Village of Smithton Board of Trustees met March 3.
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 Lynn Biehl, Chief Jason Neff, Public Works Supervisor Dean Klein, Village/Zoning Administrator George Liyeos, and Attorney Terry Bruckert. Reporter Hans Carpenter and residents from Autumn Ridge subdivision were 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 February 17, 2026. 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 – Residents from the Autumn Ridge Subdivision asked for the Board’s approval to hold their block party “Ridgestock” again this year. A motion was made by Trustee Elbe which was seconded by Trustee Rogers to approve Autumn Ridge subdivision to hold their annual block party “Ridgestock” on September 12, 2026 from 3:00pm to 11:00pm. 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.
Administrator Liyeos stated everything was good to move forward with the annexation of 3146 S. Illinois. The ordinance was approved under the Ordinance Committee section of the agenda.
POLICE CHIEF’S REPORT – Chief Neff and Sergeant Agles have about 12 applicants interested in going through the police academy. He would like to have a police committee meeting next week to go through the applications and decide on at least two candidates to send to the academy.
VILLAGE ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT –
DOWNSTATE & SWICMA SPRING CONFERENCE- Trustee Becherer made a motion which was seconded by Trustee Rogers to approve Administrator Liyeos’s registration for the Downstate & SWICMA Spring Conference on April 10th & 11th with expenditure not to exceed $100. Roll call: Trustee Becherer, yes; Trustee Rogers, yes; Trustee Elbe, yes; Trustee Mourey, yes; Trustee Hopkins, yes; and Trustee Reyling, yes. Motion passed.
159 TURN LANE – Easement work initiated by Gonzalez.
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN – Nothing new to report.
SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL – Award notification should be received by April or May.
IPBC- Ordinance 1066 to approve the contract with IPBC is on the agenda. Once approved CBIZ will be notified.
RESOLUTION NO. 2026-04 AGREEMENT WITH TAC- Trustee Becherer made a motion which was seconded by Trustee Rogers to authorize Mayor Smallwood to sign Resolution 2026-04 Testing & Operation Agreement with TAC. Roll call: Trustee Becherer, yes; Trustee Rogers, yes; Trustee Elbe, yes; Trustee Mourey, yes; Trustee Hopkins, yes; and Trustee Reyling, yes. Motion passed.
SAFETY COMMITTEE – There will be a Safety Committee Meeting on April 2, 2026, at 10:00 am if needed.
ZONING BOARD REPORT –
RICHLAND CREEK COMMUNITY SOLAR PROJECT- Letter of “No Objection” regarding easement. Side agreement being worked out with legal counsel for extending 3’ hot mix asphalt and 8” sub-base, 20ft east of IDOT ROW to protect waterline easement.
HYDAC PROPERTY – Nothing to report.
ANNEXATION- Ordinance No. 1065 on the agenda for approval.
RESUBMITTED PLAN FROM TOM REID FOR 3 WEST FISCHER – Zoning Board will review March 19th.
VARIANCE REQUEST 212 HIGH STREET- Zoning Board will review March 19th. Front building line (25ft) for placement of pole ban in front yard and building height for sidewall (5ft) and peak (7ft).
SUPERVISOR’S REPORT – Supervisor Klein will put in a request to have the gas and electric meters pulled at the 107 S. Lincoln. They replaced the sidewalk next to Pete’s Hard Stop. They had water leaks to fix in Wildwood and in front of the Roost. They also did some painting at Village Hall.
ATTORNEY’S REPORT – No report.
Trustee Becherer made a motion which was seconded by Trustee Rogersto 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 February 24, 2026. 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 February 24, 2026. 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-.
MEETING EXPENSE REIMBURSEMENT- Trustee Becherer made a motion which was seconded by Trustee Rogers to approve Administrator Liyeos’s reimbursement request for a total of $768.46. 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.
Reimbursement ordinance will be put on the March 10th CAW agenda for review. BUDGET- Nothing to report.
IPBC – Ordinance No. 1066 is on the agenda for approval.
STREET & UTILITY COMMITTEE – TRUSTEE ROGERS
SMITHTON ENTRANCE SIGNS – Still waiting for landscaping to be completed.
POLICE COMMITTEE – TRUSTEE ELBE
POLICE PERSONNEL- Nothing to discuss.
PARK & CEMETERY COMMITTEE – TRUSTEE MOUREY
PARK TRAIL – PHASE 2 DISCUSSION AND PLAN – Nothing to discuss.
PARK PROPERTY– Discussion will be in executive session.
BALLFIELD LIGHTS PROCEDURE- Eric should have the remote feature in place this week. Further discussion to take place at the March 10th CAW meeting.
PARK MASTER PLAN- Has been submitted. We are waiting to hear back from MEPRD. MEMORIAL BENCH- No information yet.
ORDINANCE COMMITTEE – TRUSTEE HOPKINS
ORDINANCE NO. 1065 ANNEXATION 3146 S. ILLINOIS- Trustee Hopkins had the Village Clerk read by title only Ordinance No. 1065. Trustee Hopkins made a motion which was seconded by Trustee Reyling to approve Ordinance No. 1065 Annexation 3146 S. Illinois. Roll call was taken; Trustee Hopkins, yes; Trustee Reyling, yes; Trustee Becherer, yes; Trustee Rogers, yes; Trustee Elbe, yes; and Trustee Mourey, yes. Motion passed.
ORDINANCE NO. 1066 CONTRACT WITH IPBC- Trustee Hopkins had the Village Clerk read by title only Ordinance No. 1066. Trustee Hopkins made a motion which was seconded by Trustee Reyling to approve Ordinance No. 1066 Agreement with IPBC. Roll call was taken; Trustee Hopkins, yes; Trustee Reyling, yes; Trustee Becherer, yes; Trustee Rogers, yes; Trustee Elbe, yes; and Trustee Mourey, yes. Motion passed.
ANNEXATION & BUILDING COMMITTEE – TRUSTEE REYLING
BRIA BUILDING & PROPERTY FUTURE PLAN – Administrator Liyeos is working on bid specifications.
MULTI USE TRAIL & MAIN STREET COMMITTEE – TRUSTEE ROGERS
PROPOSED TRAIL ROUTES – No report.
MAIN STREET IMPROVEMENTS – No report.
BILLS AND PAYROLL – Trustee Becherer made a motion which was seconded by Trustee Rogers to authorize the Clerk and Trustee to pay bills and the payroll ending February 13, 2026. 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 would like to review all bills going forward. He asked to have this added to the March 10th CAW agenda.
COMMUNICATIONS – Next Mayor’s meeting will be held Thursday, March 26 at Ratzkeller in Red Bud. RSVPs are needed by Thursday, March 20th.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS – None.
NEW BUSINESS – None.
Trustee Rogers made a motion which was seconded by Trustee Mourey to adjourn open session and enter Executive Session per Sections 2(c)(11) and 2(c)(5). Roll call was taken; Trustee Rogers, yes; Trustee Mourey, yes; Trustee Becherer, yes; Trustee Elbe, yes; Trustee Hopkins, yes; and Trustee Reyling, yes. The motion was granted at 7:37pm.
Trustee Rogers made a motion which was seconded by Trustee Mourey to adjourn Executive session and enter back into open session. Roll call was taken; Trustee Rogers, yes; Trustee Mourey, yes; Trustee Becherer, yes; Trustee Elbe, yes; Trustee Hopkins, yes; and Trustee Reyling, yes. The motion was granted at 7:52pm.
Trustee Rogers made a motion which was seconded by Trustee Elbe to adjourn the meeting. All Trustees approved. Meeting adjourned at 7:53pm.
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