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CHESTER -- With no public comments during the public hearing prior to February's regular meeting, city council unanimously passed two pieces of legislation in regards to its water project.
However, neither the mayor nor council members kept quiet when council Clerk Tara Ayers approached them Monday regarding a vendor's request that they pay an outstanding service call bill in regards to panic buttons within the municipal building.
Last month, council had considered payment of a Biztec invoice dated from August for a total of $690.23 for a service call that required the replacement of a panel fried due to a power surge.
City employees had discovered last summer that a panic button within the city water department was not functional after an employee tried to use it for a disgruntled visitor.
Over the past two years, the City of Chester had spent $100,000 for upgrades throughout the building and believe that the service call should have been covered by warranty due to Biztec taking so long to straighten out the issues with the security equipment in the first place.
The service call invoice from Biztec, which is based in Washington, W.Va., detailed how a serviceman tested the door readers, access control panels, found the fried panel, returned and installed a new one.
Council declined to move the Biztec bill for possible payment, welcoming a chance to have a small claims court hear the case if necessary.
Later in the meeting, council did elect to have the panic buttons fixed by another company. Members voted that Chester-based Advanced Security Technologies (AST) will install two wireless panic hub receivers within the clerk's office and water office, as well as seven wireless panic buttons and program them to call dispatch upon activation for a cost of $5,945. This includes a three-year basic alarm license for $1,800.
According to councilman Mike Dotson, who oversees the municipal building, the work can be started and completed within a few days.
In other action, Melissa Coble from the Bless This Child Food Ministries asked to use the municipal building's gymnasium and attached multi-purpose room once a month through May to host a community night, which includes different sports, a hot meal and either a devotional Bible lesson or moral lesson for attendees ages 8 to 17 on a weekend night like Newell hosts at their community building every Friday night.
Council unanimously approved her request as long as the space was not already committed to another event.
Youth ages 8 to 17 will attend the events.
In other action, council deposited $214,938.65 into the general fund and $15,620 into the building fund for January and paid bills totaling $45,838.30.
Members also agreed to spend $9,825 on a new salt spreader from Myers Equipment in Canfield and give $1,000 to the Chester Parks to fund weedwacking around the creek area.
A lien was placed on 500 Virginia Ave., as a result of a $966.75 bill for unpaid municipal fees and penalties from the past five years. Raymond Barry and his wife, who are the owners of record, have both passed and the property's title is tied up in court.
No action was taken in regards to a possible Ferry Road vacation or on the street department's request for a 10kw generator.
A local bid estimates it will cost between $25,000 and $30,000 if purchased by March 1, when there expects to be a 12 percent price increase.
Council decided to table the generator for now, after Wedgewood wanted to look into grants and possibly getting one donated. It became an issue during a recent power outage when employees could not open the large double garage doors.
The mayor, Ayers, council members and Police Chief Chuck Stanley entered an executive session for personnel at 6:09 p.m. near the conclusion of the meeting. No action was expected to be taken.
Chester council's next regular meeting will be held at 5 p.m. Monday, March 4.
However, both supporters and opponents of the water bond issue will have another opportunity to vocalize their thoughts during a second public hearing at 4:30 p.m. Feb. 21.
A council special meeting will follow to give the legislation final readings for possible passage.