Peoria Standard

Village of Swansea Board of Trustees met June 16.

Here are the minutes provided by the board:

Attendees: Board President Jeff Parker, Treasurer John Walter, Village Clerk Gloria J. Collier, Village Administrator Ben Schloesser, Trustee Brian McGuire, Trustee Sherman Pochek, Trustee Matt Lanter, Trustee Natalie Jablonski, Trustee Brian Thouvenot, Trustee Cary Lewis V, Police Chief Matthew Blomberg, Director of Public Works Rick Tucker, Building and Zoning Director Dan Thomas, and Kari Speir Finance Manager

1. Call to Order

II. Pledge Allegiance to the Flag

III. Roll Call

IV. Approval of Minutes - May 5, 2025

Approval of Meeting Minutes

Mayor Parker asked if board members had reviewed the meeting minutes and were ready to approve them, or if additional time was needed.

Trustee Jablonski requested a revision to the **May 5, 2025 meeting minutes**, noting that they should include the announcement of Deputy Chief Pete's retirement. Jablonski emphasized that during that meeting, board members formally thanked Pete for his years of service and acknowledged his contributions, and that this recognition should be reflected in the record. No other changes were requested.

Trustee Lewis made a motion to approve the meeting minutes, with the noted amendments to the May 5, 2025 minutes.

Seconded by Trustee McGuire.

Trustee Votes: All Ayes.

V. Acceptance of Minutes - Board President Parker

Park Board Minutes - May 10, 2025

Trustee Lanter

Next is acceptance of the minutes of the advisory boards and placed on file. I'll make a motion to accept the park board minutes of May tenth and placed on file. Seconded by Trustee McGuire.

Trustee Votes: All Ayes.

VI. Mayor's Announcements/Correspondence

Officer Eric Rohn 25 Years of Service Recognition

Mayor acknowledged Officer Eric Rohn's 25 years of service, noting it was amazing that he still seemed to be strong when most people would be ready to retire after that long.

Richard Carr - Part-time Public Works Summer Worker – 10 Years

The mayor asked Rick to pass along congratulations to Mr. Carr for his great job, mentioning they would get together with him and that Natalie would meet with Rick the following morning.

**Mayor Parker** shared that he plans to resume creating video content, similar to what he did during his campaign, but with a new focus on promoting local businesses. He intends to visit Swansea's retail establishments and highlight them on the village's resident page as part of a broader effort to showcase and promote the community.

He added, "I'm going to start selling this community-and we'll go from there."

The mayor also confirmed that **Ben and Christina** are actively working on matters related to the **economic development director position**, to which **Ben** responded affirmatively: "Yes, sir."

VII. Village Attorney/Village Administrator-Announcements/Comment

Department Head Reports

Public Works Department Update - Mowing and Weed Violations

**Rick Tucker** added to his submitted written report that the Public Works crew logged **27 hours during May** addressing mowing and weed ordinance violations, specifically tall grass issues. He noted this figure is on the higher side, largely due to the **excessive rainfall** during the spring, which limited residents' ability to maintain their lawns as usual. Such increased activity is typical for spring but was especially pronounced this year.

Police Department Updates - Youth Academy and Community Engagement

**Police Chief Blomberg** reported on the successful completion of the department's **eighth Youth Academy**, which hosted **32 cadets**. The program was led by **Civilian Supervisor Ashley Robbins**, who was praised for her outstanding leadership and dedication.

The academy featured a variety of engaging and educational activities, including:

- A tour of the **St. Clair County Jail**

- **Firearm safety training**

- A **Fire Department obstacle course/SRT/FD equipment orientation

- SWAT team present

- Presentations from **Heartlinks Grief Awareness and Coping** focused on youth support

- **Chestnut Health** on the dangers of vaping

**U.S. Secret Service's Operation Safe Kids**

- A **helicopter landing and demo by Air Evac**, always a crowd favorite

- An **ambulance equipment presentation** from Abbott

**Illinois State Police** canine demonstration and forensic team presentation

- A program on **comfort dogs**

- A powerful ***One Pill Can Kill*** awareness session led by the **DEA**

Chief Blomberg highlighted the academy as a major success, calling it a meaningful experience for the participants and a strong example of community engagement.

Sponsors: Schnucks, Trustee Pochek, Peace by Piece, Rotary Club of Swansea, FCB Swansea Bank, Swansea FD Ladies Auxiliary, Swansea FD Civic Assn, Swansea PD FOP Lodge 500, 1st National Bank of Waterloo, SCCTD, and The Sweet Side Ice Cream Truck

Illinois Law Enforcement Accreditation Program

Police Department Update - Accreditation, Certification & Recruitment

**Police Chief Blomberg** informed the board that the department has officially entered the **Illinois Law Enforcement Accreditation Program** through the **Illinois Chiefs Association**. The program will include a formal assessment expected in **November or December**, led internally by **Deputy Chief Keith Howard**. Accreditation will affirm that the department's policies and procedures meet the **highest standards of law enforcement professionalism**. Only four other departments in the region currently hold this distinction- O'Fallon, Collinsville, Carbondale, and SIU Carbondale-placing Swansea in elite company.

In a related achievement, Chief Blomberg proudly announced that **Deputy Chief Howard** passed his certification exam and is now a **Certified Eligible Police Chief**, as recognized by the Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police. A press release summarized the honor, stating it "signifies that Deputy Chief Howard has met the highest standards of competency and conduct for his profession." Notably, only **two individuals south of Springfield** currently hold this certification: **Deputy Chief Howard and the Chief of Highland**, underscoring the significance of the accomplishment.

Chief Blomberg also shared that **five lateral officer candidates** are scheduled for interviews, with sessions beginning at **5:00 p.m. tomorrow evening**.

Finally, he announced he will be **out of the office from June 20 to June 28** and will distribute a notice as a reminder.

Mayor's Acknowledgment - Officer Jones

Before moving on, **Mayor Parker** took a moment to recognize **Officer Jones** for his outstanding contribution to the Youth Academy. On the first day, Officer Jones was released by **Brendan Kelly's command center** to attend as part of his ISP transition. He then voluntarily spent his next two personal days fully participating in the academy.

"We lost a good officer, but ISP gained a great one," Mayor Parker said. He personally thanked Brendan Kelly and urged him not to let Officer Jones "slip through the cracks," highlighting that he would be a strong candidate for specialized units.

The Mayor went on to share how beloved Officer Jones is by the community-especially the kids. During recent school graduations, when his name was announced, he received what appeared to be a **standing ovation**, a testament to the lasting impact he's made.

Fire Department Monthly Stats

**Fire Chief's Report** (submitted by Chief Little) provided the following activity breakdown for May:

- **1 fire incident**

- **21 rescue & emergency medical service calls**

- **10 service calls**

**7 good intent calls**

- **11 false alarms/false calls**

- **0 hazardous condition incidents involving fire**

Chief Little, currently away on a Boy Scouts camping trip, was commended for his detailed report. The department is gradually resuming its inspection program. A member has completed the Inspector I certification, with only a few field inspections remaining before the program is fully reactivated. **Officer appointments effective June 2025** were also included:

- **Assistant Chiefs**: Matt Lanter and Dave Shafer (noted for his long-standing service)

- **Station 1**: Captain Matt; Lieutenant Tom Dom (recognized for his dedication and leadership)

**Lieutenants**: Jack Corbis (also leads the cadet program) and Ben (noted for ongoing leadership development)

- **Open Positions**: Captain at Station 2 and one additional lieutenant role, with strong internal candidates anticipated

The department continues to place a strong focus on training. A **live burn training session** with two neighboring communities was scheduled at the training facility.

Finally, thanks were extended to all involved in the **Youth Academy**, which was described as a deeply rewarding and collaborative effort for the community.

Building and Zoning Department

**Director Thomas** shared several key updates beyond the routine inspection, code enforcement, and citation work:

**Homeowner Assistance Program**: A full draft of the proposed program has been created, though some refinements are still needed before it is finalized and presented to the board.

- **CVS Redevelopment Plans**: Initial plans for the CVS site have been received but were deemed Inadequate for progression. The department is actively working with the applicant and property owner to establish clear expectations and move the project forward.

- **Citation System Upgrade**: With support from the Police Department, the department has implemented **DigiTicket**, a new digital citation system that replaces the time-consuming handwritten process. This change has significantly improved efficiency and responsiveness.

- **Special Use Permits**: Two applications for proposed group homes are pending and will be reviewed by the Planning and Zoning Board on **June 24**. Depending on the outcome, they may come before the board for further consideration.

- **Problem Property List**: Work continues on compiling a dedicated list of the most severely blighted properties in the village. Once finalized, the list will be updated and shared monthly.

- **Solar Permitting**: Although solar permit applications have slightly declined in 2025 compared to recent years (projected around 60 vs. 80+ in 2024), interest remains steady. The department is evaluating **SolarAPP+**, a free permitting program from the U.S. Department of Energy, designed to streamline the application and review process.

- **Vacant Building Registry**: Efforts are ongoing to improve tracking and enforcement for vacant structures, including coordination with legal and administrative teams.

VIII. Treasurer's Report

Treasurer John Walter provided a detailed report of fund balances as of May 31, 2025.

Forward Motion by Trustee Lanter. Seconded by Trustee McGuire.

Roll Call

IX. Public Comment

No Public Comment.

Village Administrator Report

**Storage Unit Tax**

Administrator Schloesser confirmed that the **storage unit tax is a tool available only to home rule communities**, reiterating a point raised at the previous meeting.

**Youth Academy Recognition**

He commended the Police Department and all involved with the recent Youth Academy, calling it an outstanding program and a credit to the Village.

**Hendrix Brewing Update**

Schloesser shared that **Hendrix Brewing** is approximately one year behind its original timeline due to personal family matters. However, the owners still intend to move forward and have submitted engineered plans. Progress is expected to resume soon.

**Route 159 Streetscape Easements & Garden Street**

The Village is in the process of securing **temporary construction easements** from Vapex, Tallulah's, and ALDI for the **Route 159 Streetscape sidewalk project**. ALDI has requested that the Village include a repaving of **Garden Street**, their secondary truck entrance, as part of the agreement. Schloesser supports the request due to the poor condition of the road and its importance to one of Swansea's largest businesses. He has asked **TWM** to design the upgrade and plans to bundle it with other smaller infrastructure projects for bidding, pending board approval.

**State Infrastructure Funding**

The Village currently has **two $100,000 grants** from DCEO for general infrastructure improvements. While initially considered as matching funds for a **TAP grant sidewalk project** (which was not awarded), Schloesser recommends applying the funds toward current or upcoming infrastructure projects to avoid potential retraction of the funding. Options include:

- Direct application to a new infrastructure project

- Replacing existing Fund 99 allocations with grant dollars to free up village funds for future use Additional grants include:

- **$150,000** (unbonded) for general infrastructure; potentially suitable for park improvements later this year

- **$250,000** designated for **demolition**, possibly for **Sycamore Village**, though it contains flexible language allowing general infrastructure use if needed

Schloesser encouraged the board to consider project ideas and noted the urgency to move forward with applications to secure the funding.

**Parks Master Plan Grant Approval**

Schloesser announced that the **Metro East Park and Recreation District (MEPRD)** approved the Village's grant application to fund **40% of the parks master plan** adopted earlier this year. He congratulated and thanked the **Park Board** for their support and **HeartLands Conservancy**, especially **Loreline**, for their thorough and successful application effort.

X. Report of Committees

A. Personnel Committee

Request to Hire Daytime Duty Crew Member - Jeff Hefner

Trustee Jablonski made a motion to hire Jeff Parker as a paid duty on call crew firefighter in a non- exempt hourly position at $15 per hour. The motion was seconded.

Motion: Trustee Jablonski moved to hire Jeff Parker as a paid duty on call crew firefighter in a non-exempt hourly position at $15 per hour. Seconded by Trustee Lanter.

Trustee Votes: All Ayes

Roll Call

B. Finance Committee

Approval of Bills

Trustee Lanter: I'll make a motion to pay the bills in the amount of $438,838.78 and have the funds drawn for the proper accounts.

Seconded by Trustee Pochek

Roll Call

General Fund Analysis had been previously reviewed.

Forward Motion by Trustee Lanter to read ordinance by Title only.

Ord. No. 1991- An Ordinance Implementing A Municipal Grocery Retailers' Occupation Tax And A Municipal Grocery Service Occupation Tax For The Village Of Swansea, St. Clair County, Illinois

C. Judiciary Committee - Comments

Trustee Lewis stated that ordinance 1989 was completed and passed at last meeting.

D. Community & Economic Development - Comments

Forward Motion by Trustee Lanter to read ordinance number 1990 by title only.

The Clerk read the title of Ordinance 1990: "An ordinance amending sections 154.018 and 154.059 of the code of ordinances of the village of Swansea, Illinois to establish definitions and regulations for the parking and storage of vehicles, recreation, recreational vehicles, commercial vehicles, utility trailers, and vehicle coverings."

Seconded by Trustee McGuire.

Trustee Votes: All Ayes

Item: May 2025 Vacant Building Registry information only.

E. Public Safety Committee - Nothing Requested at Time of Agenda

F. Public Works Committee - Comments

Res. No. 1-2689 A Resolution Authorizing The Purchase Of A New Scag 61" Turf Tiger Mower At A Price of $15,989.22, From Erb Turf & Utility Equipment, Inc., 1500 Boul Avenue, Swansea, IL 62226

Trustee McGuire made a motion to read Resolution 1-2689 by title only. The motion. Seconded by Trustee Lanter.

Trustee Votes : All Ayes

Trustee McGuire made a motion to accept the reading of resolution 1-2 6 8 9 and declare a pass. Second by Trustee Lanter

Trustee Votes - All Ayes. Roll Call

G. Cultural Committee - Nothing Requested at Time of Agenda

H. Swansea Report Committee - Nothing Requested at Time of Agenda

XI. Old Business - Nothing

XII. New Business

Trustee McGuire reported that Caliber Collision at North Belton 161 had closed, with speculation about the reasons for the closure and its potential impact on village revenue.

XIII Announcements

Forward Motion to Adjourn by Mayor Parker. Seconded by Trustee Lanter.

Trustee Votes: All Ayes

https://www.swanseail.org/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Minutes/_06162025-113