WEBVTT

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

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Heads. Father God, we thank you for being who you are in all areas of our government.

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Thank you for leading and guiding this city council meeting tonight. Father, please lead

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and guide every council member in all the discussions that are discussed tonight. Let

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there be no division between any council member. Psalm 3312 says, blessed is the nation whose

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God is the Lord. We thank you for the city of Freeport and for the leaders you have put

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Mayer, Miller, Alderpersons, Clem, Monroe, Simmons, Absent, Parker, Stacy, Shadle, Sanders,

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Sellers. Here. And Alderperson Simmons, are you present? If you could please stand

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for the Pledge of Allegiance led by Alderman Sellers.

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I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty.

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Alderman Sellers, the meeting is yours. Thank you. At this time, can I have a motion to approve the

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So moved. Second. It was approved by, first by Greg, well, Shadle, Shadle, thank you. Shadle and Klemm.

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Okay. All those in favor? Aye. Any opposed? Motion passes. Approval of minutes from the

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Committee of a Whole meeting held on December 9th, 2024. So move. Second. Okay, it was first by Shadle. Oh, right here. Okay, first, Shadle. Okay, and second, Klemm. Okay. All in favor? Aye. Any opposed? Motion passed. At this time, we'll have public comments and there are three names

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The first name is Diane Yocum.

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Hello, my name is Diane Yocum, and I'm a citizen of Freeport.

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And I noticed on the agenda number 15

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that it's coming up again about some of these ordinance changes

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that one wants to do, I think, to some of the meeting

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principles that go on here, in particular fines and so forth.

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One part of that that I especially

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want to speak against is section 20.

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I believe it's 20 part four where it states in this any member present when his or her

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name is called to vote on any question during a meeting of the city council or any of its

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committees and who shall refuse or neglect to vote shall forfeit $100 of their compensation

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for the current month unless he or she has a conflict of interest in subject matter of

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the question and discloses the nature of the conflict of the city council and city council

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and others.

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My majority of vote excuses said member from voting at his or her request prior to the

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commencement of the roll call on said question.

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Now it's my understanding that the council indeed, and I understand every one of you,

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has a copy of Robert's Rules of Order.

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And under Robert's Rules of Order, it states in section 45.3 that there is a right of abstention

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and it is not necessarily always connected to having a conflict of interest.

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And so by putting this in, I think it is an unjust and unfair principle that is being

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added into this because for me, not only is it unjust, but it also I think is down a slippery

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slope of basically a form of vote suppression of city council members.

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And heaven knows we've got concerns about that enough as it is and that I do not think

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Higgins, and I think this is fair, that it's right, that it's just, and I think it's

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very undemocratic per se.

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I don't particularly like this whole ordinance as a whole, but some of these principles,

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I think, are not necessary.

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You already have, I understand in the ordinance, rules about what you can do and cannot do

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regarding this, and I think these changes are completely unnecessary for the reason

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that I spoke about.

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So if you don't have your Robert's Rules of Order, I suggest you look at 45.3 and read

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that section through.

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There's another area where it talks about if you have a conflict of interest, which by

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all means any person should indeed abstain from voting.

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But by right, you do have that under Robert's Rules of Order, the option to abstain whether

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or not, and it doesn't have to be called an abstention when the vote is called.

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and

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you do by right have that freedom and that opportunity to abstain.

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Thank you.

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Thank you.

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Next on the list is Akiah Sanders.

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How y'all doing?

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This is my sister.

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We own 404 together.

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I just want to state that she was never served at her address.

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Steve Cox used my address to serve her.

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My sister lives in Rockford.

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They asked you where do you want the deed sent?

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She sent the D to me, but that was not to be used as her primary address.

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He did that on his own.

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I was also called Friday by the police to say that they are not going to press any charges

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on Tony.

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I don't know if his last name, Miller, Albert, or whatever his name is, because they would

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have a hard time proving intent.

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There was three different occasions he brought my belongings to whoever, but it's called

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theft after the fact or something like that, but you mean to tell me three times he didn't

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No, he had my stolen property in saying that's and then on another note as this

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came out I was told that Rob Boyer was asking or telling people that do you

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know who this is about this is a Kia Sanders I don't know what he meant by

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that but I just want him to know that means more says more about you than it

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says about me okay next on the list is Cheryl is it Altman thank you good

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evening I owned a house at 124 Black Hawk and I think that they did the fast track demolition

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process on me we were not served any notice no registration one day it was there the next

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day it was gone and we had a whole bunch of stuff in there and matter of fact when they

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went through my house they broke in to go through the house the house was locked so

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now I lost not only my house but all my building material that was in this house and that's

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and I.

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It's unfair that I was not served any notice.

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And then we have another property that we're trying to get, we have our contractor's license.

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We're trying to get a permit.

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We had to have an engineer for 16 to 422 and a half Prospect Harris.

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We had the engineer come in, gave them the report that it's a sound building.

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We got a permit last year, but they refused to give me this year and we were two thirds

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of the way done with the house.

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And now they want to try tearing that down too.

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This is unfair.

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Neistat.

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I think the city needs to take a look at some of their buildings, like the Raleigh Building,

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which has been a very eyesore for years.

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And you guys got grants, but yet it's still standing, and you got trees growing in there,

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hundreds of windows that are broken.

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That's the biggest eyesore in Freeport.

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Okay.

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At this time, we'll move to discussion seven, discussing regarding possible implementation

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of a Flock License Plate Reader, LPR, and Video System, presentation by Chief Shenberger.

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Thank you.

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So the Freeport Police Department has utilized Vigilant, which is Motorola, LPR cameras at

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various locations in the city, and sound thinking gunshot detection sensors.

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The use of LPR cameras and sound thinking have significantly helped the PD staff with

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with Shots Fired Investigations.

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LPR cameras have also benefited PD staff

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with investigating other crimes,

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including recovery of stolen vehicles,

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serious felonies, and retail thefts.

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Staff has been working with representative.

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working with representatives from FLOC

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with potentially expanding our technological resources

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that will allow officers to be more proactive

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and improve the response to criminal incidents.

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FLOC offers a three-pronged approach,

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LPR cameras, live video cameras, and gunshot detection.

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The city of Freeport is currently under contract

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with SoundThinking and Vigilant until 2027.

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Staff is looking for other alternatives

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to improve public safety

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Fields at FLOC can offer more alternatives under one user-friendly program.

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So there is no funding at this time or any costs.

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This is just something we're looking to explore and looking into possibility of maybe being

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some grant funding out there or in the future of reallocating funds that's used towards

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sound thinking and vigilant after the expiration of the contracts.

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but the contract with Vigilant was paid up front so there is no annual cost with that

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until the contract expires.

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I also have Blaine Thomas, he's a representative from FLOC, he's just gonna give a little

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presentation to the council and everyone who's watching here and at home just to give you

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an idea of what FLOC can do for the city.

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Yes, thank you, Chief, and to the Council and everybody here. I know that you all have a packed agenda tonight, so I greatly appreciate you all giving us the time to go through this.

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Yeah, absolutely. While he's pulling up the slides, I can speak a little bit to who Flock is. My main objective for this time is really to highlight what the company, what our company does, what Flock does.

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briefly speak to to our technologies that there's a lot to go into but I'm going to try to highlight

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the ones that the chief brought up and then finally kind of share share the vision of Flock and how

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how all the technology works.

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What does that mean Flock?

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Flock is the name of our company. Huh? It's just the name of the company. Name of the company? Okay, correct.

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So, to give you all some context, Flock is a public safety technology company.

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We have a host of hardware sensors, whether that be live video, LPR cameras, gunshot detection,

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drones, mobile security trailers, a number of different technology assets.

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We then take all of that data and put it into a public safety platform that allows the police

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and the police department to make objective, data-driven decisions.

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To give you a little bit of an idea of the scale of our company, we work with approximately

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1,500 law enforcement agencies in cities across the United States.

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Have right at about 90,000 license plate reading cameras throughout the country.

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For the sake of time, I'll kind of continue here.

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So the way that the company works is so, oh.

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Could I please get your name while we're writing?

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Yeah, Blaine Thomas.

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Thank you.

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Yep.

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I can go from here.

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Am I able to scroll down on this?

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Okay.

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Great.

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Yeah.

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So I went into this a little bit.

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I'll be brief on this slide.

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We at FLOC, we understand that public safety is a dynamic, creates dynamic challenges and

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and it's also a resource constraint business,

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whether that be manpower or financial resources.

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We use our technology to try to multiply the impact

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that a police force and a city can ultimately have

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while still providing safeguards to ensure

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that the public's data is, that the city

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is a good steward of public data.

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To kind of go over this one more time,

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So at the top you'll see a number of different technologies.

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What you see from left to right is LPR,

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gunshot detection, and live video.

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We also have a few other products,

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but those are the primary ones

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that I'll speak to this evening.

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We have a three-pronged approach

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when it comes to the data that our technology captures.

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We detect the data, and then we decode it,

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and then we deliver it.

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in that decoding layer, we take AIML models

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and put it over the different technologies that we have,

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whether that be over the image

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that a license plate reader captures

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or a video stream that a live video camera will pick up.

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And then we deliver that, we ultimately deliver that,

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the data in a digestible manner to law enforcement.

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There's a number of different ways that we do that,

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which I'll go into when I dive into the products

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a little bit more.

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LPR cameras, this is something that you all already have

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in the city.

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What makes our LPR cameras a little bit different

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is that they are plugged into the nationwide network

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of flat cameras.

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What that means is that if say a vehicle

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that is associated with a felony warrant

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out of Chicago, Bloomington, insert whatever city,

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you will if one of those passes a camera in your in your city you'll get the

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police department will get alerted to that the idea of that is being able to

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to prevent crime to to go and to go and investigate you know certain maybe

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vehicles before before a crime is is committed also the police department has

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the ability to go back and look at historical data so if an incident

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happens in a given part of the city.

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The police department can go back and see

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what vehicles are in the city during that time.

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I was just down visiting a customer

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on the eastern side of the state.

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They had a 911 call that somebody heard gunshots.

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And that was the extent of what the police department had.

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They looked at their LPR cameras in the area

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within about a 15-minute time window of that 911 call,

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Saw one car that had blood on it,

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one car that had bullet holes in it.

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So the idea, right, is being able to give

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the police department more data,

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more insights to do their job.

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I always like to just spend a second on the slides.

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I think it's important.

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Just really speak to what LPR is, what it isn't.

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An LPR takes a, LPR, sorry, a license plate reader,

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takes a picture of the back of the vehicle.

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We are going to get the license plate of that vehicle,

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as well as some unique characteristics,

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make, model, color, if there's a bumper sticker,

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roof rack, et cetera.

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What we are not doing with these cameras

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is there is no facial recognition going on.

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We are not looking for or at individuals.

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We are simply just looking at a vehicle.

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Next piece that I wanna go into is live video.

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Live video is nothing that is new.

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What makes our live video cameras a little bit different

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is that they have the ability to detect people and vehicles.

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So while it's not a LPR camera,

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it can still record characteristics of vehicles

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that pass it, as well as have features

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like pupil detection.

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So if, let's just say that if you want to be alerted

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to maybe groups of people past a certain time of night,

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the cameras have the capability to do that.

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Next, gunshot detection.

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Gunshot detection is also not.

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We have a couple statistics on this board that we take pride in, the first one would be 90% accurate to within 90 feet.

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Gunshot detection is really only as good as it is accurate. We actually slow rolled this product to market to make sure that it was as accurate as possible.

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If you have a wide area that a potential gunshot could have happened, it is not as effective as if we can do that.

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as effective as if we can triangulate it to a relatively precise area.

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The one thing that I do want to talk to you before I speak to how this platform works

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together is the things that we do to make sure that data is protected.

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Ultimately, the police department, therefore the city, owns all of its data.

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We do not sell the data.

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I personally don't have access to the data.

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It's not like every flock employee has access to the data

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or anything like that.

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The city owns the data.

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The city is able to create policies around their data

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and you own 100% of that data.

00:21:08.700 --> 00:21:12.019
Also, the data is only retained for 30 days.

00:21:12.019 --> 00:21:13.819
This is not a technology that can go back

00:21:13.819 --> 00:21:18.819
and look at the movements of an individual over two years.

00:21:18.940 --> 00:21:22.259
The idea is to get this objective data

00:21:22.259 --> 00:21:24.740
for a period of time to allow law enforcement

00:21:24.740 --> 00:21:31.630
to do their jobs and then to have the data go away.

00:21:31.630 --> 00:21:34.109
There also is a transparency portal,

00:21:34.109 --> 00:21:36.609
which we provide if the city would like that.

00:21:36.609 --> 00:21:39.509
This is a public website that anybody in the community

00:21:39.509 --> 00:21:42.170
or really the country can have access to.

00:21:42.170 --> 00:21:43.950
What this will do is it will show

00:21:43.950 --> 00:21:46.829
if the city has an LPR policy, it will show that,

00:21:46.829 --> 00:21:48.750
as well as how the LPR is used,

00:21:48.750 --> 00:21:51.349
any agencies in the area that might have access

00:21:51.349 --> 00:21:56.190
to that data, this will all be public.

00:21:57.950 --> 00:22:02.950
To speak a little bit about how the platform works together,

00:22:02.950 --> 00:22:05.670
I use this example here to kind of illustrate

00:22:05.670 --> 00:22:08.069
how it all comes together.

00:22:08.069 --> 00:22:10.430
LPR, live video, gunshot detection,

00:22:10.430 --> 00:22:13.549
they are products that do great on their own,

00:22:13.549 --> 00:22:18.549
but together they really start to have a profound impact.

00:22:18.549 --> 00:22:48.549
So if we, this is a bank robbery case here, but if we use our imaginations here, if we get a hit on a LPR camera, and you have live video cameras in town as well, you can say, if you get an alert on a LPR, you can then go into the live video cameras around there, and officers can be getting situational awareness to what is going on while they are in route, as opposed to just maybe getting a call for service and showing up to that call.

00:22:48.549 --> 00:22:51.650
Hall without a lot of context.

00:22:51.650 --> 00:22:53.470
Same thing works with gunshot detection.

00:22:53.470 --> 00:22:58.269
If you get an alert that a gunshot was detected,

00:22:58.269 --> 00:23:01.549
police can then go and look at the cars that

00:23:01.549 --> 00:23:04.110
were in the vicinity during that time,

00:23:04.110 --> 00:23:06.110
as well as pull up live video cameras

00:23:06.110 --> 00:23:11.630
to understand what is going on on the ground while en route.

00:23:11.630 --> 00:23:14.829
I will pause there.

00:23:14.829 --> 00:23:25.829
and I think that that covers the 60,000 foot view and more than happy to answer any questions if we are doing questions.

00:23:26.829 --> 00:23:28.829
Are there any questions at this time?

00:23:31.829 --> 00:23:32.829
Thank you.

00:23:32.829 --> 00:23:33.829
I've got a few.

00:23:33.829 --> 00:23:34.829
Fowler.

00:23:34.829 --> 00:23:43.410
So, just a quick deep dive into some of your past with cameras.

00:23:43.410 --> 00:23:47.389
Seems like there's a lot of issues with cameras popping up as far as the Fourth Amendment

00:23:47.389 --> 00:23:48.389
of the Constitution.

00:23:48.389 --> 00:23:52.470
I noticed that there was a lawsuit that was filed back in October of last year against

00:23:52.470 --> 00:23:53.470
FLOC.

00:23:53.470 --> 00:24:01.589
How, you know, storing this data for 30 days clearly is potentially a way to track somebody

00:24:01.589 --> 00:24:03.630
who's not committed any crimes.

00:24:03.630 --> 00:24:08.750
What is FLOC doing to protect citizens' rights and the community from that type of intrusive

00:24:08.750 --> 00:24:09.750
behavior?

00:24:09.750 --> 00:24:17.069
Yeah, so what I will say to that is we have a legal team that I can connect you with that

00:24:17.069 --> 00:24:19.869
can answer that in depth.

00:24:19.869 --> 00:24:25.309
What I can, because I don't want to speak out of term on public record, what I can confidently

00:24:25.309 --> 00:24:29.349
say though is that there have been a number of cases where precedent was set that this

00:24:29.349 --> 00:24:30.630
technology is okay.

00:24:30.630 --> 00:24:35.470
and the state of Illinois has said that this technology is okay under certain parameters.

00:24:35.470 --> 00:24:45.589
Our 30 days data retention is under the, that is less retention than the state law has,

00:24:45.589 --> 00:24:51.589
but I can provide some greater context as a follow up to you.

00:24:51.589 --> 00:24:54.430
Can I follow up?

00:24:54.430 --> 00:24:55.430
That'd be the two?

00:24:55.430 --> 00:24:56.430
You want it to be?

00:24:56.430 --> 00:24:57.430
We don't get two in this one.

00:24:57.430 --> 00:24:58.430
Oh, okay.

00:24:58.430 --> 00:24:59.430
Well, go ahead.

00:24:59.430 --> 00:25:00.430
Huffines.

00:25:00.430 --> 00:25:03.430
Thank you for asking that question.

00:25:03.430 --> 00:25:07.710
There are safeguards put in place so that a police officer or some official could not

00:25:07.710 --> 00:25:14.049
run your license plate multiple times to check on somebody's status, their information for

00:25:14.049 --> 00:25:17.329
no reason, just going in for random.

00:25:17.329 --> 00:25:21.990
Are there protections like that with this type of software?

00:25:21.990 --> 00:25:23.990
Thank you for asking that question.

00:25:23.990 --> 00:25:27.389
In the sake of trying to be timely, I breezed over that.

00:25:27.389 --> 00:25:28.389
Thomas.

00:25:28.389 --> 00:25:30.230
Any time that the system is used, there's an audit trail.

00:25:30.230 --> 00:25:36.150
So if I, so I cannot go in there and look up, I cannot go in there and look at my wife's

00:25:36.150 --> 00:25:38.309
license plate willy-nilly.

00:25:38.309 --> 00:25:43.029
What I would have to do is I would have to put a search reason as to why and then the

00:25:43.029 --> 00:25:50.349
system would log that myself, Blaine Thomas, searched XYZ license plate for whatever reason

00:25:50.349 --> 00:25:54.110
and that's an audit trail that lives in the system.

00:25:54.110 --> 00:25:55.110
Awesome.

00:25:55.110 --> 00:25:56.110
Thank you very much.

00:25:56.110 --> 00:25:57.110
Yeah.

00:25:57.110 --> 00:26:07.110
Yeah, is that dedicated to the police department only, of what Alderman Monroe was just talking about?

00:26:07.110 --> 00:26:10.110
The ability to use the system?

00:26:10.110 --> 00:26:11.110
Yes.

00:26:11.110 --> 00:26:13.110
Yeah, so the way that it works is yes.

00:26:13.110 --> 00:26:21.110
The police department ultimately is the, I don't want to say owner, is the owner of the system.

00:26:21.110 --> 00:26:24.110
And what I mean by that is a bad word.

00:26:24.110 --> 00:26:38.160
They manage the system. So the police department ultimately can, they grant access to who they want access granted to.

00:26:38.160 --> 00:26:43.160
Okay, so this would not be something that the public can access.

00:26:43.160 --> 00:26:44.160
Yes, correct.

00:26:44.160 --> 00:26:54.160
Okay, what is a sound thinking vigilant that the city is currently running? You are familiar with that?

00:27:24.160 --> 00:27:25.160
O'Neill.

00:27:25.160 --> 00:27:28.160
Only do we have mapping of where these cameras are located?

00:27:28.160 --> 00:27:29.799
No, we don't.

00:27:29.799 --> 00:27:30.799
Okay.

00:27:30.799 --> 00:27:36.720
So who did the installation and then provide the locations of these, of these devices?

00:27:36.720 --> 00:27:39.599
Well, I mean, we know where they're at.

00:27:39.599 --> 00:27:40.599
They're fixed.

00:27:40.599 --> 00:27:41.599
They're in fixed locations.

00:27:41.599 --> 00:27:42.599
Okay.

00:27:42.599 --> 00:27:43.599
So, yeah.

00:27:43.599 --> 00:27:48.200
I mean, but the installation, I believe, I think we went to it in 2021, but it might

00:27:48.200 --> 00:27:51.680
not have been rolled out until 2022.

00:27:51.680 --> 00:28:00.639
So, these cameras that we're looking at, the city hasn't purchased any of those yet, have

00:28:00.639 --> 00:28:01.639
they?

00:28:01.639 --> 00:28:02.639
Yeah, you're correct.

00:28:02.639 --> 00:28:03.639
The city has not purchased any cameras.

00:28:03.639 --> 00:28:04.639
Okay.

00:28:04.639 --> 00:28:10.430
And do you sell this all over the country?

00:28:10.430 --> 00:28:13.190
Is this device sold all over the country?

00:28:13.190 --> 00:28:14.190
Yes.

00:28:14.190 --> 00:28:15.190
Okay.

00:28:15.190 --> 00:28:20.119
And who does the installation of these cameras?

00:28:20.119 --> 00:28:21.119
We do.

00:28:21.119 --> 00:28:22.119
You do?

00:28:22.119 --> 00:28:23.119
Mm-hmm.

00:28:23.119 --> 00:28:24.119
Okay.

00:28:24.119 --> 00:28:28.840
yes correct we we require a permit for it we we we pull permits for every

00:28:28.840 --> 00:28:34.380
installation so whether that be on city right away or or IDOT right away so

00:28:34.380 --> 00:28:41.519
there okay so there's books and pamphlet installations and the value of these

00:28:41.519 --> 00:28:47.079
cameras that the city might consider purchasing or may not consider

00:28:47.079 --> 00:28:54.079
purchasing so there is things that we can look at to make a determination if

00:28:54.079 --> 00:28:55.079
Schoenberg.

00:28:55.079 --> 00:28:56.599
That's the route that we like to go.

00:28:56.599 --> 00:28:57.599
Yeah.

00:28:57.599 --> 00:29:01.200
Just to understand, just to make sure that I understand the question correctly, are you

00:29:01.200 --> 00:29:05.720
asking, are there like budgetary quotes and other types of documentation?

00:29:05.720 --> 00:29:06.720
Yes.

00:29:06.720 --> 00:29:07.720
Yeah.

00:29:07.720 --> 00:29:08.720
Okay.

00:29:08.720 --> 00:29:09.720
All right.

00:29:09.720 --> 00:29:10.720
Thank you.

00:29:10.720 --> 00:29:11.720
Are there any other questions?

00:29:11.720 --> 00:29:12.720
Yeah.

00:29:12.720 --> 00:29:13.720
Okay.

00:29:13.720 --> 00:29:14.720
Alderman Klemm.

00:29:14.720 --> 00:29:19.039
Chief Shenberger, I really appreciate you bringing this forward.

00:29:19.039 --> 00:29:30.840
We have some of this existing technology now, but this is a chance to upgrade it, move it

00:29:30.840 --> 00:29:35.360
around and locate it in more spots that may be more beneficial.

00:29:35.360 --> 00:29:40.639
But I appreciate the fact that you're proactive in taking a look at the different things that

00:29:40.639 --> 00:29:41.639
we can do.

00:29:41.639 --> 00:29:48.279
Needless to say, manpower is one thing that's increasing, but anything that we can do to

00:29:48.279 --> 00:29:54.440
Help with Assist Man Power is really a great thing for the city.

00:29:54.440 --> 00:29:55.639
Thanks for bringing it forward.

00:29:55.639 --> 00:30:09.660
Yes, I would like to know are we or would we be replacing what we have already spent

00:30:09.660 --> 00:30:17.839
money on or is this in addition to what we already have?

00:30:17.839 --> 00:30:23.019
So I mean eventually the contracts with vigilant and sound thinking they expire in 2027 so

00:30:23.019 --> 00:30:25.819
So we would have to consider renewing.

00:30:25.819 --> 00:30:32.220
I'm just exploring options on perhaps getting started with the FLOC system and possibly

00:30:32.220 --> 00:30:39.259
transitioning to that if the council is on board with that.

00:30:39.259 --> 00:30:44.980
I'm just putting this out there just to show what's available to us.

00:30:44.980 --> 00:30:51.180
As of now, Vigilant, like I said, that was paid up front, so it doesn't cost us anything,

00:30:51.180 --> 00:30:52.180
and so on.

00:30:52.180 --> 00:30:53.259
I think that eventually it will again.

00:30:53.259 --> 00:30:56.539
And the sound thinking, you know, we pay annually.

00:30:56.539 --> 00:30:58.299
There's two more years left on that as well.

00:30:58.299 --> 00:31:00.809
That's the cut.

00:31:00.809 --> 00:31:01.809
Oh.

00:31:01.809 --> 00:31:02.809
I'm sorry.

00:31:02.809 --> 00:31:03.809
Just a second.

00:31:03.809 --> 00:31:10.210
So you're saying, Chief Shenberger, that if we add this, this will take away the other

00:31:10.210 --> 00:31:13.809
two shot spotters that we have?

00:31:13.809 --> 00:31:18.970
It could eventually, yeah, because, I mean, if you think about it, we have an LPR system

00:31:18.970 --> 00:31:20.009
that's one company.

00:31:20.009 --> 00:31:22.970
and we have Sound Thinking, that's another company.

00:31:22.970 --> 00:31:26.049
Well, they offer LPRs, live video,

00:31:26.049 --> 00:31:29.250
which is something I've been talking about

00:31:29.250 --> 00:31:34.369
and gunshot detection all in one company, one program

00:31:34.369 --> 00:31:37.430
instead of utilizing different programs.

00:31:37.430 --> 00:31:41.150
We have a fixed camera that takes one program.

00:31:41.150 --> 00:31:42.890
We have a portable camera that takes another.

00:31:42.890 --> 00:31:45.089
So just a good option to have,

00:31:45.089 --> 00:31:48.769
something that can offer all three with just one program.

00:31:48.769 --> 00:31:57.769
So one more question. So this would be an upgrade and we paying one bill instead of paying maybe two or is that?

00:31:57.769 --> 00:32:05.769
It could be, yeah, I see it as an upgrade and I mean he could talk more about the cost of it.

00:32:05.769 --> 00:32:15.769
So like, for example, Vigilant, right, we paid for that up front. I've had a couple things go wrong with them so I had to go through the company for RMA to get them replaced.

00:32:15.769 --> 00:32:21.210
and so forth. That was quite a process. It took about three or four months for me to

00:32:21.210 --> 00:32:27.809
get the replacements and get them fixed. With FLOC, they would come out and just do it.

00:32:27.809 --> 00:32:33.650
It's a per-camera cost, but that includes everything. It's an all-inclusive, it's

00:32:33.650 --> 00:32:39.410
like 3,000 a camera, but it's all-inclusive. That includes cloud storage, that includes

00:32:39.410 --> 00:32:41.849
replacing the camera, all that stuff.

00:32:41.849 --> 00:32:49.210
okay thank you any other questions oh yeah it's Blaine right yeah Blaine i've been to a couple

00:32:49.210 --> 00:32:55.450
presentations of Blaine's um and just uh something i wanted to bring up that i thought was really

00:32:55.450 --> 00:33:02.009
valuable other police departments in the area including i believe the uh county police the

00:33:02.009 --> 00:33:08.490
state police in our area and many of the smaller communities are utilizing Flock Rockford is entirely

00:33:08.490 --> 00:33:13.769
Flaherty. And Rockford too, yeah, forgot about Rockford, thank you. And maybe you could speak to the

00:33:14.569 --> 00:33:19.289
ins and outs of that and what the benefit of being on the same program as the other communities around

00:33:19.289 --> 00:33:28.569
you. Yeah, absolutely. Ms. Sellers, just so you're aware, there's a slide in the PowerPoint,

00:33:28.569 --> 00:33:32.170
in your agenda packet that goes over some of the things that are included in the

00:33:32.170 --> 00:33:37.930
and the subscription like the the maintenance and everything like that yeah

00:33:37.930 --> 00:33:46.089
so the the one of flocks biggest value adds to a community is the broader

00:33:46.089 --> 00:33:52.730
network of flock I briefly touched on it earlier but when when you join the flock

00:33:52.730 --> 00:33:59.049
network you not only have access to the cameras that are in your city but also

00:33:59.049 --> 00:34:04.049
and also the surrounding cities, really the state and beyond.

00:34:04.970 --> 00:34:09.250
So that means that if a vehicle that was associated

00:34:09.250 --> 00:34:12.369
with a violent crime in Rockford, Illinois,

00:34:12.369 --> 00:34:14.769
if they entered into the city,

00:34:14.769 --> 00:34:18.010
your police department would be alerted to that immediately.

00:34:18.889 --> 00:34:23.889
Additionally, if you were trying to find a suspect vehicle

00:34:25.130 --> 00:34:28.550
and you were relatively confident that they fled town,

00:34:28.550 --> 00:34:35.150
you would be able to look for that vehicle on any other agency's cameras that has shared

00:34:35.150 --> 00:34:44.230
their camera feeds with you. So if somebody fled to say St. Louis and they passed by 19

00:34:44.230 --> 00:34:48.789
flock cameras on their way out of town to St. Louis, the police department would be

00:34:48.789 --> 00:34:58.470
aware of that and could alert the police department in say St. Louis for example that

00:34:58.470 --> 00:35:00.510
and the suspect was in their town.

00:35:00.510 --> 00:35:02.710
I have one more question.

00:35:02.710 --> 00:35:07.349
So you're saying, does it only have to be a flock camera,

00:35:07.349 --> 00:35:12.789
or could it be any camera from any camera that takes pictures?

00:35:12.789 --> 00:35:15.190
I mean, does it only have to be your company,

00:35:15.190 --> 00:35:16.590
or could it be any camera?

00:35:16.590 --> 00:35:19.710
Any camera that's integrated into the flock system.

00:35:19.710 --> 00:35:24.110
For example, there are some license plate readers

00:35:24.110 --> 00:35:27.590
that will be fixed to police cars.

00:35:27.590 --> 00:35:32.150
So that would be a case where those cameras are ingested into the flock system.

00:35:32.150 --> 00:35:36.670
So that would be a case that that license plate is now in the flock system.

00:35:36.670 --> 00:35:38.630
So is that just in the state of Illinois?

00:35:40.389 --> 00:35:43.389
No, so the cameras are all over the country.

00:35:44.630 --> 00:35:51.070
The reason that I use the state of Illinois is because LPR policy is different from city to city.

00:35:51.070 --> 00:35:56.230
So it ultimately is dependent on the policy of the police department and

00:35:56.230 --> 00:36:01.670
and the broader city as to what cameras you have access to as well as what other cities

00:36:01.670 --> 00:36:06.349
have access to your cameras.

00:36:06.349 --> 00:36:16.170
So would these cameras be placed on our comment polls?

00:36:16.170 --> 00:36:17.170
What polls?

00:36:17.170 --> 00:36:18.170
Excuse me.

00:36:18.170 --> 00:36:19.170
Sorry.

00:36:19.170 --> 00:36:20.170
Utility polls.

00:36:20.170 --> 00:36:21.170
Oh, utility polls.

00:36:21.170 --> 00:36:23.730
So the cameras are infrastructure free, so they run off solar power.

00:36:23.730 --> 00:36:29.769
So they, we generally will put a pole in the ground ourselves.

00:36:29.769 --> 00:36:36.090
Mounting on power company poles can sometimes be costly, or I shouldn't say costly, but

00:36:36.090 --> 00:36:40.170
there can be a fee associated with that sometimes, because that's not our property.

00:36:40.170 --> 00:36:43.409
And did you say it's $3,000 per camera?

00:36:43.409 --> 00:36:44.409
Approximately, yes.

00:36:44.409 --> 00:36:50.289
There are some, there are some differences in price based off different models, but for

00:36:50.289 --> 00:36:53.289
a standard camera, yes ma'am, $3,000.

00:36:53.289 --> 00:37:04.130
One other comment I'll made because I've seen this a couple times and this was in a brief version.

00:37:04.650 --> 00:37:10.210
One of the stats that he had at another meeting I was at that I was really taken back by was

00:37:10.929 --> 00:37:12.929
70% of the crimes

00:37:13.849 --> 00:37:19.889
use a vehicle at some point within the crime and so that's why the LPR technology is so

00:37:20.610 --> 00:37:22.610
important to

00:37:22.610 --> 00:37:28.829
the situation of finding out who does it so for instance if if somebody was

00:37:28.829 --> 00:37:33.070
targeting an area I think you said you could actually sort the vehicles to pick

00:37:33.070 --> 00:37:38.150
license plates that were from out of the area to that area to narrow the field

00:37:38.150 --> 00:37:41.989
very quickly and in the presentation that I was at I mean they could narrow

00:37:41.989 --> 00:37:47.150
the field in minutes which time is of the essence with crimes so it's kind of

00:37:47.150 --> 00:37:55.070
was very interesting to learn that. What's the acronym to the LPR? What's the

00:37:55.070 --> 00:38:01.429
acronym to the License Plate Reader? License Plate Reader, is that what it means? Okay. Are there any

00:38:01.429 --> 00:38:07.610
other questions? Well thank you so much. Thank you so much. Appreciate you all. At

00:38:07.610 --> 00:38:11.869
this time I would just like to know if Chief Shenberger, where do we go? Do we go

00:38:11.869 --> 00:38:18.789
to wanting to get more information or do we want to take a vote on and put it in

00:38:18.789 --> 00:38:23.750
a first reading? How do we want to do this? This is just this is just something I've

00:38:23.750 --> 00:38:29.329
been working on for a few months you know continue talking with Blaine and

00:38:29.329 --> 00:38:36.650
his team and we'll get to the point where I'll you know get a bid or get an

00:38:36.650 --> 00:38:40.269
offer and I let the council know and then decide that you guys decide what

00:38:40.269 --> 00:38:44.590
you want to do but right now it's just kind of in its infancy you know we're in

00:38:44.590 --> 00:38:49.190
the planning stage of it trying to find the best option that we have for the

00:38:49.190 --> 00:38:54.150
city while utilizing the technology we still have right now so

00:38:54.150 --> 00:38:58.829
and that we're using so okay and we currently have two more years in that

00:38:58.829 --> 00:39:06.840
contract correct yep any other questions if not we'll move on to number eight

00:39:06.840 --> 00:39:12.000
Greta Freeper Partnership quarterly presentation to council presented by

00:39:12.000 --> 00:39:31.829
Andrea Schwartz Winters. Are you putting it in presentation mode? Okay. All right.

00:39:31.829 --> 00:39:41.500
Awesome. Good evening and Happy New Year. Tonight's presentation we will recover

00:39:41.500 --> 00:39:48.949
the highlights of our work in the fourth quarter. This information is outlined in

00:39:48.949 --> 00:39:55.429
more detail in the fourth quarter report that you received in your packets. As

00:39:55.429 --> 00:40:01.159
As in previous presentations, we're outlining this in order of our strategic plan key focused

00:40:01.159 --> 00:40:06.320
areas, which just to remind you all, our business retention and expansion, which involves our

00:40:06.320 --> 00:40:10.420
workforce development efforts, new business development and attraction.

00:40:10.420 --> 00:40:16.559
This includes attracting new businesses, helping businesses start, and assisting small businesses

00:40:16.559 --> 00:40:18.159
to grow.

00:40:18.159 --> 00:40:21.059
and

00:40:21.099 --> 00:40:22.099
Stevenson County.

00:40:22.139 --> 00:40:30.980
To show them the opportunities for growth and work in Stevenson County as well as marketing the partnership services to future and existing businesses.

00:40:31.000 --> 00:40:35.940
Visitor attraction, which encompasses our tourism attraction efforts.

00:40:35.980 --> 00:40:46.679
Advocacy and policy is related to our internal work and we do a lot to track legislation that might affect local industries and communities.

00:40:46.679 --> 00:40:51.679
It's been very active in the fourth quarter, and I would foresee that in the first quarter of this year.

00:40:51.679 --> 00:41:00.679
And we are looking to always build the partnerships capacity by increasing our membership numbers and maintaining a high retention rate.

00:41:00.679 --> 00:41:06.679
I'd like to highlight some fourth quarter wins, some positive news from the fourth quarter.

00:41:06.679 --> 00:41:16.860
As outlined in our strategic plan, we completed a county-wide business survey.

00:41:16.860 --> 00:41:24.639
There are some key factors and key takeaway points in the report you have before you.

00:41:24.639 --> 00:41:31.760
But the survey was completed last quarter, and 84% of the businesses that responded reported

00:41:31.760 --> 00:41:35.739
that their company was stable or expanding.

00:41:35.739 --> 00:41:38.099
We see that as positive news.

00:41:38.099 --> 00:41:44.019
An existing ag manufacturer publicly announced last quarter that they have established a partnership

00:41:44.019 --> 00:41:50.059
to revolutionize ethanol production by capturing and converting CO2.

00:41:50.059 --> 00:41:57.179
Now, this is not my area of expertise by any means, but I think if you see anything in

00:41:57.179 --> 00:42:02.059
conversations around what's happening in the energy sector and alternative energy, I think

00:42:02.059 --> 00:42:05.599
that this is key and this company is on the forefront.

00:42:05.599 --> 00:42:08.880
This project has been in the works for over two years.

00:42:08.880 --> 00:42:11.079
Enterprise zone benefits will be utilized

00:42:11.079 --> 00:42:14.159
to make this project come to fruition.

00:42:14.159 --> 00:42:16.559
But not only is this helping to diversify

00:42:16.559 --> 00:42:20.559
this company's existing income stream,

00:42:20.559 --> 00:42:22.659
it's also allowing them to use something

00:42:22.659 --> 00:42:26.360
with their byproduct that puts them as a competitor

00:42:26.360 --> 00:42:28.599
and entering into another market.

00:42:28.599 --> 00:42:33.199
so they are looking at how do they continue production

00:42:33.199 --> 00:42:37.480
of ethanol and push into other markets at the same time.

00:42:37.480 --> 00:42:40.119
They're doing something that they're one of the first

00:42:40.119 --> 00:42:41.679
in the nation.

00:42:41.679 --> 00:42:43.159
This is outstanding work.

00:42:44.000 --> 00:42:46.679
An existing manufacturer in Freeport added jobs

00:42:46.679 --> 00:42:50.039
to support a new service that was previously outsourced.

00:42:50.039 --> 00:42:55.039
With that has come job creation around nine new jobs.

00:42:55.480 --> 00:42:57.880
We attracted a new manufacturer to Freeport

00:42:57.880 --> 00:43:00.699
to fill an existing space and co-locate

00:43:00.699 --> 00:43:02.980
with a current manufacturer.

00:43:02.980 --> 00:43:05.460
This is still under development and in the works.

00:43:05.460 --> 00:43:08.019
I will meet with this company later this week

00:43:08.019 --> 00:43:11.139
to get a better understanding of investment level

00:43:11.139 --> 00:43:13.019
and job creation number.

00:43:13.019 --> 00:43:16.219
The former visitor center building was sold,

00:43:16.219 --> 00:43:18.059
closed on December 31st,

00:43:18.059 --> 00:43:21.360
and will open as a new business later this spring.

00:43:21.360 --> 00:43:24.340
We were also awarded five awards

00:43:24.340 --> 00:43:25.599
from the state conference,

00:43:25.599 --> 00:43:26.500
at the state conference

00:43:26.500 --> 00:43:29.539
from the Illinois Main Street Association.

00:43:29.539 --> 00:43:33.579
Two of those awards are in recognition of volunteers

00:43:33.579 --> 00:43:37.019
awarded to Tim Connors and the Pretzel Pickers.

00:43:37.019 --> 00:43:39.260
We were also able to take home some hardware

00:43:39.260 --> 00:43:42.320
in relationship to a promotional approach

00:43:42.320 --> 00:43:46.039
for our rediscover your downtown campaign.

00:43:46.039 --> 00:43:48.860
And noteworthy was our economic vitality

00:43:48.860 --> 00:43:51.659
business startup program, Basecamp.

00:43:51.659 --> 00:43:55.300
Additionally, our organizational approach,

00:43:55.300 --> 00:44:00.659
The partnership was recognized for its merged collaborative approach to economic development,

00:44:00.659 --> 00:44:09.139
which is being sought after this merged efficient model in other communities.

00:44:09.139 --> 00:44:14.300
Moving on to business retention and expansion, key activities were 18 business retention

00:44:14.300 --> 00:44:16.900
visits were conducted last quarter.

00:44:16.900 --> 00:44:21.199
As always, we need to understand what the needs and difficulties of our local businesses

00:44:21.199 --> 00:44:35.039
We connected businesses with the Illinois Workshare Program, which is an alternative to layoffs.

00:44:35.039 --> 00:44:40.519
As you might see in the news, and I'll allude to this a little bit later, is that there

00:44:40.519 --> 00:44:43.079
has been some upheaval.

00:44:43.079 --> 00:44:44.639
Commodity prices have been lower.

00:44:44.639 --> 00:44:49.940
That has a ripple effect in the ag manufacturing or ag sector.

00:44:49.940 --> 00:44:54.440
With that, you have some local manufacturers who are related to that sector and that they

00:44:54.440 --> 00:44:56.380
have taken a hit.

00:44:56.380 --> 00:45:01.059
And so understanding that there are programs available for those businesses so that they

00:45:01.059 --> 00:45:05.699
can do something in an alternative to layoff, we're trying to connect them with resources

00:45:05.699 --> 00:45:08.779
to keep as many people employed here as we can.

00:45:08.779 --> 00:45:13.420
We worked with 11 entrepreneurs and assisted them in their business development process,

00:45:13.420 --> 00:45:18.300
the majority of which were women or minorities.

00:45:18.300 --> 00:45:22.579
We connected to Stevenson County businesses, we connected multiple Stevenson County businesses

00:45:22.579 --> 00:45:27.260
with an international business forum that was hosted by Representative Cabello.

00:45:27.260 --> 00:45:31.500
It was an opportunity to understand what they would need to do to kind of enter the global

00:45:31.500 --> 00:45:35.779
market and what relationships they would need to build and there was representation from

00:45:35.779 --> 00:45:39.710
multiple different countries.

00:45:39.710 --> 00:45:42.090
Workforce solutions.

00:45:42.090 --> 00:45:50.690
As we've talked about, we can't have thriving businesses without a talented workforce.

00:45:50.690 --> 00:45:54.289
The highlights of our workforce development effort was really around building our local

00:45:54.289 --> 00:45:56.949
workforce pipeline.

00:45:56.949 --> 00:46:00.630
We had the honor of working with our educational partners as well as our business community

00:46:00.630 --> 00:46:06.650
and really trying to bridge that gap in the fourth quarter by playing a key role in these

00:46:06.650 --> 00:46:27.409
and I have been working on these three events here. Working to coordinate, schedule, promote, help organize manufacturing day, the career and job fair, which was co-hosted by Highland Community College and Freeport High School, and the Ag Expo.

00:46:27.409 --> 00:46:57.409
for businesses or for excuse me students to understand that there are future career opportunities right here this was and they were able to secure internships and some job offers through these through these events and I think maybe most importantly was the takeaway that employers and the community gave that helped the student to build an understanding that their community wants them to stay here that there are opportunities for them to be gainfully employed and contribute to the community that they've called home

00:46:57.409 --> 00:46:58.409
and John.

00:46:58.409 --> 00:47:02.130
Additionally, last quarter we reported that our efforts led to a connection between the

00:47:02.130 --> 00:47:04.730
yield program and goodwill industries.

00:47:04.730 --> 00:47:08.449
We're happy to say that that effort is paying off.

00:47:08.449 --> 00:47:13.210
This connection led to funding which has expanded the yield program training to include education

00:47:13.210 --> 00:47:18.529
on alternative energy sector and basic electrical construction.

00:47:18.529 --> 00:47:25.170
This is a requirement as of the CEJA grant or that is an acronym for the Climate and

00:47:25.170 --> 00:47:26.170
and John.

00:47:26.170 --> 00:47:46.340
Next, in business attraction and development, in the last quarter we received 14 leads.

00:47:46.340 --> 00:47:51.900
Eight of those originated from a statewide business attraction organization, Intersect

00:47:51.900 --> 00:47:53.019
Illinois.

00:47:53.019 --> 00:47:57.260
We were able to respond to five of those leads.

00:47:57.260 --> 00:48:18.260
We were not able to respond to three leads due to the requirement of a large acreage and or a building that met specific requirements and one opportunity what required a heavy water user that would not, it wouldn't work for the city of Freeport.

00:48:18.260 --> 00:48:25.260
Additionally, there were six leads that originated from local businesses and or government agencies.

00:48:25.260 --> 00:48:30.739
Bates, there are three new businesses and three were existing or relocating businesses

00:48:30.739 --> 00:48:32.659
within the community.

00:48:32.659 --> 00:48:34.900
I will now turn the presentation over to Nicole.

00:48:34.900 --> 00:48:42.150
We'll talk about marketing the region.

00:48:42.150 --> 00:48:43.529
Good evening.

00:48:43.529 --> 00:48:50.269
Fourth quarter was really about trying to promote the area to existing residents to

00:48:50.269 --> 00:48:55.269
continue to help small businesses, organizations, and future events thrive, whether that was

00:48:55.269 --> 00:48:58.449
in the fourth quarter itself or in the upcoming year.

00:48:58.449 --> 00:49:03.309
We printed, it was a first time project, a 12 month calendar because we continue to try

00:49:03.309 --> 00:49:07.510
to find new ways to help people understand what's going on in this area.

00:49:07.510 --> 00:49:12.529
We continue to hear, I didn't know that this thing happened until it was after it was passed.

00:49:12.529 --> 00:49:18.190
So this new 12 month printed calendar was funded by advertisers who paid for the availability

00:49:18.190 --> 00:49:21.849
of putting their event on a calendar date.

00:49:21.849 --> 00:49:26.730
And then that calendar is available in the homes of residents throughout Stevenson County

00:49:26.730 --> 00:49:30.809
and they have a constant reminder of the things that are happening in the area.

00:49:30.809 --> 00:49:36.970
We have already gotten rid of 800 calendars, they really literally flew off the shelves.

00:49:36.970 --> 00:49:42.230
So we hope that with that success, we will have even more advertising dollars to make

00:49:42.230 --> 00:49:44.929
a larger print order next year.

00:49:44.929 --> 00:49:50.289
Shop Local for the Holidays was the campaign started in mid-November, highlighting opportunities

00:49:50.289 --> 00:49:51.970
and different small businesses.

00:49:51.970 --> 00:49:52.000
and

00:49:53.000 --> 00:49:54.000
the

00:49:54.000 --> 00:49:55.000
local

00:49:55.000 --> 00:49:56.000
businesses.

00:49:56.000 --> 00:49:57.000
We have

00:49:57.000 --> 00:49:58.000
received

00:49:58.000 --> 00:49:59.000
great

00:49:59.000 --> 00:50:00.000
reviews

00:50:00.000 --> 00:50:01.000
and

00:50:01.000 --> 00:50:02.000
participating

00:50:02.000 --> 00:50:03.000
locations.

00:50:03.000 --> 00:50:04.000
A great

00:50:04.000 --> 00:50:05.000
portion of

00:50:05.000 --> 00:50:06.000
them, over 70

00:50:06.000 --> 00:50:07.000
percent,

00:50:07.000 --> 00:50:08.000
cited

00:50:08.000 --> 00:50:09.000
increased

00:50:09.000 --> 00:50:10.000
in

00:50:10.000 --> 00:50:11.000
pedestrian

00:50:11.000 --> 00:50:12.000
traffic and

00:50:12.000 --> 00:50:13.000
increased

00:50:13.000 --> 00:50:14.000
sales compared

00:50:14.000 --> 00:50:15.000
to the

00:50:15.000 --> 00:50:16.000
local

00:50:16.000 --> 00:50:17.000
businesses.

00:50:47.000 --> 00:50:49.739
as a free s'mores bar for residents.

00:50:51.119 --> 00:50:52.699
Visitor Attraction,

00:50:52.699 --> 00:50:54.800
we hosted our annual tourism partner meeting

00:50:54.800 --> 00:50:57.360
on November 14th at Lena Brewing Company.

00:50:57.360 --> 00:51:00.440
This is our opportunity to talk to the executive directors

00:51:00.440 --> 00:51:05.440
of different nonprofits who own attractions or hotels,

00:51:05.760 --> 00:51:09.119
a lot of other agencies here in town

00:51:09.119 --> 00:51:11.920
about what went well in 2024,

00:51:11.920 --> 00:51:13.920
what we're planning on for 2025,

00:51:13.920 --> 00:51:15.599
and how we can be involved

00:51:15.599 --> 00:51:21.039
and also hear their feedback on other ways that we can help their attraction or organization.

00:51:21.039 --> 00:51:28.880
A lot of them have some issues with funding or increasing programming, so we continue to

00:51:28.880 --> 00:51:35.780
send multiple grant opportunities for attraction funding to those parties who can apply.

00:51:35.780 --> 00:51:39.619
The Choose Your Adventure campaign wrapped up in October with engagement that is greater

00:51:39.619 --> 00:51:41.400
than tourism industry average.

00:51:41.400 --> 00:51:42.400
and so on.

00:51:42.400 --> 00:51:47.219
So why I recognize that is when you see the ads pop up, whether you're on social media

00:51:47.219 --> 00:51:52.039
or whether you're on Google, the amount of times that somebody will click on that ad

00:51:52.039 --> 00:51:59.000
is considered engagement and the industry average for local tourism entities, we actually

00:51:59.000 --> 00:52:02.539
scored almost double what that industry average is.

00:52:02.539 --> 00:52:05.960
So that's a pretty good indicator that we've been using.

00:52:05.960 --> 00:52:09.440
Russell City Brew Fest, which was held September 28th.

00:52:09.440 --> 00:52:13.079
That is our, one of our largest tourism events

00:52:13.079 --> 00:52:15.239
where we are really looking to attract people

00:52:15.239 --> 00:52:17.039
from outside of this area.

00:52:17.039 --> 00:52:20.480
This year was no different, more than 50% of our attendees

00:52:20.480 --> 00:52:22.920
because all of our tickets are purchased online.

00:52:22.920 --> 00:52:26.800
We can tell by zip code that they are all 50% or more

00:52:26.800 --> 00:52:28.519
were coming from 30 miles away.

00:52:30.039 --> 00:52:34.860
And I'll turn it over to Bill, thank you.

00:52:34.860 --> 00:52:41.860
Good evening. So, membership was pretty steady in the fourth quarter. As you can see, we

00:52:41.860 --> 00:52:48.739
are still hovering around 400 members. We added 10 members over that course of time,

00:52:48.739 --> 00:52:56.099
and we continue to retain our members at a very high rate, which we're proud of and

00:52:56.099 --> 00:53:02.699
hope to continue to do. And really, that's all we have. If there was questions, I think

00:53:02.699 --> 00:53:17.719
Are there any questions? If none, oh, oh, I'm sorry. I didn't see you. I didn't see you. Okay.

00:53:17.719 --> 00:53:26.599
So, Andrea, you did the first slides with the businesses, so these questions probably should

00:53:26.599 --> 00:53:35.159
come to you. So, my question was, with the increase in membership, that means we've gotten more

00:53:35.159 --> 00:53:36.679
Breslin.

00:53:36.679 --> 00:53:44.280
We hope there is a correlation between that.

00:53:44.280 --> 00:53:50.519
I mean, our goal is as we work with businesses and show our value they become members to

00:53:50.519 --> 00:53:51.599
the partnership.

00:53:51.599 --> 00:53:57.840
So do those members pay?

00:53:57.840 --> 00:54:03.039
But my question is do non-profit members pay to be a member?

00:54:03.039 --> 00:54:04.559
They do.

00:54:04.559 --> 00:54:08.559
We have a non-profit rate that's $165 a year.

00:54:08.559 --> 00:54:10.039
Okay.

00:54:10.039 --> 00:54:21.220
And then, for the sale of the business center, was that to a business that you found and

00:54:21.220 --> 00:54:26.619
reached out to and convinced to come to Freeport, not you personally, but the partnership?

00:54:26.619 --> 00:54:31.679
That was through a connection that one of the ownership group had.

00:54:31.679 --> 00:54:32.679
We worked with them.

00:54:32.679 --> 00:55:02.679
We met with them when they were going through their due diligence process and we talked about the enterprise zone that's out there, what their plans for the building were, how our organization could support their business as they moved to Stevenson County. They're not a business that's here currently and they would be relocating their business here. Right. So they came, they were coming anyways and you reached out to see how you could help. Correct. Yes, they were. That was through a connection from the ownership group.

00:55:02.679 --> 00:55:35.429
Do you have any more questions, automated Simmons? I do. Okay. What are retention visits? What does that mean? Retention visits? Sure. Great question. It's really just a meeting. We go and we meet with the business and we talk about what's going on in their business. We usually ask them for some information around employment numbers. Is that changed? How do they see their business growing? Do they see their business declining? How do they see their business fitting into the larger market? What can we do to help? Are there

00:55:35.429 --> 00:55:38.789
and

00:55:38.829 --> 00:55:41.269
the rest of the board.

00:55:41.289 --> 00:55:43.329
Are they having any infrastructure troubles?

00:55:43.369 --> 00:55:47.900
Are they having workforce issues?

00:55:47.940 --> 00:55:50.139
It's really just a meeting to talk about the health of their

00:55:50.159 --> 00:55:51.099
business.

00:55:51.139 --> 00:55:52.440
Is that okay?

00:55:52.480 --> 00:55:55.779
So if in these retention visits they say, hey, I'm missing this,

00:55:55.800 --> 00:55:58.739
this and that, then do you go out and find that for them or at

00:55:58.779 --> 00:56:01.079
least put them in touch with the people who need it?

00:56:01.119 --> 00:56:02.119
Yes, absolutely.

00:56:02.139 --> 00:56:03.320
Right.

00:56:03.340 --> 00:56:09.000
And so sometimes it's not even, there are programs that we

00:56:09.000 --> 00:56:10.000
and others.

00:56:10.000 --> 00:56:16.440
The work share program, it sat down with a business and they were talking about that

00:56:16.440 --> 00:56:19.119
they were going to be slowing down in the fourth quarter.

00:56:19.119 --> 00:56:23.440
And that they looked like they were going to be running not as many days, not as many

00:56:23.440 --> 00:56:25.739
shifts per week.

00:56:25.739 --> 00:56:30.960
And so I knew there was a potential that there could layoff or furlough workers.

00:56:30.960 --> 00:56:35.460
And so I knew of this work share program, their HR department did not currently, that's

00:56:35.460 --> 00:56:38.460
where we coordinated and had a presentation.

00:56:38.460 --> 00:56:40.500
And then I invited as many businesses,

00:56:40.500 --> 00:56:43.260
I let all the businesses know that we were offering this

00:56:44.539 --> 00:56:46.179
to try to connect them with resources.

00:56:46.179 --> 00:56:50.400
So your question is exactly, that's what we're doing

00:56:50.400 --> 00:56:53.300
is we're connecting them with the resources that are there.

00:56:53.300 --> 00:56:56.380
And if there aren't resources that meet that need,

00:56:56.380 --> 00:56:59.860
how can we help create a solution to the problem?

00:57:00.779 --> 00:57:02.220
Did that answer your question?

00:57:02.220 --> 00:57:23.220
Yes, yes. I'm looking at these, this annual report, looking at the slides that are being presented. All of the slides that have been presented has no pause, no gaps, or has no time to inject a question.

00:57:23.220 --> 00:57:24.220
and John.

00:57:24.220 --> 00:57:31.220
While the slides are flowing, the audience or the council has not an opportunity to elaborate

00:57:31.220 --> 00:57:33.739
on the things that you're presenting.

00:57:33.739 --> 00:57:42.139
And my thing is, if you're presenting these types of slides, then there must be a space

00:57:42.139 --> 00:57:50.059
where questions can filter in because you're blowing over these slides, the whole crew

00:57:50.059 --> 00:57:52.340
is going over these slides.

00:57:52.340 --> 00:57:57.779
We're not able to inject the question, to open it up to the public so we can get more

00:57:57.779 --> 00:58:05.760
collaboration, not collaboration, but detailed information in regards to all of the things

00:58:05.760 --> 00:58:06.920
that we've been hearing.

00:58:06.920 --> 00:58:17.519
I'm subject to ask, well, I want to ask all this that you laid out in these slides, where

00:58:17.519 --> 00:58:21.360
Can we find more detailed information so we can follow up?

00:58:21.360 --> 00:58:25.800
Because there was no, there was no telephone numbers to make contact with

00:58:25.800 --> 00:58:28.599
during these slides and things of this nature.

00:58:28.639 --> 00:58:34.199
Uh, the companies that you and the visiting, the visitors programs, whatever

00:58:34.199 --> 00:58:39.440
programs that are going on objectively throughout the city, uh, we have no way

00:58:39.440 --> 00:58:44.320
to validate whether or not these things have taken place, there's just stuff

00:58:44.320 --> 00:58:52.320
and all of that is thrown together and we're supposed to assume that it's relevant to the Council.

00:58:52.320 --> 00:59:05.320
If we don't have further details we just can't take things top right off the surface and can't dig deeper into the programs that you're presenting and the slides that you're presenting.

00:59:05.320 --> 00:59:14.000
I think I would like to see more detail construction of what we're doing or what you're doing

00:59:14.000 --> 00:59:20.720
because that is very relevant to us because the public needs to hear more details in the

00:59:20.720 --> 00:59:27.039
effects that the Greater Freeport is causing, creating within the city.

00:59:27.039 --> 00:59:34.000
I mean, it's almost like we didn't slow this video tape down or this track down.

00:59:34.000 --> 00:59:39.440
didn't get a chance to absorb it mentally because it was just flying by us and so

00:59:39.440 --> 00:59:46.880
if we want to have a opportunity to come back and ask you about these things

00:59:46.880 --> 00:59:51.760
because there's a whole lot of things that took place

00:59:51.760 --> 00:59:54.000
There's a whole lot of things that took place in the last quarter, according to you guys.

00:59:54.000 --> 01:00:05.000
But we have not had an opportunity to evaluate these things and objectively looked at it for our own satisfaction.

01:00:05.000 --> 01:00:14.000
And we're just not contesting the things that you're bringing to the council.

01:00:14.000 --> 01:00:18.380
and I would like to be able to absorb more of the details of the work that you guys are

01:00:18.380 --> 01:00:26.099
doing because this is just surface, surface annual reporting that is not digging deep

01:00:26.099 --> 01:00:29.739
into the process of what your program is all about.

01:00:29.739 --> 01:00:30.739
So that's all I'm saying.

01:00:30.739 --> 01:00:33.179
I just needed to get more.

01:00:33.179 --> 01:00:38.360
Other person, Sanders, well, first, this would be a great time if there's any questions that

01:00:38.360 --> 01:00:42.139
you'd like to ask about anything we presented, we would be happy to answer.

01:00:42.139 --> 01:00:43.139
Sure.

01:00:43.139 --> 01:00:47.820
No, I think in the agenda was linked to this report that's here.

01:00:47.820 --> 01:00:54.860
This is our full fourth quarter report and we just extrapolated or took out highlights

01:00:54.860 --> 01:00:57.780
of what's in here and presented it to you tonight.

01:00:57.780 --> 01:01:03.340
So more detail is in here and I would be happy or any member of staff would be happy to sit

01:01:03.340 --> 01:01:06.260
down and we can answer any questions you have at a later time.

01:01:06.260 --> 01:01:11.460
If you want to walk through this, we would be happy to answer any questions then or now.

01:01:11.460 --> 01:01:16.579
Yeah, because I also want to make sure that the general public can get access to these

01:01:16.579 --> 01:01:17.579
kinds of things.

01:01:17.579 --> 01:01:26.260
Because we all are querying about what it is that Greater Freeport Partnership is actually

01:01:26.260 --> 01:01:27.260
doing.

01:01:27.260 --> 01:01:33.699
And I just don't want you to come here and just give us these reports without giving

01:01:33.699 --> 01:01:35.260
us really analytics.

01:01:35.260 --> 01:01:40.900
No, and understood that this would be of benefit for anyone in the public residence of Freeport

01:01:40.900 --> 01:01:43.480
Porter, Stevenson County to know what we're doing.

01:01:43.480 --> 01:01:47.420
And that is why everything that I've mentioned tonight as well as a link to this report is

01:01:47.420 --> 01:01:49.260
on our website at greaterfreeport.com.

01:01:49.260 --> 01:01:50.260
Great.

01:01:50.260 --> 01:01:51.260
Great.

01:01:51.260 --> 01:01:54.300
People are welcome to view that and reach out to us if they have specific questions.

01:01:54.300 --> 01:01:55.300
Sure.

01:01:55.300 --> 01:01:56.300
All right.

01:01:56.300 --> 01:01:57.300
Thank you.

01:01:57.300 --> 01:01:59.300
Yes.

01:01:59.300 --> 01:02:04.539
You had said something about grant funding.

01:02:04.539 --> 01:02:13.340
who can apply who can apply for grant funding that you have we can well I

01:02:13.340 --> 01:02:18.980
think I'll let Nicole elaborate on that is that the grant that we the grant

01:02:18.980 --> 01:02:23.219
funding that we helped other organizations apply for was not grants

01:02:23.219 --> 01:02:29.019
that we were administrate administering or there were grants that we operate we

01:02:29.019 --> 01:02:33.780
were connecting those organizations to a grant opportunity that I believe the

01:02:33.780 --> 01:03:03.780
I believe I was the one who mentioned that. The Illinois Office of Tourism provided two grant opportunities that closed in December. We provided those via email. I mean, they're always available through the state, but we were just alerting the attractions and events who we thought fit the criteria to those and then offered our help in writing letters of support, helping to gather data for that.

01:03:03.780 --> 01:03:24.340
We try to be selective to really send opportunities to where they're going to fit.

01:03:24.340 --> 01:03:28.619
Okay, I have one more question.

01:03:28.619 --> 01:03:38.559
your hotel occupancy this is your fourth quarter report but it stops at September what happened

01:03:38.559 --> 01:03:43.679
to October November and December I apologize for that when I had to send it to you guys the last

01:03:43.679 --> 01:03:52.000
hotel had not submitted theirs I will send out the revised report for that I didn't want to guess at

01:03:52.000 --> 01:03:58.079
their occupancy for the fourth quarter and I hadn't heard back from them so thank you for noticing

01:03:58.079 --> 01:03:59.079
Huffines.

01:03:59.079 --> 01:04:03.019
I will send, they got back to me, of course, the day after your agenda came out.

01:04:03.019 --> 01:04:05.519
So I will resend that to everybody so you can see that.

01:04:05.519 --> 01:04:07.320
Thank you so much for asking.

01:04:07.320 --> 01:04:09.320
Ottoman Sanders.

01:04:09.320 --> 01:04:22.840
The visitors for site that was sold, who does all of the real estate is governed by, I should

01:04:22.840 --> 01:04:23.840
say?

01:04:23.840 --> 01:04:24.840
And who takes care of that?

01:04:24.840 --> 01:04:29.000
and when was it up for sale again?

01:04:29.000 --> 01:04:37.119
We didn't get any reports on that and we like to get a report on where did the asset go

01:04:37.119 --> 01:04:42.720
that was invested in that property or sold for that property?

01:04:42.720 --> 01:04:48.519
Where did all of those things go and where did they end up?

01:04:48.519 --> 01:04:55.800
and then not only that, the building, something else that you brought up that was supposed

01:04:55.800 --> 01:05:01.679
to be purchased, did I, did I hear that right?

01:05:01.679 --> 01:05:05.320
If I can answer your first question and then if there was another question about a purchase,

01:05:05.320 --> 01:05:11.860
I'm happy to have you follow up, the Stevenson County visitor center board, which is a separate

01:05:11.860 --> 01:05:18.119
organization from the partnership was founded to construct the visitor center.

01:05:18.119 --> 01:05:23.599
That organization, which was a separate non-profit, owned the visitor center and the partnership

01:05:23.599 --> 01:05:29.440
leased that building to run visitor center services from that facility.

01:05:29.440 --> 01:05:34.119
So when it was sold, that was never an asset of the partnership.

01:05:34.119 --> 01:05:36.360
We were only leasing that space.

01:05:36.360 --> 01:05:44.139
So it was their business to sell it, authorize the sale, and what they do with that money

01:05:44.139 --> 01:05:45.599
is up to that board.

01:05:45.599 --> 01:05:47.400
That's completely separate from our organization.

01:05:47.400 --> 01:05:52.679
so that's the Stevenson County it is a separate nonprofit it has nothing to do

01:05:52.679 --> 01:05:59.220
with the actual county it was just the name of the organization oh I purchased

01:05:59.220 --> 01:06:03.659
the building they were the ones who owned the building and sold it and sold

01:06:03.659 --> 01:06:11.199
it okay all right thank you you had two events to raise money one was for

01:06:11.199 --> 01:06:21.239
for decorations for next year Christmas, and one was to beautify downtown.

01:06:21.239 --> 01:06:24.360
Did I miss it or was that spoken about?

01:06:24.360 --> 01:06:26.920
It's outlined in the actual written report.

01:06:26.920 --> 01:06:31.039
I mean, I know we would love to highlight lots more, but we try to be respectful of

01:06:31.039 --> 01:06:34.840
everybody's time, which is why we provide so many different opportunities to read about

01:06:34.840 --> 01:06:35.840
things.

01:06:35.840 --> 01:06:41.119
The first concert that you were saying was for downtown beautification actually had to

01:06:41.119 --> 01:06:42.119
Huffines.

01:06:42.119 --> 01:06:52.400
So that one is actually rescheduled, I believe it's for April 5th, if my memory serves me.

01:06:52.400 --> 01:06:56.320
And then the second one was Christmas Wizards, which was held at the Masonic Temple.

01:06:56.320 --> 01:06:57.480
Christmas what?

01:06:57.480 --> 01:06:58.679
Christmas Wizards.

01:06:58.679 --> 01:07:01.440
It was a Trans-Siberian Orchestra tribute.

01:07:01.440 --> 01:07:04.800
That is the one that was for future holiday decorations.

01:07:04.800 --> 01:07:10.019
Obviously, holiday decorations are an asset that, you know, don't depreciate in a year.

01:07:10.019 --> 01:07:23.019
We are still collecting expenses from that, but we do anticipate having a profit from that that will then be restricted for holiday decorations in the future.

01:07:23.019 --> 01:07:25.019
But you haven't made a profit yet.

01:07:25.019 --> 01:07:35.019
We are still, so it hasn't been, or I guess just today, it's a full 30 days, so we're still collecting all of the expenses. So I'd hate to give you a full figure right now.

01:07:35.019 --> 01:07:39.480
Are there any other questions?

01:07:39.480 --> 01:07:47.760
Thank you. This is a question that I'm not sure who would handle it. How much city funding was used to build the visitor center?

01:07:47.760 --> 01:08:01.720
Oh, that I'm not positive. And that was in 2000 and yes, so very much predates this organization, let alone me.

01:08:01.720 --> 01:08:06.480
So, so would the sale return any of that funding back to the city?

01:08:06.480 --> 01:08:12.480
So the this is the my only portion of it that I know Alderman Monroe so I will

01:08:12.480 --> 01:08:17.979
give you what I can that the majority of those payments have been paid by hotel

01:08:17.979 --> 01:08:22.119
motel tax I don't know if there was an any initial investment at all from the

01:08:22.119 --> 01:08:26.880
city of Freeport again that would have been much earlier in the construction

01:08:26.880 --> 01:08:30.840
project and that would have to go question to be asked to the the

01:08:30.840 --> 01:08:31.840
and John.

01:08:31.840 --> 01:08:39.199
I'm sorry, I'd like to follow up with another question.

01:08:39.199 --> 01:08:50.880
So on your slides, there were three businesses that did not, we didn't answer their request

01:08:50.880 --> 01:08:58.960
for information, 200-acre sites, one heavy water user, sounds an awful lot like manufacturing

01:08:58.960 --> 01:08:59.960
Huffines.

01:08:59.960 --> 01:09:08.449
We've been talking about this for four years now.

01:09:08.449 --> 01:09:16.029
We've put almost $2 million into the GFP and we're still not in any better place to bring

01:09:16.029 --> 01:09:21.869
in large scale businesses that would help a significant number of Freeport residents,

01:09:21.869 --> 01:09:26.550
county residents, so on and so forth.

01:09:26.550 --> 01:09:29.829
How do we fix that problem that we've got?

01:09:29.829 --> 01:09:31.949
Because we've been asking the same question

01:09:31.949 --> 01:09:34.069
and I know the city manager, we keep asking him,

01:09:34.069 --> 01:09:36.989
we're not getting the answers that I would like to hear.

01:09:38.510 --> 01:09:42.869
Especially when we've invested almost $65 million

01:09:42.869 --> 01:09:45.329
into the wastewater treatment plant.

01:09:47.069 --> 01:09:48.710
Yeah, it would be great to use that.

01:09:48.710 --> 01:09:51.979
Yeah, it would be great to use a heavy water user that would be able to pay some of that back, right?

01:09:53.300 --> 01:10:00.020
So one of the key things we know Greenfield site development having shovel ready sites is key

01:10:00.819 --> 01:10:08.340
Not only for attracting new businesses, but for any existing businesses that would need to expand late last quarter

01:10:08.899 --> 01:10:13.939
We submitted a grant application to the state of Illinois for a site readiness planning grant

01:10:13.939 --> 01:10:14.939
Huffines.

01:10:14.939 --> 01:10:19.979
The state said that they were going to what notice of award was in January, so we're waiting

01:10:19.979 --> 01:10:20.979
to hear.

01:10:20.979 --> 01:10:25.659
That would help us, that grant was structured for planning, not construction, but it would

01:10:25.659 --> 01:10:31.300
help us identify key locations where we could do planning activities.

01:10:31.300 --> 01:10:35.779
We've already met with some of the landowners, but what would it take to get infrastructure

01:10:35.779 --> 01:10:38.420
there so that it could become shovel ready.

01:10:38.420 --> 01:10:40.500
So it's kind of the first step.

01:10:40.500 --> 01:10:45.180
we hope to get any day now, hopefully a notice of award

01:10:45.180 --> 01:10:50.020
and then we would proceed with planning activities, so.

01:10:50.020 --> 01:10:50.859
Thank you.

01:10:50.859 --> 01:10:51.680
Alderman Cleo.

01:10:51.680 --> 01:10:56.739
Yes, I think we had a little bit of misinformation there

01:10:56.739 --> 01:10:59.220
but I'll see if I can correct some of it.

01:10:59.220 --> 01:11:03.180
The city has zero amount of money in the visitors bureau.

01:11:03.180 --> 01:11:05.779
Years ago it was organized by a group of people

01:11:05.779 --> 01:11:07.899
that was a complete separate entity.

01:11:07.899 --> 01:11:09.899
Think it ended up that there were four people

01:11:09.899 --> 01:11:19.619
We can talk about shovel ready projects.

01:11:19.619 --> 01:11:26.060
For years we can start out by Mill Race Crossing.

01:11:26.060 --> 01:11:31.260
The county themselves lost about three places that were going to go in there and were voted

01:11:31.260 --> 01:11:33.539
down by the county.

01:11:33.539 --> 01:11:38.939
We still do not have water and sewer there, which is a big entity, which makes it a shovel

01:12:08.939 --> 01:12:13.260
At the plant and have been, and there will be phase two, three, and four.

01:12:13.260 --> 01:12:18.140
So it isn't as though it's something that's going to end tomorrow and it's going to continue.

01:12:18.140 --> 01:12:25.180
But all those costs are not necessarily laid on the greater Freeport partnership.

01:12:25.180 --> 01:12:30.140
A lot of those costs are laid upon the city of Freeport, the county of Steveson.

01:12:30.140 --> 01:12:37.539
If you remember, they went out for an estimate for water and fell far short of the dollars

01:12:37.539 --> 01:12:43.579
and Cents so the project was not completed. We still all as a group need to work to complete

01:12:43.579 --> 01:12:50.979
those projects so we can get some of those done. We don't have an overabundance of structures

01:12:50.979 --> 01:12:55.619
that sometimes people are looking for. We know that there's two, three, four that have

01:12:55.619 --> 01:13:01.899
been sold here lately that have great potential for stuff, but I appreciate your work on it

01:13:01.899 --> 01:13:08.340
moving forward and we all need to work together to try and get these places shovel ready so

01:13:08.340 --> 01:13:09.340
we can do something.

01:13:09.340 --> 01:13:12.100
Are there any yet?

01:13:12.100 --> 01:13:13.100
Oh, Alderman Simmons.

01:13:13.100 --> 01:13:14.100
Okay.

01:13:14.100 --> 01:13:15.100
I'm sorry.

01:13:15.100 --> 01:13:16.100
I had one.

01:13:16.100 --> 01:13:17.100
I'm sorry.

01:13:17.100 --> 01:13:21.939
But I have one last question for the Workforce Solutions slide with the different events

01:13:21.939 --> 01:13:25.340
or career type fairs.

01:13:25.340 --> 01:13:31.699
Were those things thought of and created by GFP or something that once you found out

01:13:31.699 --> 01:13:33.699
Greer, and Sussman.

01:13:35.180 --> 01:13:37.180
Sorry, I'm sorry, sorry, I'm sorry.

01:13:40.300 --> 01:13:42.300
I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry.

01:13:43.920 --> 01:13:45.920
I'm sorry.

01:13:50.100 --> 01:13:52.100
I'm sorry.

01:13:56.359 --> 01:13:58.359
I'm sorry, I'm sorry.

01:14:01.699 --> 01:14:05.460
and next year opening it up, talking with,

01:14:05.460 --> 01:14:08.300
it's right now CareerTech and seeing how it might be

01:14:08.300 --> 01:14:11.819
expanded into other Freeport High School students

01:14:11.819 --> 01:14:15.180
that would get exposure into what manufacturing is.

01:14:15.180 --> 01:14:19.479
The career and job fair was something that I think

01:14:19.479 --> 01:14:23.060
we created in partnership with Highland

01:14:23.060 --> 01:14:25.220
and Freeport High School.

01:14:25.220 --> 01:14:28.659
Before it had been Highland had their own job fair

01:14:28.659 --> 01:14:58.659
and about three weeks later Freeport High School did and so this was kind of a brainchild sitting together and saying this would probably be most efficient for the employers especially as both of these events had been put in the fourth quarter and we know how everyone's fourth quarter is very busy especially if a business is on a calendar fiscal year that if we could combine these events. And no, we did not create the Ag Industry Expo, the Highland Community College Ag Industry Expo.

01:14:58.659 --> 01:15:00.979
has been in existence for a number of years.

01:15:00.979 --> 01:15:03.579
But we continue to help provide them with information

01:15:03.579 --> 01:15:06.300
to make sure that they are reaching the right person

01:15:06.300 --> 01:15:09.420
at the right company so that they make sure

01:15:09.420 --> 01:15:11.340
that they have the opportunity.

01:15:11.340 --> 01:15:13.819
It's really about connecting.

01:15:13.819 --> 01:15:18.250
And the yield program, you mentioned that.

01:15:18.250 --> 01:15:20.010
Yield, yeah.

01:15:20.010 --> 01:15:22.390
Yield, so we've helped promote the program

01:15:22.390 --> 01:15:24.329
as much as we can through the community.

01:15:24.329 --> 01:15:29.329
But what our key role, I think, was late last year

01:15:29.329 --> 01:15:30.329
Huffines.

01:15:30.329 --> 01:15:33.890
And then last year was, we knew that yield program through, through board members and

01:15:33.890 --> 01:15:38.770
through other community members that we've engaged with was, didn't have sustainable

01:15:38.770 --> 01:15:39.770
funding.

01:15:39.770 --> 01:15:40.930
They didn't know how they were going to continue.

01:15:40.930 --> 01:15:44.810
And it's such a critical and important program, especially getting people, more people into

01:15:44.810 --> 01:15:45.890
the trades.

01:15:45.890 --> 01:15:51.050
So I saw an opportunity with the CEJA grant that maybe that would work for funding.

01:15:51.050 --> 01:15:55.649
And so it was really connecting the dots, reaching out into our network, Goodwill Industries,

01:15:55.649 --> 01:15:56.569
Smith, Kareem, and

01:15:56.569 --> 01:15:57.710
John, and I'll be the first to

01:15:57.710 --> 01:15:58.710
introduce the board.

01:15:58.710 --> 01:15:59.710
I'm the chair of the board of

01:15:59.710 --> 01:16:00.710
the board of directors of the

01:16:00.710 --> 01:16:01.710
workforce connections, really

01:16:01.710 --> 01:16:02.710
understanding who the point

01:16:02.710 --> 01:16:03.710
person was, and then connecting

01:16:03.710 --> 01:16:04.710
some leadership within the yield

01:16:04.710 --> 01:16:05.710
organization to connect them,

01:16:05.710 --> 01:16:06.710
and thankfully it worked out.

01:16:06.710 --> 01:16:09.310
Alderman Klemm?

01:16:09.310 --> 01:16:12.649
If I could, just one more thing

01:16:12.649 --> 01:16:15.210
for the audience so they know.

01:16:15.210 --> 01:16:16.609
All of these documents that were

01:16:16.609 --> 01:16:19.090
presented tonight, over a week

01:16:19.090 --> 01:16:20.689
ago we received the fourth

01:16:20.689 --> 01:16:23.010
quarter presentation, the

01:16:23.010 --> 01:16:26.409
packet was the slide

01:16:26.409 --> 01:16:32.569
before tonight's meeting. It was in there at least on Friday's meeting and in the

01:16:32.569 --> 01:16:40.600
packet. Okay. We're not allowed to ask questions. Were you talking about the

01:16:40.600 --> 01:16:44.359
fourth quarter? Go ahead and talk together so you can figure it out. No, it's figured

01:16:44.359 --> 01:16:48.359
out. I asked my questions because they were not presented in the packet. They were

01:16:48.359 --> 01:16:53.680
presented by email. Not the questions that I asked. Okay, we're gonna move on.

01:16:53.680 --> 01:16:57.359
Okay, you guys, we gotta bring the meeting to order. We had the

01:16:57.359 --> 01:17:19.359
We have to bring the meeting to order. Okay. Thank you, Andrea. We appreciate it. Okay, at this time we're going to go to question number nine. Discussion regarding ordinance amending chapter 608 and 806 of the liquor code. The presentation is by attorney Cox.

01:17:19.359 --> 01:17:49.359
Good evening. Not much exciting here, but just good governance generally. It's part of the Liquor Commission's commitment to keep our liquor ordinance up to speed and up to date, keeping track of legal developments through ILCC and conditions that we're experiencing on a regular basis, including things that Dovie and I run into in the licensing process. I'm not going to take much time. Please stop me. Ask questions.

01:17:49.359 --> 01:17:52.159
is we're going through here, I'm gonna move pretty quick.

01:17:52.159 --> 01:17:53.319
So if you look at section two,

01:17:53.319 --> 01:17:55.680
that's a modification of section 608,

01:17:58.000 --> 01:17:59.800
which previously required

01:17:59.800 --> 01:18:02.199
that everybody keeps a landline phone.

01:18:02.199 --> 01:18:03.720
Not sure how many of our establishments

01:18:03.720 --> 01:18:05.100
have a landline phone anymore,

01:18:05.100 --> 01:18:09.520
but we feel that that's probably an obsolete requirement.

01:18:09.520 --> 01:18:11.960
As long as we can get ahold of somebody via cell phone,

01:18:11.960 --> 01:18:14.159
that's good enough, and that's taken care of

01:18:14.159 --> 01:18:17.640
through our authorized agent process

01:18:17.640 --> 01:18:20.239
Thomas, and our resident manager.

01:18:20.239 --> 01:18:25.359
Section three involves a modification of section 608-18.

01:18:25.359 --> 01:18:32.359
This is actually a statement which came out from ILCC's legal division regarding retail

01:18:32.359 --> 01:18:37.479
establishments having paint and pours, things like that to attract businesses in.

01:18:37.479 --> 01:18:42.279
I think, you know, generally those are well received by the public, but ILCC is really

01:18:42.279 --> 01:18:45.559
putting their foot down about what's allowed and what's not.

01:18:45.559 --> 01:18:50.600
So if you are serving free alcohol, for instance, to get people into your store, that's just

01:18:50.600 --> 01:18:52.279
not okay.

01:18:52.279 --> 01:18:57.119
We did put a de minimis of eight or less persons there, so that if it's just a social gathering,

01:18:57.119 --> 01:19:03.020
that's not going to run afoul of the provision, but if you're running a special or something

01:19:03.020 --> 01:19:06.520
open to the public, that's not allowed.

01:19:06.520 --> 01:19:11.680
Couple modifications to the Definitional Section in 806.01.

01:19:11.680 --> 01:19:17.279
is we added a brewer and then there's a class BR if you look at section five there as well.

01:19:17.279 --> 01:19:23.479
This was simply added because we never had somebody that fell under this category before.

01:19:23.479 --> 01:19:29.199
Recently generations has been upgraded in terms of their brewer license and we just

01:19:29.199 --> 01:19:34.559
didn't have anything to track that so we're adding something that tracks almost exactly

01:19:34.559 --> 01:19:40.119
with what ILCC has for their definition.

01:19:40.119 --> 01:19:45.020
So, a resident manager previously required a full-time employee.

01:19:45.020 --> 01:19:46.020
That's just not the situation.

01:19:46.020 --> 01:19:49.359
and the employee, that's just not the situation, you know, these managers kind of bounce around

01:19:49.359 --> 01:19:56.359
from store to store and there's no reason to require a full time, we have specific provisions

01:19:56.359 --> 01:20:01.359
that say that we have to be able to get a hold of you and we've got contact information

01:20:01.359 --> 01:20:05.840
for each of the establishments there.

01:20:05.840 --> 01:20:10.979
In 806.03 we've got tier three licenses, we've got a caterer license, we'd previously and

01:20:10.979 --> 01:20:16.899
intentionally left out the the incidental part of food service that that is

01:20:16.899 --> 01:20:25.300
required here. Again this is an ILCC legal thing. Dovie is very very connected

01:20:25.300 --> 01:20:29.739
with the clerk's network and ILCC has been pushing back on that and saying that

01:20:29.739 --> 01:20:34.380
if you are a caterer liquor can be provided as part of a package but it has

01:20:34.380 --> 01:20:48.279
& Oates, Paul, and Don, and a couple more again, just technical changes, 806.07, that's

01:20:48.279 --> 01:20:50.039
section six of the ordinance.

01:20:50.039 --> 01:20:56.439
It took out the requirements of listing all owners in a publicly held corporation, Wal-Mart,

01:20:56.439 --> 01:20:58.399
Walgreens, that sort of thing.

01:20:58.399 --> 01:21:00.500
We don't need a list of every shareholder.

01:21:00.500 --> 01:21:03.359
And they don't provide it anyway, they just tell us to go look at the website.

01:21:03.359 --> 01:21:07.460
So that doesn't need to be provided as part of the application.

01:21:07.460 --> 01:21:11.680
Roof of liability insurance, this just tracks what we've already been requiring, that any

01:21:11.680 --> 01:21:15.680
of the insurance certificates list the City of Freeport as a certificate holder.

01:21:15.680 --> 01:21:20.439
Again, that's been a requirement for years, it just didn't say it in the ordinance.

01:21:20.439 --> 01:21:27.880
At least 806.22, the Festival District, that actually, there's an addition to that, and

01:21:27.880 --> 01:21:33.520
That extends down Chicago Avenue from Spring Street to Jackson.

01:21:33.520 --> 01:21:43.520
That's from Wagner House South to pick up the exchange, which is a new establishment.

01:21:43.520 --> 01:21:44.520
And that's it.

01:21:44.520 --> 01:21:48.720
Again, nothing very exciting there, but all changes that need to be made and the Liquor

01:21:48.720 --> 01:21:52.260
Commission has all vetted this and is recommending those changes.

01:21:52.260 --> 01:21:55.359
So any questions for me on the?

01:21:55.359 --> 01:21:56.359
Any questions?

01:21:56.359 --> 01:21:57.359
Thank you.

01:21:57.359 --> 01:22:06.239
if not thank you. Thank you. Do we need a recommendation to move that forward? I'll make a

01:22:06.239 --> 01:22:12.640
recommendation to move it forward to the next meeting. Any second? Okay. It was first by

01:22:12.640 --> 01:22:24.000
Klemm and then second by Parker. All in favor? Aye. All opposed? The motion passed.

01:22:24.000 --> 01:22:40.399
Yes. We'll go to discussion regarding amending ordinance. Ordinance 2025-04, Chapter 144.14, Increasing Plumbing Permits. Director Duckman.

01:22:40.399 --> 01:22:53.920
Thank you, Alderpersons, Sellers. So at the heart of this proposed ordinance, so we're discussing it today, is to move costs from a

01:22:53.920 --> 01:23:23.920
Water and Sewer Service Install from $50 to $150. So basically what that means is you're getting a new water service, a new sewer service outside your building. A lot of times this is common when people's sewers collapse. There's a lot of old clay sewers in town. So that would be the most common type of work to think about here. Reason we're discussing a increase in this fee to $150 is there's a significant amount of staff time.

01:23:23.920 --> 01:23:26.800
our water superintendent has to go out

01:23:26.800 --> 01:23:31.720
and physically inspect all of these connections.

01:23:31.720 --> 01:23:34.560
And there's also staff time involved

01:23:34.560 --> 01:23:37.880
in processing the pictures, the paperwork, et cetera.

01:23:37.880 --> 01:23:39.680
And so the request has been made

01:23:39.680 --> 01:23:42.520
and gone through our building commission,

01:23:42.520 --> 01:23:45.840
has reviewed this as well and made a recommendation

01:23:45.840 --> 01:23:49.640
to go from the $50 to $150 for a water

01:23:49.640 --> 01:23:51.979
and or service install.

01:23:51.979 --> 01:24:02.979
The other part of this that's being discussed is increasing from $30 to $100 for any standard water line that's going to be installed in a building.

01:24:02.979 --> 01:24:10.979
The reason for this is our plumbing inspector, which is BNF Code Services out of the Chicago suburbs.

01:24:10.979 --> 01:24:18.979
They raise their rates from $80 to $100 per hour, and the intent here is to help cover some of these inspections.

01:24:18.979 --> 01:24:19.979
Fowler.

01:24:19.979 --> 01:24:25.220
So, this ordinance change, this went through our building commission.

01:24:25.220 --> 01:24:28.939
What's not being discussed is there's some technicalities with the types of connections

01:24:28.939 --> 01:24:36.140
used in our solar that will be discussed at the next, when this goes to council with recommendation

01:24:36.140 --> 01:24:42.020
for approval, but really wanted to kind of discuss and focus on the increasing the rates

01:24:42.020 --> 01:24:45.500
for our inspections, or pardon me, for our permits.

01:24:45.500 --> 01:24:46.500
Huffines.

01:24:46.500 --> 01:24:47.500
Okay.

01:24:47.500 --> 01:24:48.500
At this time, is there any questions?

01:24:48.500 --> 01:24:49.500
Okay.

01:24:49.500 --> 01:24:50.500
Alderman Sanders.

01:24:50.500 --> 01:24:51.500
Yeah.

01:24:51.500 --> 01:24:52.500
How are you doing, Doc?

01:24:52.500 --> 01:24:53.500
Good.

01:24:53.500 --> 01:25:07.979
Listening to the reason why the cost is increasing for homeowners, is this subject, is this a

01:25:07.979 --> 01:25:11.859
mandatory for all homeowners?

01:25:11.859 --> 01:25:19.060
Is this a policy or ordinance or something that has not been implemented yet but we're

01:25:19.060 --> 01:25:26.020
making a decision or wanting to do an increase on people property or for their services for

01:25:26.020 --> 01:25:28.340
these upgrades?

01:25:28.340 --> 01:25:32.220
Well the reason for discussion is this would go to council.

01:25:32.220 --> 01:25:35.500
The intent is to bring this to council at the next meeting.

01:25:35.500 --> 01:25:39.699
But I think whenever we're talking about something like raising rates on permits, it's a good

01:26:09.699 --> 01:26:10.699
Huffines.

01:26:10.699 --> 01:26:11.699
That's fair.

01:26:11.699 --> 01:26:17.819
But as a member of staff, it's important to say that, you know, the rates from our

01:26:17.819 --> 01:26:24.140
plumbing inspector, which is contracted out to BNF code services, they've raised their

01:26:24.140 --> 01:26:28.539
rates from $80 to $100, so we're trying to capture some of that money back.

01:26:28.539 --> 01:26:33.539
The other part of this is we are doing a better job in our public works department of ensuring

01:26:33.539 --> 01:26:38.659
that we always have every single sewer connection and every single water connection inspected

01:26:38.659 --> 01:26:48.399
Jepson, Anthea, Dad, page, we've done a better job with that. I don't want to get too much

01:26:48.399 --> 01:26:52.399
into the weeds about why it wasn't as good in the past or as efficiently, but I've worked

01:26:52.399 --> 01:26:57.720
hard with the public works team to kind of look at, especially with our sewer connections.

01:26:57.720 --> 01:27:02.779
Often times, there's what's known as infiltration, which is basically stormwater or groundwater

01:27:02.779 --> 01:27:07.699
runoff that will get into a sewer system. And that's what you don't, a Fernco is the

01:27:07.699 --> 01:27:08.699
Fowler.

01:27:08.699 --> 01:27:28.420
We've done a better job of making sure that, hey, when we're getting a sewer service, let's

01:27:28.420 --> 01:27:30.659
make sure this is done every time.

01:27:30.659 --> 01:27:55.939
Yeah, and the method that you might use to determine whether or not storm water or any kind of infiltration is getting into a property owner's sewer line, you would have to do some form of testing to declare

01:27:55.939 --> 01:28:00.939
whether or not water is getting into this location

01:28:01.859 --> 01:28:04.420
or this property owner's property.

01:28:04.420 --> 01:28:07.460
We will have to do something in order to make sure

01:28:07.460 --> 01:28:09.340
that the inspection is done correctly

01:28:09.340 --> 01:28:13.699
and not just inform homeowners that the possibility

01:28:13.699 --> 01:28:16.539
that there might be an infiltration.

01:28:16.539 --> 01:28:18.619
You are correct in that.

01:28:18.619 --> 01:28:21.140
We're gonna have our water superintendent,

01:28:21.140 --> 01:28:23.819
it's gonna be either be himself

01:28:23.819 --> 01:28:26.979
or it's gonna be someone under his responsible charge

01:28:26.979 --> 01:28:30.260
to go out and inspect the connection at that time.

01:28:30.260 --> 01:28:32.180
And if there's something not done right,

01:28:32.180 --> 01:28:35.659
that's when the water superintendent

01:28:35.659 --> 01:28:37.359
or the person under responsible charge

01:28:37.359 --> 01:28:40.180
would actually say, hey, you got to redo this,

01:28:40.180 --> 01:28:42.340
connection isn't done right.

01:28:42.340 --> 01:28:43.739
And then once it's approved,

01:28:43.739 --> 01:28:46.739
then they can backfill or fill in the excavation.

01:28:46.739 --> 01:28:49.539
And we do take photos before and after, right?

01:28:49.539 --> 01:28:52.300
Yes, and that's the one thing that it's mentioned too

01:28:52.300 --> 01:28:59.380
and the memo that that's what's being accounted for is the documentation, excuse me, of the

01:28:59.380 --> 01:29:01.659
work done, which is part of it is photographs.

01:29:01.659 --> 01:29:02.659
Right.

01:29:02.659 --> 01:29:03.659
Okay.

01:29:03.659 --> 01:29:04.659
Thank you.

01:29:04.659 --> 01:29:07.659
I have a question.

01:29:07.659 --> 01:29:13.899
Do you think that, I know you said from $50 to $150, correct?

01:29:13.899 --> 01:29:15.539
That is what's being proposed.

01:29:15.539 --> 01:29:16.539
That's what will be proposed.

01:29:16.539 --> 01:29:19.380
Do you think that, you know, that's tripling it.

01:29:19.380 --> 01:29:23.479
So, do you think that there's some way that we could start off with maybe trying a hundred

01:29:23.479 --> 01:29:29.539
and see how that, you know, affects, you know, different plumbers and, you know, so that

01:29:29.539 --> 01:29:32.399
price won't be put on to the consumer so much?

01:29:32.399 --> 01:29:38.600
If we could just, since we do, you know, that, you said the other company raised their price,

01:29:38.600 --> 01:29:43.500
you know, we have to do something, so do you think that just doing it to 50 instead, I

01:29:43.500 --> 01:29:44.340
I mean, do-

01:29:44.340 --> 01:29:49.000
I'm just doing it to 50 instead. I mean doing it to 100 instead of the 150 and see how that helps us out?

01:29:49.000 --> 01:29:58.960
I think it's a reasonable compromise. This is a public service, correct? So the idea, you know, public services which governments provide, the idea is not always to make sure you're making a profit or making money.

01:29:58.960 --> 01:30:09.760
But at the end of the day, too, you also want to be responsible with the public's money. So you're also looking at it going, okay we see, we're increasing in the case of having our inspectors do a better job,

01:30:39.760 --> 01:30:42.720
Mollison, Merris, Jeanne,

01:30:42.720 --> 01:30:44.659
Weativ,

01:30:44.659 --> 01:30:47.680
Dabney,

01:30:47.680 --> 01:30:49.640
John,

01:30:49.640 --> 01:30:51.479
H Monster,

01:30:51.479 --> 01:30:54.239
Lastery,

01:30:54.239 --> 01:30:56.239
Dabney,

01:30:56.239 --> 01:30:58.739
Jeanne,

01:30:58.739 --> 01:31:02.279
Mollison, Merris, Jeanne,

01:31:02.279 --> 01:31:04.279
Lastery,

01:31:04.279 --> 01:31:05.720
John,

01:31:05.720 --> 01:31:06.720
Huffines.

01:31:06.720 --> 01:31:07.720
Thank you.

01:31:07.720 --> 01:31:08.720
Thanks for taking my call today and returning my call.

01:31:08.720 --> 01:31:14.479
And a question for you really comes back to, you know, why are we not tying the actual

01:31:14.479 --> 01:31:26.100
cost of the inspection as opposed to setting a rate in the ordinance?

01:31:26.100 --> 01:31:30.359
It would make sense if they charge $100 an hour and they come out for less than an hour

01:31:30.359 --> 01:31:34.640
and they're going to charge it for $100, they would pay $100, not $150.

01:31:34.640 --> 01:31:35.640
Why would we do that?

01:31:35.640 --> 01:32:05.640
Well, the thing is, it's, we do not have one that I'm aware of that has been on the contract to do plumbing inspections. So believe it or not, the state license to do plumbing is highly coveted license. I believe it's, and don't, and again, I could be wrong on the years here, but I believe it's 10 years you have to work for a licensed plumber. So you cannot just go out and say, I want

01:32:05.640 --> 01:32:35.640
Miller, Michael, and Dan, and then, of course, we have a lot of people that are not going to be a plumber. It's like some people come out and say, I'm a contractor. It's a little easier to do that than it is to be a plumber. Plumbers have a very strong grip on being a plumbing inspector. And oftentimes, when you have that license as a plumber, you're golden for your career. And oftentimes, so my point that I'm getting at is, in the community to then be a plumbing inspector, that's a highly coveted designation to have.

01:32:35.640 --> 01:32:41.960
Crockley, or not to say that we couldn't look into possibly at a next, that's something

01:32:41.960 --> 01:32:48.140
you can task staff with, I can double check when our contract ends with BNF, but we could

01:32:48.140 --> 01:32:51.399
certainly reopen it again and kind of look into that professional service.

01:32:51.399 --> 01:32:55.159
So that would answer your question, to answer your question is we'd have to go out again

01:32:55.159 --> 01:32:59.520
and see when our contract with BNF ends and then we could look into entering with another

01:32:59.520 --> 01:33:04.000
company or going for an RFP to kind of look for those professional services.

01:33:04.000 --> 01:33:05.000
Huffines.

01:33:05.000 --> 01:33:06.000
Thank you.

01:33:06.000 --> 01:33:20.560
So are you saying that this has not been ran by local plummings?

01:33:20.560 --> 01:33:23.760
Oh, it has because that is the building commission.

01:33:23.760 --> 01:33:30.439
So the building commission is where our local contractors, architects, our building commission

01:33:30.439 --> 01:33:35.920
would have looked at this and they recommended approval.

01:33:35.920 --> 01:33:41.960
Have you taken advantage of GFP to see what they have, what leads or direction they can

01:33:41.960 --> 01:33:42.960
lead us?

01:33:42.960 --> 01:33:46.600
I work well with the Greater Freeport Partnership, I've never known them to be plumbing experts

01:33:46.600 --> 01:33:50.800
but I guess I could go down that path.

01:33:50.800 --> 01:33:56.720
I mean by the next time I will make a comment at the council meeting what the GFP had to

01:33:56.720 --> 01:33:57.960
say.

01:33:57.960 --> 01:34:01.560
Can you tell me how many permits pulled in 2024?

01:34:01.560 --> 01:34:07.539
Yes, 39 for plumbing.

01:34:07.539 --> 01:34:08.380
Thank you.

01:34:09.600 --> 01:34:10.439
Darren.

01:34:10.439 --> 01:34:13.460
Yeah, I sat on the building commission

01:34:13.460 --> 01:34:16.199
and there is a very reputable local plumber

01:34:16.199 --> 01:34:17.420
that sits on that commission

01:34:17.420 --> 01:34:21.020
and he agreed that the field structure that was set

01:34:21.020 --> 01:34:26.060
was reasonable and I believe it was approved unanimously.

01:34:26.060 --> 01:34:28.420
If the council decides they would like to do less,

01:34:28.420 --> 01:34:29.500
that's fine.

01:34:29.500 --> 01:34:31.500
In discussions with local groups,

01:34:31.500 --> 01:34:35.260
they would rather see an amount that they can count on

01:34:35.260 --> 01:34:37.979
instead of a various amount by the inspection.

01:34:37.979 --> 01:34:40.279
So they know what to include in their price.

01:34:41.180 --> 01:34:44.939
And just, I wanted to point out as part of the utility,

01:34:44.939 --> 01:34:48.739
we are required as a city to observe

01:34:48.739 --> 01:34:51.819
and document these connections for water and sewer.

01:34:51.819 --> 01:34:53.460
It's part of our ordinance structure

01:34:53.460 --> 01:34:56.460
and they wanna make sure that we're cutting I&I out

01:34:56.460 --> 01:34:58.659
and we wanna make sure the connections are proper

01:34:58.659 --> 01:35:00.460
to our potable water system as well.

01:35:00.460 --> 01:35:04.340
So it is something that we have worked hard with Wayne

01:35:04.340 --> 01:35:07.239
to make sure that we are doing a very good job of it.

01:35:07.239 --> 01:35:11.460
And we have made it mandatory for a physical inspection

01:35:11.460 --> 01:35:13.260
of all of these connections now.

01:35:13.260 --> 01:35:15.460
It's not something that somebody's taken a picture of

01:35:15.460 --> 01:35:18.380
and send us, the superintendent or one of the crew members

01:35:18.380 --> 01:35:21.340
are going to verify it, documenting it and recording it

01:35:21.340 --> 01:35:24.420
for our future as bill of records for the city.

01:35:24.420 --> 01:35:41.619
Are you saying though, are you saying that there is no local inspectors to be hired?

01:35:41.619 --> 01:35:45.819
I am saying that because I would have to look at our contract with BNF.

01:35:45.819 --> 01:35:49.260
We entered into a contract and I do not know the deadline there and that's an easy enough

01:35:49.260 --> 01:35:51.880
ask which I will get the deadline for BNF.

01:35:51.880 --> 01:35:58.520
We have a contract with BNF services to do these inspections and so once that contract

01:35:58.520 --> 01:36:06.039
would expire we can put an RF request for proposal for that to kind of gather and it

01:36:06.039 --> 01:36:10.100
would probably fall under request for qualifications as well since they have to have that state

01:36:10.100 --> 01:36:12.279
plumbing the proper licenses.

01:36:12.279 --> 01:36:16.439
But once the once the contract is over with BNF we can certainly put that out for bid

01:36:16.439 --> 01:36:17.439
again.

01:36:17.439 --> 01:36:19.119
Do you know how long we've been in it?

01:36:19.119 --> 01:36:24.680
I know as long as I've been here, we've been using BNF, so three years at least, but I

01:36:24.680 --> 01:36:28.960
can get that information to double check.

01:36:28.960 --> 01:36:42.720
Wayne, sir, have we looked within our own entity, within the city ranks itself, because

01:36:42.720 --> 01:36:52.720
Everyone that works for the city has some form of qualification of doing any kind of plumbing inspections.

01:36:52.720 --> 01:37:01.720
This is the work that they do. If they're working in this particular field and they're asked to do these types of inspections,

01:37:01.720 --> 01:37:05.720
do we have the personnel that could be qualified?

01:37:05.720 --> 01:37:12.760
Qualify, because I assume that all personnel that works in construction have that ability

01:37:12.760 --> 01:37:15.520
to do those inspections.

01:37:15.520 --> 01:37:17.680
I see Darren over there shaking his head now.

01:37:17.680 --> 01:37:19.359
And I know he's shaking his head because...

01:37:19.359 --> 01:37:28.880
But my thing is, my thing is that before Darren, personnel, city personnel, were doing those

01:37:28.880 --> 01:37:32.279
types of things, of inspection jobs and things of that nature.

01:37:32.279 --> 01:37:35.840
yeah so let's let's back it up to kind of look at what's going on here you're

01:37:35.840 --> 01:37:40.760
talking about BNF is doing our plumbing inspections so let's say yeah you're

01:37:40.760 --> 01:37:45.279
running into your house and you just ran all new copper packs you ran new water

01:37:45.279 --> 01:37:51.399
lines in your house that has to be a licensed plumbing oh in that respect yeah

01:37:51.399 --> 01:37:55.840
I can understand that and that's and as and I would just say that that is a highly

01:37:55.840 --> 01:38:01.159
coveted in this state that's a highly coveted a highly coveted license to

01:38:01.159 --> 01:38:02.159
Fowler.

01:38:02.159 --> 01:38:06.159
We have a lot of people who have it and anybody who has it is very protective of that license,

01:38:06.159 --> 01:38:11.000
meaning people will go and try to get their own plumbing license and if a plumber finds

01:38:11.000 --> 01:38:15.199
out you put their name on it and you didn't work there 10 years or the required years,

01:38:15.199 --> 01:38:20.159
they'll go after you because they really protect that plumbing license.

01:38:20.159 --> 01:38:28.779
So when we're talking about property and city, okay, we go to a degree, we go to a certain

01:38:28.779 --> 01:38:58.779
Coffman, Kiefer, Marsha, Tom, Shaw, Beaver, Kiefer, DeVito, DeVito, Beaver, DeVito, DeVito,

01:39:28.779 --> 01:39:30.539
Becker, and James.

01:39:30.539 --> 01:39:31.539
All right.

01:39:31.539 --> 01:39:32.539
Thank you for that.

01:39:32.539 --> 01:39:33.539
Yes.

01:39:33.539 --> 01:39:34.539
Are there any other questions?

01:39:34.539 --> 01:39:35.539
Okay.

01:39:35.539 --> 01:39:41.800
At this time, do we want to move this to a first reading?

01:39:41.800 --> 01:39:44.800
Is there a motion on the motion?

01:39:44.800 --> 01:39:47.000
Make a motion to move it to next council meeting.

01:39:47.000 --> 01:39:48.000
Second.

01:39:48.000 --> 01:39:54.000
Okay, it's been moved and seconded by Klemm and Shadle. All in favor?

01:39:54.000 --> 01:39:55.000
Aye.

01:39:55.000 --> 01:39:59.000
All opposed? Motion passed.

01:39:59.000 --> 01:40:00.020
and

01:40:00.020 --> 01:40:02.220
John.

01:40:02.220 --> 01:40:14.399
Number 11, discussion regarding Solution R-2025-01, approving memorandum of agreement between

01:40:14.399 --> 01:40:17.760
the city and the American Federation and state.

01:40:17.760 --> 01:40:24.920
City and Minnesota employee asked me to create the position of instrumental and control technician

01:40:24.920 --> 01:40:27.420
and electrician.

01:40:27.420 --> 01:40:28.420
Manager Boyer?

01:40:28.420 --> 01:40:34.579
Thank you, Madam Chair. The City of Freeport's maintenance department,

01:40:34.579 --> 01:40:39.899
primarily the utility we're speaking of, is vital to the care and operation of

01:40:39.899 --> 01:40:44.939
the utility facilities performing high-skilled tasks to support water and

01:40:44.939 --> 01:40:49.539
wastewater treatment plans. However, one of the department's two skilled grade

01:40:49.539 --> 01:40:54.340
17 maintenance positions has remained vacant for nearly a year due to lack of

01:40:54.340 --> 01:41:00.500
of qualified candidates who are obviously not applying. This increases the strain on

01:41:00.500 --> 01:41:06.699
the team and causing a growing backlog of routine maintenance activities. Staff is

01:41:06.699 --> 01:41:13.500
proposing a new pay grade 15, so that would be two grades below the grade 17

01:41:13.500 --> 01:41:19.439
just mentioned, and this would focus on routine maintenance tasks as a promotion

01:41:19.439 --> 01:41:26.000
Stepp toward the currently vacant 17 role. This position would be easier to fill internally,

01:41:26.000 --> 01:41:31.359
offering advancement opportunities while ensuring the maintenance crew remains adequately staffed

01:41:31.359 --> 01:41:38.159
and trained to support critical utility operations. The approach also fosters employee growth,

01:41:38.159 --> 01:41:43.760
promotes retention, and provides budgetary savings helping to maintain safe and efficient

01:41:43.760 --> 01:41:50.000
Operation of the Utility. I'd just like to go over a couple of the highlights in terms of the two

01:41:50.880 --> 01:41:59.520
positions here. So on a grade 15, you would have basic knowledge of water and wastewater process,

01:42:00.239 --> 01:42:08.560
power and control circuits, and hand power tools and minimum exposure to PLC and SCADA system. So

01:42:08.560 --> 01:42:09.560
Miller.

01:42:09.560 --> 01:42:14.399
That would be like your motor drivers and controllers and also the software that's related

01:42:14.399 --> 01:42:18.279
to those operating those in the system.

01:42:18.279 --> 01:42:24.920
The responsibilities would be somewhat lower than the grade 17, so that'd be routine maintenance

01:42:24.920 --> 01:42:31.359
including lubrication, oil changes, general building repairs and equipment inspections,

01:42:31.359 --> 01:42:37.239
assistance to maintenance utility workers as needed and on-call duties for emergencies.

01:42:37.239 --> 01:42:44.640
In addition, the experience required would also be less, two years of industrial, environmental,

01:42:44.640 --> 01:42:51.060
or wastewater and water systems, and that's the primary focus of the 15.

01:42:51.060 --> 01:42:56.520
So just to give you a little bit of context, the grade 17, which is the current position

01:42:56.520 --> 01:43:04.239
that had trouble filling, that essentially would expand the responsibilities into troubleshooting,

01:43:04.239 --> 01:43:10.359
repairs and comprehensive preventative maintenance of advanced electrical, electronic, and control

01:43:10.359 --> 01:43:13.960
systems, greater independence and technical decision making.

01:43:13.960 --> 01:43:19.560
So from a technical skills perspective, that would include comprehensive knowledge of water

01:43:19.560 --> 01:43:26.479
and wastewater process, advanced understanding and operational use of PLCs and SCADA system,

01:43:26.479 --> 01:43:32.399
strong troubleshooting skills for power control circuits and instrumentation, and proficiency

01:43:32.399 --> 01:43:36.239
in reading electrical schematics and performing electrical installations.

01:43:37.039 --> 01:43:42.239
Also, with the grade 17, the responsibilities are higher, including troubleshooting complex systems

01:43:42.239 --> 01:43:48.159
and performing calibrations, managing subcontractors, ordering parts, scheduling deliveries,

01:43:48.159 --> 01:43:53.520
and processing invoices, handling maintenance records and coordinating with vendors,

01:43:53.520 --> 01:43:57.760
and independent problem solving in a varied of operational conditions.

01:43:57.760 --> 01:44:04.319
So the grade 17 also currently requires five years of industrial, environmental, or water

01:44:04.319 --> 01:44:09.840
wastewater systems with at least three years focused on electrical, plumbing, HVAC, and

01:44:09.840 --> 01:44:10.840
electronics.

01:44:10.840 --> 01:44:20.159
So staff would request that we move this on to the next meeting and that eventually approving

01:44:20.159 --> 01:44:27.140
this grade 15 position as an intermediate step to the grade 17 for the water and wastewater

01:44:27.140 --> 01:44:29.140
and

01:44:30.260 --> 01:44:34.149
John.

01:44:35.470 --> 01:44:37.909
I'm looking at you with these query eyes. Because I don't agree

01:44:37.909 --> 01:44:39.909
with

01:44:41.229 --> 01:44:43.229
the, well, let me say this first.

01:44:47.350 --> 01:44:50.989
AFMI, the American Federation, they entered into a meeting with

01:44:50.989 --> 01:44:52.989
you

01:44:54.109 --> 01:44:56.109
to discuss the agreement on this

01:44:56.109 --> 01:45:03.109
It's a 15 classified upgrade for new job creation.

01:45:03.109 --> 01:45:04.609
Is that what took place?

01:45:04.609 --> 01:45:05.609
Has that taken place?

01:45:05.609 --> 01:45:11.590
Or are we just talking about it right now, discussing this matter?

01:45:11.590 --> 01:45:12.989
AFSCME is supportive of it.

01:45:12.989 --> 01:45:23.989
So AFME, okay, so the job description that you listed meet the rate, quality, does that

01:45:23.989 --> 01:45:24.989
and John.

01:45:24.989 --> 01:45:32.109
Does that fit the job description at the rate that you're mentioning, at a 15, maybe go

01:45:32.109 --> 01:45:39.149
into a 17, but does that fit the job description criteria?

01:45:39.149 --> 01:45:42.670
Does that fit?

01:45:42.670 --> 01:45:47.829
Because I'm like this here, I don't want to hire a guy that does not have these kind

01:45:47.829 --> 01:45:56.029
and the technical background skills at a rate of 15, a guy that's with all of this listing

01:45:56.029 --> 01:46:02.789
of description, he has to be qualified, certified somewhere along the line.

01:46:02.789 --> 01:46:07.350
And I don't think a grade 15 would be the appropriate one.

01:46:07.350 --> 01:46:16.109
I'm just wondering, is my ears cleaned out or something is just not balancing right?

01:46:16.109 --> 01:46:20.430
just don't balance right to me right now and and I guess that's the reason why

01:46:20.430 --> 01:46:24.390
we'll move it to the next council so I can probably come to you come to you

01:46:24.390 --> 01:46:31.189
again and have a full-blown discussion on how did we get there and how and what

01:46:31.189 --> 01:46:40.270
and why did asked me asked me whatever they are agreed with that I have to I

01:46:40.270 --> 01:46:45.789
have to go with the problem with I have a problem with the balancing of the rate

01:46:45.789 --> 01:46:57.789
and I have a problem with that. I just want to get in tune with it just to see how we get there.

01:46:57.789 --> 01:47:02.789
Are you saying you want to get with Manager Boyer and talk with him later?

01:47:02.789 --> 01:47:03.789
Yes.

01:47:03.789 --> 01:47:04.789
Okay.

01:47:04.789 --> 01:47:05.789
Sure, we can set up a time.

01:47:05.789 --> 01:47:06.789
Yes.

01:47:06.789 --> 01:47:07.789
Alderman Stacey.

01:47:07.789 --> 01:47:08.789
Yes.

01:47:08.789 --> 01:47:09.789
City Manager Boyer.

01:47:09.789 --> 01:47:14.119
Yes.

01:47:14.119 --> 01:47:20.960
I'd hope to see job description at the 15th level.

01:47:20.960 --> 01:47:26.199
So can you tell me what duties are

01:47:26.199 --> 01:47:32.119
different between the 15th level and the 17th level?

01:47:32.119 --> 01:47:34.199
I did just touch on those.

01:47:34.199 --> 01:47:36.199
I did just touch on those.

01:47:36.199 --> 01:47:39.399
So the main changes are the technical skills

01:47:39.399 --> 01:47:44.560
and the responsibilities, and then the experience required.

01:47:44.560 --> 01:47:49.479
Overall summary, the level of complexity, the level two

01:47:49.479 --> 01:47:53.039
involves more complex systems, PLCs and SCADA,

01:47:53.039 --> 01:47:55.560
and advanced troubleshooting, while the level one focuses

01:47:55.560 --> 01:47:58.920
on routine maintenance and foundational skills.

01:47:58.920 --> 01:48:02.920
And the independence level two requires greater autonomy

01:48:02.920 --> 01:48:05.880
and decision making, where the level one operates

01:48:05.880 --> 01:48:07.760
under close supervision.

01:48:07.760 --> 01:48:11.039
and the experience, the level two demands more years

01:48:11.039 --> 01:48:13.039
of experience and specialized knowledge,

01:48:13.039 --> 01:48:15.920
reflecting the advanced nature of the role

01:48:15.920 --> 01:48:18.000
and then administrative responsibilities,

01:48:18.000 --> 01:48:20.399
level two includes administrative tasks

01:48:20.399 --> 01:48:23.600
like processing invoices and managing subcontractors

01:48:23.600 --> 01:48:25.420
and that's not included in the level one.

01:48:25.420 --> 01:48:28.520
So I hope that covers some of the main differences there.

01:48:29.699 --> 01:48:32.239
Yeah, I just was handed them.

01:48:35.059 --> 01:48:37.359
They're both hyperlinked to the agenda.

01:48:37.359 --> 01:48:58.720
How long have this job when it was filled? How many years have someone been in this position

01:48:58.720 --> 01:49:05.800
that was not qualified? When this job became available, the person that had it before it

01:49:05.800 --> 01:49:11.539
became available was not qualified, did not have these qualifications. A young man

01:49:11.539 --> 01:49:19.159
did it on this job and now things are changing and and he's being asked to

01:49:19.159 --> 01:49:31.750
accept a position at a lower level and why not bring him in at the level

01:49:31.750 --> 01:49:36.750
everybody else came in it and give him the needed training or schooling like we

01:49:36.750 --> 01:49:39.750
We do everybody else to get him prepared.

01:49:39.750 --> 01:49:41.409
to get him prepared for the position.

01:49:43.409 --> 01:49:45.369
I believe that's that's kind of what we're doing.

01:49:45.369 --> 01:49:47.409
We're trying to make a permanent change here,

01:49:48.329 --> 01:49:50.569
similar to like a street trainee.

01:49:50.569 --> 01:49:53.210
We don't hire people in as street maintenance workers.

01:49:53.489 --> 01:49:55.250
We hire them in a street trainee.

01:49:55.250 --> 01:49:59.090
So I think we're making a you know, we're really improving

01:50:00.010 --> 01:50:03.890
this particular case by providing that stair steps.

01:50:03.890 --> 01:50:07.729
So I think we're as you noted, there's there's been times

01:50:07.729 --> 01:50:13.090
Huffines in the past when folks get promoted into a position based on their background

01:50:13.090 --> 01:50:20.729
and experience and their resume. And I think that this is a necessary change that will

01:50:20.729 --> 01:50:27.050
allow our staff to graduate into more complex roles.

01:50:27.050 --> 01:50:34.670
So will he be getting training from his supervisor, the person that held this position before

01:50:34.670 --> 01:50:35.670
he did?

01:50:35.670 --> 01:50:41.029
Well I mean we've had several people promoted or hired in and promoted we had

01:50:41.029 --> 01:50:47.109
one gentleman who is no longer with the city so obviously he won't be here we've

01:50:47.109 --> 01:50:52.789
got two other gentlemen one is now the foreman and the other one is instrument

01:50:52.789 --> 01:50:56.949
controls technician currently spent a lot of time on the wastewater side and

01:50:56.949 --> 01:51:02.470
he'll be doing a lot of the mentoring and training yes and he's qualified yes

01:51:02.470 --> 01:51:11.470
Yes, when you have as many years in grade as this individual had, yes, he is qualified.

01:51:11.470 --> 01:51:16.989
Is there a motion to move this for first reading?

01:51:16.989 --> 01:51:17.989
So moved.

01:51:17.989 --> 01:51:18.989
Second.

01:51:18.989 --> 01:51:23.510
Okay, it was first by Klemm and second by Shadle.

01:51:23.510 --> 01:51:24.510
All in favor?

01:51:24.510 --> 01:51:25.510
Aye.

01:51:25.510 --> 01:51:26.510
Opposed?

01:51:26.510 --> 01:51:34.819
Okay, motion passed.

01:51:34.819 --> 01:51:46.220
Okay, discussion regarding R-2025-4, approving memorandum of understanding with the Fraternal

01:51:46.220 --> 01:51:53.840
Order of Police regarding post-employment health plan by Chief Shenberger.

01:51:53.840 --> 01:51:55.119
Thank you.

01:51:55.119 --> 01:51:58.640
This was presented last week to the Council.

01:51:58.640 --> 01:52:06.199
The intent of this is to enter in MOU with the Fraternal Order of Police Labor Council

01:52:06.199 --> 01:52:13.600
regarding three individuals who either have or will reach the years of retirement during

01:52:13.600 --> 01:52:15.359
this next contract.

01:52:15.359 --> 01:52:23.199
This was something that was part of the negotiations to get rid of the post-employment health care

01:52:23.199 --> 01:52:30.699
plan, but yet offer these three individuals an opportunity to have their sick time paid

01:52:30.699 --> 01:52:35.159
out if they chose to retire during these next three years of this contract.

01:52:35.159 --> 01:52:42.119
Are there any questions?

01:52:45.199 --> 01:52:52.380
Yes, I do. Thank you. So chief, was this taken out during the negotiations or was it just overlooked?

01:52:53.640 --> 01:52:57.640
I mean, attorney Zito probably can elaborate some of these things.

01:52:57.640 --> 01:53:04.560
So the plan, the PEP plan, was negotiated out of the contract there.

01:53:04.560 --> 01:53:09.119
So that's something that is in this current contract. The FOP negotiated it out.

01:53:09.119 --> 01:53:10.119
Fowler.

01:53:10.119 --> 01:53:14.800
It wasn't something that they were willing to give it up as a part of the contract.

01:53:14.800 --> 01:53:18.520
However, what they negotiated as a part of that, we'll give it up, but there are three

01:53:18.520 --> 01:53:24.659
particular employees, they're the only three that are going to qualify for under the original

01:53:24.659 --> 01:53:27.960
plan because they're going to hit their, within these next three years, they would hit the

01:53:27.960 --> 01:53:32.840
20 years and they would have the requisite number hour of days that could be cashed

01:53:32.840 --> 01:53:33.840
in.

01:53:33.840 --> 01:53:38.000
So they asked, we'll give up PEP, but could you grandfather just these three people in?

01:53:38.000 --> 01:53:44.720
so we've already approved the agreement and now we're coming back to memorialize the with

01:53:44.720 --> 01:53:49.420
this MOU just those three because it wouldn't be appropriate to write the three of them

01:53:49.420 --> 01:53:53.319
into the overall contract there so that's why you would handle this separately as a

01:53:53.319 --> 01:53:58.680
side MOU just with regards to these three people grandfather these people in again there's

01:53:58.680 --> 01:54:03.119
no payment to them if they don't choose to retire in the next within the term of this

01:54:03.119 --> 01:54:05.119
and

01:54:06.119 --> 01:54:08.119
the other

01:54:10.119 --> 01:54:12.119
members of the board.

01:54:14.119 --> 01:54:16.119
So if they don't retire in the next three years or in 27, then

01:54:17.119 --> 01:54:19.119
this goes away. And then PEP is gone for everybody at that

01:54:19.119 --> 01:54:21.119
point.

01:54:22.119 --> 01:54:24.119
Okay. Understood. Thank you.

01:54:25.119 --> 01:54:27.119
Are there any other questions? If not, do we have a motion to

01:54:28.119 --> 01:54:30.119
move this to the first reading?

01:54:30.119 --> 01:54:38.319
Motion passed. The next status update of the street light at the intersection of

01:54:38.319 --> 01:54:45.600
Iroquois and State. Presentation manager Boyer. Thank you Madam Chair. I would like

01:54:45.600 --> 01:54:49.720
to invite our representative George Galrapp to do this kind of touch base on

01:54:49.720 --> 01:55:00.520
this. I think he's pretty well handled this already. Good evening, George

01:55:00.520 --> 01:55:06.420
Gallerab, President Freeport, employee of ComEd. So as I was asked, I started in the

01:55:06.420 --> 01:55:11.199
Fifth Ward. I did a survey of Fifth Ward for all the lights there. Looking at them,

01:55:11.199 --> 01:55:15.239
they're all functional. They don't have any foliage in front of them. Of

01:55:15.239 --> 01:55:18.720
course, here we are in January. Be good to go through this again in the spring

01:55:18.720 --> 01:55:23.800
when there are trees and things like that. I continued to work with City

01:55:23.800 --> 01:55:29.520
Manager Rob Boyer and Darren Stekel, Public Works. I went north of the Fifth

01:55:29.520 --> 01:55:35.760
Ward and the third ward and went to the corner of Ottawa and State Street, ComEd installed

01:55:35.760 --> 01:55:43.760
a light there today. It went from a 40 watt to a 70 watt, which is 75% brighter and actually

01:55:43.760 --> 01:55:50.600
encompasses a little bit of Shalom Park, if that's the correct pronunciation. I asked

01:55:50.600 --> 01:55:55.439
them to tilt it a little bit. I called three aldermen up that were within the area, told

01:55:55.439 --> 01:55:56.439
Huffines.

01:55:56.439 --> 01:55:57.439
I told him that.

01:55:57.439 --> 01:55:58.439
The left message is for him.

01:55:58.439 --> 01:56:03.119
I talked directly to Alderman Sanders about the light, asked him to drive by it, see what

01:56:03.119 --> 01:56:04.760
he thought about it.

01:56:04.760 --> 01:56:05.859
It's quite a bit brighter.

01:56:05.859 --> 01:56:08.640
It's a big difference from when I was there last week.

01:56:08.640 --> 01:56:09.920
Okay.

01:56:09.920 --> 01:56:11.439
Any questions or concerns?

01:56:11.439 --> 01:56:12.439
Yeah.

01:56:12.439 --> 01:56:17.560
I did have a question.

01:56:17.560 --> 01:56:23.439
As I looked at the park, I didn't think it was illuminated enough.

01:56:23.439 --> 01:56:24.880
No, it's not.

01:56:24.880 --> 01:56:35.119
and because anybody that wants to peddle anything in that area can conceal any evidence even

01:56:35.119 --> 01:56:43.039
though there's a little lighting there, but it does not cast off enough to eliminate the

01:56:43.039 --> 01:56:54.359
possibility of someone either bringing illegal alcohol, drugs, weapons, whatever, contraband

01:56:54.359 --> 01:57:02.100
Bates, or whatever the situation is. I don't think it's bright enough to deter individuals

01:57:02.100 --> 01:57:08.260
that they just can't just show up at this park and try to conceal their actions and things

01:57:08.260 --> 01:57:14.220
like that. I would like for it to be so bright over there that they wouldn't even want to

01:57:14.220 --> 01:57:15.220
come back.

01:57:15.220 --> 01:57:19.699
Well, and I agree. I agree a hundred percent. But if you want to do that, it's private property.

01:57:19.699 --> 01:57:24.020
So you're going to have to go to the property owners and they're going to have to call new

01:57:24.020 --> 01:57:25.020
Winslow.

01:57:25.020 --> 01:57:28.180
They're going to have to pay for it.

01:57:28.180 --> 01:57:34.199
I don't believe that City Council or the administration would approve using tax dollars.

01:57:34.199 --> 01:57:38.800
What about just a lamp, a little property lamp, you know, one that stands up in the

01:57:38.800 --> 01:57:39.800
yard?

01:57:39.800 --> 01:57:42.659
That would be up to the property owner how they want to do that.

01:57:42.659 --> 01:57:43.659
They don't want to?

01:57:43.659 --> 01:57:44.659
Okay.

01:57:44.659 --> 01:57:45.659
Okay.

01:57:45.659 --> 01:57:46.659
I don't know who owns that property.

01:57:46.659 --> 01:57:47.659
Me neither.

01:57:47.659 --> 01:57:48.659
I don't know.

01:57:48.659 --> 01:57:49.659
Does anybody else on the council?

01:57:49.659 --> 01:57:50.659
I know.

01:57:50.659 --> 01:57:51.659
You do?

01:57:51.659 --> 01:57:52.659
Okay.

01:57:52.659 --> 01:58:03.659
It's very supportive by the City of Freeport, but it's something that would have to be done with the property owner and a new business, the ComEd, and I'd be happy to walk them through it.

01:58:03.659 --> 01:58:07.659
Overall, it does look lit up. It looks good.

01:58:07.659 --> 01:58:09.659
Thank you. Yeah, we got right on it today.

01:58:09.659 --> 01:58:10.659
Yeah.

01:58:10.659 --> 01:58:12.659
Okay. Yes, Alderwyn.

01:58:12.659 --> 01:58:14.659
I would like to thank you for that.

01:58:14.659 --> 01:58:15.659
You're welcome.

01:58:15.659 --> 01:58:21.659
I too, on the way here tonight, drove through, and it is a little better.

01:58:21.659 --> 01:58:22.659
and John.

01:58:22.659 --> 01:58:23.659
It's 75% better.

01:58:23.659 --> 01:58:24.659
It is.

01:58:24.659 --> 01:58:25.659
Okay.

01:58:25.659 --> 01:58:26.659
75% better.

01:58:26.659 --> 01:58:27.659
Yeah.

01:58:27.659 --> 01:58:28.659
Okay.

01:58:28.659 --> 01:58:33.659
Well, you said we went from a 40, a 70, we went from a 40 to a 70.

01:58:33.659 --> 01:58:34.659
Yes, yes.

01:58:34.659 --> 01:58:35.659
Okay.

01:58:35.659 --> 01:58:36.659
So 75% more lumen.

01:58:36.659 --> 01:58:37.659
Yeah.

01:58:37.659 --> 01:58:39.140
And it looks much better.

01:58:39.140 --> 01:58:40.140
So hopefully.

01:58:40.140 --> 01:58:41.140
It does look better.

01:58:41.140 --> 01:58:44.940
Hopefully we can work together as, you know, like drive through the fifth board with you

01:58:44.940 --> 01:58:45.940
like I did today.

01:58:45.940 --> 01:58:46.940
Please.

01:58:46.940 --> 01:58:48.140
And we can take a look.

01:58:48.140 --> 01:58:58.659
I have a list that I received from Chief Shenberger, the concerned areas where crime happens and

01:58:58.659 --> 01:59:07.140
take place and I would like to do that this week if possible.

01:59:07.140 --> 01:59:09.020
Let me check my schedule and I'll get a hold of you.

01:59:09.020 --> 01:59:12.020
The cell number I called today is the best one to reach you at?

01:59:12.020 --> 01:59:13.420
You didn't call me today.

01:59:13.420 --> 01:59:18.739
I called the 908 number that I got off the Freeport website.

01:59:18.739 --> 01:59:25.739
Is that an office number? No, sir. Okay. I got it on my phone, the number I called. I'll let you know.

01:59:25.739 --> 01:59:34.739
908-9814. What is it? 908-9814. Okay, I'll check my phone. Please and thank you. Okay.

01:59:34.739 --> 01:59:37.739
Alright, any other questions? Any other questions?

01:59:37.739 --> 01:59:38.000
Any other questions?

01:59:39.359 --> 01:59:46.680
Not so much a question, just a comment. Yes. I do appreciate that it was done and handled in a very timely manner.

01:59:46.680 --> 01:59:52.760
Oh, you're welcome. Anytime. Thank you. Well, I'd like you to get to the corner of Oak and Empire.

01:59:57.439 --> 01:59:59.439
Do La Cresta out there where

02:00:00.239 --> 02:00:01.840
Monroe lived.

02:00:01.840 --> 02:00:04.680
Okay, as we move on, discussion regarding

02:00:04.680 --> 02:00:12.359
Resolution Approving the Transfer Property, commonly known as 431 and 437 South Adams

02:00:12.359 --> 02:00:19.220
Avenue, from Stevenson County to City of Freeport, presented by Manager Boyer.

02:00:19.220 --> 02:00:31.539
Thank you, Madam Chair. Eric, could you put the map up? And yeah, thanks, Wayne. So over

02:00:31.539 --> 02:00:36.100
the last several months, we've been working with the county, discussing several topics.

02:00:36.100 --> 02:00:43.779
This property is one of them. Currently the county owns this property and has come to

02:00:43.779 --> 02:00:50.500
the city asking if we'd have any interest in taking this property off their hands. I

02:00:50.500 --> 02:00:55.460
am favorable toward that since it is so close to some of the other community facilities

02:00:55.460 --> 02:01:01.699
and it would fit in close with our existing. We have some lots in that area. We're doing

02:01:01.699 --> 02:01:05.899
we're investigating some infill housing possibilities and I know we've worked

02:01:05.899 --> 02:01:12.380
with GFP a couple of years ago on a concept for this so I think it makes a

02:01:12.380 --> 02:01:17.979
lot of sense for the city to take over this property from the county and it

02:01:17.979 --> 02:01:22.739
would be an opportunity for us to also control it and make sure it is maintained

02:01:22.739 --> 02:01:26.979
in the interim until we we are able to move forward with any residential or

02:01:26.979 --> 02:01:28.760
for commercial opportunities with it.

02:01:28.760 --> 02:01:33.220
So I guess I will open the floor for any questions

02:01:33.220 --> 02:01:38.090
or discussion.

02:01:38.090 --> 02:01:40.529
What would it cost us to take this property off

02:01:40.529 --> 02:01:42.689
the county's hands?

02:01:42.689 --> 02:01:46.229
I believe the county is just willing to deed it over

02:01:46.229 --> 02:01:49.609
to the city, so at zero or minimal cost.

02:01:49.609 --> 02:01:51.130
Paperworks says $1.

02:01:51.130 --> 02:01:52.130
$1.

02:01:52.130 --> 02:01:53.770
It's in your packet.

02:01:53.770 --> 02:01:57.810
And what does the city plan to do with this property?

02:01:57.810 --> 02:02:04.050
as I just mentioned we're looking at a couple of infill projects along this

02:02:04.050 --> 02:02:08.210
corridor being that we've just redone it and we've also investigated some other

02:02:08.210 --> 02:02:14.210
commercial activity or potential for development there so I would say either

02:02:14.210 --> 02:02:18.810
one of those would fall under the category of what we would be looking at.

02:02:18.810 --> 02:02:25.529
Would the city consider a third Ward Park? Well that would be up for

02:02:25.529 --> 02:02:29.810
discussion and that would have to involve the Park District but I definitely put

02:02:29.810 --> 02:02:34.250
that yes so the answer would be yes we could have further conversations about

02:02:34.250 --> 02:02:42.960
that any other discussion yeah yeah just at FYI Alderman Stacey the Park District

02:02:42.960 --> 02:02:51.640
was the original owners is that right the park district was the original yes

02:02:51.640 --> 02:02:56.680
and and it was deeded over to the county as a part of West Block when they

02:02:56.680 --> 02:03:01.479
Fade acquired it so I would it hard to believe that the Park District

02:03:01.479 --> 02:03:04.000
would want to get back in that. But there's a possibility, I don't know.

02:03:04.000 --> 02:03:06.800
Well I'm a little surprised because I just had a

02:03:06.800 --> 02:03:12.800
conversation with a gentleman on Saturday and I will be having another

02:03:12.800 --> 02:03:21.229
one with him tomorrow.

02:03:21.229 --> 02:03:33.149
Yeah, Freeport Park District covers a lot of areas in Freeport, and their locations

02:03:33.149 --> 02:03:40.710
is not being, what I want to say, conveyed or revealed of why they have these jurisdictions

02:03:40.710 --> 02:03:45.789
under their government, under their jurisdiction.

02:03:45.789 --> 02:03:50.069
I just like to know where does the city factor in?

02:03:50.069 --> 02:03:55.229
Why is it that the Freeport Park District has so much territory, land, property here

02:03:55.229 --> 02:03:57.029
in the city of Freeport?

02:03:57.029 --> 02:04:05.189
Did they inherit it or did the city give it over to them, park it into their possession

02:04:05.189 --> 02:04:08.149
to create parks and things of this nature?

02:04:08.149 --> 02:04:15.789
I'd just like to know how it originated that the Park District was able to cover much

02:04:15.789 --> 02:04:19.149
land base here in the city of Freeport.

02:04:19.149 --> 02:04:26.510
We don't have that because I'm trying to get it all out right now because I may not get

02:04:26.510 --> 02:04:28.510
another chance.

02:04:28.510 --> 02:04:32.229
So I like to get more details about it.

02:04:32.229 --> 02:04:34.590
I would like to have a conversation.

02:04:34.590 --> 02:04:41.550
I would love to have more than just what I want to say.

02:04:41.550 --> 02:04:48.989
I want to talk about it more with other individuals understanding the whole magnet to all of it

02:04:48.989 --> 02:04:56.270
and so we like I would like to create a meeting that we can uh some formal way

02:04:56.270 --> 02:05:01.630
that uh everybody can get involved in uh and talk about it I'm talking about the

02:05:01.630 --> 02:05:06.189
whole council I'm talking about everybody to talk about the thing and uh see what

02:05:06.189 --> 02:05:10.590
we come up with I think we can work on that but I I would

02:05:10.590 --> 02:05:14.109
suggest maybe we start with a one-on-one with the park district director

02:05:14.109 --> 02:05:44.109
Okay. Okay. Are there, uh, Alderman Klemm? I just have a question I agree with is not a problem. I just want to ask about the corner at the top of the drawing there. You show four lots that are equal and then you show a fifth one and a thing going over. And I'm just wondering if that creates a headache down the line or what that is. My guess is that would be like a driveway or something that somebody had at one time and somehow got orphaned in the data.

02:05:44.109 --> 02:05:50.149
Eric, I don't know if you can overlay the city-owned parcels. Do we own any of the other adjacent parcels there?

02:05:55.340 --> 02:05:57.340
Sure.

02:05:57.500 --> 02:06:05.039
I may be staying corrected here, but I believe we actually currently own a couple of parcels there as well from previous demolitions, so

02:06:05.579 --> 02:06:07.260
that would

02:06:07.260 --> 02:06:09.260
allow us to kind of

02:06:09.420 --> 02:06:17.020
accumulate that piece and perhaps move forward with with another project there, whether that be infill housing or or recreational

02:06:17.020 --> 02:06:23.159
related but I think it makes sense and it because we have our we already have an

02:06:23.159 --> 02:06:27.279
established crew that's taking care of lots the only maintenance relate related

02:06:27.279 --> 02:06:31.800
to it besides cleaning it up is mowing it so since we are kind of in a good

02:06:31.800 --> 02:06:36.279
position in that regard it seems like it'd be a good opportunity to pick that

02:06:36.279 --> 02:06:41.079
up and be able to control that moving forward. I just oh go ahead Tom I can

02:06:41.079 --> 02:06:49.159
Wait. Go ahead. I just wanted to know at one time, I know as a little girl I lived

02:06:49.159 --> 02:06:54.439
in that area, so at one time that used to be a park. It was called Tutti Baker Park

02:06:54.439 --> 02:07:01.840
and that's what that was. So I know that. Okay. Fantastic. Tom wants to make a

02:07:01.840 --> 02:07:03.840
and I.

02:07:05.159 --> 02:07:07.159
I will take a motion to discuss it at the next meeting.

02:07:08.460 --> 02:07:10.460
Do I get a second?

02:07:13.680 --> 02:07:15.680
Excuse me.

02:07:17.800 --> 02:07:19.800
Motion first by Klemm, second by Parker.

02:07:22.020 --> 02:07:26.649
Are there, oh, I thought he was pointing.

02:07:28.390 --> 02:07:30.390
I just went blank.

02:07:31.489 --> 02:07:33.489
All in favor?

02:07:34.470 --> 02:07:41.149
Number 16, discussion regarding electric bill provider of kilowatt hours, distribute fees

02:07:41.149 --> 02:07:46.470
and process for residents to switch to a different provider.

02:07:46.470 --> 02:07:53.670
Ordinance 15, oh, sorry, okay.

02:07:53.670 --> 02:08:00.909
Discussion regarding ordinance amending chapter 220, council section 220.10, rule of council

02:08:00.909 --> 02:08:15.470
presentation by Alderman Stacey and Monroe. Yes. On November 12th, there was an ordinance

02:08:15.470 --> 02:08:27.239
that was brought to the council. Mayor Miller was not present, Attorney Zito presented, and

02:08:27.239 --> 02:08:37.239
it was voted on and moved to supposedly the December 16th agenda. However, it never showed

02:08:37.239 --> 02:08:51.359
up. And I want to know who have that power to take something from an agenda when it's

02:08:51.359 --> 02:09:05.079
has been voted on. What right and why did it happen? Why was it removed? That's what

02:09:05.079 --> 02:09:15.880
I would like to know. Please and thank you.

02:09:15.880 --> 02:09:27.850
I can answer the question.

02:09:27.850 --> 02:09:28.850
Please.

02:09:28.850 --> 02:09:35.409
So, this ordinance was originally there along with my understanding with some other persons

02:09:35.409 --> 02:09:35.989
to present this presentation.

02:09:35.989 --> 02:09:37.439
with some other persons to present this ordinance here.

02:09:37.439 --> 02:09:41.640
It was scheduled to be placed on the November COW.

02:09:41.640 --> 02:09:44.359
They're at that November COW.

02:09:44.359 --> 02:09:46.439
The mayor was not absent, so I presented the,

02:09:46.439 --> 02:09:47.760
or the mayor was absent, excuse me,

02:09:47.760 --> 02:09:51.880
so I presented the ordinance at that meeting.

02:09:51.880 --> 02:09:53.680
Then this item was laid over.

02:09:53.680 --> 02:09:55.359
There was a motion a second to lay this over

02:09:55.359 --> 02:09:59.039
to the following COW for further discussion there.

02:09:59.039 --> 02:10:01.079
So that would have been the December COW.

02:10:01.079 --> 02:10:07.560
Prior to the December COW, the mayor contacted me and said, Aaron, the group of aldermen

02:10:07.560 --> 02:10:12.600
and I, we talked that we're proponents of this, I put this forward, you know what, we

02:10:12.600 --> 02:10:16.359
don't want it, we're not ready, we think we got to look at this more, so, you know,

02:10:16.359 --> 02:10:20.159
we want it removed from the agenda, we're not pushing it forward anymore there.

02:10:20.159 --> 02:10:26.039
So that's happened before in the past, when someone who proposes an item, whether it be

02:10:26.039 --> 02:10:30.560
a property owner who says that, hey, I'm applying for a text amendment to the zoning code or

02:10:30.560 --> 02:10:33.600
or whatever, and it starts to move its way forward.

02:10:33.600 --> 02:10:35.880
And then when that applicant says, you know what,

02:10:35.880 --> 02:10:38.359
change of mind, I don't wanna move this forward anymore,

02:10:38.359 --> 02:10:39.560
the item just gets removed.

02:10:39.560 --> 02:10:43.079
So that's why I relayed when the mayor contacted me

02:10:43.079 --> 02:10:46.119
and said, hey, the people that were proponents of this

02:10:46.119 --> 02:10:47.720
were withdrawing it.

02:10:47.720 --> 02:10:50.239
So I said, okay, following past practice,

02:10:50.239 --> 02:10:52.720
I reached out to Dovie and said, hey,

02:10:52.720 --> 02:10:55.159
the people that wanted this no longer want it.

02:10:55.159 --> 02:10:56.800
You know, they don't wanna put these changes

02:10:56.800 --> 02:10:57.880
forward anymore.

02:10:57.880 --> 02:11:00.479
So that's why it was taken off the agenda.

02:11:00.479 --> 02:11:13.479
Zito. Once it was asked to be moved forward by myself and seconded by Alderman Simmons.

02:11:13.479 --> 02:11:21.640
Shouldn't it have come to us if you were going to question or decide to just take it off?

02:11:21.640 --> 02:11:25.399
We were the ones. I think the only thing about this Alderman

02:11:25.399 --> 02:11:31.319
Stacy was the fact that normally, yes, it would be on the agenda, right, for further discussion.

02:11:31.319 --> 02:11:35.880
The only reason why the difference here was because the people that were pushing it,

02:11:35.880 --> 02:11:40.600
that wanted it in the first place, that asked for it to be on the agenda basically withdrew it.

02:11:40.600 --> 02:11:47.239
Why would that matter? It had went past that step. It had went to another level by two different

02:11:47.239 --> 02:11:54.039
people. So why would that have mattered? You know, I just felt disrespected. I felt like

02:11:54.039 --> 02:12:24.039
and I have a question for you. I believe that if you would like my opinion and what I asked for and what we all took a vote for, seven to zero, I believe Audemar Monroe was missing that, that it should have been acknowledged and should have been granted. Because regardless of who puts on or who takes off, just like today, because it was moved all the way to February, Kyle, and I said, no, I want it on January.

02:12:24.039 --> 02:12:34.079
and I've been told over and over again that as long as two people bring it that anything

02:12:34.079 --> 02:12:37.279
can be on an agenda.

02:12:37.279 --> 02:12:41.800
So two people brought it and it should have been respected.

02:12:41.800 --> 02:12:46.800
Well, and that's why it's on now because two people have asked to have it on.

02:12:46.800 --> 02:12:50.920
So that's why it was put back on because you and Alderman Moreau have asked for it to be

02:12:50.920 --> 02:12:52.199
put back on.

02:12:52.199 --> 02:12:53.199
And that's fine.

02:12:53.199 --> 02:12:54.199
and John.

02:12:54.199 --> 02:12:58.479
That's an accurate statement that our ordinances say that any two older persons could have

02:12:58.479 --> 02:12:59.880
an item added to the agenda.

02:12:59.880 --> 02:13:04.720
But for the 16th, seven people agreed to bring it.

02:13:04.720 --> 02:13:09.640
And I think that to have further discussion on it, and the difference being is that at

02:13:09.640 --> 02:13:14.399
that point though, the proponents of the ordinance in the first place asked to have it withdrawn.

02:13:14.399 --> 02:13:18.560
So that's the difference here.

02:13:18.560 --> 02:13:24.680
So I give the example that when an applicant, a citizen, says, applies for a text amendment

02:13:24.680 --> 02:13:29.760
to change the code, right, to change the zoning code, or whatever it is, that can go through

02:13:29.760 --> 02:13:35.439
Zoning Board of Appeals, it can come to committee, committee can say, we vote to move it forward

02:13:35.439 --> 02:13:40.000
to first reading, if prior to first reading, or even prior to second reading, the applicant

02:13:40.000 --> 02:13:46.199
says, guess what, my application, I withdraw my application, typically that item then is

02:13:46.199 --> 02:13:49.880
is just removed from the agenda without the council saying,

02:13:49.880 --> 02:13:53.279
you know, okay, we officially allow for it to be removed,

02:13:53.279 --> 02:13:54.880
you know, your application to be withdrawn.

02:13:54.880 --> 02:13:56.000
It's usually just withdrawn.

02:13:56.000 --> 02:13:59.680
But that involved one person, this involved eight.

02:13:59.680 --> 02:14:01.880
I suppose, well, it involved,

02:14:04.079 --> 02:14:07.000
I suppose the proponents of the ordinance originally,

02:14:07.000 --> 02:14:09.439
there was more than one person there,

02:14:09.439 --> 02:14:10.920
asked for it to be withdrawn.

02:14:10.920 --> 02:14:13.800
I suppose ultimately to clarify,

02:14:13.800 --> 02:14:17.460
if this is what the council wants to say that, hey,

02:14:17.460 --> 02:14:22.460
whenever anything is moved forward to council,

02:14:23.659 --> 02:14:25.460
even if it's subsequently withdrawn

02:14:25.460 --> 02:14:29.039
or the person drops it, doesn't want it anymore,

02:14:29.039 --> 02:14:32.760
that we'll still hear the, put it on the agenda

02:14:32.760 --> 02:14:35.060
and the council can then be informed of the fact that,

02:14:35.060 --> 02:14:37.460
hey, such and such is withdrawing the motion

02:14:37.460 --> 02:14:38.699
and then you guys can say, okay,

02:14:38.699 --> 02:14:39.899
well, if you're withdrawing the motion,

02:14:39.899 --> 02:14:43.180
then there's no, or you're withdrawing the topic,

02:14:43.180 --> 02:14:47.420
then there's no really a need to discuss it anymore unless someone else wants to

02:14:47.420 --> 02:14:52.779
keep you know if you want to discuss it you can have a place back on right you

02:14:52.779 --> 02:14:56.180
know cuz that's that's the difference here is that the original group that

02:14:56.180 --> 02:14:59.619
wanted it put forward they said we don't want it anymore we don't you know we

02:14:59.619 --> 02:15:03.460
don't feel the need to move forward with those proposed changes there now if you

02:15:03.460 --> 02:15:06.500
want to put forward to say hey well I still want to talk about some changes

02:15:06.500 --> 02:15:10.260
maybe not those changes I you know maybe I didn't agree with those changes but I

02:15:10.260 --> 02:15:14.380
I want some other changes made to this rules of council.

02:15:14.380 --> 02:15:18.380
Then, just like our ordinance says, two people put it on

02:15:18.380 --> 02:15:20.859
and you guys can move forward with then, you know,

02:15:20.859 --> 02:15:25.720
whatever changes that you guys want there, so.

02:15:25.720 --> 02:15:31.029
Are there any other questions?

02:15:31.029 --> 02:15:35.029
Is this something that you want to redo?

02:15:35.029 --> 02:15:36.550
Do we have to take a vote?

02:15:36.550 --> 02:15:38.149
Mm-mm.

02:15:38.149 --> 02:15:39.149
OK, we'll move.

02:15:39.149 --> 02:15:41.590
Oh, oh.

02:15:41.590 --> 02:15:43.550
We can move it to the.

02:15:43.550 --> 02:15:45.949
Nobody's made a motion to move it.

02:15:45.949 --> 02:15:46.789
Oh, okay.

02:15:46.789 --> 02:15:48.310
I'm saying.

02:15:48.310 --> 02:15:52.630
As of right now, the group that wanted this draft here

02:15:52.630 --> 02:15:55.310
withdrew that prior to the December whatever.

02:15:55.310 --> 02:15:58.149
Now, if Alderman Stacey and whoever else,

02:15:58.149 --> 02:16:00.689
if you guys have other change, like your own changes

02:16:00.689 --> 02:16:04.109
that you wanna make to that section, we can put, we can.

02:16:04.109 --> 02:16:07.189
My purpose for bringing it here tonight

02:16:07.189 --> 02:16:12.189
was to get clarity on why it was not on the December 16th

02:16:13.550 --> 02:16:14.550
Huffines.

02:16:14.550 --> 02:16:22.149
And the response to that is because the original proponents of the ordinance asked to have

02:16:22.149 --> 02:16:23.149
it withdrawn.

02:16:23.149 --> 02:16:27.390
They didn't want to even, they didn't want to put forth those suggestions anymore.

02:16:27.390 --> 02:16:35.510
And I still feel that once I asked for it and it was seconded, that it was no longer

02:16:35.510 --> 02:16:37.629
at that level.

02:16:37.629 --> 02:16:45.879
that if indeed that was was going to happen which is what did happen that it

02:16:45.879 --> 02:16:52.879
would have been respectful to inform Rachel and I, Alderman Simmons and I, what

02:16:52.879 --> 02:16:58.760
you were doing instead of just not doing it like we were gonna forget and not

02:16:58.760 --> 02:17:06.799
remember or not know or... Alderman Rowe, do you have any discussion on it? No, I'm not at this

02:17:06.799 --> 02:17:07.799
Huffines.

02:17:07.799 --> 02:17:16.340
We'll move on to item number 16, discussion regarding electric bill provider of kilowatt

02:17:16.340 --> 02:17:23.020
hours, distribution fees and the process for residents to switch to a different provider.

02:17:23.020 --> 02:17:26.200
Alderman Stacey and Monroe again.

02:17:26.200 --> 02:17:27.319
Yes.

02:17:27.319 --> 02:17:32.959
So the gentleman came here and he proposed some rates.

02:17:32.959 --> 02:17:35.479
Could you help me with his name?

02:17:35.479 --> 02:17:36.479
Manager Boyer.

02:17:36.479 --> 02:17:44.799
or the company. It's Mike Mudge with Rock River Energy but that's the generation

02:17:44.799 --> 02:17:50.840
aggregation contract that's different than the increased changes recently. Just

02:17:50.840 --> 02:17:58.479
for him. Okay so he came here he presented some numbers to us. We all

02:17:58.479 --> 02:18:09.680
I received this in the mail and you either had to act out using this company or you automatic

02:18:09.680 --> 02:18:13.159
was switched.

02:18:13.159 --> 02:18:24.450
And then he came back about, oh, I don't know, six, eight weeks later and because rates were

02:18:24.450 --> 02:18:27.290
We're going up.

02:18:27.290 --> 02:18:32.170
He could not guarantee us at the original quote.

02:18:32.170 --> 02:18:33.170
Am I correct?

02:18:33.170 --> 02:18:45.549
It is, however, we have, there's not, yes, they, oh, no, the rate is not going up.

02:18:45.549 --> 02:18:46.549
I'm sorry.

02:18:46.549 --> 02:18:47.549
No, no, no.

02:18:47.549 --> 02:18:54.909
He, he questioned if they will be able to meet what they had told us the first time.

02:18:54.909 --> 02:19:00.069
and we discussed I actually have rates were going up not their rates they

02:19:00.069 --> 02:19:06.670
didn't know well this is about generation and on the generation side they weren't

02:19:06.670 --> 02:19:11.510
sure what was going to happen with the ICC ruling coming down the pike so they

02:19:11.510 --> 02:19:15.530
were expressing their nervousness about being able to fulfill the aggregation

02:19:15.530 --> 02:19:22.469
contract that we had bid and accepted that has to do with generation right we

02:19:22.469 --> 02:19:30.469
We could not cancel the contract. They would have to drop us. We couldn't drop them.

02:19:32.780 --> 02:19:39.700
Yeah, offhand since I didn't realize the direction of this conversation, I guess I don't have

02:19:39.700 --> 02:19:45.420
everything I need to adequately He gave us three different options

02:19:45.420 --> 02:19:52.280
Yes he did, long story short, my phone have been blowing up because people feel like their

02:19:52.280 --> 02:19:59.360
electric bills are higher than ever before and they don't want to stay with this company,

02:19:59.360 --> 02:20:03.040
they want to go back to their original holders.

02:20:03.040 --> 02:20:03.879
Right, Comet.

02:20:03.879 --> 02:20:04.840
All they have to do is call.

02:20:04.840 --> 02:20:07.840
If they were on an original aggregation contract

02:20:07.840 --> 02:20:12.840
with the previous, I think, AEP, that contract lapsed

02:20:12.959 --> 02:20:17.319
and then we re-bid it with, yeah.

02:20:17.319 --> 02:20:21.680
So if they were on ComEd previously,

02:20:23.000 --> 02:20:25.440
they can go back to ComEd and that's fine.

02:20:25.440 --> 02:20:28.420
But when they call ComEd, they're being told

02:20:28.420 --> 02:20:32.739
that the company you signed with has to release you.

02:20:32.739 --> 02:20:35.139
ComEd can't just switch them over.

02:20:35.139 --> 02:20:36.940
So they should just call Mike Mudd,

02:20:36.940 --> 02:20:38.379
they should call Rock River Energy

02:20:38.379 --> 02:20:39.780
to get that moving forward.

02:20:39.780 --> 02:20:40.899
No.

02:20:40.899 --> 02:20:41.739
No.

02:20:41.739 --> 02:20:43.020
He doesn't want them.

02:20:43.020 --> 02:20:44.659
He doesn't want them calling him,

02:20:44.659 --> 02:20:46.500
I've already been told that.

02:20:46.500 --> 02:20:48.379
I'm sorry, Nordic, thank you Dovie.

02:20:48.379 --> 02:20:52.579
But we do need information available to the constituents

02:20:52.579 --> 02:20:56.540
so that they can have the correct number they need to call

02:20:56.540 --> 02:20:59.219
so that they can cancel this service

02:20:59.219 --> 02:21:01.540
if that's what they want to do.

02:21:01.540 --> 02:21:06.459
And that's what the purpose this was for here tonight,

02:21:06.459 --> 02:21:10.299
to inform the people of the number they need to call

02:21:10.299 --> 02:21:12.620
if they want to switch back to ComEd

02:21:12.620 --> 02:21:17.180
so that they're not being tossed to and fro

02:21:17.180 --> 02:21:19.100
and getting nowhere.

02:21:20.579 --> 02:21:22.100
What was in your contract,

02:21:22.100 --> 02:21:24.700
what was in your contract when you made that decision

02:21:24.700 --> 02:21:26.819
John, if you wanted to stay or if you wanted to go.

02:21:26.819 --> 02:21:27.819
Alderman Sellers.

02:21:27.819 --> 02:21:28.819
Yeah.

02:21:28.819 --> 02:21:29.819
Go ahead.

02:21:29.819 --> 02:21:33.260
So one of the things, and I think this is where the concern and the confusion is coming

02:21:33.260 --> 02:21:34.260
from.

02:21:34.260 --> 02:21:38.420
A lot of people submitted the form saying they were opting out.

02:21:38.420 --> 02:21:41.420
Now they're being told they never received the letter.

02:21:41.420 --> 02:21:43.299
They're not able to opt out.

02:21:43.299 --> 02:21:48.459
So they're stuck in this no man's land between Nordic and ComEd.

02:21:48.459 --> 02:21:53.860
And they're looking to us to assist them or figure out a way to get out of this agreement

02:21:53.860 --> 02:21:55.860
Huffines.

02:21:57.860 --> 02:22:01.860
I'm sorry, I've been trying to flag you.

02:22:01.860 --> 02:22:05.860
Yeah, I feel the same sentiments that you guys are feeling because

02:22:05.860 --> 02:22:09.860
I called them. I called them directly.

02:22:09.860 --> 02:22:13.860
And when I was looking at my utility bill,

02:22:13.860 --> 02:22:17.860
their service, whatever they're supposed to be providing,

02:22:17.860 --> 02:22:21.860
was not part of my subsidy or my

02:22:21.860 --> 02:22:34.059
Letters, Stating that I'm using Nordic, Nordic is, but come in charge me because they did

02:22:34.059 --> 02:22:40.219
not comply with come in. Come in had no idea that that should have been implemented to

02:22:40.219 --> 02:22:47.260
my electric bill. So I called Nordic and they're scrambling, trying to get the right information

02:22:47.260 --> 02:22:53.579
to me, and telling me that they're going to take care of it. Well, I'm going to look

02:22:53.579 --> 02:22:59.579
at my bill this year, this month, and see if their name is on there, see if there's

02:22:59.579 --> 02:23:08.579
any adjustments been made, because they gave me sure numbers that would benefit me, and

02:23:08.579 --> 02:23:13.899
I have not seen that yet. So, yeah, there's something nefarious going on there, and I

02:23:13.899 --> 02:23:18.659
like to know what it is myself.

02:23:18.659 --> 02:23:20.659
We can follow up on that.

02:23:20.659 --> 02:23:23.459
So how can we get the people this information?

02:23:23.459 --> 02:23:29.180
Is it something that can go on the city's website?

02:23:29.180 --> 02:23:34.819
Yes, we will basically get with Mike, address the concerns that you've expressed tonight,

02:23:34.819 --> 02:23:39.059
put together a statement, we can push that out on social media, then we can get with

02:23:39.059 --> 02:23:44.260
also to ensure some of the customers aren't confused because there was an increase on

02:23:44.260 --> 02:23:48.020
their distribution and green energy portion of their bill.

02:23:48.020 --> 02:23:52.780
So to ensure that we're actually talking apples to apples here, they may be confused because

02:23:52.780 --> 02:23:57.700
just recently the ICC approved an increase going forward, which was pretty substantial

02:23:57.700 --> 02:24:03.299
on their, on the portion of their bill that's not related to the generation. It's related

02:24:03.299 --> 02:24:12.780
to distribution and so on. So as long as we're talking about the same thing here, yes.

02:24:12.780 --> 02:24:16.420
Are there any other, oh, Alderman Klemer?

02:24:16.420 --> 02:24:21.860
If we could, I'm just trying to confuse things more here.

02:24:21.860 --> 02:24:27.700
Not actually, but as you mentioned, there's an upcharge on the distribution side and that

02:24:27.700 --> 02:24:28.700
kind of stuff.

02:24:28.700 --> 02:24:31.459
Well, Mr. Golrabs here, could he explain that?

02:24:31.459 --> 02:24:36.620
So we know what's there, or an estimate of what's there.

02:24:36.620 --> 02:24:38.659
So we know there's issues on that side.

02:24:38.659 --> 02:24:45.680
When you get done with dealing with one part of it, you know what the other charge is.

02:24:45.680 --> 02:24:46.680
Huffines.

02:24:46.680 --> 02:24:47.680
Alderman Goldbrough.

02:24:47.680 --> 02:24:57.649
Let's start with Nordic Energy.

02:24:57.649 --> 02:25:06.250
Their phone number for customer service is 877-808-1022.

02:25:06.250 --> 02:25:11.610
And when people call to opt out at this late date, they want to make sure that there's

02:25:11.610 --> 02:25:15.329
no type of administrative fee attached to it.

02:25:15.329 --> 02:25:16.809
Some of these companies do have it.

02:25:16.809 --> 02:25:20.770
it should have been on the contract whether or not they had it. I checked with city manager

02:25:20.770 --> 02:25:27.290
on that. As far as ComEd is concerned, you'll see a rate increase for because we're the

02:25:27.290 --> 02:25:32.510
suppliers or we're the distribution side, we're the wires and the poles. We take the

02:25:32.510 --> 02:25:36.969
energy and bring it to your home. In June, there will be a substantial rate of probably

02:25:36.969 --> 02:25:44.329
about $10.50 per month, depending upon the size of your home and what you currently incur.

02:25:44.329 --> 02:25:48.569
A lot of that is due to electrification.

02:25:48.569 --> 02:25:52.489
So electric cars, putting in the infrastructure for that,

02:25:52.489 --> 02:25:55.930
the enormous amount of data centers we have in the area,

02:25:55.930 --> 02:25:58.889
the increased cost to upgrade and maintain

02:25:58.889 --> 02:26:02.370
the distribution center or grid itself.

02:26:02.370 --> 02:26:03.530
But there's two different parts.

02:26:03.530 --> 02:26:06.049
So you have Nordic who supplies your energy

02:26:06.049 --> 02:26:08.930
and ComEd who delivers it to your home.

02:26:08.930 --> 02:26:09.770
Okay.

02:26:09.770 --> 02:26:18.129
Met. Fees went up since September. I believe January 1st, they went up slightly, but the

02:26:18.129 --> 02:26:25.469
main increase will be June 1st of 2025. And I get that information too. Fees. Yep. Okay.

02:26:25.469 --> 02:26:31.809
It's been a two-year process with the ICC that we've had a multi-year grid plan in place

02:26:31.809 --> 02:26:39.370
to make sure that the grid is sustainable. We are the number one company, electric company

02:26:39.370 --> 02:26:42.170
in the nation right now.

02:26:42.170 --> 02:26:46.809
So some of the state senators represented this question

02:26:46.809 --> 02:26:49.489
why we want to continue to put money into our system.

02:26:49.489 --> 02:26:51.690
And we want to stay, number one, we

02:26:51.690 --> 02:26:54.069
want to make sure that you have your power.

02:26:54.069 --> 02:26:57.610
We see a lot more people working in their homes,

02:26:57.610 --> 02:26:59.649
a lot more electricity being used.

02:26:59.649 --> 02:27:03.770
And we want to make sure we maintain the system itself.

02:27:03.770 --> 02:27:05.750
Nobody likes an increase, even myself,

02:27:05.750 --> 02:27:07.010
even though I work for ComEd.

02:27:07.010 --> 02:27:12.610
if you want to maintain things and have reliable service we have to continue to

02:27:12.610 --> 02:27:22.290
take care of our grid which we do so thank you okay so switching from Nordic

02:27:22.290 --> 02:27:27.290
to ComEd will not necessarily lower their electric bill significantly I

02:27:27.290 --> 02:27:32.049
looked up the rates Nordic do you have them yeah I think Nordic is that six

02:27:32.049 --> 02:27:41.049
Fowler, Frank, Bob, Chris, Patrick, Chris, John, Richard, Michael, Raymond, Daniel,

02:27:41.049 --> 02:27:42.049
and Fred.

02:27:42.049 --> 02:27:43.770
I think we're within one hundredth.

02:27:43.770 --> 02:27:49.250
I believe within one hundredth of a penny compared to Nordic.

02:27:49.250 --> 02:27:51.129
From the rate you said?

02:27:51.129 --> 02:27:55.489
Yeah, they had 6.399 and then we were 6.4.

02:27:55.489 --> 02:27:57.969
And you were 6.4.

02:27:57.969 --> 02:28:03.409
and that that is lower than Nordic but Nordic will stay at that contracted rate

02:28:03.409 --> 02:28:07.450
for three years and ComEd can fluctuate right up and down correct correct and

02:28:07.450 --> 02:28:14.090
the electrical supply is not the largest part of the bill no I don't believe so

02:28:14.090 --> 02:28:20.010
yeah it just depends on who you use yeah so that's the apples and apples that

02:28:20.010 --> 02:28:24.649
manager Boyer was talking about but but you would really like to have Mike Mudge

02:28:24.649 --> 02:28:29.709
Come here and talk to your and talk to the council again I think that would be

02:28:29.709 --> 02:28:35.989
he's been a proven person as far as getting great rates since I was mayor

02:28:35.989 --> 02:28:40.430
where we were the first administration to have an aggregation saved everybody

02:28:40.430 --> 02:28:46.450
about $300 a year so it just depends on where your supplier is so it's tough

02:28:46.450 --> 02:28:51.010
right now though it's difficult right now with electrification and how much

02:28:51.010 --> 02:28:53.010
and

02:28:55.170 --> 02:28:57.010
the

02:28:57.010 --> 02:29:01.649
other discussion? If not, we'll move to 17. The discussion and

02:29:01.649 --> 02:29:07.450
explanation of a fast track demo process presented by Stacy and

02:29:07.450 --> 02:29:10.450
Monroe, are you doing the presentation?

02:29:10.450 --> 02:29:18.059
No. No. We're going to start off with trying to understand

02:29:18.059 --> 02:29:19.059
Cronenberg.

02:29:19.059 --> 02:29:24.940
We're trying to understand, you know, kind of the process for a fast track demolition.

02:29:24.940 --> 02:29:31.020
There's not a lot of information online that we have, if you have, awesome.

02:29:31.020 --> 02:30:13.969
Awesome. So who's doing the presentation? Oh, okay. Okay, thank you, Alderperson Monroe, Alderperson Stacy. Starting off here, just going back, this was an April 28th of 2023. I'm pulling this from, we had an orientation, so it's just kind of a little background. And when I kind of talked about this in the past, it's kind of a little bit of a refresher. So I talked about in that orientation, kind of the

02:30:13.969 --> 02:30:14.969
Fowler.

02:30:14.969 --> 02:30:17.450
We're going to talk about the four main areas my department works in, code enforcement,

02:30:17.450 --> 02:30:22.690
planning and zoning, building code enforcement, grant administration, and the upper left is

02:30:22.690 --> 02:30:27.270
where in our orientation we kind of talked about our general process, our chronic nuisance

02:30:27.270 --> 02:30:32.969
and fast track and how this all kind of works in our code enforcement.

02:30:32.969 --> 02:30:40.690
Scrolling down, when I talked about this back in 2023, which it hasn't changed significantly,

02:30:40.690 --> 02:30:47.649
We're talking code enforcement, the first process here would be a warning issued, then a property

02:30:47.649 --> 02:30:51.610
would have one week, this is all general, but a property then would have one week to

02:30:51.610 --> 02:30:56.770
address a violation. At that point, a property would issue a citation with an associated

02:30:56.770 --> 02:31:03.530
hearing date. And a little background there is anybody who receives gets to step three,

02:31:03.530 --> 02:31:09.329
we have a hearing officer, you're given a date, I always consider it similar to traffic

02:31:09.329 --> 02:31:10.329
Fowler.

02:31:10.329 --> 02:31:14.170
It's an administrative hearing process.

02:31:14.170 --> 02:31:17.790
And essentially at this point, this is where you'd have a hearing.

02:31:17.790 --> 02:31:22.610
And if you don't show up to the hearing, you get a default judgment, similar to traffic.

02:31:22.610 --> 02:31:27.809
Also you get a chance to plead your case, your case can be continued.

02:31:27.809 --> 02:31:33.110
You can have a judgment for or against you at this point.

02:31:33.110 --> 02:31:38.190
Moving down, moving up the ladder here, I kind of gave some information on when our

02:31:38.190 --> 02:31:39.190
hearings are.

02:32:09.190 --> 02:32:14.370
you really you have to have three judgments in a six-month period to be declared a chronic nuisance

02:32:15.709 --> 02:32:22.469
All of the fast-track demolitions that I have processed have gone through this chronic nuisance process first

02:32:23.510 --> 02:32:29.750
And then finally we get to this fast-track demolition process when I was speaking back in 2023

02:32:31.110 --> 02:32:34.149
One of the process one of the points I've mentioned was that

02:32:35.430 --> 02:32:38.909
My department one of the goals when I took over the apartment in 2022

02:32:39.190 --> 02:33:09.190
was to increase code enforcement. So, as you can see, these are the years here, and this is kind of cumulatively how many code enforcement cases, inspections, hearings we've had, and I was really proud of the team, as you can see here in 2022, and it's carried on into 2023 as well, we really increased the number of inspections, which that leads to, ultimately at that time,

02:33:09.190 --> 02:33:39.190
Huffines, John Huffines, John Huffines, John Huffines,

02:33:39.190 --> 02:33:47.370
Holtz, a hearing officer has to declare a property a chronic nuisance.

02:33:47.370 --> 02:33:53.290
City can be granted authority to take action, remove garbage and debris, demolish a structure,

02:33:53.290 --> 02:33:59.229
could also, big one here is this $100 a day.

02:33:59.229 --> 02:34:04.850
So when you get to this point, that judge is going to give you $100 a day.

02:34:04.850 --> 02:34:09.850
and that tends to lead properties into high liens, et cetera.

02:34:10.530 --> 02:34:13.209
And then what I talk about is that in 2023,

02:34:13.209 --> 02:34:15.770
we had 20 fast track demolitions.

02:34:15.770 --> 02:34:17.090
So this is kind of what I talked about

02:34:17.090 --> 02:34:22.090
when I was going through our orientation for that year.

02:34:22.350 --> 02:34:25.389
So now we talk about fast track demolition.

02:34:25.389 --> 02:34:26.889
Again, kind of what I talked about

02:34:26.889 --> 02:34:28.549
when you saw that ladder there,

02:34:28.549 --> 02:34:31.209
it is the last resort in the process.

02:34:31.209 --> 02:34:33.489
It essentially means you've gone through

02:34:33.489 --> 02:34:36.389
At least, you know, three code enforcement cases.

02:34:36.389 --> 02:34:39.270
You had a judgment for chronic nuisance,

02:34:39.270 --> 02:34:44.899
and now you're at a park for fast track demolition.

02:34:44.899 --> 02:34:48.299
So why did I come here?

02:34:48.299 --> 02:34:50.440
I created this slide here to kind of say, OK,

02:34:50.440 --> 02:34:51.299
I see the numbers.

02:34:51.299 --> 02:34:52.340
We see the statistics.

02:34:52.340 --> 02:34:54.319
We've seen the process.

02:34:54.319 --> 02:34:57.040
But why do fast track demolition?

02:34:57.040 --> 02:34:59.299
Why have it?

02:34:59.299 --> 02:35:00.459
I thought it was a good point.

02:35:00.459 --> 02:35:03.739
I think when we came up with a strategic plan,

02:35:03.739 --> 02:35:10.700
I really did appreciate all the person Monroe says, well, I don't want to pay for a strategic

02:35:10.700 --> 02:35:16.860
plan that is just simply put on a memo and nobody does anything with it, right?

02:35:16.860 --> 02:35:21.659
Why just have a strategic plan if you're not going to run departments behind a strategic

02:35:21.659 --> 02:35:22.659
plan?

02:35:22.659 --> 02:35:27.739
So I kind of tied here how fast track demolitions are tied to the strategic plan in the sense

02:35:27.739 --> 02:35:28.739
Huffines.

02:35:28.739 --> 02:35:36.860
This is one of our major strategic initiatives here, safe and inclusive community.

02:35:36.860 --> 02:35:40.420
One of our key strategies here is to ensure that neighborhood buildings are well kept improving

02:35:40.420 --> 02:35:46.899
safety by expanding enforcement time for code enforcement team, increasing penalties, continue

02:35:46.899 --> 02:35:52.420
funding and implementation of demolition blight reduction program.

02:35:52.420 --> 02:35:59.159
So my team, my department is essentially judged by making sure that I keep our neighborhood

02:35:59.159 --> 02:36:02.920
safe by remediating blights.

02:36:02.920 --> 02:36:07.420
So while we're getting into the technicalities of how this works, why do it?

02:36:07.420 --> 02:36:09.500
Well, this is why we're doing it.

02:36:09.500 --> 02:36:14.979
And all of our council members put into this plan and agreed upon this plan.

02:36:14.979 --> 02:36:17.610
All right.

02:36:17.610 --> 02:36:21.969
So now this is where it gets to be, I would say a little bit more in depth, granular,

02:36:21.969 --> 02:36:24.530
Miller, but I've highlighted some important parts.

02:36:24.530 --> 02:36:27.329
This is a statute that the city enacts.

02:36:27.329 --> 02:36:34.209
So property has to be three stories or less.

02:36:34.209 --> 02:36:39.049
The corporate official designated to be in charge of enforcing the municipality's building

02:36:39.049 --> 02:36:47.590
code, that's me, is in charge of enforcing the building code and determines that the

02:36:47.590 --> 02:36:49.590
Holtzman, Mary T. Bates, Bob, and Nick.

02:36:50.690 --> 02:36:52.690
So this is the third notice.

02:36:54.909 --> 02:36:58.190
This is to ensure the building is open and vacant, an immediate

02:36:58.190 --> 02:37:00.409
continuing hazard to the community in which the building

02:37:00.409 --> 02:37:03.229
is located. Then the official shall be

02:37:03.229 --> 02:37:08.030
authorized to post a notice more or less than two feet by two

02:37:08.030 --> 02:37:10.030
feet in size that on the front of a building.

02:37:10.850 --> 02:37:13.469
Practically speaking this is what you'll see as an orange sign

02:37:13.469 --> 02:37:16.989
put on the building. Next step, sorry, I'm bending

02:37:16.989 --> 02:37:24.989
To the posted notice, certified mail, newspaper published, and then you have to record a notice at your recorder's office.

02:37:24.989 --> 02:37:35.319
So, looking up here, I'm just highlighting in other parts as the municipality may proceed to demolish,

02:37:35.319 --> 02:37:42.319
and I'm just reading the highlighted parts here for a fact here of what we're essentially talking about.

02:37:42.319 --> 02:37:47.319
Under this subsection, within a 120-day period following the date of the mailing of the notice,

02:37:47.319 --> 02:37:52.520
if the appropriate official determines that the demolition is necessary to remedy an immediate

02:37:52.520 --> 02:37:54.399
and continuing hazard.

02:37:54.399 --> 02:38:02.399
So that basically says once the letter is mailed and the 30-day period has lapsed for

02:38:02.399 --> 02:38:12.860
an injunction, the city has 120 days from that mailing period to demolish the structure.

02:38:12.860 --> 02:38:15.559
Following and another important part here is following demolition, the municipality

02:38:15.559 --> 02:38:16.860
May, Chris, Matt, Joakim, Chris, Peter, Jeff, Nel, Sean, determine that he may file a notice

02:38:16.860 --> 02:38:20.479
of lien against the real estate for the cost of the demolition.

02:38:20.479 --> 02:38:26.500
So oftentimes another part that's been tasked with my department is being stronger on property

02:38:26.500 --> 02:38:27.500
owners.

02:38:27.500 --> 02:38:30.719
We're talking about why aren't we holding people accountable, why aren't we holding

02:38:30.719 --> 02:38:31.719
people accountable.

02:38:31.719 --> 02:38:37.100
Fast track demolition is a means to hold problem property owners accountable.

02:38:37.100 --> 02:38:38.620
And how is it?

02:38:38.620 --> 02:38:44.000
Well, essentially once that demolition is performed, the city can then put a lien against

02:38:44.000 --> 02:38:47.549
the property.

02:38:47.549 --> 02:38:57.940
So our department takes that information and kind of puts it into this flowchart here.

02:38:57.940 --> 02:39:04.500
And it makes all of that language and legalese, that statute, a little bit easier to understand.

02:39:04.500 --> 02:39:09.100
So you start with a building that is three stories or less in height.

02:39:09.100 --> 02:39:10.100
It's got to be open and vacant.

02:39:10.100 --> 02:39:13.219
It has to be an immediate and continuing hazard.

02:39:13.219 --> 02:39:16.680
Then I talk about posting the notice on the building.

02:39:16.680 --> 02:39:22.040
We have 30 days to do our three notices here, and then in 30 days we talk about, hey, has

02:39:22.040 --> 02:39:23.639
an objective been filed?

02:39:23.639 --> 02:39:26.299
If yes, then we stop this fast-track demolition.

02:39:26.299 --> 02:39:29.799
If no, we demolish the structure, and then in 180 days...

02:39:29.799 --> 02:39:36.030
Miller, and then in 180 days, we record a lien or have the ability to record a lien.

02:39:36.030 --> 02:39:40.909
And so that concludes the process. Is there other? I mean, maybe we'll put the slideshow

02:39:40.909 --> 02:39:47.750
back on in case they have some questions. Are there any questions or do you guys want

02:39:47.750 --> 02:39:54.709
to take this to a private? Oh, I'm sorry. Yes. Who? Oh, no, I do have questions. I do.

02:39:54.709 --> 02:40:04.610
I have questions. So I've actually got several questions. So as we've seen in, in many city council meetings,

02:40:04.610 --> 02:40:08.610
I just want to keep that on in case he had a question on that.

02:40:08.610 --> 02:40:21.610
Many city council meetings that come, you come along with city manager to the council asking for money to be appropriated to tear down specific houses.

02:40:21.610 --> 02:40:31.610
Okay. So why are these different than those instances? And why not just hold that money back for these fast track demolitions?

02:40:31.610 --> 02:40:50.610
Well, there's a couple different reasons there. I mean, there is a time period on fast track demolitions of 120 days. So but I'm also trying to understand your I'm genuinely trying to understand your question here. So we're talking about the fast track process. So I'm really genuinely just trying to understand your question so I can answer it appropriately.

02:40:50.610 --> 02:40:54.270
Really?

02:40:54.270 --> 02:41:00.069
Well, my question is, is why don't you come to council for these types of demolitions?

02:41:00.069 --> 02:41:01.069
That makes sense.

02:41:01.069 --> 02:41:09.129
So when I go to a slide here, and on this, this is directly from the statute.

02:41:09.129 --> 02:41:15.290
It talks about how the corporate official designated to be in charge of enforcing the

02:41:15.290 --> 02:41:19.450
municipality's building code determines that a building is open and vacant and an immediate

02:41:19.450 --> 02:41:22.969
continuing hazard to the community, which the building is located, then the official

02:41:22.969 --> 02:41:27.809
Schell, be authorized to post the notice on a two-by-two sign and then it goes on to

02:41:27.809 --> 02:41:28.809
the duties.

02:41:28.809 --> 02:41:29.809
Gotcha.

02:41:29.809 --> 02:41:30.809
So that's...

02:41:30.809 --> 02:41:31.809
So I'm going to come back at you to a different one.

02:41:31.809 --> 02:41:37.610
So why on a house that you fast-track demolition, you've put these notices up, you then go back

02:41:37.610 --> 02:41:44.010
to that person and say, no, you cannot have a permit to correct the issues that are outstanding?

02:41:44.010 --> 02:41:45.010
Sure.

02:41:45.010 --> 02:41:49.969
That's most of the time, and I could show in specific cases, and I think one of our

02:41:49.969 --> 02:41:52.969
and other people here, I think it was Miss Altman had stated,

02:41:52.969 --> 02:41:55.489
oftentimes when these buildings are up,

02:41:55.489 --> 02:41:58.450
the structures are deemed dangerous and unsafe.

02:41:58.450 --> 02:42:02.370
Oftentimes we get a dangerous and unsafe designation

02:42:02.370 --> 02:42:05.690
at the chronic nuisance hearing.

02:42:05.690 --> 02:42:08.010
So when a building is considered dangerous and unsafe,

02:42:08.010 --> 02:42:11.129
at that point, the city is going to require

02:42:11.129 --> 02:42:16.010
that you have a structural engineer approve the plans

02:42:16.010 --> 02:42:18.170
to save this structure.

02:42:18.170 --> 02:42:20.510
and if they don't provide that,

02:42:20.510 --> 02:42:22.969
then the city will not move forward with a permit.

02:42:22.969 --> 02:42:24.290
That is not going to happen.

02:42:24.290 --> 02:42:25.930
So if you have, look at a building

02:42:25.930 --> 02:42:27.850
and it's leaning like this,

02:42:27.850 --> 02:42:29.729
or there was a fire inside of it,

02:42:30.930 --> 02:42:33.569
this department is going to require

02:42:33.569 --> 02:42:36.170
a structural engineer analysis,

02:42:36.170 --> 02:42:39.649
as well as plans to move forward with a permit.

02:42:39.649 --> 02:42:43.129
And that happens, it's stated in our code

02:42:43.129 --> 02:42:46.030
that the department will require that.

02:42:46.030 --> 02:42:49.110
and it's also common practice in many municipalities.

02:42:49.989 --> 02:42:53.950
So once you get that engineering letter

02:42:53.950 --> 02:42:57.469
saying that it's safe and that it should be remedied

02:42:58.709 --> 02:43:01.709
and you continue forward with the demolition,

02:43:01.709 --> 02:43:03.549
is that a normal practice?

02:43:04.709 --> 02:43:07.229
Well, I've yet to, I'll be honest with you,

02:43:07.229 --> 02:43:11.430
I've yet to see an actual, when I've been in these processes

02:43:11.430 --> 02:43:14.790
and I've been in this, I've processed several of them here,

02:43:14.790 --> 02:43:26.389
I've yet to see a satisfactory architect or engineer come in and provide plans stating that they have the plans to reconstruct the property.

02:43:26.389 --> 02:43:32.190
I've yet to see one. I've definitely seen people say a contractor might write a letter,

02:43:32.190 --> 02:43:38.549
but ultimately when you're dealing with fire damage, you're dealing with age, you're dealing with termite damage,

02:43:38.549 --> 02:43:42.950
you're dealing with immense water damage on these structures I am going to

02:43:42.950 --> 02:43:47.190
require a full analysis from an architect or structural engineer to

02:43:47.190 --> 02:43:51.709
protect the safety of the people who live in that building because ultimately

02:43:51.709 --> 02:43:57.469
there are situations where not only can a city be liable but an actual the head

02:43:57.469 --> 02:44:01.229
of the apartment can be liable if somebody gets hurt and dies on a on a

02:44:01.229 --> 02:44:05.709
permit allowing somebody to build something that somebody falls and dies

02:44:05.709 --> 02:44:11.909
Dyson or collapses and dies I'll be honest I've gone back and I've looked at

02:44:11.909 --> 02:44:16.809
some of the houses that you fast-track demolitioned and I have seen

02:44:16.809 --> 02:44:24.590
significantly worse around this town and I am really questioning right now if this

02:44:24.590 --> 02:44:30.110
is the right rules and I think no well I mean it is the correct rules this is

02:44:30.110 --> 02:44:34.870
from the statute but I mean we go back to and we're not following them okay

02:44:34.870 --> 02:44:38.469
that's fair I mean if you think that they're not being followed I mean I will certainly listen

02:44:39.350 --> 02:44:46.469
I'm listening with all ears and there's also due there's also due process and anybody here

02:44:47.670 --> 02:44:51.510
who has had a fast direct demolition is certainly welcome and I've spoken with them

02:44:51.510 --> 02:44:55.190
and provided resources that says if you feel like you've been wronged in any way

02:44:55.829 --> 02:45:01.430
you know Prairie Street Legal Services is a place that I refer to people often where if they feel

02:45:01.430 --> 02:45:02.110
and

02:45:02.110 --> 02:45:02.709
Joe.

02:45:02.709 --> 02:45:10.069
I want people to feel like they have been mistreated or haven't received proper due process. I want people to have due process. I genuinely do.

02:45:10.069 --> 02:45:13.110
I wish I could believe you.

02:45:13.110 --> 02:45:15.149
I understand the lack of trust.

02:45:15.149 --> 02:45:17.409
Is there an appointment?

02:45:17.409 --> 02:45:28.430
Yes, thank you. The thing we need to consider is you are emphasizing on what happens after

02:45:28.430 --> 02:45:36.069
Miller. They've had three violations in six months and have been in front of a judge.

02:45:36.069 --> 02:45:41.709
That happened three times in six months before he can get to that point.

02:45:41.709 --> 02:45:48.270
I'd also like to say, yeah, it's three judgments plus an additional judgment for the chronic

02:45:48.270 --> 02:45:49.270
nuisance.

02:45:49.270 --> 02:45:51.909
So they've been aware of this.

02:45:51.909 --> 02:45:52.909
But if you can't get the permit.

02:45:52.909 --> 02:45:54.389
I have the floor, sir.

02:45:54.389 --> 02:45:56.389
Yeah, you do.

02:45:56.389 --> 02:46:05.750
And if you haven't got it in your head after four times coming in here and speaking with

02:46:05.750 --> 02:46:09.709
the judge, then I don't know what argument you have.

02:46:11.979 --> 02:46:13.299
Auditman Monroe.

02:46:13.299 --> 02:46:14.299
Thank you.

02:46:14.299 --> 02:46:20.420
You really, so we'll go down this road, and I'll show, I can show images of the property

02:46:20.420 --> 02:46:27.139
in concern, I can show text messages from city employees to an individual sitting in

02:46:27.139 --> 02:46:28.139
Fowler.

02:46:28.139 --> 02:46:32.340
I want to thank all of the people in this audience tonight whose house and property were taken

02:46:32.340 --> 02:46:34.379
and torn down.

02:46:34.379 --> 02:46:39.420
And the problem is that people like you don't have a heart and care about the citizens of

02:46:39.420 --> 02:46:41.579
this city.

02:46:41.579 --> 02:46:45.739
And it's based on the color of that person's skin.

02:46:45.739 --> 02:46:48.780
And I know I have the floor.

02:46:48.780 --> 02:46:50.940
I don't care.

02:46:50.940 --> 02:46:52.940
I will show you the house.

02:46:52.940 --> 02:46:55.540
I don't care if you like what I say or not.

02:46:55.540 --> 02:46:57.540
Fowler.

02:46:58.639 --> 02:47:03.680
I'm telling you right now, this is appalling to me, appalling

02:47:03.680 --> 02:47:07.479
that we would go in and tear a property down that's got a

02:47:07.479 --> 02:47:11.680
better roof, got better outside exterior, I can pull up the

02:47:11.680 --> 02:47:15.540
images still on Google Earth, I can walk through it, I can look

02:47:15.540 --> 02:47:19.540
at it, I've seen pictures of it, I've seen pictures of it, I've

02:47:19.540 --> 02:47:22.540
seen pictures of it, I've seen pictures of it, I've seen pictures

02:47:22.540 --> 02:47:29.219
I can walk through it, I can look at it, I've seen pictures on the inside, and I've got,

02:47:29.219 --> 02:47:36.760
and I drive down 26 on West Ave, and I've got roofs collapsing, porches collapsing,

02:47:36.760 --> 02:47:41.299
and those buildings are still there, and we're fast-tracking this young lady's house.

02:47:41.299 --> 02:47:42.299
For what?

02:47:42.299 --> 02:47:45.979
Well, I can answer, I can answer some of that.

02:47:45.979 --> 02:47:51.100
Number one, if there's any properties, and I've sat down with many community groups,

02:47:51.100 --> 02:48:21.100
Miller, John, John, John, John,

02:48:21.100 --> 02:48:50.459
and I'm not a flagger, but anyway, do you have something you need to say?

02:48:50.459 --> 02:48:55.459
Okay, well then we'll move on to Alderman Klemm because it's getting late.

02:48:55.459 --> 02:49:02.459
I'd just like to bring up that this is not the only place in the town, whether it be 404, whether it be whatever.

02:49:02.459 --> 02:49:06.459
I'm working through a process in four houses in the first ward.

02:49:06.459 --> 02:49:10.459
Three of them owned by one woman, one of them owned by another person.

02:49:10.459 --> 02:49:13.459
All are vacant houses that nobody lives in.

02:49:13.459 --> 02:49:19.459
The city mows them for them, sends them a bill, tries to lien their property and all that kind of stuff.

02:49:19.459 --> 02:49:25.159
and the stuff and we finally got them on the hundred dollar a day fine. The woman

02:49:25.159 --> 02:49:29.959
that had three houses wrote out a check for five

02:49:29.959 --> 02:49:30.299
We had three houses, wrote out a check for $5,000.

02:49:30.299 --> 02:49:34.299
They're all still in violation at $100 a day.

02:49:34.299 --> 02:49:40.299
And when we got a van moved out of one of the houses, the guy next door, the house sits

02:49:40.299 --> 02:49:43.040
in between a business and his house.

02:49:43.040 --> 02:49:45.639
So overgrown you can hardly see the house.

02:49:45.639 --> 02:49:49.959
The business sent me a text and said, thank you for getting that van moved.

02:49:49.959 --> 02:49:53.059
It's only taken me 10 years to do it.

02:49:53.059 --> 02:50:01.819
So that gives you an idea how long these properties have been not mowed, gone before a hearing

02:50:01.819 --> 02:50:04.780
judge and to go into this whole fast track deal.

02:50:04.780 --> 02:50:06.659
It isn't just one house here.

02:50:06.659 --> 02:50:08.139
There's plenty of them around.

02:50:08.139 --> 02:50:09.139
Thank you.

02:50:09.139 --> 02:50:11.620
Do you have anything you want to say?

02:50:11.620 --> 02:50:19.739
I just want to ask a question in regards to a home that's been sitting for over 10 years

02:50:19.739 --> 02:50:22.739
probably.

02:50:22.739 --> 02:50:28.020
My recollection is the last time I drove by it was still there boarded up and things of

02:50:28.020 --> 02:50:34.459
this nature and when I looked at the property 404 East Shawnee I'm just wondering if that's

02:50:34.459 --> 02:50:36.299
the same property.

02:50:36.299 --> 02:50:44.780
Now I'm looking at the property on Shawnee on the north side of the street of Benton

02:50:44.780 --> 02:50:48.739
which is on the east side of the street of Benton.

02:50:48.739 --> 02:50:54.780
So it's the northeast corner and the reason why I'm asking is because it's been there

02:50:54.780 --> 02:51:01.739
so long, there's no fast track involved that that property is still sitting there and then

02:51:01.739 --> 02:51:09.020
we need an explanation because it's a definite nuisance, it's an eyesore in the community.

02:51:09.020 --> 02:51:16.420
Have we paid any attention to that particular property and what are we doing about it because

02:51:16.420 --> 02:51:22.520
I don't know if this is in the bracket of homes to be demoed.

02:51:22.520 --> 02:51:27.100
It's a great question to ask and off the top of my head I don't have my system here right

02:51:27.100 --> 02:51:30.379
to know what the status is of that actual property.

02:51:30.379 --> 02:51:35.700
However, many of the other people here have worked with me and I would say probably all

02:51:35.700 --> 02:51:40.299
of them have called me or I will return their calls and they'll say, okay, here's the property,

02:51:40.299 --> 02:51:41.579
what can you tell me?

02:51:41.579 --> 02:51:42.579
And where are we at?

02:51:42.579 --> 02:51:44.860
And I will do that for you all the person Sanders.

02:51:44.860 --> 02:51:48.260
We can sit down and talk about that property and I can provide updates for you on that.

02:51:48.260 --> 02:51:55.059
Yeah, because that property is sitting in a very bad area, I'm not going to say neighborhood,

02:51:55.059 --> 02:51:59.860
but in a very bad area and it's been sitting there for over 10 years, boarded up.

02:51:59.860 --> 02:52:08.899
And I'm quite sure we have those two foot signs, whatever, but I don't see a two foot

02:52:08.899 --> 02:52:11.420
demo sign for that property.

02:52:11.420 --> 02:52:14.299
I'm just wondering why is that possible?

02:52:14.299 --> 02:52:17.100
I can meet with the other person, Sanders, and get that figured out.

02:52:17.100 --> 02:52:21.020
We'll move on to, is there any other questions?

02:52:21.020 --> 02:52:23.100
If not, we'll move on to 18.

02:52:23.100 --> 02:52:27.500
The discussion regarding demolition of 404 East Shawnee,

02:52:27.500 --> 02:52:32.379
including personal property missing and reports stolen by the demolition company

02:52:32.379 --> 02:52:36.219
presented by Alderman Stacey in Monroe.

02:52:36.219 --> 02:52:41.860
So I'll start with this, you know, I understand now kind of who, you know,

02:52:41.860 --> 02:52:42.860
and so forth.

02:52:42.860 --> 02:52:45.219
I don't know the authority and why it was done.

02:52:45.219 --> 02:52:51.819
But I will question, so number one, you know, who authorizes the company that tore the building

02:52:51.819 --> 02:52:56.979
down to remove property from the location as well then, if it's unsafe, why were they

02:52:56.979 --> 02:53:00.739
in there and not just demo it?

02:53:00.739 --> 02:53:02.819
And who goes through that process?

02:53:02.819 --> 02:53:03.819
Sure.

02:53:03.819 --> 02:53:09.540
I presented a, we'll put it in slideshow here, I presented a little process here for, prepared

02:53:09.540 --> 02:53:10.540
something for a show.

02:53:10.540 --> 02:53:11.540
Neumann.

02:53:11.540 --> 02:53:13.700
I knew this was a question to be asked.

02:53:13.700 --> 02:53:16.620
Lots of questions about this property and its demolition.

02:53:16.620 --> 02:53:21.020
And you know, in the future, you know, I saw that this was put on, I think on a Friday,

02:53:21.020 --> 02:53:23.899
you know, today you called me, I was able to get some information for you.

02:53:23.899 --> 02:53:26.940
I'm always here to go over this in person.

02:53:26.940 --> 02:53:30.500
You know, so if you ever want to talk about something like this again, just call me up.

02:53:30.500 --> 02:53:32.940
I've met with all the persons, Stacy, plenty of times.

02:53:32.940 --> 02:53:38.340
I can always talk in person for more detail, but I really wanted to make sure that I met,

02:53:38.340 --> 02:53:44.340
You know, you had questions on this property, so I kind of wanted to go through it here. This is a picture. We time stamp our pictures.

02:53:44.340 --> 02:53:52.340
This is a picture of the property on September 3rd, 2024. So I'm going to go over, kind of show some pictures and then go over the history of this property.

02:53:52.340 --> 02:54:01.340
This picture was taken April 17th of 2024. Obviously, I put this on here because there was questions about whether there are holes in the building. Yes.

02:54:01.340 --> 02:54:04.340
Were there problems with the roof? Yes.

02:54:04.340 --> 02:54:16.340
This is, I just wanted to show some evidence there. Pictures of the outside. Were there issues with the foundation? Yes. This would require a structural analysis and a permit to move forward.

02:54:16.340 --> 02:54:26.340
A couple more pictures here. More of the back of the house, issues with the back of the house here. Again, time stamped, our inspectors time stamped all pictures.

02:54:26.340 --> 02:54:27.340
Settlers.

02:54:27.340 --> 02:54:29.799
Moving on to the inside of the house.

02:54:29.799 --> 02:54:34.700
As you can see in this picture, it might be a little difficult, but you can see here,

02:54:34.700 --> 02:54:40.500
this was taken October 10th, and it gives the address here, and it kind of shows what's

02:54:40.500 --> 02:54:44.059
being taken picture here, drywall, and it says here, fireplace.

02:54:44.059 --> 02:54:53.540
One of the issues in this building is work being done without a permit, and right, so

02:54:53.540 --> 02:54:57.159
We're going to get to the three permits that were pulled, but one of the issues here is

02:54:57.159 --> 02:55:02.219
that in the permit, when I start to talk about the permits, which is later on in my presentation,

02:55:02.219 --> 02:55:07.059
one of the issues with this drywall here is that had this, this would be eventually pulled

02:55:07.059 --> 02:55:13.299
or torn off because we would need to see the exhaust in this fireplace or also need to

02:55:13.299 --> 02:55:15.260
see connections to a fireplace.

02:55:15.260 --> 02:55:19.739
So if you cover up, that's anybody in the city of Freeport or any municipality for that

02:55:19.739 --> 02:55:21.739
Bates, and the rest of the people who are involved in the

02:55:21.739 --> 02:55:23.739
process.

02:55:25.739 --> 02:55:27.739
I want to show that when you start drywalling, when you start

02:55:27.739 --> 02:55:29.739
drywalling before you move forward in the proper steps in

02:55:29.739 --> 02:55:31.739
an inspection, you do have to take that off so that you can

02:55:31.739 --> 02:55:35.739
make sure that the exhaust and everything coming out of natural

02:55:35.739 --> 02:55:37.739
gas connections are done correctly.

02:55:39.739 --> 02:55:41.739
So I wanted to show time stamped, time date material to

02:55:41.739 --> 02:55:45.739
put people's minds at ease that, hey, this happened, these

02:55:45.739 --> 02:55:47.739
pictures took place.

02:55:49.739 --> 02:55:56.819
Stal, this here again October 10th drywall living room again showing pictures you

02:55:56.819 --> 02:56:00.139
can't see great in here but you could see I go looking at the outside of the

02:56:00.139 --> 02:56:04.979
building you could see holes or protrusions where people are entering the

02:56:04.979 --> 02:56:09.180
city has received multitude of complaints which I will get into about

02:56:09.180 --> 02:56:16.540
people breaking and entering into this into this property vacant property so

02:56:16.540 --> 02:56:25.540
So, one of the questions that has been brought up by several people is kind of who owns this property, who owns it, right? Who actually owns this property?

02:56:25.540 --> 02:56:31.540
So, this is what's known, I'm doing a little title history here of like who owns, of who owns a property.

02:56:31.540 --> 02:56:41.540
So, this information here comes from our tax assessor. In 2016, the property was sold from this person to the Freeport Habitat for Humanity.

02:56:41.540 --> 02:56:58.540
Okay. Habitat for Humanity bought this house for $2,000. It was my understanding that when Habitat for Humanity bought it, the property had been sitting in a poor condition, I believe since 2010 circa.

02:56:58.540 --> 02:57:04.540
It was long standing when Habitat for Humanity had bought it for $2,000.

02:57:04.540 --> 02:57:16.540
So then, when looking at the title history, in 2017, the Habitat for Humanity quit claims of property to a raven.

02:57:16.540 --> 02:57:22.540
So then the question becomes, well, what's the connection between raven and a kea?

02:57:22.540 --> 02:57:31.540
Taking some information from a summary report interview that's conducted by City Fire Marshal Hilary Broschus on December 19th of 2021,

02:57:31.540 --> 02:57:35.940
this is regarding two arson cases on the property from that year and so this

02:57:35.940 --> 02:57:40.579
information was taken from that interview and in that property it says

02:57:40.579 --> 02:57:44.459
she meaning Akia Sanders advised that she and Raven were the sole owners of

02:57:44.459 --> 02:57:47.940
the property she stated that they purchased the home for $2,000 from

02:57:47.940 --> 02:57:52.899
Habitat for Humanity there is no mortgage on the property Akia advised

02:57:52.899 --> 02:57:56.180
that there is not any insurance on the home she commented that she did not

02:57:56.180 --> 02:57:59.860
think she could get insurance on the home due to the current state of it this is

02:57:59.860 --> 02:58:00.860
Huffines.

02:58:00.860 --> 02:58:03.860
This is important, very important information to have because when we're considering dangerous

02:58:03.860 --> 02:58:09.940
and unsafe structures, not having insurance is a death sentence for our community.

02:58:09.940 --> 02:58:14.500
What happens when kids go in there and they hurt themselves?

02:58:14.500 --> 02:58:15.819
Where are they going to get there?

02:58:15.819 --> 02:58:16.819
What's going to happen?

02:58:16.819 --> 02:58:20.020
What happens when people fight a fire and they burn?

02:58:20.020 --> 02:58:26.780
This house has no insurance, which really adds to how scary it is to have these properties

02:58:26.780 --> 02:58:34.899
in our community okay so still looking on to who owns the property when this thing

02:58:34.899 --> 02:58:39.219
when this property was eventually going through the fast-track demolition

02:58:39.219 --> 02:58:46.620
process Raven quick claims the property to Tiffany Sanders which I believe from

02:58:46.620 --> 02:58:53.620
what I understand to be Miss Akia Sanders sister excuse me that happened

02:58:53.620 --> 02:59:02.420
on June 7th of 2024. So the title to Ms. Sanders was gone in June. So that, you know, I know

02:59:02.420 --> 02:59:07.219
you had stated it was her property. It's no longer her property. It's now her sister's property.

02:59:07.219 --> 02:59:14.579
But moving forward, the county will soon be taking this property for back taxes. So they've not,

02:59:14.579 --> 02:59:20.420
they not only do not, they not only not paid insurance, they've not paid their taxes. So in

02:59:20.420 --> 02:59:25.420
So in 2024, Liz Pendens, which is a fancy way for saying a notice.

02:59:25.420 --> 02:59:31.239
C. Way for saying a notice, they're basically saying on December 9th of 2024, in June they're

02:59:31.239 --> 02:59:37.239
going to be taking ownership of Ms. Tiffany Sanders' property for back taxes.

02:59:37.239 --> 02:59:45.940
So if the taxes aren't paid, the property, this will soon be the county's property.

02:59:45.940 --> 02:59:49.180
And then I kind of go into here a little bit showing all the years that the taxes weren't

02:59:49.180 --> 02:59:50.180
paid.

02:59:50.180 --> 02:59:51.180
Miller.

02:59:51.180 --> 02:59:59.600
It was since 2021 the taxes have not been paid, and here's some back tax payment amounts.

02:59:59.600 --> 03:00:04.399
Okay, building permit history, we wanted to talk about why are we not providing permits

03:00:04.399 --> 03:00:05.399
to people.

03:00:05.399 --> 03:00:07.920
It's a very good question to ask.

03:00:07.920 --> 03:00:15.520
The city provided three permits for this property, which totaled five years, six months, and

03:00:15.520 --> 03:00:20.000
19 days of minimal progress from the property owner.

03:00:20.000 --> 03:00:22.540
I really want this to settle in.

03:00:22.540 --> 03:00:28.739
When we put in our strategic plan that we want to step up code enforcement, the city

03:00:28.739 --> 03:00:34.540
worked hard and bent over backwards to give the property owner five years, six months,

03:00:34.540 --> 03:00:35.819
and 19 days.

03:00:35.819 --> 03:00:43.120
Those pictures that you saw are the result of five years, six months, and 19 days of

03:00:43.120 --> 03:00:44.340
building permits.

03:00:44.340 --> 03:00:48.860
That's the result, the pictures I showed.

03:00:48.860 --> 03:00:51.659
So I'm going to go over the actual permits now, what was pulled.

03:00:51.659 --> 03:00:59.200
In 2018, a permit was issued for one year. The dates are May 9th to May 9th of 2019.

03:00:59.200 --> 03:01:08.120
The city granted a 180-day extension. So, again, working with our community to try to

03:01:08.120 --> 03:01:13.840
fix this building. We granted a six-month extension on top of this one-year extension.

03:01:13.840 --> 03:01:19.360
During this time period, no work was performed during this and there were no subsequent inspections

03:01:19.360 --> 03:01:49.360
because when you get a permit you do work you call the inspector and say I've done the like I've done electrical work I've done plumbing work I'm ready for my inspection before I move on to the next step that never happened on this permit in 2020 a permit was issued for two years probably asking why did we give a two-year permit there was some leniency and terms for permits during the pandemic so there was a two-year permit granted from December 17th to December 17th of 2022

03:01:49.360 --> 03:01:56.440
again the city in 2022 granted a six month extension this it expired on June

03:01:56.440 --> 03:02:01.579
17th of 2022 so again this narrative of the city not working with the property

03:02:01.579 --> 03:02:06.479
owner is very unfair because these they're coming to us with a permit and

03:02:06.479 --> 03:02:14.229
we're saying where's the progress it's not there on January 11th of 2021 I'm

03:02:14.229 --> 03:02:18.229
showing the work that was done in this permit a rough electrical work was

03:02:18.229 --> 03:02:22.489
Celia,

03:02:22.489 --> 03:02:26.270
The inspection was approved for three rooms only, and this was the only work that was

03:02:26.270 --> 03:02:32.569
performed for the entire period and approved by our inspector.

03:02:32.569 --> 03:02:41.909
So now you're looking at 2018-2022, four years and you had rough electrical work done in

03:02:41.909 --> 03:02:43.489
three rooms.

03:02:43.489 --> 03:02:45.030
That was what was done.

03:02:45.030 --> 03:02:47.690
That was the work done.

03:02:47.690 --> 03:02:51.329
So in 2022, we issued another permit.

03:02:51.329 --> 03:02:52.889
This was one year.

03:02:52.889 --> 03:02:59.290
And this went from October 21st of 2022 to November 28th of 2020, a lot of 20s in there.

03:02:59.290 --> 03:03:00.290
Pardon me for that.

03:03:00.290 --> 03:03:05.129
Say that three times fast, 2023.

03:03:05.129 --> 03:03:10.329
The work that was done there was there was footing inspections for a room addition.

03:03:10.329 --> 03:03:11.809
It was approved with notes.

03:03:11.809 --> 03:03:15.469
As I kind of showed before, there were some issues with some of the footings and the foundation

03:03:15.469 --> 03:03:16.930
on that property.

03:03:16.930 --> 03:03:19.370
So that's why it was approved with notes.

03:03:19.370 --> 03:03:25.969
Now at the end of this, our inspector went in, and he's coming in at the end of this

03:03:25.969 --> 03:03:31.010
3 years, 5 years, 6 months, and 19 days, and he's saying, okay, I'm going to do one more

03:03:31.010 --> 03:03:34.569
inspection and I want to see what the condition of the property is.

03:03:34.569 --> 03:03:41.450
And at that point, after this 5 years, 6 months, 19 days, he then said, this property is moving

03:03:41.450 --> 03:03:46.409
forward to code enforcement closing the permit and it's moving forward to code

03:03:46.409 --> 03:03:51.649
enforcement because there's there's multitude of code violations and there's

03:03:51.649 --> 03:03:57.569
they were given five and a half years to fix them so now we're going to talk

03:03:57.569 --> 03:04:00.930
about our code enforcement history on this property what were some of the code

03:04:00.930 --> 03:04:05.370
enforcement issues and that ultimately led to it being a nuisance to this

03:04:05.370 --> 03:04:07.370
and

03:04:07.370 --> 03:04:10.129
There were two arson cases in

03:04:11.090 --> 03:04:13.090
2021 on this property

03:04:13.209 --> 03:04:17.989
this property was properly inspected by City Fire Marshal Hillary Broschus and

03:04:18.909 --> 03:04:25.989
This was taken directly from her report which was given on both arson cases the act or omission that brought

03:04:25.989 --> 03:04:32.049
The ignition source and material first ignited together was a deliberate act of a person or persons

03:04:32.129 --> 03:04:34.129
so when I come in and I say

03:04:34.129 --> 03:04:44.129
It's a nuisance and a danger to the community. It happens. People are burning these vacant buildings. I'm asking you to please understand the facts.

03:04:44.129 --> 03:04:51.129
I'm not making this up. People burn these buildings to the ground and people die and the owners don't have insurance.

03:04:51.129 --> 03:04:59.129
I don't know what else I can do to prove that this is a nuisance to the community and a danger. Please tell me what danger is if that is not.

03:04:59.129 --> 03:05:09.129
Here, this is from the report. Two reports in one night. First fire happened here, second fire happened here.

03:05:09.129 --> 03:05:19.989
Here's a picture of the fire that happened. Here's one of the evidence pictures of the arson that happened on that property.

03:05:19.989 --> 03:05:22.719
Bauer.

03:05:22.719 --> 03:05:29.799
So moving forward, we're going to go on to the code enforcement cases that happened after

03:05:29.799 --> 03:05:35.180
the five and a half years of permits.

03:05:35.180 --> 03:05:43.239
So I highlighted an important part of the findings of this case.

03:05:43.239 --> 03:05:50.719
A couple important parts to remember here is that Nicole Bauer is our hearing officer.

03:05:50.719 --> 03:05:56.680
So when my team provides data and information on these buildings, Nicole Bauer looks at

03:05:56.680 --> 03:05:58.479
it and makes a judgment.

03:05:58.479 --> 03:06:02.840
Here's her signature, here's the date, and you can see it matches up.

03:06:02.840 --> 03:06:08.239
It was after the city gave time and permits to fix the building.

03:06:08.239 --> 03:06:10.379
It came afterwards.

03:06:10.379 --> 03:06:14.879
And I want to talk about something very important, and it's a very good point to bring up.

03:06:14.879 --> 03:06:20.399
I highlighted that the city of Freeport has proven violations by the preponderance of

03:06:20.399 --> 03:06:27.799
of evidence, I'm talking about preponderance of evidence here because we all watch Dateline,

03:06:27.799 --> 03:06:32.100
we all watch TV, and a lot of us quite frankly are obsessed with true crime.

03:06:32.100 --> 03:06:36.479
And the burden of proof, if you're going to put somebody in prison for the rest of their

03:06:36.479 --> 03:06:39.360
life is beyond a reasonable doubt.

03:06:39.360 --> 03:06:45.639
So a lot of us look at cases, we look at the city and we go, aha, I found a mistake, there's

03:06:45.639 --> 03:06:46.639
Huffines.

03:06:46.639 --> 03:06:48.559
There's reasonable doubt that Mr. Duckman did his job wrong.

03:06:48.559 --> 03:06:50.600
Throw everything out the window.

03:06:50.600 --> 03:06:55.799
I'm highlighting preponderance of evidence because it's a different burden of proof.

03:06:55.799 --> 03:07:01.159
It's a different level and I have some legal training and a multitude of my degrees and

03:07:01.159 --> 03:07:05.440
education and experience and the way preponderance of evidence has always been taught to me is

03:07:05.440 --> 03:07:07.760
that you have two scales.

03:07:07.760 --> 03:07:13.360
Here's the defendant scales or here's the city, their evidence and then here's the evidence

03:07:13.360 --> 03:07:14.360
Huffines.

03:07:14.360 --> 03:07:17.600
That's the evidence that would be provided by the defendant, the owner of the property.

03:07:17.600 --> 03:07:21.940
And then the judge is going to look at it and say, okay, does the evidence tip slightly

03:07:21.940 --> 03:07:24.559
towards the city or slightly towards the defendant?

03:07:24.559 --> 03:07:29.760
So it's different than, aha, the city made a mistake, there's reasonable doubt.

03:07:29.760 --> 03:07:31.620
That's a different burden of proof.

03:07:31.620 --> 03:07:35.319
So oftentimes we're looking at the city, they made a typo here, they did something wrong

03:07:35.319 --> 03:07:36.319
here.

03:07:36.319 --> 03:07:40.120
Oftentimes a hearing officer, or if it goes to a civil case, they're going to look at

03:07:40.120 --> 03:07:45.420
We've got it by the preponderance of evidence versus what we're all used to, right?

03:07:45.420 --> 03:07:48.760
We're all used to beyond a reasonable doubt.

03:07:48.760 --> 03:07:53.219
So I highlighted that there so that we can start to understand how some of these cases

03:07:53.219 --> 03:07:57.340
are looked at.

03:07:57.340 --> 03:08:01.120
So we have our next case here.

03:08:01.120 --> 03:08:06.239
And if you notice, the preponderance of evidence statement here doesn't exist.

03:08:06.239 --> 03:08:09.620
Well, why doesn't it exist?

03:08:09.620 --> 03:08:12.719
The property owner showed up to this case.

03:08:12.719 --> 03:08:18.159
So the judge is saying, I looked at the city's case, these violations here, I looked at it,

03:08:18.159 --> 03:08:21.959
and they proved their case by proponents of evidence.

03:08:21.959 --> 03:08:26.020
The second case, appearance.

03:08:26.020 --> 03:08:28.200
They didn't show up.

03:08:28.200 --> 03:08:30.579
So they did not show up on this case.

03:08:30.579 --> 03:08:32.280
They didn't show up to testify.

03:08:32.280 --> 03:08:36.120
And that goes back to, was notice given?

03:08:36.120 --> 03:08:40.520
Our hearing officer looks and checks this box saying, yes, the city of Freeport notified

03:08:40.520 --> 03:08:42.879
properly.

03:08:42.879 --> 03:08:47.180
And then any box check below the statement constitutes as a final order, default, defendant

03:08:47.180 --> 03:08:50.440
failed to appear and the hearing will be held before me this day.

03:08:50.440 --> 03:08:55.100
It goes back to that similar with parking tickets, et cetera.

03:08:55.100 --> 03:08:58.120
And then that's why you see here, she signs off.

03:08:58.120 --> 03:09:03.700
This is case number two.

03:09:03.700 --> 03:09:05.940
Case number three.

03:09:05.940 --> 03:09:07.860
Similar to case number two.

03:09:07.860 --> 03:09:12.760
There was no appearance, despite the fact that they showed up at the first case, notice

03:09:12.760 --> 03:09:23.690
was given, default judgment, so now we're at $1,700 plus $1,200, that's $2,900.

03:09:23.690 --> 03:09:24.139
That's 2,900

03:09:24.540 --> 03:09:30.319
Plus 33 35 you're looking about 3200 $3200 already right now that has been accumulated

03:09:32.299 --> 03:09:38.219
So now we talk about and you should all see this falls right in line with the process I laid out

03:09:38.780 --> 03:09:44.979
To all the officials in there when they came here and in April of 2023

03:09:46.139 --> 03:09:47.579
except

03:09:47.579 --> 03:09:53.500
The city worked with this property owner for five years before any code enforcement even was enacted

03:09:54.100 --> 03:10:00.260
Five years before any of this process and enacted so we have actually been more generous to this property owner

03:10:00.579 --> 03:10:04.860
Than the typical out-of-town person who never has been here never applied for a permit

03:10:05.739 --> 03:10:07.620
So here it is

03:10:07.620 --> 03:10:11.899
this case went before the judge on May 16th of 2024 and

03:10:13.059 --> 03:10:17.180
Then this is kind of what the judgment says and I want to bring this up here

03:10:17.579 --> 03:10:18.579
Duckman.

03:10:18.579 --> 03:10:21.079
Here's the $100 per day.

03:10:21.079 --> 03:10:23.799
Here is also Nicole Bauer writing a statement.

03:10:23.799 --> 03:10:25.360
This is not Wayne Duckman.

03:10:25.360 --> 03:10:28.159
This is Nicole Bauer, our hearing officer.

03:10:28.159 --> 03:10:33.200
This case has been ongoing for a significant period of time.

03:10:33.200 --> 03:10:44.420
There was ample time to appear on the other cases with legal counsel if the defendant

03:10:44.420 --> 03:10:52.299
had chosen to do so, plus ample time to correct these issues prior to this hearing.

03:10:52.299 --> 03:10:53.459
This is due process.

03:10:53.459 --> 03:10:54.459
This is time.

03:10:54.459 --> 03:10:55.459
This is not my words.

03:10:55.459 --> 03:11:00.819
This is the words of an independent hearing officer.

03:11:00.819 --> 03:11:09.010
So in addition to this $100 per day, the city says, and it's a little hard to read here,

03:11:09.010 --> 03:11:13.930
but the city sought, and this statement was incorporated in herein, so I'm showing where

03:11:13.930 --> 03:11:14.930
it is.

03:11:14.930 --> 03:11:24.809
was requesting that this be defined in chapter 1456 of the city's codified ordinances to

03:11:24.809 --> 03:11:29.750
be using remedy conditions that would be considered dangerous and unsafe.

03:11:29.750 --> 03:11:36.790
So on top of my statutory duties given to determine that a property is dangerous and

03:11:36.790 --> 03:11:43.389
unsafe, I brought it before a hearing officer who said this is a dangerous unsafe building.

03:11:43.389 --> 03:11:49.790
It was brought before a hearing officer and they made that judgment in conjunction to

03:11:49.790 --> 03:11:58.799
the sign I put on the, a sign was put on the building.

03:11:58.799 --> 03:12:02.690
Questions are going to be had.

03:12:02.690 --> 03:12:03.690
Declaration of Chronic Nuisance.

03:12:03.690 --> 03:12:05.069
The property contains a structure.

03:12:05.069 --> 03:12:06.309
This comes from above.

03:12:06.309 --> 03:12:12.649
So this here comes from above here and then I highlighted this.

03:12:12.649 --> 03:12:17.010
The property contains a structure which is dangerous and unsafe building as defined in

03:12:17.010 --> 03:12:18.010
and others.

03:12:18.010 --> 03:12:23.129
In chapter 1456 of these qualified ordinances and or within the meaning of the statute,

03:12:23.129 --> 03:12:27.809
the structure is defined as C attached and incorporated herein.

03:12:27.809 --> 03:12:34.510
And that's where we went to here, and then when you scroll down, I decide this is from

03:12:34.510 --> 03:12:39.450
our ordinances what was being defined and it states, as used in this chapter, dangerous

03:12:39.450 --> 03:12:46.329
and unsafe building means any dwelling which violates any provisions of this chapter and

03:12:46.329 --> 03:13:02.090
Shale included, but it's not limited to any building or structure, whether a dwelling or otherwise, which a, is dangerous to the public health because of its construction condition, which may cause or aid in the spread of disease or cause injury to the health of the occupants of it or of its neighboring structures.

03:13:03.569 --> 03:13:10.530
I think well beyond preponderance of evidence that has been proven. It's not just my opinion. It's our hearing officer's opinion.

03:13:10.530 --> 03:13:24.100
Clear as day, and then I'll just go on, because of the faulty construction, age, lack of proper repair of any other cause is especially liable to fire and constitutes or creates a fire hazard.

03:13:24.100 --> 03:13:38.440
I believe that one's checked. Reasons of faulty construction, age, lack of proper repair is liable to cause injury or damage by collapsing or by collapse or fall or any part of such a structure.

03:13:38.440 --> 03:13:42.000
Strucker. I already showed a picture of its foundation. And by the way, it doesn't have

03:13:42.000 --> 03:13:46.600
to be all of these, but I'm showing examples of how they're all can be checked. Because

03:13:46.600 --> 03:13:53.600
of its condition, item D, such a lack of a door or a window is available and to be frequently

03:13:55.379 --> 03:13:59.920
by male factors or disorderly persons who are not lawful occupants of such structure.

03:13:59.920 --> 03:14:05.319
I showed a hole on the side of the wall. I showed places where people could get in. I

03:14:05.319 --> 03:14:13.079
So that with time dated pictures, this has not been substantially completed whose construction

03:14:13.079 --> 03:14:19.639
phase has been abandoned and which is unoccupied by persons legally in possession, check, check

03:14:19.639 --> 03:14:26.440
and check, contains garbage, debris or other hazardous, noxious or unhealthy substances

03:14:26.440 --> 03:14:30.920
or materials so far as to pose a threat to the public health and safety, yep I think

03:14:30.920 --> 03:14:37.000
that one was considered as well and check.

03:14:37.000 --> 03:14:45.319
So my department has been staffed with holding problem property owners accountable.

03:14:45.319 --> 03:14:47.000
That's what a lien does.

03:14:47.000 --> 03:14:50.600
This lien was filed on September 6th of 2024.

03:14:50.600 --> 03:14:56.760
It encompasses all of the due process and all of the judgments granted by our hearing

03:14:56.760 --> 03:15:04.200
officer to the tune of $14,451.

03:15:04.200 --> 03:15:10.040
Now, when this property, I'm just assuming they're not going to pay their property taxes

03:15:10.040 --> 03:15:17.399
because what a tax lien does and what a tax deed does is that wipes out any of these liens.

03:15:17.399 --> 03:15:23.440
So all that hard work of my staff is going to be unrecoverable when they continue to

03:15:23.440 --> 03:15:27.719
not pay their taxes and that goes to the county tax assessor and then you, sir, can yell at

03:15:27.719 --> 03:15:34.159
me for having to have people go and mow the grass because that's how that works.

03:15:34.159 --> 03:15:35.159
Huffines.

03:15:35.159 --> 03:15:38.559
That's exactly how that works.

03:15:38.559 --> 03:15:44.840
I'm glad you're mad because now do the Raleigh building, now do other buildings and I'll

03:15:44.840 --> 03:15:47.239
point them out to you and I'll drive around this town.

03:15:47.239 --> 03:15:48.319
Let's meet.

03:15:48.319 --> 03:15:49.319
Let's do it.

03:15:49.319 --> 03:15:50.319
I'll do it.

03:15:50.319 --> 03:15:51.319
I'm here.

03:15:51.319 --> 03:15:52.319
Okay.

03:15:52.319 --> 03:15:53.319
Okay.

03:15:53.319 --> 03:15:54.719
Let's call the meeting back to order.

03:15:54.719 --> 03:15:59.559
Could you turn the light on for me because I can't see.

03:15:59.559 --> 03:16:00.559
Yeah.

03:16:00.559 --> 03:16:01.559
Yeah.

03:16:01.559 --> 03:16:02.559
Are you done?

03:16:02.559 --> 03:16:04.719
No, I've still got more to talk about.

03:16:04.719 --> 03:16:05.719
Oh, okay.

03:16:05.719 --> 03:16:35.719
No, I think you've answered it. I think I was misled, and I will make an apology here in front of the room. I was misled, but at the same time, I will say, I question a lot of what's around the city that's not been done the same thing to, and that is where we sit right now, and quite honestly, I think the same could be true, and I pick on the Raleigh Building because everything

03:16:35.719 --> 03:16:36.559
and

03:16:36.559 --> 03:16:39.260
I don't know if there's been a fire or not.

03:16:39.260 --> 03:16:42.399
I don't have the research, but all the windows are busted.

03:16:44.399 --> 03:16:47.059
Yeah, well, the structure is not in great shape,

03:16:47.059 --> 03:16:48.280
but I'm just saying.

03:16:48.280 --> 03:16:49.120
Okay.

03:16:49.120 --> 03:16:49.940
So.

03:16:49.940 --> 03:16:50.780
Okay, wait a minute.

03:16:50.780 --> 03:16:53.239
We're gonna have Alderman Sanders say something

03:16:53.239 --> 03:16:54.799
then we'll move on.

03:16:54.799 --> 03:16:59.799
Yeah, when I talked to you earlier about that location,

03:16:59.799 --> 03:17:03.600
I didn't know that was the same building we was referring to.

03:17:03.600 --> 03:17:04.440
So yeah, man.

03:17:04.440 --> 03:17:09.319
I commend all that you just said.

03:17:09.319 --> 03:17:11.879
I appreciate all that you just mentioned.

03:17:14.760 --> 03:17:17.860
For the preponderance of evidence,

03:17:17.860 --> 03:17:21.159
it's been there for almost a decade or more.

03:17:22.020 --> 03:17:25.100
And it was just an absolute eyesore,

03:17:25.100 --> 03:17:27.680
but after listening to all the detailed information

03:17:27.680 --> 03:17:31.260
that you guys have gone through, your staff and everyone,

03:17:31.260 --> 03:17:32.260
Anderson.

03:17:32.260 --> 03:17:39.459
I say I take my hat off to everything that went forward because it was exactly how you

03:17:39.459 --> 03:17:40.459
described it.

03:17:40.459 --> 03:17:44.860
I want to say thank you, sir, and I want you to know it doesn't always have to come to

03:17:44.860 --> 03:17:45.860
this floor.

03:17:45.860 --> 03:17:50.139
You can call me and I will talk with you, and if there's problem properties, please

03:17:50.139 --> 03:17:51.180
call me instead of a time.

03:17:51.180 --> 03:17:54.979
You called me today at 3 o'clock and you said, hey, Wayne answered the phone.

03:17:54.979 --> 03:17:58.620
This doesn't have to go like this every time.

03:17:58.620 --> 03:18:02.139
You can call me and we will look at these buildings and we'll work together.

03:18:02.139 --> 03:18:03.139
I want to.

03:18:03.139 --> 03:18:05.180
I want to work to get this done.

03:18:05.180 --> 03:18:10.420
Audra, Miss Stacy, Audra, I mean, Manager Boyer wanted to go and then you can go after

03:18:10.420 --> 03:18:11.420
him.

03:18:11.420 --> 03:18:15.059
Number one, Director, thank you for that presentation, but are you complete with your presentation

03:18:15.059 --> 03:18:16.059
or were you just interrupted?

03:18:16.059 --> 03:18:18.260
If there's more questions, I can show this.

03:18:18.260 --> 03:18:20.579
I can show more if there's...

03:18:20.579 --> 03:18:21.579
Okay.

03:18:21.579 --> 03:18:22.579
Okay.

03:18:22.579 --> 03:18:24.739
We can go into that.

03:18:24.739 --> 03:18:27.079
Please finish the presentation without being interrupted.

03:18:27.079 --> 03:18:28.079
Thank you.

03:18:28.079 --> 03:18:29.079
Huffines.

03:18:29.079 --> 03:18:33.450
Does all the, is there a question?

03:18:33.450 --> 03:18:34.450
Did you want to add?

03:18:34.450 --> 03:18:38.569
Do you, let's, let's, what, what was it you wanted to say on it, Stacy?

03:18:38.569 --> 03:18:46.250
I just wondered why it wasn't demolished September 3rd.

03:18:46.250 --> 03:18:50.250
Why did it come to December?

03:18:50.250 --> 03:18:55.729
Let's, let's, this, I, I think I can answer, I, I genuinely will answer that question.

03:18:55.729 --> 03:18:58.729
I think the rest of these slides will answer that for you because I'm going to go into

03:18:58.729 --> 03:19:00.170
the process.

03:19:00.170 --> 03:19:07.450
right now but the answer to the question is you have to wait 30 days from September 3rd

03:19:07.450 --> 03:19:13.209
and then you have to wait for any court petitions from the property owner which I go into there

03:19:13.209 --> 03:19:18.209
were there were motions made at the circuit court by the property owners and I go into

03:19:18.209 --> 03:19:20.370
to those details in this next slide.

03:19:20.370 --> 03:19:22.209
So from the day.

03:19:22.209 --> 03:19:31.920
We have 120 days demolished from this date, but you might as well knock off 30 days because

03:19:31.920 --> 03:19:37.920
the property owner has 30 days to properly file at the circuit court an injunction.

03:19:37.920 --> 03:19:44.440
So here is the time stamp date of September 3rd, 2024.

03:19:44.440 --> 03:19:48.329
You can see the sign.

03:19:48.329 --> 03:19:49.329
Here's the notices.

03:19:49.329 --> 03:19:55.250
remember I talked about you got to have letter this is the letter this is the

03:19:55.250 --> 03:19:58.590
recorded notice and this is the receipt that it was put in the paper on

03:19:58.590 --> 03:20:07.729
September 10th 11th and 12th those are the notices now I talk about you said

03:20:07.729 --> 03:20:10.569
well hey why did you not demolish it sooner

03:20:10.569 --> 03:20:19.569
Akia Sanders petitioned for injunction October 17th of 2024 this injunction was

03:20:19.569 --> 03:20:23.489
was dismissed on December 19th of 2024.

03:20:23.489 --> 03:20:29.250
And this right here has the date, December 19th, and it says plaintiff's complaint is

03:20:29.250 --> 03:20:30.250
dismissed.

03:20:30.250 --> 03:20:32.450
And there's the plaintiff, Ikea Sanders and Tiffany Sanders.

03:20:32.450 --> 03:20:33.450
It was dismissed.

03:20:33.450 --> 03:20:36.250
So now we go through this process.

03:20:36.250 --> 03:20:37.250
Junction was dismissed.

03:20:37.250 --> 03:20:42.530
Albert and Son commenced demolition after this dismissal.

03:20:42.530 --> 03:20:48.569
Ikea filed, and Ms. Sanders filed a new petition on December 19th, 2024, so she filed another

03:20:48.569 --> 03:21:14.870
Miller,

03:21:14.870 --> 03:21:44.870
Dunn, they would then return the personal property to the site on December 20th of 20th, excuse me, I keep getting too many 20s in here. So when they they my understanding of this is that they took the property off site. Instead of throwing it in the street, they put it in their shop. And then I was on site to make sure that construction had stopped per the, the new petition that was filed. And Ms. Sanders and I talked and she said, Hey, there's property of mine,

03:21:44.870 --> 03:21:46.549
that's missing.

03:21:46.549 --> 03:21:51.250
And I said, let me call the contractor and have it returned.

03:21:51.250 --> 03:21:52.450
And that's where I'm talking about here.

03:21:52.450 --> 03:21:54.850
The property was returned to the site

03:21:54.850 --> 03:21:56.649
on December 20th of 2024.

03:21:58.250 --> 03:22:00.090
I took, I have pictures of that as well.

03:22:00.090 --> 03:22:01.370
I don't have it here, but I,

03:22:01.370 --> 03:22:03.530
I confirmed that the property was returned.

03:22:04.870 --> 03:22:08.489
Again, a key have filed, this is now, this is again,

03:22:08.489 --> 03:22:11.170
Ms. Sanders filed a new petition on December 19th

03:22:11.170 --> 03:22:12.129
that we're talking about.

03:22:12.129 --> 03:22:18.129
this petition was dismissed on December 27th of 2024.

03:22:18.129 --> 03:22:20.090
Defendant's motion to dismiss,

03:22:20.090 --> 03:22:22.209
City of Freeport is the defendant

03:22:23.629 --> 03:22:33.780
and the motion to dismiss is granted.

03:22:34.000 --> 03:22:35.500
Reading through my notes here.

03:22:36.840 --> 03:22:40.159
Petition was dismissed on December 27th of 2024.

03:22:40.159 --> 03:22:41.360
Albert and Son began demolition

03:22:41.360 --> 03:22:43.360
immediately following this dismissal.

03:22:43.360 --> 03:22:45.479
Ms. Sanders was allowed to enter the premises

03:22:45.479 --> 03:22:47.840
to remove personal property.

03:22:47.840 --> 03:22:53.120
Sanders notified me at that time that there was personal property missing. I contacted

03:22:53.120 --> 03:22:57.520
Albert and Son and they returned the additional property to the site. So that's the second

03:22:57.520 --> 03:23:02.159
time they brought property to the site. And the conversation went like this. I called

03:23:02.159 --> 03:23:07.280
Josh Albert and I said, hey, you better go through your site again and you better get

03:23:07.280 --> 03:23:11.979
the property over here now because we're not playing around. The property owner is here.

03:23:11.979 --> 03:23:15.700
They want their property back. Bring it back if you got it. And he goes, well, I thought

03:23:15.700 --> 03:23:16.700
Sunderland.

03:23:16.700 --> 03:23:18.940
I said, no, don't take another check and look.

03:23:18.940 --> 03:23:24.399
So that's exactly what happened and they immediately brought the property back to the site.

03:23:24.399 --> 03:23:28.899
After that, Ms. Sanders claimed that there was additional property missing.

03:23:28.899 --> 03:23:34.459
I told Ms. Sanders, I said, at this point, you need to file a police report to ensure

03:23:34.459 --> 03:23:39.399
that if there's any property missing, you need to make sure that you have due process

03:23:39.399 --> 03:23:43.319
and you get it back because I said, they're telling me that they returned everything in

03:23:43.319 --> 03:23:45.500
that building.

03:23:45.500 --> 03:23:49.139
and I said, you need to file a police report.

03:23:49.139 --> 03:23:51.379
And to my knowledge that they did.

03:23:51.379 --> 03:23:55.729
Now, there's been an accusation last week

03:23:55.729 --> 03:23:59.329
that I've been targeting Ms. Sanders for these properties.

03:23:59.329 --> 03:24:01.690
And I just wanna go over some statistics.

03:24:01.690 --> 03:24:05.569
Two of the 20 properties demolished in 2024

03:24:05.569 --> 03:24:07.129
by fast track were Ms. Sanders.

03:24:07.129 --> 03:24:11.430
Zero of the 20 properties in 2023 were Ms. Sanders

03:24:11.430 --> 03:24:14.290
and zero of the five properties in 2022 were Ms. Sanders.

03:24:14.290 --> 03:24:15.389
The two properties that went through

03:24:15.389 --> 03:24:28.610
and the other one was 909 South Oak. And this is the property that was fast-track demolished

03:24:28.610 --> 03:24:34.350
on 909 South Oak. It's not targeting. It's going after blight remediation. This is the

03:24:34.350 --> 03:24:42.969
property that I've been accused of targeting the person on. This is it. Two building permits

03:24:42.969 --> 03:24:48.510
issued in 2022 on 909 South Oak. City worked with the property owner. These two permits

03:24:48.510 --> 03:24:53.989
expired on August 5th, 2023, stating it was dangerous to even enter the building, to stay

03:24:53.989 --> 03:24:59.950
away, watch the floor joist. It was extremely dangerous property. Code enforcement cases

03:24:59.950 --> 03:25:04.889
began. This should look very familiar because it follows the exact playbook that I had mentioned

03:25:04.889 --> 03:25:11.229
in the orientation in 2023. Code enforcement case here, code enforcement case here, code

03:25:11.229 --> 03:25:19.350
enforcement case here, chronic nuisance judgment, May 18th, 2023, fast track notice on October

03:25:19.350 --> 03:25:23.510
11th, property demolished on January 29th.

03:25:23.510 --> 03:25:25.229
And that's the rest of it.

03:25:25.229 --> 03:25:29.190
So that is why it took longer for this property to be demolished.

03:25:29.190 --> 03:25:32.190
Can you come back forward?

03:25:32.190 --> 03:25:33.190
Right, back.

03:25:33.190 --> 03:25:34.190
Keep going up?

03:25:34.190 --> 03:25:35.190
More.

03:25:35.190 --> 03:25:36.190
Okay.

03:25:36.190 --> 03:25:37.190
Back.

03:25:37.190 --> 03:25:41.469
and the one that had the doors and the window.

03:25:41.469 --> 03:25:46.469
Okay, so when I went over there, this is what I saw.

03:25:47.729 --> 03:25:52.729
Not the holes and everything you show in the first pictures.

03:25:52.729 --> 03:25:57.729
So I saw new windows, I saw new doors, I saw that.

03:25:58.649 --> 03:26:04.010
So I knew work was being put into it.

03:26:04.010 --> 03:26:09.719
So what you had showed in the beginning

03:26:09.719 --> 03:26:13.700
was not the final, this is more of the final

03:26:13.700 --> 03:26:17.040
of what it looked like when it was demolished.

03:26:17.040 --> 03:26:22.739
Well, let's see here.

03:26:22.739 --> 03:26:25.340
I mean, let's talk about that a little bit here.

03:26:25.340 --> 03:26:27.979
You know, it is what it is, but, you know,

03:26:27.979 --> 03:26:29.700
even when they put the sign up,

03:26:29.700 --> 03:26:31.920
it looked a whole heck of a lot better.

03:26:33.600 --> 03:26:35.260
I support it. So work went into it.

03:26:35.260 --> 03:26:36.899
That's all I'm gonna say.

03:26:36.899 --> 03:26:39.600
I saw the doors, I saw the new windows,

03:26:39.600 --> 03:26:43.219
I saw the work being put into.

03:26:43.219 --> 03:26:47.739
Right.

03:26:47.739 --> 03:26:48.739
All right.

03:26:48.739 --> 03:26:49.739
Is that?

03:26:49.739 --> 03:26:50.739
Is that?

03:26:50.739 --> 03:26:51.739
Yes, yes.

03:26:51.739 --> 03:26:55.940
You're done?

03:26:55.940 --> 03:26:56.940
Okay.

03:26:56.940 --> 03:26:57.940
Yep.

03:26:57.940 --> 03:27:01.700
I guess my thought on this is that I agree with you.

03:27:01.700 --> 03:27:03.700
I hate that we had to bring all this.

03:27:03.700 --> 03:27:08.860
I think it's a private issue and it should have been discussed more in the conference

03:27:08.860 --> 03:27:14.979
rooms with attorneys than us, you know, because you bring out people's personal information

03:27:14.979 --> 03:27:22.739
and that, you know, to me, I just think it's a personal issue that should have been handled

03:27:22.739 --> 03:27:27.299
behind the closed doors to not bring out other people's information.

03:27:27.299 --> 03:27:33.860
But does anybody else have, anybody else have, James, are you done with what you want to

03:27:33.860 --> 03:27:34.860
talk about?

03:27:34.860 --> 03:27:35.860
You're done?

03:27:35.860 --> 03:27:36.860
Okay.

03:27:36.860 --> 03:27:37.860
Okay.

03:27:37.860 --> 03:27:41.219
I guess we move on to 20 to public comments.

03:27:41.219 --> 03:27:43.739
Oh, my goodness.

03:27:43.739 --> 03:27:53.700
I'm moving on. I'm willing. Can I make a motion that we move this to a later date and take

03:27:53.700 --> 03:27:58.860
it off? I'll take it. I'll make a motion since in essence of time to take this offer

03:27:58.860 --> 03:28:09.500
tonight. Is there a second? I don't have a date at this point. Is there a second? Second.

03:28:09.500 --> 03:28:15.500
it's been moved and second to have this taken off the agenda for tonight all in

03:28:15.500 --> 03:28:28.340
favor all right it was Sanders and all in favor all opposed okay now we'll move on

03:28:28.340 --> 03:28:36.100
to public comments are there any public comments okay we should state your name

03:28:36.100 --> 03:28:47.190
Okay. Now you see in this fast track you give three types of warnings. The posting,

03:28:47.190 --> 03:28:55.190
certified letter, and the orange sticker on the houses. First of all, my house was

03:28:55.190 --> 03:29:00.989
all enclosed. Doors, new windows in there from Window World. The door was locked. It

03:29:00.989 --> 03:29:06.430
was kicked in by cities and officials to inspect this house. I was never sent any

03:29:06.430 --> 03:29:12.909
any certified letter that you were tearing down my house at all.

03:29:12.909 --> 03:29:15.430
I had building materials, a whole bunch of stuff in there

03:29:15.430 --> 03:29:19.069
that has just disappeared, gone.

03:29:19.069 --> 03:29:21.110
And I don't feel.

03:29:21.110 --> 03:29:24.659
and I don't feel that it was right for you guys just to come and take that property without a certified letter.

03:29:24.659 --> 03:29:31.659
I hadn't even come into this hearing administrative for that property at 124 Blackhawk.

03:29:31.659 --> 03:29:37.659
Never once did I appear in front of the hearing committee to get this taken care of.

03:29:37.659 --> 03:29:40.659
Not once did I have an opportunity.

03:29:40.659 --> 03:29:44.659
But you still took that house.

03:29:44.659 --> 03:29:51.020
That's wrong. You sit here and complain about the landlord's property, but the city owns a lot of properties

03:29:51.020 --> 03:29:57.500
They're in worse shape than what the house you tore down. We'll get the rally building going again. I have seen people in there

03:29:57.500 --> 03:30:02.780
I own properties up there. There's trees growing through in there. The roof is caving in that's been there for years

03:30:02.780 --> 03:30:07.239
But the city still has not taken they want to hold the landlord accountable for their actions

03:30:07.239 --> 03:30:13.600
But the city won't be accountable for their actions in their property. This building has been there for years like that

03:30:14.659 --> 03:30:18.659
So it's wrong for you to come on the landlords when you don't want to take care of your own properties.

03:30:18.659 --> 03:30:24.219
Okay, did you want to say something ma'am?

03:30:24.219 --> 03:30:27.219
In the green, you had your hand up?

03:30:27.219 --> 03:30:32.840
Okay, come on up.

03:30:32.840 --> 03:30:39.840
My name is Miss Garris and this is kind of a wild ride tonight.

03:30:39.840 --> 03:30:43.840
This is the first meeting that I've been to ever here.

03:30:43.840 --> 03:30:45.840
And I feel for everybody here.

03:30:45.840 --> 03:30:53.200
and on the housing side what we were talking about with the building and

03:30:53.200 --> 03:30:58.319
permits and all that kind of stuff I'm coming from the side of I live next to a

03:30:58.319 --> 03:31:05.319
house like that I think there's a correlation with Habitat for Humanity I

03:31:05.319 --> 03:31:12.079
think is what it's called in selling these properties like this because in

03:31:12.079 --> 03:31:24.079
In my case, a realtor got a hold of it and he's been known, well known, to do this over and over again where he buys properties, doesn't take care of them.

03:31:24.079 --> 03:31:37.079
I had a 10 foot antenna, heavy iron fall on my house in the middle of the night. I am a single female, have no backup.

03:31:37.079 --> 03:31:41.079
I had to take care of that myself because the landlord would not respond.

03:31:41.079 --> 03:31:48.079
Mond. He bought that property, never did a thing to it for years and years. While I kept

03:31:48.079 --> 03:31:55.399
having people break into it, I had to board it up myself with my own money and tools.

03:31:55.399 --> 03:32:01.000
I mowed that lawn for probably eight years because he never took care of that, picked

03:32:01.000 --> 03:32:09.319
up the garbage, had to call the police for drug deals constantly on that house. I had

03:32:09.319 --> 03:32:14.559
to put up a flood light just to protect my own self.

03:32:14.559 --> 03:32:18.879
So while I feel for the people putting money

03:32:18.879 --> 03:32:22.840
into these houses, you have to understand

03:32:22.840 --> 03:32:25.760
where the homeowners coming from as well,

03:32:25.760 --> 03:32:30.600
because we're affected by all that.

03:32:30.600 --> 03:32:37.040
So that's the part I want to say on that.

03:32:37.040 --> 03:32:39.840
The other issue that I wanted to talk about

03:32:39.840 --> 03:32:43.559
is maybe could someone look at from the city

03:32:46.040 --> 03:32:49.399
the couple intersections, some issues there.

03:32:50.680 --> 03:32:52.079
I'm not sure the addresses,

03:32:52.079 --> 03:32:57.079
but one of them is by the fire station on Adams.

03:32:57.760 --> 03:33:01.719
They newly redid the street, which looks great,

03:33:01.719 --> 03:33:03.440
and it's great to drive on.

03:33:04.500 --> 03:33:06.420
That's much appreciated.

03:33:06.420 --> 03:33:10.100
There's a stop sign, however, that's turned towards Adams,

03:33:10.100 --> 03:33:13.420
and people keep thinking that they're supposed to stop there.

03:33:13.420 --> 03:33:16.659
I have witnessed, and then had it happen to me today,

03:33:16.659 --> 03:33:18.540
where I had to slam on my brakes

03:33:18.540 --> 03:33:22.979
because the person in front of me was confused

03:33:22.979 --> 03:33:26.680
and didn't know if they should be stopping at that sign.

03:33:27.659 --> 03:33:30.020
It's actually for the side street coming this way,

03:33:30.020 --> 03:33:32.420
but it's facing this way on Adams.

03:33:32.420 --> 03:33:34.100
Your time has expired.

03:33:34.100 --> 03:33:34.940
Okay.

03:33:34.940 --> 03:33:35.819
Okay, thank you.

03:33:35.819 --> 03:33:40.920
there's who can I talk to you about the other intersection right there I think

03:33:40.920 --> 03:33:48.379
it's I want to say Winnishek and Adams but I'm not sure yeah is there someone

03:33:48.379 --> 03:33:57.520
we can talk when I can talk to about other another intersection I guess

03:33:57.520 --> 03:34:04.860
Alderman Clem had a yeah I just wanted to announce on I originally had a

03:34:04.860 --> 03:34:17.860
We're going to have a neighborhood watch meeting set up for January 28th, which is my normal date. January 28th is going to be a candidate forum at the library.

03:34:17.860 --> 03:34:25.860
I don't want to interfere with that. I think it's more important for people to go meet the candidates and listen to what they have to say.

03:34:25.860 --> 03:34:34.860
So I've sent a notice out. I will send other notices out, but I will rearrange a date. Maybe I can get together and do it at the same time as Greg's.

03:34:34.860 --> 03:34:38.860
Is there any other? Mike?

03:34:45.899 --> 03:34:53.899
Well, I came up here to say everybody can start smiling now, okay? We can get the tension out.

03:34:53.899 --> 03:35:08.399
On behalf of Flight Radio Studio Production Company, I am the program director and I am inviting the whole city council to this upcoming Saturday's Dance Against Cancer Ball, okay?

03:35:08.399 --> 03:35:15.899
As the 70s and 80s Dance Against Cancer Ball, we are raising money for the Leonard C. Ferguson Cancer Center.

03:35:15.899 --> 03:35:22.139
and what we're doing is is trying to improve the city with through flight

03:35:22.139 --> 03:35:28.940
radio 105.7 FM so I'm inviting all council members please attend this

03:35:28.940 --> 03:35:35.059
Saturday. Mike could you say your name? Say your name. Oh Michael Johnson I'm

03:35:35.059 --> 03:35:41.940
sorry. All right okay thank you. Okay the event is being held at the Eagles

03:35:41.940 --> 03:35:48.020
Hicks Club this Saturday at 7 o'clock until 11. The real deal band will be performing,

03:35:48.020 --> 03:35:53.459
and yeah, we're coming out to have a good time, and we're doing some community support,

03:35:53.459 --> 03:35:58.100
okay? Okay. Let's stop being mean, everybody. Let's get some smiles on our faces. Thank

03:35:58.100 --> 03:36:09.600
you. Smile, yep. Just a second, we'll get Kia and then you, okay? Okay. So if you was

03:36:09.600 --> 03:36:14.079
listening to me, I didn't say that they didn't work with me during my permit phase. I told

03:36:44.079 --> 03:36:45.079
Dugman.

03:36:45.079 --> 03:36:54.239
That was for the judge, and to the judge hear it, it wasn't supposed to be knocked down.

03:36:54.239 --> 03:36:55.239
He dismisses it.

03:36:55.239 --> 03:36:59.360
You don't dismiss the idea of me filing a paper.

03:36:59.360 --> 03:37:03.559
If you want to see that you talked about me bad in here, if you consider that a win, I

03:37:03.559 --> 03:37:05.799
never said that you didn't work with me.

03:37:05.799 --> 03:37:08.319
It was over a 5,000 square foot house.

03:37:08.319 --> 03:37:10.159
It took a lot of time.

03:37:10.159 --> 03:37:12.200
That was a lot of material.

03:37:12.200 --> 03:37:14.760
then nobody talks about my stuff being stolen.

03:37:14.760 --> 03:37:17.040
Three times it took somebody to bring my stuff

03:37:17.040 --> 03:37:18.020
three different times.

03:37:18.020 --> 03:37:22.000
How do you overlook bounce houses three times my size?

03:37:23.120 --> 03:37:26.600
You had did nothing but show that the privilege is

03:37:26.600 --> 03:37:29.479
Jodi Miller's brother, he can steal what he want to.

03:37:29.479 --> 03:37:31.100
I never heard that there was a contract

03:37:31.100 --> 03:37:34.120
that you guys had, demo houses, but go shopping first.

03:37:34.120 --> 03:37:37.079
Steal something first, I never heard that.

03:37:37.079 --> 03:37:39.559
So somebody should answer, there's theft after the fact.

03:37:39.559 --> 03:37:41.600
And I'm just gonna tell you, like, if you know me,

03:37:41.600 --> 03:37:45.600
You know this ain't the end of it. This is only a council meeting. I got laws to make

03:37:45.600 --> 03:37:50.899
sure that stick to me. And I never meant to mislead anybody, not you at all. This is truly

03:37:50.899 --> 03:37:56.239
what happened to me. And I'm going to see fit that something happens to him and whoever

03:37:56.239 --> 03:37:58.059
else is against me.

03:37:58.059 --> 03:37:59.600
And if you know me, that's not my brother.

03:37:59.600 --> 03:38:04.600
Your brother, whoever he is, that's not my brother.

03:38:04.600 --> 03:38:16.600
A'Kia, A'Kia, A'Kia, A'Kia. Let's not, let's not do this. Right, right, but both, both we're just gonna have more, right, right.

03:38:16.600 --> 03:38:27.600
You truly show who you for, truly. I got no minutes, but you need to, you need to hear. I don't care what you say. We're just, we're leading a council meeting. Tommy,

03:38:27.600 --> 03:38:31.840
Okay you need to stop or you're gonna be removed. Tommy would you come up and say

03:38:31.840 --> 03:38:43.600
what you gotta say? Yes, yes, bye-bye, right, bye-bye. I know who I'm for.

03:38:43.600 --> 03:38:50.989
Motion for adjournment. We gotta listen to Tommy. Tommy wants to say something.

03:38:50.989 --> 03:38:58.110
I think James had something to say. Who? Wait a minute, Tommy, that's what it's about. We're not gonna argue.

03:38:58.110 --> 03:39:00.110
Come on, Tommy. What do you have to say?

03:39:00.110 --> 03:39:04.110
Joyce, you did a good job doing that meeting in the hole.

03:39:04.110 --> 03:39:09.479
You did a good job, and Jodi Miller is doing a good job, too.

03:39:09.479 --> 03:39:12.479
Thank you, Tommy. Okay. Are we...

03:39:12.479 --> 03:39:15.479
Are we...

03:39:15.479 --> 03:39:17.479
You have something you want to say?

03:39:17.479 --> 03:39:18.479
I have something.

03:39:18.479 --> 03:39:19.479
Okay.

03:39:19.479 --> 03:39:28.000
Saturday, January the 18th, there will be a National Day of Racial Healing at the Freeport Farm Bureau from 9 to 1.

03:39:28.000 --> 03:39:42.000
The purpose is to reflect on our shared values and engage in conversation to heal division and bring our community together.

03:39:42.000 --> 03:40:01.000
That's Saturday from 9 to 1, the 18th, at the Farm Bureau. And let's not forget Monday, January the 20th, Dr. King's celebration. So I guess there won't be council that day.

03:40:01.000 --> 03:40:02.000
Huffines.

03:40:02.000 --> 03:40:12.719
So, Monday at 5.30, and Mr. James Ryan says, I hope that this year's attendance will reflect

03:40:12.719 --> 03:40:22.500
the diversity of our community as we celebrate one of our greatest heroes.

03:40:22.500 --> 03:40:23.500
One last thing.

03:40:23.500 --> 03:40:32.459
Thursday, January 16th, second ward neighborhood watch meeting at 6.30 at the Carson's house.

03:40:32.459 --> 03:40:33.459
Winslow.

03:40:33.459 --> 03:40:34.459
Same place as always.

03:40:34.459 --> 03:40:35.459
No snow.

03:40:35.459 --> 03:40:36.459
You said January 16th?

03:40:36.459 --> 03:40:37.459
You said?

03:40:37.459 --> 03:40:38.459
Thursday, January 16th.

03:40:38.459 --> 03:40:39.459
Okay.

03:40:39.459 --> 03:40:40.459
Thank you.

03:40:40.459 --> 03:40:43.420
If there's no more, can I have a motion to adjourn?

03:40:43.420 --> 03:40:44.420
Second.

03:40:44.420 --> 03:40:45.420
Second.

03:40:45.420 --> 03:40:46.899
It has been moved and second.

03:40:46.899 --> 03:40:47.899
All in favor?

03:40:47.899 --> 03:40:48.899
Aye.

03:40:48.899 --> 03:40:49.899
Okay.

03:40:49.899 --> 03:40:50.899
Three hours.

03:40:50.899 --> 03:40:51.899
Moved and adjourned.

03:40:51.899 --> 03:40:52.899
Yep.

03:40:52.899 --> 03:40:53.899
Second time?

03:40:53.899 --> 03:40:54.899
Huh?

03:40:54.899 --> 03:40:55.899
Yep.

03:40:55.899 --> 03:40:56.899
I mean, please.

03:40:56.899 --> 03:41:03.180
I mean, cool, cool.