Peoria Standard

Village of Swansea Village Committees met Nov. 20.

Here are the minutes provided by the committees:

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

Absent:

PERSONNEL COMMITTEE: Held 6:00 to 6:43

Chair: Trustee Neumeyer; Vice-Chair: Trustee Parker 

Members: Trustees Lanter, Lewis V, McDonald, Thouvenot 

1. Executive Session: “The appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance, or dismissal of specific employees of the public body or legal counsel for the public body, including hearing testimony on a complaint lodged against an employee of the public body or against legal counsel for the public body to determine its validity.” 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(1). Motion to Enter: Made by Trustee Neumeyer, seconded by Trustee Parker

Trustee Votes: All ayes

Motion to Exit: Made by Trustee Neumeyer, seconded by Trustee McDonald

Trustee Votes: All ayes

2. Swearing-in of Derek Schackmann as Probationary Police Officer

He was a marine and previously worked for the St Louis Police Department. Board President Leopold swore him in. 

3. Certificate of Appreciation to Officer Matthew Lindley for 10 Years of Service

Chief Blomberg said Lindley has been officer of the year for three years. He said Lindley is tenacious in his work and everything he does for the village.

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

Trustee Votes: All ayes

FINANCE COMMITTEE: Held 6:43 to 7:10

Chair: Trustee Lanter; Vice-Chair: Trustee Thouvenot 

Members: Trustees Lewis V, McDonald, Neumeyer, Parker

1. General Fund Analysis

Trustee Lanter said things are still looking good. It is positive in the general fund and slightly behind in the sewer fund because of capital projects.

2. 2023 Tax Levy

Trustee Lanter said they got the levy under 5% by decreasing the corporate fund tax. In addition, they sent in the check to pay off engine house 2 so there are no more levies for that. He said they left parks the same. Trustee Thouvenot wanted changes. Trustee Later said they can do whatever the Board wants to do. He said they can reduce the corporate fund tax more. Trustee Thouvenot asked if they were mandated to increase the fire and police tax. Trustee Lanter said they were not mandated but they are restricted funds for future purchases. The Treasurer said some CDs matured this year that were carried over from last year. The Treasurer asked if Trustee Lanter could drill down further what they would get. Trustee Lanter said he did not get the second email that had the Treasurer’s report. The Treasurer said he can do those calculations, he just doesn’t have them right now. He said the Treasurer’s report has when the CDs come due. He said 4% will be close enough for the decisions they were making. Trustee Lanter said they have been conservative with budgeting, but the reality is that the dollars they are recognizing as budget are miniscule and the money they are getting from interest is not a huge windfall. Trustee McDonald said there are ARPA funds they haven’t spent, and he wants to fund the pension funds and the fire and police protection tax. Trustee McDonald didn’t want to change the other categories. The Village Administrator said it doesn’t have to be approved tonight but the first reading has to be at the next meeting. Trustee Lanter asked if he wants zero change in levy. Board President Leopold said it wouldn’t be zero. The Treasurer asked if he thinks the EAV is correct. The Building and Zoning Director said he thinks so. A member of the public asked how redistributing the funds balances against the inflationary rate for fire trucks and believed there should be some balance. The Treasurer said inflation has gone up but the inflation rate has slowed down. Trustee Thouvenot said the new fire truck is on order and money has been set aside. He said everything is astronomically higher than a few years ago. Trustee Lewis asked if the member of the public wanted more money for emergency services. The member of the public said it’s a bet and there’s been a large influx of free money that is unlikely to come again. The Village Administrator asked for a straw poll for what the Board wanted. Trustee Lanter said they don’t have to levy any taxes and the Village has had to have 10% to 15% tax increases in the past since it didn’t have any money. He said the Village has tried diligently to balance that with smaller tax levies. Trustee Lanter doesn’t think they should change anything besides the corporate or parks levies. Trustee Lanter said to get to 0% they would have to decrease some levies a lot. The Village Administrator said they can’t touch the pensions. Board President Leopold said the Village is putting in a trail, new pickle ball courts, and other stuff for the parks. He would rather see some of the money come out of parks then corporate. Trustee Lanter asked if he would like to take it back to what it was last year or more. Board President Leopold said the Village will probably spend millions on the parks. Trustee Lanter said the point of levying that tax was because the Village spends $120,000 on cutting grass and because there used to be no funding for the parks. Trustee McDonald said cutting the parks levy doesn’t solve it. Trustee Lewis said to look at it in the long term and agreed with Trustee Lanter and Trustee McDonald. Trustee Thouvenot wants to lower the number, Trustee Neumeyer wanted it lower, Trustee Parker wanted it lower. Motion to Adjourn: Made by Trustee Lanter, seconded by Trustee Parker

Trustee Votes: All ayes

JUDICIARY COMMITTEE: Held 7:10 to 7:18

Chair: Trustee Lewis V.; Vice-Chair: Trustee McDonald 

Members: Trustees Lanter, Neumeyer, Parker, Thouvenot 

1. Ord. No. _____ An Ordinance Amending the Swansea Municipal Code Section 150.136 Exterior Property Areas for Parking of Motor Vehicles

Trustee Lewis did not like that if people added to their house they had to change their driveway. The Building and Zoning Director said it’s in the zoning code that if someone is adding on or changing their structure in order to get permits they have to provide a paved parking area. The Building and Zoning Director said if it’s not practical or possible to then the Building and Zoning director can grant an exception. Board President Leopold said it’s like being grandfathered in. A member of the public asked if that includes change from owner to rental. The Building and Zoning Director said no it only counts if it’s physically changed. Trustee Lewis said he does not like that. The member of the public said that provides impetus to change houses to rental properties instead of improving the quality of neighborhood. Trustee Lewis said he agrees that’s what’s bad about it. Board President Leopold asked for a strawpoll. Trustee Thouvenot said he did not know that’s existing code so he’s in favor of what’s being proposed. He wanted to enforce the codes about vehicles. Trustee McDonald was in favor but said code enforcement needs to go at night. Trustee Lanter, Trustee Parker, and Trustee Neumeyer were in favor as is. The Building and Zoning Director said people need time to catch up. Board President Leopold said they need more than 30 days. Trustee McDonald wanted to enforce the code immediately. Board President Leopold said to give them time. Trustee Thovuenot said 3 to 6 months. The Village Administrator said three months would be reasonable. Trustee Thouvenot said there should be leeway if people have bids. The Board agreed to 90 days.

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

Trustee Votes: All ayes

Motion to Adjourn: Made by Trustee Lewis, seconded by Trustee Parker

Trustee Votes: All ayes

COMMUNITY & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT: Meeting Not Held

Chair: Trustee Thouvenot; Vice-Chair: Trustee Lanter

Members: Trustees Lewis V, McDonald, Neumeyer, Parker

Meeting Not Held

PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE: Held 7:18 to 7:18

Chair: Trustee Parker; Vice-Chair: Trustee Lewis V.

Members: Trustees Lanter, McDonald, Neumeyer, Thouvenot

1. Video Wall Project Quotes for Consideration

The Village Administrator said it is under $10,000 so the Board doesn’t need to take action and he can approve it. Motion to Adjourn: Made by Trustee Neumeyer, seconded by Trustee Parker

Trustee Votes: All ayes

PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE: Held 7:19 to 7:19

Chair: Trustee McDonald; Vice-Chair: Trustee Parker

Members: Trustees Lanter, Lewis V. Neumeyer, Thouvenot

1. Pavement Management Program Update – Jeff Reis, TWM

Tabled

CULTURAL COMMITTEE: Meeting Not Held

Chair: Trustee Lewis V.; Vice-Chair: Trustee McDonald

Members: Trustees Lanter, Neumeyer, Parker, Thouvenot

Meeting Not Held

SWANSEA REPORT COMMITTEE: Meeting Not Held

Chair: Trustee Neumeyer; Vice-Chair: Trustee Lanter

Members: Trustees Lewis V, McDonald, Parker, Thouvenot

Meeting Not Held

https://www.swanseail.org/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/2936