WEBVTT

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Good morning, gentlemen.

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I'm not religious for you, but I totally do.

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Yeah.

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Busy.

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Keep it busy.

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Have a good day at school today?

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That's how good it is.

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Good evening. Pastor Coverstone, could you please give the invocation? Good evening, Madam Mayor, Council. Everyone, would you please pray with me? Well, God, we thank you for your good gifts in our lives, and we come together tonight to do the business of this city and are grateful as we come together.

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that you have given us life and breath and health as well as the ways that you've individually gifted and called each one of us and given us the capacities and the ability to do what you've called us to and we confess that we are often tempted to think otherwise and to ignore and forget those gifts and so we give you thanks tonight.

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Lord, we thank you for these new firefighters and pray that as they begin their service here in Freeport that you would bless them with wisdom and strength and safety and of course we don't ask it just for them but for all of our first responders and city employees and department heads and this council, the mayor and all that work in our office, Lord we pray for them as well for wisdom and strength.

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strength and safety. And Lord, we pray that for the purposes of this city, you would grant good planning

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and blessings on the efforts that are made in that good planning. Lord, as spring is just around the

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corner and the busyness of summer, Lord, we do pray that the plans that are being made for the warming

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and what happens with it would go well and that you'd bless us in the year still ahead. We pray in

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Jesus' name. Amen. Amen. Thank you. I will officially call this meeting to order. Madam Clerk, would you please take the roll? Mayor Miller. Here. Alder Persons-Klemm. Here. Johnson. Here. Simmons. Here. Parker. Here. Stacy. Here. Shadle. Here. Sanders. Here. And Sellers. Here. If you could please stand for the Pledge of Allegiance led by Alderman Johnson.

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I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all

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We would just like to take a moment this evening to observe a moment of silence for the passing of Reverend Jesse Jackson, a civil rights leader for more than six decades. Thank you.

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Item number one is the approval of the agenda and we will be including executive session tonight. Is there a motion? So moved. Motion made by Alderman Shadle, seconded by Alderman Clem. All those in favor, signify by saying aye. Aye. Opposed? That motion passes. Next, we have some swearing-ins.

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This is Brady Schofield, he's one of our new firefighters who was warning him tonight, he's, he's from Orangeville, he's a Marine veteran, God bless him, all right, so, all right, you can raise your right hand, this is for me, I'm Brady Schofield, I'm Brady Schofield, I only swear, that I will support the Constitution of the United States,

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and the Constitution of the State of Illinois and the Constitution of the State of Illinois and I will faithfully discharge the duties of the Office of Firefighter according to the best of my ability.

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Jayce comes to us from Lena, originally, but he was also a prior prior DMT and Byron.

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Oh, come on.

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Raise your right hand and repeat that for me.

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Hi, Jayce Flan.

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Hi, Jayce Flan.

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You solemnly swear.

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You solemnly swear.

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That I would support the Constitution of the United States.

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That I'll support the Constitution of the United States.

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And the Constitution of the State of Illinois.

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And the Constitution of the State of Illinois.

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And I will take me discharge the duties of the office of firefighter, the office of firefighter, the best of my ability.

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Oh, yeah.

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Oh, what?

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My house, he's from Freeport, he doesn't have any first responder background, but we're going to teach him and get him going for us.

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All right, awesome.

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All right, you can raise your right hand in the QS&E.

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I'm Matthew Thomas.

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I'm Matthew Thomas.

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Who's on the list where?

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Who's on the list where?

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I'll support the Constitution of the United States.

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I'll support the Constitution of the United States.

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And the Constitution of the State of Illinois.

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from the Constitution of the State of Illinois, and I will faithfully discharge the duties of the Office of Firefighters, of the Office of Firefighters, sort of the best of my family, I think, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry,

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He's from Winnebago. He does have some EMS background and he's coming to us and we're getting trained up also. All of these recruits will be going to the Romeoville Fire Academy starting March 6th.

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Oh, okay.

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About 9 weeks.

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All right, Tom, if you can raise your right name in the pre-declinic.

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I don't know, so I don't know, so I don't know, so I don't know.

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I don't know, so I don't know, but I support the Constitution of the United States.

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Just work because I will support past the United States and the Constitution.

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The Constitution.

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And I will safely discharge the duties.

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Sir.

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Church of the Views, the Office of Firefighters, Office of Firefighters.

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That's for the best of my business for the best of my business.

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Thank you.

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All right.

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All right.

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All right, which flavor do you want before all this begins?

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Okay, we'll move on to item number three, which is public comment. We have one that the clerk will be reading in this evening.

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This was received via email. To whom it may concern, I, April Lenore, on behalf of myself and Patricia Lenore of 711 East Pleasant Street in Freeport, formally report a severe infestation of raccoons and other vermin in our area.

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Over the last year alone, I have paid to have trapped 38 raccoons, 16 opossums, and 4 skunks

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This has resulted in a significant financial burden, including a removal fee of $50 per animal

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and a total of $800 spent on traps to help manage the issue

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Additionally, we spent additional funds on labor and materials to block off the area underneath our deck

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I have multiple videos available to provide as evidence of this ongoing problem

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A major contributing factor is the lack of proper waste management and the behavior of some neighbors in the area. Garbage is not being stored properly, which attracts more animals, and some residents are even feeding these wild animals as if they were pets. The situation has escalated to a point where it is no longer just a nuisance, it is a serious health and safety risk. Just two days ago, I encountered a raccoon face-to-face during daylight hours.

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We currently feel it is unsafe for our children to play outside or for our elders to join to enjoy the garden. I hope the city can take immediate action to address this problem and ensure the safety of our neighborhood. Thank you for your time and attention to this urgent matter. Sincerely, April Lenore.

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Thank you. That concludes public comment. Number four is the consent agenda. The consent agenda is considered to be routine in nature and acted as one motion. Unless there's a member of council that would like to have something removed for further discussion.

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The consent agenda consists of approving to receive and place on file the Board of Fire and Police Commissioners minutes from December 23, 2025, the building permit report and fire department report for January 26, Greater Freeport Partnerships report from January 26, approval of the finance bills payable in a total of $1,406,976.13 and for approval

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of payroll for pay period ending February 2nd, 7th, 2026, in the total of $718,450.74.

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Is there a motion to approve?

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Second.

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A motion made by Alderman Shadle, seconded by Alderman Sellers.

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Madam Clerk, please take the roll.

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Johnson.

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Aye.

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Simmons.

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Aye.

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Parker.

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Aye.

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Stacey.

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Aye.

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Shadle.

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Aye.

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Sanders.

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Aye.

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Sellers.

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Aye.

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and Clemm. Aye. The motion passes eight to zero. Item number five are appointments. Could you please

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read those? Appointment of Elaine Enriquez to the Arts and Culture Commission effective through

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August 31st, 2029. Appointment of Police Chief Jacqueline Frausto to the Ethics Commission effective

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immediately. Thank you. If it pleases the council, we'll do this in one motion. So moved. Second. Second.

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We have a motion made by Alderman Klemm, seconded by Alderman Johnson. Any discussion on the appointments?

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Madam Clerk, please take the roll. Johnson. Aye. Simmons. Aye. Parker. Aye. Stacy. Aye. Shadle. Aye. Sanders. Aye. Sellers. Aye. And Klemm. Aye. The motion passes 8-0. Item number 6 is the second reading of Ordinance 20-2606. Could you please read this?

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Ordinance Amending Part 10, Streets, Utilities, and Public Services Code, Title VI, Other Public Services, Chapter 1060, Waste and Recycling Collection and Disposal, Section 1060.07, Temporary Dumpsters, Trash Containers, Trailers, Construction Trailers, or Equipment Used for Construction Projects, Including Trailers and Wagons, Use on Public Ways, and Section 1060.12, Construction Debris, Containers, and Collection of the Codified Ordinance.

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of the City of Freeport. Thank you. Mr. Stiekel. Yes, we discussed this at the last council meeting. This is

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simply ordinance revision to allow for protection under dumpsters to the new street areas. We've seen

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some damage to the investment we're making in streets with dumpsters being placed and or dropped,

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probably not purposely. Again, I did talk to Gil's Disposal before drafting this ordinance and they

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were on board with the changes that we wanted to make. There is, as a reminder, there's no permit fee for

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dumpsters. However, people are not abiding by getting a permit so we can track this situation in 2026. Sorry,

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2025, there was only four permits that were issued. Thank you. Discussion on this ordinance?

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Madam Clerk, please take the roll. Johnson. Aye. Simmons. Aye. Parker. Aye.

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Stacey, Aye, Shadle, Aye, Sanders, Aye, Sellers, Aye, and Clem, Aye, the ordinance passes 8-0. Item number 7 is a second reading of ordinance 2026-07. Please read this. Ordinance amending various provisions of Part 10, Streets, Utilities, and Public Services Code, Title 4, Utilities, Chapter 1042 and 1046 regarding water and sewer connections of the codified ordinances of the City of Freeport. Thank you. Manager Boyer. Thank your honor.

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we went over this at the February 2nd meeting. This is upgrading some common sense connection fees for water and sewer. We haven't revised this in over nine years and it is necessary to recapture some of those costs that have been eroded away in inflation. So staff recommends moving forward with this ordinance. Thank you. Discussion? Darren? Yeah, I just wanted to comment this ordinance is not going to affect probably

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90% of our clients that are already connected to the water and sewer, this is in effect to people that are not connected to our sewer, and there's always been connection fees involved with new homes or new properties connecting to water or sewer systems, so I just want to make that clear. I saw some posts that seemed confusing on it, but this really won't apply to 90, 95% of our users already.

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Thank you. Madam Clerk, please take the roll.

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Johnson.

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Hi.

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Simmons, Parker, Stacy, Shadle, Sanders, Sellers, and Clemm. And that ordinance passes 8-0.

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Okay, we have item number 8. However, we do need to have an addition to Amendment A. The addition are two

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things, a 2006 Vector truck and a 1977 Holiday Rambler office trailer. So we'll just need to have

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a motion to make that amendment to add them to the list. So moved. Second. We have a motion made by

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Alderman Shadle, seconded by Alderman Sellers. Is there discussion on that addition? What is the

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addition again? We have a list. It's called the Exhibit A. There's a list of items and there are two

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that needed to be added before we pass it and one is a truck and one is a trailer. Oh, okay. Madam Clerk,

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Clerk, could you please take the roll on the, Mr. Siegel? I just have one correction, I believe the Vactor truck is a 2003. Oh, I'm sorry, did I not say that? I believe you said 2006. I'm sorry, you're right, it's 2003. Yes. Madam Clerk, could you please take the roll? Johnson. Aye. Simmons. Aye. Parker. Aye. Stacey. Aye. Shadle. Aye. Sanders. Aye. And Sellers. Aye. Oh, and Clem. Aye. The amendment passes eight to zero.

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Okay, so now item number eight would be the second reading of ordinance 2026-08 as the amended ordinance

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I don't think I read it. Should I probably read that in the record? Okay. Ordinance authorizing sale, recycling, donation, and or disposal of certain personal property

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disposal of certain personal property owned by the city. Tonight we have Public Works Department equipment and Albertus Airport equipment. Thank you. Manager Boyer? Thank your honor. As we discussed, there's a surplus inventory. We need to have authorization to move forward to liquidate. We'll do that through auction site Wisconsin surplus and staff request moving forward with this surplus ordinance. Thank you. Discussion? Madam Clerk, please take the roll. Johnson? Aye. Simmons? Aye.

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Parker, aye, Stacy, aye, Shadle, aye, Sanders, aye, Sellers, aye, and Clem, aye.

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The ordinance passes 8-0 as amended.

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And item number 9 is the first reading of Ordinance 2026-09.

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Could you please read this?

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Ordinance amending Chapter 873 and 664 of the codified ordinance of the City of Freeport concerning the licensing of mobile food trucks.

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Thank you.

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Director Heimerdinger.

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Thank you, Madam Mayor.

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the city of report supports food trucks and the roles they play in our local economy however the current ordinance has created confusion particularly regarding distance requirements from restaurants and overall licensing regulations in response the staff has reviewed chapter 873 and are proposing amendments to clarify standards and improve administration key updates include establishing a clear $50 annual licensing fee requiring renewal applications 30 days in advance and clarifying that

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food trucks must remain at least 200 feet from restaurants without permission. This distance is measured from the nearest outside wall of a restaurant or the nearest inside wall if multiple businesses share that building. The amendments also clarify that trucks may only operate on occupied properties with permission and strengthen eligibility requirements, establish clear enforcement provisions for violations. These changes support public safety, fair compensation,

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compensation and competition as well and align with the city's strategic plan with implementation

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funded through licensing fees and fines without impacting the general fund. Staff recommends moving

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to a second greeting and approving the amended chapter 873. Thank you. Thank you. Is there a motion to move

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this forward? So move. Second. We have a motion made by Alderman Sellers, seconded by Alderman Shadle.

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Discussion on this ordinance. Alderman Stacy. Who would this affect? This will only affect people, those who are wishing to have a food truck and need to be licensed to operate in the city of Freeport. So if they came from out of town? They would need to get a license. And that license is good for how long? By one year term. They need to, and then for the renewal, they need to

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to apply 30 days before their license is up.

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So where this said, so the first year they get a license, if they're coming in July, they have to get this license by June, a month in advance?

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For renewals. For renewals, they need to, if they're going to renew their license, they can't have it expire.

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They need to apply, they need to renew it within 30 days.

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So if they come and they get a license in June, they can start in June?

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Yes.

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Olliman Simmons?

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So if they don't do it the 30 days ahead of time, what happens?

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If they can't get it, where does it go?

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If they don't do the renewal?

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Right.

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So if they don't renew, then they just are a new, they're just a new food truck. And so it'd just be a longer process. So we'd have to, you know, vindicate everything and go through the entire process. So the renewal is just, they come in, we check that they don't have any issues with the renewal process, and then they can be applied.

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Madam Clerk?

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No. Renewal, new and renewal are exactly the same. We ask for the same things every year. They need to provide proof that their truck's licensed and that they have insurance. Okay. Okay. Sorry about that. Alderman Stacy. What is the price for renewal? $50. So it's 50 for a license or 50? Yes. For renewal. And that's for the entire year. Okay. We'll move on to item number 10, which is the first

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First reading of Ordinance 2026-10. Could you please read this? Ordinance amending Title 10, Employment Provisions, Chapter 290, Compensation and Benefits, Section 290.01-D3 of the codified ordinances of the City of Freeport regarding classification plan. Thank you. Manager Boyer? Thank you, Your Honor. The City Public Works team is requesting the creation of a new position for the department. At this time, we're requesting the creation of a Public Works Environmental

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Environmental Health and Safety Operations Coordinator. This would not be a new position. This would essentially be a change of an existing position, which is now the Environmental Compliance Officer position. So we'd be adding additional duties to this role. As part of our strategic realignment, the Public Works Department is reevaluating these key responsibilities to improve collaboration and unite the team, creating an environmental health, safety, and

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Operations Coordinator role will enable the department to effectively manage the day-to-day operations under the direction of the operations superintendent for the lab, operations, and maintenance personnel while continuing to lead environmental and regulatory compliance for the utility operations division. This change will facilitate greater departmental collaboration and enable the division to add the safety coordinator position duties to this role as required for

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our compliance. So staff recommends moving forward with the creation of this new position. Thank you. Is there a motion to move this forward? So moved. Second. Moving motion made by Alderman Shadle, seconded by Alderman Johnson. Discussion on the ordinance. Alderman Stacy? Is this a union position? I'm sorry, can you say that again? Is this a union position? No, it is not. Would you like? Yes. I'm trying to understand

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is this what was brought to us pertaining to the gentleman that already does this that needed to have someone back him up if he needed time off?

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This is part of it. So in lieu of replacing the operations superintendent for the utility, we've come together as a group and we feel that it's in our best interest to have to add additional duties

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to several, two existing positions. One, we passed a meeting or two ago for the utility, I'm sorry, the operations foreman. So that's one part of this. And the second part of this is adding some duties to this role, which is also non-union, but would be taking on more responsibility.

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Was the operation foreman position union?

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Yes.

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Okay.

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Mr. Teagle?

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This position is currently exempt, so non-union, and the city has the need to add the safety coordinator position. We need to have a safety coordinator. We currently don't. Randy does a lot with compliance and regulatory requirements for us and would be very good at the safety coordinator spot.

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So she'll cover all of Public Works and the utility, which currently has kind of been an ad lib position where a handful of people have been trying to do it, but it hasn't been done very well. So our team agreed that this would be a nice position increase for the person that already has it. So it's, again, not an additional position, but just giving somebody more duties and responsibilities within our current structure.

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Okay, we'll move on to item number 11, which is the first reading of ordinance 2026-11, please read this

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Ordinance granting a variance from the requirements of section 1268.07A concerning location of accessory structures at 1219 South Seeley Avenue

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Thank you, Director Heimerdinger

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Thank you, Madam Mayor, staff received a variance request for 1219 South Seeley Avenue in Freeport

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to allow a replacement accessory garage to remain closer than the required 10-foot separation from the

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home. The original garage was damaged by a fallen tree and was rebuilt in the same location through an

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insurance claim. Because prior zoning laws did not require the current 10-foot separation, a variance is

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needed under today's standards. The Zoning Board of Appeals recommended approval by a 4-0 vote. The

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Planning Commission recommended approval by a five to zero vote. Staff presents this request for your consideration.

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presents this request for your consideration and ask the council to also consider a suspension of the rules as this request has already been reviewed by two commissions to avoid further delay for the homeowner.

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Thank you. Is there a motion to move this forward?

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Some move.

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Second.

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It will be a motion made by Alderman Sellers, seconded by Alderman Shadle. Discussion on this ordinance?

00:30:20.760 --> 00:30:21.180
Alderman Parker?

00:30:21.260 --> 00:30:22.780
A motion to suspend the rules?

00:30:24.000 --> 00:30:24.460
Sure.

00:30:25.000 --> 00:30:27.580
We have a motion to suspend made by Alderman Parker.

00:30:27.580 --> 00:31:10.420
Is there a second? Second. Was that you, Greg? Alderman Shadle for the second. Suspension of the rules is non-debatable and was passed by two-thirds majority. So, Madam Clerk, could you please take the roll on the suspension only? Johnson. Aye. Simmons. Aye. Parker. Aye. Stacy. No. Shadle. Aye. Sanders. No. Sellers. Aye. And Clem. Aye. The suspension passes six to

00:31:10.420 --> 00:31:44.210
Thank you. So now before you counsel is the final for this ordinance. If there's no further questions, concerns, Madam Clerk, please take the roll on the passage. Johnson. Aye. Simmons. Aye. Parker. Aye. Stacy. Aye. Shadle. Aye. Sanders. Aye. Sellers. Aye. And Clem. Aye. The ordinance passes eight to zero.

00:31:44.210 --> 00:31:49.870
Item number 12 is the adoption of Resolution 2026-15. Could you please read this?

00:31:51.050 --> 00:31:55.190
Resolution approving purchase of Neptune water meters from Ferguson Water Works.

00:31:55.490 --> 00:31:56.570
Thank you. Manager Boyer.

00:31:56.870 --> 00:32:13.310
Thank you, Your Honor. We're restocking our water meters. We need about 100 new meters. The total cost is about $14,000, and this exceeds, you know, discretionary spending limits for myself, so we're bringing it to council to move forward on.

00:32:13.310 --> 00:32:18.410
and staff requests moving forward to this purchase order. Thank you. Is there a motion to adopt?

00:32:19.150 --> 00:32:25.350
So moved. Second. Motion made by Alderman Shadle, seconded by Alderman Clemm. Discussion on the

00:32:25.350 --> 00:32:43.260
resolution? Just a question. Yes, go ahead. Are these for homes? Yes. Okay. Stacey? Was this budgeted? Yes. And it was stated

00:32:43.260 --> 00:33:14.560
that this was being budgeted for this reason? Well, we have like a dollar amount that we budget for valves, meters, pipe, all kinds of materials. So this falls under that budget item. Yes. Madam Clerk, please take the roll. Johnson. Aye. Simmons. Aye. Parker. Aye. Stacey. Aye. Shadle. Aye. Sanders. Aye. Sellers. Aye. And Clem. Aye. The resolution is adopted eight to zero.

00:33:14.560 --> 00:33:20.940
Item number 13 is the adoption of Resolution 2026-16. Could you please read this?

00:33:21.380 --> 00:33:27.120
Resolution approving a licensing agreement with CYNDIO Networks for pole attachment and conduit occupancy.

00:33:27.520 --> 00:33:28.460
Thank you. Manager Boyer.

00:33:28.880 --> 00:33:36.180
Thank you, Your Honor. CYNDIO, I believe that used to be JCWiFi. I'm sorry. Arrow. I'm sorry. Arrow.

00:33:36.180 --> 00:33:38.700
So we've got quite a few of these anymore.

00:33:39.540 --> 00:33:47.840
They have rented the downtown city poles for use of their fiber optic cables for many years.

00:33:48.300 --> 00:33:58.520
Their agreement had expired a number of years ago, and we've been working very diligently with the new company that bought out Arrow to renew this license agreement.

00:33:58.760 --> 00:34:05.820
So this is essentially a continuation of what we have been doing with an inflation escalator built into this new contract.

00:34:05.820 --> 00:34:11.160
So staff requests moving forward with the approval of this contract with Cendio Network.

00:34:11.760 --> 00:34:13.340
Thank you. Is there a motion to adopt?

00:34:13.580 --> 00:34:14.060
So move.

00:34:14.280 --> 00:34:14.540
Second.

00:34:15.160 --> 00:34:22.500
A motion made by Alderman Sellers, seconded by Alderman Shadle. Discussion on this resolution? Alderman Stacy?

00:34:22.500 --> 00:34:29.060
What would be the main purpose for them adopting the city poles?

00:34:29.060 --> 00:34:48.400
They had essentially installed their fiber years ago on the city light poles, and it's still there and still being used. We had an agreement that expired a number of years ago, and it took us quite a while to get that resolved because the arrow went under new management with Cendio. So this is a new agreement with Cendio.

00:34:48.400 --> 00:34:53.100
So, okay, I'm trying to understand what does it do for the city?

00:34:53.100 --> 00:34:59.760
We receive, I believe it's what, 50 bucks a poll per year for the, is that right?

00:34:59.760 --> 00:35:08.780
I believe the rent is $25 per poll per year and it has a 3% cost inflator every year over five years.

00:35:09.340 --> 00:35:19.920
The main purpose of this is a lot of the businesses in the downtown area originally had aero internet because it was high speed before they were there.

00:35:19.920 --> 00:35:48.020
That connectivity was, there's a map in the agenda that shows that connectivity was gone through the city concrete poles, but the absolute most significant thing that they do is they provide 24-7 broadband to the ESB at the police station, so they are part of the 911 center, and that is the main reason that that network was built out.

00:35:48.020 --> 00:36:24.210
so that's that that line is currently the main feed to the ESB please take the roll Johnson I Simmons oh I'm sorry she is absent currently Parker I Stacy I Shadle I Sanders I sellers I and Clem I the resolution is adopted seven to zero I don't remember 14 is the adoption of resolution 2026 17 could you please read this resolution approving the purchase of turnout gear for the fire department

00:36:24.210 --> 00:36:48.560
from Dinges Fire Company. Did I say that right? Dinges? Chief Gordy? Thank you, Madam Mayor. Since 2023, the department's been exploring replacement turnout gear. And in this case, what we're talking about is the heavy coat and pants that they wear internal in the fire. Most of our current gear was purchased about eight years ago.

00:36:48.560 --> 00:37:08.740
but in the last few years we found out that a lot of that gear has the PFAS chemicals in it the cancer causing so we formed a turnout gear committee to try and find out what was the best brand and make that was out there.

00:37:08.740 --> 00:37:22.120
The committee, after going through multiple different manufacturers and vendors, have recommended the purchase of Lion brand V4 structural firefighting turnout gear.

00:37:22.520 --> 00:37:34.340
Our current plan then is over the next six years that we're going to purchase 16 sets every two years.

00:37:34.340 --> 00:38:04.340
instead of having one big bulk purchase we're going to try and step it out that way it'll also help the next in the next 10 years when we have to come back and do this all over again plus it also allows us to reevaluate what we're currently purchasing and if there's anything any better coming up over the next couple of years we can we can go to that brand or that manufacturer so currently the department's requesting approval to the

00:38:04.340 --> 00:38:32.520
resolution of the purchase of 16 sets of Lion V-Force structural firefighting turnout gear from Dinge's fire company from Anboy. The replacement will take place, like I said, in phases. Each set of gear costs $4,465. So what we're asking for is a purchase not to exceed $75,000, which again goes above the spending limits so that we have to come

00:38:32.520 --> 00:38:35.820
and make a request.

00:38:36.740 --> 00:38:46.300
This brand or this vendor is a Sourcewell vendor and we're asking to move this forward.

00:38:46.980 --> 00:38:47.460
Thank you, Chief.

00:38:47.520 --> 00:38:48.560
Is there a motion to adopt?

00:38:48.880 --> 00:38:49.520
So move.

00:38:49.640 --> 00:38:49.920
Second.

00:38:49.920 --> 00:38:53.480
A motion made by Alderman Sellers, seconded by Alderman Shadle.

00:38:53.800 --> 00:38:55.120
Discussion on the resolution?

00:38:56.800 --> 00:38:57.360
Alderman Stacy?

00:38:57.360 --> 00:39:02.580
Was this budgeted in your budget for this to happen this year?

00:39:02.740 --> 00:39:03.340
Yes, it is.

00:39:03.760 --> 00:39:05.780
It comes out of our capital improvement fund.

00:39:06.440 --> 00:39:11.760
And how long are these outfits good for?

00:39:12.160 --> 00:39:13.740
NFPA says 10 years.

00:39:13.880 --> 00:39:14.340
10 years.

00:39:14.460 --> 00:39:14.960
Thank you.

00:39:18.030 --> 00:39:19.170
Madam Clerk, please take the roll.

00:39:19.630 --> 00:39:19.990
Johnson.

00:39:20.330 --> 00:39:20.530
Aye.

00:39:20.810 --> 00:39:21.090
Simmons.

00:39:21.550 --> 00:39:21.950
Aye.

00:39:22.350 --> 00:39:22.690
Parker.

00:39:23.090 --> 00:39:23.330
Aye.

00:39:23.590 --> 00:39:23.990
Stacey.

00:39:24.690 --> 00:39:24.990
Aye.

00:39:25.230 --> 00:39:25.510
Shadle.

00:39:25.770 --> 00:39:25.950
Aye.

00:39:26.210 --> 00:39:26.650
Sanders.

00:39:26.830 --> 00:39:27.010
Aye.

00:39:27.290 --> 00:39:27.770
Sellers.

00:39:27.870 --> 00:39:28.210
Aye.

00:39:28.290 --> 00:39:28.630
And Clem.

00:39:28.910 --> 00:39:29.190
Aye.

00:39:29.190 --> 00:39:31.470
The resolution is adopted 8-0

00:39:31.470 --> 00:39:36.430
Item number 15 is the adoption of resolution 2025-18

00:39:36.430 --> 00:39:39.170
Would you please, I'm sorry, 2026-18

00:39:39.170 --> 00:39:53.990
Resolution authorizing memorandum of agreement with the Federal Aviation Administration or the FAA facilities for incorporating runway 24 MALSR which is a runway alignment indicator

00:39:53.990 --> 00:39:57.440
which is a runway alignment indicator into the National Airspace System at Albertus Airport.

00:39:57.980 --> 00:39:58.380
Thank you.

00:39:58.440 --> 00:39:59.020
Manager Boyer.

00:39:59.480 --> 00:40:00.300
Thank you, Your Honor.

00:40:00.300 --> 00:40:05.880
The city has a continuing agreement with the FAA to operate the city-owned airport.

00:40:07.480 --> 00:40:09.840
It is time to renew that agreement.

00:40:10.260 --> 00:40:18.860
It expires September 30, 2026, and therefore new MOA is required to extend the agreement so that we can continue to operate the airport.

00:40:18.860 --> 00:40:47.260
The MOA under construction is a 20-year term expiring in 2046. The MOA allows the FAA the right to maintain FAA-owned navigation, communication, and weather-aided facilities, grade and installed drainage facilities, seating, and remove obstructions. So city staff recommends moving forward. There is no cost impact to this. It is just an agreement with the FAA. So staff recommends moving forward.

00:40:47.260 --> 00:40:49.140
Thank you. Is there a motion to adopt?

00:40:49.340 --> 00:40:49.660
So moved.

00:40:49.660 --> 00:40:50.140
Second.

00:40:51.360 --> 00:41:01.930
Alderman Clem? Motion made by Alderman Clem, seconded by Alderman Sellers. Discussion on the resolution. Alderman Stacy?

00:41:02.190 --> 00:41:05.650
You said this is a 20-year commitment?

00:41:06.350 --> 00:41:06.570
Yes.

00:41:06.690 --> 00:41:08.450
And it costs the city nothing?

00:41:09.010 --> 00:41:15.570
No, it's no cost to the city. It's just an agreement between the city and the FAA that we're going to operate under FAA rules.

00:41:15.570 --> 00:41:23.410
So if it ever got to the point where they could not meet our needs, then what?

00:41:25.170 --> 00:41:28.730
Well, essentially, this allows us to operate legally under the FAA.

00:41:29.190 --> 00:41:33.390
So if we aren't working with the FAA, we don't have a legal airport.

00:41:34.570 --> 00:41:35.010
Okay.

00:41:36.730 --> 00:41:38.290
Madam Clerk, please take the roll.

00:41:38.590 --> 00:41:38.950
Johnson.

00:41:39.210 --> 00:41:39.490
Aye.

00:41:39.890 --> 00:41:40.330
Simmons.

00:41:40.610 --> 00:41:40.850
Aye.

00:41:41.130 --> 00:41:41.430
Parker.

00:41:41.730 --> 00:41:41.930
Aye.

00:41:42.250 --> 00:41:42.610
Stacy.

00:41:43.170 --> 00:41:43.550
Aye.

00:41:43.850 --> 00:41:44.110
Shadle.

00:41:44.590 --> 00:41:44.830
Aye.

00:41:45.110 --> 00:41:45.430
Sanders.

00:41:45.570 --> 00:42:15.490
Aye. Sellers. Aye. And Clem. Aye. The resolution is adopted, 8 to 0. Item number 16 is the adoption of resolution 2026-19. Could you please read this for the record? Resolution approving an agreement with iWork systems. Thank you. Director Suttman. Thank you, Mayor. Council, this is an agreement for all of our iWork modules, software that staff uses. A little bit of background, we started our relationship with iWork in

00:42:15.490 --> 00:42:21.430
2018. I think it's been highly successful. We've seen a lot of efficiencies through using their software.

00:42:22.270 --> 00:42:27.130
Over the years, we started getting piecemeal modules here and there. So we ended up with like three or four agreements.

00:42:27.790 --> 00:42:32.170
The main purpose of this was to get that into one agreement so we can pay it once a year, keep track of it better.

00:42:33.350 --> 00:42:40.190
This agreement happened to coincide with our desire to get two new modules added. So we thought, while we're consolidating, let's get it all in one.

00:42:40.190 --> 00:43:10.350
so that's what you're seeing in this agreement. There is a cost increase this year over last year about $22,000 that's because we've added the new modules. The $69,100 will be split up between city funds and water and sewer because there's the facilities management portion on there and staff recommends moving forward with this agreement.

00:43:10.350 --> 00:43:37.960
Thank you. Is there a motion to adopt? So moved. Second. Motion made by Alderman Shadle, seconded by Alderman Sellers. Discussion on the resolution? Alderman Stacy? He said it was about a $22,000 increase this year? Yes. We added some automation tools for our community development and some additional features for them and then a licensing module. Is it going to be an increase yearly?

00:43:37.960 --> 00:43:42.300
as things change as fast as they do?

00:43:42.300 --> 00:43:51.220
I would assume if things are added to it, it would. Otherwise, I'd expect it to go up with inflation, but not drastically. But I can't predict the future either.

00:43:51.680 --> 00:43:56.900
Is this drastically, $22,000? Is that considered drastically?

00:43:57.700 --> 00:43:59.780
I don't think because we're adding features.

00:44:00.020 --> 00:44:00.320
Okay.

00:44:00.460 --> 00:44:04.480
If it was just a jump of $22,000, I'd have major questions if it was the same feature set.

00:44:04.480 --> 00:44:06.800
Okay

00:44:06.800 --> 00:44:08.960
Thank you

00:44:08.960 --> 00:44:10.600
Madam Clerk, please take the roll

00:44:10.600 --> 00:44:14.530
Johnson

00:44:14.530 --> 00:44:15.110
Aye

00:44:15.110 --> 00:44:15.810
Simmons

00:44:15.810 --> 00:44:16.490
Aye

00:44:16.490 --> 00:44:17.050
Parker

00:44:17.050 --> 00:44:17.530
Aye

00:44:17.530 --> 00:44:18.270
Stacey

00:44:18.270 --> 00:44:19.150
Aye

00:44:19.150 --> 00:44:19.670
Shadle

00:44:19.670 --> 00:44:20.010
Aye

00:44:20.010 --> 00:44:20.850
Sanders

00:44:20.850 --> 00:44:21.270
Aye

00:44:21.270 --> 00:44:22.030
Sellers

00:44:22.030 --> 00:44:22.410
Aye

00:44:22.410 --> 00:44:22.930
And Clem

00:44:22.930 --> 00:44:23.510
Aye

00:44:23.510 --> 00:44:26.310
And that resolution is adopted 8-0

00:44:26.310 --> 00:44:31.370
Item number 17 is the adoption of resolution 2026-20. Could you please read this?

00:44:31.710 --> 00:44:37.110
Resolution approving an agreement with Greystone Construction for the purchase and construction of a salt storage

00:44:37.110 --> 00:44:43.590
Shed. Thank you. Manager Weir. Thank you, Your Honor. The city has two salt sheds that are in really bad

00:44:43.590 --> 00:44:48.790
condition. Curt, I don't know if you can put those pictures up with a projector. Are they up there?

00:44:49.790 --> 00:44:56.970
Not yet. Okay. Well, as soon as we get the projector going, then we'll be able to look at those pictures,

00:44:56.970 --> 00:45:03.910
but essentially we have two pole barn-style sheds that are falling apart. Actually, they're unsafe and

00:45:03.910 --> 00:45:32.470
and they're going to fall down eventually in a very short order. So staff, knowing this, has been working on replacing the salt sheds. Obviously, we've known for a little while that we need to replace them. We have come, looked at three different manufacturers and worked with all three to kind of get the best analysis of how they're built and the best layout for the city. We've decided on an 80 foot by 126

00:45:33.910 --> 00:45:59.650
Brightspan Atlas Building. This package includes 12 inches of aggregate base, civil site work, grading, concrete foundation and base, concrete foundation, piers, rebar, mats, and basically the structure. The total cost of the salt shed is $833,795 and the building will hold up to 4,400 tons.

00:45:59.650 --> 00:46:29.530
and to give you a context that is about one basically 1.3 years worth of salt on hand currently because of the small size of our salt sheds we take deliveries as needed sometimes when it's a cold winter and we have a lot of snow our supplier actually has to prioritize who gets salt and sometimes we don't get as much as we want so this will enable us to have an entire year supply on hand at any given time this was included in the capital

00:46:29.530 --> 00:46:36.330
improvement plan as in the budget, and staff request council move forward with the salt shed.

00:46:36.890 --> 00:46:38.710
Thank you. Is there a motion to adopt?

00:46:39.410 --> 00:46:39.790
So moved.

00:46:40.390 --> 00:46:40.690
Second.

00:46:41.390 --> 00:46:46.430
A motion made by Alderman Shadle, seconded by Alderman Johnson. Discussion on the resolution?

00:46:47.630 --> 00:46:48.530
Alderman Sellers?

00:46:48.870 --> 00:46:55.730
Yeah, with the shed, you're also making it that big for a little storage too, aren't you? Are you

00:46:55.730 --> 00:46:58.950
storing anything else in there besides just the salt?

00:46:58.950 --> 00:47:28.930
No. Salt's corrosive, so anything we put in there would be subject to that corrosion. However, this will give us operational flexibility when the salt deliveries come in. If they're on a tilt, like a large truck with a tilt bed, the trucks will be able to fully tilt up and dump the salt in there. Currently, we don't have enough overhead space to do that, so when a salt delivery comes in, they basically dump it on the ground, and then we have manpower with moving it around and

00:47:28.930 --> 00:47:33.010
getting it put back in the salt shed. So it'll actually streamline operations to some degree

00:47:33.010 --> 00:47:57.990
as well. Okay. Alderman Stacy? Would you ever order three years' worth of salt at one time? No. Oh. I think you misunderstood. It was 1.3 years' capacity. Oh. Okay. Gotcha. Alderman Shadle, did you have your hand? I did. Just curious.

00:47:58.930 --> 00:48:07.690
if this includes demolition of the existing or are we just going to have somebody like maybe hit it with a feather?

00:48:09.310 --> 00:48:10.490
I'm going to leave that to Darren.

00:48:10.630 --> 00:48:12.490
I think we got the operation.

00:48:12.490 --> 00:48:14.530
So this quote does not include demolition.

00:48:14.790 --> 00:48:20.970
The city staff decided that we're going to use our own crews to do demolition of the buildings because they're in such bad shape.

00:48:21.070 --> 00:48:26.810
So we're going to recycle, excuse me, recycle the steel and we're going to just, you know, dispose of the wood.

00:48:26.810 --> 00:48:35.450
And then we have the ability with the clam truck and stuff to remove the concrete ourselves to kind of sweat equity, save some money to try to bring the cost down.

00:48:35.930 --> 00:48:44.290
Very expensive building, and we know that, but it's very needed, and we wanted to do everything possible to make sure that we could get this facility this year.

00:48:45.350 --> 00:48:49.310
I really believe that by the time we empty the buildings, they'll probably fall over.

00:48:50.570 --> 00:48:52.330
I looked at it.

00:48:52.390 --> 00:48:54.690
It's extremely bad shape.

00:48:54.690 --> 00:48:54.970
Yeah.

00:48:54.970 --> 00:49:28.040
is this down on island yes ma'am okay okay madam clerk please take the roll Johnson hi Simmons Parker I Stacy I Shadle I Sanders I Sellers I clump all right the resolution is adopted eight to zero item number 18 is approval of a bid could you please read bid opening on February 4th 2026 for HVAC preventing

00:49:28.040 --> 00:49:52.000
and service maintenance for equipment at seven city-owned locations. Thank you, Manager Boyer. Thank you, Your Honor. So for the past three years, we've had a company doing our contract HVAC work for just City Hall and for the Police Department. That has been problematic, and we worked very hard this time to make sure that our bid was written very specifically to cover, you know, we could calculate

00:49:52.000 --> 00:50:19.980
to cover, you know, we could calculate all the costs and we weren't getting hit with high uncalculated increases from the supplier. We also added several locations to this bid, including the facilities down at Island. And so staff moved forward with a bid opening and Helm was the most responsive bidder. And staff requests with a total cost of approximately, let's see here,

00:50:20.000 --> 00:50:55.180
bear with me one second here you know $77,703 sorry didn't see that so staff recommends moving forward with this bid from Helm is there a motion to approve someone second emotion made by Alderman Shadle seconded by Alderman Sellers discussion on the bid Alderman Stacy so do I understand this contract to be saying

00:50:55.660 --> 00:51:02.060
one year is 60 compared to three years being 77?

00:51:03.220 --> 00:51:06.580
No, that's incorrect, but I think Darren can speak to that pretty clear.

00:51:06.920 --> 00:51:17.800
As what's listed in the memo, year one's cost is the $60,000, $314,000, year two is $69,708,000, and year three is $77,703,000.

00:51:17.800 --> 00:51:23.640
So that's the total cost of the year for the preventative maintenance and all labor included.

00:51:23.640 --> 00:51:43.060
We did this as a three-year. The city has the right or option to approve a three-year bid and then we can opt out at any time that we want to year to year. It's written in the contract that we can opt out if we feel that service isn't what we thought it would, if we decide we can't afford what we're doing.

00:51:43.060 --> 00:52:12.840
based on the evaluation of how many units are in this bid it's a very good price and the current contract we've been under has been very insufficient over the last three years that we've been dealing with a lot of problems with it that's why we did an RFQ request for qualifications and Helms packet that they submitted was far superior to the other packets that were submitted as far as the details and the things that we asked for regarding each facility within

00:52:12.840 --> 00:52:21.020
and Freeport. So I would like to tell you that the city went away from an all-inclusive package of many years

00:52:21.020 --> 00:52:27.760
ago. I would say Michelle could tell us, but I think it was about four years ago we went away from an all-inclusive

00:52:27.760 --> 00:52:33.000
package like what we're suggesting here, and that cost was over $100,000 a year that we were paying at

00:52:33.000 --> 00:52:40.220
that time for all the labor included and all the PMs and everything that are out here. I was scanning my

00:52:40.220 --> 00:52:50.700
memo here. And we have 168 touch points of heating, cooling, exhaust fans, things like that within this

00:52:50.700 --> 00:52:56.320
contract. It's a lot of units to maintain within the city of Freeport. And to be frank with you, we don't

00:52:56.320 --> 00:53:04.220
even have a good inventory of the condition or status of the things that we have currently. So one other

00:53:04.220 --> 00:53:09.840
thing I'd like to throw out is there's refrigerant laws changes that happened here in 26. And so as

00:53:09.840 --> 00:53:14.380
units become aged because of the new refrigeration laws.

00:53:14.600 --> 00:53:19.800
If they have anything to do with air conditioning, they won't be able to be repaired with the current refrigerant.

00:53:19.980 --> 00:53:26.280
They will have to be converted to new units because the EPA no longer allows the installation of that old refrigerant.

00:53:30.360 --> 00:53:32.000
Madam Clerk, please take the roll.

00:53:32.840 --> 00:53:33.320
Johnson.

00:53:33.640 --> 00:53:33.840
Aye.

00:53:34.220 --> 00:53:34.700
Simmons.

00:53:35.040 --> 00:53:35.360
Aye.

00:53:35.540 --> 00:53:35.860
Parker.

00:53:36.160 --> 00:53:36.400
Aye.

00:53:36.840 --> 00:53:37.280
Stacey.

00:53:38.040 --> 00:53:38.520
Aye.

00:53:38.700 --> 00:53:38.960
Shadle.

00:53:39.140 --> 00:53:39.320
Aye.

00:53:39.840 --> 00:53:50.660
Sanders, Sellers, and Clemm. The motion passes 8-0. Item number 19 is another bid. Could you please read?

00:53:51.280 --> 00:53:56.960
Bid opening on February 10, 2026 for the tree removal for the year. Thank you, Manager Boyer.

00:53:57.860 --> 00:54:05.440
Thank you, Your Honor. City has identified 31 dead or dangerous trees within the city. We do this every

00:54:05.440 --> 00:54:14.560
Year. This year, we received multiple bids, four bids, with the winning bid being tree landscaping of

00:54:14.560 --> 00:54:24.380
Oconomowoc. They are the low bidder at $68,187,000, and this is budgeted in the forestry budget. Staff

00:54:24.380 --> 00:54:30.940
requests moving forward with accepting the bid from Tree Landscaping Company. Thank you. Is there a motion to

00:54:30.940 --> 00:54:40.240
So moved. Second. Motion made by Alderman Shadle, seconded by Alderman Sellers. Discussion on this bid. Alderman Stacy?

00:54:40.240 --> 00:55:01.320
The company that gets this bid, or these bids, they will have the necessary license and paperwork required by the state to do these jobs. Am I correct?

00:55:01.320 --> 00:55:07.800
Yes, all the companies will be a licensed Freeport contractor with the appropriate liability

00:55:07.800 --> 00:55:33.800
coverage. Madam Clerk, please take the roll. Johnson? Aye. Simmons? Aye. Parker? Aye. Stacy? Aye. Shadle? Aye. Sanders? Aye. Sellers? Aye. And Clemm? Aye. The motion is approved 8-0. Thank you. Another bid opening? Aye. On February 11, 2026, there was a bid opening for sanitary

00:55:33.800 --> 00:55:35.760
Sewer Cleaning for 2026.

00:55:36.140 --> 00:55:36.720
Manager Boyer?

00:55:37.340 --> 00:55:38.100
Thank you, Your Honor.

00:55:38.420 --> 00:55:45.120
Each year as we prepare for our road projects and our water main replacements, we also evaluate

00:55:45.120 --> 00:55:52.520
our sanitary collection system before we move forward with any other work above ground.

00:55:53.060 --> 00:56:00.200
So this year we had solicited for bids for cleaning and televising corridors within the city that

00:56:00.200 --> 00:56:01.320
we're going to be working on.

00:56:01.320 --> 00:56:20.340
It counts for about 20,000 lineal feet. The low bidder was National Power Rotting, a company we've used in the past and has been good. And they are the lowest responsive bidder at $76,784. And that's actually below engineer's estimate. Staff recommends moving forward with this bid.

00:56:21.120 --> 00:56:23.060
Thank you. Is there a motion to approve?

00:56:23.240 --> 00:56:23.660
So moved.

00:56:24.360 --> 00:56:24.760
Second.

00:56:25.280 --> 00:56:30.580
A motion made by Alderman Shadle, seconded by Alderman Johnson. Discussion on this bid?

00:56:33.370 --> 00:57:03.330
Madam Clerk, please take the roll, Johnson, Aye, Simmons, Aye, Parker, Aye, Stacy, Aye, Shadle, Aye, Sanders, Aye, Sellers, Aye, and Clemm, Aye, the motion passes, 8-0, and item number 21 is another bid opening, on February 11, 2026, wild animal trapping bids were opened, thank you, Manager Boyer, thank you, Your Honor, so many times throughout

00:57:03.330 --> 00:57:33.050
throughout the year we get requests of residents of Freeport that have issues with raccoons or skunks or various large marsupial animals. And the city ordinance does not allow for us to trap. We simply, the ordinance allows our animal control officer to deal with dogs and cats. With that being said, with the number of requests that we've had, staff solicited bids for basically exterminating

00:57:33.050 --> 00:57:42.510
contract for up to 20 of these types of problematic calls. We received one responsive bidder night site

00:57:42.510 --> 00:57:52.070
solutions and the total cost per trap is going to be $300 and that'd be $6,000 annually and we'll do it on a

00:57:52.070 --> 00:57:57.670
first come first serve and we will also be depending we'll be looking at the surrounding areas so if you

00:57:57.670 --> 00:58:03.030
live in the woods we're not going to be sending a trapping company out to capture possums. This is

00:58:03.030 --> 00:58:32.890
simply just to deal with the emergent issues that come up from time to time and so staff recommends moving forward with this bid from the bid from Night Sight Solutions for a total of $6,000. Thank you. Is there a motion to approve? So moved. Second. Motion made by Alderman Sellers, seconded by Alderman Shadle. Discussion on this bid. Alderman Johnson? So currently I understand the city doesn't pay anything or doesn't do

00:58:32.890 --> 00:58:38.050
do any of the trapping of any wild animals. Really, we're not doing anything for that right now. Is that correct?

00:58:38.290 --> 00:58:46.210
Right. It is not allowed by ordinance, and we have no qualified individuals who have the proper ability to do that.

00:58:47.730 --> 00:58:48.610
Alderman Sellers?

00:58:48.610 --> 00:58:59.350
I do want to say also in this trapping, I think we need to look at our community development on some of the garbage,

00:58:59.350 --> 00:59:27.910
and because that's what these animals feed off of where people have just throw their garbage in the back or throw their garbage on the porch or whatever but these animals have gotten really out of control. I know one day I saw I thought it was a dog and it was a raccoon. It was that big. So and it was 1030 in the afternoon, I mean in the morning. So I do see that there is a big problem in the community area where people live and children play so.

00:59:29.350 --> 00:59:50.010
Mr. Siegel. Yeah, I just want to add one point of context. So in the memo we talked about this is going to be a co-op program. We're not, as the city, just going to go out and remove animals. There's going to be a co-op cost with any resident that wants to do it. First of all, animals on private property present an issue and we're

00:59:50.010 --> 01:00:18.000
property presents an issue. And we're also going to require a hold harmless agreement to the city because it's on private property, like a temporary easement as well, just because, you know, we have to be cautious to protect the city at all lengths when we do this. And I have specifically talked to Night Sight Solutions. This is a gentleman that is a very responsible person. He's a licensed trapper in Wisconsin and in Illinois. He works for the

01:00:18.000 --> 01:00:43.300
Rockford Fire Department, and he's planning on retiring, and this is kind of his next part of his life for work, and he likes doing it. So one of the things I'm concerned with with this is kind of the story that Dovie had wrote before that, you know, people think this is generally as simple as just tramping one animal sometimes when, you know, there might be a family of raccoons living under that deck.

01:00:43.300 --> 01:00:49.960
So we need to be cautious as we move forward with this and very selective in the uses that we do with this.

01:00:50.320 --> 01:00:52.200
Thank you. Alderman Stacy?

01:00:52.420 --> 01:01:01.260
So is this saying it would cost the customer or the person that's in need of the service $300 per trap?

01:01:02.940 --> 01:01:10.020
In this case, it's a co-op, so that $300 cost would be split 50-50 between the homeowner and the city if approved.

01:01:10.960 --> 01:01:12.520
The homeowner and the city?

01:01:12.520 --> 01:01:18.640
would split the $300. And that price from Night Sight is per animal trapped.

01:01:22.410 --> 01:01:23.450
The $6,000?

01:01:24.490 --> 01:01:25.090
$300.

01:01:25.490 --> 01:01:26.950
What's the $6,000?

01:01:27.190 --> 01:01:30.590
That was the annual estimated cost to the city of April.

01:01:30.590 --> 01:01:32.910
I thought you said annual, but okay.

01:01:33.510 --> 01:01:40.050
Yeah. Which I did some cost comparisons about three or four months ago. Rob asked me to call

01:01:40.050 --> 01:01:45.130
around and get some prices because we had quite a few complaints about how much this trapping

01:01:45.130 --> 01:01:53.090
was costing, because there's very limited people that are actually licensed to do this, and the cost that I got from numerous calls was double this.

01:01:53.090 --> 01:02:12.330
Uh-huh. Is there something we can change? Oh, I'm sorry. Sure, go ahead. Is there something we can change in the ordinance that will be more supportive in the city with this?

01:02:12.330 --> 01:02:42.310
I mean Miss Lenore is very concerned 38 raccoons 16 possums and I didn't get how many skunks or I mean I think the idea here is to start start with something and see how it goes and then go from there but would that be something the city would consider we don't have a licensed trapper right that that's the issue right there is what

01:02:42.310 --> 01:02:50.070
what she said is we do not have a licensed state of Illinois licensed trapper on staff and that has to be happening to be on private property.

01:02:51.430 --> 01:02:54.710
So you're saying the ordinance could not change?

01:02:58.380 --> 01:03:04.220
I don't believe our ordinance, our city ordinance could allow us to trap on private property.

01:03:04.680 --> 01:03:08.340
I don't believe that that would be the case, that that would be a question for the attorney.

01:03:08.340 --> 01:03:32.340
Okay. That is correct. We can only enter on a private property if we have some kind of permission from the landowner or if there's a recorded easement that would allow the city to come on for some maintenance aspect. So without permission, we just can't enter onto the property. Unless it's an emergency situation, like a fire aspect, then obviously we can't.

01:03:33.200 --> 01:03:34.000
Alderman Johnson?

01:03:34.000 --> 01:03:49.160
I see here there's it says a single emergency call out less than 40 hour time time is $200. So that'd be above and beyond the $300. Yeah. So $500 if it was an emergent situation.

01:03:49.160 --> 01:04:01.420
In my research, most of these animal problems are kind of ongoing, you know, and it's not like something that's a fire. And so 48 hours seem to be a reasonable time frame to respond.

01:04:01.420 --> 01:04:06.680
if somebody just, it's dire and they can't wait 48 hours for the trap, yes, then there

01:04:06.680 --> 01:04:11.560
is an additional $200 emergency fee to break this person away from their other work.

01:04:13.380 --> 01:04:14.080
Thank you.

01:04:14.580 --> 01:04:15.060
Okay.

01:04:15.800 --> 01:04:16.960
Yes, all in the cellar.

01:04:17.580 --> 01:04:21.780
What if the animal is dead?

01:04:23.200 --> 01:04:24.820
So who picks that up?

01:04:25.460 --> 01:04:28.020
In the right-of-way, the city of Freeport picks it up.

01:04:28.140 --> 01:04:28.240
Okay.

01:04:28.300 --> 01:04:30.880
On the private property, it would be this trap.

01:04:30.880 --> 01:04:37.520
Die. And that would be $300? That would be $150 then? Just picking up a...

01:04:37.520 --> 01:04:41.060
You don't know yet.

01:04:41.080 --> 01:04:46.040
That's a great question. I might have to define that. I don't believe he would charge us for an animal that was already dead.

01:04:47.560 --> 01:04:57.240
Catching animals like this and baiting them in traps takes time and effort, and there's always safety risks with different kinds of things like rabies and things like that.

01:04:57.240 --> 01:04:58.540
Yeah. Okay.

01:04:58.540 --> 01:05:08.320
Director Suttman, can you check the video feed, we keep getting, it's blacking out, the audio stays on, but the video is blacking out

01:05:08.320 --> 01:05:14.940
Thank you, if there's no further discussion, Madam Clerk, could you please take the role

01:05:14.940 --> 01:05:16.060
I have a question

01:05:16.060 --> 01:05:17.160
Oh, I'm sorry, go ahead

01:05:17.160 --> 01:05:28.180
So, once we exhaust the number of calls, can you just bring it back to council, and then maybe we can renew and add more, or I think, is that what you were getting at?

01:05:28.180 --> 01:05:33.660
maybe could we increase the number of calls from or just bring it back once we use it?

01:05:33.660 --> 01:05:35.120
I think it's really a starting point.

01:05:35.200 --> 01:05:35.900
That's what I'm saying.

01:05:36.100 --> 01:05:42.180
Yeah, I think the whole point was let's, we've not done it before, let's go ahead and try it.

01:05:42.320 --> 01:05:44.660
Let's put a cap on it so it doesn't get out of hand.

01:05:44.740 --> 01:05:49.520
This is an unbudgeted item that we're going to have to look at other areas within a budget to pay for.

01:05:49.520 --> 01:05:57.940
So I just wanted to make sure that it was bookended and we weren't, you know, moving forward with something that gets out of hand.

01:05:58.180 --> 01:06:16.220
Mr. Tegel? Yeah, so in the bid we did ask for a price over $20 to kind of lock it in in the bid if we choose to do more and he gave us the same price for $21 through whatever so if council determined that there was a greater need here it would still be the same price.

01:06:17.580 --> 01:06:26.820
But I think we need to also remember Alderman Sellers point of you know enforcement of garbage and things that draw those types of animals in.

01:06:26.820 --> 01:06:29.860
It's kind of a dual piece there

01:06:29.860 --> 01:06:31.460
So it's a starting point

01:06:31.460 --> 01:06:34.980
Madam Clerk, please take the roll

01:06:34.980 --> 01:06:44.260
Johnson, aye, Simmons, aye, Parker, aye, Stacy, aye, Shadle, aye, Sanders

01:06:44.260 --> 01:06:46.380
Oh, he's absent, I'm sorry

01:06:46.380 --> 01:06:48.780
Sellers, aye, and Clem

01:06:48.780 --> 01:06:49.280
Aye

01:06:49.280 --> 01:06:51.720
The motion passes, 7-0

01:06:51.720 --> 01:06:54.960
And item number 22 is another bid opening

01:06:54.960 --> 01:07:07.760
On February 12th, 2026, we opened bids for demolition of 1300 Business Route 20 East or the former Holiday Inn.

01:07:08.400 --> 01:07:09.220
Director Heimerdinger.

01:07:09.680 --> 01:07:24.180
Thank you, Madam Mayor. Last month on January 20th, 2026, I provided testimony on behalf of the City of Freeport at the Stevenson County Courthouse regarding the formal Holiday Inn at 1300 Business 20 East.

01:07:24.180 --> 01:07:41.420
This property has been in the court system for years, and based on all the testimony and supporting evidence, the court ultimately ruled in favor of the city, determining that the structure is not suitable for rehabilitation, is a life safety hazard, and ordered the demolition of the building.

01:07:41.420 --> 01:08:11.420
Following the court's decision, the community development department moved forward with the demolition bid process. The bids were publicly bid. Addendums were issued to clarify scope and requirements and a walkthrough was held on February 11th so contractors could review site conditions. Bids were open on February 12th and the city received six competitive bids. The lowest responsible bid was submitted by Elber and Sons Earthworks in the amount of $166,000

01:08:11.420 --> 01:08:41.400
The other five bid totals and contractors can be reviewed in the memo attached to tonight's agenda. This project will be funded through the demolition fund and represents an important step in removing a long-standing unsafe structure and preparing the site for future redevelopment that will generate new investments, support future businesses, and increase revenue for the city. The city will be seeking developers and I encourage anyone

01:08:41.400 --> 01:09:10.080
interested to contact me at 815-235-8221. And finally, I'd like to take a moment to thank my team, Doug, John, Ben, Elizabeth, Sadie, and Katie, as well as our city attorney for their dedication in bringing this long process to resolution. We are excited to see what the future holds for this property and staff recommends approving the bid from Elber and Sons Earthworks. Thank you. Is there a motion to approve? So moved. Second.

01:09:10.080 --> 01:09:46.700
motion made by Alderman Shadle seconded by Alderman Sellers discussion on the bid Alderman Stacy if we accept this how long is that building going to continue to sit or better yet when would the process start and what is estimated completion date that's a great question in a big documents that were signed by the

01:09:46.700 --> 01:09:47.980
tractors. It says 25.

01:09:47.980 --> 01:09:53.960
signed by the contractors. It says 25 days for the complete demo of the building. So that means 25 days

01:09:53.960 --> 01:10:00.440
from the time that they receive the go-ahead to get started. If it takes longer than that because it's a

01:10:00.440 --> 01:10:06.980
pretty big structure, they will need to submit to us an extension and give us proper reason for why that

01:10:06.980 --> 01:10:13.540
extension is necessary. Something that we are in the play with is that we would like to have this building

01:10:13.540 --> 01:10:21.200
down by the time that we are due back in quit in April so that's kind of the target is to have it

01:10:21.200 --> 01:10:27.560
completely down so that we can move forward with the next steps within the quit system. Completely down by

01:10:27.560 --> 01:10:45.150
April? Yes. Madam Clerk, please take the roll. Johnson? Aye. Simmons? Aye. Parker? Aye. Stacey? Aye. Shadle? Aye. Sanders? Aye. Sellers? Aye. And Clemm? Aye.

01:10:45.150 --> 01:10:47.490
The motion passes, 8 to 0

01:10:47.490 --> 01:10:54.470
Item number 23 is discussion on Viaduct project updates, Alderman Stacy and Simmons

01:10:54.470 --> 01:10:58.210
Okay

01:10:58.210 --> 01:11:11.110
Several community members have expressed concerns regarding the lack of progress on the Viaduct project

01:11:11.110 --> 01:11:17.270
On behalf of these citizens, I am requesting answers

01:11:17.270 --> 01:11:19.770
to the following questions.

01:11:20.910 --> 01:11:24.890
Why is the project currently at a standstill?

01:11:26.330 --> 01:11:30.510
What is the project's completion date?

01:11:31.950 --> 01:11:35.630
In the event of a fire or medical emergency,

01:11:36.270 --> 01:11:41.150
will EMS be able to reach the arcade area efficiently?

01:11:41.150 --> 01:11:54.960
Four, the approved permit from 2024 was pulled from this project after being approved for two years.

01:11:54.960 --> 01:12:08.800
When was the permit for this project pulled? By whom was the permit pulled? And for what reason was the approved permit pulled?

01:12:08.800 --> 01:12:18.670
Who has had direct communication with Canadian National regarding this delay?

01:12:21.140 --> 01:12:28.480
Why was the council not informed of the permit being pulled and of delay the process would cause?

01:12:28.480 --> 01:12:44.640
What is the status of the road the city was supposed to pave for residents' use west of the water treatment plant on Hancock?

01:12:44.660 --> 01:12:59.890
and what is the current status of the Hancock Bridge and how long is it expected to sustain the extra overflow traffic?

01:13:05.610 --> 01:13:12.770
Alderman Stacy, you were given answers to every single one of these questions last Thursday prior to your request to put this on the agenda.

01:13:12.770 --> 01:13:17.090
So from that point, there is no other updates.

01:13:17.090 --> 01:13:55.770
Okay, Mayor Miller, I was given maybe five of the eight questions, however, the constituents are wanting to hear it from Director Boyer or Director Stiegel, I don't care which.

01:13:55.950 --> 01:14:27.040
I received five to eight calls in the last three weeks on this matter. Did I pick back up the phone and make five to eight calls? No. I put it on the agenda so they could get it firsthand directly from the horse's mouth. Now, is that a problem? Requesting that, asking that, is that a problem?

01:14:27.040 --> 01:14:48.820
You already know the ordinance. You have the ability, two aldermen have the ability to put anything on for discussion. My point was that last Thursday, prior to the agenda, you knew all those answers. I did not know all those answers. Would you like to address any of those?

01:14:48.820 --> 01:14:53.840
I did not know all those answers because all those answers were not asked.

01:14:53.840 --> 01:14:55.340
I'm happy to answer that one.

01:14:55.340 --> 01:14:55.620
Thank you.

01:14:56.140 --> 01:14:56.660
Yep.

01:14:57.000 --> 01:15:00.520
So the current project is at a standstill.

01:15:01.340 --> 01:15:06.860
The reason it's at a standstill is because we're at winter construction conditions and frost is in the ground.

01:15:07.840 --> 01:15:18.060
The reason we're at the standstill that we're at is our franchise partner, NICOR, had a two-inch high-pressure gas main that needed to be relocated under the pavement.

01:15:18.060 --> 01:15:25.880
Unfortunately, since the notice to proceed, they didn't complete their project until October of 2025

01:15:25.880 --> 01:15:34.700
They hit a water main, they also hit a sewer main, and created a large repair in that area

01:15:34.700 --> 01:15:41.080
The city is a franchise partner with NICOR, and we don't control their construction crews

01:15:41.080 --> 01:15:44.740
And this relocation was at no cost to the project

01:15:44.740 --> 01:15:50.580
project. So the timelines that they establish per the franchise agreements are what the public has to deal

01:15:50.580 --> 01:16:01.500
with on the relocations. We can't control NICOR. We can only work with them. Additionally, CN owns all of the

01:16:01.500 --> 01:16:07.360
property that this project is going to be done on or is being done on, and they have the full authority to

01:16:07.360 --> 01:16:15.380
open, close, and permanently remove this access at any time they want to. CN actually has more authority

01:16:15.380 --> 01:16:22.160
than the city, and then in the rank of the railroad, they have more authority than anyone in probably the

01:16:22.160 --> 01:16:26.860
state of Illinois to do whatever they want with their facilities. Currently, it's expected the project

01:16:26.860 --> 01:16:34.860
will be completed in May before June of 26. If I was going to give you a date, I would say June 1st of 26 it

01:16:34.860 --> 01:17:04.720
should be done and the reason for that is the asphalt plants do not open up till usually the end of the first week of May and so we're not going to get pavement down to that point. The fire medical emergency, the public works department has worked with Chief Miller and the fire department has a plan in place and alternative routes established to get to this area. Unfortunately, there's only one access point through the Hancock Bridge and that does deter for the rails so they have routes

01:17:04.720 --> 01:17:08.660
around north to get there. I've discussed that with them thoroughly when we did the project.

01:17:09.300 --> 01:17:15.540
That's the best the city can do at the time. I would like the city council to know that before we even

01:17:15.540 --> 01:17:20.080
undertook this project, I tried to get a new above-rail crossing so we didn't ever have to deal

01:17:20.080 --> 01:17:26.360
with this again, and that was turned down in whole. Sien's not adding any above-ground crossings on any

01:17:26.360 --> 01:17:33.560
rails due to liability issues. So this was really our only choice. The proof permit being pulled.

01:17:33.560 --> 01:18:02.760
Um, CN provided a permit access for one year, uh, the public flagging which is required with these projects, uh, um, paused the project, um, in, uh, December of 25, uh, at the end, uh, excuse me, December 28th of 25, uh, CN sent me an email asking for more information on the excavations on the, uh, water and storm, which we provided them numerous response in the month of January,

01:18:02.760 --> 01:18:09.540
and then they reissued permits on February 4th to Helm Group which is the contractor on the project

01:18:09.540 --> 01:18:16.300
who's had communication with them during the project. Myself and the Helm Group project manager

01:18:16.300 --> 01:18:20.820
have had communication with Canadian National throughout. I'm the one that got involved in

01:18:20.820 --> 01:18:25.700
January to make sure the project could continue to move forward because I want to see it get done as

01:18:25.700 --> 01:18:33.240
as well as everyone else. I also take tons of phone calls on this constantly. Unfortunately, this is what

01:18:33.240 --> 01:18:39.940
happens with public relocations of utilities. They're not always timely. We have to deal with the ICC and the

01:18:39.940 --> 01:18:44.760
regulations that go along with these types of utilities. Why was the council not being

01:18:44.760 --> 01:18:51.320
informed of the permit being pulled? Other than rumor statements, I have nothing in writing to

01:18:51.320 --> 01:19:00.380
to inform you that they've been pulled other than that they asked for more excavation details on the water and storm in coordination with their abutments.

01:19:00.900 --> 01:19:11.180
So that's why nothing was afforded because nothing's going to move forward and be finished until May of 26 because it's impossible to get hot mix asphalt to open the road up.

01:19:12.860 --> 01:19:15.780
So I think that answers most of those questions.

01:19:15.780 --> 01:19:25.040
Hancock Bridge. The Hancock Bridge is still rated for 80,000 pounds. So semi-traffic can go over that

01:19:25.040 --> 01:19:30.960
every day, all day long. It is the deck and rating are in poor condition, but there's still a four of nine.

01:19:31.100 --> 01:19:38.520
That's why it's on the replacement schedule for the deck and the railings. Four out of nine means that

01:19:38.520 --> 01:19:44.740
there's advanced section loss, deterioration, spalling, and scouring deficiencies. IDOT is fully aware of this,

01:19:44.740 --> 01:19:46.000
and that is an idol.

01:19:46.000 --> 01:20:13.840
aware of this and that is an IDOT bridge as long as the city of Freeport. It passed the 2025 inspection and it is on hopefully the July letting to bid for the new bridge which would mean maybe a fall or spring start for the replacement. Until that project can commence, there's nothing we can do but patch the deck and the railings. One of the holdups on the bridge, which I didn't inform council this either, but the railings on the bridge are considered historical

01:20:13.840 --> 01:20:20.080
historical monuments. They were cast in place when they were originally built. And it has been going

01:20:20.080 --> 01:20:25.040
through a six-month review through the Historical Society to decide if they want to keep the railings

01:20:25.040 --> 01:20:31.600
or we can demo them, which is out of our control again. And it's the IDOT process. And since IDOT's

01:20:31.600 --> 01:20:37.440
giving us nearly $2 million for the project, we have to follow their process through and through or we

01:20:37.440 --> 01:20:48.920
forfeit the money. The status of the road to the west. So the road to the west was a conversation

01:20:48.920 --> 01:20:54.380
that we had with the fire department about trying to get emergency access back there in case something

01:20:54.380 --> 01:20:59.880
happens to the Hancock Bridge. That crosses private property back at the old depot of Ultrasonic.

01:21:00.260 --> 01:21:05.900
We don't have passage to cross their premises, but they told us in an emergency they would let us

01:21:05.900 --> 01:21:35.560
through. So that's the backup plan if the bridge goes out. Currently, we have an access through inertia for the fire department in an emergency, an ambulance in the emergency, or semi-traffic that is overweighted has been permitted to use that passage since the wastewater treatment plant project has gone underway. And to my knowledge, it's been being used monthly. I would give inertia a thank you for allowing us to use that because they didn't have to.

01:21:35.900 --> 01:22:06.480
but they they wanted to cooperate and and I can't guarantee you that the bridge will bid in July but currently we're trying to ramp everything up to get it to that point. Okay. So I understand that it doesn't open to the end of May or sometime during May and we're hoping for a completion by June 1st.

01:22:06.480 --> 01:22:16.460
So, with the understanding that hopefully we have received in writing that the permit is back

01:22:16.460 --> 01:22:23.400
I have emails from CN that they authorized the flagging permits to helm to submit

01:22:23.400 --> 01:22:26.580
Yes, that happened on February 4th

01:22:26.580 --> 01:22:31.800
Okay, so if they can get out there and finish doing what they need to be doing

01:22:31.800 --> 01:22:40.520
will it be filled up with gravel and open back up until it can be paved? Only if the city wants to pay the

01:22:40.520 --> 01:22:45.180
additional cost to fill it up and dig it all back out because that's not in the scope of the project

01:22:45.180 --> 01:22:51.000
and unfortunately with the weather conditions of winter we cannot have the asphalt plant turn on

01:22:51.000 --> 01:22:57.400
again before about the end end of the first week of May is usually the typical time it opens so if we

01:22:57.400 --> 01:23:01.740
as a city want to if they can even get out there and finish it because we got to let the frost

01:23:01.740 --> 01:23:05.260
get out of the ground. We would have to pay to fill the whole thing with gravel, and then we'll have to pay to

01:23:05.260 --> 01:23:11.300
remove it all and waste it. And I mean, that's the council's choice. And what kind of expense is that?

01:23:12.100 --> 01:23:28.670
I would have to ask for an expense, I'm guessing $15,000, $20,000. Unfortunately, there's always

01:23:28.670 --> 01:23:36.630
inconvenience when you have projects that you're dealing with. So let's move on to reports of

01:23:36.630 --> 01:24:06.310
Department heads finance. Not yet. Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't see you. I just want to be clear that in an emergency situation, if there's a train stopped on the tracks rather than going all the way around 26, emergency services have permission to use the inertia way. They can cut the locks and go. They have bolt cutters and they can cut the locks and go through. That was our agreement with inertia. We'll have to repair anything that's damaged, but yes.

01:24:06.630 --> 01:24:36.610
Finance? Nothing this evening, thank you. Community Development? I'd just like to, since we're talking about pest control, please take your garbage to the street the night before with your toters, and then make sure that you grab it, make sure that you pack it tight, and then make sure that you pick your toters and you put your toters back to where they belong in your house, wherever you have deemed on your property they need to sit, not on the roadway.

01:24:36.630 --> 01:25:06.450
not in the right of way. But we just please help us keep the keep animals that we don't want in here out and everybody enjoying their lives and can walk safely and play in their yards. Thank you. Public Works. Sure. A couple updates. When I left tonight, two of the chargers down at the Douglas lot are now live and working.

01:25:06.630 --> 01:25:13.150
other two I need to get a couple warranty parts for and the other section is going to get commissioned.

01:25:14.310 --> 01:25:18.930
Hopefully in the next two weeks we're waiting for that schedule that be at the state lot.

01:25:20.930 --> 01:25:31.490
So that's good news. We also received, Michelle and I received confirmation on getting the, all the CJA money and all the ComEd money back.

01:25:31.490 --> 01:25:38.790
we actually got confirmation of about a third of the payment already from ComEd. I would also like to let

01:25:38.790 --> 01:25:46.210
everybody know that the 2026 street projects led by the city, we have three packages coming out. The first

01:25:46.210 --> 01:25:52.170
one should be going out to bid around the last week of February and then there'll be one each week

01:25:52.170 --> 01:25:58.430
concurrently for three weeks so we'll have lots of bids coming through and also we appreciate the

01:25:58.430 --> 01:26:03.870
approvals of the SALT building. It's a much-needed facility for the street department. It's very

01:26:03.870 --> 01:26:11.990
deteriorated. How is it known on apps that we now have two chargers that are?

01:26:12.910 --> 01:26:18.850
Great question. I looked before I came, and I don't believe it was live, but on the ChargePoint site

01:26:18.850 --> 01:26:25.330
and on the car maps, once this is fully commenced and opened, they'll actually be on the maps for

01:26:25.330 --> 01:26:27.570
people that have EV cars when they need to charge.

01:26:27.690 --> 01:26:28.030
Who's they?

01:26:28.970 --> 01:26:30.330
People that own EVs.

01:26:31.110 --> 01:26:32.810
Or who will put it up?

01:26:33.090 --> 01:26:33.370
Yeah.

01:26:33.510 --> 01:26:35.550
Where's the, how does the app know?

01:26:36.610 --> 01:26:42.390
ChargePoint and Thayer, who was our partner in building them, is loading all that information into the maps.

01:26:42.390 --> 01:26:45.830
So like right now, if you went to ChargePoint, it has a question mark over Freeport.

01:26:45.970 --> 01:26:50.390
That's because they knew we were coming, but we had to shut them off before commencement.

01:26:50.390 --> 01:27:20.290
announcement. So now that they're turning on, I don't know if they'll be on the map tomorrow, but they should be on in a couple days is what people told us. Thank you. Yep. Interesting. On the app, it should tell you how many are available, should tell you how many are in use, should also be able to tell you, you know, maybe like it gives a timeframe, you know, as in charging. So like when one would be available if they're, you know, all utilized or something like that. So I have had a lot of calls.

01:27:20.290 --> 01:27:25.770
over these charging units and very much a lot of excitement from people traveling through

01:27:25.770 --> 01:27:31.310
and asking questions. Just had talks with two gentlemen this week, which pass through Freeport

01:27:31.310 --> 01:27:35.750
all the time, looking for these chargers to be available, and they told me that these will

01:27:35.750 --> 01:27:44.150
be the best units between Chicago and Dubuque. Well done. Could you share the name of that app

01:27:44.150 --> 01:27:50.090
again? It'll be, it's ChargePoint. ChargePoint is like one of the leaders in the charging industry.

01:27:50.290 --> 01:28:19.170
And again, I wanted to point out that we specifically picked ChargePoint because they're a nationwide vendor, they're a name in the business, they're not going anywhere, so we didn't want to get into a unit that might not be able to be serviced, Thayer Energy out of, I believe it's Belvedere, who's one of our partners, they're actually a retail warranty distributor of them, so when there's issues, they'll get notification as well, too, that something's not working correctly, so it can be fixed.

01:28:19.170 --> 01:28:24.470
It's a complete package and we also have the software as part of the package that Michelle's group

01:28:24.470 --> 01:28:31.410
and Public Works has to facilitate the finances and the payments and the operation of the utilities

01:28:31.410 --> 01:28:37.130
and the cost structure we came up was just an average cost structure to start with with Freeport

01:28:37.130 --> 01:28:40.250
I think it's very fair and will be advantageous to people using it

01:28:40.250 --> 01:28:41.690
Okay, Byer

01:28:41.690 --> 01:28:44.250
Nothing, Your Honor

01:28:44.250 --> 01:28:45.270
Please

01:28:45.270 --> 01:28:46.850
Nothing, ma'am

01:28:46.850 --> 01:28:47.990
And library

01:28:47.990 --> 01:28:49.050
Thank you

01:28:49.050 --> 01:28:55.410
Your Honor. The new library director, Emily Schaub, starts next Monday, February 23rd. We are all looking

01:28:55.410 --> 01:29:01.230
forward to her arrival. Thank you all for your support of me as interim director and your continued support of

01:29:01.230 --> 01:29:06.990
the library, and I will see you again in September for my annual summer reading wrap-up. We always look

01:29:06.990 --> 01:29:18.370
forward to that. IT? City manager? I have one thing, and I am often surprised pleasantly with how

01:29:18.370 --> 01:29:43.750
how competent and hardworking our staff here at the city is. That not only goes for everybody in this room, but everybody that works for the city. One case in point, we had an issue with the aircraft refueler. We have a very good lease arrangement that saves the city a tremendous amount of money on that. But we had an ongoing issue, and it was causing back siphoning and fuel, and nobody could figure it out.

01:29:43.750 --> 01:29:47.740
and Fuel, and nobody could figure it out, and I just want to thank our mechanics specifically

01:29:47.740 --> 01:29:55.860
tonight for the work that they put into diagnosing a very difficult problem and solving it when

01:29:55.860 --> 01:29:58.640
other professionals could not, so thank you.

01:29:59.740 --> 01:30:01.140
I have nothing new to share.

01:30:01.240 --> 01:30:01.860
Alderman Johnson?

01:30:03.940 --> 01:30:10.120
Yes, this Thursday we have our neighborhood watch meeting at 3002 Farmdale Lane at 6.30 p.m.

01:30:11.060 --> 01:30:11.860
Alderman Stevens?

01:30:12.000 --> 01:30:14.440
I don't have anything, thank you

01:30:14.440 --> 01:30:15.280
Alderman Parker

01:30:15.280 --> 01:30:21.160
Yeah, our neighborhood watch meeting is next Monday night on Laurel Street where it's always been, thank you

01:30:21.160 --> 01:30:22.380
Alderman Stacy

01:30:22.380 --> 01:30:24.220
Nothing tonight, thank you

01:30:24.220 --> 01:30:25.060
Alderman Shadle

01:30:25.060 --> 01:30:28.820
Just would like to add to the neighborhood watch list

01:30:28.820 --> 01:30:34.040
It should be scheduled for March 5th, but we're going to move that

01:30:34.040 --> 01:30:40.020
The police officer and myself both have something going that night

01:30:40.020 --> 01:30:47.700
and it's going to move to the second Thursday, which would be March 12th at Schwartz on Park Boulevard.

01:30:48.720 --> 01:30:49.380
Alderman Sanders?

01:30:49.700 --> 01:30:50.020
Nothing.

01:30:50.740 --> 01:30:51.460
Alderman Sellers?

01:30:51.540 --> 01:30:51.860
Nothing.

01:30:52.460 --> 01:30:53.060
Alderman Clemm?

01:30:53.700 --> 01:30:58.680
I'd just like to give out a shout out to Pat Ingram that's in the audience tonight.

01:30:58.680 --> 01:31:04.700
Pat, thank you and all your crew for all the extra work you've done on the leaf pickup and everything lately.

01:31:04.700 --> 01:31:39.610
we know we've really ran into trouble with weather and all that and a bunch of issues but I know the guys were out sweeping today and the guys were out also picking up the leaves and stuff and thank you for continuing to make the effort. People appreciate it. Item number 28 is public comment. Is there, Tommy? I want to thank you for boarding on that, telling them the, and Darren, you did a good job.

01:31:39.630 --> 01:32:16.980
job with it. And Jodi Miller, you're doing a good job with the mayor. Yes, sir. Hi, everyone. If you could please state your name. I'm Mike Olinger. I moved in here. I've got an answer for your raccoons. I just got done with a groundhog that took a year to solve. Put some mothballs out. I did that. Put some vinegar out. I did that. I'm an old school certified chimney sweep by the

01:32:16.980 --> 01:32:25.870
Chimney Safety Institute of America. I was called repeatedly about animal infestation. I have an answer

01:32:25.870 --> 01:32:32.130
for you, Rob, in regards to you mentioning that if we have another cold winter, we're not going to have one.

01:32:33.270 --> 01:32:39.550
Yale Climate just said that January was our warmest on record for global temperatures.

01:32:39.550 --> 01:33:10.870
in the past three years we have reached a milestone the hottest three years on record we're going to have periods of yes cold and warm but that is a problem that our government has doled us with weather modification it's out of control from radar from these cell towers all around

01:33:10.890 --> 01:33:38.580
that you folks had put in or you went to the tele or the telecommunication companies came and talked to you folks and put them in. I came here for three foyer freedom of information in regards to finding out what is going on and you folks have no clue.

01:33:38.580 --> 01:34:13.370
there is a chimney of emissions going directly up towards the clouds one of the reasons why we have all different kinds of clouds now because we're basically electrifying our atmosphere so folks be prepared you're the fire chief yes sir it's gonna get worse thank you for all you do thank you because you're right in the front lines so folks I got a question

01:34:13.370 --> 01:34:43.370
for all you sitting here. Last year in the fall we had some of the most ridiculous amount of smoke coming down from Canada. The fires are burning right now in the ground. The amount of wood fire load that we have or Canada has up there is incredibly overwhelming. So now that we're going to have this dry environment

01:34:43.370 --> 01:35:03.070
modification. With all of this particulate matter up in the air, electrifying it, what's your next plan for it getting really smoky and people calling the chief here? Truthfully, you don't have a plan.

01:35:04.450 --> 01:35:05.850
Thank you, sir. Your time has expired.

01:35:05.850 --> 01:35:10.450
Thank you, ma'am. I'll be back. But take care of the raccoons.

01:35:10.450 --> 01:35:39.570
Please. Literally. Thank you, folks. Are there any other public comments? Next we have item number 29, which is executive session. Madam Clerk, could you please read this for the record? Pursuant to 5ILCS 122C5, the purchase or lease of real property for the use of the public body, including meetings held for the purpose of discussing whether a particular parcel should be acquired. Thank you. Is there a motion to enter into executive session?

01:35:39.570 --> 01:35:46.550
So, second. The motion made by Alderman Sellers, seconded by Alderman Shadle. Madam Clerk, could you please take the roll?

01:35:47.170 --> 01:36:00.010
Johnson? Aye. Simmons? Was that an aye? Parker? Aye. Stacy? Aye. Shadle? Aye. Sanders? Aye. Sellers? Aye. Clem? Aye. The motion passes, 8 to 0.