WEBVTT

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

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Dear Heavenly Father, we bless your holy and matchless name during this city council meeting.

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Father, every part of this agenda we give to you to make known what is beneficial for

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the city of Freeport now and in the future.

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But no one place anything before this council that you have not approved of for all the

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people of the city.

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Philippians 2.3 says, be free from pride-filled opinions, for they will only harm your cherished

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unity.

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Don't allow self-promotion to hide in your hearts, but in authentic humility, put others

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Fowler.

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Father, we lose wisdom in your governmental authority to every councilmember to hear what

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is needed.

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Let every member understand that you have the final say when you are invited to be a

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part of these meetings.

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and we close the door to every negative negotiation, every negative thought.

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We ask it all in your son Jesus Christ's name, amen.

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Amen.

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Thank you, Evelyn.

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Now we'll officially call this meeting to order.

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Madam Kirk, would you please take the roll?

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Mayor Miller?

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Here.

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Alderpersons, Klemm?

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Here.

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Monroe is absent.

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Simmons?

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Here.

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Parker?

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Here.

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Stacy?

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Here.

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Shadle?

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Here.

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Sanders?

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Here.

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Thank you for your attention that Alderman Sanders is passing his chair tonight to Alderman

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Stacy.

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So if you could please stand for the Pledge of Allegiance led by Alderman Stacy.

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I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for

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

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Go ahead, Alderman Stacey.

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OK, so next we have the approval for agenda.

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But before that happens, we want to make note of the dot

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under number eight will be moving up to number seven.

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Do we have a motion for approval?

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Just to clarify that you're moving the dot actually up

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to right after number seven.

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Yes.

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okay just to clarify do we have an approval for the agenda so moved second do we need a vote

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do we need a vote no all those in favor is fine all those in favor all right aye nay by the same

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i'm so sorry i missed the motion in the second shadow first sellers second

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Okay, approval of minutes from the Committee of the Whole meeting held on November 12th, 2024.

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So moved.

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Second.

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We have motion by Shadle, second by Parker.

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All in favor?

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Aye.

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Opposed?

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Motion passes.

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Passes. Okay we have two public comments first being Joshua Atkinson. Thank You

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Chair, Mayor Miller, City Council. My name is Joshua Atkinson. I just keep this

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brief here. I wanted to talk about item number eight, the the grant money going

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to 1010 South Adams. I've been talking to a number of people over the past

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Huffines.

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And it seems like that the property owners on this one, they own total of eight properties

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in Freeport, some are houses, some are vacant lots, but they also listed on their application

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that they were landlords.

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So then the question got raised of whether or not they were part of the landlord registry.

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That's been taking up a lot of conversation over the past couple weeks here, and it has

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been said that they are not registered.

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So they've had these properties, they have not registered to be landlords in town, which

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opens them up to owing the city fine dollars if we were to be fining them.

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The excuse of not knowing they weren't landlords doesn't work because they listed on their

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application that that was their business, that's who they are.

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So you know, that's just one more thing that kind of raises a red flag with this particular

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grant placement.

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Thank you.

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Good evening. I'd like to address the grant issue for 1010 Adams as well. We have received

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about a half a million dollars in grants giving the City Council an opportunity, a big opportunity

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to decide how the best use of this money could overcome the City's many challenges with

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with Blighted Low Income Neighborhoods.

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We have a problem with this one specific property

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because there's a question about whether this individual

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is actually low income.

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Now it is a requirement

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that community development rehab grants go to help

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low income, elderly, and disabled people

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correct unsafe and unsanitary conditions

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in blighted neighborhoods with their homes.

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But before income is even determined,

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there has to be a project or a purpose for those funds.

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So you don't just throw it out there with applications

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and let people apply and you don't have an intended project.

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The project would likely be,

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we're going to improve the corridor on Adams Street

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and we're going to fix up all the houses

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that are a major eyesore on there

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so that when you're driving into Freeport,

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you don't have the impression,

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gee, I wouldn't want to live here.

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So we need a purpose

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and the community development block grant

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has been established since 1974

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to eliminate conditions of blight

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and correct unsafe and unsanitary conditions

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to benefit the low to middle income community.

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The project for these funds is determined

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by the Freeport Community Development,

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the city council and public input.

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Adams Street is the current project.

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I mean, I don't know what you've identified

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is the current project, but that's what we're going for.

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And then there are the best practice guidelines

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put out by the HUD Grant Assistance Program

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so that when we get a grant,

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we can figure out how do you use the funds.

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They're suggesting that you prioritize the greatest needs

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to ensure community challenges are met.

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Then you have grant oversight and transparency

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to prevent fraud.

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Huffines. Reducing administrative costs is to ensure that the money is used efficiently

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and makes the greatest improvement to benefit the low income community. Somehow a house

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in very good condition was offered an application which doesn't help the city achieve its

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goal. Apparently no one took the time to identify which houses were contributing to blight and

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and let the process be based on income alone, which is only one step in the process and

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it is not the first step.

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My point here is that if we are ever going to expect to make improvements in this community,

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we have to prioritize the homes that actually need repairs and be transparent and submit

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photos to city council before asking us to approve funding.

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Thank you.

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okay next we will have discussion regarding potential redevelopment agreement for 521

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west cottonwood street presented by joel freidenberg freidenberg thank you joel you mind if i just give

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I'll give a little intro.

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you mind if I just give a little introduction here? Yeah appreciate that Joel. The Region 1

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Planning Council works with the City of Freeport on the Northern Illinois Land Bank and so it's

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been a while since we've done a land bank property in Freeport. It's a really exciting program and so

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instead of coming next week with a resolution for an agreement I really wanted to bring Joel from

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from Region One, he's an excellent partner for the City of Freeport, does a lot of good

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things with the City of Freeport.

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And the idea here is to give you an introduction into what the Land Bank does, how they work

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with the City of Freeport, and a couple of upcoming projects.

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So with that being said, thank you, Joel, for coming, and I look forward to your presentation.

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Yeah, like Wayne said, I'm just going to kind of give you a brief update.

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and I.

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So we're going to go ahead and get started with the land bank.

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I know it's a little late.

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For some of you, it's probably been a little while since you've heard about the land bank

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or R1.

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And so we're just going to briefly touch on who we are and what we do and then get to

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what's going on with the land bank in Freeport currently.

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So let's see.

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Here's the service area of R1 and the land bank.

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The areas in blue is the land bank jurisdiction.

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So you can see here Freeport and Stevenson County are within the jurisdiction.

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Snyder, and the students, the public.

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So we have a number of

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non-tax paid properties that have a

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lot of their property properties added in Lake County as well.

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So this is kind of an overview of what R1 as the Land Bank

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authority does.

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The goal is to combat community deterioration by returning

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property to productive use and

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getting, you know, non-tax paying blighted properties back

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Specifically as the land bank, we serve just under one and a half million people.

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In the about five years that we've been around,

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we've done about 1.2 million in sales, 41 homes sold, and

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that generates about $150,000 in new tax revenue.

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Go through a couple of successful projects that we've had over the last few years in

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Velvedere and Rockford and then kind of get to what's going on here with you guys

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Right Now.

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This was a blighted house in Velvedere.

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As soon as Velvedere joined the land bank,

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other people had this on their list.

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They said, please, somebody needs

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to do something with this house.

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It's such an eyesore.

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And so it was the first thing we acquired in Velvedere,

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sold it for $41,000.

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And a couple of years later, it was completely rehabbed

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and sold for $174,000.

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This is a recent one in Rockford where right by East High School, really good neighborhood

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and sometimes the owners just disappear, they die with no heirs.

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You never really know what happens but you see those two years of delinquent taxes and

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that's when you know it's time to move and so we were able to acquire this one.

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It was in okay condition but only a couple of people really could see a vision for it

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So, sold by the land bank for $23,000. Eventually, after being rehabbed in under a year, sold

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for $140,000.

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This is the most recent success that we had in Freeport. It's probably over three years

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and others by now. Wayne, since this took place. Yes. 857 East Shawnee was sold I believe

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in 2021 by the land bank for $15,750 and looks like it was recently listed again for rent

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at $875 a month and you can see there in the pictures a little bit of the transformation

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that took place on the exterior and you know that's the same shot of the stairs on the

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and the inside there below and this is all achieved because we have these strong deed

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restrictions on these properties where you know if you're gonna be the buyer of a land

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bank property you know that at this time it was a year we've now typically we bring that

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down to nine months you have nine months to get everything up to code and it should be

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completely inhabitable within that time or we're able to claw it back essentially so

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The buyers know what they're getting into, and they know they have to get moving and

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do a good job.

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So that brings me to the buyer that has come forward for this 521 West Cottonwood property.

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This is the reference point that we have for him, is he purchased this one on 418 Tay Street

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in Rockford that, as you can see, was in very rough shape.

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Nobody wanted to touch this, and he saw a vision for it, and Wayne and I actually toured this yesterday, and this is what it looks like now.

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This is seven months on, so he's still got another two months of his deed restriction, and he is just one final building inspection away from being good to go.

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I'm the one who put the abandonment sticker on this house well over a year ago.

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I had to put it on the boarded up window to the side because it was so overgrown in the

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front.

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Again, you know, I'm just an admin guy.

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I can't see the vision for these houses.

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It's crazy to me to see what some of these people can do with these houses.

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and so that brings me to, like I said, Leo Holmes, Ivan, is the applicant for 521 West

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Cottonwood Street in Freeport.

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So I'll kind of give you a brief overview of what the situation that we're doing here

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with this house is.

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City of Freeport was initially preparing for a demolition, but Wayne and my colleague Eric

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kind of took a look at the house and decided, you know, I think there's something that can

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We tested the market's interest in it by taking applications through our land bank sales portal that, you know, like we saw earlier, we've successfully sold 41 properties through the land bank through that sales portal over the last couple of years and one thing that we heard from the city was that you really wanted a tight restriction and that's what we, you know, already have as a default is that that nine-month deed restriction that that gives you the clawback option that that the land

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and John.

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We had an open house on 11-8 and Ivan from Leal Homes who has done that 418 Tay Street

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rehab showed up, drove all the way from Lake Zurich and said he really wanted, you know,

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he saw a vision for this property, wants to do it.

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And he submitted a bid for $8,000 and the plan is for a free port to then quit claiming

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this property to the land bank and we will sell it to Ivan and Leal homes and

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then it will be the land banks responsibility to continually fall up

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with them and make sure that progress is being made and you know keep harping on

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about that nine month deed restriction. We also just received a deed through a

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successful abandonment case to 52 North Bailey here in Freeport and Wayne and I

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I just went through this earlier.

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It was the first time I had seen it.

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I wasn't the one who stickered this one.

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And this is one that we'll, like I said, just got the deed.

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We'll do an inspection and see what it needs.

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It definitely needs a roof, and so we are going to put out

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an RFP to see if we can get somebody to do a roof and use

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grant funds of our own to do that.

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So that's kind of an update of where we're at with

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Specifically 521 West Cottonwood and kind of give you an overview of what the land bank does as a whole and what we're

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Wanting to do in Freeport here. Yeah, any questions?

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Yes, I'm sorry, Joy. No, that's all right. I just want to say I love it. Thank you. Any other questions?

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Is there a limit on how much how many properties you can do in an area per year?

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I mean, is it just finding the properties? It's a matter of finding the properties

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Huffines.

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Evidence needs to be two years of delinquent taxes pretty much.

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There's a more complicated route involving water bills, but it's typically two years

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of delinquent taxes has got to be the first thing.

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And then it does truly have to be abandoned.

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Usually if somebody comes forward and claims the property, the case pretty much dies there.

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It's when there truly are no heirs, no interest in the property.

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Ottomans, Sanders, also the people that people that are living in in these types

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of homes dilapidated rundown and everything of that nature are they

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eligible for this particular program to rehab their homes and and re-stabilize

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no so the land bank specifically deals with abandoned only abandoned homes and

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and the purpose of that Y is

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and the purpose of that, why is that? Why abandoned homes are homes that are vacant? Why is that? That a home that a person lives in is just as shady and shoddy as an abandoned home? You know, why can't that home be eligible for rehab?

00:20:18.000 --> 00:20:26.000
So, specifically, our funding is through Strong Communities Program and we use that, you know, we are a land bank.

00:20:26.000 --> 00:20:34.000
What we can do as a land bank is acquire vacant abandoned houses and use some of our money to rehab them and sell them again.

00:20:34.000 --> 00:20:38.000
By the state of Illinois statute, that's what a land bank can do.

00:20:38.000 --> 00:20:40.000
Okay.

00:20:40.000 --> 00:20:43.500
Alderman Simmons.

00:20:43.500 --> 00:20:49.799
So how are potential buyers made aware of these properties so that they can make

00:20:49.799 --> 00:20:53.880
bids? Like how was this person from Lake Zurich made aware of this property?

00:20:53.880 --> 00:21:00.119
Yes, so he was initially made aware of the property in Tay Street either

00:21:00.119 --> 00:21:04.619
through our mailing list or you know through word-of-mouth and you know I'm

00:21:04.619 --> 00:21:09.160
not sure how he found out about it initially but you know he did the

00:21:09.160 --> 00:21:39.160
He was made aware, initially, through the Tay Street property, whether that was through our mailing list or word of mouth, and then made aware of the Cottonwood one, by virtue of having done the

00:21:39.160 --> 00:21:48.259
previous property in Rockford.

00:21:48.259 --> 00:21:49.819
Audemars Sellers?

00:21:49.819 --> 00:21:50.460
Yes.

00:21:50.460 --> 00:21:53.740
So there's no website or anything that?

00:21:53.740 --> 00:21:54.240
Yeah.

00:21:54.240 --> 00:21:54.740
OK.

00:21:54.740 --> 00:21:57.220
So are they listed on a website or anything, or not?

00:21:57.220 --> 00:21:57.720
Yeah.

00:21:57.720 --> 00:22:03.019
So all the sales are done online through an online sales portal.

00:22:03.019 --> 00:22:09.059
Sometimes we have live auctions, and it updates in real time.

00:22:09.059 --> 00:22:13.779
For this one specifically, the goal of the West Cottonwood

00:22:13.779 --> 00:22:17.619
and the property specifically was to make sure we could find the right buyer.

00:22:18.099 --> 00:22:21.119
Price wasn't really, you know, something that we were concerned about at all.

00:22:21.119 --> 00:22:27.259
It was more about getting that person who we know could take this property and fix it up

00:22:27.259 --> 00:22:30.119
and get it, you know, back in productive use.

00:22:30.119 --> 00:22:36.730
Alderman Sellers? I mean, Sanders?

00:22:36.730 --> 00:22:49.509
Yeah, also these fundings, the grant fundings for these rehabs. Who receives those grants

00:22:49.509 --> 00:22:59.009
to disperse throughout the communities of these properties? Are they owned by the bank

00:22:59.009 --> 00:23:00.009
Miller.

00:23:00.009 --> 00:23:01.150
Do you have any information about the land bank or did the bank purchase these vacant

00:23:01.150 --> 00:23:06.829
properties and using grant funds to make rehabs to these properties?

00:23:06.829 --> 00:23:07.829
Yes.

00:23:07.829 --> 00:23:14.190
The land bank has strong communities funds and then when we acquire through abandonment

00:23:14.190 --> 00:23:21.670
process a property, we're able to use strong communities funds at our discretion to, like

00:23:21.670 --> 00:23:28.849
Like I said, do an RFP to put a roof on Bailey or, you know, we had a property on Church

00:23:28.849 --> 00:23:31.750
Street in Rockford recently that had a broken window.

00:23:31.750 --> 00:23:35.670
So we replaced the window before we put it on the market.

00:23:35.670 --> 00:23:37.670
Yes, Director DePauw.

00:23:37.670 --> 00:23:40.309
And all the person, Sanders, thank you.

00:23:40.309 --> 00:23:44.150
And all the person, Sanders, I want to state that when a property stops paying taxes, like

00:23:44.150 --> 00:23:48.889
he has 52 North Bailey up here, they stop paying taxes, they have two years of delinquent

00:23:48.889 --> 00:23:49.889
taxes.

00:23:49.889 --> 00:23:56.610
if a property does not pay taxes for three years then the county trustee will petition for a tax deed

00:23:56.610 --> 00:24:02.610
in the fourth year so essentially if a house if we don't use a land bank a house will go four years

00:24:02.610 --> 00:24:09.809
abandoned by utilizing the land bank they'll they use their own attorneys to petition to our courts

00:24:09.809 --> 00:24:15.009
to take ownership of it before it actually even goes to a tax deed and then they like they took

00:24:15.009 --> 00:24:45.009
We took ownership through a court process, and that's through our partnership with them as collaborative government partners, they went through and paid for the funding to get ownership of this through the courts, and I can't remember how many actual appearances they had, but this process to get 52 Bailey was timely, it took quite a bit, and we were, I meet with Region 1 at least once a month if not weekly, and we go over properties that could potentially be land bank properties, and going back to the, you know,

00:24:45.009 --> 00:25:15.009
Cottenwood. Um, that's a, that's a property that the city owned that had actually been abandoned for four years and that the city had purchased from, uh, the county trustee off of a tax deed. So in our, in this situation, going back to Cottonwood, this is what the city is saying is, you know, we have it, we can demolish it, uh, would probably cost the city between 15 and $20,000 or we can, um, in all my meetings, I'm always take going over my demolition list with the land bank and

00:25:15.009 --> 00:25:45.009
and if there's a property that they think could be salvaged, they said, Hey, let's, let's show it to some of our developers. Let's have an open house. Maybe we can find somebody. And that's kind of how this worked with 521 Cottonwood. And really the option is, do we move forward with moving, you know, moving into the land bank, we can potentially save it, utilize their resources, or do we demolish it and turn it into a vacant lot? I mean, it's really kind of our options with the property. Right. And to your point, Wayne,

00:25:45.009 --> 00:25:50.289
A lot of times with the tax sale, properties end up in this death loop of claiming sale

00:25:50.289 --> 00:25:54.450
and error and so nothing ever actually happens with them.

00:25:54.450 --> 00:26:00.690
Land Bank through abandonment is able to kind of interrupt that process and get the public,

00:26:00.690 --> 00:26:06.170
the property back, whereas, you know, claiming sale and error just allows the tax buyer to

00:26:06.170 --> 00:26:08.549
continually accrue interest on it.

00:26:08.549 --> 00:26:19.269
Can you tell me if you have contractors that give the land bank their services for little

00:26:19.269 --> 00:26:24.360
to nothing at cost?

00:26:24.360 --> 00:26:28.079
Do we have contractors that give their services to the land bank?

00:26:28.079 --> 00:26:29.079
Yes.

00:26:29.079 --> 00:26:30.079
No.

00:26:30.079 --> 00:26:36.440
No, we put out RFPs or RFQs and then people apply to do work.

00:26:36.440 --> 00:26:37.440
Like bids?

00:26:37.440 --> 00:26:40.319
Yeah, they do a proposal or a quote.

00:26:40.319 --> 00:26:45.000
and also I just actually spoke with because on 52 North Bailey we were

00:26:45.000 --> 00:26:47.759
discussing there's gonna be a new roof or they're looking to put a new roof on

00:26:47.759 --> 00:26:51.119
and it has to be it's the state of Illinois when he's talking about strong

00:26:51.119 --> 00:26:54.720
community funds that's Illinois Housing Development Authority state of Illinois

00:26:54.720 --> 00:26:59.720
anytime we're talking state of Illinois money it has to be prevailing wage no if

00:26:59.720 --> 00:27:06.759
answer yeah it has to be prevailing wage so yes you know so we they can't work

00:27:06.759 --> 00:27:20.160
No, my point was, like, let's say for the average person to put in that wood floor would

00:27:20.160 --> 00:27:22.720
cost $30,000.

00:27:22.720 --> 00:27:28.039
I just didn't know if you had contractors that would say, for this type of house, we'll

00:27:28.039 --> 00:27:31.039
do it for $20,000.

00:27:31.039 --> 00:27:44.039
No, so when it comes to using the Strong Communities funds, like Wayne is saying, we would have to, you know, take a bid where someone was going to use a prevailing wage.

00:27:44.039 --> 00:27:49.039
Once somebody buys the house from us, there is still usually a lot of work to be done.

00:27:49.039 --> 00:27:57.039
How they get there, as long as it passes, you know, codes and inspections and stuff like that at the end, is up to them.

00:27:57.039 --> 00:28:00.720
to them, and a lot of times those are general contractors who are doing a lot of the work

00:28:00.720 --> 00:28:01.720
themselves.

00:28:01.720 --> 00:28:02.720
Okay.

00:28:02.720 --> 00:28:05.869
Yes.

00:28:05.869 --> 00:28:10.069
So, the way they're making their money, Cecelia, is they're buying these properties cheap and

00:28:10.069 --> 00:28:13.670
then they're investing, they're taking a risk on the property to be able to sell it for

00:28:13.670 --> 00:28:17.230
the $140,000, that's where they make their money?

00:28:17.230 --> 00:28:18.230
Mm-hmm.

00:28:18.230 --> 00:28:19.230
Yes.

00:28:19.230 --> 00:28:21.549
Adam and Shadle.

00:28:21.549 --> 00:28:26.389
Director Duckman, are you looking for a motion to get this for a vote from the council?

00:28:26.389 --> 00:28:56.389
I'm making the council aware that at the next council meeting either December, the next one in December or January, I'm letting everyone know that there's going to be an agreement for 521 West Cottonwood so we know what this is and hopefully moving forward I can bring more agreements that are similar so if I say I have an agreement for this address in the City of Freeport with the Region 1 Land Bank you are under, hopefully there'll be less questions because you understand the process and I wanted you to be aware that this is coming soon.

00:28:56.389 --> 00:29:02.710
very very good thank you for that thank you all do miss Sanders yeah is this in

00:29:02.710 --> 00:29:09.470
house all of this restoration what that's taking place so it could be

00:29:09.470 --> 00:29:17.750
restoration with components that are not directly in the city city of Freeport

00:29:17.750 --> 00:29:22.630
sure so this person that's interested in 521 cottonwood is from Lake Zurich and

00:29:22.630 --> 00:29:25.269
They're going to get a permit with the City of Freeport.

00:29:25.269 --> 00:29:28.029
And if it's their property, they can,

00:29:28.029 --> 00:29:30.869
if they're a licensed contractor with my department,

00:29:30.869 --> 00:29:33.470
then yes, there's no requirement that says

00:29:33.470 --> 00:29:35.549
they have to hire a contractor in the City of Freeport.

00:29:35.549 --> 00:29:36.389
Okay.

00:29:36.389 --> 00:29:38.869
I just wanted to see if, well, I'm sorry.

00:29:38.869 --> 00:29:39.789
Go ahead.

00:29:39.789 --> 00:29:44.110
I just wanted to see if there was a level playing field here

00:29:44.110 --> 00:29:46.950
where other contractors here in the City of Freeport

00:29:46.950 --> 00:29:49.509
can have the opportunity to bid on

00:29:49.509 --> 00:29:54.509
or to sign up or apply for these types of venture programs.

00:29:54.509 --> 00:30:04.359
and I, and I just wanted to see how we are administrating the whole thing, you know,

00:30:04.359 --> 00:30:05.359
with everyone.

00:30:05.359 --> 00:30:07.039
That's all I'm asking.

00:30:07.039 --> 00:30:08.039
Sure.

00:30:08.039 --> 00:30:12.900
No, just to be clear, we're utilizing their resources to put this back into the hands

00:30:12.900 --> 00:30:18.000
of a responsible contractor, and then there will be a resolution to you stating what this

00:30:18.000 --> 00:30:21.759
contractor is going to do, what their deed restriction says, they'll have a timeline

00:30:21.759 --> 00:30:27.180
to fix the property, and that's their expertise, and that's what they would be doing.

00:30:27.180 --> 00:30:32.140
We are giving the property to the land bank so that they can send us a proposal for you

00:30:32.140 --> 00:30:34.319
to vote on at the next meeting.

00:30:34.319 --> 00:30:36.980
Okay.

00:30:36.980 --> 00:30:37.980
Audemars Simmons?

00:30:37.980 --> 00:30:45.140
So, what's the website, and what are the requirements for one to be able to be in?

00:30:45.140 --> 00:30:48.460
Yeah, so, did you say what is the website?

00:30:48.460 --> 00:30:49.940
Is that your first question?

00:30:49.940 --> 00:30:50.940
It's r1planning.org.

00:30:50.940 --> 00:30:58.019
Borg. So when you go to the home page right at the top, there's a link to properties.

00:30:58.019 --> 00:31:04.579
There's no fee or anything like that to sign up. You just make an account on our website,

00:31:04.579 --> 00:31:12.220
sign up, and then you can apply. There's no sort of transaction ahead of time. It's just

00:31:12.220 --> 00:31:18.660
a cashier's check for the full amount when you close. We're not nickel and diming people

00:31:18.660 --> 00:31:19.660
in the process.

00:31:19.660 --> 00:31:35.660
and you said r1planning.org? Yeah, letter R, number one. Any other questions? Thank you.

00:31:35.660 --> 00:31:49.819
Next, we will have a presentation regarding CDBGHG grant by Tara Walters, Region 1 Planning

00:31:49.819 --> 00:32:08.059
Council Consultant for CDBG HR Grant. My name is Tara Walters. I work for MSA Professional Services.

00:32:08.059 --> 00:32:15.500
I am a Community Development Administrator with my company and I am the current Grant Administrator

00:32:15.500 --> 00:32:20.700
for the City of Freeport's CDBG Housing Rehabilitation Grant. So what I'm going to do

00:32:20.700 --> 00:32:27.259
in this presentation is simply walk through the Housing Rehab Program that's administered by DCO,

00:32:27.259 --> 00:32:32.299
which is the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity at the state level as well as some

00:32:32.299 --> 00:32:38.940
of the national objectives of what the program is meant to do and how the state administers it.

00:32:41.529 --> 00:32:49.130
So first, this is a very overarching process of what the housing rehabilitation program is

00:32:49.130 --> 00:32:55.210
and how it goes. Essentially a city or an applicant, a unit of local government within

00:32:55.210 --> 00:32:57.610
within the state of Illinois can apply.

00:32:57.610 --> 00:33:02.529
The city of Freeport's application was submitted in 2021.

00:33:02.529 --> 00:33:04.610
Once those applications are reviewed,

00:33:04.610 --> 00:33:08.650
the state awards the most competitive grant applications.

00:33:08.650 --> 00:33:12.329
The city of Freeport's was awarded in 2022.

00:33:12.329 --> 00:33:15.490
The city then has two years to complete the project.

00:33:15.490 --> 00:33:19.610
So the original award, this project had a sunset date

00:33:19.610 --> 00:33:23.490
or a grant sunset date of November 30th, 2024.

00:33:23.490 --> 00:33:28.289
we did apply for a six month extension.

00:33:28.289 --> 00:33:32.730
So our new sunset date on these funds is May 31st of 2025.

00:33:33.889 --> 00:33:36.089
Once a grant is awarded,

00:33:36.089 --> 00:33:37.650
the city then has to go through

00:33:37.650 --> 00:33:39.250
an environmental review process.

00:33:39.250 --> 00:33:41.970
A tier one is the first step.

00:33:41.970 --> 00:33:46.690
Within the application, the city assigned a project area.

00:33:46.690 --> 00:33:47.970
And I don't have the project area

00:33:47.970 --> 00:33:49.910
from the application pulled in this presentation,

00:33:49.910 --> 00:33:52.130
but it was the area of South Adams,

00:33:52.130 --> 00:33:55.410
South Hyde, East Center, Wyandotte, and East Pleasant,

00:33:55.410 --> 00:33:56.829
kind of that general area.

00:33:58.049 --> 00:34:00.930
They decide upon this area based on the amount

00:34:00.930 --> 00:34:04.670
of low income persons, the amount of blight,

00:34:04.670 --> 00:34:07.049
the place in the city that is a priority.

00:34:08.489 --> 00:34:11.730
And they also, once they decide on an area,

00:34:11.730 --> 00:34:13.529
part of the application is going out

00:34:13.529 --> 00:34:16.289
and surveying homeowners in this area

00:34:16.289 --> 00:34:18.690
for income as well as housing needs.

00:34:18.690 --> 00:34:21.869
So as part, your application was scored on,

00:34:21.869 --> 00:34:24.550
You know, the amount of low income persons in this area,

00:34:24.550 --> 00:34:27.329
as well as the needs for housing rehabilitation.

00:34:28.690 --> 00:34:30.869
The environmental review at the tier one level

00:34:30.869 --> 00:34:33.070
is completed for that entire area.

00:34:33.070 --> 00:34:35.750
So at this point, we're not selecting individual houses.

00:34:35.750 --> 00:34:38.670
We're just kind of blanketing, oh, I'm so sorry.

00:34:38.670 --> 00:34:39.590
I talk with my hands.

00:34:39.590 --> 00:34:43.110
We're just kind of blanketing that entire project area.

00:34:43.110 --> 00:34:45.789
Once your tier one is approved by DCEO,

00:34:45.789 --> 00:34:48.989
you can then start the individual rehabilitation application.

00:34:48.989 --> 00:34:51.369
So this is when you're accepting applications

00:34:51.369 --> 00:34:55.449
from individual homeowners within that project area.

00:34:55.449 --> 00:34:57.050
Once those are scored,

00:34:57.050 --> 00:35:00.010
we then have to do the environmental review tier two level,

00:35:00.010 --> 00:35:02.789
which is for each individual house

00:35:02.789 --> 00:35:04.690
that scored the highest.

00:35:04.690 --> 00:35:08.130
And so in terms of who was kind of taking over

00:35:08.130 --> 00:35:10.289
during this process at the application level,

00:35:10.289 --> 00:35:11.570
that was the city of Freeport.

00:35:11.570 --> 00:35:15.090
You guys compiled and submitted your own application.

00:35:15.090 --> 00:35:17.690
You were awarded environmental tier one,

00:35:17.690 --> 00:35:20.769
MSA got involved because we were working with Wayne

00:35:20.769 --> 00:35:23.489
a little bit on a different CDBG grant.

00:35:23.489 --> 00:35:27.050
So we assisted with that tier one environmental review.

00:35:27.050 --> 00:35:30.409
The baton was passed to R1 who helps the city

00:35:30.409 --> 00:35:34.369
with the individual home application process and the scoring

00:35:34.369 --> 00:35:36.590
and started the tier two.

00:35:36.590 --> 00:35:39.570
And then that was when the baton was passed back to myself

00:35:39.570 --> 00:35:43.070
and my colleagues at MSA to finish off the tier two.

00:35:43.070 --> 00:35:46.289
Once we get tier two approval from DCEO,

00:35:46.289 --> 00:35:48.090
they said everything looks good.

00:35:48.090 --> 00:35:51.090
and we can then bid the project and start construction

00:35:51.090 --> 00:35:55.190
on the individual rehabilitation.

00:35:55.190 --> 00:35:58.150
So some of the program objectives,

00:35:58.150 --> 00:36:03.150
this is an excerpt from the 2023 CDBG guidebook

00:36:04.849 --> 00:36:08.550
from the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity.

00:36:08.550 --> 00:36:12.789
CDBG funds are a federal pass through essentially.

00:36:12.789 --> 00:36:14.470
So they're granted by HUD.

00:36:14.470 --> 00:36:17.869
So in order for the state to administer these CDBG funds,

00:36:17.869 --> 00:36:22.529
they have to meet one of the three HUD national objectives.

00:36:22.529 --> 00:36:23.929
The three objectives are one,

00:36:23.929 --> 00:36:26.489
benefiting low to moderate income persons,

00:36:26.489 --> 00:36:28.670
two, aiding in the prevention or elimination

00:36:28.670 --> 00:36:29.650
of slums and blight,

00:36:29.650 --> 00:36:32.250
or three, meeting other community development needs

00:36:32.250 --> 00:36:34.590
that pose a serious and immediate threat

00:36:34.590 --> 00:36:36.130
to the health and welfare of the community,

00:36:36.130 --> 00:36:39.970
also known as urgent need.

00:36:39.970 --> 00:36:41.550
The CDBG program,

00:36:41.550 --> 00:36:44.889
the CDBG housing rehabilitation program specifically,

00:36:44.889 --> 00:36:48.090
as well as their other program called public infrastructure

00:36:48.090 --> 00:36:49.849
is falling under the benefiting

00:36:49.849 --> 00:36:51.949
low to moderate income persons.

00:36:51.949 --> 00:36:55.289
Though the housing rehabilitation does help

00:36:55.289 --> 00:36:57.550
with the prevention and elimination of blight,

00:36:57.550 --> 00:37:00.369
the state's program is meeting the HUD objective

00:37:00.369 --> 00:37:04.440
of low to moderate income persons.

00:37:04.440 --> 00:37:09.019
Some of the other excerpts from the HUD national objectives,

00:37:09.019 --> 00:37:11.039
an LMI housing activity is carried out

00:37:11.039 --> 00:37:13.079
for the purpose of providing or improving

00:37:13.079 --> 00:37:15.440
permanent single-family owner-occupied

00:37:15.440 --> 00:37:18.039
residential structures that will be occupied

00:37:18.039 --> 00:37:19.039
Huffines.

00:37:19.039 --> 00:37:22.500
And I'll skip down to the first bullet.

00:37:22.500 --> 00:37:27.880
For each assisted unit, the family size and income and ranges, 30%, 50%, and 80%, which

00:37:27.880 --> 00:37:31.840
is, and the next slide will explain what that means.

00:37:31.840 --> 00:37:36.880
The level of income compared to the state's or the area's median household income of an

00:37:36.880 --> 00:37:40.880
occupant household and the amount of CDBG funds spent.

00:37:40.880 --> 00:37:44.760
And then second, data on racial, ethnic, and gender characteristics of persons who are

00:37:44.760 --> 00:37:50.920
are applicants for participants in or beneficiaries of the CDBG activities.

00:37:50.920 --> 00:37:58.000
And lastly, the CDBG program under the state of Illinois for a household to be eligible.

00:37:58.000 --> 00:38:01.940
This is again in the 2023 CDBG guidebook.

00:38:01.940 --> 00:38:06.840
The grant team was certified that the program recipients meet the HUD eligibility requirements,

00:38:06.840 --> 00:38:12.900
which is low to moderate income, and to do that, they must submit their IRS form 1040.

00:38:12.900 --> 00:38:18.139
and when using this IRS 1040, we determine an applicant's annual income.

00:38:18.139 --> 00:38:19.739
They must use the most current version.

00:38:19.739 --> 00:38:24.300
So any time that we're looking at a house at the application stage, before the construction

00:38:24.300 --> 00:38:28.760
stage, we're always getting these updated forms to ensure that they are still eligible

00:38:28.760 --> 00:38:34.130
under state and federal requirements.

00:38:34.130 --> 00:38:37.610
Further, that was more national objectives.

00:38:37.610 --> 00:38:40.949
So I'm switching over to the state program objectives.

00:38:40.949 --> 00:38:46.869
This was a presentation given each year, the DCO has a CDBG administration workshop.

00:38:46.869 --> 00:38:50.389
I've just pulled these from the presentations at said workshop.

00:38:50.389 --> 00:38:55.349
So the eligibility requirements for housing rehab recipients are they must be a single

00:38:55.349 --> 00:39:01.190
family residential unit, they must be owner occupied and prove that they live there, and

00:39:01.190 --> 00:39:03.590
they must have homeowners insurance.

00:39:03.590 --> 00:39:10.869
Secondly, the income must be verified, again, via the IRS tax form 1040, and they must be

00:39:10.869 --> 00:39:25.420
D.C.O. goes on to state that the prioritization of housing applicants must be given to very

00:39:25.420 --> 00:39:34.779
low income, elderly or handicapped households, and then 51% of the points in the entire project

00:39:34.779 --> 00:39:41.300
area must be given to these two criteria.

00:39:41.300 --> 00:39:45.340
I didn't have the income limits, but you can go to HUD.

00:39:45.340 --> 00:39:47.900
Anytime we're looking at where a person falls

00:39:47.900 --> 00:39:49.860
and whether they're low to moderate income,

00:39:49.860 --> 00:39:51.260
we go to the HUD income limits,

00:39:51.260 --> 00:39:54.119
which are updated annually and they're updated.

00:39:54.119 --> 00:39:55.039
Annually and they're updated per county.

00:39:55.039 --> 00:39:58.679
So whenever a house is next in line,

00:39:58.679 --> 00:40:00.519
I essentially talk to the homeowner,

00:40:00.519 --> 00:40:02.440
I ask for their IRS form,

00:40:02.440 --> 00:40:04.840
I also ask for supplementary documentation

00:40:04.840 --> 00:40:08.800
such as their social security benefit statement,

00:40:08.800 --> 00:40:11.599
things like that to verify against their taxes

00:40:11.599 --> 00:40:13.320
and make sure that their income falls

00:40:13.320 --> 00:40:15.679
below those income thresholds.

00:40:15.679 --> 00:40:18.860
The 30%, 50% and 80% is a percentage

00:40:18.860 --> 00:40:21.480
of the median household income for the county.

00:40:21.480 --> 00:40:35.820
So anything under 80% is considered low, and then 50% very, you know, moderately low, and then 30% is very low. Is there anything else you want to add, Wayne?

00:40:35.820 --> 00:40:49.820
No, I appreciate it. I think that there certainly may be some questions now. I know definitely appreciate you chiming in, or I know Joel is also here. He did the scoring for Region 1.

00:40:49.820 --> 00:41:19.820
There were some particular questions I think, I know Alderperson Stacey brought ahead about 1010 South Adams and their application so I think any questions you know just be available for any questions we have on the overall process I just want to say I've worked on this grant now for the three years I've worked here and I know that the city would not have been able to get this far and offer any funds if it wasn't for your hard work, if it wasn't for Joel's hard work with Region 1

00:41:19.820 --> 00:41:20.820
and so on.

00:41:20.820 --> 00:41:26.900
So this grant provided the city, I think it's $64,000 in, you know, consultant fees to

00:41:26.900 --> 00:41:33.260
help administer this grant with the extreme amount of documentation you have to provide.

00:41:33.260 --> 00:41:38.239
You know, I'm sitting right here on, I think I measured this to be six inches of paperwork

00:41:38.239 --> 00:41:45.219
that includes, this is the grant application and it's immense and it's really a juggernaut

00:41:45.219 --> 00:41:46.219
to take on.

00:41:46.219 --> 00:41:50.820
there's going to be questions and I would just appreciate you staying to answer any

00:41:50.820 --> 00:42:04.320
questions with the grant administration process. Maybe have the lights on. Are

00:42:04.320 --> 00:42:12.409
there any questions? Alderman Sellers. So you're saying that the 1010 South Adams

00:42:12.409 --> 00:42:19.929
did meet all the requirements to have done what they need be done? Correct. To be

00:42:19.929 --> 00:42:20.929
Walters.

00:42:20.929 --> 00:42:33.809
Ms. Walters, do you consider yourself an expert on this type of grant?

00:42:33.809 --> 00:42:38.010
I've gone to seven years worth of DCO trainings.

00:42:38.010 --> 00:42:40.809
I can say I'm always surprised.

00:42:40.809 --> 00:42:45.889
Every single year things change, but I know exactly where all of the resources are.

00:42:45.889 --> 00:42:50.809
I'm talking with the state, not the state representatives, but you know members of

00:42:50.809 --> 00:42:55.690
DCEO on a daily basis and ask them many many questions anytime I'm

00:42:55.690 --> 00:43:01.010
stumped and they always assist in every way they can. How long have you been

00:43:01.010 --> 00:43:15.199
doing this? Seven years. Seven years. Alderman Parker? Certainly happy you're

00:43:15.199 --> 00:43:19.179
taking the time you obviously know more about it than anybody in this room so we

00:43:19.179 --> 00:43:22.659
appreciate it thank you very much you've answered a lot of questions. Thank you

00:43:22.659 --> 00:43:36.139
I have a question. Is there a rule that you have to stay in this renovated

00:43:36.139 --> 00:43:43.579
property for a certain length of time after the work is done? There is not a

00:43:43.579 --> 00:43:50.539
rule per DCO and HUD requirements. However, in order to be eligible for the

00:43:50.539 --> 00:43:55.539
Project, the idea behind having homeowner insurance.

00:43:55.539 --> 00:43:58.260
If we get wind that they're going to sell,

00:43:58.260 --> 00:44:05.139
DCO recommends that you contact them to figure out a process.

00:44:05.139 --> 00:44:06.820
They do not like to see it.

00:44:06.820 --> 00:44:11.619
However, they cannot stop a homeowner from selling

00:44:11.619 --> 00:44:15.460
after the grant has completely commenced.

00:44:15.460 --> 00:44:18.940
But there's no penalties.

00:44:18.940 --> 00:44:22.500
No.

00:44:22.500 --> 00:44:26.900
Can you tell me, I'm sorry, is there anyone else?

00:44:26.900 --> 00:44:33.019
Can you tell me when was the first application given

00:44:33.019 --> 00:44:36.420
and what was the cutoff date?

00:44:36.420 --> 00:44:38.980
Yeah, I'm not sure on that.

00:44:38.980 --> 00:44:43.019
So what we're talking about here is when I looked at the grant

00:44:43.019 --> 00:44:46.500
application, it's from 2021.

00:44:46.500 --> 00:44:51.300
And really, what they discuss in the narrative of the grant

00:44:51.300 --> 00:44:53.699
was written by the former director here.

00:44:53.699 --> 00:44:58.380
They talk about how they originally had 68 applications

00:44:58.380 --> 00:45:02.619
and 60 of those applications were eligible.

00:45:02.619 --> 00:45:05.059
So they're actually called income surveys

00:45:05.059 --> 00:45:09.260
and there are a one page document with address

00:45:09.260 --> 00:45:11.380
and they basically state their income

00:45:11.380 --> 00:45:14.300
and it talks about the income limits

00:45:14.300 --> 00:45:17.300
that Ms. Walters has discussed.

00:45:17.300 --> 00:45:22.199
So at that time, it was 2021, and in the grant application,

00:45:22.199 --> 00:45:24.900
that was when those originally were submitted.

00:45:25.860 --> 00:45:28.639
Nobody here was working on that project at that time,

00:45:28.639 --> 00:45:30.460
so I'm not sure what deadline they gave,

00:45:30.460 --> 00:45:34.960
but what I do know is they state in the budget,

00:45:34.960 --> 00:45:37.699
they state in the narrative of the grant application

00:45:37.699 --> 00:45:42.699
that there were 60 people that were originally considered.

00:45:43.340 --> 00:45:45.659
And do we still have those applications?

00:45:45.659 --> 00:45:50.179
Yes, I'm looking at them right now.

00:45:50.220 --> 00:46:01.159
So it's in the text of the grant application, and it's also in the grant. I'm looking at the 60 right here that were attached.

00:46:01.159 --> 00:46:19.980
Okay. I had asked for that information, and what I received was the 30 that came out, I believe, through Tier 2.

00:46:19.980 --> 00:46:27.779
Sure. So I know I talked with Attorney Zito. I know you're at his office and had an opportunity to look at these originals.

00:46:27.779 --> 00:46:35.480
So if there's a communication gap there, I could certainly have these redacted and send you the original applications. We have them in our possession.

00:46:35.480 --> 00:46:49.480
But I will also say that from the 60 applicants, and Joel's here to answer any questions, when we went through that process that we saw where they were scoring, we kept a log.

00:46:49.480 --> 00:46:55.000
so to make sure that everyone was included and that we were transparent I

00:46:55.000 --> 00:47:01.279
know you were provided the log that Joel did for all 60 of these people and I

00:47:01.279 --> 00:47:08.320
talked with Joel today oh did you not send her the log an email on Friday they

00:47:08.320 --> 00:47:16.000
had the log there no the application did not submit eight because it states in

00:47:16.000 --> 00:47:18.840
AUDE.

00:47:18.840 --> 00:47:23.199
Originally when they state in the narrative, there were 68 and they were only submitting

00:47:23.199 --> 00:47:27.000
60 and they attached all 60 of them in this grant application.

00:47:27.000 --> 00:47:34.659
So they state very clearly 68 surveys were done, 60 were eligible, and of those surveys,

00:47:34.659 --> 00:47:40.860
they called them income surveys, they said, okay, 60 people are being considered.

00:47:40.860 --> 00:47:43.139
That's what they say in the grant application.

00:47:43.139 --> 00:47:45.139
and I have been in the past two years.

00:47:45.139 --> 00:47:47.139
I've been in the past two years.

00:47:47.139 --> 00:47:49.139
And I've been in the past two years.

00:47:49.139 --> 00:47:51.139
I was called in.

00:47:51.139 --> 00:47:54.139
I was called in when Region 1 was retained to review those 60

00:47:54.139 --> 00:47:56.139
applications.

00:47:56.139 --> 00:48:00.139
And talking with them, I said part of your services, you'll

00:48:00.139 --> 00:48:03.139
provide a detailed log so that everybody can, so that it's

00:48:03.139 --> 00:48:06.139
transparent to know that everybody was contacted and given

00:48:06.139 --> 00:48:09.139
an opportunity to submit all required documentation.

00:48:09.139 --> 00:48:11.139
So Joel is here if there's any questions.

00:48:11.139 --> 00:48:12.139
Huffines.

00:48:12.139 --> 00:48:19.460
He said several people actually hung up on him, weren't interested, but it's all documented

00:48:19.460 --> 00:48:26.500
under the work that Region 1 did to ensure how we went from 60 people from 2021, then

00:48:26.500 --> 00:48:31.059
we went to 30 people that actually submitted all the required documentation, and then those

00:48:31.059 --> 00:48:33.179
30 people were graded.

00:48:33.179 --> 00:48:39.220
So out of the 61, only 30 gave you everything you needed.

00:48:39.220 --> 00:48:39.720
Correct.

00:48:39.720 --> 00:48:43.099
And Joel can probably chime in if he'd like any questions on it.

00:48:43.099 --> 00:48:46.220
He did the actual all the work with working

00:48:46.220 --> 00:48:47.900
with those 60 applicants.

00:48:47.900 --> 00:48:54.470
Do you want to step up and answer a few questions?

00:48:54.470 --> 00:48:57.269
Yeah, I'm not sure how many people are actually

00:48:57.269 --> 00:48:59.590
on the call log, but everybody that's

00:48:59.590 --> 00:49:03.750
on there that made it far enough to be requesting

00:49:03.750 --> 00:49:07.550
that additional information from, I called them all,

00:49:07.550 --> 00:49:10.590
like Wayne said, at least twice.

00:49:10.590 --> 00:49:15.230
and as you referenced you know sometimes I was trying to explain we need you know

00:49:15.230 --> 00:49:19.670
just this one more thing or something like that and that was the end of the

00:49:19.670 --> 00:49:23.909
road for them because they it was felt to them like it was too much and you know

00:49:23.909 --> 00:49:28.309
I'd get hung up on or something like that you know okay so why was there a

00:49:28.309 --> 00:49:37.309
second application hand delivered to prior applicants to fill out again

00:49:37.309 --> 00:49:44.170
That's required. That's a requirement for us to move forward. We cannot move

00:49:44.170 --> 00:49:53.929
forward without that information. So how do we know that all 61 that qualify

00:49:53.929 --> 00:49:55.920
B1, the qualified even received that second application.

00:49:55.920 --> 00:49:59.920
Through our log, through our communication log, through the communication log.

00:49:59.920 --> 00:50:03.559
That's why we keep a communication log so that if somebody says, I didn't receive it,

00:50:03.559 --> 00:50:07.239
well, we called you on this date, called you on this date, sent a letter to your address.

00:50:07.239 --> 00:50:09.199
I believe we sent letters as well.

00:50:09.199 --> 00:50:13.320
So we sent you a letter on this date in our log, called you on this date, called you on

00:50:13.320 --> 00:50:15.079
this date.

00:50:15.079 --> 00:50:16.440
That's why you have a log.

00:50:16.440 --> 00:50:19.480
That's why professionals keep logs when they're doing work like this.

00:50:19.480 --> 00:50:25.559
information at your office we I asked for this we talked about this and talked about this and

00:50:25.559 --> 00:50:30.280
talked about this right and so all right at my office we didn't have this information yet so this

00:50:30.280 --> 00:50:39.239
past Friday I was like so we got a response from he said it's in that book that you had we have

00:50:39.239 --> 00:50:45.320
this book here um I'm sure there and I'm sure as I've stated before you and I've met several times

00:50:45.320 --> 00:50:52.360
I have no problem getting you these original, from 2021, these surveys, these income surveys.

00:50:54.119 --> 00:50:58.519
We can certainly provide those to you redacted with all the information that you would need.

00:50:58.519 --> 00:51:03.880
They're pretty simple. It's just, you know, I guess the best way to look at these original 60

00:51:03.880 --> 00:51:10.679
is it's a simple one-page document where they're told to state where their income falls between

00:51:10.679 --> 00:51:15.840
how much money they make and then that's used in the application to move them on

00:51:15.840 --> 00:51:20.440
to the next step so this is more of a preliminary it's called a community

00:51:20.440 --> 00:51:25.840
development block grant income survey so these are the 60 people that were this

00:51:25.840 --> 00:51:29.199
was all included in part of the original application that moves them on to the

00:51:29.199 --> 00:51:34.639
next step which was shown on that first slide when we go over the steps what

00:51:34.639 --> 00:51:40.219
they have to do but it was more than just the income survey I don't know what

00:51:40.219 --> 00:51:42.219
and

00:51:42.219 --> 00:51:45.500
you're asking for the 68 applicants you just said they just it was basically a

00:51:46.139 --> 00:51:50.900
Income survey that they filled out that's what I have here. Yes, and I believe

00:51:51.420 --> 00:51:57.460
Tara Walters can confirm that the state of Illinois does their block grant community development block grant as a LMI

00:51:57.659 --> 00:52:03.099
Low to moderate income. That's their that's their factor. That's why they do these income surveys

00:52:03.219 --> 00:52:09.300
That's how the grants administered by the state of Illinois. So that's what the tier one application was just

00:52:09.300 --> 00:52:10.300
and so on.

00:52:10.300 --> 00:52:13.940
So just that income survey.

00:52:13.940 --> 00:52:19.880
So as part, if I may, as part of the application, the income surveys are sent out to everyone

00:52:19.880 --> 00:52:21.739
within that project area.

00:52:21.739 --> 00:52:26.219
The more income surveys that you have to submit with your application, the higher you score.

00:52:26.219 --> 00:52:30.360
So that process is essentially used to get the grant.

00:52:30.360 --> 00:52:35.019
It doesn't promise any of those people that filled out that income survey.

00:52:35.019 --> 00:52:39.079
It's just proving to the state that we have a need in this area.

00:52:39.079 --> 00:52:44.519
It didn't ask for any income information, it asked them to self-certify on that application.

00:52:44.519 --> 00:52:50.480
Once you're awarded, you can then go back to those 60, you know, 60, 68 folks and they

00:52:50.480 --> 00:52:56.440
do another application and that's when they're submitting their income information and certifying

00:52:56.440 --> 00:52:59.440
their application and it's moving the steps forward.

00:52:59.440 --> 00:53:08.000
So what's the first application similar to the second application?

00:53:08.000 --> 00:53:10.719
I would have to pull it up. It's very similar.

00:53:10.719 --> 00:53:11.920
It's very similar.

00:53:11.920 --> 00:53:16.119
I mean, like I said, I'll make copies of these

00:53:16.119 --> 00:53:17.800
and send them to Kirk Anderson.

00:53:17.800 --> 00:53:22.280
And you can look at them if you'd like.

00:53:22.280 --> 00:53:27.019
The second application asks for those prioritization bullet

00:53:27.019 --> 00:53:30.599
points, disabled age, things of that sort.

00:53:30.599 --> 00:53:34.679
So that would help R1 score each application individually

00:53:34.679 --> 00:53:36.000
versus just income.

00:53:36.000 --> 00:53:41.059
And I think what you're looking for, I mean, I would also, you know, I don't know what

00:53:41.059 --> 00:53:45.460
you're going to find in here, I mean, we can look at it again, I'm not, we're certainly

00:53:45.460 --> 00:53:51.960
willing to look at it, but this documentation here from 2021, that's what the state looked

00:53:51.960 --> 00:53:56.159
at to say, okay, we will give you $550,000.

00:53:56.159 --> 00:54:01.719
So they looked at these grant income surveys as part of the grant application and said,

00:54:31.720 --> 00:54:33.720
and

00:54:34.820 --> 00:54:37.820
the other thing I want to say is that we have to follow up with

00:54:37.820 --> 00:54:40.820
the actual funds. Then they have to follow up. And that's what

00:54:40.820 --> 00:54:44.820
Joel did was he contacted these 60 people and said, okay, now

00:54:44.820 --> 00:54:48.820
you have to show us proof of income. Show us your tax

00:54:48.820 --> 00:54:52.820
returns. Show us your pay stubs from, you know, your Social

00:54:52.820 --> 00:54:56.820
Security statements. And half the people did not want to

00:54:56.820 --> 00:55:00.820
follow through with that. So that's what we're talking about

00:55:00.820 --> 00:55:05.820
I have tried for the last five weeks to see

00:55:08.380 --> 00:55:11.239
what you're telling me is right in front of you.

00:55:12.119 --> 00:55:17.289
And so I would like to see them.

00:55:17.289 --> 00:55:21.470
And I trust that we will be setting up a meeting,

00:55:21.470 --> 00:55:25.369
setting up a meeting so that we can go over

00:55:25.369 --> 00:55:28.409
the original 60 applications,

00:55:28.409 --> 00:55:31.949
which is what I have asked for from the beginning.

00:55:31.949 --> 00:55:36.829
We did review that a few weeks ago, so we probably just have our communication wires crossed here,

00:55:36.829 --> 00:55:41.630
but I'm going to ask the question because I don't know what this will do for you. This grant's been

00:55:41.630 --> 00:55:46.989
awarded, so it's been awarded on those already. I'm just asking the question of, and I will,

00:55:46.989 --> 00:55:51.949
we can go through another meeting and show it to you, but I don't know what the, my question would

00:55:51.949 --> 00:55:56.429
be is what are you hoping to gain by looking at those? Maybe you can ask a question of MSA

00:55:56.429 --> 00:56:06.960
and what that would affect. I still don't understand how we went from 61 approved applicants to 30.

00:56:08.320 --> 00:56:14.559
There's a there's a log that the 30 all 60 people were contacted and we provided a know that

00:56:15.199 --> 00:56:20.000
there's a log there's an actual every property owner says on this date I called this person

00:56:20.000 --> 00:56:23.599
and left the voicemail on this date I call the person left the voicemail sent a letter on this

00:56:23.599 --> 00:56:28.559
date knocked on their door this date he's right there if you want to tell him he's being untruthful

00:56:28.559 --> 00:56:34.559
I'm not saying he's being untruthful, so please don't put those words in my mouth.

00:56:34.559 --> 00:56:46.880
What I'm asking is, I remember when a second application had to be presented, and Third

00:56:46.880 --> 00:56:54.380
Ward Alderwoman, me Fifth Ward Alderwoman, and some of the community people wanted to

00:56:54.380 --> 00:57:02.099
and I were offered to help with this and was denied the opportunity to go door-to-door

00:57:02.099 --> 00:57:08.579
and give them this second application that we were being told they had to fill out.

00:57:08.579 --> 00:57:12.380
And so I am in nowhere calling you a liar.

00:57:12.380 --> 00:57:23.099
I am just saying, how do we know all 61 of those applicants received this second or Tier

00:57:23.099 --> 00:57:24.099
Huffines.

00:57:24.099 --> 00:57:27.519
Do you understand what the log did, right?

00:57:27.519 --> 00:57:33.139
So we hired them to have a communication dialogue with these 60 people.

00:57:33.139 --> 00:57:35.300
You understand that part, right?

00:57:35.300 --> 00:57:41.349
Do you understand that we hired Region 1 to contact these 60 people?

00:57:41.349 --> 00:57:43.869
I know that's what you say you did.

00:57:43.869 --> 00:57:50.070
And so they were directed to log all communications with 60 applicants.

00:57:50.070 --> 00:57:56.889
So if we take him for his professional word and he documented in a log that he did this,

00:57:56.889 --> 00:57:59.529
then I'm telling you the work was done per the log.

00:57:59.529 --> 00:58:05.690
Okay, I just I want to see the log. I want to see the list of the 61. I want to, I just

00:58:05.690 --> 00:58:13.570
want to see it. Alderman, I mean, I'm sorry, Attorney Zito.

00:58:13.570 --> 00:58:18.529
So the log was emailed to you on Friday because that's what I got it on Thursday or there

00:58:18.529 --> 00:58:19.529
Miller.

00:58:19.529 --> 00:58:24.730
I got the response, you and I had a phone call, I had to look at the response from the state

00:58:24.730 --> 00:58:27.650
there and I was going to send you a summary as a part of that summary that I sent you

00:58:27.650 --> 00:58:34.130
on Friday there and it included the log of the MSA log of all the times they called people.

00:58:34.130 --> 00:58:35.349
So that should be in your email.

00:58:35.349 --> 00:58:40.690
But it included the log of the 68 or the 31?

00:58:40.690 --> 00:58:51.610
Let me just state really quickly, in this grant, my predecessors said they received 68, and

00:58:51.610 --> 00:58:55.809
essentially eight of them did not qualify of the 68.

00:58:55.809 --> 00:58:59.329
That's their words, that's their testimony in the grant application.

00:58:59.329 --> 00:59:04.849
So what they're saying is, they received 68, eight of them came back, and they're saying

00:59:04.849 --> 00:59:06.050
they made too much money.

00:59:06.050 --> 00:59:09.409
So they got an income survey, and the person said, I made $100,000.

00:59:09.409 --> 00:59:11.250
and then they said, well, that doesn't count.

00:59:11.250 --> 00:59:15.449
So they submitted 60, but they're stating they received 68.

00:59:15.449 --> 00:59:19.289
So the other eight, that's not part of the grant application.

00:59:19.289 --> 00:59:21.449
I don't have those eight, it's not part of the grant.

00:59:21.449 --> 00:59:24.849
I'm not asking for the eight, I just ask for the 60.

00:59:24.849 --> 00:59:26.329
OK.

00:59:26.329 --> 00:59:28.369
Yeah.

00:59:28.369 --> 00:59:29.769
Director.

00:59:29.769 --> 00:59:36.050
Yeah, so just a side note, we do the CDBG grant process as well,

00:59:36.050 --> 00:59:38.769
but we do it on infrastructure, not housing.

00:59:38.769 --> 00:59:42.970
The 68 applications that were done,

00:59:42.970 --> 00:59:47.010
just defined the target area of the grant.

00:59:47.010 --> 00:59:50.210
That's all that did is said, we got 68 applications.

00:59:50.210 --> 00:59:52.400
that is said, we got 68 applications from this street to this street.

00:59:52.400 --> 00:59:55.719
Here's our target area now that where the money can be spent.

00:59:55.719 --> 00:59:57.079
That's tier one, right?

00:59:57.079 --> 00:59:59.119
So that's the Adams corridor that was selected.

00:59:59.119 --> 01:00:00.840
That's all that did.

01:00:00.840 --> 01:00:06.760
The second tier is where you drive down into the homes to see who is truly qualified.

01:00:06.760 --> 01:00:12.239
The first survey is done on an honesty basis that you're going to tell me that this is

01:00:12.239 --> 01:00:15.000
your real income and you sign that.

01:00:15.000 --> 01:00:19.639
Huffines when you go to the second tier, that's not the case or people didn't file correctly

01:00:19.639 --> 01:00:24.880
and they won't produce the second piece of information which automatically excludes them.

01:00:24.880 --> 01:00:30.079
So again, tier one, the first 68 applications, just define the Adams corridor that had the

01:00:30.079 --> 01:00:32.719
need for the 550,000.

01:00:32.719 --> 01:00:34.559
That's why we were awarded for that.

01:00:34.559 --> 01:00:40.159
The second tier drives down to each individual house on who is really qualified, which if

01:00:40.159 --> 01:00:44.679
I'm hearing correctly, had nothing to do with this, is our 30 people, right?

01:00:44.679 --> 01:00:50.360
and so those are the final 30 that actually responded, gave us, if there was five pieces,

01:00:50.360 --> 01:00:55.519
all five pieces that were needed to qualify, that's where the basis comes in tier two.

01:00:55.519 --> 01:01:00.519
So I just wanted to explain to that, the 68 applications, every quarter that's picked

01:01:00.519 --> 01:01:05.920
for community development block grants has to have, let's say you have 100 houses, you

01:01:05.920 --> 01:01:10.159
got to have 70% of them low to moderate income or it doesn't qualify, the money can't be

01:01:10.159 --> 01:01:11.880
spent in that area.

01:01:11.880 --> 01:01:14.300
That's where the income requirements come from.

01:01:14.300 --> 01:01:18.860
if we tried to, I'm just picking an area for clarity,

01:01:18.860 --> 01:01:21.739
if we tried to move this grant out to Marvin Lane,

01:01:21.739 --> 01:01:23.500
none of those, it would never move forward

01:01:23.500 --> 01:01:25.780
because those incomes would never qualify.

01:01:25.780 --> 01:01:30.659
So if you had 100 houses, you gotta have 70% of them

01:01:30.659 --> 01:01:33.380
that would qualify for this money to be able

01:01:33.380 --> 01:01:35.139
to be used anywhere in there.

01:01:35.139 --> 01:01:38.099
And then if I lived there and made too much money,

01:01:38.099 --> 01:01:39.739
then you wouldn't be able to use it at my house.

01:01:39.739 --> 01:01:41.579
I understand that.

01:01:41.579 --> 01:01:49.780
So Ms. Walters, did you go from neighborhood to neighborhood

01:01:49.780 --> 01:01:54.260
and look at all 31 of these houses, you personally?

01:01:54.260 --> 01:01:55.940
No, I did not.

01:01:55.940 --> 01:01:59.019
Who did?

01:01:59.019 --> 01:02:02.119
The original grant application was done by my predecessor.

01:02:02.119 --> 01:02:03.500
And what I was told was that they

01:02:03.500 --> 01:02:06.139
went through the neighborhoods and handed these out.

01:02:06.139 --> 01:02:07.099
That's what I was told.

01:02:07.099 --> 01:02:08.639
I don't know if that's true or not.

01:02:08.639 --> 01:02:09.139
I don't.

01:02:09.139 --> 01:02:11.780
So that's the original 2021.

01:02:11.780 --> 01:02:14.739
But I'm saying after the 30 was chosen.

01:02:14.739 --> 01:02:16.099
Yes.

01:02:16.099 --> 01:02:19.739
Who went back to those 30 houses

01:02:19.739 --> 01:02:24.659
to see which ones were in the worst shape?

01:02:24.659 --> 01:02:25.539
That doesn't matter.

01:02:25.539 --> 01:02:26.739
That was never considered.

01:02:26.739 --> 01:02:29.860
And I can have Ms. Walters explain that again.

01:02:29.860 --> 01:02:31.900
Do you understand that condition of house

01:02:31.900 --> 01:02:34.079
per the state of Illinois does not consider

01:02:34.079 --> 01:02:34.920
condition of house?

01:02:34.920 --> 01:02:37.699
So please, can we stop that misinformation?

01:02:37.699 --> 01:02:39.300
does not matter to this grant.

01:02:39.300 --> 01:02:41.059
It's income.

01:02:41.059 --> 01:02:42.460
I understand that.

01:02:42.460 --> 01:02:50.780
But when you have low income, whether you have 50 points,

01:02:50.780 --> 01:02:53.019
let's talk about the point system.

01:02:53.019 --> 01:02:56.019
But then someone with 40 points get

01:02:56.019 --> 01:03:04.539
chosen to receive these funds before someone with 50 points.

01:03:04.539 --> 01:03:10.539
The point system would have prioritized income, disability, and age.

01:03:10.539 --> 01:03:13.659
I understand that.

01:03:13.659 --> 01:03:32.449
So my question again is why wouldn't the higher point, why would a 45 be done before a 55

01:03:32.449 --> 01:03:35.730
or 35, yes, Attorney Zito?

01:03:35.730 --> 01:03:40.610
I think the question, I think you're talking, I think what you're asking is that ultimately

01:03:40.610 --> 01:03:48.329
once we got the 30 scored and everyone had points, right, then there's still additional

01:03:48.329 --> 01:03:53.889
hoops that have to be jumped through there as far as environmentals and this, and adding,

01:03:53.889 --> 01:03:56.690
you know, submitting additional documentation there.

01:03:56.690 --> 01:04:01.010
So I think ultimately we had enough money, roughly, let's just say, that we knew that

01:04:01.010 --> 01:04:05.369
we could do about 10 houses out of the 30 that we scored, that we could do about 10.

01:04:05.369 --> 01:04:07.369
and

01:04:08.369 --> 01:04:10.369
Keeley, and I'm going to talk about the

01:04:11.710 --> 01:04:13.710
numbers, and the numbers are going to be

01:04:14.809 --> 01:04:16.809
about 10.

01:04:18.510 --> 01:04:20.470
Amongst those 10, each 10 still had to submit more paperwork,

01:04:20.470 --> 01:04:24.470
more verification of this or that, more hoops to jump through.

01:04:24.470 --> 01:04:27.470
Sometimes a person with a lower score submitted all their

01:04:27.470 --> 01:04:30.470
paperwork in first, so they went ahead and said, okay, well,

01:04:30.470 --> 01:04:33.470
we'll process you, even though you had a lower point, we knew

01:04:33.470 --> 01:04:36.309
that might have been like the number one scoring point.

01:04:36.309 --> 01:04:37.789
Number one still gonna get theirs

01:04:37.789 --> 01:04:40.190
once they submit everything

01:04:40.190 --> 01:04:42.730
because we know that we have enough money for one through 10.

01:04:42.730 --> 01:04:44.750
I think that's what you're asking

01:04:44.750 --> 01:04:47.230
about why did some people with lower points

01:04:47.230 --> 01:04:52.070
get their houses, their projects started first or sooner?

01:04:52.070 --> 01:04:52.909
Yes.

01:04:52.909 --> 01:04:54.829
Yes, and I think that's the answer.

01:04:54.829 --> 01:04:55.670
That is the answer.

01:04:55.670 --> 01:04:57.550
That is the answer because one of the parts to this

01:04:57.550 --> 01:05:00.250
is once you move forward in this process

01:05:00.250 --> 01:05:02.929
before they can go through and approve the construction

01:05:02.929 --> 01:05:06.050
an independent state inspector has to go through the house

01:05:06.050 --> 01:05:08.210
and determine the scope of work,

01:05:08.210 --> 01:05:12.210
which Ms. Walters is in charge of

01:05:12.210 --> 01:05:13.650
as part of her grant administration

01:05:13.650 --> 01:05:15.369
is going to these property owners and saying,

01:05:15.369 --> 01:05:17.610
okay, we need to schedule your inspection

01:05:17.610 --> 01:05:19.210
and then ultimately get your scope of work.

01:05:19.210 --> 01:05:22.130
So that's a process that also has to be done.

01:05:22.130 --> 01:05:26.730
Okay, so how would you know if someone,

01:05:26.730 --> 01:05:30.929
if you lived in the house 10 years or more,

01:05:30.929 --> 01:05:31.929
Huffines.

01:05:31.929 --> 01:05:34.090
You get 10 points.

01:05:34.090 --> 01:05:36.829
Five years, you get five points.

01:05:36.829 --> 01:05:44.449
So let's say I've lived in my house nine years, but I want those extra five points.

01:05:44.449 --> 01:05:47.010
So I say I've been there 10 years.

01:05:47.010 --> 01:05:53.050
How can you prove or how do you know?

01:05:53.050 --> 01:05:58.369
On their application, they are self-certifying that the information is true.

01:05:58.369 --> 01:06:00.170
That's what we have to go off of.

01:06:00.170 --> 01:06:05.369
I will also state that every bit of this process, and Joel's here to tell you about the grading

01:06:05.369 --> 01:06:12.210
process, but we also, and it's also been provided to you, our state grant manager has provided

01:06:12.210 --> 01:06:16.050
answers to these questions, but they're also available for you to contact.

01:06:16.050 --> 01:06:20.529
So you know, if there's any distrust, which seems like there's quite a bit here, on how

01:06:20.529 --> 01:06:25.949
our professionals did their work, our grant manager, who I spoke with, has said everything's

01:06:25.949 --> 01:06:27.949
and

01:06:30.090 --> 01:06:31.989
the president and his board has been above board within the

01:06:31.989 --> 01:06:35.730
process, done correctly, and our grant manager is available for

01:06:35.730 --> 01:06:38.769
you to speak to as well. But I would say that there is a

01:06:38.769 --> 01:06:43.470
timeline on these funds, and would like to truly start

01:06:43.470 --> 01:06:46.170
moving forward with some more of these applications to get

01:06:46.170 --> 01:06:50.510
people the funding. Or else it's just going to sunset and

01:06:50.510 --> 01:06:52.510
nobody is going to get the money.

01:06:52.510 --> 01:07:04.510
You, or Kurt, one of you, go back a couple slides when it, you listed, it had the three bullet points that determined the need for the grant.

01:07:04.510 --> 01:07:16.880
I don't have power.

01:07:16.880 --> 01:07:24.079
I think it was the one you just, can you go back one, or forward one?

01:07:24.079 --> 01:07:30.079
No, it was one that mentioned in, um, Blythe, Income.

01:07:30.079 --> 01:07:33.579
That one.

01:07:33.579 --> 01:07:34.579
So, yes.

01:07:34.579 --> 01:07:42.460
Okay, so the purpose of this grant, yes moderate to low income is first, but aiding in the

01:07:42.460 --> 01:07:50.220
prevention and elimination of slums and blight that does have something to do with conditions

01:07:50.220 --> 01:07:51.500
of homes.

01:07:51.500 --> 01:07:56.420
And if we go in a home that has no blight and put in a hot water heater or a furnace

01:07:56.420 --> 01:08:02.860
or whatever, that does nothing to reduce the blight in that neighborhood and I think that

01:08:02.860 --> 01:08:05.980
that is what all the person Stacy is getting at

01:08:05.980 --> 01:08:08.659
when she's being told the condition of the home

01:08:08.659 --> 01:08:09.500
doesn't matter.

01:08:09.500 --> 01:08:10.340
Yes, it does.

01:08:10.340 --> 01:08:13.739
That's one of the purposes of this grant.

01:08:13.739 --> 01:08:18.380
So if we go into people's houses and do insight stuff

01:08:18.380 --> 01:08:21.559
first before these houses that are contributing

01:08:21.559 --> 01:08:24.940
a great amount of life to Adams corridor

01:08:24.940 --> 01:08:26.579
that defeats the purpose.

01:08:26.579 --> 01:08:29.859
And I believe that is the point that she's trying to make

01:08:29.859 --> 01:08:32.340
when she's being told that the conditions

01:08:32.340 --> 01:08:35.699
of the House doesn't matter and please don't add misinformation.

01:08:35.699 --> 01:08:38.699
It's right there in writing that is part of this grant.

01:08:40.699 --> 01:08:44.140
This slide is stating the three national objectives,

01:08:44.140 --> 01:08:46.920
but the Illinois, any state program

01:08:46.920 --> 01:08:48.920
must meet just one of these.

01:08:48.920 --> 01:08:52.559
And the one that's highlighted is the one that CDBG

01:08:52.559 --> 01:08:55.420
housing rehabilitation is meeting

01:08:55.420 --> 01:08:57.460
by the administration of the grant.

01:08:57.460 --> 01:09:02.300
So I do wanna add here too, this is national objective.

01:09:02.300 --> 01:09:08.380
and I and you did a really good job saying how this is what's called a pass-through federal government money

01:09:08.859 --> 01:09:10.859
passes through to the state so

01:09:11.500 --> 01:09:13.979
What miss walters is saying and she could correct me if i'm wrong

01:09:14.380 --> 01:09:19.260
This is what the federal government says if you are going to administer this grant as a state

01:09:20.380 --> 01:09:24.380
You have to pick one you have to fall into one of these and our state

01:09:24.940 --> 01:09:27.899
Says we're going to do low to moderate income persons

01:09:27.899 --> 01:09:33.619
Collins. The state of Illinois is saying that is how we are going to administer these funds.

01:09:33.619 --> 01:09:38.960
So when I say it doesn't matter, it's because the state says we are involved in this factor.

01:09:38.960 --> 01:09:44.199
This is what the state's saying. This slide is federal government. The state of Illinois

01:09:44.199 --> 01:09:47.960
Fowles under LMI, low to moderate income, not these other two.

01:09:47.960 --> 01:09:48.000
and

01:09:49.100 --> 01:09:51.100
the other two.

01:09:52.420 --> 01:09:54.539
And that's why our state says in the applications we need to

01:09:54.539 --> 01:09:56.539
verify income.

01:09:57.779 --> 01:09:59.579
That's why, and if you go to another slide, that's actually

01:09:59.579 --> 01:10:01.579
state level.

01:10:02.979 --> 01:10:04.920
It states that here's the objectives from the Department

01:10:04.920 --> 01:10:07.500
of Commerce and Economic Opportunity who administers this

01:10:07.500 --> 01:10:11.500
grant. That's why I'm saying it doesn't matter.

01:10:11.500 --> 01:10:13.500
We need to stop this misinformation.

01:10:13.500 --> 01:10:14.500
Huffines.

01:10:14.500 --> 01:10:17.619
We're working with standards provided by the state, not necessarily, we're not working

01:10:17.619 --> 01:10:19.539
directly with HUD.

01:10:19.539 --> 01:10:21.260
Correct.

01:10:21.260 --> 01:10:28.159
If I may add to that, for example, if we go back a slide, the state of Iowa uses the second

01:10:28.159 --> 01:10:32.180
bullet as their national objective for one of their programs, which is treating slum

01:10:32.180 --> 01:10:33.899
and blight in the downtown.

01:10:33.899 --> 01:10:39.220
So the state gets to decide which objective they would like to base their program around,

01:10:39.220 --> 01:10:41.380
as long as it meets one of them.

01:10:41.380 --> 01:10:48.340
I have a question then. So, but we as a city have that discretion as well, correct?

01:10:48.340 --> 01:10:53.819
Correct. And it would it would benefit us more so to hit two birds with that one

01:10:53.819 --> 01:10:59.460
stone where we meet low income and reduction of blithe versus just helping

01:10:59.460 --> 01:11:05.300
people with low income who really their home is not a blithe like they don't

01:11:05.300 --> 01:11:09.819
need any outside work but that's what we're trying to do. That's our goal. I

01:11:09.819 --> 01:11:13.100
I would hope that's our goal in administration

01:11:13.100 --> 01:11:16.220
of this grant is to help reduce and help that area

01:11:16.220 --> 01:11:19.100
that we just had a whole new street put in

01:11:19.100 --> 01:11:21.659
which is an entranceway into the city

01:11:21.659 --> 01:11:23.819
and making that look better.

01:11:23.819 --> 01:11:25.619
I don't understand why that isn't the goal

01:11:25.619 --> 01:11:29.020
just because it's not necessarily the specific requirement

01:11:29.020 --> 01:11:31.140
of the state, however it is mentioned.

01:11:31.140 --> 01:11:33.220
So it's not like we'd be doing something

01:11:33.220 --> 01:11:35.420
against what's written, so I'm confused.

01:11:35.420 --> 01:11:39.680
There's one thing I do also want to reiterate here.

01:11:39.680 --> 01:11:44.880
Any work done on these houses is an independent state inspector

01:11:44.880 --> 01:11:47.159
who determines the scope of work.

01:11:47.159 --> 01:11:48.920
So when we're talking about it should

01:11:48.920 --> 01:11:50.479
have the front look like this, it

01:11:50.479 --> 01:11:54.439
should have a new water heater, the state inspector

01:11:54.439 --> 01:11:55.760
determines that.

01:11:55.760 --> 01:11:58.399
They come in, we schedule an inspection,

01:11:58.399 --> 01:12:00.399
and the state inspector comes in,

01:12:00.399 --> 01:12:02.279
and they determine what work is done.

01:12:02.279 --> 01:12:05.560
So it's wrong to think, like, well, I

01:12:05.560 --> 01:12:07.020
drove by and this house looks bad.

01:12:07.020 --> 01:12:09.600
Well, a state inspector has to come in and determine it.

01:12:09.600 --> 01:12:12.619
and if the state inspector creates the scope of work,

01:12:12.619 --> 01:12:15.439
if it's not done by a state inspector,

01:12:15.439 --> 01:12:19.359
the work isn't approved, just it isn't, it won't happen.

01:12:19.359 --> 01:12:21.680
So are you saying a state inspector drove

01:12:21.680 --> 01:12:24.000
by all 31 of these homes?

01:12:24.000 --> 01:12:25.199
Nope, that's not what I'm saying.

01:12:25.199 --> 01:12:27.319
I'm saying once these homes are selected,

01:12:27.319 --> 01:12:30.079
once these homes are selected, the scope of work

01:12:30.079 --> 01:12:32.239
that's approved comes from a state inspector.

01:12:32.239 --> 01:12:33.720
That's what I'm saying.

01:12:33.720 --> 01:12:38.439
And the state of Illinois that I've spoken with repeatedly

01:12:38.439 --> 01:12:42.119
and when we talked about the scoring with Region 1,

01:12:42.119 --> 01:12:43.119
we had several meetings.

01:12:43.119 --> 01:12:46.340
They said, you have to focus on the need of the applicant

01:12:46.340 --> 01:12:47.899
and not the condition of the home.

01:12:47.899 --> 01:12:49.579
That was what was stated repeatedly.

01:12:49.579 --> 01:12:54.039
And I invite you to please call our grant manager

01:12:54.039 --> 01:12:57.300
from the state and they could reiterate what they told me.

01:12:57.300 --> 01:12:59.680
And what they told Joel was that when we were scoring

01:12:59.680 --> 01:13:03.439
these applicants, you have to focus on the applicant,

01:13:03.439 --> 01:13:04.960
not the condition of the home.

01:13:04.960 --> 01:13:07.239
So we're following the guidelines of the state.

01:13:07.239 --> 01:13:11.430
There is no other agenda than that.

01:13:11.430 --> 01:13:14.130
And if I may add, the repairs are prioritized

01:13:14.130 --> 01:13:18.029
by code violations, lead remediation,

01:13:18.029 --> 01:13:21.750
or other public health hazards within or outside the home,

01:13:21.750 --> 01:13:29.630
as well as energy efficiency and accessibility.

01:13:29.630 --> 01:13:31.970
Prioritized, not required.

01:13:31.970 --> 01:13:38.250
They can do other repairs as well.

01:13:38.250 --> 01:13:39.090
Yes, ah, the mayor.

01:13:39.090 --> 01:13:40.609
I can't believe that they've all answered

01:13:40.609 --> 01:13:42.210
all of our questions and they followed

01:13:42.210 --> 01:13:44.810
the state guidelines, not our city guidelines.

01:13:44.810 --> 01:14:00.460
I think we need to get back to what the council's responsibilities are here.

01:14:00.460 --> 01:14:05.899
So the council is responsible to approve or not approve when something comes before you.

01:14:05.899 --> 01:14:12.859
Your responsibility is when Wayne comes to you and says, I want to apply for this CBD

01:14:12.859 --> 01:14:16.939
grant, you can say no, you don't like the grant, you don't like the guidelines.

01:14:16.939 --> 01:14:17.939
Walsh, and so on.

01:14:17.939 --> 01:14:18.939
That's your responsibility.

01:14:18.939 --> 01:14:25.100
Your responsibility is not in walking out every single detail of what our director does

01:14:25.100 --> 01:14:28.779
or these two that have been administering something.

01:14:28.779 --> 01:14:30.739
The day-to-day is not that responsible.

01:14:30.739 --> 01:14:35.020
If we did that on every single item that we have to approve, we'd never get anything

01:14:35.020 --> 01:14:36.020
done.

01:14:36.020 --> 01:14:38.619
You have to remember, you are the legislative body.

01:14:38.619 --> 01:14:40.300
You are not the day-to-day body.

01:14:40.300 --> 01:14:45.859
So you either trust those that are put into these professional spots or you don't.

01:14:45.859 --> 01:14:47.840
if they're not doing their job, then we should fire them.

01:14:47.840 --> 01:14:50.199
But obviously they're doing their job.

01:15:10.250 --> 01:15:17.289
When this was brought to us, and I'm learning,

01:15:18.329 --> 01:15:23.329
because it should have came with pictures and it didn't.

01:15:26.689 --> 01:15:31.689
Information has been withheld purposely.

01:15:31.689 --> 01:15:36.689
We come here and as directors, as head of the city,

01:15:36.689 --> 01:15:44.789
as head of the city, we trust that you're bringing us the truth, the whole truth, and

01:15:44.789 --> 01:15:53.659
nothing but the truth, and in reality, that just don't happen.

01:15:53.659 --> 01:16:11.470
So I am here on behalf of the people, and I will inform my constituents in every way

01:16:11.470 --> 01:16:20.229
possible where we have been misled on something but took a vote yeah you told

01:16:20.229 --> 01:16:30.789
me the other week you voted for this and I did but not having correct

01:16:30.789 --> 01:16:43.680
information in front of me we get what you all want us to have and that don't

01:16:43.680 --> 01:16:52.270
Don't always totally involve the truth.

01:16:52.270 --> 01:16:57.750
So if you want to move on, thank you for your time.

01:16:57.750 --> 01:16:59.989
Thank you, Joel.

01:16:59.989 --> 01:17:03.829
If you have a business card, I would love to have one.

01:17:03.829 --> 01:17:04.869
Thank you.

01:17:04.869 --> 01:17:11.119
Thank you very much.

01:17:11.119 --> 01:17:14.039
Moving on to number eight.

01:17:14.039 --> 01:17:49.920
Kirk, this is when I need you. CDBG, Adam Avenue Housing Rehabilitation Application Discrepancies.

01:17:49.920 --> 01:18:00.010
This presentation aims to make the public aware of the discrepancies that the City of

01:18:00.010 --> 01:18:11.210
F. Freeport has allowed to occur within the CDBG Adams Avenue Housing Rehabilitation Program.

01:18:11.210 --> 01:18:23.739
Such discrepancies should have disqualified the applicants, but the city has decided to

01:18:23.739 --> 01:18:37.920
to provide grant funding to them anyway. $48,000. This is a total disregard for the individuals

01:18:37.920 --> 01:18:53.470
living in the affected area who really need and deserve assistance. Welcome to 1010 South

01:18:53.470 --> 01:19:02.729
and John.

01:19:03.829 --> 01:19:07.829
This is a list of all of their property that they own.

01:19:07.829 --> 01:19:09.829
They are landlords.

01:19:09.829 --> 01:19:16.970
They write their own 1040s.

01:19:16.970 --> 01:19:20.970
That's their business.

01:19:20.970 --> 01:19:24.970
Totaling 290,500.

01:19:24.970 --> 01:19:28.970
But they're low income.

01:19:28.970 --> 01:19:33.270
Next slide, please.

01:19:33.270 --> 01:19:43.949
and the little house that we're calling 1010, once upon a time was 1012.

01:19:43.949 --> 01:19:45.869
And the little house in the back of the...

01:19:45.869 --> 01:19:53.199
and a little house in the back of the big house, if you would, was 1010. But now you can clearly

01:19:53.199 --> 01:20:10.680
see that the big house is no longer 1012, but it resides as 1010. Why switch the addresses

01:20:10.680 --> 01:20:28.060
If we're not doing something unfair here, next slide please, 1010-1010, and 1013-20, that

01:20:28.060 --> 01:20:39.619
address did not read 1010, it read 1012, moving on.

01:20:39.619 --> 01:20:47.539
The incomplete application, the housing rehabilitation specific document was created by the Illinois

01:20:47.539 --> 01:20:55.340
Commerce, Department of Commerce. The corresponding document, the application, has the City of

01:20:55.340 --> 01:21:06.300
Freeport seal on it. It shows that the applicant application was incomplete. Why did the city

01:21:06.300 --> 01:21:20.439
accept an incomplete application who authorize this uncompleted application.

01:21:20.439 --> 01:21:21.439
Next slide please.

01:21:21.439 --> 01:21:29.579
We saw this with Ms. Walters.

01:21:29.579 --> 01:21:34.079
Next slide please.

01:21:34.079 --> 01:21:59.149
What you see highlighted was the scoring of 1010 slash 1012 South Adams.

01:21:59.149 --> 01:22:02.350
This is the application.

01:22:02.350 --> 01:22:11.810
As you can see, the application home must be paid off based on the fact that the existing

01:22:11.810 --> 01:22:14.970
debt on the property was left blank.

01:22:14.970 --> 01:22:16.970
and

01:22:17.970 --> 01:22:29.279
John. Did anyone from the city bother to ask if there was any equity in the house that could be used for any repairs?

01:22:30.279 --> 01:22:43.619
Next slide, please. Remember that the city plays when the applicants next supply any income, they never supply any income

01:22:43.619 --> 01:22:56.220
and the application even asks for rental income based on the applications 2021 tax returns.

01:22:56.220 --> 01:23:03.340
Both the applicants and spouse occupants are listed as rental properties.

01:23:03.340 --> 01:23:11.779
This application owns six, this applicant owns six rental properties and I am hard pressed

01:23:11.779 --> 01:23:19.380
and others who believe they receive zero income for any of them.

01:23:19.380 --> 01:23:21.880
Next.

01:23:21.880 --> 01:23:29.550
This is the final page of the application.

01:23:29.550 --> 01:23:36.609
What I would like to call page, the applicants are to date and signed to verify

01:23:36.609 --> 01:23:43.670
that all the information provided in this application was true and complete

01:23:43.670 --> 01:23:46.989
to the best of their knowledge.

01:23:46.989 --> 01:23:53.149
As you can see, the applicants who did not date nor sign

01:23:53.149 --> 01:23:58.350
this document were still approved.

01:23:58.350 --> 01:24:00.880
How?

01:24:00.880 --> 01:24:06.619
$48,000.

01:24:06.619 --> 01:24:16.270
Brand new hot water heater, brand new furnace,

01:24:16.270 --> 01:24:46.020
Brand new central air unit, wrapped windows, and it goes on and on and on, deck fixed.

01:24:46.020 --> 01:24:53.510
This final page, how?

01:24:53.510 --> 01:24:56.029
How do you approve?

01:24:56.029 --> 01:25:06.069
How do you say someone qualifies and approves them for $48,000 when they didn't even sign

01:25:06.069 --> 01:25:08.750
or complete the application?

01:25:08.750 --> 01:25:10.949
I rest my case.

01:25:10.949 --> 01:25:13.949
Next page, please.

01:25:13.949 --> 01:25:20.109
Citizen of Freeport, I want to provide you with information on how the Adams Street Rehabilitation

01:25:20.109 --> 01:25:22.149
Program is handled.

01:25:22.149 --> 01:25:29.069
You and I know what I presented tonight will not make a difference.

01:25:29.069 --> 01:25:35.189
The city is still going to give grant funding to this applicant.

01:25:35.189 --> 01:25:42.630
It does not matter that the application was incomplete, that critical information was

01:25:42.630 --> 01:25:53.069
was withheld from it, that the applicant has a healthy real estate portfolio or that misleading

01:25:53.069 --> 01:26:05.380
information was provided, the thing, these things may not matter to our city manager,

01:26:05.380 --> 01:26:12.920
they may not matter to our mayor, they may not matter to our director or even some council

01:26:12.920 --> 01:26:18.920
and I'm not talking about local members, but they matter to me.

01:26:18.920 --> 01:26:25.920
Citizens, please understand the significance and gravity of this situation.

01:26:25.920 --> 01:26:42.949
Those grant funds that the city has agreed to provide for the rehabilitation of this application home are still your tax dollars.

01:26:42.949 --> 01:26:54.130
with these funds speak volume about the integrity of the applicants, but even louder about the

01:26:54.130 --> 01:27:00.149
integrity of the ones who approve them.

01:27:00.149 --> 01:27:01.149
Thank you.

01:27:01.149 --> 01:27:24.579
And next we have discussion, I'm sorry, Attorney Zito.

01:27:24.579 --> 01:27:29.140
I just want to just make a quick, quick brief point here or comment here though.

01:27:29.140 --> 01:27:33.819
So I'll just say just so you know there and I don't know maybe if you haven't seen my email from Friday

01:27:34.340 --> 01:27:39.060
there there was I did as a part of that email that I sent to you that had the log in it.

01:27:39.220 --> 01:27:41.939
Wayne did also was able to find a copy of the signed

01:27:42.619 --> 01:27:47.260
application so I did email that to you so that you have that or that application was signed.

01:27:47.899 --> 01:27:49.899
Attorney Zito,

01:27:49.899 --> 01:27:53.819
Director Duckman, I came in here November 26.

01:27:54.579 --> 01:28:05.979
and I asked for a copy of the 68 original applicants. What I get was the 31, not the 68. I know

01:28:05.979 --> 01:28:15.649
what I asked for because I knew what I was looking for. And I get the point system. And

01:28:15.649 --> 01:28:30.470
what I was given, the application I was handed was not signed. I'm not making this up. This

01:28:30.470 --> 01:28:37.670
This is what you gave me November 26th before I came to your office November 27th and I

01:28:37.670 --> 01:28:40.909
voiced my concern to you about this.

01:28:40.909 --> 01:28:45.390
It was not filled out properly, it's not even signed.

01:28:45.390 --> 01:28:51.569
Right, and so I did pose that question about the signed application to Wayne and I believe

01:28:51.569 --> 01:28:56.970
he then reached out to Joel and I think on Thursday, Friday morning is when Joel was

01:28:56.970 --> 01:29:03.970
and I know that he was able to go and he found through his records the signed application so that's why I provided it to you on Friday in my email.

01:29:03.970 --> 01:29:05.970
Or did we go get a signature?

01:29:05.970 --> 01:29:17.970
I know we didn't get a signature because I provided him a screenshot that showed when the file was scanned and copied so I know it's not we didn't go out and get a signature that that grant applicant signed.

01:29:17.970 --> 01:29:25.970
Put it put their signature to it and I also want to reiterate that assets are different than income.

01:29:25.970 --> 01:29:30.690
Very Simple Economics 101, Accounting 101.

01:29:30.690 --> 01:29:35.090
And the state of Illinois requires income verification.

01:29:35.090 --> 01:29:36.930
I've asked the state of Illinois, they said,

01:29:36.930 --> 01:29:39.529
we do not consider assets.

01:29:39.529 --> 01:29:42.649
I've asked the state, they said, under no circumstances,

01:29:42.649 --> 01:29:44.649
They put in their, um,

01:29:44.649 --> 01:29:48.319
Under various circumstances, they put in their documentation that they require an IRS tax return.

01:29:48.319 --> 01:29:54.579
They do not require assets. So I want to be very clear that the state is not requiring us to go

01:29:54.579 --> 01:29:59.180
check everyone's bank account, real estate portfolios, 401ks, et cetera. It's not part of it.

01:29:59.180 --> 01:30:06.579
So again, that's misinformation. There is a difference between income and assets. And we

01:30:06.579 --> 01:30:10.949
of Tax Returns for this applicant.

01:30:10.949 --> 01:30:17.510
If I was a landlord, I too could make my own 1040.

01:30:17.510 --> 01:30:19.630
Is there anything else?

01:30:19.630 --> 01:30:20.390
I'm moving on.

01:30:20.390 --> 01:30:21.590
Thank you.

01:30:21.590 --> 01:30:22.550
If I could, please?

01:30:22.550 --> 01:30:23.510
Yes.

01:30:23.510 --> 01:30:26.050
You can make your own 1040, but the IRS

01:30:26.050 --> 01:30:27.430
has nobody to play with.

01:30:27.430 --> 01:30:28.029
It's not.

01:30:28.029 --> 01:30:33.670
If I was a landlord and I documented on a 1040,

01:30:33.670 --> 01:30:36.930
there's a separate form for each piece of property,

01:30:36.930 --> 01:30:41.369
you have to document everything that's in your portfolio

01:30:41.369 --> 01:30:46.369
is listed as income plus and minus on a form on your 1040.

01:30:48.409 --> 01:30:51.609
So it was reported if there was any income

01:30:51.609 --> 01:30:53.770
that was part of their income,

01:30:53.770 --> 01:30:59.020
the asset of the building itself is irrelevant.

01:30:59.020 --> 01:31:03.260
Audemars, Shadle, all their properties

01:31:03.260 --> 01:31:10.329
were not even listed on their income tax.

01:31:10.329 --> 01:31:12.130
Moving on to number nine.

01:31:13.609 --> 01:31:18.609
Discussion regarding social media policy, Director Bridge.

01:31:19.810 --> 01:31:21.130
Good evening, council.

01:31:21.130 --> 01:31:25.090
I aim to keep this brief.

01:31:25.090 --> 01:31:29.289
Since 2017, the city has managed social media pages

01:31:29.289 --> 01:31:32.130
for city postings, information, and more.

01:31:32.970 --> 01:31:35.609
A social media policy for all staff

01:31:35.609 --> 01:31:39.369
has been in place to set guidelines for personal use,

01:31:39.369 --> 01:31:42.810
but has yet to set guidelines for page administrators.

01:31:42.810 --> 01:31:45.970
In addition, public comment on city pages

01:31:45.970 --> 01:31:48.390
has been limited since 2017.

01:31:49.529 --> 01:31:51.930
In order to improve transparency

01:31:51.930 --> 01:31:54.109
and strengthen the communication pipeline

01:31:54.109 --> 01:31:56.010
between the city and residents,

01:31:56.010 --> 01:31:58.250
a revised policy has been created

01:31:58.250 --> 01:32:01.409
to aid page administrators in allowing comments

01:32:01.409 --> 01:32:03.729
and fostering a more dynamic environment

01:32:03.729 --> 01:32:05.470
for social discourse.

01:32:05.470 --> 01:32:07.949
As the city's statement of purpose reads,

01:32:07.949 --> 01:32:12.909
The City of Freeport believes that the use of social media platforms can

01:32:12.909 --> 01:32:17.189
effectively broaden the reach of government communications communication

01:32:17.189 --> 01:32:22.630
to its constituents. The use of social media by the city is to convey or obtain

01:32:22.630 --> 01:32:27.189
information that is useful to or will further the goals of this local

01:32:27.189 --> 01:32:32.289
government. The revised policy also outlines important guidelines for page

01:32:32.289 --> 01:32:36.989
administrators to ensure discourse remains informational and appropriate.

01:32:36.989 --> 01:32:37.989
Miller.

01:32:37.989 --> 01:32:45.390
Obviously, there would be no financial repercussions to enforcing this policy, adopting it.

01:32:45.390 --> 01:32:50.609
And staff recommends that when the time comes, obviously not tonight, that we move forward

01:32:50.609 --> 01:32:51.609
with the policy.

01:32:51.609 --> 01:32:57.529
So, let me introduce you to some important notes in the policy, regardless of if you

01:32:57.529 --> 01:32:59.109
have it in front of you or not.

01:32:59.109 --> 01:33:00.949
It's a pretty simple one.

01:33:00.949 --> 01:33:09.909
has, I believe, eight headings on it, but there are about three that are actually important

01:33:09.909 --> 01:33:11.069
to look at.

01:33:11.069 --> 01:33:17.430
I'll start with section three, which is titled Comment Policy.

01:33:17.430 --> 01:33:26.989
So we all know that comments can most of the time be good for public discourse, but sometimes

01:33:26.989 --> 01:33:28.989
and so forth.

01:33:30.989 --> 01:33:32.989
And the other thing is they fall under some not so great things

01:33:34.590 --> 01:33:36.590
for a city government page to have under their posts.

01:33:38.989 --> 01:33:40.989
And so they list nine things here of which are just to name

01:33:40.989 --> 01:33:42.989
a few promotes discrimination. We're getting rid of those

01:33:42.989 --> 01:33:44.989
comments.

01:33:46.390 --> 01:33:48.390
Threatening any person or organization, we get rid of

01:33:48.390 --> 01:33:50.390
those comments. So on and so forth.

01:33:51.789 --> 01:33:53.789
That's just one section. I'll move on to another section,

01:33:53.789 --> 01:33:56.909
which is section five, administrator usage.

01:33:56.909 --> 01:33:58.670
I want to point out that again,

01:33:58.670 --> 01:34:00.750
the city already has a social media policy

01:34:00.750 --> 01:34:04.390
for employees in general that applies

01:34:04.390 --> 01:34:06.909
to their personal use of social media.

01:34:06.909 --> 01:34:09.750
However, we don't have anything yet

01:34:09.750 --> 01:34:13.250
for the page administrators, AKA myself

01:34:13.250 --> 01:34:15.409
and the administrator of the police

01:34:15.409 --> 01:34:17.850
and the fire and the library.

01:34:19.350 --> 01:34:21.229
These city employees are responsible

01:34:21.229 --> 01:34:23.590
for the posting of information,

01:34:23.590 --> 01:34:27.069
commenting and communicating with constituents

01:34:27.069 --> 01:34:30.189
and moderation of activity on all social media.

01:34:30.189 --> 01:34:33.989
Again, no one else other than the administrators,

01:34:34.829 --> 01:34:39.069
no one else is allowed to moderate these activities.

01:34:40.350 --> 01:34:43.270
I'll move on to section six, which I believe

01:34:43.270 --> 01:34:45.369
is the last one I want to point out,

01:34:45.369 --> 01:34:48.010
but maybe one of the more important ones.

01:34:48.010 --> 01:34:50.630
And it's titled Community Messaging Guidelines.

01:34:50.630 --> 01:34:54.670
It talks about the types of community events

01:34:54.670 --> 01:34:56.149
that we're allowed to share,

01:34:56.149 --> 01:34:58.949
types of community events that we're not allowed to share.

01:35:00.670 --> 01:35:03.310
City social media sites will not share community messages

01:35:03.310 --> 01:35:06.590
that include political, public issue,

01:35:06.590 --> 01:35:10.270
or prohibited product information.

01:35:10.270 --> 01:35:15.270
And there's much more, but I believe that is the gist.

01:35:15.270 --> 01:35:22.630
West, and we're here tonight, obviously, to discuss the issue. Personally, from a communication

01:35:22.630 --> 01:35:28.630
standpoint, I believe it improves the transparency, improves communication between city government

01:35:28.630 --> 01:35:37.170
and its constituents, and I believe it's a good thing.

01:35:37.170 --> 01:35:38.170
Any questions?

01:35:38.170 --> 01:35:41.220
Thank you.

01:35:41.220 --> 01:35:49.539
So I will just end by saying this. We have discussed at the city that if there's no,

01:35:49.539 --> 01:35:57.899
How do I say this? Fight against it. We will be moving it to first reading. I'll say that

01:35:57.899 --> 01:36:06.720
later. We'll be moving it to first reading. Thank you. Oh, Aaron, go ahead. Yes, Attorney

01:36:06.720 --> 01:36:11.439
Zito. I was just going to ask, Ryan, are you looking for a motion then to have this by

01:36:11.439 --> 01:36:16.159
the council? Because we're at Cal, if you want it specifically move forward for first

01:36:16.159 --> 01:36:20.960
reading? Yeah. Is that what you're looking for? That would be great. So moved. Second.

01:36:20.960 --> 01:37:05.739
take a vote I miss the second so do we take a vote individually right this is

01:37:05.739 --> 01:37:08.979
just a vote to move it forward to the next regular City Council meeting for

01:37:08.979 --> 01:37:19.380
All in favor of moving this to the next council meeting for first reading, say aye.

01:37:19.380 --> 01:37:20.380
Aye.

01:37:20.380 --> 01:37:21.380
Opposed?

01:37:21.380 --> 01:37:22.380
Thank you.

01:37:22.380 --> 01:37:23.380
Motion passes.

01:37:23.380 --> 01:37:24.380
Number 10.

01:37:24.380 --> 01:37:40.630
Discussion regarding revised hangar lease and hangar rental rates presented by City Manager

01:37:40.630 --> 01:37:41.630
Boyer.

01:37:41.630 --> 01:37:44.109
Thank you, Madam Chair.

01:37:44.109 --> 01:37:52.829
Huff has reviewed all of the hanger leases, the lease amounts, and has put forth for review

01:37:52.829 --> 01:38:02.029
the new lease format, as well as a suggestion to make a change to ordinance 2021-05, increasing

01:38:02.029 --> 01:38:11.829
hanger J's rent from $575 to $800. Just a few high points, the new lease agreement was

01:38:11.829 --> 01:38:14.630
put together we've been working on this for a number of months we've gone back

01:38:14.630 --> 01:38:20.949
and forth with Angie the the fixed base operator and she is we've kind of worked

01:38:20.949 --> 01:38:25.149
out some details and everything is looking really good with that as well as

01:38:25.149 --> 01:38:31.989
she has compiled the competitive or a comparative leases at local or other

01:38:31.989 --> 01:38:37.510
airports in our region of a similar size one of the outcomes was that we are

01:38:37.510 --> 01:38:42.430
are looking pretty comparable to all of the other airports.

01:38:42.430 --> 01:38:46.869
We used Sterling, Dixon, and Rochelle as our comparisons,

01:38:46.869 --> 01:38:48.350
all of a similar size of traffic.

01:38:48.350 --> 01:38:52.069
So with that, staff would like to bring this

01:38:52.069 --> 01:38:54.789
to the next meeting, next council meeting,

01:38:54.789 --> 01:38:58.630
for approval of the ordinance change.

01:38:58.630 --> 01:39:01.510
That would be, let's see here.

01:39:01.510 --> 01:39:03.430
It'd be a new ordinance, actually.

01:39:03.430 --> 01:39:04.190
I'm sorry.

01:39:04.190 --> 01:39:06.309
Yeah, we'll bring an ordinance to the next meeting

01:39:06.309 --> 01:39:30.119
with us changes to J. Hanger. So moved. Second. Second. All in favor? Aye. Opposed? Discussion

01:39:30.119 --> 01:39:39.819
regarding ordinance authorizing Northern Illinois Gas Company, DBA, NICOR company to construct,

01:39:39.819 --> 01:39:43.819
operate and maintain again.

01:39:43.819 --> 01:39:49.899
operate and maintain a gas distributing system in and through the City of Freeport.

01:39:49.899 --> 01:39:58.779
Francis, Agreement View, LOA?

01:39:58.779 --> 01:40:01.260
City Manager Boyer?

01:40:01.260 --> 01:40:07.520
Thank you, Chairperson.

01:40:07.520 --> 01:40:13.279
So each year, or I'm sorry, every 50 years, the City enters into a franchise agreement

01:40:13.279 --> 01:40:15.180
with our utilities.

01:40:15.180 --> 01:40:20.520
Various utilities require different durations, but NICOR's case, that's our gas company,

01:40:20.520 --> 01:40:21.640
it's a 50-year agreement.

01:40:21.640 --> 01:40:24.500
So this hasn't been looked at for 50 years.

01:40:24.500 --> 01:40:31.760
In the past, the City included all, as some of the requirements, the City required gas

01:40:31.760 --> 01:40:36.680
service for all City installations, which was included in the new version.

01:40:36.680 --> 01:40:42.760
However, staff pressed back on NICOR to include the library due to the fact that the library

01:40:42.760 --> 01:40:50.479
is part of the city and also is one of our largest gas users due to the HVAC system that

01:40:50.479 --> 01:40:55.000
is required to keep the air dry for preservation of the books.

01:40:55.000 --> 01:41:02.600
So city staff has finished this negotiation with Attorney Zito and we are ready to move

01:41:02.600 --> 01:41:19.180
this forward to first reading at the next council meeting. Second. We have a motion

01:41:19.180 --> 01:41:33.260
to move this forward at the December 3rd meeting. All in favor? I just want to

01:41:33.260 --> 01:41:39.020
clarify the moving it forward to which council meeting. It'd be the December 16th,

01:41:39.020 --> 01:41:47.300
16th December 16th I'm sorry I just said the third month yeah December 16th all in

01:41:47.300 --> 01:41:58.739
favor opposed wait question so city manager is being a little I guess coy

01:41:58.739 --> 01:42:03.539
here I just wanted to mention that this this negotiation that he was able to

01:42:03.539 --> 01:42:07.859
strike with that corner is a $20,000 savings to the city annually in gas for

01:42:07.859 --> 01:42:10.500
and

01:42:10.500 --> 01:42:17.560
the rest of the

01:42:17.560 --> 01:42:20.000
library.

01:42:20.000 --> 01:42:21.000
All right.

01:42:21.000 --> 01:42:24.300
Thank you.

01:42:24.300 --> 01:42:25.300
Opposed?

01:42:25.300 --> 01:42:26.300
Okay.

01:42:26.300 --> 01:42:37.140
Discussion regarding investigation into the political fraudulent financial forensic audit?

01:42:37.140 --> 01:42:40.819
Potential.

01:42:40.819 --> 01:42:51.050
Audemar Monroe and Sanders?

01:42:51.050 --> 01:43:01.680
Do to the resource and the information that is not going to be presented today, Alderman

01:43:01.680 --> 01:43:08.239
Monroe and myself, we had not been able to collaborate to determine what it is the presentation

01:43:08.239 --> 01:43:11.239
will present today.

01:43:11.239 --> 01:43:20.920
And what I'd like to do is suspend this and carry it over to the next meeting and hopefully

01:43:20.920 --> 01:43:27.920
Do we have all of the contents of everything that we need to bring forward to the next

01:43:27.920 --> 01:43:36.359
meeting so we want to suspend that for now.

01:43:36.359 --> 01:43:46.020
Discussion regarding, oh, I'm sorry, public comments.

01:43:46.020 --> 01:43:48.539
Do we have any public comments?

01:43:48.539 --> 01:43:51.199
Miller.

01:43:51.199 --> 01:43:56.779
Yes.

01:43:56.779 --> 01:43:57.779
Jodi Miller.

01:43:57.779 --> 01:44:03.539
Should IB grocery stores not come in now?

01:44:03.539 --> 01:44:08.760
Dwayne Dickerman.

01:44:08.760 --> 01:44:09.760
Yes.

01:44:09.760 --> 01:44:10.760
IB stores not coming?

01:44:10.760 --> 01:44:11.760
No.

01:44:11.760 --> 01:44:12.760
What's Angela going to do now?

01:44:12.760 --> 01:44:15.909
Put something in there?

01:44:15.909 --> 01:44:20.909
She's going to continue to be our fearless leader.

01:44:20.909 --> 01:44:32.079
Hello.

01:44:32.079 --> 01:44:36.199
I just want to make comments about this block grant.

01:44:36.199 --> 01:44:37.199
Please, your name?

01:44:37.199 --> 01:44:38.520
Oh, I'm sorry.

01:44:38.520 --> 01:44:46.960
I am Lucinda, Cindy, however you want to see me, but okay, just regarding the block grant

01:44:46.960 --> 01:44:53.199
that has been discussed the last couple of months or so.

01:44:53.199 --> 01:45:00.520
I applied for this grant, I can remember this grant probably started back in 2019 per se.

01:45:00.520 --> 01:45:07.119
I remember doing an inspection on my home with Ben, then with Amy Bacto, that's no longer

01:45:07.119 --> 01:45:08.119
Miller.

01:45:08.119 --> 01:45:14.920
And then in probably 2021, I probably did an application again with Lorena.

01:45:14.920 --> 01:45:19.640
And so from time to time, I would ask Lorena about this, you know, the status of the block

01:45:19.640 --> 01:45:21.199
grant and all of that.

01:45:21.199 --> 01:45:25.760
So she would say, you know, the state is this and the state is that, it takes long.

01:45:25.760 --> 01:45:28.600
And I understand that.

01:45:28.600 --> 01:45:31.199
And when this grant came out, I remember getting the letter.

01:45:31.199 --> 01:45:35.359
So it was probably one of the first ones that applied for this grant.

01:45:35.359 --> 01:45:43.920
and so in regards to this 1010 South Adams, of all of these things that they have agreed

01:45:43.920 --> 01:45:47.319
to putting in furnace what have you.

01:45:47.319 --> 01:45:53.439
So when Ben came to my house, it was things that needed to be done and it's still things

01:45:53.439 --> 01:45:54.439
that need to be done.

01:45:54.439 --> 01:45:55.439
Okay.

01:45:55.439 --> 01:46:00.760
I've been in my home almost 17 years and well, has been 17 years and I've worked for

01:46:00.760 --> 01:46:05.159
for this city will be 24 years come February.

01:46:05.159 --> 01:46:09.039
And I'm not, like Autumn and Stacy said,

01:46:09.039 --> 01:46:10.659
you're gonna do what you wanna do.

01:46:10.659 --> 01:46:15.100
But as far as it's being just based on income,

01:46:15.100 --> 01:46:19.060
I don't think that's legit, but it is what it is.

01:46:19.060 --> 01:46:23.560
And so I do need a $20,000 roof on my house,

01:46:23.560 --> 01:46:27.380
but the city does not pay me enough to provide that.

01:46:27.380 --> 01:46:30.159
So that's all I have to say, thank you.

01:46:40.039 --> 01:46:46.619
I have to make a rebuttal about the presentation you saw tonight. Alderman Simmons, you are

01:46:46.619 --> 01:46:53.800
absolutely 100% correct. As long as we meet the state requirement, and it is a requirement

01:46:53.800 --> 01:47:01.180
as I stated, that the applicants have to be low income, but you can add as a community,

01:47:01.180 --> 01:47:07.520
this grant gives you the flexibility for you to set the priorities of what the greatest

01:47:07.520 --> 01:47:21.140
We are not going to meet challenges by going in with perfectly good homes and buying them

01:47:21.140 --> 01:47:23.779
new air conditioners, especially a landlord.

01:47:23.779 --> 01:47:28.260
This is absolutely absurd and not with the grant intended.

01:47:28.260 --> 01:47:31.439
So you were right, and this needs to be changed.

01:47:31.439 --> 01:47:37.880
We are a home rule city, I think, I don't know if we dropped that, but as long as we

01:47:37.880 --> 01:47:43.880
meet the state requirement, you as a city, you can decide that the project area will

01:47:43.880 --> 01:47:54.800
address blighted homes in that area, and you can also decide that it will be safe and unsanitary

01:47:54.800 --> 01:47:55.979
conditions.

01:47:55.979 --> 01:48:00.199
You can even decide that you do not want them to fix air conditioners.

01:48:00.199 --> 01:48:06.199
you can decide this, that this grant gives you the flexibility for communities to decide

01:48:06.199 --> 01:48:09.119
their own needs. That's all I have to say.

01:48:09.119 --> 01:48:16.779
Yes.

01:48:16.779 --> 01:48:27.260
Good evening again, Josh Atkinson. I just want to say that I think we need to step back

01:48:27.260 --> 01:48:34.699
and take a lesson from this. I honestly don't think anybody was doing anything wrong necessarily.

01:48:34.699 --> 01:48:38.079
Mistakes may have happened, but at the end of the day, it's the council that makes that

01:48:38.079 --> 01:48:44.340
made that mistake. We didn't set forth those parameters when it came to council however

01:48:44.340 --> 01:48:51.680
long ago, back in 2019, 2018, 2019. These conversations should have happened then. We

01:48:51.680 --> 01:48:57.279
have the opportunity to get $550,000. How do we use this to better our community? That

01:48:57.279 --> 01:49:04.840
conversation didn't happen. So the surveys went out. We got $550,000. And then Director

01:49:04.840 --> 01:49:10.239
and Mr. Duckman had to figure out how to use it and with all faith, I believe he did the

01:49:10.239 --> 01:49:13.159
right thing and tried to figure out how to use it and they put forth.

01:49:13.159 --> 01:49:15.779
Now we're seeing that, oh man, we wish we should have done this.

01:49:15.779 --> 01:49:18.760
We wish we would have done this and we failed.

01:49:18.760 --> 01:49:19.760
We failed.

01:49:19.760 --> 01:49:22.760
You know, we need to take that lesson moving forward.

01:49:22.760 --> 01:49:27.640
There was the gentleman Joel presented, you know, the first thing that came, the only

01:49:27.640 --> 01:49:34.059
thing I saw about that great program, the land planning is there was one slide that

01:49:34.059 --> 01:49:37.899
that he presented that it said that it could be a rental property.

01:49:37.899 --> 01:49:39.979
You know, one was bought for $15,000.

01:49:39.979 --> 01:49:44.960
You know, one was bought for $15,000 and turned around and it was renting out for $875.

01:49:44.960 --> 01:49:49.319
First question that comes to mind is, can we as a community, when that comes forward

01:49:49.319 --> 01:49:53.840
next week or whenever that's gonna come back, can we put a stipulation in there that says,

01:49:53.840 --> 01:49:57.239
it can't be rented out, it has to be sold or lived in?

01:49:57.239 --> 01:50:01.380
You know, those are the things that we need to look at when council, when city staff brings

01:50:01.380 --> 01:50:05.920
this stuff to council to look at that stuff, read the stuff, discuss it, and figure out

01:50:05.920 --> 01:50:10.319
How do we use all these tools, all this grant money that Freeport's been getting to better

01:50:10.319 --> 01:50:12.000
the whole community as a whole?

01:50:12.000 --> 01:50:13.000
All right.

01:50:13.000 --> 01:50:32.590
Thank you.

01:50:32.590 --> 01:50:33.590
Okay.

01:50:33.590 --> 01:50:37.869
If there's nothing else, do we have a motion to adjourn?

01:50:37.869 --> 01:50:38.869
So moved.

01:50:38.869 --> 01:50:41.920
So moved.

01:50:41.920 --> 01:50:42.920
Second.

01:50:42.920 --> 01:50:43.920
Sellers.

01:50:43.920 --> 01:50:44.920
All in favor?

01:50:44.920 --> 01:50:45.920
Aye.