Peoria Standard

Village of Swansea Board of Trustees met March 3.

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 Brian McGuire, Trustee Jeff Parker, Trustee Matt Lanter, Trustee Richard “Rocky” McDonald, Trustee Brian Thouvenot, Trustee Cary Lewis, Police Department Chief Matt Blomberg, Fire Department Chief Doug Little, Building and Zoning Director Dan Thomas, and Director of Public Works Rick Tucker

Absent:

I) Call to Order

II) Pledge Allegiance to The Flag

III) Roll Call

IV) Approval of Minutes

1. Board Minutes-February 18, 2025

2. Committee Minutes- February 18, 2025

Trustee Lewis said he is against it because some people did not speak.

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

Trustee Votes:

Ayes: Trustee Parker, Trustee Lanter, Trustee McDonald, Trustee Thouvenot

Nos: Trustee Lewis

V) Acceptance of Minutes

None

VI) Mayor’s Announcements/Correspondence

None

VII) Village Attorney/Village Administrator-Announcements/Comments

1. The Village Administrator said they had interviews last week to find a good candidate. He is working with Heartlands about a park master plan and they are guiding the Village through the dam decommissioning process. He said the biggest thing is the budgeting process. He will have had one on ones with department heads and will meet with Finance Chair Lanter.

VIII) Mayor’s Appointments

1. Park Board

He is appointing Taylor Stewart to the Park Board.

2. Trustee

Board President Leopold said he is filling Marilyn’s spot with Brian McGuire. He said it needs approval. Board President Leopold said welcome back and to keep Marilyn’s plaque.

Trustee Votes:

Ayes: Trustee Parker, Trustee Lanter, Trustee Thouvenot, Trustee Lewis

Nos: Trustee McDonald

IX) Public Comment

Alexa Edwards said she was here about the property in castle acres. She handed out papers and asked the Building and Zoning Director what has been done about it in the past two weeks. She said she is concerned that it went from selling for $13 million to being in a tax sale. The wiring has been stripped out and it is not secure. She said it decreases the value of the homes around it and she wants to use the zoning code emergency measures to condemn it and get financial assistance from St Clair County to demolish it. She said they need to spend the money by July. The Building and Zoning Director said the first week he was here he condemned the property and the building will be secured Wednesday morning. It will be boarded up. He will be sending a notice for property maintenance violations but he wanted to get it boarded up first. He spoke with legal about emergency measures and they said there is a lot of work to do that and they can’t just demolish it. He said the Village will hit it with violations and it will be secured. He said he sent 45 pictures and a letter to the owner about the Village’s distaste with the condition but he hasn’t heard back. Board President Leopold asked if they will go after the owner for money from boarding it up like a lien. The Village Administrator said yes. Board President Leopold said it doesn’t look like the property could be fixed and it has to be demolished. The Building and Zoning Director said they can get it secured and address the trash but it’s unlikely they can get it demolished. The Building and Zoning Director said the owner lives in Glen Carbon according to the County. Board President Leopold asked if the owner owns more property. The Building and Zoning Director said not as far as he has seen in his research. Alexa asked who bought it in the tax sale. The Building and Zoning Director said the most current records reflect the address he sent the letter to. Alexa said the owner from Glen Carbon didn’t pay the taxes and the County doesn’t know who did. Board President Leopold asked if that’s the new owner. The Building and Zoning Director said it’s not that cut and dry and the owner can pay the taxes back but that’s unlikely. Trustee Parker asked if he lives in Glen Carbon. The Building and Zoning Director said the only thing he can find is the address in Glen Carbon. He said the listed owner has been thoroughly notified so they just have to clean the property up. Trustee Lewis thanked him and said he is doing a good job. Alexa said on page 2 the parcel has a group and said the Clerk gave her that name. The Building and Zoning Director said that address is the same as the address for the group as well. He said he will look into the financial help from the County. Board President Leopold said he will check with County when they get closer but it likely won’t make the deadline. Trustee McGuire asked when the property was vacated. Chief Blomberg said 4 or 5 years. The Building and Zoning Director said it has a covid 19 banner still up. Trustee McDonald said in the last 12 to 18 months it got worse and the generator is gone. Alexa said residents have complained about noises at night from it. The Building and Zoning Director said they are probably stripping material from it. Natalie Jablonski said her daughter said it sounds like construction is going on there at night. The Building and Zoning Director said if there are any other longstanding issues in the Village to let him know. Charlie Pitt said the Park Board meeting is on Saturday at the Thompson Building and there will be a Swansea Patriots meeting after it.

X) Report of Committees

A) Personnel Committee – Comments

1.Travel Request- Kristina Essenpreis- IPBC All Member Meeting 3-20-2025

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

Trustee Votes: All ayes

2. Travel Request For Chief Blomberg & Deputy Chief Howard To Attend The 2025 Illinois Association Of Chiefs Of Police Conference April 22-25 In Lincolnshire, IL

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

Trustee Votes: All ayes

3.Request to Hire Code Inspector- Kelly Vogelsberg

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

Trustee Votes: All ayes

3. Marilyn’s resignation letter is placed on file and they have to swear Trustee McGuire in. The Village Administrator does not have the wording for how to swear him in. Board President Leopold said he is officially swearing Brian McGuire in as trustee to take Marilyn’s remaining two year position. He raised his right hand and swore him in. Board President Leopold will appoint the committees at the next meeting.

B) Finance Committee Report – Comments

1. Approval of Bills

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

Trustee Votes: All ayes

C) Judiciary Committee – Nothing Requested

D) Community & Economic Development- Comments

1. Res. No. ____ A Resolution Approving A Pre-Annexation Agreement Between The Village Of Swansea, Illinois And Triple Lakes Farm, LLC (Further Discussion Pushed To A Later Meeting)

Postponed

2. Res. No. ____ A Resolution Approving A Recapture Agreement Between The Village Of Swansea, Illinois And Triple Lakes Farm, LLC (Further Discussion Pushed To A Later Meeting)

Postponed

3. Res. No. ____ A Resolution Approving A Redevelopment Agreement Between The Village Of Swansea, Illinois And Triple Lakes Farm, LLC (Further Discussion Pushed To A Later Meeting)

Postponed

4. Res. No. ____ A Resolution Approving A Professional Services Agreement With PGAV Planners, 200 North Broadway, Suite 1000, St. Louis, MO, 63102, For A Feasibility Study And Creation Of TIF And Business Districts For The Triple Lakes Development Area, At A Lump Sum Of $39,500.00 With Up To $500 Of Reimbursable (Further Discussion Pushed To A Later Meeting)

Postponed

5. Res. No. _____ A Resolution Which Provides For A Feasibility Study On The Creation Of A New TIF District To Include A Portion Of The Village Of Swansea Known As Triple Lakes, And Which Authorizes Expenditures In The Course Of Planning And Redevelopment, Prior To The Redevelopment Project Area Being Established, That May Be Reimbursable From Future TIF Proceeds (Further Discussion Pushed To A Later Meeting)

Postponed

6. Ord. No. 1986 An Ordinance Annexing Certain Contiguous And Adjacent Territory To The Village Of Swansea, St. Clair County, Illinois

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

Trustee Votes: All ayes

E) Public Safety Committee – Comments

1. Res. No. 1-2662 A Resolution Accepting The Price Quotation Of $16,320 From Dinges Fire Company, 243 E. Main St., Amboy, IL 61310, For Four (4) Complete Sets Of Lion Turnout Gear PPE For The Swansea Fire Department 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 Lewis

Trustee Votes: All ayes

F) Public Works Committee – Comments

1. Res. No. 1-2663 Resolution of Support For The 2025 Community Development Block Grant

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

Trustee Votes: All ayes

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

Trustee Votes: All ayes

G) Cultural Committee – Nothing Requested

H) Swansea Report Committee – Nothing Requested

XIII) Old Business

None

XIV) New Business

None

XV) Announcements

None

XVI) Adjournment

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

https://www.swanseail.org/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Minutes/_03032025-96