Peoria Standard

Village of Swansea Board of Trustees met Oct. 19.

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, Administrator Ben Schloesser, Director of Public Works Rick Tucker, Clerk Lauren O'Neill. The public was invited to attend.

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 – October 5, 2020

2. Committee Minutes – October 5, 2020

V) Mayor’s Announcements/Correspondence – The Mayor noted that there were no announcements and no correspondence.

VI) Village Attorney – No Comments / Village Administrator and Department Head Comments include the following: It was reviewed that interviews were held this week and Stefanie Proffitt was hired for the position of Administrative Assistant and she will also fill the Deputy Clerk duties, performed by Bonnie Carmack Bonnie is no longer employed with the Village. Stefanie Proffitt was informed of this requirement being part of her job and she had no objections to accepting the duties of the job. Dan Johnson is leaving the employment of the Village and this is his last week. Applications have been reviewed and interviews are pending. There is a potential that a Special Meeting will be called related to the Code Enforcement Position, but if this is the case Schloesser will make sure the appropriate 48-hour advance posting of the agenda is completed and all that need to be present for the meeting are called and emailed. This Wednesday there are 4 candidates to be interviewed. Second interviews may or may not be required. Audit presentation may occur at the next regularly scheduled meeting. The MFT program for this calendar year has been completed for payment(s). The project planning will occur over the coming months. Cures funding webinars and networking with neighboring communities were reviewed, as well as the potential that the Village of Swansea may have $50K or more of payroll expenses that will be reimbursed. Trick or Treating is not policed by Swansea. The CDC provides information and guidelines for safe ways to celebrate Halloween. COVID infection rates in the area are rising. There is a potential that the enhanced restrictions to be imposed on neighboring counties may be imposed in the near future on Swansea and the areas of St. Clair County. Tucker noted that he submitted a written report and an email that provides information on tub grinding rental rates for potential mulching needs of yard waste. The information is in the Board packets. This Friday Aldi will have a soft opening with a grand opening to be held at a later date. Aldi expects the location to realize $2 million of revenues a month. Residential projects were reviewed. The Boul Avenue Trail Head project is significantly completed. The street-scape light was delivered, but then the manufacturer called and picked up the pole and will return it when a modification required is completed. Alley is reviewing alternative light sources for future projects. Alley noted that he was working to get bids for the demo tear down and haul away of debris at 32 Fullerton Road and didn’t receive a quote until today. The quote amount of $6300 exceeded the $5K limit in which expenses can be approved by the Administrator without additional notifications and approvals. Wells reviewed that for the Board to vote on the $6300 expenditure would require the item to have been put on the agenda and it was not included on the agenda. While no formal vote would be obtained this evening, McDonald suggested that due to safety concerns the item be treated as an emergency and ask if there were any objections to moving forward with the demo/removal expenditure without a formal vote this evening. There were no objections. The PD stats/report was emailed, but was not included in the packets. Some recent PD responses to crime incidents in Swansea and the involvement of outside agencies (St. Louis, the FBI) were touched upon. Dave Seger’s work on maintaining the PD vehicles was complemented, as well as his focus on saving the Village significant funds when coordinating parts and repairs. The Hybrid PD vehicle was picked up and is being equipped. PD staffing and the recent promotion of PD Officer Kemper-Damm were reviewed. A potential PD retirement in the near future was touched upon. PD trainings, command staff meetings, patrols, visibility, PD commissioners’ interviews for officer eligibility lists, and other staffing and safety concerns were reviewed. The Swansea Report might be utilized to remind residents of safe ways to conduct and sell items to the public. Code Red calls are saved for emergency needs and announcements. The FD submitted their report a few minutes ago via email. The various department heads were requested to submit their reports in a timely manner to allow the information to be included in the packets or to be read in advance of the meeting. The FD plans to replace tires on 2 apparatuses and getting state prices. The FD parade will be the 1st Friday night and the 1st Saturday in December. The PD may participate in the parade too. The FD was requested to review their parade plans so that the activities do not conflict with the Santa visits planned at the Thompson Center in Swansea’s Mel Price Park.

VII) Park Board Chairman Report – The Mayor noted that Park Board Chairman Mike Koeneman was not able to attend the meeting this evening. He had emailed a report, but not in time for inclusion in the Board packets. It was reviewed that Mike Buelhorn and his son, Brad Buelhorn, had designed a structure for safe visits with Santa at the Thompson Civic Center this December, and that they were paying for the costs of the backdrop and other structures needed. The costs were estimated to be about $2K. The Santa House visits will be structured so that visits involve 6 feet or more of social distancing. The operations have been cleared with the St. Clair County Health Department. Santa will remain behind a plastic barrier. Pictures with Santa may be more challenging and the event may focus instead on the visits and the opportunity for children to receive gifts from Santa. There are at least 3 Santa helpers. The Santa visits will operate from noon – 5 pm on Saturdays and Sundays and 5 pm – 8 pm on week days.

VIII) Treasurer’s Report for 9/30/20 was read – Motion to accept the report (roll call vote) – Lanter, Neumeyer

IX) Public Comment – It was noted that there were no public comments.

X) Report of Committees

A) Personnel Committee – Comments

1. Request For New Hire Stefanie Proffitt as Administrative Assistant – Motion to hire Stefanie Proffitt as outlined in the letter in the meeting packet – Neumeyer, Wells.

B) Finance Committee Report – Comments

1. General Fund Analysis – No Comment

2. Approval of Bills for 10/6/20 through 10/19/20 total bills are $933,825.12 – Motion to approve and pay from appropriate accounts (roll call vote) – Lanter, Wells. It was noted that there was a substantially larger Sewer Plant load payment this month.

3. Ord No. 1892 / An Ordinance Amending The Annual Municipal Budget Of The Village Of Swansea, Il For Fiscal Year 2021, May 1, 2020 – April 30, 2021 Thereby Providing Additional Funds For Land Acquisition/ Motion to read by title only – Wells, Lanter. / Motion to accept (roll call vote) – Lanter, Wells

C) Judiciary Committee – No Comments

D) Community & Economic Development – Comments

1. Res No. 1-2375 / A Resolution In Support Of An Application To The Illinois Department Of Transportation For Public Transportation Enhancement Capital Assistance Grant (ITEP) Motion to read by title only – McDonald, Wells. / Motion to accept (roll call vote) – Wells, McDonald

E) Public Safety Committee – Comments

1. Discussion: Fall Burn Schedule – It was noted that this item was addressed and taken care of atthe committee level.

F) Public Works Committee – No Comments

1. Discussion: Yard Waste Disposal Program – No Comments

G) Cultural Committee – No Comments

H) Swansea Report Committee – Comments

1. October Swansea Report Draft – It was reviewed that at the appropriate time there would be published in the Swansea Report liens filed and violations issued related to homes/addresses in which grass cutting is not being taken care of by the homeowner(s) and are mowed by the Village of Swansea. Alley reviewed that for vacant homes, liens are issued for grass cutting required to be address by the Village of Swansea. Tickets are issued for grass cutting for occupied homes that violate grass cutting ordinances. When liens are paid off, the funds are included in the general fund. There was a discussion of putting signs/notices on the properties when grass cutting liens/ticketing occurs. There was also a review that the Swansea Report might list properties that violate grass mowing ordinances and require Swansea to mow the grass. It was noted that there might be 25 to 30 properties involved in foreclosure that require Swansea mowing prior to the bank managing the property and the mowing.

XI) Old Business – The Mayor noted that it was nice to see Parker at the meeting after being off to address back surgery medical needs. Confidentiality needs with development and the purchase of real estate property was touched upon. Alley was thanked for cultivating relationships and working to encourage development in Swansea.

XII) New Business – No comments

XIII) Announcements – No comments

XIV) Adjournment – Motion by Wells, Neumeyer

https://www.swanseail.org/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/1381