And we wanted to cast these out here before we get started.
On the top are two reports printed in landscape.
They are from Black Dog Hills trail data.
So these are live trail numbers.
Well, live is when they were printed this afternoon.
And the dark looking at the census data, then you need not worry because you have reading material before bed tonight.
This packet here and I will supply you with each month is called R2P2 and the partnership is participating in a pilot program and R2P2 is just an acronym for Illinois EDC.
They have started a new economic development, data analysis research branch and they put a call out to communities within Illinois that were interested in participating.
The partnership signed up for that.
So what they were providing for us as part of this program free of charge is community profile data.
So this is all Stephenson County as live data.
So it's not necessarily census that some of it's pulled from census, but we're looking at some July numbers within here.
Some of this information I've supplied to you before in the Illinois Department of Employment Securities job listings report, but it's a little bit more comprehensive here.
So I will continue to provide this to you each month.
As staff, we continue to review this and see what changes, what doesn't, where the trends lie.
Also will be forthcoming, most likely in the first quarter of next year is industry cluster analysis.
And this is what we're really interested in at the partnership, we know what our major industries are within Stephenson County, Northwest Illinois, but delving a little bit deeper into kind of the specifics of those clusters, along with looking at supply chains that serve those clusters, helping us really pinpoint potential businesses, suppliers that are within those industry clusters that could be attracted to this area because maybe they already do businesses, business with businesses that are here.
That being said, I'm just leaving this with you.
Please feel free to digest.
If you have follow-up questions, I'd be happy to answer.
I know the IDES data was supplied in your board packet as well.
But as the trend continues, we have more unique job postings than we have employees looking or workers looking for jobs.
That trend continues.
I have noticed within the last six weeks, the prevalence of manufacturers posting on billboards, LPAY, Werner, Tri-Stop, all looking for workers.
So it's a very competitive environment.
And our unemployment number, excuse me, was around 3.9 in Stephenson County, which is very low.
Moving on from that, we continue positive conversations with a quick service restaurant that is reviewing potential locations.
We are helping them go through that process and look at potential incentive packages.
We have met with Freeport School District's HR, new head of HR, about establishing an alumni network here.
We know that this is not work that the partnership would lead, but we would partner with them.
We look at it as advantageous that can come.
A way to target market, excuse me, workforce recruitment efforts or come home campaign, getting those that are familiar with the area to come home from a school district standpoint, alumni network is always helpful in recruiting former students back to the area to fill empty positions.
Also, when you're looking to fundraise for that sport team or a show time or the theater apartment, it's always wonderful to have a network of alum who might be willing to donate.
So more to come.
We continue working with Civencia Colina as they have some very specific hires and workforce that they're trying to relocate here from France on a semi-permanent basis.
Again, their expansion last year was to facilitate their Brie Bites project.
And so this was development of a small, Brie size, small bite size brie.
And this is the first time it would be produced in the United States.
They're already producing this at a plant they have in France.
So they are bringing some talent over from France to help train and start the process and the line here.
As always, it is difficult to find housing that needs a worker specification that's in their price point.
So it's been a challenge between Lena and Freeport, kind of one-on-one trying to find, source those through networks that we know, people we know who are probably going to be selling a house.
A lot of them are utilizing temporary housing, Airbnbs right now, but that's not a long-term solution.
So I just, as we talk about housing, we see its impact on area lawyers having a shortage of it.
We're working with multiple local businesses on their business development journey.
An existing business that's been longstanding in the community is looking to transition.
The current owners are looking to retire.
So they do have a current buyer who is looking to take over that business and expand, which is great.
In the past month, we've met with two, I would say hospitality destination-related businesses.
One of the glamping site that's out in Stephenson County.
They're looking to develop, I think what was a former site that was destined for destination camping, if you will.
They're from the city, they're looking to purchase it.
They were going through the due diligence phase and are very excited.
The other was looking to purchase a prominent home on Stevenson Street that has a lot of history and historical and architectural character as well, and redevelop that into a single family home as well as potentially a retreat center.
So we're working with both entities.
Leslie in our office, who we've all met, has submitted a grant application for Small Business Administration's SCALE program.
This is Supply Chain Acceleration and Logistics Enablement Program.
If we were to be awarded, that would be a two-year program.
We would probably bring on some part-time staff to help with that program.
Again, really delving into industry plus your supply chain analysis.
To do that work, we would be most likely hiring and a consultant to help us with that.
So we hope to know before the end of the year whether that would be awarded.
We are busy, I mean, maybe you've seen on social media that a certain prominent former baseball player is going to come to town on September 5th.
Nicole is working very closely with Little Cups Field and logistics, the permitting, the things that need to be put in place to manage what we foresee as being thousands of people in the city for hopefully at least an afternoon and maybe an overnight to meet Ben Zobrist.
And again, the CEO program, which I've talked to you before about creating entrepreneur opportunities this is for right now in the school year that's just about ready to start high school juniors and seniors at Freedport High School.
A facilitator for that program has been hired.
There was a parent and student orientation that was held last Wednesday at the district and class will begin next Thursday.
So we're excited to get that off and running.
And I know Troy Barr is the hired facilitator.
14 Boys is the inaugural class.
So his hands will be full, but he's already busy talking with business leaders about creating tours and who will be coming to do visits and so on and so forth.
So we're excited to see that program get off the ground.
I'm happy to answer any questions.
I'm not going to go over a lot of trail data because I know Steve's going to talk about that in just a bit.
But anything that I've discussed, happy to answer questions.
Mr. Chairman, may I ask a question?
Certainly.
I was wondering if you have, I don't know how much you are in contact with Mercy Health.
You know what their plans are.
That's, you know, we used to hear that they were going to build a hospital.
And now I hear they're not going through.
My major question is, what happens to the old hospital?
Are they planning on utilizing that or?
It's a $64,000 question.
To be honest with you, I do not know the answer.
I know I've heard probably many similar rumors that you have.
We are trying to get in contact with their facilities, the head of facilities, because not only that building, that they own other land, other buildings.
We would like to have conversations with them as we try to do hotel attraction, just what their plans are, how can we help support them and see what would align.
So I don't have any answer for you, but yes, we're very curious.
Thank you.
Yeah, I should say that it's still in the end, but yeah, okay, well, thanks.
Yeah, it would.
Deposit for the month of July was $8,072.92.
The total deposit to date to the General Fund is $175,726.18.
That is well over our projected 120 for the year, which we're excited about.
We received another no permit list from the assessment office for Kent Township.
We issued six code enforcement violations for the month of July, five for no permits and one for the property on 26 North.
We received two FOIAs pertaining to the solar were received.
One nuisance complaint was received this month.
An administrative hearing was held on July 22nd for the two properties, one in Scioto Mills and one on 20, no, not 26 North, I'm sorry, for Fairview Road, for an abandoned camper on a parcel.
The property owners did not attend the hearing, so fines were assessed more than $70,000.
If an appeal is not made prior to August 26th, we can issue liens on either both of those properties.
August 26th will be another administrative hearing and that's for the February 26th notes again.
I still have not heard back from our attorney to see what we can do for foreclosure on that, but he's working on it.
I should have the information from our building inspector early next week, which I already have that.
So he did go out to all four properties.
He provided us with his reports and both the letter and inspection reports were mailed out to each individual homeowner.
Two of the property owners have been in contact with me and Mr. Rominsky.
He's handling the logistics of everything right now.
He will be conducting a follow-up inspection at the end of the month and we now have two more properties that I have to add to the list.
I met with Chad Ekman from the IBEW.
We just discussed data centers, upcoming solar builds and no race.
I attended the UCCI seminar on data centers.
Nicole and I had a virtual meeting with the two individuals that are highly interested in the specially-use approved lab ground located on Tower Row, like Andrea was discussing.
That sounds like a fruitful venture there.
And then I had a virtual meeting with the contractors of the solar project in the corner of Van Brockland and L. L. A. Creek Road, they're looking to construct towards the end of fall.
Any questions?
Sounds good, do you have anything to do?
No, nothing.
Thank you, Pat.
Soil and water, I did not make their meeting, but I would make you aware that Soil and Water Conservation District, due to the cuts that were made at USDA, they really no longer are in the office on Galena.
They're only there for their monthly meeting once a month.
Trina is working out of her home.
So that's where they're.
Will she still do the NRIs then for solar and all of that?
Well, they're still going to, yeah.
Okay, good.
They're not out of business.
It's just that NRCS, USDA said, we're no longer supporting allowing you to use our offices.
So that's why they're not there.
And if you, I don't have it in right now, but if you want her direct number, I'd get that for you, or you can call Abby and she'll connect you to her.
Okay, thank you.
So yeah, so they do the leases too, right?
Yes.
As well.
With that, I'll turn it over to Recreation and Trails, and I know Mr. Albeck is here.
Do you want to come on up and Dale, if you have any comments ahead of time, no comments?
You can rent an e-bike now, go on their website, find the location they're renting from.
I'm not sure what material you've seen, sorry, there are copies of the paper in the intergovernmental agreement, the- Thank you, Steve.
The current goals for your budget, yeah, and then comments on, I guess I have one left.
So, I look for the committee members and Chairman, but Brian has been here for- background partnership again in 1999, it was a signing of the intergovernmental agreement attached to the statute which supports that endeavor.
The language of that was borrowed from existing trails intergovernmental agreements for multi-agency projects in Toronto, Illinois.
When I mentioned there that it was from a field tank road trail in the Blackport area, they don't feature that in the relevant pair discussion here, it seems straight near what was budget and a copy of the language from the winter government during the rates for that and the three-year budget at the end of each year that passes the additional or the extension budget for these treaties they're rolling here so it's not that so that it's the The agency organization provides some continuity, provides cooperative coordination for agencies which have different fiscal years that provides them, more practically speaking, the matching funds and the matching funds that an agency is going to require and these grants are generally going to extend over multi-year periods so from point of application to the hopefully and as we've been very successful in receiving awards to the design and implementation and to find clothes out of the grant could be two or three years.
So we want to be able to commit the head of that to submit a head time to the funding of both.
The most notable recent ones who've acquired operational trust program grants to do needed bridge repairs primarily, identified in the 1990s, and 2,000 involved in Santa Cruz inspection report.
It's identified at that time the likely need for upgrade at this point started that process was actually being granted for $250,000 of which 200,000 of that was grant funds and the local share came from over a two year period from the local assessment for the four funding agencies.
The current assessment for the three partners, the larger partners is 16,500.
The Village of Orangeville notably is as strong fit to participate and they contribute 8,250.
So that provides ongoing maintenance needed for bridge repairs outside of the normal or the major project repairs subkeep to the other facilities, and the resource room facilities, parking lots and so on.
There was, I wasn't quite sure what the committee's interest was or concern was with the budget or the third governmental hearing.
If there are particular items that you'd like to have clarification on on behalf of the discussant.
Mr. Chairman.
Sure.
Steve, thanks for bringing all the information and coming down and talking.
Who decides when you increased from 16, five, in the 25, 26, well, just to 20,000.
Who?
You know, where'd you come up with that number and how does that process work out?
He attended most of the meetings and the brief staff, especially at the annual budget consideration period.
There was a, there was a sense that we were going to have outstanding expenses and there was a proposal to increase the assessment to that 25,000 a month.
That was, that was proposed and with the, we're pushed back from some of the other agencies and this one we We change that proposal to the original 60,000 by 100 plus.
So that was the end of our normal monthly meeting?
Yes.
Okay, I would propose that any kind of a change in the amount of funding that you're asking, you would bring that to the finance committee.
And Beat Scott won the debt.
Anytime now, we're just beginning the budget process now for 27 and that'll start on Monday.
Okay, so middle of?
Well, it's part of our parking rest budget.
So that's, we won't be discussing that this month, I don't believe, will we?
I don't have a number in for that.
I have everything else.
You have everything else, so at any time.
So instead of handling it at the park district meeting, let's, if you could- It's not the park district meeting.
Oh, I mean, at the park district meeting.
I would prefer that you brought that, an increase to the finance committee.
We are, any proposed increase has been extended.
What we're proposing- Yeah, I see that.
As much as it is the- So you're just gonna state- For the past six years.
Okay.
Note that these stipulated that the commission does not have the power to accrue any of the budgets.
They have to recommend that they see the proposed budget sent to the member agencies for their approval.
So it requires this body's approval or the common boards that park this reach the village of Orangeville and City Freeport before we can act on the people's final approval is given to act on the budget.
Well, I would recommend that you would bring it, if there's a need for more funding, that you would bring it to the finance committee and explain what the need is.
That would be my recommendations.
We, yeah, we, the work through you and any, any representatives who recommended it for, they kind of push you in a way to do a material solution.
At the same way, you know, we would all be members.
So this would be the budget that we would look at finance.
That's correct.
Keeping the funding the same.
Yes.
Okay, question.
Just the current agreement is expired.
That's what I, that was my next, yeah.
That's what I was reading.
I don't see one on the audio.
Just like most of the others that I've seen, at least for cooperative reasons, there's There's a provision for dissolution of the commission for their 60, 10, 60 thousand dollars fund.
That's a bad one.
I think there's a new one.
This one was amended in 2011.
I think there's something more.
There's a dual interest.
The original is 99, that's what it meant, it was related to a subject that allows for a commission to fire property, because there was a short piece in Jordanville that needed for a connective, and that would be the original conditions.
Would it be possible for us to have Mr. Larson, because this is from 2011.
John Bloom and Vicki Odie were up.
And I think if you hang on a second, there might be a newer version.
While we're looking for that, Steve, do you want to talk about the trail counts?
Is that something you were going to address or not?
The information we received today relates to two of the new trail counters that were installed with the BlackBot bills in May of 2025.
There are still four others that are field self-employed counters that don't have the updated countenance.
We're working with Black Rock Hills to determine if a couple of those will be abandoned because they were done for newer ones and maintaining the remains one or two.
These give us a trail count in a couple of locations.
Stations, Siler Mills, which is kind of midway, and one at the state line.
So there are some gaps yet that we still want to cover, and then one, for instance, at the Baffner and St. Bridge, which would pick up a lot of the traffic we get, that may not give up as far as we know there's quite a few of them, and another one, I don't know, I'm trying to think where the others are located, but one or two of the others midway between and some of those endpoints that the new ones pick up and that are reflected in the numbers we have here.
Previous comments, we estimated and adjusted with the algorithm that Dan might be able to address more to account for outback sort of users for, so in that over time that we've seen about 20,000 Steve, is there one of the new cameras located relatively close, like at Sciota Mills?
Is there an old camera and a new camera in that area?
So you could compare the two numbers, what we were catching before and what we're catching now?
The closest one is just north of the West Black Trailhead, so that's past another mile or two down the trail from the side of Mill Street, so that one we may take out to discontinue.
So when we get the numbers from Black Hawk Hills, then we can compare the old camera to the new camera.
Right, just to see if they're matching up right.
Okay.
Did you find anything on?
No.
An old one, I will look, tomorrow I have one in the office.
I have a budget resolution, but it's been three years and it expired in 2009.
It isn't what I thought it was.
So trying to maybe ask Steve all the questions that he has, and then we can get the documents all put together for September's meeting for you guys to consider at that point, okay, if you're comfortable with that.
That sounds great.
We're looking for some more information on the formal intergovernmental agreement or the a three-year budget and that concept.
For any and all?
Yes, for any and all, yes.
I personally think we should revisit the with the intergovernmental agreement, but maybe it isn't necessary, but, you know, like I said, it's in 2011, that's a long time ago.
2011, I would say that only dealt with one amendment which dealt with approving the commission to actually pay deed to a small piece of property.
The rest of the thing, the wording is exactly as it was in 1999.
Board that talks about like a five-year plan for the trails, what you've accomplished, things like that.
We report as we go, we don't have a formal document.
We can provide some of that.
Usually in the course of consideration of the budget, there's some discussion of activities on the trail.
If there would be a need for that, we would be happy to put together an annual report that outlines some of those issues.
And some of those issues we've addressed.
Grants and repairs that have been made or plans for additions.
Yeah, and I don't remember how long ago it's been, but I think Jack Carey was still part of the Park District.
And maybe I'm remembering wrong, but I thought that there was a 10 or a 20 year bridge maintenance plan.
That's what I was referring to earlier with the three RTP grants, which we have been awarded are the current one which we intend to start construction on any day now.
That was a vision picture report done, I think, in 2010.
And that's what we based our applications, successful application for RTP funding data 80% less.
I think for our purposes, since there's a three-year budget ask three years, it would be good to know what the plans are for the next three years.
We can add.
Yeah, we have we can go to the engineers and have them identify the priorities for the next repair needed and letting them know what that's all about.
Sure.
And not just the bridges, but anything else that you're considering or your group is considering.
I mean, it's been a while since I was on the trail commission on behalf of the county, but I'm just trying to remember, I go to so many meetings, I can't put it all together, but just a plan for the next three years for your budget cycle each year, what you're looking at.
So your fiscal year starts July 1st, I believe.
So July 1st, 2026, 2027, 2028, just what your expenditure plans are looking like.
And that would help us as far as if you're looking at if 16.5 isn't a realistic number anymore, based on that three year plan, and then it's easier for us as a finance committee to budget that.
I understand, they have to put that together.
It'll be primarily the capital sorts of projects to make things start fairly even, fairly flat from here to here.
That would be helpful to me.
I mean, I don't know about the rest of it.
I'll do this one for the other members.
That'd be great.
Thank you.
Thanks for all the work you do on that.
I know you put a lot of time into that trail.
I said I'm retired, but that's fine.
That was the favorite part of my job when I was paid.
Sure.
You just do it for free, right?
Right.
We'll move on and we have Dave Kaye with us this evening from Blackhawk Hills.
Good to see you, Dan.
You too.
I have money.
It's been a while.
So, it's been a while.
It's been a while.
It's been about a year.
So, good evening everybody.
So, I want to talk about a little bit of work that's done both as a council and as some specific to Stephenson County.
And then also talk about some of the work that I anticipate coming up in the new year.
So, council year, fiscal year, etc.
But I think one of the projects that I probably talked about last time I was here was a project funded by the Department of Transportation and we're still working through that because it's a multi-year project, but one of the things that's paid for as a result of that project, which has now been brought up by two of the presenters this evening, was the deployment of trail counters And I, again, may have noted this last time, but one of the things that we really like about the counters is that they're remotely accessible and that they provide data to us.
We don't have to go to the site.
So there's also a module that you can just go look up the information.
So I know that Andrew had provided in the courts, but on our Northwest Illinois Trails website which is nwiltrails.
Org which I will say that we're hoping to update.
It's looking a little bit rough around the edges but there is a link to trail user accounts on the top that you can click on to see what the trail counts are on not just Stevens County trails but the other counters that we've deployed.
I'll also just add that we are looking to, although with the outside of the scope of the funding that we received from IDOT to deploy additional counters because we like them and comfortable with them now and an example there would be that we worked with U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service to deploy counters on the stretch between Savannah and Fulton, Illinois which was exciting for us because we in this case were offering support to a federal agency to help them with something that they had done past with the same type of counters that we had first used the traffic counters, which are a little bit more simple.
So getting those out there and providing counts to agencies so that they can make decisions about when they plan for upgrades, what kind of events they could do, I think is important.
And as we replace or remove our old counters, we're looking for new opportunities.
So I think there might be some opportunities on the Jane Adams Trail, especially with it being a big trail for one or two more counters in the future.
One of the other projects related to the SPR, the State Planning and Research from IDOT that I want to highlight is the walkability assessments.
We've been reaching out to communities and now have finished six walkability assessments and need to issue reports for them, but essentially that's an opportunity to look at the sidewalk and pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure in a community.
It might be a small corridor, it might be a neighborhood, but the idea is to get those communities into a place where they can do some planning.
You just mentioned that there was a bridge capital improvement plan that was used to apply for grants for the Jane Addams Trail.
So in doing this walkability assessment for our various communities in the region, they can use that document and point to it when they're applying for funding and in fact that was the way that the Village of Dakota one of the reasons they were able to secure planning assistance we eventually helped them with the Safe Routes to School grant which we pointed to some of the deficiencies in the sidewalk network in Village so they use that as a backing document going forward again this is outside of the scope of the IDOT's work but we would look to support other communities whether that's sections in Freeport or the entirety of smaller communities like Pearl City and Orangeville and just giving the communities a planning document which they don't typically have allowing them to move forward with infrastructure activities that they would apply for when grants come about.
Related to just thinking about opportunities and since we've we've mentioned trails, knowing that Stephenson County has trails, but also assets that could be considered parks.
I want to note that there is the open space land acquisition and development grant available through IDNR right now.
We have previously helped communities apply for that in distressed areas.
It's up to 90% on non-distressed areas.
It's 50-50.
But for example, We worked with Rock Falls to get a grant that allowed them to replace their existing tennis courts with a combination tennis and peg-a-ball, but an example where I can think of, especially just because I was there this weekend, but the Blackhawk Monument, just thinking about improvements that could be made to the site, you don't necessarily need to acquire land, but there are certainly, it's actually looking for the slide that used to be up there and it's not up there anymore.
So thinking about just if improvements were to be made either to the picnic shelter, or preservation for the monument that would be potentially a good opportunity for the county to secure some funding for improvements to the site.
So that's due at the end of August this year and if it's not in the cards for this year then that's certainly an ongoing program that's something that the county could pursue in the future.
Another area that I wanted to highlight was our housing design competition, which is now in the stage of our housing sign exhibition.
We're actually exhibiting at the public library at the Creeport right now.
And that was a many month process of having architects inviting them to participate in a cash prize competition to submit designs for single family phones that wouldn't just be affordable.
It wouldn't just be accessible.
A number of criteria that we wanted to promote for the region that was partially funded by the AARP and we were able to get 11 entries and handed out six awards for that but going forward what I hope comes of that and what's something that we advertised during that competition was actually working with the architects to either build in some cases maybe on the sites that's a bigger post for the competition or coming up with designs for any number of places where we could target what's called infill development and that really just against land that has previously been developed on that either.
We've previously been developed on that either is abandoned now or an empty lot and I will say as an organization, as I speak with my board and work with other entities in the area, it would be my goal to eventually work with a few communities on doing kind of test homes, test balloons, how cheaply can we build a house that's still substantial, that still supports the kind of jobs and population growth that we want in the region, starting with small communities, then potentially working up to say a Freeport or a Sterling sized one.
But we're not going to be able to build a thousand homes, not even a hundred, especially right away.
But now that we have interest in that and have established certain principles, we want to see if we can actually do it and encourage other small scale developers to get in on that side.
And although our region certainly in most cases experiences some level of population loss over time with the censuses, even regions that have that in order to one, stabilize and then two, encourage growth within the region really does need new housing because in order to invite somebody into the region, you need a place to put them and that's been an issue I know even for our organization with a new staffer trying to identify a home where she eventually did fine, but it took a couple of years of renting in the region, but finding a house hers, and then also working just, again, with say first-time public servants, maybe everybody that's got a child, they're just by nature of having a child and being a small family, we'd be in a lower income bracket, being able to get them into a house that makes sense for them the initial years.
So looking forward to working again with those communities and putting some of the plans we put together.
But tonight, I will also say, if you get out of the library, check out those designs.
You can also go to the website, the housing.
Blackwaterkills.
Com to see winners and just all the entries.
There's everything from the designs to people's connections to the region.
So I would encourage you to do that if you can.
Another area that I want to point out that we launched at the end of last year a community funding pilot program project and this is something that we promoted through our newsletter and I will encourage you all to go to our website and just click the sign up button if you don't currently get emails.
I know I previously subscribe folks but sometimes those get eaten up so I encourage you to take a look but we had essentially We actually tried to put together an amount of money that we would annually commit to people's ideas that they have about community development projects or public health projects or public safety and see if that was within our goals.
And then from that, try to fund those organizations.
And this was kind of a test.
We ended up funding two entities more on the kind of public health, public safety, a little bit farther from our core mission.
But we'll be reevaluating that to figure out whether we would do that going forward.
We've got the structure for that, but knowing that we're interested also in things like developing housing, we also realize that one of the ways we can inject, I guess, money or investment into a community is by doing some of our own projects too.
So that's something we want to think about, but we're at least able to test the idea and invite people to submit applications to that program.
Capital improvement planning.
I mentioned this because we have had previous cohorts or groups go through our program, which we have set people up to be able to think about their next five years as a municipality, as a county, maybe even as a department or some kind of agency.
And the idea is to look at five years, see what limited resources you have and how you're going to spend that rather than just at the end of the year putting everything together and hoping that it works out for your individual agencies.
And one of the reasons I mentioned that tonight, other than we'd like to continue to work with counties to be able to implement capital improvement plans, we're in the process of hiring essentially a programming consultant to help us refine our program that we've developed a little bit more.
I believe in it enough as a program, the way that it was developed, to continue to invest in it, and knowing that it's a fairly cheap way that we can offer that service, aside from the organization has to have access to our GIS, which is a GIS program.
This is a way for them or us to hopefully help somebody with the most basic plan that a community can have.
Another area just highlighting, we had worked with the Highway Department for Stephenson County to help them secure a rural and tribal assistance pilot program.
And that'll be for intersection improvements just outside of Lena, I think in the form of a roundabout, but they'll be working on that.
So we're excited to see that come through.
And I've mentioned previously the Safe Routes to School for Dakota, which we may be helping out with some further planning on that and also some grants administration.
Finally, just want to encourage the county.
I recently looked at hazard mitigation plans just to see if our counties were up to date.
And I think some are going through the process.
Some are expired.
I think Stevens County is still current but getting close to the deadline of needing to be updated.
And one of the reasons that's important is because it opens up opportunities to apply for funding at the county level.
I know we had briefly talked with the county about potentially applying for brick funding to update or in this case, establish building codes for Stephenson County, which at this time didn't make sense, but we'd like the county and just anybody that we're working with to be in a position to be able to apply for that in the future if you get through the planning phases and decide that it's something you want to pursue.
So making sure that that's on a list of projects that's part of your hazard mitigation plan is going to be pretty important.
So just would encourage that.
And then also potentially working with IDOT on our training lanes project on US-20 to facilitate businesses that are in not great areas for trucks getting on 20 and are up to speed and so on.
So that's something we're going to be exploring in the next year to potentially help institutions.
And again, going forward, looking at those housing issues, looking at capital improvement planning, continued deployment of cellular trail counters and another area which we have helped in the past, which we're talking with one community right now, is that we also want to do some more comprehensive planning.
And so to the extent that our communities, again, need basic plans to kind of guide them, whether it's over a strategic plan that's five years or a long-term plan that's 20, we do have the resources and we have been offering those services essentially, aside from your participation at time, free to those entities just using our existing staff.
So I'd encourage if that's something that you are pursuing to talk with us about it, at the very least we can potentially supplement efforts that you have going with other consultants and so on.
So those are some of the ones that I wanted to go over.
There's always other, I mean other types of opportunities, but that's what I saw fit to highlight tonight, but certainly willing to take any questions of Black Hawk Hills, regional development, and so on.
Questions?
Dan, do you have access to DCEO site readiness grants with information?
I mean, we haven't directly, well, we talked a little bit with Glenda and Stockton about their effort of pursuing those grants into Stockton.
You probably saw that Stockton was successful in Miami-Bloom.
So we weren't directly involved in that effort, but we've participated in some of the initial planning to identify a plan to that.
But the short is, no, we haven't written a grant, but we have had ideas for folks and what they might be going to pursue as what they should look at.
So that's a long tangent, but we finished a strategic plan for City Rochelle, a corridor, actually an industrial corridor down there.
And one of the reasons that we did that plan, we applied for funding, got funding ourselves and then did it for Rochelle Stewart and Lee Coney.
And we did it because we wanted to, there was the idea that they needed to do this type of roadway improvement to increase, improve truck travel and make it safer.
But our contention was that it might not actually work and do the things that they wanted to do.
And I think the study suggested that that probably wouldn't work.
And these are the things you could do instead.
So I would liken that to the site development type programs is that, if very at least in these processes, I think we do a fairly decent job of recommending, like, I know you want to do this, but let's take a look at this too, and potentially come up with alternatives as part of the process rather than putting all your eggs in this 20 acres or this 80 acres.
Do you have a grant writer on staff?
I mean, to some extent we're all grant writers on staff.
I would say the closest thing that we've got to it is one of our regional planners handles the bulk.
I usually work tandem with her to develop those.
And also, depending on the project for a specialty area, I'll have other staffers supporting her.
But one of our regional planners is the finance share of that.
And I think maybe two years ago, I could be wrong on the timing, but Blackhawk Hills had the iFiber, that was sold, solved, there were substantial dollars, I know that came in for that.
Yeah.
What was used, so what were they used for?
This is kind of a long-term planning process for us, but they haven't been used.
They are being invested, at least some of them initially, but the reason that I'm able to sit here and talk about us potentially working in the development space for housing is that we have those dollars in place to be able to use for some of our targeted initiatives.
So I also mentioned the test program for distributing funds for people that submit project ideas.
That was an initial attempt to get a sense of like, how do we make investments with funds that we receive on sale of iFibers assets.
So we're in the combination of, I guess, light investing, which is more passive and in the form of CDs and that, to looking at how do we be more active?
So do we invest in people's projects locally?
Do we make investments in bonds, stocks, and so on, which have obviously greater risk but greater return?
And certainly, if you dedicate part of that, then to a fund, do more projects.
But when I think about the projects that we want to be focused on, given the constant refrain that we need to focus on housing or other types of planning initiatives.
And if you're thinking about returns where the value stays in the region, housing is one of those areas.
I think our board is especially interested in the SETS committee, which is the Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy meeting that meets fairly frequently.
That's one of the areas that we're angling to invest those monies that we received from iFiber is going forward.
But right now, they're in a lock box between our savings and let's just see, that'd be cool.
That's an organization.
Just so everyone's aware too, Dan, George and I are going to start meeting quarterly.
Again, it's been quite a while, I think, since we've had any real update, but trying to be I don't really have a specific chairman's report tonight, just a couple of brief things.
If you look at your emails that come in, you'll see that there are a couple of emails that come in that are very specific to what you're looking for.
I think we've kind of just been a little relaxed on that.
So trying to get more proactive forward.
Yes.
Yeah.
Thank you.
Thank you, Dan.
Thank you.
I don't really have a specific chairman's report tonight, just a couple of brief things.
If you look at your emails that come, U of I Extension is one of those organizations that we support significantly with tax dollars.
And one of the things I would have you look at is that they are, they have, if you look and look for them, they have some really good webinars and seminars that that are available for you to learn about resilient communities and so on.
I know Andrea and I have participated in numerous ones of, you know, if you have a rainy day or whatever, and some of them are recorded so you don't have to be there for that.
But they do have really good information there in regards to things that we can be looking at so that we can utilize some of these organizations, dollars down the road too, so I'll just point that out.
And then I'm going to go off stuff a little bit, but Beth had that question about soil and water and making sure that, are they going to be available to do things that need to be done?
In the past, we had provided some funding to that organization through a county fund for them.
And I would like to explore doing something like that again so that we can support that because as we go down the list here, we're going to find that Soil and Water Conservation District, if we look at data centers, they're going to be the organization that comes first with land use recommendations, water use recommendations.
We don't want to lose their expertise.
So I'm not saying it has to be a lot of dollar, but I think it would be something that we may want to look at for the future again.
They're not, they're not in the position they were when we quit funding.
And so I'd like to explore that kind of where I'm coming from there.
If I could go to Georgia, maybe have Rhianne look at the last agreement that we did have with of Soil and Water and email that out to the committee just so they're aware of that, please.
And maybe a 10-year history of funding, if that's worthwhile.
Yeah.
I mean, it went from.
It's been a long time.
It's been, yeah, I think it's been since before 2019.
Oh, yeah.
Since we last funded, or maybe 2018, somewhere there.
It's been a while.
I think it's long.
Could be, could be.
If you have a chance to look at Mr. Remmers' report on facilities maintenance, I don't know if anybody else wants to comment on that, if I can get it to be first.
Mr. Remmers was looking at the 100 plus year old cemetery, I don't know how many years that cemetery really is out on the corner of Lamb and Route 26 out by Menards and some of the monuments there that need some repair and just some of the ground work there that grave sites have settled and it's difficult to know and in order for him to do that he needs some dollars but he also needs to get a permit to do that so I guess you've probably had more conversations with Mr. Rembers and I have still.
Yeah, I think if you recall, Mayor June, I came to this committee and talked about the condition of it and how I'm committed to making sure that we get that to where it should be.
Wally was thinking filling in holes and dirt, straightening monuments or headstones.
There are several that are broken in half, missing pieces.
Some are just not even there any longer.
So it's going to be a project.
I don't want to do it halfway.
He talked about not having a lot of time before, you know, it gets cold this year to really dedicate that with the amount of mowing that he's doing.
So talked about finding dollars for the 2027 budget to at least start the first half of the program to try to get up to speed and finish it maybe in 28.
If we can't do it all on 27th.
But if you haven't driven by it, I would really encourage you next time you're out of collards to just turn on the corner, 26th and Lamb Road.
Just look, if you're going south and then east, just look on your left.
You can see it from the road that the condition is set.
It's very set.
It's the reason there's a curve in the road.
100%, 100%.
I don't think that spot is ideal for a cemetery.
Boyd has been developed, but it is a cemetery.
So we need to do, in my opinion, better than we have.
If you do go out there and you get a chance to stop, read the monuments that is there, county erected a monument and there's a flag on it, I would encourage you to read it.
And there are serious regulations.
I mean, you can't move a spoonful of dirt out there or add a spoonful of dirt without a permit from IVNR.
Yeah because of desecration so comments on that anybody else all right um you have and we've already talked some about the Illinois department of performance security report any comments anybody noticed on that as you were looking at it would you want any additional comments okay With that, I don't have any other business, so we can move on to new business approval to authorize the intergovernmental agreement for the operation of an enterprise zone in Lena.
Who's taking care of that?
So, you've heard me talk about this.
I think probably more than you here to hear me talk about this.
But before you, this evening is a resolution and ordinance to amend boundaries of the enterprise zone to add in a of the Enterprise Zone to add in around 112, excuse me, 112.23 acres of residentially zoned property within the village of Luna for the purpose of spring residential development.
These are all parcels that are in the village, have water and sewer to them, are parcel or parcel lot, they're somewhat developed already, Herb and Gutter, they're just underdeveloped subdivisions.
Again, the enterprise zone has substantial capacity to have up to 20 square miles.
With these two resolutions added into the zone, we would be looking at the capping off the zone at 13.84 square miles.
So there would be ample space for future boundary amendments, which I foresee happening in 2026 and into 2027.
I am happy to answer any questions you may have.
I would also add that the Lee Wynn School District has signed on to a resolution for property tax abatement for these parcels when they're added.
That would be for the regular property tax abatement schedule that is standard throughout the entire Northwest Illinois enterprise zone.
That's 100% the value of the improvement for three years for residentially zoned property, same thing for commercial and for industrial zone, it is for five years.
Again, this would only be adding residentially zoned property into the village.
Can we do the approval of this resolution and the ordinance amendment at the same time?
You're kidding on the committee, on the County Board, separately, just because they're all, they work together.
So are there any questions?
I would entertain a motion to approve this resolution and amend it.
Motion is there a second?
Awesome.
Any discussion?
Yes, sir.
Can you just speak quickly to the benefits of the enterprise zone for this type of development So primarily the benefits are for these parcels that are residentially zoned to help decrease the cost of building a home would be one is the Building Materials Exemption Certificate.
So building materials that will be permanently affixed into the property so it will basically be real property that are purchased in the state of Illinois can be purchased without having to pay the sales tax on that.
Again, they don't have to be purchased within the zone, they have to be purchased within the state of Illinois but the state sales tax is evaded on the building materials that doesn't account for what we consider FF&E furniture fixtures and equipment but this would be for your drywall studs, electrical systems, HVAC systems, anything that's permanently affixed into the structure.
The second is the property tax abatement portion that I just spoke to.
So again, you can look at it as an abatement or sometimes it's helpful to think about it as a freeze.
All of these parcels are already having a property tax bill but there's no real property on parcel.
So it's a very low property tax bill.
Once a home is built, basically that property tax bill will be frozen at its pre-built status for three years.
And then in the fourth year, it would be assessed at its full value and all taxing bodies would receive, you know, the benefit of that investment.
Does that make sense to you?
So the taxes that we're collecting right now, we continue to collect until the property is developed.
Correct.
Right.
There is no, it's not like a TIF.
There is no pot of money that the property taxes are going into.
There's no abatement that's going to happen unless there's investment and development on the parcel.
Good question.
You said the abatement in regards to the school district.
So is it only the school district that's not collecting or is the county as a whole is collecting no property tax?
Good question, right?
So the property tax, the taxing districts that would be affected by Lee-Win, or the Lena boundary amendment would be Stephenson County, the village of Lena, Highland Community College, and Lee-Win School District.
What about fire department?
They have not signed on.
And can you explain what requirements are needed to qualify for this on the residential side?
What developer do they have to create jobs?
What do they have to do?
In terms of the residential zone, the residential portion, you just have to be in the zone.
You don't necessarily have to be creating a job.
And for commercial and industrial, job creation is important.
There isn't necessarily a minimal threshold that the state adheres to in terms of making the boundary amendment.
But we're seeing these amendments to enterprise zones all over the state because these are one of the only incentive tools we have, especially locally controlled that helps for residential development.
We are fortunate in terms of the Northwest Illinois Enterprise Zone.
When it was set up, there is a residential component to it.
Not all enterprise zones within the state have that.
It's more fuel.
Any councils that are they planning to build in the next couple of years?
To me, there's about five parcels that are from my conversation with the village mayor that I'm looking to be built on and as soon as this is done.
Who owns the lots currently?
A variety.
So it's not a developer per se?
Correct, no.
I don't think that there's any one developer that's holding multiple parcels.
A lot of these are privately owned.
And so, you know, whether they're just looking to sell off the adjacent lot or they've been kind of holding onto this with the idea of that future development for a house that they might own.
There's no massive home builder that's coming into the area.
Yes sir.
Excuse me.
So if I understand this correctly, 112 acres, a half acre lot, we have room for 200 homes plus the infrastructure of the streets going on in that route.
So you're talking about five homes in the next year.
So it's a long way to get to the cap on us.
So my concern is getting to this and then having less cap to do this going forward on other projects.
In terms of when you're referring to, just making sure I'm understanding your question, when you're saying cap, you mean cap in terms of the entire zone?
Correct.
So if we pass this, we'd be down to 13.
So we're adding 112 acres.
We have 13.8 square miles out of 20 square miles.
So we would have substantial area to add into the enterprise zone.
The other thing that we can do is we can remove property from the zone if it is achieved its goal being its already development has been built built or something's happened in terms of land use that you could remove it, it could no longer be built upon.
So it would be likely, I'm not going to tell you a date and time that this is going to happen, but if we're ever nearing capacity within the zone, there are areas within the city of Freeport that are in a floodway that could not be built upon.
And they were put in the enterprise I would suggest removing those that would free up some capacity.
I think we can also look at some solar development where the enterprise zone was, we amended the boundary to support solar development before the state changed some of the incentives.
Now it is no longer necessary solar development can get other incentives that do not involve the enterprise.
Again, we can take that area out of the zone.
It's a very similar process to add area into the zone.
I mean, with all six units of government, they have to pass ordinance and resolution to add area into the zone, as well as to subtract area from the zone.
So, good question.
I wouldn't lose sleep at this point over, you know, hearing capacity, but also to understand that there are steps that we can take so that we ensure that there would be future capacity for future development.
Good development.
Yeah, sure.
One final question.
I believe you said that the village of Lena is also signing off on this, is that correct?
The village of Lena has already signed off on the enterprise zone, including, you're talking about property taxes.
You're talking about property tax payment, right?
I mean 112 acres can't be in a village, right?
This is outside.
This is in the county.
No, 112 acres is all in the village.
So if it were it would be two separate applications because I really need one unit of government to be sponsoring Because a question was asked.
I think when I presented to the Leland school district, there is a subdivision That's within the school district's boundaries.
That's just outside the village and why that wasn't included.
And I specified for that reason.
It's not in the village.
It's within the county.
There could be a conversation in the future if the county were to say we would like, you know, this area added into the enterprise out.
That can happen.
But that's going to start with a conversation from this group here.
And that's the one to the east.
Correct.
Yes, that's correct.
Any other questions?
Thank you.
We have a motion and a second to amend the intergovernmental agreement and amend the boundaries of the enterprise zone, Northwest Illinois certified enterprise zone.
All those in favor say aye.
Aye.
Any opposed?
Motion carries.
On to a resolution to amend the intergovernmental agreement on the east side of Freeport for the AutoSmart and amend those boundaries.
And that has to do because they bought the property and part of their property should have been included in the enterprise zone and it's not, is that?
You're stealing my thunder, but yes, exactly.
It is when the property was sold, There was always two parcels with the property for whatever reason.
The one that has the former visitor center now, AutoSmarts building on it was in the enterprise zone.
The parcel directly to the west, make sure I have my directions correct, was not.
So they're just wanting to add that into the enterprise zone as well.
They're looking to expand, add another building to allow them to expand their showroom.
We had conversation about it, but I don't think we actually did the actual amendment and resolution to, I mean, the Interim Governmental Agreement and the boundary change.
You're right.
We have talked about this before, but this is just the process and it will be approved by the full Board hopefully later this month.
And I'm going around and having this conversation with all six units of government that participate and make up the enterprise zone.
And this is not coming to the board to are you going to be ready for the board meeting next week?
I will plan on, yes, next week, the 20th.
Yes.
I'm going to need a motion to move the motion.
Second.
Any other discussion?
And we have a motion and a second to amend the boundaries of the certified enterprise zone for the AutoSmart property and amend those boundaries and the inter-government.
All in favor signify by saying aye.
Aye.
Any opposed?
Aye.
That motion carries.
One nay.
Any other?
Let's see, on to the text amendment for the zoning ordinance for to define as data centers.
Yes.
I love you, Beth.
We are currently looking at putting a moratorium on this for six months with we can do another extension if needed.
Right now, this would define data center.
We do not have data center in our code.
I was not aware of this, which is ignorance on my part, that if we do not have something in our code, they can come in for a special use and as long as they make all seven LaSalle factors positive, then we have to allow them.
So right now we have no definition of a data center or anything.
So we're going to add the data center definition and then do the moratorium.
The moratorium.
So this will give us time to determine how, um, that, sorry, I lost my train of thought here.
Um, it directs our staff to be able to consult with the ZBA, our attorney, anybody outside in the community that has questions, the County Board members to have input on the development of a data center.
So we can include that in our ordinance.
Um, currently we do have Eric Borneman with him.
And Sean Culbertson working on the ordinance.
That's what you have to do during a moratorium.
You have to make sure you're working on it.
The study that we're going to hopefully look into is addressing issues such as electricity usage, water consumption, noise, traffic, utility infrastructure, environmental impacts and compatibility with the surrounding areas.
It's just more or less doing our due diligence to review best practices and address concerns to help with preparing the county for the future.
Any questions?
Sure, Karen.
Yeah, so you're in no way planning to put ordinances in place that don't allow data centers that you're just looking into what you're doing.
Correct, yes.
Yeah.
Mr. Chair.
Yes, sir.
So we initially, when you and I talked about this, you talked to one year, two years, I asked him two, you said one, now we're down to six months.
Correct, on the advice of the attorney, he suggested six months, because if we do have an application come in, they can legally state that that is unreasonable amount of time, so that's why Mr. Gornemann suggested the six months, and then if we're not ready yet in six months, but I really don't think we will be because I do have other irons in the fire with Mr. Warner as well to help with the zoning office.
So he's swamped with us and his other case load.
I think it will be a one-year moratorium but we will have to come back with another resolution to extend it in six months.
Thank you.
Do you know where the state of Illinois is in there?
Potential Moratorium, is it that conversation?
I've heard that they have stalled on it right now.
I know tax breaks aren't being given.
That's all I know.
I've got it.
I'm just looking at language, if there was something that could help.
I think the definition of the data center is our biggest concern.
Yes.
And I think within our ordinance, we can, you know, add in what we expect from them.
If they need to supply X amount of their electricity, if they need to supply, you know, have a closed loop system with glycerine and instead of all water, you know, I learned that everybody thinks of model ordinance.
We learned this at the seminar.
Yes, a model ordinance.
Everybody wants a model ordinance because then, oh, we'll just adopt the model ordinance.
I never realized that that model ordinance is actually just put together for that one local community.
It's not taking our community, our county, the rural area into consideration.
So what's good for Cook County isn't good for Stephenson County.
So model ordinance is something that we will never follow here.
The last thing I'll say about this, and Beth and I talked about this a little bit, I think eventually the state of Illinois will dictate terms of any data center development just like they did with solar.
What I would like to get out in front of is a data center company coming in and doing putting options on land wherever they think it would be best.
Putting moratorium on it for now at least gives us some control.
And maybe down the road, we designate certain part of the unincorporated section of Stephenson County where they can only be built.
So again, you don't have somebody selling off a hundred acres or 50 acres, whatever they're going to need for their own development DeClauses, Heartburn for Neighbors.
But this order does spell that out.
No, this isn't the ordinance.
Yes.
This is just stalls in a special use program.
But they could still do options.
They could, sure.
The one we were in talks, we just had a preliminary meeting with a company from Axiona, with Axiona, and they wanted to look at potential small data center, which will approximately be the size of the highway department building, um, out by the wind turbines and solar.
They were going to upgrade their wind turbines, upgrade their solar, add more solar so they would be more self-sufficient, but you're not going to have all companies come in trying to be self-sufficient and we just need to get ahead of that because there's a lot of of that, because there's a lot of false, false rumors out there, I guess I should guess it is saying, you know, that our electric rates are going to go sky high because of these data sets.
That's technically not true.
There's X amount on the grid that's available.
And it there's just so much out there that you have to figure what's really true, what's not true.
And it's just hard to decipher right now.
Well, I think what else we learned is at least from the MRI.
We didn't hear from ComEd, but Amaron is requiring any data center company to come in and talk about how they're going to be creating or supplying their own electricity.
I would assume ComEd would be doing the same thing, the grid is the grid is the grid, and they all have a certain amount of capacity and that's it.
It's things like that that we want to make sure that we're out in front of, maybe we can dictate they have to be a closed loop system so that they're not pumping millions Gales Water Thru, but yeah, I just, there's a lot of nuance to it and depending on who you talk to, if you talk to the data center developers, it's all sunshine and roses.
The best thing that ever happened to McHenry, is it McHenry?
I think so.
Somewhere, they just built a, I think, Meta.
DeKalb.
That's DeKalb.
Yeah.
And they're just singing the praises about the revenue tax increment that they're getting.
And they also, a lot of people were giving them tax breaks.
Don't give them tax breaks.
They don't need the tax breaks.
They, one company we learned installed water and sewer for, I don't remember where that was for, but they did a route of water and sewer that would be comparable from Lamb Road to Mill Race Milrace is what the company did for the county.
So they did a call on there that they had to put one of those at Milrace.
Well, it's funny you say it, because when we were at the UCCI meeting, that's exactly what I said is that if they're coming, if they're coming, that's a big if.
Why not steer them to a section in the county like Milrace where that's the only place they can go?
I'm not saying it will work, but somewhat out in the middle of nowhere, There's fewer neighbors at least, but yeah, I would much rather see it there than right next to a housing development or Willow Lake, something like that, just for example.
Other counties have technology overlay districts.
Alice Hinkel is she, is she with Lee County?
Okay, Lee County has the technology overlay district, so.
I don't think anybody's going to be burning or breaking our door down to get into Stephenson County and necessarily do it, but why not be out in front of it?
I feel like we weren't when it came to solar.
But I mean, I don't know whether you or you have had any, but they're already out there looking for land.
And Ben.
Yeah.
Because I have letters, not I have conversations.
For data center?
Really?
Okay.
Because we're close to power.
Right.
That makes things helpful.
May I ask a question or I don't get some?
Okay.
So I don't have a problem with this because you're in our site.
I just have a quick question in terms of the definition.
And again, I've seen data center development.
It looks like, you know, we always think of them as a very large power user, but I am seeing development on a smaller scale.
You have designed to draw 20 megawatts of power or more electricity at full build out.
Is it possible that you can have a developer come in looking to do a small scale development that would not fit this definition?
Yes.
And the moratorium would not apply to them?
Um, that is a question I would have to ask Mr. Borneman.
I honestly do not answer that.
I'm just posing the question because, you know, you would still want to do the due diligence and understand even if it's a smaller scale.
I didn't know if there was a magic around the 20 megawatts.
That may be something he knows more of than I do not at this time.
At this time.
I know we did talk about the smaller scale ones that were interested in our area, so I don't know.
I can get ahold of them and find out before this goes to the floor board on Thursday, next Thursday, I have to meet with you.
Anyway.
She either, a lot of it as is and amended on the County Board floor, or you can lay it over to next month.
Those are the options, I'm not saying good.
Next month is going to be very busy with wind, solar, and energy storage because with our 29- I said I have to deal with this.
It's already 99% up.
I know it's going to be a big, big- You have to find out from Mr. Borgman regardless.
We'll find out from him tomorrow.
Right.
It's up to you guys.
Well, when you think 20 megawatts, the 20-acre solar farms are two megawatts.
So, to give you an idea.
So, if you see those, like, people at the Courier Road, there's a 20-acre solar farm out there, that's too big.
So, if you were looking at 20 megawatts, that's 200 acres.
Pretty big.
That doesn't necessarily mean there's spaces, but that's how many acres of solar it would take.
Right.
I think it's a very valid point that you raise, and for me a moratorium is a moratorium.
I don't care what size it is.
I could see you removing that language.
You can amend it.
Has there been a motion?
There has been a motion.
We don't have a motion or a second right now.
Yeah.
So I'll make a motion to approve this with the Megawatt language stricken from the document.
I'll second that.
Okay.
So we have a motion and a second, and I can't bring this up so I can't say the word.
When we're taking out, we'll approve the moratorium without the language on the Megawatt restriction.
All those in favor?
Aye, aye.
Any opposed?
I think Carrie did well.
Thank you.
Do you still chuck with us?
I am.
Your turn again.
Yes.
All right.
So where are we at?
So the zoning budget, did you see Mycola is 3.5.
Nicole's the assistant director is also the three five.
The code hearing unit, I'm bumping up to 3,500 since we've had an increase in cases.
Building inspector, I'm increasing to 10.
We had thrown 6,000 in there last year for a gentleman that wasn't here last year.
We just started with the building inspector.
He is on the dangerous buildings, which is like a dilapidated building or something that people are living in that they should not be moving in.
We don't go after anything.
We just see if someone complains about something, then he goes after them.
So they didn't know the cost where it was going to be.
He's done four.
His bill to me was 2,500, I think, for the first phase of his process.
So I'm going to bump that up to 10 because we're seeing more and more people complain about buildings.
For Deans, for Zoning Board of Appeals, I'm keeping it 2,000.
Office Equipment, I'm keeping at the 500.
The mileage, which is for Assistant Director and myself, we each have a county vehicle and that's for the gas for it and any maintenance, oil changes and such.
Rent, I'm keeping the same.
I talked to Brian at Highway.
He never knows if it's going to go up or not.
So we'll keep it there.
Meetings and seminars, I'm keeping at 2000 and that should be it.
The only thing I didn't include because I don't know where we're going with it is a comprehensive plan.
Land use plan is 26 years old and it needs to be updated.
So I don't know if we can find grants or how that would could be funded, but it is something that we need to look at sooner rather than later.
But that's my budget.
Do you want to just get any questions?
I mean, we don't have to approve it tonight.
We just have it ready to go.
We can get all of these done once we don't have economic development tonight anyway.
Okay, we'll move on to, thank you very much Beth.
Quick question.
Yes.
Should I, consensus, anything, should I include a line item for?
Well, in my mind, I think we should, but I don't know how much to say.
Right, I know they're over $100,000 minimum.
Thank you for 27 of them.
Okay.
Why I have kids here.
Sorry.
Well, I don't know where we'd come up with that either.
Right, right.
That's, we're going to look into grants.
In a perfect world, we could legalize organizations such as GFP and Black Hawkins to maybe look into.
And I thought he made that comment when he was here.
Yes, he did.
Yeah, we have an appointment scheduled with GFP the following week after 24th.
Are we doing economic development too or not?
I do not do that one.
Okay, I don't have that highlighted here.
Recreation and conservation.
As you see, miscellaneous expense is staying at a thousand.
Kent monument will keep at 400.
Bob town landing stay at 450.
Decreased the all veterans Memorial park electric due to funds previously used.
Kent Monument maintenance, 3,000.
I know we are over that right now, but that was due to extending maintenance circumstances with the trees.
Hopefully that doesn't continue year after year.
Ayton's landing is 3,000.
I think we're over on that one this year because of tree removal as well.
Maintenance and repair to Bobtown, we're going to keep it three.
Brewster's landing in Winslow, I knocked that down to 1,500.
And knocked it down last year, 500 knocked it down to 1500 this year.
Nothing's done there.
It just gets mowed.
The shelter I think needs to be torn down other than that.
That's it.
Um, West block landing, keep it 1500.
The poor form cemetery.
Is there another name for that?
I, uh, according to the state of Illinois, that's the way it's going, I just, I always feel horrible saying that it's Stevenson, you haven't sunk dairy.
Okay.
He's calling that.
I'll have Adrian.
She's trying to like ball on the aves.
It's really Steve.
It's in no safe center, but it's called Stadison County.
Okay.
We haven't added anything into that line because I honestly do not know.
Wally's working on it.
Okay.
And then Jane Adam's trail maintenance fee.
I have that contingent upon a new signed agreement.
Put 16.5 in there.
Yep.
And then mowing decrease that to reflect ones previously used.
So total expenses are down 4% until we add the Stephenson County Cemetery numbers.
That's so cool.
What do we have for Blackhawks Monument?
We need to do some work up there.
We've got 3,000 up there, but the shelter house I think needs some improvement.
Because we need to do, we do that sign that's there and yeah, the, the, the plaque, that is, that's important.
That's, and I don't know what one of those costs would that be like cherry signs or something?
Do they do that?
Or are you talking about it?
Just to clarify, you're talking about looking for Lincoln sign?
Yes.
What is, is that wood?
So I mean, I don't, it's, It's laminate and then it's got I think a plexiglass over it, doesn't it?
I imagine Cherry Science could do it.
Okay.
You know, the highway department has a sign making a shape as well.
If you send me what the sign needs to look at, I can work on that.
Okay.
If you wouldn't mind.
No, because it's more, it's not a sign.
It's a. Black.
Pictures of those.
I'm also having a tree service go out there and do an assessment of all the trees just to see.
Well, see what we need.
It's I think better to figure that out going into it if trees need to come down, we should probably take them down before they fall down.
That's usually the best way to do it.
And there are some massive trees out there.
Old trees.
They wish you'd plant some.
All for it.
Well, yeah, we did approve three trees to be removed and all three were taken out.
Yes, three, I guess it was three.
I can't remember.
Yes.
So maybe come back with it.
We can figure out what we can do on that and we'll go from here.
Anything else for the good of the cause, Chairman?
No, sir.
Talked enough.
Mr. Zimmerman, no comments?
Mr. Diddens?
Brandt, you're good.
Baker?
Motion to adjourn.
And second.
Second.
Allen Baker, thank you very much for the time, guys.
Thank you, ladies, for all the information.
Appreciate it, too.