Village of Swansea Village Committees met Feb. 17.
Here are the minutes provided by the committees:
Attendees: Board President Jeff Parker, Village Clerk Gloria J. Collier, Village Administrator Ben Schloesser, Treasurer John Walter, Trustee Sherman Pochek Trustee Matt Lanter, Trustee Cary Lewis, Trustee Thouvenot, Chief Blomberg, Chief Doug Little, Rick Tucker Superintendent of Public Works, and Dan Thomas Building & Zoning Director
Absent: Trustee Jablonski
PERSONNEL COMMITTEE – 6:00-6:10
Chair: Trustee Jablonski; Vice-Chair: Trustee Lewis V. Thouvenot
Members: Trustees Lanter, Pochek, McGuire,
1. Presentation of 2025 Officer of the Year Award to Detective Alex Wilken
2. Presentation of 2025 ACE Awards to Officers Andrew Hewitt, Matthew Lindley, and Derek Schackmann
Presentation Of 2025 Officer Of The Year Award To Detective Alex Wilken Trustee Lewis opened the personnel committee at 6:02 PM and turned the proceedings over to Police Chief Matt Blomberg for the officer recognition presentations.
Chief Blomberg began by explaining the ACE (Aggressive Criminal Enforcement) Awards, describing them as recognition for self-initiated activity where officers pursue “the worst of the worst” – targeting felony arrests, fugitives, guns, and drugs. He emphasized that the department tracks these arrests and awards officers when they reach certain thresholds. The Chief noted it was “a long standing program that some other agencies in the area also use” and expressed pride in how the officers collaborate across different shifts, exchanging information despite not working together.
The Chief then called forward Officers Lindley, Shackmann, and Hewitt to receive their ACE Awards for 2025. He provided background on each officer: “Officer Hewitt and Officer Lindley been around since 2013 and Officer Shackmann fortunately came to us a couple years ago from St. Louis City.” Chief Blomberg praised their intrinsic motivation, stating “I don’t ever have to ask them to go do anything. In fact, it’s pretty funny. You can see it in their demeanor when maybe they’re not finding what they want to find that day.”
After presenting the ACE Awards, Chief Blomberg transitioned to the Officer of the Year Award, calling Detective Alex Wilken forward along with acknowledging his family members present in the audience. The Chief detailed Detective Wilken’s exceptional performance: “From January first through December 31st of last year, Detective Wilkins was assigned approximately 150 criminal cases of his own.” He emphasized that with only three detectives total, Wilken’s actual caseload was even higher due to collaborative work.
Chief Blomberg highlighted Detective Wilken’s work on Illinois Crimes Against Children (ICAC) cases, describing them as “the worst of the worst cases as you can possibly imagine.” He praised Wilken’s technical expertise and attention to detail in securing “multiple arrest warrants and was instrumental in the apprehension incarceration of several child predators.” The Chief also commended Wilken’s collaborative approach, noting his “strong working relationships with the state’s attorney’s office and with investigators from neighboring jurisdictions.”
Detective Sergeant Jason Frank, Wilken’s supervisor, was acknowledged as having expressed similar sentiments about Detective Wilken’s exceptional work. Chief Blomberg concluded by thanking Wilken’s family “for supporting him and knowing that he can get called away at any moment for either our case or for major case and all these other task forces that you’re on.”
Mayor Parker then addressed the officers and their families, drawing on his 49-year law enforcement career and experience with the state’s attorney’s office. He declared: “I can say without a doubt and from hearing all the attorneys in the office that we have a police department that is second to none. They never question the cases you bring to them. If you brought it, they know it was good.” The Mayor acknowledged the difficulty of the job, calling it “kind of a thankless job sometimes,” but expressed deep gratitude for their daily service.
Trustee Lewis echoed these sentiments, specifically thanking the families: “you guys are a part of the reason of why they are able to do the things that they do, and we can’t thank you enough truthfully.”
Motion: Trustee Lewis closed the personnel committee at 6:10 PM. Vote: All in favor – Aye. Motion carried.
Presentation Of 2025 ACE Awards To Officers Andrew Hewitt, Matthew Lindley, And Derek Schackmann
This item was addressed during the Personnel Committee discussion above.
FINANCE COMMITTEE- 6:16 -6:20
Chair: Trustee Lanter; Vice-Chair: Trustee Thouvenot
Members: Trustees Lewis V, Pochek, McGuire, Jablonski
1. General Fund Analysis*
2. Memo- Budget Process for FY2027*
3. Project Timeline for FY2027 Budget*
Finance Committee
General Fund Analysis
Trustee Lanter opened the Finance Committee at 6:16 PM and began with the general fund analysis. He noted that Finance Manager Kari Speir was unable to attend but provided an overview: “in general, we’re very close to budget with revenues versus expenses. Same with sewer. No big variances to really discuss unless somebody has any specific questions.”
Trustee Thouvenot raised a detailed question about budget variances: “we went and did a negative budget for the year, meaning we were gonna spend more than we took in of $403,962, but we’re sitting at a positive variance right now at $213,406 and that’s a $600,000 swing. What’s the reason that we haven’t spent the money that we budgeted that includes that 403?”
Trustee Lanter admitted he didn’t have the specific answer without the budget reports in front of him. Trustee McGuire suggested it might be related to capital purchases not yet made for the year. Trustee Thouvenot requested a specific answer by the next meeting, to which Mayor Parker agreed, noting they would have had the information if not for Kari’s urgent issues requiring her absence.
A discussion ensued about unfilled personnel positions potentially contributing to the variance. Trustee McGuire noted: “I believe there’s 2 in the sewer or street department we did not fill.” Administrator Schloesser confirmed there were “a handful of reasons that would be contributing” and promised to provide finer details at the next meeting.
Memo- Budget Process For FY2027
Trustee Lanter explained that Finance Manager Speir and Administrator Schloesser had prepared a memo and timelines for the budget process “really just trying to keep you in the loop on the schedule.” He emphasized two key points: trustees should quickly communicate any specific projects or capital investments they’d like to see to Carey, Ben, or relevant department heads because “the budget process is kind of in full swing,” and he highlighted the April 6th public hearing at 5:30 PM, urging everyone to mark their calendars.
Project Timeline For FY2027 Budget
This item was addressed as part of the budget process discussion above.
JUDICIARY COMMITTEE
Chair: Trustee Lewis V.; Vice-Chair: Trustee Thouvenot Jablonski
Members: Trustees Lanter, Pochek, McGuire,
Nothing Requested At Agenda Time
OMMUNITY & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT -6:21 -6:58
Chair: Trustee Lanter; Vice-Chair: Trustee Jablonski
Members: Trustees Lewis V, McGuire, Pochek, Thouvenot
1. Executive Session to Discuss: “The purchase or lease of real property for the use of the public body, including meetings held for the purpose of discussing whether a particular parcel should be acquired. “5ILCS 120/2(c)(5). “The setting of a price for sale or lease of property owned by the public body. “5ILCS 20/2(c)(6).
2. Res. No. A Resolution Authorizing Execution Of A First Amended Redevelopment Agreement Between The Village Of Swansea And Triple Lakes Farm, LLC*
3. Res. No. A Resolution Approving The Planned Business Submittal For The Storage Units At Jennings Station In Accordance With The Zoning Regulations Of The Village Of Swansea*
4. Special Property Oversight List*
5. Discussion Regarding ShowMe Stormwater Solutions & St. Clair County*
Community & Economic Development
Executive Session To Discuss Property Acquisition And Pricing
Trustee Lanter opened the Community Economic Development Committee at 6:21 PM. After some discussion about whether to handle other items first to allow attendees to leave, the board decided to address other matters before entering executive session.
Following the completion of other business items, Trustee Lanter made a motion to enter executive session at approximately 6:40 PM to discuss property matters under the cited statutes.
Motion: Trustee Lanter moved to go into executive session to discuss the purchase or lease of real property for the use of the public body, including meetings held for the purpose of discussing whether a particular parcel should be acquired, 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(5), and the setting of a price for the sale or lease of property owned by the public body, 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(6). Vote: All in favor – Aye. Motion carried.
The board returned from executive session at 6:58 PM.
Motion: Trustee Lanter moved to come out of executive session. Second by Trustee McGuire: Vote: All in favor – Aye. Motion carried.
Motion: Trustee McGuire moved to close the Community Economic Development Committee at 6:58 PM. Second: Trustee Lanter Vote: All in favor – Aye. Motion carried.
Resolution Authorizing Execution Of A First Amended Redevelopment Agreement With Triple Lakes Farm, LLC
Building and Zoning Director Dan Thomas presented a resolution to amend section 5.1(c) of the approved redevelopment agreement with Triple Lakes Farm, LLC. He explained: “This resolution is an amendment to a particular section in the approved redevelopment agreement, specifically section 5.1(c), which outlines the date the developers to submit a site development plan and building elevations.”
Thomas referenced section 2.4 of the agreement regarding the amendment process, noting it “generally states this agreement may be amended by mutual consent of the party.” He indicated the village had been anticipating this request “due to the extended negotiation process” and that the resolution would provide an extension to July 1st of the current year for submission of the site development plan.
Thomas acknowledged the complexity of the project: “there’s many moving parts in this project as a couple of minutes showed us with all the different ordinances and resolutions and so forth.” He concluded by requesting approval “in the spirit of working with our developers and being flexible where we can.”
Trustee McGuire clarified: “then we get a plan to us by July first?” Thomas confirmed it was the date to submit the site development plan. Trustee Thouvenot pointed out a typo in the title where “Triple” was spelled “Tipple” and requested it be amended.
Motion: Trustee McGuire moved to forward the resolution to the board. Second: Trustee Thouvenot Vote: All in favor – Aye. Motion carried.
Resolution Approving Planned Business Submittal For Storage Units At Jennings Station
Dan Thomas presented the planned business submittal for Phase 2 of Jennings Station, which consists of storage units. He noted that “all the associated documents contain relevant information, and this phase did receive the positive recommendation from P&Z on the tenth of February.”
Thomas detailed two specific items addressed during the Planning and Zoning Board meeting: “A specific fence type which the developer has indicated will be a 6 foot tall powder coated aluminum type and then some landscaping guarantees on the southwestern portion of the site which they have also agreed to build up to a point that it blocks a lot of the visibility from the development to Stonefield Crossing.”
Addressing ongoing traffic concerns, Thomas assured: “The developer has ensured us that there will be no traffic through Stonefield for this phase and that everything for the phase will be accessed from Frank Scott Parkway.” He concluded by noting the submittal was “in line with the full annexation that we approved some time ago and it’s just a procedural process we have to do.”
Mayor Parker asked for confirmation about traffic equipment, to which Thomas responded that a traffic light was “still in the works” and the developer was in communication with the county. The Mayor confirmed: “That’s been approved. I just wanted to confirm that.”
Motion: Trustee McGuire moved to forward the resolution to the board. Second: Lewis Vote: All in favor – Aye. Motion carried.
Special Property Oversight List
Dan Thomas presented an updated special property oversight list, explaining he had delayed it from the previous meeting “due to some very varying updates I was waiting for.” He noted he had made updates the day he made the agenda, so “the last column here is current, reflects everything as it currently is.”
Thomas expressed some frustration with the legal process: “Ultimately, I’m waiting on legal for several things. There’s nothing I can do to expedite the process if it’s in their hands.” He reported that court cases were progressing with basically all properties on the list, with some experiencing new ownership and new notices of violation being issued.
He concluded: “these are just a lot of general court updates. So as I previously discussed, the properties are still of issue and we are going through the process as best we can and as the process is laid out.”
Discussion Regarding ShowMe Stormwater Solutions & St. Clair County
Dan Thomas introduced his role as the village’s flood plain manager, joking that he was “getting his feet wet” with the position, which prompted laughter when Administrator Schloesser pointed out the unintended pun: “That was funny. That wasn’t on purpose.” The Mayor added: “It just flows.”
Thomas explained he had been attending MS4 meetings that the village contracts through Gonzales and had encountered Roland Biehl at the last meeting, who spoke about “a really interesting program” called ShowMe Stormwater. Thomas described it as being “of interest to us and our residents regarding storm water mitigation, runoff management and just generally discusses ways to protect watersheds that sustain us all.”
Roland Biehl then presented his program, introducing himself as CEO of a new Illinois nonprofit environmental educational organization. He shared his credentials: “I am currently actually a full time employee with Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District, and we’re seniors from water program for the past 15 years. And with MSD 31 years as an engineer over there.” Biehl noted he was from Belleville and had “played in the Kincaid Creek, you know, the watershed around here” and that his partner lives in Fairview Heights.
Biehl explained his organization helps communities meet MS4 permit requirements and was partnering with SIUE at both the Belleville and Edwardsville campuses for education outreach, including a three- week course starting in March at the Belleville campus.
He provided extensive background on stormwater regulations: “These permits, I’m not sure I can lay a lot of your words permit, but it’s not a Swansea thing. It’s not an MSD thing. It’s not a Illinois thing. It’s a federal EPA requirement to comply with storm water regulations and non point source pollution.” He traced the history back to the Clean Water Act amendments in 1987, when “they needed to address storm water pollution because they’ve seen for all the development activities, fertilizers, chemicals, all this material getting washed from the streams.”
Biehl detailed the six minimum control measures in the permit: “education outreach, public participation, looking for illicit discharges, training municipal staff, all these things you have to do. Green infrastructure. Who’s heard of rain gardens? Native plants.” He mentioned their website, showmeraingardens.org, and their hope to get a 319 grant to update it.
He described their educational tools, including watershed models: “These watershed models are really cool. It’s a 3 by 3 plastic model. The kids get involved. I talked about pet waste, right? We put like chocolate sprinkles on a model, the kids spray water on it. They could see the impact of the sprinkles getting the pet waste, getting in the quickly streams. So it’s a lot of fun.”
Biehl proposed a basic package for $350 per year that would include: one school presentation per year, three presentations by his team, staff training, and seasonal messages for newsletters and social media. He emphasized: “guess what? You’re gonna be compliant to the permit. Most of the boxes in your permit. So it’s a really good program.” He noted they were working with Belleville and had meetings scheduled with O’Fallon and Collinsville.
Biehl concluded with some humor: “There’s no one from EPA in here, right? I love the EPA,” which drew laughter. He reiterated that communities were going through permit renewal with more requirements for green infrastructure and rain gardening.
Mayor Parker mentioned he had spoken with the Wolf Branch Superintendent who wanted to meet with Biehl, and suggested he might be interested in attending their strategic planning meeting. Administrator Schloesser added that both superintendents Beth Horner at Highmount and Cole Sanders at Wolf Branch were “very interested in engaging with Roland” and that he had also connected him with Laura Lyons at Harlons for stakeholder interviews on the open space master plan and forthcoming comprehensive plan.
PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE – 6:10 -6:14
Chair: Trustee McGuire; Vice-Chair: Trustee Pochek Thouvenot
Members: Trustees Lanter, McGuire, Jablonski,
1. Recognizing Fire Department Personnel For Graduating Basic Operations Firefighter Program: Julieann Ellis, Mike Claro and Gabby Siekmann
2. Recognize Tom Sandage for completing the Probationary Program
Public Safety Committee
Recognizing Fire Department Personnel For Graduating Basic Operations Firefighter Program
Trustee McGuire opened the Public Safety Committee at 6:14 PM. Fire Chief Doug Little presented recognition for three firefighters who completed the Basic Operations Firefighting Program through the Illinois Fire Service Institute.
Chief Little explained that over the past year, the department had added approximately 14 personnel and was “very grateful of our citizens and community partners coming forward to help us with our fire emergency services.” He noted new members have up to a two-year probationary period to attain training required by NFPA 1010.
He described the intensive 20-week program: “every week they have online assignments continuing with the knowledge of the education and every other weekend they come to our firehouse and perform their practical order hands on and some days are 8 hours some days are 10 hours but it’s constant moving it’s constant fighting.” The training covered “significant hand tools, from axes or Halligan bars, pike poles, saws, other motorized equipment, but they are fighting fire almost every weekend, and it is a tremendous physical and mental effect on them.”
Chief Little proudly announced that all three Swansea firefighters were assigned to Delta Company, which won the most prestigious practical award. He described the scenario: “There was live fire, and we would have dummies within there for victims. And the company that brought out the most amount of victims throughout that scenario during their supplied air tank that they have on their backs were the winners and Delta company came out on top of that.”
Mike Claro and Gabby Siekmann were present to receive recognition, while Julieann Ellis was unable to attend. Chief Little presented them with certificates acknowledging their graduation from the program.
Mayor Parker then addressed the firefighters: “I can’t talk about the police without talking about the fire too. Because someday we all might need them. You know, most important thing is to have the protection.” He emphasized the exceptional nature of their volunteer service: “These guys are exceptional though they volunteer. Not that the police aren’t exceptional too. You’re all exceptional, but we thank you for the dedication.”
Recognize Tom Sandage For Completing The Probationary Program
Chief Little also recognized Tom Sandage, who was unable to attend, for completing the Swansea Fire Department’s probationary program. He explained: “He came to us from another department. He retired from a local department, decided that he couldn’t get rid of the fire bug. So he wanted to come over to Swansea and start helping us with that.” Since Sandage already had his state certificates, he went through the department’s in-house probation program “to ensure that he could understand our equipment, our policies, our guidelines.”
PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE 6:15-6:16
Chair: Trustee McGuire; Vice-Chair: Trustee Lanter
Members: Trustees Pochek, Lewis V., Jablonski, Thouvenot
1. Request to Approve – Organizational Chart for Public Works Department*
2. Service Anniversary – Cody George – 5 Years
Public Works Committee
Request To Approve – Organizational Chart For Public Works Department
During the Public Works Committee meeting opened at 6:15 PM by Trustee McGuire, the organizational chart for the Public Works Department was presented for approval. When asked if there were any questions, none were raised.
Motion: Trustee Lanter moved to approve the organizational chart. Second: McGuire Vote: All in favor – Aye. Motion carried.
Service Anniversary – Cody George – 5 Years
Trustee McGuire announced the service anniversary recognition for Cody George’s five years with the Village Public Works Department. When it became apparent Cody wasn’t present, someone noted: “He sends his regrets. I invited him, but he wasn’t able to make it. So I’ll make sure he gets his certificate.” Trustee McGuire responded he would ensure the certificate was delivered.
Motion: Trustee McGuire moved to close the Public Works Committee at 6:16 PM. Second: Trustee Lanter Vote: All in favor – Aye. Motion carried.
CULTURAL COMMITTEE
Chair: Trustee Lewis V.; Vice-Chair: Trustee Pochek Thouvenot
Members: Trustees Lanter, McGuire, Jablonski,
Nothing Requested At Agenda Time
Members: Trustees Lewis V, McGuire, Lanter,
SWANSEA REPORT COMMITTEE
Chair: Trustee Jablonski; Vice-Chair: Trustee Pochek Thouvenot
1. Finalize Draft March Swansea Report-articles due to sproffitt@swanseail.org by February 20, 2026
The Mayor noted articles were due to sproffitt@swanseail.org by February 20, 2026. No further discussion occurred on this item.
The committee meetings concluded at approximately 6:58 PM.
https://www.swanseail.org/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Minutes/_02172026-162
