SE Illinois News

Village of Smithton Board of Trustees met Oct. 7.

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 Clerk Annette Parker, Police Chief Jason Neff, Supervisor Dean Klein, Village/Zoning Administrator George Liyeos, and Attorney Terry Bruckert. Reporter Hans Carpenter, Village Hall and Police Department personnel, Ben Grah and family, and Phil Henning were in attendance among the audience.

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 September 16, 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 – No report.

GOOD OF THE VILLAGE –

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

RESOLUTION NO. 2025-14 IMRF AUTHORIZED AGENT – A motion was made by Trustee Becherer which was seconded by Trustee Rogers to allow Mayor Smallwood to sign and pass Resolution No. 2025-14 IMRF Authorized Agent. Roll call was taken: Trustee Becherer, yes; Trustee Rogers, yes; Trustee Elbe, yes; Mourey, yes; Trustee Hopkins, yes; and Trustee Reyling, yes. The motion was carried.

CORY KRAUS RESIGNATION – A motion was made by Trustee Elbe which was seconded by Trustee Mourey to accept the resignation. Roll call was taken: Trustee Elbe, yes; Trustee Mourey, yes; Trustee Becherer, yes; Trustee Rogers, yes; Trustee Hopkins, yes; and Trustee Reyling, yes. The motion was carried.

A motion was made by Trustee Elbe which was seconded by Trustee Mourey to hire Ben Grah as a full-time police officer starting October 15, 2025. Roll call was taken: Trustee Elbe, yes; Trustee Mourey, yes; Trustee Becherer, yes; Trustee Rogers, yes; Trustee Hopkins, yes; and Trustee Reyling, yes. The motion was carried.

Clerk Parker swore in Ben Grah as a new police officer for the Village of Smithton.

ANNETTE PARKER RESIGNATION – A motion was made by Trustee Becherer which was seconded by Trustee Rogers to regrettably accept the resignation. 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.

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

VILLAGE ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT –

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

159 TURN LANE – A motion was made by Trustee Reyling which was seconded by Trustee Elbe to instruct our Engineer with Gonzalez to add curb into the turn lane section that was previously discussed at the Committee meeting. Roll call was taken: Trustee Reyling, yes; Trustee Elbe, yes; Trustee Becherer, yes; Trustee Rogers, yes; Trustee Mourey, yes; and Trustee Hopkins, yes. The motion was carried.

COMPREHENSIVE PLAN – Meetings scheduled for October 14 with the Mayor and Board and October 28 for the public at the Senior Center from 4:30-9:00 pm.

SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL – Liyeos reported that they are working on the Grant application following a meeting that was held on September 24 and the application is due October 15.

OSLAD – The Grant application was submitted on August 28. Trustee Reyling asked Liyeos to follow up to find out when they will release information regarding the Grant.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT – Liyeos stated that there is an email regarding the SWICMA meeting.

SAFETY COMMITTEE – There will be a Safety Committee Meeting on November 6, 2025, at 10:00 am if needed.

ZONING BOARD REPORT –

RICHLAND CREEK COMMUNITY SOLAR PROJECT – Liyeos reported that this is being approved by the County but coming through us because of our easement. The draft easement agreement will be provided after the meeting tonight. Stormwater during construction and potholing will be addressed.

HYDAC PROPERTY – No report.

Liyeos reported that he received an Affidavit of Correction which was submitted by Ben Fuchs to amend the name from Otten Subdivision to Becherer Family Subdivision. A motion was made by Trustee Reyling which was seconded by Trustee Rogers to approve the name change from Otten Subdivision to Becherer Family Subdivision. Roll call was taken: Trustee Reyling, yes; Trustee Rogers, yes; Trustee Becherer, yes; Trustee Elbe, yes; Trustee Mourey, yes; and Trustee Hopkins, yes. The motion was carried.

SUPERVISOR’S REPORT – Supervisor Klein reported that they performed hydrant flushing and flow testing. He also said they’ve been getting ready to move forward with a salt shed. They have been getting the park ready for the annual haunted trail. The Public Works crew will be going to Mascoutah to meet with Rural Water for a demonstration. Klein has checked on painting the ballfield fences at the Park. He will be doing more research to find out what type of primer and paint will be needed. He said there is 40,000 square feet to do inside and outside of the fence at a cost of about $10,000 in primer and paint. Trustee Mourey asked if the fence has ever been power washed. Klein said we need to do this before painting. Smallwood suggested looking at some paint contractors and see what they would charge.

ATTORNEY’S REPORT – The report will be given in 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 meetings from September 23 and September 30, 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 meetings on September 23 and September 30, 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.

Trustee Reyling asked about the Southwoods Subdivision Outlots and asked if someone was going to inform them that the Village is not interested and that the subdivision should have the lots maintained. Liyeos will take care of this.

FINANCE & INSURANCE COMMITTEE – TRUSTEE BECHERER – No report.

STREET & UTILITY COMMITTEE – TRUSTEE ROGERS

4059 CHESTNUT OAK MANHOLE – No report.

SMITHTON ENTRANCE SIGNS – No report.

POLICE COMMITTEE – TRUSTEE ELBE

PERSONNEL – This was handled earlier in the meeting.

TORNADO ALARM SYSTEM – No update.

PARK & CEMETERY COMMITTEE – TRUSTEE MOUREY

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

BALLFIELD SAFETY NETTING – Mourey reported that this will probably go up in the spring.

BALLFIELD FENCE PAINTING – This was discussed during Supervisor Klein’s report.

BALLFIELD LIGHTS – Mourey stated that some of the other ballfields in the area charge $25 per hour for using the lighted fields. More discussion will be had on procedures for the lights.

SMITHTON ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION – No report.

ORDINANCE COMMITTEE – TRUSTEE HOPKINS – No report.

ANNEXATION & BUILDING COMMITTEE – TRUSTEE REYLING

BRIA BUILDING & PROPERTY FUTURE PLAN – Liyeos stated that there was a walk through today.

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 bills and payroll from August 30, 2025 through September 12, 2025 and September 13, 2025-September 26, 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 – The Mayor’s meeting will be in Edwardsville this month. We received a thank you from the Freeburg High School Cross Country Team thanking us for the use of the Park for their recent Cross Country meet.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS – Trustee Hopkins made a motion which was seconded by Trustee Elbe to approve to pay Liyeos the additional requested reimbursement of $367.94 per his reimbursement request. Roll call was taken: Trustee Hopkins, yes; Trustee Elbe, yes; Trustee Becherer, yes; Trustee Rogers, yes; Trustee Mourey, yes; and Trustee Reyling, yes. The motion was carried.

Reviewing the Ordinance language for reimbursements was mentioned.

Trustee Mourey mentioned a situation where there was a commercial tree trimmer who dumped trees at the yard waste site. Mourey and Elbe stated that they felt that the person should have been ticketed.

NEW BUSINESS – Mayor Smallwood appointed, with the approval of the Board, Lynn Biehl on an interim basis as Village Clerk to replace Annette Parker in her absence. Trustee Mourey made a motion which was seconded by Trustee Rogers to appoint Lynn Biehl as Village Clerk on an interim basis. 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.

Clerk Parker swore in Lynn Biehl as the new Village Clerk for the Village of Smithton.

EXECUTIVE SESSION – Trustee Rogers made a motion which was seconded by Trustee Hopkins to suspend the regular order of business and enter into Executive Session for 2(c)1 and 2(c)11. Roll call was taken: Trustee Rogers, yes; Trustee Hopkins, yes; Trustee Becherer, yes; Trustee Elbe, yes; Trustee Mourey, yes; and Trustee Reyling, yes. The motion was carried.

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

No action was taken that relates to Executive Session.

Trustee Rogers made a motion which was seconded by Trustee Elbe to adjourn the meeting. All Trustees were in favor. The motion was granted to adjourn at 7:53 pm.

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