Village of Swansea Board of Trustees met Feb. 2.
Here are the minutes provided by the board:
Attendees: Board President Jeff Parker, Village Clerk Gloria J. Collier, Village Administrator Ben Schloesser, Village Treasurer John Walters, Trustee Sherman Pochek, Trustee Matt Lanter, Trustee Natalie Jablonski, Trustee Cary Lewis, Trustee Thouvenot, Trustee McGuire, and Dan Thomas, Building and Zoning Director, Kari Speir Finance Manger, Fire Chief Doug Little, Deputy Chief Howard and Rick Tucker
1) Call to Order
The Regular Meeting of the Village of Swansea Board of Trustees was called to order at 7:00 PM on Monday, February 2, 2026.
II) Pledge Allegiance to The Flag
All present participated in the Pledge of Allegiance.
III) Roll Call
Village Clerk Gloria Collier conducted roll call.
IV) Approval of Minutes
1. Board Minutes- January 20, 2026*
2. Committee Minutes-January 20, 2026*
3. Executive Session- Personnel Committee Minutes- January 20, 2026
Trustee Lanter noted several corrections needed to the January 20, 2026 Board Minutes:
• Trustee Pochek’s name was misspelled under three bullet points
• On page 5, regarding a resolution authorizing streetlights at the Chateaus, it incorrectly stated Trustee Lanter made the motion, which he did not
• The same resolution stated all trustees voted aye, but Trustee Lanter had actually abstained from that vote
Motion by Trustee Lanter, seconded by Trustee Pochek, to approve the Board Minutes of January 20, 2026, Committee Minutes of January 20, 2026, and Executive Session Personnel Committee Minutes of January 20, 2026, with the corrections noted. Motion carried unanimously.
V) Acceptance of Minutes
There were no minutes to accept at this meeting.
VI) Mayor’s Announcements/Correspondence
The Mayor made several announcements:
• He expressed support for the reserve fund ordinance maintaining a minimum 6-month reserve with no cap but requiring a two-thirds board vote to use those funds
• He suggested that any reserves exceeding 7-8 months should be considered for use on underfunded parks projects
• He reported speaking with Representative Hoffman about a potential “Concert in the Park” idea, which was well-received
He called for the board to revisit hiring an Economic Director, now that the reserve fund ordinance is moving forward
• He asked Trustee Jablonski to continue work on a part-time communications/community involvement position
• He called for the board to fund and start a new comprehensive plan for the village, as the current one dates back to 2017
• He emphasized the importance of citizen input via public forums and surveys for the comprehensive plan
• He noted positive community response during the recent snowstorm to his request for residents to park off streets
• He invited trustees to attend the Southern Illinois Mayors Meeting on February 26 at the Swansea Moose, which will feature speakers Representative Jay Hoffman and State Police Director Brendan Kelly
• He announced a change to department head reporting at meetings, moving to once monthly instead of every meeting
VII) Village Attorney/Village Administrator-Announcements/Comments
Village Administrator Ben Schloesser provided several updates:
• The next Park Board meeting is February 14, where Heartland’s Conservancy will present on the open space master plan with focus on Clinton Hills Conservation Park
• He acknowledged four Swansea police officers who received life-saving awards: Sergeant Brian Kemper and Officers Justin Schloesser, Clayton Profit, and Matt Lindley
• A meeting was held with Lake Lorraine Homeowners Association and Lake Owners Association regarding stormwater erosion and street maintenance issues
• Progress is being made on electronic board packets, with setup for nine computers planned, followed by a potential work session for trustees
• Illinois American Water needed to relocate a water main along Kenwood and has agreed to move to the north side of the road to avoid damaging newly finished streets
• As part of the compromise, Illinois American will line the village’s storm sewer at their cost
• Ameren has agreed to return to improve poorly finished work at Woodridge and Persimmon following resident complaints
• Regarding St. Clair Township’s request for cooperation on Bobby Drive properties for a new parking lot at Centennial Park, written approval is needed from Illinois Department of Natural Resources as the properties were conveyed under the Flood Control Act of 1945
• The county has agreed to contract for all striping related to the Jennings Station development and will bill the village proportionally, saving on administrative costs and liability
• An application to DCEO for a diesel exhaust removal system for both firehouses has been updated to include a new HVAC system for Engine House 2
• A working group including Belleville, O’Fallon, Shiloh, and Swansea will meet in May to discuss safety, security, and consistent enforcement on the trail system
• A traffic study will be needed for a potential traffic signal at Sullivan and Huntwood, with costs being gathered for possible FY27 budgeting
• The 159 sidewalk project is proceeding with final submittal to IDOT for construction permits
VIII) Public Comment
There were no public comments.
IX) Report of Committees
A) Personnel Committee – Comments
1. Retirement Letter- Rick Tucker*
2. Travel Request- Ben Schloesser- Municipal Attomeys Travel Seminar- March 12, 2026*
3. Travel Request For Chief Blomberg And Deputy Chief Howard To Attend The 2026 Illinois Association Of Chiefs Of Police Annual Conference In Springfield, IL April 29 – May 1, 2026*
4. Updated Job Description for Approval- Director of Public Works*
5. Updated Job Description for Approval- Public Works Supervisor*
6. New Job Description for Approval- Wastewater Treatment Plant Foreman*
7. Updated Job Description for Approval- Parks Foreman*
Personnel Committee – Comments
Retirement Letter – Rick Tucker
The board reviewed the retirement letter from Rick Tucker, Director of Public Works.
Motion by Trustee Jablonski, and seconded by Trustee Lewis, to accept the retirement letter from Rick Tucker, with regrets expressed by the board. Motion carried unanimously.
Board members expressed appreciation for Rick’s service and noted he still has significant work to complete before his retirement.
Travel Request – Ben Schloesser – Municipal Attorneys Travel Seminar – March 12, 2026
Motion by Trustee Jablonski, and seconded by Trustee McGuire, to approve the travel request for Ben Schloesser to attend the Municipal Attorneys Travel Seminar on March 12, 2026, at an estimated cost of $225. Motion carried unanimously by roll call vote.
Travel Request For Chief Blomberg And Deputy Chief Howard To Attend The 2026 Illinois Association Of Chiefs Of Police Annual Conference In Springfield, IL April 29 – May 1, 2026
Motion by Trustee Jablonski, and seconded by Trustee Lewis, to approve the travel request for Chief Blomberg and Deputy Chief Howard to attend the 2026 Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police Annual Conference in Springfield, IL, April 29-May 1, 2026, at an estimated cost of $1,370.80. Motion carried unanimously by roll call vote.
Updated Job Description for Approval – Director of Public Works
Updated Job Description for Approval – Public Works Supervisor
New Job Description for Approval – Wastewater Treatment Plant Foreman
Updated Job Description for Approval – Parks Foreman
The board considered all four job description items together.
Motion by Trustee Lanter, seconded by Trustee Jablonski, to approve the updated job description for Director of Public Works, updated job description for Public Works Supervisor, new job description for Wastewater Treatment Plant Foreman, and updated job description for Parks Foreman, with the notation that the Parks Foreman description should be formatted consistently with the other three. Motion carried unanimously.
B) Finance Committee Report – Comments
1. Approval of Bills*
2. Res. No. A Resolution Accepting The Three (3) Year Professional Services Contract With The Regional Justice Information Service, 4255 West Pine Blvd, St. Louis MO 63108, For The Purchase, Installation, And Maintenance Of Off-Site Backup Solutions For The Village Of Swansea At A Total Cost Of $63,674.64*
Finance Committee Report – Comments
Approval of Bills
Motion by Trustee Lanter, and seconded by Trustee Jablonski, to approve payment of bills totaling $517,363.45. Motion carried unanimously by roll call vote.
There was a brief discussion about a $69.57 late charge from Clearwave Fiber. The Treasurer suggested calling to request waiving the fee since the village’s bill was approximately $5,000, and staff indicated that attempt had already been made.
Res. No. A Resolution Accepting The Three (3) Year Professional Services Contract With The Regional Justice Information Service, 4255 West Pine Blvd, St. Louis MO 63108, For The Purchase, Installation, And Maintenance Of Off-Site Backup Solution
This item was tabled.
C) Judiciary Committee – Comments
1. Executive Session to Review Previous Executive Minutes
2, Motion To Declare Previous Executive Minutes As Public/Confidential
3, Ord. No. An Ordinance Ammending Section 36.032 Of The Swansea Municipal Code By Raising The Financial Reserve Maintenance Level To No Less Than 6 Months And Changing Language Regarding Revenues And Expenditures Within That Section*
Judiciary Committee – Comments
Executive Session to Review Previous Executive Minutes
The board had previously met in executive session to review prior executive session minutes.
Motion To Declare Previous Executive Minutes As Public/Confidential
Motion by Trustee Lanter, and seconded by Trustee Lewis, to declare the previous executive minutes as confidential. Motion carried unanimously by roll call vote.
Ord. No. An Ordinance Amending Section 36.032 Of The Swansea Municipal Code By Raising The Financial Reserve Maintenance Level To No Less Than 6 Months And Changing Language Regarding Revenues And Expenditures Within That Section
The first reading of this ordinance was completed. No vote was required at this time.
D) Community & Economic Development- Comments
1. Executive Session: “Litigation, when an action against, affecting or on behalf of the particular public body has been filed and is pending before a court of administrative tribunal, or when the public body finds that an action is probable or imminent, in which case the basis for the finding shall be recorded and entered into the minutes of the closed meeting.” 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(11).
2. Ord. No. 2008 An Ordinance Annexing Certain Contiguous And Adjacent Territory To The Village Of Swansea, St. Clair County, Illinois*
3. Ord. No.2009 An Ordinance Approving Tax Increment Redevelopment Plan And Project Of The Triple Lakes TIF*
4. Ord. No.2010 An Ordinance Designating The Triple Lakes TIF*
5. Ord. No.2011 An Ordinance Adopting Tax Increment Financing For The Triple Lakes TIF*
6. Ord. No.2012 An Ordinance Establishing And Designating The Triple Lakes Business District And Approving The Triple Lakes Business District Plan Within The Village Of Swansea IL*
7. Ord. No.2013 An Ordinance Establishing And Imposing Certain Business District Taxes In The Village Of Swansea Triple Lakes Business District*
8. Ord. No.2014 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, Recreational Vehicles, Commercial Vehicles, Utility Trailers, And Vehicle Coverings*
Community & Economic Development – Comments
Executive Session: ‘Litigation, when an action against, affecting or on behalf of the particular public body has been filed and is pending before a court of administrative tribunal, or when the public body finds that an action is probable or imminent
No action was taken on this item during the public meeting.
Ord. No. 2008 An Ordinance Annexing Certain Contiguous And Adjacent Territory To The Village Of Swansea, St. Clair County, Illinois
Motion by Trustee Lanter, and seconded by Trustee Jablonski, to approve Ordinance No. 2008, an ordinance annexing certain contiguous and adjacent territory to the Village of Swansea, St. Clair County, Illinois. Motion carried unanimously by roll call vote.
Ord. No. 2009 An Ordinance Approving Tax Increment Redevelopment Plan And Project Of The Triple Lakes TIF
Motion by Trustee Lanter, and seconded by Trustee Pochek, to approve Ordinance No. 2009, an ordinance approving tax increment redevelopment plan and project of the Triple Lakes TIF. Motion carried unanimously by roll call vote.
Ord. No.2010 An Ordinance Designating The Triple Lakes TIF
Motion by Trustee McGuire, and seconded by Trustee Lanter, to approve Ordinance No. 2010, an ordinance designating the Triple Lakes TIF. Motion carried unanimously by roll call vote.
Ord. No.2011 An Ordinance Adopting Tax Increment Financing For The Triple Lakes TIF
Motion by Trustee McGuire, and seconded by Trustee Lanter, to approve Ordinance No. 2011, an ordinance adopting tax increment financing for the Triple Lakes TIF. Motion carried unanimously by roll call vote.
Ord. No.2012 An Ordinance Establishing And Designating The Triple Lakes Business District And Approving The Triple Lakes Business District Plan Within The Village Of Swansea IL
Motion by Trustee Lanter, and seconded by Trustee Jablonski, to approve Ordinance No. 2012, an ordinance establishing and designating the Triple Lakes Business District and approving the Triple Lakes Business District Plan within the Village of Swansea, IL. Motion carried unanimously by roll call vote.
Ord. No.2013 An Ordinance Establishing And Imposing Certain Business District Taxes In The Village Of Swansea Triple Lakes Business District
Motion by Trustee Lanter, and seconded by Trustee Pochek, to approve Ordinance No. 2013, an ordinance establishing and imposing certain business district taxes in the Village of Swansea Triple Lakes Business District. Motion carried unanimously by roll call vote.
Ord. No.2014 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, Recreational Vehicles, Commercial Vehicles
Motion by Trustee McGuire, seconded by Trustee Jablonski, to approve Ordinance No. 2014, 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, recreational vehicles, commercial vehicles, utility trailers, and vehicle coverings. Motion carried with five ayes and one no vote (Trustee Lanter) by roll call vote.
E) Public Safety Committee – Nothing Requested At Agenda Time
Public Safety Committee – Nothing Requested At Agenda Time
There were no items for discussion.
F) Public Works Committee – Comments
1. Res. No. A Resolution Authorizing The President Of The Board Of Trustees To Execute A Contract With Thouvenot, Wade & Moerchen, Inc. 4940 Old Collinsville Rd, Swansea, IL 62226, For Engineering Services On The H Street Phase 3 Sewer Rehab Project, On An Hourly Basis Plus Reimbursables, Estimated At $25,000.00*
2. ‘Proposed’ Organizational Chart*
Public Works Committee – Comments
Res. No. A Resolution Authorizing The President Of The Board Of Trustees To Execute A Contract With Thouvenot, Wade & Moerchen, Inc. 4940 Old Collinsville Rd, Swansea, IL 62226, For Engineering Services On The H Street Phase 3 Sewer Rehab Project
Motion by Trustee McGuire, seconded by Trustee Pochek, to approve Resolution No. 1- 2729, a resolution authorizing the President of the Board of Trustees to execute a contract with Thouvenot, Wade & Moerchen, Inc., 4940 Old Collinsville Road, Swansea, for engineering services on the H Street phase 3 sewer rehab project on an hourly basis plus reimbursables, estimated at $25,000. Motion carried unanimously by roll call vote.
‘Proposed’ Organizational Chart
This item was on hold for future discussion,
G) Cultural Committee – Nothing Requested At Agenda Time
Cultural Committee – Nothing Requested At Agenda Time
H) Swansea Report Committee – Comments
1. Draft March Swansea Report-articles due to Stefanie by February 20th email: sproffitt@swanseall.org
Swansea Report Committee – Comments
Draft March Swansea Report – Articles Due to Stefanie by February 20th
Trustee Jablonski had nothing further to add regarding the Swansea Report. The board noted that articles for the March Swansea Report are due to Stefanie by February 20th.
X) Old Business
Trustee Lewis requested an update from Director Thomas regarding resident complaints about utility companies digging up roads for fiber optic installation.
Director Thomas reported that work is continuing with multiple companies, and he has been in constant communication with both residents and the contractors. He visited Lake Lorraine subdivision that day to inspect work and speak with the superintendent. He noted that while the work is “sloppy, messy, and annoying,” the companies are doing a good job and trying to minimize disruption.
Trustee Jablonski asked Director Thomas to clarify for residents watching that these utility companies have authority through the Illinois Commerce Commission to work in utility easements, and the village cannot deny them access. Director Thomas confirmed this, explaining that while the village can’t refuse access, they can set conditions including permits, fees, and schedules.
Trustee McGuire asked about permit fees for this type of work, and Director Thomas and Administrator Schloesser acknowledged that the village’s permit fees are significantly lower than peer communities and don’t reflect the amount of staff time required to oversee these projects. They indicated this is on their list to update.
XI) New Business
Trustee Lanter raised concerns about the public participation guidelines printed on meeting agendas, noting they don’t reflect actual practice. Specifically, he questioned the 10-minute total time limit with 3- minute individual limits, which would only allow for three speakers. He also noted that the requirement for speakers to complete forms doesn’t match current practice. The Mayor agreed this should be revisited.
Trustee McGuire proposed reorganizing the board meeting room to improve sightlines and communication among trustees, noting the current layout makes conversation difficult. The Mayor suggested possibly using the Thompson Center for meetings, which would allow for a U-shaped seating arrangement with more room for the public.
Trustee Jablonski added that the Thompson Center could be equipped with better technology for meetings, including overhead microphones and screens, which could also make the space more attractive for rental by outside groups needing meeting spaces with virtual options. Administrator Schloesser raised the concern that for 1-2 meetings per year when the Thompson Center is unavailable, the board would need to consider whether to invest in duplicate technology for a second location or temporarily suspend broadcasts.
XII) Announcements
Trustee Jablonski announced she would be absent from the next meeting.
Trustee Jablonski noted that the Rotary Roundup annual dinner (the last Saturday in February) was nearly sold out with approximately 30 tickets remaining. Sponsorships are due by Friday.
The Mayor added that the annual paddle raise at the event would benefit Missouri Valley Search and Rescue, the group that helped in the search for a missing man named Bill. He noted that thanks to their efforts, Bill was found alive and is now with his family.
Trustee Pochek announced a “Bourbon and Bags” event for the Ladies Missouri Fire Department.
The Mayor reminded everyone that the next meeting would be on Tuesday, February 16.
XIII) Adjournment
Motion by Mayor Parker and seconded by Trustee Jablonski, to adjourn the meeting. Motion carried unanimously.
The meeting adjourned at 7:47 pm.
https://www.swanseail.org/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Minutes/_02022026-160
