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

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Oh, should we bow our heads? Dear Father God, as we open another city council meeting, we open with the guidance of your Holy Spirit.

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Father, as each discussion takes place, we ask that each council member will keep in mind who they are

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representing and who elected them. Your eyes see everything and your ears are open to every word

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spoken here tonight, regardless of who is saying it. Father, surround each council member who desires to

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serve the city with godly wisdom and integrity to do what is right in your sight for all the people

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for the city of Freeport. 1 Timothy 2, 1 and 3, and I'm paraphrasing. We have to pray for those in authority so we can lead a quiet and peaceable life in godliness and reverence to you, Father. This is good and it's acceptable in your sight. In the name above all names, Jesus Christ, Messiah. Amen.

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Thank you, Evelyn. So now we'll officially call this meeting to order. Madam Clerk, could you please take the roll?

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Mayor Miller? Here. Alderpersons, Clemm? Here. Johnson? Here. Simmons is absent. Parker? Here. Stacey? Present. Shadle? Here. Sanders? Here. And Sellers? Here. If you could please stand for the Pledge of Allegiance led by Alderman Parker.

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

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Alderman Parker, the meeting is yours.

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Thank you.

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Number four is the approval of the agenda.

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So moved.

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Second.

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All in favor?

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Aye.

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Aye.

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Aye. Anybody opposed? Okay. Excuse me, was that Clem, Shadle? Clem, and Shadle, yes, I'm sorry. That's okay.

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Number five, approval of the minutes from the committee of a whole meeting held on April 14th, 2025.

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Have a motion? Motion to approve. Second. Shadle and Sellers? All in favor, say aye. Aye. Anybody opposed?

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First. Thank you. Public comments are is none. Number seven, recognition of service award presented by Lieutenant Dykema for Patrolman Richard McEmel. Is that right?

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Richard McEmel. This is a recognition for 10 years of service in the Preport Police Department, which actually started in the Auxiliary Police Department in 2007.

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He was hired full-time in 2015. He's been hired as an FTO, a field training officer. He's been part of the emergency response team. He's a member of our gang unit when he first got started. He's been a firearms instructor. He's completed lead homicide training. He's a member of the state library narcotics team. He's currently one of our canine officers. He's part of the canine DJ.

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So, just going through his file, Rick's done a great job, he's got a lot of orders of recommendation from stays on patrol, stays in the slant unit, and even several citizens have recommended to send him for what he did for them while working here. So, congratulations on 10 years.

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Dovie, would you note that Alden Simmons...

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Thank you.

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Okay, number eight, presentation of the Illinois section water, American Water Works, Water Ambassador Award presented by Shawna Richardson.

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Good evening, I'm Seth Groenwald, I'm here on behalf of the Illinois section of the American Water Works Association, and this is Kaylee Spain, she is an education and government affairs specialist for the section,

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and we're here tonight to honor the City of Freeport for receiving the Gold Ambassador Water Award.

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Just as a quick little overview of what ISA-WWA is, the Illinois Section American Water Works Association provides resources for education of safe and sustainable water.

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We have 2,400 members across the state and over 50,000 members in our association globally.

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The ISA-WWA Water Ambassador Program was created to elevate public perception, knowledge, and consumer education of the water industry. The program aims to accomplish these goals by presenting a new communication platform of educational and promotional content in a manner that is relevant, engaging, and consistent among participants.

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How it works? Participating members can access water education tools as well as content from the ISA-WWA website and then communicate to their community through social media, website postings, bill inserts, newsletters, tours, community events, schools, etc.

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So, the program certification, there are three different levels, bronze, silver, and gold recognition.

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This year, we're really excited to honor today to the water systems and for the work that the city of Freeport does to maintain safe and sustainable water for everyone.

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So, we will go ahead and grab this, and congratulations to the city of Freeport, your team.

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Awesome.

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All right.

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So, we'd just like to take a minute. Communications Director, Bryan Bridge, and our Environmental Compliance Officer, Randy Kolbauer, put together a short video presentation on our water quality and our newest water facility that we'd like to share tonight. The video may be a hair glitchy on this presentation, but it'll be posted on the website tomorrow for the whole community.

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Okay, number nine, presentation of 40 Days of Peace, presented by William Brown, High Hope Freeport.

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Good evening, council members, mayor, city managers, staff, fire chief, and I don't know you.

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So my name is William Brown. I, along with my wife, are the founders of High Hope Freeport.

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High Hope Freeport, our mission is to, through community building and unity, cause a reduction

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in community violence. What I want to present to you today is the outline for the 40 Days of Peace

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and Community Building. Each council member should have an outline of what the 40 Days of Peace

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and Community Building is.

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Community Building is. So if you can follow me in your outline, I will give you more. So part of it is identifying the need. We recognize in Freeport, like most small cities, that there has been an increase in community violence, specifically in youth-led violence, right? So in that, it's interchangeable things, which is economic sustainability, limited awareness and access to mental health and trauma-informed

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Services, lack of safe, engaging environments to our youth, and a deep need for real connection

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in Freeport. So, in order to truly address this community violence, we have to look at the root

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causes of community violence, which is financial instability, job placement, generational trauma,

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generational support systems, lack of spaces, cycles of retaliation, and unaddressed mental health and trauma

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issues. Our response to this, High Hope Freeport's response to this, is simple but powerful. We want to present Beautify in the Block where we go out into our High Hope, identify High Hope communities and we clean up those communities. We also have our shoot hoops and not guns tournaments that offer positive outlets for our young people. We also have Church in the Streets that brings faith back into our High Hope communities.

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We also have the resource block parties It's been a lot said to those that choose to sit behind a Facebook app and type out what our resource block parties are and choose to ignore the idea that there are resources. So in our resource block parties, there will be resources that we will bring to those block parties outside of bouncy houses. Right? And each council member look

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there is an outline of our community resource partners they also will be broadening on that and we'll have a larger scope of it also at those resource block parties it will be community surveys to take real data from those that live in those identified high hope communities areas that we're going to that data will be collected and it will be used as an evaluation tool to measure the outcome and the impact

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of the 40 Days of Peace and Community Building. Along with that, it will give us the information we need to connect the individuals in our High Hope communities with the community partner resources that can fulfill the needs that they have. At the very center of the 40 Days of Peace and Community Building is community building. There's been a lot of devices in this, particularly in this chamber. Normally, I don't respond to any social media

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of Combats, or anything that's posted about High Hope Freeport, because honestly, I could care less what anybody think about me that's not out there doing the work, but it's been continuously High Hope Freeport, the Faith Leaders for Peace have been continuously attacked. Today that stops, and when I say attacked, I prefer specifically to Ms. Wendy Pearson and Mr. Joshua Atkins.

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High Hope Freeport was founded by me and my wife. High Hope Freeport does not belong to Jodi Miller. High Hope Freeport belongs to us, the founders, our board, and the community of Freeport.

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The 40 Days of Peace and Community Building Initiative is not funded by Mayor Jodi Miller or the city. FHN, M45 Marketing, Walmart, Faith Center are our sponsors, along with t-shirt fundraising and community donations. Let's get that clear. Also, let's share some hard truths.

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Not one person in this council or in this community can predict when someone is going to shoot a bullet.

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Not one initiative, not one plan will help us resolve the community violence problem that we have.

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What will is unity.

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I'm going to change the culture today and let that tone be set.

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On my shirt, you see, it says pushing peace in the port.

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That is what High Hope Freeport is about.

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pushing peace in Freeport. The collective way that we get peace in Freeport is unity in Freeport. The divisiveness, the politicalness, it shouldn't be attached with peace. This narrative that is being pushed here, again, by Ms. Wendy Pearson and Joshua Atkins has tend to troll over into the youth.

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I mentor youth at Banks-Bagana Alternative School.

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I will share this with you because for him it was a teachable moment.

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While attending his basketball game at the Boys and Girls Club, he brought the flyer that I had a young people passing out, right?

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He's 16.

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I was there attending the game.

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He was officiating, and two more of my young people were there to support their siblings.

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I showed up for them. He brought this to me and said, Mr. Brown, while we were passing this out I took one home. My mother saw it and said that Wendy Pearson and Joshua Atkins said is a joke. He proceeded to pull his phone out and show me her performing in this chamber pointing to Mayor Miller saying it was a joke. On this it says High Hope Freeport. It doesn't say Mayor

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Miller. We work with the Faith Leaders for Peace and Mayor Miller, yes. I won't shy away from that because my goal and my plan here is to support the youth. That's what I'm about. Saving our youth from making mistakes that will lead them to prison for the rest of their life or lead them to taking somebody else's life. And when anybody, I don't care your stature, what you think you are in the community, who you think you are in the community,

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threatened to poison a man of our youth, I want the smoke. I'm going to show up for that. I proceeded to tell this young man, I guided him to the highhopefreeport.com website. On that website, I took him to that first peace march, and I showed him pictures of Wendy Pearson at that peace march. So for her to think it was a joke, maybe it wasn't an opportunity for her to grab attention.

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I also further went to show him that former, that Joshua Atkins during his former election campaign also had photos from Howe Freeport Peace March as his way of addressing crime.

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The teachable moment in that was for me to teach him about emotional intelligence.

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Emotional intelligence meaning not to respond when you know the truth.

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emotional intelligence being, I have grandkids, I know what it looks like when people seek attention.

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Again, I repeat to you all, High Hope Freeport is about unity. One thing that no one in this council, regardless of your political affiliation, should have no discrepancy about is that we need to work and build for our youth.

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At the end of the day, that's what matters. I will tell you why I'm so adamant about it. I was raised in the city of Chicago. I'm not originally from Freeport. I came up in the system. At two years old, I was in DCFS. Seven, eight years old, I lived on the streets because I ran from foster homes and group homes. At 19, I was in prison with a 15, 25, and 50-year sentence.

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While in prison, I made a pivotal transformation in my life because of my oldest son coming to visit me while I was sitting in Sid and he couldn't touch me. I made that change in prison. I went on to get my education. I got a GED. I have an associate's degree in general studies. I have an associate's degree in political science. I further went on to become a certified paralegal.

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into my sentence, Governor J.B. Prickser commuted my sentence based on the programs that I created while I was in prison.

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I returned home here to Freeport to my wife. I was one of those kids that you call thugs, punks, and whatever other name that you want to get them.

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At the end of the day, regardless of whatever title you get them, they steal our kids.

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That meaning any failure that's on them is on us as a community and adults in the community

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They are our responsibility from that young black kid with dreads that has a black hoodie on

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Reds that has a black hoodie on to that young Hispanic kid with tattoos on his face or that rough young white kid that you think that's bad. They are our kids. I stand for them. If they don't have a voice, I'll be that voice for them. I also stand for Freeport because what I didn't share with you while I was sitting in prison for a crime that I committed, I did not commit rather, I had two starch advocates. One was Dena

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Denise Davenport. She was the mother of Dion Davenport. Her son lost his life, which was the case that I was charged with. She was my staunchest advocate because she knew I didn't commit the crime. She wrote the governor. She showed up at trials. My wife was my advocate. And I'm going to tell you the amazing thing about Freeport and why I'm indebted to Freeport. She had an online petition. I've only shared this once. That was Saturday at our Peace

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March. She put an online petition, and out of the 400 plus signatures that were signed on there, 132 people from Freeport signed that signature before I stepped a foot in here. I never stepped a foot in Freeport, so I'm indebted to Freeport. My work will continue. I do this unapologetically, without permission, and without response, but I need us all, specifically you as a council and the Freeport community,

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It's about unity regardless of the divisiveness. Our children and our young people hear that. They embrace that. So when Wendy spoke that this was a joke, I'm going to tell you who it wasn't a joke to. Every name on this list is a young person we've lost here in Freeport. I speak with their mothers. Niecy Ellis was there.

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She spoke on the loss of her son, Montreo Scott. My vet showed up. She was late, but she spoke on that loss. Peace is not a joke. Losing our youth is not a joke. For those of you that weren't there, it is what it is. But for those of you that had the courage to show up, I can tell you there's a large difference where the truth of the matter is this.

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If you think it's a place in politics or a piece where you can make it political, it's not. I'm going to tell you who was there.

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Akia Sanders. Yes, the Akia Sanders that's known for being in this chamber, right? Akia is my sister. Mayor Miller was there.

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We know they are not on the same court, but because they believe in peace, their hearts spoke, because they want to save our youth, their hearts spoke, they were there.

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So going forward, I ask not only this council, but I ask the city of Freeport, join me as we embark on these 40 days of peace and community building.

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We may very well not be able to stop every shot that's fired, but again I repeat, any initiative, no one plan will do that, but community will. Going forward, High Hope Freeport will play our role in what it is to quill community violence. We have programs that we are going to introduce, but that's just our role in it.

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Every individual in our city has a role. Every community organization has a role. Collectively, we can start making that impact. Collectively, we can make that change. I am willing to sit down and speak with anybody that wants to be a part of that change. I not only speak to you as a citizen of Freeport, I speak to you as someone that's doing that work.

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the same streets that we marched Saturday were streets where we lost five lives. Those same streets, I walk by myself, go out and talk to the community, to that young man who may be going wayward. I work a third shift job at Snack King. I work 12-hour shifts some days, but if that young man call me and say he needs to get to work, I'm getting up out of my sleep and taking him to work. That's how committed I am.

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My three young people that I've adopted that go to Bainesville, Bainesville County School, anytime they need me to show up, I show up, I invite you all to show up, they'll have a game at the Boys and Girls Club Thursday, I have young people from Pearl City, West Carroll, that came out to help us clean up, they was late, Joy, they came out to help us clean up, because I built that relationship with the young people,

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because at the end of the day no matter about our political discrepancies what we are building is for the future let's hold that sacred let's not make peace a joke let's not politicize it let's not talk so bad about our city because the young people hear it every time I speak to a young person I share these two things with them a choice and a chance I had an opportunity to share with you as a council

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I tell them every day they wake up, they have a choice and a chance, a chance to be great, a chance to do something great, and I want them to choose to do so.

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I want to share that with the council today and the community as a whole. Today, we have a chance to be united for peace, regardless of whatever your political agenda is.

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Today, let's choose to do so. Thank you.

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Thank you.

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Thank you, Mr. Brown. Okay, next on the agenda number 10 is discussion regarding ordinance amending chapter 220, rules of the council, pending motion to amend the language of section 220.1029 to read agenda items for the city council meetings and committee of a whole meeting shall be requested by the mayor, the city manager, or two aldermen, or as referred to it by the city council.

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All agenda items shall be accompanied by supporting documentation stating the purpose of the agenda item such as a memo including the background, discussion, financial consideration, recommendation, and association with strategic plan. Attorney Zito.

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Thank you, Mr. Chairman. So just to give a brief history from last week as to how we got to this agenda item tonight.

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at last week's council meeting there was the rules of council ordinance that was presented that which proposed certain changes to section 220.10 of the city code of ordinances. One of the proposed changes was a change to the manner in which agenda items can be placed on the agenda. Currently, two other persons are allowed to have an item placed on the agenda where the city council agenda or committee of the whole agenda.

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the proposed change required a majority of all the persons to place something on the agenda so that was a proposed change in the ordinance the there was a motion in a second to move the ordinance forward to the next City Council meeting next week after that motion and second was made to move the item forward Alderman Johnson made a motion to amend the proposed language and her motion was to not require a majority of the

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of all the persons in order to be able to add something to the agenda, but rather that two other

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persons could still place an item on the agenda. However, they had to provide the supporting

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documentation, whether that take the form of a memo that then gave the background on the agenda item,

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whatever financial considerations there are, and then how it was in line with the strategic plan.

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That item was, that proposed amendment was seconded. After that motion was made by Alderman Johnson,

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then Alderman Simmons made a motion to continue the conversation and she motioned to refer Alderman Johnson's motion to the cow and that's how we got here for further discussion so what's before you tonight is a discussion on Alderman Johnson's motion which is to allow for two older persons to place an item on the agenda provided that they provide supporting documentation i.e. a memo any other documentation in support of whatever their their reason for having the agenda item on

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on the agenda is four. Okay. Any discussion on that? Is there a motion for that? It's discussion, but it's already a motion that's been made. It was made at the last meeting, and then Alderman Simmons asked to refer it back to committee to talk about Alderman Johnson's motion more. So there hasn't been a vote on Alderman Johnson's motion. That's why we're here for more discussion on her.

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discussion on her motion, on Alderman Johnson's motion. Cecilia? Go ahead. Okay, so if someone wants to put something on the agenda, but they do not include a memo, then it can't happen? My understanding of, and Alderman Johnson can speak for it if I get this wrong, my understanding of Alderman Johnson's proposed amendment

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is that if two aldermen place something on the agenda then they have to provide supporting documentation for it the same way that staff provides typically provides a memo there. And how long do they have to present that memo? It is my understanding is that if they want it it has to when they make the request basically to have the item placed on the agenda that in enough time to make the packet they would have to provide the memo.

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because when we have a what is it called when we get an agenda like Tuesday a draft memos are never posted then so my question still remains when does the memo have to be oh I'm sorry chair go ahead um typically I like items by Thursday

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by five o'clock. Okay. Personally, I'm going to make my comment and then we'll go to Larry. I'd rather see it go back to originally where we need a majority of the council, but that's only my opinion. Okay, Larry, you got something? Yeah. Yeah, I've been sitting here for almost over two years and as council and the fact that

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We're beginning to understand the process of adding items to the agenda. The minute that this avenue path opened up, now it is so inconvenient to some that certain people are putting things on the agenda.

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agenda. I find that kind of hypocritical for someone to now want to change the course of directions on how we proceed with agendas. When I first came here, that was no problem. Why? Because we didn't understand the process of putting ordinance drafts and discussions together to put on the agenda. We had not understood that.

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I don't know what you said yet. Now that we're understanding the process, it's beginning to change. With an amendment, you want to put it up and address that issue so you can change it so the majority, we can see right through what you're doing. We can understand exactly why this is happening. So the agenda won't be enforced because of the majority.

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has to have input on a particular item before two people can put an item on the agenda.

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Alderman Sanders, right now she pulled it back so that it can be two people, but a memo must follow.

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Well, the memo does not give you enough clarity of what you have to stipulate within that memo.

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Meemble. Where's this memo and how do you define this memo and what is the criteria of this memo in order for someone to introduce a memo because you're coming off pretty vague about the description of what a memo should have within its content and how we should go about making the decision on what you present, who makes the determination.

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Alderman Sanders. Yes. If you want something on the agenda, you, according to that agenda item, create the memo, honey. Okay. Okay. Well, I look at this as an inconvenience for some and a convenience for others. So my thing is, whatever we're doing to try to amend something,

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I'd like to see the council inject these proposals I don't want to see no one else interfering with council when it comes to asserting what items go on the agenda

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That's why she pulled it back

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Yeah, and that's been a problem I thank you for doing that

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but the thing about it is it's too much stuff happening within the council. There's a reason why people can read what we're talking about and understand the manipulation and deceptions and things of that nature that is taking place. We just didn't show up for, I just didn't show up for the convenience of just sitting on the council.

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I came to understand what's the process of our community city management and city options are when it comes to council. I came to understand and learn. And what I'm learning is something that I am confused about. Why do we go through the process if you're going to vote everything down that the citizens of Freeport is advocating for?

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I just can't see that. So my whole mission is to understand why the council goes through these dilemmas and manipulations that we go through. And I'm not addressing no one certain person. I'm just addressing the fact that what I see through my own eyes and others are seeing, we just got to stop doing what it is that we're doing and do the right thing.

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and I don't want to hear no one else, okay, well, let me, let me, let me pause. Okay. Yeah. Yeah. Would Linda want to say anything or any other comments about this? Go ahead, Linda.

00:36:57.930 --> 00:37:10.490
Larry, on here it does say what needs to be accompanied to it and the reason it says that is to give us a better idea of what the thoughts are behind it, who it's going to benefit,

00:37:10.490 --> 00:37:37.130
How is it going to help the city move forward? How is it going to help the people in the city? So those are the things we want to know when something is being discussed, what exactly you're thinking regarding this discussion, and also if there's anything in that discussion that might be answered outside of the council floor. There might be some questions in the discussion that could be answered before it's brought to the council floor for discussion.

00:37:37.130 --> 00:37:43.530
Anderson, so if we have a memo regarding it, it would give us all better understanding of what it is that you're bringing forward.

00:37:44.490 --> 00:37:45.050
Cecilia.

00:37:46.290 --> 00:37:47.730
Alderman Stacy, please.

00:37:47.870 --> 00:37:49.730
Okay, Alderman Stacy, please.

00:37:50.750 --> 00:38:04.500
So the memo needs to consist of the purpose of the agenda item, including background.

00:38:04.500 --> 00:38:06.220
I don't know what that means.

00:38:06.220 --> 00:38:40.410
discussion is on the agenda for discussion I don't know what including background nor discussion mean and what if there is no financial consideration okay Alder or attorney Zito so I guess the best way I could try to say this is or is to give

00:38:40.410 --> 00:39:10.390
memos that staff currently attaches, you know, so pick any one of the memos typically that staff attaches to an agenda item there. So even using the memo that's in the packet tonight on this agenda item, it's broken up into background and it gives a little bit of background as to, you know, why this item is being brought before the council or there. And then it goes into a discussion, you know, as to

00:39:10.410 --> 00:39:40.230
Hey, what are, for example, let's say, why are you advocating, let's say this is an item that you want on it, you know, so you're going to say, well, this is why I want to bring this topic up, you know, here are the details of it, you know, we need to do this, this and this, it would, you know, the financial impact is, it would cost this much for us to do this, you know, and again, I'm trying to do this on the fly right now, but let's say you wanted to, you think we need to buy a new street paver, right, let's say that's the item you want to have put on the agenda, you could say the background

00:39:40.230 --> 00:39:54.110
is, well, we currently don't have enough. Roads aren't getting fixed enough. We need to be able to fix more roads, and we only fixed this many roads, this many miles of roads in the past. I think that should be double, and that's the background, right, that we're only fixing so much.

00:39:54.110 --> 00:40:21.580
right that we're only fixing so many miles of road right now your proposal then is to say we should buy a second streets paver and then the discussion you could go into all the pros and cons of it and lay out from your perspective what the pros and cons are you can then say what the financial impact well it's going to cost X hundred thousand dollars to buy this so that's why you know the city would need to vote on whether or not to do that and then how is it in line with the strategic plan so then I mean I need to call Darren and say how much is

00:40:22.080 --> 00:40:47.020
Is it does it cost to buy this item? And I think that's going to what Alderman Johnson was saying that there might need to be some homework done in order for the memo to be put together so that people understand why a particular Alderman is bringing forward an agenda item, which is usually a proposal, you know, usually you want something done or some action to be taken.

00:40:47.020 --> 00:41:05.920
Usually you just want to know why something happened, but that's okay. As we move on, I have several things on the agenda tonight, and so I will probably come back to you so you can help me understand what memo would I need to put with something.

00:41:06.800 --> 00:41:08.940
Alderman Johnson, did you have more to say on that?

00:41:09.540 --> 00:41:10.480
No, that's all right.

00:41:11.080 --> 00:41:13.660
Anyone else? Alderman Simmons.

00:41:13.660 --> 00:41:40.020
Okay. I just, we're going back a little bit, but I just wanted to address you, Alderman Parker, for saying that you would be against that. I just wonder why would you be against an Alder person who can draft a memo, stating their case and the reasons and financial responsibility, why would you be against them if they have a second being able to bring that to as has been since the beginning of this council?

00:41:40.020 --> 00:41:54.740
Well, that was just my opinion. If you got the information that they just explained what Alderman Stacy said and her, I would have no problem going with just two of them with the memo and explaining everything. Alderman Sanders.

00:41:54.740 --> 00:42:16.300
Yeah, I'd like to have us to categorize a listing of criteria for all of the things that you guys are referring to so we can see it in documentation and writing. I heard the request. I heard an example. I like to see it in writing. That's what I'm saying.

00:42:16.300 --> 00:42:43.700
If we're requesting something, then everything has to be documented where no one is making mistakes, they have to do the checkoff list, this, this, this, been covered, and then that way we know as council that all of the stipulations of this item that's being put on the agenda has been covered.

00:42:43.700 --> 00:43:13.300
Board. So we need to do that in order to keep everyone in alignment with what we just heard as an example. And wait a minute, I'm not done. I'm not done. What we should be presented with, and that goes for everybody, and that includes administrative bodies within the city structure should also be attached to all of those

00:43:13.300 --> 00:43:42.920
items that we just got done talking about. Attorney Zito wants to respond to that. Background. Okay. Discussion. Financial. All right. Well, you've been on it. You own it. That's a great thing. And well, the thing about it is we're making progress. I love progress, but I don't like manipulation. I like

00:43:42.920 --> 00:44:15.900
progress. Okay. Thank you. Okay. All right. Any more of a discussion? We can go to the next item. I thought Attorney Zito had something. He shook his head. You answered it for him. You answered his question for him. Good job. Okay. Go ahead. I have a question for you. Amend. Amend the amendment that has been proposed. You can't, you,

00:44:15.900 --> 00:44:45.580
Yes, you can, not tonight, back at the council meeting, right? Because tonight was just put on your motion when you referred it here was just that further discussion on Alderman Johnson's proposed amendment. So when it's on the agenda for next, it'll be on the agenda for next week at the council. So where we would be is we would have Alderman Johnson's motion on the floor as she's presented it. You couldn't make a motion to tweak her motion in some way, change the proposed language that she wanted.

00:44:45.900 --> 00:45:00.740
there, if that's seconded and approved and passes, then your amendment to her amendment would exist, and then we would work back down the ladder, you know, and then we would vote on her amendment as amended by your amendment, and then right back down.

00:45:00.740 --> 00:45:21.550
Okay, number 11, if there is no quorum during the first roll call at the May 19, 2025 council meeting, who authorized the second roll call presented by Alderman Sanders and Alderman Stacy? Alderman Sanders, go ahead.

00:45:21.550 --> 00:45:51.390
Yeah, I wanted to be put on record. I wanted to be stated that actions before a quorum, actions before roll call was taken place on this council floor. I just wanted on record of who authorized action to be taken on this council floor without council

00:45:51.550 --> 00:46:12.760
having a roll call or a quorum within this council. I want to have that put on record so we know that we do not have to follow protocol according to the way the assembly should be ran.

00:46:12.760 --> 00:46:42.400
and we can step out of bounds and do what we want to do, say what we want to say and take action before roll calls, before a quorum has been attached to this council. So I'd like to know, put it on record, who authorized the proceeding of May 19th and then who canceled, well, I'm not there, I don't have that down yet, but I will.

00:46:42.760 --> 00:46:51.400
but that's another item I'm going to put on the agenda but I want to get past this first.

00:46:51.400 --> 00:47:12.740
I want to make sure that we understand who authorizing procedures without a quorum and without a roll call and we follow that and I am ashamed of council members allowing things to take place in that fashion without input or objections.

00:47:12.760 --> 00:47:42.740
I'm like flabbergasted that nobody made an appeal. No one said anything. And that's what frustrated me to bring this out. And I like to know I wanted to be put on record who authorized that action that took place before roll call and a courtroom. I don't have an answer for you, but I know the attorney general approved it. But I don't know if anybody has an answer. Aaron, go ahead.

00:47:44.360 --> 00:47:50.140
So, Alderman Sanders, there was a roll call at the beginning of the meeting at 6 o'clock.

00:47:50.380 --> 00:47:51.420
No, it was not.

00:47:51.560 --> 00:47:52.560
There was a roll call.

00:47:52.720 --> 00:47:53.580
No, it was not.

00:47:53.700 --> 00:48:06.500
The meeting was called to order, and there was a roll call, and Alderman Johnson had already been seated, and therefore, when there was a roll call, there was a quorum present because there were five aldermen present.

00:48:07.040 --> 00:48:09.240
I object to all of that you just stated.

00:48:09.540 --> 00:48:10.280
That's fine.

00:48:10.380 --> 00:48:12.100
I'm just telling you procedurally what happened.

00:48:12.220 --> 00:48:12.400
No.

00:48:12.400 --> 00:48:16.800
I'm not saying you're free to have your own opinion on it I'm just telling you procedurally what happened

00:48:18.000 --> 00:48:26.800
okay number 12 discussion regarding ordinance amending various provisions of the city code of ordinance

00:48:26.800 --> 00:48:32.800
regarding residency requirements for department heads and certain other employees presented by alderman

00:48:32.800 --> 00:48:43.920
Sanders and alderman Stacy whichever one wants to respond to that well it takes me back to the

00:48:45.280 --> 00:49:18.600
May 5th cancellation and from my understanding that the residency ordinance was voted on and passed. If that happened you cannot send out an agenda saying that council or the assembly is canceled because of lack of

00:49:18.600 --> 00:49:48.580
whatever. I'd like to know who canceled our meeting May 5th. I'd like that to be on record. Who's canceling things without the authorization and the knowledge of counsel understanding why that cancellation took place? And nobody wants to put their names on this. But my point is a residency ordinance was passed and it shouldn't have passed. It was invalid to pass it because it was canceled.

00:49:48.600 --> 00:49:50.480
The meeting was canceled.

00:49:51.220 --> 00:49:52.060
When was a meeting?

00:49:52.060 --> 00:50:19.480
canceled. When was a meeting put together? When was a meeting put together with counsel that allowed the proper voting that should have taken place and what date time and the meeting time that that taken place? Who canceled that? Attorney Zito? Alderman Sanders, the May 5th meeting was not canceled. May 12th is what he means. Yeah, May 12th. That's what I meant. Oh, okay. May 12th.

00:50:19.480 --> 00:50:50.860
It was canceled and I need someone to address that. Alderman Shadle. The ordinance was passed May 19th. That is not what I just referred to. You're talking about the residency ordinance. The residency ordinance was passed May 19th. It can't be passed May 19th because there was no quorum and there was no council. There was no quorum and there was no roll call of a quorum in place.

00:50:50.860 --> 00:51:10.980
There was nothing in place to make that happen, and if that is the case, I did not see that in my, I did not see that being passed and voted on. I did not see that, and so I'd like to address that. When was it passed, and when was it voted on?

00:51:10.980 --> 00:51:16.620
Journey, Zito. So the residency requirement ordinance was on the agenda for May 19th.

00:51:17.460 --> 00:51:37.620
As I stated on the last agenda item, there was a quorum at the time that the meeting was called. I know you disagree. That's fine. There was a quorum of five, all the persons present, so the meeting may move forward. When we got to the agenda item that dealt with the residency requirement, it was voted on at that meeting on the 19th.

00:51:37.620 --> 00:52:08.690
Can I say this? Who conducted that voting process? Who conducted it? He's going to tell you. That was a regular city council meeting. So that meeting was chaired by the mayor. And then it was conducted by the older persons that were here. The five older persons that were here. Alderman Shadle. And again,

00:52:08.870 --> 00:52:43.650
this is the May 19th meeting that the Attorney General's office sent a letter saying sent a letter wow I believe I have the floor that there was no wrongdoing done the quorum was established the meeting was in order the item was taken up at the meeting voted on and passed Alderman Johnson I have some questions regarding this discussion

00:52:43.670 --> 00:53:13.650
How is this discussion pursuing what is good for us and for this city? Who will benefit from this discussion? What is your goal, your hope to accomplish from this discussion? What is the purpose of this discussion? Will this discussion bring harm to any? And could some of this discussion and questions have been done outside of the council?

00:53:13.670 --> 00:53:15.670
I'm asking you questions.

00:53:15.670 --> 00:53:17.670
I'm asking you questions.

00:53:17.670 --> 00:53:23.670
But you have to understand, we are governed by ordinances.

00:53:23.670 --> 00:53:29.670
We have laws in place that has already been placed in place.

00:53:29.670 --> 00:53:34.670
So for you to address your opinions and then ask me questions about the very

00:53:34.670 --> 00:53:36.670
same things about our laws in place.

00:53:36.670 --> 00:53:41.670
So for you to address your opinions and then ask me questions about the

00:53:41.670 --> 00:54:11.650
the very same things about our laws. This is what governs this council. Ordinances governs this council. I want you to know that if you didn't know that. So your opinion and expressions does not say anything to me because I'm following, this is my objective is to follow the ordinance since it was presented before me. And if there's anything that is not abiding to the ordinance,

00:54:11.670 --> 00:54:34.130
the ordinance, then I will speak up and I will say what it is and what it isn't. And so for you to try to point that out to me, I'm addressing you to let you know, read your ordinance and that governs who you are at your council seat. And that's what we go by. If you step out of line with that, then it's invalid.

00:54:34.130 --> 00:55:08.430
I get back to this what we're on do you have something this is all over Stacy yes we never get the answer pertaining to who canceled the May 12th meeting right that so that's an off off topic question because we're the agenda item is talking about the residency ordinance well it came up I didn't bring it up it only came up because Alderman Sanders referenced the 12th meeting but that had not the residency requirement had nothing to do with the meeting on the 12th

00:55:08.450 --> 00:55:38.430
So he we corrected him and said that the residency ordinance was on the 19th. And then we had the conversation move forward from there. Item number 13. No, we're not. You've already spoke twice. No, I have not on the residency. I only spoke once. No limits on the cow. Now you need to understand the protocol. Yeah, it's not. Our ordinance currently doesn't specify. It's not real clear. So it's been in the discretion of the chair. So this is

00:55:38.430 --> 00:56:07.430
I'm sorry. This is how we operate. You got my apologies. Yeah, well, this is how we operate anyway. Okay, so let's remember the rules. He's the chair, and he gets to say who has the floor, and let's go back to the topic that you actually had on this, and that's about residency. Wait a minute. Is there things for residency is the question. Wait a minute. Alderman Parker, Chair. It's out of order. It is totally out of order, just as you spoke just then. Number 13. Yeah, it is out of, no, no, I'm still referring to. We are done with that.

00:56:07.430 --> 00:56:10.670
How could we be done with something when I'm on the floor?

00:56:10.670 --> 00:56:14.450
Water treatment plant. Alderman Stacy and Alderman Simmons.

00:56:16.740 --> 00:56:23.340
Wow. This is Alderman Stacy. Do you want on you?

00:56:23.720 --> 00:56:24.040
Yes.

00:56:26.180 --> 00:56:41.760
It's been two years since we voted on and spoke about the Hancock wastewater treatment plant. I would like to know where are we at with the wastewater treatment plant?

00:56:42.040 --> 00:57:08.460
Sure. I'm perfect. We're about 43% so far. Approximately $23.5 million have been paid out to our contractor IHC. The weather's been good and we've not had any significant groundwater issues. Everything is going according to the design plan except for contaminated soils that we had at the very beginning of the project and were remediated back to the Winnebago landfill.

00:57:08.460 --> 00:57:38.440
So the ultraviolet building will be completed in late fall of 25 and ready for the spring startup. Once we start, the chlorine system will be demolished and removed. The chemically enhanced primary treatment will be estimated to be completed by the summer of 26. Headworks and lab building early 27. And the headworks was dug to an elevation of 55 feet below the surface to install the building foundation. Treatment plan has been working adequately during the

00:57:38.440 --> 00:58:09.690
construction and the contracting engineer and wastewater treatment plant staff meet two times a month for coordination. IHC, that is the contractor, is doing a very good job for the city of Freeport and currently we're tracking for final completion in the summer of 27. Okay. You said something in your very first sentence about 43 percent. What was that? We're about 43 percent complete. 43 percent.

00:58:09.850 --> 00:58:18.310
complete. Okay, so that I don't have to go over each line that you just talked about, can I get a copy of that?

00:58:19.310 --> 00:58:27.790
Sure. Okay, so then I'm done with that one. Thank you. Item 14, same area, update on the Hancock Bridge,

00:58:28.590 --> 00:58:36.990
Alderman Stacy and Alderman Simmons. When we first spoke about this, these two things were put together,

00:58:36.990 --> 00:58:55.710
to these two items, the water, the wastewater plant and the bridge. I know there was a lot of discussion about the other factories being able to get their equipment and this and that. So where are we actually at with the bridge?

00:58:55.710 --> 00:59:25.550
So design is in final review with the Federal Highway Administration. It's making, it's working on city site or sidewalk and running north of the bridge to Album Street. Also, the Federal Highway Administration is making the city investigate historical handrails on the bridge as part of the environmental sign-off. The funding agency was requiring 220 feet of pavement reconstruction in both directions to be removed and a

00:59:25.550 --> 00:59:31.190
There's a hump there, so we're wanting to remove that hump, and it will take the stress off of the structure.

00:59:32.050 --> 00:59:41.690
The project's being pushed to a bid letting in the summer of 26, and the city is trying to resolve land acquisition issues currently, as that is a primary hurdle.

00:59:42.970 --> 00:59:49.970
Temporary and permanent easement documents are being prepared, and the walk and ride trail must be closed during the construction.

00:59:49.970 --> 01:00:21.590
Trail, must be closed during the construction, currently planning on the summer of 26 with bidding and a nine month completion date after that. Question, are they going to have to do something with the underpass then, before then, for semis? Yes, we're currently working on the viaduct, yes. Alderman Stacy. And you said completed nine months after it goes out for bidding? Oh, that's correct, yes. Nine months after the startup

01:00:21.590 --> 01:00:53.320
of construction. That's not usually the same date as the bid. Bidding is not the same as start of construction. Right. Usually have about a month to six weeks of contracts and insurance requirements and things like that to get going. So you're saying nine months after start of construction. Yes, ma'am. Alderman Simmons. I had a question, city manager. When you said land acquisition, what land are you speaking of? Essentially, we're dealing with an older part of

01:00:53.320 --> 01:00:59.780
Town. We have some issues with certain overlaps of property lines, and we're working to resolve those right now.

01:01:02.900 --> 01:01:10.720
That didn't, like, the buildings right there by the bridge? I mean, I can ask you this later.

01:01:11.780 --> 01:01:17.860
Yeah, we could talk about offline, but essentially you have property lines that kind of overlap the area, and then we're resolving that.

01:01:19.000 --> 01:01:19.840
Alderman Sanders.

01:01:19.840 --> 01:01:49.360
Do we have benchmarks set up for each project for completion? Because like these jobs that we're doing right now, these projects that we're doing, there should be earmarked to for completion. Do we have that in our design? And because I like to know if these jobs are bidded out, are they

01:01:49.360 --> 01:02:08.720
Are they meeting their compliance? Are they in compliance? And so we should be able to have a completion date or somewhere thereabouts around that time. So we do have that available for us to look at and get access to it.

01:02:08.720 --> 01:02:38.580
Every project that the city puts out either has a completion date, a calendar date, excuse me, a calendar date or a working day contract. Everyone's a little bit different, but there's always a completion deadline. Contractors get more time if we have weather issues or we have something that's out of their control. Currently, the biggest holdup with the Hancock Vidoc I will pick out is the NICOR has to relocate the gas main that goes under the Vidoc.

01:02:38.580 --> 01:02:45.580
We can't do any other work until they can relocate. They've been trying to get a permit, a design permit, to move that for six months.

01:02:46.120 --> 01:02:46.400
Okay.

01:02:46.700 --> 01:03:02.020
And so they're the holdup. It's really, it's probably a three-month project after it's done. We're fortunate that we have good partners like Helm Construction that's holding their pricing for us because technically they probably wouldn't have to, but they're doing it because they're part of Freeport.

01:03:02.020 --> 01:03:13.720
Well, there wouldn't be a strain on the residents over there in that area, would it, as far as exiting and

01:03:13.720 --> 01:03:30.480
No, we will never let, just to be clear, we will never let the Hancock Bridge and the Hancock Viaduct go at the same time. One will have to be complete before the other can start. We have to have emergency access and resident access either way. So our plan is to do

01:03:30.480 --> 01:03:32.600
There is an emergency exit?

01:03:33.040 --> 01:03:33.980
Well, there will be.

01:03:34.160 --> 01:03:34.540
Oh, okay.

01:03:34.640 --> 01:03:36.260
It'll be either the bridge or the bidoc.

01:03:36.320 --> 01:03:41.180
We plan to get the bridge done first, and that's why the bridge letting is going to push to next year.

01:03:41.540 --> 01:03:41.940
Got you.

01:03:42.080 --> 01:03:42.280
Right.

01:03:42.500 --> 01:03:44.080
So, excuse me, I think I said it wrong.

01:03:44.240 --> 01:03:49.480
We're planning to get the bidoc done first, and the bridge letting is being pushed to next year.

01:03:49.860 --> 01:03:50.220
Okay.

01:03:50.220 --> 01:03:50.980
All right.

01:03:51.060 --> 01:04:00.380
Number 15, update on the grant for the bike path in collaboration with the Highland Community College and Park District, Alderman Stacy and Alderman

01:04:00.380 --> 01:04:16.670
Simmons. Yes. We had all this information pertaining to a new back path that wanted to be done out in the

01:04:16.670 --> 01:04:24.010
Highland area. I think it was even going to take you all the way around down to Culver's. And it was

01:04:24.010 --> 01:04:30.970
affiliated with the City of Freeport, the Park District, and Highland. It was voted down at one

01:04:30.970 --> 01:05:08.790
Point. However, it was brought back and passed. So we've heard nothing and I would like some information on where we're at with this bike path. Just be happy to answer that. So at the end of May, the city was notified that we did not receive the grant for the ITEP grant that would pay for the project. In addition to that, no one in northern Illinois

01:05:08.790 --> 01:05:16.010
received any ITEP money for, walk right infrastructure, and our next opportunity for that will be in 2026.

01:05:16.010 --> 01:05:25.840
All right, number 16. Hold it. Yes. Oh, go ahead, Larry. Alderman Sanders. What year did you say that would be?

01:05:27.000 --> 01:05:38.560
2026 will be the next opportunity to bid. Okay, and that would be revised, or, yeah, the grant proposition would be revised,

01:05:38.560 --> 01:06:08.460
for that particular project? It would be revised as far as dates and so on, but it would be. But it'll come back to the council? Yes. Okay, that's what I wanted to know. It will come back to the council as a new question? When the opportunity comes around in 2026, we'll go back around to all our partners and make sure everybody wants to be a part of it again, in which time if everybody approves, then we will move forward with it. If they don't approve, then that won't happen.

01:06:08.560 --> 01:06:11.600
But it would, like, be a new agenda item.

01:06:12.160 --> 01:06:12.300
Yeah.

01:06:12.500 --> 01:06:12.840
Yes.

01:06:13.180 --> 01:06:13.300
Yeah.

01:06:14.140 --> 01:06:23.340
Number 16, update on the property at 521 West Cottonwood that was transferred to the land bank presented by Alderman Stacy and Alderman Simmons.

01:06:23.340 --> 01:06:39.970
I keep getting phone calls from a neighbor in Cottonwood inquiring that nothing is being done with this property that we gave to the land bank.

01:06:39.970 --> 01:07:16.720
and I'm just wondering what is really going on is there someone out there that's gonna remodel this home and after they were given the property weren't they allowed nine months to complete this project we can handle this on a phone call but the city transferred 521 West Cottonwood to Northern Illinois Land Bank and December of 2024 the Northern Illinois

01:07:16.720 --> 01:07:25.640
Land Bank transferred the property to Ivan Silver in May 29th, 2025. Ivan is under contract to complete the

01:07:25.640 --> 01:07:31.100
renovation of this property in nine months with a deadline of February 28th, 2026. Okay, but you're going too fast.

01:07:32.400 --> 01:07:40.720
Okay, well. You said May 29th, what happened? The property was transferred to the contractor on May 29th,

01:07:40.720 --> 01:07:55.410
So, Ivan's got till February 28th to get it done of 26th, and the Northern Illinois Land Bank has the authority to reclaim the property from Mr. Silver if he does not adhere to the timeline.

01:07:55.810 --> 01:08:04.020
Okay. You also said this could have been answered with a phone call.

01:08:04.420 --> 01:08:04.660
Yes.

01:08:04.660 --> 01:08:27.890
I don't doubt that, City Manager Boyer, but when I'm getting calls and questions about products such as this, I'd like for the people to hear it directly from you. That's why I bring it to the council floor.

01:08:27.890 --> 01:08:31.490
You can give them my phone number and they could hear it directly from me also

01:08:31.490 --> 01:08:40.840
Okay, so this was like an item that shouldn't have never happened or

01:08:40.840 --> 01:08:45.960
Dovie, I'm talking to City Manager Boyer

01:08:45.960 --> 01:08:50.120
I would say we could handle this with a phone call

01:08:50.120 --> 01:08:52.900
Wayne's going to answer that too

01:08:52.900 --> 01:08:56.920
Yeah, I would just say most requests like that, older persons, Stacy

01:08:56.920 --> 01:09:00.700
Most older persons, including yourself, do call me and ask about it

01:09:00.700 --> 01:09:30.040
if there's a problem property and then I'll if it's not addressed I'll direct it to one of our inspectors to look at but yeah I've talked with you about properties in the past and pretty much every other person up here so I think what City Manager Boyer is saying is is you could certainly call me or you know City Manager Boyer would probably direct that question to me to answer okay and I did direct this person to you and I did even give them your number

01:09:30.700 --> 01:09:48.000
And when he said item number 16, I was looking at you, but you weren't looking at me. So he's the manager. That's why I looked at him. I didn't care who answered. Right. So as I said before, you're always well.

01:09:48.000 --> 01:09:53.600
as I said before you're always welcome to call me I always respond to calls um any I think any older person

01:09:53.600 --> 01:09:58.800
here can say hey I've had a problem with the property I send it to Wayne or talk to him email phone text

01:09:58.800 --> 01:10:05.840
message and I get back quickly on that um I I think this is exciting for the city of Freeport just to be

01:10:05.840 --> 01:10:12.240
honest I there's many properties here that either get demolished or sit vacant and um this is really

01:10:12.240 --> 01:10:42.220
a good thing so I'm excited to see what this developer is going to do with the property but in the future if you wanted to obviously city manager Boyer is my direct report so certainly if you have questions on a property I think what he's saying is to give him a call. I directed them to you because I know this is your baby. Yeah yeah no I appreciate that perfect job but I wanted them to hear because I don't know if they're here tonight if not hopefully they're listening and they're getting

01:10:42.220 --> 01:11:12.200
getting it directly from him, and I'm not feeding no one a line. Did we find out about? You can't answer that, but just like the trailer that was placed on that property and nobody knew. So you and I have talked. Yes. Yes. Number 17. Actually, can I make a comment? Really, Alderman Stacy, all updates are best served with efficiency by simple picking up

01:11:12.200 --> 01:11:41.500
up a phone or coming to the meetings that our city manager and myself have opened to you. So if you want to go that route, because if we actually spent an update on every single question that came across our desk, we would be sitting here in council meetings forever. But that's not the purpose of council meetings. It's to address the legislative portions of things, the policies, not updates. So updates are really best served with the discussion in our offices.

01:11:42.200 --> 01:12:10.720
Okay. I can respect that. But with that being said, we got to work extra hard on the trust factor and the damage that has been done in that area. Because that's huge to me. And so I don't want to argue, you didn't say this. I said that. No, you didn't. Yes, I did. I don't want that either. That doesn't look

01:12:10.720 --> 01:12:14.720
I don't think it's good on the floor either.

01:12:14.720 --> 01:12:23.720
So I guess as we all work on the trust factor and rebuilding communication, it will get better.

01:12:23.720 --> 01:12:25.720
Alderman Johnson.

01:12:25.720 --> 01:12:38.720
Well, I was just wondering if, you know, the people that are asking you questions, if they called directly or talked directly with Manager Boyer or with any of the people on the council,

01:12:38.720 --> 01:13:10.000
would have, the trust faster would be there than they would tell that person the answer. You know, you said you had people in your ward or people that were calling you, have them directly call or get in touch with Manager Boyer or Mr. Duckman? I did. Okay. And did those people get in touch with them? To my knowledge, yes. And they got their answers? No. And then when Duckman and I spoke, there were still some unanswered questions.

01:13:10.000 --> 01:13:40.000
like a trailer that had been moved on to that property that they didn't even know who it belonged to so why is someone just looking at this open space thinking they could put their trailer there so no it didn't go away it kind of got bigger okay but I did my part with directing like I was supposed to number 17 update on the performance of McGuire woods consulting LLC

01:13:40.000 --> 01:13:42.780
presented by Alderman Stacy and Alderman Simmons.

01:13:46.160 --> 01:13:57.000
We paid all this money for a lobbyist and it's been over a year.

01:13:58.660 --> 01:14:09.860
Have no updates, have no knowledge of understanding of what they have or have not done for us.

01:14:10.220 --> 01:14:16.970
And so I would really appreciate an update.

01:14:18.770 --> 01:14:20.150
I'd be happy to speak to that.

01:14:20.150 --> 01:14:50.130
McGuire Woods again is our lobbyist they have been working hard at state level to secure funding for projects that we've identified as priorities as we move forward looking for help on all those as well as any federal opportunities we receive a monthly newsletter and an update from them I would say about every week and as of right now we're working in several areas but no specific grants have been identified as of yet okay and so

01:14:50.130 --> 01:15:15.800
So, this is costing us $90,000 a year? $72,000 a year? How many years do we continue if nothing comes forth? I mean, do you know what we could do with $72,000 on our streets?

01:15:15.800 --> 01:15:45.800
I'm guessing about 50, maybe 100 feet, but I would say we're going to be reviewing the progress and I think we need to sit down and decide whether we're going to continue to move forward with this or not. I will also highlight the fact that lobbying is not a linear process and it also requires certain opportunities and people to be there during those opportunities. So in this particular environment, very difficult with federal funding

01:15:45.800 --> 01:15:51.420
being cut in many different areas, so it is a bit of a challenge, but we're continuing to manage it.

01:15:51.840 --> 01:15:56.080
City Manager Boyer, was that a smart comment when you said 100 feet?

01:15:56.740 --> 01:16:00.260
I was trying to answer your question, yeah, it's about 100 linear feet.

01:16:03.470 --> 01:16:04.330
Alderman Sanders?

01:16:06.710 --> 01:16:07.670
Yeah, I did.

01:16:07.670 --> 01:16:11.970
That kind of threw me off for a second.

01:16:11.970 --> 01:16:38.650
Okay. Let me recapture my visual thought. Did we, as council city manager, voted to allow them to operate on our behalf? Yes. We did? Okay. That's all I wanted to know. Okay. Number 18 is public comment. Any public comment?

01:16:38.650 --> 01:16:43.670
Well, get the first row and then we'll go second, third row, fourth row

01:16:43.670 --> 01:16:54.820
I just want to say that I was noticing at my street, my neighborhood, there's a lot of people with three wheelers

01:16:54.820 --> 01:16:57.080
young kids with three wheelers

01:16:57.080 --> 01:17:00.540
I did mention it to him about it

01:17:00.540 --> 01:17:07.660
and also I wanted to say that there's still work to be done on our street

01:17:07.660 --> 01:17:10.660
because they haven't done no waterworks on the street yet

01:17:10.660 --> 01:17:16.320
The water's not really the tastiest water in the world, so I just wanted to say that

01:17:16.320 --> 01:17:17.880
Can you state your name for the record?

01:17:18.400 --> 01:17:19.340
David Cobertson

01:17:19.340 --> 01:17:25.120
David, what was that location?

01:17:25.920 --> 01:17:27.460
It's over on Ringo Street

01:17:27.460 --> 01:17:33.780
The road is really fast, like you can make a sandbox out of it

01:17:33.780 --> 01:17:35.660
The three-wheelers

01:17:35.660 --> 01:17:40.100
Yeah, the three-wheelers, yeah, there's a whole bunch of kids with three-wheelers riding three-wheelers

01:17:40.100 --> 01:17:43.040
They're like, young, it's the age of like 11 to 15

01:17:43.040 --> 01:17:44.640
And they're riding on Ringgold

01:17:44.640 --> 01:17:49.460
Yeah, like riding three-wheelers and four-wheelers and like dirt bikes

01:17:49.460 --> 01:17:51.340
And they're riding on Ringgold also

01:17:51.340 --> 01:17:54.120
Yeah, on Ringgold and the Hosmer on the trails

01:17:54.120 --> 01:17:57.020
And it's really dangerous, I worry about them

01:17:57.020 --> 01:17:58.800
I don't want nothing to happen to the four kids

01:17:58.800 --> 01:17:59.580
Okay

01:17:59.580 --> 01:18:02.220
I wish they would stop it from happening

01:18:02.220 --> 01:18:03.600
Yeah, me too

01:18:03.600 --> 01:18:06.240
I don't want to see anybody get hurt in front of me, that would tear me apart

01:18:06.240 --> 01:18:07.040
Hmm

01:18:07.040 --> 01:18:08.360
Thank you

01:18:08.360 --> 01:18:09.800
Any other public comments?

01:18:11.380 --> 01:18:11.780
Wendy?

01:18:11.780 --> 01:18:53.590
Good evening, City of Freeport. Council, those in elected officials. I am 1323 South Chicago Avenue. My name is Wendy Pearson. I'd like to make a couple come here. I listened to Mr. Brown today speak. I was at the hospital with my son. Saturday the day of the march, I was at a funeral for a relative in Chicago. Had I not been there, I would have been at that march, just as I was at the first one.

01:18:53.650 --> 01:19:23.390
And yes, I said it was a joke, not this one, the second one. And if he was scouring people's Facebook pages, he would have seen that I said that I was proud of him for this weekend. Now, I said it before and I'll say it again. The first march was a joke. It was a joke simply because the day before, that Friday, there were shootings in the 700 block of Liberty. There were shootings in the 900 block of Carroll.

01:19:23.390 --> 01:19:45.750
The march happened the next day. We started at the old Germania lot. We went down Adams past the raggedy Raleigh building back down to the Germania lot, downtown and back to the Germania lot. We never went into the communities where there were shootings and deaths. He says that he has a list of all the people that have been murdered in this town.

01:19:45.750 --> 01:20:13.480
that have been murdered in this town. I'm going to go back to 1980s where the two white brothers were murdered on the west east side of town, bound, gagged, tied up, beaten, and house shed on fire. These murders have been going on in this town since the 80s. This particular one has never been solved. Scott has never been solved. So before he starts talking about the people that he's got on the list, go all the way back to the murders

01:20:13.480 --> 01:20:18.800
that haven't been solved. Before he was even involved, before he was thought of, it has been

01:20:18.800 --> 01:20:24.920
happening in this town forever. Now, I've helped to organize marches. I've been involved with peace

01:20:24.920 --> 01:20:32.960
marches from Chicago to Springfield to Washington, D.C. to Freeport, Illinois. Not once has Mr. Brown

01:20:32.960 --> 01:20:37.980
reached out to any of us to help with what he's doing. I don't have anything against anything that

01:20:37.980 --> 01:20:42.660
anybody's doing. I'm actually, I'm pretty happy about it. And I'm going to tell you why I'm happy about it,

01:20:42.660 --> 01:20:48.220
because I'm sick of the city of Freeport being on my shoulder. Take it on, brother, do it.

01:20:48.880 --> 01:20:59.180
As far as anybody else is concerned, anybody that wants to do something in this town, anybody can tell you that I've been supportive of anything that was positive that was going on in this town, and I will continue to be that way.

01:20:59.700 --> 01:21:05.620
I have spoken continuously about our young people picking up the mantle, and I'm still saying the same thing.

01:21:05.620 --> 01:21:07.800
Our young people need to pick up the mantle

01:21:07.800 --> 01:21:09.780
We need to be in the streets

01:21:09.780 --> 01:21:11.960
We don't need to be against each other

01:21:11.960 --> 01:21:12.760
And talking crazy

01:21:12.760 --> 01:21:13.940
But I'm going to tell you something else

01:21:13.940 --> 01:21:16.600
Mr. Brown was in my face two weeks ago

01:21:16.600 --> 01:21:17.540
At a party

01:21:17.540 --> 01:21:18.940
What he had to say

01:21:18.940 --> 01:21:19.820
He could have said it to me

01:21:19.820 --> 01:21:22.280
I don't have a problem with saying anything

01:21:22.280 --> 01:21:23.760
To anybody in their face

01:21:23.760 --> 01:21:24.220
Time has expired

01:21:24.220 --> 01:21:24.880
Okay

01:21:24.880 --> 01:21:25.720
Thank you

01:21:25.720 --> 01:21:26.700
I want to put it out there

01:21:26.700 --> 01:21:28.000
And I want to make it very clear

01:21:28.000 --> 01:21:28.600
Time has expired

01:21:28.600 --> 01:21:29.660
That's why it's a joke

01:21:29.660 --> 01:21:30.640
Anybody else?

01:21:31.580 --> 01:21:32.040
Come on up

01:21:32.040 --> 01:21:33.920
Oh, I'm sorry

01:21:33.920 --> 01:21:35.540
Yeah

01:21:35.540 --> 01:22:08.560
she stood up too. My name is Janelle Folkers. I've been a dispatcher for the Freeport Police Department for the past seven and a half years. My co-worker spoke to you recently on some of the changes to our working conditions and protocols. I believe I need to reiterate some of the concerns and update you on a new change that has been implemented in the next last three weeks since she addressed you. We continue to work alone in the room on shifts that are not fully staffed and at times where employees are enjoying much needed vacation time. As you can imagine, this puts significant pressure on the

01:22:08.560 --> 01:22:38.540
only person actively working in the room. Yes, there are two people on duty, but at times only one actively handling all the phone calls, both 911 and non-emergency, radio traffic, and assisting the public coming into the lobby during that time. One person handling all of that alone puts a substantial risk not only on the public and the dispatcher, but also the police, fire, and EMS personnel responding to these potentially life-threatening scenarios, which leads to the most recent change that we have been told is a process that we're expected to

01:22:38.540 --> 01:23:08.540
Follow. Currently, when all of our city ambulance is on a call and there is a need for additional ambulance, the fire department will request a mutual aid ambulance. The closest ambulance service to dispatch requires a phone call versus radio contact to request an ambulance. We have been directed to put our in-progress 911 call on hold. Yes, you heard me correctly. All the 911 call from your loved one panicked and scared because they need help administering CPR

01:23:08.540 --> 01:23:38.520
Jr. has to be placed on hold which stops any and all communication between the person in need and the dispatcher trained to help them until help can physically arrive on scene. This goes against everything I've been trained to do in my entire career and is a huge liability to everyone involved, callers, responders, the city and dispatchers all alike and completely against my moral belief. I love what I do and want to help not only my loved ones but yours on what could potentially be the worst day of their life. Putting their 911 call on hold is completely

01:23:38.520 --> 01:23:44.960
With that said, I encourage each one of you to come spend time in the 911 center with us.

01:23:45.480 --> 01:23:46.120
Learn what we do.

01:23:46.240 --> 01:23:55.980
Ask questions so you can understand why we are so passionate about what we do and are so concerned about the added liability to ourselves, the city, and the safety of our officers and fire personnel.

01:23:56.540 --> 01:23:56.860
Thank you.

01:23:57.080 --> 01:23:57.460
Thank you.

01:24:02.830 --> 01:24:03.230
Come on up.

01:24:04.690 --> 01:24:04.890
Yep.

01:24:05.250 --> 01:24:18.720
Okay, that's the first.

01:24:18.860 --> 01:24:19.920
I'm going to take the mask off.

01:24:20.000 --> 01:24:23.940
My name is Sue Cook, and I am on Winchester Drive in Freeport, Illinois.

01:24:23.940 --> 01:24:32.700
I am stunned to hear what she just said because I have written something to talk about the exact same thing.

01:24:34.300 --> 01:24:51.140
911 is very, very critical. I worked in the hospital. I worked in x-ray. I know. I worked in the ER. I know how critical 911 is. These people deserve our respect and they deserve our care. They deserve our kindness and our care. And I just want to give them a round of applause.

01:24:51.140 --> 01:25:22.640
I know this is taking some of my minutes, but they have saved my husband's life three times, and I cannot believe that the golden age of Freeport is going to be ushered in with possibly not a 911 center. I don't know if the ASME contract has been signed. I don't know if you've signed anything with the critical people in the unions, but this is important for Freeport. We need this.

01:25:22.640 --> 01:25:28.420
If 9-1-1 goes away, are you just going to send it over to the Stewart Center for their call center to answer?

01:25:29.180 --> 01:25:39.160
So we really, really, everybody in here has probably been touched by 9-1-1, your family, your loved ones, your friend, my husband.

01:25:39.680 --> 01:25:43.560
If you care about 9-1-1, raise your hands.

01:25:44.460 --> 01:25:45.180
Raise your hands.

01:25:46.140 --> 01:25:48.320
That is 9-1-1 strong.

01:25:48.420 --> 01:25:49.340
That's union strong.

01:25:49.340 --> 01:26:18.500
There's only one other thing, if I have any time left, and I'm going to say this, because it's number 15 on the last agenda, I'm going to talk really fast, and that is that we're paying $12,000 for vision boards. If you're going to be setting up goals for the councilman, and you're going to be standing there talking, we can use a white word, we can use a little vision board, we can use Pinterest, and it will be cheaper than $12,000. Mayor, you are a visionary. If you are the visionary, then you should be able to hold that meeting with the councilman,

01:26:18.500 --> 01:26:48.440
and bring in what you need for your goals and what you want Freeport to achieve with them. You don't need $12,000. That $12,000 can go to support the 911 people. You don't need that. Pull that $12,000 back. Be the visionary that you claim to be. Take your people, show them Pinterest and say Vision Board. If you have a mobile phone and can download Pinterest, it's free. It's an app. If you don't, plain old whiteboard like you used to do

01:26:48.440 --> 01:27:28.220
for the old science fairs. Stick up magazine pictures and say, here's my goal. This is what we want to achieve. There you go. Thank you very much for letting me speak. And I'm going to put my mask on. And that was a first. Thank you. You know, I really wasn't even aware that we were talking about 911 or your name. Micaiah Stacy. We know who I am. Anyway. I don't really understand what's going on. I was at work. But if we're talking about

01:27:28.220 --> 01:27:53.820
about defunding our police call center. I'm going to be very blunt with you. I was a victim of domestic violence last Sunday, and if it hadn't have been for the call center, officer, I believe her name is Sanchez, I hope I'm saying that right, and the other officers that answered that call, I wouldn't be here, and this isn't the first time that it's happened with that person.

01:27:53.820 --> 01:28:23.800
and I know right now we're really focused on the gun violence in Freeport because it's loud and it hurts and everybody hears it whether it was the gunshot or on social media and people's families are being torn apart but I'm not the first one. There was a young woman Gabby a couple years ago that was murdered by her boyfriend. I have personal friends from a year ago when I was living in Iowa who would send me pictures of

01:28:23.800 --> 01:28:53.960
The Bruises This Man Was Inflicting, Show Me Videos Of Him Screaming At Her, Show Me Texts Of Just The Verbal Abuse, She Took Him To Court, He Sat Behind Bars For Two Months, And When I Walk Into My Own Gym, That Man Is Standing There, And I Don't Really Know What To Do With This, There's Just So Much Crime In Freeport, And Like I Said, I Know That Gun Violence Is Loud, And It's Fast, But We Need To Really Focus On All Of The Violence In Freeport,

01:28:53.960 --> 01:29:00.620
it's not just about guns. I shouldn't have to worry about where I'm going to lay my head at night

01:29:00.620 --> 01:29:06.960
because that man can get to me. We shouldn't have to worry about our kids riding their bikes. I shouldn't

01:29:06.960 --> 01:29:12.980
have to worry about my nephew's baseball game. I shouldn't be on edge in Walmart. I shouldn't be

01:29:12.980 --> 01:29:18.420
concerned for the kids down at center school playing in the park over there. I shouldn't be

01:29:18.420 --> 01:29:23.100
worried about going to Crate Park, having a cookout with my friends, and constantly looking around to

01:29:23.100 --> 01:29:31.640
see what everyone else is doing. We're doing a good job. These marches are good. It brings awareness, but now we need some action. Thank you.

01:29:31.640 --> 01:29:36.200
Thank you. Anyone else? Tommy?

01:29:42.000 --> 01:29:49.260
Tyke, I want to tell Craig Deggerman, he does a good job on that police department in Freeport,

01:29:52.820 --> 01:30:04.780
and Dwayne Deggerman, did you hear they're going to turn down the cleaners, Darren Wynn, Darren?

01:30:05.460 --> 01:30:05.980
It's fall.

01:30:06.640 --> 01:30:11.860
Oh, it's fall, okay, and I want to tell Jodi Miller, he does a good job as the mayor of Freeport,

01:30:11.860 --> 01:30:22.620
and my name was on Channel 23 News. Did you see it? You could put it on YouTube. It's on YouTube.

01:30:24.020 --> 01:30:26.540
Okay. Young lady in the pink sweatshirt.

01:30:27.780 --> 01:30:47.150
I'm Kia Sanders. I want to speak on that. I think it's a bad idea to have, what is it, majority rules, only because I don't, I don't never see Parker and all these other little pack of whatever they are putting anything in there

01:30:47.150 --> 01:31:13.990
because in the third and fifth ward they have a reason to put something on the agenda. Those are the houses that are getting knocked down. There's affecting people over there. We expect them to be able to speak for us. Did y'all forget about that? Parker, and one thing for sure, I ain't never seen you speak up hardly about anything. We have a reason to have the people in that area speak up for us because that stuff is really happening, really affecting people. Most of the killings are over there.

01:31:13.990 --> 01:31:39.010
We losing our whole living space due to the fact that y'all have underlined agendas that y'all don't think we know about. That's what I'm going to say about that. Another thing that I've been watching since I've been to this meeting is bullying. I'm going to say it. I'm a factual. I'm not negative. I'm factual. Whatever y'all got going, whatever Sanders got going on, I ain't seen nobody offered to help him. I seen a lot of y'all laughing.

01:31:39.010 --> 01:32:08.970
And then as soon as Will spoke on how we need to lead the youth, we have a youth in this room right now that as soon as something happened with Sanders, he watched every one of you adults laugh instead of trying to help the situation. Obviously, he didn't understand something. Get some clarity. Help him out. That's some real childish stuff that y'all are doing. Y'all got him watching, laughing, and this is the person that y'all are supposed to be leading as a youth council member. Crazy. It's real crazy. So it starts by who?

01:32:08.970 --> 01:32:38.540
Who? Us. He got to listen to who? And then let me tell you something else. Sanders is smart enough, smart enough to not have been a chief of police and vote a domestic battery drunk on any commission. He has not put his hands on nobody. He has not called nobody names at all. He is asking for clarity about things that he don't understand. I ain't seen nobody helping for that. And then, Rob, you sit up here and act like that, let money grow on trees. That goes back to when we said money don't grow on trees.

01:32:38.540 --> 01:32:46.580
Put the money where it needs to be. You riding down Adams Street, two seconds, you make a right or a left turn, you back to a circus.

01:32:47.720 --> 01:32:51.020
Yes, so that 50 to 100 feet matter to the third ward.

01:32:58.880 --> 01:33:07.660
Hi, my name is Cheryl Altman. First of all, I'd like to thank the three Altman's, Stacy, Sanders, and Simmons, for speaking out for us.

01:33:08.120 --> 01:33:15.280
The rest, I don't know. Johnson, you just was getting there questioned, Sanders, why don't you question people when we come up for these things?

01:33:15.280 --> 01:33:49.190
you guys don't ask questions then but you're questioning him that's a crack you're here for us not for the mayor because don't tell me you don't say that whatever but you do and Rob I have tried to call you twice I would really like a phone call back you say you answer your phone but now so I will expect a phone call tomorrow from you thank you Mr. Brown

01:33:49.190 --> 01:34:19.170
I want to come up again, one of my youngest reached out to me, forgive me my passion speak, so I want to send a shout out to all my youngest at Banks-Pagana, Pearl City, and West Carroll, and ask you all to come out to the Boys and Girls Club, I also ask anybody in the community that want to step up and be a coach, step back, Basketball League is looking for five coaches, come out and support the youth, and to win

01:34:19.170 --> 01:34:20.930
Andy, God bless you.

01:34:21.270 --> 01:34:22.130
I'll take that burden.

01:34:26.770 --> 01:34:28.670
Anything else?

01:34:30.010 --> 01:34:30.330
Okay.

01:34:31.030 --> 01:34:31.210
Yeah.

01:34:31.550 --> 01:34:31.690
Yeah.

01:34:32.550 --> 01:34:34.070
Oh, I'm sorry.

01:34:34.670 --> 01:34:35.310
Thank you.

01:34:37.980 --> 01:34:46.240
As I've said before, I'll say again, we start in prayer.

01:34:47.220 --> 01:34:48.500
We can end in prayer.

01:34:48.820 --> 01:34:49.580
Oh, no.

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Father God, in the name of Jesus, we praise you and we thank you for this day.

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for this is the day that you have made and we will continue to rejoice and be glad in it for we look to you, O God, to the hills from which cometh our help. We need your leadership. We need your guidance. We need you to order our steps according to your word that we may be able to be all that we are called to be.

01:35:28.580 --> 01:35:54.420
in these last and evil days. Lord Jesus, I decree and declare that Freeport will be what you created it to be, a Freeport. Not later, but right now, I decree we are free in the name of Jesus.

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continue to lead us, guide us, speak to our hearts may we see people through your eyes may we understand who we are committed to and what we are supposed to do for the constituents of this city these and other blessings I pray in Jesus name giving you God all glory honor and praise amen next wings a

01:36:31.410 --> 01:36:53.290
agenda, adjournment, I'm sorry. Motion to adjourn. Well, what about the, we don't do that here? Not for the cow, we don't. We don't go around to the cow. This is the cow? Yeah. You're lucky. I know I'm lucky. You make me lucky. All in favor, say aye. You're lucky. Aye. Opposed.