Chester City Park Commissioners Discuss New Groundskeeper Position

CHESTER — After the recent death of the city park caretaker, the city decided it was time to hire a part-time gardener for the city-owned green spaces.

Chester City Park Commissioners Don Murray and Sue Hineman attended the council’s regular meeting Monday to discuss creating the position.

Mayor Ed Wedgewood, after paying tribute to Don Hyatt’s commitment to the park, proposed hiring a groundskeeper for 30 hours a week, six months a year, with a starting salary of $15 per hour.

Murray said he may have leads on a few qualified candidates who would report to him.

Council members Nathan Wright and John Woodruff, who are also both on the parks board, and Mike Dotson agreed to pursue candidates for the post with a maximum annual budget of $15,000 for lawn maintenance of the city parks and Giant Teapot.

Jason Thorn and Steve Shuman were absent from the meeting, along with City Clerk Tara Ayers, who was replaced for the meeting by Assistant City Clerk Ashton McKendrick.

During the meeting, which lasted 55 minutes, $244,113.48 in receipts was accepted into the general fund and $12,285 into the building fund, as well as $142,980.49 in bills paid from the general fund and $1,206.81 from the building fund.

Mayor Wedgewood said during his report that the paving went as well as could be expected with little disruption, and that the city will open bids for the demolition project during a special meeting at noon on Friday, November 15 at the Municipal Building.

The city will flush hydrants within their system on Tuesday, November 12 in Lawrenceville and Wednesday, November 13 in Chester.

Due to today’s elections, city offices are closed, he added.

In other action, council:

– Paid Trillium’s remaining $22,458 bill after the company rejected the city’s return of the water department’s Model C torque current package for the water department’s grit machine or offered the city a payment plan.

– Approved the holiday salary adjustments for city employees: $500 after-tax if working full-time and $250 after-tax for part-time. (Elected officials excluded).

— It was agreed that Dotson, who oversees the city’s construction activities, would oversee the bids for construction of a new handicap ramp to the municipal building’s multi-use space.

– Approved the purchase of up to 110 tons of road salt for $85.87 per ton, or $9,445.70, after consultation with Shuman, who was absent and is the road inspector.

– Scheduled the 15 observed holidays in 2015 on which City offices will be closed, in accordance with the accepted list for the State of West Virginia.

— Renewed the annual maintenance agreement for the copier in the police officer’s office for $370.

Due to the special bid opening meeting on Friday, November 15 and the lack of business at the end of the year, Wedgewood announced there will be no council meeting in December before the council postpones the November session.

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