WEBVTT

00:00:03.540 --> 00:00:07.740
Thank you, Madam Mayor. Tonight we'll be praying out of Psalm 122.

00:00:08.520 --> 00:00:31.140
The joy of going to the house of the Lord, a song of a sense of David. I was glad when they said to me, let us go into the house of the Lord. Our feet have been standing within your gates, O Freeport. Freeport is built as a city that is compact together, where the tribes go up, the tribes of the Lord, to the testimony of Israel, to give thanks to the name of the Lord.

00:00:31.140 --> 00:01:00.680
For thrones are set there for judgment, the thrones of the house of David. Pray for the peace of Freeport. May they prosper who love you. Peace be within your walls. Prosperity within your palaces. For the sake of my brethren and my companions, I will say peace be within you, Freeport. Because of the house of the Lord our God, we will seek your good. Amen. Amen. Amen. Now we'll call this meeting to order. Madam Clerk, please take the roll. Mayor Miller. Here.

00:01:01.140 --> 00:01:19.040
Alder Persons, Clemm, Here, Johnson, Here, Simmons is absent, Parker, Here, Stacy, Here, Shadle, Here, Sanders will be marked absent for now, Sellers, Here, We have a quorum, Madam Mayor.

00:01:19.040 --> 00:01:24.600
If I could please get a motion to allow Alderman Sanders to attend remotely.

00:01:25.560 --> 00:01:26.520
Make a motion.

00:01:27.160 --> 00:01:27.600
Second.

00:01:27.600 --> 00:01:36.550
The motion made by Alderman Stacy, seconded by Alderman Sellers, Madam Clerk, could you please take the roll?

00:01:36.750 --> 00:02:05.090
Clem? Aye. Johnson? Aye. Parker? Aye. Stacy? Aye. Shadle? Aye. And Sellers? Aye. The motion passes, 6-0. Did you want to see if he's on? Oh, I'm sorry. Alderperson Sanders, can you hear us? Yes. And he will be marked present at 6-02.

00:02:05.850 --> 00:02:09.070
If you could please stand for the Pledge of Allegiance, led by Alderman Clemm

00:02:09.070 --> 00:02:25.900
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

00:02:25.900 --> 00:02:35.770
Item number one is the approval of the agenda, however, item number 19 isn't quite ready yet, so that will be removed

00:02:35.770 --> 00:02:36.590
Alderman Stacy

00:02:36.590 --> 00:02:44.950
Yes, I would like to see item number 7, 8, and 9 removed.

00:02:47.450 --> 00:02:51.630
We have an ordinance on this matter.

00:02:52.470 --> 00:03:00.350
It says that the zoning administration must be a member of the city.

00:03:03.850 --> 00:03:06.750
Andrea Winters is not an employee.

00:03:06.890 --> 00:03:08.670
I'm sorry, an employee of the city.

00:03:08.670 --> 00:03:36.730
and we have these ordinances for a reason and it's not fair that every time you want to do something that's different than what the ordinances say you hurry up and you do something like this amend the rules suspend the rules change it to what you want it to be to fit what you want so you can get what you're asking for in eight and nine and that's just not fair.

00:03:36.730 --> 00:03:58.510
We have ordinances for a reason, and this ordinance says that the zone administrator must be a city employee. Again, Andrea Winters is not a city employee, and I am asking that 7, 8, and 9 be removed at this time.

00:03:59.430 --> 00:04:01.850
We have a motion. Is there a second?

00:04:02.790 --> 00:04:03.730
State, Cecilia.

00:04:03.730 --> 00:04:33.730
That motion fails for a lack of a second so back to the original statement item number 19 being removed because it's not ready with that is there a motion to approve the agenda? So moved. Second. Motion made by Alderman Shadle seconded by Alderman Parker. Madam Clerk, would you please take the roll? Clem? Aye. Johnson? Aye. Parker? Aye. Stacy? No. Shadle? Aye. Sanders?

00:04:33.730 --> 00:04:35.150
No

00:04:35.150 --> 00:04:36.690
And Sellers

00:04:36.690 --> 00:04:37.170
Aye

00:04:37.170 --> 00:04:45.020
Pardon me, I wrote one down on 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, the motion passes 5 to 2

00:04:45.020 --> 00:04:51.640
Item number 2 is approval of the minutes from the regular meeting on August 3rd, 2026. Is there a motion to approve?

00:04:52.060 --> 00:04:52.660
I so move

00:04:52.660 --> 00:04:53.440
Second

00:04:53.440 --> 00:04:59.760
The motion made by Alderman Johnson, seconded by Alderman Shadle. Madam Clerk, please take the roll

00:04:59.760 --> 00:05:00.400
Clem

00:05:00.400 --> 00:05:00.860
Aye

00:05:00.860 --> 00:05:01.560
Johnson

00:05:01.560 --> 00:05:02.040
Aye

00:05:02.040 --> 00:05:02.880
Parker

00:05:02.880 --> 00:05:03.380
Aye

00:05:03.380 --> 00:05:04.140
Stacey

00:05:04.140 --> 00:05:04.560
No

00:05:04.560 --> 00:05:05.540
Shadle

00:05:05.540 --> 00:05:48.450
Aye. Sanders? We'll check back in a minute. Sellers? Aye. Alderperson Sanders, can you hear me? Kurt, have we lost him? I think he's there. Could you tell him he's in the remote? Oh, there he said something. Could you repeat that, please? We are voting on approval of the minutes for August 3rd. What say you? No.

00:05:48.450 --> 00:05:51.690
And that motion passes five to two

00:05:51.690 --> 00:05:57.370
Okay, item number three is promotions from the fire department, Chief Cordy

00:05:57.370 --> 00:06:12.730
Over here, I don't have the other microphone tonight, so

00:06:12.730 --> 00:06:28.080
William Backus, having been duly appointed to the position of district chief in and for the city of Freeport in the county of Stevenson in the state of Illinois

00:06:28.080 --> 00:06:54.200
for the term from the 15th day of August, 2026, until his successor shall have been duly appointed and qualified, is hereby fully authorized and empowered to assume and perform all the duties of his said office according to the law and ordinances of said city, and all persons are required to respect him in the discharge of his said duties by the order of the Board of Police and Fire Commission.

00:06:55.240 --> 00:06:55.720
Congratulations.

00:06:55.720 --> 00:07:28.660
Congratulations. Will was hired in 2007, became a paramedic and a lieutenant in 2018. He's a member of the countywide HAZMAT team, company fire officer, advanced fire officer, instructor two. He lives in Freeport with his wife, Tiffany, and children, Anthony, Evelyn, and Emerson.

00:07:28.660 --> 00:08:37.860
Lieutenant Chad Schubert, Lieutenant Chad Schubert, having been duly appointed to the position of lieutenant in and for the city of Freeport and the county of Stevenson in the state of Illinois for the term from the 15th day of August, 2026, until his successor,

00:08:37.860 --> 00:08:43.680
shall have been dutily appointed and qualified, is hereby fully authorized and empowered to assume and

00:08:43.680 --> 00:08:50.480
perform all the duties of his set office according to the law and ordinances of said city and all persons

00:08:50.480 --> 00:08:55.800
are required to respect him in the discharge of his set duties by the order of the Board of Police and

00:08:55.800 --> 00:09:16.420
Fire Commission. Chad was hired in 2009 to the Freeport Fire Department. He actually has a little

00:09:16.420 --> 00:09:46.400
a little bit of a legacy here with his father, an uncle, and a second cousin, all having been retired from the department. He was a department mechanic for many years, a paramedic, currently is a fire and arson investigator, a member of the Thames team, which is the tactical medics, technical rescue team, past vice president of the Firefighters Union, and in 2025 received the MS Life Safety Award.

00:09:46.420 --> 00:09:59.580
Savings Award for a call at the Lindo Theater. He's a company fire officer, an instructor, hazmat operations, and lives in rural Lanark with his wife, Amy, daughters, Madison.

00:09:59.580 --> 00:10:01.120
Jamie, Daughters, Madison, Kaylin, and Lauren.

00:10:22.450 --> 00:10:40.130
Okay, we will move on to item number four, which is public comment. Madam Clerk, you have one to read.

00:10:40.630 --> 00:10:53.980
This was received from Shane Orlow, alder person, city staff, and collaborators. My comment is directed towards agenda item number 24.

00:10:53.980 --> 00:10:58.060
I want to encourage you to vote yes for the improvements on Meadowbrook Lane.

00:10:58.580 --> 00:11:03.840
As a resident of the ward and of Meadowbrook, we have seen many improvement projects across the city,

00:11:04.160 --> 00:11:10.260
most notably were the improvements right around us in Oak Hill and Hillcrest area, and now with the Demeter Street improvements.

00:11:10.840 --> 00:11:16.060
Our street is a mostly quiet neighborhood with many dedicated community members and civil servants.

00:11:16.480 --> 00:11:23.080
We spend our lives giving back to the community, and it is great news to see that we will possibly have improvements to our own living conditions.

00:11:23.080 --> 00:11:52.060
Most of you have driven the roads across this town like I have. Meadowbrook is a street living in a different time period. With Demeter going through repair and driving past it each day, I can't help but notice their half gravel road looks like the rainbow road in Mario Kart compared to the paved road of Meadowbrook that is like a course from the original Nintendo dirt bike video game from the 80s. It's bad. Comparisons aside, we need this work done on multiple levels.

00:11:52.060 --> 00:12:18.280
Now, knowing the work that needs to get done to just get on city-provided water, I cannot imagine the work that needs to be done for us to be on city sewer as well. However, it needs to be done. We need to move our road out of the 80s and into the 2020s. Getting sewer and road improvements to this area will vastly increase the living conditions and, most importantly, the morale of those of us that dedicate our time to our community and our city.

00:12:18.280 --> 00:12:23.400
Please vote yes to the improvements on Meadowbrook, and once approved, let's make sure that we get it right

00:12:23.400 --> 00:12:26.800
This means a lot to the families in this area

00:12:26.800 --> 00:12:29.920
Thank you, Shane Orlo, a very hopeful six-word resident

00:12:29.920 --> 00:12:35.440
And our last one is Shante Bradford on item number 12

00:12:35.440 --> 00:12:42.460
Good evening, everyone

00:12:42.460 --> 00:12:43.540
Good evening

00:12:43.540 --> 00:12:46.520
First of all, giving the glory unto our item 5

00:12:46.520 --> 00:12:51.660
I came just to say thank you specifically to Public Works

00:12:51.660 --> 00:13:21.400
the last time I stood before you guys I was bringing a concern about the 200 block of Broadway Street where they were just flying up and down the street but since then I did get my handicap parking and I also stop signs were placed at the corner four stop signs at Oath and Broadway so I came to say thank you for your diligence and your hard work and your integrity because the order had

00:13:21.400 --> 00:13:48.800
actually been in the office since 2022 but nobody put the sign up but to God be the glory we got the sign so everybody who was involved in that I came to give gratitude and say thank you. You don't always come to fuss mayor. So thank you to my cousin Wendy Pearson who had a hand in that with the city manager. Thank you guys. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. That's all I want to say was thank you.

00:13:48.800 --> 00:14:18.600
You're welcome. Thank you. Thank you. Thanks. Okay, then we move on to item number five, which is the consent agenda. The consent agenda consists of the items being routine in nature and acted as one motion unless there's a member of the council who would like to have something removed for further discussion. The consent agenda is approving to receive and place on file the minutes from the firefighter pension board, the police pension board, both dated

00:14:18.600 --> 00:14:48.580
May 6th, 2026, the Art and Culture Commission June 4th, the Board of Fire and Police Commissioners June 23rd and 30th, and the public hearing for the CDBG sanitary sewer lining August 5th, all 2026. Also for July 2026 is the building report, the building permit reports, the fire department reports, as well as the greater food for partnerships report. Also for the 2026 actuarial reports,

00:14:48.580 --> 00:15:18.260
for both the Fire Pension and Police Pension Fund Review, the adoption of Resolution 2026-107, which is the temporary closure for the streets for the high school's homecoming parade, the finance bills payable in the total of $4,461,186.40 and for payroll ending August 8, 2026 in the total of $721,113.

00:15:18.580 --> 00:15:43.640
$0.51. Is there a motion to approve? So moved. Second. We have a motion made by Alderman Shadle, seconded by Alderman Sellers. Madam Clerk, would you please take the roll? Clem. Aye. Johnson. Aye. Parker. Aye. Stacey. No. Shadle. Aye. Sanders. No. And Sellers. Aye. The motion passes 5 to 2.

00:15:43.640 --> 00:16:18.540
and item number six Amanda for the 2026 summer reading good evening thank you madam mayor Kurt just told me that we don't have the projector tonight so you guys won't get to see all the fun pictures of summer but that's okay I can still talk about it this year our summer reading theme at the library was unearth a story so there was a lot of dinosaurs a lot of underground geology that kind of stuff going on so for the reading portion of

00:16:18.560 --> 00:16:48.540
of the summer reading we had 487 kids that are birth through starting sixth grade join our summer reading program and of those 487, 251 actually completed the program and reached their reading goals, which is a percentage of 51.54%, which is a really great finishing percentage to have. I am super happy with anything over 50%, so that was really good. And our summer program participation was 8,063 people, kids,

00:16:48.560 --> 00:17:14.900
Kids, Adults, Teens, which is down ever so slightly from last year's 8,232. But also, I feel like 8,000 is a really great number to have in the library over about nine weeks. And that breaks down into three different types of programs. So there's programs we do in the library, which are in-house. That was 4,626 people. Our outreach programs, where we go to different locations to do programming, was 1,313 people.

00:17:14.900 --> 00:17:44.840
and Passive Programming which is programs that are in the library but we aren't necessarily actively doing them like our scavenger hunts and we have like a sticker wall where they can just add stickers. Those programs were 2,124 kids over the summer and actually in one month we did over a thousand scavenger hunts which was kind of like my goal my like unwritten goal and they love scavenger hunting like all you have to do is give them a sheet and say they

00:17:44.840 --> 00:17:52.740
get a sucker and they will scavenger hunt all day long. And our programs remain fairly steady over the

00:17:52.740 --> 00:17:58.700
years from where we were last year to where we are this year in attendance. This year it rained the

00:17:58.700 --> 00:18:02.560
morning of the kickoff party and then it was like one of those really humid afternoons where you don't

00:18:02.560 --> 00:18:07.260
know if it's going to rain or not. So we had it inside but it did not damper anybody's spirits. We

00:18:07.260 --> 00:18:13.100
had 3,130 kids that day. They were all over the library. We had stuff in the meeting room. We had

00:18:13.100 --> 00:18:20.700
stuff in the youth services department. We had hatching dinosaur eggs in our little program room and they got like freezer pops.

00:18:20.700 --> 00:18:41.900
So that was a great day. Our story time outside at Debate Square over the summer continues to be popular with between 30 and 50 kids each week. Slime is still one of our most popular programs. It actually is our most popular program. Our three summer slime days this year combined for 337 kids.

00:18:41.900 --> 00:19:11.640
The biggest one was 153, which was our June, which was actually the day after the kickoff party. So it's like everybody comes Monday, everybody comes Tuesday. It was a really great week. We made color changing slime that day. They had a great time. Make It Monday continues to be one of our regular programs that we do each week. And they continue to come to make a variety of craft projects. We did puzzle making with like dinosaur and bird like model puzzles. And also like the littles could just paint puzzles if

00:19:11.640 --> 00:19:16.300
because that was much easier for them. We did woodland creature ornaments and just all kinds of

00:19:16.300 --> 00:19:23.900
things that they can make and take home with them. Every year we have a 4th of July crafternoon and this

00:19:23.900 --> 00:19:30.460
year we went all in because it was America's 250th birthday and we had like special hats they could

00:19:30.460 --> 00:19:36.480
make to celebrate, sand art, we even had cookies because you need cookies for a good party and we

00:19:36.480 --> 00:19:57.940
We had 75 kids come to craft with us that afternoon, and they had a blast. And if there were any pictures that I wished you could see, it was the ones of worm races, because worm races were so much fun. I had no idea what to expect. I was like, maybe I'll get 20 or 30 kids, and that would be great. I ended up with 63. And so worm races.

00:19:57.940 --> 00:20:25.220
And so worm races are just what they sound like. We made like a bullseye on a piece of a poster board and then they had to race. We started them in the middle and they had to race to the outer circle. We learned a lot about how worms like to move and they don't like to be in dirt if they're going to move quickly. And if you spray them, they will move a lot faster and it kind of sped up the races. So they had a really great time and the top four worms ended up racing against each other to determine the ultimate champion.

00:20:25.220 --> 00:20:55.200
and the top pride well the family with the top worm got a giant bag of gummy worms so the kids were very excited and after the races we all had like the dirt dessert you know the pudding with the Oreos and the gummy worms which they also loved and we also did our Candyland program our life-size Candyland we first did it in January of 2025 but we get a different but a different group of people every summer so we brought it out

00:20:55.200 --> 00:21:01.040
again this summer, and we had 162 kids play over the course of the two days, so that was really great.

00:21:01.500 --> 00:21:08.360
We also had two special presenters this summer. The first one was Dave from T-Rex Explorers, and he is a

00:21:08.360 --> 00:21:14.580
paleontologist, and he's gone out digging in North Dakota numerous times. He talked about what he does,

00:21:14.580 --> 00:21:20.560
what he's found, all his adventures as a paleontologist, and at the end he brought out

00:21:20.560 --> 00:21:27.860
fossils that the kids all got to touch and they loved like learning all about dinosaurs from him.

00:21:28.420 --> 00:21:36.340
Our second performer was Jason Colum. He's a juggler and the kids loved him. He does like a juggling comedy

00:21:36.340 --> 00:21:43.020
show. We had 117 people that day in the meeting room, which the capacity is like 123. So we were like

00:21:43.020 --> 00:21:50.160
really close. And the kids were so loud the entire show. Emily said she could hear them in her office,

00:21:50.160 --> 00:22:20.140
just like for the whole hour. They just love like his brand of comedy. It is very kid friendly. And yeah, they had a great time and they even got to practice balancing peacock feathers at the end of the show. One of our regular outreaches is to Mac Camp, which is sponsored by Hope Wins over at the church here on Stevenson and Cherry. And I go there each week to work with the kids. We do different projects, different crafts. It's approximately 50 kids.

00:22:20.140 --> 00:22:27.180
each week and always at the end of summer we like to make slime because slime is fun. So Emily actually

00:22:27.180 --> 00:22:32.400
went with me the last week to help me make slime with them and they had a blast. It was a really fun

00:22:32.400 --> 00:22:39.200
afternoon. We also continued our outreach with the Stevenson County Fair this year and we both kind of

00:22:39.200 --> 00:22:47.160
had little tweaks to what we did so that increased our attendance a lot. So instead of in the past I've

00:22:47.160 --> 00:23:17.080
I've always done like stories and a craft but I was like we don't really get that many people we should just make it like a make and take craft like do your craft and then you can go so you don't slow down like your day at the fair and now the fair started last year they piloted offering field trips to local day camps and then this year they asked if I would like to be a stop on their like itinerary during their field trip and of course I said yes so we had a bunch of new kids coming through which was great and most of them I know because they're from like Mac camp or Boys and Girls Club

00:23:17.080 --> 00:23:44.680
or somewhere else in the community. And over the three days, we had 101 kids stop by my little station and I'm only there for like an hour every day. So that was amazing. And we also hosted Glow Bingo on a Friday night in the nice new little house they built right by the community tent, which was very nice air conditioned. It was great. We were full for a while. We had to bring in more tables and stuff.

00:23:44.680 --> 00:24:14.600
and at our end of summer party we had 283 kids it was a beautiful day it was like perfect end of summer party weather once again we had the dunk tank so I got dunked for a while we dunked other staff members for a while they love the dunk tank they love watching us go in they love just knocking us in they love all of it we also had a bouncy house and an obstacle course that they could play on and of course if they finish their

00:24:14.600 --> 00:24:44.480
reading for the summer they get a coupon for free ice cream from the ice cream truck so the party is just a great time and I've already been thinking about what we're going to add to it for next year and next year I'm sure you're wondering what our theme could possibly be it is actually mysteries await at your library which does not give me as many options for decorating as dinosaurs did because that was one of my favorite slides too was all our dinosaur decorations that we had at the library this year.

00:24:44.600 --> 00:25:20.800
but we are still really excited for mysteries we are already planning some really fun stuff so um yeah thank you for your support hey item number seven is the first reading of ordinance 2026-49 could you please read this ordinance amending section 899-08 of the codified ordinances of the city of Freeport regarding the zone administrator of the enterprise zone thank you manager Boyer uh thank your honor um as mentioned uh

00:25:20.800 --> 00:25:47.940
Section 899.08 governs the appointments and duties of the City-County Enterprise Zone Administrator. Current language limits eligibility to a city or county officer or employee. And this ordinance was last updated in 1985. I don't believe they contemplated the partnership or the Greater Freeport Partnership being vital in our economic development process at that time.

00:25:47.940 --> 00:26:08.120
So the proposed ordinance that I have before you allows the Enterprise Zone Committee by a majority of vote to appoint an outside individual who is not affiliated with the city or county. This provides flexibility to select a qualified administrator while preserving the current term, removal authority duties, reporting requirements, oversight provisions, and so on.

00:26:08.120 --> 00:26:37.760
The remaining provisions of section 899.08 are not changed and staff recommends suspension of the rules and allowing this change to move forward. Thank you. Is there a motion to move this forward? So moved. We have a second? Second. We have a motion made by Alderman Shadle, seconded by Alderman Parker to move this ordinance forward. Discussion on the ordinance? Alderman Parker?

00:26:38.120 --> 00:26:47.730
and the rules. Is there a second? Second. We have a motion made by Alderman Parker, seconded by Alderman

00:26:47.730 --> 00:26:52.290
Shadle for suspension of the rules. Suspension of the rules must pass by a two-thirds majority and is

00:26:52.290 --> 00:26:57.790
non-debatable. Madam Clerk, could you please take the roll on the suspension only? We'll come back to a

00:26:57.790 --> 00:27:08.010
discussion. This is just about suspension. Clem? Aye. Johnson? Aye. Parker? Aye. Stacey? No. Shadle? Aye. Sanders?

00:27:08.010 --> 00:27:37.770
Sellers? No. And Sellers? Aye. One, two, three, four. I have five positive. Mayor? Aye. Motion passes. Six to two. Okay. So now before you is the final for ordinance 2026-49. Alderman Stacy? Yes. City Manager Boyer. What makes one qualified? According to the ordinance, anyone, a majority of vote by the

00:27:38.010 --> 00:28:15.160
Enterprise Zone Committee. And how many members are in the Enterprise Zone? Eight? Andrea, do you know that? Is there eight members of the... You have the floor. I just wanted to get better understanding. Okay. As I stated at the beginning of this meeting, the ordinance say that it would be a city employee. I can't help it that it hasn't been updated since.

00:28:16.840 --> 00:28:46.540
85, is that what you said? However, it was just one that you missed because all the other ones that you want to change got updated, but oops, we missed this one. And who would have thought that Cecelia would have found the language that said you must be a city employee. And so if what you just answered to me as far as what makes one qualified true, why do you need to even have number seven, if that's so?

00:28:46.540 --> 00:29:00.170
We're just clarifying in the ordinance so that I can, you know, Andrea Winters can stand in as the, or continue her role as the enterprise zone coordinator

00:29:00.170 --> 00:29:02.330
So in, in, sure

00:29:02.330 --> 00:29:07.750
So in spite of what the ordinance say, you're going to do what you want to do

00:29:07.750 --> 00:29:13.160
It doesn't necessarily appoint Andrea

00:29:13.160 --> 00:29:21.580
What it does is gives that zoning board the ability to appoint someone other than a city employee

00:29:21.580 --> 00:29:51.100
or a county employee because the old record shows city or county. Why are you giving your views? We know how you feel and what you want. So why are you giving your views toward the vote? Because you said it was only a city employee and that's not accurate. It says city employee. Or a county employee. City or county employee. She's not a city nor a county employee. Correct. Okay, I rest my case.

00:29:51.100 --> 00:29:56.020
Okay. That's why this ordinance is before you. Alderman Sellers. Yes, I'm just

00:29:56.020 --> 00:30:23.720
Alderman, Sellers? Yes, I'd just like to know, is this the first time that Ms. Winters has put through for the zoning? This is not the first time she's asked for the zoning to be done. Right. Right. I'm saying this has been going on since, who's been doing it all the other times? I guess that's my question. You mean prior to? Yes.

00:30:23.720 --> 00:30:33.320
Prime. I believe it was the chairman. It was it was the chairman, wasn't it? No, we're not asking.

00:30:35.560 --> 00:30:46.050
Yeah, if you want to come to the microphone. Since the partnership has been formed, the partnership has

00:30:46.050 --> 00:30:52.430
operated the Enterprise Zone. And prior to that, do you know who it was? Prior to that, I think it was Ron

00:30:52.430 --> 00:30:56.630
Kane, who was the Stevenson County Assessor. Before that, I don't know. Thank you.

00:30:56.630 --> 00:31:31.590
for a while it was the community and development development director when Shelly Griswold sat in that seat she she did it at one time okay all right Stacy it's on the ordinance right now the question you're asking the person name is on the ordinance so what name is on the ordinance it's not a name the person that was the administrator of the zoning

00:31:31.590 --> 00:31:33.150
It's on the ordinance.

00:31:40.130 --> 00:31:40.930
Alderman Sellers?

00:31:42.030 --> 00:32:04.790
Is it against the law or is it not legal to come in and change this ordinance so that these different entities can get their, I guess one is Lena and the other one is Smart, AutoSmart, to be able to expand their boundaries.

00:32:05.410 --> 00:32:06.250
It's not.

00:32:06.250 --> 00:32:08.350
Attorney Zito, is that legal?

00:32:09.430 --> 00:32:18.730
So while the ordinance does currently read, the ordinance from 1985 does currently say that the zoning administrator for the Enterprise Zone is to be a city or county employee.

00:32:18.990 --> 00:32:22.210
Ordinances can be amended upon the will of the council.

00:32:22.210 --> 00:32:29.630
That's what's currently pending before you as to whether or not the council wants to change who is allowed to be the zoning administrator.

00:32:30.710 --> 00:32:33.710
So it is permissible to change the ordinance.

00:32:40.060 --> 00:32:42.160
Attorney said you've spoken three times already.

00:32:42.360 --> 00:32:43.140
I've spoken twice.

00:32:45.960 --> 00:32:49.040
It's still, if the will of the council, then that's fine.

00:32:55.070 --> 00:32:56.770
I can or I can't.

00:32:58.270 --> 00:33:02.390
So, per our ordinance, every person gets to speak two times.

00:33:03.150 --> 00:33:14.010
If someone wants to speak a third time or more than two, then there needs to be a motion by someone on the council to allow that member to speak for more than two times.

00:33:14.010 --> 00:33:15.250
Motion, second, approval.

00:33:15.370 --> 00:33:23.340
I make a motion to allow Cecilia to speak again

00:33:23.340 --> 00:33:31.350
Is there a second? Yes, there was

00:33:31.350 --> 00:33:35.190
Oh, okay, so we have a motion made by Alderman Clemm, seconded by Alderman Johnson

00:33:35.190 --> 00:33:39.070
to amend the rules for a third time of speaking

00:33:39.070 --> 00:33:41.910
Madam Clerk, would you please take the roll? Clemm? Aye

00:33:41.910 --> 00:33:44.510
Johnson? Aye

00:33:44.510 --> 00:33:46.390
Parker? No

00:33:46.390 --> 00:33:48.430
Stacey? Aye

00:33:48.430 --> 00:33:49.870
Shadle? No

00:33:49.870 --> 00:33:52.790
Sanders? Aye

00:33:52.790 --> 00:34:23.480
and Sellers. Aye. The motion passes five to two. Alderman. Okay. What I want to say is this was put on the first meeting of August and it was removed by Mayor Yuall's request. It was removed off the agenda and that was just so you could come back and add number seven

00:34:25.830 --> 00:34:58.320
to cover your butts for what you're doing. Well, I don't know if covering my butt is the right term. Yes, because or else it would have been out of order. No, it's just putting it in, it's just right. We're just trying to do the right thing. You're doing the right thing to cover what you want. Okay. And I'm sorry, Attorney Zito, that you feel like you can say that about me. You need to remain neutral. You're here for all of us.

00:34:58.940 --> 00:35:00.660
Hilleman, Clemm?

00:35:01.000 --> 00:35:01.320
Yes.

00:35:02.440 --> 00:35:19.500
I think we have a big discrepancy in opinions here, but I'd just like to bring up that I was notified by email of this a number of months ago and passed it on to Rob, that somebody wasn't going to stop in this thing and was going to carry it forward, that it had to be somebody from the city.

00:35:19.500 --> 00:35:44.360
knowing that at that time, Rob started in that we needed to do something, but I would say to you, this position, the person that's carried this position has been the head of the head of the partnership since it was formed in 1985. It wasn't as though it happened yesterday. Okay. So person has been in that position for a long period of time.

00:35:44.360 --> 00:36:11.060
The other thing that comes up that I would have to say is the fact that if you have something against this, I would say to you, don't bring it up at 6 o'clock on the night of the meeting, I'd bring it up when you have all your paperwork on Friday that told you that this was going to happen. I don't know, you know, I had no question on it, it was a matter to resolve the issue to the best that could be done at the moment.

00:36:11.060 --> 00:36:14.680
For the record, I brought it up the third Monday in June

00:36:14.680 --> 00:36:15.480
Okay

00:36:15.480 --> 00:36:16.400
Okay

00:36:16.400 --> 00:36:17.980
Okay, let's sign back and forth

00:36:17.980 --> 00:36:18.700
Not tonight

00:36:18.700 --> 00:36:19.640
Yes, Alderman Sellers

00:36:19.640 --> 00:36:21.100
I know this would be my third time

00:36:21.100 --> 00:36:21.320
Yes

00:36:21.320 --> 00:36:21.880
So I need to

00:36:21.880 --> 00:36:25.060
No, it was just to give it as a blanket three times

00:36:25.060 --> 00:36:40.100
I also want to say that I do think that we went in because we did hear your voice and we did look at the ordinance to see that it needed to be in order

00:36:40.100 --> 00:36:47.460
and properly done. So that's why they went in to make it right so it would be right on the books so that

00:36:47.460 --> 00:36:55.600
it's been going this way for since 1980, whatever. So to make it right in our books and in our paperwork,

00:36:56.080 --> 00:37:05.740
that's why they went in with the attorney and Rob and whoever to make sure that the paperwork is right

00:37:05.740 --> 00:37:29.700
and it's up to what the ordinance needs to say. So that's why I think that it's not like they went in just to get something done because these two places need to have their boundaries expanded. So that's why they went in so that they can have that done.

00:37:29.700 --> 00:37:59.990
but it wasn't like it's something that they went in to do you know to get something you know under the table it's they wanted to do it right and make sure that our paperwork was right and said the right thing so that's what I just wanted to say it wasn't like it was done something behind the back it was done to make it right on our paperwork so that it can be done correctly because that's how it has been done so to make it right there's no further discussion madam clerk please take the roll.

00:38:01.230 --> 00:38:31.090
Clem? Aye. Johnson? Aye. Parker? Aye. Stacey? No. Shadle? Aye. Sanders? No. And Sellers? Aye. The motion passes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 to 2. Item number 8 is the second reading of ordinance 2026-44. Could you please read this? Ordinance amending the boundaries of the joint Northwest Illinois certified enterprise zone for expansion of auto smart

00:38:31.090 --> 00:39:03.910
Inc. Thank you. Andrea? Good evening. Because we don't have the projector tonight, I'm going to ask you to reference the memo that's attached that will give you kind of geography and where I'm talking about. So two weeks ago, I was up here talking about this, the first reading of this ordinance. Again, we're amending the boundary of the enterprise zone to include a parcel that is adjacent to where ArtoSmart is currently located, which is the former visitor.

00:39:03.910 --> 00:39:09.510
Center. With the sale of that building and that property, there was an adjacent parcel that was with

00:39:09.510 --> 00:39:15.110
the sale. For whatever reason, when the enterprise zone boundary was created, that parcel was not

00:39:15.110 --> 00:39:23.350
included. The used classic car dealer would like to expand their showroom space. They want to build

00:39:23.350 --> 00:39:31.030
another building on that adjacent parcel. They need enterprise zone incentives to help lower the cost

00:39:31.030 --> 00:39:33.190
of that investment to make this project feasible.

00:39:33.390 --> 00:39:35.390
That's why we're here tonight to amend the boundary.

00:39:36.670 --> 00:39:37.170
Thank you.

00:39:37.910 --> 00:39:39.030
Discussion on the ordinance?

00:39:40.670 --> 00:39:42.070
Madam Clerk, please take the roll.

00:39:42.710 --> 00:39:43.050
Clem?

00:39:43.290 --> 00:39:43.530
Aye.

00:39:43.810 --> 00:39:44.210
Johnson?

00:39:44.430 --> 00:39:44.650
Aye.

00:39:45.270 --> 00:39:45.750
Parker?

00:39:46.010 --> 00:39:46.250
Aye.

00:39:46.590 --> 00:39:46.910
Stacy?

00:39:57.010 --> 00:40:26.890
Aye. Shadle. Aye. Sanders. Aye. And Sellers. Aye. The motion passes seven to zero. And item number nine is the second reading of ordinance 202645. Could you please read this? Ordinance amending the boundaries of the joint Northwest Illinois certified enterprise zone for expansion within the village of Lena. Thank you. Andrea. So similar request, we're amending the boundary of the enterprise zone to incorporate residentially zoned parcels that are

00:40:26.890 --> 00:40:35.050
within the village of Lena. This is about 112.23 acres that would be added into the zone. If this

00:40:35.050 --> 00:40:43.690
addition is approved, we would be at a total of about 13.8 square miles. We have plenty of capacity

00:40:43.690 --> 00:40:50.410
within the zone for future expansions. We can go up to 20 square miles. So that is the request from this

00:40:50.410 --> 00:40:55.110
evening. This request came from the village of Lena. Thank you. Any discussion on this ordinance?

00:40:55.110 --> 00:40:57.670
Madam Clerk, please take the roll.

00:40:58.070 --> 00:40:58.390
Clemm.

00:40:58.590 --> 00:40:58.830
Aye.

00:40:59.230 --> 00:40:59.590
Johnson.

00:40:59.910 --> 00:41:00.110
Aye.

00:41:00.390 --> 00:41:00.710
Parker.

00:41:01.010 --> 00:41:01.210
Aye.

00:41:01.510 --> 00:41:01.870
Stacey.

00:41:04.500 --> 00:41:04.940
Aye.

00:41:05.400 --> 00:41:05.760
Shadle.

00:41:05.940 --> 00:41:06.140
Aye.

00:41:06.820 --> 00:41:07.220
Sanders.

00:41:08.100 --> 00:41:08.580
Aye.

00:41:08.960 --> 00:41:09.640
And Sellers.

00:41:09.820 --> 00:41:10.060
Aye.

00:41:10.580 --> 00:41:12.520
The ordinance passes, 8 to 0.

00:41:13.620 --> 00:41:14.100
7.

00:41:14.260 --> 00:41:15.280
7 to 0.

00:41:15.760 --> 00:41:16.960
Hold on, Johnson, do you have a question?

00:41:17.340 --> 00:41:21.460
Yeah, Madam Mayor, I just wondered, can we suspend the rules for 7, 8, and 9?

00:41:22.540 --> 00:41:22.900
They're.

00:41:23.240 --> 00:41:23.900
Or for 7?

00:41:23.980 --> 00:41:24.700
They're both secondary.

00:41:25.000 --> 00:41:25.880
That was the final.

00:41:26.280 --> 00:41:26.580
Can we.

00:41:26.580 --> 00:41:58.290
for seven it was yeah that's the final that was seven was the first reading no we we suspended the rules okay so we're good all three of those we're all good okay thank you item number 10 is the first reading of ordinance 2026 50 could you please read this ordinance adapting and approving a public works policy for productive and efficient communication with citizens in the city of Freeport thank you Darren good evening uh this is to memorialize the discussion we had at the cow meeting regarding

00:41:58.290 --> 00:42:26.930
two meetings ago about the interactions with public works personnel. We've had several discussions internally with different council members over this over the last few weeks. So we put together an ordinance to memorialize. This is not to not allow any resident to have their hearsay or file a complaint.

00:42:26.930 --> 00:42:56.910
we just want to do that properly and that's not with the staff on the streets that's with city manager Boyer and myself and the mayor we're the people that if somebody really has a problem they should be coming to and with the interactions and the changes in the world today this is just a safety measure for our employees and give them a way out of conversations and it was even discussed today that this should not only extend to public works staff but it really should extend

00:42:56.910 --> 00:43:03.630
to all employees of the city of Freeport, including City Hall, our fire department, our police department.

00:43:05.730 --> 00:43:12.290
I will say that the phrase be kind is not part of our daily life anymore, and it should be.

00:43:12.910 --> 00:43:19.330
And I want to make sure that our employees at Public Works know that the staff has their backs.

00:43:20.010 --> 00:43:23.570
And again, there will be a process put in place with this.

00:43:23.570 --> 00:43:44.550
This isn't just give somebody the ability to hang up on somebody. As this happens, there's a process in the background. It'll have a report. It will go into a file. We're also looking into potentially doing some call monitoring at Public Works Dispatch. So we have records of this because it's always a he said, she said type of event.

00:43:44.550 --> 00:44:14.550
Um, 90% of these issues, uh, management's been able to step in, calm them down and move things forward. Um, and sometimes we have to agree to disagree. Uh, public works is tasked with spending taxpayers money on taxpayers property, not on, on private property. And we have to evaluate that as each situation arises. Um, we also recognize

00:44:14.550 --> 00:44:37.850
They're having bad days, so we try to have it with a grain of salt. Nobody's ever elated or excited to have sewer in their basement, so we're not expecting to come to their house with bonbons and, you know, a ticker tape parade of happiness, but we also recognize that we want everybody to work together and be kind to our staff members.

00:44:37.850 --> 00:44:54.710
We have a hard enough time attracting talent to the city of Freeport, we have a very good group of people that we want to keep, and this is just step one in me honoring my work to the public works staff that will back them up, and we'll trust that our employees are making the right decisions.

00:44:55.270 --> 00:44:57.810
Thank you. Is there a motion to move this ordinance forward?

00:44:58.170 --> 00:44:58.630
So moved.

00:44:58.890 --> 00:44:59.190
Second.

00:44:59.690 --> 00:45:06.130
We have a motion made by Alderman Shadle, seconded by Alderman Sellers. Discussion on the ordinance? Alderman Stacy?

00:45:06.130 --> 00:45:12.240
Do we want to consider suspending the rules?

00:45:12.240 --> 00:45:13.680
I give the floor to Alderman, Stacy

00:45:13.680 --> 00:45:14.860
Excuse me, I'm sorry

00:45:14.860 --> 00:45:15.120
It's alright

00:45:15.120 --> 00:45:17.460
Pardon me, I didn't hear it, I'm sorry

00:45:17.460 --> 00:45:19.080
Very sorry

00:45:19.080 --> 00:45:32.160
Director Darien, you know, I have no real problem with what you've asked to put forth

00:45:32.160 --> 00:45:39.820
However, just two weeks ago, you and I had a conversation with a young man

00:45:39.820 --> 00:46:08.960
who was being accused of hanging up twice on the dispatcher and he was really convinced that he was mixed up with somebody else and that it didn't happen and this and that and since then you and I had a conversation about one of my constituents that was harshly spoken to and when she realized she knew who he was

00:46:09.820 --> 00:46:45.230
then she changed her tone so our expectation of who's answering the phone need to be just as great as what we expect of the people in how they should be treated. They too have got to respect

00:46:45.230 --> 00:47:08.330
I would just say, and I agree wholly with that, that it's got to be a two-way street. Everybody has bad days. That's why I was proposing in next year's budget, looking into some software or material to be able to, I don't know if record those calls, but it record the bad ones at least, so it's not, doesn't become a he said, she said opportunity, right?

00:47:08.330 --> 00:47:14.750
because remember with email and phone calls, everybody can read into something other than what you meant.

00:47:14.750 --> 00:47:23.130
It's a very hard conversation to have, especially when, I know Clark Anderson won't recognize this,

00:47:23.310 --> 00:47:31.010
sometimes you get one call of these after another all day long and it becomes very cumbersome in a day of people that are very upset.

00:47:31.570 --> 00:47:35.030
Okay, if there's no further discussion.

00:47:35.290 --> 00:47:37.650
I'd like to make a motion to suspend the rules.

00:47:37.650 --> 00:47:39.910
Second

00:47:39.910 --> 00:47:45.090
We have a motion made by Alderman Clem, seconded by Alderman Parker for suspension of the rules

00:47:45.090 --> 00:47:47.990
Again, non-debatable and must pass by two-thirds majority

00:47:47.990 --> 00:47:50.590
Madam Clerk, would you please take the roll on the suspension

00:47:50.590 --> 00:47:52.090
Clem? Aye

00:47:52.090 --> 00:47:53.430
Johnson? Aye

00:47:53.430 --> 00:47:54.750
Parker? Aye

00:47:54.750 --> 00:47:56.010
Stacy? No

00:47:56.010 --> 00:47:57.250
Shadle? Aye

00:47:57.250 --> 00:47:59.550
Sanders? No

00:47:59.550 --> 00:48:01.350
Sellers? Aye

00:48:01.350 --> 00:48:03.670
And Mayor? Aye

00:48:03.670 --> 00:48:08.290
The motion to suspend passes six to two

00:48:08.290 --> 00:48:15.730
So then before you counsel is the final for this ordinance 2026 50 any further discussion

00:48:15.730 --> 00:48:32.970
I just have oh no I just wanted to what Darren had said that he was looking for some software or whatever so you'll get back with us if you find anything that will be compatible with what you're looking for

00:48:32.970 --> 00:48:56.810
Yeah, currently, I've been talking with IT Director Suttman on looking for something for next year, but we also need to get that cleared through the attorney that that's something that we can actually do as a city, and I haven't had that discussion with him yet, but we're looking for options to be able to just, you know, I don't want it to be a he said or she said, right?

00:48:56.810 --> 00:49:24.090
I think that leads to difficulty in how people perceive the conversation and again I think it would be nice that if we were able to have one of those call traps for instances like that but regardless of whether that comes forward or not our staff members are going to be required to memorialize whatever issue there was, who it was with, what time, so on and so forth so we have a internal record of that documentation.

00:49:24.090 --> 00:49:25.530
Okay, thank you.

00:49:25.530 --> 00:49:50.790
So if we're recording, if I'm the dispatcher and we're recording, so after I answer the phone and after they say who they are and after I say, how may I help you, then what, when it goes to pot, then someone can hit record?

00:49:50.790 --> 00:49:58.400
record? No, I think it would be something that would probably be just automatic. Okay, so you can't say the

00:49:58.400 --> 00:50:19.980
bad cause because you don't know. No, I'm just saying saving. Saving the bad cause. We wouldn't have to save every call, right? That would take up a lot of space and documentation. It would just be ones that were an issue. And again, we have not declared that with the attorney as if that's something we're going to do. So for right now, we have staff memorializing it with a process that we put together internally.

00:50:20.000 --> 00:50:25.240
Okay, Madam Clerk, please take the roll

00:50:25.240 --> 00:50:27.040
Excuse me

00:50:27.040 --> 00:50:27.600
Clem

00:50:27.600 --> 00:50:28.040
Aye

00:50:28.040 --> 00:50:29.040
Johnson

00:50:29.040 --> 00:50:29.520
Aye

00:50:29.520 --> 00:50:30.240
Parker

00:50:30.240 --> 00:50:30.800
Aye

00:50:30.800 --> 00:50:31.520
Stacey

00:50:31.520 --> 00:50:32.240
Aye

00:50:32.240 --> 00:50:33.120
Shadle

00:50:33.120 --> 00:50:33.520
Aye

00:50:33.520 --> 00:50:34.480
Sanders

00:50:34.480 --> 00:50:35.800
Aye

00:50:35.800 --> 00:50:36.920
And Sellers

00:50:36.920 --> 00:50:37.360
Aye

00:50:37.360 --> 00:50:40.280
The ordinance passes 7-0

00:50:40.280 --> 00:50:48.000
Item number 11 is the first reading of ordinance 226-51. Could you please read this?

00:50:48.000 --> 00:51:05.730
ordinance granting a special use permit to allow restaurants, taverns, packaged liquor stores, and any other establishments selling alcoholic beverages for consumption on or off the premises at 116 South Adams Avenue, submitted by La Dona.

00:51:06.270 --> 00:51:07.790
Thank you, Director Heimerdinger.

00:51:07.790 --> 00:51:17.370
Thank you, Madam Mayor. Staff received a special use application from La Dona for a restaurant selling alcoholic beverages at 116 South Adams Avenue,

00:51:17.370 --> 00:51:39.470
which is within the B-2-2 Limited Service Business District Section 1252.01B11 of the City of Freeport Zoning Code states that restaurants, taverns, package, liquor stores, and any other establishment selling alcoholic beverages for consumption on or off the premises require a special use permit.

00:51:39.470 --> 00:51:54.550
The subject property is Lidonia, which is previously Lars' Chicken. The business has recently opened as a Mexican restaurant. They would like to offer alcohol beverages to their guests and attract new diners.

00:51:54.550 --> 00:52:03.750
On August 6, 2026, the Zoning Board of Appeals recommended the approval by a vote of five yays.

00:52:03.750 --> 00:52:09.910
On August 13, the Planning Commission recommended approval by a vote of four yays and zero nays.

00:52:11.030 --> 00:52:21.150
This originally came from solely the request of individuals who were dining in and requesting alcoholic beverages,

00:52:21.150 --> 00:52:33.590
so they came to us to look for this special use permit so that they can provide their patrons with what they're being asked.

00:52:34.070 --> 00:52:40.790
And so staff recommends the approval of the special use permit for the restaurant selling alcohol at 116 South Adams.

00:52:40.990 --> 00:52:47.450
And because this is a very small business, I'd like to request suspension of the rules so that they don't have to wait on us.

00:52:47.890 --> 00:52:48.370
Thank you.

00:52:48.890 --> 00:52:49.570
Thank you.

00:52:49.570 --> 00:52:51.110
Is there a motion to move this forward?

00:52:51.150 --> 00:52:52.390
So moved. Second.

00:52:52.890 --> 00:52:59.890
A motion made by Alderman Shadle, seconded by Alderman Sellers to move this forward. Discussion? Alderman Stacy?

00:53:00.210 --> 00:53:09.530
I'm still trying to picture where is this place located. Is it diagonally across from the Farm Bureau?

00:53:09.530 --> 00:53:21.970
Oh, no. Nope. This is right by like pretty much like Main Street and Spring. It's like a little blue and white house.

00:53:22.270 --> 00:53:26.450
The old Germania lot, the grass lot right there that looks like a house.

00:53:26.450 --> 00:53:32.390
The old Leafs sea breeze. The old Leafs sea breeze. Across from the sunshine.

00:53:32.390 --> 00:53:34.790
Across from Raleigh building. Across from the sunshine.

00:53:34.790 --> 00:53:43.790
Yep. Unfortunately, the projector is down tonight or else it'd be on there, but it's in your memo. There's a map and a picture of the building as well.

00:53:59.100 --> 00:54:10.340
The clerk was just saying that the suspension doesn't really make any difference just because they're not on the liquor agenda for approval yet. So they're going to be, hopefully, they'll be on the September

00:54:10.340 --> 00:54:16.100
agenda, which we can, I mean, if you want to continue to do a suspension, that's fine.

00:54:16.180 --> 00:54:16.840
It just won't matter.

00:54:17.260 --> 00:54:17.360
Yeah.

00:54:18.720 --> 00:54:19.680
It's up to you.

00:54:20.320 --> 00:54:21.180
To the council.

00:54:23.820 --> 00:54:24.140
Attorney?

00:54:26.140 --> 00:54:29.920
I don't think you can actually approve it tonight because if you look for suspension of the rules,

00:54:29.980 --> 00:54:33.560
then you'll be looking to move directly to a final approval on the issuance of the special

00:54:33.560 --> 00:54:34.100
use permit.

00:54:34.500 --> 00:54:35.820
But if you don't have...

00:54:35.820 --> 00:54:37.940
They haven't applied for their liquor license yet.

00:54:38.520 --> 00:54:38.740
Right.

00:54:38.820 --> 00:54:39.980
And you need the special...

00:54:39.980 --> 00:54:41.220
You have to have the special use permit.

00:54:41.620 --> 00:54:49.980
So usually, Dovie, you're saying that we typically have the application in hand before we approve the special use permit, is that what you're saying?

00:54:49.980 --> 00:54:56.460
I think a majority of the time we have, but I don't think it, I don't think one's continuing upon the other.

00:54:56.560 --> 00:54:58.260
Okay, just wanted to clarify. Thank you.

00:55:01.100 --> 00:55:01.900
Alderman Stacy.

00:55:02.160 --> 00:55:08.960
The image on the memo says 123 South Adams.

00:55:08.960 --> 00:55:41.900
Adams. 116, South Adams? It says 123. Did it say 123? Where at? So the 116 is what's correct. Madam Clerk? Sometimes when a picture is taken, the camera picks up the location of the camera, not necessarily the location of what they're taking a picture of. Is that what's going on? Yes, that is correct. Yeah, that's it, because I'm like. Yeah, that's, they're taking, they're taking it from across the street, so it picks up whatever

00:55:41.900 --> 00:55:52.330
wherever the cameraman is at. Okay. Any further discussion? Okay. Then I guess we'll move on.

00:55:55.990 --> 00:56:00.130
Well, she did. She did, but they don't have liquor license yet. It's up to the council if they want

00:56:00.130 --> 00:56:07.570
to suspend it. Yeah. No. Nope. Okay. Then we'll move on to item number 12, which is the first reading of

00:56:07.570 --> 00:56:13.010
ordinance 202652. Could you please read this? Ordinance of the city of Freeport amending the

00:56:13.010 --> 00:56:23.890
Master Downtown Parking Map to provide for additional ADA parking stalls on the west side of Van Buren along 102-112 North Van Buren as shown on a revised master parking map.

00:56:24.310 --> 00:56:24.690
Thank you.

00:56:24.730 --> 00:56:25.290
Manager Boyer.

00:56:26.070 --> 00:56:27.050
Thank you, Your Honor.

00:56:27.850 --> 00:56:36.610
We've been approached about adding a couple of disabled parking spots near the courthouse, Salvation Army, and the prosthetic center.

00:56:36.610 --> 00:57:06.190
Center. The updated map, which is not up here, but it'll be along the west side of Van Buren next to the Salvation Army building. So staff recommends moving forward with this change for the additional ADA parking spaces. Thank you. Is there a motion to move this forward? I so move. Second. Motion made by Alderman Johnson, seconded by Alderman Sellers. Discussion on the ordinance? Darren?

00:57:06.610 --> 00:57:12.270
I just wanted to point out it's two stalls. It's one on the west side and then one on the north side of Exchange as well.

00:57:12.430 --> 00:57:13.210
That's my mistake.

00:57:14.170 --> 00:57:16.370
Yes, so that was the request.

00:57:18.150 --> 00:57:19.270
Any further discussion?

00:57:21.110 --> 00:57:26.890
Move on to item number 13, which is the adoption of Resolution 2026-92. Could you please read this?

00:57:27.810 --> 00:57:33.670
Resolution to authorize an amendment to intergovernmental agreement for the operation of an enterprise zone for AutoSmart.

00:57:33.990 --> 00:57:34.770
Thank you. Andrea?

00:57:34.770 --> 00:57:53.560
So this is the accompanying resolution for the amendment to the intergovernmental agreement, which is really amending the legal description of the enterprise zone boundary to encompass the parcel for AutoSmart.

00:57:54.080 --> 00:57:58.830
Okay. Is there a motion to adopt?

00:57:59.170 --> 00:57:59.550
So moved.

00:57:59.890 --> 00:58:00.210
Second.

00:58:00.590 --> 00:58:09.890
Motion made by Alderman Shadle, seconded by Alderman Sellers. Discussion on the resolution? Madam Clerk, please take the roll.

00:58:10.770 --> 00:58:11.070
Clemm.

00:58:11.470 --> 00:58:11.690
Aye.

00:58:11.950 --> 00:58:12.310
Johnson.

00:58:12.570 --> 00:58:12.790
Aye.

00:58:13.390 --> 00:58:13.790
Parker.

00:58:13.790 --> 00:58:44.360
Parker, Aye. Stacy, No. Shadle, Aye. Sanders, No. Sellers, Aye. The resolution is adopted 5-2. Item number 14 is the adoption of Resolution 2026-93. Could you please read this? Resolution to authorize an amendment to intergovernmental agreement for the operation of an enterprise zone for the village of Lena. Thank you. Andrea? Similar request. This is accompanying the second reading of the ordinance.

00:58:44.360 --> 00:59:15.870
evidence this is amending the legal description of the enterprise zone boundary to incorporate all the parcels within LENA that they've requested to have in the enterprise zone. Thank you. Is there a motion to adopt? So moved. Second. We have a motion made by Alderman Shadle, seconded by Alderman Sellers. Discussion on the resolution? Madam Clerk, please take the roll. Clem. Aye. Johnson. Aye. Parker. Aye. Stacy. No. Shadle. Aye. Sanders. Aye.

00:59:15.990 --> 00:59:16.710
No

00:59:16.710 --> 00:59:17.670
Sellers

00:59:17.670 --> 00:59:18.090
Aye

00:59:18.090 --> 00:59:20.850
The resolution is adopted 5-2

00:59:20.850 --> 00:59:26.870
And item number 15 is the adoption of resolution 2026-97. Could you please read this?

00:59:27.510 --> 00:59:38.590
Resolution approving letter to the board of the Northwest Illinois Enterprise Zone requesting expansion of the boundaries of the Enterprise Zone to include 836 West Stevenson Street located within the city of Freeport

00:59:38.590 --> 00:59:40.070
Thank you. Director Heimerdinger

00:59:40.070 --> 00:59:49.990
Thank you, Madam Mayor. So a few weeks ago, we had a few properties that we wanted to add to Enterprise Zone.

00:59:49.990 --> 01:00:17.820
Enterprise Zone within the city if we put city limits and so there was a proposal letter one of them that was not captured at that time because we it's just gone on the market and we hadn't had any kind of action on it was 836 West Stevenson which is like the Raleigh Mansion and a couple days after that resolution was adopted by council we had a lot more

01:00:17.820 --> 01:00:37.700
interest in that property, and we had a lot of people, since it was just on the market, a lot of people reaching out to ask us if there was any benefits or any kind of help that they could receive if they were to place a bid on the property and to start to do the necessary rehab to that structure.

01:00:37.700 --> 01:01:02.980
And so we did explain to them that the enterprise zone is an advantage that helps with, you know, the tax freeze and also the building supplies sales tax exemption. And so a building like that, a mansion in that sense of almost 8,000 square feet, it definitely makes a big difference if you don't have all of the building sales tax to pay.

01:01:02.980 --> 01:01:32.160
Okay. So brought to you tonight is a resolution to add that property to the enterprise letter as well and so that we can get that into the enterprise zone. We do have somebody who is under contract. There is a pending contract on this property and I would, you know, there's a strong possibility that there will be a redevelopment agreement coming through council in the near future with that price.

01:01:32.160 --> 01:01:38.920
saw, and they are hoping to restore it and kind of, you know, bring it back to its former glory.

01:01:39.080 --> 01:01:40.200
So we're excited about that.

01:01:40.320 --> 01:01:47.160
So anything we can do to kind of help them is nice for the community to get a house rehabbed.

01:01:48.080 --> 01:01:48.780
Is there a motion?

01:01:48.900 --> 01:01:49.260
I'm sorry.

01:01:49.840 --> 01:01:50.400
Go ahead.

01:01:50.660 --> 01:01:51.080
Okay.

01:01:51.580 --> 01:01:52.820
Is there a motion to adopt?

01:01:52.980 --> 01:01:53.340
So moved.

01:01:53.640 --> 01:01:53.960
Second.

01:01:53.960 --> 01:01:54.000
Second.

01:01:54.500 --> 01:01:57.720
The motion made by Alderman Shadle, seconded by Alderman Sellers.

01:01:58.600 --> 01:02:00.420
Discussion on this resolution.

01:02:00.420 --> 01:02:02.160
Alderman Stacy.

01:02:02.420 --> 01:02:04.000
What is the address again?

01:02:04.420 --> 01:02:05.880
836 West Stevenson.

01:02:06.380 --> 01:02:10.360
In your memo, there's a picture of the home.

01:02:10.760 --> 01:02:11.660
I don't see it.

01:02:12.040 --> 01:02:13.320
It's the third page.

01:02:14.060 --> 01:02:15.700
Oh, I didn't go down far enough.

01:02:17.970 --> 01:02:19.330
Any other discussion?

01:02:20.110 --> 01:02:20.670
Alderman Johnson?

01:02:21.070 --> 01:02:25.610
I think this house has been in ill repair for quite a long time.

01:02:25.710 --> 01:02:26.750
I'm talking years.

01:02:26.930 --> 01:02:27.210
Yes.

01:02:27.350 --> 01:02:28.090
Yes, it has.

01:02:28.310 --> 01:02:31.250
And it's, yeah, it's also condemned at this point.

01:02:31.450 --> 01:02:31.570
Yes.

01:02:31.690 --> 01:02:31.930
Okay.

01:02:32.070 --> 01:02:32.710
Thank you.

01:02:33.110 --> 01:03:09.090
Okay. Did she say it's condemned at this point? And so you're bringing it out of? Yes. Yep. The individuals who are under contract for the home, they do understand what is necessary of them to get it out of condemnation. And are they local? I can't answer that. I don't know. Okay. If there's no further discussion, Madam Clerk, please take the roll. Clem. Aye. Johnson.

01:03:09.410 --> 01:03:47.710
Aye. Parker? Aye. Stacy? Shadle? Aye. Sanders? Aye. And Sellers? Aye. The resolution is adopted 7-0. And item number 16 is the adoption of Resolution 2026-99. Could you please read this? Resolution approving a license agreement with Stephen Hasselman and Colton Asche for mowing, hay production, and weed thistle control at Albertus Airport. Thank you, Manager Boyer.

01:03:47.710 --> 01:04:15.970
Thank you, Your Honor. One of the major jobs out at the airport is mowing the large amount of grass. Staff identified working with a contractor for baling hay in the past. We've done that. However, we've been working on a license agreement so that we can move forward this year with a land license agreement to handle a multi-year mowing and maintenance and weed thistle spraying for those areas.

01:04:15.970 --> 01:04:34.370
After a significant amount of time, contacts for a qualified candidate, Mr. Hasselman and Mr. Ashey from the local area have submitted a request for a proposal for the city of Freeport to hay, mow, and maintain the weed thistle spraying on the 105 acres out at the airport.

01:04:35.130 --> 01:04:44.730
And so staff has reviewed all of the documentation, done some background checks. Everyone comes back highly recommended and passes all the background checks.

01:04:44.730 --> 01:05:01.950
So this is a cost offset of approximately $18,500 when compared to what it would cost us to continue to mow, and staff recommends this is a 10-year license agreement, and staff recommends moving forward with this with Steve Hasselman.

01:05:02.330 --> 01:05:03.990
Thank you. Is there a motion to adopt?

01:05:04.230 --> 01:05:04.730
I still move.

01:05:07.100 --> 01:05:15.480
We have a motion made by Alderman Johnson, seconded by Alderman Shadle. Discussion on the resolution? Madam Clerk, please take the roll.

01:05:15.860 --> 01:05:16.140
Clemm.

01:05:16.360 --> 01:05:16.640
Aye.

01:05:16.920 --> 01:05:17.320
Johnson.

01:05:17.320 --> 01:05:29.800
Aye. Parker. Aye. Stacey. Aye. Shadle. Aye. Sanders. Aye. Sellers. Aye. And the resolution is adopted 7-0.

01:05:29.800 --> 01:05:34.840
And item number 17 is adoption of resolution 2026-100. Could you please read this?

01:05:35.540 --> 01:05:41.780
Resolution in support of the application to the state of Illinois for a community development block grant for sanitary sewer lining.

01:05:42.240 --> 01:05:43.420
Thank you. Manager Boyer.

01:05:43.420 --> 01:06:09.740
Thank you, Your Honor. As everyone's quite aware, we are, every time we get an opportunity to line sewer mains, we do so. We have approximately 130 miles of sanitary sewer lines that comprise our collection system. It can get very complex when we do road programs. Obviously, we want to make sure those sewers are aligned so that we don't have any issues after the road is paved or anything like that.

01:06:09.740 --> 01:06:36.300
Staff is requesting authorization from city council to move forward with a community development block grant for sanitary sewer lining to be completed and selected by ward. All wards have concerns and sanitary sewer lining would improve infrastructure in these areas. The CDBG is requesting a contiguous project that is localized to one area for a bid project.

01:06:36.300 --> 01:06:45.200
So the current grant cycle request is for a maximum of $1.5 million and requires no matching funds outside of our design that we need to do

01:06:45.200 --> 01:06:55.300
So the public works directors estimated the city would install between 35,000 and 37,000 linear feet of sewer main

01:06:55.300 --> 01:07:01.660
And the staff plans to fund the design from the sanitary sewer budget in 2027 if awarded

01:07:01.660 --> 01:07:09.760
So essentially what this is, we're going for outside money to line $35,000 to $37,000 linear feet of sewer main

01:07:09.760 --> 01:07:19.280
And we're going to pay for the design work and the application when we get into the 2027 budget cycle, which is coming soon

01:07:19.280 --> 01:07:24.300
But staff would like to move forward with this CDBG grant

01:07:24.300 --> 01:07:25.780
Is there a motion to adopt?

01:07:25.920 --> 01:07:26.380
So moved

01:07:26.380 --> 01:07:27.000
Second

01:07:27.000 --> 01:07:34.440
Okay, motion made by Alderman Shadle, seconded by Alderman Sellers, discussion on the resolution. Alderman Stacy?

01:07:35.520 --> 01:07:45.600
Yes, City Manager Boyer, can you tell us what is the total cost to the city, including the design and

01:07:45.600 --> 01:07:57.640
Okay, so the total cost would be somewhere in the neighborhood of $150,000 and to the city with the remainder being paid for through the CDPG grant.

01:07:59.560 --> 01:08:07.100
So we're giving up $150,000 not knowing if we're going to even get the grant?

01:08:07.640 --> 01:08:14.420
No, we'll apply for the grant. If we get it, we'll be able to move into design. So if we don't get the grant, we won't do the design.

01:08:14.720 --> 01:08:18.260
If we don't get the grant, just applying for it don't cost us anything.

01:08:18.260 --> 01:08:23.280
I believe that, yeah, we're figuring $5,000 to $10,000 on the grant application.

01:08:23.540 --> 01:08:26.640
$5,000 to $10,000 just to apply for it.

01:08:26.640 --> 01:08:35.620
$5,000 to $10,000 to apply for a grant that we may not even get.

01:08:38.350 --> 01:08:38.930
Alderman Clem?

01:08:39.270 --> 01:08:39.570
Yes.

01:08:39.610 --> 01:08:41.910
How successful are we at getting these grants?

01:08:42.990 --> 01:08:48.910
Well, I think we've received $85 million in the last five years, so I'd say that's pretty successful.

01:08:49.390 --> 01:08:49.830
Thank you.

01:08:50.390 --> 01:08:50.710
Darren?

01:08:51.490 --> 01:08:52.210
Yeah.

01:08:52.370 --> 01:08:59.510
So specifically for this round of CDBG grants, there's what they call census track scoring.

01:09:00.030 --> 01:09:18.790
and Freeport has three areas of town in a census tract that qualify greatly. One of them is 72% low to moderate income, one of them is 75%, and another one is 80%. And it doesn't match up with our ward map, so it's hard to give you the areas.

01:09:18.790 --> 01:09:47.670
but studying the qualifications for this and the point scoring system, the investment of chasing a grant like this with no matching funds is a very good opportunity for the city of Freeport. We've actually received this one other time and they raised the amount this year to 1.5 million. It was not 1.5 million in the past. And just so everybody knows, you know, that's roughly five miles to seven miles.

01:09:47.670 --> 01:09:52.940
miles to seven miles of sewer main that would be done based on prices in 27. And I'm going off prices that

01:09:52.940 --> 01:09:58.980
we got this year. So that's a lot of sewer main lining that does not affect utility rates at the end of the

01:09:58.980 --> 01:10:06.060
day. So again, we don't bring grants to the city of Freeport to chase grants that we don't feel that we

01:10:06.060 --> 01:10:12.400
have a significant chance in getting. We do the point scoring prior to looking at the applications to make

01:10:12.400 --> 01:10:18.140
sure that the investment of money is smart. If we feel like the scoring is going to be low or there's no

01:10:18.140 --> 01:10:22.220
chance to get it, we don't believe that's an opportunity that we should submit for. And this

01:10:22.220 --> 01:10:28.480
grant, you're asking $1.5 million with no matching funds? For construction, correct. Alderman Johnson?

01:10:29.060 --> 01:10:33.400
So we'll plan to have the answer if we got this grant before we do our budget then.

01:10:33.640 --> 01:10:38.920
Yeah. Well, we're going to, yes. Yes. I'm getting a high sign over here. Yes. Awesome. Alderman Stacy?

01:10:38.920 --> 01:10:41.720
You said no matching funds for construction.

01:10:42.020 --> 01:10:44.220
What is their matching funds to?

01:10:45.060 --> 01:10:48.100
There's no matching funds at this grant to do construction.

01:10:48.240 --> 01:10:50.960
So this is the $1.5 million is construction only.

01:10:51.080 --> 01:11:02.740
That's why Rob had said the grant application and design you can't pay for, but they pay for up to $1.5 million in lining, right, for this.

01:11:02.740 --> 01:11:08.160
And again, this can't be a grant that is taken all over the city.

01:11:08.160 --> 01:11:15.060
we really have to focus in on those three low or moderate income census tracts, so some of our oldest infrastructure.

01:11:17.760 --> 01:11:21.020
Okay. If there's no further discussion, Madam Clerk, please take the roll.

01:11:23.500 --> 01:11:36.640
Clem. Aye. Johnson. Aye. Parker. Aye. Stacey. Aye. Shadle. Aye. Sanders. Aye. And Sellers. Aye. And that resolution is also adopted, 7 to 0.

01:11:36.640 --> 01:11:42.500
Item number 18 is the adoption of resolution 2026-101. Could you please read this?

01:11:43.000 --> 01:11:49.880
Resolution approving a proposed agreement with Fehr Graham to provide construction engineering services for the Meadowbrook gravity sewer improvements.

01:11:50.340 --> 01:11:51.240
Thank you, Manager Boyer.

01:11:51.240 --> 01:12:01.140
Thank you, Your Honor. Meadowbrook is on the capital plan for this year. It is time for us to move forward with design on the sewer portion.

01:12:01.140 --> 01:12:30.540
Fehr Graham has submitted a plan for or an estimate for the design of the sewer and staff recommends moving forward with that agreement it'll include sewer from La Crusta to the end of the street so that that's where dead ends there on the south end. So staff recommends moving forward with the the agreement in the amount of $130,000. Thank you. Is there a motion to adopt? So moved. Second. A motion made by Alderman Shadle seconded by Alderman Sellers.

01:12:30.540 --> 01:12:31.980
Discussion on the Resolution?

01:12:35.890 --> 01:12:36.450
William and Stacy?

01:12:38.940 --> 01:12:42.660
Does this area cover the school out there?

01:12:43.600 --> 01:12:44.200
No.

01:12:50.160 --> 01:12:58.420
Okay, I know this is the, what's pertaining to Mr. Orlo's letter that you read.

01:12:59.200 --> 01:13:03.020
What is the streets again?

01:13:03.140 --> 01:13:03.980
What is the area?

01:13:05.060 --> 01:13:10.340
Meadowbrook from La Cresta to, it dead ends over by Oak Hill.

01:13:13.280 --> 01:13:14.780
Meadowbrook to La Cresta.

01:13:15.620 --> 01:13:41.220
So the sewer project is all of Meadowbrook, which is that, you know, three or four block area, and then there's Sunview. While we were in there, we looked as the alternate that we were recommending later in the agenda that we approved to fix the pavement in that area as well. It's not worth saving. And we don't want to go back in and ruin and truck over the stuff that we're putting down.

01:13:43.760 --> 01:13:45.560
Yeah. Please take the roll.

01:13:45.560 --> 01:14:13.920
Clem. Aye. Johnson. Aye. Parker. Aye. Stacy. Aye. Shadle. Aye. Sanders. Aye. Sellers. Aye. The resolution is adopted 7 to 0. Item number 20 is the adoption of resolution 2026-103. Could you please read this? Did we skip number 19? You removed 19. My apologies.

01:14:13.920 --> 01:14:25.600
Resolution authorizing city support to the Illinois Department of Natural Resources Open Space Land Acquisition Development or OSLAD grant

01:14:25.600 --> 01:14:26.820
Manager Boyer

01:14:26.820 --> 01:14:28.180
Thank you, Your Honor

01:14:28.180 --> 01:14:38.160
The Illinois Department of Natural Resources administers the Open Space Land Acquisition and Development Grant Program to support local outdoor recreation projects

01:14:38.160 --> 01:15:08.140
The city intends to submit an OSLAD application for a pocket park on West Stevenson. We also intended to do this last year, but we were turned down at the last opportunity. The OSLAD requires governing body resolution to authorize application submittal and acknowledge the program's conditions if funding is awarded. This year, we're resubmitting for this particular grant. The city is listed by IDNR as a disadvantaged community, which allows application for up to

01:15:08.140 --> 01:15:16.520
to $600,000 in OZLED funding without any local match, and the application deadline is August 31, 2026, so currently

01:15:16.520 --> 01:15:24.660
planned submission is August 28. Council action is needed on the 17th to meet the submittal timing, so there's no

01:15:24.660 --> 01:15:31.640
immediate general fund impact. The city may request up to $600,000 with no match, and the recommendation is to move forward

01:15:31.640 --> 01:15:37.500
with the application for the West Stevenson Street Pocket Park. Thank you. Is there a motion to adopt?

01:15:37.500 --> 01:15:38.460
So moved

01:15:38.460 --> 01:15:38.760
Second

01:15:38.760 --> 01:15:44.160
A motion made by Alderman Sellers, seconded by Alderman Shadle, discussion on the resolution

01:15:44.160 --> 01:15:46.360
Alderman Stacy

01:15:46.360 --> 01:15:49.820
And this application is going to cost how much?

01:15:50.620 --> 01:15:53.000
I believe it's just a carryover from last year

01:15:53.000 --> 01:15:55.860
I think we've already filled out the application once

01:15:55.860 --> 01:16:00.240
Okay, I don't know what a carryover from last year is

01:16:00.240 --> 01:16:02.960
So we submitted last year and we're going to submit again this year

01:16:02.960 --> 01:16:05.320
We were one of the final selected last year

01:16:05.320 --> 01:16:30.500
but the park district got funded instead of the city project which was the pocket park excuse me and the city wasn't going to get two funded applications so the park district project got funded last year for $600,000 and so this is a resubmittal and what you're actually approving tonight is a resolution of support by the city council which is required as part of the grant application.

01:16:30.500 --> 01:16:35.340
So are you saying we've already paid for this application?

01:16:35.340 --> 01:16:53.280
You paid for it last year, yes. Right? So we're basically doing it for you, and we're asking for a resolution of support to try to get the funding. We've already done concepts. We've already done all the entire application package. We're ready to resubmit.

01:16:53.280 --> 01:17:26.160
You know, this is kind of disappointing. I have tried for four years to get a park in third ward or fifth ward and nobody never moves forward with it. But we want to put a pocket park here and we want to put a downtown. We want to put a pocket park here.

01:17:26.160 --> 01:17:58.920
now on Stevenson when are we going to support the kids of third and fifth ward it actually is in the third ward all the way out Stevenson it's downtown it's third right by Joe's pizza area that's correct so this is the the pocket part that I thought we already established last year so the area was given by

01:17:58.920 --> 01:18:06.380
what's her name? Mary Garvin. Mary Garvin, yes. Let's acknowledge her. She gave that that space.

01:18:07.480 --> 01:18:16.140
And so the grant that we were going for went to the Park District for whatever reason and we didn't get it.

01:18:16.140 --> 01:18:24.540
In last year's cycle, yes. And this is a new year cycle that we're trying to get the same money because we have a very high qualifying rate for the funds.

01:18:24.540 --> 01:18:54.100
and for Freeport, this is another no match grant for construction. So we would, most OSLI grants are a 50-50. So for a $600,000 project, you would put, the city would put up $300,000 and then the grant would pay $300,000 in reimbursement. So a total $600,000 project. In this case, Freeport has no match due to our

01:18:54.540 --> 01:19:00.460
current demographics, and so this is another project that could be bought to the residents

01:19:00.460 --> 01:19:09.300
with little to no funding. In honor of Ms. Garvin and what she did for this city, I hope we get it.

01:19:12.180 --> 01:19:25.820
If there's no further discussion, Madam Clerk, please take the roll. Clem? Aye. Johnson? Aye. Parker? Aye. Stacey? Aye. Shadle? Aye. Sanders? Aye. And Sellers? Aye.

01:19:25.820 --> 01:19:28.660
The resolution is adopted 7 to 0

01:19:28.660 --> 01:19:32.500
Item number 21 is the adoption of resolution 2026-104

01:19:32.500 --> 01:19:33.520
Could you please read this

01:19:33.520 --> 01:19:43.500
Resolution approving the exercise of an extension of the actuarial services agreement with Howard E. Neihart Company

01:19:43.500 --> 01:19:45.280
Thank you, Director Richter

01:19:45.280 --> 01:19:46.040
Thank you

01:19:46.040 --> 01:20:13.980
Thank you. Director Richter. Thank you, Your Honor. The City of Freeport issued a request for proposal in October of 2023 for actuary services. The purpose of the RFP was to obtain a firm to perform actuary services for the police and firefighter pension funds, prepare GASB 67 and 68 reports, as well as reports on other post-employment benefits.

01:20:14.000 --> 01:20:26.520
Fits. These calculations are necessary for our annual audit. The RFP requested a cost for each of the first three years plus an option for two additional years.

01:20:27.640 --> 01:20:43.980
Nihart was selected from a total of four submissions. They are a national firm that serves over 700 actuarial clients. They serve over 60 Illinois police and fire pension plans, and they meet all the required criteria, including staff

01:20:43.980 --> 01:21:13.980
Education, License, and Certifications. Nihart was also the lowest cost at $76,250 in total for all five years when the RFP was opened. Nihart has provided timely and satisfactory service over the past three years. The Finance Department would like to extend the term of the agreement for a fourth and fifth year on the terms and conditions set forth in the original agreement.

01:21:15.480 --> 01:21:44.210
The strategic plan alignment is responsive, efficient government and the staff request to extend the term of the agreement with Nihart for two additional years at a cost of $32,400. Thank you. Is there a motion to adopt? So moved. Second. We have a motion made by Alderman Shadle, seconded by Alderman Johnson. Discussion on the resolution. Alderman Stacy.

01:21:44.210 --> 01:22:18.960
what would make one say yes versus what would make one say no to this director Richter um I mean no if you did not think that the firm did a good job or didn't provide the what was requested of them they provided all the reports on time they did what was requested in the in the RFP if they did not

01:22:18.960 --> 01:22:23.340
do that. I would guess you'd say no. I'm saying that they did what they were asked to do.

01:22:26.200 --> 01:22:36.380
And so would it be your recommendation that we accept another two years? It would be to our advantage

01:22:36.380 --> 01:22:43.280
to accept another two years? I can't do this work. This is actuary work. I'm not an actuary.

01:22:43.280 --> 01:23:12.440
The city does not employ an actuary. We use firms to do that for us. And the reports that they prepare are required by our audit. And so I can't get a clean audit, I can't get a finished audit without having these reports done. So I need their expertise to put together these reports to then give to my auditors so we can do the audit.

01:23:12.440 --> 01:23:22.260
They also provide reports that tell us how much money we need to be putting into the police and pension funds in order to meet our commitments in that area.

01:23:22.760 --> 01:23:34.060
When we got the pension obligation bonds back, you know, five years ago, one of the requirements is that we meet our annual contributions, and our annual contributions are determined by these reports.

01:23:34.800 --> 01:23:36.640
Thank you for explaining that.

01:23:39.190 --> 01:23:41.790
If there's no further discussion, Madam Clerk, please take the roll.

01:23:42.790 --> 01:23:43.230
Clem.

01:23:43.430 --> 01:23:43.770
All right.

01:23:43.770 --> 01:24:11.290
Johnson. Aye. Parker. Aye. Stacey. Aye. Shadle. Aye. Sanders. Aye. And Sellers. Aye. And that resolution is adopted, 7 to 0. Item 22 is the adoption of Resolution 2026-105. Could you please read this? Resolution authorizing application for a public transportation capital assistance grant with the Illinois Department of Transportation and the City of Freeport. Director Heimerdinger.

01:24:11.290 --> 01:24:34.670
Thank you, Madam Mayor. The City of Freeport receives the Federal Transit Administration Section 5311 funding and is eligible to apply for and receive funding through the vehicle procurement program for the purchase of transportation vehicles to replace existing vehicles that have reached the applicable replacement criteria.

01:24:34.670 --> 01:25:01.230
Currently, three minivans, six light-duty paratransit buses, and one medium-duty paratransit bus operated by Pretzel City Area Transit have accumulated an average of 142,674 miles per vehicle and meet the applicable vehicle replacement criteria. These vehicles range from model years of 2016 to 2019.

01:25:01.230 --> 01:25:31.210
As these high mileage vehicles age, they require increased maintenance and repairs, which can reduce the number of vehicles available for service. Reduced vehicles availability can in turn negatively affect the level and reliability of the transit service provided to the public. The CVP program also provides an opportunity for the city to request additional vehicles to support expansions and the implementation of new vehicles.

01:25:31.230 --> 01:26:01.230
Transit Services. Through 2016 through 2026, CVP, the City of Freeport is seeking to replace three minivans, six light-duty paratransit buses, and one medium-duty paratransit bus currently in service with PCAT. In addition, the City is requesting four new medium-duty vehicles to support the planned expansion of the fixed-route transit system transit service within the City of Freeport and to provide additional vehicle capacity

01:26:01.230 --> 01:26:08.790
to help alleviate the demands placed on the existing fleet due to continued high use.

01:26:08.790 --> 01:26:21.390
The current estimate for units is $75,000 for each minivan, $126,000 for each light-duty paratransit vehicle, and $130,000 for each medium-duty paratransit.

01:26:22.090 --> 01:26:30.050
The total estimate cost of the 2026 CVPU request is $1.7 million.

01:26:30.050 --> 01:26:46.950
There is no local match requirement for this program. To give you a little bit more information, there is a little over $7 million available statewide, and so we are requesting 1.7 for our program.

01:26:46.950 --> 01:27:14.990
Staff recommends approval of the resolution authorizing the city of Freeport to proceed with the submission of the 2026 CVP application to support the replacement of eligible vehicles within PCAT and the expansion of transit services within the city of Freeport. Thank you. Thank you. Is there a motion to adopt? So moved. Second. We have a motion made by Alderman Shadle, seconded by Alderman Sellers. Discussion on the resolution?

01:27:16.950 --> 01:27:19.390
What is the cost for this application?

01:27:20.450 --> 01:27:21.770
There's no cost.

01:27:24.030 --> 01:27:28.110
We're just applying for this money and it costs nothing?

01:27:28.630 --> 01:27:39.470
For us to do? No. Well, I mean, Sadie's wonderful time of preparing the application. So that's it. Just employee cost.

01:27:41.940 --> 01:27:44.180
If there's no further discussion, Madam Clerk, please take the roll.

01:27:44.420 --> 01:27:45.240
Clem? Aye.

01:27:45.540 --> 01:27:46.480
Johnson? Aye.

01:27:46.820 --> 01:27:47.660
Parker? Aye.

01:27:47.960 --> 01:27:48.880
Stacy? Aye.

01:27:48.880 --> 01:28:18.160
Shadle. Aye. Sanders. Aye. And Sellers. Aye. The resolution is adopted 7 to 0. Item 23 is the adoption of resolution 2026-106. Could you please read this? Resolution authorizing the auto renewal of the agreement with the Greater Freeport Partnership. Manager Boyer. Thank you, Your Honor. Let me get that turned on. In the agreement with the Greater Freeport Partnership, there's an auto renewal policy that starts, I think it's about 120 days.

01:28:18.880 --> 01:28:48.880
so brought to you tonight whether it's council's desire to continue with that auto renewal policy or or do something different bearing in mind the current agreement with the city and greater free partnership was approved in 24 for a term beginning in January of 24 and ending in 26 December 26 their agreement as I mentioned will automatically renew for one additional year unless either party provides written

01:28:48.880 --> 01:29:18.020
intent to not extend the agreement at least 120 days before initial term expires. Accordingly, the city must provide notice no later than September 2nd if it does not intend to allow the agreement to renew automatically for fiscal year 27. The current agreement provides annual compensation of $400,000 subject to annual appropriation by the city council. The agreement identifies the funding sources, the revenues from various TIF funds,

01:29:18.020 --> 01:29:26.440
tax increment financing districts, the hotel motel tax, tourism promotion fund, and general fund.

01:29:26.440 --> 01:29:33.420
It also authorizes $25,000 performance bonus based on agreed upon deliverables. No benchmarks were

01:29:33.420 --> 01:29:43.380
established in FY24 for the FY25 year. No bonus has been paid during this agreement. Since 2018, the city has

01:29:43.380 --> 01:29:44.000
invested a product.

01:29:44.000 --> 01:29:46.960
Since 2018, the city has invested approximately $3.3 million in Greater Freeport Partnership.

01:29:47.660 --> 01:29:57.580
The expiration of the Lamb Road TIF District will eliminate approximately $180,000 in annual revenue currently used to fund the Greater Freeport Partner Agreement.

01:29:58.220 --> 01:30:02.440
Those revenues will instead be redistributed to the effective taxing bodies.

01:30:02.900 --> 01:30:11.940
This reduction represents approximately 45% of the current $400,000 annual contract and significantly limits the city's ability to maintain

01:30:11.940 --> 01:30:38.920
and the existing funding level for FY27. Providing notice of non-renewal will not terminate the current agreement, which remains in effect through December 31st. Rather, it will preserve the City Council's ability to evaluate available funding and determine the appropriate scope and structure of future economic development services. At this time, there's no financial impact, and staff recommends the City Council not authorize the automatic renewal of the GFP agreement.

01:30:38.920 --> 01:30:41.580
Is there a motion to adopt?

01:30:41.960 --> 01:30:42.460
So moved.

01:30:42.620 --> 01:30:42.940
Second.

01:30:42.940 --> 01:30:46.600
Motion made by Alderman Shadle, seconded by Alderman Sellers.

01:30:46.960 --> 01:30:48.280
Discussion on the resolution?

01:30:49.180 --> 01:30:50.080
Alderman Sellers?

01:30:50.860 --> 01:31:03.180
I'd like to know, with the TIF not being able to support this, how would we, what would we do?

01:31:03.180 --> 01:31:17.960
Is there an opportunity to go back to the table and sit down with GFP and go over a new agreement and figure out how we can financially support them in what they're doing?

01:31:18.340 --> 01:31:30.820
Correct. So if this does not auto-renew, we'll be able to review it and we'll be able to discuss, you know, based on what's the funding is available, what we want to do moving forward.

01:31:34.260 --> 01:31:34.820
Hold on with Stacy.

01:31:34.820 --> 01:31:52.790
You know, the director before Ms. Andrea Winters brought nothing to our city, no businesses, no jobs.

01:31:55.070 --> 01:32:02.160
For the last couple of years, we listened to report after report after report.

01:32:03.440 --> 01:32:08.200
Still, what are they bringing to our city?

01:32:09.780 --> 01:32:12.020
What jobs have been brought here?

01:32:12.020 --> 01:32:51.530
what businesses have been brought here not taking credit for a new business that someone else brought here and I just don't feel that they have upheld their duties their responsibility to the people of Freeport what do we have to show for it any other discussion attorney Zito no go ahead

01:32:51.550 --> 01:33:21.530
Go ahead, attorney. Go ahead. Oh, okay. No, I was just saying, I would like to, I would like, because it doesn't go away into December, what? December 1st. December 1st. I would like for us to go back to the table and come up with either some type of agreement that we're not going to just get rid of GFP, but what can we do and what financially are we going to support them with, with losing the 100%.

01:33:21.550 --> 01:33:43.950
$180,000 in the 10th. That's what I would like to see, you know, done to figure that out. Not give them up, but just figure out what are we going to do? Are we going to continue certain areas or are we going to just totally dismiss the whole agreement or come back with something else?

01:33:43.950 --> 01:33:57.310
Okay, you just said Mayor Miller, December 31st, but don't something have to be decided

01:33:57.310 --> 01:33:58.830
before September 2nd?

01:33:58.830 --> 01:34:03.430
This is about whether you want to auto-renew, like there's no discussion, it's just auto-renew.

01:34:03.570 --> 01:34:04.710
Do you want that or not?

01:34:04.890 --> 01:34:05.630
That's all this is.

01:34:06.910 --> 01:34:12.530
If we don't do anything, then it's an automatic renewal regardless.

01:34:12.530 --> 01:34:13.370
Mm-hmm.

01:34:13.950 --> 01:34:17.250
If it's not settled before September 2nd?

01:34:17.370 --> 01:34:17.690
Correct.

01:34:18.370 --> 01:34:19.510
So that's why it's before you.

01:34:19.650 --> 01:34:20.790
Do you want to auto renew?

01:34:20.890 --> 01:34:22.050
That's basically the question.

01:34:23.130 --> 01:34:24.110
The attorney's either.

01:34:25.550 --> 01:34:28.890
So just before you guys vote.

01:34:29.270 --> 01:34:35.130
So the question before you is whether or not you want to allow the agreement to automatically renew for one additional year.

01:34:35.410 --> 01:34:40.490
OK, this resolution, because best practice is always to frame your resolutions in the positive,

01:34:40.490 --> 01:34:47.030
meaning that the resolution is written that you want the agreement to auto-renew, okay? If you want the

01:34:47.030 --> 01:34:53.570
agreement to auto-renew, you vote yes. If you don't want the agreement to auto-renew, you vote no on this

01:34:53.570 --> 01:34:59.370
resolution, okay? Because it's best practice to always frame the resolution in the positive, it's

01:34:59.370 --> 01:35:04.470
written so that you are voting, if you vote yes, you're voting to auto-renew. Therefore, if you don't

01:35:04.470 --> 01:35:10.980
want it to auto-renew, you vote no. Okay, so if there's no further discussion, Madam Clerk, please take the roll.

01:35:11.840 --> 01:35:38.860
Clem? No. Oh. Johnson? No. Parker? No. Stacy? No. Shadle? No. Sanders? No. And Sellers? No. And the adoption of the resolution fails 7 to 0. 0 to 7 would be appropriately said. Item number 24 is an approval of bid. Could you please read?

01:35:38.860 --> 01:35:45.920
Approval of bid, bid opening on July 28th, 2026 for Meadowbrook Lane Sanitary Sewer and Street

01:35:45.920 --> 01:35:47.400
Manager Boyer

01:35:47.400 --> 01:35:48.580
Thank Your Honor

01:35:48.580 --> 01:35:54.360
On Tuesday, July 28th, the city had a bid opening for the Meadowbrook Gravity Sewer Project

01:35:54.360 --> 01:36:00.980
There was one bid received from Fisher Excavating and that made it through the certified bid tabulation

01:36:00.980 --> 01:36:02.060
It is attached

01:36:02.060 --> 01:36:13.520
The base bid, including alternate one submitted by Fisher, is in the amount of $1,361,847.80.

01:36:14.340 --> 01:36:21.700
Fair Graham and the staff recommend moving forward with the Gravity Sewer Project with Fisher excavating.

01:36:21.960 --> 01:36:23.480
Thank you. Is there a motion to approve?

01:36:23.620 --> 01:36:24.040
So moved.

01:36:24.220 --> 01:36:24.480
Second.

01:36:24.980 --> 01:36:27.800
Motion made by Alderman Shadle, seconded by Alderman Sellers.

01:36:28.220 --> 01:36:29.180
Discussion on the bid?

01:36:29.180 --> 01:36:32.380
Madam Clerk, please take the roll

01:36:32.380 --> 01:36:33.260
Clem

01:36:33.260 --> 01:36:33.840
Aye

01:36:33.840 --> 01:36:34.700
Johnson

01:36:34.700 --> 01:36:35.280
Aye

01:36:35.280 --> 01:36:35.960
Parker

01:36:35.960 --> 01:36:38.080
Stacey

01:36:38.080 --> 01:36:39.220
Aye

01:36:39.220 --> 01:36:39.800
Shadle

01:36:39.800 --> 01:36:40.140
Aye

01:36:40.140 --> 01:36:41.120
Sanders

01:36:41.120 --> 01:36:42.440
Aye

01:36:42.440 --> 01:36:43.380
And Sellers

01:36:43.380 --> 01:36:43.760
Aye

01:36:43.760 --> 01:36:46.360
The motion passes 6-0

01:36:46.360 --> 01:36:50.260
Item number 25 is another approval of a bid, could you please read

01:36:50.260 --> 01:36:56.580
Bid opening on August 11, 2026 for 2026 sanitary sewer cleaning and lining

01:36:56.580 --> 01:36:58.400
Manager Boyer

01:36:58.400 --> 01:37:00.300
Thank you, Your Honor.

01:37:02.420 --> 01:37:07.620
As we've been discussing tonight already, we've got about 130 miles of sanitary sewer.

01:37:08.120 --> 01:37:17.040
We do our best to do the inspections, camera inspections for cracks and defects, inflow and infiltration, sags and the like.

01:37:17.040 --> 01:37:29.620
Our EPA mandatory CIMOM, that's Sewer Capacity Management Plan, requires specifically the Freeport Address annual sewer rehabs for our collection system mainline piping.

01:37:29.680 --> 01:37:37.140
for environmental concerns. Sewer lining is considered the best way to do that. On August 11, 2026,

01:37:37.700 --> 01:37:44.200
we had a bid opening for 8,413 linear feet of sanitary sewer lining.

01:37:46.720 --> 01:37:54.320
Let's see here. Along with another 330 linear feet for culvert or stormwater infrastructure,

01:37:54.320 --> 01:38:24.280
structure. These areas are identified as areas during our street replacement, so this is related back to our street program and where we're working. City had four reputable bidders that specialize in sewer lining, submit competitive bids. The certified bid, after the certified bid was done, hair construction was a low responsive bidder at $460,106. So under the engineer's estimate of $361,343 of sewer and $98,670.

01:38:24.320 --> 01:38:54.320
for the storm. So city staff plans to fund this work from the sewer and stormwater capital improvement budget and staff recommends moving forward with the bid from Hare Construction. Thank you. Is there a motion to approve? So moved. Second. Motion made by Alderman Shadle, seconded by Alderman Sellers. Discussion on the bid? Madam Clerk, please take the roll. Clem? Aye. Johnson? Aye. Parker? Aye. Stacey? Aye. Shadle? Aye. Sanders? Aye.

01:38:54.320 --> 01:38:55.760
Aye

01:38:55.760 --> 01:38:57.040
And Sellers

01:38:57.040 --> 01:38:57.400
Aye

01:38:57.400 --> 01:38:59.900
The motion is approved 7-0

01:38:59.900 --> 01:39:03.960
And item 26 is another bid. Could you please read?

01:39:04.680 --> 01:39:10.140
Bid opening was held on August 11, 2026 for Central Fire Station window replacement

01:39:10.140 --> 01:39:12.120
Manager Boyer

01:39:12.120 --> 01:39:22.100
Thank you, Your Honor. On August 11, the city held a bid opening for Central Fire Station window replacement project. We only received one bid. It was from NICAM Construction

01:39:22.100 --> 01:39:41.300
and the bid tab was certified. The bid was submitted by NICAM at $441,429 and we recommend, staff recommends awarding the central fire station window replacement contract to NICAM construction. Thank you. Is there a motion to approve? So moved. Second.

01:39:41.300 --> 01:40:09.900
approve. So moved. Second. Motion made by Alderman Shadle, seconded by Alderman Sellers. Discussion? Madam Mayor? I just wanted to point out that we did have a second bidder, but they did not arrive in time for the bid opening, and so we couldn't open their bid. Alderman Clemm? Yeah, one thing I noticed, you had an addendum one, and you pulled it off for a couple windows. Yeah, I worked with Chief Cordy, and they weren't

01:40:09.900 --> 01:40:15.480
actually windows. They were just full transom replacements. And Chief Cordy and I met on site

01:40:15.480 --> 01:40:21.140
and agreed that the ones that are in place are good enough and they could be painted to match whatever

01:40:21.140 --> 01:40:26.500
the new transom colors were. And so we, I guess we valued engineered those and pulled those off.

01:40:26.860 --> 01:40:34.320
Okay. Thank you. Any other? Yeah, I was just going to ask, what's the total of windows that's going to be

01:40:34.320 --> 01:41:07.390
replaced in the whole, how many? Chief? 48. 48, okay. Thank you. If there's no further discussion, Madam Clerk, please take the roll. Plum? Aye. Johnson? Aye. Parker? Aye. Stacy? Aye. Shadle? Aye. Sanders? Aye. And Sellers? Aye. That bid is approved, 7-0. Finance? Nothing, Your Honor. Community development?

01:41:07.490 --> 01:41:35.910
Nothing tonight. Thank you. Public Works? Just a couple project updates. Demeter Drive here in Freeport continues on. They should start coring out the roadway from Empire to La Cresta. We're putting water services in right now, and then Water Bain will continue down to Hickory Hill. I know the area is under a very large construction project, very dusty, very dirty.

01:41:35.910 --> 01:41:41.350
give us, you know, another 60 days and it'll be looking a lot better. I appreciate everybody's

01:41:41.350 --> 01:41:46.730
patience. I just wanted to let everyone also know we ran into some storm sewer issues over there.

01:41:47.210 --> 01:41:53.830
Piping that was shown in the city GIS maps was actually found to be completely crushed. We're

01:41:53.830 --> 01:41:59.850
dealing with that right now and looking for different ways to route it. Another important

01:41:59.850 --> 01:42:29.550
announcement is Carroll. South Carroll is under construction. I just received a note during the meeting that Civil will be out at 6 o'clock tomorrow doing string line with pouring curve by 7 o'clock. So please look for a public notice tonight from Mr. Bridge on exiting your cars before 6 a.m. so we can get that work moving. Another point of emphasis that I wanted to make, we have said several iWorks reports for

01:42:29.550 --> 01:42:59.530
Potholes. We very much appreciate those reports. That helps us cycle our daily duties and also our weekly events to try to patch these potholes. So using iWorks as the best resort to make sure these potholes are addressed. Some concerns that we've received recently are about parking lots. I'm going to use an example of the parking lot that services Dunkin' Donuts. Those parking lots are not City of Freeport property and therefore we cannot

01:42:59.530 --> 01:43:29.510
not patch those because that's using public taxpayer money in private property. So just keep that in mind as you send those responses in anytime you're in a private parking lot or another example would be the street by Taco Bell, Applebee's. Those are not city-owned proper streets and therefore the patching and the repairs are something that the city of Freeport cannot do. Thank you. Fire. Question. Sure. Alderman Stacy. Is there a fine for public

01:43:29.530 --> 01:43:35.190
I mean, private, owning, not keeping up their parking lots?

01:43:36.810 --> 01:43:48.390
Unfortunately, not really. I don't believe that we can find somebody for not upkeeping their property. I mean, we can recommend it. In the past, we've tried to help out with some cold patch if they get severe.

01:43:48.390 --> 01:44:18.370
but when we start filling potholes that are not city of Freeport property we start taking liability on and again potholes are meant to fail again right cold patch does not stay in holes that's why we're trying not to use that product anymore and stay with hot patches so city manager Boyer has emphasized risk reward right on trying to help and we do try to help but we we don't try to put the city in

01:44:18.370 --> 01:44:46.250
a risk of being liable for fixing something that is not our property. Fire? Nothing, Your Honor. Police? Yes, thank you. I'd like to thank everyone that came to the BEAT meetings. They were very, very successful. I had 10 to 38 people that attended who saw the new metric style that we have for our police department that showed overall performance and management.

01:44:46.250 --> 01:45:16.230
we also gave them a very new we also gave them a very new I'm sorry it's a pipe leak oh okay I wasn't sure if I had to get up or not I wasn't sure go ahead keep going if you get a valve wrench maybe like I was saying it actually gave them a new perspective of what community beat meetings how they should be we had very positive community engagement and I'd like to thank

01:45:16.230 --> 01:45:24.170
Bank, Alderman Parker, Johnson, Clemm, Sellers, Shadle, and City Manager, Rob Boyer, who attended

01:45:24.170 --> 01:45:29.310
with the constituents, attended with the community members because of what we're teaching them

01:45:29.310 --> 01:45:35.710
and how we should move forward. The second thing is we're also going to be listing out September's

01:45:35.710 --> 01:45:41.090
new beat meetings. We had a lot of questions as to what they want to see further, so that

01:45:41.090 --> 01:45:46.110
engagement was very positive. We also did yesterday the Brotherhood for Buckets and

01:45:46.110 --> 01:45:54.450
versus Brotherhood Buckets, Freeport Young Hoops versus the FPD. They got us, they ran for my money, that is for sure,

01:45:54.450 --> 01:46:00.730
these young kids. We played basketball against them at the Boys and Girls Club, but it was very positive.

01:46:00.910 --> 01:46:05.810
We were very much welcomed. It's something different that we're doing, and I think it's very important

01:46:05.810 --> 01:46:11.850
that we're in within the community as we have been in the community as police department. And I like to

01:46:11.850 --> 01:46:39.170
I would also say that we concluded our Civilian Police Academy. We started with 16 and graduated 13. When we started this in 2023, this has been the largest. It's been requested again, so we're going to do it in September. Our Junior Police Academy, we just graduated 17, which has been one of the largest as well. So this is information that's been giving out to all sets of groups on how the police department works and how they are able to work with us together.

01:46:39.170 --> 01:47:09.150
and finally my last public service announcement is that I need to everyone please make sure you lock your doors you know please lock your doors if you're going to the theater if you're going to eat these are crimes of opportunity that we have kind of been servicing lately where you have folks look try to see whose doors are open and and they do take items but we have been very successful in the last three incidents that our officers respond very quickly.

01:47:09.170 --> 01:47:17.530
We obtained the offender, we obtained the proceeds and the items that have been stolen, but again, please lock your doors and wherever you go. Thank you.

01:47:18.730 --> 01:47:19.170
Library?

01:47:19.970 --> 01:47:38.430
Yes, I'm going to give you guys the circ stats for July, but I'd also like to thank everybody who did participate in summer reading. You made it incredibly successful. For about 30 seconds, Amanda was upset she didn't reach the same numbers as last year. I told her it's still an amazing number to get over 50% to finish.

01:47:38.430 --> 01:48:00.530
So, our circ stats for the month of July were 10,819 items circulated. The meeting room was used 122 times. The study rooms were used 110 times. Our computers were used 946. And patrons saved $221,862.46 by using the library last month.

01:48:00.530 --> 01:48:07.810
and we are creating a new discussion group uh sort of like a book club but not a book club if you feel like

01:48:07.810 --> 01:48:14.150
you can't read a book for a book club we're choosing a topic and you can read a book watch a documentary a

01:48:14.150 --> 01:48:20.290
movie listen to a podcast read some newspaper articles or magazine articles about it and then join the group

01:48:20.290 --> 01:48:26.350
to discuss so that way you can still participate in something but not have to read a whole book in

01:48:26.350 --> 01:48:48.250
four weeks. But IT? City Manager? Thank you, Your Honor. I just wanted to say thank you to the Boys and Girls Club, James Ryan and Yancey, all especially. Yeah, I got pretty winded yesterday, but I thought that, man, those guys are good. So thank you very much for doing that. We really appreciate your participation.

01:48:48.250 --> 01:49:12.890
And then as you all know city council meetings are the first, second, and third Monday nights of every month and there happens to be five of them in August so we won't have two Mondays where we will meet and then happens to be the first Monday in September is Labor Day so we will meet on Tuesday, September 8th so have a nice couple of weeks where you don't have to be here on a Monday. With that, Alderman Klemm.

01:49:12.890 --> 01:49:27.410
Nothing, Your Honor, but thanks to the Chief for the beat meetings. They're very informal for the people. I've had some feedback, asked for some feedback today and got some back, so a lot of good things going on there. Thank you.

01:49:27.950 --> 01:49:28.590
Alderman Johnson?

01:49:29.270 --> 01:49:40.030
And I just want to say also thanks to the Boys and Girls Club and William Brown and all of those that played in the basketball game. It was very exciting to watch.

01:49:40.030 --> 01:49:54.580
It was very exciting to watch, it was fun to watch, and it was fun before that, they had young men that were competing in like a race and the three-point shootout, and it was just fun to watch all of them, and they were all enjoying it, so thank you, all of you.

01:49:54.880 --> 01:49:55.400
Alderman Parker?

01:49:55.800 --> 01:49:56.320
Nothing tonight.

01:49:56.820 --> 01:49:57.580
Alderman Stacy?

01:49:58.420 --> 01:49:59.540
Nothing tonight.

01:50:00.360 --> 01:50:00.940
Alderman Shadle?

01:50:01.440 --> 01:50:02.600
Nothing tonight, thank you.

01:50:02.600 --> 01:50:03.400
Alderman Sellers?

01:50:03.680 --> 01:50:07.560
Yes, I just want to say, yeah, it was a fun time at the Boys and Girls Club.

01:50:08.000 --> 01:50:37.880
and I hope they do it again next year. And I'm sorry, Alderman Sanders, I didn't mean to bypass you. Did you have something you wanted to say? No. Thank you. Then we do have two that are signed up for public comment. Madam Clerk, you have someone that entered in? Yes, this was an email. My name is Gage Devers. Freeport is my home, even though I am currently living and working in Kuwait because I cannot stand before

01:50:37.880 --> 01:51:04.380
For you in person, I ask that my words be read in full and entered into the public record. I am asking this council to end Freeport's use of flock safety cameras. This is not an attack on our police officers and is not a claim that public safety does not matter. It is a warning that, in the name of safety, our city has crossed a line that should concern every resident, whether they have ever committed a crime or not. These cameras do not only photograph suspects, they record ordinary people going about their ordinary lives.

01:51:04.380 --> 01:51:12.840
They can document when we leave home, where we worship, when we visit a doctor, whose house we visit, and whether we attend a political meeting or public demonstration.

01:51:13.360 --> 01:51:17.880
Taken together, those records can reveal a person's movements, relationships, habits, and beliefs.

01:51:18.440 --> 01:51:26.460
Freeport's own ALPR policy states that reasonable suspicion or probable cause is not required before using an ALPR.

01:51:26.460 --> 01:51:45.900
That means a resident does not need to be suspected of any wrongdoing before the government searches a system containing records of where vehicles have traveled. That should frighten us, not because every officer will misuse the system, but because no government should build such a powerful tool based only on the hope that it will never be misused.

01:51:45.900 --> 01:51:53.580
The records I received also raised serious questions about how this program was approved and implemented.

01:51:53.580 --> 01:52:11.420
The city produced a flock order form listing a 25-month initial term, a 24-month renewal term, annual recurring charges of approximately $84,500, and a total contract value of $176,041.60.

01:52:11.420 --> 01:52:19.280
The document bears the city manager's signature dated September 18, 2025. Yet the city later told me in

01:52:19.280 --> 01:52:26.060
writing that there is no signed agreement or contract between the city and flock. The city also said records

01:52:26.060 --> 01:52:32.440
identifying the number of deployed devices did not exist, while its own production included a flock

01:52:32.440 --> 01:52:41.240
system screen showing 16 devices. These are not minor clerical questions. Residents deserve

01:52:41.240 --> 01:53:09.960
to know who authorized this program, how it is being funded, how many cameras are operating, who can search the data, which outside agencies can access it, and whether anyone independently evaluated the privacy and cybersecurity risk before deployment. Freedom is not only the ability to travel. It is the ability to travel without the government quietly creating a searchable history of where we have been. Once surveillance infrastructure is built, it rarely becomes less intrusive.

01:53:09.960 --> 01:53:15.740
It expands, connects to more databases, reaches more agencies, and becomes harder to remove

01:53:15.740 --> 01:53:23.700
I ask this council to stop further payments, expansion, renewal, and outside sharing of flock data

01:53:23.700 --> 01:53:26.800
Place this program on a public agenda

01:53:26.800 --> 01:53:28.400
Hold a public hearing

01:53:28.400 --> 01:53:33.080
Require a complete legal, privacy, cybersecurity, and financial review

01:53:33.080 --> 01:53:35.640
Then vote to terminate the program and remove the cameras

01:53:35.640 --> 01:53:36.260
Your time has expired

01:53:36.260 --> 01:53:40.300
Next we have Angela Spearman

01:53:40.300 --> 01:53:56.930
Hello, as she stated, my name is Angela Spearman

01:53:56.930 --> 01:54:03.290
I have been a long lifetime resident of Freeport, Illinois

01:54:03.290 --> 01:54:12.070
I do love our city, but I have some concerns about some things that happened a couple of weeks ago on July the 27th

01:54:12.070 --> 01:54:14.530
I was a victim of a crime

01:54:14.530 --> 01:54:16.650
My doors were locked

01:54:16.650 --> 01:54:39.490
Two young men came to my residence and beat up the car with bats. I called the police, made a report. I even got videos. I got videos of both incidents. Brandon still came in and tried to kick in the door while my son and grandson was inside the house.

01:54:39.490 --> 01:54:49.930
later came back with Bass and beat in both of the cars. Again, I did make a report to the police.

01:54:50.650 --> 01:55:00.130
And again, I have video. I called the police. I left a message for you and to see what would happen to these

01:55:00.130 --> 01:55:05.790
young men that did this. I got the runaround, passed the buck, had to go to the police station,

01:55:05.790 --> 01:55:35.510
and speak to the state's attorney, back and forth, back and forth, got tired of it, got a message from the state's attorney, stated that he's not going to take the case, so what are the consequences of happening, this happening, it's like you can do anything, do any crime and get away with it, again, I have footage of this happening, I was like, like the mayor said earlier, let's do the right thing, let's do the right thing and get some consequences of these young men,

01:55:35.790 --> 01:56:12.420
I don't feel safe in Freeport anymore like I lived here all my life and this hurts me and I just want justice justice. Thank you. Are there any other public comments? Good evening, Freeport. Those of you on the City Council as well. First of all, the first thing I'd like to speak on is is agenda item number nine. I'm directing my comments to Joy. My comment is simply this.

01:56:12.440 --> 01:56:45.110
where you end those meetings. And the next portion of that is none of us can determine what somebody's intentions are, Ms. Sellers. The next thing I would like to talk about is Freeport Partnership. I was in the very first meeting of the individuals that started this. Freeport Partnership's name has changed at least five times. And I wonder why. I remember a number of them,

01:56:45.110 --> 01:57:11.630
One is All In, but five times this name has changed. Something's wrong with that picture. In regards to the ward map, the city of the ward map was changed in 2022, and it was changed based around the censors of 2020, and in the process of that, the reason it was changed and the amount of people that were lost in this town are these numbers.

01:57:11.630 --> 01:57:40.910
Third Ward lost 559 residents. Second Ward lost 442 residents. Fifth Ward lost 417 registered voters and residents in this town. And so in the process based around the 2020 census, they had to do this in order for there to be a total of 3,425 equally accessed wards or ward maps.

01:57:40.910 --> 01:58:09.970
So in answer to your question, that's the reason that it was changed from all the way down to MetLife. It used to stop before you got into the main downtown area, but based around the loss of residencies. And if you notice, Third Ward 552, which means that people were dying, being displaced, or being forced out. So there's your answers to some of the questions that they won't give you.

01:58:09.970 --> 01:58:14.310
Any other public comments, Tommy?

01:58:20.610 --> 01:58:27.850
Police Chief, you do a good job with that police department, and we want to keep you working there.

01:58:30.270 --> 01:58:32.250
And John Parker, you're doing good.

01:58:32.830 --> 01:58:37.530
And we want to know about the route from Police of Transit.

01:58:38.250 --> 01:58:39.550
Yeah, thanks, Tommy.

01:58:39.550 --> 01:58:43.710
So the route is still under review from IDOT.

01:58:43.790 --> 01:58:48.110
IDOT came back to us, and they wanted to take a second look at the route,

01:58:48.110 --> 01:58:59.430
before giving their blessing again. So we are awaiting the review. They said that they'll be as quick as possible, but their legal team is reviewing it right now.

01:58:59.430 --> 01:59:04.670
And Darren, ask a good job about that clean of what they?

01:59:05.310 --> 01:59:14.830
So they're working on repairing the buildings, and we have the brownfields dirt sampling going to happen very shortly.

01:59:14.830 --> 01:59:37.610
Don Parker, you, you're the best of all of them, then. Thank you, Tommy. Are there any other public comments this evening? I will entertain a motion to adjourn. So moved. Second. Motion made by Shadle, seconded by Sellers. Madam Clerk, could you please take the roll? Clem. Aye. Johnson. Aye. Parker. Aye.

01:59:37.610 --> 01:59:38.010
Stay

01:59:38.010 --> 01:59:46.540
Aye. Parker. Aye. Stacey. Aye. Shadle. Aye. Sanders. Aye. And Sellers. Aye. Motion.