WEBVTT

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Motion passes.

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We do have one public comment.

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Jim Blackburn.

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Members of the City Council, Mayor Miller and Mr. Boyer,

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I thank you for the opportunity to address you tonight

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on an item that is near and dear to my heart

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and that is number 14 on your agenda for this evening.

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That'd be the water main extension to open Bible.

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It feels like I'm finally going to get the opportunity to scratch an itch that's been there for about 25 years and I thank you for addressing the issue now rather than later.

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It should have been done 20 years ago but here we are tonight.

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A little history on that if I could please.

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they originally submitted plans about 2000 or about 1999 yeah it's been that

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long and they were granted a variance at that time by community development they

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put a sprinkler system in as required under the building code required by the

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fire department then they were granted a variance then by community development

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because quite simply they couldn't hook it up to anything at that time United

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Water was in charge of water and sewer. Director Trueblood, I believe, at the time. We talked

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at quite length about it and he thought that that would fit into their three to five year

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plan. I guess it didn't quite make it. So it does my heart good to see that it's finally

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getting addressed. I guess this is a case of better late than never. But if you want

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to try and find a situation that requires it more I think you'd be hard

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pressed to do so that is a daycare center that is very young children maybe

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some of our own children or in my case grandchildren might be out there and that

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is to me the purpose of what city government state government national

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government does is they're here to take care of people who can't take care of

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themselves, and I think that's exactly many of the children that are housed do

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their education, do daycare at Open Bible. I realize this issue is going to be

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terribly expensive as is most everything else except for maybe my hourly wage, but

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so be it. I would grovel, I would beg, I would plead don't let this opportunity go

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O'Bi, you've got it front and center, it needs to be taken care of and I commend

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you for the courage to look into it now to address the issue and to not push it

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down the road and let somebody else deal with it. Do I have leave to answer any

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questions or how would you like to proceed? No? All right then, I'll sit down

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and shut up. Thank you again for your time.

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Next, we have the proclamation for the recognizing October as manufacturing month presented by

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Mayor Miller.

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Okay, so on behalf of the city, your proclamation declaring manufacturing month, whereas the

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city of Freeport acknowledges the importance of manufacturing industry as a key driver

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for local, state, and national economy, contributing to innovation, job creation, and sustainable

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economic growth.

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and whereas Illinois is home to over 18,000 manufacturing firms representing a diverse

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range of industries including advanced machinery, food processing, plastics and metal, positioning

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Illinois as one of the leading manufacturing states in the nation.

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And whereas manufacturing accounts for over 12% of Illinois' total economic output contributing

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to nearly $107 billion annually to the state's economy,

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supporting over 550,000 jobs

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and indirectly generating many more in logistics,

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supply chain management, and business services.

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And whereas in Freeport and Stevenson County,

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the manufacturing industry provides more than 4,000

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well-paying jobs that support families and communities

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with the average annual compensation to exceed 72,000.

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And whereas Freeport is proud

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Scott, Vitz, Rich, Manufacturing Heritage, and continues to foster innovation through

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educational and workforce development initiatives that help prepare local students and workers

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for careers in manufacturing.

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And whereas the designation of October as Manufacturing Month in Illinois as part of

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the nationwide observance serves to highlight the importance of modern manufacturing and

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its critical role in rebuilding and growing resilient local economies.

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and whereas Manufacturing Month provides an opportunity to celebrate the achievements of

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the manufacturing sector, recognize the contributions of manufacturers in Freeport's economic success

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and promote awareness of careers in this dynamic industry.

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So now therefore I, Jodi Miller, Mayor of the City declare October 2024 as a manufacturing

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month and encourage all of our citizens to recognize the importance of this vital industry

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and its contribution to our community.

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Thank you.

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Thank you very much, and as I stand before you this evening, you obviously can see that

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I am not a manufacturer, but we do interface with many manufacturers as an economic development

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organization, and I just want to highlight Manufacturing Month to bring to light the

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importance of that sector here.

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It supplies over 5,000 jobs, good paying jobs, and that is one of the largest employment

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Huffines.

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So thank you very much for your time, and I look forward to the next agenda item.

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Our next agenda item, Greater Freeport Partnership Quarterly Presentation to Council, presented

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by Andrea Schultz-Winter.

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Thank you very much.

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Sorry, as I get situated here.

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We'll highlight the activities in the third quarter and again these are going to be organized.

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My presentation this evening will be organized in relationship to the key focused areas that

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were outlined in our strategic plan.

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That is also how the third quarter report that was included in the packet is also organized.

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And those are business retention and expansion, new business development and attraction, marketing

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Huffines.

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In the last quarter, we've been on 14 business retention visits.

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These are key for the partnership to understand what is happening with our businesses, what

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their strengths, what their weaknesses, what their current hurdles are.

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And as we continually hear, workforce is their number one issue.

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primarily workforce attraction is the issue that they're having there are

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generally a limited number of workers to pool from our population has not

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increased in some time oftentimes when they're attracting new talent to the

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area it is difficult to do so because child care one of the key things that

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many families need is not abundant here also looking at quality housing it's

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Huffines.

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It's difficult to find housing that meets their price range.

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Oftentimes, employers are saying that they are losing candidates to positions because

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of those key factors.

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Additionally, specifically maintenance technicians is a key position that many manufacturers,

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many employees, many firms are having difficulty filling.

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We do know, luckily, Highland Community College has many courses that speak to and train and

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and manufacturing technicians, but it's just finding enough students to enroll in those

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programs so that there is enough output to fill all these positions.

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Okay.

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The next is we continually hear that Greenfield site development is a priority, not only for

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attracting new businesses to our area, but also that existing businesses have a place

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to expand.

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Apologies here.

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That is why the partnership will be submitting a grant application to the state of Illinois

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for the regional site readiness grant opportunity.

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If awarded, this grant would pay for studies and preparation for future site development

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along key corridors.

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So more to come.

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We will be submitting this application at the end of this week.

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We continue to work on enterprise zone boundary expansion for a future development and investment

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that will happen outside of Lena.

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Again, the enterprise zone is an incentive zone

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that the partnership administers.

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Sections of this zone span within city of Freeport,

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rural Stevenson County, and stretch over to Joe Davis County

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and encompass areas of Hanover and East Dubuque.

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We are currently.

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We are currently conducting a Stevenson County Business Survey.

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This is to understand the challenges that businesses here are facing both locally and within their industry.

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The survey has been open since late September and will close the end of

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October where we will analyze results and report out.

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The beginning of October, we hosted upstairs downtown workshop with Illinois Main Street to understand

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upper-story residential opportunities.

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We understand that this is a key redevelopment strategy in downtown Freeport for multiple reasons.

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Quality apartments or condos are needed. That is a housing typology that is needed here.

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More people living in downtown will support downtown businesses.

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And reinvestment in businesses will increase property values, which will correlate to increased tax revenue.

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and it will ensure that buildings are being maintained.

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Our next steps coming out of this workshop,

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we'll be working with the city of Freeport

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to assemble property owners to discuss their buildings

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on a case by case business, case by case basis.

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This was a very well attended workshop.

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We had a cross-reference or cross section

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of real estate agents, bankers, building owners,

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city officials, county officials, small scale developers.

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it was a productive afternoon.

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Last, we continue to market our services

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to entrepreneurs and small business

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to help with their business development process.

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In the last quarter, we met with 12 entrepreneurs.

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Eight of these individuals were either women

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or persons of color, and they represented various businesses

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from many different sectors in all stage of development.

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As mentioned before, some of the workforce challenges

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that we heard from our business retention visits

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are childcare and housing.

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So how are we addressing those and what is the activity

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that the partnership has done in the last quarter

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to try to meet those needs?

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Well, we do understand that fortunately and unfortunately

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that the childcare, the lack of childcare

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is not a unique issue to Freeport.

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We're not alone in this struggle,

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but what we do know is that there are other communities

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in this region that is also struggling with this,

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but they've come up with some creative solutions.

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So we're talking with those communities,

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most specifically Dubuque and Mount Carroll.

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Later next week, later this month,

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I will be attending a tour of Dubuque's Bright Minds campus

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with two childcare providers.

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The Bright Minds campus is a collaborative effort,

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both public and private between the YMCA,

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Dubuque Public Schools and other organizations

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to provide wraparound childcare services,

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includes preschool as well as before and after school care.

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Additionally, with the redevelopment

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of what was formerly Shimer College,

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there has been a child care center that is being developed.

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We hope to tour that facility and talk with the developers

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and stakeholders in that community to understand

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how they're bringing that project to fruition,

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what things we can extract from both those communities,

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both those projects, and what would work here

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in Freeport and Stevenson County.

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As mentioned before, manufacturing is a key sector

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and Stevenson County.

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Oh, I'm sorry, I'll back up.

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Quality and affordable housing continues to be a barrier.

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Fortunately, we do have areas,

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residential areas in the city of Freeport

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that are also in the enterprise zone,

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which is a great incentive tool to help lower the cost

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of new construction of homes in that area.

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In the last quarter, we've met with two developers

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looking to purchase sites in two different areas.

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they're currently in the process

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working through the acquisition of those properties

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with the intent to build single family homes.

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We're continually to connect them with bankers,

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city officials, utility companies,

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anything we can do to move that process along.

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And next, as mentioned manufacturing is a key sector here.

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So it's critical that we understand or our children

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understand that there are great opportunities

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and great places to work right here in Freeport

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and Stevenson County.

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One of the key ways that we're doing this

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is helping coordinate manufacturing day,

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which happens every October.

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This is an opportunity for free port

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and other area high school students

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to tour local facilities, get in the plant,

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really understand that the new age of manufacturing

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is not your parents or your grandparents' manufacturing.

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It's clean facilities.

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We're working with a lot of technology

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and robotics and automation.

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These are successful, very highly technical careers

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that can be very rewarding

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and there's a lot of career ladder opportunities

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within local companies.

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High school students will have an opportunity

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to tour the facility and then end the day

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at Highland Community College

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where there'll be a career expo and a keynote address

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from the CEO of New Way Strokeso, Mark Braun.

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Lastly, we were really proud to work with the Yield program

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and form a partnership with Goodwill Industries

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that has led to funding for two more years

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of the yield program.

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Now we're all familiar with the Goodwill Industry

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in terms of things that you donate or you purchase there,

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but Goodwill Industries,

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and this is maybe not known to everyone,

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they do have a workforce development component that they do.

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A lot of that is based out of Rockford.

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And they became a hub or they received grant dollars

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from the state of Illinois to administer,

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I'm gonna get this program name wrong if I don't read it,

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Illinois Climate Works Pre-Apprenticeship Program

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in our area.

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So it's a pre-apprenticeship program

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and understanding that and the goals that the program has

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and the goals of the yield program,

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we were able to make the connection

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and say that the yield program can be a service provider

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and receive grant dollars from the state

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through Goodwill Industries to help fund their program.

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So they hope to, the partnership has been established

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and that will lead to funding for the next two years.

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In business attraction, in the last quarter,

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we've received 29 economic development leads.

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19 of those leads have come from Intersect Illinois

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or the state's business attraction arm.

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From those 19, we were able to respond to five leads

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because we had sites or existing buildings

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that met the company's needs.

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14 of those, unfortunately, we were not able to meet

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because of some combination of what's listed.

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They were heavy water user,

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heavier water user than the city of Freeport could support.

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We lacked sites that were large enough

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or buildings that met certain characteristics,

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or we just didn't have the geographic proximity

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to ports or intermodal facilities.

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10 leads came from local businesses

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and or government agencies.

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Six of those are new businesses

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that are interested in starting in the area

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and four are existing businesses

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that are interested in expanding or relocating.

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I'm now gonna turn over the presentation

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to Nicole who's gonna talk about marketing in the region.

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Good evening. So, to continue to talk about some of the work that we're doing under those

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focus areas, one, in marketing the region, that is a three-faceted approach. It talks

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about how we are marketing for future investment from developers and businesses, how we're

00:17:51.630 --> 00:17:56.529
marketing to future residents or people who could live or move here, and then also how

00:17:56.529 --> 00:18:01.470
we are marketing the partnership and the services and resources that we can provide to people

00:18:01.470 --> 00:18:06.930
who are here or could come here. That middle one that I talked about was about reaching

00:18:06.930 --> 00:18:14.789
people who can come here. And through that initiative and another local business owner,

00:18:14.789 --> 00:18:20.049
we came up with the Stevenson County Area Advocate Program because we already have ambassadors,

00:18:20.049 --> 00:18:26.009
so now we have to have advocates just to separate the two. This program gets a list of deeds

00:18:26.009 --> 00:18:28.809
from the county on a monthly basis.

00:18:28.809 --> 00:18:31.929
And then we reach out to those new property owners

00:18:31.929 --> 00:18:35.769
and send them a postcard with a welcome to the area.

00:18:35.769 --> 00:18:39.329
They can scan that QR code to set up a coffee meeting

00:18:39.329 --> 00:18:43.570
with myself or future advocates to talk about

00:18:43.570 --> 00:18:47.250
what's going on in Freeport, answer questions,

00:18:47.250 --> 00:18:49.889
ask them why they moved here, where are they working?

00:18:49.889 --> 00:18:52.250
Why did they come here?

00:18:52.250 --> 00:18:54.409
Are they looking for employment, childcare,

00:18:54.409 --> 00:18:56.929
Miller and answer those questions.

00:18:56.929 --> 00:18:58.929
We've been running this program since March.

00:18:58.929 --> 00:19:04.849
We've sent out about 500 postcards so far, and we've had about 12 meetings.

00:19:04.849 --> 00:19:09.210
We had one kind of in-person meeting at our office, and then we have been able to meet

00:19:09.210 --> 00:19:11.130
with other ones one-on-one.

00:19:11.130 --> 00:19:17.690
So far, we've met with people who have moved from fairly local places like Winnebago or

00:19:17.690 --> 00:19:23.369
Savannah, and then people who moved from North Carolina, New Jersey, who I really had a

00:19:23.369 --> 00:19:25.369
and the hard times understanding that guy.

00:19:25.369 --> 00:19:27.929
And then Florida as well.

00:19:27.929 --> 00:19:30.230
All moving here for various reasons

00:19:30.230 --> 00:19:32.450
and talk about the jobs they have,

00:19:32.450 --> 00:19:35.130
talk about the jobs maybe that they're looking for.

00:19:35.130 --> 00:19:38.150
And just to hear the enthusiasm they have

00:19:38.150 --> 00:19:40.730
about living here is contagious.

00:19:40.730 --> 00:19:42.849
And I invite anybody who is interested

00:19:42.849 --> 00:19:44.929
in becoming an advocate to let me know

00:19:44.929 --> 00:19:47.970
because we are always looking for more people to reach out.

00:19:47.970 --> 00:19:57.970
We are also creating a 12 month printed calendar while we as an organization and so many other people continue to try to find

00:19:57.970 --> 00:20:00.079
and so many other people continue to try to find other ways to let people know of all

00:20:00.079 --> 00:20:04.680
of the amazing things that happen here, we're still missing a segment of population who

00:20:04.680 --> 00:20:08.180
don't get online and who don't get on social media.

00:20:08.180 --> 00:20:10.700
So instead, we are doing a 12-month printed calendar.

00:20:10.700 --> 00:20:14.940
It's going to be available for the first time at the Senior Expo next Thursday, and there'll

00:20:14.940 --> 00:20:20.740
be 800 of them printed, and they will be available for free to anybody who wishes to pick one

00:20:20.740 --> 00:20:22.819
up.

00:20:22.819 --> 00:20:27.140
Music on Chicago and Cruise Night were two, well, there were two music on Chicago's in

00:20:27.140 --> 00:20:31.099
third quarter and then of course Cruise Night continue to be great opportunities for our

00:20:31.099 --> 00:20:34.240
residents to feel a connection to the community.

00:20:34.240 --> 00:20:38.119
A lot of people come out whether you're a car enthusiast or music enthusiast or you

00:20:38.119 --> 00:20:41.980
just need to get out and enjoy those opportunities.

00:20:41.980 --> 00:20:49.099
It's a really both of the events that we're talking about here are great to see for all

00:20:49.099 --> 00:20:50.099
Huffines.

00:20:50.099 --> 00:20:55.259
It's such a cross-section of the community and it's been fantastic to see all of those

00:20:55.259 --> 00:20:57.079
continue to grow.

00:20:57.079 --> 00:21:01.400
The partnership was awarded the Matthew Marvin Community Impact Award from the Foundation

00:21:01.400 --> 00:21:05.119
for Northwest Illinois for our work in economic development.

00:21:05.119 --> 00:21:09.339
If you'll remember, over the past two years, we have been fortunate to have funding from

00:21:09.339 --> 00:21:13.940
the Community Foundation to support local businesses during the holiday season and then

00:21:13.940 --> 00:21:17.140
also through our base camp program.

00:21:17.140 --> 00:21:23.299
and then our rebranding campaign focuses on the strategic initiatives that Andrea talked

00:21:23.299 --> 00:21:28.220
about earlier and I'm gonna see if technology is gonna be my friend tonight and see if it'll

00:21:28.220 --> 00:21:29.779
let me play this video.

00:21:29.779 --> 00:21:52.200
Oh, you can see it, but we might not have sound and if you can't hear it, I'll send

00:21:52.200 --> 00:21:56.059
it to everybody tomorrow if you haven't been able to see it.

00:21:56.059 --> 00:22:00.819
Really highlighting our mission, vision and inclusion statement that the partnership adopted

00:22:00.819 --> 00:22:07.900
earlier this year as well as our board members and some great footage from different places

00:22:07.900 --> 00:22:14.900
within the community just kind of showing that the partnership is here for all and our

00:22:14.900 --> 00:22:21.900
services continue to be a benefit to various audiences across the county and the city.

00:22:21.900 --> 00:22:27.619
So apologize, no sound, you get to look at great pictures and then I'll send that out

00:22:27.619 --> 00:22:29.980
so you can hear it in its entirety tomorrow.

00:22:29.980 --> 00:22:33.579
It's only a minute, so hopefully it won't take up too much of your time.

00:22:33.579 --> 00:22:39.450
All right. All right.

00:22:39.450 --> 00:22:47.009
Visitor attraction, our tourism season is heavy in second quarter, third quarter.

00:22:47.009 --> 00:22:55.210
Holy cow. The state's tourism attraction numbers, as is everything with the state, are lagged.

00:22:55.210 --> 00:23:01.889
So we found out about our 2023 visitor spending numbers in August of this year.

00:23:01.889 --> 00:23:05.490
and for a third year in a row, so ever since COVID,

00:23:05.490 --> 00:23:07.930
we have seen tourism spending in Stevenson County

00:23:07.930 --> 00:23:11.910
continue to grow and continue to break new records

00:23:11.910 --> 00:23:14.170
this year at $52 million.

00:23:14.170 --> 00:23:15.829
When we talk about visitor spending,

00:23:15.829 --> 00:23:19.529
it's not just sales tax dollars or hotel motel tax dollars.

00:23:19.529 --> 00:23:21.610
This is also what visitors are spending

00:23:21.610 --> 00:23:24.369
at local restaurants, in boutiques,

00:23:24.369 --> 00:23:27.490
in our gas stations and our grocery stores.

00:23:27.490 --> 00:23:30.049
So this is also a study that comes out

00:23:30.049 --> 00:23:35.049
Longwoods International, who is hired by the state of Illinois to create these independent

00:23:35.049 --> 00:23:41.529
studies. Our campaign this year is called Choose Your Adventure. Hopefully you, well,

00:23:41.529 --> 00:23:44.450
if you, maybe I'll include that in the email tomorrow too. We'll just send you all the

00:23:44.450 --> 00:23:52.130
videos. We've had a great response from our videos this year that highlighted a number

00:23:52.130 --> 00:23:57.730
of attractions, restaurants, and shopping destinations between multiple digital platforms.

00:23:57.730 --> 00:24:03.569
It's been viewed over 500,000 times across YouTube, Meta, and Google.

00:24:03.569 --> 00:24:08.610
And using those and so many other tools, we continue to promote our tours and partners

00:24:08.610 --> 00:24:14.529
while also sending them grant opportunities so they can be as productive as possible with

00:24:14.529 --> 00:24:20.539
the funds that they have because we know most of them are non-profit as well.

00:24:20.539 --> 00:24:25.160
Since Bill is not able to join us tonight, I'm also going to touch on partnership membership.

00:24:25.160 --> 00:24:29.519
Thomas falls within the partnership capacity key focus area.

00:24:29.519 --> 00:24:35.400
We were able to gain 15 new members to the partnership in the third quarter, the breakdown

00:24:35.400 --> 00:24:42.240
shown there, and we continue to have a really fantastic retention rates of nearly 95% again

00:24:42.240 --> 00:24:46.960
in the third quarter, but overall 96.5% in the year.

00:24:46.960 --> 00:24:51.579
So we're very proud of those numbers on people who just goes to show the value that they

00:24:51.579 --> 00:24:52.579
and Stacey.

00:24:52.579 --> 00:25:03.819
Thank you for your attention and we're happy to take any questions you might have.

00:25:03.819 --> 00:25:19.680
Madam Mayor, excuse me, Stacy, still yours.

00:25:19.680 --> 00:25:23.039
If I could make a comment.

00:25:23.039 --> 00:25:28.680
I was able to attend your Upstairs Downtown presentation along with Rob.

00:25:28.680 --> 00:25:34.000
The mayor was there, there were a couple other people from Community Development.

00:25:34.000 --> 00:26:04.000
over there. It was a very good program. I talked to the fire chief next day and one of the things I was happy that the two presenters brought up, especially the one that was the building person, was what is required for that upstairs use because it's so difficult to fill because of square foot access to get in and out of the building, all that kind of stuff. And the new ways that they had to take a look at how they could make something

00:26:04.000 --> 00:26:10.440
Firesafe, and still maybe not have a sprinkler system in it, but have another means of access

00:26:10.440 --> 00:26:11.440
and other stuff.

00:26:11.440 --> 00:26:17.420
So I thought it was great that way because they not only presented the really good things

00:26:17.420 --> 00:26:22.480
about it, but they presented that before you start into this, you know, take a look at

00:26:22.480 --> 00:26:26.720
these things and here's where you can get them at.

00:26:26.720 --> 00:26:27.720
Thank you.

00:26:27.720 --> 00:26:28.720
Thank you for that comment.

00:26:28.720 --> 00:26:32.839
And I think it kind of the afternoon got into the weeds a little bit, but I think when you're

00:26:32.839 --> 00:26:35.759
We're looking at figuring out how to make these projects work.

00:26:35.759 --> 00:26:38.440
It comes into the devil really is in the details

00:26:38.440 --> 00:26:41.579
and understanding like fire exiting.

00:26:41.579 --> 00:26:43.480
Can you do that without having sprinklers?

00:26:43.480 --> 00:26:45.160
What does the code say?

00:26:45.160 --> 00:26:46.500
Is there a change of use?

00:26:46.500 --> 00:26:48.360
What other materials are there?

00:26:48.360 --> 00:26:50.880
What's your travel distance, time into an exit?

00:26:50.880 --> 00:26:54.019
So all of those things are really specific

00:26:54.019 --> 00:26:56.339
and project to project.

00:26:56.339 --> 00:27:00.279
But I think that that is kind of when we have interviews

00:27:00.279 --> 00:27:03.460
and kind of meetings with individual building owners.

00:27:03.460 --> 00:27:04.660
Those are the types of questions

00:27:04.660 --> 00:27:05.940
we're gonna get to pretty quickly

00:27:05.940 --> 00:27:09.980
to see how their project could work.

00:27:09.980 --> 00:27:12.139
Could I add something, Casey?

00:27:13.019 --> 00:27:14.259
Sure.

00:27:14.259 --> 00:27:16.700
The other thing that I just wanna note,

00:27:16.700 --> 00:27:19.019
and I know I noted it last time and stuff,

00:27:19.019 --> 00:27:22.500
one of the things that you guys do and have to do

00:27:22.500 --> 00:27:26.299
that costs you or takes up a whole amount of time

00:27:26.299 --> 00:27:29.980
is all the requests that you get from the State of Illinois

00:27:29.980 --> 00:27:32.980
for new businesses that are coming to the state.

00:27:32.980 --> 00:27:34.700
You know, right off the bat,

00:27:34.700 --> 00:27:36.360
there's many of them that you can't do,

00:27:36.360 --> 00:27:39.059
but you have to go through everything to make sure

00:27:39.059 --> 00:27:42.099
that a business does or doesn't qualify

00:27:42.099 --> 00:27:43.740
for something we have.

00:27:43.740 --> 00:27:45.539
But I know that's a lot of work.

00:27:45.539 --> 00:27:46.380
Thank you.

00:27:46.380 --> 00:27:47.200
Yes, we do.

00:27:47.200 --> 00:27:49.420
I mean, we vet each opportunity that comes to us.

00:27:49.420 --> 00:27:51.380
We really think critically about the spaces,

00:27:51.380 --> 00:27:52.880
the buildings we have.

00:27:52.880 --> 00:27:54.819
Could any of them fit the criteria?

00:27:54.819 --> 00:27:56.299
Could they be retrofitted?

00:27:56.299 --> 00:27:58.240
What sites might work?

00:27:58.240 --> 00:27:59.860
I think what we're finding is that

00:27:59.860 --> 00:28:01.460
we don't have a lot of available sites

00:28:01.460 --> 00:28:02.619
that have water and sewer

00:28:02.619 --> 00:28:04.180
and all the infrastructure to them.

00:28:04.180 --> 00:28:06.539
That's another reason why we're writing the grant

00:28:06.539 --> 00:28:10.440
to pursue planning for future sites.

00:28:10.440 --> 00:28:11.880
So thank you.

00:28:11.880 --> 00:28:14.079
I mean, it is, yeah, it is work

00:28:14.079 --> 00:28:16.259
and we're continuing to dedicate it to it.

00:28:16.259 --> 00:28:25.029
Thank you.

00:28:25.029 --> 00:28:25.869
Thank you.

00:28:25.869 --> 00:28:27.710
The future in fire prevention.

00:28:27.710 --> 00:28:28.710
Do you?

00:28:28.710 --> 00:28:29.549
Okay.

00:28:29.549 --> 00:28:30.369
Fit right in with it.

00:28:30.369 --> 00:28:32.210
If this doesn't work out, I'll let you know.

00:28:32.210 --> 00:28:37.119
Thank you.

00:28:37.119 --> 00:28:37.960
Thank you.

00:28:37.960 --> 00:28:41.730
All right, thank you.

00:28:41.730 --> 00:28:46.730
Item number nine, discussion regarding placing an order

00:28:47.210 --> 00:28:52.210
for a replacement fire engine presented by Chief Miller.

00:28:53.929 --> 00:28:55.570
Yes, thank you, Madam Chair.

00:28:55.570 --> 00:28:59.849
So this year when we were working on preparing our budget

00:28:59.849 --> 00:29:02.630
for a presentation to council,

00:29:02.630 --> 00:29:04.210
part of the planning process

00:29:04.210 --> 00:29:06.090
is looking at medium range planning.

00:29:06.090 --> 00:29:10.809
What are needs going to be going forward in the future?

00:29:10.809 --> 00:29:14.570
but do we have right now that is in good shape,

00:29:14.570 --> 00:29:17.329
okay shape or bad shape?

00:29:17.329 --> 00:29:20.049
So staff and myself got together

00:29:20.049 --> 00:29:22.809
and we were doing this medium range planning

00:29:22.809 --> 00:29:27.809
and we looked at our vehicle replacement schedule

00:29:28.049 --> 00:29:32.289
that was presented to council about two and a half years ago

00:29:32.289 --> 00:29:34.730
and was lacking prior to that.

00:29:34.730 --> 00:29:37.490
And that's how we got into trouble with old outdated

00:29:37.490 --> 00:29:42.490
and other vehicles that were in disrepair.

00:29:42.490 --> 00:29:46.210
So with the support of council, we've come a long ways

00:29:46.210 --> 00:29:49.289
and I'm very proud of the decisions

00:29:49.289 --> 00:29:51.570
that council has made thus far.

00:29:51.570 --> 00:29:55.730
So looking at our replacement cycle, we recognized.

00:29:55.730 --> 00:30:03.359
We recognized Engine 1, which is located at Park Boulevard, the short aerial truck, is 14 years old right now and

00:30:04.359 --> 00:30:09.740
it would be due for replacement and downgraded into reserve status in four years.

00:30:11.000 --> 00:30:13.000
So looking at the new

00:30:13.440 --> 00:30:17.180
pumper or fire engine we just received that we've ordered that two years ago,

00:30:17.180 --> 00:30:33.539
We discussed instead of going with a small aerial device, just replacing that one with

00:30:33.539 --> 00:30:35.539
a pumper.

00:30:35.539 --> 00:30:41.579
So we looked at the exact same pumper that we just took delivery on, and I reached out

00:30:41.579 --> 00:30:45.299
to the salesman that worked with us on that.

00:30:45.299 --> 00:30:48.140
And I said, for that exact truck,

00:30:48.140 --> 00:30:50.099
how long would it take to provide

00:30:50.099 --> 00:30:52.980
that to go to manufacturing?

00:30:52.980 --> 00:30:55.299
He shocked me by saying four years.

00:30:55.299 --> 00:30:59.940
Their building schedule right now is four years out.

00:30:59.940 --> 00:31:03.599
So if we placed an order today, we

00:31:03.599 --> 00:31:13.900
would not see it for anywhere between 46 and a half to 49 and a half months.

00:31:13.900 --> 00:31:15.660
So let's just call it four years.

00:31:17.180 --> 00:31:17.940
So it's okay.

00:31:17.940 --> 00:31:19.539
So that's quite a distance.

00:31:19.539 --> 00:31:23.900
You have to do some really accurate planning for the future with those bill times.

00:31:24.980 --> 00:31:30.660
So then I went further to ask, what is the cost for replacing that same exact

00:31:30.660 --> 00:31:32.339
vehicle we just took delivery on?

00:31:32.339 --> 00:31:38.019
and not only was I shocked with the the build times of four years I was even

00:31:38.019 --> 00:31:42.539
more shocked with the cost that has escalated in two years we placed the

00:31:42.539 --> 00:31:46.019
order for our new engine two years ago and it came in just under nine hundred

00:31:46.019 --> 00:31:52.500
thousand dollars ordering one today at today's money that same exact vehicles

00:31:52.500 --> 00:31:56.859
1.2 million so it's gone up 16 and a half percent per year for the last two

00:31:56.859 --> 00:32:02.019
years three hundred thousand dollars like oh my god if it's gone up that much

00:32:02.019 --> 00:32:06.700
Johnson's past two years, how much is it going to go up going forward?

00:32:06.700 --> 00:32:13.019
So if we continue to wait longer, it's going to be exponentially more expensive.

00:32:13.019 --> 00:32:19.980
So then digging deeper, what are the scheduled price increases?

00:32:19.980 --> 00:32:22.619
What are we looking at for those timeframes?

00:32:22.619 --> 00:32:29.660
Historically, they used to do a large, somewhat large price increase after the first of the

00:32:29.660 --> 00:32:36.059
January, February-ish, it'd be five to seven percent. So speaking with the

00:32:36.059 --> 00:32:41.119
salesmen there was one September which we've missed but the next scheduled one

00:32:41.119 --> 00:32:45.539
is November 1st that's a one and a half percent price increase. Then there's

00:32:45.539 --> 00:32:51.599
another one February of 25. All these will be 1.5 percent price increases. So

00:32:51.599 --> 00:32:56.920
there's one November 1st, another one scheduled for February, another one in

00:32:56.920 --> 00:33:00.119
May, August, and November.

00:33:00.119 --> 00:33:04.319
I'm like, this is just crazy economics here.

00:33:04.319 --> 00:33:08.559
So looking at avoiding price increases just from now

00:33:08.559 --> 00:33:14.079
in calendar year 2025, those 1.5% increases compounded

00:33:14.079 --> 00:33:19.119
on top of each other comes out to $92,000.

00:33:19.119 --> 00:33:24.480
So this is a huge acquisition for the city,

00:33:24.480 --> 00:33:26.279
for the fire department.

00:33:26.279 --> 00:33:29.940
So I thought, you know, this warrants bringing to the council

00:33:29.940 --> 00:33:34.940
and having a discussion on what the desire of council is

00:33:35.079 --> 00:33:38.420
in terms of a long-term replacement,

00:33:38.420 --> 00:33:40.759
making a four-year commitment,

00:33:40.759 --> 00:33:43.940
or at least placing an order for this vehicle,

00:33:44.799 --> 00:33:47.400
and looking four years into the future.

00:33:48.559 --> 00:33:53.559
So each of those 1.5% increases equals $18,405.

00:33:53.559 --> 00:34:04.119
We have $18,405, which is why we've come to the total sum of $92,000, just in 2025.

00:34:04.119 --> 00:34:12.619
So again, placing that order prior to November 1st, one, locks in that price, no subsequent

00:34:12.619 --> 00:34:18.559
price increases we'd be exposed to, two, it gets us on the build list.

00:34:18.559 --> 00:34:25.320
So, the reason it's four years out because people are ordering multiple trucks and they

00:34:25.320 --> 00:34:33.360
take about six to eight months to, once it goes to production, to actually deliver a

00:34:33.360 --> 00:34:35.800
finished product.

00:34:35.800 --> 00:34:44.000
Also, placing that order, we don't have to commit any money to it at this time.

00:34:44.000 --> 00:34:49.579
it's just a written purchase order signed by myself and the city manager and we get on

00:34:49.579 --> 00:34:51.340
that build list.

00:34:51.340 --> 00:34:57.380
So going through the Fire Capital Improvement Fund, we would have the opportunity to allocate

00:34:57.380 --> 00:35:05.159
$300,000 a year for the next four years so when that vehicle is ready for delivery, Michelle

00:35:05.159 --> 00:35:08.960
can write them a check and pay for it.

00:35:08.960 --> 00:35:12.099
So no money commitment right now.

00:35:12.099 --> 00:35:15.440
We avoid any subsequent price increases.

00:35:15.440 --> 00:35:20.760
We lock in the price at today's dollars instead of future dollars.

00:35:20.760 --> 00:35:26.720
And we are on that build list for delivery in four years.

00:35:26.720 --> 00:35:31.360
So and then one last area I want to touch upon is the vehicle that we're speaking about

00:35:31.360 --> 00:35:32.360
replacing.

00:35:32.360 --> 00:35:36.840
Again, it's a 2010 short aerial.

00:35:36.840 --> 00:35:41.840
that has 86,498 miles on it, that's of last week.

00:35:42.300 --> 00:35:44.099
But with commercial trucks like this,

00:35:44.099 --> 00:35:46.300
I'm sure most of you are aware,

00:35:46.300 --> 00:35:47.900
they also come with hour meters

00:35:47.900 --> 00:35:51.260
because there's so much idle time sitting on the street,

00:35:51.260 --> 00:35:55.179
sitting at fire scenes, sitting on various calls.

00:35:55.179 --> 00:35:59.500
Those hours are calculated that for each hour,

00:35:59.500 --> 00:36:03.420
it equals 61 travel miles.

00:36:03.420 --> 00:36:06.539
And this is a commercial vehicle standard,

00:36:06.539 --> 00:36:08.420
it's not something I came up with.

00:36:08.420 --> 00:36:09.659
This is what Helm uses.

00:36:09.659 --> 00:36:13.260
This is what other commercial truck dealers

00:36:13.260 --> 00:36:16.260
and repair shops calculate at.

00:36:16.260 --> 00:36:20.880
So that vehicle has 9,027 hours on it.

00:36:20.880 --> 00:36:25.199
So doing the math, 9,027 times 61 miles,

00:36:25.199 --> 00:36:30.199
the equivalent of that, that equals 550,647 miles.

00:36:30.199 --> 00:36:32.199
and

00:36:32.199 --> 00:36:34.199
adding the two together

00:36:34.199 --> 00:36:41.199
equals six hundred thirty seven thousand one hundred forty five forty five combined miles

00:36:41.880 --> 00:36:47.980
So by virtue of a good maintenance program taking care of our vehicles washing them keeping the salt off of them

00:36:48.639 --> 00:36:54.360
we look to get anywhere between twelve to fifteen years in a frontline service and

00:36:54.760 --> 00:36:59.900
Then another five to seven years in reserve status depending on the condition of the vehicle

00:37:00.199 --> 00:37:02.960
and it's usage.

00:37:02.960 --> 00:37:05.119
So I'm confident that this engine one

00:37:05.119 --> 00:37:08.400
that we're looking to replace will fill in

00:37:08.400 --> 00:37:10.300
that five to seven years at least

00:37:10.300 --> 00:37:13.279
at a minimum in reserve status.

00:37:13.279 --> 00:37:16.960
So after ordering, if it's council's will,

00:37:16.960 --> 00:37:19.679
after ordering this one, we're gonna be set up

00:37:19.679 --> 00:37:22.840
well into the future with our emergency response vehicles,

00:37:22.840 --> 00:37:23.960
the large trucks.

00:37:25.760 --> 00:37:28.119
May I ask a, make a comment?

00:37:28.119 --> 00:37:29.639
Yes.

00:37:29.639 --> 00:37:36.130
Chief, I understand where you're going.

00:37:36.130 --> 00:37:38.130
Can you put your microphone down?

00:37:38.130 --> 00:37:39.130
Oh, sorry.

00:37:39.130 --> 00:37:42.130
Sorry about that.

00:37:42.130 --> 00:37:53.130
You're requesting that we give the clearance to sign off on it right now at the current

00:37:53.130 --> 00:38:01.130
pricing that you were talking about earlier before the costs start escalating each year.

00:38:01.130 --> 00:38:05.849
that's that's the reason for this discussion yes yeah and if council

00:38:05.849 --> 00:38:11.529
agrees that this represents a cost savings this would be up to you to

00:38:11.529 --> 00:38:16.090
desire to move it to the next council meeting or you could approve a

00:38:16.090 --> 00:38:20.730
resolution and the next day we could place this order and avoid the November

00:38:20.730 --> 00:38:26.130
first pricing this locks it in right yes okay that's what I was hoping you was

00:38:26.130 --> 00:38:43.130
We're just talking about that, that any procedures that we follow with locking it in, we'll get status reports or the report on the product that we're purchasing.

00:38:43.130 --> 00:38:54.130
Absolutely. So if there would be any changes between now and just prior to assembly meeting, certainly I would communicate to the council.

00:38:54.130 --> 00:38:59.130
but quite honestly, about three years and two months,

00:39:02.289 --> 00:39:04.769
pending there's no changes in that,

00:39:04.769 --> 00:39:06.809
there won't be a whole lot of activity on that.

00:39:06.809 --> 00:39:10.849
So what happens with these is about eight to nine months

00:39:10.849 --> 00:39:13.250
prior to going to assembly,

00:39:13.250 --> 00:39:16.889
the truck committee will meet with the manufacturer

00:39:16.889 --> 00:39:21.889
and they'll go over about a 19 two-sided page build list

00:39:21.889 --> 00:39:34.889
We're going to build this and going line by line by line through every single thing to make sure the needs are covered, the features are anticipated and planned for.

00:39:34.889 --> 00:39:41.889
And then once it goes past that, then it goes to engineering, then it goes to production. At that point, we're kind of locked in.

00:39:41.889 --> 00:39:43.889
But until then...

00:39:43.889 --> 00:39:46.889
And what was the estimation cost again? About a million?

00:39:46.889 --> 00:39:53.849
One point it's on the on the notes the the precise

00:39:53.849 --> 00:40:23.309
We did this actually with the aerial truck, the ladder truck, and the engine, we prepaid it, but in this particular vehicle, 100% prepayment up front would save $122,913, but a 50% prepayment up front would save $122,913, but a 50% prepayment up front would save $122,913, but a 50% prepayment

00:40:23.309 --> 00:40:31.630
We have a 50% pre-payment option, which would represent $613,500, would reduce the overall

00:40:31.630 --> 00:40:37.710
cost of the vehicle by $61,456.

00:40:37.710 --> 00:40:44.590
So in some cases, the pre-payment discounts have exceeded what interest accrual would be

00:40:44.590 --> 00:40:47.150
on that kind of capital, that kind of money.

00:40:47.150 --> 00:41:02.150
We'd be paying it down. We'd be getting, I think they said somewhere around 20% return on our prepayment amount.

00:41:02.150 --> 00:41:04.150
Yeah. Yeah. Okay.

00:41:04.150 --> 00:41:12.150
Chief Miller, did you say that we could budget $30,000 a year for four years?

00:41:12.150 --> 00:41:14.150
One more zero. $300,000.

00:41:14.150 --> 00:41:30.429
300,000. 300,000. And is that if we can do that or are we able to do that? I would

00:41:30.429 --> 00:41:36.110
defer to Michelle but I believe are we able to budget 300,000 a year for the

00:41:36.110 --> 00:41:42.949
next four years? These the funds that will be used to purchase the truck come

00:41:42.949 --> 00:41:48.590
out of the fire cap improvement fund which is mostly ambulance revenues that

00:41:48.590 --> 00:41:49.590
Miller.

00:41:49.590 --> 00:41:55.070
And that fund currently has like $2 million in it.

00:41:55.070 --> 00:42:01.429
So it would just be a matter of calculating, like Chief said, you know, the prepayment,

00:42:01.429 --> 00:42:02.429
is the money there?

00:42:02.429 --> 00:42:05.110
Yes, the money is there.

00:42:05.110 --> 00:42:07.230
Is the prepayment worth it?

00:42:07.230 --> 00:42:14.110
Could I make more than that if I invested it in the bank or do we pay it?

00:42:14.110 --> 00:42:15.110
We wait to pay it.

00:42:15.110 --> 00:42:16.110
We wait right out, yeah.

00:42:16.110 --> 00:42:17.769
and we just have to do the math,

00:42:17.769 --> 00:42:20.090
which it sounds like they already did the math.

00:42:20.090 --> 00:42:25.090
Okay, so the city would be willing to allow this purchase

00:42:25.489 --> 00:42:30.409
to go forth paid in full and not, not,

00:42:33.329 --> 00:42:34.289
well, is it?

00:42:34.289 --> 00:42:39.050
Not finance it, but pay it off in full

00:42:39.050 --> 00:42:42.190
with at the end of the four years.

00:42:42.190 --> 00:42:43.650
Is it, we, is it?

00:42:43.650 --> 00:42:44.489
Wait a minute, honey.

00:42:44.489 --> 00:42:45.550
Oh, I'm sorry, I'm sorry.

00:42:46.110 --> 00:42:51.190
we could do it either way this fund happens to have a fund balance that is

00:42:51.190 --> 00:42:58.710
dedicated the majority of it is dedicated to the fire department the and the funds

00:42:58.710 --> 00:43:04.909
are available there it's just a matter of you know seeing if this is how you'd

00:43:04.909 --> 00:43:09.829
like to proceed and also evaluating if the prepayment discount is worth it

00:43:09.829 --> 00:43:27.829
Will that be pay as we go with the purchase of this item? I mean, will we be able to retain this item as our property as we pay the payments per year?

00:43:27.829 --> 00:43:36.829
So again, as we outlined, there's three different options that we could do to consider this.

00:43:36.829 --> 00:43:41.829
we could pay the full amount, the $1.27 million

00:43:44.010 --> 00:43:48.130
and save that $300,000 over four years

00:43:48.130 --> 00:43:50.150
which would give us $1.2-ish

00:43:51.250 --> 00:43:53.190
or we could take advantage of some

00:43:53.190 --> 00:43:55.869
of these prepayment discounts

00:43:55.869 --> 00:43:59.530
and again to pay the whole thing in full

00:43:59.530 --> 00:44:04.190
and I don't know if finance would be comfortable

00:44:04.190 --> 00:44:07.269
depleting that fund that much.

00:44:07.269 --> 00:44:10.130
But if we prepay the entire amount,

00:44:10.130 --> 00:44:15.130
that would represent a savings of $122,913.

00:44:16.690 --> 00:44:20.090
If we wanted to be conservative and pay half of it

00:44:20.090 --> 00:44:23.150
at the time we signed the purchase order,

00:44:23.150 --> 00:44:28.150
that would represent a savings of $61,456

00:44:28.150 --> 00:44:37.869
dollars and still leaving a good amount within that that account yeah so again

00:44:37.869 --> 00:44:42.710
those are those are three options and you know that the saving these three

00:44:42.710 --> 00:44:49.789
hundred thousand per year that would cover the full amount due at delivery so

00:44:49.789 --> 00:44:53.789
we wouldn't have to put anything down till then okay but once they say hey your

00:44:53.789 --> 00:45:01.029
Truck is done. Michelle has to write a real large check. Okay because what I'm

00:45:01.029 --> 00:45:07.470
what I'm hearing is that we will pay in increments but the product is not

00:45:07.470 --> 00:45:11.829
completed until after four years. That's correct. Okay. That's the reason why I'm

00:45:11.829 --> 00:45:16.550
bringing it up to the council now because it's such a projected purchase and

00:45:16.550 --> 00:45:17.869
and acquisition.

00:45:17.869 --> 00:45:18.710
Right.

00:45:18.710 --> 00:45:22.269
Chief Miller, what would be your first choice

00:45:22.269 --> 00:45:26.989
for us to choose the option?

00:45:26.989 --> 00:45:29.349
The payment option?

00:45:29.349 --> 00:45:32.510
Again, my subject matter expertise

00:45:32.510 --> 00:45:34.590
is in the vehicle and fire suppression.

00:45:34.590 --> 00:45:38.230
And I would certainly like to get with the finance director

00:45:38.230 --> 00:45:42.190
and see what that fund looks like.

00:45:42.190 --> 00:45:46.750
and certainly I would not be enthusiastic about

00:45:46.750 --> 00:45:51.750
financing a large portion of it, perhaps part of it.

00:45:51.750 --> 00:45:54.849
Some of it, depending on where that fund balance lies.

00:45:55.809 --> 00:45:59.150
But that's certainly something we could have prepared

00:45:59.150 --> 00:46:04.150
for council next meeting if it's the desire to go forward

00:46:04.510 --> 00:46:09.510
and avoid price increases and lock in at today's dollar amount.

00:46:12.190 --> 00:46:17.190
and Michelle, you might have to answer this one.

00:46:18.670 --> 00:46:21.710
So if it was paid off in full,

00:46:21.710 --> 00:46:29.460
the benefit in doing that or the advantage to doing that,

00:46:29.779 --> 00:46:34.779
would that monies be put back into that same account?

00:46:39.059 --> 00:46:42.420
The monies gained from paying it off,

00:46:42.420 --> 00:46:45.539
it just wouldn't be expended at the higher level.

00:46:45.539 --> 00:46:47.500
we would retain those funds.

00:46:47.500 --> 00:46:48.619
Retain, okay.

00:46:53.050 --> 00:46:56.409
And so do I understand the city to be saying

00:46:56.409 --> 00:47:00.529
that you can't really give us an answer tonight,

00:47:00.529 --> 00:47:02.889
you need next week to determine

00:47:02.889 --> 00:47:05.590
if we could purchase this and pay it off in full?

00:47:14.659 --> 00:47:18.940
I guess I would like to confer with chief and find out.

00:47:18.940 --> 00:47:21.639
I mean, my comfort just giving them half,

00:47:21.639 --> 00:47:27.720
but I would like to run the numbers because there is a value to having the money in our count if we

00:47:27.720 --> 00:47:35.159
you know if an emergency repair comes up something big you know we don't want to run that fund too

00:47:35.159 --> 00:47:43.880
low so I would like the opportunity to talk to chief and this would need to come back to council

00:47:43.880 --> 00:47:44.880
Huffines.

00:47:44.880 --> 00:48:01.190
I would like a motion to make a motion to bring to the next meeting the options on purchasing

00:48:01.190 --> 00:48:05.029
the fire truck and the financing available for it.

00:48:05.029 --> 00:48:09.789
That way Michelle and like the chief said, they would have time to get together to give

00:48:09.789 --> 00:48:12.909
what they believe to be the best options at this time.

00:48:12.909 --> 00:48:21.630
I second that. Could you also think, add to, because this is really about the authorization

00:48:21.630 --> 00:48:25.389
of placing an order. It's not so much the financial end of it, but are we going to place

00:48:25.389 --> 00:48:30.110
an order? So that would actually have to be on the next council meeting in order to make

00:48:30.110 --> 00:48:39.429
that November deadline. Okay. I would make that alteration that we bring forward the

00:48:39.429 --> 00:48:47.949
the option to commit to the purchase of a firetruck for Park Boulevard Station and move the other

00:48:47.949 --> 00:48:55.029
one into reserve when it comes and the financing to be figured out between the chief and the

00:48:55.029 --> 00:48:56.029
finance department.

00:48:56.029 --> 00:48:57.029
I second that.

00:48:57.029 --> 00:49:00.679
I second that.

00:49:00.679 --> 00:49:01.679
We have a motion.

00:49:01.679 --> 00:49:02.920
We have a second.

00:49:02.920 --> 00:49:03.920
All in favor.

00:49:03.920 --> 00:49:04.920
Aye.

00:49:04.920 --> 00:49:05.920
Aye.

00:49:05.920 --> 00:49:06.920
Nay.

00:49:06.920 --> 00:49:09.199
Good.

00:49:09.199 --> 00:49:13.309
Motion passes.

00:49:13.309 --> 00:49:17.769
Thank you.

00:49:17.769 --> 00:49:22.769
Item number 10, discussion regarding 2025 Street Project

00:49:25.269 --> 00:49:29.010
presented by Mayor Boyer.

00:49:29.010 --> 00:49:35.860
I'm sorry, City Manager Boyer.

00:49:35.860 --> 00:49:39.099
Thank you, Mrs. Chairman, and I'll take the promotion.

00:49:39.099 --> 00:49:46.340
Anyway, just kind of reviewing 2025,

00:49:46.579 --> 00:49:49.880
we went over the five-year plan

00:49:49.880 --> 00:49:52.179
and each year we're gonna bring back

00:49:52.179 --> 00:49:55.920
and each year we're going to bring back that plan for discussion and review with council.

00:49:55.920 --> 00:50:01.019
So I'd like to take a moment tonight and just kind of discuss the 2025 year street program

00:50:01.019 --> 00:50:05.500
and then I'm going to ask Darren to jump in on any questions or additional information

00:50:05.500 --> 00:50:08.659
that's important to the subject.

00:50:08.659 --> 00:50:13.400
So I'm going to kind of start from right and move left across the map here.

00:50:13.400 --> 00:50:18.860
So the main, one of the main projects for next year is Carroll Avenue.

00:50:18.860 --> 00:50:28.840
That would be from South Adams to East Empire, approximately 3,000 feet at a cost of about

00:50:28.840 --> 00:50:31.000
$1.6 million.

00:50:31.000 --> 00:50:36.119
So on Carroll, the water main, I think is the oldest in the city, is that what you mentioned

00:50:36.119 --> 00:50:37.119
to me?

00:50:37.119 --> 00:50:38.119
Yep.

00:50:38.119 --> 00:50:39.119
1880 Water Main.

00:50:39.119 --> 00:50:40.119
Yes.

00:50:40.119 --> 00:50:41.119
Yep.

00:50:41.119 --> 00:50:46.880
And so the water main will be replaced and that is an area with railroad ties buried

00:50:46.880 --> 00:50:51.159
Fert causing the washboarding down the middle of it and so those will be removed when we

00:50:51.159 --> 00:50:54.440
do the reconstruction to make sure that it lasts.

00:50:54.440 --> 00:50:59.239
Darren, did you have any comments on they wanted to add on the Carroll reconstruct for

00:50:59.239 --> 00:51:00.960
next year?

00:51:00.960 --> 00:51:08.119
No, just the reconstruct will be curb to curb and ADA ramps we will not be going right away

00:51:08.119 --> 00:51:13.360
to right away that the money that's shown there is just water main and pavement replacement

00:51:13.360 --> 00:51:15.239
and some curb patching.

00:51:15.239 --> 00:51:17.679
they will not be blowing up the entire section

00:51:17.679 --> 00:51:19.519
like we did on Adams.

00:51:19.519 --> 00:51:20.920
I just want to clarify that.

00:51:20.920 --> 00:51:24.400
And that would be the largest project of next year.

00:51:24.400 --> 00:51:27.360
And it would likely be a contractor led project

00:51:27.360 --> 00:51:30.559
due to the difficulty of the streets.

00:51:30.559 --> 00:51:33.440
And it's wider than our equipment can handle for paving.

00:51:33.440 --> 00:51:35.199
So that would be similar to what we're doing

00:51:35.199 --> 00:51:37.400
on Ridge and Westwood this year,

00:51:37.400 --> 00:51:40.139
where we'd be hiring that out as one completed project

00:51:40.139 --> 00:51:42.179
from start to finish by a contractor.

00:51:42.179 --> 00:51:50.369
Anyway, in addition to Carol, we'll be doing South Blackhawk from West Empire to West Dewey

00:51:50.369 --> 00:51:55.610
Street. That will not be the entire section, it'll just be that primary section from the

00:51:55.610 --> 00:52:03.650
school. That's looking at about 1,300 feet and that would include new water main and any

00:52:03.650 --> 00:52:10.650
kind of repair, base repairs at an estimate of about $615,000. Do you have any comments

00:52:10.650 --> 00:52:11.650
on that one?

00:52:11.650 --> 00:52:16.449
Blackhawk is one of the streets that we've had the most water main breaks on in the last 12 months

00:52:17.250 --> 00:52:22.269
Last year, I think we had six or seven breaks in a matter of two months there. It's a

00:52:22.969 --> 00:52:24.969
1954 spun cast

00:52:25.329 --> 00:52:30.849
And it's been a problem for the school district there and a problem for the residents

00:52:30.849 --> 00:52:36.210
So what you see there is is basically about two full blocks of replacement and that that

00:52:36.449 --> 00:52:39.769
Era of pipe is kind of limited to those two blocks on

00:52:39.769 --> 00:52:41.489
on Blackhawk.

00:52:41.489 --> 00:52:46.130
Can I ask this question?

00:52:46.130 --> 00:52:46.969
We're not there yet.

00:52:46.969 --> 00:52:49.650
In the process of replacing those mains,

00:52:49.650 --> 00:52:54.570
are we targeting the areas where you repaired them,

00:52:54.570 --> 00:52:57.570
made repairs to be replaced?

00:52:57.570 --> 00:52:58.329
Fully replaced.

00:52:58.329 --> 00:52:59.570
OK, got you.

00:52:59.570 --> 00:53:00.570
OK.

00:53:00.570 --> 00:53:02.650
I believe the question was, I think Larry was saying,

00:53:02.650 --> 00:53:03.929
hey, are we going to take out the pipe that

00:53:03.929 --> 00:53:05.090
has the band clamps in it?

00:53:05.090 --> 00:53:05.730
Yes.

00:53:05.730 --> 00:53:06.969
Yes, we'll be removing that.

00:53:06.969 --> 00:53:08.969
Absolutely.

00:53:08.969 --> 00:53:38.969
I'm gonna skip over to Hans. So Hans, South Hans from Meadows to South Street is scheduled for repaving next year. That'll be a mill and overlay at about 1,400 feet and about $370,000. It'll work pretty much just like this last year with Dirk Drive. If anybody's driven down Dirk, it'll be very similar to Dirk. So in addition to that, we've got West Cleveland Avenue. So

00:53:38.969 --> 00:53:44.610
from South Berchard to Locust Avenue, approximately 2,600 feet. Again, that'll

00:53:44.610 --> 00:53:49.690
just be a mill and overlay, and we're estimating that about 500,000. And I think

00:53:49.690 --> 00:53:54.349
that includes where we had installed new water main several years ago for the new

00:53:54.349 --> 00:54:00.349
water treatment plant, and also a bad section between West and Locust that's

00:54:00.349 --> 00:54:07.250
also falling apart there. A couple other priorities, North Greenfield from West

00:54:07.250 --> 00:54:14.210
Stevenson to Laurel. That's approximately 2,400 feet and it should cost about $550,000.

00:54:14.210 --> 00:54:19.529
That's a heavily traveled area through that area or through that neighborhood.

00:54:19.529 --> 00:54:25.610
And then we'll also be working on and resurfacing Stevenson, West Stevenson

00:54:25.610 --> 00:54:31.529
from North Greenfield to Park Boulevard. Just a point of information here. Once we

00:54:31.529 --> 00:54:37.650
complete the Greenfield section that'll from Laurel all the way to Pearl City

00:54:37.650 --> 00:54:43.970
Road will be easily traveled. Very nice pavement there. And then on Stevenson

00:54:43.970 --> 00:54:48.970
you've got a lot of tree canopy that's very difficult, very hard on the roads

00:54:48.970 --> 00:54:52.690
themselves. Whenever you have tree canopy you have moisture that tends to be

00:54:52.690 --> 00:54:58.369
retained and when you get moisture you get potholes, you get problems with the

00:54:58.369 --> 00:55:00.769
and the pavement surface and that retains moisture.

00:55:00.769 --> 00:55:03.929
So to replace that section from Park Boulevard

00:55:03.929 --> 00:55:07.250
to Greenfield is on next year's program.

00:55:08.050 --> 00:55:10.489
I've got a few alternates.

00:55:10.489 --> 00:55:11.329
Excuse me.

00:55:11.329 --> 00:55:12.150
Yeah.

00:55:12.150 --> 00:55:12.989
Yeah, go right ahead.

00:55:12.989 --> 00:55:15.750
The lift station moves through that area, doesn't it?

00:55:15.750 --> 00:55:16.769
What's that?

00:55:16.769 --> 00:55:19.929
Waste treatment and water, is that right?

00:55:19.929 --> 00:55:22.050
Park Street lift station goes up Park Street.

00:55:22.050 --> 00:55:23.670
How about the water mains?

00:55:23.670 --> 00:55:24.929
There's water main there as well.

00:55:24.929 --> 00:55:27.329
And we're talking about replacing water?

00:55:27.329 --> 00:55:28.150
No.

00:55:28.150 --> 00:55:31.829
and that section is completely just a resurfacing project.

00:55:31.829 --> 00:55:33.949
If you've been over that way right now,

00:55:33.949 --> 00:55:37.710
there's old about two feet below the surface.

00:55:37.710 --> 00:55:39.989
There's old railroad ties that are buried there.

00:55:39.989 --> 00:55:42.329
There used to be rail cars that ran on Stevenson.

00:55:42.329 --> 00:55:44.690
That's why you see the rippling of the pavement.

00:55:44.690 --> 00:55:48.070
The old railroad trails ties are disintegrating

00:55:48.070 --> 00:55:48.929
under the pavement.

00:55:48.929 --> 00:55:50.829
They're actually just rotting in place.

00:55:50.829 --> 00:55:53.190
And that creates the ripples from the stops and starts.

00:55:53.190 --> 00:55:54.510
That's what's happening at Carroll

00:55:54.510 --> 00:55:55.630
and the exact same things happen.

00:55:55.630 --> 00:55:58.750
Well, the lift station goes up through there as well, right?

00:55:58.750 --> 00:56:00.230
Yeah, mm-hmm, Force Main.

00:56:00.230 --> 00:56:01.510
Force Main, that's correct.

00:56:01.510 --> 00:56:05.630
I have a lot of terms.

00:56:05.630 --> 00:56:07.630
So the Force Main's on Park Boulevard.

00:56:07.630 --> 00:56:09.110
Yeah, that's what I know.

00:56:09.110 --> 00:56:16.989
And have we been doing any repairs on that Force Main lately?

00:56:16.989 --> 00:56:17.489
OK.

00:56:17.489 --> 00:56:17.989
No.

00:56:17.989 --> 00:56:20.590
About five years ago, we had a large break on Park Street

00:56:20.590 --> 00:56:22.909
that was south towards Laurel, but we

00:56:22.909 --> 00:56:25.230
haven't had any other breaks in that area since.

00:56:25.230 --> 00:56:32.489
as alternates and as budget allows for things are going smoothly and we can

00:56:32.489 --> 00:56:37.630
afford to do so we've added three potential streets here South Harvey that

00:56:37.630 --> 00:56:44.190
one was added it needs water main it is a dead end and that's created a lot of

00:56:44.190 --> 00:56:49.630
accumulation of sediment in that pipe and it creates constant water quality

00:56:49.630 --> 00:56:54.809
issues for the residents on that street also we're including Willow and we have

00:56:54.809 --> 00:57:24.809
We have an area on Willow that needs water main replacement there. It is expected that when we are completed on a ridge, we've got the water main replaced. What happens generally is you've got the next closest areas will then start to break water main, so we're looking at replacing water main on Willow and repaving that as an alternate. And then also on Dewey Street, it was originally scheduled for 26. However, if time and resources

00:57:24.809 --> 00:57:33.070
Pruitt, and that one will need a water main and a driving surface, so that would need

00:57:33.070 --> 00:57:40.329
a full reconstruct there. So that is the plan for 2025. As I mentioned before, this year

00:57:40.329 --> 00:57:46.010
has been a very busy year. 2025 will also be busy, but not as busy, so that would actually

00:57:46.010 --> 00:57:49.650
be okay for a lot of the staff. Yes?

00:57:49.650 --> 00:57:54.449
Do I understand that Dewey already have the ramps?

00:57:54.449 --> 00:57:58.409
They already have the lead free?

00:57:58.409 --> 00:58:00.010
The lead services are completed on Dewey.

00:58:00.010 --> 00:58:01.010
I don't know about the ramps.

00:58:01.010 --> 00:58:02.970
Yeah, the ramps are not done.

00:58:02.970 --> 00:58:03.970
Ramps are not.

00:58:03.970 --> 00:58:04.970
No.

00:58:04.970 --> 00:58:05.970
Okay.

00:58:05.970 --> 00:58:06.970
But they do not need a water main.

00:58:06.970 --> 00:58:09.010
They does need a water main.

00:58:09.010 --> 00:58:10.010
Dewey does not.

00:58:10.010 --> 00:58:11.010
Oh, Dewey doesn't.

00:58:11.010 --> 00:58:12.010
Okay.

00:58:12.010 --> 00:58:13.010
We did the lead services this year.

00:58:13.010 --> 00:58:14.010
The water main is good.

00:58:14.010 --> 00:58:17.710
We don't have break history on that street.

00:58:17.710 --> 00:58:23.750
So there's a plethora of bad pavement conditions throughout the city. However, Dewey is on

00:58:23.750 --> 00:58:29.989
here because it is really poor. And what ends up happening with our water main cuts is once

00:58:29.989 --> 00:58:36.829
those services have been replaced, it creates problems during plowing and it can cause some

00:58:36.829 --> 00:58:45.510
problems and make the road condition worse and quicker. So if resources allow, Dewey

00:58:45.510 --> 00:58:50.679
will just need ramps and paving.

00:58:50.679 --> 00:58:53.559
Yeah, ramps and paving, a little bit of curb.

00:58:53.559 --> 00:58:56.559
There's only like four ramps or eight ramps.

00:58:56.559 --> 00:58:57.199
Eight ramps.

00:58:57.199 --> 00:58:58.320
Yeah, eight ramps.

00:58:58.320 --> 00:59:02.199
But one of the biggest issues that we have on Dewey Street,

00:59:02.199 --> 00:59:04.760
and you're going to see as we move around town,

00:59:04.760 --> 00:59:07.679
Dewey has an extreme amount of trees

00:59:07.679 --> 00:59:09.840
that are in the parkway that need to be removed.

00:59:09.840 --> 00:59:12.880
The parkway trees are killing the pavement structure

00:59:12.880 --> 00:59:15.119
because it never is allowed to dry out.

00:59:15.119 --> 00:59:18.139
and so as we're going through these projects,

00:59:18.139 --> 00:59:23.039
we are removing not all but a lot of the parkway trees

00:59:23.039 --> 00:59:26.000
that the city owns to try to increase

00:59:26.000 --> 00:59:27.679
the quality of the pavement.

00:59:27.679 --> 00:59:34.179
Yeah, are we also gonna be completing curves

00:59:34.179 --> 00:59:38.179
because of runoff and property runoffs?

00:59:39.900 --> 00:59:44.900
I mean, when the property adjacent to the street

00:59:44.900 --> 00:59:49.900
to the street, or parallel to the street, when it...

00:59:49.900 --> 00:59:52.599
when it pours or storm or whatever,

00:59:52.599 --> 00:59:55.599
you tend to get a lot of sediment in those storm sewers

00:59:55.599 --> 01:00:00.599
because of the runoff on properties that don't have curves.

01:00:00.880 --> 01:00:03.599
Or yeah, it doesn't have the curve approachments

01:00:03.599 --> 01:00:05.199
and pavements and things like that

01:00:05.199 --> 01:00:07.840
to help funnel that water properly

01:00:07.840 --> 01:00:12.440
without the deterioration of homeowners' property

01:00:12.440 --> 01:00:14.239
because of the rainwater.

01:00:14.239 --> 01:00:18.039
if we're not doing anything with that,

01:00:18.039 --> 01:00:21.840
that's what we're gonna end up with possibly again

01:00:21.840 --> 01:00:24.960
throughout the year when you start,

01:00:24.960 --> 01:00:28.760
when you start putting that pavement through there,

01:00:28.760 --> 01:00:30.960
we'll get a lot of sediment in those storm sewers

01:00:30.960 --> 01:00:35.599
and I hate for it to be destroying people's property

01:00:35.599 --> 01:00:39.440
because there's no drainage ditch,

01:00:39.440 --> 01:00:46.440
proper drainage ditches for the adjacent homes or the homes that are parallel to the street

01:00:46.440 --> 01:00:55.380
or the ditch? How did you get a chance to look at that and visual the fact that these

01:00:55.380 --> 01:00:59.800
types of runoff will create problems for homeowners?

01:00:59.800 --> 01:01:04.760
Darren, I'd like to just go ahead and answer that. Just to give you a back of the napkin,

01:01:04.760 --> 01:01:09.039
Larry, it's $116,000 to do new curb on Dewey.

01:01:09.039 --> 01:01:14.039
yeah well I'm just thinking about the fact that we have erosion. I'm with you.

01:01:14.039 --> 01:01:18.840
We'll patch back in the stuff that's bad but well we got we got a whole side of

01:01:18.840 --> 01:01:24.880
the street some parts of the street without the curve and that's where and

01:01:24.880 --> 01:01:33.960
there's homes that erosion there's home erosion when that water is pouring like

01:01:33.960 --> 01:01:37.900
that because it ends up in front of people homes if the streets are not

01:01:37.900 --> 01:01:57.659
Lipps, and I'm just wondering, has you got a chance to look at that?

01:01:57.659 --> 01:01:59.300
Larry will look at it.

01:01:59.300 --> 01:02:00.739
Okay, all right.

01:02:00.739 --> 01:02:05.000
Was there Evert-Kirbs there?

01:02:05.000 --> 01:02:07.320
I don't know.

01:02:07.320 --> 01:02:11.760
There are curbs on Dewey. It's they're buried because the streets been overlaid three or four times

01:02:11.760 --> 01:02:15.320
So it's gonna be very similar to the other streets that we've attacked

01:02:15.320 --> 01:02:20.760
It's overlaid the curbs that are there are going to not be able to be exposed

01:02:21.639 --> 01:02:24.760
They're at the brick level. I assume that's under that street

01:02:24.760 --> 01:02:30.400
And so we we will have to overlay curbs again when we go back just like we've had to do in other areas

01:02:30.679 --> 01:02:35.659
They're not exposed. We can't expose them the the grinding process alone

01:02:35.659 --> 01:02:37.739
Stone will not salvage that curb.

01:02:37.739 --> 01:02:40.579
Yeah, because you knew I was about to get to that.

01:02:40.579 --> 01:02:44.340
So curbs would be added to Dewey.

01:02:44.340 --> 01:02:47.460
Curb patching would be added to be able to overlay the street.

01:02:47.460 --> 01:02:48.460
Curb patching.

01:02:48.460 --> 01:02:53.380
So we would go in and fix areas that were missing or that are destroyed, you know, 20

01:02:53.380 --> 01:02:54.900
feet or 10 feet at a time.

01:02:54.900 --> 01:02:59.460
But there was no intent here to replace every piece of curb on Dewey.

01:02:59.460 --> 01:03:02.579
It would be theoretically impossible to do that.

01:03:02.579 --> 01:03:03.579
Right.

01:03:03.579 --> 01:03:06.579
it's possible but just not with the funding that we currently have.

01:03:06.579 --> 01:03:13.780
Well I just don't want my constituents complaining about erosion on their

01:03:13.780 --> 01:03:19.460
property because we didn't we didn't put anything to prevent that that's what I'm

01:03:19.460 --> 01:03:25.679
getting at I don't want them calling me talking about a I got water backing up

01:03:25.679 --> 01:03:31.219
in my driveway my soil is washing away and all of these kinds of things and

01:03:31.219 --> 01:03:36.019
that's that's all I'm concerned about right now. Will there be drainage vaults?

01:03:36.019 --> 01:03:41.900
There already is drainage on on Dewey. Like I said the streets in such poor

01:03:41.900 --> 01:03:45.739
condition right now that the storms are filling up full of asphalt chunks and

01:03:45.739 --> 01:03:50.500
gravel and everything like that because the street is so far gone and the

01:03:50.500 --> 01:03:54.460
erosion to the street is really a homeowner issue that they should not be

01:03:54.460 --> 01:03:59.099
letting dirt come off the properties in the street so some of that is a home

01:03:59.099 --> 01:04:29.099
We've tried to do that everywhere we can but as I started out with the street program before we physically don't have the dollars to replace every piece of curb in this town I'd love to do it we just don't have the dollars and if you drive down the street and you see it overlaid when we fix it it's probably going to be overlaid again with the current funding that we have. Yeah because before the overall project is completed far it's

01:04:29.099 --> 01:04:35.659
All the roads that were for this project then I guess we'll go back and take an

01:04:35.659 --> 01:04:42.019
evaluation of what needs to be implemented again or something we should

01:04:42.019 --> 01:04:46.779
take another look at and things like that yeah like I said that's part of the

01:04:46.779 --> 01:04:51.059
entire design process figuring out there's some rough cost estimates with

01:04:51.059 --> 01:04:54.820
these streets they're not perfect we haven't studied them yet we're doing the

01:04:54.820 --> 01:05:02.380
Absolutely best we can right now to come up with preliminary costs so we can make educated decisions as city manager

01:05:03.099 --> 01:05:08.779
Boyer stated all of these streets were on the 25 or 26 list

01:05:09.260 --> 01:05:15.460
Other than Harvey and Harvey we have a water main quality issue there that that we really need to deal with all right, okay

01:05:15.460 --> 01:05:17.460
Thanks, well

01:05:18.420 --> 01:05:21.940
You said the biggest project on the list would be

01:05:21.940 --> 01:05:51.940
We haven't made that determination yet. I mean, we're going to design. The reason I wanted to bring this up tonight is we're bringing the design package forward for next council meeting to approve. We'd like to pick up topography and survey next, basically in November. That will help us get a head start. If we wait long enough, that will help us get a head start. If we wait long enough, that will help us get a head start.

01:05:51.940 --> 01:05:55.260
Langer will be into, you know, December, winter months.

01:05:55.260 --> 01:05:57.300
It takes a lot more money and a lot more effort

01:05:57.300 --> 01:05:59.539
to pick up topography then.

01:05:59.539 --> 01:06:04.539
And Carol will go from Adams to Empire.

01:06:04.539 --> 01:06:08.699
Where you're ending this year, all the way to Empire.

01:06:08.699 --> 01:06:11.659
Yeah, except for we will not do the Galena intersection

01:06:11.659 --> 01:06:13.220
because that's a state intersection.

01:06:13.220 --> 01:06:18.019
So we'll stop at the return radius at Galena.

01:06:18.019 --> 01:06:20.300
So we will not get into the IDOT throwaway there.

01:06:20.300 --> 01:06:22.539
that is not controlled by the city

01:06:22.539 --> 01:06:24.460
and we don't wanna spend our local funds

01:06:24.460 --> 01:06:25.860
on that intersection.

01:06:25.860 --> 01:06:29.460
So you'll stop at Galena and pick it back up?

01:06:29.460 --> 01:06:30.840
Yep, yep.

01:06:31.820 --> 01:06:32.659
Yes.

01:06:34.500 --> 01:06:38.099
If I'm doing my math right on all this,

01:06:38.099 --> 01:06:40.940
we had about 900,000 in the motor fuel tax

01:06:40.940 --> 01:06:42.380
that we talked about earlier.

01:06:44.900 --> 01:06:48.779
The base projects without the three alternates

01:06:48.779 --> 01:06:53.779
or just under 4.2 million, that puts us, we're anticipating

01:06:54.340 --> 01:06:57.860
in the 3.3 out of the 1% sales tax then.

01:06:58.900 --> 01:07:01.800
Yes, I will say we're always estimating

01:07:01.800 --> 01:07:03.619
on the conservative side.

01:07:03.619 --> 01:07:06.360
So we're not exactly sure how much is gonna come through

01:07:06.360 --> 01:07:07.199
until we see it.

01:07:07.199 --> 01:07:11.400
So again, that's, yes, go ahead.

01:07:11.400 --> 01:07:14.960
I just wanted to contribute that we received the first

01:07:14.960 --> 01:07:18.679
of the 1% just this past week.

01:07:18.679 --> 01:07:21.179
and it was 307,000.

01:07:22.239 --> 01:07:26.119
So that would put us, you know, that's based on sales tax.

01:07:26.119 --> 01:07:30.079
So, you know, it, you know, up be down, you know, holidays,

01:07:30.079 --> 01:07:31.480
you know, it goes up and goes down.

01:07:31.480 --> 01:07:35.039
But, you know, we're looking at conservatively 3.6.

01:07:36.039 --> 01:07:37.920
If I add my 300,000s.

01:07:39.119 --> 01:07:39.960
Thank you.

01:07:39.960 --> 01:07:44.960
I just wanted to make that point that we are putting

01:07:45.639 --> 01:07:48.320
that 1% where it belongs.

01:07:48.320 --> 01:07:50.059
and it is working.

01:07:51.860 --> 01:07:55.760
So I'll clarify the funding for you temporarily.

01:07:55.760 --> 01:07:58.840
So, cause it's been a while since we've talked about this,

01:07:58.840 --> 01:08:01.800
not perfect numbers by any means,

01:08:01.800 --> 01:08:06.119
but the plan is to take roughly that million dollars

01:08:06.119 --> 01:08:10.679
from MFT for our city streets paving portion,

01:08:10.679 --> 01:08:14.480
estimated at the time about 3 million from the 1%, right?

01:08:14.480 --> 01:08:16.560
Because we didn't want to overestimate it.

01:08:16.560 --> 01:08:22.239
and then our water main we have a potential Sorensen grant that's coming forward that we should know

01:08:22.239 --> 01:08:28.559
by the end of the year and that's about 1.6 million in water main so between those funding sources if

01:08:28.559 --> 01:08:34.239
you added these numbers up that I gave you they're roughly about 5.3 million that gives us about a

01:08:34.239 --> 01:08:39.520
300,000 dollar cushion for some contingency because again these are concept numbers not perfect

01:08:39.520 --> 01:08:44.960
and it depends on what costs do next year but I think we're in the ballpark. The one thing that

01:08:44.960 --> 01:08:48.319
that I do want to recognize is this is more streets

01:08:48.319 --> 01:08:50.279
than we had planned for next year.

01:08:50.279 --> 01:08:52.079
We got more streets done this year

01:08:52.079 --> 01:08:53.640
than we had planned last year.

01:08:55.199 --> 01:08:56.840
The guys are doing great work.

01:08:57.960 --> 01:09:00.960
One of the gives and takes is the water main

01:09:00.960 --> 01:09:04.479
that has to be done reduces mileage that we can get done.

01:09:04.479 --> 01:09:06.800
So this package here, if we did every street on here,

01:09:06.800 --> 01:09:08.840
will be about three miles next year

01:09:08.840 --> 01:09:12.239
on top of the six-ish miles we did this year.

01:09:12.239 --> 01:09:14.359
And I believe we did about six last year.

01:09:14.359 --> 01:09:16.319
So we are making some ground on it

01:09:16.319 --> 01:09:18.880
and the 1% is definitely gonna help.

01:09:18.880 --> 01:09:20.680
But we do have to address the Water Main.

01:09:20.680 --> 01:09:23.279
Carroll, the Water Main, as city manager said,

01:09:23.279 --> 01:09:25.819
is from 1882.

01:09:26.800 --> 01:09:27.619
On Carroll?

01:09:27.619 --> 01:09:28.460
On Carroll.

01:09:28.460 --> 01:09:30.479
The Water Main on, so I'm gonna repeat that.

01:09:30.479 --> 01:09:35.559
The Water Main on Carroll Avenue is from 1882.

01:09:35.559 --> 01:09:38.319
That's significantly aged.

01:09:38.319 --> 01:09:39.640
What have we been doing?

01:09:40.800 --> 01:09:41.640
So.

01:09:41.640 --> 01:09:42.800
Depreciating Water Main.

01:09:42.800 --> 01:09:43.640
Yes.

01:09:43.640 --> 01:09:45.640
The water main on...

01:09:45.640 --> 01:09:47.640
Records of this... I'm sorry, Dan.

01:09:47.640 --> 01:09:53.439
We keep records of all the main installations, yes.

01:09:53.439 --> 01:09:56.279
Do we have scheduling appointments for replacements?

01:09:56.279 --> 01:09:59.140
We do not because we don't have the funding to do it.

01:09:59.140 --> 01:10:02.560
We don't have funding just to schedule replacement?

01:10:02.560 --> 01:10:04.479
No, we do not.

01:10:04.479 --> 01:10:05.479
We do not have.

01:10:05.479 --> 01:10:09.520
We have some funding and we've been addressing it through EPA loans, but we do not have a

01:10:09.520 --> 01:10:11.439
dedicated funding source for water.

01:10:11.439 --> 01:10:13.460
I just want to jump in on that.

01:10:13.460 --> 01:10:15.760
In this particular case, Larry, to do the water main,

01:10:15.760 --> 01:10:17.880
you really got to do the road as well.

01:10:17.880 --> 01:10:19.899
So if you're going to replace that water main,

01:10:19.899 --> 01:10:21.340
you've got to repave the street

01:10:21.340 --> 01:10:23.300
and it's kind of what we're doing, right?

01:10:23.300 --> 01:10:24.859
This is it, right?

01:10:24.859 --> 01:10:27.180
Four miles a year, three miles a year,

01:10:27.180 --> 01:10:29.220
you know, replace the water main, repave the street,

01:10:29.220 --> 01:10:31.140
patch in the curb, do the best you can

01:10:31.140 --> 01:10:33.159
with the driveway approaches and move on.

01:10:34.380 --> 01:10:37.020
So I see that there's a motion.

01:10:38.020 --> 01:10:43.020
So is it your hopes that we

01:10:45.119 --> 01:11:17.140
No. No. No, it hasn't been one made, but is that what they're hoping to? I gave you that voting bar in case it's needed. I meant to fill you in. I apologize. We might not always need a vote, but it's there if you need to record it. This is for your information. This is because the work order is coming, you know, next week and I wanted you guys to have a preliminary blush at what's coming and

01:11:17.140 --> 01:11:20.560
have any types of discussion or questions ready.

01:11:21.619 --> 01:11:24.180
Okay, so we'll see this next week.

01:11:24.180 --> 01:11:27.329
Yes, ma'am.

01:11:27.329 --> 01:11:30.770
Okay, item number 11, discussion regarding

01:11:30.770 --> 01:11:33.810
adding maintenance utility worker job

01:11:35.409 --> 01:11:45.560
to work two job description by city manager Boyer.

01:11:48.039 --> 01:11:49.960
Thank you, Ms. Chairman.

01:11:49.960 --> 01:11:51.800
The maintenance department for the city of Freeport

01:11:51.800 --> 01:11:56.920
is responsible for taking care of all of our utility facilities.

01:11:56.920 --> 01:12:00.079
So that's the wastewater plant, the various water plants,

01:12:00.079 --> 01:12:03.560
pumping stations, and so on.

01:12:03.560 --> 01:12:08.760
Those folks ensure that all the facilities are in operating order

01:12:08.760 --> 01:12:16.479
and are basically maintained at the proper prescribed maintenance schedule.

01:12:16.479 --> 01:12:18.960
The crews help the operators.

01:12:18.960 --> 01:12:21.560
They deliver safe, clean drinking water.

01:12:21.560 --> 01:12:24.680
for the residents of Freeport, and the crews also provide

01:12:24.680 --> 01:12:26.680
maintenance support to the wastewater treatment plant.

01:12:26.680 --> 01:12:29.979
Their regular responsibilities include plumbing, electrical,

01:12:29.979 --> 01:12:34.979
building, construction, mechanical, logic controllers

01:12:35.199 --> 01:12:37.039
for automated controls.

01:12:37.039 --> 01:12:40.359
All these tasks are done by a crew of four individuals,

01:12:40.359 --> 01:12:44.840
currently three of whom are in these positions.

01:12:44.840 --> 01:12:47.159
So one is an entry-level position,

01:12:47.159 --> 01:12:50.159
and it is the lowest paid in the public works department.

01:12:50.159 --> 01:12:55.640
Two of these positions perform at a high skill task referred above.

01:12:55.640 --> 01:13:01.279
The final position in the current staffing of the department is a foreman position.

01:13:01.279 --> 01:13:07.779
So essentially what we're talking about here is we have two full-time people that are maintaining

01:13:07.779 --> 01:13:12.359
all of our facilities where we have three positions available.

01:13:12.359 --> 01:13:14.520
They're grade 17.

01:13:14.520 --> 01:13:19.899
The trouble with the grade 17s is there's a lot of requirement for knowledge and experience

01:13:19.899 --> 01:13:24.800
and we've had that job posted for over a year and we have not had been successful

01:13:24.800 --> 01:13:31.539
at filling it and what we're asking for is a grade 15 position so someone who

01:13:31.539 --> 01:13:36.399
could come in at a lower pay grade and then learn all the ropes and learn all

01:13:36.399 --> 01:13:41.079
the skills necessary to maintain the infrastructure at the city and over a

01:13:41.079 --> 01:13:45.420
period of time they would then be moved into that grade 17 position where we've

01:13:45.420 --> 01:13:49.880
been unable to fill so essentially what we're asking for is a new position how

01:13:49.880 --> 01:13:55.100
However, it is more of a transitory position where we could start somebody out with a lower

01:13:55.100 --> 01:14:01.939
skill level and then allow them a couple, several years, whatever it might be for them to learn

01:14:01.939 --> 01:14:06.800
the job inside and out and then get promoted to the grade 17 position.

01:14:06.800 --> 01:14:11.939
So that's basically what we're asking for.

01:14:11.939 --> 01:14:21.220
So the grade 15 position, if filled, would move in two years to the 17?

01:14:21.220 --> 01:14:27.779
necessarily two years but like after the completion of like a learning syllabus.

01:14:27.779 --> 01:14:35.979
This is is a position through the what union? This is an AFSCME position. Are

01:14:35.979 --> 01:14:43.500
they, do the union know about this position? Do they know about this? Yes.

01:14:43.500 --> 01:14:52.380
Want. Yes. So essentially tonight is for us to just open up discussion to what

01:14:52.380 --> 01:14:54.380
and

01:14:55.380 --> 01:14:57.380
John.

01:14:58.699 --> 01:15:01.199
I would like to ask the Council if it's necessary to let Council

01:15:01.199 --> 01:15:05.800
know we would like to come after an additional position with the

01:15:05.800 --> 01:15:07.800
intent being it's a stair step to a higher grade.

01:15:09.699 --> 01:15:12.699
» Attorney Zieto. » To piggyback off of what

01:15:12.699 --> 01:15:16.699
Manager Boyer just said, to the extent that the Council through

01:15:16.699 --> 01:15:19.699
a consensus tonight indicates that it's okay with the creation

01:15:19.699 --> 01:15:23.699
of a new position, then we will move forward with having the

01:15:23.699 --> 01:15:28.739
a heads up that this is being discussed by the by the City Council but then we

01:15:28.739 --> 01:15:33.420
would have to memorialize the creation of the position through our MOU with the

01:15:33.420 --> 01:15:38.300
union and then formally approve the job description by the City Council as well

01:15:38.300 --> 01:15:42.859
there so but again tonight we're just looking to see if you guys are on board

01:15:42.859 --> 01:15:46.300
with creating position then we'll move forward with the formal process of

01:15:46.300 --> 01:15:49.060
of interacting and negotiating with the union.

01:15:49.060 --> 01:15:54.060
Would the union have to be for it or against it

01:16:01.939 --> 01:16:06.199
for it to move forward?

01:16:06.199 --> 01:16:08.319
We've been collaborating with the union on it.

01:16:08.319 --> 01:16:09.680
I believe they're for it.

01:16:09.680 --> 01:16:12.380
And yes, they would have to be for it.

01:16:12.380 --> 01:16:15.119
Right, so that would be, if the council says,

01:16:15.119 --> 01:16:16.840
yep, we think it's a good idea to move forward

01:16:16.840 --> 01:16:18.840
and

01:16:20.840 --> 01:16:22.840
John.

01:16:24.239 --> 01:16:26.239
So, if we were to talk about the position, then we would start

01:16:27.340 --> 01:16:29.340
the discussions with the union. They would have to agree to it

01:16:29.439 --> 01:16:32.439
as well there. But if you guys are not in favor of it, then

01:16:32.439 --> 01:16:35.439
there's no sense in talking to the union about it. So that's

01:16:35.439 --> 01:16:40.159
why we're talking about it now.

01:16:42.960 --> 01:16:44.960
I'd like to move forward with it. I would second that if

01:16:45.060 --> 01:16:47.060
that's needed. I think we were just really kind of

01:16:49.560 --> 01:16:54.159
to go talk to the union about it so but as long as everyone's okay with it then

01:16:54.159 --> 01:17:05.319
we'll go do that. Okay. Number 12. Discussing regarding ADA transition plan

01:17:05.319 --> 01:17:15.399
and ADA grievance policy and procedures presented by City Manager Boyer. Thank

01:17:15.399 --> 01:17:19.220
you your honor I'm going to go ahead and move it to I'm gonna have Darren go

01:17:19.220 --> 01:17:22.399
Go ahead and take it from here.

01:17:22.399 --> 01:17:23.619
So thank you.

01:17:23.619 --> 01:17:29.779
We've talked about the required ADA transition plan for probably the better part of a year.

01:17:29.779 --> 01:17:36.260
I've been trying to find different grants or opportunities to pay for this study, but

01:17:36.260 --> 01:17:39.500
it is something that is required by IDOT.

01:17:39.500 --> 01:17:45.460
It's required for any community that has more than 50 full-time or part-time employees and

01:17:45.460 --> 01:17:48.699
has a population of 20,000 or greater.

01:17:48.699 --> 01:17:51.100
is tied to our motor fuel tax monies.

01:17:52.539 --> 01:17:56.300
And the study, it revolves around

01:17:56.300 --> 01:18:00.859
mobility challenged people within our community.

01:18:03.819 --> 01:18:06.859
Freeport and most towns, most developed towns

01:18:06.859 --> 01:18:11.859
have a larger population of mobility challenged people

01:18:11.859 --> 01:18:14.699
just due to the resources that we have available here.

01:18:14.699 --> 01:18:17.500
Lots of mobility people don't have vehicles or cars

01:18:17.500 --> 01:18:19.300
or transportation to get around.

01:18:19.300 --> 01:18:21.579
One of the items that the city has right now

01:18:21.579 --> 01:18:24.460
that supports them is the Pretzel City Transit.

01:18:24.460 --> 01:18:29.460
The ADA transition plan is a self evaluation

01:18:29.739 --> 01:18:32.479
of all of our ADA ramps in Freeport.

01:18:32.479 --> 01:18:36.800
Currently we have an estimated 1,900 ramps in town.

01:18:38.479 --> 01:18:40.940
Through the last few years,

01:18:40.940 --> 01:18:45.000
the city has spent significant resources at upgrading ramps.

01:18:45.000 --> 01:18:49.440
We did a DCO project that we did about 75 ramps on,

01:18:49.440 --> 01:18:50.800
76, I think.

01:18:50.800 --> 01:18:52.920
This last year, I think we did about 82

01:18:52.920 --> 01:18:54.340
on the street programs.

01:18:54.340 --> 01:18:57.800
So we've made some progress towards the replacements.

01:18:57.800 --> 01:19:02.319
However, the plan requires that we do a self inventory

01:19:02.319 --> 01:19:05.600
of every ramp, which means we have to have an engineer

01:19:05.600 --> 01:19:08.819
that's capable of understanding what the requirements are

01:19:08.819 --> 01:19:11.819
behind the ramps, grades, truncated domes,

01:19:15.000 --> 01:19:22.319
We have to not only inventory them, but we actually have to also take a survey point

01:19:22.319 --> 01:19:26.640
of them and create a map that's a living document for the City of Freeport that will be attached

01:19:26.640 --> 01:19:32.220
to our website that will be updated annually as we complete projects on our progress towards

01:19:32.220 --> 01:19:37.720
becoming more ADA compliant.

01:19:37.720 --> 01:19:43.600
The idea behind IDOT is to put together a living document of a 20 year plan to try to

01:19:43.600 --> 01:19:45.359
to help with these mobility challenges.

01:19:45.359 --> 01:19:51.960
We also have to put together a grievance policy and a committee to evaluate these grievance

01:19:51.960 --> 01:19:52.960
policies.

01:19:52.960 --> 01:19:58.520
So in case that we have an area that is underserved, people have the right to have a grievance

01:19:58.520 --> 01:20:03.479
and file it with the city and a committee needs to evaluate that and determine how we will

01:20:03.479 --> 01:20:08.279
move forward to address those particular handicap areas.

01:20:08.279 --> 01:20:15.279
and others. Again, IDOT has this tied to our motor fuel tax money, which we generally get

01:20:15.279 --> 01:20:21.779
somewhere between $900,000 and $1.1 million with the motor fuel tax money to the City

01:20:21.779 --> 01:20:28.060
of Freeport annually. So this is, I guess, a requirement, but not a large requirement

01:20:28.060 --> 01:20:34.680
that they're wanting these evaluations done. Again, we have quite a few ramps that we've

01:20:34.680 --> 01:20:39.880
We've done in the last say two to three years that are compliant but we have numerous ramps

01:20:39.880 --> 01:20:46.319
that are not compliant and as we go around and fix our streets which we have been doing

01:20:46.319 --> 01:20:51.460
we have to fix these ramps and we have to update the plan and we have to work our way

01:20:51.460 --> 01:20:52.960
around town.

01:20:52.960 --> 01:20:57.159
I will tell you honestly up front there's going to be no 20 year plan that's going to

01:20:57.159 --> 01:21:02.159
fix every ADA ramp in Freeport that's not going to happen we don't have those kind of

01:21:02.159 --> 01:21:11.159
We do not have funds right now, but this planning will also help us towards efforts to get more funds towards ramps, so that's one of the reasons they're requiring it.

01:21:11.159 --> 01:21:15.159
Right now, we've been working with ramp.

01:21:15.159 --> 01:21:19.159
Rob and I have been for approximately the last year and a half.

01:21:19.159 --> 01:21:31.159
We know, based on some survey data, that about 60% of our mobility challenged residents live between Park Street and Clark Street on Glena Avenue.

01:21:31.159 --> 01:21:42.159
That's a high concentration of them. Another area of concentration that they made us aware of was around Hans Drive, which is down around Burchard and South Street.

01:21:42.159 --> 01:21:47.159
And then 10% are various areas around the community.

01:21:47.159 --> 01:21:51.800
Currently I forgive me if I did I said this already it's estimated that we have about

01:21:52.439 --> 01:21:54.439
1,900 ramps in Freeport

01:21:54.720 --> 01:21:59.560
I'm gonna guess that we have about 20% compliance at this point

01:22:01.800 --> 01:22:06.359
There's five main parts to an ADA plan it's the transition plan itself

01:22:06.359 --> 01:22:10.399
Which is usually a large planning document the data collection

01:22:11.800 --> 01:22:13.079
self-evaluations

01:22:13.079 --> 01:22:18.979
which we're coming up with a program if you will to make it so it's even at

01:22:18.979 --> 01:22:24.159
every location. There's annual updates to this program but we don't have to update

01:22:24.159 --> 01:22:28.960
the plan the entire plan every year we just need to update the map on which

01:22:28.960 --> 01:22:34.079
ones are compliant or not. Again we have to come up with a commission to evaluate

01:22:34.079 --> 01:22:39.079
any grievances and make sure that we are providing PROAG which is our standard

01:22:39.079 --> 01:22:44.079
for being compliant on ramp construction.

01:22:44.079 --> 01:22:46.000
So with that, I'll take any questions.

01:22:46.000 --> 01:22:47.520
Yeah, I'm sorry.

01:22:49.520 --> 01:22:54.520
I almost got lost in that whole discussion

01:22:54.960 --> 01:22:58.800
you was making, the previews of the drafting

01:22:58.800 --> 01:23:01.600
of the plan of the ADA ramps.

01:23:03.159 --> 01:23:08.159
Would you present council with a preview draft

01:23:09.079 --> 01:23:12.279
of those of that plan or those plans I should say

01:23:12.279 --> 01:23:17.279
and the mapping of those ADA ramps in placement on maps

01:23:20.279 --> 01:23:23.439
where we can see the location of these ramps

01:23:23.439 --> 01:23:28.439
within the maps that we're receiving.

01:23:28.800 --> 01:23:30.079
I probably skipped over this part

01:23:30.079 --> 01:23:33.159
but as part of the ADA transition plan,

01:23:33.159 --> 01:23:35.000
once it's completed, right?

01:23:35.000 --> 01:23:36.600
And we come with a formal plan,

01:23:36.600 --> 01:23:38.680
it'll have to be adopted by council.

01:23:38.680 --> 01:24:08.680
and then it because it becomes a living document that the city you know is looking to to move forward with right now any state or federal funds and they're even stretching it as far as local funds but I have no evidence of that yet they're they're requiring when you go to these meetings that any basically tax money that's spent on streets needs to make the ramps compliant it used to be years ago when we just did mill and overlays we weren't required

01:24:08.680 --> 01:24:38.680
and

01:24:38.680 --> 01:24:40.960
to do that ramp.

01:24:40.960 --> 01:24:43.279
Well, if you excuse me for a minute.

01:24:48.119 --> 01:24:53.119
You're gonna draft the plans for this particular project,

01:24:53.119 --> 01:24:54.039
right?

01:24:54.039 --> 01:24:57.119
The first thing we need to do is collect the data.

01:24:57.119 --> 01:24:59.760
That's the most important because we're probably

01:24:59.760 --> 01:25:02.239
about 10 months behind the eight ball on this one

01:25:02.239 --> 01:25:03.760
because I've been trying to find somewhere

01:25:03.760 --> 01:25:05.279
to fund this plan.

01:25:05.279 --> 01:25:08.520
So the reason I wanted to discuss it more in detail tonight

01:25:08.520 --> 01:25:10.279
is I intend to bring a work order

01:25:10.279 --> 01:25:15.279
for the next council meeting to review, to start this plan.

01:25:15.640 --> 01:25:18.279
We're wrapping up the 2024 street season

01:25:18.279 --> 01:25:21.880
and I would like to get out and get these areas all surveyed

01:25:21.880 --> 01:25:24.159
while the weather's decent, it'll make it easier.

01:25:24.159 --> 01:25:26.760
And then we'll work on the plan during the winter months.

01:25:26.760 --> 01:25:29.640
And then again, we'll create a commission,

01:25:29.640 --> 01:25:31.600
just kind of like the library, our commission,

01:25:31.600 --> 01:25:34.079
we'll create a commission, a review policy,

01:25:34.079 --> 01:25:36.239
all of that will be adopted by the city at the end.

01:25:36.239 --> 01:25:39.079
That makes sense, that makes sense.

01:25:39.079 --> 01:25:44.079
Okay, so we look forward to getting this data here soon.

01:25:46.000 --> 01:25:47.279
How soon are you?

01:25:47.279 --> 01:25:51.239
Probably take us, if we get a signed work order next week,

01:25:51.239 --> 01:25:53.159
it'll probably take us the better part

01:25:53.159 --> 01:25:55.960
of the last two months of the year to collect just the data

01:25:55.960 --> 01:25:58.840
and the physical data in the city.

01:25:58.840 --> 01:26:01.960
And then probably two to three months to create the plan

01:26:01.960 --> 01:26:03.800
and get a final version that can come

01:26:03.800 --> 01:26:05.720
and be reviewed and adopted.

01:26:05.720 --> 01:26:07.159
Okay, all right, thank you.

01:26:10.579 --> 01:26:11.279
Darin.

01:26:11.279 --> 01:26:13.699
Yes.

01:26:13.699 --> 01:26:17.380
What is something like this going to cost?

01:26:17.380 --> 01:26:22.100
Initially, I thought it was going to be around $95,000.

01:26:22.100 --> 01:26:24.020
But I believe that it'll be cheaper than that.

01:26:24.020 --> 01:26:26.300
We're trying to estimate the numbers.

01:26:26.300 --> 01:26:29.140
And part of the ramps, we were trying

01:26:29.140 --> 01:26:31.420
to get a better known number of ramps

01:26:31.420 --> 01:26:34.739
to figure out how many hours the data is going to take.

01:26:34.739 --> 01:26:36.739
I'm hopeful that we can get it down.

01:26:36.739 --> 01:26:39.539
It won't be huge, but maybe down to about $85,000,

01:26:39.539 --> 01:26:42.819
and I'm hoping by the time we can bring it next week.

01:26:42.819 --> 01:26:46.060
It's a lot of survey data, it's a lot of man hours

01:26:46.060 --> 01:26:48.579
to create this and also to create a policy

01:26:48.579 --> 01:26:53.579
that is going to be inclusive of not only the city,

01:26:55.579 --> 01:26:58.539
but ramp has to be part of this plan.

01:26:58.539 --> 01:27:02.619
And we have to make it as a plan that we can live with

01:27:02.619 --> 01:27:05.500
as far as having a commission that's reasonable, right?

01:27:05.500 --> 01:27:08.739
We don't have the funding to go just, you know,

01:27:08.739 --> 01:27:11.520
to an entire area of town because we have to.

01:27:11.520 --> 01:27:14.899
So we have to have some reasonability in the plan

01:27:14.899 --> 01:27:19.640
to give us time to work at areas that are challenged.

01:27:19.640 --> 01:27:23.039
If we're able to get it down to the 85,000,

01:27:23.039 --> 01:27:28.039
will that include collecting the data and-

01:27:29.260 --> 01:27:33.340
Yes, I intend to do full everything

01:27:33.340 --> 01:27:35.979
with just a review by the commission

01:27:35.979 --> 01:27:38.819
and then we, sorry, a review by the council.

01:27:38.819 --> 01:27:43.819
And then the city with Rob, Jodi and the council

01:27:44.779 --> 01:27:46.979
will have to help create a commission.

01:27:46.979 --> 01:27:49.100
Obviously it's very hard to get people

01:27:49.100 --> 01:27:50.260
to serve on committees.

01:27:50.260 --> 01:27:54.060
So we will be looking, somebody has to be in charge

01:27:54.060 --> 01:27:55.659
of the committee and most communities

01:27:55.659 --> 01:27:56.979
it's the public works director

01:27:56.979 --> 01:27:59.180
that is the head of this program.

01:27:59.180 --> 01:28:00.979
And then as grievances are bought in,

01:28:00.979 --> 01:28:04.699
you have meetings to decide how you're going to resolve this.

01:28:04.699 --> 01:28:08.979
and I'm not suggesting this for this cycle,

01:28:08.979 --> 01:28:12.779
this budget cycle, I'm trying to accelerate this

01:28:12.779 --> 01:28:15.100
so it doesn't lock up any of our MFT funding.

01:28:15.100 --> 01:28:17.100
That's the most important thing now.

01:28:17.100 --> 01:28:20.180
We, I admittedly have drugged my feet long enough

01:28:20.180 --> 01:28:22.520
and couldn't find a funding opportunity to pay for this

01:28:22.520 --> 01:28:24.760
because I didn't really wanna pay for it ourselves.

01:28:24.760 --> 01:28:27.000
But at this point, I don't think we have anything

01:28:27.000 --> 01:28:28.460
but a choice to move forward with it

01:28:28.460 --> 01:28:30.539
because our MFT monies are too valuable

01:28:30.539 --> 01:28:32.399
to the projects that we're doing.

01:28:32.399 --> 01:28:34.800
and then what I would say is,

01:28:34.800 --> 01:28:36.359
I think we'll be fine for next year

01:28:36.359 --> 01:28:38.039
because by the time we get this done

01:28:38.039 --> 01:28:40.699
and approved by council and get it to IDOT,

01:28:40.699 --> 01:28:42.840
we'll probably be through most of the construction season

01:28:42.840 --> 01:28:45.659
next year, then we'll start having to budget a line item

01:28:45.659 --> 01:28:49.119
for some of these grievances that may or may not come in.

01:28:49.119 --> 01:28:52.239
So we have some funding to address some specific issues.

01:28:53.199 --> 01:28:56.340
Okay, okay.

01:28:58.760 --> 01:29:00.000
All right, so again,

01:29:00.000 --> 01:29:03.359
I plan to bring a work order to the next meeting

01:29:03.359 --> 01:29:06.600
and really I've heard you say that numerous times

01:29:06.600 --> 01:29:08.579
you wanted to be educated about things

01:29:08.579 --> 01:29:10.399
prior to the work orders coming.

01:29:10.399 --> 01:29:12.960
So that's the intent of these items tonight.

01:29:12.960 --> 01:29:19.279
Okay, thanks.

01:29:19.279 --> 01:29:25.859
Okay.

01:29:25.859 --> 01:29:29.819
So that would be at the October 21st meeting.

01:29:29.819 --> 01:29:36.039
Yes.

01:29:36.039 --> 01:29:38.760
Okay.

01:29:38.760 --> 01:29:43.760
And that was number 12, moving to 13, discussion.

01:29:43.760 --> 01:29:57.119
to 13. Discussion regarding ordinance approving amendment to lease amendment with thank you

01:29:57.119 --> 01:30:05.640
for solar array at landfill presented by Director Duckman.

01:30:05.640 --> 01:30:09.039
Thank you all the person Stacey. I could see that attorney Zito has got his hand up so.

01:30:09.039 --> 01:30:11.039
Oh, I'm sorry.

01:30:11.039 --> 01:30:15.279
That's all right. I can, so this item we're gonna, staff is gonna ask for it to be removed

01:30:15.279 --> 01:30:17.680
from discussion tonight, it's not ready to go.

01:30:17.680 --> 01:30:22.680
I was hoping to get some answers from Amoresco,

01:30:23.119 --> 01:30:25.960
but I have not heard back from their attorney as of today,

01:30:25.960 --> 01:30:30.720
so we're not quite ready with what the plan go forward

01:30:30.720 --> 01:30:31.960
is gonna be, so we don't even know

01:30:31.960 --> 01:30:33.880
if we need this amendment or not.

01:30:33.880 --> 01:30:35.720
So it depends on what I hear back from them.

01:30:35.720 --> 01:30:40.029
Thank you.

01:30:40.029 --> 01:30:46.170
Item number 14, discussion regarding

01:30:46.170 --> 01:30:51.170
the Water Main Extension Project on West Stevenson Street

01:30:51.170 --> 01:30:55.869
and specifically the consideration

01:30:55.869 --> 01:31:00.869
of rescinding resolution number R2024-95,

01:31:03.590 --> 01:31:06.329
approving an agreement with Fehr Graham

01:31:07.729 --> 01:31:11.130
to provide design engineering services

01:31:11.130 --> 01:31:13.850
related to the Open Bible Church

01:31:13.850 --> 01:31:22.739
Water Main Extension Project.

01:31:22.739 --> 01:31:49.130
Okay, so I have had discussion with Darren, Director Darren, Attorney Zito, Ms. Anderson,

01:31:49.130 --> 01:31:58.039
and because it was voted on and approved, I can't just pull it back.

01:31:58.039 --> 01:32:08.079
and so forth, and that's where rescinding it came in it. And it was said that it was going

01:32:08.079 --> 01:32:17.119
to take about a year to design it, but I find out that in less than three weeks it's been

01:32:17.119 --> 01:32:31.180
designed and already at the EPA for approval. I don't know how you do that. I don't know

01:32:31.180 --> 01:32:35.760
how you say something is gonna take a year to design

01:32:35.760 --> 01:32:40.319
and then it's designed and completed in two weeks.

01:32:40.319 --> 01:32:44.739
But that's where we're at with this.

01:32:46.699 --> 01:32:54.810
So I just have some questions.

01:33:02.630 --> 01:33:07.630
City Clerk Anderson and a member to the council

01:33:07.630 --> 01:33:11.409
for the September 3rd meeting,

01:33:11.409 --> 01:33:15.050
referencing the Open Bible Water Main extension,

01:33:15.050 --> 01:33:20.050
City Manager Boyer stated through a series of documents,

01:33:20.670 --> 01:33:23.670
the information details the city agreed upon

01:33:23.670 --> 01:33:28.670
regarding the Water Main extension in 1999

01:33:29.069 --> 01:33:32.409
to be installed between three to five years.

01:33:32.409 --> 01:33:37.409
So my question is, have you found any ordinance

01:33:37.630 --> 01:33:52.270
Variants, Written Agreement, Resolution, Council Minutes, or Executive Sessions Regarding Recording References to Open Bible Water Main Extension.

01:33:52.270 --> 01:34:04.739
You're asking me?

01:34:04.739 --> 01:34:19.060
I have not looked thoroughly. I have not been directed to do that thoroughly. I don't know what memo you're speaking of. Are you sure it was from me?

01:34:19.060 --> 01:34:27.619
There was a memo in the September 3rd meeting to the council. I didn't say it came from you.

01:34:27.619 --> 01:34:33.460
Okay, I misunderstood that. Yeah, there was a memo in the September 3rd meeting

01:34:34.579 --> 01:34:41.300
referencing the Open Bible Water main extension. City Manager Boyer stated it

01:34:43.220 --> 01:34:47.220
and he stated that through a series of documents or information detailed

01:34:47.220 --> 01:34:51.739
and maybe I addressed this to you maybe I should have been addressing it to you

01:34:51.739 --> 01:35:02.720
City Manager Boyer. Do you have any of this information, details the city agreed

01:35:02.720 --> 01:35:08.680
upon regarding the Watermain extension in 1999 to be installed in three to five

01:35:08.680 --> 01:35:15.739
years? Have you found any ordinance variants, written agreements, resolution,

01:35:15.739 --> 01:35:20.739
and Council Minutes or executive sessions regarding this matter.

01:35:23.859 --> 01:35:27.220
Former Chief Blackburn came and discussed that

01:35:27.220 --> 01:35:28.500
at public comments tonight.

01:35:28.500 --> 01:35:31.619
He said that during his conversations with

01:35:31.619 --> 01:35:36.000
at the time United Water, that there is a agreement

01:35:36.000 --> 01:35:40.920
with him and the head of the water sewer commission

01:35:40.920 --> 01:35:43.539
at the time that it would be a three to five year project.

01:35:43.539 --> 01:35:45.380
I think he stated as much tonight.

01:35:45.739 --> 01:35:57.739
and he stated that that agreement came from the community development person at that time.

01:35:57.739 --> 01:36:04.739
No, he was talking about the head of the water sewer commission at the time.

01:36:04.739 --> 01:36:10.739
Head of the water sewer, okay.

01:36:10.739 --> 01:36:14.739
Alderman Stacey, I think one thing we're getting mixed up

01:36:14.739 --> 01:36:44.739
I'm very aware, aware of what Mr. Blackburn, I think, said tonight, but

01:36:44.739 --> 01:37:05.659
Let's also recap on when Mayor Goetz came to the council, who was the mayor during the 1999 year,

01:37:05.659 --> 01:37:13.659
who said that nothing never came to the council.

01:37:13.659 --> 01:37:16.899
Nothing never hit the council floor.

01:37:16.899 --> 01:37:21.899
Nothing was discussed pertaining to this matter.

01:37:23.789 --> 01:37:27.069
And so I don't expect you to have an answer

01:37:27.069 --> 01:37:32.079
as to why that is.

01:37:32.079 --> 01:37:37.079
Cause we was not even under a city manager at that time.

01:37:37.279 --> 01:37:40.680
We had a full time mayor,

01:37:40.680 --> 01:37:47.470
but it disturbs me that something so important

01:37:50.529 --> 01:37:54.970
could be thought that it's gonna be moved forward

01:37:54.970 --> 01:38:01.539
even by open Bible and they not have the decency

01:38:02.380 --> 01:38:06.239
to even bring it to the council.

01:38:07.560 --> 01:38:12.560
So are you telling me that there is a paper out there

01:38:12.560 --> 01:38:24.359
there based upon what Mr. Blackburn, thank you, said tonight that there is a signed document

01:38:24.359 --> 01:38:31.890
out there that you can produce.

01:38:31.890 --> 01:38:35.510
As far as I understand it, there was a commitment made by the head of the Water Sewer Commission

01:38:35.510 --> 01:38:39.670
at the time that a three and five year time horizon would be fine for budgeting that water

01:38:39.670 --> 01:38:45.630
main extension to the open Bible and in that area for this fire suppression system.

01:38:45.630 --> 01:38:51.390
Well, it was the handshake and the comment was made through the community development.

01:38:51.390 --> 01:38:58.750
And so the community development person have that kind of power, again, without bringing anything to the council floor.

01:38:58.750 --> 01:39:06.510
This was between the head of the Water and Sewer Commission and also the manager for United Water,

01:39:06.510 --> 01:39:11.710
who ran the utility for the City of Freeport, not community development.

01:39:11.710 --> 01:39:18.670
Community Development only required that the structure be built with the appropriate fire suppression as of code in

01:39:18.949 --> 01:39:25.369
1998 or whenever the thing was constructed. But it was said that the community development shook the hands of the principal.

01:39:27.750 --> 01:39:30.109
Don't know about that. And made the deal.

01:39:31.109 --> 01:39:34.430
I don't think that anything, I think community development produced a waiver

01:39:35.229 --> 01:39:37.949
to allow the city time to hook up the water.

01:39:39.190 --> 01:39:41.190
Attorney Zito?

01:39:41.190 --> 01:39:48.800
Rob, correct me if my understanding is wrong, but my understanding is that where community

01:39:48.800 --> 01:39:53.960
development came in is that they granted a waiver or granted I think the term that was

01:39:53.960 --> 01:39:58.000
used that night was a variance there as far as the construction of the building because

01:39:58.000 --> 01:40:02.319
normally they would need to have constructed the building with the sprinkler system in

01:40:02.319 --> 01:40:06.960
right and then connected it right and where the waiver came in or the variance it was

01:40:06.960 --> 01:40:09.159
just like where community development signed off

01:40:09.159 --> 01:40:11.560
and said, no, you can go ahead and build,

01:40:11.560 --> 01:40:14.159
build the building now, operate it, use it,

01:40:14.159 --> 01:40:16.340
as long as you put in the sprinkler system

01:40:16.340 --> 01:40:19.279
and we know that it's gonna be hooked up

01:40:19.279 --> 01:40:21.119
in three to five years, we'll go ahead

01:40:21.119 --> 01:40:22.319
and let you build the building.

01:40:22.319 --> 01:40:23.819
We'll issue you the building permit.

01:40:23.819 --> 01:40:24.659
Okay.

01:40:24.659 --> 01:40:25.619
There, so I think that's the variance

01:40:25.619 --> 01:40:27.000
for the community development director.

01:40:27.000 --> 01:40:31.460
So then there's written statement out there

01:40:31.460 --> 01:40:39.149
pertaining to a variance and a waiver.

01:40:39.149 --> 01:40:40.069
Are you asking me?

01:40:40.069 --> 01:40:41.390
Yes.

01:40:41.390 --> 01:40:42.710
I haven't personally seen it,

01:40:42.710 --> 01:40:44.350
but I think it's out there, yeah.

01:40:44.350 --> 01:40:49.210
Okay, so can we put forth an effort to find that?

01:40:50.409 --> 01:40:51.449
Sure.

01:40:51.449 --> 01:40:52.909
Okay, thank you.

01:40:52.909 --> 01:40:57.210
My second question, City Manager Boyer,

01:40:57.210 --> 01:41:00.409
did the issue arise after Open Bible

01:41:00.409 --> 01:41:05.409
failed its mandated DCFS State Fire Inspection

01:41:05.649 --> 01:41:09.130
on May 28th, 2024?

01:41:09.130 --> 01:41:13.130
I have to ask the chief to confirm that for you.

01:41:13.130 --> 01:41:31.399
So my understanding is the State Fire Marshal went out there, conducted their annual inspection and determined that the suppression system in there was not fed by any kind of water supply.

01:41:31.399 --> 01:41:47.399
So he indicated that was a violation and also said that he would be interested in working with the facility and granted them one year in which to make arrangements to have that complied with.

01:41:47.399 --> 01:42:10.699
Okay. Can anyone tell me how did they go 25 years with yearly mandated inspections and they were passed?

01:42:10.699 --> 01:42:20.319
I won't go into this whole thing now, but I happen to represent the area where Open

01:42:20.319 --> 01:42:27.020
Bible is in. So I've had discussions with Open Bible and had a lengthy discussion with

01:42:27.020 --> 01:42:33.939
Jennifer Fuller, who is the head of it. The fire inspection on that building, and Chief,

01:42:33.939 --> 01:42:39.819
tell me if I'm wrong, it's mandated by the state every three years it has to be done.

01:42:39.819 --> 01:42:41.819
and there was a person out there.

01:42:41.819 --> 01:42:44.260
She was there from 2006.

01:42:44.260 --> 01:42:48.220
So from 2006 till this year, every three years,

01:42:48.220 --> 01:42:51.979
there was a person out there to inspect a facility.

01:42:51.979 --> 01:42:55.100
They made them change fire doors at one period of time.

01:42:55.100 --> 01:42:57.939
There were swinging doors that went between

01:42:57.939 --> 01:43:01.100
the, what would be the sanctuary out into

01:43:01.100 --> 01:43:03.199
the educational wing.

01:43:03.199 --> 01:43:06.960
They had them change to regular fire doors

01:43:06.960 --> 01:43:07.920
that they had to be.

01:43:07.920 --> 01:43:11.560
And they also had them specifically put a sign

01:43:11.560 --> 01:43:13.319
on the sprinkler system

01:43:13.319 --> 01:43:16.319
that it was not connected to city water.

01:43:16.319 --> 01:43:18.640
The system was not connected to water.

01:43:18.640 --> 01:43:21.520
And that was told to them by the fire marshal.

01:43:21.520 --> 01:43:25.600
So the city, so it had been expected every three years

01:43:25.600 --> 01:43:27.020
which was their policy.

01:43:27.960 --> 01:43:30.439
Every three years was the policy.

01:43:30.439 --> 01:43:31.960
Not every year.

01:43:31.960 --> 01:43:35.479
Every three years for a childhood facility,

01:43:35.479 --> 01:43:36.680
childcare facility.

01:43:36.680 --> 01:43:43.479
Aldermen, Sanders, every three years were they in compliance with that water

01:43:43.479 --> 01:43:48.359
sprinkling system with no water excuse me Larry I didn't hear your first I'm

01:43:48.359 --> 01:43:57.319
sorry that's okay where was the open Bible study building in compliance every

01:43:57.319 --> 01:44:02.920
three years when they came out to inspect that property to make sure that

01:44:02.920 --> 01:44:04.920
and the rest of the board.

01:44:04.920 --> 01:44:09.920
Are you saying that it was taken, unless they just was given a pass, is that what took place?

01:44:09.920 --> 01:44:10.920
No.

01:44:10.920 --> 01:44:11.920
They was given a pass.

01:44:11.920 --> 01:44:19.920
Was there a stamp saying that the inspection was completed and they was in compliance?

01:44:19.920 --> 01:44:20.920
Is that what we're saying?

01:44:20.920 --> 01:44:26.920
I would assume that would be the thing and that can surely be checked, but they had them

01:44:26.920 --> 01:44:27.720
and

01:44:27.720 --> 01:44:28.520
John.

01:44:28.520 --> 01:44:30.720
And I think that's what we're going to do.

01:44:30.720 --> 01:44:31.920
We're going to make changes.

01:44:31.920 --> 01:44:35.720
We're going to specifically make changes in every change,

01:44:35.720 --> 01:44:39.319
everything that they suggested to do, Open Bible did.

01:44:39.319 --> 01:44:41.720
Yeah, but they were still in violation regardless

01:44:41.720 --> 01:44:42.720
every three years.

01:44:42.720 --> 01:44:45.319
Remember I said all the fire department,

01:44:45.319 --> 01:44:48.720
the fire inspector did was have them put a sign

01:44:48.720 --> 01:44:52.920
on the sprinkler system that it was not hooked up to.

01:44:52.920 --> 01:44:53.720
Yeah.

01:44:53.720 --> 01:44:55.720
So that means that it was in compliance

01:44:55.720 --> 01:44:56.720
and John.

01:44:56.720 --> 01:45:19.520
And then we can have further discussion in regards to how we got here and who's coming

01:45:19.520 --> 01:45:23.739
to keep feeding this notion

01:45:23.739 --> 01:45:28.739
that the city is liable for any parts of that.

01:45:29.100 --> 01:45:31.939
You know, I'm just having this discussion

01:45:31.939 --> 01:45:34.699
because we're spending money

01:45:37.189 --> 01:45:40.869
with no one responsible

01:45:40.869 --> 01:45:45.869
or have the rights to ask the city

01:45:45.869 --> 01:46:15.869
and I have been able to stay in the city to help fund something that the taxpayers are paying for, especially if it's a Bible study or anything like that, because we're spending money if it's just gonna sit there and the building is not in compliance or the property is not in compliance, but they're getting this—there's violations going on, I'll put it like that.

01:46:15.869 --> 01:46:43.869
and I like to see that paper trail because that will make that will give us whatever it is that we're looking for to make sure that everything is in accordance to what the fire marshals in the state of Illinois wants this particular establishment to have, so we're not going to be passing any more violations every three years because I need to see that.

01:46:43.869 --> 01:46:46.270
I wanna see what is that all about

01:46:46.270 --> 01:46:48.909
because we have not gotten in that area.

01:46:48.909 --> 01:46:51.510
I was told a whole different type of story

01:46:51.510 --> 01:46:54.470
and I was fed a bunch of bull BS

01:46:54.470 --> 01:46:56.909
and I don't appreciate that.

01:46:56.909 --> 01:47:03.159
And so my thing is we better come into order here

01:47:04.680 --> 01:47:08.239
about this particular discussion that we're having

01:47:08.239 --> 01:47:12.479
because we're not fully invested our time and efforts

01:47:12.479 --> 01:47:17.479
and to discovering what it is that we're talking about

01:47:17.680 --> 01:47:22.239
until we have the paperwork to talk about it, you know.

01:47:22.239 --> 01:47:24.720
I think we're wasting a lot of time with that.

01:47:24.720 --> 01:47:26.840
Let me give you a little information I found

01:47:26.840 --> 01:47:29.680
and this may be a little helter skelter to you

01:47:29.680 --> 01:47:32.119
because I wrote it at a couple of different times

01:47:32.119 --> 01:47:37.119
but like I said, I do represent Open Bible, Open Bible area.

01:47:37.119 --> 01:48:06.119
I want to tell you that the market and the child care facilities over the last year, last years have considerably changed and if you're not familiar with this, I want to tell you that there's 1,700 kids, 1,700 children every day in Carroll, Joe Davis, and Steveson County that have absolutely no daycare, no place to go.

01:48:07.119 --> 01:48:14.859
and Joe. Okay, that's one thing. Second thing that is a critical problem here in this area,

01:48:14.859 --> 01:48:20.479
they even go as far as to the Y brought it up at their morning meeting a couple weeks

01:48:20.479 --> 01:48:26.880
ago that this was really referred to these three places as a desert because there wasn't

01:48:26.880 --> 01:48:35.399
places available for them to go. Another big issue for the teaching industry is that when

01:48:35.399 --> 01:48:41.940
When teachers become pregnant, many of them end up going out of the trade because they

01:48:41.940 --> 01:48:45.680
have no place to take their kids for daycare.

01:48:45.680 --> 01:48:50.880
There are only a couple places that even handle kids zero to two.

01:48:50.880 --> 01:48:55.479
Every daycare facility in the city of Freeport has waiting lists.

01:48:55.479 --> 01:48:56.479
Okay?

01:48:56.479 --> 01:48:58.760
I'll just give you kind of a rundown.

01:48:58.760 --> 01:49:01.680
It may take a couple minutes if you want to tell me to shut up.

01:49:01.680 --> 01:49:04.640
But that's, yeah, that's off the topic.

01:49:04.640 --> 01:49:06.479
that's off the topic right now.

01:49:06.479 --> 01:49:07.720
No, it isn't off the topic.

01:49:07.720 --> 01:49:10.079
I'm telling you, it's a daycare facility

01:49:10.079 --> 01:49:12.680
that's got people out there that have got.

01:49:12.680 --> 01:49:17.680
It's a daycare facility that come May 28th,

01:49:17.960 --> 01:49:19.440
its year will be up.

01:49:19.440 --> 01:49:22.399
It's a daycare facility that didn't need,

01:49:22.399 --> 01:49:26.119
didn't do what it needed to do for 25 years.

01:49:26.119 --> 01:49:31.119
It's a daycare facility that have put kids in endangerment.

01:49:31.960 --> 01:49:32.800
And that's your opinion.

01:49:32.800 --> 01:49:34.520
For 25 years.

01:49:34.520 --> 01:49:39.520
and now they expect the city of Freeport and our tax dollars

01:49:39.520 --> 01:49:40.359
to.

01:49:40.359 --> 01:49:43.000
tax dollars to make their situation right.

01:49:44.619 --> 01:49:49.619
City Manager Boyer, will the city force the,

01:49:51.239 --> 01:49:56.239
I don't know, nine, 10 or 11 residents in that area

01:49:56.800 --> 01:49:59.880
to connect to city water?

01:49:59.880 --> 01:50:04.880
If so, would it be at their expense

01:50:04.880 --> 01:50:09.880
or will the taxpayers also bear the cost?

01:50:10.680 --> 01:50:15.539
Will Open Bible be required to pay for its hookup,

01:50:15.539 --> 01:50:16.840
yes or no?

01:50:19.060 --> 01:50:19.899
Darren?

01:50:19.899 --> 01:50:21.760
Yeah, I'd be glad to answer that.

01:50:21.760 --> 01:50:24.439
So per our codes and ordinances,

01:50:24.439 --> 01:50:27.960
every house that we would go by that is not served

01:50:27.960 --> 01:50:28.840
would be served.

01:50:28.840 --> 01:50:31.800
We've done that on every project that we've done.

01:50:31.800 --> 01:50:33.720
That is the city cost of building it,

01:50:33.720 --> 01:50:38.520
but we would only connect to their right of way like we do with everyone else and then

01:50:38.520 --> 01:50:41.800
it's their responsibility to connect to that point.

01:50:41.800 --> 01:50:47.520
Once we run into their property it's considered ready to serve and so those customers would

01:50:47.520 --> 01:50:52.359
be ready to serve and get a ready to serve invoice until they connect at which time they

01:50:52.359 --> 01:50:55.119
would just go to a normal connection fee.

01:50:55.119 --> 01:50:59.979
Open Bible per our codes and ordinances, by the way, per our codes and ordinances we do

01:50:59.979 --> 01:51:04.979
Do you not charge residential customers to hook up at the time of construction?

01:51:04.979 --> 01:51:06.659
That's in our codes.

01:51:06.659 --> 01:51:11.699
So if we build a new main, anybody that connects at that time does not pay the connection fee.

01:51:11.699 --> 01:51:16.260
If they choose not to do it, then they pay the connection fee at a later date if they

01:51:16.260 --> 01:51:18.659
waive that opportunity while we're there.

01:51:18.659 --> 01:51:21.380
And what is that connection fee?

01:51:21.380 --> 01:51:27.100
It depends on where the water main is, but I believe it's $1,600 for a close side and

01:51:27.100 --> 01:51:32.100
for a long side service, they call it, if that's in our code.

01:51:32.899 --> 01:51:35.420
And then Open Bible is a commercial account,

01:51:35.420 --> 01:51:37.859
so they would pay a commercial fee to connect,

01:51:37.859 --> 01:51:39.500
but that's a different size service

01:51:39.500 --> 01:51:41.939
because they're gonna probably need a six inch service

01:51:41.939 --> 01:51:43.739
to connect out there.

01:51:43.739 --> 01:51:46.100
And what is the commercial fee cost?

01:51:46.100 --> 01:51:47.979
I couldn't tell you that off top of my head, but.

01:51:47.979 --> 01:51:49.819
Darren, I just wanna jump on that.

01:51:49.819 --> 01:51:50.659
Excuse me?

01:51:50.659 --> 01:51:51.479
I'm sorry.

01:51:52.800 --> 01:51:54.260
I didn't hear what he was saying.

01:51:54.260 --> 01:51:59.340
I'm not sure what the commercial six inch connection fee is off the top of my head.

01:51:59.340 --> 01:52:01.539
I just, I've been working on some residential ones lately.

01:52:01.539 --> 01:52:02.819
That's why I knew that off the top of my head.

01:52:02.819 --> 01:52:04.340
I'd have to look in the code.

01:52:04.340 --> 01:52:07.899
Is, as I understand, Open Bible's already got their connection there and ready.

01:52:09.739 --> 01:52:10.420
Right.

01:52:10.420 --> 01:52:14.939
There still would be a connection fee to the city of report proper.

01:52:14.939 --> 01:52:20.180
Can I ask, when did that come into, when did that happen?

01:52:20.180 --> 01:52:22.699
When was that installation being made?

01:52:22.699 --> 01:52:23.500
What year, what time?

01:52:23.500 --> 01:52:29.739
As far as I know, it was installed at the same time that the building was constructed,

01:52:29.739 --> 01:52:30.739
so about 2000.

01:52:30.739 --> 01:52:33.020
So, it's been there 25 years.

01:52:33.020 --> 01:52:35.380
So we inspected that, right?

01:52:35.380 --> 01:52:40.220
Because if we put a water box down there, then we would have a paper trail of that water

01:52:40.220 --> 01:52:43.699
box for a temporary possible hookup.

01:52:43.699 --> 01:52:45.779
No, there's no water box.

01:52:45.779 --> 01:52:46.779
Yeah, so.

01:52:46.779 --> 01:52:49.199
It's just a connection pipe that's ran to the street.

01:52:49.199 --> 01:52:50.460
It's connected to nothing.

01:52:50.460 --> 01:52:52.100
It's connected to nothing.

01:52:52.100 --> 01:52:54.460
is it generating an invoice?

01:52:54.460 --> 01:52:55.300
No, it has no invoice.

01:52:55.300 --> 01:52:57.180
A monthly invoice.

01:52:57.180 --> 01:52:58.020
No, it does not serve.

01:52:58.020 --> 01:53:00.779
It does not generate a monthly invoice?

01:53:00.779 --> 01:53:01.899
No, it's not served.

01:53:01.899 --> 01:53:03.539
We can't charge somebody for something.

01:53:03.539 --> 01:53:04.380
We're not serving them.

01:53:04.380 --> 01:53:06.180
We're not there yet, okay.

01:53:06.180 --> 01:53:08.300
All right, I just wanna make sure

01:53:08.300 --> 01:53:10.739
that we don't stick something down there.

01:53:10.739 --> 01:53:11.579
Yeah.

01:53:11.579 --> 01:53:14.819
So, could you please get me

01:53:16.539 --> 01:53:20.119
a cost for commercial,

01:53:20.119 --> 01:53:50.119
of the commercial fee hookup because that won't be on city's tax dollars. That'd be on open Bible, open Bible. Okay. City manager, Boyer or public works director, Darren Stigl, isn't the average cost to connect to the city between 10 to 12,000. You just said it's 16 to 32. For water. For water.

01:53:50.119 --> 01:53:55.000
So the 10 to 12,000.

01:53:55.000 --> 01:53:57.619
That would be a whole new service line ran.

01:53:57.619 --> 01:54:01.439
Remember on a new construction,

01:54:01.439 --> 01:54:05.140
the city provides the service to the Buffalo Box.

01:54:05.140 --> 01:54:07.079
That's what we've standardly done.

01:54:07.079 --> 01:54:09.319
And then we waive the connection fee

01:54:09.319 --> 01:54:12.920
if they connect at the time that we're building, right?

01:54:12.920 --> 01:54:15.359
So that 10 to 12,000 would be waived

01:54:15.359 --> 01:54:17.520
if they connected at the time.

01:54:18.960 --> 01:54:21.600
No, they would have to hire a plumber

01:54:21.600 --> 01:54:25.640
to pay their portion of the fee from the Buffalo box

01:54:25.640 --> 01:54:27.100
or the right of way into their home.

01:54:27.100 --> 01:54:29.279
So that cost becomes their own,

01:54:29.279 --> 01:54:31.520
which they negotiate with a plumber.

01:54:31.520 --> 01:54:34.960
And that depends on how far they have to go to their house,

01:54:34.960 --> 01:54:36.159
what the materials are.

01:54:36.159 --> 01:54:37.720
We don't pay that at all.

01:54:37.720 --> 01:54:41.119
Our initial connection to each house could be averaged

01:54:41.119 --> 01:54:46.800
at, I don't know, probably $5,000, maybe $6,000

01:54:46.800 --> 01:54:49.800
to get everything set so they're ready to serve.

01:54:49.800 --> 01:54:54.800
Okay, talking to the constituents all over

01:55:06.100 --> 01:55:09.380
and this is a sad situation,

01:55:10.560 --> 01:55:17.899
but I'm still gonna say it's not our job

01:55:23.079 --> 01:55:28.079
to use our tax payer money and fix this issue.

01:55:28.079 --> 01:55:55.550
I have not once heard Open Bible agree to meet halfway or anything. Since it is unclear, where would this money come from?

01:55:59.810 --> 01:56:23.810
I proposed in September that we could use it, use the Capital Improvement Fund to build it and construct it, and then we could potentially repay the Capital Improvement Fund with the equivalent amount of funds coming from the per-fluorinate compound litigation that we should be seeing.

01:56:23.810 --> 01:56:29.930
it's the forever chemicals there's a damages lawsuit between the city and 3M

01:56:29.930 --> 01:56:36.329
and BASF and DuPont and when those funds come in this would be an appropriate

01:56:36.329 --> 01:56:52.010
use of that you know I you know because what I was told was a rainy day fun I

01:56:52.010 --> 01:57:04.079
I don't know what makes up a rainy day fun well we can talk about this till

01:57:04.079 --> 01:57:08.399
whenever but I think the bottom line is if we can't come up to an agreement with

01:57:08.399 --> 01:57:11.600
them we're not gonna have a say it's gonna be in the court and there'll be a

01:57:11.600 --> 01:57:15.720
judge deciding it for us why would you say that I just think that there was an

01:57:15.720 --> 01:57:20.960
agreement made 25 years ago we didn't fulfill you said may have been an

01:57:20.960 --> 01:57:25.199
agreement what I'm just going by what chief Blackburn said okay okay and he

01:57:25.199 --> 01:57:41.960
I have a solution. I have a solution. Since it is unclear where the money for the entire

01:57:41.960 --> 01:57:52.600
project will come from, I think it is necessary that we, as a council, rescind resolution number

01:57:52.600 --> 01:58:04.439
R2-04-95 and draft a more responsible resolution creating a binding referendum to be placed

01:58:04.439 --> 01:58:17.569
on the ballot for the April 4th, the April 1st, 2025 general election, given the people,

01:58:17.569 --> 01:58:26.010
the taxpayers, our constituents who were here working on their behalf to give them the power

01:58:26.010 --> 01:58:30.440
to decide.

01:58:30.440 --> 01:58:34.319
Attorney Zito.

01:58:34.319 --> 01:58:40.440
Just as a point of clarification, so I think what your suggestion is, is that you want

01:58:40.440 --> 01:58:45.840
to put into the hands of the people the decision whether or not to run the water main out to

01:58:45.840 --> 01:58:46.840
open Bible.

01:58:46.840 --> 01:58:47.840
Correct.

01:58:47.840 --> 01:58:49.640
Are we going to pay for this project?

01:58:49.640 --> 01:58:50.640
Correct.

01:58:50.640 --> 01:58:51.640
Yes.

01:58:51.640 --> 01:58:57.399
that is different though than rescinding the fair gram contract right though that's two different

01:58:57.399 --> 01:59:05.319
things you guys already so already 80 done i i i thought i was told that was really not an option

01:59:05.319 --> 01:59:09.880
any longer right that's why i want to make sure because you you mentioned here in your your proposal

01:59:09.880 --> 01:59:16.039
what's you said rescind the resolution so that's why i want to make sure that you're talking about

01:59:16.039 --> 01:59:19.880
two different things that it cannot be rescinded right so you're not looking to rescind it you're

01:59:19.880 --> 01:59:22.359
you're just looking to put the question

01:59:22.359 --> 01:59:24.359
of whether or not the city should pay

01:59:24.359 --> 01:59:27.539
for extending the water main or referendum.

01:59:27.539 --> 01:59:28.380
Yes.

01:59:28.380 --> 01:59:29.199
Is that what you're suggesting?

01:59:29.199 --> 01:59:30.039
Yes.

01:59:30.039 --> 01:59:30.880
Okay.

01:59:30.880 --> 01:59:35.460
And I'm also making a motion to move that

01:59:35.460 --> 01:59:38.119
to the October 21st council meeting.

01:59:38.119 --> 01:59:40.340
October 21st council meeting, that question for a vote.

01:59:41.399 --> 01:59:44.380
I second it.

01:59:44.380 --> 01:59:45.220
Darren.

01:59:45.220 --> 01:59:49.699
Yeah, so just some points of clarity.

01:59:49.699 --> 01:59:52.779
Our contract that was approved at that meeting

01:59:52.779 --> 01:59:56.899
was only for design, not to move forward to bidding, right?

01:59:56.899 --> 02:00:00.739
So our contract is just to get it to a bid ready set

02:00:00.739 --> 02:00:05.659
of plans that then can be shelved, discussed,

02:00:05.659 --> 02:00:07.899
Grant opportunities could be looked for.

02:00:07.899 --> 02:00:10.779
There was no intent from the design approval

02:00:10.779 --> 02:00:13.100
that was there to move this to a bid at that time.

02:00:13.100 --> 02:00:16.100
We took that option off when it was approved.

02:00:16.100 --> 02:00:19.979
So this contract without council approval

02:00:19.979 --> 02:00:22.300
to go to bid cannot go to bid, right?

02:00:22.300 --> 02:00:24.420
It's just a design shovel ready.

02:00:24.420 --> 02:00:26.300
Then maybe we can chase some grant money

02:00:26.300 --> 02:00:30.420
because of the children and items out there.

02:00:30.420 --> 02:00:32.560
I also want to clarify the schedule.

02:00:32.560 --> 02:00:36.039
So we did say a year, but because it will take

02:00:36.039 --> 02:00:38.960
two to three months to get it ready,

02:00:38.960 --> 02:00:41.520
then it's gotta go to permitting for three months.

02:00:41.520 --> 02:00:43.960
And then by that time, it's gonna be like April.

02:00:43.960 --> 02:00:46.399
And this is probably a two to three month construction

02:00:46.399 --> 02:00:49.000
window, depending on when it would get fit in or bid.

02:00:49.000 --> 02:00:51.800
So by that time, we will be a full calendar year.

02:00:51.800 --> 02:00:54.359
That's generally what most projects end up taking.

02:00:56.399 --> 02:00:57.800
And you know that.

02:00:57.800 --> 02:00:58.640
Yeah.

02:00:58.640 --> 02:01:00.319
But that was not said to us.

02:01:00.319 --> 02:01:04.279
so when you said it's gonna take a year to design it,

02:01:04.279 --> 02:01:06.039
that's what I thought.

02:01:06.039 --> 02:01:08.880
Well, I'm sorry, I deal with it all the time

02:01:08.880 --> 02:01:11.439
so I may have not spoke clearly

02:01:11.439 --> 02:01:13.659
but that's typically what a project can take.

02:01:13.659 --> 02:01:15.479
We were asked to accelerate this one

02:01:15.479 --> 02:01:17.119
because of the children and the nature

02:01:17.119 --> 02:01:20.239
of the liability here and so we did accelerate the design

02:01:20.239 --> 02:01:22.159
because the sooner we have it designed,

02:01:22.159 --> 02:01:25.119
the sooner we can try to look for funding opportunities

02:01:25.119 --> 02:01:27.460
that may not be solely Freeport.

02:01:27.460 --> 02:01:42.460
One other point of clarity that I want to make. I have no skin in the game. I want to be transparent. My kids went to Open Bible. I don't know anybody there that has kids anymore, but my kids went there. I never knew they didn't have a sprinkler, and it would have been during the time period.

02:01:42.460 --> 02:01:46.460
There wasn't no sign up about the sprinkler saying, not in service?

02:01:46.460 --> 02:01:47.460
Davis.

02:01:47.460 --> 02:01:51.699
I never, if it did, I didn't read it, right?

02:01:51.699 --> 02:01:59.020
But I do think that we have to look at this at a little bit bigger game than what we are.

02:01:59.020 --> 02:02:05.039
The city of Freeport has a responsibility with our water system to serve people within

02:02:05.039 --> 02:02:08.460
our municipality if they want to be served.

02:02:08.460 --> 02:02:14.579
They are within the city limits as is all the other people that are from A to B and

02:02:14.579 --> 02:02:20.779
I will fully admit that we made a mistake calling this the Open Bible water main expansion.

02:02:20.779 --> 02:02:23.220
It's really to the west side of town.

02:02:23.220 --> 02:02:28.300
My question to you guys would be if this was in a different direction of town, if it went

02:02:28.300 --> 02:02:32.779
south, east, or west, would we still be having this argument?

02:02:32.779 --> 02:02:34.140
Yes we would.

02:02:34.140 --> 02:02:39.760
Because to me, if somebody's within our city limits and wants water, we have an obligation

02:02:39.760 --> 02:02:40.760
to serve them.

02:02:40.760 --> 02:02:43.180
Our ordinances say they can't have a well.

02:02:43.180 --> 02:02:51.300
yes you're right yeah yeah we do have we do have we do have to serve them if they

02:02:51.300 --> 02:02:55.819
if they want water they can't use wells but it doesn't have to be at our

02:02:55.819 --> 02:03:03.579
expense it doesn't have to be at our tax dollars expense well but it does with

02:03:03.579 --> 02:03:09.460
everyone else I mean every water main that's put in is our private church

02:03:09.460 --> 02:03:11.460
and

02:03:12.500 --> 02:03:14.500
Paul.

02:03:15.920 --> 02:03:17.920
And they don't pay taxes.

02:03:19.020 --> 02:03:21.020
Yes, they're in the city limits.

02:03:22.340 --> 02:03:27.789
So you're telling me Open Bible pays taxes on their church and

02:03:27.789 --> 02:03:29.789
their school?

02:03:31.010 --> 02:03:33.010
Exactly.

02:03:34.289 --> 02:03:35.630
Like the church that you go to, that you go to, it's no

02:03:35.630 --> 02:03:37.630
different.

02:03:39.130 --> 02:03:41.130
Okay.

02:03:42.149 --> 02:03:46.350
and certainly Open Bible would be a beneficiary

02:03:46.350 --> 02:03:48.949
of this water main placement out there.

02:03:48.949 --> 02:03:53.949
But what concerns me even beyond that particular facility

02:03:53.949 --> 02:03:57.270
is that span of more than 2,000 feet

02:03:57.270 --> 02:04:00.630
represents seven more city fire hydrants

02:04:00.630 --> 02:04:03.270
that would go in service in there.

02:04:03.270 --> 02:04:06.250
So right now, any kind of structure fire issue

02:04:06.250 --> 02:04:10.949
we would have between, Bradmar?

02:04:10.949 --> 02:04:14.949
and further west, we have no water supply.

02:04:14.949 --> 02:04:17.949
Yeah, I see, I understand what you're saying.

02:04:17.949 --> 02:04:21.789
So, seven more fire hydrants, three other parks,

02:04:21.789 --> 02:04:25.189
benefits the whole area, not just open viable.

02:04:25.189 --> 02:04:26.710
And the fire department as well.

02:04:26.710 --> 02:04:28.189
I understand that.

02:04:28.189 --> 02:04:32.149
Right, I can understand that right there.

02:04:32.149 --> 02:04:35.189
So, it would not just be a dedicated,

02:04:35.189 --> 02:04:38.829
open viable water main ran out to them.

02:04:38.829 --> 02:04:41.569
it would be a West side of town benefit.

02:04:41.569 --> 02:04:44.729
What's odd enough is they have city sewer out there.

02:04:44.729 --> 02:04:49.130
The earth was opened up and pipes taking material away

02:04:49.130 --> 02:04:53.210
from that facility in that area exists.

02:04:53.210 --> 02:04:55.890
Now, why can't there be pipes putting in the ground

02:04:55.890 --> 02:04:59.289
that runs water to their facility?

02:04:59.289 --> 02:05:00.569
I mean, it's like a double standard

02:05:00.569 --> 02:05:03.010
we're all discussing here and recognizing.

02:05:03.010 --> 02:05:07.130
So their waste goes to city services

02:05:07.130 --> 02:05:10.970
and runs through city, you know.

02:05:10.970 --> 02:05:12.010
Sewer mains.

02:05:12.010 --> 02:05:16.529
Sewer mains and it gets handled by city services,

02:05:16.529 --> 02:05:20.649
but yet it's city limits and we don't have water out there.

02:05:20.649 --> 02:05:24.170
And it's like if we didn't have seven fire hydrants

02:05:24.170 --> 02:05:27.289
running down Stevenson with this large gap.

02:05:27.289 --> 02:05:28.649
It's a city utility.

02:05:28.649 --> 02:05:32.770
And again, my main concern is water supply

02:05:32.770 --> 02:05:34.689
going on the west side of town.

02:05:34.689 --> 02:05:38.850
and added benefit would just be protection to Open Bible

02:05:38.850 --> 02:05:43.850
and any other structure that is within those boundaries.

02:05:43.930 --> 02:05:46.529
Right, and what you're saying is

02:05:47.649 --> 02:05:50.569
all of that has to come by design.

02:05:50.569 --> 02:05:53.050
You have to really design those hydrants

02:05:54.569 --> 02:05:57.890
if it has to go in place to be installed.

02:06:00.310 --> 02:06:04.590
Open Bible could be a recipient of that installation

02:06:04.590 --> 02:06:06.090
without paying anything.

02:06:06.090 --> 02:06:07.670
Is that what we're getting at?

02:06:07.670 --> 02:06:11.789
It would certainly be hooked up to that main,

02:06:11.789 --> 02:06:15.550
which is also providing, again, seven more fire hydrants

02:06:15.550 --> 02:06:17.470
to the west side of town.

02:06:17.470 --> 02:06:20.630
And I'm looking at it in even a larger scope,

02:06:20.630 --> 02:06:24.630
a bigger picture than just one particular facility.

02:06:24.630 --> 02:06:29.630
Right, I hear you loud and clear right there, Chief.

02:06:29.630 --> 02:06:40.550
it is my desire to put it into the hands of the people and that it be placed on

02:06:40.550 --> 02:06:50.149
the ballot for the April 1st 2025 general election. Okay. Do we have a

02:06:50.149 --> 02:06:55.909
Do we have any? No, it's no motion. Do we have any? I think there's an order here.

02:06:55.909 --> 02:07:04.109
You said? There was a motion. I thought you said. Oh, that was, that was to move it to

02:07:04.109 --> 02:07:18.750
the April. Yes. So you made a motion to put the referendum concept. Yeah. I did. Okay.

02:07:18.750 --> 02:07:29.470
All I want to comment is you know within the next say three months we'll have an EPA approved set.

02:07:30.510 --> 02:07:35.789
We're not going to go to construction but there's a lot of powerful individuals in this room having

02:07:35.789 --> 02:07:41.310
a disagreement about something that maybe if we put our efforts together we can find a way to fund

02:07:41.310 --> 02:07:48.109
this project that has a lot of need for fire protection for children and find a way that it

02:07:48.109 --> 02:07:54.510
doesn't use city funds. We've had the ability to find grants before. This story would play well

02:07:54.510 --> 02:08:01.390
with constituents and state representatives and other parties. So maybe we can all instead of

02:08:01.390 --> 02:08:08.109
have a big disagreement about it, find a way to work together to applaud or apply to agencies

02:08:08.109 --> 02:08:17.869
to find some kind of funding for this. I really think due to the early child care aspect of this

02:08:17.869 --> 02:08:23.829
project along with the safety needs and the fire needs of the community. This is

02:08:23.829 --> 02:08:27.390
something that a lot of people here could work together to find some kind of

02:08:27.390 --> 02:08:31.190
avenue to you know maybe maybe we can find a grant to fully fund it. And

02:08:31.190 --> 02:08:39.789
hopefully the school is trying to do that and not waiting for a handout.

02:08:39.789 --> 02:08:48.149
Hopefully, they're looking for ways of getting money to help fund this.

02:08:48.149 --> 02:08:52.069
I can't speak educated on that subject.

02:08:52.069 --> 02:08:58.229
I have no idea what power that school or the demographic of that school would be to have

02:08:58.229 --> 02:09:03.430
to find a grant to place a public infrastructure.

02:09:03.430 --> 02:09:07.109
And really, you know, Open Bible isn't looking for a handout.

02:09:07.109 --> 02:09:11.690
It's the city's responsibility to provide water to every constituent.

02:09:11.690 --> 02:09:12.690
It's not a handout.

02:09:12.690 --> 02:09:14.470
It's what we need to do.

02:09:14.470 --> 02:09:15.590
We're obligated.

02:09:15.590 --> 02:09:18.430
It's just too bad that it was put in our lap and we didn't know it.

02:09:18.430 --> 02:09:20.789
So why wasn't this done 25 years ago?

02:09:20.789 --> 02:09:22.069
Well, that's the magic question.

02:09:22.069 --> 02:09:23.069
No one has that answer.

02:09:23.069 --> 02:09:24.069
I don't know it.

02:09:24.069 --> 02:09:25.069
I wasn't in it.

02:09:25.069 --> 02:09:26.069
You weren't in it.

02:09:26.069 --> 02:09:31.869
If it was our responsibility then, if you're saying it's our responsibility now, it was

02:09:31.869 --> 02:09:33.869
our responsibility then.

02:09:33.869 --> 02:09:36.029
but they didn't even have the decency to bring it.

02:09:36.029 --> 02:09:37.239
didn't even have the decency to bring it to the council.

02:09:39.529 --> 02:09:44.529
Mayor Getz said it never even hit the council floor.

02:09:44.770 --> 02:09:49.250
So who are you asking for what from and through

02:09:50.569 --> 02:09:54.170
when you don't even go through the mayor or the council

02:09:54.170 --> 02:09:59.170
who works on behalf of the city and the constituents

02:09:59.529 --> 02:10:04.529
and making it run and operate as it should.

02:10:04.529 --> 02:10:09.529
but you avoid that lifeline,

02:10:09.869 --> 02:10:13.409
really the only lifeline that can give this life

02:10:13.409 --> 02:10:18.409
was avoided because the community development person

02:10:20.010 --> 02:10:24.409
shook the hands of the principal.

02:10:24.409 --> 02:10:26.630
Really, that's all we have to do now?

02:10:28.449 --> 02:10:30.829
Duckman, let's shake some hands.

02:10:30.829 --> 02:10:37.399
I'm sorry, I'm sorry.

02:10:37.399 --> 02:10:38.399
Huffines.

02:10:38.399 --> 02:10:41.560
So if the discussion is done, you should probably call for the vote.

02:10:41.560 --> 02:10:51.000
Yes, I want to call for the vote, but we don't even...

02:10:51.000 --> 02:10:53.640
Can we clarify what the vote's for?

02:10:53.640 --> 02:10:58.479
Her motion is to put a referendum question on...

02:10:58.479 --> 02:11:00.840
So a yes would be in favor and no would be against.

02:11:00.840 --> 02:11:01.840
On the...

02:11:01.840 --> 02:11:08.439
On the city council meeting for next Monday night.

02:11:08.439 --> 02:11:14.000
So if you want, if you want to have a referendum on this, then you vote yes, if you don't then

02:11:14.000 --> 02:11:15.000
you vote no.

02:11:15.000 --> 02:11:18.000
Just wanted to verify it.

02:11:18.000 --> 02:11:24.640
But I ask that the vote, that it be placed on for vote next week.

02:11:24.640 --> 02:11:25.640
Right.

02:11:25.640 --> 02:11:26.640
So, right.

02:11:26.640 --> 02:11:27.960
So that's your motion, right?

02:11:27.960 --> 02:11:34.579
Just so that at the next city council meeting, there will be an agenda item about authorizing

02:11:34.579 --> 02:11:36.079
a referendum question.

02:11:36.079 --> 02:11:37.079
Yes.

02:11:37.079 --> 02:11:38.079
Right.

02:11:38.079 --> 02:11:42.239
and I will double check because there are certain deadlines you did mention

02:11:42.239 --> 02:11:47.439
specifically the April 1st election day I will double check to make sure we

02:11:47.439 --> 02:11:53.000
haven't missed the deadline for putting a referendum on the April 1st there so

02:11:53.000 --> 02:11:57.840
assuming we haven't missed that deadline if this passes then we can move forward

02:11:57.840 --> 02:12:02.720
as presented otherwise we may to the next available election so I thought

02:12:02.720 --> 02:12:27.060
and

02:12:27.060 --> 02:12:31.819
if this if this is the will of the council to go to referendum then and so if it

02:12:31.819 --> 02:12:38.819
doesn't pass then what you just saying it's dead you well you can you again

02:12:38.819 --> 02:12:43.420
like you just bring it right two people could put it right back on and see if you

02:12:43.420 --> 02:12:52.310
know see if the vote changes okay could I ask a question

02:12:52.310 --> 02:12:53.310
Johnson.

02:12:53.310 --> 02:13:05.630
This would be for Aaron or for Darren, one of the two.

02:13:05.630 --> 02:13:13.350
If the contract is pulled for the design, is that what we're discussing now, pulling it

02:13:13.350 --> 02:13:14.670
for the design also?

02:13:14.670 --> 02:13:16.430
No, the design is completed.

02:13:16.430 --> 02:13:19.630
Okay, then forget what he said.

02:13:19.630 --> 02:13:20.630
Johnson.

02:13:20.630 --> 02:13:21.630
So design is done.

02:13:21.630 --> 02:13:25.029
That $69,000 is paid, whether we do anything or not.

02:13:25.029 --> 02:13:29.739
Yes?

02:13:29.739 --> 02:13:30.739
Excuse me.

02:13:30.739 --> 02:13:33.380
I have a suggestion.

02:13:33.380 --> 02:13:39.340
Rather than making a motion to put it up for referendum, how about make a motion to put

02:13:39.340 --> 02:13:44.140
it on and maybe we can discuss directing staff to look for grants so that we don't have to

02:13:44.140 --> 02:13:45.819
worry about the issue of the money.

02:13:45.819 --> 02:13:51.100
Maybe we can find, like Darren suggested, we can find an outside source that'll help

02:13:51.100 --> 02:14:13.810
I have not attempted to look for any grant opportunity on this project to this point.

02:14:13.810 --> 02:14:21.250
A, I hadn't been directed to and number two is until we have a shovel ready set, the kind

02:14:21.250 --> 02:14:27.569
of funding that we would be able to get for this, you know, we'd just be talking about

02:14:27.569 --> 02:14:31.630
the uncertain until we have it, you know, designed and permitted.

02:14:31.630 --> 02:14:39.130
That's when you can really chase some opportunities of people that have immediate funding, like

02:14:39.130 --> 02:14:43.289
Sorenson or Cabello or somebody of that nature.

02:14:43.289 --> 02:14:47.130
I actually had a discussion with McGuire Woods just to give them a heads up that we're going

02:14:47.130 --> 02:15:17.130
McQuire, the lobbyist is aware and waiting on what that design and the whole concept I mean you can't go looking for grant money if you don't know what you're asking for you got to push you got to put the horse before the cart well that's already happened but I'm

02:15:17.130 --> 02:15:25.909
it's in since the design is already at the EPA that's enough information for the

02:15:25.909 --> 02:15:31.010
lobbyists to know what he needs to find what he's looking for. Isn't there a three

02:15:31.010 --> 02:15:37.949
month process that that excuse me the review time is a three month process for

02:15:37.949 --> 02:15:44.289
EPA review on this type of water main project what you said so we sit and we

02:15:44.289 --> 02:15:45.770
Wait three months.

02:15:45.770 --> 02:15:47.329
No, you can put some feelers out,

02:15:47.329 --> 02:15:50.850
but I'm just saying the immediate money that we're

02:15:50.850 --> 02:15:56.090
looking for will be probably a greater opportunity once we

02:15:56.090 --> 02:15:59.449
actually have the permit in hand.

02:15:59.449 --> 02:16:03.250
It's not shovel ready till you're permitted.

02:16:03.250 --> 02:16:12.060
Got to be permitted.

02:16:12.060 --> 02:16:26.199
I would be willing to pull back my motion.

02:16:26.199 --> 02:16:31.199
However, Attorney Zito, I still would like that information

02:16:32.920 --> 02:16:41.280
on a timeframe and Director Steagall

02:16:48.610 --> 02:16:56.920
and City Manager Boyer and Mayor Miller.

02:16:56.920 --> 02:17:01.920
If you're physically willing to look and search and see

02:17:01.920 --> 02:17:06.920
look and search and see what may be out there.

02:17:13.950 --> 02:17:17.430
Now that's three people.

02:17:17.430 --> 02:17:20.629
I'm attempting to put it in your hands

02:17:20.629 --> 02:17:23.090
and see where we can move with this,

02:17:23.090 --> 02:17:30.219
how we can move if we can move.

02:17:30.219 --> 02:17:34.520
So under those conditions, if I have your commitment,

02:17:34.520 --> 02:17:44.360
I would be willing to pull back that motion.

02:17:44.360 --> 02:17:52.190
but I still do want.

02:17:52.190 --> 02:17:57.090
Well, I already told you what I was already doing, so.

02:17:57.090 --> 02:18:04.500
City Manager Boyer, do I have your commitment?

02:18:04.500 --> 02:18:11.219
Yep, we'll look for as much funding as possible.

02:18:11.219 --> 02:18:16.219
Now, I hope that just wasn't an answer just to blow me off

02:18:16.700 --> 02:18:18.780
cause that's what it sound like, City Manager.

02:18:18.780 --> 02:18:20.440
In order for that to happen,

02:18:20.440 --> 02:18:23.540
we have to also have the second follow-suit.

02:18:23.540 --> 02:18:24.379
Yes.

02:18:26.100 --> 02:18:28.899
Director Steele, do we have your commitment?

02:18:28.899 --> 02:18:33.280
always, I'm always looking for money.

02:18:33.280 --> 02:18:37.340
Alderman Sanders, would you be willing to pull back

02:18:37.340 --> 02:18:42.340
your second since I'm willing to pull back my motion?

02:18:43.319 --> 02:18:48.319
Yes, Your Highness, I'll be more,

02:18:49.260 --> 02:18:50.979
I'm just being comical.

02:18:50.979 --> 02:18:53.219
I'll do anything for you.

02:18:54.459 --> 02:18:59.299
But yes, I would be willing to pull back my motion.

02:18:59.299 --> 02:19:01.739
but adding to that as you are doing,

02:19:03.340 --> 02:19:06.340
we're just not gonna let it just linger.

02:19:06.340 --> 02:19:07.180
Let's put this thing.

02:19:07.180 --> 02:19:08.260
It's not gonna lay dormant.

02:19:08.260 --> 02:19:11.459
Yeah, let's put this thing on a time schedule

02:19:12.700 --> 02:19:16.840
to meet reporting updates.

02:19:18.899 --> 02:19:20.340
I don't know, monthly?

02:19:20.340 --> 02:19:21.700
Uh-uh, weekly.

02:19:21.700 --> 02:19:22.540
Weekly?

02:19:22.540 --> 02:19:23.360
Every meeting.

02:19:23.360 --> 02:19:25.819
Okay, and so we need to get an update status

02:19:25.819 --> 02:19:30.819
on where we're at with our project researchers

02:19:31.500 --> 02:19:34.299
and grant researchers or whatever we're researching.

02:19:34.299 --> 02:19:51.000
I just want the energy to stay in the room because there's a lack of energy that I perceived.

02:19:51.000 --> 02:19:52.840
That's what I'm looking at.

02:19:52.840 --> 02:20:01.959
I want the enthusiasm from the council, rah, rah, cheer, cheer, cheer, cheer, cheer, cheer,

02:20:01.959 --> 02:20:08.079
we're doing this for the general public we should we should have pumping stands

02:20:08.079 --> 02:20:13.319
we should have all kind of horns blowing. Thank you Alderman Sanders. We have all this

02:20:13.319 --> 02:20:19.639
going on because I mean I mean we look it looks doom and gloom in here. Thank you

02:20:19.639 --> 02:20:46.299
Alderman Sanders. Do we have any public comments? Yes. Since I was told this was

02:20:46.299 --> 02:20:48.979
is a relevant during our conversation.

02:20:48.979 --> 02:20:51.959
I'd like to talk a little bit about

02:20:51.959 --> 02:20:55.020
who we're talking about running water to.

02:20:55.020 --> 02:20:56.979
Another thing I'd like to bring up is

02:20:56.979 --> 02:20:59.299
it's for everybody to know,

02:20:59.299 --> 02:21:02.020
it's awful easy to blame it on a guy that's dead

02:21:02.020 --> 02:21:03.120
who gave the handshake.

02:21:04.840 --> 02:21:09.280
The community development director doesn't have to be around.

02:21:09.280 --> 02:21:13.059
And we do have obligations from things

02:21:13.059 --> 02:21:14.340
that have been done in the past,

02:21:14.340 --> 02:21:16.260
whether we like it or not.

02:21:16.260 --> 02:21:21.860
I had the pleasure of meeting with Jennifer Fuller, School Administrator at Open Bible.

02:21:21.860 --> 02:21:27.940
We had talked about two times by phone and then I got together with her so she could provide me some

02:21:27.940 --> 02:21:35.700
information on Open Bible. She started there in 2006 and was promoted to superintendent in 2009.

02:21:37.219 --> 02:21:44.340
Open Bible's been a mainstay in the city of Freeport since 50s, 60s when Bob Bush started

02:21:44.340 --> 02:21:48.940
and there's only been three pastors since that period of time.

02:21:48.940 --> 02:21:53.340
The church expanded out here as we know so they could grow.

02:21:53.340 --> 02:21:55.319
The building has been always maintained

02:21:55.319 --> 02:21:57.739
in three separate sections, the church,

02:21:57.739 --> 02:22:01.899
the childhood center and the early development center.

02:22:01.899 --> 02:22:04.920
Open Bible does not take children under two years old

02:22:04.920 --> 02:22:09.760
and provides grades through K to five for education.

02:22:09.760 --> 02:22:12.899
After that, children go to other schools.

02:22:12.899 --> 02:22:17.739
The current makeup and demographics is 2024 in September.

02:22:17.739 --> 02:22:22.739
Maximum enrollment is 217 children of totally staff.

02:22:23.159 --> 02:22:25.739
This includes daycare and educational.

02:22:25.739 --> 02:22:28.440
Right now there's 174 people there.

02:22:30.940 --> 02:22:34.020
They were the only facility that was open during COVID

02:22:34.020 --> 02:22:38.180
that people could drop off their children.

02:22:38.180 --> 02:22:41.700
Right now they have 131 children, three to five.

02:22:41.700 --> 02:22:45.319
when these people leave it after fifth grade,

02:22:47.620 --> 02:22:51.860
let me see here, 116 of them go to other schools

02:22:51.860 --> 02:22:53.200
or home school.

02:22:54.139 --> 02:22:56.879
Filling facilities is inspected like I said

02:22:56.879 --> 02:22:59.819
every three years by the state fire marshal

02:22:59.819 --> 02:23:03.260
which is the code that she told me they went by

02:23:03.260 --> 02:23:05.059
and I'm sure they have figures on it.

02:23:06.420 --> 02:23:10.500
The city's authorized Fehr Graham to do design drawings.

02:23:10.500 --> 02:23:13.059
the city can go out for a shovel-ready project.

02:23:14.200 --> 02:23:16.020
This will give extra consideration

02:23:16.020 --> 02:23:19.459
due to the shovel-ready part of it labeling the project

02:23:19.459 --> 02:23:22.559
which allows for immediate startup of the project

02:23:22.559 --> 02:23:23.600
and for funding.

02:23:24.540 --> 02:23:28.739
This can also provide city water to existing houses

02:23:28.739 --> 02:23:30.739
on both sides of Stevenson Street,

02:23:30.739 --> 02:23:34.500
supply water for additional housing if it was built

02:23:34.500 --> 02:23:36.500
next to Park Hill Golf Course

02:23:36.500 --> 02:23:39.379
and would also provide water needed for sprinklers

02:23:39.379 --> 02:23:40.899
and the Day Care Center.

02:23:40.899 --> 02:23:42.840
The church has water for the building

02:23:42.840 --> 02:23:44.899
because it already has a well.

02:23:44.899 --> 02:23:47.819
I thank you for your time and I have no seconds left.

02:23:47.819 --> 02:23:52.670
I appreciate it.

02:23:52.670 --> 02:24:02.180
Any other public comment?

02:24:02.180 --> 02:24:06.860
Don't forget the banquet's tomorrow.

02:24:06.860 --> 02:24:08.420
Yeah, I'm probably not gonna be able to make that, Tommy,

02:24:08.420 --> 02:24:09.579
but thanks for the invitation.

02:24:09.579 --> 02:24:12.440
And did you see the referoo opens on Friday?

02:24:12.440 --> 02:24:13.280
Oh, it is?

02:24:13.280 --> 02:24:14.780
On Friday.

02:24:14.780 --> 02:24:16.579
Oh, you, how you find?

02:24:16.579 --> 02:24:18.379
I can't believe you don't know that.

02:24:18.379 --> 02:24:19.219
I didn't know.

02:24:19.219 --> 02:24:20.219
Huffines.

02:24:20.219 --> 02:24:23.379
You can get your Cheddar Fries on Friday.

02:24:23.379 --> 02:24:26.860
Oh, they got, who's going to cut to it?

02:24:26.860 --> 02:24:27.860
There isn't one.

02:24:27.860 --> 02:24:30.420
We already did a shovel ceremony.

02:24:30.420 --> 02:24:35.299
So, it'll be open like Friday morning?

02:24:35.299 --> 02:24:39.860
I don't know their time, just Friday, that's what I know.

02:24:39.860 --> 02:24:47.850
Okay.

02:24:47.850 --> 02:24:52.530
If there's nothing else, I make a motion to adjourn.

02:24:52.530 --> 02:24:53.530
Second.

02:24:53.530 --> 02:25:08.659
Oh can I do that? I'll make the motion. Do we have a second? All in favor?