SE Illinois News

Village of Smithton Board of Trustees met July. 15.

Here are the minutes provided by the board:

Mayor Michael Smallwood called the meeting to order at 7:00 pm. Everyone recited the Pledge of Allegiance. Trustees Jason Becherer, Charlie Rogers, Jim Elbe, Jim Mourey, Tim Hopkins, and Todd Reyling answered roll call. Also present were Chief Jason Neff, Deputy Clerk Michelle Schlarman, Supervisor Dean Klein, Village/Zoning Administrator George Liyeos, Attorney Terry Bruckert and Reporter Hans Carpenter. Clerk Parker was absent.

CLERK’S REPORT – A motion was made by Trustee Becherer which was seconded by Trustee Rogers to approve the minutes from the Board Meeting held on July 1, 2025. Roll call was taken: Trustee Becherer, yes; Trustee Rogers, yes; Trustee Elbe, yes; Trustee Mourey, yes; Trustee Hopkins, yes; and Trustee Reyling, yes. The motion was carried.

TREASURER’S REPORT – The Board received a copy.

GOOD OF THE VILLAGE –

OUTSIDE MUSIC PERMIT REQUEST – A motion was made by Trustee Mourey which was seconded by Trustee Rogers to approve the outside music request from The Roost. Roll call was taken: Trustee Mourey, yes; Trustee Rogers, yes; Trustee Becherer, yes; Trustee Elbe, yes; Trustee Hopkins, yes; and Trustee Reyling, yes. The motion was carried.

Mayor Smallwood reported that the track coach at FCHS requested that a sign be posted at the entrance to Smithton for Matt Pluff, who won the State high-jump competition. Administrator Liyeos will contact our State Representative Kevin Schmidt to make arrangements.

POLICE CHIEF’S REPORT – The Board received a copy of the Chief’s report and monthly statistics.

VILLAGE ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT –

ISSUED BUILDING PERMITS – This information was included in the weekly report from Administrator Liyeos.

159 TURN LANE – Completing the final project development report and moving on to the plans, specifications, and estimate phase.

COMPREHENSIVE PLAN – Farnsworth will be here to meet with Chief Neff, Supervisor Klein, Clerk Parker, Michelle Neff and Lynn Biehl on July 24, 2025. They will meet with the Mayor and the Board in August or September.

SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL – A motion was made by Trustee Mourey which was seconded by Trustee Rogers to authorize the Mayor to sign Resolution 2025-09 – Safe Routes to School application for funding grant. Roll call was taken: Trustee Mourey, yes; Trustee Rogers, yes; Trustee Becherer, yes; Trustee Elbe, yes; Trustee Hopkins, yes; and Trustee Reyling, yes. The motion was carried.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT – Administrator Liyeos reported that the agenda at the IML Conference in September has several economic development topics starting on the first day of the Conference.

SAFETY COMMITTEE – There will be a Safety Committee Meeting on August 7, 2025, at 10:00 am if needed.

ZONING BOARD REPORT –

HYDAC PROPERTY – Attorney Bruckert asked to discuss this during Executive Session.

SUPERVISOR’S REPORT – Supervisor Klein reported that they have been working on Main Street painting curbs. They will be painting the crosswalks and working on the bridges in the park. They are trimming back brush at the lagoon. Trustee Reyling asked Klein to see that the Senior Center building gets power washed.

ATTORNEY’S REPORT – Attorney Bruckert asked to discuss this during Executive Session.

Trustee Becherer made a motion which was seconded by Trustee Rogers to accept the Officer’s reports as given. Roll call was taken: Trustee Becherer, yes; Trustee Rogers, yes; Trustee Elbe, yes; Trustee Mourey, yes; Trustee Hopkins, yes; and Trustee Reyling, yes. The motion was carried.

COMMITTEE AS A WHOLE – Mayor Smallwood reported on the Committee As a Whole meeting from July 8, 2025. The items will be discussed further under Committee Reports. Trustee Becherer made a motion which was seconded by Trustee Rogers to approve the minutes from the Committee As a Whole meeting on July 8, 2025. Roll call was taken: Trustee Becherer, yes; Trustee Rogers, yes; Trustee Elbe, yes; Trustee Mourey, yes; Trustee Hopkins, yes; and Trustee Reyling, yes. The motion was carried.

FINANCE & INSURANCE COMMITTEE – TRUSTEE BECHERER – No report.

STREET & UTILITY COMMITTEE – TRUSTEE ROGERS

SMITHTON ENTRANCE SIGNS – This will be discussed at the next Committee As a Whole meeting.

POLICE COMMITTEE – TRUSTEE ELBE

TORNADO ALARM SYSTEM – No update.

PARK & CEMETERY COMMITTEE – TRUSTEE MOUREY

PARK TRAIL – PHASE 2 DISCUSSION AND PLAN – No report.

BALLFIELD SAFETY NETTING – Materials have come in. The Street Dept. will start installation.

BALLFIELD LIGHTS – No update.

SMITHTON ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION – No report.

ORDINANCE COMMITTEE – TRUSTEE HOPKINS

Trustee Hopkins made a motion which was seconded by Trustee Becherer to adopt Ordinance No. 1055 – Annual Appropriations. Roll call was taken: Trustee Hopkins, yes; Trustee Becherer, yes; Trustee Rogers, yes; Trustee Elbe, yes; Trustee Mourey, yes; and Trustee Reyling, yes. The motion was carried.

ANNEXATION & BUILDING COMMITTEE – TRUSTEE REYLING

BRIA BUILDING & PROPERTY FUTURE PLAN – This will be discussed at the next Committee As a Whole meeting.

MULTI USE TRAIL & MAIN STREET COMMITTEE – TRUSTEE ROGERS

PROPOSED TRAIL ROUTES – No update.

MAIN STREET IMPROVEMENTS – No update.

BILLS AND PAYROLL – Trustee Becherer made a motion which was seconded by Trustee Rogers to authorize Clerk Parker to pay the payroll from June 21, 2025 through July 4, 2025. Roll call was taken: Trustee Becherer, yes; Trustee Rogers, yes; Trustee Elbe, yes; Trustee Mourey, yes; Trustee Hopkins, yes; and Trustee Reyling, yes. The motion was carried.

COMMUNICATIONS – Notification was received from SWICOM that the July 24, 2025 meeting has been cancelled due to a scheduling conflict.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS – Nothing to report.

NEW BUSINESS – None.

EXECUTIVE SESSION – Trustee Elbe made a motion which was seconded by Trustee Rogers to suspend the regular order of business. Roll call was taken: Trustee Elbe, yes; Trustee Rogers, yes; Trustee Becherer, yes; Trustee Mourey, yes; Trustee Hopkins, yes; and Trustee Reyling, yes. The motion was carried.

Trustee Elbe made a motion which was seconded by Trustee Rogers to enter into Executive Session under 2C11 - pending litigation. Roll call was taken: Trustee Elbe, yes; Trustee Rogers, yes; Trustee Becherer, yes; Trustee Mourey, yes; Trustee Hopkins, yes; and Trustee Reyling, yes. The motion was carried.

Trustee Elbe made a motion which was seconded by Trustee Rogers to return to regular session. Roll call was taken: Trustee Elbe, yes; Trustee Rogers, yes; Trustee Becherer, yes; Trustee Mourey, yes; Trustee Hopkins, yes; and Trustee Reyling, yes. The motion was carried.

Trustee Rogers made a motion which was seconded by Trustee Hopkins to adjourn the meeting. All Trustees were in favor. The motion was granted to adjourn at 7:50 pm.

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