Peoria Standard

Village of Swansea Board of Trustees met Aug. 5.

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 Jeff Parker, Trustee Matt Lanter, Trustee Brian Thouvenot, Trustee Cary Lewis, Police Department Chief Matt Blomberg, Director of Public Works Rick Tucker and Building and Zoning Director Greg Anderson

Absent: Trustee Richard “Rocky” McDonald and Fire Department Chief Chris Tell

I) Call to Order

II) Pledge Allegiance to The Flag

III) Roll Call

IV) Mayor’s Announcements/Correspondence

October 13th is the Fire Department Open House.

V) Newly Appointed Mayor’s Announcements/Correspondence

1.Justin Chapman – Pension Board Re-Appointment

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

Trustee Votes: All ayes

VI) Approval of Minutes

1. Board Minutes- July 15, 2024

2. Committee Minutes- July 15, 2024

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

Trustee Votes: All ayes

VII) Acceptance Of Minutes Of Advisory Boards/Place On File

None

VIII) Park Board Chairman Report

None

IX) Treasurer’s Report

1. June Report

2. July Report

The Treasurer gave his Report.

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

Trustee Votes: All ayes

X) Village Attorney/Village Administrator-Announcements/Comments

The Village Administrator said he spoke to Trustee Thouvenot. He hopes to meet with Desco about putting a district in place to cover the storm water retention and make it suitable for use. He said a district could create a fund to assist them with that. Trustee Thouvenot said it has no impact on the stormwater. Board President Leopold asked if they have potential tenants. Trustee Thouvenot said there are interested parties but it’s not feasible at the moment. The Village Administrator wants to meet with the Soulcial Kitchen owner and the owner to talk about synergy and sidewalks. Board President Leopold asked about the CVS. The Village Administrator said he will get to that and he is getting close to a pre annexation agreement for triple lakes. He said the Director of Public Works has been dealing with the fallout from the big rain and its consequences. Trustee Thouvenot said there is a planning and zoning meeting next week. The Village Administrator said on the 13th there will be Ron Noble’s storage center application and the CVS application. The CVS will be a big investment and they are paying 4 or 5 million dollars.

XI) Public Comment

A member of the public said a few months ago he brought a proposal to help his neighborhood and he researched that the EPA says sewer and stormwater must be separated. He said flooding has made it clear that the current solution does not work and water is running down the street because there is nothing to divert it. He wants Swansea to do something to help with the problem. Board President Leopold asked if TWM looked at it. The Director of Public Works said there have been discussions but they haven’t physically been on site, and some of the streets are on next year’s pavement program so the drainage will be looked at it. He said recent rain has flooded homes in several parts of town, not just that neighborhood. Trustee Lewis wanted to insure that the Village look into it. Another member of the public asked if it was Rosewood where he lives and said there is a puddle in his yard every time in rains. He said there is a culvert in his yard but it no longer works and the mosquitos are bad. The member of the public said TWM was out there and they were scheduled two years ago to start the project. The Village Administrator said the Village received a grant for Rosewood roads but the Village has not received the funds, and once they are bonded the grant process will get moving. He said TWM assesses every road in the Village and they have not deviated from the plan or cancelled any plans. He said there is nothing they can do without funds. Board President Leopold asked for a timeline for the roads. The Village Administrator said the Village will get a better bang for its buck if they combine it but they do not have a timeline until the state gives money. Board President Leopold asked for a temporary fix. The Director of Public Works said he will take a look. The member of the public said the temporary fix is that they would come suck the water out. The member of the public said Republic is horrible and dumped glass in front of his driveway. The Village Administrator said to call him when it happens. Trustee Lewis asked him how long he lived here. The member of the public said 33 years. Board President Leopold said the Village has more pull with Republic when they call them so call the Village Administrator when something happens. Another member of the public said when the drain was changed in 1989 the lake became a retention pond instead of a lake and the sediment is filling it. The member of the public said they are in the process of getting signatures. Another member of the public said that the EPA put this into place that storm water is running into the pond. Trustee Thouvenot said he doesn’t believe sewage is running into it. He said he sympathizes because the creek in his backyard is flooding and washed out. He said he has a relative in that area who talks about what is going on. He said we will have to look at why it is happening now. A member of the public said the streets used to be flat with the drain in the middle of the street, but the stormwater drain is gone and fixing the street will not stop the rainwater. He said it occurs every time it rains. Trustee Thouvenot asked if there were drains in the street. The Director of Public Works said they have not had that during his time working here. He said Bobbi Drive is in a flood plain and oil and chip builds up over the years. Board President Leopold said they will send the Director of Public Works out there and engineers if needed. A member of the public said he asked for a meeting with the engineer but no one called. Board President Leopold asked to let the Village do its homework first and told them to give the Village Administrator their names and numbers.

XII) Report of Committees

B) Personnel Committee – Comments

1. Travel Request- IML Annual Conference- Sept. 18-21 ,2024 - Kristina Essenpreis, Kari Speir and Greg Anderson

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

Trustee Votes: All ayes

2. Travel Request- ICMA Annual Conference- Sept. 21-25th- Village Administrator- Ben Schloesser

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

Trustee Votes: All ayes

3. Travel Request- IGFOA Annual Conference- September 9-11th – Finance Manager – Kari Speir

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

Trustee Votes: All Ayes

4. Proposal to Hire Full-Time Code Enforcement Officer

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

Trustee Votes: All ayes

C) Finance Committee Report – Comments

1. Approval of Bills

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

Trustee Votes: All ayes

2. General Fund Analysis- Sample for Discussion

Done during committee.

D) Judiciary Committee – Comments

1. Executive Session to Review Previous Executive Minutes

Done during committee.

2. Motion To Declare Previous Executive Minutes As Public/Confidential

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

Trustee Votes: All ayes

3. Ord. No. 1963 An Ordinance Amending Chapter 32.28, Of The Swansea Municipal Code Regarding Building And Zoning Department

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

Trustee Votes: All ayes

Motion to Amend Reading from 1965 to 1963: Made by Trustee Lewis, seconded by Trustee Thouvenot Trustee Votes: All ayes

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

Trustee Votes: All ayes

E) Community & Economic Development – Comments

1. Ord. No. 1965 An Ordinance Establishing Chapter 156, Of The Swansea Municipal Code Regarding Vacant Properties And Dilapidated Structures

Motion for First Reading: Made by Trustee Thouvenot, seconded by Trustee Lanter

Trustee Votes: All ayes

F) Public Safety Committee – Comments

1. Ord. No. 1962 An Ordinance Declaring Personal Property Owned By The Village Of Swansea And Used By The Fire Department As Surplus, Specifically A 1985 Towers Hendricksen Pumper, VIN 11HFT428XXFLZ16390, And 1996 PIERCE 65’ TELESQUIRT, VIN 4P1CT02D4TA000481 And Authorizing Them To Be Sold.

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

Trustee Votes: All ayes

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

Trustee Votes: All ayes

2. Res. No. 1-2630 A Resolution Accepting The St. Clair County Multi-Hazard Mitigation Plan

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

Trustee Votes: All ayes

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

Trustee Votes: All ayes

3. Res. No. 1-2631 A Resolution Accepting The Price Quotation Of $12,505.66 Submitted By Utilitra, 200 Lakefront Parkway, PO Box 158, Edwardsville, IL 62025, For The Purchase And Installation Of One (1) Automated License Plate Recognition System At The Intersection Of Sullivan Drive And Llewellyn Road

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

Trustee Votes: All ayes

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

Trustee Votes: All ayes

4. Res. No. 1-2632 A Resolution Accepting The Price Quotation Of $16,632.00 From WSI Technologies, 9045 River Road, Suite 125, Indianapolis, IN 46240, For A Five-Year Contract For Service And Maintenance Relating To Police Department Call Recording Services

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

Trustee Votes: All ayes

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

Trustee Votes: All ayes

G) Public Works Committee – Nothing Requested

H) Cultural Committee – Nothing Requested

I) Swansea Report Committee – Comments

1. Draft September Swansea Report. Articles needed for page 1 Articles due to sproffitt@swanseail.org by August 12th

XIII) Old Business

The Village Administrator asked what the formal policy for credit cards is. He would like to provide department heads with them. Trustee Lanter said there was previously a resolution about who had access. The Village Administrator said it wasn’t in the codebook but he will look back for it. He said in a pinch he will let them use, his but he doesn’t think it’s the better solution. Board President Leopold said the prior Board President had one, but he has not had one. The Village Administrator said it is a convenience issue. Board President Leopold had no problem with giving them credit cards

Motion to Approve Credit Cards for All Department Heads: Made by Trustee Neumeyer, seconded by Trustee Parker Trustee Votes: All ayes

XIV) New Business

None

XV) Announcements

Oct 13th is the Fire Department Open House

XVI) Adjournment

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

Trustee Votes: All ayes

https://www.swanseail.org/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Minutes/_08052024-62