Peoria Standard

Village of Swansea Board of Trustees met Aug. 17.

Here is the minutes provided by the board:

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, Fire Department (FD) Chief Chris Tell, Park Board Chairman Mike Koeneman, Clerk Lauren O'Neill. The public was invited to attend. Absent: Director of Public Works Rick Tucker

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 “***”.

PERSONNEL COMMITTEE - Meeting not held

Co-Chairpersons: Trustees McDonald & Neumeyer 

Members: Trustees Lanter, McGuire, Parker, Wells

FINANCE COMMITTEE - Held from 6:00 to 6:04 pm

Chairperson: Trustee Lanter 

Members: Trustees McDonald, McGuire, Neumeyer, Parker, Wells

1. General Fund Analysis - General Fund revenues of over $1.3 million for July 2020 are presented on the report. However, reported revenues make the situation look better than it really is as revenues include almost $300K of rebuild Illinois funds provided with restrictions that they be used for road infrastructure projects. Property tax and sales tax are down about 20%, Utility taxes are down about 23-24%, State income tax is down about 24%, and video gaming is down about 80%. A separate MFT line item might be used to identify the rebuild Illinois funds. There were no objections. Expenses are under budget and continue to be scrutinized. Sewer operations are in the red with revenues of almost $618,000 and expenses of over $1 million.

2. Motion to Adjourn – Wells, Neumeyer

JUDICIARY COMMITTEE - Held from 6:04 to 6:05 pm

Chairperson: Trustee Wells 

Members: Trustees Lanter, McDonald, McGuire, Neumeyer, Parker

1. Non-Agenda item: Dallas is reviewing the ordinance related to gaming and creating a new category. More information may be available at the next meeting.

2. Motion to Adjourn: Wells, McDonald

COMMUNITY & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT - Held from 6:05 to 6:10 pm

Chairperson: Trustee McDonald 

Members: Trustees Lanter, McGuire, Neumeyer, Parker, Wells

1. Draft Resolution / A Resolution Accepting The Professional Services Contract From Thouvenot, Wade, And Moerchen Inc., 4940 Old Collinsville Road, Swansea, IL 62226, For Preparation And Submittal Of An ITEP (Illinois Transportation Enhancement Program) Application To IDOT For Sidewalk Along West Side Of IL 159, From Boul Avenue To IL 161, For A Lump Sum Of $4,300.00. - Motion to forward this item to the Board – McDonald, McGuire. The 80-20 federal grant would allow for inclusion of lighting related to the sidewalk project. Although there is a need to acquire right of way property for the project, currently two landowners have indicated a willingness to donate the required land.

2. Draft Resolution / A Resolution Accepting A Proposal From Thouvenot, Wade, & Moerchen Inc. 4940 Old Collinsville Road Swansea, IL 62226 For Professional Services Related To Floodplain And Floodway Analysis Of Swansea Creek At A Price Not To Exceed $17,500.00. - Motion to forward this item to the Board – McGuire, Wells. The Village has current data relevant to the analysis, making completing the analysis at this time more economical than waiting until the point when the data is no longer considered current and would need to be recaptured. The study is needed for the potential development in the Metro link and Garden Street areas.

3. Motion to Adjourn – Wells, Neumeyer.

PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE - Held from 6:10 to 6:15 pm and then from 6:36 – 6:58 pm 

Chairperson: Trustee Parker 

Members: Trustees Lanter, McDonald, McGuire, Neumeyer, Wells

1. Resignation Letter of PD Officer VanWaes – His last day is 8/24/20. He has accepted a job with another PD that is closer to where his and his wife’s extended family live. He is currently on family leave. The PD Chief will prepare a letter recognizing PD Officer Van Waes and his service to Swansea. The Mayor indicated an interest in signing the letter. – Motion to forward the resignation letter to the Board with the recommendation that the letter be placed on file and the resignation accepted. – Neumeyer, Wells.

2. Ord Draft / An Ordinance Declaring Personal Property Owned By The Village Of Swansea And Used By The Fire Department As Surplus, Specifically A 2007 Ford Expedition XLT, Vin 1FMFU165X7LA62999, And Authorizing It To Be Sold. - Motion to forward this item to the Board – Neumeyer, McGuire. The rust holes, check engine light recently coming on, mileage, and other conditions of the vehicle were discussed.

3. Motion to Adjourn – Parker, Wells

4. Non-Agenda Item – The meeting was re-opened with a motion by Parker, Neumeyer to hear the PD Report that might normally be called for at the Board meeting. The PD stats were provided in the Board packet. PD staffing, family leave and light-duty impacts were reviewed. Steps taken to contain COVID outbreaks were noted. Community outreach efforts by the PD were reviewed, including efforts to attract qualified law enforcement candidates from a cross section of the population. The PD officer eligibility list and hiring a company with African American, law enforcement professional leadership, as well as using social media, indeed and other hiring vehicles were reviewed to attract qualified candidates to Swansea. The PD Chief, Deputy Chief, and other Swansea representatives continue to meet with pastors and other community leaders. Houses condemned and taken down in the floodplain area resulted in questions from the community, which the PD Chief addressed, reviewing that these actions were not related to crime or crime abatement. Cash and property seized were discussed. The status of PD vehicles, cameras, and capital expenses were reviewed. Cameras are capturing video needed, while downloading the captured information is currently cumbersome and efforts continue to address some technical issues. The recent SUV order has not yet been received. The K-9 dog, named Leo, which has worked with PD Officer VanWaes, is of an age where transfer to a new Swansea PD owner is not recommended. Leo was obtained through donations and it was suggested that VanWaes be given Leo as a pet. There were no objections. The Swansea PD K-9 vehicle has been cleaned and will be put on patrol until the next K-9 program is started in Swansea. The PD Union has worked to support needed PD staffing. PD investigations were noted and reviewed.

5. Motion to Adjourn – Parker, McDonald

PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE - Held from 6:15 to 6:18 pm

Chairperson: Trustee McGuire Members: Trustees Lanter, McDonald, Neumeyer, Parker, Wells

1. Non-Agenda Item - Director of Public Works Rick Tucker was noted as doing a good job with the current skeleton crew. COVID health was touched upon, noting that there were no outbreaks due to following the recommended protocols. This season part time lawn mowers were not hired. There have been community calls regarding mowing and it was suggested that the efforts by Swansea to address mowing needs in the community be an article in the next issue of the Swansea Report. It was noted that Rick Tucker’s father passed away and condolences would be sent to Rick and his family. 2. Motion to Adjourn – Wells, McDonald.

CULTURAL COMMITTEE - Held from 6:18 to 6:20 pm

Chairperson: Trustee Wells Members: Trustees Lanter, McDonald, McGuire, Neumeyer, Parker

1. Althoff High School Cross Country Meet 9/22/20 and 10/15/20 – It was noted that use was previously approved and the split days of this updated request could be similarly approved with the approval subject to State of Illinois and St. Clair County mandated restrictions related to COVID containment. Motion to forward the item to the Board – Wells, Neumeyer.

2. Belleville East High School Cross Country Meets Request (9 am on the Multiple Dates of 9/5/20, 9/19/20, 9/26/20, and 10/3/20) with the request involving the High School laying out the 2-mile and 3-mile course and asking Swansea to provide the course mowing for the meet. The approval could be approved subject to State of Illinois and St. Clair County mandated restriction related to COVID containment and notice that Swansea would not be able to guarantee the mowing support and should the High School want the course mowed, then they might have to arrange for mowing the course area for the meets. Motion to forward the item to the Board - Wells, Neumeyer.

3. Motion to Adjourn – Wells, Neumeyer

SWANSEA REPORT COMMITTEE - Held from 6:20 to 6:36 pm

Chairperson: Trustee Neumeyer Members: Trustees Lanter, McDonald, McGuire, Parker, Wells

1. September Report – See Public Works (Non-Agenda Item). It was recommended that the Report contain information regarding the Sewer lawsuit against the Village having been recently dismissed with prejudice. Potentially the article might review some of the history. Potential park projects and donations supporting the projects may also be highlighted in an upcoming issue of the Swansea Report. A tire pick up/drop off event will be noted in the Report and on the Swansea website. While PD staffing was touched upon, it was noted that this information would not be put in the Swansea Report at this time. Rollie Thouvenot is volunteering his time to review the Swansea Sewer Plant and there may be some expenses through TWM related to the research data needed for his review. He is reviewing the Plant operations and needs on his time schedule and a few months of review may be required before the analysis is available to the Board members.

2. Motion to Adjourn – Wells, Neumeyer

https://www.swanseail.org/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/1354