Peoria Standard

Village of Swansea Board of Trustees met May 15.

Here are the minutes provided by the board:

Attendees: Board President Michael Leopold, Treasurer John Walter, Village Clerk Tyler Thompson, Village Administrator Ben Schloesser, Trustee Marilyn Neumeyer, Trustee Matt Lanter, Trustee Richard “Rocky” McDonald, Trustee Brian Thouvenot, Trustee Cary Lewis, Police Department Chief Matt Blomberg, Fire Department Chief Chris Tell, Building and Zoning Director Joseph Iliff, and Director of Public Works Rick Tucker

Absent: Trustee Jeff Parker

I) Call to Order

II) Pledge Allegiance to The Flag

III) Roll Call

IV) Approval of Minutes

1. Board Minutes – May 1, 2023

2. Committee Minutes –May 1, 2023

3. Executive Session- Personnel Committee- May 1, 2023

4. Executive Session- Community and Economic Development Committee- May 1, 2023

Motion to Approve: Made by Trustee Lanter, seconded by Trustee Thouvenot

Trustee Votes: All ayes

V) Acceptance of Minutes

VI) Mayor’s Announcements/Correspondence

A) Proclamations

1. National Police Week May 9-20, 2023

2. National Skilled Nursing Care Week May 14-20, 2023

3. National Public Works Week- May 21-27, 2023

National Police Week honors the service and sacrifice of those that died in the line of duty. National Skilled Nursing Care Week celebrates the many acts of kindness that occur at nursing centers every day. National Public Works Week celebrates the public works employees and their vital work for communities and the Village of Swansea.

VII) Swearing In Of Newly Elected Official

Trustee Neumeyer was sworn in.

VIII) Village Attorney/Village Administrator-Announcements/Comment

1. Department Head Reports

a. Public Works/Sewer Department

He completed 90 hours of continuing education as part of his certification.

b. Police Department Monthly Stats

The Wolf Branch Track Team won the state title and wants to do a parade on Wednesday. It is the same route as the Halloween parade in the fall. The parade starts at 1:15 right across from the firehouse. The officer position approved last fall has a candidate ready to start. Trustee McDonald asked the Chief if he talked to the Superintendent about the SRO position. Chief Blomberg said the Superintendent knows.

c. Fire Department Monthly Stats

Four personnel and him completed the Fire Inspector 2 class. Two firefigheters graduated the BOF academy. He and several others completed the active shooter class and reunification class. Code Red emergency notification will end July 7th. Hyperreach is up and running now.

d. Building and Zoning Department

Nothing to add.

2. Village Administrator

He has reached out about Boul Ave and to our local congressmen. Trustee Lanter asked about the deed issue the Village had with Rosewood Village Drive. The Director of Public Works said the Village has been maintaining it for a while. Trustee Lanter said IDOT said the Village did not own it a while ago. The Village Administrator said he will look into it. The new website is up and running and there are likely to be issues with dead links and things misplaced, but the Village will try to address them as quickly as possible. Emergency repair needed for a sewer line may go beyond his spending limit. The Director of Public Works said the sewer line issue has caused most of the neighborhood to be backed up and one basement was flooded. The problem could be from fiber insulation as there is a lot of rock in the sewer line.

IX) Treasurer’s Report

The Treasurer gave his report.

Motion to Approve: Made by Trustee Lanter, seconded by Trustee Neumeyer

Trustee Votes: All ayes

X) Public CommentRita Hamilton said there are traffic concerns between 161, Sullivan, and Llewellyn. Several HOAS met to talk about the issue, and they are upset about a new development on Frank Scott and Llewellyn that they were not notified of. She said they believe there will be a lot of traffic issues, and they are upset the zoning was changed without a public hearing. They believe the addition of the apartment complex will cause more accidents and congestion. She said Sullivan Farms is being used as a shortcut for construction and there has been nails. They want a sidewalk to the Metrolink as well. She asked if the current sewer system can handle additional input. They want the info about the project and how it was communicated to the voters. They also want public hearings to be done for every development that will affect their neighborhoods. Trustee Lewis said there has been time and there were public meetings held. The Village Administrator said there has been no formal traffic study since Village Engineers said it would likely not be necessary and the County did not require one. Board President Leopold asked if they could make a committee to meet with him and others. Rita Hamilton wanted to move forward. Board President Leopold wanted to meet with them and the Village Engineer to solve the issues they are talking about. Andrea Tolden-Hughes spoke next. She did research and could not find anything about a public hearing. She believed there will be hundreds of more cars and it will be hard to pull out of her neighborhood. She also believed a public hearing is necessary before building. She said she noticed there have been executive sessions for the community and economic development committee and wondered if this development was talked about during the executive sessions. She said she wants a joint meeting with Belleville, St Clair County, and Swansea, and wants Swansea to facilitate that. She believed the Swansea Board minutes do not say what was approved or who approved it or denied it. She believed the Village zoning map is not up to date and Turtle Creek is now in an industrial area. She also believed the first thing you must do is a traffic study before developing. Board President Leopold said the Village will sit down with them and the engineer but he probably cannot get Belleville or the County to do anything. A member of the public who did not give her name said she called the project director for the apartments and there are two roads that will exit out to Llewellyn. Jeff Leehy wanted an update about the storage center situation. Board President Leopold said a letter has been sent to the owner and his attorney. Jeff Leehy wanted the letter to be said at the meeting. Board President Leopold said he can give him a copy of the letter and Deppe is not happy and has contacted his attorney. The Village Administrator said he can print a copy for Jeff Leehy. Board President Leopold said the Village has gave him 30 days but the attorneys will butt heads. Board President Leopold said it might eventually go to a judge who will handle it and he does not believe the owner will do what ther Village is telling him to. Another member of the public asked if any further developments will have public hearings. Board President Leopold said everything the Board does goes before the Planning and Zoning Board. The Village Administrator said there were public hearings, but the Village can expand the notice region. Trustee Thouvenot said he knows what they are going through, and the minutes are on the website in the archive. He said only property owners that are adjourning to the property are supposed to be notified. Trustee Thouvenot said the Board President is genuine about sitting down and meeting, but unfortunately decisions have been made and you cant put the genie back in the bottle on this one. Trustee McDonald said Frank Scott Parkway is not owned by the Village and that road will eventually be a four lane road. Andrea said they have the minutes but there was no public hearing. Trustee McDonald said that is in the planning and zoning phase. Andrea said she went back to 2018 and there was nothing about this. Trustee McDonald said he was present and this was in the minutes, and the Board talked about what to do to make the development safer. Trustee Lewis said everything was discussed. Trustee McDonald said the minutes do not have to reflect everything. Board President Leopold said they will meet and try to get a hold of the County and Belleville. Board President Leopold said the Village will do better in notifying people. A member of the public who did not give her name asked how long this would take and said people are speeding. Board President Leopold said the Police Chief is present and he heard that, but that is not the Village’s road. Board President Leopold said the Village will put more patrols out there, but that might not work forever.

XI) Report of Committees

A. Personnel Committee – Nothing Requested

B. Finance Committee Report – Comments

1. General Fund Analysis

2. Approval of Bills

Motion to Approve: Made by Trustee Lanter, seconded by Trustee Neumeyer

Trustee Votes: All ayes

3. Res. No. 1-2559 A Resolution Accepting The Professional Services Agreement With The Regional Justice Information Service, 4255 West Pine Blvd, St. Louis MO 63108, To Provide Information Technology Support To The Village Of Swansea Through April 30, 2024

Motion to Read: Made by Trustee Lanter, seconded by Trustee Lewis

Trustee Votes: All ayes

Motion to Approve: Made by Trustee Lanter, seconded by Trustee Neumeyer

Trustee Votes: All ayes

C. Judiciary Committee – Comments

1. Ord. No. 1945 An Ordinance Amending The Swansea Municipal Code Chapter 31 Mayor And The Board Of Trustees Amending The Appointment Of Trustees To Serve On Standing Committees

Motion for Second Reading: Made by Trustee Lewis, seconded by Trustee Lanter

Trustee Votes: All ayes

Motion to Approve: Made by Trustee McDonald, seconded by Trustee Lewis

Trustee Votes: All ayes

D. Community & Economic Development – Comments

1. Res. No. 1-2560 A Resolution Approving The Planned Business Submittal For Construction Of Hendricks Brewthers Brewpub At 211 N Belt East

Motion to Read: Made by Trustee Thouvenot, seconded by Trustee McDonald

Trustee Votes: All ayes

Motion to Approve: Made by Trustee Lanter, seconded by Trustee McDonald

Trustee Votes:

Ayes: Trustee Lanter, Trustee McDonald, Trustee Thouvenot, Trustee Lewis

Nos: Trustee Neumeyer

E. Public Safety Committee – Nothing Requested

F. Public Works Committee – Nothing Requested

G. Cultural Committee – Nothing Requested

H. Swansea Report Committee – Comments

1. On May 29th there will be a Memorial Day Celebration at Mel Price Park

XII) Old Business

None

XIII) New Business

None

XIV) Announcements

None

XV) Adjournment

Motion to Adjourn: Made by Trustee Lewis, seconded by Trustee Thouvenot Trustee Votes: All ayes

https://www.swanseail.org/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/2842