WEBVTT

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I didn't want to interrupt the conversation.

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Oh, no.

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I just let it end under there.

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Yeah, I was going to say it.

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Okay, so we got Parker, right?

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Rachel in yet?

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Not yet.

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See, Tommy.

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There she is.

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Here she is.

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Hey, Tom.

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Hold on.

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She's here now.

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She's here.

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Over height?

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Coming your way again.

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Good evening. Linda, could you please give the invocation?

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Okay. Let us bow our heads. Dear God, I praise you, and I thank you for your love, mercy, and grace,

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and that you see all you hear all and know all your word says and thus the Lord builds the house the builders labor in vain unless the Lord watches over the city the guards stand watch in vain therefore we come to you tonight to seek your face and ask you to build and guard our city pour out your spirit of knowledge and revelation over those who are seated here may all things done tonight be connected in a state of justice fulfillment and delight free from

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Defects, promoting the health of this city. May this meeting be conducted in peace, friendliness, quietness, and tranquility. I bind all authority that links us to chaos and loose the Holy Spirit to rule and reign here in Jesus' name. I release Luke 24, 36, peace, shalom to you all in Jesus' name. Amen. Amen. Amen. And before I officially call this meeting to order, I want to remind this council

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that we have been elected to serve the residents of Freeport, not to push personal agendas or create unnecessary distractions.

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Our job is to focus on policy, infrastructure, economic development, and public safety.

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That is the purpose of these meetings.

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City Council's role is to set the vision and the direction for Freeport.

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It is the city manager's role to implement that vision by directing our staff and allocating resources accordingly.

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lately this council has repeatedly overstepped its role attempting to micromanage department decisions instead of trusting the professionals that we've hired to do their jobs the antagonistic tone and the constant personal attacks towards staff and leadership are unacceptable we need to remain professional keep distraction to keep our discussions on topic and conduct city business efficiently personal grievances unfounded accusations combative behavior and disorder

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have no place in these chambers. I would encourage all of us to lead by example, work together, and to stay

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committed to the task at hand, which is serving the people of Freeport. So with that, I'll officially call

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this meeting to order. Madam Clerk, would you please take the roll? Mayor Miller? Here. Alder Persons-Klemm? Here. Monroe? Here. Simmons? Here. Parker? Here. Stacy? Here. Shadle? Here. Sanders? Here. And Sellers? Here. And if you could please stand for the Pledge of Allegiance, led by

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Ellermann Parker.

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I'd like to leave you to the flag of the United States of America.

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Item number one is the approval of the agenda.

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However, we will not be having item number 23, which is executive.

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And then also, just so you're aware, we're slightly out of order tonight.

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Normally, you know, it's our rules that we go second reading of ordinances, first reading

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ordinances and resolutions.

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However, tonight we are going to have the resolution to hire the MSA to be conducted directly after their presentation so that way they don't have to wait the entire evening to have their resolution come up. So with that, is there a motion to approve the agenda? So moved. Second. The motion made by Alderman Monroe, seconded by Alderman Sellers. All those in favor, signify by saying aye. Aye. Opposed?

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opposed. That motion passes. Item number two is the approval of the minutes from the regular meeting on February 18, 2025. Is there a motion? So moved. Second. We have a motion made by Alderman Shadle, seconded by Alderman Parker. All those in favor, signify by saying aye. Aye. Opposed? That motion passes. Public comment, we have two. Bill Schramm, you have three minutes.

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I'll give you a little bit of background. Some of you I know, some of you I don't know. I'm a resident of Freeport. My parents moved here when I was 10 years old, and I've lived here most of my life, except for a couple years I spent with the United States government, called the U.S. Army.

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but I'm here tonight to say I am pleased to see the city of Freeport is taking steps to secure our community's water future with a purchase of the property for well 12. The city's commitment providing safe clean drinking water is evident in the speed efficiency with which they are getting the job done. From the lead service line remediation efforts to the construction of the new water

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Water Agreement Plan on Burchard Hill, the city has demonstrated a clear dedication to protecting public health and modernizing our water infrastructure. The progress made in such a short time is truly commendable, and I fully support these efforts to ensure a reliable and substantial water supply for our community. Thank you so much.

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Thank you. Next, Wendy Slayton. You have three minutes. My name is Wendy Slayton. I'm a current resident of Freeport, Illinois, and I'm very happy to be here. I love Freeport and everything that it's done. I'm currently on a community block grant, and I am very, very anxious for it to go further. But right now, we're talking about the MSA. The MSA is definitely a good idea for all of us, for the residents of Freeport.

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it improves the quality of life for the current residents by ensuring homes are safe sanitary and structurally sound it also attracts and retains responsible homeowners the investment demonstrates and the commitment to the well-being of our neighborhoods making Freeport a more desirable place to live number three strengthening our community homeownership fosters a sense of pride and stability leading to greater civic engagement and more cohesive community number four increasing community

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value. Rehabilitation of our homes increases the property values in the area, thus improving the overall value of the community. I am confident that this initiative will contribute significantly to the betterment of Freeport, creating a more vibrant and prosperous future for us all and all of our residents. I urge that the grant and the IHDA is recognized and prospered. Thank you.

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That concludes public comments. Number four is the consent agenda. The consent agenda is considered

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to be routine in nature and acted as one motion unless there's a member of the council that would

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like to have something removed for further discussion. Seeing none, we've got the consent agenda

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consisting of approving to receive in place on file the board and commission minutes from the Board of

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Fire and Police Commissioners dated January 28th, 2025, the Greater Freeport Partnership's annual report

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Report for 2024, the Police Department Report January 25, Greater Freeport Partnerships Monthly

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Report for February 2025, approval of the finance bills payable in the total of $2,780,624.53 and the approval of payroll for pay period ending February 22, 2025 in the total of $709,166.14. Is there a motion to approve?

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Move. So moved. Second. Motion made by Alderman Shadle, seconded by Alderman Clem. Discussion? Madam Clerk, please take the roll. Parker? Aye. Stacey? Aye. Shadle? Aye. Sanders? Aye. Sellers? Aye. Clem? Aye. Monroe? Aye. And Simmons? Aye. The motion passes. Eight to zero. Item number five is a presentation. Could you please read this for the record?

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presentation regarding resolution to approve grant writing and implementation services for the Illinois Housing Development Authority or IDA home repair and accessibility program for up to $1.2 million. Thank you. Tara Walters. Thank you. Thank you. Good evening, Mayor Miller, city council members as well as city staff. My name is Tara Walters. Can't hear me? Yeah. Thank you. How about now? Better? Yep. My name is Tara Walters. I'm a community

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Community Development Administrator with MSA Professional Services. I'm here with my colleague, Christina Tranel, who is a Community Development Specialist. We are here to provide the City Council with information regarding IDA's Home Repair and Accessibility Grant Program that is open now. So some program basics. Applications are due.

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Applications are due March 14th of this year at 3 p.m., so I understand that is 10 to 11 days away, which I'll call it a trap from here on out throughout the presentation for shortness sake.

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The program is designed to assist low and very low income homeowners, which is defined at less than or greater, sorry, less than or equal to 80% of the area median income.

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The program will provide funds for vital health and safety repairs and accessibility improvements.

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The program aims to preserve existing affordable housing stock, to provide investment in underserved communities, improve the health and well-being of occupants, and to help low-income and disabled or mobility-impaired individuals remain in their homes.

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This is round two of Ida's home repair and accessibility grant program. This current round is offering $16 million in funding available. The funding comes from the Illinois Affordable Housing Trust Fund. And applicants, so the city of Freeport, if they were to apply, they can request a minimum of $400,000. The program guidelines do not specify a maximum ceiling, but we'll talk about that in the presentation.

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and the program is a two-year program term so if awarded the city would have two years to spend the funds for definition purposes I just like to outlie what the eligible project costs are because we'll talk about them in more detail first being hard construction costs your typical construction expenses tangible brick and mortar type costs there's also soft construction costs which examples

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include title searches, recording fees, termite or insect inspections. There's also project delivery, which includes activities intaking applications from participants in the program and homeowners, some income verification, cost estimates and work write-ups once inspectors get involved, as well as the inspections themselves and permit fees. And there's also administrative costs that are grant eligible, and this includes general management, oversight, project

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project management, coordination, grant reporting, overhead costs. Through the program, there are three project types, full rehab, accessibility, and roof only. I've lumped full rehab and accessibility together because the same criteria follow for both programs. Homeowner, under full rehab and accessibility, homeowners may receive up to $50,000 from the HREP funds to cover hard and soft construction.

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They also can get project delivery costs per home not exceeding 15% of the construction costs. So if you're at the 50,000, 15% of that would be 7,500. If costs do not, you know, meet 50,000, it would be 15% of whatever those construction costs would be.

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This assistance is provided to homeowners in the form of a five year forgivable loan, which is forgiven at 1 60th per month over the loan period. There's also a roof only option. So if homeowners just need a roof, all everything else is up to code, and public health and safety standards are met within the home and on the exterior, these homeowners can receive up to 25,000 for the roof. Again, project deliveries at $15,000.

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and the assistance for roof only option is given as a form of a three year forgivable loan. So the maximum grant request for the city for the roof only option would be $28,750 per home. So what makes a property within the city eligible to participate with these funds? The property must be the sole residence of all homeowners on the deed. The property must be current on the mortgage. The property

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property value must not exceed the property value limit, which is established by IDA and for Stevenson County, it's $209,000. The property must be held in fee simple title, meaning no contract for deed and no ownership held in trusts. The title must also be clear of mechanics liens and tax liens. A property is ineligible if taxes have been sold to a tax buyer and properties with open

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foreclosure or foreclosure cases are also ineligible. The property must be able to record the item mortgage on the property and it also must be owner occupied and single family residence. What are some ineligible property types? No reverse mortgages, no investment properties, again no ownership in a trust or contract for deed situation, no properties that are primarily used for business meaning that 50% or more of the floor

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space within the residence is used for business. And then also the IDA mortgage, so this five-year or three-year forgivable loan must be the first or the second position lien on the property. In certain circumstances, we can get written approval, depending on those circumstances from IDA to allow the IDA mortgage to be the third lien. And lastly, ineligible properties involving conflicts of interest.

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They must be avoided at all costs. For example, the grantee, being the City of Freeport, may not enroll an employee's house in their HRAP program.

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So what does this forgivable loan look like to the homeowner? The homeowner does not have to pay back the loan at any period unless they sell the house or the ownership is transferred.

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So the loan balance will be due out at the net proceeds upon sale or transfer of the property if such an event occurs within that five-year or three-year time frame.

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A cashing out will not be permitted during the loan period unless the unforgiven loan balance is paid in full.

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And then loans will be secured by a mortgage recorded against the property.

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So all homeowners will be required to sign a forgivable five-year or three-year promissory note based on the project type and construction cost.

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with IDA. In terms of application scoring criteria, so what is IDA looking for? This is a competitive grant program. There is 16 million available statewide, so we have to convince the Illinois Housing Development Authority that the City of Freeport deserves this money and can use it wisely. They will score it based on organization and team capacity, so that would include the City of Freeport's previous management and team experience with housing rehabilitation type programs.

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The points will be awarded for this criteria that clearly show a team is in place to effectively administer and oversee the program. If the staff or city does not have the capacity to effectively administer the program, they can contract with a third-party contractor who does have said experience.

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It's also scored on the city's work plan and budget and cost control, just ensuring that your program is cost effective and you have a reasonable budget. Again, the reasonable budget comes into play. The city would only have two years to spend these funds. So feasibly, how much can we get done in two years? So points would be awarded under this criteria for applicants that demonstrate a systematic approach to ensuring reasonable costs and efforts to target areas of greatest need.

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Third criteria is program need, impact, and demand. So the application needs to provide evidence supporting the need and the demand for the program, including data analysis, letters of support, and evidence of community input. And then lastly, readiness to proceed. If Ida were to turn around and say, yep, here's your money, how quickly can you, you know, mobilize and hit the ground running and administer your program?

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If the city decides to apply, some recommendations on how that application package would be in discussions with, you know, Director Duckman, I would recommend that you request the full rehab project type instead of divvying it out based on accessibility and roof only. This allows for the most flexibility when you're actually administering the program.

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So if we apply for 17 full rehab projects, and we get into the weeds and figure out, oh, this homeowner actually needs more accessibility type activity or work done to their house, we can always transfer it to an accessibility project type. And similarly with roof only, if we approach it as a full rehab and find out later after inspections, they only need a roof, we can always transfer the project to a three year forgivable loan with a roof only.

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and my recommendation for how many homes I believe the city would be able to you know feasibly get done in two years would be 17 homes what that looks like budget wise or a budget request would be the construction hard and soft would be eight hundred and fifty thousand that's at the maximum fifty thousand dollars per home for a full rehab project type that would allow for project delivery fifteen percent of construction at one hundred and twenty seven thousand five hundred

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Additionally, administration, grant administration would be another $48,875.

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$148,875, which is 5% of your construction and project delivery request, totaling a total grant request at $1,026,375. So what does this look like if the city were awarded and how, you know, the steps it takes to get to construction? So Ida, the applications are due in March. Ida intends to review applications until June or July, wants,

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As awards are announced, the programs will get, you know, their grant agreement and be able to start doing the work and expending funds in August of 2025. So that gives us till July of 2027. So what does the participant selection process look like? Who is going to get these funds or benefit from these funds from the city? So the grant is awarded to the city. The city can then contract with the third party vendor to administer the program.

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That's when the third party administrator would work with the city to develop a participant selection plan. Once you develop your participant selection plan, there are things within that plan that are already not only recommended but required by IDA, but we can play around with the details in terms of media, outreach, application intake, things like that.

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Once we develop our participant selection plan, it's sent to IDA for review to ensure that it complies with the regulations.

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We then, once they approve that, we can market the program to the public, develop an interested participant list.

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So any homeowner that contacts the city wants seeing the social media posts or letter in the mail, however the city decides to market the program, they would be put on a list on a first-come, first-served basis in order of correspondence.

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Then the administrator would take that list and have everyone on that list fill out a pre-application form, which is very basic information, you know, what they believe they make for income, how many people in the household, you know, are you current on your mortgage, things like that.

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Once the pre-application forms are in, we then can begin scheduling interviews, and that's when eligibility will really become important, or will determine homeowner eligibility.

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So Ida has a process in which to schedule interviews to make it fair.

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They would involve three calls or emails within 48 hours in the order that you have in your intended participant list.

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If no response within that 48 hours, you would send a certified letter in the mail.

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After 10 days and still no response, you would then remove that participant from the interested participant list,

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and they essentially forfeit their ability to use program funds and we would also send a letter informing them that they've been removed from the list. If you are able to get a hold of somebody you then schedule an interview and at this interview is when we determine income and income is calculated based on IDA's income calculator as well as a level of home inspection. So the home inspection is important because

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When I would be there, you know, intaking everybody's income information, figuring out which documents, you know, we need in order to process this, the income calculations after I would finish them would be sent to IDA to review, so we would get the final say from IDA, but the home inspection, we only have $50,000, and priority has to go to code violations and public health and safety type work, so the home inspection would be important simply because if a home

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needs a lot more than $50,000 to bring it up to code. It's just not a feasible project for these funds.

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Once the income calculations are approved by IDA, the city would then take them and rank them,

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determining participant eligibility and then moving forward with program administration.

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A note at the bottom, once the city does submit their participant selection plan, it can be amended.

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did. So say this is our plan, we're doing this, and something isn't working any longer, something that's not going to jeopardize the fairness of the participant selection, but maybe something in the process that needs to change, we can always amend it with IDA approval. A little more information on the income calculator, so how does IDA calculate income?

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It's calculated for all household members over the age of 18. Income includes earned income, so the full amount before any payroll deductions of wages and salaries, overtime pay, excuse me, commissions, fees, tips, and bonuses, and other compensation for personal services.

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It also includes assets, which is derived income, such as checking and savings account balances, certificates of deposit, stocks, value of home, et cetera, as well as unearned income, so benefits including pensions, Social Security benefits.

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The income calculator also takes into consideration adjustments and deductions, so the number of dependents, child care deductions, disability, elderly, and disabled.

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The application due March 14th asks the applicant to describe your procedures and mechanisms for intake and selection, including how your organization will prioritize eligible participants in your program. If the city moves forward with the application, I would recommend to stay in line with Ida's recommendations by prioritizing households or homeowners that have a household income of less than or equal to $50 million.

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50% of the area median income. This would not only ease the administrative burden and some of the administrative costs to process the number of applications when it's open citywide, it would also prioritize the most in need homeowners and households. So what is 50% area median income? So Stevenson County, one person household is $28,500, a two person household

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32,600, and so on and so forth. They're highlighted on this table. Eight-person household is $53,750. And again, people in the household are only people over 18. So then, if we have, so say we're doing 17 homes, we're going to write the application and request 17 homes. However, if one of the homes is less than 50,000, we could always, you know, add to it. And this process allows for that to

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So if more than 17 participants are eligible in this less than 50% threshold, the city would hold a lottery to determine the recipient of those funds. If less than 17 participants are eligible, we would then bump up the income threshold to less than or equal to 80%, which is viable or recommended by Ida. And that way, if houses are done, we use less than $50,000.

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so we can go to the next one on the list, the lottery system would ensure that the eligible participants are fairly considered.

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Any questions?

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Any questions?

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Darren.

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Yeah.

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Right, probably.

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A few.

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Hi, Tara, how are you?

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Good, how are you?

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Good presentation.

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Thanks.

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I would like a couple clarifications just for city questions.

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Can any of the money be spent in the flood zone or a floodway?

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In a floodway?

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floodway or a flood zone. Freeport has quite a few homes that are in the floodway. So I think I know the

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answer. I just wanted to ask that out loud. Sure. I do not have that answer on hand right now,

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but I will definitely research it and provide it to the city. Okay. Another question I had is this for

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only owner occupied properties, not landlords, correct? Correct. And I think you stated this,

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but let's pretend that a house has a value of only $10,000 and $50,000 won't bring it up to code.

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They will not end up qualifying for the program, correct? Correct. Thank you. With recommendation from

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a certified housing inspector. Yep. Thank you. Any other questions? Alderman Stacy. Why did we, if this was

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something we wanted to consider. Why didn't we start on the 21st? Why are we starting 11 days behind?

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Sure. The program information, it opened up on February 5th. I got the information out to the city.

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We didn't talk about it seriously until probably last week or the week before when we were talking

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about housing rehab efforts within the city, and that's when Wayne and I said, yep, this is something

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we need to take to council. It's an opportunity that's out there. We need to be ready to go for it if the council so chooses.

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So I also want to add there too that that would be six weeks Ida gives.

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six weeks Ida gives the community to make a decision to apply. They call it a notice of applications or notice of funding opportunity, and that came out in February 5th. And so Tara and I had several conversations about grant capacity, the community development block grant, where we were at with that current efforts. And ultimately, we were talking about bringing it to the last council meeting in February.

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I want to thank you Tara you did an excellent job with this presentation we felt that we should it would be better to come better prepared March 3rd we worked you know I know typically as council has a lot of questions so we really wanted to make sure working on this presentation we didn't want to be hasty and not have answers so give you a lot of credit Tara for coming out and really putting a lot of effort into this presentation so that's the reason why we were going to do it

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last, um, the last meeting, but we felt we needed to gather more information to present it today.

00:30:59.540 --> 00:31:25.340
Alderman Stacy, did you have a follow-up? So it's going to cost us $6,500 to go after this money, but there's no guarantee that we will even get a penny. Correct. That's a, that's typical of any grant. Alderman Monroe. Thank you, Madam Mayor. I've got several questions here I'd like to get through. Sure. Um, who's the third-party vendor that'll manage the program? Is that MSA? I would

00:31:25.340 --> 00:31:55.080
I would recommend it be MSA because we've worked with the city on existing housing rehab programs. So in terms of an experienced grant administrator, it would behoove the city to work with somebody else. Awesome. It is not the city is able to work with whomever. I would just recommend it be with MSA. No, that sounds great. So the way I understood your presentation that this could apply to new home builds, such as maybe, you know, maybe tiny homes or manufactured homes that are put on

00:31:55.340 --> 00:32:25.200
Empty Lots in our community. Is that correct? That is correct. There is a new home property value threshold as well. The existing home was 209,000 and there is a new home number. I believe it's more than 200,000. Okay. But I can pull that. Not on this computer. That's fair enough if you want to pull that up. This next one should be pretty easy. Who's authorized to do the home inspections? Does the person

00:32:25.200 --> 00:32:29.220
go out and get their own home inspector, does the city, how do we do that?

00:32:29.440 --> 00:32:34.240
So when you do contract with a third party grant administrator such as MSA, we would subconsult

00:32:34.240 --> 00:32:36.500
with a lead certified housing inspector.

00:32:37.440 --> 00:32:38.440
Okay, thank you.

00:32:39.940 --> 00:32:40.940
Any other questions?

00:32:41.480 --> 00:32:41.840
Yes.

00:32:42.460 --> 00:32:51.420
Does this have anything to do with why the city wanted to purchase that property that was brought

00:32:51.420 --> 00:33:21.710
to the council last meeting, city manager, Boyer? Not specifically. Not specifically. I don't understand that answer. Well, if it can be used for something like this, I don't, you know, infill housing, that'd be great use for it, but that wasn't specifically what we were getting it for. It was either infill housing or some commercial property development. Okay. I also noticed that

00:33:22.830 --> 00:33:27.870
Brittany had already signed, the team leader had already signed.

00:33:28.930 --> 00:33:41.850
That's typical practice for the professional services agreements. We send to clients. That means it's been reviewed at the MSA level, and we're ready to move forward once the city makes a decision and executes the contract.

00:33:41.850 --> 00:33:53.750
What's going to be in play to keep from having another incident like 1010 South Adams?

00:33:54.310 --> 00:33:58.350
She would have no idea what you're talking about there.

00:33:58.590 --> 00:33:59.930
Yes, she does. She was here.

00:34:00.670 --> 00:34:13.070
Well, I can answer that. There's different guidelines for IDA, which I thought you did an excellent job talking about how IDA has its own calculator right there, and you can go look at how they actually calculate what income is.

00:34:13.070 --> 00:34:21.230
and that's it. Ida sends a spreadsheet. There's the link. They fill in the spreadsheet based on the data

00:34:21.230 --> 00:34:28.130
that's given to them and if they fall within the parameters of area median income they qualify for

00:34:28.130 --> 00:34:33.510
the grant and that's what Ida looks at. Ida reviews it and you know you gotta remember Ida is talking

00:34:33.510 --> 00:34:38.810
about the state of Illinois and helping out people which is really what this grant is about. There's no

00:34:38.810 --> 00:35:04.270
So, you know, MSA and Tara approached me about this grant opportunity and it's really to bring help to people that are in need. They live in their homes, they're low income, and, you know, no government program's perfect, but they've been doing this for a long time and they have a standardized form and it's really just meant to get people in the most need the help that they can.

00:35:04.270 --> 00:35:12.310
oftentimes the need is going to extend past what is available. You know, we're going to request up to a

00:35:12.310 --> 00:35:16.670
million dollars. We may not get up to a million dollars. We might only get 400,000, but should we

00:35:16.670 --> 00:35:21.870
stop? Should we quit? I mean, somebody is going to need these funds. We just had a community member up

00:35:21.870 --> 00:35:27.290
here, Wendy Slayton. She's telling him that the community is telling you we need help. Should we

00:35:27.290 --> 00:35:32.310
stop because, you know what, we don't have enough money and just say we're not going to do 17 homes

00:35:32.310 --> 00:35:38.090
or 10 homes because we can't bring aid to everybody. I think it's worth trying. I think it's

00:35:38.090 --> 00:35:41.910
something you should, you know, look into yourself and think that it's probably worth trying to help our

00:35:41.910 --> 00:35:52.710
community. Director Duckman, you were the first person pertaining to that other grant that said

00:35:52.710 --> 00:36:01.490
you would never go after another grant because you don't want the responsibility. You didn't want the

00:36:01.490 --> 00:36:30.830
responsibility of the last one. That's why it fell in others' hands. I don't, I deny it, saying it, that. Of course you would, but now. Unfounded accusations. But now it's like the people, and if we can only help this many compared to that many. Well, I mean, it's pretty clear what the IDA guidelines are, and I'm trying to bring an opportunity to help the community, and if,

00:36:30.830 --> 00:36:55.950
Honestly, and I'm being very respectful here and saying if if this council thinks that Ida has unfair practices, maybe it's just not the right grant for our community, if that's what you're saying. I mean, if you if you feel that way, I'm being very honest, but I'm telling you that I believe in my role is to bring as much aid as I can to the community. And I think this is a good program. And I think it could help. I think we can bring some aid to our community. I'm not down speaking.

00:36:55.950 --> 00:37:02.270
and Ida at all, but now all we have is 11 days.

00:37:03.770 --> 00:37:06.590
If it was so important, why it didn't come?

00:37:06.590 --> 00:37:10.430
It's just the application is 11 days.

00:37:10.550 --> 00:37:14.810
This whole process, the grant award will probably come at some point.

00:37:15.370 --> 00:37:16.550
Ida will make its decision.

00:37:17.110 --> 00:37:22.710
Right now what we're talking about is $6,500 to retain MSA to write the grant application.

00:37:22.710 --> 00:37:28.230
and Ida will review it and they'll make a determination whether the city can move forward

00:37:28.230 --> 00:37:33.790
and then there will be plenty of time for marketing this program, processing applications, determining

00:37:33.790 --> 00:37:40.270
income, all this being talked about today is to write the grant. It's writing the grant application.

00:37:40.990 --> 00:37:47.370
Yeah, I just want to say I do really like the program and I think I agree with you, Wayne. There's so many

00:37:47.370 --> 00:38:17.350
I don't see people out there that is really looking for help to get their roofs done, their windows done, doors done, whatever they can get done to their homes. But I also think that, you know, we got to look at if there's grants out there that we can go after and help, that's what we're supposed to be doing. I guess that's what his department is supposed to be doing. So I do think that is something that we need to go after and help people in our community because it goes all over the

00:38:17.370 --> 00:38:23.270
City of Freeport, correct? Correct. So anybody, that other grant just went for a certain area. This can go

00:38:23.270 --> 00:38:32.310
anywhere, so anybody can get help. So I think it's a good idea. I really do. Alderman Clem? I just have one

00:38:32.310 --> 00:38:40.030
question, and it was the fact of reaching out to people after the grants were selected, so on and so

00:38:40.030 --> 00:39:05.790
and so forth. Are there extra grants selected in case somebody falls out from not being able to be, well, it was listed more so as sending them out a letter or three phone calls or three emails or something like that? Because we all know some people in these positions might be hard to get a hold of also. Does that just go by the wayside then or is there another person that takes that place?

00:39:05.790 --> 00:39:23.050
We would have a list, our intended participant list, that would likely have a lot more folks than we need to reach out to, so once, you know, once we don't get, we go through the appropriate processes and don't get a response for somebody, we just move on down to the next one.

00:39:23.590 --> 00:39:24.150
Thank you.

00:39:25.470 --> 00:39:27.550
Any other discussion?

00:39:29.570 --> 00:39:31.530
Thank you for your presentation.

00:39:32.190 --> 00:39:36.330
We'll move on to item number six, which is the adoption of Resolution 2025-30.

00:39:36.330 --> 00:39:53.930
Madam Clerk, could you please read this for the record? Resolution to approve an agreement with MSA Professional Services to provide IDA home repair and accessibility program grant writing services. Director Duckman. Thank you, Madam Mayor. So what this resolution would

00:39:53.930 --> 00:39:58.000
So what this resolution is discussing is moving forward with MSA.

00:39:58.000 --> 00:40:12.780
We just saw their presentation, and it would be in the amount of $6,500 for them to write a grant application for the IDA Home Repair and Accessibility Program, and staff recommends moving forward with the resolution.

00:40:13.160 --> 00:40:14.540
Is there a motion to adopt?

00:40:14.860 --> 00:40:15.320
So moved.

00:40:15.580 --> 00:40:15.920
Second.

00:40:15.920 --> 00:40:23.020
motion made by Alderman Parker, seconded by Alderman Sellers, discussion on the resolution.

00:40:24.640 --> 00:40:26.260
Madam Clerk, please take the roll.

00:40:27.580 --> 00:40:28.080
Excuse me.

00:40:28.180 --> 00:40:28.440
Parker?

00:40:28.780 --> 00:40:29.020
Aye.

00:40:29.340 --> 00:40:29.760
Stacy?

00:40:34.080 --> 00:40:34.500
No.

00:40:34.980 --> 00:40:35.240
Shadle?

00:40:35.620 --> 00:40:35.920
Aye.

00:40:36.160 --> 00:40:36.560
Sanders?

00:40:36.880 --> 00:40:37.140
No.

00:40:37.540 --> 00:40:37.980
Sellers?

00:40:38.140 --> 00:40:38.480
Aye.

00:40:38.680 --> 00:40:39.040
Clem?

00:40:39.360 --> 00:40:39.700
Aye.

00:40:39.900 --> 00:40:40.140
Monroe?

00:40:40.520 --> 00:40:40.780
Aye.

00:40:41.160 --> 00:40:41.420
Simmons?

00:40:42.100 --> 00:40:42.420
Aye.

00:40:42.880 --> 00:40:44.700
The motion passes, 6 to 2.

00:40:44.700 --> 00:41:17.650
Item number seven is service awards. Manager Boyer. Thank you, Your Honor. I'm going to turn this over to Darren for Brandon Wells and then Chief Shenberger for Emily. Yeah, thank you. I'll do Brandon Wells. He's not here tonight. He had a family event that he couldn't make it. But Brandon Wells has been with the Public Works Department for 15 years. Brandon has worked for the city in the maintenance.

00:41:17.670 --> 00:41:23.290
Department. His first position was maintenance electrician and serves as the maintenance foreman

00:41:23.290 --> 00:41:29.150
today. Brandon and his team are responsible for maintaining the water plants, wells, wastewater treatment

00:41:29.150 --> 00:41:35.590
plant, all of our lift stations, and ensuring the facilities are functioning and properly running

00:41:35.590 --> 00:41:44.490
24-7. Brandon and his highly skilled have a wide variety of specialized maintenance skills, including

00:41:44.490 --> 00:42:12.710
but not limited to electrical, plumbing, HVAC and building repairs. Brandon is highly motivated and enjoys tough challenges that we seem to have plenty of. He manages routine preventative maintenance and performs significant repairs to equipment and to the facility. He humbly goes about his day and daily tasks and Brandon has no tasks that's beneath him within the city. He's also a great teacher of his craft and enjoys passing his skills on to others.

00:42:12.710 --> 00:42:42.690
Brandon performs his task at a high level consistently and provides high value to the city utility you might ask how he provides that many of the repairs that Brandon does saves the city's thousands of dollars in cost of outside people to come in and do that him and his team provides significant value and tackle many projects that are beyond our equipment's capability he oversees most of the repairs at all the facilities

00:42:42.710 --> 00:42:48.950
and provides significant savings regularly. We appreciate his 15 years of faithful service and wish

00:42:48.950 --> 00:42:58.830
him the best. Thank you. Chief? Thank you, Mayor. I'd like to recognize Emily Danicas for her five years of

00:42:58.830 --> 00:43:04.850
service with the City of Freeport. Emily actually started off as a member of our Police Explorer

00:43:04.850 --> 00:43:11.390
Program and then she transitioned as a member of our Freeport Police Department Auxiliary Unit when she

00:43:11.390 --> 00:43:18.150
became old enough. About five years ago, Emily was hired as a telecommunicator in the dispatch center,

00:43:18.150 --> 00:43:24.150
and during her time with the city of Freeport, she's established herself as a dependable and valued

00:43:24.150 --> 00:43:32.210
employee. Emily also serves in other capacities, that being a trainer, so she trains new telecommunicators

00:43:32.210 --> 00:43:37.310
who are going through that training process, and again, she could not be here tonight because of a

00:43:37.310 --> 00:43:44.230
prior commitment, but I just want to express my sincere thanks to her for her commitment to the Dispatch Center and the City of Freeport.

00:43:45.170 --> 00:43:49.230
Thank you. Item number eight is an appointment. Could you please read this?

00:43:52.580 --> 00:43:58.460
Appointment of Roger Schultz to the Library Board for a three-year term effective through May 31, 2028.

00:43:58.920 --> 00:44:01.440
Is there a motion to approve? So moved. Second.

00:44:02.360 --> 00:44:06.780
A motion made by Alderman Clem, seconded by Alderman Monroe. Any discussion?

00:44:06.780 --> 00:44:39.220
Madam Clerk? Why did you choose this gentleman? I'm sorry, can you repeat that? Why did you choose this gentleman? He's willing to serve. He's been on the board previously back I think 20 years ago. He seems to be a good fit. Talked about it with Director Huffines and she agrees. And for the record he's also a local Arthur. That was my question. If there's no further discussion,

00:44:39.240 --> 00:45:08.540
Madam Clerk, please take the roll. Parker? Aye. Stacey? Aye. Shadle? Aye. Sanders? Aye. Sellers? Aye. Clem? Aye. Monroe? Aye. Simmons? Aye. And the motion is approved, 8-0. And item number 9 is the second reading of Ordinance 2025-12. Could you please read this? Ordinance amending Chapters 1248 and 1252 of the Zoning Code of the City of Freeport concerning storage facilities in business and agricultural districts.

00:45:09.240 --> 00:45:39.220
Director Duckman Thank you, Madam Mayor. So in this second reading, I'll just give a recap of what we talked about in the last meeting. So essentially, what is going on here is storage facilities were in the currently they're allowed in the B3 district, the agricultural district, and they're also allowed by a special use permit in the B2 zoning districts. So what this is proposing is to allow only allow

00:45:39.220 --> 00:46:07.360
now storage facilities like a CubeSmart, for example, in the manufacturing districts. And just a little recap, what drove this? We brought this to our planning commission on February 13th, which was recommended by approval of six to zero. What has spurred this is we've had several expansions in the past year, several self-storage facilities. We've seen a large increase in our retail areas.

00:46:07.360 --> 00:46:32.760
and we anticipate that it could, you know, potentially grow and continue to grow and take over areas where we really could use some more variety in our retail, especially considering that these self-storage facilities take up large geographic areas. So with that being said, staff is recommending approval in line with our planning commission of this ordinance.

00:46:32.760 --> 00:47:01.320
Thank you. Any further discussion? Madam Clerk, please take the roll. Parker? Aye. Stacey? Aye. Shadle? Aye. Sanders? Aye. Sellers? Aye. Clemm? Aye. Monroe? Aye. And Simmons? Aye. The ordinance passes 8-0. And item number 10 is the second reading of ordinance 2025-11. Could you please read this?

00:47:01.320 --> 00:47:29.620
Ordinance approving hangar leases for A1, Dennis Miller, H1, Alexander Blocker, J, Matt Van Bergen, L1, Ron Jansen, L2, Heritage Aviation, L3, Rob Tecampi, doing business as Tangle 34, L5, Paul Oda, L7, Pam Maness, M1, John Eink, M3, Greg Manuel, M4, Ken and Paula Irwin, M8, David Hayes, and N10, John Staben

00:47:31.320 --> 00:47:59.680
Manager, Boyer. Thank you, Your Honor. Just following up, this is cleaning up the leases situation at the airport. We have the new lease format, which was approved by council, and these individuals were reviewed last council meeting and staff requests moving forward with these leases. Are there any discussion on these particular leases? Alderman Stacy? Yes. Hangar L3, Rob, to Kemple,

00:47:59.680 --> 00:48:29.680
and then it says Tango 34 LLC different hangar so this is two hangars when we sent the leases out his came back in a different hangar so it's not two hangars he just was previously not an L3 he's moved to a different hangar which is L3

00:48:29.680 --> 00:48:59.660
Any other discussion? Madam Clerk, please take the roll. Parker? Aye. Stacey? Aye. Shadle? Aye. Sanders? Aye. Sellers? Aye. Clemm? Aye. Monroe? Aye. And Simmons? Aye. The ordinance passes 8-0. Item number 11 is the first reading of ordinance 2025-13. Could you please read this? This is the next batch of hangers that have come back in. This is an ordinance approving those. E1, Prop Wash, KM.

00:48:59.680 --> 00:49:15.460
Eight, The Champ Club, New Lease, so they've not previously been in K-8 before, L-6, KCS, LLC, KCS is also in L-8, M-6, David Sly, N-1, Howard Norman, N-9, Tim Mickle.

00:49:16.260 --> 00:49:16.840
Manager Boyer.

00:49:17.140 --> 00:49:17.840
Thank you, Your Honor.

00:49:18.060 --> 00:49:21.400
Again, we have been getting these in as rapidly as possible.

00:49:21.600 --> 00:49:23.160
This is the second batch that's come through.

00:49:23.560 --> 00:49:26.380
Staff requests a suspension of the rules and approval of these leases.

00:49:27.380 --> 00:49:29.340
Is there a motion to move this forward?

00:49:29.680 --> 00:49:52.070
So moved. Second. Motion made by Alderman Clem, seconded by Alderman Monroe. Alderman Monroe. Thank you, Madam Mayor. This is a question for a city manager. How many of these are still outstanding after this batch goes through? Madam Clerk? I mailed out 50.

00:49:52.070 --> 00:50:17.480
Madam Clerk? I mailed out 50. So I haven't done a count, but this isn't half. No. No. Thank you. Alderman Stacey. Oh, go ahead. Alderman Stacey. Why do some hangers have the holder's name and some have the listed business? Why, if they have a business, aren't, isn't the business listed?

00:50:17.480 --> 00:50:49.580
I'm all the person Stacy. My guess is that these are private airplane, you know, pleasure aircraft where the other ones are listed under a business. Yeah, if if they provide a business name, it's listed. If they don't provide a business name, then they're leased under the individual's name. Any further discussion? As per requested, is there if anyone would like motion to motion to?

00:50:49.600 --> 00:51:02.920
Suspend the rules, made by Alderman Monroe, seconded by Alderman Sellers, suspension of the rules is non-debatable and was passed by two-thirds majority, Madam Clerk, would you please take the roll on the suspension only?

00:51:03.740 --> 00:51:13.800
Parker, aye, Stacy, aye, Shadle, aye, Sanders, aye, Sellers, aye, Clemm, aye, Monroe, aye, and Simmons, aye, aye.

00:51:13.800 --> 00:51:22.520
Okay, then now before you counsel would be the final reading for the ordinance 2025-13. If there's no further discussion, Madam Clerk, please take the roll.

00:51:23.560 --> 00:51:35.880
Parker. Aye. Stacey. Aye. Shadle. Aye. Sanders. Aye. Sellers. Aye. Clem. Aye. Monroe. Aye. And Simmons. Aye. This ordinance has passed 8-0.

00:51:35.880 --> 00:51:40.600
And item number 12 is the first reading of ordinance 2025-14. Could you please read this?

00:51:40.600 --> 00:52:11.710
ordinance adopting the official zoning map of the city of Freeport. Thank you, director Duckman. Thank you, madam mayor. So the state of Illinois requires communities to publish annually their zoning maps and also to publish any or discuss if there was any zoning map amendments and in the year of 2024 I have it up here I can turn off the lights if necessary but essentially there were zero map amendments

00:52:11.970 --> 00:52:20.530
in the year of 2024. So with this being stated and with the zoning map in front of you, staff is

00:52:20.530 --> 00:52:27.550
recommending moving this ordinance forward for a second reading. Is there a motion to move this

00:52:27.550 --> 00:52:34.770
forward? So moved. Second. Oh, go ahead. Go ahead. We have a motion made by Alderman Monroe, seconded by

00:52:34.770 --> 00:52:41.960
Alderman Sellers. Discussion on the ordinance? Seeing none, we'll move on to item number 13,

00:52:41.960 --> 00:53:11.800
which is the first reading of Ordinance 2025-16. Could you please read this? Ordinance approving the acquisition of real property interests including land and easements along Fairgrounds Road for well number 12. Thank you, Manager Boyer. Thank you, Your Honor. As discussed February 10th in closed session, city staff is recommending moving forward with the purchase of a property approximately seven acres south of Crate Park. We'll have the map up here.

00:53:11.960 --> 00:53:40.980
may we have it up there. As you know, the City of Freeport's water system has been systematically upgraded since we were first made aware of forever chemicals in our main water plant, source water at Brick Street. Since then, we have gone offline on the Brick Street plant, have been developing new source water and filtration capacity that has recently come to a conclusion on the Birchard plant at Birchard Hill.

00:53:40.980 --> 00:54:10.980
We have one more well and treatment plant that is necessary to ensure that we have redundant capacity in place and so staff has been working for the last year trying to find a location for that. We located the best not only quality of water but a good location for the city at this location on Forest Road. We then reached out and worked up a option agreement with the property owners and we are ready to move forward to ensure that we receive grant funding that's available and whether it's five million dollars in

00:54:10.980 --> 00:54:40.120
Unforgivable Loans, another $7 million in emergent contaminants money. We're interested in moving along rapidly from the standpoint of making sure that those funds we actually receive given the change in administration. So staff is asking for a suspension of the rules related to this project. Is there a motion to move this forward? So moved. Second. Second. Maybe a motion made by Alderman Klemm, seconded by Alderman Sellers. Darren. I just want to emphasize the importance of this

00:54:40.120 --> 00:55:08.900
moving forward. We are planning on going out to bed at the end of the month with wellhouse number 12 and it's imperative that we have the property in place in order to get the forgiveness and the emergent contaminants money. Again, it's, Rob rounded, it's $12.2 million are on the line and this plan property, not this exact property, but property was planned in the 2025 budget for this purchase.

00:55:08.900 --> 00:55:30.880
Why it's taken so long is City Manager and I have been working on real estate in that corridor for probably over six months and had to move from property to property because we had significant issues trying to gain enough property to build the structure and the well that we need in a quality area.

00:55:30.880 --> 00:55:54.960
This area has been tested. We feel that we'll have significant good water quality like we did at Well 11. It's 6,500 feet away and also has the Yellow Creek as the aquaphor foundation to the well that we'll be drilling there. So if anybody doesn't know, this is on the curves out on Fairgrounds Road and Park.

00:55:54.960 --> 00:56:09.520
City Manager And one last thing, just the city provided $9,500 in the first option agreement with the landowners, and that is nonrefundable, so would like to move forward as not part of the purchase price.

00:56:10.060 --> 00:56:12.560
Alderman Monroe Thank you, Madam Mayor.

00:56:12.560 --> 00:56:42.540
Mayor, even though Director Steakle didn't really sell me on the Yellow Creek Yummy Water, I will make a motion to suspend the rules and move this forward. Second. We have a motion made by Alderman Monroe, seconded by Alderman Sellers for suspension of the rules. Again, that's non-debatable and was passed by two-thirds majority. Madam Clerk, could you please take the roll on the suspension only? Parker? Aye. Stacey? Aye. Shadle? Aye. Sanders? Aye.

00:56:42.560 --> 00:57:16.010
Aye. Sellers? Aye. Clemm? Aye. Monroe? Aye. And Simmons? Aye. The suspension of the rules passes 8 to 0. So now before you is the final passage for this ordinance, Alderman Stacy. Yes, I would like to know how much is this going to cost us? Manager Boyer? Approximately $22,000 an acre. Yeah. And I believe that.

00:57:16.010 --> 00:57:17.510
$22,000 an acre?

00:57:18.150 --> 00:57:18.470
Correct.

00:57:18.850 --> 00:57:19.110
Yes.

00:57:19.370 --> 00:57:21.790
And that includes the earnest money as well.

00:57:22.910 --> 00:57:24.970
And how many acres are we looking at?

00:57:25.290 --> 00:57:31.270
So we originally asked for 10, but we were able to get the work done that we needed for

00:57:31.270 --> 00:57:35.590
seven, so we renegotiated with the owner and seven was all we needed.

00:57:38.030 --> 00:57:38.950
Any other discussion?

00:57:39.530 --> 00:57:39.950
Yes.

00:57:40.430 --> 00:57:41.130
One more?

00:57:41.130 --> 00:57:43.930
Let me see if anybody else has, because you've already used your two.

00:57:46.580 --> 00:57:47.820
If no one objects?

00:57:49.200 --> 00:57:49.420
Okay.

00:57:49.460 --> 00:58:02.300
Alderman Stacy. Without having this property, Darren, I'm sorry, Director, and without knowing

00:58:02.300 --> 00:58:14.390
how many acres, how did we budget for something like this? So it's, anybody can easily research what

00:58:14.390 --> 00:58:21.750
commercial type properties go for in Stevenson County and in the city, and so we took a stab at

00:58:21.750 --> 00:58:27.510
what it might cost or what the max value we were willing to pay for properties. There was two other

00:58:27.510 --> 00:58:35.010
properties that city manager and I negotiated on. One of them was a half a million dollars an acre and

00:58:35.010 --> 00:58:41.570
another one was $50,000 an acre. So we deemed them unaffordable and way beyond our budget.

00:58:43.730 --> 00:58:50.370
$20,000 would be high for farm ground but not for commercial ground and this opportunity gives us

00:58:50.370 --> 00:59:20.350
a lot of legs for the future growth of Freeport. And the attributes, as I discussed in executive session, to this property weigh into the price. So it's one of the areas of Freeport that doesn't flood, right? So we want to get, just like Wellhouse 11, we need to place this in somewhere that's not low ground. The attributes to the Yellow Creek, one of the reasons that we like that is the water source is permanent and it filters through the ground layers and we are drilling down to 1,300 feet is the

00:59:20.350 --> 00:59:49.930
expectation for this well, similar to well 11. So the attributes that come with the property and the future expansion to Freeport is significantly beneficial to this property. I will also remind everyone this well in particular will feed 70% of the people in Freeport because it feeds the low zone, which is our largest population of zone. It's our business district, the down side, the east side. So we will be pumping.

00:59:49.930 --> 00:59:55.100
the east side, so we will be pumping that water across Walnut Avenue and to the east part of town.

00:59:55.360 --> 00:59:56.600
Did you say 70?

00:59:57.180 --> 01:00:09.720
About 70 percent, yeah, because it's most of our commercial businesses and most of our downtown area and to the east, and that's where we need the extra capacity at.

01:00:13.460 --> 01:00:17.000
If there's no further discussion, please take the roll.

01:00:17.340 --> 01:00:17.720
Parker?

01:00:18.060 --> 01:00:18.300
Aye.

01:00:18.780 --> 01:00:19.260
Stacy?

01:00:19.660 --> 01:00:20.260
Aye.

01:00:20.680 --> 01:00:20.960
Shadle?

01:00:21.260 --> 01:00:50.620
Aye. Sanders? Aye. Sellers? Aye. Clem? Aye. Monroe? Aye. And Simmons? Aye. The ordinance passes 8-0. Item number 14 is the adoption of Resolution 2025-26. Could you please read this? Resolution approving a memorandum of understanding or MOU with Mississippi Centers for supervision of police social worker while obtaining Masters of Social Work degree. Thank you. Chief Shenberger? Thank you. In October of 2024, the police social worker

01:00:51.260 --> 01:00:55.800
at that time resigned his position with the Freeport Police Department to pursue a position

01:00:55.800 --> 01:01:01.400
with the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs. Human Resources advertised for the open position of police

01:01:01.400 --> 01:01:06.700
social worker. After the initial posting, the police department received interest from one applicant

01:01:06.700 --> 01:01:11.920
and was prepared to offer employment to the applicant. However, the applicant declined to accept a position

01:01:11.920 --> 01:01:17.720
with another agency. The open position was posted a second time and HR received interest from one

01:01:17.720 --> 01:01:47.720
applicant. The applicant is local and obtained her Bachelor of Arts degree in Applied Psychology and Criminal Law and Justice from University of Illinois, Chicago in 2023. She also had over two years of employment in the social services field and is a member of the United States Army National Guard. The applicant anticipates receiving her Master's of Social Work in July 2026. The police social worker position was offered to this applicant and she started her role on February 10,

01:01:47.720 --> 01:02:17.700
The Freeport Police Department reached out to Mississippi Centers to have a licensed clinical social worker supervise the new police social worker on a weekly basis until she obtains her master's of social work in July of 2026. In 2022, the Freeport Police Department hired a police social worker under similar circumstances who also required supervision from an LCSW until she received her certification. The police social worker will also work closely with the Stevenson County Sheriff's Office

01:02:17.720 --> 01:02:24.560
Social Worker. The supervision of a police social worker until she obtains her master's of social work is not uncommon.

01:02:25.120 --> 01:02:29.460
According to the National Association of Social Workers and Association of Social Work Boards,

01:02:29.460 --> 01:02:35.860
working under an LCSW supervisor is important to the profession to have assurance that all social

01:02:35.860 --> 01:02:41.740
workers are equipped with the necessary skills to deliver competent and ethical social work services.

01:02:42.420 --> 01:02:47.500
Professional supervision is defined as the relationship between a supervisor and a supervisee

01:02:47.500 --> 01:02:54.800
in which the responsibility and accountability for the development of competence, demeanor, and ethical practice take place.

01:02:55.340 --> 01:03:08.900
The supervisor is responsible for providing direction to the supervisee who applies social work theory, standardized knowledge, skills, competency, and applicable ethical content in the practice setting.

01:03:09.480 --> 01:03:14.720
The supervisor and the supervisee both share responsibility for carrying out their role in this collaborative process.

01:03:14.720 --> 01:03:30.460
This MOU with Cinnisipi Centers includes one two-hour session per week at no cost. Any time spent by Cinnisipi over two hours a week could be subject to a charge of $40 an hour. However, it's not anticipated that this will be necessary.

01:03:31.380 --> 01:03:33.080
Thank you. Is there in a motion to adopt?

01:03:33.640 --> 01:03:34.180
So moved.

01:03:34.500 --> 01:03:34.880
Second.

01:03:34.880 --> 01:03:44.870
A motion made by Alderman Shadle, seconded by Alderman Clemm. Questions on the resolution? Madam Clerk, please take the roll.

01:03:44.870 --> 01:04:18.500
Parker? Aye. Stacey? Aye. Shadle? Aye. Sanders? Aye. Sellers? Aye. Clem? Aye. Monroe is absent. Simmons? Since you're returning, Alder Person Monroe, do you want to vote? Aye. Okay, thank you. That is 8-0 and the resolution is adopted. Item number 15 is the adoption of resolution 2025-27. Could you please read this? Resolution approving an agreement with Fairgram to provide civil engineering

01:04:18.500 --> 01:04:27.580
Services Related to IDOT Surface Transportation Program Urban Portion, which is STU, STU Funded Street

01:04:27.580 --> 01:04:36.760
Improvements Program. Manager Boyer. Thank you, Your Honor. So February 10th, we discussed the various FAU

01:04:36.760 --> 01:04:42.420
applicable routes. These are federal routes that we can use federal funding for. They are very particular

01:04:42.420 --> 01:04:50.340
Miller, about how work is done, and we're trying to make a point of using these funds for mill and overlay projects.

01:04:50.660 --> 01:05:03.100
So those projects were identified as Lincoln Boulevard from Locust to West, Stevenson Street from Locust to Sunset, Adams Avenue from Exchange to Float, and Walnut Avenue from Empire to South.

01:05:03.660 --> 01:05:06.560
So that is the list of projects we're hoping to do.

01:05:06.560 --> 01:05:33.280
However, because we have to do an environmental study, we'd like to move forward with design on this, even though construction won't begin until 2026, so staff requests council move forward with this agreement with Ferrer Graham to move forward. The total cost of the agreement is $218,150, and that'll prepare us for utilization of these funds in the 2026 construction season.

01:05:33.500 --> 01:05:34.900
Is there a motion to adopt?

01:05:35.160 --> 01:05:35.660
So moved.

01:05:35.940 --> 01:05:36.260
Second.

01:05:36.560 --> 01:05:42.460
Okay, motion made by Alderman Clem, seconded by Alderman Shadle. Discussion on the resolution?

01:05:44.520 --> 01:05:45.920
I have a question.

01:05:46.000 --> 01:05:46.560
Alderman Stacy.

01:05:53.140 --> 01:06:01.240
Okay, this is a grant that will pay $2.5 million.

01:06:02.240 --> 01:06:11.320
It is not per se in a grant. This is funds that are dispersed through IDOT, but they have to be dispersed in a specific way with

01:06:11.320 --> 01:06:29.360
with a very high level of parameters, so unfortunately we were hoping to deploy these funds this year, but because of the environmental study that needs to be done, that's, that I think it's an eight or nine month process, so these will end up being deployed in 26, but we still need to get the work done now so we can deploy these funds in 26.

01:06:29.360 --> 01:06:31.800
Alderman, Stacy?

01:06:31.800 --> 01:06:46.170
Okay, so we currently have two contracts with Fairgrounds, Waterworks Director and Master Service Contract.

01:06:47.310 --> 01:06:58.850
Why wouldn't one of those cover this cost to go after this money?

01:06:58.850 --> 01:07:22.350
Those are different projects, you know, so the public works director, I believe that's what you're referring to, that is dealing with the day-to-day management and working with the superintendents and the employees day-to-day. This is actually design and preparation for the STU funds to be deployed next year. It's just a completely different thing. I don't know if Darren wants to.

01:07:22.350 --> 01:07:24.810
But the second contract that we have with Fairground.

01:07:24.810 --> 01:07:56.230
So we do multiple contracts with the city every year. The public works director is exactly what Rob said. That's me running the day-to-day of public works with the superintendent. So that's a standalone contract. The master service agreement is small contracts, things that we help the fire department with or the police department or specific things, building issues, other grants that we go after, smaller projects.

01:07:56.250 --> 01:08:20.530
Whenever we get into big projects, we do standalone contracts for them. It defines the scope of the project better than the master service agreement. If we could add this money on to the master service agreement, but when it comes to IDOT or EPA or anything that's federally funded has money in it, they like to see standalone contracts for just that project alone.

01:08:20.530 --> 01:08:50.510
so to be honest with you this is a more transparent way of bringing it to the council and to the floor so everybody can see the contracts rather than just the day-to-day stuff that are I don't want to say they're meaningless but they're much smaller items like helping the fire chief get a grant for windows or helping the police station with their canopy that fell down things like that that that's what the master service contract okay so this is not going to happen until 2026 the construction won't

01:08:50.530 --> 01:09:19.670
won't. The design process needs to start now if we want to get the project constructed. And we budgeted for this? We have engineering budgets for it and all the expense won't come this year. Some of it will come this year and some of it will come in 26. I would say this project was not budgeted for like it is shown today because we didn't know that we were going to be able to get this money when we did budgets, right? So

01:09:19.670 --> 01:09:48.010
So that's what I said in the memo. This is a chance to get two and a half million dollars, but we have to support the engineering ourselves. So I already have the negotiations done with IDOT. We will get this funding, maybe even a little bit more because it's a cost estimate. It's not perfect, right? It's 10,000 feet at the moment. But if we don't move forward with the engineering now, this will not be constructed in 26 because the

01:09:48.010 --> 01:09:51.540
be constructed in 26 because the ESR alone is a nine-month process. Thank you for being truthful.

01:09:51.540 --> 01:10:00.000
Yep. Alderman Klemm. Darren, what's the environmental issue you have? It's being pushed down from the

01:10:00.000 --> 01:10:06.140
federal government. We went to a seminar about it, but anything that has a dollar of federal money tied

01:10:06.140 --> 01:10:13.540
to it anymore is going to end up having an ESR, environmental survey report done. It's something

01:10:13.540 --> 01:10:43.520
that the government is pushing down through all their agencies. That and archaeological studies are the new buzzwords and unfortunately they're very expensive to do. We're working on some drainage issues over in the Sioux Basin and we were just notified that we have to do an archaeological study to look for arrowheads and Indian findings because it came up on some reports. So it's a hot buzz item within the engineering world and again the

01:10:43.540 --> 01:11:12.300
seminar that we went to said any project that has one dollar of federal funds in it is going to retire those two options to be done moving forward. Thank you. Any other discussion on this on this resolution? Seeing none, Madam Clerk, please take the roll. Parker? Aye. Stacey? Aye. Shadle? Aye. Sanders? Aye. Sellers? Aye. Clem? Aye. Monroe? Aye. And Simmons? Aye. The resolution is adopted eight to zero.

01:11:13.540 --> 01:11:19.780
Item number 16 is the adoption of resolution 20-25-28. Could you please read this?

01:11:20.140 --> 01:11:27.860
Resolution ratifying emergency demolition of the structure located at 402-404 East Shawnee Street by Elber and Sun Earthworks.

01:11:28.260 --> 01:11:28.900
Director Duckman.

01:11:29.660 --> 01:11:39.740
Thank you, Madam Mayor. So we're bringing this back up to Council for approval. It is the emergency demolition of 402-404 East Shawnee.

01:11:39.740 --> 01:11:47.680
this property was declared a chronic nuisance on May 16th of 2024 a city passed posted a notice for the

01:11:47.680 --> 01:11:54.620
statutory fast track demolition on September 3rd of 2024 and then due to the immediate health and safety

01:11:54.620 --> 01:12:01.840
concerns I solicited bids for the demolition of this property on December 11th 2024 from three

01:12:01.840 --> 01:12:08.800
contractors in the memorandum I posted the solicited bids as well as the return bids

01:12:08.800 --> 01:12:29.200
The bids are listed below and are provided to you and they were Elburn Sun Earthworks provided a bid in the amount of $19,700. Northern Illinois Service Company provided a bid for $29,837 and Fisher Excavating did not respond to the request for bid.

01:12:29.200 --> 01:12:58.280
the city moved forward with the demolition from Albern Sun Earthworks which was met the statutory requirement of 120 days from the posting or the statutory fast track demolition and staff recommends approval of this resolution. Is there a motion to approve this resolution? Second. A motion made by Alderman Parker seconded by Alderman Shadle. Discussion on the resolution? Alderman Stacy?

01:12:59.200 --> 01:13:02.020
What was the real emergency? What was the emergency?

01:13:02.920 --> 01:13:20.380
Oh, gosh. I mean, I think I talked about that for an hour a couple weeks ago, but I think the biggest emergency here when we talk about public safety is our fire department had two arson calls on this property, confirmed arson calls from our fire marshal.

01:13:21.040 --> 01:13:28.260
It's a very serious matter when we're talking about the safety of our community. We also know that the property did not have insurance.

01:13:29.200 --> 01:13:43.600
So when you have a fire hazard that had two incidents of arson on it, and then since I've been in this position, I've been called several times on that property from the community saying, hey, somebody's been in the property, somebody's breaking in.

01:13:43.600 --> 01:14:00.360
So the true nature of the emergency for several reasons, but I believe the biggest threat to the community was the arson, the arson threat documented more than once, the arson threat to the community.

01:14:01.080 --> 01:14:02.560
Are there any other discussion?

01:14:04.500 --> 01:14:05.340
Alderman Monroe?

01:14:05.760 --> 01:14:06.500
Thank you, Madam Mayor.

01:14:07.820 --> 01:14:11.800
Director Duckman, you know, thank you for the timeline.

01:14:11.800 --> 01:14:39.580
It was nice to see that actually written down. Why didn't you come to council sooner? Because when we're talking, you know, I don't remember exactly how many years and months, but you stated it multiple times. But here we are, May, August, September, October, December, and you never once thought of coming to council like you do with every other demo. Why didn't that occur?

01:14:39.580 --> 01:15:09.140
and two when did the city actually take ownership of the property a couple questions there well first answer is this is now the second well I guess I'd say the third time I've talked about this demolition right we talked about it at cow we talked about the emergency just please answer the two questions I asked that's all I'm asking okay well that was the that's my first answer so it's the third time we've talked about this demolition so that's that's my answer after the fact yes

01:15:09.580 --> 01:15:14.540
Now, we're going to talk about the second question being, remind me of the second question so I can answer.

01:15:14.620 --> 01:15:29.780
So, the first one, why didn't you come to the council before you demoed the house with basically a structured agreement, everything in place like we have every other demo we've done in the city?

01:15:30.020 --> 01:15:35.840
Why didn't you do that? Because clearly there was an opportunity through November and December to do that.

01:15:35.840 --> 01:16:03.540
No, I would say there wasn't. I would say it was done as an emergency demolition, which is what I talk about in the memo, which is what I talked about, I believe it was in February. So that's my answer there. This was done as an emergency demolition. I've stated that multiple times, stand behind that. I could talk again, I could talk at length, if you'd like about what an emergency demolition is, what the requirements are. I can go on and on about that. But do you want me to answer your second question?

01:16:03.540 --> 01:16:07.540
Yeah, when did we take possession of the property?

01:16:07.540 --> 01:16:34.520
The city does not own this property. In a fast-track demolition, the city does not own a property. A fast-track demolition, that's why you post notice to the property owner saying, hey, you've left this property vacant, you've left it abandoned, and you left it as a nuisance to this community, and if you don't fix it or demolish it yourself, the city's going to because it's a nuisance and a threat to the community, and that's exactly what we told the property owner.

01:16:34.820 --> 01:16:38.780
and we told it to multiple property ownersers. This is not the first one we've done.

01:16:42.050 --> 01:16:42.970
Alderman Sellers?

01:16:44.510 --> 01:16:53.250
I just want some clarification on, is this to just pay Albert and Sons for the work is done because the

01:16:53.250 --> 01:17:02.010
house is gone? So we can't change that. So this is to pay them for demoing the property?

01:17:02.350 --> 01:17:06.130
This is 100% correct. This is to pay them for the demolition of the property, yes.

01:17:06.230 --> 01:17:09.050
Holderman, Stacy?

01:17:09.930 --> 01:17:14.990
Was this a fast track demo or was it an emergency demo?

01:17:15.330 --> 01:17:15.730
Both.

01:17:17.130 --> 01:17:20.690
Because we've never heard emergency until now.

01:17:20.830 --> 01:17:23.430
You've always just said fast track.

01:17:23.430 --> 01:17:23.830
Correct.

01:17:24.050 --> 01:17:32.370
And when I actually brought up in January an emergency board up of the hotel, which also had a threat of a fire in January.

01:17:32.370 --> 01:18:02.330
so whenever there's a threat of a fire to this community in a structure I'm gonna stand behind a demolition I'm gonna stand behind a demolition as fast as I can or a board up as fast as I can as long as there if there is a threat of fire in this community I'm gonna stand behind the quickest action I can possible to protect this community from a fire threat so I did it in January for the hotel I solicited bids from three contractors I was I'm sorry did you I say I'm not talking

01:18:02.330 --> 01:18:27.670
about the hotel. Well, I mean, you asked if I'd ever done an emergency action in the past, and the answer to that question is yes. No, that's not what I said. Okay. I said, was this a fast-track demo, or was it an emergency demo, and when was the fires? It's both. It's both. So it's both emergency and fast-track. And when were the fires? The last fires were in 2021.

01:18:27.670 --> 01:18:57.650
21. So if it was such a big hazardous to the community, we're in 24. I gave the property owner the opportunity to fix it, and they did nothing. Oh, they did a whole lot. Did they? Enlighten me. My question for you, I'd like... Let's get back on topic, please. This is about paying a contractor that has already done the work.

01:18:57.670 --> 01:18:59.390
If there's questions on that, I will

01:18:59.390 --> 01:19:00.950
That was not approved for

01:19:00.950 --> 01:19:38.580
And I will also state that, and I said it the last time this came up for resolution, and I will say it again, if any council member would like to go to city manager, Boyer, and do an investigation into how I work, I stand behind my work, and I always will. And if the way I operate is looked at as being deceitful, dishonest, inappropriate, etc., I stand behind that.

01:19:38.580 --> 01:19:46.000
and if there's some disciplinary action of determination, I stand behind that and if that's the decision of my manager, I respect that.

01:19:46.000 --> 01:20:07.580
My manager, I respect that. I'm not going to fight that. But I've proposed and I've done, I've laid out everything I've done as part of this six-year process that was going on before me. And ultimately, I stand behind my decisions. And I do not believe the contractor should be punished for a decision that I made for demolition of a property.

01:20:07.580 --> 01:20:20.300
Alderman Monroe. Thank you, Madam Mayor. One final question. You said you've done many fast-track or emergency demolitions. Can you give an example of one?

01:20:21.580 --> 01:20:34.440
Many, many fast-track demolitions, yes. This is the one emergency demolition that I can speak of. I said I did another emergency action of a board-up of a hotel in January.

01:20:34.440 --> 01:20:42.800
So I've done two emergency actions since I've sat in this seat, both related to fire, and I brought both of them to council after the fact

01:20:42.800 --> 01:20:52.910
Okay, so if there's no more discussion on paying this bill, Madam Clerk, please take the roll

01:20:52.910 --> 01:20:54.750
Parker? Aye

01:20:54.750 --> 01:20:56.250
Stacey? No

01:20:56.250 --> 01:20:57.930
Shadle? Aye

01:20:57.930 --> 01:20:59.270
Sanders? No

01:20:59.270 --> 01:21:00.870
Sellers? Aye

01:21:00.870 --> 01:21:02.030
Clemm? Aye

01:21:02.030 --> 01:21:03.390
Monroe? No

01:21:03.390 --> 01:21:05.030
Simmons? No

01:21:05.030 --> 01:21:33.770
We have a 4-4 tie, Mayor. Aye. Point of order, Chair. The resolution is adopted 5-4. Alderman Monroe. Thank you. I believe Mayor Miller should be disqualified from voting on this matter due to the significant conflict of interest. Specifically, Mayor Miller is related to the party that's set to receive the funds and has a financial interest in their business.

01:21:33.770 --> 01:21:39.130
This situation violates our ethical standards and contravenes several legal provisions.

01:21:39.970 --> 01:21:58.230
Illinois Administrative Code 443, Admin Code 7000-30 defines a conflict of interest as a situation where a person in authority may benefit financially from a decision made in that capacity, including indirect benefits to family members or associated businesses.

01:21:58.230 --> 01:22:16.650
Also, the City of Freeport Employee Handbook, while it primarily is for city employees, emphasizes the city's commitment to an ethical conduct stating that no employee should use their position to promote a personal business interest, and this reflects the city's stance against conflicts of interest.

01:22:16.650 --> 01:22:30.990
In light of these considerations, I respectfully request that the chair disqualify themselves from voting on this matter to uphold our organization's integrity and comply with applicable laws of federal, state, and local ordinances.

01:22:32.490 --> 01:22:45.570
Well, that's a nice little rehearsed piece there. I would have to say that conflicts of interest, I'm not a city employee, I'm an elected official, and I believe at the last one you actually abstained, but what would have been your reason?

01:22:45.570 --> 01:23:17.440
I don't even think you said it so I if I choose to vote I believe that's my right I object of this this commentary I appeal the decision of the chair then what do we do what do we do with an appeal I don't know what that is and Clark can we have the definition of a family member I think I think the owner is your first cousin once removed is that correct well and it's that it's a person that's been doing business with the city for many many years prior to have no interest in the business

01:23:17.460 --> 01:23:46.640
And you have no interest, financial interest in the business? None, none. It's your uncle and your cousin. I believe I know who my relatives are, it's not an uncle. Yeah, this is completely out of order. I'm asking. So, yeah, this is out of order. So, we don't have a parliamentary ruling by the chair here, like, as to whether or not, you know, who gets to speak or this or that, that you could, you know, appeal the decision there.

01:23:46.640 --> 01:23:54.500
where the statute says that when there's a vote, when there's a tie, the mayor gets to cast a vote on that. She casts a vote.

01:23:55.200 --> 01:24:04.500
But I'm appealing that vote under the Roberts rules as well as the rules of this chamber, which she so eloquently tried to say we needed to follow earlier this evening.

01:24:04.780 --> 01:24:09.920
Well, I guess I'm not sure as far as like when you're asking for a motion to reconsider the vote.

01:24:09.920 --> 01:24:14.660
No, I'm objecting to her vote in general

01:24:14.660 --> 01:24:23.160
She's engaging in a decision where a member has a personal interest that can lead to a violation of state and local ordinances

01:24:23.160 --> 01:24:27.300
Potentially resulting in legal consequences for the individual and the city

01:24:27.300 --> 01:24:31.580
Alderman, I guess my response would be to that

01:24:31.580 --> 01:24:37.920
Just as with any elected official, if someone feels they should abstain, they have the right to abstain

01:24:37.920 --> 01:24:41.300
But you're not obligated to abstain if you don't want to

01:24:41.300 --> 01:24:42.900
I'm very familiar with Illinois

01:24:42.900 --> 01:24:44.700
I'm not obligated, so my vote stands

01:24:44.700 --> 01:24:46.560
Alderman Clemm

01:24:46.560 --> 01:24:48.840
I'd just like to

01:24:48.840 --> 01:24:51.600
I'd just like to bring up the fact that

01:24:51.600 --> 01:24:57.360
this project was posted to the community for bidding

01:24:57.360 --> 01:24:59.520
anybody could bid it

01:24:59.520 --> 01:25:01.860
Albert bid it as a low bid

01:25:01.860 --> 01:25:04.860
we contracted with him to take it down

01:25:04.860 --> 01:25:06.320
and he took it down

01:25:06.320 --> 01:25:09.380
there isn't a reason in the world that we shouldn't pay him

01:25:09.380 --> 01:25:30.420
I'd like to rebut all of that, that this whole commentary that you guys are demonstrating before the public here, and yeah, and I resent the fact that you questioned ethics at the very beginning of our council meeting.

01:25:30.420 --> 01:26:00.080
I think it was very inappropriate for you to project that kind of comment or salutation or whatever it wasn't a salutation but the fact that you you're making it and didn't give an explanation to why you're making it and where did you pull that out of your hat is what is what got me perturbed right now because it's like you pull that out out from somewhere but no one

01:26:00.080 --> 01:26:20.420
was able to rebut you on the whole circumstances, and so, and when I'm sitting here listening to you doing it again, you're out of order, and I have a right to say that you're out of order, and reject whatever your sentiments are about the voting casting that took just taking place.

01:26:20.420 --> 01:26:50.260
Yeah, you should be repealed because if there is a conflict of interest and the council have an interest in wanting to investigate it, then we should have that opportunity to do so. And so while we're talking about it, and I just don't get how it is that you can vote for something that has a conflict of interest.

01:26:50.420 --> 01:26:57.400
you as the mayor trying to break a conflict of interest. I don't see how you can do that.

01:27:03.360 --> 01:27:08.420
Okay, then the conversation is done. We'll move on to item number 17, which is the adoption of

01:27:08.420 --> 01:27:13.840
resolution 2025-29. Could you please read this? Resolution approving a customer work agreement

01:27:13.840 --> 01:27:26.680
with ComEd to upgrade streetlights. Darren? Yeah. So at the last meeting, I was tasked, I'm not going to go

01:27:26.680 --> 01:27:55.040
through the whole memo, but I was tasked to work on the list of high crime areas in the city of Freeport and get lights replaced. I received a list from Cecelia and from Chief Schemberger. I went through the list. We went block by block over the list with ComEd. They actually came out and did a survey.

01:27:56.680 --> 01:28:26.420
I authorized an agreement for 63 light replacements at a cost of $23,562. We authorized that last week. You guys decided at the last meeting it was an emergency to move this forward. The estimated increase in light cost is $5 a month to the rental and upkeep account and less than $3 a month per light in the electrical cost.

01:28:26.680 --> 01:28:56.640
Each one of the lights will be 149 watt LED similar to the Cobra headlights that are downtown I've been working with ComEd trying to get an installation date I got an update for them late this afternoon that the lights are on order but it's going to be 90 days to receive them once they receive them they will start the installs on Oak Avenue in the areas identified in the memo we researched solar lights I had a couple

01:28:56.640 --> 01:29:04.660
calls today with some lighting options. I have a breakout of those lights. Ultimately, anywhere that

01:29:04.660 --> 01:29:13.560
we currently have ComEd lighting in our city where there's existing poles and existing arms to put the

01:29:13.560 --> 01:29:22.640
cobra heads on, the existing lights are about 50% cheaper over a 20-year period than solar lights would

01:29:22.640 --> 01:29:44.020
and in my research today talking to a couple companies, solar lights are good installation practices when there is an existing ComEd or they're underground and you have to set new poles. They admitted that they can't compete on the cost of that full term. So the breakout over

01:29:44.020 --> 01:30:06.290
So the breakout over a 20-year period, a ComEd 40 to 60 watt light, which is our standard that we have all over Freeport, costs the city about $2,400 in rental cost and upkeep cost and lighting cost as well. So those lights have a $10 rental cost per month and about $5 in electricity per month to our, what they call our tower account.

01:30:06.290 --> 01:30:14.850
The 149 watt ones will have a cost of $15 per month and an average estimated electrical cost of $8 per month.

01:30:15.810 --> 01:30:24.810
In the same scenario for solar lightings, if we buy 50 lights at a time, the cost of the lighting poles would be $4,100.

01:30:25.730 --> 01:30:32.130
If we don't buy 50 at a time and let's say we buy five at a time, the cost goes to $4,600.

01:30:32.130 --> 01:30:55.210
Each pole will cost $1,500 to install, and each pole will cost an average of $580 to ship to Freeport during that purchase price. So a 20-year comparison on a, and these were 80-watt lights is what the solar ones were, a 20-year cost on that is $7,780.

01:30:55.210 --> 01:31:04.330
dollars. The batteries that light solar lights are only good for 10 to 12 years max and their replacement cost of $700.

01:31:04.910 --> 01:31:21.230
The light itself is only good for 20 years and has a replacement cost today's dollars $200 a piece and the photo panel sale is currently $200 a piece to replace and they're estimated it'll last for about 30 years.

01:31:21.230 --> 01:31:51.190
so up front cost wise and the 10 and 20 year comparison there really wasn't any comparison now if we have subdivisions that open up that don't have above ground electric and poles the solar lights make sense just for the pure cost of getting a combat pole placed is probably about $13,000 for an original installation the current lights no matter where we put them in the city of Freeport right now in 2025 will cost $374 the installation is included in that

01:31:51.190 --> 01:32:18.790
price, and the maintenance cost that we pay will replace that light for life. So there will be no future cost other than the maintenance that we pay monthly. Is there a motion to adopt this resolution? I make a motion. Second. A motion made by Alderman Stacy, seconded by Alderman Sanders. Discussion on the resolution, Alderman Sanders. Yeah, Director Darren,

01:32:18.790 --> 01:32:48.960
We're talking about the installation of these lights and everything, but are there going to be, are we able to get the effectiveness and the brightness from these lights? Are we talking LED type lights and the looms are going to be at the highest peak of the looms that we can receive from these lightings that we're purchasing of that price?

01:32:48.960 --> 01:33:16.860
Yeah, so 149 watt light in the Cobra head style, the widest looms or the strongest looms you can get is 18,000 looms and that's what we've ordered with ComEd. They actually wanted to order, I think it was a 15,000 loom and I told them no to go to the brighter lights. I will tell you LED's brighter, right? So I don't want to get too bright. So, you know, where we're burning earth house gas at night on Oak Street, but these should be plenty bright enough for the area.

01:33:16.860 --> 01:33:46.140
I walked down the area myself there's a pole or excuse me there's a light on this specific block of oak we keep discussing there's a light about every third pole if not every other pole so it should be much much brighter I would say anything more than that would be disruptive to the residents you know properties themselves we did address every light on chief's list it's a starting point I don't know that it's a finishing point but it's a starting point

01:33:46.140 --> 01:34:13.100
If, you know, there are programs, I'm going to tell you, I have done more light research in the last week and a half than I'd like to have done in my whole life, but there's programs out there to change every light in town, but it's going to be very expensive, and it'll be an added cost to every user in this town per month for the rest of our life if we want to do that. This is a starting point. I don't have the exact number of lights we have, but I believe it's over 1,500 lights.

01:34:13.100 --> 01:34:15.140
Okay. All right.

01:34:15.140 --> 01:34:16.180
Alderman Stacy.

01:34:17.740 --> 01:34:26.270
Director Stiegel, will we still be cutting back trees?

01:34:27.390 --> 01:34:28.230
Yes, we are.

01:34:28.230 --> 01:34:35.750
As a matter of fact, Pat was out on a tour this week with Rob and myself.

01:34:35.850 --> 01:34:36.810
We went at different times.

01:34:37.170 --> 01:34:39.810
So some of the trees, we're trying to get them clipped back.

01:34:39.810 --> 01:35:05.850
I will be honest with you, our number one focus of trimming trees back is generally started on the streets that we're addressing this year because we're prepping to get the streets paved and the material and that's the first step in the process is trimming them up but in the crime areas we're trying to go in those and clip all the limbs back that we can as well. The forestry crew's been working on that with the great weather we've been having.

01:35:05.850 --> 01:35:23.810
I just want to say I appreciate you. I thank you for all your hard work. This, from the beginning of my campaign, had my heart and I'm just grateful for your time and effort that you have put into making this happen. You're welcome. Thank you.

01:35:26.030 --> 01:35:35.330
If there's no further discussion, Madam Clerk, please take the roll. Parker. Aye. Stacey. Aye. Shadle. Aye. Sanders. Aye.

01:35:35.330 --> 01:36:05.930
Sellers, Plum, Monroe, Aye, and Simmons, Aye, the resolution is adopted 8-0. Reports from department heads, finance? Nothing, Your Honor. Thank you, community development? Nothing tonight, Madam Mayor. Thank you, public works? I don't believe it's only 7.30. Nothing tonight, thank you. Fire? Nothing this evening. Police? I have no report. Library? Um, I

01:36:05.930 --> 01:36:08.190
will take up all of their time.

01:36:09.430 --> 01:36:20.590
On Thursday, we are going to have our opening house for our exhibit titled Journey to Freedom, the Underground Railroad Exhibit.

01:36:21.310 --> 01:36:33.690
Journey to Freedom, Illinois's Underground Railroad is a new museum quality exhibit highlighting the courageous stories of freedom seekers and the multiracial conductors who assisted them on the Underground Railroad in Illinois.

01:36:33.690 --> 01:36:39.410
The exhibit is located on the second floor of the Freeport Public Library and is open to the public

01:36:39.410 --> 01:36:49.070
Experience selected stories of freedom seekers, conductors, and communities in Illinois that were part of the journey to freedom on the Illinois Underground Railroad

01:36:49.070 --> 01:36:57.070
This exhibit uses photos, videos, maps, personal stories, and illustrations created specifically for this exhibit

01:36:57.070 --> 01:37:02.590
and visitors will learn about the people and communities who took part in this hidden history

01:37:02.590 --> 01:37:22.770
Highlighted stories include freedom seekers John and Eliza Little who traveled barefoot through Illinois to Canada to gain their freedom or conductors like Henry who worked for Abraham Lincoln and Mary Ann King Brown who helped the enslaved to freedom in the Springfield, Quincy, and Galena areas.

01:37:22.770 --> 01:37:52.530
this exhibit is open March 6th through April 5th for all open hours of the library it is a collaboration between the Lincoln Douglas Society the Greater Freeport Partnership the library and looking for Lincoln which is a state organization can you repeat those dates again March 6th through April 5th thank you and then we have featured events that you can find on our calendar and in our newsletter

01:37:52.770 --> 01:38:24.200
but this open house is this Thursday from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Thank you. IT? City manager? Thank your honor. Just wanted to report another successful refreshed Freeport event where we collected over 25 tons of garbage and over 50 mattresses. So that's work our crews no longer have to contend with and we thank everybody for participating. And I have nothing new this evening. Alderman Parker? Nothing tonight, your honor. Alderman State?

01:38:24.460 --> 01:38:26.060
Nothing, thank you

01:38:26.060 --> 01:38:27.100
Alderman Shadle

01:38:27.100 --> 01:38:35.260
I'd like to mention the Sixth Ward Neighborhood Watch is this Thursday night at 6 p.m. at Schwartz Park Boulevard

01:38:35.260 --> 01:38:36.540
Alderman Sanders

01:38:36.540 --> 01:38:39.180
Alderman Sellers

01:38:39.180 --> 01:38:54.340
Yes, I would just like everyone to remember to join the Citizens Utility Board Environmental Study Group and State Representative John Cabello to learn about how to reduce your utility bills and to tap into money

01:38:54.340 --> 01:39:01.820
saving clean energy programs. It is Thursday, March 6th, 530 to 730 at the Freeport Public Library.

01:39:02.600 --> 01:39:23.980
And thank you. Alderman Clemm. Just a reminder of Neighborhood Watch later this month. I'll get information out to all the constituents. Thank you very much. Alderman Monroe. Nothing tonight, Mayor. Alderman Simmons. No, no, I don't. Thank you. That leaves us with public comment. Are there any public comments this evening?

01:39:26.140 --> 01:39:42.000
Take your pick, whichever one's come first. I just want to thank Director Darin. Can you identify yourself, please? Makaya Stacy, sorry. I just want to thank Director Darin.

01:39:42.000 --> 01:39:53.350
I just want to thank Director Darren for all the work you've put in getting us our lights. I know it's been a back-and-forth problem on the council floor, but I feel like this entire time you've been set on making Freeport a better, safer place, so I appreciate you. Thank you.

01:39:55.530 --> 01:39:55.890
Next.

01:40:01.600 --> 01:40:13.920
My name is Kia Sanders. I just want to say, like, when you use the word emergency, that doesn't mean four years in gap. Got to be raising a question. I mean, my head's too thick or maybe I'm crazy, but that doesn't mean emergency to me.

01:40:13.920 --> 01:40:43.920
and then I want to know like pay somebody that is going to have to pay me as a I don't know why you decided to you know not to tell them that there is a pending lawsuit against this city of Freeport at any given time they're going to pay me for the stuff they stole or for knocking down my house somebody is going to pay me the fact that you show no compassion about a citizen having a problem and you don't even ways question why he used

01:40:43.920 --> 01:41:14.990
use the word emergency and waited four years. And this is the only case that he does like this. And I just want to thank all of Ms. Stacy and all of Ms. Monroe for noticing and working for the people, not just me. I believe if it wasn't me, somebody else going through what I'm going through, they would also fight the battle. Appreciate you. Any other public comments? Three minutes. Linda Johnson. I just want to invite the public to the meet and greet. It's going to be March 5th,

01:41:14.990 --> 01:41:29.370
6 to 8 at the Eagles Club to meet and greet. There's write-in candidates for District 145, Pat Ludwig and Dennis Myers, plus all the candidates that are running for office will be at this meet and greet, so we'd like people to come out and meet them.

01:41:30.610 --> 01:41:32.210
Any other public comments? Tommy?

01:41:36.140 --> 01:41:39.900
Wayne Dickerman, do you like that picture of the I got for you?

01:41:41.500 --> 01:41:43.860
I love Jersey Mike, so yeah, it was a good picture.

01:41:43.860 --> 01:41:51.060
And, Don Parker, I just wanted to tell you, you did a good job. You did the best alderman of Freeport.

01:41:51.620 --> 01:41:52.380
Thank you, Don.

01:41:53.140 --> 01:41:55.000
Are there any other public comments this evening?

01:41:56.780 --> 01:41:59.780
Then that concludes our meeting. I'll take a motion for adjournment.

01:41:59.980 --> 01:42:00.520
So move.

01:42:01.560 --> 01:42:02.620
All those in favor?

01:42:02.940 --> 01:42:03.260
Aye.