PHOTO BY JESSE DAVIS / THE VILLAGE REPORTER
LIFESAVING AWARD … Swanton Police Department Patrolman Robert Legrecka is thanked by Chaney Sigg after receiving a lifesaving award during Monday’s Swanton Village Council Meeting for rescue efforts after Sigg crashed her vehicle in January. Pictured are (from left) Sigg, Legrecka, Lt. AJ Boysel, and Chief John Trejo.
By: Jesse Davis
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
jesse@thevillagereporter.com
Swanton’s new program to address its stray cat issue is beginning to take shape, according to a report delivered at the most recent Swanton Village Council meeting.
Councilman Deacon Dzierzawski, as head of the committee set up to develop the program, shared the results of its first meeting and their recommendations.
Dzierzawski said the committee is recommending the program be run by the Fulton County Humane Society which, in addition to ensuring it was operated by an experienced, established agency, would allow all donations to the program to be tax deductible.
The plan for the trap, neuter and return program is to first address the colony near Lincoln Avenue before moving on to other colonies in the village.
According to Dzierzawski, the FCHS is prepared to trap its first seven cats beginning March 27, and a total of 56 cats by early June.
Treated cats will then be put up for adoption or released back to the colony, with the potential for bonded groups or colonies to be given to farms in need of barn cats.
In addition, the committee is recommending a one-time treatment for those affected negatively by the cats, with crews raking their properties for fecal material and treating them with diatomaceous earth to deodorize.
According to Dzierzawski, the next step is to determine how to manage, monitor, and protect the colonies, incorporating those guidelines into a new ordinance to replace the existing regulations. He said it would also include some kind of community education aspect.
In order to fund the program, village administration previously found $5,000 to set aside out of a declining downtown facade grant program, and the Swanton Corn Festival committee has also promised a $2,500 donation.
Village Administrator Shannon Shulters said she has created a line item to hold the funds and was directed at Monday’s meeting to create another line to expend the funds, which will be directed to the humane society with 10 percent of the funds covering their administrative costs. Shulters said she will bring back an item for council approval of the expense line at the next meeting.
SEASONAL VEHICLE STORAGE
Council members tabled an ordinance limiting the storage of and setting stricter rules regarding the storage of seasonal vehicles – including RVs, trailers, and the like – on residential properties after Dzierzawski called the measure, as currently written, a “really large overreach.”
According to Dzierzawski, the way the ordinance is currently worded would block things like filling the tanks on an RV or allowing visiting relatives to stay in it over a weekend, and that it is also missing required definition of terms like side yard.
The ordinance had passed its first reading at the previous meeting despite similar concerns raised by Councilman Noah Kreuz.
Dzierzawski recommended the ordinance be reviewed by the council’s newly re-formed committee of the whole for revision to be sent back to the village zoning board before bringing it back up for another vote.
OTHER BUSINESS
Council members passed on final reading the village’s budget for 2026.
Council members passed on second reading a resolution approving the Community Reinvestment Area housing survey, refining the boundaries of the area and reducing it from its previous borders, which included the entire village.
Council members passed on second reading an ordinance tightening the restrictions on inoperable, unlicensed, or junk vehicles, limiting their storage to 15 days unless “stored in a completely enclosed, authorized and permitted building or garage,” with a possible penalty of a fourth-degree misdemeanor punishable by up to 30 days in jail and a fine of $250 per day.
Swanton Police Department Patrolman Robert Legrecka was recognized with a lifesaving award by Chief John Trejo for his rescue efforts after responding to a crash in January.
According to Trejo, the vehicle of Chaney Sigg went off the road and she suffered a fracture of her C2 vertebrae.
He said Legrecka stabilized her cervical spine during his response, helping her avoid potential paralysis or death as a result of the injury.
Shulters reported Public Service Operations Foreman Eric Vaughan has tendered his resignation.
After an executive session at the end of the meeting, council members approved the creation of a crew leader position within the remaining department structure to cover his responsibilities, with the employee who takes the role to receive an additional $3 per hour on top of their existing wage.
For more on local government news, see STRYKER VILLAGE COUNCIL: Bids Awarded For Elevated Water Tower & Control Panel Replacement Project.
The next regular meeting of the Swanton Village Council will be held at 7 p.m. Monday, April 13, at Ritter Hall, 124 N. Main Street, preceded by a meeting of the council’s committee of the whole at 6 p.m.
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