WEBVTT

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Thank you guys for the delay in our start time. Justin, could you please give the invocation this evening?

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All right. Well, good evening. Good evening, Madam Mayor, everyone. Please pray with me.

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The Lord of heaven and earth, we praise you for your power and wisdom, for your mercy and grace.

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And thank you, Lord, for every good and perfect gift that you send down freely, even as we ask from you.

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So we thank you for your gifts of life and health, thank you for community and relationships,

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and with tonight in mind, we thank you for governance and leadership.

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We thank you for this city and we thank you for all of our public servants throughout

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City Hall, throughout our various departments, we thank you too for various organizations

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and others, and non-profits and skilled citizens that help our city and the people of Freeport.

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Lord, you actively rule the nations and you give freely to those who ask you the knowledge

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to live well and the skill to apply that knowledge.

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So I ask that you would grant that to us and to our leaders.

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May they find your mercy and grace as well for their own faults and your help in their

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Weaknesses.

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Lord, please help each one of us tonight to act honorably before you and that we would

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be patient and gracious towards each other.

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And again, I pray that you'd give Mayor Miller as our moderator the wisdom, grace, and strength

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that she needs to lead this meeting well, as well as to each council member and department

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head.

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Father, you've designed us. You have gifted each one of us. We are entirely dependent upon you for success in our work.

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And so we ask for your help tonight. We pray in Jesus' name. Amen.

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

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Mayor Miller?

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Here.

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Alderperson Klemm will be marked absent for the moment. Monroe is also absent. Simmons?

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Parker, Stacy, Shadle, Sanders, and Sellers.

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If I could please get a motion to allow Alderman Klemm to remote access?

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So moved.

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Second.

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Parker?

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Is there a second?

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Second.

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So we have a motion made by Alderman Parker, seconded by Alderman Sellers to allow Alderman

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Klemm in remote.

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Madam Clerk, could you please take the roll?

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Simmons?

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Aye.

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Parker?

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and

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Settlers.

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And if you could please note that at 614 Alderman Klemm is

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present. And if you could please stand for the Pledge of

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Allegiance led by Alderman Simmons.

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I had a Pledge of Allegiance to the flag of the United States of

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America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation,

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under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

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And I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of

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America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation,

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Okay, item number one is approval of the agenda hover. We're going to move item

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number 16 to the next meeting and then there is no executive. So with that is

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there a motion to approve the agenda? So moved. Second. Motion made by Alderman

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Shadle, seconded by Alderman Sellers. Madam Clerk, could you please take the

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Simmons, Parker, Stacy, Shadle, Sanders, Sellers, and Klemm. Motion passes 7 to 0.

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Item number two is approval from the minutes from the regular meeting on

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October 7th, 2024. Is that motion to approve? Second. We have a motion made by Alderman

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Shadle, seconded by Alderman Parker. Madam Clerk, could you please take the

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Simmons, Parker, Stacy, Shadle, Sanders, Sellers, Klemm. Motion passes 7 to 0.

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Okay we have quite a few that are signed up for public comment. Yeah go first. This

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public comment was received this afternoon from John Cook, good evening

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and others.

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First reading of Ordinance 2024-57 is before you tonight asking for the boundaries of the

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Northwest Illinois Enterprise Zone to be amended. This ordinance should be rejected as written

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because of three glaring omissions within the body of the ordinance. The first whereas

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paragraph offers no numerical citation to the previous ordinances that this ordinance

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relies upon to be reflective. The second whereas paragraph contains no citation to any meeting

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of the Enterprise Zone Committee,

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where the crust for this amendment originated.

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Section two of the ordinance refers to,

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quotes, benefits created by the ordinance

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of the original enterprise zone, end quote,

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yet contains no specific citation to the ordinances.

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Without proper direct and specific citation

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within the ordinances, it is practically impossible

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for the Freeport City Council or any member of the public

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to know what specific incentives ordinance 2024-57

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grants the developer.

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How would anyone know what ordinance to ask the municipal clerk for in an effort to learn

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what benefits are being given away?

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To be honest, in 30 plus years of following local government, Ordinance 2024-57 is the

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most shoddily incomplete ordinance I've ever read, completely lacking citation from any

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previously passed ordinance.

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Ordinance 2024-57 can have no legal meaning in this layman's view.

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Please City Council remember you are passing a written ordinance, not what City Manager

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Boyer presents. Thank you very much for your time and attention. John Samuel Cook.

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Okay. There's quite a few that are signed in for this evening. However, I do have one

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that's added on here that is not on the agenda. And Mr. Folgate comes every year to talk a

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little bit. Would that be okay if he talks at this time instead of waiting to the end?

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Anyone object? Okay. So we'll start at the top of the list. And each one of you have

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Cecelia, Stacy, Cecelia, Stacy, Fifth Ward Alderwoman, it has come to our attention that

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there was a four year request for all documents pertaining to the open Bible water main extension.

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Per your email response, Ms. Anderson, you stated that you had looked for these documents

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and there are none.

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This is concerning because on September the 3rd, City Manager Boyer sent the council a

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memo stating that, and I quote, through a series of documents, the information details

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the city agreed upon regarding the water main extension in 1999 to be installed between

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and

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the

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council.

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I asked you directly at the October 14th

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cow if you had looked for these same documents, you told me the

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council, you told this council and the people of Freeport that

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you had not looked for them and that you had not been directed

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to.

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Can you explain to the council why we have a series of

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We had the documents. You told a FOIA request that they did not exist. And last week you said you hadn't looked. What are the people of Freeport supposed to believe? Thank you.

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Good evening, city councilmembers. Thanks for allowing me to speak to you, to our guests

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and the TV audience as well. Most of you know I am Lynn Polgate because I have spoken to

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you before for our Freeport Moose Lodge, the oldest lodge in Illinois. It was established

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in 1909. Remember the Moose supports the Moose Heart, the child city near Chicago. Also know

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that Moose Heart has provided a home for over 2,000 children since its

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origination in 1913. I spoke about the Moose Lodge before, this time speaking

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about asking your help for the Freeport area for North Carolina that was hit by

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the Hurricane Helene. Also needing help is Florida's devastation by Hurricane

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Milton with over 230 no one dead from the recent hurricanes and flooding. The

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reason Freeport Lodge is asking for your help is due to the many lodges

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requested special dispensation from Mooseheart.

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We have dispensation from Moose Heart to support North Carolina and Florida, devastation costing over $50 billion. Consequently, the officials at Moose International authorized a blanket dispensation so that all the Moose Lodges doing care for the cause can do so without separate dispensation needed.

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Finally, our Freeport Moose Lodge Board of Officers wanted to also do our part to help

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the hurricane victims of these states.

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It was decided that we will act as a donation coordinator so that even small donations can

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be collected and sent to help these states in their rebuilding efforts.

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To make it easy for everyone to donate to this cause, checks or cash can be dropped

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off at the Freeport Moose Lodge.

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Our new address is 440 East Challenge Street, Freeport, Illinois.

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By the way, I got copies of this because I got other addresses and phone numbers you

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don't have to write down, you get a copy of this speech.

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The Freeport Moose Lodge new location is one block north of a former lodge across the street

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from the Super 8 Motel.

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It's a white building and we have a sign up on a nearby post.

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For Florida, checks can be made payable to Florida Moose Association or simply FMA.

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If you choose to mail directly to FMA, mail to FMA Post Office Box 2863, Sanford Florida,

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I got the zip here, Attention, Dan O'Neill, FMA Secretary.

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For more information, you can call Ken Kotzenbader, Freeport's Moose Lodge Administrator, his

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phone number is 815-232-1516 or his cell phone 815-238-1555.

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Thanks for your attention and thanks for supporting and help for Florida and North Carolina.

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Thank you, Lynn.

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and please note that 623 Alderman Monroe entered and next on the list is Andrea

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Schultz-Winter. He gave me two of them. Andrea Schultz-Winter, 521 South Harby, Freeport, Illinois.

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When we think about the infrastructure needed for economic development and

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growth, child care is imperative. Residents cannot go to work if they don't

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have a place for their child to go. Open Bible currently has 174 students

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enrolled. 43 children attend their school age program kindergarten to fifth grade.

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The remaining 131 children are aged three to five years of age and attend

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and their preschool childcare program.

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The demographic makeup of those students are 62% are Caucasian,

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37% are African-American, 1% are Asian.

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49% of those children qualify for free and reduced lunch.

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47 families qualify for childcare assistance program.

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Last summer, Open Bible offered safe dependable childcare

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for 170 children.

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This allowed families to remain in the workforce

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while their children were out of school.

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Birth to Five is a regional organization

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that serves Northwest Illinois

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and has collected data around childcare.

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Currently, there are 5,132 children

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in Stevenson, Carroll, and Joe Davis counties

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that are zero to five years of age.

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Currently, there are childcare slots

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for approximately 25% of those children,

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or 1,264 children.

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Huffman, John Huffman. Data from the Bipartisan Policy Center, dated from 2019, so quite a dated, five years old, this data. For Stevenson County alone, there was 870 child care slots needed. It is estimated that the annual economic burden of child care gaps within Stevenson County alone is $18 million. This is made up of three separate impacts.

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Miller, and

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Mary.

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Our child care crisis is not just holding back working parents

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and their children, it is also holding back the loss of

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income for individual households, business impact due to direct

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productivity losses for businesses as well as future lost

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earnings from turnover cost and inability to take advantage of

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growth opportunities. And also, lastly, tax revenue impacts,

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McAllister, Brad, and

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Mark.

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I also want to say thank you to our

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parents, our parents on the back, working parents and their

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children, it's actively harming our economy.

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Many Freeport families make ends meet because both parents are

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employed outside the home.

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That can happen when we have safe dependable childcare

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options.

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Child care is a necessity, a necessary infrastructure for our

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households and our businesses.

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Thank you.

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Good evening. I'd first like to thank the Council for allowing me to stand. I am not

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Dee Moore, but I am Elder Charlene Williams, and I'm standing here tonight on behalf of

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the renaming, not renaming, but adding to the sign on Armstrong and State, Bishop James

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Arthur Wade. We have filed all our paperwork. We have met the 51 percent requirement. We

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We have been working on this for over a year.

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Many of you on the City Council know Bishop James Wade.

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He's been a pillar within this community.

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His children were raised here, his wife was a school teacher, Bishop Wade was a part of

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the school board, he's a part of the Minister's Fellowship Alliance, and not only that, I'm

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sure many of you have seen him driving with his truck and wagon trailer where he helps

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He helps the elderly that can't afford to mow their lawns and he also helps with other

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things throughout the community.

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The funeral homes here in the city of Freeport know him by name personally because when COVID

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hit and other things happened, he was one of the pastors in the community that would

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allow those who couldn't afford it to come in and have services there.

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We have met all of the requirements and we're simply asking that this petition be granted

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Forrest. Thank you so much for hearing me.

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Thank you, Charlene. Does that mean that Dee, you don't want to speak? Okay. Then we will

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move on to Jennifer Fuller.

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I would like to thank the council for letting me speak tonight. I am the current daycare

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director at Open Bible Learning Center. I am very nervous. That is why I went into education

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because children don't judge you. So please bear with me.

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A little bit of history. Robert Bush and Irene Bush had First Church of the Open Bible located

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on West Chestnut Street from 1944 to 1969 when they moved to our current facility at

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3800 West Stevenson Street. In 1970, First Church of the Open Bible Day Nursery opened

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to serve the public. In 1975, they broke ground for a new educational center to provide larger

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for the Open Bible Day Nursery. In 1999, ground was broken for the new Open Bible Family and

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Learning Center, which is the building we are talking about. In 2005, Dr. Burles Parker

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took over as Senior Pastor and Administrator for the Bushes. In 2009, I took over as Child

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Care Director. And when Burles Parker retired in 2022, Derek Strickland took over as Senior

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and their pastor and administrator.

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Open Bible Learning Center is a nonprofit

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licensed child care center

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with the Department of Children and Family Services,

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also known as DCFS.

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Because of all these changes over the years

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and the size of our building,

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we are currently licensed capacity of 217 children

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for ages two through 12.

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We are open year round full time

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from 6.30 a.m. to 5.30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

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We are only closed six major holidays.

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We are open year round, full time,

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for families that have to work

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and need somewhere for their children to go.

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After COVID, we decided to close on Black Friday.

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And now starting next year,

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we will be closed on Good Friday.

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Yes, we were even open on a religious holiday

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for parents who still need to work.

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License inspections occur every three years

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with yearly monitoring inspections or more with DCFS.

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Both myself and the pastor handle the license inspections

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depending on the materials or paperwork needed.

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At the three-year license renewal,

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DCFS contacts the state fire marshal for...

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contacts the state fire marshal for inspection of the facilities violations of any type noted by

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DCFS or the fire marshal require fixing and corrective action plans for license continuation

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previous license inspections address the fire sprinkler system in the capacity that annual

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tests of the sprinkler system are to be conducted this was first noted on our 2021 license review

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from all the paperwork that I have gone through for our previous license renewal.

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When it was brought up by the fire marshal that there was no water access for the system

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to be hooked up, Dr. Parker, as senior administrator, was instructed to post a sign on the system

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at access points so the local fire department was aware they would have to hook up to the

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system in case of an emergency.

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Jennifer, your three minutes has expired.

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Okay.

00:20:47.880 --> 00:20:48.880
Are you close to being done?

00:20:48.880 --> 00:20:49.880
I'm close to being done, yes.

00:20:49.880 --> 00:20:50.880
Like what?

00:20:50.880 --> 00:20:51.880
Two lines?

00:20:51.880 --> 00:20:57.599
I don't want to okay I can stop I can give you guys a point I would be don't

00:20:57.599 --> 00:21:04.119
have copies but I can definitely give it good thank you and then we have Luanne

00:21:04.119 --> 00:21:18.380
Hayes good evening everyone Luanne Hayes 1021 West Douglas Street Freeport

00:21:18.380 --> 00:21:23.720
Illinois as many of you know I am with birth the five Illinois which Andrea

00:21:23.720 --> 00:21:27.259
referenced a little bit ago I'm just here for statistics it's all I'm here for

00:21:27.259 --> 00:21:38.220
Miller. Right now, in Freeport, we have 646 spots for child care. That includes Open Bible.

00:21:38.220 --> 00:21:47.460
We have 2,170 children who need it, ages 0 to 5. That leaves a gap right now, not from

00:21:47.460 --> 00:22:17.460
Walsh, and Andrew. 2019 was 500 and some. Our gap now is 1,524. 70% of our kids do not have child care, access to child care, or day care. Now, that's here in Freeport, and Andrew talked about the region as well. But we cannot afford, our community cannot afford to lose any slots here, especially in the

00:22:17.460 --> 00:22:43.259
Fremont, and Ashley in Freeport. I have a flyer for you, and I'm under my three minutes, except for all the times I went over.

00:22:43.259 --> 00:23:19.079
Thank you.

00:23:19.079 --> 00:23:26.680
Oh, I like your top too. Okay. Oh, and just to make it rounded, I like your top too. Okay.

00:23:26.680 --> 00:23:28.680
You still have 50 seconds if you want to use it.

00:23:28.680 --> 00:23:30.680
I could do a little song and dance.

00:23:30.680 --> 00:23:31.680
No, we'll end it.

00:23:31.680 --> 00:23:36.059
Okay. I could, I could. Okay.

00:23:36.059 --> 00:23:50.860
Okay, last on the list is Ashley Harms.

00:23:50.860 --> 00:23:55.339
Hi y'all. I'm Ashley Harms. I am from Amity here in Freeport. I also live in Freeport.

00:23:55.339 --> 00:23:59.779
The address of Amity and the King Community Campus is 511 South Liberty. I know, we're

00:23:59.779 --> 00:24:04.980
competitors, right? Us and Open Bible. I serve on the Birth to Five Committee. We've been

00:24:04.980 --> 00:24:10.660
looking at these numbers for a really long time and the state and everybody else is working

00:24:10.660 --> 00:24:17.740
on focusing on building up childcare. The last thing we need to do is make a center

00:24:17.740 --> 00:24:19.119
and

00:24:19.119 --> 00:24:23.200
it doesn't look good for Freeport, it's not good for our working families.

00:24:23.200 --> 00:24:27.980
I could enroll double my enrollment tomorrow with my waiting list.

00:24:27.980 --> 00:24:31.740
I'm sure open Bible could too.

00:24:31.740 --> 00:24:37.799
I understand that it is very costly, everything these days is extremely costly.

00:24:37.799 --> 00:24:41.680
If open Bible is willing to do their piece and pay from the street to their building

00:24:41.680 --> 00:24:50.539
Walsh, and I think the right solution here is to run the line for the kids.

00:24:50.539 --> 00:24:51.539
It's for the kids.

00:24:51.539 --> 00:24:52.880
It's not just for the kids.

00:24:52.880 --> 00:24:56.799
As Andrea said and as Luann said, it's an infrastructure issue.

00:24:56.799 --> 00:24:58.880
Our families need to be able to go to work.

00:24:58.880 --> 00:25:03.299
We are already struggling to enroll families every day.

00:25:03.299 --> 00:25:05.500
We can't get them all in now.

00:25:05.500 --> 00:25:11.420
What would happen if Open Bible were to close and we lost 170 more slots of child care?

00:25:11.420 --> 00:25:16.660
How many more employers are you going to have that don't have workers coming in because

00:25:16.660 --> 00:25:18.460
they don't have child care?

00:25:18.460 --> 00:25:20.339
We should be building up child care.

00:25:20.339 --> 00:25:25.299
In fact, I don't think it's far off to ask later for you guys to help us expand some

00:25:25.299 --> 00:25:28.619
of our buildings or to help us do more.

00:25:28.619 --> 00:25:34.420
This is not the time at all to do less, that I can say, and I hope the right decision is

00:25:34.420 --> 00:25:36.339
made to save their program.

00:25:36.339 --> 00:25:37.339
Have a great night.

00:25:37.339 --> 00:25:38.339
Thank you.

00:25:38.339 --> 00:25:45.559
That concludes public comments.

00:25:45.559 --> 00:25:49.160
We'll move on to item number four, which is the consent agenda.

00:25:49.160 --> 00:25:52.480
The consent agenda is considered to be routine in nature and acted as one motion unless there's

00:25:52.480 --> 00:25:57.869
a member of the council would like to have something removed for further discussion.

00:25:57.869 --> 00:26:03.829
Seeing none, the consent agenda consists of approval to receive and place on file minutes

00:26:03.829 --> 00:26:08.430
from boards and commissions for foreign fire minutes dated August 8th.

00:26:08.430 --> 00:26:12.430
The Library Board of Trustees dated September 11th and the Liquor Commission dated September

00:26:12.430 --> 00:26:15.509
12th and 27th, 2024.

00:26:15.509 --> 00:26:20.069
The Building Permit Report and the Fire Department Report dated September 2024.

00:26:20.069 --> 00:26:24.650
The Freeport Housing Authority Monthly Report dated September 18th, 2024.

00:26:24.650 --> 00:26:29.829
The Greater Freeport Partnership Monthly Report dated September 25th, 2024.

00:26:29.829 --> 00:26:34.110
The Finance Report and Cash and Investment Report for August 2024.

00:26:34.110 --> 00:26:41.369
The approval of the finance bill is payable in the total of $2,836,656.02 and the approval

00:26:41.369 --> 00:26:50.610
of payroll for pay period ending October 5th, 2024 in the total of $641,274.96. Is there

00:26:50.610 --> 00:26:54.730
a motion to approve the consent agenda? So moved. Second.

00:26:54.730 --> 00:27:01.809
We have a motion made by Alderman Shadle, seconded by Alderman Sellers. Any discussion?

00:27:01.809 --> 00:27:05.049
Madam Clerk, please take the roll. Simmons? Aye.

00:27:05.049 --> 00:27:06.769
Parker? Aye.

00:27:06.769 --> 00:27:08.049
Stacy? Aye.

00:27:08.049 --> 00:27:09.450
Shadle? Aye.

00:27:09.450 --> 00:27:22.740
Sanders, Sellers, Klemm, Monroe. Motion passes, seven to one.

00:27:22.740 --> 00:27:28.619
Thank you. Item number five is the second reading of Ordinance 2024-54A. Could you please

00:27:28.619 --> 00:27:34.579
read this? Ordinance amending Chapter 220, Council, Section 220.06, Compensation of the

00:27:34.579 --> 00:27:38.220
Code of Ordinances. Thank you. Manager Boyer?

00:27:38.220 --> 00:27:45.660
Thank you, Your Honor. At the last council meeting, it was requested to break up these

00:27:45.660 --> 00:27:51.860
three positions into three separate ordinances, so that has been done. And I think we were

00:27:51.860 --> 00:28:03.990
at a position where council should move forward with the direction that they so choose.

00:28:03.990 --> 00:28:12.089
And can you refresh what the dollar change or what was given on the first reading for

00:28:12.089 --> 00:28:13.089
council members?

00:28:13.089 --> 00:28:19.910
Dovie, would you be able to go through the minutes on that?

00:28:19.910 --> 00:28:22.309
Aaron, Attorney Zito?

00:28:22.309 --> 00:28:23.309
Sure.

00:28:23.309 --> 00:28:28.389
So, for the first item on the agenda with regards to the pay for elected officials is

00:28:28.389 --> 00:28:30.309
for the City Council.

00:28:30.309 --> 00:28:37.429
LAR code provides that the annual pay to the aldermen is $3,800 per year.

00:28:37.429 --> 00:28:46.269
The direction from the council was to increase that to $4,500 per year.

00:28:46.269 --> 00:28:51.079
Any further discussion, council?

00:28:51.079 --> 00:28:55.599
Seeing none, Madam Clerk, would you please take the roll?

00:28:55.599 --> 00:28:57.720
Did you have a question, Alderman Stacey?

00:28:57.720 --> 00:29:00.799
I'm just kind of lost.

00:29:00.799 --> 00:29:01.799
Okay.

00:29:01.799 --> 00:29:10.740
Could you please take the roll?

00:29:10.740 --> 00:29:11.740
Simmons?

00:29:11.740 --> 00:29:12.740
Aye.

00:29:12.740 --> 00:29:35.000
Mayer, aye, Stacy, today, Shadle, no, Sanders, aye, Sellers, no, Klemm, no, Monroe, no,

00:29:35.000 --> 00:29:42.960
I have a tie, don't I, one, two, three, four, four, two, four, Mayor, what say you?

00:29:42.960 --> 00:29:55.920
No. It's up to you.

00:29:55.920 --> 00:30:14.359
Okay. The Council has not received any pay increase for a long time of any significance. I know that this is an 18% increase, but the dollar amount is pretty small. It's a very small increase on a yearly basis. When you break it down in the month, it's barely anything. So, aye.

00:30:14.359 --> 00:30:19.900
The motion passes, five to four.

00:30:19.900 --> 00:30:24.900
Item number six is the second reading of Ordinance 2024-54B. Could you please read this?

00:30:24.900 --> 00:30:34.220
Ordinance amending Chapter 226, Mayor, Section 226.03, Compensation of the Code of

00:30:34.220 --> 00:30:52.599
Ordinances. I have nothing else to add to the previous discussion. Okay, I believe

00:30:52.599 --> 00:30:56.880
both the mayor's salary and the clerk's were a five percent increase. Is that

00:30:56.880 --> 00:31:10.740
accurate? Michelle, were these five percent increases? Yes, that's right. So

00:31:10.740 --> 00:31:16.940
So what's before you right now, this agenda item is for the Mayor's compensation, so it

00:31:16.940 --> 00:31:23.339
is a 5% increase for the four years, each of the four years.

00:31:23.339 --> 00:31:31.299
So it'll go from $29,330, then in the second year it will go to $32,030, and the third

00:31:31.299 --> 00:31:39.740
year it goes to $33,630, and then the fourth year it goes to $36,670.

00:31:39.740 --> 00:31:50.490
So is there discussion on the salary package for mayor?

00:31:50.490 --> 00:31:51.490
Seeing none.

00:31:51.490 --> 00:31:52.490
Alderman Sellers?

00:31:52.490 --> 00:31:56.609
I guess I was okay with the 3%, but not with the 5%.

00:31:56.609 --> 00:32:01.130
That's me.

00:32:01.130 --> 00:32:03.610
She did not hear you, honey.

00:32:03.610 --> 00:32:13.940
I said I was okay with the 3% with the first proposal, but not with the 5%.

00:32:13.940 --> 00:32:16.059
Alderman Stacey?

00:32:16.059 --> 00:32:19.019
I did some homework on this.

00:32:19.019 --> 00:32:29.950
And what I'm OK with is 5% the first year, 4% the second year,

00:32:29.950 --> 00:32:43.819
3% the third year, and 2% the fourth year.

00:32:43.819 --> 00:32:45.579
Well, it seems we have a different opinions.

00:32:45.579 --> 00:32:50.160
I know that what was moved forward was the 5%,

00:32:50.160 --> 00:32:54.750
like was stated, so.

00:32:54.750 --> 00:32:56.309
I really thought.

00:32:56.309 --> 00:32:56.809
Go ahead.

00:32:56.809 --> 00:33:06.460
I really thought that the week before last, 3% was stated, not 5.

00:33:06.460 --> 00:33:09.819
There was a motion.

00:33:09.819 --> 00:33:15.259
I believe there was an actual motion for the 5% that was motion made, seconded,

00:33:15.259 --> 00:33:20.299
and then voted on for 5% for both the mayor and the clerks.

00:33:20.299 --> 00:33:23.139
And who made that motion?

00:33:23.139 --> 00:33:24.500
I believe it was Alderman Klemm.

00:33:24.500 --> 00:33:25.860
I'm looking it up.

00:33:25.860 --> 00:33:27.860
Alderman Klemm set zero for the mayor.

00:33:27.860 --> 00:33:34.809
Hang on, the clerk is checking.

00:33:34.809 --> 00:33:48.360
There was a motion to have it remain the same that failed.

00:33:48.360 --> 00:33:56.360
Monroe moved, Alderperson Sanders seconded that the mayor's salary be increased to 555.

00:33:56.360 --> 00:33:59.360
The motion passed, 5 to 3.

00:33:59.360 --> 00:34:13.110
Well, if there's no further discussion.

00:34:13.110 --> 00:34:15.110
Simmons?

00:34:15.110 --> 00:34:18.110
What are we voting on?

00:34:18.110 --> 00:34:24.110
The 5-5-5-5 as presented upon second reading of the ordinance.

00:34:24.110 --> 00:34:31.110
Okay. So if I am not mistaken, we were told that we could come back and bottle that.

00:34:31.110 --> 00:34:39.110
And so Alderman Sellers just said that she was okay with the 3%, but not the 5, am I correct?

00:34:39.110 --> 00:34:42.110
So we're not discussing that?

00:34:42.110 --> 00:34:46.349
so we that's what the pause is i'm waiting for you to tell me what you want to do nobody's saying anything

00:34:49.480 --> 00:34:56.039
right so if at this point you guys are in discussion so if someone wants to make a motion

00:34:56.039 --> 00:35:02.599
to change it to propose a change from five percent to something other than five percent just people

00:35:02.599 --> 00:35:19.360
can do that i make a motion that we change the five percent to five the first year for the second

00:35:19.360 --> 00:35:34.960
We have a motion on the floor, made by Alderman Stacy, seconded by Alderman Sanders, to change

00:35:34.960 --> 00:35:40.559
the ordinance as how it was moved forward to 5-4-3-2.

00:35:40.559 --> 00:35:41.559
Discussion on the change.

00:35:41.559 --> 00:35:55.239
Okay, I guess if there's no discussion, then Madam Clerk, would you take the role on passing

00:35:55.239 --> 00:35:58.960
the Mayor's package to be 5% increase down to 2?

00:35:58.960 --> 00:35:59.960
Huffines.

00:35:59.960 --> 00:36:01.840
It's just on the amendment.

00:36:01.840 --> 00:36:03.900
It's just on a proposed amendment.

00:36:03.900 --> 00:36:04.900
On a proposed amendment.

00:36:04.900 --> 00:36:05.900
To 5-4-3-2.

00:36:05.900 --> 00:36:06.900
Okay.

00:36:06.900 --> 00:36:07.900
Right.

00:36:07.900 --> 00:36:11.400
What does that mean?

00:36:11.400 --> 00:36:13.079
You have to make an amendment first.

00:36:13.079 --> 00:36:14.079
Right.

00:36:14.079 --> 00:36:17.440
We're not finalizing the ordinance.

00:36:17.440 --> 00:36:21.599
Right now, it was presented to you guys as a 5% increase.

00:36:21.599 --> 00:36:25.760
There's been an intervening motion now to change it to 5-4-3-2.

00:36:25.760 --> 00:36:26.760
That's been seconded.

00:36:26.760 --> 00:36:31.679
Now there's looks like there's not any discussion further discussion on that proposed change

00:36:31.800 --> 00:36:35.659
So now there's a vote on just the change if it is approved

00:36:35.840 --> 00:36:42.079
Then you guys would go back to the a vote as amended with five four three two if it fails

00:36:42.320 --> 00:36:47.039
The proposed change to five four three two then you're back to five percent

00:36:47.440 --> 00:36:51.800
There can be another motion if someone wants to propose something different or you asking vote on the five percent

00:36:52.159 --> 00:36:58.079
So could you please take the role on the amendment only?

00:36:58.079 --> 00:37:17.239
Simmons, Parker, Stacy, Shadle, Sanders, Sellers, Klemm, Monroe. We are tied at four to four.

00:37:17.239 --> 00:37:28.900
Mayor? I vote no on the amendment. The proposed amendment fails five to four. You

00:37:28.900 --> 00:37:32.389
you don't want to go home, do you?

00:37:32.389 --> 00:37:35.869
So because the proposed amendment motion failed,

00:37:35.869 --> 00:37:39.510
we're back to the underlying, which is the 5%.

00:37:39.510 --> 00:37:40.949
If someone wants to make a different motion,

00:37:40.949 --> 00:37:41.789
they can do that.

00:37:47.360 --> 00:37:48.440
Alderman Sanders.

00:37:48.440 --> 00:37:52.019
I'm sorry, can we express it differently?

00:37:52.019 --> 00:37:53.340
Word it differently?

00:37:54.279 --> 00:37:57.079
Come to the same conclusion of 5-4?

00:37:57.079 --> 00:37:58.639
No, that's no.

00:37:58.639 --> 00:38:00.239
3-2?

00:38:00.239 --> 00:38:02.659
But if we frame it a different way,

00:38:03.440 --> 00:38:04.440
Miller.

00:38:04.440 --> 00:38:12.400
So maybe that would be satisfactory to some people or some council members.

00:38:12.400 --> 00:38:13.559
I don't know.

00:38:13.559 --> 00:38:17.480
We haven't had a chance to deliberate with each other on the discussion.

00:38:17.480 --> 00:38:18.480
You did.

00:38:18.480 --> 00:38:19.480
You had a chance.

00:38:19.480 --> 00:38:20.480
Well, I mean altogether, collectively.

00:38:20.480 --> 00:38:23.480
So you can't bring it back up again for the same thing.

00:38:23.480 --> 00:38:24.480
Yeah, I know.

00:38:24.480 --> 00:38:27.519
But collectively, we have not had that, okay?

00:38:27.519 --> 00:38:35.199
That's what I'm trying to establish, because we had not made, that's why we're at the

00:38:35.199 --> 00:38:41.579
four-four constantly all the time, and if that keeps going on, we have to reword something

00:38:41.579 --> 00:38:43.920
so it would satisfy the council.

00:38:43.920 --> 00:38:45.440
So what would be your rewording?

00:38:45.440 --> 00:38:51.400
Alright, that's what I'm saying, we have not had a chance to discuss none of that.

00:38:51.400 --> 00:38:56.960
Maybe we should suspend it for now.

00:38:56.960 --> 00:38:59.079
No, it actually has to, something has to go forward tonight.

00:38:59.079 --> 00:39:00.079
Something has to go forward tonight.

00:39:00.079 --> 00:39:01.079
By law.

00:39:01.079 --> 00:39:05.029
Yeah.

00:39:05.029 --> 00:39:06.029
Alderman Sellers.

00:39:06.029 --> 00:39:16.300
I make a motion that we go back to the original 3% that we had offered.

00:39:16.300 --> 00:39:18.699
Is there a second?

00:39:18.699 --> 00:39:20.699
Second.

00:39:20.699 --> 00:39:28.019
So now before you is an amendment to move it to the original 3-3-3-3.

00:39:28.019 --> 00:39:34.039
Any discussion on that amendment?

00:39:34.039 --> 00:39:41.639
Clark, please take the roll. Simmons? Hi. Parker? No. Stacy?

00:39:59.659 --> 00:40:18.460
No. Shadle? Aye. Sanders? No. Sellers? Aye. Klemm? All right. And Monroe? No. And we are again tied 4 to 4. Mayor? No.

00:40:18.460 --> 00:40:30.630
The motion fails 4 to 5. You want to go ahead? All right so you guys are back to

00:40:30.630 --> 00:40:38.539
and the underlying, as proposed, 5%.

00:40:38.539 --> 00:40:43.199
I'm just speaking out loud.

00:40:43.199 --> 00:40:45.199
Ignore me for now.

00:40:45.199 --> 00:40:47.199
This is messing with me.

00:40:47.199 --> 00:40:48.199
Don't worry.

00:40:48.199 --> 00:40:50.199
If there's no further discussion?

00:40:50.199 --> 00:40:51.199
Yeah.

00:40:51.199 --> 00:40:52.199
You have something?

00:40:52.199 --> 00:40:54.199
Yeah, I have something.

00:40:54.199 --> 00:41:13.250
I, well, do I have your attention?

00:41:13.250 --> 00:41:15.250
Let's not waste time.

00:41:15.250 --> 00:41:20.289
Well, Mayor, we're talking about your wages.

00:41:20.289 --> 00:41:22.090
No, it's a mayor's salary.

00:41:22.090 --> 00:41:24.210
A mayor's salary, I'll put it like that.

00:41:24.210 --> 00:41:28.409
So we do need to take time, since we don't take time,

00:41:28.409 --> 00:41:33.860
to come up with conversation or discussions

00:41:33.860 --> 00:41:37.059
before this event takes place or this.

00:41:37.059 --> 00:41:39.099
This is the third meeting we've talked about it.

00:41:39.099 --> 00:41:43.739
OK.

00:41:43.739 --> 00:41:51.019
I have no further discussion.

00:41:51.019 --> 00:41:54.619
Madam Clerk, please, no? Okay, go ahead.

00:41:54.619 --> 00:42:02.780
I will just, for the, for the council though, you mean, you guys have to come to some conclusion

00:42:02.780 --> 00:42:07.780
here because the way that our ordinance is drafted right now, it provides for the compensation

00:42:07.780 --> 00:42:13.980
for four years, the last one being this year. If you guys don't approve something, whoever

00:42:13.980 --> 00:42:20.260
Whatever the mayor is come next term doesn't have a compensation whatsoever.

00:42:20.260 --> 00:42:25.820
So you guys have to come up with something.

00:42:25.820 --> 00:42:27.260
Mine was rejected.

00:42:27.260 --> 00:42:37.820
So what's before you right now is the original that was put forward at the last meeting.

00:42:37.820 --> 00:42:39.980
Madam Clerk, there's no further discussion.

00:42:39.980 --> 00:42:41.739
Would you please take the roll?

00:42:41.739 --> 00:42:43.300
And could you state what that is?

00:42:43.300 --> 00:42:44.300
Five percent?

00:42:44.300 --> 00:42:45.300
That'd be correct.

00:42:45.300 --> 00:42:46.300
Each year.

00:42:46.300 --> 00:43:16.690
5% increase each year. Simmons? Aye. Parker? Aye. Stacy? Aye. Shadle? Aye. Sanders? Aye. Sellers? No. Klemm? No. Monroe? Aye. The motion passes 6 to 2. So we will move on to item number 7, which is the second reading of ordinance 2024-54C. Could you please read this?

00:43:16.690 --> 00:43:23.690
Ordinance amending Chapter 228, City Clerk, Section 22803, Compensation of the Code of Ordinances.

00:43:23.690 --> 00:43:34.699
Recap that. It's the same as the Mayor package. It was a 5% increase.

00:43:34.699 --> 00:43:42.699
Correct. It's also, as it moved out from first read, it was a 5% increase to the clerk's salary.

00:43:42.699 --> 00:43:51.179
That provides for then in the first year, it'd be a compensation of $58,255. In the second year,

00:43:51.179 --> 00:43:58.179
It goes to sixty-three thousand six fifteen and the third year it goes to sixty-six thousand seven ninety five and in the fourth year

00:43:58.179 --> 00:44:02.079
It goes to seventy-two seventy-two thousand eight thirty which are five percent increases

00:44:05.480 --> 00:44:12.239
Discussion seeing none madam. I would like to make a motion

00:44:13.559 --> 00:44:14.920
that

00:44:14.920 --> 00:44:21.940
We oppose two percent each year

00:44:22.779 --> 00:44:24.779
for the next four years

00:44:25.340 --> 00:44:27.340
2%

00:44:27.340 --> 00:44:36.579
is there a second I second it so now before you is the amendment proposed for

00:44:36.579 --> 00:44:43.179
a 2% increase each year versus the five is there anything to discuss on that

00:44:43.179 --> 00:44:54.940
amendment yes so the original was 4% right the original well the original was

00:44:54.940 --> 00:45:21.779
I believe staff staff's original proposal was four percent then council made the motion at the last meeting to raise it to five percent there you go so if there's no further discussion yes go

00:45:21.779 --> 00:45:22.779
Go ahead.

00:45:22.779 --> 00:45:32.139
City Clerk Dovie, you said you, it was 3 percent and then you requested 4?

00:45:32.139 --> 00:45:35.900
Yes, I'm sorry, I didn't say that into the microphone.

00:45:35.900 --> 00:45:42.699
Staff's recommendation was 3, I requested 4, and then upon first reading a council member

00:45:42.699 --> 00:45:44.739
suggested 5.

00:45:44.739 --> 00:45:48.659
Which I believe still comes back to it was Monroe and Sanders, correct?

00:45:48.659 --> 00:45:51.380
I'd have to look it up.

00:45:51.380 --> 00:45:58.400
I think it was a whole package done that way.

00:45:58.400 --> 00:46:01.800
Klemm proposed five.

00:46:01.800 --> 00:46:04.480
Can you repeat that, Alderman Klemm?

00:46:04.480 --> 00:46:07.519
Klemm, I proposed five last time.

00:46:07.519 --> 00:46:11.519
OK, thank you for that clarification.

00:46:11.519 --> 00:46:17.320
So before you is a motion for a 2% amendment.

00:46:17.320 --> 00:46:19.760
Madam Clerk, could you please take the role on the 2%?

00:46:19.760 --> 00:46:21.119
Could I have discussion?

00:46:21.119 --> 00:46:22.199
Oh, sure.

00:46:22.199 --> 00:46:30.699
Good. Okay. And that this was one of the positions that has really changed over

00:46:30.699 --> 00:46:36.460
the years in the month that the person has to do. We've gone from zero, uh,

00:46:36.460 --> 00:46:42.820
gaming license to 40 gaming licenses. We have, uh, I don't know how many liquor

00:46:42.820 --> 00:46:48.659
licenses and I'm sharing the sixties at this point that this person all has to

00:46:48.659 --> 00:46:53.500
handle. Plus F has to have everything ready for every meeting. And you guys

00:46:53.500 --> 00:47:00.900
I just want to demand that they have a draft agenda out three days before it normally used

00:47:00.900 --> 00:47:06.260
to come out and you're not offering to give her any kind of raise or compensation for

00:47:06.260 --> 00:47:07.260
doing that.

00:47:07.260 --> 00:47:08.619
I just don't think that's right.

00:47:08.619 --> 00:47:11.820
Thank you Alderman Klemm, Alderman Stacy.

00:47:11.820 --> 00:47:22.619
Let's also keep in mind that this year it was approved for part-time worker, helper,

00:47:22.619 --> 00:47:23.619
and Sherry.

00:47:23.619 --> 00:47:31.380
They are all part-time City Clerk to help City Clerk Anderson.

00:47:31.380 --> 00:47:34.380
So let's keep that in mind.

00:47:34.380 --> 00:47:36.779
Could you repeat that because I can't hear you?

00:47:36.779 --> 00:47:39.539
I'm very sorry, the system is absolutely terrible.

00:47:39.539 --> 00:47:44.220
I hear you say that, but it's absolutely terrible.

00:47:44.220 --> 00:47:47.320
I said let's keep in mind can you hear me?

00:47:47.320 --> 00:47:49.360
I can hear you.

00:47:49.360 --> 00:47:59.519
Let's keep in mind that it was approved to hire a part-time City Clerk to help City Clerk

00:47:59.519 --> 00:48:05.769
Anderson out with her duties.

00:48:05.769 --> 00:48:09.720
Let's keep that in mind.

00:48:09.720 --> 00:48:10.720
Madam Mayor.

00:48:10.720 --> 00:48:11.720
Yes, Alderman Klemm.

00:48:11.720 --> 00:48:19.119
Am I correct in saying that the person that assisted her before just retired and that

00:48:19.119 --> 00:48:21.400
person took that position?

00:48:21.400 --> 00:48:24.699
has been an assistant that worked back and forth

00:48:24.699 --> 00:48:28.720
with the person that works with the mayor

00:48:28.720 --> 00:48:33.000
and the city manager and the city court for a number of years.

00:48:33.000 --> 00:48:34.880
It isn't as though it happened yesterday.

00:48:34.880 --> 00:48:37.980
So she didn't get any big bonus of hiring somebody.

00:48:46.099 --> 00:48:47.760
Respond to Klemm or?

00:48:47.760 --> 00:48:52.760
Yeah, his knowledge on the part-time.

00:48:52.900 --> 00:48:55.400
He's referring to Luanne retiring.

00:48:58.119 --> 00:49:02.279
Yes, I just had a retirement in the office, so I'm training.

00:49:02.279 --> 00:49:10.119
So I have a brand new person, so my helper will be trained.

00:49:10.119 --> 00:49:14.519
I guess I don't understand what Alderperson Klemm was saying,

00:49:14.519 --> 00:49:17.279
I guess, that the new person is not

00:49:17.279 --> 00:49:21.239
to be a backup to the assistant to the mayor and city manager.

00:49:21.239 --> 00:49:24.720
The current deputy clerk does that.

00:49:24.720 --> 00:49:28.039
If, and a budget has not finally been proved,

00:49:28.039 --> 00:49:31.800
it has been recommended in the budget but I don't definitely have a part-time

00:49:31.800 --> 00:49:37.119
person but as I will agree with Alderperson Klemm that the workload has

00:49:37.119 --> 00:49:42.519
increased greatly this year we also have had by the end of September we had more

00:49:42.519 --> 00:49:48.079
Freedom of Information Act requests by the end of September than in any year

00:49:48.079 --> 00:49:53.800
since I've kept a FOIA log all through you know through December

00:49:53.800 --> 00:49:54.119
all through December by the end of September,

00:49:54.119 --> 00:49:55.679
the FOIAs were higher.

00:49:55.679 --> 00:50:00.519
I'm getting behind in typing closed session minutes.

00:50:00.519 --> 00:50:03.239
I'm about four years behind on that.

00:50:03.239 --> 00:50:05.659
And I am behind in filing.

00:50:05.659 --> 00:50:10.320
So between me, a full-time clerk, and a part-time clerk,

00:50:10.320 --> 00:50:15.320
those duties would be redistributed to include back up

00:50:16.659 --> 00:50:19.280
to the assistant to the mayor and city manager.

00:50:20.000 --> 00:50:23.000
Yes, that's a good explanation. Thank you. Alderman Stacey.

00:50:23.000 --> 00:50:33.000
Am I wrong in thinking that we approved for a part-time city clerk? Did we approve?

00:50:33.000 --> 00:50:38.000
Well, it was discussed in the budget, but nothing's been approved in that. That was for the 25 budget.

00:50:38.000 --> 00:50:41.000
But is this something that passed?

00:50:41.000 --> 00:50:44.000
The budget hasn't passed, though.

00:50:44.000 --> 00:50:47.000
Director Richter, can you answer that?

00:50:47.000 --> 00:50:54.199
So, actually, the conversation was, and I might give you more than you want to know,

00:50:54.199 --> 00:50:59.960
but both Dovie and I talked together and we were going to ask for a full-time person.

00:50:59.960 --> 00:51:06.360
I backed off a little bit, and I've also talked to Dovie about I don't know if her halftime

00:51:06.360 --> 00:51:08.039
is going to make it through.

00:51:08.039 --> 00:51:14.800
We got a lot to go with the budget yet, and as I said, it hasn't been approved yet.

00:51:14.800 --> 00:51:21.480
It is something we very much need, Dovie needs, but when it comes to some of the other priorities

00:51:21.480 --> 00:51:29.320
that the budget needs, that might not make it all the way through.

00:51:29.320 --> 00:51:30.320
Okay.

00:51:30.320 --> 00:51:42.599
So, I understand that the budget has not been approved, however, was getting her a position

00:51:42.599 --> 00:51:56.570
Helper approved. Did we discuss and talk about her receiving a part-time city clerk?

00:51:58.409 --> 00:52:02.329
Was there, so you're asking if there was an ordinance that was, no, it was discussion and

00:52:02.329 --> 00:52:09.050
budget. Manager Boyer, do you want to add to that? As I understand it, we had a, basically an

00:52:09.050 --> 00:52:13.769
additional position that was going to split 50-50 between the finance department and the city clerk.

00:52:14.010 --> 00:52:19.110
the finance department looked at it and said I'm gonna withdraw my request but

00:52:19.110 --> 00:52:24.809
I think we still put that in the budget for the for the city clerk the budget

00:52:24.809 --> 00:52:28.929
hasn't been passed yet but the intention is to have a part-time person the

00:52:28.929 --> 00:52:41.019
intention is to have a part-time person and also just for recollection purposes

00:52:41.019 --> 00:52:47.860
the current the current term I'm in I had an increase of 1% 1% 1% 1%

00:52:47.860 --> 00:52:56.980
This was set at a time during COVID when we were freezing public works wages. If I

00:52:56.980 --> 00:53:05.079
recall, I asked the finance director, non-elected people, non-bargaining during

00:53:05.079 --> 00:53:12.340
that same time got two, two, four, and four. A comparison of other clerks were

00:53:12.340 --> 00:53:20.059
are also given, and I am paid lower than any of the 2, 4, 6, 8, 9 municipalities.

00:53:20.059 --> 00:53:29.719
Dixon has a population of 15,000, Sterling has a population of 14,000, and I still make

00:53:29.719 --> 00:53:32.320
less than them.

00:53:32.320 --> 00:53:37.139
I don't know how many deputy clerks they have.

00:53:37.139 --> 00:53:41.539
If you do increase this position, and not me, I do intend to run, but think of it as

00:53:41.539 --> 00:53:42.539
Johnson.

00:53:42.539 --> 00:53:49.059
If you can increase this position by five, five, five, five, I believe someone did a

00:53:49.059 --> 00:53:55.139
calculation and it would add $10,000 more than what you were given.

00:53:55.139 --> 00:54:02.139
Adding 10,000 onto me, I still make less than the 10 municipalities that you were given

00:54:02.139 --> 00:54:06.940
as comparisons.

00:54:06.940 --> 00:54:12.820
So before you, Council, is an ask for an amendment of two, two, two, and two.

00:54:12.820 --> 00:54:19.000
Any further discussion on the 2? Madam Clerk, would you please take the roll on the amendment

00:54:19.000 --> 00:54:31.139
for 2? Simmons? No. Parker? No. Stacy? Yes. Shadle? No. Sanders? Yes. Sellers? No. Klemm?

00:54:31.139 --> 00:54:40.659
No. Monroe? No. The motion fails 2-6. So now before you, Council, is the original that

00:54:40.659 --> 00:54:47.380
that was put forward the last time you met at five.

00:54:47.380 --> 00:54:48.220
Simmons?

00:54:50.779 --> 00:54:57.730
I think Alderman Stacy might have something she wanted to say.

00:54:57.730 --> 00:55:04.900
I am not wanting the five.

00:55:06.420 --> 00:55:10.840
So since my two failed,

00:55:10.840 --> 00:55:15.699
do I have the right to make another motion?

00:55:15.699 --> 00:55:20.920
I make a motion that we just go three across the board.

00:55:20.920 --> 00:55:23.690
Is there a second?

00:55:23.690 --> 00:55:33.690
We have a motion made by Alderman Stacy, seconded by Alderman Sanders, to do 5%, I'm sorry, 3%, 3, 3, 3, 3.

00:55:33.690 --> 00:55:42.340
Discussion on the 3. Madam Clerk, please take the roll on a 3% increase.

00:55:42.340 --> 00:55:56.849
Simmons. Parker. No. Stacy. Yes. Shadle. No. Sanders. Yes. Sellers. No. Klemm. No. Monroe. No.

00:55:56.849 --> 00:56:06.329
no the motion fails two to six okay so again before you is the five five five five any

00:56:06.329 --> 00:56:14.519
further discussion yeah I have a point of clarification sure from the discussions

00:56:14.519 --> 00:56:19.019
earlier could someone answer how many years we've employed a deputy clerk

00:56:19.019 --> 00:56:31.079
because I I don't remember not having one you know that yes from 2017 when I

00:56:31.079 --> 00:56:37.279
I started. I was the first full-time deputy clerk. Prior to that, there was a part-time

00:56:37.279 --> 00:56:45.920
on occasion, or the clerk at times would appoint a deputy to see some duties through or to

00:56:45.920 --> 00:56:52.579
take a vacation. But going back through the files, there's a deputy clerk signature on

00:56:52.579 --> 00:56:57.279
many, many files as one was needed. Michelle, do you have more recollection than that, or

00:56:57.279 --> 00:56:58.279
is that pretty accurate?

00:56:58.279 --> 00:57:32.440
No further discussion? Madam Clerk, please take the roll. Simmons? Parker? No. Stacy? This is for the five percent? No. Five percent? No.

00:57:32.440 --> 00:57:46.440
Well, I thought it was still talking to four percent. Okay, let's clarify what the motion is. So, the underlying, this is on the underlying five, okay?

00:57:46.440 --> 00:57:47.440
Huffines.

00:57:47.440 --> 00:57:53.440
And remember, something has to pass tonight or there will be no salary set for the clerk's

00:57:53.440 --> 00:57:54.840
position.

00:57:54.840 --> 00:57:58.320
So before you is what the original was at 5555.

00:57:58.320 --> 00:57:59.320
I'm sorry.

00:57:59.320 --> 00:58:00.320
I thought it was four percent.

00:58:00.320 --> 00:58:01.320
Do you want me to start over?

00:58:01.320 --> 00:58:02.320
Yeah.

00:58:02.320 --> 00:58:03.320
No.

00:58:03.320 --> 00:58:04.320
Why?

00:58:04.320 --> 00:58:05.320
I'll vote yes.

00:58:05.320 --> 00:58:09.239
I will start with Simmons first.

00:58:09.239 --> 00:58:12.159
I'll start completely over so we're even.

00:58:12.159 --> 00:58:14.510
No.

00:58:14.510 --> 00:58:15.510
Parker?

00:58:15.510 --> 00:58:16.510
Yes.

00:58:16.510 --> 00:58:17.510
Stacy?

00:58:17.510 --> 00:58:29.369
Settle? Aye. Sanders? No. Sellers? Yes. Klemm? Yes. Monroe? Sorry. Yes. Let me see if I have

00:58:29.369 --> 00:58:38.119
enough here. One, two, three, four, five yeses. The motion passes. Five to three. Okay. Let's

00:58:38.119 --> 00:58:42.980
move on to item number eight, which is the second reading of ordinance 2024-55. Could

00:58:42.980 --> 00:58:48.039
you please read this? Ordinance approving revised lease with Illinois Central Railroad, also

00:58:48.039 --> 00:58:52.400
and also known as CN Railroad for Brick Street Water Treatment Plant.

00:58:52.400 --> 00:58:53.400
Manager Boyer.

00:58:53.400 --> 00:58:54.400
Thank you, Your Honor.

00:58:54.400 --> 00:59:00.720
Just following up, part of the old Brick Street Plant that was built around 1870 is encroaching

00:59:00.720 --> 00:59:03.599
on the CN rail yard.

00:59:03.599 --> 00:59:09.639
For years, we've paid a modest amount of rent just to ensure that they've asked for a modest

00:59:09.639 --> 00:59:11.320
amount of rent.

00:59:11.320 --> 00:59:16.159
So the city would like to renew that again this year, obviously, but they have raised

00:59:16.159 --> 00:59:24.079
is it's 2000 so staff is requesting this council approve the payment of the $2,000

00:59:24.079 --> 00:59:35.670
rent for CN. Is there any discussion on this second reading? So based on Alderman

00:59:35.670 --> 00:59:42.190
Sanders request communications director went out and was able to get a drone

00:59:42.190 --> 00:59:46.590
photo of the area this is the area in question on the backside of the existing

00:59:46.590 --> 00:59:47.829
Water Plant.

00:59:47.829 --> 00:59:50.029
As you can see, the structure is.

00:59:50.029 --> 00:59:51.559
can see the structure is built right on top of the railroad

00:59:51.559 --> 00:59:52.559
abedment.

00:59:52.559 --> 00:59:54.679
Again, this was four years ago when coal

00:59:54.679 --> 00:59:57.000
was delivered to the buildings.

00:59:57.000 --> 00:59:59.119
I really don't think we have much of a choice

00:59:59.119 --> 01:00:02.679
but to approve this until we can have the water plant removed,

01:00:02.679 --> 01:00:06.519
which is hopeful to have done within the next five years.

01:00:06.519 --> 01:00:12.619
And we've let CN know that we're working towards that goal.

01:00:12.619 --> 01:00:17.139
OK.

01:00:17.139 --> 01:00:18.219
Superimposing.

01:00:18.219 --> 01:00:22.400
Is there any further discussion?

01:00:22.400 --> 01:00:23.760
Seeing none, Madam Clerk, would you

01:00:23.760 --> 01:00:55.550
please take the roll. Simmons? Aye. Parker? Aye. Stacy? Aye. Shadle? Aye. Sanders? Aye. Sellers? Aye. Klemm? Aye. And Monroe? Aye. The motion passes 8 to 0. Actually it's the ordinance that passes 8 to 0. Item number 9 is the first reading of ordinance 2024-56. Could you please read this? Ordinance approving special use permit for LaGuerra. Oh I missed part of the address. 1802

01:00:55.550 --> 01:01:01.150
E. Shawnee. Thank you, Director Duckman. Thank you, Madam Mayor. Staff received a special use

01:01:01.150 --> 01:01:05.469
application from LaGuerra Freeport LLC for a restaurant selling alcohol beverages

01:01:06.909 --> 01:01:14.909
for outdoor service at their location at 1802 E. Shawnee. And on October 3rd, the Zoning Board

01:01:14.909 --> 01:01:21.150
of Appeals recommended for approval by a vote of four to zero with zero abstentions. The Planning

01:01:21.150 --> 01:01:51.150
The Planning Commission met on October 10th, 2024, and they recommended approval by a vote of 5 to 0 with 0 abstentions, and there was some discussion at the Zoning Board of Appeals meeting between Angelina Dominguez, the proprietor of the establishment, and some members of the public, and normally the after hours outside would be 11 o'clock, but they agreed to, the owner agreed after talking with some of the neighbors that they would

01:01:51.150 --> 01:01:55.389
Close our operations at 10 o'clock so that's one of the conditions that was imposed through that

01:01:56.909 --> 01:02:01.550
so that being said though staff in line with the zoning board of appeals and planning commission is

01:02:01.550 --> 01:02:08.510
recommending approval of this or is excuse me there's two recommendations here we are recommending

01:02:08.510 --> 01:02:15.230
approval but the property the proprietor is also recommend has asked for a suspension of the rules

01:02:15.230 --> 01:02:20.510
they have a large party i'm sure you've seen the advertising signs November 2nd so they're looking

01:02:20.510 --> 01:02:24.429
to help with their business move this along with the suspension of the rules.

01:02:24.429 --> 01:02:28.750
So staff is making that recommendation as well as approval.

01:02:28.750 --> 01:02:36.030
Okay, so before discussion I need a motion to move this ordinance to the second reading.

01:02:36.030 --> 01:02:36.510
So moved.

01:02:37.710 --> 01:02:38.349
Is there a second?

01:02:39.070 --> 01:02:39.389
Second.

01:02:40.989 --> 01:02:44.989
We have a motion made by Alderman Shadle, seconded by Alderman Rowe to move this ordinance

01:02:44.989 --> 01:02:46.590
forward. Is there discussion on the ordinance?

01:02:47.630 --> 01:02:47.949
Yes.

01:02:50.510 --> 01:02:57.150
is the closing at 10 p.m. is that going to be written into yes that's what we're

01:02:57.150 --> 01:03:02.449
proposing we propose that and normally other communities do conditional use

01:03:02.449 --> 01:03:07.349
permits as part of their special use permits that's not a typical not

01:03:07.349 --> 01:03:11.789
typically done but in this situation based on what came from the Zoning Board

01:03:11.789 --> 01:03:16.869
of Appeals discussions with the public staff is recommending that that's just

01:03:16.869 --> 01:03:17.869
Huffines.

01:03:17.869 --> 01:03:24.550
That's one of our recommendations as part of this.

01:03:24.550 --> 01:03:31.269
The owner approached me whether a special permit was required for this and it's not

01:03:31.269 --> 01:03:35.070
because it's on private property, it's not on city property.

01:03:35.070 --> 01:03:41.590
Will that 10 o'clock closing be for any outdoor event or anytime their outdoor patio area

01:03:41.590 --> 01:03:42.590
is in use?

01:03:42.590 --> 01:03:45.389
That's in conjunction with this special use permit.

01:03:45.389 --> 01:03:48.750
It's a condition based on this serving of outdoor alcohol.

01:03:48.750 --> 01:03:50.349
So it's not just that one event?

01:03:50.349 --> 01:03:53.750
No, it's for this, and for their special use

01:03:53.750 --> 01:03:57.469
permit is for outdoor, you know, serving alcohol outdoors,

01:03:57.469 --> 01:03:59.510
and that's part of all of it, yes.

01:03:59.510 --> 01:04:00.829
OK, good to know, thank you.

01:04:00.829 --> 01:04:01.329
Yes.

01:04:05.230 --> 01:04:06.389
Alderman Simmons?

01:04:06.389 --> 01:04:11.869
So is that the same for the bars downtown

01:04:11.869 --> 01:04:14.070
that have outdoor seating?

01:04:14.070 --> 01:04:14.750
It's different.

01:04:14.750 --> 01:04:17.789
They have an actual, there's a parklet,

01:04:17.789 --> 01:04:21.230
there's a parklet application and I get them mixed up but there's an actual

01:04:21.230 --> 01:04:24.590
parklet application they can do so this is a little bit different it's on their

01:04:24.590 --> 01:04:28.909
property this is a I put up a third property here you can see they have a

01:04:28.909 --> 01:04:38.739
large property and obviously it's different than downtown location so I

01:04:38.739 --> 01:04:45.619
have a follow-up question so if they were to I'm I'm familiar with it can you

01:04:45.619 --> 01:05:00.619
Sorry, so I'm familiar with the restaurant. So if they were to fill out the same permit that the other restaurants downtown that have the same sort of setup have, would they be allowed to sometimes stay open later?

01:05:00.619 --> 01:05:14.619
Well, it's different. What you got going on here is they don't even have a sidewalk here, so they wouldn't even be able to put something in the right of way here, like a set of tables and picnic benches.

01:05:14.619 --> 01:05:20.420
Benches. They, and I do want to be clear, the property, the neighbors came in and had

01:05:20.420 --> 01:05:25.099
a discussion at the Zoning Board of Appeals and the proprietor, Ms. Dominguez, she said

01:05:25.099 --> 01:05:31.260
that she would close at 10 o'clock. So that's per her suggestion at the, she said that.

01:05:31.260 --> 01:05:35.300
It wasn't staff imposing it. She said that she would close. Staff actually said to be

01:05:35.300 --> 01:05:39.099
in line with our regular ordinances and do 11. She, after talking with the public, she

01:05:39.099 --> 01:06:09.099
Alderperson, Stacy Alderperson, Stacy

01:06:09.099 --> 01:06:11.900
and we're going to have their alcohol served.

01:06:11.900 --> 01:06:16.840
But what I'm being told is it's going to be in this area here.

01:06:16.840 --> 01:06:22.079
That's the grass area like kind of behind the front

01:06:22.079 --> 01:06:23.179
of the building.

01:06:23.179 --> 01:06:23.679
Correct.

01:06:23.679 --> 01:06:25.659
That's what I'm being told.

01:06:25.659 --> 01:06:28.179
Yeah, I got pretty stable.

01:06:28.179 --> 01:06:30.019
I actually has been, it's not that I

01:06:30.019 --> 01:06:32.220
was told it's going to be in this parking area here.

01:06:32.220 --> 01:06:33.800
So I apologize, all the person, Stacey.

01:06:33.800 --> 01:06:35.820
But it's going to be in this parking area in here.

01:06:35.820 --> 01:06:38.579
Where is the front door?

01:06:38.579 --> 01:06:39.579
and John.

01:06:39.579 --> 01:06:42.739
I'm sorry, it's over in here.

01:06:42.739 --> 01:06:44.619
Sorry, I'm a little, yeah.

01:06:44.619 --> 01:06:52.130
Because there used to be seating on the opposite side of what you're saying.

01:06:52.130 --> 01:06:55.929
That's what, again, and I want to be clear, I don't want to get too far in the weeds on

01:06:55.929 --> 01:07:00.730
this because this is not part of, basically it's a blanket approval for them to have an

01:07:00.730 --> 01:07:03.150
outdoor, you know, to serve out well.

01:07:03.150 --> 01:07:06.449
So I don't want to get too far in the weeds on that, you know, because you're not saying,

01:07:06.449 --> 01:07:10.449
Well, I approve it here or approve it there. It's a blanket approval.

01:07:10.449 --> 01:07:15.449
And what if they didn't close at 10? Would that be a violation?

01:07:15.449 --> 01:07:21.449
It would, and essentially what would happen is, right, the neighbors were here, and they said,

01:07:21.449 --> 01:07:27.449
Hey, you agreed to close at 10, and so if they start having parties at 11 or midnight,

01:07:27.449 --> 01:07:31.449
I can guarantee you the neighbors who talk to them, they're going to be the ones calling,

01:07:31.449 --> 01:07:36.010
Sayne, there's a noise violation and then that would be, you know, that would be up to the

01:07:37.369 --> 01:07:42.570
the officers who went on site to assess the situation and, you know, proceed accordingly

01:07:42.570 --> 01:07:57.829
with noise violations. Alderman Sanders? Also, would there be any safety rails or safety

01:07:57.829 --> 01:08:03.510
protection or? That's not part of this. This is a zoning, this is a simple zoning approval that

01:08:03.510 --> 01:08:06.750
, celebrate the 50th Anniversary to celebrate the

01:08:06.750 --> 01:08:07.949
15th Anniversary.

01:08:07.949 --> 01:08:09.529
And now, I'm going to address the

01:08:09.529 --> 01:08:12.769
property that basically says, can they serve alcohol outside?

01:08:12.769 --> 01:08:13.869
That's not part of this.

01:08:13.869 --> 01:08:17.329
Yeah, well I'm thinking about the fact that that property is

01:08:17.329 --> 01:08:18.970
exposed to the public at any given time.

01:08:18.970 --> 01:08:19.869
Is there any safety guardrails?

01:08:19.869 --> 01:08:22.869
Sure.

01:08:22.869 --> 01:08:24.010
No, I will say if your concern is safety, I mean you can vote on

01:08:24.010 --> 01:08:26.010
this however you see fit.

01:08:26.010 --> 01:08:29.289
I just know that when it comes to the safety of the property,

01:08:29.289 --> 01:08:42.289
You can vote on this however you see fit. I just know that when it comes to what they can do on their property and zoning wise, we don't take into effect the guardrails and things of that nature.

01:08:42.289 --> 01:08:50.289
So I don't want to mislead you down a path that was part of this zoning process.

01:08:50.289 --> 01:08:59.569
Well, my thing is we need to reassess that whole idea of allowing that particular kind

01:08:59.569 --> 01:09:05.649
of zoning take place when we're serving alcohol and whatever is going on like that without

01:09:05.649 --> 01:09:10.289
any fencing or guardrails or whatever the case may be.

01:09:10.289 --> 01:09:19.850
I think it will become a hazardous to the adjacent community, but that's my concern.

01:09:19.850 --> 01:09:26.550
that is something that I can foresee that might happen in that particular part of the area.

01:09:26.550 --> 01:09:31.029
So you know I'm looking at the whole spectrum of it.

01:09:31.029 --> 01:09:32.989
Madam Clerk would you want to chime in to?

01:09:32.989 --> 01:09:33.989
Sure.

01:09:33.989 --> 01:09:40.130
The liquor sales portion is overseen by the Liquor Commission and they also have an outdoor

01:09:40.130 --> 01:09:47.890
application submitted to the Liquor Commission and that they they provided all of that.

01:09:47.890 --> 01:09:52.420
We provided all of that on the drawing and the Liquor Commission approved that contingent

01:09:52.420 --> 01:09:58.220
upon whether council believes that this is an appropriate use of outdoor liquor at this

01:09:58.220 --> 01:09:59.220
location.

01:09:59.220 --> 01:10:06.039
Well, all of the things that I just said factors into that equation and the fact that the matter

01:10:06.039 --> 01:10:15.760
is we don't have a lot of detail information in regards to any of that because we're exposing

01:10:15.760 --> 01:10:16.760
Huffines.

01:10:16.760 --> 01:10:21.000
So, I think that that property to the general public and without any safety guardrails or

01:10:21.000 --> 01:10:27.239
anything of that nature that the community or the neighborhood or whatever that's out

01:10:27.239 --> 01:10:32.119
there is subjected to.

01:10:32.119 --> 01:10:41.680
They could be intruded upon, unwelcome visitors and things like that to that community area.

01:10:41.680 --> 01:10:47.680
So my thing is, have we taken a look at that whole concept?

01:10:47.680 --> 01:10:53.680
Yes. So when it comes to zoning and land use, and this would be land use in this situation here,

01:10:53.680 --> 01:10:59.680
in order to serve alcohol outside, your first step is you have to get the zoning for it.

01:10:59.680 --> 01:11:04.680
In this situation, in the City of Freeport, you have to have a special use permit.

01:11:04.680 --> 01:11:10.680
And the special use permit looks at and also provides the members of the public an opportunity to come and speak.

01:12:10.680 --> 01:12:17.680
Knapp, and James, and I think that was the recommendation of the zoning board and planning commission.

01:12:17.680 --> 01:12:19.680
Okay. Madam Mayor.

01:12:19.680 --> 01:12:39.680
Norman Klemm. Madam Mayor. Yes. Just keep in mind that I was a building and grounds person at that particular address for the VFW for a number of years, and I know special uses don't go on with the sales, but there had been a special use for outside dining and

01:12:39.680 --> 01:12:40.680
Huffines.

01:12:40.680 --> 01:12:41.680
Thank you.

01:12:41.680 --> 01:12:42.680
Thank you.

01:12:42.680 --> 01:12:43.680
Thank you.

01:12:43.680 --> 01:12:44.680
Thank you.

01:12:44.680 --> 01:12:45.680
Thank you.

01:12:45.680 --> 01:12:52.159
so this is the first time that anybody's looked at it and if she there is some

01:12:52.159 --> 01:12:57.159
housing right there and if the people came and objected and said that they

01:12:57.159 --> 01:13:00.720
believed it should be shut down early and that agreed I believe it to be a good

01:13:00.720 --> 01:13:15.020
decision I agree so we have the motion to move forward to a second reading

01:13:15.020 --> 01:13:18.979
however it has been asked by the owners of the property if we could suspend the

01:13:18.979 --> 01:13:19.979
Settlers.

01:13:19.979 --> 01:13:28.699
So they can actually do this for their next event which is prior to the next council meeting.

01:13:28.699 --> 01:13:30.619
Is there a motion to suspend the rules?

01:13:30.619 --> 01:13:31.619
Second.

01:13:31.619 --> 01:13:32.619
Everybody.

01:13:32.619 --> 01:13:40.659
We have a motion made by Alderman Sellers, seconded by Alderman Monroe to suspend the

01:13:40.659 --> 01:13:41.659
rules.

01:13:41.659 --> 01:13:44.260
Suspension of the rules is non-debatable and must pass by two-thirds majority.

01:13:44.260 --> 01:13:47.739
Madam Clerk, could you please take the roll on the suspension only?

01:13:47.739 --> 01:13:48.739
Simmons?

01:13:48.739 --> 01:13:57.300
Parker, aye, Stacy, aye, Shadle, aye, Sanders, Sellers, aye, Klemm, aye, and Monroe, aye.

01:13:57.300 --> 01:13:59.460
The suspension pass is eight to zero.

01:13:59.460 --> 01:14:04.460
Okay, so now before you is the final passage to be able to get this ordinance put into

01:14:04.460 --> 01:14:05.460
place.

01:14:05.460 --> 01:14:06.460
Is there any further discussion?

01:14:06.460 --> 01:14:10.100
Madam Clerk, please take the roll on the passage.

01:14:10.100 --> 01:14:18.659
Simmons, aye, Parker, aye, Stacy, aye, Shadle, aye, Sanders, aye, Sellers, aye, Suttman,

01:14:18.659 --> 01:14:26.600
Klemm? Aye. And Monroe? Aye. And the ordinance passes 8 to 0. Item number 10 is the first

01:14:26.600 --> 01:14:32.140
reading of Ordinance 2024-57. Could you please read this? Ordinance amending boundaries of

01:14:32.140 --> 01:14:37.819
the Joint Northwest Illinois Certified Enterprise Zone for the operation of an Enterprise Zone

01:14:37.819 --> 01:14:43.859
to add Pearl City Elevator fueling station near US Route 20 and Wagner Road. Thank you.

01:14:43.859 --> 01:14:48.420
Manager Boyer? Thank you, Your Honor. Just a quick summary. Enterprise Zone is a zone

01:14:48.420 --> 01:14:56.180
set up to help spur economic activity and support business development. The ordinance 2024-57

01:14:56.180 --> 01:15:01.939
proposes an expansion of the joint northwestern Illinois enterprise zone involving collaboration

01:15:01.939 --> 01:15:07.859
between multiple jurisdictions. That is the city of Freeport, Stevenson County, Joe Davis County,

01:15:08.739 --> 01:15:15.140
city of East Dubuque, the villages of Hanover and Alena. This amendment aims to incorporate an

01:15:15.140 --> 01:15:20.899
additional 8.57 acres of contiguous land into the existing enterprise zone

01:15:20.899 --> 01:15:25.699
pending approval from the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity or DECO

01:15:25.699 --> 01:15:31.140
and relevant local governing bodies. The expansion increases the zone size from

01:15:31.140 --> 01:15:40.699
13.5017 square miles to 13.515 square miles. Project the

01:15:40.699 --> 01:15:48.140
The Pearl City Elevator Inc. is acquiring the property at 9432 West Wagner Road to build

01:15:48.140 --> 01:15:51.140
a fueling station and convenience store.

01:15:51.140 --> 01:15:58.079
Project cost estimates at $4.5 million with a net savings to the enterprise zone incentives.

01:15:58.079 --> 01:16:04.420
Over 40 years, the project is expected to generate approximately $5.6 million in property

01:16:04.420 --> 01:16:05.420
taxes.

01:16:05.420 --> 01:16:11.680
The fuel station is positioned to attract tourism and business traffic along Route 20.

01:16:11.680 --> 01:16:18.340
A job creation includes the project will have eight full-time jobs with an estimated annual

01:16:18.340 --> 01:16:26.739
payroll of $400,000 a year, seven part-time jobs with a payroll of $240,000 a year.

01:16:26.739 --> 01:16:31.739
Construction will generate 15 temporary jobs contributing $200,000 in payroll to the local

01:16:31.739 --> 01:16:36.659
and the fueling station will support regional agriculture through the use of ethanol and

01:16:36.659 --> 01:16:41.779
corn oil products at Atkins Energy, sourced from local farmers.

01:16:41.779 --> 01:16:48.300
The enterprise zone expansion requirements, all enterprise zone benefits will apply to

01:16:48.300 --> 01:16:54.460
the expanded area except for properties within a TIF district where property tax abatements

01:16:54.460 --> 01:16:56.420
are excluded.

01:16:56.420 --> 01:17:03.380
of by DECO is required for the fine to finalize the expansion and if passed the ordinance will

01:17:03.380 --> 01:17:09.300
be submitted to Gary Quinn's own administrator for inclusion in the DECO application this ordinance

01:17:09.300 --> 01:17:15.220
will become effective immediately upon passage of the publication and staff request council approve

01:17:15.220 --> 01:17:24.180
ordinance uh two zero uh 2024 57 it is in alignment with our strategic plan uh strong public private

01:17:24.180 --> 01:17:25.180
Settlers.

01:17:25.180 --> 01:17:29.739
The public and private partnerships are aligned to create clear value for the citizens of

01:17:29.739 --> 01:17:32.340
Freeport and its partners.

01:17:32.340 --> 01:17:36.640
We work closely with local, regional, statewide economic development partners by aligning

01:17:36.640 --> 01:17:39.659
our work with shared resources.

01:17:39.659 --> 01:17:41.979
Is there a motion to move this forward?

01:17:41.979 --> 01:17:42.979
So move.

01:17:42.979 --> 01:17:43.979
Second.

01:17:43.979 --> 01:17:48.300
We have a motion made by Alderman Sellers, seconded by Alderman Shadle.

01:17:48.300 --> 01:17:49.300
Discussion on the ordinance.

01:17:49.300 --> 01:17:51.140
Alderman Stacey.

01:17:51.140 --> 01:17:58.510
Can you tell me how do this project help us?

01:17:58.510 --> 01:18:03.430
This project is in support of our other communities that are in the Enterprise Zone.

01:18:03.430 --> 01:18:10.010
As you can see here up on the screen, originally when the Enterprise Zone was set up, the property

01:18:10.010 --> 01:18:15.710
owners of the yellow striped areas were not wanting to be part of the Enterprise Zone.

01:18:15.710 --> 01:18:20.829
They've apparently been acquired by new owners who want to set up the truck stop and they're

01:18:20.829 --> 01:18:24.309
requesting those two parcels be included with the enterprise zone.

01:18:24.309 --> 01:18:31.069
So it benefits us by supporting our local partners in economic development and future

01:18:31.069 --> 01:18:32.069
expansions.

01:18:32.069 --> 01:18:36.229
How do this project hurt us?

01:18:36.229 --> 01:18:39.149
I'm not aware of how it hurts us.

01:18:39.149 --> 01:18:42.380
Okay.

01:18:42.380 --> 01:18:48.840
Do we make money off of the gas tax revenue?

01:18:48.840 --> 01:18:49.840
Yes.

01:18:49.840 --> 01:18:50.840
Yeah.

01:18:50.840 --> 01:18:59.119
We're we told that that money would get us qualified grants? I'm sorry just to

01:18:59.119 --> 01:19:09.279
clarify we make 2% gas tax on our fueling stations within city limits. Isn't

01:19:09.279 --> 01:19:16.159
this money currently paying for our street repairs? No, this is Pearl City.

01:19:16.159 --> 01:19:29.789
Okay. So what is it gonna cost us to support that project? Nothing. But we're

01:19:29.789 --> 01:19:38.109
allowing, we're supporting something being built. Attorney Zito knows where

01:19:38.109 --> 01:19:43.930
you're going with this, he'll answer it. I think I do. So this... Can we have the

01:19:43.930 --> 01:19:45.649
Light on so I can see you.

01:19:45.649 --> 01:19:54.000
So the enterprise zone, when it was originally created, it was done through an intergovernmental

01:19:54.000 --> 01:19:59.079
agreement with multiple municipalities, right, because the enterprise zone is bigger than

01:19:59.079 --> 01:20:00.079
just Freeport.

01:20:00.079 --> 01:20:04.199
It extends into, you know, Lena, Pearl City, whatever, but it was an agreement that was

01:20:04.199 --> 01:20:08.800
done by all those communities that set the boundary, right, that extends bigger than

01:20:08.800 --> 01:20:10.159
just Freeport.

01:20:10.159 --> 01:20:14.100
So if it ever wants to be changed, because there are, let's just hypothetically say

01:20:14.100 --> 01:20:18.439
there were five entities that were a party to that agreement that created the enterprise

01:20:18.439 --> 01:20:24.119
zone, if we ever want to change it, all five communities have to agree to change it.

01:20:24.119 --> 01:20:34.159
So now one of those communities, Pearl City, has asked because they have a proposed development

01:20:34.159 --> 01:20:41.359
that the developer is asking, hey, can I be included in the enterprise zone?

01:20:41.359 --> 01:20:45.880
And so Lena is now saying, OK, we think this will be a benefit.

01:20:45.880 --> 01:20:51.079
We were asking for everyone to agree, all the other communities to agree to expand the

01:20:51.079 --> 01:20:55.439
enterprise zone boundaries to include this additional property here.

01:20:55.439 --> 01:20:57.199
Does it hurt us?

01:20:57.199 --> 01:20:58.199
Probably not.

01:20:58.199 --> 01:21:00.119
Does it benefit us?

01:21:00.119 --> 01:21:05.659
not other than you know maybe general rising tide raises all ships but I think where the

01:21:05.659 --> 01:21:10.680
benefit comes in is or what we're doing it and being a partner with our surrounding communities

01:21:10.680 --> 01:21:16.199
is there may be a day one day where we are going to ask because there's a development

01:21:16.199 --> 01:21:20.220
in Freeport that is not within the enterprise zone and we're going to ask hey guys can

01:21:20.220 --> 01:21:23.760
we add this into the enterprise zone this property that's in Freeport and we're going

01:21:23.760 --> 01:21:29.520
to look to our partners and we're going to need their blessing to add it in so that's

01:21:29.520 --> 01:21:30.520
and Stacey.

01:21:30.520 --> 01:21:31.520
That's kind of probably the bigger picture.

01:21:31.520 --> 01:21:34.159
I don't know if that answers your question, because I think you're kind of doing a pro

01:21:34.159 --> 01:21:35.159
and con.

01:21:35.159 --> 01:21:37.880
There's really not, it's not really that.

01:21:37.880 --> 01:21:41.800
It's really about they need all five of us to agree to amend the boundary.

01:21:41.800 --> 01:21:42.800
So that's why they're asking.

01:21:42.800 --> 01:21:43.800
Director Duckman?

01:21:43.800 --> 01:21:44.800
Yes.

01:21:44.800 --> 01:21:48.039
I also want to add Alder first and Stacy, we went through this for the city of Freeport

01:21:48.039 --> 01:21:54.159
with the metals mall project, we had to redo our boundary to incorporate that.

01:21:54.159 --> 01:21:58.720
And so we needed the approval of Lena in that process that was 2022.

01:21:58.720 --> 01:22:01.279
So you're dealing with regional governance, correct?

01:22:01.279 --> 01:22:03.960
So the argument there is people come together,

01:22:03.960 --> 01:22:05.359
you're working together.

01:22:05.359 --> 01:22:08.319
But you're taking advantage of, example, sales tax abatement

01:22:08.319 --> 01:22:10.119
for construction materials.

01:22:10.119 --> 01:22:13.199
And in this situation, you have a project

01:22:13.199 --> 01:22:15.960
that just happens to be surrounded by enterprise zone.

01:22:15.960 --> 01:22:18.800
And since it's regional governance,

01:22:18.800 --> 01:22:21.319
it's local municipalities working together

01:22:21.319 --> 01:22:24.560
to have a benefit in development,

01:22:24.560 --> 01:22:27.760
they need to work together to say, does this make sense?

01:22:27.760 --> 01:22:29.920
and that's what's being voted on here.

01:22:29.920 --> 01:22:33.539
But to Attorney Zito's point, we were in that situation

01:22:33.539 --> 01:22:36.039
a few years ago with the Meadows Mall development

01:22:36.039 --> 01:22:38.159
and adding, we had to do the similar project

01:22:38.159 --> 01:22:42.880
where we had to redo that legal description.

01:22:42.880 --> 01:22:45.199
I wrote the legal description for the Meadows Mall project

01:22:45.199 --> 01:22:47.960
so I remember fondly adding that boundary

01:22:47.960 --> 01:22:49.560
to the enterprise zone.

01:22:49.560 --> 01:22:52.159
So it is a situation where we do,

01:22:52.159 --> 01:22:54.619
we are working with other communities in this situation.

01:22:54.619 --> 01:22:58.819
We aren't exactly benefiting directly here,

01:22:58.819 --> 01:23:02.500
but we've relied on each other in similar situations.

01:23:02.500 --> 01:23:04.060
Andrea, is there something in addition

01:23:04.060 --> 01:23:14.109
that you have to add to that?

01:23:14.109 --> 01:23:15.710
So the only thing I will add, and I

01:23:15.710 --> 01:23:17.350
think that we talk about benefit,

01:23:17.350 --> 01:23:19.789
thank you for Director Duckman, Manager Boyer.

01:23:19.789 --> 01:23:22.470
It was a great explanation as to what the enterprise zone is

01:23:22.470 --> 01:23:25.109
and the process that we went through two years ago

01:23:25.109 --> 01:23:26.510
to add the Meadows Mall.

01:23:26.510 --> 01:23:30.109
That facilitated the redevelopment there.

01:23:30.109 --> 01:23:32.590
Pearl City Elevator is a large employer.

01:23:32.590 --> 01:23:35.670
Many of their employees live in Freeport.

01:23:35.670 --> 01:23:38.909
Also, Pearl City Elevator takes grain from area farmers.

01:23:38.909 --> 01:23:41.829
That grain is then often sold to Atkins Energy,

01:23:41.829 --> 01:23:43.069
which produces ethanol,

01:23:43.069 --> 01:23:45.090
which then will be sold at the gas station

01:23:45.090 --> 01:23:46.670
that will be nearby.

01:23:46.670 --> 01:23:48.890
So when you think about the idea that, yes,

01:23:48.890 --> 01:23:51.430
it probably will affect some Freeport City residents

01:23:51.430 --> 01:23:54.670
because they work, they are farmers themselves,

01:23:54.670 --> 01:23:56.470
or they work for Pearl City Elevator,

01:23:56.470 --> 01:23:58.310
they will benefit by having their company

01:23:58.310 --> 01:24:00.310
and

01:24:01.310 --> 01:24:03.310
Mr.

01:24:04.310 --> 01:24:06.310
Mayor, I want to ask you about the

01:24:07.310 --> 01:24:09.310
fact that you have a business portfolio,

01:24:10.310 --> 01:24:12.310
and you have the ability to expand and diversify your business

01:24:13.310 --> 01:24:16.310
portfolio. When you think about it that way, it is a benefit to

01:24:17.310 --> 01:24:19.310
people of Freeport. It's not going to cost the city of Freeport

01:24:20.310 --> 01:24:24.310
anything. I think to attorney Zito's point, it is a regional

01:24:24.310 --> 01:24:55.779
Monroe. Did you have your hand up? I do, Madam Mayor. I'm gonna ask a question. Who owns the land? Because right now I'm looking at it. Part of the land is owned by Pearl City Elevator Incorporated. The other land is owned by Old Mill LLC. Do we know who the people are that are involved in those zones? Andrea? The Old Mill LLC, that parcel was purchased by Pearl City Elevator. Both parcels are now owned by Pearl City Elevator. Okay. Follow-up?

01:24:55.779 --> 01:24:56.420
Go ahead.

01:24:56.420 --> 01:24:57.619
Awesome.

01:24:57.619 --> 01:25:01.180
So the proposal is to put in a large truck stop.

01:25:01.180 --> 01:25:02.779
Is that what I'm understanding?

01:25:02.779 --> 01:25:05.659
It's going to be a convenience store and truck stop, yes.

01:25:05.659 --> 01:25:06.899
Fueling station.

01:25:06.899 --> 01:25:07.859
Follow up.

01:25:07.859 --> 01:25:09.319
So we've been here in Freeport trying

01:25:09.319 --> 01:25:14.060
to get that same type of opportunity built here.

01:25:14.060 --> 01:25:16.340
It does seem a little bit perplexing

01:25:16.340 --> 01:25:18.500
that we would lose nothing.

01:25:18.500 --> 01:25:20.699
I would be willing to bet that we would probably

01:25:20.699 --> 01:25:21.699
Fowler.

01:25:21.699 --> 01:25:28.340
We're going to lose gas tax revenue as trucks and vehicles bypassing Freeport, which the

01:25:28.340 --> 01:25:33.739
bypass and its name has done to us for many years.

01:25:33.739 --> 01:25:40.260
So there is a, I would put almost a net negative on the opportunity that's going into the Lena

01:25:40.260 --> 01:25:41.260
area.

01:25:41.260 --> 01:25:46.699
Do we need a truck stop west of the Rockford area, west of Winnebago corners?

01:25:46.699 --> 01:25:47.960
Absolutely.

01:25:47.960 --> 01:25:49.539
Where do we put it?

01:25:49.539 --> 01:25:52.779
That's been the question that's been asked for a lot of years. I know that there's been

01:25:52.779 --> 01:26:00.500
talk off Springfield Road. I know there's been talk on 26. There's been discussions

01:26:00.500 --> 01:26:09.920
even at the west connection of the Business 20 bypass area. And, you know, my concern,

01:26:09.920 --> 01:26:14.460
and I think a lot of people's concern in here, and I know they're dancing around the subject,

01:26:14.460 --> 01:26:15.460
Johnson.

01:26:15.460 --> 01:26:21.699
That will without question mean a significant amount of traffic will bypass Freeport and

01:26:21.699 --> 01:26:26.659
not get gas because really the only place to get gas after you pass Winnebago corners

01:26:26.659 --> 01:26:28.619
is Stockton.

01:26:28.619 --> 01:26:36.100
And so people are kind of forced to go into the towns and get fuel, get food, get supplies,

01:26:36.100 --> 01:26:39.659
things like that as they drive west to Dubuque or wherever they may be going.

01:26:39.659 --> 01:26:41.979
So that is a concern.

01:26:41.979 --> 01:26:45.300
You did make a lot of good positives, but I think you're not making enough light of

01:26:45.300 --> 01:26:50.800
the negatives that come along with that.

01:26:50.800 --> 01:26:54.720
There is potential opportunity that's lost, right, opportunity cost.

01:26:54.720 --> 01:27:00.439
But right now, Pearl City Elevator, based on the proximity they have to their existing

01:27:00.439 --> 01:27:03.779
facility, this is why they chose the location that they did.

01:27:03.779 --> 01:27:08.359
And I can't tell you today that if you said no and you voted this down, then that means

01:27:08.359 --> 01:27:12.399
in six months you're going to get a truck stop developed off of the bypass.

01:27:12.399 --> 01:27:17.399
so I think that we need to look at the greater good,

01:27:19.199 --> 01:27:20.819
working with our regional partners.

01:27:20.819 --> 01:27:23.039
It is likely within the next year

01:27:23.039 --> 01:27:26.079
that I will be in front of you again asking for you

01:27:26.079 --> 01:27:28.560
to approve an enterprise zone boundary expansion

01:27:28.560 --> 01:27:31.960
to facilitate other development within the city of Freeport.

01:27:31.960 --> 01:27:33.760
I'm going to have to go to our government partners

01:27:33.760 --> 01:27:35.819
asking them to do the same

01:27:35.819 --> 01:27:38.840
and they might ask the same thing of me.

01:27:38.840 --> 01:27:40.760
Why would I wanna agree to do this?

01:27:40.760 --> 01:27:43.199
because it might hurt our municipality.

01:27:43.199 --> 01:27:46.640
I think when we need to consider the idea that yes,

01:27:46.640 --> 01:27:48.000
this is the city of Freeport,

01:27:48.000 --> 01:27:50.960
but there are many people who don't work here,

01:27:50.960 --> 01:27:52.159
that they live here,

01:27:52.159 --> 01:27:55.520
that there are boundaries that we cross every single day

01:27:55.520 --> 01:27:57.239
and that we need to think about this

01:27:57.239 --> 01:27:59.220
in terms of the regional good as well.

01:28:00.579 --> 01:28:01.859
Alderman Sellers.

01:28:01.859 --> 01:28:05.479
Yes, I'd like to, with the job creation that you read,

01:28:06.739 --> 01:28:10.199
city manager, the eight full-time jobs

01:28:10.199 --> 01:28:15.199
and the 15 temporary jobs, is that all for,

01:28:16.279 --> 01:28:20.479
is it Lano or Freeport or who, are these all new jobs

01:28:20.479 --> 01:28:21.319
or are they?

01:28:22.579 --> 01:28:24.279
I'm happy to answer that question unless you'd like to.

01:28:24.279 --> 01:28:25.119
Go right ahead.

01:28:26.640 --> 01:28:28.800
They referred to construction jobs

01:28:28.800 --> 01:28:31.199
and those would be they're looking to use area contractors.

01:28:31.199 --> 01:28:32.920
So I would assume some would be Lina,

01:28:32.920 --> 01:28:34.399
Stevenson County, Freeport.

01:28:34.399 --> 01:28:35.800
I'm sure they'll draw from Freeport

01:28:35.800 --> 01:28:38.760
as there's just more contractors coming from Freeport.

01:28:38.760 --> 01:28:43.199
In terms of the full-time and part-time positions, I think it was eight and

01:28:43.199 --> 01:28:48.479
seven. It depends on who applies for the position, right? It could be anyone from

01:28:48.479 --> 01:28:51.640
Stevenson County, it could be a Lena resident, it could be a Freeport resident.

01:28:51.640 --> 01:28:55.680
I'm sure they will not have that barrier on that application.

01:28:55.680 --> 01:29:04.279
And then I'd like to, maybe if we could get the answer for Mr. Cook

01:29:04.279 --> 01:29:13.940
Cooke with without proper direction and if you could clear that up so that we can understand

01:29:13.940 --> 01:29:14.940
his question.

01:29:14.940 --> 01:29:22.119
Boyer, he's the city manager.

01:29:22.119 --> 01:29:29.000
So my understanding of the items that Attorney Cooke referenced here, he was looking for

01:29:29.000 --> 01:29:33.760
just some citations to some previous ordinances that, you know, created the original enterprise

01:29:33.760 --> 01:29:40.880
Soto, and so on. So the reference ordinance 123 back from 2000 whatever there. Again,

01:29:40.880 --> 01:29:44.000
I don't think this ordinance as written necessarily right now is the fifth.

01:29:44.000 --> 01:29:48.640
Do I think that his points that he brings up could add some clarity, some additional

01:29:48.640 --> 01:29:50.399
information, make it more robust?

01:29:50.399 --> 01:29:51.399
Sure.

01:29:51.399 --> 01:29:57.640
So, I mean, if the council wants, I can certainly add some references into this draft of the

01:29:57.640 --> 01:29:58.640
ordinance.

01:29:58.640 --> 01:29:59.640
So.

01:29:59.640 --> 01:30:02.840
I would only add that this is the same model ordinance that we've used for every enterprise

01:30:02.840 --> 01:30:07.359
zone application that we've put in front of council, the same model ordinance was used

01:30:07.359 --> 01:30:08.359
for Meadows Mall.

01:30:08.359 --> 01:30:10.960
Okay.

01:30:10.960 --> 01:30:11.960
Alderman Stacey.

01:30:11.960 --> 01:30:22.119
I would like to make a motion that Attorney Zito add the needed language to the ordinance

01:30:23.159 --> 01:30:31.800
and we bring this back to the November COW for further discussion and understanding

01:30:33.159 --> 01:30:38.279
of what is actually being said and asked of us and

01:30:38.279 --> 01:30:48.039
and further discussion at the COW and then it can appear on the agenda the third week

01:30:48.039 --> 01:30:49.039
of November.

01:30:49.039 --> 01:31:01.180
So if that's a motion, I'd need a second.

01:31:01.180 --> 01:31:04.340
I made a motion that this be taken to the COW.

01:31:04.340 --> 01:31:06.340
I second it.

01:31:06.340 --> 01:31:16.699
And that Attorney Zito add whatever needs to be added to the language.

01:31:16.699 --> 01:31:18.899
So we have a second on that?

01:31:18.899 --> 01:31:34.579
Okay, so you have a motion before you for adding the language that's been asked for and then to move it to the November COW.

01:31:34.579 --> 01:31:37.579
So is there a discussion on that motion?

01:31:37.579 --> 01:31:39.930
Klemm.

01:31:39.930 --> 01:31:40.930
Alderman Klemm?

01:31:40.930 --> 01:31:44.930
Madam Mayor, is there a time element on this and Bob?

01:31:44.930 --> 01:31:46.930
Andrea?

01:31:46.930 --> 01:31:51.369
I would like to move it all the way through all units of government by the

01:31:51.369 --> 01:31:55.930
beginning of December so we could submit this by the end of the year to DCEO. This

01:31:55.930 --> 01:32:00.090
is the second unit of government that is already that we're at. East

01:32:00.090 --> 01:32:04.409
Dubuque is reading this ordinance and resolution tonight as well and we held a

01:32:04.409 --> 01:32:08.449
public hearing Friday where there was no members of the public who came in

01:32:08.449 --> 01:32:13.210
opposition to the project. No one in opposition? Correct. And your

01:32:13.210 --> 01:32:14.210
Miller.

01:32:14.210 --> 01:32:15.210
Thank you.

01:32:15.210 --> 01:32:16.210
Thank you.

01:32:16.210 --> 01:32:17.210
Do you have your opinion as far as changing the way that we put language in there?

01:32:17.210 --> 01:32:22.130
Is that going to be in hindrance, any hindrance in future things within Freeport to do that?

01:32:22.130 --> 01:32:27.649
Well, I think that it might, since all units of government have to have the same ordinance

01:32:27.649 --> 01:32:32.729
and resolution, it require me to then send out a revised ordinance and resolution to

01:32:32.729 --> 01:32:34.569
every unit of government.

01:32:34.569 --> 01:32:37.770
Lena has already passed this through their village board, so they would have to approve

01:32:37.770 --> 01:32:42.369
and pass a new resolution and ordinance.

01:32:42.369 --> 01:32:47.289
So there is a possibility that this could not make the cutoff?

01:32:47.289 --> 01:32:48.289
Correct.

01:32:48.289 --> 01:32:55.149
Alderman Stacey?

01:32:55.149 --> 01:33:12.329
I don't think that whether we make the cutoff or not is the most important angle here.

01:33:12.329 --> 01:33:23.729
We as the council need to understand what we are saying and what we are doing.

01:33:23.729 --> 01:33:40.569
And if we're asking for additional information to make it appear better, sound right, then

01:33:40.569 --> 01:33:51.909
I don't feel that it should be denied just because it may delay your date as into when

01:33:51.909 --> 01:33:56.689
you would like to see this prosper.

01:33:56.689 --> 01:34:02.369
I understand that it might be appearing as it is my date, but I am working in response

01:34:02.369 --> 01:34:07.930
to a business that's looking to expand and has already expended money to get this development

01:34:07.930 --> 01:34:10.890
Underway by purchasing this property.

01:34:10.890 --> 01:34:14.170
In an effort to be responsive to business,

01:34:14.170 --> 01:34:16.489
move at the speed of business, to create

01:34:16.489 --> 01:34:19.810
a business-friendly environment for Northwest Illinois

01:34:19.810 --> 01:34:21.970
to increase the level of economic development

01:34:21.970 --> 01:34:24.329
we have here, I think it's imperative

01:34:24.329 --> 01:34:27.869
that sometimes when we ask things to happen,

01:34:27.869 --> 01:34:29.970
I'm happy to meet with anybody one-on-one

01:34:29.970 --> 01:34:32.609
to answer any questions you have about this project,

01:34:32.609 --> 01:34:34.750
the enterprise zone in general.

01:34:34.750 --> 01:34:37.770
But delaying this, the project,

01:34:37.770 --> 01:34:43.630
They will not break ground until the state of Illinois approves this enterprise zone.

01:34:43.630 --> 01:34:50.329
The longer we delay, the more money it costs this company.

01:34:50.329 --> 01:34:52.770
Does one person's opinion really have that much weight?

01:34:52.770 --> 01:34:59.069
I mean, this has been the way that these enterprise zones have worked forever.

01:34:59.069 --> 01:35:02.550
One person's opinion, to change the whole thing, Alderman Sellers?

01:35:02.550 --> 01:35:04.489
And I think that's what I was getting ready to say.

01:35:04.489 --> 01:35:11.989
this is just the only thing reason why I asked for this to be clarified for this

01:35:11.989 --> 01:35:18.210
one person but if you already said that you had a meeting and no one showed up

01:35:18.210 --> 01:35:28.449
to disagree on the the the job and the whatever I'm trying to say. You had a

01:35:28.449 --> 01:35:37.010
We had a meeting when? Friday morning in our office. Public hearing. There was notice put

01:35:37.010 --> 01:35:44.010
in the Village Voices that ran. We did everything per statute. Everything is done per statute

01:35:44.010 --> 01:35:50.430
and things are threw at us, threw at us, threw at us and we want them now, now, now, now,

01:35:50.430 --> 01:36:01.300
and then you expect us to make, you expect us to make right decisions for our city and

01:36:01.300 --> 01:36:12.250
for our constituents when you know dark unwell we don't have a clue of what all this is saying

01:36:12.250 --> 01:36:20.250
or requiring of us and all this commotion comes from this concerned resident and so

01:36:20.250 --> 01:36:29.810
again I have a motion on the floor that's been seconded and Attorney Zito I don't know

01:36:29.810 --> 01:36:37.949
how long it will it will take you to make those additives to the ordinance well your

01:36:37.949 --> 01:36:43.949
motion is to add it to the cow which sets it back even further and the discussion is

01:36:43.949 --> 01:36:51.670
how that's going to impact all of the other enterprise zone partnerships so the bottom

01:36:51.670 --> 01:36:55.670
Do you want economic development in our region?

01:36:55.670 --> 01:37:03.140
The language alone will delay that.

01:37:03.140 --> 01:37:07.140
I guess it's just one person that's really complaining.

01:37:07.140 --> 01:37:11.140
I mean, not complaining, but one person that doesn't understand it.

01:37:11.140 --> 01:37:15.140
The only reason why I really did ask about getting clarification

01:37:15.140 --> 01:37:19.140
is because the one person I just wanted, if he needs

01:37:19.140 --> 01:37:20.140
O'Donnell.

01:37:20.140 --> 01:37:22.180
We have a lot of things that we need to go to them to ask them, then he can do that.

01:37:22.180 --> 01:37:23.180
But it is about-

01:37:23.180 --> 01:37:24.979
But we don't understand it.

01:37:24.979 --> 01:37:27.260
We don't understand it as a council.

01:37:27.260 --> 01:37:28.899
Manager Boyer, you want to shed some light?

01:37:28.899 --> 01:37:34.420
Alderman Stacy, I just wanted to reiterate that I am available from the time you get

01:37:34.420 --> 01:37:37.939
the agenda till the time council meeting starts.

01:37:37.939 --> 01:37:42.220
If there's a question on anything on that agenda, I will make myself available and have

01:37:42.220 --> 01:37:44.539
always made myself available.

01:37:44.539 --> 01:37:45.779
So I just want to reiterate that.

01:37:45.779 --> 01:37:52.140
I did not get a single call about this and all we're asking for is first reading that

01:37:52.140 --> 01:37:58.500
still gives us three weeks, two solid weeks to review and get all our questions answered

01:37:58.500 --> 01:38:02.500
and we can come back to this thing on the fourth and get it moving forward.

01:38:02.500 --> 01:38:10.819
So let's go back to what Alderman Stacey put on for a motion of adding language and moving

01:38:10.819 --> 01:38:12.819
and

01:38:14.340 --> 01:38:16.340
Lowe.

01:38:17.659 --> 01:38:19.779
I will ask the motion to move the motion to the cow. That

01:38:19.779 --> 01:38:23.059
particular motion itself. If there is any further discussion

01:38:23.059 --> 01:38:25.059
on that motion.

01:38:26.940 --> 01:38:30.039
If not, ma'am, clerk, would you please take the role on moving

01:38:30.039 --> 01:38:32.039
it to the cow with the added language?

01:38:34.340 --> 01:38:36.340
Simmons? Aye. Parker? No.

01:38:37.460 --> 01:38:39.460
Stacy? Aye. Shadle? No.

01:38:39.460 --> 01:38:48.260
the motion fails three to five okay so now back to the original that has been

01:38:48.260 --> 01:38:54.399
put out there for moving it to the next regular scheduled meeting if there's no

01:38:54.399 --> 01:38:59.020
further discussion we'll move on to item number 11 all all of them I'm sorry

01:38:59.020 --> 01:39:03.779
Olin Parker this here is basically a routine thing they all do they want to

01:39:03.779 --> 01:39:09.140
build in our our county and we're going to benefit from it so I think this is

01:39:09.140 --> 01:39:10.140
Huffines.

01:39:10.140 --> 01:39:12.140
Do we need a motion to move this on?

01:39:12.140 --> 01:39:16.460
No, it already is being moved to the second reading.

01:39:16.460 --> 01:39:23.600
I would like to know why this same number 10 and number 16 you asked earlier at the

01:39:23.600 --> 01:39:26.100
beginning to be moved, are they the same thing?

01:39:26.100 --> 01:39:29.300
No, not exactly the same and it's a procedural thing.

01:39:29.300 --> 01:39:31.699
Attorney Zito, you want to shed some light on that?

01:39:31.699 --> 01:39:37.500
So my understanding is that this item right now before you is to amend the ordinance that

01:39:37.500 --> 01:39:38.940
designated the boundaries.

01:39:38.940 --> 01:39:40.579
so there was an ordinance originally

01:39:40.579 --> 01:39:42.220
that designated the bound.

01:39:42.220 --> 01:39:45.079
originally that designated the boundary from however many years ago there now

01:39:45.079 --> 01:39:50.319
that's step one the resolution is that there's an intergovernmental agreement

01:39:50.319 --> 01:39:55.079
between all those municipalities that also has a boundary in it the same

01:39:55.079 --> 01:40:00.720
boundary so we have to update both but on the second one but the on the second

01:40:00.720 --> 01:40:04.479
one we don't actually have the amendment drafted that wasn't anything that was

01:40:04.479 --> 01:40:16.119
and Stacey. So will there be language added to this ordinance, yes or no? It has not been

01:40:16.119 --> 01:40:32.050
a part of any motion. Oh and because I made the motion it failed. So what's before you

01:40:32.050 --> 01:40:40.920
is moving on to the second reading at our next council meeting the way it states. And

01:40:40.920 --> 01:40:47.100
If you have questions about things, Manager Boyer said you can contact him at any point,

01:40:47.100 --> 01:40:51.470
on any agenda item.

01:40:51.470 --> 01:40:56.609
Well after it leaves here tonight, it's irrelevant.

01:40:56.609 --> 01:41:01.859
What's irrelevant?

01:41:01.859 --> 01:41:02.859
Mayor.

01:41:02.859 --> 01:41:07.579
Well, tonight is just first read, so this is an ordinance, so it's still gonna come

01:41:07.579 --> 01:41:18.149
back before you at the first meeting in November for second reading.

01:41:18.149 --> 01:41:23.750
So if the discussion is done, we'll move on to item number 11, which is the first

01:41:23.750 --> 01:41:24.750
Director, Duckman.

01:41:24.750 --> 01:41:25.750
Excuse me.

01:41:25.750 --> 01:41:26.750
Thank you, Madam Mayor.

01:41:26.750 --> 01:41:45.149
So on August 5th of this year, the City of Freeport adopted the 2018 edition of the International

01:41:45.149 --> 01:41:47.829
Code Council building codes.

01:41:47.829 --> 01:41:52.510
And so upon review of the ordinance that had passed at that time, staff determined that

01:41:52.510 --> 01:41:56.510
and a few additions needed to be made in order to address all of the items that were agreed

01:41:56.510 --> 01:41:59.010
upon by the Building Commission.

01:41:59.010 --> 01:42:03.109
And so this proposed ordinance addresses these items.

01:42:03.109 --> 01:42:10.470
And so example, because there's a few mostly typographical clerical errors that were in

01:42:10.470 --> 01:42:14.630
this ordinance that are being corrected.

01:42:14.630 --> 01:42:19.270
But for example, one of the bigger ones is that there's a fuel and gas code, which is

01:42:19.270 --> 01:42:26.210
is essentially your appliances, gas stoves, hot water heaters, furnaces, et cetera.

01:42:26.210 --> 01:42:30.949
When we originally passed this code, we were under the understanding that this was incorporated

01:42:30.949 --> 01:42:36.390
in the mechanical code. It's not incorporated in the mechanical code, so we have to pass

01:42:36.390 --> 01:42:41.310
this ordinance to make sure that when people are, our contractors are installing furnaces,

01:42:41.310 --> 01:42:48.229
hot water heaters, et cetera, they're following the fuel and gas code. So that's one of the

01:42:48.229 --> 01:43:15.449
We'll move on to item number 12, which is the first reading of Ordinance 2024-59.

01:43:15.449 --> 01:43:16.449
Could you please read this?

01:43:16.449 --> 01:43:24.050
Ordinance approving two airport farm leases with Matt, Phil, and Will Kempel and Dan Julius.

01:43:24.050 --> 01:43:26.050
Thank you, Manager Boyer.

01:43:26.050 --> 01:43:38.050
Thank you, Honor. Staff has been working and meeting with all the farmers that are interested in engaging with ag leases at the airport.

01:43:38.050 --> 01:43:43.729
we've got three of the farmers set up here we've got three in hand and we'd

01:43:43.729 --> 01:43:48.729
like to move forward and get council's approval on those the Kemple lease is

01:43:48.729 --> 01:43:54.050
four plus acres will generate approximately $150 an acre for a total

01:43:54.050 --> 01:44:00.670
of $610 and 50 cents annually the Julius lease of 3.21 acres will generate

01:44:00.670 --> 01:44:06.489
$150 per acre for a total of 481 50 annually so staff would like to move

01:44:06.489 --> 01:44:36.489
forward with these leases. Is there a motion to move these forward? Some move. Second. A motion made by Alderman Sellers, seconded by Alderman Shadle. Is there a discussion? Alderman Stacy? Are these the farmers that we're paying? Is this the farmers that we're paying? I don't understand your question. Are we paying the farmers? No. No, she wants to know, are those the ones that have actually paid their amount? Darren?

01:44:36.489 --> 01:44:44.850
These are ones that we're not paying that did not realize that they were renting this area.

01:44:44.850 --> 01:44:50.210
This is the north area that's by the lighting system, so it's kind of a grassy area

01:44:50.210 --> 01:44:59.270
that really doesn't have a lot of crop value and is realistically the entrance to both of those fields.

01:44:59.270 --> 01:45:00.710
Is that what you were looking for?

01:45:00.710 --> 01:45:02.869
It has no crop value?

01:45:02.869 --> 01:45:05.029
Not much, no.

01:45:05.029 --> 01:45:07.270
It's like I said, it's right off the north end

01:45:07.270 --> 01:45:10.470
of the light system and a very small acreage.

01:45:10.470 --> 01:45:12.789
A matter of fact, they can barely turn equipment around

01:45:12.789 --> 01:45:15.069
in the little acreage that they have

01:45:15.069 --> 01:45:18.090
because it's kind of a narrow path with the light system

01:45:18.090 --> 01:45:19.529
that gets them down to the field.

01:45:19.529 --> 01:45:24.430
So the other leases are coming.

01:45:24.430 --> 01:45:29.149
We just met with the final person last week

01:45:29.149 --> 01:45:31.829
and their attorney's reviewing it,

01:45:31.829 --> 01:45:34.270
but the rest of them are coming shortly.

01:45:34.270 --> 01:45:37.750
And how did you come up with this price?

01:45:37.750 --> 01:45:39.670
I believe these are the exact prices

01:45:39.670 --> 01:45:42.189
that were discussed at the council meeting

01:45:43.590 --> 01:45:46.329
a month ago, month and a half ago, something like that,

01:45:46.329 --> 01:45:49.210
that we would did the crop evaluations.

01:45:49.210 --> 01:45:51.449
There's other ground that's going for more

01:45:51.449 --> 01:45:56.449
but this ground is really not that great of ground.

01:45:57.210 --> 01:45:59.869
I think the highest rent that we have out there,

01:45:59.869 --> 01:46:11.699
I think it's two and a quarter an acre thank you mm-hmm it is a three-year lease

01:46:11.699 --> 01:46:20.300
too if there's no further discussion move this on to I'm sorry go ahead and this

01:46:20.300 --> 01:46:34.550
is 610 for the entire year and 481 50 for the entire year and it's a three-year

01:46:34.550 --> 01:46:37.949
contract so times it by three that's the income for the city on those couple of

01:46:37.949 --> 01:46:52.489
Parcels. If there's nothing further, we'll move on to item number 13, which is the

01:46:52.489 --> 01:47:00.010
adoption of resolution 2024-109. Could you please read this? Resolution authorizing

01:47:00.010 --> 01:47:05.329
and approving a software renewal from Ferguson Waterworks for AMI Neptune 360

01:47:05.329 --> 01:47:10.850
utility software. Thank you. Director Suttman. Hello, Council. This is an annual

01:47:10.850 --> 01:47:16.329
agreement we do with Ferguson, who's the vendor. Neptune is the actual equipment

01:47:16.329 --> 01:47:24.569
Provider. It's for our automated water meter reading software platform, and this is the

01:47:24.569 --> 01:47:35.850
annual support contract for it. It's for $34,133.26, and it's already in the budget

01:47:35.850 --> 01:47:36.850
for this year.

01:47:36.850 --> 01:47:38.689
Is there a motion to adopt?

01:47:38.689 --> 01:47:39.689
So moved.

01:47:39.689 --> 01:47:40.689
Second.

01:47:40.689 --> 01:47:45.930
Motion made by Alderman Sellers, seconded by Alderman Shadle. Discussion on this resolution.

01:47:45.930 --> 01:48:02.390
Madam Clerk, please take the roll. Simmons? Aye. Parker? Aye. Stacy? Aye. Shadle? Aye. Sanders? Aye. Sellers? Aye. Klemm? Aye. Monroe? Aye.

01:48:02.390 --> 01:48:09.949
The resolution is adopted 8 to 0. Item number 14 is adoption of resolution 2024-110.

01:48:09.949 --> 01:48:13.989
Could you please read this? Resolution approving placing an order for a

01:48:13.989 --> 01:48:20.029
replacement a replacement fire engine chief Miller thank you mayor last week at

01:48:20.029 --> 01:48:24.229
the cow we had a long detailed conversation about our vehicle

01:48:24.229 --> 01:48:30.550
replacement replacement plan we indicated that our current engine one

01:48:30.550 --> 01:48:37.470
will be due to be downgraded to reserve status in four years and then last week

01:48:37.470 --> 01:48:43.470
we also talked about the four-year wait for an apparatus to be built and

01:48:43.470 --> 01:48:48.470
Delivered, and also we discussed the pricing of the vehicle.

01:48:49.069 --> 01:48:54.069
So by placing an order to be delivered four years from now,

01:48:54.510 --> 01:48:58.229
we'll avoid a November 1st price increase

01:48:58.229 --> 01:49:01.350
and also subsequent increases in next February, May,

01:49:01.350 --> 01:49:04.869
August, and November, which will save the city

01:49:04.869 --> 01:49:07.390
over $92,000.

01:49:07.390 --> 01:49:10.270
And it seemed that there was overwhelming support

01:49:10.270 --> 01:49:15.270
in placing that order for a four-year delivery last week.

01:49:16.829 --> 01:49:21.270
And so the only question that was raised back last week

01:49:21.270 --> 01:49:26.270
for today's consideration was what type of financing

01:49:27.430 --> 01:49:31.430
should the city consider taking advantage of?

01:49:31.430 --> 01:49:34.229
A 100% prepayment option was available,

01:49:34.229 --> 01:49:37.630
a 50% prepayment option was available,

01:49:37.630 --> 01:49:40.229
or pay for the entire vehicle at the time.

01:49:40.229 --> 01:49:42.000
R. Pay for the entire vehicle at the time of delivery.

01:49:42.000 --> 01:49:45.399
So this past week I met with the finance director.

01:49:45.399 --> 01:49:49.479
We looked over the account where this would be funded by.

01:49:49.479 --> 01:49:53.159
We also looked at anticipated expenses coming up.

01:49:53.159 --> 01:49:59.600
We both agreed that a 50% prepayment discount would be to the advantage of the city, yet

01:49:59.600 --> 01:50:07.079
still keeping adequate funds available for any subsequent and anticipated costs coming

01:50:07.079 --> 01:50:08.079
Southerland.

01:50:08.079 --> 01:50:18.000
We have a motion to adopt the resolution to place an order for four years from now.

01:50:18.000 --> 01:50:19.000
Thank you, Chief.

01:50:19.000 --> 01:50:21.359
So what's before you then, Council?

01:50:21.359 --> 01:50:27.039
Is there a motion to adopt the resolution for placing the order?

01:50:27.039 --> 01:50:28.640
So moved.

01:50:28.640 --> 01:50:29.640
Second.

01:50:29.640 --> 01:50:36.479
We have a motion made by Alderman Seller, seconded by Alderman Shadle.

01:50:36.479 --> 01:50:38.479
and

01:50:39.600 --> 01:50:41.600
Mr.

01:50:43.699 --> 01:50:45.699
Mayor, this is one of the most egregious requests I've ever

01:50:46.800 --> 01:50:48.800
seen come in front of us as a Council. Having brand new

01:50:50.220 --> 01:50:52.220
equipment every day, having brand new gear, brand new

01:50:53.920 --> 01:50:55.920
everything, when similar size or larger communities are getting

01:50:57.619 --> 01:50:59.619
by with significant less spend.

01:51:03.220 --> 01:51:05.220
I started doing some research on this.

01:51:06.479 --> 01:51:13.579
and I will tell you, you know, we talk every year and I've been a big proponent, big backer

01:51:13.579 --> 01:51:14.579
of the fire department.

01:51:14.579 --> 01:51:21.359
I think they do a lot of great work, but I think the chief is overextending himself.

01:51:21.359 --> 01:51:25.539
And I started looking around and these types of requests, we just bought a brand new ladder,

01:51:25.539 --> 01:51:29.020
we bought a brand new engine, we bought two new ambulances, we got a grant for one of

01:51:29.020 --> 01:51:35.579
them and we've replaced so much gear and equipment since I've come on the council, it's time

01:51:35.579 --> 01:51:42.239
Miller там to surveilly look at cutting back and saving money and, yes, voting this forward

01:51:42.239 --> 01:51:48.779
is just another way that several of our council members want to just continue to tax the people

01:51:48.779 --> 01:51:51.180
of Freeport into oblivion.

01:51:51.180 --> 01:52:00.199
I will tell you, two communities, Sun Prairie, WI, 36,000 people, they have 17 full-time

01:52:00.199 --> 01:52:01.199
Fowler.

01:52:01.199 --> 01:52:02.199
There are a lot of great firefighters.

01:52:02.199 --> 01:52:03.199
65 paid-on-call firefighters.

01:52:03.199 --> 01:52:06.039
They have a brand new fire station.

01:52:06.039 --> 01:52:08.359
They have all of the gear.

01:52:08.359 --> 01:52:15.300
Geneva, Illinois, 24,500 people serviced, 20 full-time firefighters, 46 paid-on-call.

01:52:15.300 --> 01:52:17.800
And they have a lot of great equipment.

01:52:17.800 --> 01:52:23.439
And every year, this fire department comes back and asks for more and more and more and

01:52:23.439 --> 01:52:24.439
more.

01:52:24.439 --> 01:52:26.340
And they can't stop.

01:52:26.340 --> 01:52:33.140
it's time that we as a council say no you know these are multi-million dollar

01:52:33.140 --> 01:52:38.060
spends it's the yeah I'm sitting here looking through earlier the fire

01:52:38.060 --> 01:52:44.100
department's budget for this year is over six million dollars and we have so

01:52:44.100 --> 01:52:48.260
much infrastructure that needs help what are you gonna run a fire truck to when

01:52:48.260 --> 01:52:52.180
the infrastructure under the streets don't don't doesn't work the pipes break

01:52:52.180 --> 01:52:57.779
We can't handle the water pressure. We're just now getting to a point where my

01:52:57.779 --> 01:53:03.939
water doesn't break three, four, five, six, seven times a year and it's time to

01:53:03.939 --> 01:53:09.000
like get real and have a conversation just because you're going through the

01:53:09.000 --> 01:53:11.979
checkout line at the grocery store doesn't mean you need to get a pack of

01:53:11.979 --> 01:53:16.500
candy every time you go through for your kids. The same thing is true for the Fire

01:53:16.500 --> 01:53:19.500
They are now the only guys that are going to do the job today.

01:53:20.100 --> 01:53:22.100
The other guys that are going to do the job are the one that

01:53:22.659 --> 01:53:24.659
does the job, and I'm going to say some more about that.

01:53:25.359 --> 01:53:27.359
So the other guys that are going to do the job today are the

01:53:28.760 --> 01:53:30.760
guys that are going to work on the fire departments.

01:53:31.319 --> 01:53:33.779
Okay, I'm sorry it's a four-year time frame to buy a new engine.

01:53:33.779 --> 01:53:37.380
But we can make do without it. But if this is the direction

01:53:37.380 --> 01:53:41.380
we're going to go, then we need to look at cutting other parts

01:53:41.380 --> 01:53:45.539
of the fire department. And that comes down to saying no to

01:53:45.539 --> 01:53:51.579
We could do something along with Freeport rule and save this city millions and millions

01:53:51.579 --> 01:53:55.819
of dollars and we would actually catch up on getting the roads, the infrastructure,

01:53:55.819 --> 01:53:58.939
the water, the sewer, the things done that we need.

01:53:58.939 --> 01:54:06.220
And most of our calls, and I sat and I watched, I actually went around, I heard the fire engines

01:54:06.220 --> 01:54:11.640
a couple times, two, three times in the last week, and I went. It was an ambulance call.

01:54:11.640 --> 01:54:17.039
and there was an engine sitting right there with the ambulance every single time and so

01:54:17.039 --> 01:54:23.199
I started thinking about what are these calls and I know this is a little bit long and kind

01:54:23.199 --> 01:54:27.960
of hard to understand but we take this equipment that we spend millions and millions of dollars

01:54:27.960 --> 01:54:32.720
on and we run it all over the city, we go to Cub Foods to get groceries, we go all over

01:54:32.720 --> 01:54:39.079
the city to help the ambulance out and at some point I can't sit back and say it's

01:54:39.079 --> 01:54:40.079
Fowler.

01:54:40.079 --> 01:54:41.079
It's okay.

01:54:41.079 --> 01:54:42.079
It's not okay.

01:54:42.079 --> 01:54:46.939
We've got three ambulances, we've added multiple firefighters, we had grants to add those in

01:54:46.939 --> 01:54:51.359
and now we're asking for another, and let me get my numbers right, I've got to open

01:54:51.359 --> 01:55:03.119
it back up on this app, you know, million plus, I'll say, let me pull the proposal up.

01:55:03.119 --> 01:55:04.119
Thank you, Madam Mayor.

01:55:04.119 --> 01:55:06.119
Fowler, and I'm going to talk about the

01:55:07.340 --> 01:55:09.340
fire department.

01:55:10.960 --> 01:55:13.560
We're going to spend $22 million and quite honestly, you want a

01:55:13.560 --> 01:55:15.560
brand-new engine, cut it out of your personnel and payroll.

01:55:17.399 --> 01:55:19.399
Start looking hard core at what you've got.

01:55:20.500 --> 01:55:22.300
You're going to about three fires a month and most of those

01:55:22.300 --> 01:55:25.659
aren't really real fires. I would venture to say we maybe

01:55:25.659 --> 01:55:28.479
do one, one and a half on average house fires or building

01:55:28.479 --> 01:55:30.479
fires in the city of Freeport a month.

01:55:31.579 --> 01:55:33.579
And quite honestly, the amount of

01:55:34.119 --> 01:56:04.119
and you know I see Freeport Rule I see some of these other departments around the area they're able to do it with much less money and and to budget it much better we can't be adding these these costs to us every year we're still paying for the ones that we got and we've got to make sure we're doing the right thing as a city there's no way I'm voting yes on this Chief Miller yes thank you mayor Alderman Monroe I appreciate your emotional response here however there's a lot of facts you're not aware of our operations

01:56:04.119 --> 01:56:11.119
I'd be happy to sit down with you and explain to you how the fire department runs because you have no clear concept in that right now.

01:56:11.119 --> 01:56:19.119
So you talk about these other agencies that have brand new stations, brand new equipment, part-time, volunteer.

01:56:19.119 --> 01:56:25.119
They don't have the call volume. They don't have the violence. They don't have the responses that we have here in town.

01:56:25.119 --> 01:56:29.159
So, and then to address your remarks about our equipment,

01:56:29.159 --> 01:56:33.640
we just replaced the new engine that we received.

01:56:33.640 --> 01:56:36.239
We just replaced the 31-year-old engine

01:56:36.239 --> 01:56:40.579
that had no useful life left in it.

01:56:40.579 --> 01:56:43.199
The ladder truck that we replaced that you cited,

01:56:43.199 --> 01:56:46.159
that was 21 years old, you could not get parts for it.

01:56:46.159 --> 01:56:49.460
We were dumping good money after bad into that vehicle.

01:56:49.460 --> 01:56:51.380
It was falling apart.

01:56:51.380 --> 01:56:54.000
In my presentation to justify replacing it,

01:56:54.000 --> 01:56:55.439
there was a big sign on the door,

01:56:55.439 --> 01:56:56.920
this vehicle's out of service.

01:56:56.920 --> 01:56:58.319
That was for 10 months.

01:56:58.319 --> 01:57:00.520
Now if we had a structure fire in Hosmer,

01:57:00.520 --> 01:57:02.560
Lincoln Towers or anywhere else,

01:57:02.560 --> 01:57:04.399
there's a high probability we would not be able

01:57:04.399 --> 01:57:07.079
to affect any rescues off of balconies.

01:57:07.079 --> 01:57:09.939
So I consider myself the subject matter expert

01:57:09.939 --> 01:57:11.920
with regard to the fire operations.

01:57:11.920 --> 01:57:14.279
I'd be happy to sit down with you and explain that

01:57:14.279 --> 01:57:17.060
at great detail so you'd have a better understanding.

01:57:17.060 --> 01:57:19.520
So this engine that we're looking to replace,

01:57:19.520 --> 01:57:22.880
you seem to support it at the finance cow

01:57:22.880 --> 01:57:24.439
when we talked about fire.

01:57:24.439 --> 01:57:27.880
It's 14 years old now, four years from now it'll be 18.

01:57:27.880 --> 01:57:30.399
Typically they go into reserve around 15.

01:57:30.399 --> 01:57:34.479
And then we're gonna put it in a response reserve mode

01:57:35.359 --> 01:57:38.720
so it'll still be available to us.

01:57:38.720 --> 01:57:43.720
So I think this is sound fiscal management of finances.

01:57:43.739 --> 01:57:45.699
I'm showing how it's paid for,

01:57:45.699 --> 01:57:47.920
I'm showing the cost and its savings,

01:57:47.920 --> 01:57:52.560
and then talking about the streets and things like that,

01:57:52.560 --> 01:57:56.039
the city takes 54% of fire ambulance billing

01:57:56.039 --> 01:57:57.920
and puts it in the general fund.

01:57:57.920 --> 01:57:59.880
So that money is also being recycled

01:57:59.880 --> 01:58:01.840
back into the general fund.

01:58:01.840 --> 01:58:04.680
Fire department's the only department

01:58:04.680 --> 01:58:07.560
that brings in revenue and assists

01:58:07.560 --> 01:58:12.559
with the day-to-day costs of running city services.

01:58:13.840 --> 01:58:14.680
Alderman Shadle.

01:58:16.239 --> 01:58:20.840
Just to reiterate that the money for this

01:58:20.840 --> 01:58:25.600
is coming from those ambulance fees.

01:58:25.600 --> 01:58:33.380
And second of all, I don't want a truck or an ambulance

01:58:33.380 --> 01:58:40.319
to break down on the way to my parents' house or mine.

01:58:40.319 --> 01:58:42.039
Thank you.

01:58:42.039 --> 01:58:43.800
Oh, Ms. Stacy?

01:58:43.800 --> 01:58:47.319
Chief Miller, you were saying, what did you say again

01:58:47.319 --> 01:58:49.960
about the 54%?

01:58:49.960 --> 01:58:53.600
Did you say fifty-four percent or fifty-four what?

01:58:53.600 --> 01:58:57.239
I said fifty-four percent. So each year at the end of the year

01:58:57.239 --> 01:59:01.399
the finance department looks at the revenues brought in by

01:59:01.399 --> 01:59:03.640
the fire capital improvement fund.

01:59:03.640 --> 01:59:04.920
And by ordinance

01:59:04.920 --> 01:59:08.680
fifty-four percent of those revenues are transferred over

01:59:08.680 --> 01:59:09.880
to the city's

01:59:09.880 --> 01:59:14.119
general fund.

01:59:14.119 --> 01:59:19.899
And what are we as a city doing with that money?

01:59:19.899 --> 01:59:20.960
Manager Boyer.

01:59:20.960 --> 01:59:24.779
It goes back into general fund and we use it from everything for paying payroll

01:59:24.779 --> 01:59:29.220
Okay?

01:59:29.220 --> 01:59:30.220
And that's not new.

01:59:30.220 --> 01:59:32.180
That's been set by ordinance for quite some time.

01:59:32.180 --> 01:59:33.180
Okay.

01:59:33.180 --> 01:59:34.180
I understand that.

01:59:34.180 --> 01:59:38.020
O. Lee, when that account was created.

01:59:38.020 --> 01:59:45.960
account was created, was it created for the fire department to have the monies they need

01:59:45.960 --> 01:59:53.840
to do what they need to do or was it originally created with the idea that the city would

01:59:53.840 --> 01:59:57.720
take 54% at the end of every year?

01:59:57.720 --> 01:59:58.720
It's changed over time.

01:59:58.720 --> 02:00:00.720
Michelle, do you have specifics on that?

02:00:00.720 --> 02:00:07.359
No, I was just going to look up the ordinance and see how old it was.

02:00:07.359 --> 02:00:10.100
because maybe we need to look at the ordinance

02:00:10.100 --> 02:00:11.659
and do something different.

02:00:14.300 --> 02:00:17.699
So that's probably off topic.

02:00:18.899 --> 02:00:22.779
So you can, if Michelle, when you have that answer,

02:00:22.779 --> 02:00:25.539
could you put that out there so we have that knowledge?

02:00:25.539 --> 02:00:28.420
Okay.

02:00:28.420 --> 02:00:34.489
So the city is that depended upon that 54%

02:00:34.489 --> 02:00:39.279
and you said for wages?

02:00:39.279 --> 02:00:42.359
It goes into general fund as used from soup to nuts.

02:00:42.359 --> 02:00:55.930
Huffines.

02:00:55.930 --> 02:00:56.930
Any other, yeah.

02:00:56.930 --> 02:00:57.930
Go ahead.

02:00:57.930 --> 02:00:58.930
Go ahead.

02:00:58.930 --> 02:01:04.130
No, I was just going to ask this replacement fire engine, what station would it go to?

02:01:04.130 --> 02:01:08.369
It'd be going to the Park Boulevard station.

02:01:08.369 --> 02:01:15.010
And that vehicle there is a smaller ladder truck, and as a cost savings measure, we're

02:01:15.010 --> 02:01:21.010
seeking to replace it with just a pump or a fire engine, not another ladder truck.

02:01:21.010 --> 02:01:27.329
So an example that the brand new engine that we just received we ordered in 2022 that came

02:01:27.329 --> 02:01:30.050
in just under $900,000.

02:01:30.050 --> 02:01:36.449
That same vehicle with the same equipment, same bill sheet on it, two years later it's

02:01:36.449 --> 02:01:37.449
$1.2 million.

02:01:37.449 --> 02:01:44.090
It's gone up $150,000 per year for a total of $300,000 and this escalation of cost is

02:01:44.090 --> 02:01:49.850
what we're trying to avoid and that's why it's before you tonight.

02:01:49.850 --> 02:01:50.850
Miller.

02:01:50.850 --> 02:01:55.010
And Chief Miller, you were saying that this vehicle right now that you want to replace

02:01:55.010 --> 02:01:57.050
is 14 years old, you said?

02:01:57.050 --> 02:01:58.569
It's currently 14 years old.

02:01:58.569 --> 02:02:03.409
And you said the average time limit is 15 years, you said?

02:02:03.409 --> 02:02:09.529
For frontline use, approximately 15 years, depending on condition and use.

02:02:09.529 --> 02:02:15.409
So if it's run hard and not maintained appropriately, it could be less.

02:02:15.409 --> 02:02:22.489
We've got a real good maintenance program and we're looking to keep that vehicle in reserve status a functional reserve

02:02:22.489 --> 02:02:27.050
So if a second ladder was needed that those personnel would

02:02:27.489 --> 02:02:35.329
Jump from that engine over to the ladder short ladder truck and respond in that so it still have a useful value to us

02:02:35.409 --> 02:02:38.289
But by doing this would extend that useful life

02:02:40.170 --> 02:02:42.569
And then you did talk with

02:02:42.569 --> 02:02:43.569
Huffines.

02:02:43.569 --> 02:02:48.569
I want to talk with the finance director on it was affordable.

02:02:48.569 --> 02:02:50.569
It was with the 50 percent?

02:02:50.569 --> 02:02:51.569
Yes.

02:02:51.569 --> 02:02:57.930
She was comfortable with a 50 percent prepayment discount, which would reduce the cost of the

02:02:57.930 --> 02:03:14.739
vehicle by $61,456 on top of saving the $92,000 of anticipated price increases.

02:03:14.739 --> 02:03:19.979
The funding will be at a later date. This is just about the approval of the order.

02:03:19.979 --> 02:03:24.460
Alderman Monroe. Thank you, Madam Mayor. Chief, how many times

02:03:24.460 --> 02:03:29.979
has that ladder been run into the building? It's three times.

02:03:29.979 --> 02:03:34.659
And how much were the damages each time? I'm not familiar with what the invoices were

02:03:34.659 --> 02:03:40.340
on that, but it has been rebuilt and it's gone to the factory, so it's been factory

02:03:40.340 --> 02:04:15.329
Boyer, Boyer, Boyer, Boyer,

02:04:15.329 --> 02:04:24.090
and I, and we did de-obligate ourselves from that purchase up until when we have the meeting

02:04:24.090 --> 02:04:28.890
for the pre-build, which is about nine months before it goes to construction.

02:04:28.890 --> 02:04:33.289
And after that, if it was actually on the assembly line and we tried to cancel, then

02:04:33.289 --> 02:04:38.090
there could be a 30% penalty.

02:04:38.090 --> 02:04:42.850
But that's if they cancel it to another agency, which is why we're at four years, because

02:04:42.850 --> 02:04:44.930
there's a waiting line.

02:04:44.930 --> 02:04:57.479
We're trying to avoid all these subsequent price increases.

02:04:57.479 --> 02:04:59.399
Is there any further discussion?

02:04:59.399 --> 02:05:01.199
I'd like to make one more comment.

02:05:01.199 --> 02:05:06.640
I just hope the water lines can work because we have zero tanker

02:05:06.640 --> 02:05:09.359
trucks, is that correct?

02:05:09.359 --> 02:05:09.920
That's correct.

02:05:09.920 --> 02:05:10.640
We have hydrants.

02:05:10.640 --> 02:05:13.520
We don't have tanker trucks.

02:05:13.520 --> 02:05:18.199
So if the water pressure goes off and the line breaks,

02:05:18.199 --> 02:05:19.479
the hydrants don't work.

02:05:19.479 --> 02:05:21.000
Is that correct?

02:05:21.000 --> 02:05:22.960
since I'm not a subject matter expert.

02:05:22.960 --> 02:05:25.279
It could be correct, but we have mutual aid agreements

02:05:25.279 --> 02:05:28.039
with other agencies providing they have personnel

02:05:28.039 --> 02:05:30.619
that can respond to us during daytime hours.

02:05:33.260 --> 02:05:36.140
And our vehicles have 750 gallons of water

02:05:36.140 --> 02:05:40.260
and a tender, if you're actually called tenders,

02:05:40.260 --> 02:05:42.659
have up to 3000 gallons.

02:05:42.659 --> 02:05:45.579
So based on our fleet,

02:05:45.579 --> 02:05:49.460
we can sustain our water flow

02:05:49.460 --> 02:05:52.460
until neighboring departments can come and join us.

02:05:52.699 --> 02:06:05.699
So, follow-up question. So, with water being such an important piece, when City Lights went up, which was a very large fire, were you on the department at that time?

02:06:05.699 --> 02:06:08.699
No, I don't even know where City Lights was.

02:06:08.699 --> 02:06:17.699
Yeah, it was downtown. Huge fire. Unbelievable. I would guess that millions and millions of gallons of water were put on that fire.

02:06:17.699 --> 02:06:47.699
I can't even imagine the building went to the ground, but my point is if the infrastructure can't handle the transport of the water to the hydrants, which is becoming a bigger and bigger issue in this city, the fire engines and ladder trucks, you can have all the great equipment in the world, you can't get enough water to them to affect a really a meaningful attack on a fire without huge support from our rural communities, which they always come to our aid, and I believe

02:06:47.699 --> 02:06:52.939
B. The bigger issue we've got moving forward, or have it revolve around the ambulance service,

02:06:52.939 --> 02:06:57.060
I think you and I probably would agree on that, because the rural agencies just don't

02:06:57.060 --> 02:07:02.899
have the support, and the qualifications, and the training to keep their departments

02:07:02.899 --> 02:07:12.899
running, and it being harder and harder to find people. I think this is well-intentioned,

02:07:12.899 --> 02:07:23.350
but I think this is very misplaced money and I'll leave it at that, Mayor.

02:07:23.350 --> 02:07:24.350
Any further discussion?

02:07:24.350 --> 02:07:31.770
Madam Clerk, would you please take the roll on the adoption of Resolution 2024-110?

02:07:31.770 --> 02:07:32.770
Simmons?

02:07:32.770 --> 02:07:34.770
She stepped out.

02:07:34.770 --> 02:07:38.770
Oh, I am so sorry, she is currently absent.

02:07:38.770 --> 02:07:39.770
Parker?

02:07:39.770 --> 02:07:40.770
Aye.

02:07:40.770 --> 02:07:41.770
Stacy?

02:07:41.770 --> 02:07:47.380
Shadle?

02:07:47.380 --> 02:07:48.380
Aye.

02:07:48.380 --> 02:07:49.380
Sanders?

02:07:49.380 --> 02:07:50.380
Aye.

02:07:50.380 --> 02:07:51.380
Sellers?

02:07:51.380 --> 02:07:52.380
Aye.

02:07:52.380 --> 02:07:53.380
Klemm?

02:07:53.380 --> 02:07:55.039
No.

02:07:55.039 --> 02:08:01.819
The motion passes 6 to 1.

02:08:01.819 --> 02:08:05.659
Item number 15 is the adoption of resolution 2024-111.

02:08:05.659 --> 02:08:07.420
Could you please read this?

02:08:07.420 --> 02:08:11.579
Resolution ratifying emergency repairs to wastewater treatment plant raw sewage pump

02:08:11.579 --> 02:08:15.420
and engagement of precision drive and control, or PDC.

02:08:15.420 --> 02:08:16.420
Thank you.

02:08:16.420 --> 02:08:17.420
Manager Boyer.

02:08:17.420 --> 02:08:18.420
Thank you, Your Honor.

02:08:18.420 --> 02:08:22.979
Recently, the wastewater treatment plant influent pumps, which are the main pumps that convey

02:08:22.979 --> 02:08:26.779
Today, the raw waste water through the treatment process.

02:08:26.779 --> 02:08:29.659
One of them catastrophically failed recently.

02:08:29.659 --> 02:08:36.859
The city maintenance crews pulled the affected pump motor and found that a bearing had catastrophically

02:08:36.859 --> 02:08:42.180
failed causing the commentator impact the stationary magnets inside the motor.

02:08:42.180 --> 02:08:45.800
This requires an emergency repair.

02:08:45.800 --> 02:08:53.960
So having gone to PDC, the cost of a full repair is $25,489, and that is compared with

02:08:53.960 --> 02:08:55.159
the cost of a new pump.

02:08:55.159 --> 02:08:59.720
Unfortunately, this is untimely, being that we're in the process of working on our headworks,

02:08:59.720 --> 02:09:06.440
but it does highlight the fact that the headworks is very old and in degraded condition.

02:09:06.440 --> 02:09:13.640
So staff requests support from the City Council for the PDC invoice for the pump repair of

02:09:13.640 --> 02:09:15.640
and

02:09:16.640 --> 02:09:17.640
the

02:09:17.640 --> 02:09:18.640
next

02:09:18.640 --> 02:09:19.640
item is

02:09:19.640 --> 02:09:20.640
$25,489.

02:09:20.640 --> 02:09:21.640
Is there a motion to adopt?

02:09:21.640 --> 02:09:22.640
I'll make a motion.

02:09:22.640 --> 02:09:23.640
Second.

02:09:23.640 --> 02:09:25.640
A motion made by Alderman Monroe, seconded by Alderman Shadle.

02:09:25.640 --> 02:09:26.640
Discussion?

02:09:26.640 --> 02:09:27.640
Alderman Sanders.

02:09:27.640 --> 02:09:34.640
Manager Boyer, those pumps that you're referring to,

02:09:34.640 --> 02:09:35.000
Huffines.

02:09:35.000 --> 02:09:43.560
Do they have a scheduling for maintenance and do we have a maintenance crew that if it is

02:09:43.560 --> 02:09:52.079
scheduled before anything breaks down, is it being maintained on a schedule basis, monthly

02:09:52.079 --> 02:09:57.800
or whatever the case may be, I don't know how you do your scheduling, but as someone

02:09:57.800 --> 02:10:04.600
and I have been out there routine as a routine to look at the situation to have the city

02:10:04.600 --> 02:10:11.239
not to be spending these expenditures if we have a maintenance department that actually

02:10:11.239 --> 02:10:21.000
look into those kinds of areas because I know that from what I understand you have to keep

02:10:21.000 --> 02:10:27.279
the bearings that you're referring to that needs to be replaced and things like that

02:10:27.279 --> 02:10:35.760
and then if we had someone in there to maintain those kinds of things, we wouldn't be asking

02:10:35.760 --> 02:10:43.000
the council to, well, I know they get old, but the thing about it is if they kept up

02:10:43.000 --> 02:10:51.359
the maintenance, those pumps would run for years, decades if we had someone to maintain

02:10:51.359 --> 02:10:53.720
it. Do we have any staff people?

02:10:53.720 --> 02:10:55.239
Manager Boyer?

02:10:55.239 --> 02:10:57.600
Yes, we have an excellent maintenance staff.

02:10:57.600 --> 02:11:01.560
They do maintain all the oils and bearings and maintenance

02:11:01.560 --> 02:11:04.760
that's required on these pumps.

02:11:04.760 --> 02:11:08.359
So there was apparently some type of material defect

02:11:08.359 --> 02:11:11.479
in the bearing that caused it to fail prematurely.

02:11:11.479 --> 02:11:13.479
But I do believe the pump has been in service

02:11:13.479 --> 02:11:14.920
for years on top of that.

02:11:14.920 --> 02:11:19.920
OK, and we do this routine scheduling for maintenance

02:11:19.920 --> 02:11:22.000
on a regular basis.

02:11:22.000 --> 02:11:25.479
what would you say, monthly, every two, three, quarterly,

02:11:25.479 --> 02:11:26.319
or whatever?

02:11:26.319 --> 02:11:29.680
Well, we maintain it based on the manufacturer's specification.

02:11:29.680 --> 02:11:30.640
Okay.

02:11:30.640 --> 02:11:31.880
Okay.

02:11:31.880 --> 02:11:32.720
All right.

02:11:32.720 --> 02:11:34.199
Thank you, Mayor.

02:11:34.199 --> 02:11:35.399
Any further discussion?

02:11:37.060 --> 02:11:38.439
Madam Clerk, please take the roll.

02:11:38.439 --> 02:11:40.159
Simmons?

02:11:40.159 --> 02:11:41.000
Aye.

02:11:41.000 --> 02:11:41.819
Parker?

02:11:41.819 --> 02:11:42.659
Aye.

02:11:42.659 --> 02:11:43.500
Stacy?

02:11:43.500 --> 02:11:44.340
Aye.

02:11:44.340 --> 02:11:45.159
Shadle?

02:11:45.159 --> 02:11:46.000
Aye.

02:11:46.000 --> 02:11:46.819
Sanders?

02:11:46.819 --> 02:11:47.659
Aye.

02:11:47.659 --> 02:11:48.500
Sellers?

02:11:48.500 --> 02:11:49.319
Aye.

02:11:49.319 --> 02:11:50.140
Klemm?

02:11:50.140 --> 02:11:50.979
Aye.

02:11:50.979 --> 02:11:51.819
And Monroe?

02:11:51.819 --> 02:12:00.380
8-0. Item number 17 is the adoption of resolution 2024-113. Could you please read this? Resolution

02:12:00.380 --> 02:12:05.659
designated honorary street name of Bishop James Arthur Wade Way to Armstrong Avenue.

02:12:06.220 --> 02:12:17.949
Thank you. Director Duckman. Thank you. Thank you, Madam Mayor. So the honorary street name program

02:12:17.949 --> 02:12:22.590
allows residents the opportunity to honor those leaders that are steadfast in their endeavors,

02:12:22.590 --> 02:12:26.989
Sanders, making significant contributions to the city.

02:12:26.989 --> 02:12:31.189
Once approved, the sign will be displayed at the requested block, commemorating that

02:12:31.189 --> 02:12:38.590
leader's dedication and hard work within the city of Freeport.

02:12:38.590 --> 02:12:44.149
Bishop James Arthur Wade has been a resident in the community since the 1960s, and when

02:12:44.149 --> 02:12:48.149
he heard his calling to minister, he answered and has been serving his community for close

02:12:48.149 --> 02:12:50.210
to 50 years.

02:12:50.210 --> 02:12:53.810
He founded the Faith of Miracle Deliverance and Worship Center.

02:12:53.810 --> 02:12:57.970
He is known for his faith, caring for the less fortunate, and counseling those in the

02:12:57.970 --> 02:13:00.529
community seeking spiritual and secular guidance.

02:13:00.529 --> 02:13:05.770
And as we heard earlier, the public has attested to that.

02:13:05.770 --> 02:13:10.729
Bishop Arthur Wade is known in the community for his innovative and profound teachings.

02:13:10.729 --> 02:13:15.810
So Ms. D. Sanders Moore approached the City of Freeport last year and has been working

02:13:15.810 --> 02:13:23.949
Dilligently to do all of the work to bring this act to fruition. So staff is

02:13:23.949 --> 02:13:30.590
recommending approval of this resolution and there's two pages here or

02:13:30.590 --> 02:13:34.149
essentially I'm going back and forth here to kind of show where the sign is

02:13:34.149 --> 02:13:39.350
gonna go. So on the first slide, yep, on the first slide we're gonna kind of go

02:13:39.350 --> 02:13:44.789
here you can see that this is Armstrong and this is South Street and this start

02:13:44.789 --> 02:13:46.829
There's a star here, but I'm pointing it out.

02:13:46.829 --> 02:13:49.750
That is the corner where we're going to see the sign.

02:13:49.750 --> 02:13:52.430
And if you go to the next page, this kind of

02:13:52.430 --> 02:13:54.430
shows that intersection.

02:13:54.430 --> 02:13:57.430
They're adding an honorary sign right below this sign.

02:13:57.430 --> 02:14:01.670
So that's what is before you.

02:14:01.670 --> 02:14:02.590
Thank you.

02:14:02.590 --> 02:14:03.909
Is there a motion to adopt?

02:14:03.909 --> 02:14:04.710
So move.

02:14:04.710 --> 02:14:05.869
Second.

02:14:05.869 --> 02:14:07.829
A motion made by Alderman Sellers,

02:14:07.829 --> 02:14:09.989
seconded by Alderman Shadle.

02:14:09.989 --> 02:14:12.149
Discussion on this resolution.

02:14:12.149 --> 02:14:14.430
Alderman Sanders.

02:14:14.430 --> 02:14:41.069
Wait. Go ahead. No, no, go ahead. Go ahead. Yeah, I just want to say the street sign Armstrong. Would that also be part of the Bishop Arthur Wade sign? That sign would be posted, but Armstrong would still be in place?

02:14:41.069 --> 02:14:44.909
Yes, Alderpurse Sanders. It's an honorary sign. We'll just be underneath it.

02:14:44.909 --> 02:14:48.909
Okay, gotcha. All right, thank you.

02:14:48.909 --> 02:14:50.350
Alderman Shadle.

02:14:50.350 --> 02:14:58.970
The church next to PDC, is that the Reverend's Church there?

02:14:58.970 --> 02:15:03.850
No, Bishop Wade's church is out on Baileyville.

02:15:03.850 --> 02:15:06.810
Oh, to the south.

02:15:06.810 --> 02:15:12.189
Okay, thank you.

02:15:12.189 --> 02:15:15.420
Any further discussion?

02:15:15.420 --> 02:15:15.979
Yeah.

02:15:15.979 --> 02:15:17.260
Yeah.

02:15:17.260 --> 02:15:28.260
Where does Armstrong, because I just wanted to know, where Armstrong and Baileyville intersect?

02:15:28.260 --> 02:15:40.260
In the city limits, it's Armstrong. In the county, it's Baileyville. So that sign postage would be where the Barco car lot, that's where that is, Barco, and then there's the cemetery there.

02:15:40.260 --> 02:15:42.260
Right. Okay.

02:15:42.260 --> 02:15:44.260
Then you cross that as Baileyville.

02:15:44.260 --> 02:15:46.260
Right there would be Baileyville.

02:15:46.260 --> 02:15:47.460
Bill, South of there.

02:15:47.460 --> 02:15:49.340
So Bailey, excuse me.

02:15:49.340 --> 02:15:51.140
It's the same street.

02:15:51.140 --> 02:15:52.939
One is county.

02:15:52.939 --> 02:15:55.260
County can't call streets the same name as the city.

02:15:55.260 --> 02:15:57.579
So the city has its name Armstrong,

02:15:57.579 --> 02:16:02.159
and then this is county road.

02:16:02.159 --> 02:16:04.159
If there's no further discussion,

02:16:04.159 --> 02:16:05.560
Madam Clerk, please take the roll.

02:16:05.560 --> 02:16:06.800
Simmons?

02:16:06.800 --> 02:16:07.399
Aye.

02:16:07.399 --> 02:16:07.960
Parker?

02:16:07.960 --> 02:16:08.720
Aye.

02:16:08.720 --> 02:16:09.439
Stacy?

02:16:09.439 --> 02:16:09.960
Aye.

02:16:09.960 --> 02:16:10.640
Shadle?

02:16:10.640 --> 02:16:11.119
Aye.

02:16:11.119 --> 02:16:11.880
Sanders?

02:16:11.880 --> 02:16:12.380
Aye.

02:16:12.380 --> 02:16:12.880
Sellers?

02:16:12.880 --> 02:16:13.560
Aye.

02:16:13.560 --> 02:16:15.840
Klemm?

02:16:15.840 --> 02:16:16.720
Monroe?

02:16:16.720 --> 02:16:17.439
Aye.

02:16:17.439 --> 02:16:21.640
The resolution is adopted unanimously, 8 to 0.

02:16:21.640 --> 02:16:24.000
Thank you, ladies.

02:16:24.000 --> 02:16:28.880
Item number 18 is the adoption of resolution 2024-114.

02:16:28.880 --> 02:16:30.279
Could you please read this?

02:16:30.279 --> 02:16:33.120
Resolution approving engineering agreement with Fehr Graham

02:16:33.120 --> 02:16:36.559
to create Americans with Disabilities Act, ADA,

02:16:36.559 --> 02:16:39.559
transition plan, and compliance inventory.

02:16:39.559 --> 02:16:41.239
Manager Boyer.

02:16:41.239 --> 02:16:55.399
Good evening. This is the item that we discussed at the COW. This is the ADA transition plan

02:16:55.399 --> 02:17:01.360
that's required by IDOT. It's part of our MFT agreement. It's required for communities

02:17:01.360 --> 02:17:09.559
that have more than 50 full-time employees and over 20,000 people. We delayed this as

02:17:09.559 --> 02:17:15.159
as long as we could this year looking for some type of funding to create it, but we ultimately

02:17:15.159 --> 02:17:18.399
were not successful to get funding.

02:17:18.399 --> 02:17:21.040
Our desire is to get this moving.

02:17:21.040 --> 02:17:27.559
It will be due before next year's allotments, and I would like to get moving on the survey

02:17:27.559 --> 02:17:32.520
in Topo that needs to be done within the city before snow flies so we can write the plan

02:17:32.520 --> 02:17:34.760
during the winter months.

02:17:34.760 --> 02:17:39.760
I believe the agreement is for $81,750.

02:17:41.239 --> 02:17:45.399
The vast majority of that is field survey time

02:17:45.399 --> 02:17:48.200
along with writing the plan.

02:17:48.200 --> 02:17:50.239
And with that, I'll take any questions.

02:17:50.239 --> 02:17:55.239
Again, this is MFT gives us about $1 million average per year.

02:17:56.600 --> 02:17:58.159
So this is one of their requirements

02:17:58.159 --> 02:18:01.399
that transitions plans must be created.

02:18:01.399 --> 02:18:05.340
we must create a transition compliance team,

02:18:05.340 --> 02:18:06.979
if you will, or a commission.

02:18:06.979 --> 02:18:10.280
And we also must have a grievance policy when we're done.

02:18:10.280 --> 02:18:13.200
So we'll do the inventory, create the plan,

02:18:13.200 --> 02:18:15.639
and then we'll bring a plan back to council to adopt.

02:18:15.639 --> 02:18:18.079
And then that plan will be posted on the city's website

02:18:18.079 --> 02:18:21.959
for anybody with disabilities to research,

02:18:21.959 --> 02:18:23.959
look at, create a grievance,

02:18:23.959 --> 02:18:25.059
and then we'll have a committee

02:18:25.059 --> 02:18:26.959
that will review those grievances.

02:18:26.959 --> 02:18:30.280
And I'm suggesting that we don't budget any funds

02:18:30.280 --> 02:18:33.000
for 2025 for these grievances

02:18:33.000 --> 02:18:34.559
because by the time we get this adopt,

02:18:34.559 --> 02:18:36.299
we have street work going next year,

02:18:36.299 --> 02:18:37.920
but the following year we will probably have

02:18:37.920 --> 02:18:39.799
to start budgeting some money for grievances

02:18:39.799 --> 02:18:43.000
to address situations that the committee may find

02:18:43.000 --> 02:18:44.719
need to be resolved.

02:18:44.719 --> 02:18:46.120
Is there a motion to adopt?

02:18:46.120 --> 02:18:47.260
So moved.

02:18:47.260 --> 02:18:48.319
Second.

02:18:48.319 --> 02:18:50.200
A motion made by Alderman Sellers,

02:18:50.200 --> 02:18:51.920
seconded by Alderman Shadle.

02:18:51.920 --> 02:18:54.500
Discussion, Alderman Sanders.

02:18:57.200 --> 02:18:59.520
Public Works Director Barrett.

02:19:00.280 --> 02:19:09.079
While you're making these plans over the winter, if the survey allows you to, while you're in the

02:19:09.079 --> 02:19:20.840
process of doing so, is it okay for council members to visit the planning stages when you guys begin to

02:19:20.840 --> 02:19:30.200
do the drawing of the plans? So we have a little insight. So this is different than a construction

02:19:30.200 --> 02:19:34.200
So there won't be a construction plan, this is more of a study and

02:19:34.200 --> 02:19:41.000
We have a construction plan. This is more of a study and an evaluation. So we'll actually take robotic equipment out and do the measurements on the field, corner by corner.

02:19:41.000 --> 02:19:42.000
Okay.

02:19:42.000 --> 02:19:49.000
And so you're welcome to see all that data when it's done because it's going to turn into a giant clip down menu per corner.

02:19:49.000 --> 02:19:52.000
I can wait until you condense it.

02:19:52.000 --> 02:19:56.399
and I think I skipped it in this one, but this is going to be a living document for Freeport.

02:19:56.399 --> 02:20:00.600
So once it's created, as we do construction work every season, we'll have to update it.

02:20:01.239 --> 02:20:04.500
It shouldn't take near as amount of work to do it,

02:20:04.500 --> 02:20:09.700
but the GIS system itself will need to be updated as they're corrected in the dates that they're done.

02:20:09.920 --> 02:20:13.600
What IDOT's looking for is for the city to come up with a 20-year

02:20:14.200 --> 02:20:20.979
transition plan for all the ramps. As I've stated before, that's probably not ultimately affordable, but we are making great

02:20:20.979 --> 02:20:28.979
We've made some great strides in a short period of time and we're committed to doing the ramps as we do the streets as long as they're not technically infeasible.

02:20:28.979 --> 02:20:37.979
When we run into vaults and things like that, we just can't afford to fix a ramp at a vault area. They get really expensive fast.

02:20:37.979 --> 02:20:38.979
and Stiegel.

02:20:38.979 --> 02:20:43.100
We're doing the ramps as we do the streets as long as they're not technically unfeasible.

02:20:43.100 --> 02:20:48.379
When we run into vaults and things like that, we just can't afford to fix a ramp at a vault

02:20:48.379 --> 02:20:49.379
area.

02:20:49.379 --> 02:20:51.340
They get really expensive fast.

02:20:51.340 --> 02:20:57.659
There's no further discussion.

02:20:57.659 --> 02:20:58.659
Alderman Monroe.

02:20:58.659 --> 02:21:01.299
Yes, Mr. Stiegel.

02:21:01.299 --> 02:21:07.299
As you're going through this, are we going to be looking at various grants that are available

02:21:07.299 --> 02:21:08.299
to help?

02:21:08.299 --> 02:21:09.299
Because this is significant.

02:21:09.299 --> 02:21:19.299
Last I remember you said about $7,500 per, you know, rough estimate, but we're going to be looking for grants to help cover that because we have to replace all of them in the city, correct?

02:21:19.299 --> 02:21:32.299
Yeah. So as we do the street projects, we'll probably or we're not probably we're incorporating the ramps into the projects and using a combination of the 1% and MFT money to replace ramps.

02:21:32.299 --> 02:21:37.979
but this will also give us the ability to do like we did with the CDBG grant and take blocks of

02:21:37.979 --> 02:21:43.260
areas that are underserved and try to get more ramps done in quadrants with that kind of money.

02:21:44.700 --> 02:21:49.420
I believe the grant that we got 76 done on was about a half a million dollars

02:21:49.420 --> 02:21:53.500
and we have plenty of target areas in Freeport that we can utilize that grant money.

02:21:53.500 --> 02:21:59.020
Perfect, thank you. When you say combination of the one percent,

02:21:59.020 --> 02:22:05.020
you're talking about the 1% for our streets yes ma'am that that is part of every street project

02:22:05.020 --> 02:22:11.739
that we do in Freeport if they have ramps we have to update the ramps as part of the street project

02:22:11.739 --> 02:22:18.139
that's not something that we have a choice with the only way we can't update them is if we give

02:22:18.139 --> 02:22:24.139
ourselves a variance on them and we have to prove that it's technically not buildable i thought we

02:22:24.139 --> 02:22:33.370
We had discussion on that matter and that it was said that grant money would cover ADA ramps.

02:22:33.370 --> 02:22:38.809
I don't remember that piece. We don't have grant money to cover every ramp. We had the

02:22:38.809 --> 02:22:44.809
grant before that covered 76 of them, but this year, the ramps that we did this year

02:22:44.809 --> 02:22:47.129
were part of the street program.

02:22:47.129 --> 02:22:55.610
Okay, so how much is it for the city to do it, the city crew, compared to somewhere else?

02:22:55.610 --> 02:23:02.850
someone else I would say it's definitely cheaper for the city crews to do them if

02:23:02.850 --> 02:23:08.930
we can we could do that me if we can if we have enough staff to do them currently

02:23:08.930 --> 02:23:14.329
we do not have enough staff to do the work we're doing and do ADA ramps ADA

02:23:14.329 --> 02:23:20.569
ramps are very time-consuming and out of the construction process right now that's

02:23:20.569 --> 02:23:22.209
that's one of the skills.

02:23:22.209 --> 02:23:24.290
Can we do them with help?

02:23:24.290 --> 02:23:25.170
Yes.

02:23:25.170 --> 02:23:27.850
Can we do them effectively and efficiently?

02:23:27.850 --> 02:23:30.370
No, we just don't have a dedicated concrete crew

02:23:30.370 --> 02:23:32.370
that can go around and do ramps currently.

02:23:33.610 --> 02:23:37.450
If we had the crew, what would it cost the city

02:23:37.450 --> 02:23:39.889
compared to paying someone else?

02:23:39.889 --> 02:23:44.899
I would say right now, if I put a number on it,

02:23:44.899 --> 02:23:49.079
probably about 4,000, 4,500 per corner

02:23:49.079 --> 02:23:53.719
compared to the probably 65 to 7,500 we're paying.

02:23:53.719 --> 02:23:55.879
Depends on, each corner's a little bit different

02:23:55.879 --> 02:23:58.840
with how far we have to go back on sidewalks.

02:23:58.840 --> 02:23:59.680
Manager Boyer.

02:24:01.459 --> 02:24:04.079
All the person, Stacy, right now the 1%

02:24:04.079 --> 02:24:06.879
does not allow us to pay wages from it,

02:24:06.879 --> 02:24:10.100
and that was purposeful, as I understand it.

02:24:10.100 --> 02:24:14.719
In addition to that, our crews do do ADA ramps

02:24:14.719 --> 02:24:15.840
from time to time.

02:24:15.840 --> 02:24:20.399
however, they did do some on Center Street

02:24:20.399 --> 02:24:21.520
when we did Center Street.

02:24:21.520 --> 02:24:25.120
So we do do them when we need to, but yeah.

02:24:25.120 --> 02:24:30.120
Okay, the 1% was never meant for wages.

02:24:31.280 --> 02:24:33.879
The 1% was meant for our roads.

02:24:33.879 --> 02:24:38.200
Exactly, that's why we can't hire more staff

02:24:38.200 --> 02:24:49.950
to do them less expensively, that's one reason.

02:24:49.950 --> 02:24:53.209
Any further discussion?

02:24:53.209 --> 02:24:56.459
Madam Clerk, please take the roll.

02:24:56.459 --> 02:25:14.729
Simmons, Parker, Stacey, Shadle, Sanders, Sellers, Klemm, Monroe. The resolution is adopted 8 to 0.

02:25:16.010 --> 02:25:20.889
Item number 19 is adoption of resolution 2024-115. Could you please read this?

02:25:22.729 --> 02:25:28.969
Resolution approving agreement with Fehr Graham for 2025 Street Design Engineering Services.

02:25:28.969 --> 02:25:34.809
Manager Boyer. Thank you your honor. The city of Freeport is prepping the design plans for

02:25:34.809 --> 02:25:41.049
reconstruct for the 2025 street program. The city plans to use a combination of funding including

02:25:41.049 --> 02:25:46.649
IDOT motor fuel tax, the one percent street fund, and congressman Sorensen's water main funds for

02:25:46.649 --> 02:25:51.690
this year's road program. Current identified streets were brought forward from the one percent

02:25:51.690 --> 02:25:58.729
layout approved by city council in 2024. The 2025 projects include three linear miles of

02:25:58.729 --> 02:26:04.329
of Roadway, and is estimated at a total cost of approximately $5 million in local work.

02:26:04.329 --> 02:26:10.010
Four streets need water main replacement, including Carroll Avenue, and that's from

02:26:10.010 --> 02:26:22.170
1882, Blackhawk Avenue, 1954, a known poorly constructed material, and Willow Avenue, 1956,

02:26:22.170 --> 02:26:27.370
and Harvey, 1925, with all the breaks or water quality history.

02:26:27.370 --> 02:26:33.409
So in general, that's what's moving forward for water main replacements.

02:26:33.409 --> 02:26:37.770
Street planning requires professional design engineering and surveying services.

02:26:37.770 --> 02:26:42.510
Fehr Graham's scope of service will include topographical study, street profiling and

02:26:42.510 --> 02:26:49.549
structure design, ADA ramp intersection design, permitting requirements to the EPA, IDOT,

02:26:49.549 --> 02:26:55.569
and PROAG standards, along with bidding solicitation and negotiation of all contracts.

02:26:55.569 --> 02:27:00.850
An allowance for geotechnical services for pavement and ground borings is provided by

02:27:00.850 --> 02:27:06.889
Fehr Graham to a third-party professional geotech agency as needed for design parameters.

02:27:06.889 --> 02:27:12.170
It is important to the design process that street and 88 topographical and borings are

02:27:12.170 --> 02:27:16.649
picked up before winter weather to keep the project timelines moving in an early summer

02:27:16.649 --> 02:27:18.370
project starting 2025.

02:27:18.370 --> 02:27:25.450
is also vital to get potential utility relocations identified with NICOR and

02:27:25.450 --> 02:27:30.969
ComEd franchise partners not to slow the progress during the construction season.

02:27:30.969 --> 02:27:36.690
And staff is requesting moving forward with the contract for Graham the amount

02:27:36.690 --> 02:27:42.809
of $396,250 so that the 2025 Street program can move forward and there's a

02:27:42.809 --> 02:27:46.850
is a list of the projects that are identified.

02:27:46.850 --> 02:27:48.170
Is there a motion to adopt?

02:27:48.170 --> 02:27:49.290
So moved.

02:27:49.290 --> 02:27:50.329
Second.

02:27:50.329 --> 02:27:52.290
A motion made by Alderman Sellers,

02:27:52.290 --> 02:27:53.809
seconded by Alderman Shadle.

02:27:53.809 --> 02:27:59.209
Discussion on the resolution.

02:27:59.209 --> 02:28:00.709
Madam Clerk, please take the roll.

02:28:00.709 --> 02:28:07.600
Simmons?

02:28:07.600 --> 02:28:08.559
Parker?

02:28:08.559 --> 02:28:09.159
Aye.

02:28:09.159 --> 02:28:13.379
Stacy?

02:28:13.379 --> 02:28:13.899
Shadle?

02:28:13.899 --> 02:28:14.459
Aye.

02:28:14.459 --> 02:28:15.100
Sanders?

02:28:15.100 --> 02:28:15.739
Aye.

02:28:15.739 --> 02:28:16.379
Sellers?

02:28:16.379 --> 02:28:16.940
Aye.

02:28:16.940 --> 02:28:18.540
Klemm?

02:28:18.540 --> 02:28:19.100
Aye.

02:28:19.100 --> 02:28:20.860
And Monroe?

02:28:20.860 --> 02:28:21.420
Aye.

02:28:21.420 --> 02:28:24.659
The resolution is adopted 8 to 0.

02:28:24.659 --> 02:28:29.020
thank you item number 20 is ratification of group approval of a bid could you

02:28:29.020 --> 02:28:34.579
please read this this is ratifying a bid opening on May 22nd 24 Ridge Street and

02:28:34.579 --> 02:28:41.940
Westwood Avenue manager Boyer during the project the Ridge and Westwood Avenue

02:28:41.940 --> 02:28:46.500
projects staff received three bids for Ridge Street and Westwood Avenue

02:28:46.500 --> 02:28:50.860
improvements helm group or civil Freeport Illinois was the lowest

02:28:50.860 --> 02:29:19.659
is there a motion to approve?

02:29:19.659 --> 02:29:21.059
Some move.

02:29:21.059 --> 02:29:21.979
Second.

02:29:21.979 --> 02:29:23.559
Motion made by Alderman Sellers,

02:29:23.559 --> 02:29:25.340
seconded by Alderman Shadle.

02:29:25.340 --> 02:29:29.500
Discussion?

02:29:29.500 --> 02:29:30.799
Madam Clerk, please take the roll.

02:29:30.799 --> 02:29:31.639
Simmons.

02:29:31.639 --> 02:30:07.010
please take the roll. Simmons? Parker? Aye. Stacy? Aye. Shadle? Abstain. Sanders? Aye. Sellers? Aye. Klemm? Aye. And Monroe? No. The motion passes six to one to one abstentia. Item number 21, could you read the next approval? This bid opening was on October 16th, 2024 for sewer lining.

02:30:07.010 --> 02:30:13.389
Manager Boyer. Thank your honor. The city of Freeport has nearly 130 miles of sanitary sewer in the collection system

02:30:13.969 --> 02:30:17.329
during annual project evaluations. Cure and place lining

02:30:17.930 --> 02:30:22.690
locations are identified to rehabilitate sanitary sewer piping with cracks, defects,

02:30:23.569 --> 02:30:30.770
inflow and infiltration issues, or sags in settlement. Our EPA mandatory CMOM sewer capacity

02:30:31.250 --> 02:30:33.250
management plan requires

02:30:33.250 --> 02:30:37.329
specifies that the Freeport addresses annual sewer

02:30:37.329 --> 02:30:41.149
rehabilitations, our collection system mainline piping for

02:30:41.149 --> 02:30:44.709
environmental concerns. Sewer lining is considered an industry

02:30:44.709 --> 02:30:49.129
accepted method for sewer main pipe rehabilitation and is more

02:30:49.129 --> 02:30:52.850
economical than open cut excavation methods. Sewer lining

02:30:52.850 --> 02:30:56.409
is over 10 times cheaper to install and industry standards

02:30:56.409 --> 02:31:00.129
estimate over 60 years of sustainable useful life will

02:31:00.129 --> 02:31:30.129
basically come from the lined pipe. In October 2016, Fehr Graham and the city staff had a public bid opening for nine thousand five hundred and nine linear feet of sanitary sewer lining. These sewer areas are identified as Oak, Chicago, Uricoy, as of a section of Dirk and Grove. The city had three reputable bidders that specialized in sewer lining cement bids. National Power Rotting was the lowest responsive bidder at three hundred and eighty two thousand

02:31:30.129 --> 02:31:38.170
$712.24 significantly under the engineers estimates. City staff requests city

02:31:38.170 --> 02:31:43.750
council to approve the national power rotting estimate as the low response to

02:31:43.750 --> 02:31:48.450
bidder. And just FYI this is just following up our current road program

02:31:48.450 --> 02:31:53.170
we're just a little behind on this part of it but it was budgeted. Is there a

02:31:53.170 --> 02:31:59.209
motion to approve? So moved. Second. Motion made by Sellers, seconded by Shadle.

02:31:59.209 --> 02:32:17.889
How are we doing our data gathering to determine how much lining that is necessary throughout

02:32:17.889 --> 02:32:18.889
and others.

02:32:18.889 --> 02:32:19.889
So I'm wondering if you could tell us a little bit about the

02:32:19.889 --> 02:32:29.729
city and are we inspecting those deteriorating lines, sewer lines, to determine who gets

02:32:29.729 --> 02:32:36.969
what in certain sectors of the city as far as rehabilitation is concerned?

02:32:36.969 --> 02:32:45.129
How do you come about your data to determine this kind of a program for liners to come

02:32:45.129 --> 02:32:46.129
in?

02:32:46.129 --> 02:32:56.370
on top of that. Is this project up for bidding? Yeah, it says up for bidding. We're looking

02:32:56.370 --> 02:33:07.649
for bidders to come in and circumvent that. Well, I just wanted to know that because we're

02:33:07.649 --> 02:33:14.450
doing an investment of aligning if we don't get the right bidders who can do a professional,

02:33:14.450 --> 02:33:31.649
We have really good records on the material type and locations of all our sewer mains.

02:33:31.649 --> 02:33:36.370
In general, we have a large percent that's clay.

02:33:36.370 --> 02:33:39.010
The clay is, we line the clay.

02:33:39.010 --> 02:33:41.049
If it's concrete, we'll evaluate it.

02:33:41.049 --> 02:33:42.770
If it's plastic, we don't line it.

02:33:42.770 --> 02:33:49.489
does that answer your question? Yeah that that pretty much did it. Well can I come back?

02:33:51.489 --> 02:33:58.370
Are we doing a visual? Yes. Inspections? Yes we do a camera inspection of every street that we repave.

02:33:58.370 --> 02:34:04.770
Okay. So well like on Iroquois this year we had a I want to say a 200 foot cave-in on Iroquois that

02:34:04.770 --> 02:34:10.129
had to be fixed before we did the road work we did that but then we lined it all of it so.

02:34:10.129 --> 02:34:18.170
All right thank you. There's no further discussion. Madam Clerk, please take the

02:34:18.170 --> 02:34:33.450
roll. Simmons? Aye. Parker? Aye. Stacy? Aye. Shadle? Aye. Sanders? Aye. Sellers? Aye. Klemm? Monroe?

02:34:33.450 --> 02:34:34.450
Bickel.

02:34:34.450 --> 02:34:35.450
Aye.

02:34:35.450 --> 02:34:38.530
The motion passes eight to zero.

02:34:38.530 --> 02:34:43.049
And Madam Clerk, if you could read the item number 22.

02:34:43.049 --> 02:34:47.510
Discussion and approval to establish an ordinance providing for the submission to the electors

02:34:47.510 --> 02:34:52.209
of the city of Freeport, Stevenson County, Illinois, a binding referendum question of

02:34:52.209 --> 02:34:57.250
whether to provide public funding for a 12-foot water main extension to open Bible daycare

02:34:57.250 --> 02:35:03.290
Mayor, located at 3800 West Stevenson Street to be placed on the ballot at the April 1st,

02:35:03.290 --> 02:35:05.290
2025 Consolidated Election.

02:35:05.290 --> 02:35:14.239
Ms. Stacy, did you want to take this?

02:35:14.239 --> 02:35:26.879
This has been all over the place with information, truths and untruths, and at this point I feel

02:35:26.879 --> 02:35:42.209
that it's only fair and just that the people have say so over this project happening or

02:35:42.209 --> 02:35:51.389
not.

02:35:51.389 --> 02:36:18.760
If we have a million dollars to give a private organization, then I hope we can match that

02:36:18.760 --> 02:36:29.000
in our street fund. Our taxes went up one percent so that we could get streets fixed.

02:36:29.559 --> 02:36:41.159
And are you saying that we have a million dollars somewhere that we can just give for a project

02:36:44.420 --> 02:36:55.899
that should not be our responsibility? I don't know. Do paperwork exist or if it don't exist?

02:36:55.899 --> 02:37:11.889
I guess that's neither here nor there anymore. Mayor Getz said it all when he came and he

02:37:11.889 --> 02:37:23.889
spoke at the mic and he indicated that nothing never came to the council. Nothing hit the

02:37:23.889 --> 02:37:28.889
and the Council floor, nothing was addressed to the Council.

02:37:29.649 --> 02:37:34.649
So if Open Bible really felt, wanted, expected

02:37:40.250 --> 02:37:46.590
the city to house this million dollar project,

02:37:46.649 --> 02:37:49.909
why didn't they come correct?

02:37:49.909 --> 02:37:53.209
Why didn't they do right by the Council?

02:37:53.209 --> 02:37:55.649
We didn't have city manager then.

02:37:55.649 --> 02:38:01.299
We was full-time mayor and council.

02:38:01.299 --> 02:38:05.260
And that never happened.

02:38:05.260 --> 02:38:10.260
And I just don't feel that tax dollars should be taken

02:38:11.420 --> 02:38:16.260
from our constituents to fund this project.

02:38:16.260 --> 02:38:18.840
And I feel that the people of Freeport

02:38:18.840 --> 02:38:25.479
should have say so in that matter.

02:38:25.479 --> 02:38:28.159
Okay, so there's a few things that I'd like to say

02:38:28.159 --> 02:38:29.159
and so on.

02:38:29.159 --> 02:38:32.840
The topics that you just said, I have absolutely no idea what the untruths are.

02:38:32.840 --> 02:38:36.040
Maybe you could bring those to us so we could address whatever those might be because I

02:38:36.040 --> 02:38:38.360
don't know any of the untruths.

02:38:38.360 --> 02:38:43.159
And as far as people having to say so, that's the responsibility of the aldermen to hear

02:38:43.159 --> 02:38:44.799
what their constituents are saying.

02:38:44.799 --> 02:38:49.239
That's why you were elected to that spot, to hear what your constituents say.

02:38:49.239 --> 02:38:55.799
And as far as giving a private organization a million dollars, that's not true.

02:38:55.799 --> 02:38:57.799
We're not handing them a million dollars.

02:38:57.799 --> 02:39:01.079
We are obligated to our constituents that live within the city limits.

02:39:01.079 --> 02:39:04.420
It doesn't matter which side of town you live on.

02:39:04.420 --> 02:39:09.719
If water is a need for you, then we are obligated.

02:39:09.719 --> 02:39:14.840
To say it's not our responsibility, I don't believe that that's true.

02:39:14.840 --> 02:39:23.360
And as far as tax dollars being taken, we are working daily on trying to find funding.

02:39:23.360 --> 02:39:26.319
So there's no tax dollars being taken.

02:39:26.319 --> 02:39:29.959
This is no different than any street project out there.

02:39:29.959 --> 02:39:33.120
You know any street project out there we're going to be spending over a million dollars on Carroll Street next year

02:39:33.360 --> 02:39:38.159
Do you think that that should have to go to a referendum to see if the rest of the people want to do that?

02:39:40.159 --> 02:39:46.079
So it the responsibility lies with the alderman to make the decisions of what's best for the whole

02:39:47.600 --> 02:39:49.600
The tax

02:39:50.239 --> 02:39:52.239
One percent tax

02:39:52.239 --> 02:40:01.799
was taken for our streets so we could do the carols, so we could do the locusts, so we

02:40:01.799 --> 02:40:12.879
could do the air course, so we could do the Dewey. We were taxed for that. This is not

02:40:12.879 --> 02:40:17.040
a community. This is a business.

02:40:17.040 --> 02:40:27.200
It's a one business, 11 residents and Highland. However, the residents are not asking for

02:40:27.200 --> 02:40:41.540
this. You went from saying water main for open Bible to now west of Steveson Street.

02:40:41.540 --> 02:40:49.000
No, let's just keep it real plain and simple. It's a water main you all want to put in for

02:40:49.000 --> 02:41:00.319
for Open Bible. Not the community, not the constituents, because they're not asking for

02:41:00.319 --> 02:41:05.260
nothing.

02:41:05.260 --> 02:41:29.799
Alderman Klemm? Well, that might be a question to Attorney Zito.

02:41:29.799 --> 02:41:37.120
So as far as the referendum question goes, one, well, let me answer, let me answer the

02:41:37.120 --> 02:41:42.500
first question. Alderman Stacy, you had asked what's the deadline for having the council

02:41:42.500 --> 02:41:47.500
We will adopt a resolution or ordinance in order to place a referendum question on the April 1st ballot.

02:41:47.500 --> 02:41:52.500
The deadline is January 13th, 2025.

02:41:52.500 --> 02:42:00.500
Also, that's the deadline that the City Council, if you guys were to want to put something on the ballot, that's when we would have to adopt the resolution or ordinance by.

02:42:00.500 --> 02:42:06.500
With regards to whether or not that referendum should be a binding referendum or an advisory referendum,

02:42:06.500 --> 02:42:11.840
The research that my office has done leads me to believe that this referendum would not

02:42:11.840 --> 02:42:13.579
be a binding referendum.

02:42:13.579 --> 02:42:17.559
It could be an advisory referendum, but it would not be a binding referendum based off

02:42:17.559 --> 02:42:22.260
of the research that we've done as to what the case law and the statutes say.

02:42:22.260 --> 02:42:26.500
So ultimately, if the council did want to put this to the people, it would just basically

02:42:26.500 --> 02:42:30.700
be to gauge the temperature of what the people want there, and then you guys would still

02:42:30.700 --> 02:42:35.739
make a decision as to whether or not to move forward with it or not there.

02:42:35.739 --> 02:42:39.379
I know, several hands went up. I'll just start over here. All of them in the park room will work out way around.

02:42:39.379 --> 02:42:43.299
One thing is, this is something our city officials 25 years ago

02:42:43.299 --> 02:42:47.620
agreed to. The city was obligated, the city did nothing

02:42:47.620 --> 02:42:52.299
and now all of a sudden it's come up again and my concern is regardless of what we

02:42:52.299 --> 02:42:53.139
do here

02:42:53.139 --> 02:42:56.620
if we don't commit what we're supposed to do and take care of

02:42:56.620 --> 02:43:02.139
city and people with their water where we supply the other 20,000 people

02:43:02.139 --> 02:43:05.079
they're gonna take it to court we're gonna have a judge no matter what we

02:43:05.079 --> 02:43:09.639
decide or the referendum a judge is gonna order us to do it anyway so I think this

02:43:09.639 --> 02:43:14.360
is it's sad it's we write we don't have the money but we've got several young

02:43:14.360 --> 02:43:19.420
kids out there every day and we none of us want to see any of them die from a

02:43:19.420 --> 02:43:24.000
fire or anything so I totally agree we got to fix it and we got to do it as

02:43:24.000 --> 02:43:25.899
soon as we can thank you.

02:43:25.899 --> 02:43:26.899
Alderman Monroe.

02:43:26.899 --> 02:43:27.899
Thank You Madam Mayor.

02:43:27.899 --> 02:43:32.899
This goes back to the conversation I just had. 1.2 million for a fire engine.

02:43:32.899 --> 02:43:36.899
One million dollars for a water line out to a school.

02:43:36.899 --> 02:43:42.899
This 174 students currently enrolled. They have a max enrollment of 217.

02:43:42.899 --> 02:43:47.899
And there is a lot of room for daycare. And that's all walks of life.

02:43:47.899 --> 02:43:53.899
That's all people at Freeport. This is helping families who can't find daycare elsewhere.

02:43:53.899 --> 02:43:54.899
Miller.

02:43:54.899 --> 02:43:59.139
Daycare is one of the most expensive things out there for a family, a working family to

02:43:59.139 --> 02:44:01.219
provide support for.

02:44:01.219 --> 02:44:04.739
And it's harder and harder every day.

02:44:04.739 --> 02:44:08.819
And we've got to do the things, look, I hate this as much as you guys do.

02:44:08.819 --> 02:44:09.899
I wish it was done.

02:44:09.899 --> 02:44:11.899
I wish it was taken care of.

02:44:11.899 --> 02:44:13.920
But it wasn't.

02:44:13.920 --> 02:44:20.760
And I am disappointed that, you know, somebody's feet weren't held to the fire, excuse my connection

02:44:20.760 --> 02:44:25.680
here, sooner, because this is something that should have been done. And I asked a question

02:44:25.680 --> 02:44:33.399
many, many, a couple of years ago, where did all the money go over the last 30 years? And

02:44:33.399 --> 02:44:37.760
I've never gotten a good answer. Matter of fact, I'd like to see line items of where

02:44:37.760 --> 02:44:43.680
the money was spent. But we only go back to about 2017. Before that, we can't even get

02:44:43.680 --> 02:44:44.680
Fowler.

02:44:44.680 --> 02:44:49.319
We've got accurate, clear information of where this money has been spent.

02:44:49.319 --> 02:44:51.040
And that's a problem.

02:44:51.040 --> 02:44:57.120
And now we're going back 25 years, which who knows where documents and emails or whatever

02:44:57.120 --> 02:44:58.760
may have gone.

02:44:58.760 --> 02:45:04.959
But we have to look at, you know, this is a nonprofit, am I right?

02:45:04.959 --> 02:45:05.959
This is a nonprofit?

02:45:05.959 --> 02:45:06.959
Is that?

02:45:06.959 --> 02:45:07.959
Yeah, right.

02:45:07.959 --> 02:45:13.239
So, you know, we're not talking about a pro-for-profit business.

02:45:13.239 --> 02:45:18.219
We've got another one on the west side of town that needs water, but that's a business.

02:45:18.219 --> 02:45:21.200
That's a profitable profit business.

02:45:21.200 --> 02:45:27.180
This one is not, and this one really is geared toward children zero to five years of age,

02:45:27.180 --> 02:45:30.840
you know, that kindergarten, even up to fifth grade.

02:45:30.840 --> 02:45:34.200
And you know, they really want to have more students come out there.

02:45:34.200 --> 02:45:37.920
I don't know if a lot of people know what they do there.

02:45:37.920 --> 02:45:40.959
Until a few years ago, I didn't know what they did.

02:45:40.959 --> 02:45:43.040
But it's something that we've got to figure out.

02:45:43.040 --> 02:45:49.040
does provide water to other entities. At first, you know, I thought it was a little bit ridiculous,

02:45:49.040 --> 02:45:54.379
the cost. And then I talked to Mr. Steekle about that, and he kind of filled me in on

02:45:54.379 --> 02:45:59.680
where the cost was going and how much it typically costs to do it. But getting that water to

02:45:59.680 --> 02:46:04.399
the school does provide a great service for the citizens of Freeport. And that's where

02:46:04.399 --> 02:46:09.600
we really have to make a judgment. And quite honestly, I think if this goes to referendum,

02:46:09.600 --> 02:46:10.600
Miller.

02:46:10.600 --> 02:46:14.120
If it comes from this floor, the answer is going to be the same from the community.

02:46:14.120 --> 02:46:15.319
Let's get this done.

02:46:15.319 --> 02:46:16.319
Let's figure this out.

02:46:16.319 --> 02:46:19.040
Let's find a way to make it happen and go from there.

02:46:19.040 --> 02:46:20.040
Omer Sellers?

02:46:20.040 --> 02:46:21.040
Oh, okay.

02:46:21.040 --> 02:46:33.600
No, I know that in the beginning, I was more just trying to figure out the responsibilities

02:46:33.600 --> 02:46:40.940
of all the people that were supposed to take care of this 25 years ago and it didn't happen.

02:46:40.940 --> 02:46:49.959
But I did go to Amity, I did go to and talk to different people that I knew in the community

02:46:49.959 --> 02:46:59.000
about the situation and I do agree it is children and it is families that need to have somewhere

02:46:59.000 --> 02:47:06.200
Miller to take their children, and I do know that there's a lot of children that are on

02:47:06.200 --> 02:47:10.879
waiting lists to get into daycares.

02:47:10.879 --> 02:47:20.680
So my first answer was, you know, what are they going to do to help us?

02:47:20.680 --> 02:47:27.659
And I still would like to know, I mean, not Amity, but Open Bible also trying to look

02:47:27.659 --> 02:47:35.299
for financing to help with the situation. And I know that we already spent the $69,000

02:47:35.299 --> 02:47:42.620
on putting the plan together, but I do know that it is something that we do need to have

02:47:42.620 --> 02:47:49.299
more daycares. And I do know talking with Ashley Harm that they would even like to build

02:47:49.299 --> 02:47:56.739
more on to Amity because they don't have the room. So my heart would feel heavy knowing

02:47:56.739 --> 02:48:00.420
and that these children don't have anywhere to go

02:48:00.420 --> 02:48:03.819
to be protected and have somewhere to be.

02:48:03.819 --> 02:48:07.659
And I know a lot of people, that's what they came to me with

02:48:07.659 --> 02:48:09.579
is where would the children go?

02:48:09.579 --> 02:48:13.040
You know, where would these families have, you know,

02:48:13.040 --> 02:48:15.899
parents that, you know, you don't have anywhere

02:48:15.899 --> 02:48:17.979
to send your kids so you can't go to work.

02:48:17.979 --> 02:48:19.579
So I do understand that.

02:48:19.579 --> 02:48:24.579
My big concern is I would also like to just see Open Bible

02:48:24.579 --> 02:48:32.459
Do some type of also grant looking at to try to help us as the city so I am in

02:48:32.459 --> 02:48:40.579
agreement with us trying to help open Bible and the other people that live on

02:48:40.579 --> 02:48:45.500
Stevenson Street to have the water so that they can have clean fresh water

02:48:45.500 --> 02:48:52.940
like everybody else does so I do understand the the concern so that's my

02:48:52.940 --> 02:48:53.940
Huffines.

02:48:53.940 --> 02:49:09.139
I just want to find out when does the city become liable to non-for-profit organizations?

02:49:09.139 --> 02:49:16.700
I heard the testimonies and the reasons why, but we're not social workers and we're not

02:49:16.700 --> 02:49:25.219
but the kind of organization or community who's going to put something in place and then tax

02:49:25.219 --> 02:49:27.739
the taxpayers.

02:49:27.739 --> 02:49:31.600
Peters, and put this burden on the taxpayers.

02:49:31.600 --> 02:49:38.760
And that's what the general conversation is considering, without looking at the burden

02:49:38.760 --> 02:49:45.319
that the taxpayers have to endure when all of these things try to take place.

02:49:45.319 --> 02:49:56.670
Now I can understand why the referendum was proposed, because there's been a lot of negative

02:49:56.670 --> 02:49:57.670
and John.

02:49:57.670 --> 02:50:11.469
We're trying to address it up as if though we don't know about the past 25 somewhat odd

02:50:11.469 --> 02:50:20.950
years that the city fire marshals have been put on notice to validate this place because

02:50:20.950 --> 02:50:22.909
they have been in violation.

02:50:22.909 --> 02:50:27.629
That's the whole purpose of us having this conversation.

02:50:27.629 --> 02:50:39.469
If we're gonna allow one organization to receive that kind of money for service rendered for

02:50:39.469 --> 02:50:44.590
a non-for-profit organization, even though I understand it's for the sake of the children

02:50:44.590 --> 02:50:46.829
and whatever the case may be.

02:50:46.829 --> 02:50:56.370
but everybody in the city don't have the same opinion as our council members does and so

02:50:56.370 --> 02:51:03.110
the thing about it is we're going to exclude the opinions and the thoughts of the people,

02:51:03.110 --> 02:51:12.870
the constituents of the city and then put ourself in a religious type or a spectrum.

02:51:12.870 --> 02:51:18.469
If we're trying to do that, then we're failing the people.

02:51:18.469 --> 02:51:25.229
For all of the ones that are not part of non-for-profit, the ones that are not part of churches, one

02:51:25.229 --> 02:51:31.350
does not believe in the things that these types of organizations are doing, we're putting

02:51:31.350 --> 02:51:41.389
them in a situation making them liable to spend their tax dollars on a program that

02:51:41.389 --> 02:51:42.389
and so on.

02:51:42.389 --> 02:51:43.829
And I think that's something that they're not in tune with.

02:51:43.829 --> 02:51:51.790
So my thing is, if it's going to happen for one non-for-profit organization and other

02:51:51.790 --> 02:51:58.309
non-for-profit organization want you to address their problems and issues and whatever the

02:51:58.309 --> 02:52:06.190
case is, are we going to be committed to do that for these particular non-for-profit organization

02:52:06.190 --> 02:52:08.850
with taxpayers' dollars?

02:52:08.850 --> 02:52:11.649
and that's where I draw the line at

02:52:11.649 --> 02:52:15.569
because the city, from what I understood

02:52:15.569 --> 02:52:19.409
all the time that I've asked for support,

02:52:19.409 --> 02:52:23.290
I was told the city does not support

02:52:23.290 --> 02:52:28.049
not-for-profit organization or any organization

02:52:28.049 --> 02:52:31.569
when it comes to funding for some entity.

02:52:31.569 --> 02:52:36.409
Now this is what I was told and when I think about this,

02:52:36.409 --> 02:52:40.370
I'm saying to myself, well, I wanted to make an impact

02:52:40.370 --> 02:52:43.690
within the city, but the funding does not allow me

02:52:43.690 --> 02:52:47.889
to do that when I ask for donations from the city itself.

02:52:47.889 --> 02:52:50.409
I can't even get a donation from the city

02:52:50.409 --> 02:52:53.409
to make an impact with all of the taxpayers

02:52:53.409 --> 02:52:56.889
who want to be a part of an event

02:52:56.889 --> 02:52:59.889
to make a difference within the city of Freeport.

02:52:59.889 --> 02:53:03.209
Well, I was told, no, that cannot happen.

02:53:03.209 --> 02:53:08.209
Well here we are again, someone coming to the podium

02:53:08.209 --> 02:53:11.930
asking for this kind of consideration.

02:53:11.930 --> 02:53:14.969
And the first thing I'd like to know is,

02:53:14.969 --> 02:53:18.090
are we gonna talk about all of the violations for years

02:53:18.090 --> 02:53:21.129
that this one particular organization

02:53:21.129 --> 02:53:22.690
had been involved in?

02:53:22.690 --> 02:53:25.889
We never got around to any of those kinds of things.

02:53:25.889 --> 02:53:30.530
And then for someone to present to the council

02:53:30.530 --> 02:53:31.530
and I.

02:53:31.530 --> 02:53:38.610
So, as if though there's a paper trail that has been involved for I don't know how long.

02:53:38.610 --> 02:53:41.770
We have not been introduced to these kinds of things.

02:53:41.770 --> 02:53:48.209
There's no introduction to the paper trail of the liabilities, first of all, being discussed

02:53:48.209 --> 02:53:49.770
with the council.

02:53:49.770 --> 02:53:57.290
The council has not discussed this matter fully and there's nothing to document it.

02:53:57.290 --> 02:54:06.170
So my thing is, which direction are we going with this? Because you can't do for one and

02:54:06.170 --> 02:54:13.569
can't do for the others. And you can't take taxpayers' dollars to take and use it for

02:54:13.569 --> 02:54:18.889
non-for-profit organizations. And I was told that you can't do that. And I'm sitting right

02:54:18.889 --> 02:54:27.129
here today wondering why we're even having this discussion. I would like for somebody

02:54:27.129 --> 02:54:28.129
Winslow.

02:54:28.129 --> 02:54:33.530
I want to reiterate the fact that I couldn't do it for Mr. Sanders.

02:54:33.530 --> 02:54:36.370
Why am I doing it for the open Bible school?

02:54:36.370 --> 02:54:42.690
You know, if that is the case, then we need to look at this thing a little bit closer

02:54:42.690 --> 02:54:50.809
because it bothers me and disturbs me if we decide or everybody is trying to voice their

02:54:50.809 --> 02:54:56.590
opinion about it and be swayed by the council to push this thing through because we're talking

02:54:56.590 --> 02:55:00.149
and about over a million dollars of taxpayer's dollars.

02:55:00.149 --> 02:55:05.149
And we cannot look our constituents in the eye

02:55:05.229 --> 02:55:08.409
and ask them, was that okay?

02:55:08.409 --> 02:55:09.870
How you feel about that?

02:55:09.870 --> 02:55:13.549
And that's the reason why the referendum was proposed

02:55:13.549 --> 02:55:18.149
to give the people the majority to look at the situation

02:55:18.149 --> 02:55:22.010
and hear the thing out because everybody in the city

02:55:22.010 --> 02:55:24.989
does not see the views and the opinions

02:55:24.989 --> 02:55:27.629
of everybody in the council.

02:55:27.629 --> 02:55:29.590
OK, so I'm going to try to answer

02:55:29.590 --> 02:55:30.829
what I think you're asking.

02:55:30.829 --> 02:55:35.450
So we cannot and will not show favoritism towards one entity.

02:55:35.450 --> 02:55:37.829
We will treat every single one alike

02:55:37.829 --> 02:55:42.469
when every constituent, every existing business,

02:55:42.469 --> 02:55:43.989
however you want to look at that,

02:55:43.989 --> 02:55:51.069
is responsible for taking the line to the water main,

02:55:51.069 --> 02:55:53.430
and then they are responsible in hooking that up.

02:55:53.430 --> 02:55:58.829
is no different. So that's what they would be responsible for. So we're not treating

02:55:58.829 --> 02:56:01.110
them differently. We're not handing them a million dollars.

02:56:01.110 --> 02:56:02.469
Yeah, that's what we're doing.

02:56:02.469 --> 02:56:03.469
No, we're not.

02:56:03.469 --> 02:56:05.190
Your argument fails on that point.

02:56:05.190 --> 02:56:10.870
No, we're not handing them a million dollars. We are obligated to all constituents to provide

02:56:10.870 --> 02:56:11.870
water.

02:56:11.870 --> 02:56:15.030
Because the taxpayers have not had a say-so in the matter.

02:56:15.030 --> 02:56:19.629
Well, their say-so comes to you standing for whatever they have.

02:56:19.629 --> 02:56:25.909
and we're arguing, we're having this argument for the constituents of the city of Freeport

02:56:25.909 --> 02:56:32.110
so they know that we're in correspondence with the laws of this city and how we conduct

02:56:32.110 --> 02:56:38.030
ourselves when it comes to doing one for one and one for the other, differently for the

02:56:38.030 --> 02:56:39.030
others.

02:56:39.030 --> 02:56:44.709
Yeah, this is what the argument is and if we're saying that, well, it's okay for us

02:56:44.709 --> 02:56:48.350
to just chunk out a million dollars to run a water main.

02:56:48.350 --> 02:56:52.700
Well, we're not. So Darren, you want to say something?

02:56:52.700 --> 02:56:53.700
It's my turn, yes.

02:56:53.700 --> 02:56:54.700
Yeah.

02:56:54.700 --> 02:57:04.860
So I just want to bring this back to what I think is a common grounder clarification.

02:57:04.860 --> 02:57:11.540
Two years ago, we replaced all the water main on Laurel Street from Park up to Lincoln Douglas

02:57:11.540 --> 02:57:17.540
School. It was bad. And that project was a million dollars. And it was defective water

02:57:17.540 --> 02:57:23.180
Mayne that was aged and so nobody had a problem with that project that's feeding water within

02:57:23.180 --> 02:57:30.860
our let me finish it's feeding water it does not it does not yeah well it's irrelevant

02:57:30.860 --> 02:57:34.260
for what you're talking about be quiet Mr. Sanders you don't have the floor i know i

02:57:34.260 --> 02:57:40.420
don't but it's irrelevant to comply with the rules you're not complying you need to be

02:57:40.420 --> 02:57:46.579
quiet or you can excuse yourself well i'm not going to excuse myself i just back up

02:57:46.579 --> 02:57:54.079
I like fair justice to be done. Yeah. Darren, finish. Anyway, my point is we replaced infrastructure

02:57:54.079 --> 02:57:59.620
that needed to be replaced. We've been doing this for the last seven years in town. Next

02:57:59.620 --> 02:58:03.819
year we're going to replace more water main this defective Black Hawk Street. We're going

02:58:03.819 --> 02:58:09.620
to replace Carroll Street. We're going to replace Willow. We've done some water main on Dewey

02:58:09.620 --> 02:58:16.420
Street. It's our responsibility as a community to provide the public water service to our

02:58:16.420 --> 02:58:18.420
and our constituents.

02:58:18.420 --> 02:58:21.100
We are not just supplying a line to Open Bible.

02:58:21.100 --> 02:58:26.299
They happen to be a result no different than Lincoln Douglas School being able to have

02:58:26.299 --> 02:58:27.299
the water supply.

02:58:27.299 --> 02:58:31.139
If the main wasn't there, they wouldn't have been able to have it either.

02:58:31.139 --> 02:58:35.659
So I'm a, I don't, it doesn't bother me either way.

02:58:35.659 --> 02:58:37.579
I'm just throwing facts out there.

02:58:37.579 --> 02:58:42.899
The facts are that we build mains throughout town within the city limits to provide service

02:58:42.899 --> 02:58:43.899
in the city limits.

02:58:43.899 --> 02:58:49.219
if a business went out next to Open Bible we would not let them drill a well it's

02:58:49.219 --> 02:58:54.079
against our code so what will we do at that point we still have to provide the

02:58:54.079 --> 02:58:59.139
water main on the street or the sewer main to get to those locations and they

02:58:59.139 --> 02:59:04.500
are within the city limits so while this is a bad pill to swallow this is the

02:59:04.500 --> 02:59:08.680
point of doing main replacement all over town it's an investment it's a costly

02:59:08.680 --> 02:59:13.479
investment and it takes lots of time to get back that investment is no different

02:59:13.479 --> 02:59:18.159
if it's on Carroll Street, if it's on Laurel Street, if it's on Stevenson Street, or any

02:59:18.159 --> 02:59:22.879
other street in town, it's the same dollar of investment.

02:59:22.879 --> 02:59:25.719
We're going to move on to Alderman Shadle, it's his turn.

02:59:25.719 --> 02:59:25.920
Thank you.

02:59:25.920 --> 02:59:54.000
Shadle. It's his turn. Thank you. You can't dominate the meeting. I had a question. I've been waiting patiently, Mr. Sanders. I'm going to ask you to just sit back for a minute. That might be true, but I had a follow-up. Alderman Shadle has the floor. Well, what's going to happen to my follow-up? It's Alderman Shadle's floor. First off, I have talked to one of the homeowners out there that will get

02:59:54.000 --> 03:00:02.360
from this, and he was adamant that he would be the first one to hook up.

03:00:02.360 --> 03:00:13.340
Looking back 25 years, that church did absolutely everything that the city of Freeport asked

03:00:13.340 --> 03:00:17.579
them to do to get their building permit.

03:00:17.579 --> 03:00:21.319
They were told if they were going to build that church, they had to put in a sprinkler

03:00:21.319 --> 03:00:22.319
Miller.

03:00:22.319 --> 03:00:25.200
And they wrote the check.

03:00:25.200 --> 03:00:33.799
Have no idea for a fact what money they spent, but I'm guessing probably $20,000, $30,000

03:00:33.799 --> 03:00:36.920
that they put out.

03:00:36.920 --> 03:00:43.639
And we can try to put blame on who said what, but at the end of the day, somebody told that

03:00:43.639 --> 03:00:48.360
church that that water would come or they wouldn't have spent that money putting a sprinkler

03:00:48.360 --> 03:00:49.360
system in.

03:00:49.360 --> 03:00:50.360
That's right.

03:00:50.360 --> 03:00:51.360
Johnson.

03:00:51.360 --> 03:00:52.360
They just plain and simple.

03:00:52.360 --> 03:00:58.600
They not only put it in, they put the run to the right-of-way.

03:00:58.600 --> 03:01:01.239
It's ready for the city to hook up.

03:01:01.239 --> 03:01:05.879
They did absolutely everything they were asked to do.

03:01:05.879 --> 03:01:13.180
Somehow you're thinking that they should have been knocking at our door.

03:01:13.180 --> 03:01:15.600
Maybe they should have.

03:01:15.600 --> 03:01:23.120
but at the end of the day, somebody here told them that they were going to get water and

03:01:23.120 --> 03:01:29.340
they didn't get it and nobody here took care of that.

03:01:29.340 --> 03:01:37.659
What it all comes down to is we're sitting here and it's up to us.

03:01:37.659 --> 03:01:45.040
It should have been taken care of, 25, 20, 15, 10, it should have been taken care of

03:01:45.040 --> 03:01:57.639
but it wasn't and here we are and we have a responsibility and I feel we have an obligation

03:01:57.639 --> 03:02:01.700
and we need to get it done.

03:02:01.700 --> 03:02:08.790
Alderman Stacey.

03:02:08.790 --> 03:02:19.100
Darren, every example you gave was replacement defected water mains.

03:02:19.100 --> 03:02:34.309
This is not a replacement and last week you made a comment that was unfair.

03:02:34.309 --> 03:02:44.200
If it was on the other side of town, would we even be having this conversation?

03:02:44.200 --> 03:02:58.959
Audemar Parker, not a city official, community development person, not someone that had authority

03:02:58.959 --> 03:03:11.959
to even say or shake hands, again, why didn't they bring it to the council?

03:03:11.959 --> 03:03:17.000
If they were going to do right by the city and expected the city to do right by them,

03:03:17.000 --> 03:03:22.879
why didn't they come forward and ask the city?

03:03:22.879 --> 03:03:26.200
Now all you hear about, what about the kids?

03:03:26.200 --> 03:03:28.239
What about the kids?

03:03:28.239 --> 03:03:32.760
What about the kids 25 years ago?

03:03:32.760 --> 03:03:37.360
I've worked with kids at the Freeport School District for 20 years.

03:03:37.360 --> 03:03:40.680
Yeah, what about the kids?

03:03:40.680 --> 03:03:42.440
Why are they even still out there?

03:03:42.440 --> 03:03:47.479
Why haven't they made arrangements with ACWIN or somewhere

03:03:47.479 --> 03:03:54.659
to get the kids out there and still give them what they need?

03:03:54.659 --> 03:04:01.280
They're still in danger.

03:04:01.280 --> 03:04:11.840
There was a letter that was rejecting

03:04:11.840 --> 03:04:19.350
this happening by Blackburn, who came and had his say last week, but he didn't talk

03:04:19.350 --> 03:04:43.270
about that, he didn't talk about him rejecting it, but he did. There's a church on Pleasant

03:04:43.270 --> 03:04:57.579
and Galena and Amity was supposed to move in that church and open up a daycare. However,

03:04:57.579 --> 03:05:18.110
However, all that was denied because the water sprinkler isn't compliance.

03:05:18.110 --> 03:05:22.729
So watch what you're saying.

03:05:22.729 --> 03:05:31.450
What you do for one, are you willing to do for another?

03:05:31.450 --> 03:05:35.329
You do know that we aren't responsible to put in a sprinkler, right?

03:05:35.329 --> 03:05:46.530
Alderman Getz came here and he spoke and he said there is no legal binding contract, nothing.

03:05:46.530 --> 03:06:24.649
that holds the city responsible. Blackburn said, oh, I remember the handshake. Okay, you remember the handshake. A handshake don't make the city responsible. And what is the fear in giving the constituents the say-so? This is their tax dollars.

03:06:25.649 --> 03:06:26.649
Huffines.

03:06:26.649 --> 03:06:58.690
I guess I'd like to say I understand, but I think everybody that came tonight was for

03:06:58.690 --> 03:07:06.209
helping open Bible and we didn't have anyone that came to say no.

03:07:06.209 --> 03:07:07.729
So I guess that's me.

03:07:07.729 --> 03:07:19.290
I guess I look for if the people have something to say, I mean just like we do or the people

03:07:19.290 --> 03:07:24.649
that are out there now, I think they should have came and said something, you know, that

03:07:24.649 --> 03:07:27.309
it's not right or we shouldn't do it.

03:07:27.309 --> 03:07:35.709
But like I said, my second thought after talking with a lot of people, you know, they understood

03:07:35.709 --> 03:07:44.389
and the process. So I don't see anyone here that is out in the audience or came or said

03:07:44.389 --> 03:07:53.149
anything that are saying no. You know, I guess if I heard some people saying, you know, no

03:07:53.149 --> 03:08:00.110
to the project, I guess I would have a different take on it. But I don't see anyone that has

03:08:00.110 --> 03:08:01.110
and John.

03:08:01.110 --> 03:08:05.750
So, I guess that's what I would like to know.

03:08:05.750 --> 03:08:10.889
I would like to have some people say that, you know, that think it's wrong or think we

03:08:10.889 --> 03:08:11.889
shouldn't do it.

03:08:11.889 --> 03:08:20.030
So, I haven't, all the people that I've talked to and made conversation with, as long as

03:08:20.030 --> 03:08:27.190
they can make the connection and we can make our connection, then I guess I know it's 25

03:08:27.190 --> 03:08:31.590
Sanders, and I hate it because it probably would have been way cheaper 25 years ago.

03:08:31.590 --> 03:08:35.790
But hey, this is where we're at now.

03:08:35.790 --> 03:08:36.790
And I just-

03:08:36.790 --> 03:08:37.790
Mayor?

03:08:37.790 --> 03:08:38.790
Yes.

03:08:38.790 --> 03:08:39.790
Alderman Klemm?

03:08:39.790 --> 03:08:40.790
Yes.

03:08:40.790 --> 03:08:54.719
I don't see any-

03:08:54.719 --> 03:08:59.049
That we do or do not?

03:08:59.049 --> 03:09:00.049
Okay.

03:09:00.049 --> 03:09:02.090
So is there a second to that?

03:09:02.090 --> 03:09:03.090
Second.

03:09:03.090 --> 03:09:04.090
Okay.

03:09:04.090 --> 03:09:10.260
Is that-

03:09:10.260 --> 03:09:16.100
So the agenda item was to discuss and approve to establish an ordinance providing the submission

03:09:16.100 --> 03:09:24.000
So this was really just about giving direction, right? This is actually not to put it on the

03:09:24.000 --> 03:09:49.079
So I would frame it in the positive, the way that Alderman Stacy had it, so if she wanted

03:09:49.079 --> 03:09:51.079
and

03:09:52.180 --> 03:09:54.180
John.

03:09:56.200 --> 03:09:58.200
And then, if you were in favor of it, you would vote yes.

03:09:59.319 --> 03:10:01.319
If you were not in favor of having a go to referendum, you

03:10:01.420 --> 03:10:03.420
would vote no.

03:10:04.639 --> 03:10:06.639
So it's basically the same thing, just different wording.

03:10:07.760 --> 03:10:11.100
Correct. You always want a phrase in the positive.

03:10:12.219 --> 03:10:14.219
So how do we handle this with the motion that's on the table

03:10:14.340 --> 03:10:16.340
with the second? I heard Alderman Clem make the motion.

03:10:16.340 --> 03:10:24.690
I guess, Alderman Klemm, would you have any objection to phrasing your motion in the affirmative?

03:10:24.690 --> 03:10:27.690
That's the opposite of what he's asking.

03:10:27.690 --> 03:10:30.690
He wants it to know.

03:10:30.690 --> 03:10:37.690
Okay. Well, that's fine. I mean, it's just a best practice to frame in the positive, so it's not a rule.

03:10:37.690 --> 03:10:47.170
Right.

03:10:47.170 --> 03:10:54.170
Yeah, right. I get where you're going with it. So do you want to keep your motion and it's just voted on in an opposite thought?

03:10:54.170 --> 03:10:59.290
I mean there's nothing, it's not like it's voting on an ordinance, it's just, it basically

03:10:59.290 --> 03:11:01.290
is are we moving this forward or are we not?

03:11:01.290 --> 03:11:08.069
Putting it on an agenda, I mean we're putting it up for a vote or not.

03:11:08.069 --> 03:11:18.379
Correct.

03:11:18.379 --> 03:11:26.780
Alderman Stacey, are you willing to make your motion to have this placed on an agenda, to

03:11:26.780 --> 03:11:31.899
have a resolution placed on the agenda to put this to the vote of the people?

03:11:31.899 --> 03:11:33.940
I would like to make a motion.

03:11:33.940 --> 03:11:41.219
Okay all right so Alderman Klemm, Alderman Stacey is willing to make the motion so are you withdrawing your motion then?

03:11:42.659 --> 03:11:47.780
All right okay Alderman Parker you're going to withdraw your second? All right so Alderman Stacey

03:11:47.780 --> 03:11:54.659
if I understand right you're making a motion to instruct staff to prepare a resolution or ordinance

03:11:55.299 --> 03:12:02.340
to have the question of whether or not to extend the water main place on the ballot at the April 1st

03:12:02.340 --> 03:12:13.639
is there a second? Second. All right we have a motion and a second. Any further

03:12:13.639 --> 03:12:27.319
discussion? All right let's put it to a vote and move on to our next item. No.

03:12:27.319 --> 03:12:50.620
Oops, Parker? No. Stacy? Yes. Shadle? No. Sanders? Yes. Sellers? No. Klemm? And Monroe? No. The motion fails 2 to 6. Move on to item number 23 which is reports of department heads finance.

03:12:50.620 --> 03:12:54.540
Nothing your honor. Thank you. Community development? Nothing tonight Madam Mayor.

03:12:54.540 --> 03:13:00.260
Thank you. Public Works. I'd just like to tell you that at the end of the season

03:13:00.260 --> 03:13:04.139
here we will have paved 7.5 miles of roads this year.

03:13:04.139 --> 03:13:09.219
Hydrant flushing started today will last about three weeks and leaf pickup

03:13:09.219 --> 03:13:15.899
starts on November 1st. Thank you. Byer? Nothing this evening. Thank you. Police?

03:13:15.899 --> 03:13:20.659
Nothing from the police, Madam Mayor. Thank you. Library? Nothing tonight. And I'm

03:13:20.659 --> 03:13:25.979
I'm guessing communication, it doesn't have anything, IT?

03:13:25.979 --> 03:13:28.459
Can we move on to City Manager's Report?

03:13:28.459 --> 03:13:30.920
Nothing tonight, Your Honor.

03:13:30.920 --> 03:13:34.459
And I have nothing to report, so we'll move on to

03:13:34.459 --> 03:13:36.420
Alderman Simmons?

03:13:36.420 --> 03:13:37.879
No, nothing, thanks.

03:13:37.879 --> 03:13:38.719
Alderman Parker?

03:13:38.719 --> 03:13:40.059
Nothing.

03:13:40.059 --> 03:13:41.319
Alderman Stacy?

03:13:41.319 --> 03:13:42.299
No.

03:13:42.299 --> 03:13:43.739
Alderman Shadle?

03:13:43.739 --> 03:13:45.020
Nothing.

03:13:45.020 --> 03:13:47.219
Alderman Sanders is not at his desk.

03:13:47.219 --> 03:13:48.059
Alderman Sellers?

03:13:48.059 --> 03:13:48.979
No.

03:13:48.979 --> 03:13:49.940
Alderman Klemm?

03:13:49.940 --> 03:14:05.920
Alderman Monroe. Thank you, Madam Mayor. I'm good. We'll go on to item number 27, which is public comment. Tommy, say something positive, Tommy.

03:14:05.920 --> 03:14:20.920
Jodi Miller, you got the update about the beef roux you told me? I'm sorry? That beef roux you said they're going to open? Yeah, I don't know what happened there. I hear there was an issue with some of their equipment.

03:14:20.920 --> 03:14:25.549
I know everything, Tommy.

03:14:25.549 --> 03:14:28.549
Is there any other public comments this evening?

03:14:28.549 --> 03:14:29.549
Let's go.

03:14:29.549 --> 03:14:31.549
Then we will move on to adjournment.

03:14:31.549 --> 03:14:33.829
Is there such a motion?

03:14:33.829 --> 03:14:34.829
So moved.

03:14:34.829 --> 03:14:35.829
All those in favor?

03:14:35.829 --> 03:14:36.829
Aye.

03:14:36.829 --> 03:14:37.829
Oh, I think I got a call.

03:14:37.829 --> 03:14:39.829
Oh, NW wants a call.

03:14:39.829 --> 03:14:40.829
Simmons?

03:14:40.829 --> 03:14:41.829
Aye.

03:14:41.829 --> 03:14:42.829
Parker?

03:14:42.829 --> 03:14:43.829
Aye.

03:14:43.829 --> 03:14:44.829
Stacy?

03:14:44.829 --> 03:14:45.829
Aye.

03:14:45.829 --> 03:14:46.829
Shadle?

03:14:46.829 --> 03:14:47.829
Aye.

03:14:47.829 --> 03:14:48.829
Sanders?

03:14:48.829 --> 03:14:49.829
I say absent.

03:14:49.829 --> 03:14:50.829
Sellers?

03:14:50.829 --> 03:14:51.829
Aye.

03:14:51.829 --> 03:15:02.219
as they have sent sellers plum he might be absent to Monroe thank you