WEBVTT

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Monroe and Simmons are absent. Parker? Here. Stacy? Present. Shadle? Here. Sanders? Here.

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And Sellers is absent. We do have a quorum, Chair. Thank you. Could everyone join me in

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the Pledge of Allegiance? Sure. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America

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and student republic for which it stands, one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

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And item four would be approval of the agenda.

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So moved.

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Second.

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Motion by Klemm, second by Parker. All in favor?

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Aye.

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Opposed?

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Motion carried.

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Item five would be approval of the minutes from September 16, October 7,

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October 15, October 21, 2024 meetings. Yes. Why so many dates? I would assume that

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it just took a while for a clerk. Go ahead. I think you just answered it. It just took

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a while for her to get them done. So we never approved these other dates before?

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No. Approved prior to the meeting. We haven't approved the minutes of the meeting.

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Okay. Do we get a motion? So move. Motion by Klemm, second by Parker. All in favor?

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Aye. Opposed? Motion to carry. Public comments would be on agenda items limited

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to three minutes. Bernie? I'll make this relatively quick. I did some time, put a

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lot of time into the budget as it currently exists, and I come to the

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conclusion that our governmental funds will expend about $67,819,000, which

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includes capital procurement of $14,919,000, leaving the cash

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Kessler, and John.

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The budget for the cash reserve is

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approximately $31 million, 312,000, which is about 59% of

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the normal operating expenditures.

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52,000, 903,000, not including one-time capital requirements.

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If our fund balance policy calls for six months of cash for

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operating expenditures, I think we are okay.

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Williams, as it is. I was able to determine from the budget documents that I received

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through the emails that we have a capital budget of approximately $69 million. That may

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have changed a little bit because I'm not privy to the current new information. I see

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it is entirely possible to execute all of this according to the way that the city had

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the capital into place with using reserves and within using loans and grants. In the

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end the city should end up with $176,430,000 at the end of the next physical year of which

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121,871,000 belongs to the pension funds,

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leaving a balance of approximately 50,

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if I can see these numbers, 54,500,000 in our cash bank,

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which will meet almost all of our ongoing operating

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requirements for the fiscal year,

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for this physical year and for the next physical year.

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So I have, there are some things that are wrong

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in the budget itself.

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I have a whole list of suggestions

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that we should be looking at seriously

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to align the cost to the functions

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so we can determine exactly what the function,

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the service that the function is providing

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is actually costing.

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I'd like to get rid of

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the interdepartmental department.

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And even as retirements in there,

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they should belong to our current operating departments.

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There's still expenses to those departments.

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Having said all that, I think I've said enough.

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You guys have a good day with this budget.

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When I get the next set of information,

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I can put it all together into my model.

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My model can look at things

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and do some what if analysis on what we can do

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and what we cannot do.

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So far, I'm cautiously optimistic.

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Thank you.

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Thank you, Bernie.

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Thank you, Bernie.

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Item seven would be discussion of the following budgets

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by city manager, Boyer and director Richter.

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It's grants, fire pension, police pension,

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foreign fire insurance and library.

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All right, good evening, everyone.

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Curt, if you could go ahead and pull up the grants,

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starting with the OVW grant.

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So this is the, we're gonna go through all the grants

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and everything on the agenda for tonight.

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And if there's any time left over,

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we're gonna discuss the tax abatements,

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tax levies and any revisions.

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The revisions would be anything that's needed to be changed

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since we started this process through today.

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We have pretty much finalized everything in the budget.

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Everything's looking good and it's balanced.

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We have made some necessary cuts in certain areas

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and we have made adjustments where necessary.

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So anyway, let's go ahead and move forward with the grants.

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The OVW grant, so that's the Office Against Violence of Women.

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The police department has received this grant

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for the past seven years.

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The funds support a portion of the special victims

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unit detectives wages and training.

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And the grants also support wages of the state's attorney

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office and voices.

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So that's one of our partners there.

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There is no match on this.

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Brownfield's grant, so we've got the EPA grant

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for the demo and remediation of the dry cleaners at 1719 West Main Street.

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There's no match, and there's about three years left to complete this.

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Bulletproof vests, that's through the Department of Justice grant,

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so that pays 50% of bulletproof vests for officer replacement vests.

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It requires a 50% match.

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Yes?

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We got a question?

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I just wanted to let council know.

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I didn't rerun, this was from last week,

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when we didn't cover last week's,

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and I didn't rerun it over again,

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because I had it at your spot for last week.

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Yeah.

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So it is on the screen.

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So I just didn't want you to be confused.

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The document I handed out right now

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will be going over at item number 10.

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Okay, if there's any questions on that,

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otherwise we can move on.

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What were you saying about the laundry mat?

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So, that's an EPA grant for demolition, so it has to be remediated and demolished.

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We're getting a EPA grant for that, no match, and we've, I think the total amount's about,

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was it 3 million?

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1.7 million we received.

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1.7 million?

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And we have received it.

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Yes, we've confirmed it.

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We don't have the money in our account, it's a reimbursement grant, so we outlay the capital

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and they reimbursed us up to 1.7 million dollars, which should be more than enough to complete

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the project.

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You said it's a reimbursement?

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What portion of it is to cities?

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Zero.

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Okay, so leaving off, any more questions on that Brownfields grant?

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Okay, moving on, we had the DUI forfeitures, so that's restricted use.

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The funds received through Stevenson County Clerk used by the PD and the enforcement of

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K-9, K-9, K-9, K-9, K-9, K-9, K-9,

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Sex Offender Account. So these funds are received from the

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resignation, or I'm sorry, the registration of sex offenders in the local area. Funds

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are required to be distributed to City of Freeport at 35%, the Sex Offender

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Management Board at 5%, Illinois State Police Sex Offender Fund at 30%, and the

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Illinois Attorney General at 30%.

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and the Attorney General at 30%.

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Okay, moving on. Illinois Department of Natural Resources, round two.

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These are grants from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources

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for demolitions, so there's no match on these.

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Explorer Club, these are restricted. Funds received through donations.

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And they're used to support the Explorer Club at the police department.

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The Explorer Club introduces young people to the field of policing.

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Okay. Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity grants. We received about a $200,000 grant.

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It was received for the purposes of demolitions and there's no match for this. This was gained

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through Senator Stewart's involvement in the appropriation process. Next. Department of

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Commerce and Economic Opportunity demo grants and this is through Bivens. It's a $100,000

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No match and it would also go toward demos. Department of Commerce and Economic

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Opportunity Community Development Block Grant. So this is for housing

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rehabilitation. It's a $500,000 grant with a $55,000 match. Wayne, could you join

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and just mention some of the uses for it? That's what you've been seeing lately

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with the housing rehabilitation grants. We just did one on Center Street. Got

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another two more coming up 1010 South Adams is another one so that's the line

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item right there that you see that's grant that we received to fund those

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housing rehabilitations okay thank you yes what did you say it was a five

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hundred thousand dollar grant yes and what was you what did you say after that

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Yeah, the match was $55,000. So the city pays $55,000, we get $500,000. Approximately 10%.

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Next, we've got the Police Auxiliary Restricted Fund. So these funds are received through donations and they're used to support the Auxiliary Police Department activities.

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Next is the Illinois Housing Development Authority Strong Communities Grant. So this is a $300,000 grant for demolition of homes, and there's no match for this.

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Next is the Illinois Law Enforcement Training Standards Board Recruitment and Retention Grant.

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This is $52,000 to be used to recruit and retain police officers, and this does not include a match.

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Next is the 911 emergency telephone system board. This is a restricted fund per resolution 2024-68

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and the funds are to be used for the operation of the city's 911 system. Illinois EPA grant for EV

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chargers. There's a $320,000 grant with a match of $180,000 that's required and this is going to

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be part of our our first opportunity to install some EV charging stations downtown.

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The $300,000 grant for demo of homes, has that grant been used all up?

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We still got grant money for that. There's going to be another 10 houses coming here for approval in next council meeting to be using that money.

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How much do we have left on that?

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We have most of it left at this point. I have 10, like I said, there's 10 houses coming that'll spend it and then probably I think I'm working on another six after that. So you'll see houses coming up for demolition using those funds.

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So those funds will be used up this year?

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I anticipate close to it. If not, it'll leak over probably into the first quarter of 25.

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DeWitt, DeWitt, DeWitt, DeWitt,

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The balance was $270 and change. But there was one that we passed that the money hasn't been spent on. It's allocated.

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Are we speaking about the SCP grant or the demolition grant for the $300,000? Is that what we're talking about?

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Okay.

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Or I'm asking which one it is.

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That's what I was speaking of.

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Okay.

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Yes, you're speaking of the Illinois Housing Development.

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Yep.

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So the Strong Communities Program grant, we've spent,

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we demolished one house with those grant funds to date.

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We had, I have nine properties coming forward

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where we're going to be using those funds for the demolition.

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We're going to be using the funds for that grant

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to demolish them.

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Part of the reason in the delay was when we first

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received this grant, the Illinois Housing Development

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Authority wanted us to have deeds to the property.

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So I had, I believe, 12 properties coming through that I bought from the trustee so

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that we would actually have title or a deed to the properties. Working with IDA, I was

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able to use the fast track demolition process, which is those orange signs. We had a letter

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from our attorney that they were able to accept so that we no longer have to actually have

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title to the properties. So all that being said, I anticipate now that I don't actually

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have to acquire title first to demolish the properties.

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I anticipate this money being spent quite quickly.

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At the houses you're speaking of on the east side of town,

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the nine coming soon?

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So of the nine coming up that are going to be up

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for the next bid, I have the bid openings the 14th.

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So of those, one of them is 217 Henderson

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is going to be on that list, is going to be in the third ward or east of the river.

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Holden and Sellers.

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Yes, so you're telling me that with whatever is left, you could use that for other houses,

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correct?

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That's my plan.

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I mean, so what ended up when this grant started, we had to have, as I was stating, clean title.

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So I was using this grant money for properties that we would purchase from the tax sale from

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the trustee.

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I was working with IDA to try to expedite our process because unfortunately we have

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a large amount of blighted properties to demolish and I worked with them and had our attorney

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write a letter stating that we had legal authority through the statutory fast track demolition

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process and they said, they looked at that letter and said that would be enough for us

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Barts, Swann, Daniel, Dan, Collin, Kikwam, Carl, Heroes,

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Raine,

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Howie,

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≫ I had to have clean title to the property at that point.

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And in our

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purposes, we were not able to use those orange signs to fund

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those demolitions. So I anticipate this grant funding

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being spent quicker moving forward.

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≫ Yes.

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So in this whole year, we've had one house with the $300,000.

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Huffines.

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That is correct.

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We obviously, I believe the numbers are at this point 26 demolished properties.

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I don't have the number in front of me, but that's what comes to my mind.

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So we were using the city funds to demolish the properties as opposed to the 300,000 because

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the state put the requirement that it said if I put an orange sign on it, that's fast

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track demolition.

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That means the public or the person who owns the property actually still owns it.

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We put the orange sign on it which allows us to demolish it. Ida at one point said you cannot do that.

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You know, you need to have clean title to the property to demolish it. So I worked with them and said, hey,

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we've got plenty of blighted properties here, unfortunately.

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What can we do? And they said, well, they worked with myself and our attorney and we worked on a way to expedite

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the process to unlock some of these funds.

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Spend it quicker.

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Go ahead.

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So did you say that there was only one house on the east side of the town?

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That's not I think we're getting all mixed up

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The city is very fortunate to have many pools of money to demolish properties

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But each pool of money has a different set of rules

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so the

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There's FEMA money that comes and it says here's a set of rules for you to demolish properties on the east side

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that's acquisition and demolition people who own the properties have to

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voluntarily sell those properties before we can demolish them that's one pool of

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money that's most of most of your Eastside demolitions that we talked

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about are in that pool of money this pool of money has a requirement that

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says the city has to have proper title or

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have proper title or legal authority to demolish it and it has to be a residential property.

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So could I use some of this money to demolish an eastside property?

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Yes.

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However, most of this money is being spent to demolish single family residences, duplexes

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that are blighted and that the city has acquired the proper ownership or judicial process to

00:20:22.400 --> 00:20:23.400
demolish them.

00:20:23.400 --> 00:20:28.400
I just know on the east side of town, there's a lot of buildings with orange signs.

00:20:28.400 --> 00:20:42.400
Well, yeah, I could explain that too. So back in the story I was told from my building inspector is that the building inspector went around in 2019 and condemned properties for demolition, put a lot of orange signs up.

00:20:42.400 --> 00:20:49.400
And the city manager at that time told him to stop because they were in the process of getting the FEMA funds for a buyout.

00:20:49.400 --> 00:20:50.400
for a buyout.

00:20:50.400 --> 00:20:54.160
So when you put an orange sign on somebody's property, you give them 30 days notice and

00:20:54.160 --> 00:20:58.200
if they don't fix the property, here comes a bulldozer, they're knocking it down, too

00:20:58.200 --> 00:21:01.960
bad, so say you didn't fix your house up, here's the bill.

00:21:01.960 --> 00:21:04.039
That's what happens when the orange sign goes up.

00:21:04.039 --> 00:21:10.119
Well, the city manager at that time said we would like to work with FEMA so that the person

00:21:10.119 --> 00:21:15.640
doesn't just get their house demolished, they get actual funding from FEMA to buy the property

00:21:15.640 --> 00:21:18.519
and then also the city gets money to demolish it.

00:21:18.519 --> 00:21:24.039
that's why you see many orange signs that didn't get demolished. It was a move by

00:21:24.039 --> 00:21:33.359
a former city manager to actually offer aid to some of those people. Council if

00:21:33.359 --> 00:21:36.920
you would be so kind we do have quite a bit to get through and this is a topic

00:21:36.920 --> 00:21:41.319
that we can definitely talk about. Yeah I can always come in and ask. Is that okay? Yeah.

00:21:41.319 --> 00:21:45.720
Thank you. No problem. Excuse me, Chair. Yes. Director

00:21:45.720 --> 00:21:51.160
Duckman. My recorder died. Could I borrow yours to finish up the meeting? Thank you.

00:21:51.160 --> 00:21:57.000
We need to have a pause while you exchange that. Curt, are we recording okay back

00:21:57.000 --> 00:22:05.079
there? Okay, no pause needed. Thank you. Okay, just moving along. We're at the EV

00:22:05.079 --> 00:22:11.299
grants. Just one second. Alderman Simmons. Well, just a quick question before you

00:22:11.299 --> 00:22:18.660
We move on from this for Director Duckman.

00:22:18.660 --> 00:22:25.099
So my question is, I understand that you have separate money from FEMA, but there are about

00:22:25.099 --> 00:22:32.980
three houses on the east side that you have not been successful in the past few years

00:22:32.980 --> 00:22:35.779
purchasing to demolish with this grant.

00:22:35.779 --> 00:22:42.819
They are clearly abandoned and they are houses that are frequently being dumped at.

00:22:42.819 --> 00:22:48.740
So my suggestion is that you use some of this for that seeing as it has different stipulations

00:22:48.740 --> 00:22:51.940
to get those houses tore down to prevent some dumping.

00:22:51.940 --> 00:22:57.339
It's a good idea and noted and next week I've got one property coming and I'm working

00:22:57.339 --> 00:23:01.180
on, I've talked with you before, I'm working on those other ones as well so I appreciate

00:23:01.180 --> 00:23:02.180
that.

00:23:02.180 --> 00:23:08.019
I guess my suggestion is I would like to see those on the list that you added to this list that you have.

00:23:08.019 --> 00:23:18.900
Sure. Thank you. Manager Boyer. Okay. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Moving on, let's see, we're at the DOT Safe

00:23:18.900 --> 00:23:24.660
Streets for All. So the creation of a plan to increase transportation safety throughout the

00:23:24.660 --> 00:23:31.940
city. So there's a $400,000 grant. It's a match of $100,000 and that's split between 2024 and

00:23:31.940 --> 00:23:39.619
and 2025. So we actually just had a meeting on that this afternoon. All right, moving on.

00:23:41.619 --> 00:23:47.700
A federal portion of the Pretzel City Transit. So there's no city match required for this.

00:23:47.700 --> 00:23:55.940
The grant amount is $198,000.20. The city employees a project compliance and oversight monitor

00:23:55.940 --> 00:24:01.259
Miller, and the Senior Resource Center provides the service here.

00:24:01.259 --> 00:24:11.279
Okay, moving on to IDOT state pension, portion of the Provincial City Transit Downstate Operation

00:24:11.279 --> 00:24:13.639
Assistance Program, or DOPA.

00:24:13.639 --> 00:24:22.200
There's no city match for this, and the grant amount is $1,268,740.

00:24:22.200 --> 00:24:25.960
Next is the Federal Capital Grant for Provincial City Transit.

00:24:25.960 --> 00:24:30.799
This is for cameras on the buses and there's no match for this.

00:24:30.799 --> 00:24:35.480
The Illinois Emergency Management Agency Pre-Disaster Mitigation Grant.

00:24:35.480 --> 00:24:40.480
We've been working on this grant since 2019 for the purchase and demo of properties as

00:24:40.480 --> 00:24:48.329
we previously discussed in the floodway and it requires a 25% match.

00:24:48.329 --> 00:24:51.990
The Fire Pension Fund.

00:24:51.990 --> 00:24:57.130
The presented budget has been accepted by the Firefighters Pension Fund Board of Trustees

00:24:57.130 --> 00:25:02.410
at their meeting on October 30th, 2024, and includes a projection of over $2.3 million

00:25:02.410 --> 00:25:08.559
in earnings for fiscal year 2025.

00:25:08.559 --> 00:25:14.200
The police pension fund, the presented budget has been accepted again by the police pension

00:25:14.200 --> 00:25:19.680
fund board of trustees at their meeting October 30th, and includes a projection of over $2

00:25:19.680 --> 00:25:25.710
million in earnings for fiscal year 2025.

00:25:25.710 --> 00:25:31.389
The foreign fire fund, these funds are collected and remitted to us by the Illinois Municipal

00:25:31.389 --> 00:25:37.549
League, insurance companies that are outside of Illinois that provide insurance within Illinois

00:25:37.549 --> 00:25:44.110
to pay into the fund. The Foreign Fire Insurance Board meets regularly and uses the funds for

00:25:44.110 --> 00:25:49.470
equipment to meet the department's needs and we've gone over this earlier.

00:25:50.430 --> 00:25:56.110
And then last I'm going to give over the podium to Ashley to go over the library budget.

00:25:56.110 --> 00:26:02.869
Okay. Good evening. And first of all, I want to remind you that this is a draft of the

00:26:02.869 --> 00:26:08.549
library's FY 25 budget. We will not have a final budget until we receive the EAV, which

00:26:08.549 --> 00:26:14.589
is the equalized assessed value from the county. Once Director Richter receives these numbers,

00:26:14.589 --> 00:26:20.950
I'll finalize the library's budget and present it to the library board of trustees for approval.

00:26:20.950 --> 00:26:26.509
The library revenue lines include income from property taxes, personal property replacement

00:26:26.509 --> 00:26:31.990
taxes, miscellaneous grants, and donations from the Freeport Public Library Foundation.

00:26:31.990 --> 00:26:36.809
We make a transfer from our restricted reserve accounts to balance our budget.

00:26:36.809 --> 00:26:41.389
All capital improvement projects are funded with library funds only.

00:26:41.389 --> 00:26:46.710
We do not receive any revenue from the City of Freeport's funds for our operations or

00:26:46.710 --> 00:26:49.349
capital improvement projects.

00:26:49.349 --> 00:26:58.910
All our personnel expenses are on lines 213-000-5000 through 213-000-5295.

00:26:58.910 --> 00:27:03.829
I've updated a couple of staff expenditures since this report was created and we are projected

00:27:03.829 --> 00:27:09.589
to spend about $16,000 less than what's on the report in front of you.

00:27:09.589 --> 00:27:19.769
The only large difference in the 24 and 25 budget line, expense lines is 213-000-7010

00:27:19.769 --> 00:27:27.970
and because this was moved to line 213-000-7040, capital outlay.

00:27:27.970 --> 00:27:36.389
Overall, this report shows we will overspend by $40,000 if you subtract the 16,000 I mentioned

00:27:36.389 --> 00:27:42.789
and earlier without the EAV numbers, we are projected to spend $24,000 over our revenue

00:27:42.789 --> 00:27:44.069
amounts.

00:27:44.069 --> 00:27:48.589
This number will continue to decrease as I work with the library board and the finance

00:27:48.589 --> 00:27:49.869
director.

00:27:49.869 --> 00:27:54.910
As the budget becomes more balanced, I'll continue to share it with you.

00:27:54.910 --> 00:28:00.069
So I can go up there and move the slide around if you want me to.

00:28:00.069 --> 00:28:26.610
But do you have any questions?

00:28:26.610 --> 00:28:32.900
Any questions, comments on the library?

00:28:32.900 --> 00:28:38.960
Thank you.

00:28:38.960 --> 00:28:51.960
Maybe I missed it in your last statement, but you said there's gonna be a deficit, so you're gonna keep, you're gonna get back to us as you figure out how to manage that?

00:28:51.960 --> 00:29:04.960
Yeah, so right now the reason why we're not pushing too hard to take care of the deficit is because we could be able to capture that deficit with the EAV numbers, but without that we can't finalize the budget.

00:29:04.960 --> 00:29:12.720
okay so once we have that piece we will be able to report back okay i did miss that thank you you're

00:29:12.720 --> 00:29:33.710
welcome thank you manager boyer and we should be moving on to item eight so this is the discussion

00:29:33.710 --> 00:29:53.099
of the tax abatement bear with me for a minute so when the general obligation bonds are issued

00:29:53.099 --> 00:29:55.740
they are backed by the city's ability to levy and

00:29:55.740 --> 00:29:59.480
the City's ability to levy and collect property taxes. Therefore, the County automatically

00:29:59.480 --> 00:30:04.539
levies the required annual debt service from the City of Freeport property owners on their

00:30:04.539 --> 00:30:10.460
property tax bills. The City has historically abated or canceled this amount on the property

00:30:10.460 --> 00:30:15.099
taxes. By passing an ordinance each year, the property taxes that would otherwise be

00:30:15.099 --> 00:30:20.400
collected from residents is abated. The City instead makes the debt service payment from

00:30:20.400 --> 00:30:22.480
and other city revenues.

00:30:22.480 --> 00:30:24.640
So what you'll see, and I don't know,

00:30:24.640 --> 00:30:27.039
Curt, if you can pull that table up.

00:30:27.039 --> 00:30:29.799
And if everybody could flip into their agenda

00:30:29.799 --> 00:30:31.960
and pull up this memo, there's a table

00:30:31.960 --> 00:30:34.319
that I'm referring to here.

00:30:34.319 --> 00:30:37.960
Below are the individual bond issues, the amounts

00:30:37.960 --> 00:30:40.000
to be abated, and the source of revenue

00:30:40.000 --> 00:30:42.279
that will be used to make the bond payment.

00:30:42.279 --> 00:30:45.599
We have also included the potential increased cost

00:30:45.599 --> 00:30:49.519
in property taxes on an average $100,000 home

00:30:49.519 --> 00:30:51.400
if these bonds were not abated.

00:30:51.400 --> 00:30:54.799
Ordinances to abate these bonds will be on the council agenda

00:30:54.799 --> 00:30:58.319
November 18th, so the next council meeting 2024,

00:30:58.319 --> 00:31:02.519
and then we'll be second reading December 2nd, 2024.

00:31:02.519 --> 00:31:03.960
So we have several of them here

00:31:03.960 --> 00:31:05.920
and I'll just go over them briefly.

00:31:07.119 --> 00:31:11.599
We have bond 2013A,

00:31:11.599 --> 00:31:14.519
and that is the fire improvement source.

00:31:14.519 --> 00:31:20.839
It is the amount abated is $87,875.

00:31:20.839 --> 00:31:23.160
So now we'll be moving forward.

00:31:23.160 --> 00:31:26.440
And in addition to that, we have series 2014B.

00:31:26.440 --> 00:31:30.839
That's for $1,083,143.

00:31:30.839 --> 00:31:34.920
And that is through the Sanitary Sewer Fund.

00:31:34.920 --> 00:31:41.640
We have a series 2015A, and that is $753,365.

00:31:41.640 --> 00:31:44.440
And the funding source for that is TIF, General Fund,

00:31:44.440 --> 00:31:46.960
Storm, and Sewer Funds.

00:31:46.960 --> 00:31:54.599
Series 2016, the amount abated is $181,855.

00:31:54.599 --> 00:31:57.240
And that is abated by the General Fund.

00:31:57.240 --> 00:32:03.200
Series 2018 is $90,215.

00:32:03.200 --> 00:32:08.039
That is abated by the downtown TIF revenue.

00:32:08.039 --> 00:32:19.319
The Series 2020-19A at $236,268.76 is abated through the Street Improvement Fund.

00:32:19.319 --> 00:32:28.799
Series 2020 is $3,299,368.10, and that is abated through the General Fund.

00:32:28.799 --> 00:32:35.000
And then Series 2021 is $240,800, and that is abated through the Street Improvement Fund

00:32:35.000 --> 00:32:36.639
as well.

00:32:36.639 --> 00:32:46.880
Series 2022 total amount is $252,232.50 and that is funded through the Fire Improvement Fund.

00:32:46.880 --> 00:32:57.279
So the total amount abated is $6,225,122.36 and if the abatement for some reason was not passed

00:32:57.279 --> 00:33:04.480
then that would automatically incur an increase to property taxes of $832.88. However, we will not

00:33:04.480 --> 00:33:08.880
do that because we're moving forward we you know staff is recommending moving

00:33:08.880 --> 00:33:25.970
forward with the abatements. Yes. I'd like to know how long or what is the plan to

00:33:25.970 --> 00:33:31.329
this six million two hundred and twenty five thousand how what is the plan to

00:33:31.329 --> 00:33:35.569
get that down and get that a lot lower than that and some of these bonds how

00:33:35.569 --> 00:33:40.930
much longer? Well we're paying on the bonds the payments that were generated

00:33:40.930 --> 00:33:43.289
at the beginning of the bonds, we were making those payments,

00:33:43.289 --> 00:33:46.450
and then we're continuing to service that debt.

00:33:46.450 --> 00:33:48.569
So each one of those, Michelle might

00:33:48.569 --> 00:33:52.809
want to fill in some details, but as far as the total amount,

00:33:52.809 --> 00:33:54.690
we have some coming due soon, but there's

00:33:54.690 --> 00:33:56.849
quite a few there that will be a number of years.

00:33:56.849 --> 00:34:01.089
Michelle, could you describe the scope of repayment?

00:34:01.089 --> 00:34:03.470
So these bonds will take several, several years

00:34:03.470 --> 00:34:04.130
to pay off.

00:34:04.130 --> 00:34:08.929
When we take out a bond, it's usually 20 or 30 years.

00:34:08.929 --> 00:34:11.210
There's nine bonds listed here right now.

00:34:11.210 --> 00:34:12.369
We currently have 10.

00:34:12.369 --> 00:34:17.090
We make the last payment on one of our sewer bonds this year.

00:34:17.090 --> 00:34:19.730
But the way the bonds are structured, there's a,

00:34:19.730 --> 00:34:23.970
so like if I compare it to a car loan or a house or something,

00:34:23.970 --> 00:34:25.970
you're paying a set amount every month.

00:34:25.970 --> 00:34:27.329
It's usually your loan payment.

00:34:27.329 --> 00:34:30.690
You know, say you pay, have to pay every month $500.

00:34:30.690 --> 00:34:33.369
When you do a bond, you can structure those payments.

00:34:33.369 --> 00:34:36.809
And so maybe you pay $500 for the first five years,

00:34:36.809 --> 00:34:39.529
and then you pay $1,000 for the next five years.

00:34:39.529 --> 00:34:44.130
You structure them how you think you'll be able to pay them.

00:34:44.130 --> 00:34:47.889
So the one bond that is going off this year,

00:34:47.889 --> 00:34:50.429
the amount that we pay for that bond

00:34:50.429 --> 00:34:53.949
is really just gonna roll into the other sewer bond

00:34:53.949 --> 00:34:56.090
that we have because it was structured that way.

00:34:56.090 --> 00:35:01.090
So really we don't have a real big savings on that

00:35:01.489 --> 00:35:03.610
because now we have to increase the amount

00:35:03.610 --> 00:35:06.610
on the other sewer one, but we do get rid of one bond.

00:35:06.610 --> 00:35:10.769
So now we're down to nine, but unfortunately it will be many years before we get rid of these.

00:35:16.369 --> 00:35:24.050
I didn't hear what he said when he was at the end. He said administration recommends something.

00:35:24.050 --> 00:35:28.929
Just recommending moving forward with the bond abatement that we've done every year. That's all.

00:35:30.769 --> 00:35:38.529
We're going to have to vote on an ordinance at the next council meeting next week on an ordinance

00:35:38.529 --> 00:35:43.070
to abate the tax level.

00:35:43.070 --> 00:35:45.970
Saying that we're not going to put it on the property tax,

00:35:45.970 --> 00:35:48.170
that we've got money in the budget

00:35:48.170 --> 00:35:51.489
to pay these payments, that we don't have

00:35:51.489 --> 00:35:59.860
to put it on property tax.

00:35:59.860 --> 00:36:01.019
Alderman Sanders.

00:36:01.019 --> 00:36:04.369
Yeah.

00:36:04.369 --> 00:36:08.809
Manager Boyer, you look like you might be a little perplexed

00:36:08.809 --> 00:36:09.809
a little bit there.

00:36:09.809 --> 00:36:10.329
No.

00:36:10.329 --> 00:36:11.409
You OK?

00:36:11.409 --> 00:36:13.570
You got clarity there?

00:36:13.570 --> 00:36:14.170
Crystal clear.

00:36:14.170 --> 00:36:15.369
You're all right with it, in other words?

00:36:15.369 --> 00:36:15.730
Yeah.

00:36:15.730 --> 00:36:16.250
Oh, yeah.

00:36:16.250 --> 00:36:28.380
okay done this every year anything else okay with that uh i want to just uh move on to the discussion

00:36:28.380 --> 00:36:34.059
on the tax levy and as ashley pointed out we have not received the city's tax levy yet we anticipated

00:36:34.059 --> 00:36:39.420
any day now but uh we have uh budgeted according to last year's tax levy we expect it might go up

00:36:39.420 --> 00:36:45.739
slightly but we're not we're not looking at those funds as uh as solid so we budgeted as of last

00:36:45.739 --> 00:36:46.739
Miller.

00:36:46.739 --> 00:37:09.429
We're going to move on to discussions of the budget revisions.

00:37:09.429 --> 00:37:14.269
We started the budgeting process in August, and then we've kind of got whittled down to

00:37:14.269 --> 00:37:15.269
our final revisions.

00:37:15.269 --> 00:37:19.750
Higgins. There's been a number of different changes to make sure that income is aligned

00:37:19.750 --> 00:37:24.269
with expenses. So I'm just going to hit the high points as we go through this. And I'd

00:37:24.269 --> 00:37:29.429
like to start with revenue. And Curt, I'm just going to pop us over here just to kind

00:37:29.429 --> 00:37:36.630
of show you the total revenue we originally budgeted was about 20, a little over $25 million.

00:37:36.630 --> 00:37:42.829
And upon further analysis, it should be a little over $26 million. So that's, that's

00:37:42.829 --> 00:37:47.949
Mayne. However, we are bringing in a million dollars from Fund Reserve to pay

00:37:47.949 --> 00:37:52.710
for one-time grant matches for projects that we're working on. One of them is the

00:37:52.710 --> 00:37:58.349
EV Chargers, the ITEP grant, the flood mitigation grant, the safe streets for

00:37:58.349 --> 00:38:02.789
all. These are all one-time expenses that we want to pull from Fund Reserve to go

00:38:02.789 --> 00:38:12.220
ahead and cover our match on those. Let's see here. Not a whole lot's changed on the

00:38:12.220 --> 00:38:16.619
City Council. You'll see the salaries have been, the salary increases are

00:38:16.619 --> 00:38:22.199
reflected there. Not a tremendous amount, looking like about $2,000 impact to the

00:38:22.199 --> 00:38:34.820
budget. And item 112, commissions, nothing's changed there. City Clerk, we've

00:38:34.820 --> 00:38:39.099
had a couple of small changes. Oops, I'm sorry about that, Curt. I'm stepping on you.

00:38:39.099 --> 00:38:45.579
We, one change we made here was we had a part-time clerk to help Dovie. We've

00:38:45.579 --> 00:38:51.579
we've removed that and there's a few other little changes there. What do you mean

00:38:51.579 --> 00:38:56.059
we moved that? Well for budget we went back through the budget to line

00:38:56.059 --> 00:39:03.029
everything up and we had to take out the part-time person the part-time clerk. Did

00:39:03.029 --> 00:39:12.000
we vote on that? No. This is basically compared to the original budget that was

00:39:12.000 --> 00:39:16.300
put forward in front of council starting in the end of August and going all

00:39:16.300 --> 00:39:18.619
through the fall.

00:39:18.619 --> 00:39:25.720
City Manager Mayor, there's a few changes there.

00:39:25.720 --> 00:39:26.239
I'm sorry.

00:39:26.239 --> 00:39:29.400
So are you saying that we're not going to have a part-time?

00:39:29.400 --> 00:39:30.920
That's correct.

00:39:30.920 --> 00:39:34.760
We're not.

00:39:34.760 --> 00:39:37.079
Manager Boyer, can I clarify?

00:39:37.079 --> 00:39:40.920
We have a, I think, the misunderstanding

00:39:40.920 --> 00:39:44.639
is the deputy clerk that we have now.

00:39:44.639 --> 00:39:46.360
No, no, we still have a deputy clerk.

00:39:46.360 --> 00:39:48.840
She's budgeted for, but this was in and above that.

00:39:48.840 --> 00:39:53.480
The original budget showed funding for a part-time.

00:39:53.480 --> 00:39:53.980
Yes.

00:39:53.980 --> 00:39:56.000
Yeah, it showed up for a part-time assistant. Yes. So that'd be two and a half.

00:39:56.000 --> 00:40:08.030
In reevaluating the budget, that was removed. Any other questions on that?

00:40:08.030 --> 00:40:12.030
You didn't answer his question. Are you said that? That was a statement. That wasn't a question.

00:40:12.030 --> 00:40:18.030
Okay. So we can afford a part-time or we don't need a part-time?

00:40:18.030 --> 00:40:25.030
Well, I mean, I'll let Dovie speak to that. I think we have a new deputy clerk who's doing

00:40:25.030 --> 00:40:29.230
and a fantastic job and when this was originally put together it was based on

00:40:29.230 --> 00:40:34.590
the understanding from before our new deputy clerk so but please tell me if I'm

00:40:34.590 --> 00:40:41.349
right there. Go ahead, Clerk Anderson. That's hopeful however I mean it basically means I'm

00:40:41.349 --> 00:40:46.550
still behind if more work needs to be done and I have to do it I'm salaried so

00:40:46.550 --> 00:40:52.429
I just make less per hour while I do it. There's no room in the budget for it.

00:40:52.429 --> 00:41:03.389
Mr. Chair. Alderman Klemm. So the moral of this story is if you want a part-time

00:41:03.389 --> 00:41:16.449
clerk, speak up. If you want a part-time clerk, what? Speak up. It's your budget.

00:41:16.449 --> 00:41:24.650
Alderman Sellers. I guess at that point if it was put in there the first time at the

00:41:24.650 --> 00:41:31.570
original time and and we did discuss that Dovie did need the extra help if she

00:41:31.570 --> 00:41:33.090
says she's behind.

00:41:33.090 --> 00:41:36.329
There's no need in, if you're already behind,

00:41:36.329 --> 00:41:37.969
and we got more coming down the pipe,

00:41:37.969 --> 00:41:39.650
you're gonna get even more behind.

00:41:39.650 --> 00:41:41.170
I know we have the deputy clerk,

00:41:41.170 --> 00:41:43.329
and she's doing a wonderful job,

00:41:43.329 --> 00:41:47.570
but I guess it's, if it was on there originally,

00:41:47.570 --> 00:41:51.570
what was, I know you're saying, Dovie is saying,

00:41:51.570 --> 00:41:56.449
that we don't have the money in the budget.

00:41:56.449 --> 00:41:59.889
You know, I guess I'm getting from the,

00:41:59.889 --> 00:42:03.489
you saying that we don't need it or I don't know?

00:42:03.489 --> 00:42:07.010
I'm not saying we don't need it, I'm just saying in all the priorities that we have

00:42:07.969 --> 00:42:13.730
that did not rise to the top of the priority list. We have a street department, we've had a number

00:42:13.730 --> 00:42:19.409
of different cuts plus we're looking at other future things for AFSCME so we're trying to do

00:42:19.409 --> 00:42:27.250
everything we can on this end of things, taking out things in the budget that we can live without.

00:42:27.250 --> 00:42:31.210
okay and and so I know Dovie does a tremendous job and she does deserve as

00:42:31.210 --> 00:42:35.650
much help as she she needs but the budget is kind of demanding this and

00:42:35.650 --> 00:42:41.010
chair yes let me add I'm okay with that I mean there's other things that got cut

00:42:41.010 --> 00:42:45.369
I'm okay and I'm certainly okay with giving it a year re-evaluating and

00:42:45.369 --> 00:42:49.489
seeing what next year's budget looks like seeing what our current workload

00:42:49.489 --> 00:42:55.769
and and the new deputy is doing I'm fine with that thank you okay thank you thank

00:42:55.769 --> 00:42:58.869
Thank you, Clerk Anderson.

00:42:58.869 --> 00:43:03.710
OK, Mayor, City Manager, a small increase

00:43:03.710 --> 00:43:05.909
on the education and training travel

00:43:05.909 --> 00:43:12.940
item with everything else pretty much being level.

00:43:12.940 --> 00:43:20.139
Communications department, no change there.

00:43:20.139 --> 00:43:28.260
Finance, very little change, very minute changes there.

00:43:28.260 --> 00:43:30.820
Legal, we did reduce legal slightly

00:43:30.820 --> 00:43:35.139
to line up with our activity for this last year

00:43:35.139 --> 00:43:40.000
and our anticipated activity.

00:43:40.000 --> 00:43:48.719
Public Works, this is the Public Works Director, there's no budget there and no changes.

00:43:48.719 --> 00:43:55.440
Government Buildings, we had $200,000 in for storm windows, those were removed, hoping

00:43:55.440 --> 00:44:02.059
to get that finished up yet this year, if possible.

00:44:02.059 --> 00:44:11.329
Airport, we had no significant changes, no changes at all for the airport.

00:44:11.329 --> 00:44:18.170
Department. We made some changes on just tweaks on the withholdings and the wages

00:44:18.170 --> 00:44:22.650
and that we reviewed that several times. We did take some out of contracted

00:44:22.650 --> 00:44:26.110
building repair and maintenance. We pulled a little bit out of infrastructure

00:44:26.110 --> 00:44:30.570
repair and maintenance. Engineering, we did take a hundred thousand dollars out

00:44:30.570 --> 00:44:39.909
of engineering. We're changing project scope. So in addition on street budget, we

00:44:39.909 --> 00:44:47.869
We also removed on equipment, we made some changes on the equipment, so it was originally

00:44:47.869 --> 00:44:51.510
budgeted at $70,000 out at $45,000.

00:44:51.510 --> 00:44:57.909
And then lastly, we had made some adjustments to the capital outlay, one of which was the

00:44:57.909 --> 00:45:02.550
salt shed, we took that out of the budget.

00:45:02.550 --> 00:45:03.550
The salt shed?

00:45:03.550 --> 00:45:08.670
Yes, the salt shed needs pretty significant repairs, but we're going to have to look and

00:45:08.670 --> 00:45:11.869
and figure out what we can do differently there.

00:45:11.869 --> 00:45:14.230
Alderman Sanders.

00:45:14.230 --> 00:45:17.190
Manager Boyer, is that going to happen soon?

00:45:17.190 --> 00:45:18.110
The salt shed?

00:45:18.110 --> 00:45:20.510
Yes.

00:45:20.510 --> 00:45:23.789
It'll probably be next spring at the soonest.

00:45:23.789 --> 00:45:25.470
But we can get by?

00:45:25.470 --> 00:45:26.110
Yes.

00:45:26.110 --> 00:45:27.029
I mean, we'll get by.

00:45:27.029 --> 00:45:29.110
We're going to have to look at some other alternates

00:45:29.110 --> 00:45:30.909
to make that salt shed last.

00:45:30.909 --> 00:45:32.150
OK.

00:45:32.150 --> 00:45:35.809
Thanks.

00:45:35.809 --> 00:45:37.409
There's just been a few small adjustments

00:45:37.409 --> 00:45:40.289
to the cemetery budget.

00:45:40.289 --> 00:45:42.210
Nothing notable there.

00:45:42.210 --> 00:45:47.000
Same thing with forestry.

00:45:47.000 --> 00:45:49.559
Traffic engineering, similar situation.

00:45:49.559 --> 00:45:55.539
No changes there.

00:45:55.539 --> 00:45:58.980
Street lights, we did reduce street lights.

00:45:58.980 --> 00:46:01.779
Originally, we had $20,000 in for contract equipment

00:46:01.779 --> 00:46:02.539
repair maintenance.

00:46:02.539 --> 00:46:06.340
We dropped that to $10,000.

00:46:06.340 --> 00:46:07.500
And this is a common thing.

00:46:07.500 --> 00:46:10.500
We really made some hard decisions making things work.

00:46:10.500 --> 00:46:13.260
So, yep.

00:46:13.260 --> 00:46:15.699
Hold on, Michelle.

00:46:15.699 --> 00:46:17.460
When you talk about the street lights,

00:46:17.460 --> 00:46:21.059
are we talking about just the bulbs are changing or are we,

00:46:21.059 --> 00:46:24.639
is there anything out there for adding more lights?

00:46:24.639 --> 00:46:27.519
So all of the lights, most of the lights that are out

00:46:27.519 --> 00:46:30.500
in the city are actually ComEd lights.

00:46:30.500 --> 00:46:34.480
We, a couple of years ago, we redid all the downtown

00:46:34.480 --> 00:46:37.279
street lights and that was through a grant through ComEd.

00:46:37.279 --> 00:46:40.720
And then we budget us so much money per year to maintain

00:46:40.720 --> 00:46:42.279
the lights that we maintain.

00:46:42.279 --> 00:46:46.380
So IDOT corridors in the downtown are primarily all of them.

00:46:46.380 --> 00:46:49.340
So just to give you an example, there

00:46:49.340 --> 00:46:51.539
wasn't a tremendous amount coming out of this budget item.

00:46:51.539 --> 00:46:53.739
And in order to get things balanced out,

00:46:53.739 --> 00:46:56.659
we reduced that by 10,000.

00:46:56.659 --> 00:46:57.159
But.

00:46:57.159 --> 00:46:57.659
Oh.

00:46:57.659 --> 00:46:59.579
Alderman Shanner.

00:46:59.579 --> 00:47:01.019
Yeah, manager.

00:47:01.019 --> 00:47:01.659
Yep.

00:47:01.659 --> 00:47:05.900
Boyer, would that also include residential?

00:47:05.900 --> 00:47:06.860
No, sir.

00:47:06.860 --> 00:47:07.900
Residential?

00:47:07.900 --> 00:47:08.500
No, sir.

00:47:08.500 --> 00:47:09.139
No, it doesn't.

00:47:09.139 --> 00:47:10.179
OK, I didn't hear you.

00:47:10.179 --> 00:47:13.779
No, it's primarily our downtown street lighting power bill.

00:47:13.779 --> 00:47:15.539
That's what most of this budget is.

00:47:15.539 --> 00:47:17.380
have there been requests or complaints

00:47:17.380 --> 00:47:20.619
about lighting in residential areas?

00:47:20.619 --> 00:47:22.980
Well, yes.

00:47:22.980 --> 00:47:24.820
Right now, I think most of the light bulbs

00:47:24.820 --> 00:47:27.260
in the residential areas are owned by ComEd,

00:47:27.260 --> 00:47:30.739
and they're 35 watt LEDs.

00:47:30.739 --> 00:47:33.300
That has been brought to the attention of ComEd,

00:47:33.300 --> 00:47:38.820
and no change has been forthcoming.

00:47:38.820 --> 00:47:41.139
So what can the city do about that?

00:47:41.139 --> 00:47:42.579
We can continue to ask.

00:47:42.579 --> 00:47:45.019
But we are dealing with a large corporation,

00:47:45.019 --> 00:47:48.300
and it's governed by the Illinois Commerce Commission.

00:47:48.300 --> 00:47:50.539
And if they have developed the standard for all communities

00:47:50.539 --> 00:47:53.420
at 35 watts, they're in line with their policy.

00:47:53.420 --> 00:47:55.019
That's what we get.

00:47:55.019 --> 00:47:57.139
But if they're not lit up, if they're not

00:47:57.139 --> 00:48:00.380
at the potential of 35 watt.

00:48:00.380 --> 00:48:02.940
So are you saying that we haven't measured the lumens?

00:48:02.940 --> 00:48:04.699
I think they have a replacement schedule.

00:48:04.699 --> 00:48:06.860
I don't know precisely what that is,

00:48:06.860 --> 00:48:10.340
but I would say within 15 or 20 years they need to be replaced.

00:48:10.340 --> 00:48:14.139
But again, 35 watt LEDs are not real bright.

00:48:14.139 --> 00:48:19.420
we did put much brighter lights downtown because we control those so and then on

00:48:19.420 --> 00:48:25.099
on IDOT corridors we're gonna be we're searching outside money for getting the

00:48:25.099 --> 00:48:29.579
IDOT corridor lights fixed so like the intersection of West and South you know

00:48:29.579 --> 00:48:34.179
up and down on West Street on Galena these are areas that are IDOT controlled

00:48:34.179 --> 00:48:40.779
and we're looking for changes to our status as a preferred community with

00:48:40.779 --> 00:48:44.900
ComEd that will open up dollars that will give us grant money to take care of

00:48:44.900 --> 00:48:53.420
those lights in the IDOT corridors. The standard street lights when ComEd did

00:48:53.420 --> 00:48:57.659
their east placements that's part of the energy reduction program and that's why

00:48:57.659 --> 00:49:03.019
they switched them over to LEDs and there are lower looms and that's

00:49:03.019 --> 00:49:07.900
throughout every municipality was to green energy and reduce their take on

00:49:07.900 --> 00:49:13.960
on the cities for lighting dollars.

00:49:13.960 --> 00:49:15.300
Oh, and Sellers.

00:49:15.300 --> 00:49:18.099
I would like for us to try to find out

00:49:18.099 --> 00:49:20.940
how we can add more lights to residential areas

00:49:20.940 --> 00:49:22.840
because I do get a lot of complaints

00:49:22.840 --> 00:49:24.500
about how dark areas are,

00:49:24.500 --> 00:49:27.380
and then even how dark they are

00:49:27.380 --> 00:49:29.340
where they're committing crimes

00:49:29.340 --> 00:49:30.340
because it's dark there.

00:49:30.340 --> 00:49:32.360
And I'm telling you, that's everywhere.

00:49:32.360 --> 00:49:34.539
So if there was some way that we can,

00:49:34.539 --> 00:49:36.820
I know $300,000 for downtown,

00:49:36.820 --> 00:49:38.480
but we need to get, you know,

00:49:38.480 --> 00:49:43.840
Maybe if there's something out there that we can get more bright lights all over the city.

00:49:43.840 --> 00:49:49.039
I know years ago, Tom, remember, they were looking at trying to get more lights

00:49:50.920 --> 00:49:52.039
throughout the community.

00:49:52.039 --> 00:49:56.340
throughout the community, especially, you know, in dark areas. Joy, just keep in

00:49:56.340 --> 00:50:01.380
mind that that is actually just the power bill. Oh. That's the $300,000 power bill.

00:50:01.380 --> 00:50:12.900
Wow. I have a question. Alderman Stacey. The ASME union went from 168 to 177. What

00:50:12.900 --> 00:50:17.860
is that? Wage increase? We put in a nominal figure just to get, you know, to

00:50:17.860 --> 00:50:27.980
have something in the budget for that. What does that mean? You just made up a number?

00:50:29.179 --> 00:50:33.099
No, we know we're going to be doing increases, but we are looking at a,

00:50:33.099 --> 00:50:36.219
I don't know, Michelle, if you want to jump in, that's fine on that one.

00:50:39.340 --> 00:50:47.260
So we did, like city manager said, we did put in a slight increase for AFSCME. We know we're

00:50:47.260 --> 00:50:49.539
and we're going into negotiations next year.

00:50:50.699 --> 00:50:52.940
We are negotiating right now with police.

00:50:54.340 --> 00:50:57.480
So those were two things that are really,

00:50:58.940 --> 00:51:02.079
I don't know, pressing upon me and the city manager

00:51:03.199 --> 00:51:07.420
as far as moving forward and getting a balanced budget.

00:51:08.860 --> 00:51:13.860
In the past, what we could do is once things are negotiated

00:51:13.860 --> 00:51:16.559
Once things are negotiated and settled,

00:51:16.559 --> 00:51:18.900
we've done rebudgets before.

00:51:18.900 --> 00:51:21.659
Like for example, when COVID happened,

00:51:21.659 --> 00:51:24.659
the city put a hold on everything in that March

00:51:24.659 --> 00:51:26.940
and we redid the whole budget,

00:51:26.940 --> 00:51:29.900
brought it to council, talked it through.

00:51:29.900 --> 00:51:33.219
So the process of bargaining,

00:51:34.940 --> 00:51:37.840
we don't know how things are gonna come out at this time.

00:51:38.739 --> 00:51:42.820
So we're doing our best proactive

00:51:43.860 --> 00:51:48.239
Work here in this budget. Okay, so this number that you have

00:51:49.099 --> 00:51:53.159
Inserted at what rate increases that?

00:51:58.369 --> 00:52:11.900
City manager, yeah, it's approximately 5% is there now. Okay with that I'd like to continue on

00:52:12.420 --> 00:52:17.429
There you go. Thank you community development

00:52:19.130 --> 00:52:25.309
We made some adjustments there nothing earth-shaking but there was an adjustment downward on education training

00:52:25.309 --> 00:52:37.940
Police. We made several adjustments. Several of them are down slightly. We're looking at various

00:52:37.940 --> 00:52:46.219
overtimes, doing our best to control that. Also, we had some other upward pressure on the budget,

00:52:46.219 --> 00:52:52.579
and then we also had a position that we removed from there that was not currently, was not going

00:52:52.579 --> 00:52:58.960
to be filled. I'm also reflecting here the decrease in PEP as our negotiation

00:52:58.960 --> 00:53:10.889
goes forward that will be impacted by our police negotiation. Okay, with that I'd

00:53:10.889 --> 00:53:20.650
like to move on to fire. Again, working with Chief Miller, identified areas,

00:53:20.650 --> 00:53:26.289
potential savings. However, we are looking at the safety grant. We've

00:53:26.289 --> 00:53:32.329
We've programmed in some funds for training for recruits that could be funded through the

00:53:32.329 --> 00:53:33.329
safety grant.

00:53:33.329 --> 00:53:35.329
We'll have to see where that goes.

00:53:35.329 --> 00:53:42.130
And we also did some, we removed a project from the contracted building repair and maintenance.

00:53:42.130 --> 00:53:47.869
There's a sewer line that needs updating over at the park fire station.

00:53:47.869 --> 00:53:52.000
So that was taken out.

00:53:52.000 --> 00:53:53.440
Any questions on fire?

00:53:53.440 --> 00:54:05.780
Okay, moving on to building.

00:54:05.780 --> 00:54:15.699
Just a number of slight changes there, nothing of any significance there.

00:54:15.699 --> 00:54:25.940
Animal control, again, just slight changes, nothing of significance.

00:54:25.940 --> 00:54:30.239
Hearing an admin, no change there.

00:54:30.239 --> 00:54:38.659
Human resources, just some slight changes, nothing significant.

00:54:38.659 --> 00:54:47.099
Information systems, it was requested a full-time helper with IT, again, we're

00:54:47.099 --> 00:54:52.860
We're looking to kind of keep things level. Therefore, that was removed from the budget.

00:54:54.699 --> 00:55:00.380
We also had a few, you know, ancillary wage level changes, you know, the withholdings and things

00:55:00.380 --> 00:55:13.550
changed in combination with that. Interdepartmental, some of this is related to our retirees. We

00:55:13.550 --> 00:55:18.750
believe we have a couple of people dropping off of group insurance this year, so that's reflected

00:55:18.750 --> 00:55:28.750
We've also got capital improvement and grant match. Those have been added. The grant match there is the projects we talked about earlier.

00:55:28.750 --> 00:55:37.349
And the last one is the landfill withholding. We're reducing the amount going back to the landfill fund.

00:55:37.349 --> 00:55:51.400
Projects fund, basically we're taking the sidewalk grant down from $20,000 to $10,000 and so that's essentially some savings that we were able to gain there.

00:55:51.400 --> 00:56:01.000
neighborhood housing funds some marginal changes Michelle did you want to comment

00:56:01.000 --> 00:56:09.720
on any of those neighborhood housing we just added the real estate tax line item

00:56:09.720 --> 00:56:17.300
so when we acquire a property we take on the property taxes for that property

00:56:17.300 --> 00:56:21.279
until we can get it exempted so we have to fill out some paperwork to get it

00:56:21.279 --> 00:56:22.279
Huffines.

00:56:22.279 --> 00:56:28.279
So we're usually liable for a little portion of the property taxes for a property when

00:56:28.279 --> 00:56:29.840
we acquire it.

00:56:29.840 --> 00:56:35.840
So I thought it more appropriate to be in this fund rather than the general fund because

00:56:35.840 --> 00:56:40.440
we're going to, you know, usually demo it out of this one or a grant.

00:56:40.440 --> 00:56:42.480
So that's the difference there.

00:56:42.480 --> 00:56:48.159
And the $55,000 transfer out, that is the grant match for the single family housing

00:56:48.159 --> 00:56:50.760
rehab grant right there.

00:56:50.760 --> 00:56:58.150
that's where the grant match comes from for that particular grant. Alderman Sanders.

00:56:58.150 --> 00:57:03.309
Yeah, I can barely read that last line you were speaking of. What is those

00:57:03.309 --> 00:57:06.869
numbers? Alderman Sanders, we actually have a printed out hard copy there at your

00:57:06.869 --> 00:57:13.510
desk. Yeah, you've got a hard copy if you need it as well. Which one?

00:57:13.510 --> 00:57:27.610
that's the line transfer out yeah I couldn't see that number 55 okay yes all right thank you okay

00:57:27.610 --> 00:57:34.090
well we're getting close here we probably got time for a couple more oh health care oops health care

00:57:34.090 --> 00:57:44.460
fund no changes there um let's see OV we've already discussed the grant funds I'm going to move that

00:57:44.460 --> 00:57:49.980
Down. What is the VW for? That was the Office of Violence Against Women Grant for the Police

00:57:49.980 --> 00:58:13.539
Department. We talked about that earlier. It's library funds. No changes there. Ashley discussed

00:58:13.539 --> 00:58:25.960
that. I'm sorry. Ashley just brought that up. What about that? Motor fuel tax funds. Just realigning

00:58:25.960 --> 00:58:36.300
some of the revenue figures here. No major changes. Downtown revitalization loan funds.

00:58:36.300 --> 00:58:48.170
that is a set up to for downtown redevelopment. No changes there. Public

00:58:48.170 --> 00:59:00.130
safety fund, no changes there. Cemetery care fund, no changes there. Downtown TIF,

00:59:00.130 --> 00:59:03.309
we had a couple of small changes but pretty much everything lines up.

00:59:03.309 --> 00:59:18.769
Lamb Road TIF, no changes and I think I'm out of time. So that will pick this up

00:59:18.769 --> 00:59:33.360
after the meeting. Thank you. Is there, we'll save the summary discussion for later.

00:59:33.360 --> 00:59:45.239
Should we save public comments till after we finish? I think so, yeah. If we have to

00:59:45.239 --> 00:59:50.800
finish this out, it's not time for public comments yet, I would say so.

00:59:50.800 --> 00:59:58.400
so we would need a motion to recess this meeting until after after the regular

00:59:58.400 --> 01:00:07.099
council meeting could I get a motion to recess this motion by Sellers second

01:00:07.099 --> 01:00:13.739
second by Clem all in favor aye opposed