WEBVTT 00:00:01.360 --> 00:00:04.400 Good evening. Michelle, could you please give the invocation? 00:00:11.000 --> 00:00:18.559 Lord, we thank you tonight for this city of Freeport. We thank you that Freeport has a destiny and a purpose for your kingdom. 00:00:19.000 --> 00:00:24.280 Tonight, we pray for an increase in wisdom and understanding, unity and community. 00:00:24.600 --> 00:00:31.379 Let this meeting be in order because you are a God of order. Let each one speak in respect to one another. 00:00:31.379 --> 00:00:37.020 Let grace abound in this meeting and let this meeting accomplish what it should. In Jesus name, Amen. 00:00:37.280 --> 00:01:10.510 Now we'll call this committee of committee of the whole meeting to order. Madam Clerk, could you please take the role. Mayor Miller? Here. Alderpersons, Klemm? Here. Johnson? Here. Simmons? Here. Parker? Here. Stacy? Here. Shadle? Here. Sanders? Here. And Sellers? And if you could please stand for the Pledge of Allegiance led by Alder and Stacy. 00:01:10.510 --> 00:01:14.390 which it stands, one nation, under God, 00:01:14.390 --> 00:01:21.760 indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. 00:01:21.760 --> 00:01:24.319 Item number four is approval of the agenda. 00:01:24.319 --> 00:01:25.519 Is there such a motion? 00:01:25.519 --> 00:01:26.640 So moved. 00:01:26.640 --> 00:01:29.379 Second. 00:01:29.379 --> 00:01:31.120 We have a motion made by Alderman Shadle, 00:01:31.120 --> 00:01:32.599 seconded by Alderman Klemm. 00:01:32.599 --> 00:01:34.819 All those in favor signify by saying aye. 00:01:34.819 --> 00:01:35.659 Aye. 00:01:35.659 --> 00:01:37.140 Opposed? 00:01:37.140 --> 00:01:38.680 That motion passes. 00:01:38.680 --> 00:01:40.340 Item number five is approval of the minutes 00:01:40.340 --> 00:01:41.819 from the Committee of the Whole meeting 00:01:41.819 --> 00:01:44.060 held on June 9th, 2025. 00:01:44.060 --> 00:01:44.900 Is there a motion? 00:01:44.900 --> 00:01:53.780 We have a motion made by Alderman Shadle seconded by Alderman Johnson all those in 00:01:53.780 --> 00:01:59.560 favor signify by saying aye aye opposed that motion passes we have no public 00:01:59.560 --> 00:02:04.219 comments on agenda items so we will move on to item number seven which is the 00:02:04.219 --> 00:02:19.389 presentation of the Tree City USA manager Boyer thank you honor good 00:02:19.389 --> 00:02:23.469 evening everyone it's a privilege to stand before you tonight to accept on 00:02:23.469 --> 00:02:29.530 On behalf of the City of Freeport, I renew designation as Tree City USA Community. 00:02:29.530 --> 00:02:36.349 Since 2021, Freeport has proudly held this recognition and in 2023, we earned the Tree 00:02:36.349 --> 00:02:41.349 City USA Growth Award, acknowledging our measurable progress in expanding and improving urban 00:02:41.349 --> 00:02:44.030 forestry in meaningful ways. 00:02:44.030 --> 00:02:48.930 These honors are not just accolades, they are a reflection of our values and of your 00:02:48.930 --> 00:02:52.770 leadership as the governing body of the City of Freeport. 00:02:52.770 --> 00:02:57.770 The Committee of the Whole ensures that the preservation and growth of our urban forest 00:02:57.770 --> 00:03:02.490 remains a part of our long-term vision. 00:03:02.490 --> 00:03:08.129 Tree City USA, a program of the Arbor Day Foundation, set out four key standards, a 00:03:08.129 --> 00:03:13.610 tree board or department, a public tree care ordinance, a dedicated forestry budget, and 00:03:13.610 --> 00:03:15.770 a meaningful Arbor Day observance. 00:03:15.770 --> 00:03:21.610 These aren't check boxes, they're indicators the city is serious about sustaining quality 00:03:21.610 --> 00:03:26.650 of Life and Environmental Stewardship. Tonight's recognition shows that Freeport 00:03:26.650 --> 00:03:31.050 continues to lead by example. This work would not be possible without dedicated 00:03:31.050 --> 00:03:36.169 partners. First, my gratitude to the city staff, especially Pat Ingram, whose 00:03:36.169 --> 00:03:40.370 leadership has kept our efforts focused and effective. Special thanks to our 00:03:40.370 --> 00:03:44.490 forestry crew, Keith and James, for their hard work maintaining and caring for our 00:03:44.490 --> 00:03:48.689 trees in all seasons. I also want to thank Nick Connolly, who's done an 00:03:48.689 --> 00:04:07.090 We are fortunate to partner with the Freeport Park District and particularly Bruce Cuberley, who plays a major role in hosting Arbor Day events. 00:04:07.090 --> 00:04:18.089 We are equally grateful to the volunteers who take the time to prepare saplings for planting and help many of those events truly become community centered. 00:04:18.089 --> 00:04:24.329 The yield program led by Ted Odendahl and Robert Bush and Renata Weathersby continues to be a meaningful partner in this work. 00:04:24.490 --> 00:04:32.490 Their team helps plant and maintain the trees while also building real life skills and a sense of purpose for program participants. 00:04:32.490 --> 00:04:38.930 And I want to express special appreciation to Tiffany Bender who ensures our Tree City USA 00:04:39.089 --> 00:04:45.129 application is properly submitted each year, an important task that keeps Freeport and Good standing with the Arbor Day Foundation. 00:04:45.129 --> 00:04:50.449 This year we also celebrate a remarkable new recognition. Right here in Freeport 00:04:50.449 --> 00:04:55.129 we are home to two rare American chestnut trees, a species once nearly 00:04:55.129 --> 00:05:00.569 wiped out by blight across North America. These trees standing approximately 73 00:05:00.569 --> 00:05:06.050 feet tall with a 135 inch circumference have been nominated as Illinois State 00:05:06.050 --> 00:05:11.230 Champion Trees for the inclusion in the Illinois Big Tree Register. This is an 00:05:11.230 --> 00:05:12.230 Huffines. 00:05:12.230 --> 00:05:15.670 It is an extraordinary honor and a testament to the care and conditions we've cultivated 00:05:15.670 --> 00:05:16.670 in Freeport. 00:05:16.670 --> 00:05:22.670 It's also a reminder that the legacy we plant today can grow into something truly historic. 00:05:22.670 --> 00:05:27.990 Committee members, this award and everything it represents would not be possible without 00:05:27.990 --> 00:05:30.069 your commitment. 00:05:30.069 --> 00:05:35.790 You are the stewards of our shared vision for a greener, healthier Freeport. 00:05:35.790 --> 00:05:40.629 Your leadership as both the city's governing body and our official tree board ensures that 00:05:40.629 --> 00:05:44.790 We're the trees are not an afterthought, but a foundational part of what makes our city 00:05:44.790 --> 00:05:45.790 thrive. 00:05:45.790 --> 00:05:49.870 On behalf of our staff, partners, and residents, thank you. 00:05:49.870 --> 00:05:51.430 Let's keep growing forward together. 00:05:51.430 --> 00:06:01.579 Thank you very much. 00:06:01.579 --> 00:06:05.579 Item number eight is the presentation of the Fire and Police Pension Actuary Reports. 00:06:05.579 --> 00:06:10.610 Jen Turk. 00:06:10.610 --> 00:06:21.129 I'm Jen Turk, I'm from Neihart, we're the actuaries for the police and fire plans. 00:06:21.129 --> 00:06:27.389 So our kind of role is to, as of January 1st, we give a snapshot of how well funded the 00:06:27.389 --> 00:06:33.449 plan is, how much unfunded liability is still left to be paid off, and then we determine 00:06:33.449 --> 00:06:37.810 a contribution that's more aggressive than what the state minimum is. 00:06:37.810 --> 00:06:42.850 The state wants you to fund to 90% by 2040. 00:06:42.850 --> 00:06:51.050 The city has always been a little more conservative in their funding plan to get to 100% by 2040. 00:06:51.050 --> 00:07:11.050 So we'll look at a few kind of highlights of our process. First at the top there you can see assets performed pretty well during 2024 on a market value basis, which when we say market value, that's just what's in the bank basically as of January 1st. 00:07:11.050 --> 00:07:17.050 So the market value for 2024 was about 10% returns. 00:07:17.050 --> 00:07:22.449 There's another kind of asset value that we use which is called that actuarial value 00:07:23.050 --> 00:07:28.649 And that's more of a smoothed value where we average out a few years of returns 00:07:28.689 --> 00:07:31.410 So we don't have big spikes in the contributions 00:07:32.129 --> 00:07:35.810 So when we look at the return on that basis, we are at about four and a half 00:07:36.370 --> 00:07:40.110 And we'll look at a chart that kind of shows the details behind that 00:07:40.930 --> 00:07:43.449 Not a lot of movement with the census 00:07:43.449 --> 00:07:49.329 Davis, the counts went up slightly, salary increases were just barely higher than expected 00:07:49.329 --> 00:07:54.129 on both plans, very close to what the assumptions would be. 00:07:54.129 --> 00:07:59.730 The funding percentages came down just a hair from last year, and that's because of that 00:07:59.730 --> 00:08:06.009 actuarial value rate of return being a little bit less than your, you know, hurdle rate, 00:08:06.009 --> 00:08:11.870 if you will, of 6-7-5, and then the contributions go up a little bit depending on which set 00:08:11.870 --> 00:08:15.350 of Assumptions, the board decides to use. 00:08:15.350 --> 00:08:17.110 So later this month, we're meeting 00:08:17.110 --> 00:08:20.389 with both the police board and the fire board 00:08:20.389 --> 00:08:22.110 to talk about a few options. 00:08:22.990 --> 00:08:27.550 And then, so yeah, I guess that's kind of the high level. 00:08:28.410 --> 00:08:31.850 This shows all the participant information 00:08:31.850 --> 00:08:34.330 that goes into our evaluation. 00:08:34.330 --> 00:08:35.610 So we get a snapshot. 00:08:35.610 --> 00:08:38.950 It's the same kind of consolidated fund, 00:08:38.950 --> 00:08:42.190 and I do I type filing that you guys do every year. 00:08:43.070 --> 00:08:45.549 So you can see from last year to this year, 00:08:45.549 --> 00:08:49.750 both the actives, which is current employees had gone up. 00:08:50.870 --> 00:08:53.750 I think three actives from the fire plan had left, 00:08:53.750 --> 00:08:56.070 but then six new people were hired. 00:08:56.070 --> 00:08:58.309 And this counts as of January 1st. 00:08:58.309 --> 00:09:01.509 So that could have changed a little in the interim. 00:09:01.509 --> 00:09:05.389 A little bit more turnover on the police side even. 00:09:05.389 --> 00:09:07.909 There was, I believe six people had left 00:09:07.909 --> 00:09:10.950 during 2024 and 11 were hired. 00:09:10.950 --> 00:09:14.029 So you can see it went up a little bit on both. 00:09:14.029 --> 00:09:16.870 Not a lot of movement otherwise, a couple of new retirees, 00:09:16.870 --> 00:09:19.169 a couple of new deaths, kind of as expected 00:09:19.169 --> 00:09:21.029 for the rest of the groups. 00:09:21.029 --> 00:09:23.269 And then on that bottom section, 00:09:23.269 --> 00:09:26.470 it shows kind of averages for the groups. 00:09:26.470 --> 00:09:30.110 So in pay, that would include beneficiaries 00:09:30.110 --> 00:09:31.750 who are getting a spousal benefit, 00:09:31.750 --> 00:09:35.970 retirees, disabled participants. 00:09:35.970 --> 00:09:38.129 So you can see their monthly benefit. 00:09:38.129 --> 00:09:39.690 It goes up about as expected. 00:09:39.690 --> 00:09:43.049 There's 3% colas on a lot of their benefits. 00:09:43.049 --> 00:09:45.509 So each year you expect that to kind of step up 00:09:45.509 --> 00:09:48.070 as those colas get recognized. 00:09:48.070 --> 00:09:50.289 So you see both the police and the fire, 00:09:50.289 --> 00:09:54.929 they went up about as expected at that 3%. 00:09:54.929 --> 00:09:57.230 The bottom section you can see, 00:09:57.230 --> 00:09:59.570 the fire stayed fairly stable. 00:09:59.570 --> 00:10:00.409 There wasn't a... 00:10:00.409 --> 00:10:01.840 There wasn't as much turnover on that side. 00:10:01.840 --> 00:10:04.820 So the age and the service stayed very stable. 00:10:04.820 --> 00:10:06.120 On the right hand side, 00:10:06.120 --> 00:10:08.759 you can see that the average age came down a little bit 00:10:08.759 --> 00:10:11.159 and that was due to that turnover. 00:10:11.159 --> 00:10:15.120 So you lost a couple of, you know, longer tenured, 00:10:15.120 --> 00:10:16.320 you know, I don't wanna say older, 00:10:16.320 --> 00:10:21.320 but more mature police officers getting hired 00:10:21.399 --> 00:10:23.360 in younger guys. 00:10:23.360 --> 00:10:25.700 So age went down, service went down a little bit 00:10:25.700 --> 00:10:28.659 on that police side just because of that turnover. 00:10:32.080 --> 00:10:34.940 So I touched on the assets. 00:10:34.940 --> 00:10:37.419 So that market value, that red line, 00:10:37.419 --> 00:10:40.539 that's what's actually in the bank as of January 1st. 00:10:40.539 --> 00:10:44.059 So it's at the whim of the market. 00:10:44.059 --> 00:10:46.019 There could have been a huge swing that day 00:10:46.019 --> 00:10:47.980 and all of a sudden you have higher assets 00:10:47.980 --> 00:10:51.379 or there could be a loss that day and you end up with lower. 00:10:51.379 --> 00:10:53.620 So to kind of take away some of that volatility 00:10:53.620 --> 00:10:54.820 of that red line. 00:10:54.820 --> 00:10:57.139 Those are rates of return. 00:10:57.139 --> 00:11:00.179 We kind of smooth in, kind of do an averaging 00:11:00.179 --> 00:11:01.879 of investment returns. 00:11:01.879 --> 00:11:06.299 And so instead of recognizing a million dollar gain 00:11:06.299 --> 00:11:10.299 in one year, we'd kind of recognize that gradually 00:11:10.299 --> 00:11:12.580 over the four or five years. 00:11:12.580 --> 00:11:14.100 So you can see the black line. 00:11:14.100 --> 00:11:17.740 That's the actual value, smooth value. 00:11:17.740 --> 00:11:19.899 You can see it still has some peaks and valleys, 00:11:19.899 --> 00:11:22.940 but it really cuts through and kind of tries 00:11:22.940 --> 00:11:26.180 to maintain a little bit more of steady progress 00:11:26.180 --> 00:11:27.860 for your long-term planning. 00:11:29.259 --> 00:11:32.799 So, and this is just a different picture of it. 00:11:32.799 --> 00:11:35.019 This is the actual dollar values 00:11:35.019 --> 00:11:37.299 of both of those types of assets. 00:11:37.299 --> 00:11:40.580 So the market value you can see more volatile. 00:11:40.580 --> 00:11:43.419 The actual value kind of cuts through that to smooth it out. 00:11:43.419 --> 00:11:46.039 So that's kind of exactly what we wanted to do. 00:11:46.039 --> 00:11:48.980 Some years it's higher, some years it's lower, 00:11:48.980 --> 00:11:50.659 but in the long run we expect those 00:11:50.659 --> 00:11:52.779 would be the same on average. 00:11:54.440 --> 00:11:56.279 All right, a lot of numbers on this page. 00:11:56.279 --> 00:11:58.200 I'll try and point out kind of the key ones 00:11:58.200 --> 00:12:00.159 that we wanna look at. 00:12:00.159 --> 00:12:03.759 So kind of halfway down, you can see that funded percentage. 00:12:03.759 --> 00:12:06.639 That's a big kind of reporting item 00:12:06.639 --> 00:12:09.000 that a lot of places look at. 00:12:09.000 --> 00:12:10.759 You can see you're very well funded. 00:12:10.759 --> 00:12:14.819 Last year, that first column is the last prior evaluation. 00:12:14.819 --> 00:12:18.279 You were at just a hair under 98%. 00:12:18.279 --> 00:12:22.600 This year, if we keep all of the assumptions that we use, 00:12:22.600 --> 00:12:26.559 so salary increases, mortality, 00:12:26.559 --> 00:12:28.759 how long people are gonna live, 00:12:28.759 --> 00:12:32.840 if we keep that all the same for this valuation, 00:12:32.840 --> 00:12:34.559 we'd be at that middle column. 00:12:34.559 --> 00:12:37.240 So you can see the funded percentage comes down a little bit 00:12:37.240 --> 00:12:40.600 from a hair under 98 down to 96. 00:12:40.600 --> 00:12:43.840 And then the bottom half of that page 00:12:43.840 --> 00:12:49.960 Kind of shows the pieces that go into the contribution calculation. 00:12:49.960 --> 00:12:57.080 So that total normal cost, kind of the first line, that's the value of all the officers 00:12:57.080 --> 00:13:00.559 and the firefighters working another year. 00:13:00.559 --> 00:13:05.039 So they're going to work a year, they're going to go from 10 years of service on average 00:13:05.039 --> 00:13:06.799 to 11 years of service. 00:13:06.799 --> 00:13:10.899 So they're going to get a higher benefit, and that's what that represents, is the portion 00:13:10.899 --> 00:13:16.000 that is being earned in this upcoming year. 00:13:16.000 --> 00:13:19.779 Employees pay a portion of that, so that's what that employee contribution line is. 00:13:19.779 --> 00:13:25.700 They pay 9.9, I think we're at, or 10 percent-ish. 00:13:25.700 --> 00:13:28.980 You don't pay any expenses out of that, so we don't count that. 00:13:28.980 --> 00:13:33.819 Then that amortization, kind of in the middle of the calculation, that's where we're paying 00:13:33.819 --> 00:13:36.220 off that unfunded liability. 00:13:36.220 --> 00:13:42.220 So it's being gradually recognized, kind of like a mortgage, for the next 15 years I think we're at now. 00:13:43.220 --> 00:13:51.220 So the contribution, if we make no changes, is going to go from $700 up to $850 for the fire. 00:13:52.220 --> 00:14:04.220 If we adopt, if the fire board and the police board adopt new assumptions that we're looking at, it'll be about $791,000 for the contribution. 00:14:04.220 --> 00:14:12.740 Any questions? It's a similar story on the police side. I think I need to go to 00:14:12.740 --> 00:14:18.240 the next page and it won't let me. It's a similar story. The funded 00:14:18.240 --> 00:14:23.620 percentage comes down just a little bit if we keep the old assumptions, comes up 00:14:23.620 --> 00:14:28.120 a hair if we keep the new assumptions. Similar story for the contribution goes 00:14:28.120 --> 00:14:29.120 and so on. 00:14:29.120 --> 00:14:34.319 It goes up to about 482,000 if we keep everything the same. 00:14:34.319 --> 00:14:38.879 And if we adopt those changes that the board's going to look at, we'll be at 430,000, give 00:14:38.879 --> 00:14:41.079 or take a couple thousand. 00:14:41.079 --> 00:14:43.680 So any questions? 00:14:43.680 --> 00:14:50.440 I know it's a lot to throw at everyone, but and then we have just for disclosure kind 00:14:50.440 --> 00:14:53.399 of items at the end here if anyone's really bored. 00:14:53.399 --> 00:14:58.759 So, this kind of shows the contributions or the assumptions that we're currently using 00:14:58.759 --> 00:15:04.519 and then this consolidated, that's the big study that the consolidated funds have done. 00:15:04.519 --> 00:15:07.279 So those are the ones that we're looking at as an option. 00:15:07.279 --> 00:15:13.740 So, we'll finalize that at the end of the month, I guess. 00:15:13.740 --> 00:15:14.740 Hopefully. 00:15:14.740 --> 00:15:15.740 Legalities. 00:15:15.740 --> 00:15:16.740 Anything? 00:15:16.740 --> 00:15:17.740 Any questions? 00:15:17.740 --> 00:15:18.740 All right. 00:15:18.740 --> 00:15:21.950 Thank you, Jen. 00:15:21.950 --> 00:15:22.950 Thanks. 00:15:22.950 --> 00:15:29.250 We move on to item number nine, which is the greater Freeport partnership quarterly. Andrea 00:15:29.250 --> 00:15:30.250 Schultz-Winter. 00:15:30.250 --> 00:15:38.740 Thank you. Good evening. We're going to start tonight's report a little differently than 00:15:38.740 --> 00:15:46.139 we have in previous quarterly presentations. We took some feedback that we had received 00:15:46.139 --> 00:15:52.379 from previous reports asking questions about jobs. So that's where we're going to focus. 00:15:52.379 --> 00:15:58.299 but as Nicole has handed out and I think as was attached into the agenda is a full digest 00:15:58.299 --> 00:16:04.019 of the partnerships activities in the last quarter and again those are always organized 00:16:04.019 --> 00:16:10.500 by our strategic focus areas and those focus areas were developed from our strategic plan 00:16:10.500 --> 00:16:16.200 which was done in partnership with the city's strategic plan as well. 00:16:16.200 --> 00:16:20.860 So we're going to start as I mentioned with labor, with work. 00:16:20.860 --> 00:16:26.019 So in front of you on the screen is a bunch of numbers, a little less than what your previous 00:16:26.019 --> 00:16:28.220 presentation had. 00:16:28.220 --> 00:16:33.259 But I want to draw your attention to a couple of key items was the unemployment rate in 00:16:33.259 --> 00:16:40.720 Freeport went up slightly from April of this year to, from April to May 2025. 00:16:40.720 --> 00:16:45.139 Those are the most current, most current data points that we have at this point. 00:16:45.139 --> 00:16:50.700 However, our unemployment rate is still below the state average, which is a 4.8%. 00:16:50.700 --> 00:16:54.839 and the national rate is right at 4.2 as well. 00:16:54.839 --> 00:16:58.740 Some things that I would also like to draw your attention to is there was in the month 00:16:58.740 --> 00:17:06.400 of May 927 unique job postings in May 2025 by 249 employers. 00:17:06.400 --> 00:17:11.539 So in the previous month of April, there was 852 unique job postings. 00:17:11.539 --> 00:17:18.839 So those are unique job opportunities from employers who are in Stevenson County. 00:17:18.839 --> 00:17:23.839 of those job postings, the median wage was $26.40 per hour, 00:17:25.000 --> 00:17:27.900 which equates to about $55,000 per year. 00:17:28.799 --> 00:17:31.019 So when you have an idea of what job opportunities 00:17:31.019 --> 00:17:34.920 are out there, I would say that this is a good paying job. 00:17:35.799 --> 00:17:38.639 Some of the top employers posting are listed there 00:17:38.639 --> 00:17:41.639 before you, which as you look at the top occupations 00:17:41.639 --> 00:17:44.160 that you see, you can see some correlations. 00:17:44.160 --> 00:17:46.160 So I think if you have young people at home 00:17:46.160 --> 00:17:48.400 or who are looking for career opportunities, 00:17:48.400 --> 00:17:52.259 these would definitely be educational pathways 00:17:52.259 --> 00:17:53.680 that I know Freeport High School 00:17:53.680 --> 00:17:57.639 as well as Highland Community College have curriculum in 00:17:57.639 --> 00:17:59.960 and these are needed professions 00:17:59.960 --> 00:18:04.170 currently and into the future. 00:18:04.170 --> 00:18:06.269 I know of looking at preliminary data 00:18:06.269 --> 00:18:11.269 that already in June there's over a thousand job postings. 00:18:11.529 --> 00:18:16.529 So there is an increase in the jobs that are available. 00:18:16.529 --> 00:18:19.690 So what I'm trying to illustrate here 00:18:19.690 --> 00:18:22.410 is that there are jobs in Freeport. 00:18:23.529 --> 00:18:25.490 And this correlates to what I'm really hearing 00:18:25.490 --> 00:18:27.009 from our business community. 00:18:27.009 --> 00:18:29.029 As we do business retention visits, 00:18:29.029 --> 00:18:32.690 which we've done over 40 in this quarter, 00:18:32.690 --> 00:18:37.690 about 73 to date, is that employers would like to grow. 00:18:38.630 --> 00:18:41.409 Their barrier to growth is having enough 00:18:41.409 --> 00:18:45.650 qualified employees, qualified talent. 00:18:45.650 --> 00:18:48.049 And as we know, and as we're gonna talk about 00:18:48.049 --> 00:18:56.970 and our presentation today, employee growth, talent retention, talent recruitment happens 00:18:56.970 --> 00:19:00.130 because you need to have a lot of things going on in the community. 00:19:00.130 --> 00:19:01.450 You need childcare. 00:19:01.450 --> 00:19:07.049 You need a purposeful, intentional talent attraction campaign. 00:19:07.049 --> 00:19:09.009 You need training opportunities. 00:19:09.009 --> 00:19:13.670 We need, once we get a new resident here, we need to make sure that they're sticky, 00:19:13.670 --> 00:19:17.970 that they know what's going on in the community, that they get involved, that they understand 00:19:17.970 --> 00:19:41.970 We need to have a home. We always want that paycheck that leaves that employer to come home to a bed in Freeport and in Stevenson County. That's critical. If we have the jobs here, that's wonderful. But when that paycheck leaves the community, so does a lot of the money that goes with it. 00:19:41.970 --> 00:19:57.639 As mentioned, there are 73 business retention visits thus far this year. We're going to talk a lot about some of the barriers to employment and some of the activities that the partnership is working on to help overcome those barriers. 00:19:57.639 --> 00:19:58.000 We've talked about housing being an issue. 00:19:58.000 --> 00:20:06.000 We've partnered with the NAACP Housing Committee, as well as the United Way, to hold a series of stakeholder engagement sessions. 00:20:06.000 --> 00:20:12.000 I know many of you who are in the room tonight were participating in those engagement sessions, and we thank you. 00:20:12.000 --> 00:20:19.000 Future effort, what we heard from those engagement sessions from the public is that work will be done. 00:20:19.000 --> 00:20:24.119 Thank you. Future effort. What we heard from those engagement sessions from the public 00:20:24.119 --> 00:20:29.920 is that work will really need to be focused in three separate areas. One will be around 00:20:29.920 --> 00:20:35.599 financial education, helping that renter become the future homeowner. And what's the pathways 00:20:35.599 --> 00:20:41.720 to do that? Housing improvement. What resources are out there? If I'm a homeowner, if I'm 00:20:41.720 --> 00:20:47.559 already a homeowner, how do I access some of these resources to improve my residence? 00:20:47.559 --> 00:20:49.079 and then housing growth. 00:20:49.079 --> 00:20:52.759 How do we get more residential units to come online? 00:20:52.759 --> 00:20:56.160 And that's where the partnerships work will really be focused. 00:20:56.160 --> 00:21:00.880 Additionally, in childcare, we know that there are many people who would like to enter the 00:21:00.880 --> 00:21:07.640 workforce or return to the workforce after having a child, but they have nowhere for 00:21:07.640 --> 00:21:09.960 their young one to go. 00:21:09.960 --> 00:21:16.160 So we developed a survey to engage our childcare providers as well as our employers to really 00:21:16.160 --> 00:21:19.900 We understand what the impact of those shortages are. 00:21:19.900 --> 00:21:25.000 These responses are being used to inform a public information campaign that will be launched 00:21:25.000 --> 00:21:26.640 in the third quarter. 00:21:26.640 --> 00:21:30.640 But I can tell you already that some of those focus areas of that campaign are going to 00:21:30.640 --> 00:21:37.039 be around targeting our employers to let our employers know what child care resources do 00:21:37.039 --> 00:21:38.640 exist. 00:21:38.640 --> 00:21:45.079 Some people don't know that the YWCA is a service area within Freeport and they provide 00:21:45.079 --> 00:22:01.079 We're connecting those resources with the HR department, so when they have employers that come to them and say, hey, I'd really like to come up to show up for my shift, but I'm having trouble finding childcare, they can help connect those dots. 00:22:01.079 --> 00:22:14.079 Some of the other things we're going to be talking about is trying to build that capacity, attracting new childcare providers, also helping those that are here, how do they grow more slots, how do they expand? 00:22:14.079 --> 00:22:15.079 Sand. 00:22:15.079 --> 00:22:19.839 And if there are any in-home child care providers that are in existence or there are more that 00:22:19.839 --> 00:22:27.200 want to come online, what resources, what processes do they need to go through to offer 00:22:27.200 --> 00:22:29.319 in-home child care? 00:22:29.319 --> 00:22:36.099 And lastly, also targeting the information for parents and guardians, helping them know 00:22:36.099 --> 00:22:37.839 what resources are out there. 00:22:37.839 --> 00:22:42.539 I'm going to turn the presentation over to Nicole, who's going to talk a little bit more 00:22:42.539 --> 00:22:48.139 and more about marketing the region. 00:22:48.139 --> 00:22:49.139 Good evening. 00:22:49.139 --> 00:22:54.559 We have spoke to you in previous presentations regarding our talent attraction strategy. 00:22:54.559 --> 00:23:00.860 That was really trying to organically grow who we got back to Freeport. 00:23:00.860 --> 00:23:04.299 So letting people know who were here, hey, this is really great. 00:23:04.299 --> 00:23:06.420 Things are advancing. 00:23:06.420 --> 00:23:08.740 Here's some new opportunities that are happening. 00:23:08.740 --> 00:23:10.900 Come on back. 00:23:10.900 --> 00:23:12.940 It was hard to reach people that way. 00:23:12.940 --> 00:23:18.380 So we're being much more creative about that now, being a little bit leaning into the weird 00:23:18.380 --> 00:23:23.059 is the one session I listened to the other day, but just saying you've grown up, so have 00:23:23.059 --> 00:23:29.019 we and kind of highlighting some of the ways that our community continues to thrive and 00:23:29.019 --> 00:23:33.599 bringing the people back who want to be part of that progressive movement. 00:23:33.599 --> 00:23:37.700 So one of them is bringing back alumni families, people who already have a connection to this 00:23:37.700 --> 00:23:45.700 Settlers, and then also young families, because that is the demographic that's going to help 00:23:45.700 --> 00:23:49.660 us continue to enrich our communities. 00:23:49.660 --> 00:23:52.880 And as Andrea said, some of those barriers are housing and childcare. 00:23:52.880 --> 00:23:56.639 So again, all of this kind of has to work at the same time. 00:23:56.639 --> 00:24:01.819 And then also helping employers to understand the resources that we as the partnership can 00:24:01.819 --> 00:24:07.680 provide so they're not just trying to market and sell their company and their job opportunity, 00:24:07.680 --> 00:24:10.440 they're also selling what it is like to be a resident 00:24:10.440 --> 00:24:12.559 of Freeport and Stevenson County. 00:24:12.559 --> 00:24:15.339 So putting all of that together in a comprehensive package 00:24:15.339 --> 00:24:17.720 so that everybody is working in tandem 00:24:17.720 --> 00:24:22.079 as people are looking to relocate to an area like Freeport. 00:24:22.079 --> 00:24:26.940 And I have people say, well, really who moves to Freeport? 00:24:26.940 --> 00:24:30.319 Actually 158 postcards were mailed to new residents 00:24:30.319 --> 00:24:33.360 in the second quarter, that's in all of Stevenson County. 00:24:33.360 --> 00:24:35.960 But it's what I'm gonna say it's passive 00:24:35.960 --> 00:24:37.440 when you mail out a postcard, 00:24:37.440 --> 00:24:40.420 we can't, I don't have more contact information 00:24:40.420 --> 00:24:42.779 than just the address that they purchased. 00:24:42.779 --> 00:24:47.639 But we've had 15 of those return back to us. 00:24:47.639 --> 00:24:50.920 So 10% and say, yeah, I wanna know more 00:24:50.920 --> 00:24:53.960 about Freeport or Stevenson County or where I live. 00:24:53.960 --> 00:24:55.599 So I've had the opportunity to meet 00:24:55.599 --> 00:24:57.519 with two different group meetings 00:24:57.519 --> 00:25:01.039 and then three people individually for coffee 00:25:01.039 --> 00:25:04.039 and tell them about the area, explain to them 00:25:04.039 --> 00:25:06.279 about what resources or who they can reach out to 00:25:06.279 --> 00:25:08.559 Huff, they have questions. 00:25:08.559 --> 00:25:11.599 And overall, it's positive sentiment. 00:25:11.599 --> 00:25:19.839 We've had people from Florida, from Texas, and then more locally, Monroe, Wausau, Wisconsin. 00:25:19.839 --> 00:25:24.400 My last one that I did, I had a lot of people from the Cowler County region who had moved 00:25:24.400 --> 00:25:30.400 here and they can't say enough about how friendly the people in Freeport are. 00:25:30.400 --> 00:25:33.720 Somebody was saying, you know, I go to Walmart and the lady asked me how my day is and she 00:25:33.720 --> 00:25:35.480 genuinely wants to know the answer. 00:25:35.480 --> 00:25:40.360 I go to the DMV and the people are nice, like they're nice and so those are the types of 00:25:40.360 --> 00:25:43.259 things that we really love to hear. 00:25:43.259 --> 00:25:49.460 They're not naive to the fact that every community can always do more to progress but they understand 00:25:49.460 --> 00:25:53.000 coming from a different community that Freeport is no different. 00:25:53.000 --> 00:25:58.639 So we love hearing that feedback knowing that people who are coming here are really enjoying 00:25:58.639 --> 00:25:59.639 their experience. 00:25:59.639 --> 00:26:05.950 And I'll turn it over to Bill. 00:26:05.950 --> 00:26:06.950 Thank you. 00:26:06.950 --> 00:26:13.269 One of the ways we work on jobs is we try and help existing businesses to thrive and 00:26:13.269 --> 00:26:19.789 we help those who want to start businesses to get access to the tools and the resources 00:26:19.789 --> 00:26:21.210 that help them grow. 00:26:21.210 --> 00:26:25.389 So we've done a few things in the last quarter on that realm. 00:26:25.389 --> 00:26:28.769 One we held a session on succession planning. 00:26:28.769 --> 00:26:34.250 We know that one of the reasons some businesses close is because business owners can't or 00:26:34.250 --> 00:26:36.250 and 00:26:37.250 --> 00:26:39.250 John. 00:26:40.250 --> 00:26:42.250 We have a lot of people who don't want to continue and they 00:26:43.250 --> 00:26:45.250 have a hard time finding someone, they don't have someone to 00:26:46.250 --> 00:26:48.250 follow, to take over the business for them. 00:26:49.250 --> 00:26:53.250 And so we held a session working with a local law firm to talk 00:26:53.250 --> 00:26:58.250 about those strategies and to start planning that early on 00:26:58.250 --> 00:27:02.250 before you need it. And we are looking forward to 00:27:02.250 --> 00:27:18.250 We also had a home show in April, a home show, it's the second, third time we've done the home show, and it's just an opportunity for some of our businesses, our contractors, our small businesses to interact with people. 00:27:18.250 --> 00:27:26.529 Miller. We have a wide range of usually small businesses that participate. Over 30 businesses 00:27:26.529 --> 00:27:33.329 this year participated and got to talk to several hundred people that came to the home 00:27:33.329 --> 00:27:42.329 show. We finished up the 2025 base camp in the beginning of the second quarter. We had 00:27:42.329 --> 00:27:47.769 our last class and then we had our pitch competition. Our pitch competition was a chance for the 00:27:47.769 --> 00:27:52.930 and the participants of the Basecamp to show what they learned, to talk about their business, 00:27:52.930 --> 00:28:00.369 to pitch their competition, their business to a panel of judges that then rated them 00:28:00.369 --> 00:28:06.389 and we were able to give out over $6,000 in prizes, in cash prizes to those businesses 00:28:06.389 --> 00:28:11.930 so that kind of helps them, you know, thrive and do some things. 00:28:11.930 --> 00:28:17.730 This year in Basecamp we had 14 participants, 11 women, 3 men, and it was a busy group 00:28:17.730 --> 00:28:18.730 and I. 00:28:18.730 --> 00:28:25.690 During the class that started in January and ended in April, we had two of them open businesses. 00:28:25.690 --> 00:28:31.210 One was Full Circle Cafe, which is in the library, and one was a lawn care business, 00:28:31.210 --> 00:28:34.730 which was kind of a side business for one of our participants. 00:28:34.730 --> 00:28:41.529 Another participant changed focus and decided that she was interested in working and purchasing 00:28:41.529 --> 00:28:46.769 a business, and we helped her connect with a business that was interested in selling 00:28:46.769 --> 00:28:52.509 and they're actively discussing that and we're working with them about resources. 00:28:52.509 --> 00:28:56.809 And several other businesses have told us that the skills that they learn and the connections 00:28:56.809 --> 00:29:02.090 that they made during base camp have helped them with their business. 00:29:02.090 --> 00:29:07.409 And then the last thing that we have in the entrepreneurial section is our CEO program. 00:29:07.409 --> 00:29:12.849 This is a brand new program that we're doing in conjunction with the school district, with 00:29:12.849 --> 00:29:19.929 and the Freeport School District that is a class that doesn't cost the school district 00:29:19.929 --> 00:29:27.490 anything, and it takes a class full of students, it's a four-credit class, and it teaches them 00:29:27.490 --> 00:29:32.130 entrepreneurial and business skills, kind of the soft skills, puts them in front of 00:29:32.130 --> 00:29:38.769 80 different businesses over the course of the year, and teaches them those soft skills 00:29:38.769 --> 00:29:43.130 but also teaches them about all the industries that are right here in Freeport that they 00:29:43.130 --> 00:29:49.929 can they can make a career out of and this is a this the Midland CEO program is already 00:29:49.929 --> 00:29:54.950 being done in over 70 different communities around the country so there's there it's 00:29:54.950 --> 00:29:55.950 been road tested 00:29:55.950 --> 00:30:04.799 So it's been road tested and the evidence shows that there's a lot of those kids that go through that program end up staying in town. 00:30:04.799 --> 00:30:13.640 They realize they can have a career, they can start a business, they can work for a business that they met during the class and have a very fruitful career. 00:30:13.640 --> 00:30:21.759 So we're working right now to get that program up and running and we're looking forward to that as a great way to grow some entrepreneurs 00:30:21.759 --> 00:30:51.470 Thank you, Your Honor. The City of Freeport has codified an ordinance section 460.16 that 00:30:51.470 --> 00:30:57.269 requires updates and modifications for overweight and oversized permitting. One of the challenges 00:30:57.269 --> 00:31:02.509 here is many communities have updated ordinances related to this. We have a 00:31:02.509 --> 00:31:08.950 lot of folks coming through town using accessing our transportation network and 00:31:08.950 --> 00:31:15.150 one of the challenges is we need an opportunity to have a fee to recover the 00:31:15.150 --> 00:31:20.869 costs that are related to reviewing that permit and also that gives us the 00:31:20.869 --> 00:31:26.990 opportunity to keep heavy loads off of certain routes. When we repave a new 00:31:26.990 --> 00:31:56.990 Street in town. We don't necessarily want a shorter route that happens to go across our newly paved street to take priority over an other route that may be a little longer, but doesn't take doesn't take operators right through some of our nicest redone sections. So city staff and the attorney are suggested in the following changes in 460.11 section. So the title should be modified to say overweight and oversized vehicles, create an 00:31:56.990 --> 00:32:26.990 Wait and oversized City of Freeport permit that has to be submitted with the exact route for the trip permitting process and invoicing methods. Permitting should be required inside city limits, no matter what roads are being used within the city limits, including state IDOT routes, as they can still turn off onto local streets once they come into city limits. We need to add 625 ILCS 5-15301 to this section, and that created an O and 00:32:26.990 --> 00:32:32.650 O, a fee schedule that currently does not exist, and that would include $150 for an 00:32:32.650 --> 00:32:38.210 individual one-time permit, $1,200 for an annual permit, and the annual permits are 00:32:38.210 --> 00:32:41.869 tied to the individual license plate of the vehicle only. 00:32:41.869 --> 00:32:46.309 The oversized and overweight vehicle will still need to report the exact route every 00:32:46.309 --> 00:32:51.869 time by email with permit numbers each time for record approval. 00:32:51.869 --> 00:32:55.509 also suggest a $500 penalty for non-compliance of permitting. 00:32:55.509 --> 00:33:01.549 The penalties in 422.99 are set at a $100 penalty and companies will not get permits 00:33:01.549 --> 00:33:05.190 and will change if it's not increased. 00:33:05.190 --> 00:33:10.829 So staff and the attorney time is the only financial impact to this at this point and 00:33:10.829 --> 00:33:14.349 staff recommends this ordinance amendment. 00:33:14.349 --> 00:33:19.069 If applicable, it will be done for the July 21st meeting for council approval. 00:33:19.069 --> 00:33:29.970 and for questions I'd also like to invite Darren Steekle to add to anything that I missed. 00:33:29.970 --> 00:33:32.930 So I just want to give you guys a clear overview of this. 00:33:32.930 --> 00:33:35.769 So this is not for standard semi loads. 00:33:35.769 --> 00:33:37.130 This is not for buses. 00:33:37.130 --> 00:33:39.410 This would not apply to garbage trucks. 00:33:39.410 --> 00:33:41.450 It would not apply to the fire department. 00:33:41.450 --> 00:33:45.049 It would not apply to agricultural during season. 00:33:45.049 --> 00:33:50.049 So our main routes are permitted at 80,000 pounds. 00:33:50.049 --> 00:33:55.589 So this would be trucks that are over 80,000 pounds, which is the legal load limit. 00:33:55.589 --> 00:34:00.410 This would also protect our bridge that we have on Hancock. 00:34:00.410 --> 00:34:06.130 Anybody that's oversized or overweight would never be permitted to go across our bridges. 00:34:06.130 --> 00:34:11.730 Obviously we've got to get Hancock viaduct complete before we can put that in place. 00:34:11.730 --> 00:34:16.389 But it's one of our largest, most expensive structures to protect. 00:34:16.389 --> 00:34:19.130 I have done research on this. 00:34:19.130 --> 00:34:22.730 Any towns our size and larger have different rules. 00:34:22.730 --> 00:34:28.670 Some of them are done on weight where they pay by the pound, but we don't have certified 00:34:28.670 --> 00:34:32.829 scales that are available to us that the city owns. 00:34:32.829 --> 00:34:38.750 And so talking with Chief Shenberger, we would not be able to enforce a permit at a weight 00:34:38.750 --> 00:34:39.750 limit. 00:34:39.750 --> 00:34:43.809 So if we took them to weigh them, we wouldn't have any officer that would be qualified because 00:34:43.809 --> 00:34:48.029 we don't own certified scales and the cost would be prohibitive to have. 00:34:48.029 --> 00:34:52.070 So what I came up with after reviewing a bunch of them was just a flat fee. 00:34:52.070 --> 00:34:56.750 And I talked to a few of our regular trucking companies that do oversize and overweight 00:34:56.750 --> 00:35:00.630 in Freeport, and they felt that the fees that are here are similar to other communities 00:35:00.630 --> 00:35:05.190 our size and very fair for annual permitting costs. 00:35:05.190 --> 00:35:07.389 So I'll give you an example. 00:35:07.389 --> 00:35:12.389 A normal semi that's hauling freight through Freeport would not need a permit. 00:35:12.389 --> 00:35:17.230 Somebody that's moving a very large excavator that's a wide load to a specific job, that 00:35:17.230 --> 00:35:47.230 would need either a one-time permit or an annual permit to move that and then they have to submit their route with the axle weights that they're running so we can review the route and say hey we just paved this street we would want you to take a different route so we're managing where they're going within the city it's a very fair expectation we have had an oversized and overweight permit honestly for years on the books but it does seem that it has never really been enforced and they've 00:35:47.230 --> 00:35:52.070 We've never really been a permit processed to it, where there's actual physical permit 00:35:52.070 --> 00:35:53.070 filled out. 00:35:53.070 --> 00:35:58.110 It was always just kind of done by emails or word of mouth, and I would like to formalize 00:35:58.110 --> 00:36:03.269 something that is a record keeping process just like our other permits, so it's fair 00:36:03.269 --> 00:36:10.190 to all and everybody has to do the same standards to be able to have it done. 00:36:10.190 --> 00:36:14.630 If it's approved, we would send this out to the people that we know that truck through 00:36:14.630 --> 00:36:19.429 Frippor, all the time, and we would give them a grace period to get this, you know, implemented. 00:36:19.429 --> 00:36:24.150 So it's not something that we would be punitive on. 00:36:24.150 --> 00:36:28.309 Obviously, we need to let people know that we have this permit out there. 00:36:28.309 --> 00:36:35.130 I do want to let you guys know the reason this came up was the state of Illinois has 00:36:35.130 --> 00:36:41.829 been detouring oversized loads outside of town down Henderson Road. 00:36:41.829 --> 00:36:47.230 We own Henderson Road and it's a local road to the city limits and they're killing that 00:36:47.230 --> 00:36:49.449 road and breaking it apart. 00:36:49.449 --> 00:36:51.170 We didn't know that was happening. 00:36:51.170 --> 00:36:56.829 We actually had a truck that had an accident and we asked him, why are you on this street? 00:36:56.829 --> 00:37:01.230 And he said, well, the state's telling us to take these roads. 00:37:01.230 --> 00:37:06.130 And so we did look at their permit paperwork and it was the case, but they detoured them 00:37:06.130 --> 00:37:09.789 on local roads that are not made for that kind of weight. 00:37:09.789 --> 00:37:15.750 So it kind of woke us up to the process here and that we need to have some more checks 00:37:15.750 --> 00:37:22.599 and balances on it to be fair to the constituents that are investing in the roads. 00:37:22.599 --> 00:37:23.599 Discussion. 00:37:23.599 --> 00:37:24.599 Alderman Sanders? 00:37:24.599 --> 00:37:27.599 Oh, I can wait. 00:37:27.599 --> 00:37:29.960 I can wait for anybody else that wants to. 00:37:29.960 --> 00:37:32.920 Was there someone else that wanted to ask something? 00:37:32.920 --> 00:37:33.920 Manager Boyer? 00:37:33.920 --> 00:37:35.800 I just wanted to also add to that. 00:37:35.800 --> 00:37:40.119 We've had a number of different cases where large heavy oversized loads have been trying 00:37:40.119 --> 00:38:10.119 to detour onto Empire Street. Obviously, we've invested quite a bit there. And we're not terribly interested in having overweight loads going down Empire to Pearl City Road. And it's it's a convenience factor for the haulers, but we also have to protect our investment that we've made in these roads. And I think Darren's example of Henderson is a great example, because it's on the edge of town. It's not really it's kind of out of sight out of mind for most people, but hardly anybody lives there. There's there's just a couple of businesses out there. 00:38:10.119 --> 00:38:14.679 some important and major businesses but they don't get back to us and say hey did you authorize this 00:38:14.679 --> 00:38:20.840 enormous gen set to go down here on a you know on a 16 axle trailer that you know is going down 00:38:20.840 --> 00:38:25.960 Henderson Road so I think one of the issues and we're trying to tighten up is is some of these 00:38:25.960 --> 00:38:30.360 ordinances that have to do with this it gives us a little more enforcement capacity and then recover 00:38:30.360 --> 00:38:38.630 some of our review costs which we currently don't have. Yeah one more point I would like to make 00:38:38.630 --> 00:39:08.630 Alderman, Sanders, if I can. So Rob brought something to my memory. We do have these enormous generator loads that have been detoured because they don't fit under the bridge, north of town. Something that's happened quite often is they get off route, and they rip down either cable, frontier lines, electrical lines, and without permitting, we don't know who did it, and we can't track it down, and it ends up costing the city time and money that we should be recouping from these 00:39:08.630 --> 00:39:10.630 Kessler, Robert, John, Michael, Jason, Henry, and many more. 00:39:12.369 --> 00:39:14.449 And if we have a permit process, we have a lot of 00:39:14.449 --> 00:39:16.429 people who are not there, and we have a lot of permit 00:39:19.690 --> 00:39:21.690 ease if they make the damage, but often they just drive away. 00:39:23.590 --> 00:39:26.029 If we have a permit process, then we can track down who was 00:39:26.029 --> 00:39:28.170 there during those times and generally find out who has made 00:39:28.170 --> 00:39:30.289 the damage. If they're driving through the 00:39:30.289 --> 00:39:32.650 right-of-ways, if they're dragging trailers off streets, 00:39:32.650 --> 00:39:34.650 and it happens more than you know. 00:39:34.650 --> 00:39:43.050 and some procedures or protocols that can be put in place and I understand what you guys 00:39:43.050 --> 00:39:51.050 are saying in regards to the damage that these big overload trucks can create. 00:39:51.050 --> 00:39:53.889 I just wanted to find out because I know the state 00:39:53.889 --> 00:40:22.000 because I know the state police, they have some kind of a system in place to have trucks to come in to weigh that, if they're knowing what their weight capacity is before, while they're traveling the road, before they leave they stable, if they know what their weight capacity is, could they not be instructed to go to some kind of waiting 00:40:22.000 --> 00:40:24.000 and 00:40:25.000 --> 00:40:27.000 John. 00:40:28.320 --> 00:40:32.420 And I think that's a very important mechanism or whatever 00:40:32.420 --> 00:40:37.320 before they enter into Freeport when they realize that if they 00:40:37.320 --> 00:40:40.619 see signs on the road that they could be overweight coming 00:40:40.619 --> 00:40:44.619 throughout, coming through the city, there should be signs like 00:40:44.619 --> 00:40:48.619 that available so they would be guided long before they reach 00:40:48.619 --> 00:40:53.179 K. or they can pay the fee or whatever the case may be is. 00:40:53.179 --> 00:40:56.300 I don't know what the process is, but the thing is, 00:40:56.300 --> 00:40:59.619 I just wanted to know if we had something in place 00:40:59.619 --> 00:41:02.940 that would give them a notification knowing that 00:41:02.940 --> 00:41:05.460 if they travel through this city, 00:41:05.460 --> 00:41:09.900 that the police department might interject or whatever, 00:41:09.900 --> 00:41:12.460 or what kind of monitoring system that we have 00:41:12.460 --> 00:41:15.820 that monitors trucks that are coming into Freeport 00:41:15.820 --> 00:41:18.199 and how are we setting that up and what, 00:41:18.199 --> 00:41:21.360 and is that gonna be a cost to the city 00:41:21.360 --> 00:41:25.940 to have them to navigate around these areas 00:41:25.940 --> 00:41:29.559 that we have put new payment in and things of this nature? 00:41:29.559 --> 00:41:34.300 Is there cost to doing all of that? 00:41:34.300 --> 00:41:38.460 So you had a bunch of questions there, so I'll do my best. 00:41:38.460 --> 00:41:43.099 So currently this permit would resolve most of the issues 00:41:43.099 --> 00:41:45.659 that you talked about because we don't have that. 00:41:45.659 --> 00:41:46.619 Could we weigh them? 00:41:46.619 --> 00:41:53.099 Yes, there are places that we could weigh them locally, but it would probably be unenforceable 00:41:53.099 --> 00:41:57.440 because the city of Freeport doesn't have a weights and loads officer on their staff 00:41:57.440 --> 00:41:58.920 that is trained. 00:41:58.920 --> 00:42:04.840 If we specifically wanted to weigh a truck or a group of people that we thought were 00:42:04.840 --> 00:42:09.820 breaking our ordinance or rules, we could call in a state officer backup with portable 00:42:09.820 --> 00:42:10.820 scales. 00:42:10.820 --> 00:42:15.440 I would be unsure if we would have to pay for that or not, because we would likely have 00:42:15.440 --> 00:42:21.239 to pay for their time in order to bring those scales into town and they do do stings sometimes 00:42:21.239 --> 00:42:25.199 on state routes to check the oversized loads. 00:42:25.199 --> 00:42:34.559 Again, farmers have permits that they can do different processes during agricultural 00:42:34.559 --> 00:42:39.219 times that they can be 10 to 15 percent overweight in the state statute. 00:42:39.219 --> 00:42:47.179 so I think this process here would clean up 90% of all the issues that we're having at 00:42:47.179 --> 00:42:52.820 this time and the good contractors that come through town they're good about calling and 00:42:52.820 --> 00:42:57.699 giving us routes and that and I direct them on the routes as I see fit or say please don't 00:42:57.699 --> 00:43:02.239 go on this street or don't go over this bridge type stuff but this would clean up the process 00:43:02.239 --> 00:43:08.139 currently is very hard within our system to find this process and so we want to bring 00:43:08.139 --> 00:43:21.139 We want to bring it to light. We want to get council backing of it. We want to have fees that honestly have contractors want to do it right the first time. 00:43:21.139 --> 00:43:30.139 And again, as this gets out, that we're enforcing it like we should be, I think it will take care of itself. But I'm not sure if I got every question, but I think I was close. 00:43:30.139 --> 00:43:40.139 Well, I'd like to know, are we in the process? Well, this is not an ordinance at this time, is that correct? 00:43:40.139 --> 00:43:44.139 It is currently an ordinance that we're asking to modify and upgrade to 2025. 00:43:44.139 --> 00:43:55.139 Okay, so there is an ordinance in place that we can discuss and talk about in more depth about how we'd like to proceed with this. 00:43:55.139 --> 00:44:08.139 So, Attorney Zito, and I won't speak for him, but him and I have looked at the current ordinance, and it's very basic, and it basically leaves a lot of discretion to the Public Works Director that I don't like. 00:44:08.139 --> 00:44:18.139 I would rather have rigid and firm rules that are not at my discretion, so nobody's getting any favoritism, and that we're just toeing the line that the city should. 00:44:18.139 --> 00:44:24.139 that way anybody can reference the ordinance and say okay this is what I have to do this is the rules 00:44:24.139 --> 00:44:29.659 they're fair to Wayne's trucking company they're fair to Darren's trucking company that's the way 00:44:29.659 --> 00:44:35.019 we should be doing it otherwise it's still really it's on the books but there's no process there's 00:44:35.019 --> 00:44:41.739 not even a permit for him to fill out it currently right so we need to develop that so if this is 00:44:41.739 --> 00:44:46.860 approved tonight to move forward um Aaron and I have been working on a draft that is very similar 00:44:46.860 --> 00:44:48.860 and 00:44:49.980 --> 00:44:51.980 John. 00:44:53.500 --> 00:44:55.940 We will create a permit app similar to the right-of-way 00:44:55.940 --> 00:45:00.059 permit form that somebody can fill out, email to us, has a 00:45:00.059 --> 00:45:03.599 time required ahead of time that it will be processed in so we 00:45:03.599 --> 00:45:05.599 have reasonable due time to get it done. 00:45:07.699 --> 00:45:09.699 And then we will invoice them accordingly with online payment 00:45:09.720 --> 00:45:11.720 options if they choose. 00:45:13.820 --> 00:45:15.820 And the people that truck through all the town all the 00:45:15.820 --> 00:45:20.860 Doe with the annual contractor's license and we'll make it simple and easy on them. 00:45:20.860 --> 00:45:26.059 Is there warnings that would notify any overweight vehicle? 00:45:26.059 --> 00:45:32.579 So part of the process then second fold is once this is done, we would notify on the 00:45:32.579 --> 00:45:38.380 outside limits of town that permits are required for overweight and oversized. 00:45:38.380 --> 00:45:40.699 Those are signs that can be added to the city limit signs. 00:45:40.699 --> 00:45:41.699 Right, good. 00:45:41.699 --> 00:45:42.699 Okay. 00:45:42.699 --> 00:46:04.699 and so just a touch on process that if the council tonight at this committee meeting decides to move votes to move forward then I'll draft the ordinance there so that it will be brought back to you guys at the next city council meeting for first read there so but again you guys got a vote to move forward so I have direction to actually draft the ordinance up. 00:46:04.699 --> 00:46:06.500 Ullerman, Stacy. 00:46:06.500 --> 00:46:14.619 I thought you said that we could not move forward with this until the bridge was done. 00:46:14.619 --> 00:46:20.860 So we can move forward with the overweight and overpermit. 00:46:20.860 --> 00:46:26.220 We will not be able to allow weights that are over 80,000 pounds across the Hancock 00:46:26.220 --> 00:46:27.220 Bridge. 00:46:27.220 --> 00:46:28.220 We cannot do that. 00:46:28.220 --> 00:46:30.639 It's not in good enough shape. 00:46:30.639 --> 00:46:35.639 So that process will not be allowed at any point. 00:46:35.639 --> 00:46:40.079 And in the state statute, if you look through it, it actually says in there, if you adopt 00:46:40.079 --> 00:46:44.599 the state statute, that bridges are always exempt to overweight. 00:46:44.599 --> 00:46:48.579 They want you to drive 20 miles around and then go over a bridge that you're overweight 00:46:48.579 --> 00:46:49.579 on. 00:46:49.579 --> 00:46:51.760 It creates too much damage to the structures. 00:46:51.760 --> 00:46:58.679 So can you tell me why what we do have in place, or maybe Attorney Zito can, why have 00:46:58.679 --> 00:47:06.800 have we not pursued what we do have in place? 00:47:06.800 --> 00:47:08.199 Yeah. 00:47:08.199 --> 00:47:10.279 I can't actually answer that question as to why. 00:47:10.279 --> 00:47:13.760 City Manager Boyer? 00:47:13.760 --> 00:47:15.760 There's no real penalties or teeth in it. 00:47:15.760 --> 00:47:19.480 So there's really, they call us, we review their permit, 00:47:19.480 --> 00:47:21.400 we approve their permit, but we really 00:47:21.400 --> 00:47:24.400 have no consequence for them not obeying our permit. 00:47:24.400 --> 00:47:28.079 And up until recently, I think we 00:47:28.079 --> 00:47:29.960 had verbal conversations with them. 00:47:29.960 --> 00:47:32.840 I know I've had several years ago when 00:47:32.840 --> 00:47:37.699 first stepped in the door and ever since then Darren's been reviewing those and 00:47:37.699 --> 00:47:41.400 it's been going fine I just think that we don't we need a little more 00:47:41.400 --> 00:47:45.220 enforcement penalty involved with this as well as being able to recover our time 00:47:45.220 --> 00:47:54.789 for the review. The question I would have is this codified ordinance is very 00:47:54.789 --> 00:47:59.230 antiquated been on the books for a long time it references stuff I'm sure it was 00:47:59.230 --> 00:48:03.529 pulled from somewhere at one point but was never finished with an actual fee 00:48:03.529 --> 00:48:08.529 Schedula, or a permit app, so it looks like it was started, has a little bit of information 00:48:08.529 --> 00:48:13.550 to it, but never really brought to the point of a full conclusion here, which is what I'm 00:48:13.550 --> 00:48:18.949 trying to do, because right now it reads very subjectively, and I just don't like that. 00:48:18.949 --> 00:48:23.510 That leaves up to scrutiny for us on who we're enforcing and who we're not, and leads up 00:48:23.510 --> 00:48:27.190 to questions for people to say, are you doing this, are you doing that? 00:48:27.190 --> 00:48:31.690 If it's on the books, we don't, you know, subjectively look at it and say, well, what 00:48:31.690 --> 00:48:36.989 What am I going to do here? This is the code, this is the ordinance, this is what we follow. It's fair to everybody. 00:48:36.989 --> 00:48:39.570 Alderman Shadle? 00:48:39.570 --> 00:48:41.489 Make a motion, move this forward. 00:48:41.489 --> 00:48:42.630 Second. 00:48:42.630 --> 00:48:49.690 We have a motion made by Alderman Shadle, seconded by Alderman Klemm. Any further discussion? 00:48:49.690 --> 00:48:54.690 So now we can vote at a cow? 00:48:54.690 --> 00:48:59.010 No, we're just voting to move it forward, that's it. To move it to a first reading. 00:48:59.010 --> 00:49:08.500 to approve them to do the ordinance. So by moving it forward we'll create the 00:49:08.500 --> 00:49:13.260 ordinance, Aaron and I will to come back, we'll create the permit application and 00:49:13.260 --> 00:49:18.220 then we'll bring it back for a first reading and a second reading. I just 00:49:18.220 --> 00:49:21.820 didn't want to spend the time and money redoing it if we're not, if the council 00:49:21.820 --> 00:49:27.059 doesn't interest in moving it. Can that be ready by the June 21st meeting or do 00:49:27.059 --> 00:49:28.420 Do you need more time than that? 00:49:28.420 --> 00:49:29.260 I mean July. 00:49:29.260 --> 00:49:30.079 July. 00:49:30.079 --> 00:49:30.920 What did I say? 00:49:30.920 --> 00:49:31.760 July. 00:49:31.760 --> 00:49:32.579 July, I meant July. 00:49:34.300 --> 00:49:35.739 You're that. 00:49:35.739 --> 00:49:36.579 Our next agenda. 00:49:36.579 --> 00:49:38.099 If there's no further discussion, 00:49:38.099 --> 00:49:39.940 all those in favor of moving this forward 00:49:39.940 --> 00:49:42.179 to the next regularly scheduled meetings, 00:49:42.179 --> 00:49:43.539 signify by saying aye. 00:49:43.539 --> 00:49:44.380 Aye. 00:49:44.380 --> 00:49:45.199 Opposed? 00:49:46.300 --> 00:49:49.220 Okay, then we will move on to item number 11, 00:49:49.220 --> 00:49:50.579 which is public comment. 00:49:50.579 --> 00:49:52.619 Is there any public comments this evening? 00:49:52.619 --> 00:49:58.949 Is there any public comments this evening? 00:49:58.949 --> 00:50:02.510 Page care 103, Arbor Drive. 00:50:02.510 --> 00:50:09.590 I mostly just have a question of the $55,000 salary that you're pretty proud of. 00:50:09.590 --> 00:50:12.789 Do you generally think that that's enough for the public? 00:50:12.789 --> 00:50:17.150 You know, you listed actually the issues that you see with that kind of salary up there. 00:50:17.150 --> 00:50:19.050 You see child care is an issue. 00:50:19.050 --> 00:50:20.769 You see housing is an issue. 00:50:20.769 --> 00:50:23.269 You see all these, you listed it. 00:50:23.269 --> 00:50:26.030 So we should really take a look at what are we doing here. 00:50:26.030 --> 00:50:30.510 We're forcing our public to require this assistance. 00:50:30.510 --> 00:50:34.230 Genuinely, $55,000 a year is not enough. 00:50:34.230 --> 00:50:37.190 We have the water bills that are going higher and higher. 00:50:37.190 --> 00:50:41.949 You guys are choosing to put back on that grocery tax. 00:50:41.949 --> 00:50:46.190 Your events that you host, you take money back from us, from those people that you pay 00:50:46.190 --> 00:50:48.510 $55,000 a year. 00:50:48.510 --> 00:50:51.409 And there's people that get paid less than that, and there's people of course that get 00:50:51.409 --> 00:50:53.170 paid more than that. 00:50:53.170 --> 00:50:59.329 But that's not enough and that's not something to be proud of in this community. 00:50:59.329 --> 00:51:03.170 Your workers are not thriving, they're surviving. 00:51:03.170 --> 00:51:05.190 They're paying their bills and that's it. 00:51:05.190 --> 00:51:08.269 They're lucky to go to your events on that kind of salary. 00:51:08.269 --> 00:51:11.190 You better hope you have a double income. 00:51:11.190 --> 00:51:15.090 You're going to have retention with that kind of salary because those kind of people cannot 00:51:15.090 --> 00:51:16.090 leave. 00:51:16.090 --> 00:51:21.389 They are stuck working for you unless another opportunity opens up but in this town there's 00:51:21.389 --> 00:51:22.389 Declanage. 00:51:22.389 --> 00:51:23.389 There's not. 00:51:23.389 --> 00:51:26.630 There's not good opportunities for the youth, for anyone. 00:51:26.630 --> 00:51:28.670 We do nothing here. 00:51:28.670 --> 00:51:33.389 So take a look at yourself and really look at the core of what are we doing. 00:51:33.389 --> 00:51:37.030 We're forcing our public to require your help. 00:51:37.030 --> 00:51:41.670 It's disgusting and it leaves a bad taste in the public's mouth. 00:51:41.670 --> 00:51:42.670 Thank you. 00:51:42.670 --> 00:51:44.869 Is there any other public comment? 00:51:44.869 --> 00:51:51.789 Go ahead, Tommy. 00:51:51.789 --> 00:52:04.690 Dickleman. You said about the cleaners that's going to be September 3rd? That's right, September 3rd, Tommy. 00:52:04.690 --> 00:52:09.690 Taking it down. And I want to tell Jodi Moos, she does a good job of that Teddy Baker Day 00:52:09.690 --> 00:52:21.280 Pope and the Chief do a good job with driving that. Please sing. Anyone else? Go 00:52:21.280 --> 00:52:44.420 ahead. Hi, Sue Cook, Winchester Drive, and I have a question about the trees. 00:52:44.420 --> 00:52:47.059 at Cray Park. 00:52:47.059 --> 00:52:50.159 The two trees that are very, very rare, 00:52:50.159 --> 00:52:52.039 will we be taking cuttings from those 00:52:52.039 --> 00:52:55.000 or anything to kind of generate saplings 00:52:55.000 --> 00:52:58.980 so that we have the ability to not just have two, 00:52:58.980 --> 00:53:00.780 but the ability to have more 00:53:00.780 --> 00:53:04.219 because that's a tourist attraction. 00:53:04.219 --> 00:53:05.780 That's how you bring in the tourist 00:53:05.780 --> 00:53:08.380 is to say we have this. 00:53:08.380 --> 00:53:13.219 This is not in every single park, but we have it. 00:53:13.219 --> 00:53:15.519 So if we can generate more of the trees, 00:53:15.519 --> 00:53:19.219 if we can grow more trees, more saplings and use that, 00:53:19.219 --> 00:53:20.820 I think that would be a wonderful way 00:53:20.820 --> 00:53:22.960 to add to the tourist attraction. 00:53:24.739 --> 00:53:27.780 Are you guys hearing this or am I muffled? 00:53:27.780 --> 00:53:28.860 Okay, good. 00:53:28.860 --> 00:53:32.380 Then the other is on the tree lined back road 00:53:32.380 --> 00:53:35.019 that goes back like where you would go to Walmart, 00:53:35.019 --> 00:53:37.239 going out of the park. 00:53:37.239 --> 00:53:41.019 I noticed that a lot of the Mormon trees are down. 00:53:41.019 --> 00:53:44.500 Are you taking the mature trees down to add saplings 00:53:44.500 --> 00:53:46.500 or will that become a two lane road? 00:53:48.780 --> 00:53:51.579 I know that for a very, very long time, 00:53:51.579 --> 00:53:54.579 photographers use that for weddings 00:53:54.579 --> 00:53:59.179 because it had the picturesque canopy that came over top. 00:53:59.179 --> 00:54:01.840 And I know that it also blocked out a lot of light. 00:54:01.840 --> 00:54:04.519 So I can understand putting in smaller saplings, 00:54:04.519 --> 00:54:06.539 but will that be a two lane road? 00:54:07.720 --> 00:54:10.019 The next is for the GDP. 00:54:10.019 --> 00:54:14.779 have you thought about the Monroe idea? 00:54:14.779 --> 00:54:17.099 Cause we're coming into Christmas 00:54:17.099 --> 00:54:19.019 and we have these six months 00:54:19.019 --> 00:54:21.659 and we have a lot of open storefronts. 00:54:21.659 --> 00:54:24.420 And something that Monroe did that I think that we could do 00:54:24.420 --> 00:54:27.940 and do very, very well is to offer, 00:54:27.940 --> 00:54:32.940 Monroe offered these storefronts at a zero rent, 00:54:33.099 --> 00:54:36.400 zero rent for a period of time. 00:54:36.400 --> 00:54:37.400 And I think it was six months 00:54:37.400 --> 00:54:40.039 because they wanted us to run through Christmas. 00:54:40.039 --> 00:54:41.820 You had specific guidelines. 00:54:41.820 --> 00:54:43.639 If you didn't meet those guidelines, 00:54:43.639 --> 00:54:45.300 boom, you were paying rent. 00:54:46.599 --> 00:54:48.139 You had to have your plan. 00:54:48.139 --> 00:54:50.679 You submitted your plan ahead of time. 00:54:50.679 --> 00:54:53.239 The council actually looked at the plans. 00:54:53.239 --> 00:54:55.360 The mayor and the council, I don't think 00:54:55.360 --> 00:54:58.159 they have a city manager there, looked at the plans. 00:54:58.159 --> 00:55:01.639 They filled up their downtown. 00:55:01.639 --> 00:55:04.800 I think they had one that backed out afterwards. 00:55:04.800 --> 00:55:08.199 Also please add x-ray to your list 00:55:08.199 --> 00:55:10.639 when you have nurses and things like that. 00:55:10.639 --> 00:55:12.159 X-ray and radiation therapy 00:55:12.159 --> 00:55:15.360 because we have those departments in Freeport. 00:55:15.360 --> 00:55:17.699 We have a radiation therapy department. 00:55:17.699 --> 00:55:20.199 Not a lot of places do. 00:55:20.199 --> 00:55:23.279 We have a standalone radiation therapy department. 00:55:23.279 --> 00:55:27.099 And then also just one thing for the ADA board 00:55:27.099 --> 00:55:31.820 is that TuddyFest for parking for the handicap, 00:55:31.820 --> 00:55:32.900 if you could get... 00:55:32.900 --> 00:55:34.539 Your time has exceeded, thank you. 00:55:35.579 --> 00:55:36.940 Well, that was close, but. 00:55:40.320 --> 00:55:42.220 Any other public comments? 00:55:42.220 --> 00:55:51.019 Alderman Stacy. 00:55:51.019 --> 00:55:53.500 I just want to close out in prayer. 00:55:53.500 --> 00:55:55.659 Father God, in the name of Jesus, 00:55:56.980 --> 00:56:00.619 you are the author and the finisher of our faith. 00:56:01.940 --> 00:56:05.599 So Father God, I lose your healing power 00:56:05.599 --> 00:56:08.220 over the city of Freeport, 00:56:08.220 --> 00:56:11.099 and I speak to the north, the south, the east, 00:56:11.099 --> 00:56:14.349 and the West, O God. 00:56:14.349 --> 00:56:18.710 Thank you Lord Jesus for opening up our eye gates 00:56:18.710 --> 00:56:23.710 and our ear gates that we may hear and understand 00:56:25.869 --> 00:56:30.869 what you are calling for Freeport this season, O God. 00:56:32.710 --> 00:56:36.029 Continue to order our steps according to your word 00:56:37.630 --> 00:56:41.909 for we know if you don't do it, it won't be done. 00:56:42.349 --> 00:56:47.630 so now we just give you the honor the praise and the glory for you alone are 00:56:47.630 --> 00:56:57.690 worthy and we speak victory over this city for it will be all that you intended 00:56:57.690 --> 00:57:10.900 to be it carries the name free port for a reason and I just speak healing and 00:57:10.900 --> 00:57:44.829 and Victor in Jesus name. Amen. Any other public comments? Oh, I have. Go ahead. I would just like to say that I was really impressed by Tutti-Baker Day this year. It brought a lot of community out and it was just a fun time and it brought a lot of churches out. My church had a tent and we had multiple churches and ministries involved in it and I just want to kind of give a 00:57:44.829 --> 00:58:14.829 We had a report that we ended up praying for 422 people and we had 13 salvations and 6 rededications and we gave away 930 bottles of free water and it was such a blessing and just to see the community come together like with the community church event that was down there, there was multiple churches that came down there and they worshiped together and I've heard nothing but good things about the fireworks. I don't know if you guys all saw the fireworks 00:58:14.829 --> 00:58:20.230 They were pretty amazing, and if it wasn't for this festival and bringing the community 00:58:20.230 --> 00:58:25.909 together, think about it, 422 people said yes to Jesus for us to pray for them. 00:58:25.909 --> 00:58:31.869 So Tutti Bigger Days made an impact on this community, and it caused unity to come to 00:58:31.869 --> 00:58:37.110 this community with all the churches coming together, and I just think it's so awesome. 00:58:37.110 --> 00:58:38.110 So thank you. 00:58:38.110 --> 00:58:39.110 Thank you. 00:58:39.110 --> 00:58:45.110 I just want to remind everybody that on Wednesday they're gonna have out at 00:58:45.110 --> 00:58:50.750 Highland it's called Shoot Hoops and Not Guns and it's sponsored by the Boys and 00:58:50.750 --> 00:58:54.909 Girls Club and it will be at the YMCA so if you got some time come out and 00:58:54.909 --> 00:59:02.789 support the kids at 5 o'clock and then on Saturday July 19th at 8 o'clock we 00:59:02.789 --> 00:59:08.070 will have on King campus they will have a movie night and the movie is Praise 00:59:08.070 --> 00:59:10.070 D. O'Connor, and the rest of the board. 00:59:11.150 --> 00:59:13.029 So, I would encourage you to raise this, bring your chairs 00:59:13.029 --> 00:59:17.070 and snacks and families and just come out and enjoy the community 00:59:17.070 --> 00:59:21.070 movie at 8 o'clock at the Boys and Girls Club. 00:59:21.070 --> 00:59:25.070 Any other public comments? Seeing none, I will... 00:59:25.070 --> 00:59:27.070 Yes, ma'am. 00:59:29.070 --> 00:59:33.070 Wasn't there an event for the 40 days of peace Saturday? 00:59:33.070 --> 00:59:36.070 There's an event every other weekend. 00:59:36.070 --> 00:59:42.670 So isn't there an event this weekend? Yes, that's at Knowlton Park. What is the event? The same thing as before 00:59:42.670 --> 00:59:48.610 It's a cleanup on Friday. It's a resource party on Saturday and church in the street on Sunday, and it'll be at Knowlton Park 00:59:48.610 --> 00:59:51.960 at Norton Park. 00:59:51.960 --> 00:59:54.119 Any other public comments? 00:59:54.119 --> 00:59:56.119 I will entertain a motion for adjournment. 00:59:56.119 --> 00:59:56.800 So move. 00:59:56.800 --> 00:59:57.880 Second. 00:59:57.880 --> 00:59:59.000 All those in favor? 00:59:59.000 --> 00:59:59.679 Aye. 00:59:59.679 --> 01:00:00.599 Have a good evening. 01:00:00.599 --> 01:00:02.079 Praise God.