. Pledge of Allegiance 

3. Reminder that the Meeting is Audio Recorded 

4. Oath of Office: Sonja Dahlen and Scott Decker were sworn in for office to begin January 1, 2026. 

5. Sonja Dahlen made the motion to approve the minutes of both the Special Council Meeting November 12, 2025, and the Regular Council Meeting, November 12, 2025. Scott Decker seconded the motion. Motion to approve the minutes passed with all voting ayes. 

6. Claims were presented to the council for approval. Rachel Ghekiere made the motion to approve the claims submitted for payment. Ck # 21276-21314 electronic payment -99933-99934 & Payroll Advances Ck # 21315-21316.  Jim Sivils seconded the motion. Motion to approve claims passed with all voting ayes. 

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

8. Public Comments: No public comment. 

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

10. New Business:

• Approval: Chamber Bucks for Employees- Clerk Ashley Wickum requested that the council provide chamber bucks to the employees including John Kleinsasser and Nikki Lindsay as they have been valuable assets to the Town. In the past $75 was given to each employee.  Scott Decker made the motion to give each employee including John Kleinsasser and Nikki Lindsay $75 in Chamber Bucks.  Jim Sivils seconded the motion.  Motion passed with all voting ayes.  

• Approval Resolution #07-2026: A RESOLUTION OF THE TOWN COUNCIL OF THE TOWN OF CHESTER, MONTANA TO AMEND THE PERSONNEL POLICY MANUAL TO ALLOW PRE-EMPLOYMENT BACKGROUND SCREENING OF CANDIDATES FOR EMPLOYMENT: President Rachel Ghekiere tabled this item until all council members and Mayor are present to review.    

• Approval: Quote for Black Mountain Software Cloud Hosting and BMS Pay: Clerk Ashley Wickum presented the council with the software quotes and descriptions. To use the new BMS pay option the Town must first upgrade to Cloud Hosting with BMS.  Ashley believes that this new payment option will be utilized by the community.  It will offer not only credit card payments, but ACH, text reminders and payments, online check payments and give customers the ability to save their payments in their accounts and see their accounts online.  The payments are also posted directly to Utility Billing.  Rachel Ghekiere made the motion to approve the quote for Black Mountain Software Cloud Hosting and BMS Pay.  Sonja Dahlen seconded the motion.  Motion passed with all voting ayes.  

11. Old Business:
    • North Central Montana Regional Water Authority Informational Brochure. Two draft copies of a brochure were provided to the council for input.  Discussion about the brochure.  The council will plan to vote on this at the January meeting.  

12. Mayor Report/ Additional Agenda Items: none 

13. PWD update: Dave Ghekiere, PWD, updated the council that the line to the lake has been fixed. They are currently making the building material pit larger.  He has ordered meters and will begin to work on getting them in.  They are plowing and sanding streets and the request to burn the burn pile has been submitted.  He received the cost for the tin for the roof at $2,640 and has ordered it and will store it until spring when they can install it.  Jadon Sullivan took is written CDL test again and didn’t pass but will try again.  Will Bryan quit on 12/8/25.  There is a possibility that the summer help from last year might be interested in a full-time position.     

14. Clerk update: Ashley Wickum gave the council a brief update on the mapping project. 

15. Council: Scott Decker suggested that we contact MTRW about the apprenticeship program as an option for the new hires. Clerk Ashely Wickum will contact Kristi Kline about this program.  Scott Decker has questions about the water lines that were installed leaving Shelby so that Shelby could sell water on behalf of the Authority, if Shelby doesn’t receive water from the WTP who will pay for those lines?  

16. Rachel Ghekiere made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Sonja Dahlen seconded the motion. The meeting was adjourned at 6:38 pm.

Submitted by_______________________     Approved by_________________________                                                     Clerk                                                           Mayor