Peoria Standard

Village of Swansea Board of Trustees met June 15.

Here is the minutes provided by the board:

In light of the current COVID-19 public health emergency, this meeting will be held remotely only. The public can observe and comment, when appropriate, by connecting on line at https://us04web.zoom.us/j/8711380985 or using the Zoom App on a mobile device by entering the

Meeting ID number: 850 5384 2976 and the password: 336871

Attendees: Board President Leopold, Trustees Lanter, McDonald, McGuire, Neumeyer, Parker & Wells, Treasurer John Walter, Building and Zoning (B&Z) Director Dallas Alley, Police Department (PD) Chief Steven Johnson, Director of Public Works Rick Tucker, Administrator Benjamin Schloesser, Clerk Lauren O'Neill, Park Board Chairman Mike Koeneman, potentially other community members. Absent: Fire Department (FD) Chief Chris Tell.

Motions: Trustees are presented with the individual that made the motion, followed by the person seconding the motion. Votes: Unless noted otherwise, votes are obtained by voice vote (roll call vote involves each voter stating their name and vote) and all votes are aye. Content of meeting is presented within the marks.

I) Call To Order

II) Pledge Allegiance To The Flag

III) Roll Call

IV) Approval Of Minutes – Motion to approve the outlined below minutes – Wells, Lanter

1. Board Minutes – June 1, 2020

2. Committee Minutes – June 1, 2020

V) Acceptance of Minutes

VI) Mayor’s Announcements/Correspondence

a. The next Committee/Board meetings are scheduled to be held in the Administrative Building on 7/6/20. Notice will be posted. If continued virtual meetings are deemed to still be needed, then this will be appropriately posted with notices provided.

b. Appointing Code Appeal Board (instead of Code Review Board) Members – Motion to approve the appointment of the Code Appeal Board members outlined below – Wells, McDonald

Members – Business Affiliations - Term:

Jim Reiss – Holland Construction– Initial Term 1 year

Joe Jarvis – Jarvis Electric – Initial Term 2 years

Jill Wool – Fulford Homes -– Initial Term 3 years

Kevin Bouse – Bouse Property Management – Initial Term 4 years 

Rob Anderson – Illinois Licensed Architect –– Initial Term 5 years

Alternate Member – Business Affiliation - Term:

Jeff Spears – Fulford Homes – Initial Term 5 years

VII) Village Attorney – No Comments / Village Administrator Comments – Trustee Wells was thanked for his assistance reviewing the handbook. The Sewer committee (Lanter, McGuire, Schloesser, and Tucker) are reviewing Sewer rates and capital needs for the Sewer plant and will meet this Thursday. Follow up with the Regional Census Director indicated that Swansea has about a 75% response rate. The response period is extended to 10/15/20. There will be content related to the Census and responses for the community and the extended due date and site to access to provide response in the upcoming Swansea Report. The increase from 5 megabytes to 100 megabytes should allow for the connectivity needs of FD Engine House 2, the PD, and the Administration and there are no additional charges that will be incurred by the Village related to this change in the FY21 agreement that ends in April 2021. Some connectivity issues that relate to FD Engine House 1 were brought up, noting that there are no hardwired capabilities. Schloesser will review the connectivity issues and determine means to address and resolve the issues. / Department Reports Comments - Public Works/Sewer and PD written reports were included in the packets. Steven Rebenstorff has worked 39-years with the Village of Swansea Streets/Pubic Works. PD Officer Erin Rohn has served 20-years and will be recognized at a future meeting. The newest PD officers have completed their field training. COVID-19 impacts to the PD force were reviewed. It was touched upon that COVID test results can yield false negatives due to test implementation or other reasons. The PD/FD Youth Academy was canceled this year due to COVID-19 restrictions/issues. PD videos have been reviewed and correct practices for responses reviewed. Community outreach efforts by the PD were touched upon, including a lunch meeting with a pastor to discuss various topics, including but not limited to policies, procedures, and hiring efforts. PD Chief Johnson noted that it was his 5th year as the PD Chief. The PD Communication Center was completed per the scope of the contract as of Friday, coming in under budget. There is an item that is not in the scope of the contract that is expected to be addressed this week.

VIII) Park Board Chairman Report – It was reviewed that Park Board members met this past Saturday morning. Clinton Hills possible uses were discussed, such a family camp out, nature walks, yoga, bike rides, kite flying contest, clean-up and other community activities. It was reviewed that there was a Schranz Park Band Shell request to offer Summer Concerts and the individual that has spearheaded the current request and prior years’ events is Sandra Carter. Schloesser will contact Sandra Carter and discuss the potential of an August begin date, noting that if COVID-19 restrictions/limitations are still present that this could further delay the event. After the call the item may be revised at the second meeting in July. The Park Board suggested that the Thompson Center was underutilized and the facility might have more rental requests if some changes were implemented. For example, it was suggested that if the commercial range was removed the concerns regarding the use of the kitchen might be mitigated and potentially rental charges could be reduced. If the no music policy was lifted then there might be more requests for renting the facility for wedding and other events. The Park Board will draft and review guideline updates with the PD Chief. It was noted that selling used equipment, such as the commercial range would not provide much of a benefit to the Village in terms of sales dollars and the Patriots provided for the kitchen items to benefit the Village. The Spooktacular Event will be held this year, if State allowed by the State. Potential Christmas activities were also touched upon. Improvements (cabinets, countertops, floors, etc.) to the Norman Lehr Center were reviewed. The work was addressed quickly in case COVID-19 restrictions were lifted and public rentals could resume. On-going construction projects (homes, Aldi, etc.) were touched upon. There has been code enforcement with stepped up compliance due to more homeowners being home/available to complete the required code enforcement responses.

IX) Treasurer’s Report of 5/31/20 was read - Motion to accept the report (roll call) - Wells, Lanter. The fund 97 dollars for homes on Bobbie Drive and the funds reimbursement that will occur when the demo work is completed was reviewed.

X) Public Comment – The date for the re-opening to the public of the Administrative Offices was requested. It was noted that services are still provided to the public and the date for opening to the public has not been determined. It was noted that it would not be in the interest of the community to open the offices and then find that more caution should have been pursued.

XI) Report Of Committees

A) Personnel Committee – No Comments

1. FY 2021 Raises – Discussion

B) Finance Committee Report – Comments

1. Delinquent Sewer Payment Moratorium – No Comments

2. Approval of Bills for 6/2/20 – 6/15/20 totaling $292,454.16 - Motion to approve and pay from proper accounts (roll call vote) – Lanter, Wells

3. General Fund Analysis – No Comments

C) Judiciary Committee – Comments

1. Ord No. 1885 / An Ordinance Amending The Swansea Municipal Code By Revising Section 130.38 Relating To Products Containing Cannabiniol - Motion to read by title – Wells, Lanter. Motion to accept (roll call vote) – Wells, Lanter. It was noted that this ordinance was treated as an emergency (introduced in Committee and voted on at the Board level the same evening, instead of the Board vote at the next meeting).

D) Community & Economic Development - Nothing Requested At Agenda Time

1. Finding of Facts for Business District Application for 1820 Garden Street - Motion to accept – Wells, Lanter.

2. Res No. 1-2360 / A Resolution Authorizing A Reimbursement Grant Of $210,000.00 Plus Closing Costs And Legal Fees From The Illinois Rte. 159/Boul Avenue Business District Fund To The Village Of Swansea, 1444 Boul Avenue Swansea, IL 62226, For The Acquisition Of 1820 Garden Street. Motion to read by title – McDonald, Wells. Motion to accept (roll call vote) – Wells, Lanter.

3. Res No. 1-2361 / A Resolution Authorizing The President Of The Board Of Trustees And The Village Clerk To Affix Their Signatures To Various Documents To Purchase Property Located At 1820 Garden Street For The Amount Of $210,000.00 Plus Closing Costs And Legal Fees. Motion to read by title – McDonald, Wells. Motion to accept (roll call vote) – Neumeyer, Wells.

4. Res No.1-2362 / A Resolution Approving A Bid From Petroff Trucking Co. Inc., 2469 Petroff Plaza, Pontoon Beach, IL, 62040, For The Abatement Of Asbestos And Demolition Of Four Structures Located At 200, 204, 208, And 212 Bobbie Drive At A Guaranteed Maximum Fee Not To Exceed $31,692.00. Motion to read by title – McDonald, Wells. Motion to accept (roll call vote) – Wells, Lanter.

5. Res No. 1-2363 / A Resolution Authorizing The President Of The Board Of Trustees To Execute An Agreement Authorizing A Reimbursement Grant Of $198,000.00 From The Illinois Rte. 159/Boul Avenue Business District Fund To Classic Auto Body Inc. For Site Improvements On The Property Located At 1421 North Illinois Street. Motion to read by title – McDonald, Wells. Motion to accept (roll call vote) – Neumeyer, Wells.

6. Res No. 1-2364 / A Resolution In Support Of An Application To The Metro East Park And Recreation District For Park Trail Grant Funds For Fiscal Year 2020. Motion to read by title – McDonald, Wells. Motion to accept (roll call vote) – Wells, Lanter.

E) Public Safety Committee – The review of the opening of the public bathrooms in the Park continues to be reviewed, requiring more inputs from the Governor regarding COVID-19 precautions/limitations. This may be reviewed further for the 6/26/20 timeframe.

F) Public Works Committee – Nothing Requested At Agenda Time 

G) Cultural Committee – Comments

1. Schranz Park Band Shell Request – Summer Concerts – Sandra Carter 

H) Swansea Report Committee – No Comments

1. July Swansea Report

XII) Old Business – In the past there have been excessive trash and other issues related to gatherings at Melvin Price Park that occur close to the July 4th time frame. The PD will follow up. It was noted that the PD typically has a high call volume to respond to around the time of the July 4th holiday. The Village is coordinating with IDOT and taking all appropriate steps to address improvements and safety to the area, including around the intersection areas by High Mount School. The property by the intersection that will allow for future road improvements was discussed, including the potential of renting the now vacant facility. While there was agreement as to the price the property owner at 32 Fullerton wanted to sell the property for. The owner is not a US citizen. The Village is working with legal representatives regarding the issues and potential ways to address obstacles typically meant to thwart non-US citizens selling to the Village. Some improvements in compliance to properties in the area were also discussed.

XIII) New Business – No Comments

XIV) Announcements – No Comments

XV) Adjournment – Motion by Neumeyer, Wells

https://www.swanseail.org/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/1328