WEBVTT

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and the rest of the group.

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and then we'll just go to the park and start to get the site changed.

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Let's get a paper out there.

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It's a column we can use to get things out.

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Then you can do the work to get the content.

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Yeah.

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We're not trying to...

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And I don't think there's that much there.

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Yeah.

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You didn't want to throw your two zones for a bit?

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Okay.

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Two there and five.

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11 of a kind.

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Well, and then

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some of ours.

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Take a note, too.

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I need to delete that.

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

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Good evening, Madam Mayor, Council, everyone, would you please pray with me?

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Lord God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, it is in you that we live and move and have our being.

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You have made us, and so we are yours, not our own. Lord, you have provided and set in place

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whatever powers, governments, managements exist, and even as you have placed calling upon each one

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of our lives and gifted us with every ability that we have to carry out those callings,

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Huffines, you encourage us to turn to you for wisdom and strength.

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And you are so kind to hear and answer prayers generously, even liberally.

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And so we pray for this council tonight and its work.

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We pray for our city workers across each department.

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We pray for first responders throughout our city and our county.

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Lord move each one to call upon your name for help and safety

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for wisdom and strength

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even as we ask those same things for them now here tonight and

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Lord we regularly hear and say ourselves that we live in divided and divisive days

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may we live compassionately and

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patiently before you and with each other and

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and enable us Lord to find the grace and forgiveness that you alone grant that we

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might live lives of grace and honor in the days that you have given each one of

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us and help us tonight I pray in the name of your only son amen thank you then I

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will officially call this meeting to order madam clerk could you please take

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the roll mayor Miller here Alder persons clam here Monroe here Simmons

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Parker, Stacy, Shadle, Sanders, and Sellers is absent.

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Could you please stand for the Pledge of Allegiance led by Alderman Klemm?

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

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Item number one is the approval of the agenda. Is there such a motion?

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and

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Huffines.

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So moved. Second.

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Motion made by Alderman Monroe, seconded by Alderman Shadle.

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All those in favor, signify by saying aye.

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Opposed? Motion passes. Item number two is approval of the

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minutes from the meeting on September 3, 2024. Is there a

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motion to approve? So moved. Second.

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Motion made by Alderman Monroe, seconded by Alderman Shadle.

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We'll move on to the consent agenda which is considered to be routine in nature and acted as one motion unless a member of council would like to have something removed for further discussion.

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Seeing none, the consent agenda consists of approving to receive and place on file from August 2024 the building permit report, the fire department report, police department report, the housing authority monthly report, and the greater Freeport partnership monthly report.

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in the total of $654,071.28. Is there a motion to approve?

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So moved. Second.

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We have a motion made by Alderman Shadle, seconded by Alderman Klemm. Madam Clerk, could you please take the roll?

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Klemm? Aye.

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Monroe? Aye.

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Simmons? Aye.

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Parker? Aye.

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Stacy? Aye.

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Shadle? Aye.

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And Sanders? Aye.

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The motion carries 7-0.

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Madam Clerk could you please read the appointment? Yvette Sellers to the Arts and Culture Commission.

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Is there a motion to approve? So moved. Second. A motion made by Alderman Parker, seconded by

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Alderman Shadle. Any discussion? Madam Clerk, do I need? All those in favor? Aye. Opposed? That motion

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passes. Item number six is the second reading of ordinance 2024-50. Could you please read this?

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Ordinance authorizing a lease with Matthew Van Bergen for Hangar J at Albertus Airport.

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Thank you. Manager Boyer.

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Thank you, Your Honor. Again, this is approval for Hangar J lease for the amount of $800 per month with

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Matthew Bergen and it will generate $800 a month for the city and staff approves the

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recommends the approval of this hanger lease.

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Any discussion? Madam Clerk, please take the roll.

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Klemm.

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Aye.

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Monroe.

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Aye. Simmons? Aye. Parker? Aye. Stacy? Aye. Shadle? Aye. And Sanders? Aye. The lease is approved seven to zero. Item number seven is the first reading of Ordinance 2024-51. Could you please read this?

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Ordinance approving financing or funding for purchase of a utility vector sewer cleaner for the utility and street departments. Thank you. Manager Boyer.

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Thank you, Your Honor. City Council approved the purchase of a utility

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vector sewer cleaning truck at the meeting held on September 3rd in the amount of $587,670.06.

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At that time, Council was informed that financing for the purchase would be presented at the

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next City Council meeting to be held today. The City has utilized tax-exempt government

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leases as a source of financing previously. The advantage of this type of funding is the

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and a lower rate of interest compared to regular market lending rates.

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Because the lesser does not pay federal taxes on the lease payment it receives, it can offer

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lower financing rates to the government agencies with a municipal lease.

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The intent of the leasee is to purchase and take title to the equipment.

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The quarterly payments for this lease will be paid out of the sewer fund and the finance

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department received proposals from tax exempt lending corp with a rate of 5.49% for seven

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Years, and U.S. Bancorp government leasing with a rate of 4.63 percent for seven years.

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Staff request council to approve a seven-year tax-exempt municipal lease agreement for $587,670

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670.06 with U.S. Bancorp Government Leasing and Financing at a rate of 4.36 percent for seven years.

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The proposal is good until November. So, staff encouraged... Is there a motion to move this

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forward? So move. Second. Motion made by Alderman Munro, seconded by Alderman Shadel, sorry. Motion

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Do we have a second? Okay, so the motion before you is the suspension, which is non-debatable,

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must pass by two-thirds majority. Madam Clerk, could you please take the roll on the suspension

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only?

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Klemm?

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Aye.

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Monroe?

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No.

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Simmons?

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No.

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Parker?

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Aye.

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Stacy?

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No.

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Shadle?

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Aye.

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And Sanders?

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No.

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Motion fails for lack of a two-thirds vote.

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Okay, so now before you is the motion to move it forward.

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Is there a discussion?

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Alderman Sanders.

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Yeah, I'd like to know on this item,

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did we do a proper bidding

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for another option?

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Maybe, I don't know.

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This is the only unit that's available to us that we have an opportunity to look for other alternatives.

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Alderman Sanders, this was a demo model. It's a Vactor brand, which is a very good brand.

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They brought it out to demonstrate to the crews. It's basically like our old one.

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and we are getting it at a discount compared to new because it has been used

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a handful of times to demo it so they're a source well dealer and source well

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dealers do not we don't require no one requires three bids with a source well

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dealer okay so this is actually a very good bargain and for a almost new piece

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of equipment that we can use today. So we do get in the business of buying used

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Fowler.

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In this particular case, yes, and this is no different than the ladder truck we purchased

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last year, I guess it was, maybe two years ago, where we purchased the demo model in

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lieu of waiting for years for the equipment to be manufactured and delivered.

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So what's the as-is policy on making purchases of used equipment?

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I think the attorney has some insight on that for you.

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So the purchase of the Vactor truck, that was already approved at the last council meeting.

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So tonight, what's on the agenda is just how do we pay for it.

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And what's on the agenda is just to approve the loan with the bank.

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So it has been approved.

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Yeah, that was on the agenda at the last meeting.

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All right.

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Thank you.

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Darren.

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Yeah.

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So the reason that we asked for the suspension of the rules tonight is because we, as the

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approval from the last meeting sent a letter of intent to the factor manufacturer to purchase

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it and in that letter of intent we had 30 days to get our financing in place.

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So that's why it will no longer be reserved for us going to be sold out from under us

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if we don't suspend the rules and make a motion because our next meeting I believe is not

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till October 7th.

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Miller.

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So what are our other options for paying for this then?

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I would defer to the finance director on that.

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We talked about that last week, that our cash reserves have the money, but we don't want

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to deplete them and we can't take this money from CIP because it's not a capital project.

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We do have enough to cover in it, but the finance director didn't feel comfortable with

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some of the sewer repairs and things like that

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that we have been having happen within the utility lately

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to deplete that and usually a purchase of this size.

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This is how we've been buying them on a lease.

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Is this, sure, go ahead.

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Is this the equipment that they said

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was the most important piece of equipment for this,

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the city, the one that came after both of the vehicles last week?

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Yes, the sewer, the sewer vector equipment is used not only by water and sewer, but it's

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also been used by the street department where you do a lot of hydrovacking with it.

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Most days we have two of these on the street.

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Right now we only have one that's functional.

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The other one, as I told you last year, is a 2002 and it's fully depleted.

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We can't even use it because it leaks sewer down the streets when we bring it out of the

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Kessler.

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So it's, there's really not much left of it to be honest with you.

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It's not roadworthy either.

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It doesn't, didn't pass the inspections.

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Odomen Sanders.

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Uh, so, so where are we at, at this point, uh, when?

00:15:34.740 --> 00:15:41.579
We've already sent a letter of intent to Vactor, uh, the manufacturer, the sales people that,

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that brought it out.

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This, as I explained at the last meeting, the only time that this has been used was

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actually in Freeport when we demoed it here.

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So we're the only ones that have used it. We cut the ties off of it to demo it to make

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sure it's what we wanted. And it's been driven to three cities since they've got it. So we

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feel confident. The warranty is bumper to bumper full, just like it was brand new and

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never been used.

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And so what we're talking about tonight is to reinforce what the last approval was on

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this item?

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No.

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Manager Boyer?

00:16:17.139 --> 00:16:21.860
it's basically to approve the financing that's all okay which is comes back to

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the urgency because of the time frame of so just to remind council we got a right

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from the manufacturer sales rep and our rate to lease it excuse me over the

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seven-year period and it was higher than we anticipated so the finance director

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shopped around to banks that we normally lease equipment with and she

00:16:44.980 --> 00:16:48.139
We found better rates, better terms for the payments.

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That's why we asked for some time at the last meeting

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to find the best rate for Freeport.

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All right, Stacy.

00:16:53.600 --> 00:16:57.319
So would it be fair to say that you jumped a gun

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in sending out this letter without knowing

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how the council really felt about this matter?

00:17:07.039 --> 00:17:09.360
No, ma'am, we sent it out after the approval

00:17:09.360 --> 00:17:11.299
at the last meeting, which was the resolution

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to purchase it based on financing.

00:17:13.779 --> 00:17:17.420
but we had not discussed how we were gonna purchase it.

00:17:18.339 --> 00:17:19.880
That's what we're doing at this meeting.

00:17:19.880 --> 00:17:22.019
The letter of intent is to hold it

00:17:23.539 --> 00:17:26.579
until we sign the contract, nothing set in stone.

00:17:26.579 --> 00:17:28.180
It's so that they would not sell it out

00:17:28.180 --> 00:17:29.619
from under us for 30 days.

00:17:29.619 --> 00:17:30.940
Okay, sounds good.

00:17:30.940 --> 00:17:35.220
Okay, so since the vote has failed,

00:17:35.220 --> 00:17:39.490
where do we go from here?

00:17:39.490 --> 00:17:41.490
Attorney Zito would have to tell us that.

00:17:42.529 --> 00:17:45.769
So because the motion to suspend the rules failed,

00:17:45.769 --> 00:17:51.670
So this will go, if nothing else is done on this matter, it will show up on the agenda

00:17:51.670 --> 00:17:55.849
for the next, at the next council meeting as a second reading on the loan.

00:17:55.849 --> 00:18:00.569
And if you guys approve it, then you'll have a loan for it.

00:18:00.569 --> 00:18:07.490
But the problem will be potentially that the vendor may not have held the, held the truck

00:18:07.490 --> 00:18:13.730
for us anymore because they gave us a 30 day window to get our financing in place there.

00:18:13.730 --> 00:18:15.410
So it might be gone.

00:18:15.410 --> 00:18:20.610
if it is then obviously by the next meeting then then make no sense obviously to approve

00:18:20.610 --> 00:18:22.970
the loan because you don't need it at that point.

00:18:22.970 --> 00:18:29.569
Okay, so could one of the aldermen that voted no on the suspension changes her mind and

00:18:29.569 --> 00:18:32.210
bring it back up for suspension and consideration?

00:18:32.210 --> 00:18:33.210
Motion to reconsider?

00:18:33.210 --> 00:18:34.210
Motion to reconsider.

00:18:34.210 --> 00:18:35.210
I'd like to.

00:18:35.210 --> 00:18:37.210
Wait, he had a question.

00:18:37.210 --> 00:18:44.259
Sure, go ahead, read it.

00:18:44.259 --> 00:18:49.940
So in your minutes from the September 3rd meeting, it breaks all this down.

00:18:49.940 --> 00:18:54.779
We had this discussion, and it says a letter of intent and purchase order would provide

00:18:54.779 --> 00:18:57.099
for an early November delivery.

00:18:57.099 --> 00:19:01.619
I don't have in here specifically that it was discussed, but I believe all of these

00:19:01.619 --> 00:19:06.059
options were discussed and it was council's direction to finance.

00:19:06.059 --> 00:19:11.779
And that, I'm pretty sure that was all said at the last meeting.

00:19:11.779 --> 00:19:16.500
With all due respect, I think jumping the gun was perhaps the motion to suspend as we

00:19:16.500 --> 00:19:25.179
probably should have had this discussion and then so Mayor back to bringing it back by

00:19:25.179 --> 00:19:27.619
one of the party that failed would tie that all together.

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Right.

00:19:28.619 --> 00:19:31.740
So Alderman Monroe, I think you had your hand up next.

00:19:31.740 --> 00:19:35.619
I did Mayor and the City Clerk hit the nail on the head.

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We've got a couple of gentlemen that like to tax and spend and ramrod everything through

00:19:40.659 --> 00:19:43.019
and we wanna have some discussion to understand

00:19:43.019 --> 00:19:45.259
what the best option is for the city.

00:19:45.259 --> 00:19:48.920
And, you know, that's what this is about.

00:19:48.920 --> 00:19:51.340
And this is why we end up in these positions

00:19:51.340 --> 00:19:53.860
because nobody wants to have a conversation.

00:19:53.860 --> 00:19:56.619
Nobody wants to have a discussion what's best.

00:19:56.619 --> 00:19:58.380
We're the financing, could we...

00:19:58.380 --> 00:19:59.119
We're the financing, could we afford to do it?

00:19:59.119 --> 00:20:02.720
There were two options here, financing or funding it.

00:20:02.720 --> 00:20:04.960
And I think a discussion was warranted

00:20:04.960 --> 00:20:07.279
to figure out what the right direction was

00:20:07.279 --> 00:20:09.660
and to ask questions of the finance director.

00:20:10.920 --> 00:20:15.079
And my concern is this, we can find a million dollars

00:20:15.079 --> 00:20:18.839
in the emergency fund to run a water line

00:20:18.839 --> 00:20:20.519
out to the west side of town.

00:20:20.519 --> 00:20:23.880
We can't find it for something

00:20:23.880 --> 00:20:25.440
that we desperately need, I guess.

00:20:25.440 --> 00:20:30.759
and that's the question that I've got and that's what I think really needs to be answered

00:20:30.759 --> 00:20:35.160
and asked and I think we've got to be able to have a conversation about it and not just

00:20:35.160 --> 00:20:37.240
ramrod things through.

00:20:37.240 --> 00:20:38.640
Manager Boyer.

00:20:38.640 --> 00:20:45.079
All I can say is we budgeted for equipment that we forego the purchase of so we can move

00:20:45.079 --> 00:20:47.440
forward with this particular item.

00:20:47.440 --> 00:20:49.559
There were several generators that we budgeted for.

00:20:49.559 --> 00:20:52.200
We are going to postpone those purchases.

00:20:52.200 --> 00:20:54.680
This is a critical piece of equipment.

00:20:54.680 --> 00:20:59.920
We were planning to purchase a new one next year, and it failed before we had a chance

00:20:59.920 --> 00:21:00.920
to get there.

00:21:00.920 --> 00:21:07.839
The equipment was 20 years old, had survived at the city for many years, and we did discuss

00:21:07.839 --> 00:21:12.039
the financing option coming forward at this meeting.

00:21:12.039 --> 00:21:13.039
Director Richter.

00:21:13.039 --> 00:21:17.519
I'd like to answer Alderman Monroe.

00:21:17.519 --> 00:21:23.480
The CIP funds, the reason why we can do projects, why we can fund a million dollar project is

00:21:23.480 --> 00:21:29.400
Huffines because by ordinance, CIP money can only be used on projects. I can't buy capital

00:21:29.400 --> 00:21:35.480
things with them like a truck. I just can't. I have to use operating money to pay for that.

00:21:35.480 --> 00:21:42.480
If the CIP ordinance was changed, I could do that, but I just can't do it that way.

00:21:42.480 --> 00:21:44.480
Do you have a follow-up?

00:21:44.480 --> 00:21:50.480
I do have a follow-up, and thank you for that. But the point is that we could ask the question

00:21:50.480 --> 00:21:51.480
Huffines.

00:21:51.480 --> 00:22:13.000
And I think we've got to get back to working together and not trying to block each other

00:22:13.000 --> 00:22:15.000
Johnson and David.

00:22:16.539 --> 00:22:18.539
And I think I will stand as

00:22:20.720 --> 00:22:22.720
one of the naysayers in the first round to make a second to

00:22:23.660 --> 00:22:25.660
motion to bring this back up for reconsideration.

00:22:26.660 --> 00:22:28.660
And I...

00:22:30.160 --> 00:22:32.160
So can we have that...

00:22:33.180 --> 00:22:35.180
Yes, but I...

00:22:36.400 --> 00:22:38.400
Okay, so...

00:22:39.860 --> 00:22:41.860
So you are making a motion?

00:22:43.000 --> 00:22:46.240
and I, Alderman, Monroe, for suspension of the rules.

00:22:46.240 --> 00:22:47.240
Yeah.

00:22:47.240 --> 00:22:48.240
No.

00:22:48.240 --> 00:22:49.240
No.

00:22:49.240 --> 00:22:51.720
You have to do a motion to reconsider that vote.

00:22:51.720 --> 00:22:53.720
A motion to reconsider the suspension.

00:22:53.720 --> 00:22:54.720
Right.

00:22:54.720 --> 00:22:55.720
Okay.

00:22:55.720 --> 00:22:56.720
Yeah.

00:22:56.720 --> 00:22:57.720
So.

00:22:57.720 --> 00:22:58.720
Reconsider.

00:22:58.720 --> 00:22:59.720
Okay.

00:22:59.720 --> 00:23:00.720
So, again, that's a two-thirds majority and it's non-debatable.

00:23:00.720 --> 00:23:01.720
So, Madam Clerk, no?

00:23:01.720 --> 00:23:02.720
No.

00:23:02.720 --> 00:23:03.720
No.

00:23:03.720 --> 00:23:04.720
It's still not time.

00:23:04.720 --> 00:23:07.279
What's on the floor, then, is a motion to reconsider.

00:23:07.279 --> 00:23:08.279
Right.

00:23:08.279 --> 00:23:12.000
The failure of the suspension, the motion to suspend the rules.

00:23:12.000 --> 00:23:13.000
Miller.

00:23:13.000 --> 00:23:14.000
Yes.

00:23:14.000 --> 00:23:16.559
You got a lot of layers here.

00:23:16.559 --> 00:23:19.039
And now we can have that discussion.

00:23:19.039 --> 00:23:20.759
We have to have a vote on that.

00:23:20.759 --> 00:23:23.700
Do we vote on the reconsideration?

00:23:23.700 --> 00:23:27.339
The vote motion has been, to reconsider has been made and seconded.

00:23:27.339 --> 00:23:31.259
It is debatable and it has to pass by a majority vote.

00:23:31.259 --> 00:23:33.200
Just the motion to reconsider.

00:23:33.200 --> 00:23:38.240
If that passes, now you're back to the point of the motion to suspend the rules, which

00:23:38.240 --> 00:23:40.799
is non-debatable, and two-thirds vote.

00:23:40.799 --> 00:23:41.799
Okay.

00:23:41.799 --> 00:23:45.799
We have a discussion on the reconsideration portion. Is there discussion on reconsideration?

00:23:45.799 --> 00:23:46.799
Yes.

00:23:46.799 --> 00:23:50.339
Do you have something you want to say?

00:23:50.339 --> 00:24:12.339
Oh, well, yes. We wanted to understand why was it held back from debating or talking about this new equipment and what it really means to the citizens of Freeport and why we are making this major investment.

00:24:12.339 --> 00:24:19.220
and so I think the council needs to be able to elaborate on why there is a

00:24:19.220 --> 00:24:24.460
necessity to the city and give the residents and the people of the city an

00:24:24.460 --> 00:24:30.259
opportunity to understand as well otherwise that wouldn't have allowed us

00:24:30.259 --> 00:24:35.539
to go into the suspension motion so quick and so soon without understanding

00:24:35.539 --> 00:24:41.339
why we're there so this is this is what I wanted to just okay so this is just

00:24:41.339 --> 00:24:43.339
and

00:24:44.460 --> 00:24:46.460
John.

00:24:47.660 --> 00:24:49.660
I'm going to ask about the

00:24:50.779 --> 00:24:52.779
reconsideration.

00:24:54.099 --> 00:24:56.099
You want to talk about the reconsideration?

00:24:57.220 --> 00:24:59.220
I brought it up for suspension of the rules because it says it

00:24:59.220 --> 00:25:01.220
right here and we've had that since last Friday and I just

00:25:02.319 --> 00:25:04.319
brought it up.

00:25:05.420 --> 00:25:07.420
You guys are all alum, they're trying to block everything in the

00:25:07.420 --> 00:25:09.420
world.

00:25:09.420 --> 00:25:10.420
and John.

00:25:10.420 --> 00:25:12.420
I'm back and forth all the time.

00:25:12.420 --> 00:25:23.940
But my thing is, it would be a courtesy for the council to have that opportunity to hear

00:25:23.940 --> 00:25:32.579
what was proposed and what was already approved to elaborate on that particular subject or

00:25:32.579 --> 00:25:33.579
that discussion.

00:25:33.579 --> 00:25:34.579
That's all I'm saying.

00:25:34.579 --> 00:25:35.579
Okay.

00:25:35.579 --> 00:25:36.579
Just to...

00:25:36.579 --> 00:25:37.579
Okay.

00:25:37.579 --> 00:25:38.579
So you have more on reconsideration?

00:25:38.579 --> 00:25:56.650
We're not trying to block nothing. We're trying to get an understanding of what's happening

00:25:56.650 --> 00:26:06.410
in our faces. When the motion was made, I said, discussion, discussion, you did not

00:26:06.410 --> 00:26:07.410
Heimerdinger.

00:26:07.410 --> 00:26:16.049
So we're entitled to that as the council.

00:26:16.049 --> 00:26:21.369
We do need to look at the situation, openly speak of it, and determine what we can and

00:26:21.369 --> 00:26:26.160
cannot do as a whole.

00:26:26.160 --> 00:26:33.660
We forget we're supposed to be doing what's best for this city.

00:26:33.660 --> 00:26:38.220
And so I don't want to hear, oh, you're always trying to block something.

00:26:38.220 --> 00:26:43.559
That's not true.

00:26:43.559 --> 00:26:50.559
Now, I have another question pertaining to the pay. However-

00:26:50.559 --> 00:26:52.559
That's not what's on the floor, so you'll have to wait.

00:26:52.559 --> 00:26:54.559
Okay, that's what I wanted to-

00:26:54.559 --> 00:27:01.559
So we can get back to that, but right now, are we going to reconsider the suspension?

00:27:01.559 --> 00:27:05.559
So if there's no more discussion on that, Madam Clerk, would you please take the roll on the reconsideration?

00:27:05.559 --> 00:27:06.559
Klemm?

00:27:06.559 --> 00:27:07.559
Aye.

00:27:07.559 --> 00:27:08.559
Monroe?

00:27:08.559 --> 00:27:12.410
Aye.

00:27:12.410 --> 00:27:13.410
Simmons?

00:27:13.410 --> 00:27:14.410
Aye.

00:27:14.410 --> 00:27:15.410
Parker?

00:27:15.410 --> 00:27:45.410
Aye. Shadle? Aye. And Sanders? Aye. The motion passes 7-0. So now I believe I need a motion for, or do we not, for suspending the rules? Still got discussion. Right, I just didn't know what the right order was. Right, so now you're back, the motion to reconsider has been brought back, so basically now you're at the motion to suspend is on the table, but you have, so you don't need another motion in second, but you just need to discuss and then, well, it's a motion to reconsider. There's a

00:27:45.410 --> 00:27:49.730
it's non-debatable so it's just that it's the motion to reconsider is just or the

00:27:49.730 --> 00:27:53.970
motion to suspend is on the on the table it doesn't end the discussion it's just

00:27:53.970 --> 00:28:01.610
has it's an order it's a process so if the motion to suspend passes then it's

00:28:01.610 --> 00:28:05.450
just like we're at second reading now and there's no discussion then on the

00:28:05.450 --> 00:28:10.450
second reading so there still will be discussion how can we how can we make a

00:28:10.450 --> 00:28:15.029
motion on whether or not we're gonna suspend when we're still not sure what we

00:28:15.029 --> 00:28:31.380
we want to do yes that part only speeds it up so that you don't have to do the

00:28:31.380 --> 00:28:36.779
vote on the loan in two separate meetings right so if you vote to suspend

00:28:36.779 --> 00:28:40.420
and that's approved then you're sitting at second reading and you still have

00:28:40.420 --> 00:28:45.940
discussion on whether or not to approve the financing of the loan or not think

00:28:45.940 --> 00:28:56.340
We're putting the car before the horse because we're gonna vote on waiving the rules and I

00:28:56.340 --> 00:29:01.220
mean we can do it but it's like we're voting on waiving the rules where we

00:29:01.220 --> 00:29:11.700
haven't even decided what the rules are what the payment is the only way right

00:29:11.700 --> 00:29:12.700
Kessler.

00:29:12.700 --> 00:29:17.500
So what I'm going to do right now is if you wanted to talk about the item without the suspension

00:29:17.500 --> 00:29:22.320
of the rules on the table, if Alderman Klemm, I think who made the motion to originally

00:29:22.320 --> 00:29:26.299
suspend the rules on Alderman Shadle, seconded the motion to suspend, if they withdraw that

00:29:26.299 --> 00:29:32.779
motion, then you can talk about the funding as if the suspension hadn't even been brought

00:29:32.779 --> 00:29:33.779
up yet.

00:29:33.779 --> 00:29:39.099
It was just a motion made to move it forward, which was seconded, then discussion.

00:29:39.099 --> 00:29:43.659
so that's if they were to do that take to withdraw their motion to suspend the

00:29:43.659 --> 00:29:49.299
rules it would allow for discussion on the loan and then if it was after that

00:29:49.299 --> 00:29:53.200
discussion was took place then someone can make a motion to suspend if they

00:29:53.200 --> 00:29:55.700
wanted to.

00:29:55.700 --> 00:30:06.640
That's up to Alderman Klemm. It's on the table and Alderman Shadle because they made the motion in the second to suspend.

00:30:06.640 --> 00:30:07.640
Can you repeat what you said?

00:30:07.640 --> 00:30:13.640
I made the motion to suspend. Excuse me, to take away the motion.

00:30:13.640 --> 00:30:18.640
You withdraw your motion. Alderman Shadle, you withdraw your second of that motion to suspend.

00:30:18.640 --> 00:30:21.640
Okay, so now it's just first reading on the table. What would you like to talk about?

00:30:21.640 --> 00:30:48.210
I would like to know what are our options of putting money down and not financing all of this, but making a down payment and financing the balance. What can we do as a city?

00:30:48.210 --> 00:30:53.680
Director Richter, I'm sorry, is there any benefit to that?

00:30:53.680 --> 00:31:03.640
that still sounds like a loan to me by putting money down and and then making

00:31:03.640 --> 00:31:12.549
more payments. Manager Boyer? Maybe I just don't understand I'm sorry. I would

00:31:12.549 --> 00:31:19.630
just say that Director Richter has done her homework on this she's she's worked

00:31:19.630 --> 00:31:24.230
very hard to get the best possible situation for the city and so there's

00:31:24.230 --> 00:31:29.029
there's there's reasons that she has not suggested that we put an amount down and

00:31:29.029 --> 00:31:35.069
then also gone after a loan I'm sure that those were contemplative reasons but at

00:31:35.069 --> 00:31:40.309
this point what we have in front of us is basically two two financing options

00:31:40.309 --> 00:31:46.170
one less expensive than the other and one using US Bank which is a local

00:31:46.170 --> 00:31:53.549
institution so. To help you understand what I was asking let's say

00:31:53.549 --> 00:32:03.869
We say this equipment costs $10,000, and we put down $5,000 cash.

00:32:03.869 --> 00:32:09.269
That only leaves $5,000 to finance.

00:32:09.269 --> 00:32:12.990
What can we put down on this piece of equipment?

00:32:12.990 --> 00:32:15.950
I don't know if you can do a lease that way.

00:32:15.950 --> 00:32:22.470
I can talk to the U.S. bank, but of course we're at a time crunch as well.

00:32:22.470 --> 00:32:26.069
One of our previous leases have worked that way.

00:32:26.069 --> 00:32:32.230
We've done business with U.S. government leasing before for like the camera truck as well.

00:32:32.230 --> 00:32:37.910
But have they not worked that way because it's never been asked or suggested?

00:32:37.910 --> 00:32:43.910
I can't, I don't know Alderman Stacey.

00:32:43.910 --> 00:32:59.009
The reason why, as Darren explained, why I wanted to do financing is that the sewer fund

00:32:59.009 --> 00:33:03.329
and operating money only has so much money.

00:33:03.329 --> 00:33:10.289
We have other money that's sitting in CIP, but we can't touch that money for this purchase.

00:33:10.289 --> 00:33:12.809
I understand that.

00:33:12.809 --> 00:33:19.849
putting half down, you know, 250,000 on the VAC truck also depletes our cash

00:33:19.849 --> 00:33:30.660
significantly. I honestly I don't know if US Bank would do that and I'm hesitant to

00:33:30.660 --> 00:33:41.410
take such a draw on the cash balance. And I wasn't even saying half, I just used

00:33:41.410 --> 00:33:46.809
that for an example. It could have been a quarter. Something down is better than

00:33:46.809 --> 00:33:56.690
and nothing. I feel if I'm buying a new vehicle, if I put something down, that's less I have

00:33:56.690 --> 00:34:01.210
to finance. Sure, keep.

00:34:01.210 --> 00:34:09.449
If it's council's will, I can or what they vote on, I can take any steps with U.S. Bank

00:34:09.449 --> 00:34:13.389
to try and put something down ourselves

00:34:13.389 --> 00:34:15.529
and then just finance the rest.

00:34:17.670 --> 00:34:20.710
I assume that, you know, instead of financing the,

00:34:20.710 --> 00:34:25.710
what, 580,000, we could put down 100

00:34:26.409 --> 00:34:29.429
and then finance 480,000

00:34:30.769 --> 00:34:33.970
if the council would prefer something like that.

00:34:33.970 --> 00:34:34.809
Yeah.

00:34:34.809 --> 00:34:36.650
But then again, it's pushing back that deadline

00:34:36.650 --> 00:34:38.409
is what is the concern.

00:34:38.409 --> 00:34:41.590
Well, she can find out, and we can have a special meeting.

00:34:41.590 --> 00:34:45.800
We have them anyway.

00:34:45.800 --> 00:34:48.400
Or we can just take our department head's word

00:34:48.400 --> 00:34:51.159
for something that she's worked hard on.

00:34:51.159 --> 00:34:52.679
Yes.

00:34:52.679 --> 00:34:55.260
It's not that I'm not taking her word.

00:34:55.260 --> 00:35:02.380
It's not that I'm depleting her hard work.

00:35:02.380 --> 00:35:09.539
I had a suggestion, and I don't think what I'm asking

00:35:09.539 --> 00:35:13.059
is out of order or asking too much.

00:35:13.059 --> 00:35:14.559
Well, weren't all these things talked

00:35:14.559 --> 00:35:15.659
about at the last meeting?

00:35:15.659 --> 00:35:23.099
yes yes that was my point well apparently we didn't have the discussion that we

00:35:23.099 --> 00:35:29.820
needed is there any other discussion concerning the first reading of this

00:35:29.820 --> 00:35:38.739
purchase are we just gonna let this go I mean because that's what's gonna happen

00:35:38.739 --> 00:35:45.940
are we gonna suspend the rules we should just suspend the rules do we have a

00:35:45.940 --> 00:35:55.300
second can I second okay so we have a motion made by Alderman Parker seconded

00:35:55.300 --> 00:35:58.460
by Alderman Shadle to suspend the rules which means all the things that we've

00:35:58.460 --> 00:36:06.900
We've discussed we're moving it on so that way it goes as if we're second reading.

00:36:06.900 --> 00:36:09.139
That portion of it is non-debatable.

00:36:09.139 --> 00:36:14.139
So after that vote, can we have Darren?

00:36:14.139 --> 00:36:15.139
It's not debatable.

00:36:15.139 --> 00:36:16.139
Okay.

00:36:16.139 --> 00:36:19.340
So it's non-debatable.

00:36:19.340 --> 00:36:24.739
So Madam Clerk, would you please take the vote on the suspension only, which means it

00:36:24.739 --> 00:36:26.539
moves to second reading.

00:36:26.539 --> 00:36:27.539
Klemm?

00:36:27.539 --> 00:36:41.460
Aye. Monroe? Aye. Simmons? Aye. Parker? Aye. Stacy? Aye. Shadle? Aye. And Sanders? Aye. Okay, so now before you, this is the second reading of this. Darren?

00:36:43.940 --> 00:36:50.980
Just knowing the rep dealers, I'm sure that we can put a down payment on a vehicle

00:36:50.980 --> 00:36:51.980
Huffman.

00:36:51.980 --> 00:37:00.739
I think that's an option, but I don't think the way the rules are that that's to our

00:37:00.739 --> 00:37:01.739
discretion.

00:37:01.739 --> 00:37:08.300
So if that's the will of the council that we want to put something down, we need direction

00:37:08.300 --> 00:37:10.539
on what that amount is, right?

00:37:10.539 --> 00:37:14.980
Because I don't think we can just decide randomly what that amount is to put down.

00:37:14.980 --> 00:37:19.460
Yeah, but I think it's wise to take Director Richter's input on that.

00:37:19.460 --> 00:37:23.460
I mean she knows how much money would be comfortable and what's not.

00:37:23.460 --> 00:37:27.659
Will?

00:37:27.659 --> 00:37:28.659
Just a minute.

00:37:28.659 --> 00:37:32.389
She's going to answer that.

00:37:32.389 --> 00:37:36.579
Sorry, Director.

00:37:36.579 --> 00:37:45.110
My initial inclination is not to put anything down and pass it the way I presented it.

00:37:45.110 --> 00:37:47.110
Okay.

00:37:47.110 --> 00:37:48.110
Further discussion?

00:37:48.110 --> 00:37:49.110
Alderman Sanders?

00:37:49.110 --> 00:37:53.869
Are we trying to consider just outright purchasing this item?

00:37:53.869 --> 00:37:56.230
Is that what we're trying to lean to?

00:37:56.230 --> 00:37:57.230
Winslow.

00:37:57.230 --> 00:37:58.230
So they want to finance it.

00:37:58.230 --> 00:37:59.230
Okay.

00:37:59.230 --> 00:38:03.110
You want to finance it, and any time that you want to finance anything, you should be

00:38:03.110 --> 00:38:09.429
able to have negotiating powers or negotiating situations where you can talk to whoever the

00:38:09.429 --> 00:38:16.590
representatives of the finance companies to work with us, as opposed to just not working

00:38:16.590 --> 00:38:24.230
with us if we're not making requests or recommendations or suggestions or whatever, to look at it

00:38:24.230 --> 00:38:33.150
from our perspective as council and the citizens of Freeport, we should look at this from

00:38:33.150 --> 00:38:40.309
all spectrums to see what it is that we can utilize and I don't think we have done that.

00:38:40.309 --> 00:38:49.670
And so until we do diligence ourself as finance looking into these kinds of matters and anybody

00:38:49.670 --> 00:38:50.670
Winslow.

00:38:50.670 --> 00:39:00.829
I think we should do ourselves due diligence all across the board to make sure that we're

00:39:00.829 --> 00:39:06.150
not missing anything that could have been considered, and if anything could have been

00:39:06.150 --> 00:39:12.590
considered and we overlooked that opportunity, then it comes back to the council, why is

00:39:12.590 --> 00:39:19.510
it that we had not done that, asked these certain questions, because we're representing

00:39:19.510 --> 00:39:25.470
the people of the city of Freeport, and they expect us to ask questions because they're

00:39:25.470 --> 00:39:31.429
sitting there pondering questions, why aren't we doing certain things?

00:39:31.429 --> 00:39:36.230
Well, we're not the only ones that are sitting here with all the answers.

00:39:36.230 --> 00:39:45.389
And what's best for the citizens of Freeport is for us to indulge in the questioning and

00:39:45.389 --> 00:39:50.110
getting answers all at the same time so they're able to understand why we're

00:39:50.110 --> 00:39:55.949
asking questions, why we're debating on such a subject and whatever the case is.

00:39:55.949 --> 00:40:05.260
we just want to make sure financing is checked into clearly for defining clearly to the people

00:40:05.260 --> 00:40:11.960
that they understand why we made such a move or how serious it is or how drastic it was

00:40:11.960 --> 00:40:15.880
that we made this move without even considering other options.

00:40:15.880 --> 00:40:23.800
okay so that's the second time that we've heard this um and that's her job yeah and so um that's

00:40:23.800 --> 00:40:29.079
part of the problem here is that the council gets into the mayor that's your opinion i'm talking

00:40:29.079 --> 00:40:33.719
the council gets into the day-to-day workings instead of just making a decision based on

00:40:33.719 --> 00:40:40.440
what the directors are giving the best possible solution so that's the point we can't get in the

00:40:40.440 --> 00:40:45.559
weeds on all of this stuff we'll never get anything done alderman monroe did you have something

00:40:45.880 --> 00:40:48.119
I did, Madam Mayor, and you hit the nail on the head.

00:40:48.119 --> 00:40:50.440
I agree with you on that.

00:40:50.440 --> 00:40:53.199
What I would question is, and this goes back

00:40:53.199 --> 00:40:56.679
to the conversations we're having on the overall budgeting

00:40:56.679 --> 00:40:59.559
that we've been doing, why didn't the public works

00:40:59.559 --> 00:41:02.199
director in the previous years put this on?

00:41:02.199 --> 00:41:04.119
Because this piece of equipment didn't

00:41:04.119 --> 00:41:09.719
go from functional to non-functional overnight.

00:41:09.719 --> 00:41:13.239
The fire chief is planning out four years.

00:41:13.239 --> 00:41:14.760
These are the kinds of questions that,

00:41:14.760 --> 00:41:20.480
and this is why we're starting to ask questions because it wasn't done previously and these

00:41:20.480 --> 00:41:25.000
types of issues need to be kind of looked at in order.

00:41:25.000 --> 00:41:26.679
I understand the importance of this.

00:41:26.679 --> 00:41:32.320
I also understand the importance of staying within a budget and adding another $100,000

00:41:32.320 --> 00:41:39.099
in finance charges that go out of our community to a national bank is concerning to me because

00:41:39.099 --> 00:41:46.300
because we've been basically funding everything we're doing now on what's to come.

00:41:46.300 --> 00:41:50.539
And we're getting to a point where we won't have those options anymore.

00:41:50.539 --> 00:41:56.340
I mean, this is seven years, 28 payments, almost $100,000.

00:41:56.340 --> 00:41:59.860
I mean, that's two employees for the city per year.

00:41:59.860 --> 00:42:04.059
You know, that's where the consternation is.

00:42:04.059 --> 00:42:06.340
I am, you know, I support it.

00:42:06.340 --> 00:42:07.420
I get it.

00:42:07.420 --> 00:42:09.460
We need it.

00:42:09.460 --> 00:42:13.980
But we need to have conversation about it and are the things that are left in the budget

00:42:13.980 --> 00:42:18.460
right now all important as we go through the rest of the year?

00:42:18.460 --> 00:42:22.179
Are there places where we could trim and not have to finance this?

00:42:22.179 --> 00:42:24.739
Those are questions that aren't getting asked.

00:42:24.739 --> 00:42:29.579
You know, we've bought how many millions of dollars in fire engines the last couple of

00:42:29.579 --> 00:42:33.699
years in ambulances, five million at least.

00:42:33.699 --> 00:42:36.699
And we don't look at the budget.

00:42:36.699 --> 00:42:41.780
We just immediately jumped to what we can't, we're going to drop the two generators.

00:42:41.780 --> 00:42:42.780
I get that.

00:42:42.780 --> 00:42:43.780
The generators are what?

00:42:43.780 --> 00:42:44.780
30k apiece about?

00:42:44.780 --> 00:42:45.780
35?

00:42:45.780 --> 00:42:46.780
What were they?

00:42:46.780 --> 00:42:47.780
How much?

00:42:47.780 --> 00:42:48.780
200 apiece.

00:42:48.780 --> 00:42:49.780
That's 400,000.

00:42:49.780 --> 00:42:50.780
600.

00:42:50.780 --> 00:42:54.119
So we had three of them that were, so it's 600,000.

00:42:54.119 --> 00:42:57.800
So we're not getting those, but yet we're still financing this.

00:42:57.800 --> 00:42:59.300
And that was in the budget last year.

00:42:59.300 --> 00:43:02.579
So put the 600,000 on this.

00:43:02.579 --> 00:43:03.579
Where's the money?

00:43:03.579 --> 00:43:04.900
I'm missing something.

00:43:04.900 --> 00:43:06.340
That's what I'm struggling with.

00:43:06.340 --> 00:43:36.340
Deren. Okay. So for your first question, we missed the vector by a year. It was in next year's budget. So we missed it. I don't control the wear and tear on the vehicles. It's old. It's 22 years old. We have got every nickel out of this piece of equipment. And if we want to park it for the next three months and wait till next year's budget, we can do that. Just know that next year's model is going to cost over $100,000 more than this demo model that we found. And I'm fine with that. If that's the decision

00:43:36.340 --> 00:43:45.619
and others. Your other questions. The reason that Director Richter thought about financing

00:43:45.619 --> 00:43:50.599
over paying any cash is because at the last meeting we told you that we had about $1,032,

00:43:50.599 --> 00:43:57.460
I believe, in sewer funds that could be dedicated towards this, but that leaves us very slim

00:43:57.460 --> 00:44:04.400
pickings when we have sewer repairs. We just spent $158,000 on sewer repairs over the last

00:44:04.400 --> 00:44:08.159
Bates, and the last two months of collapsed mains that were happening all over town that

00:44:08.159 --> 00:44:09.559
we need to address with.

00:44:09.559 --> 00:44:12.519
So she didn't feel comfortable with selecting our cash.

00:44:12.519 --> 00:44:17.139
Where we have CIP money right now, that's not an eligible expense for CIP.

00:44:17.139 --> 00:44:19.400
We investigated that to see if that was an option.

00:44:19.400 --> 00:44:21.800
It's not.

00:44:21.800 --> 00:44:25.880
The generators that were planned for this year, the reason we didn't order them is because

00:44:25.880 --> 00:44:28.599
we were concerned about the cash, even though in the budget.

00:44:28.599 --> 00:44:33.199
So we were being restrictive till we got to the end of the year here, trying to make sure

00:44:33.199 --> 00:44:34.199
Miller.

00:44:34.199 --> 00:44:50.519
So we're trying to make the best decisions.

00:44:50.519 --> 00:44:52.720
I have to lean on what Michelle says.

00:44:52.720 --> 00:44:57.000
If she doesn't think that we can spend that much cash and it's not a wise decision, then

00:44:57.000 --> 00:44:58.920
financing is a wise decision.

00:44:58.920 --> 00:45:02.000
a lot of these leases, we could probably pay it off early

00:45:02.000 --> 00:45:04.000
if we get in a good cash position.

00:45:04.000 --> 00:45:06.380
So we don't have to finance it for seven years

00:45:06.380 --> 00:45:08.739
if we don't want to, but it gives us the option

00:45:08.739 --> 00:45:10.639
to spread cash if we need to.

00:45:10.639 --> 00:45:13.239
The other fact was her research, I think,

00:45:13.239 --> 00:45:15.360
cut the interest rate in just about half

00:45:15.360 --> 00:45:16.800
of what we originally got.

00:45:16.800 --> 00:45:19.420
So it wasn't that we just picked one option,

00:45:19.420 --> 00:45:21.000
we went to three different sources

00:45:21.000 --> 00:45:22.579
and picked the best option.

00:45:22.579 --> 00:45:26.400
So again, we're not telling council what we have to do.

00:45:26.400 --> 00:45:30.119
this is what we thought was a good recommendation if you'd rather park it

00:45:30.119 --> 00:45:34.500
and we address it in 2025 and we let this one go we can do that but it will

00:45:34.500 --> 00:45:36.840
cost us probably about a hundred thousand more because there's going to

00:45:36.840 --> 00:45:42.159
be different different emission requirements on the 2025 models and I'm

00:45:42.159 --> 00:45:47.400
fine with that we're trying to do this in a mode to try to save as much money as

00:45:47.400 --> 00:45:52.400
possible so we've got about don't quote me but I think it was about fifty five

00:45:52.400 --> 00:45:55.800
thousand dollars off of this unit because it had been demoed one time and

00:45:55.800 --> 00:45:57.639
and it becomes with a full warranty.

00:45:57.639 --> 00:46:00.960
And it was exactly what the crews were looking for.

00:46:00.960 --> 00:46:01.720
Oh, Ms. Stacy.

00:46:01.720 --> 00:46:02.559
Yes.

00:46:02.559 --> 00:46:06.000
We never said we was going to park it.

00:46:06.000 --> 00:46:09.519
We never suggested parking it.

00:46:09.519 --> 00:46:13.760
So please don't put those thoughts in our heads

00:46:13.760 --> 00:46:16.960
before we have another route to go.

00:46:16.960 --> 00:46:21.199
However, what loans can you tell me

00:46:21.199 --> 00:46:25.119
were paid off sooner than later.

00:46:26.880 --> 00:46:29.159
Well, I think we just did it with the John Deere backhoe,

00:46:29.159 --> 00:46:30.000
correct?

00:46:32.039 --> 00:46:37.039
The backhoe we got, it was the end of the lease.

00:46:37.440 --> 00:46:39.320
The end of the lease.

00:46:39.320 --> 00:46:40.960
That was a different kind of lease though.

00:46:40.960 --> 00:46:42.800
That was an operating lease,

00:46:42.800 --> 00:46:45.000
which was set up a little differently.

00:46:45.000 --> 00:46:49.079
You say that, oh, we could pay it off sooner

00:46:49.079 --> 00:46:57.960
if money allow or opportunity knock you say that but then it never happened it goes to full term

00:46:58.679 --> 00:47:11.769
and then the interest rate is just stupid crazy I don't feel that asking for something down

00:47:13.529 --> 00:47:16.650
is asking too much that don't mean park it.

00:47:16.650 --> 00:47:40.460
We had planned to purchase it next year's budget. If we buy it now, it won't be in the budget.

00:47:40.460 --> 00:47:47.539
So why can't we put the payoff in the budget since we were going to budget it for it next

00:47:47.539 --> 00:47:49.539
and Huffines.

00:47:50.539 --> 00:47:53.539
And then we have the next year anyway. It's like we keep

00:47:53.539 --> 00:47:57.539
Robert and Peter to pay Paul. Next year we're going to need

00:47:57.539 --> 00:48:01.539
these three things that you just...

00:48:01.539 --> 00:48:05.539
The generators. We budgeted. When you see the public works

00:48:05.539 --> 00:48:08.539
budget, you'll see the generators and next year's budget.

00:48:08.539 --> 00:48:11.539
And that's $600,000 that was budgeted this year for

00:48:11.539 --> 00:48:14.539
generators. Correct.

00:48:14.539 --> 00:48:23.039
We can, but it will deplete our cash to an uncomfortable level for the Sewer Department.

00:48:23.039 --> 00:48:32.220
So even though we budgeted, if we would have got those three dumps, we would have been

00:48:32.220 --> 00:48:36.320
in the same position financing.

00:48:36.320 --> 00:48:37.320
But we budgeted.

00:48:37.320 --> 00:48:38.320
The three generators?

00:48:38.320 --> 00:48:40.630
Yes.

00:48:40.630 --> 00:48:41.789
Yes and no.

00:48:41.789 --> 00:48:48.829
We've had, and let me answer the question, we've had a lot of unexpected expenses in

00:48:48.829 --> 00:48:51.110
the sewer department this year.

00:48:51.110 --> 00:48:57.750
One that I just explained, which was $158,000 in sewer repairs just in the last two months

00:48:57.750 --> 00:49:00.510
that we weren't anticipating in this year's budget.

00:49:00.510 --> 00:49:05.630
So those are expenses that come in unexpectedly, and then we have to adjust the budgets by

00:49:05.630 --> 00:49:09.750
not buying something here or there or reducing what we can.

00:49:09.750 --> 00:49:14.470
So a lot of these purchases that you see that are in the budgets, the big items get pushed

00:49:14.470 --> 00:49:18.949
towards the end of the year to make sure that something else didn't happen and we have the

00:49:18.949 --> 00:49:21.309
money to try to still stay within budget.

00:49:21.309 --> 00:49:28.389
So there's still $400,000 that was budgeted that was not used.

00:49:28.389 --> 00:49:35.510
So we still have something to put toward this piece of equipment that they need, the most

00:49:35.510 --> 00:49:42.110
important piece of equipment in the street departments life that they need so

00:49:42.110 --> 00:49:51.739
bad. Why is that asking too much? It was budgeted.

00:49:51.739 --> 00:49:58.840
it was budgeted if that's what council wants to do then that's the direction

00:49:58.840 --> 00:50:02.760
your finance director is saying that that makes her uncomfortable with the

00:50:02.760 --> 00:50:07.159
way the finances sit in that department currently that has not been the only

00:50:07.159 --> 00:50:11.639
surprise that we've had this year and in the sewer department for repairs so

00:50:11.639 --> 00:50:16.719
again I don't think we're fighting you on whatever you it is you would like to

00:50:16.719 --> 00:50:20.559
push forward or move forward we're just advising you that it might not be the

00:50:20.559 --> 00:50:21.559
and John.

00:50:21.559 --> 00:50:24.599
I think that's the greatest position for the Sewer Department and might put them in trouble

00:50:24.599 --> 00:50:25.599
long term.

00:50:25.599 --> 00:50:29.280
Okay, so back to my original question.

00:50:29.280 --> 00:50:41.679
Even though we budgeted $600,000 for these dump things, we wasn't going to use that budget

00:50:41.679 --> 00:50:44.079
money no way.

00:50:44.079 --> 00:50:45.679
We were going to finance it.

00:50:45.679 --> 00:50:49.329
Is that what you're telling me?

00:50:49.329 --> 00:50:52.969
I don't know the answer to that question.

00:50:52.969 --> 00:51:24.659
We budget for items that we take loans on. We budget for items that we get grants on. Just because it's in the budget doesn't always mean that we have the cash to purchase it throughout that department because a lot of our large equipment is purchased over periods. We don't just spend $500,000 on one piece of equipment. The items that you're talking about more that are budgeted in one cycle are much more expensive.

00:51:24.659 --> 00:51:28.260
and more like our pickup trucks, our police cars,

00:51:28.260 --> 00:51:30.460
those type of items that aren't a half a million

00:51:30.460 --> 00:51:32.699
or a $800,000 purchase.

00:51:32.699 --> 00:51:35.699
Some of the big equipment items like the Vector

00:51:35.699 --> 00:51:38.460
is a very large purchase.

00:51:38.460 --> 00:51:42.019
We don't have within the utility, the police department,

00:51:42.019 --> 00:51:45.579
only the fire department would rein us

00:51:45.579 --> 00:51:49.980
on this type of pricey equipment, right?

00:51:49.980 --> 00:51:54.099
And so, again, we're not fighting you

00:51:54.099 --> 00:51:55.219
on how you want to do it.

00:51:55.219 --> 00:51:57.260
It's just somebody needs to express

00:51:57.260 --> 00:52:00.159
what the good decision is for the Sewer Department

00:52:00.159 --> 00:52:04.909
based on the finances that are there.

00:52:04.909 --> 00:52:06.190
Director Richter, did you have anything else

00:52:06.190 --> 00:52:07.389
you wanna add to that?

00:52:08.550 --> 00:52:11.019
No.

00:52:11.019 --> 00:52:11.860
Alderman Stacey.

00:52:13.219 --> 00:52:17.019
I am not doubting your ability,

00:52:17.019 --> 00:52:19.460
your knowledge, nor your input.

00:52:20.860 --> 00:52:24.179
I'm merely making a suggestion

00:52:24.179 --> 00:52:26.179
and

00:52:27.179 --> 00:52:29.179
Lester.

00:52:30.500 --> 00:52:34.619
They put money down on this big ticket item.

00:52:35.860 --> 00:52:37.860
And she's making the suggestion that that's not a good idea.

00:52:39.179 --> 00:52:43.960
Is there anything else we need to talk about with this?

00:52:45.059 --> 00:52:47.059
Seeing none, I believe that means we're ready for a vote.

00:52:48.320 --> 00:52:50.320
Madam Clerk, would you please take the roll?

00:52:51.420 --> 00:52:53.420
Klemm?

00:52:54.519 --> 00:52:56.519
Monroe?

00:52:56.519 --> 00:53:04.119
Sanders, Aye. The motion passes 6 to 1. Item number 8 is the first reading of

00:53:04.119 --> 00:53:09.880
ordinance 2024-52. Could you please read this? Ordinance approving the city to

00:53:09.880 --> 00:53:14.039
enter into a fourth renewal to lease agreement with Peter Albert regarding

00:53:14.039 --> 00:53:19.280
103 to 111 South Liberty Avenue. Thank you, Director Duckman. Thank you, Madam

00:53:19.280 --> 00:53:24.159
Mayor. The City of Freeport enters into a lease agreement with Peter Albert to

00:53:24.159 --> 00:53:31.000
Lease the first floor of the former Raleigh tinclad building on September 22nd of 2020.

00:53:31.000 --> 00:53:36.840
This lease has been extended three times and go over the extensions we've had.

00:53:36.840 --> 00:53:45.639
In 2021, we extended the lease at $1,000 paid annually for rent and that's expired on September

00:53:45.639 --> 00:53:47.679
14th of 2022.

00:53:47.679 --> 00:53:54.320
Then in 2022, it was also a one-year lease, but we increased the annual rent from $1,000

00:53:54.320 --> 00:53:56.519
to $2,000.

00:53:56.519 --> 00:54:03.199
And then in 2023, we extended the lease at the same terms at $2,000 paid annually.

00:54:03.199 --> 00:54:09.639
And that lease extension has expired on September 14th of 2024.

00:54:09.639 --> 00:54:17.220
And so staff is here today recommending a fourth extension with an expiration date of

00:54:17.220 --> 00:54:25.699
September 14, 2025 and the terms of this would be $2,000 annually paid in rent and that's

00:54:25.699 --> 00:54:27.599
staff's recommendation to move this forward.

00:54:27.599 --> 00:54:29.300
Is there a motion to move forward?

00:54:29.300 --> 00:54:30.300
So moved.

00:54:30.300 --> 00:54:31.300
Second.

00:54:31.300 --> 00:54:36.420
We have a motion made by Alderman Parker, seconded by Alderman Shadle.

00:54:36.420 --> 00:54:37.420
Discussion?

00:54:37.420 --> 00:54:39.699
Alderman Stacy?

00:54:39.699 --> 00:54:40.699
Yes.

00:54:40.699 --> 00:54:48.420
Is this 101 South Liberty or is this 103 South Liberty?

00:54:48.420 --> 00:55:08.500
I'd have to get confirmation of that. I do know it's the tin clad building. So when you're driving towards, you know, the Raleigh building complex, it has that clad siding. You know what I'm tracking yet for you? And it's that building, known as the iron clad building. So I don't off the top of my head, there's several addresses.

00:55:08.539 --> 00:55:10.940
I believe the 101 is his own personal building.

00:55:10.980 --> 00:55:12.300
Okay, that's the one.

00:55:14.900 --> 00:55:19.260
So he has his own personal building and he's also renting from the city.

00:55:19.260 --> 00:55:28.599
Correct. He's not renting it, it's his. He owns the south one, the one on the

00:55:28.599 --> 00:55:40.599
north side is what he rents. And he was paying a thousand dollars and now he's

00:55:40.599 --> 00:55:48.480
leasing it for 2,000, correct? Excuse me, that is correct, yes. Why was there an

00:55:48.480 --> 00:55:55.159
Crease. Well I think at that time when we were negotiating the terms we looked at

00:55:55.159 --> 00:56:00.000
it look at the value of the building and it basically more advantageous to the

00:56:00.000 --> 00:56:03.220
city I mean when you're when you're breaking that down a thousand dollars

00:56:03.220 --> 00:56:09.039
annually is not even $100 a month so I think we want to be fair and what we we

00:56:09.039 --> 00:56:15.420
charge you know I've disclosed the lease for everyone you know to see and at that

00:56:15.420 --> 00:56:19.420
For the last couple of years we've been able to raise it to $2000.

00:56:19.420 --> 00:56:26.920
In that time, two years ago, it was thought to be fair and reasonable between the parties to raise it to $2,000.

00:56:26.920 --> 00:56:37.420
Okay. In raising it $2,000, though, that also brought down the taxes.

00:56:37.420 --> 00:56:39.420
and

00:56:40.420 --> 00:56:42.420
Kemp,

00:56:43.420 --> 00:56:46.420
and I don't know exactly what the taxes were in 2022 versus

00:56:46.420 --> 00:56:50.420
the taxes would be assessed. That information for 2023 would

00:56:50.420 --> 00:56:54.420
be available, not yet for 2024. So I don't, I'll be honest with

00:56:54.420 --> 00:56:58.420
you, I don't know that exact number in the tax assessed value

00:56:58.420 --> 00:57:01.420
between 2022 and 2023.

00:57:01.420 --> 00:57:06.420
Okay. Director Duckman, can you tell me who's paying taxes on

00:57:06.420 --> 00:57:09.699
point should be city of Freeport paying that should be a tax exempt building

00:57:09.699 --> 00:57:16.579
anyway so scratch what I just said but the assessed value go ahead sorry go

00:57:16.579 --> 00:57:23.099
ahead you had shaking your head here it would not be tax exempt if we're getting

00:57:23.099 --> 00:57:27.220
revenue on it and director Richter I'm pretty sure the last time I checked with

00:57:27.220 --> 00:57:31.579
you he he reimburses as the real estate tax is that correct or am I

00:57:31.579 --> 00:58:01.579
Wrong. Yes sir, do you want Aaron? Aaron? So I don't I don't know the exact numbers, but typically city properties are tax exempt. However, if a city property is leased, or a portion of a city property is leased, then we lose that portion of tax exemption. So we do pay some. Right, we might not get 100% exemption. We might have we might lose 5%, 10%, depending on how much is being leased there. So the state determines on how

00:58:01.579 --> 00:58:03.260
How much do we have to pay in taxes?

00:58:03.260 --> 00:58:05.079
Then it sounds like, Michelle, you're saying that,

00:58:05.079 --> 00:58:08.199
Mr. Elber then reimburses us for that tax payment.

00:58:08.199 --> 00:58:10.920
Because otherwise, if it was 100% city being used

00:58:10.920 --> 00:58:13.440
by the city, we wouldn't pay property taxes on it.

00:58:14.720 --> 00:58:16.139
And it's not 100% used.

00:58:16.139 --> 00:58:18.960
I think that building is at six floors or eight floors,

00:58:18.960 --> 00:58:20.119
and he just uses one.

00:58:20.119 --> 00:58:22.400
He's using, the lease agreement is for him to use one,

00:58:22.400 --> 00:58:24.599
and we had to share that, and now I'm remembering now,

00:58:24.599 --> 00:58:26.279
we had to share that with the tax assessor

00:58:26.279 --> 00:58:28.800
because they were quick to note and ask us that,

00:58:28.800 --> 00:58:29.639
wanted to know how much.

00:58:29.639 --> 00:58:30.559
So it's only a small portion.

00:58:30.559 --> 00:58:32.559
and

00:58:34.559 --> 00:58:36.559
John.

00:58:38.079 --> 00:58:40.079
There is some tax. There is some property tax there.

00:58:46.220 --> 00:58:48.220
About $87.

00:58:49.720 --> 00:58:51.739
Yes, if that's what you know, I appreciate it. Thank you for

00:58:51.739 --> 00:58:53.739
telling me.

00:58:54.840 --> 00:58:56.840
Okay, we're moving this on to the next regular scheduled

00:58:58.039 --> 00:59:00.039
meeting.

00:59:01.460 --> 00:59:03.460
Item number 9, the adoption of resolution 2024-101.

00:59:03.460 --> 00:59:14.460
For a Pedestrian Bicycle Facility It says presented by Alderman's Klemm and Shadle. I don't know if either one of you wanted to say something first or just let Darren recap.

00:59:14.460 --> 00:59:32.460
This is a revision of a proposal that came to us a few weeks ago when the time for it to come up for a vote, there weren't enough people there for the vote so it couldn't be brought up again.

00:59:32.460 --> 00:59:38.500
again so we set up a special meeting to bring it up and the attendance for that meeting

00:59:38.500 --> 00:59:44.420
wasn't enough to have a quorum so Alderman Shadle and I brought it back to put it on

00:59:44.420 --> 00:59:50.039
the floor tonight so we can discuss it.

00:59:50.039 --> 00:59:51.440
Aaron did you want to do a recap or just open for questions?

00:59:53.360 --> 00:59:57.480
Go ahead. So this is a cooperative project between

00:59:58.280 --> 01:00:03.639
City of Freeport or a proposed project, excuse me between City of Freeport, Highland

01:00:04.559 --> 01:00:09.320
which is just Highland the college and then the foundation as one partner and then

01:00:09.800 --> 01:00:13.019
also the Park District here in Freeport. So

01:00:13.920 --> 01:00:16.539
It's about four point seven miles of trails

01:00:16.539 --> 01:00:22.780
Files, that would be built if we are awarded this grant.

01:00:22.780 --> 01:00:27.900
Potentially one bridge, maybe two, is factored into the cost estimate.

01:00:27.900 --> 01:00:37.659
After the last meeting, City Manager Boyer and Chris out at Highland asked us to redo

01:00:37.659 --> 01:00:41.619
the cost estimate because the last time we had done it was in 2022.

01:00:41.619 --> 01:00:42.619
So we did that.

01:00:42.619 --> 01:00:47.380
also added engineering and construction engineering into the project.

01:00:47.380 --> 01:00:52.800
So when the partners were sharing the cost of the project, it would be the full price

01:00:52.800 --> 01:00:56.960
of the anticipated project split three ways.

01:00:56.960 --> 01:01:00.699
Doing a little bit more digging, this is an IDOT ITEP grant.

01:01:00.699 --> 01:01:05.019
So with IDOT, none of the processes go very fast.

01:01:05.019 --> 01:01:08.780
So we think that if we were awarded, it would be next year.

01:01:08.780 --> 01:01:13.019
it would be a design process of probably close to 18 months.

01:01:13.019 --> 01:01:15.860
And then construction would actually take place

01:01:15.860 --> 01:01:17.739
probably in 2027.

01:01:17.739 --> 01:01:21.940
So what we asked for in memorandum of understanding

01:01:21.940 --> 01:01:24.619
with Highland and the Park District

01:01:24.619 --> 01:01:29.300
was a financial commitment of 333,000 per partner,

01:01:29.300 --> 01:01:34.300
100,000 in fiscal year 25, 100,000 in fiscal year 26

01:01:34.380 --> 01:01:38.460
and 133,000 in fiscal year 27 if we're awarded.

01:01:38.460 --> 01:01:41.739
Now, remember that this is just a cost estimate.

01:01:41.739 --> 01:01:45.340
I think we are high here, but we're also, you know,

01:01:45.340 --> 01:01:49.340
two and a half years away from building it.

01:01:49.340 --> 01:01:51.280
So if the costs are reduced,

01:01:51.280 --> 01:01:54.500
the partner shares would also be reduced.

01:01:54.500 --> 01:01:58.880
The ITEP grant is a maximum $3 million grant.

01:01:58.880 --> 01:02:00.559
So we're asking for the max.

01:02:01.460 --> 01:02:06.460
And the ITEP requirements require residential connection

01:02:06.460 --> 01:02:07.460
Miller.

01:02:07.460 --> 01:02:19.219
So we have to hit all those elements within there to have a good application.

01:02:19.219 --> 01:02:24.099
So this application that's shown here is just a concept.

01:02:24.099 --> 01:02:27.059
It's not the exact spot that it's going to go.

01:02:27.059 --> 01:02:28.539
It's the beginning base.

01:02:28.539 --> 01:02:34.920
The Park District even asked for a couple potential alternates based on what design

01:02:34.920 --> 01:02:40.920
would actually do but we feel comfortable that it would be no more than a four million dollar project

01:02:40.920 --> 01:02:45.239
and we would work to try to eliminate the bridges as well because the bridges are very expensive.

01:02:45.800 --> 01:02:50.599
We just don't know at this point because we haven't designed anything whether that's possible or not.

01:02:51.480 --> 01:02:58.039
Hold on Miss Stacy. Truth be told there was enough here for a fair vote.

01:02:58.039 --> 01:03:09.840
We had a quorum or else we could not have even have sit down to discuss anything and it was,

01:03:09.840 --> 01:03:27.619
it did not pass by two-thirds vote and so how it ended back here I don't understand.

01:03:27.619 --> 01:03:42.119
We had enough people here for a quorum. We voted. The vote did not pass. And I, the opposing

01:03:42.119 --> 01:03:50.199
team, did not ask for it to come back. I was given no choice in the matter. So let's just

01:03:50.199 --> 01:03:51.199
make that clear.

01:03:51.199 --> 01:03:56.480
Okay. We have a little procedure issue here. I forgot to get a motion to move this forward.

01:03:56.480 --> 01:04:02.679
to adopt a motion to adopt such a motion so moved second motion made by Alderman

01:04:02.679 --> 01:04:14.800
Clem seconded by Alderman Shadle Alderman Simmons yeah and what how is this back

01:04:14.800 --> 01:04:20.720
because it was voted on and it didn't pass and it was enough people here

01:04:20.720 --> 01:04:25.179
because y'all was trying to get all the person Stacy to bring it back to re-vote

01:04:25.179 --> 01:04:30.179
on it so how is it bad well he's gonna answer that so right

01:04:30.179 --> 01:04:41.179
Procedurally at that meeting, it was voted on. There were not the requisite number of votes to adopt the resolution. You needed five, and the vote wasn't there. You didn't get at least five votes in favor of it.

01:04:41.179 --> 01:04:53.179
Later during that meeting, shortly right after that vote, there was a motion. It was entertained whether or not there would be a motion to reconsider. A motion to reconsider has to be made by someone on the prevailing side.

01:04:53.179 --> 01:04:54.179
and Sattler.

01:04:54.179 --> 01:04:58.179
The prevailing side was it failed so that would have had to be Alderman Stacy.

01:04:58.179 --> 01:05:02.260
Arguably you could have made the motion to reconsider two Alderman Simmons.

01:05:02.260 --> 01:05:05.420
But you guys didn't because you were going to vote no anyways you said.

01:05:05.420 --> 01:05:08.179
So the motion to reconsider failed.

01:05:08.179 --> 01:05:14.380
Now we also have rules in our code that say that any two Alderman can ask for an item

01:05:14.380 --> 01:05:18.300
to be placed on an agenda.

01:05:18.300 --> 01:05:21.579
So that's what Alderman Klemm and Alderman Shadle did.

01:05:21.579 --> 01:05:23.579
and

01:05:24.679 --> 01:05:26.679
the other thing is that they ask to have it put back on an agenda,

01:05:27.800 --> 01:05:29.800
whether it was at the special meeting or at this meeting, they

01:05:30.900 --> 01:05:32.900
can do that there, just because something doesn't meet the

01:05:34.019 --> 01:05:36.019
requisite number of votes doesn't mean that it's dead

01:05:37.119 --> 01:05:39.119
forever, right? Something can change, circumstances change,

01:05:40.619 --> 01:05:42.619
so things can be brought back. Now, the difference being is,

01:05:45.720 --> 01:05:47.720
or the nuance is that everything, anytime anything

01:05:48.820 --> 01:05:50.820
fails, should it be brought back? Well, if the vote is

01:05:51.579 --> 01:05:52.579
Huffines.

01:05:52.579 --> 01:06:01.199
I think the difference here potentially is, you know, the vote could be different because

01:06:01.199 --> 01:06:04.860
you have different people that, there were people that were missing there.

01:06:04.860 --> 01:06:09.199
But let's say hypothetically you had everybody there, you know, different topic where you

01:06:09.199 --> 01:06:12.720
had all eight members of the council there and the mayor was present there.

01:06:12.720 --> 01:06:16.340
Let's say we were talking about whether or not to do an ice cream social, right?

01:06:16.340 --> 01:06:20.300
And the vote goes down, you know, seven to one there.

01:06:20.300 --> 01:06:21.300
Weir.

01:06:21.300 --> 01:06:27.099
Or let's say it goes down six, it fails two to six, okay?

01:06:27.099 --> 01:06:29.739
Two people want it, six people don't want it, right?

01:06:29.739 --> 01:06:33.559
Well, those two people that wanted it, that didn't get it to pass, they could technically

01:06:33.559 --> 01:06:35.579
still put it back on the agenda.

01:06:35.579 --> 01:06:39.659
But unless you know that someone's going to flip their vote, then it's really kind of

01:06:39.659 --> 01:06:42.099
a waste of time to do that.

01:06:42.099 --> 01:06:48.320
But there's nothing that prevents an item just because it failed one time from being

01:06:48.320 --> 01:06:54.279
brought back there so that that's how it got back because two aldermen asked for

01:06:54.279 --> 01:07:00.000
it to be put back on the agenda. Alderman Sanders. Yeah and with that and with that

01:07:00.000 --> 01:07:07.119
statement you you're making well what happened to me I feel or the council

01:07:07.119 --> 01:07:12.000
probably feel the majority anyway that didn't

01:07:12.000 --> 01:07:17.000
and I think that anyone that didn't vote on the approval

01:07:19.279 --> 01:07:23.639
should be entertained with at least an explanation

01:07:23.639 --> 01:07:26.480
for why it is brought back.

01:07:26.480 --> 01:07:28.840
You know, if it's gonna be brought back

01:07:29.800 --> 01:07:32.239
seeking another approval for it,

01:07:32.239 --> 01:07:35.099
then there should be a follow-up explanation

01:07:35.099 --> 01:07:39.639
of the reason why we're entertaining this again.

01:07:39.639 --> 01:07:43.539
that's how I feel, and I think anybody else

01:07:43.539 --> 01:07:45.239
would feel that way as well.

01:07:45.239 --> 01:07:49.599
You just don't, just because two people decide,

01:07:49.599 --> 01:07:51.720
well, we wanna put it back on there,

01:07:51.720 --> 01:07:53.720
well, give us an explanation

01:07:53.720 --> 01:07:55.539
to why you want that back on there,

01:07:55.539 --> 01:07:57.279
because there's altered,

01:07:57.279 --> 01:07:59.920
there can be other alterterial motives

01:08:01.820 --> 01:08:03.380
that is precipitating this,

01:08:03.380 --> 01:08:06.179
and we need to know why it is

01:08:06.179 --> 01:08:12.619
that someone is requesting to bring it back for another look at.

01:08:12.619 --> 01:08:17.220
So, you know, I think people had their minds made up the very first time.

01:08:17.220 --> 01:08:22.140
And if it's brought up again, it should have some kind of explanation why.

01:08:22.140 --> 01:08:27.979
So, Alderman Sanders, Attorney Zito explained the procedure part of it.

01:08:27.979 --> 01:08:31.180
So, if Alderman Klemm or Alderman Shadle would like to give more insight

01:08:31.180 --> 01:08:35.979
into why they wanted to bring this back, floor is yours.

01:08:35.979 --> 01:08:49.859
Sure. If I could have the floor. Okay. It's really pretty simple. You got a project here that's got three partners in it. It takes all three partners to make it work. Okay.

01:08:51.100 --> 01:09:05.899
You've got Greater Downtown Freeport that supports it. These trails tie into many different places. Okay. There's 4.7 miles. You're basically, like we said, there's $3 million worth of work we're paying

01:09:05.979 --> 01:09:10.979
We've heard from the other taxing districts, you know, what the hell are you guys thinking of?

01:09:10.979 --> 01:09:16.979
You know, there's other people involved in this that want to take part in this, and it ties in different areas.

01:09:16.979 --> 01:09:23.979
It ties in his ward, ties in my ward, ties in your ward, ties in many places, okay?

01:09:23.979 --> 01:09:27.979
And brings people to different areas.

01:09:27.979 --> 01:09:32.460
who ties in his ward, ties in my ward, ties in your ward,

01:09:32.460 --> 01:09:34.979
ties in many places, okay?

01:09:34.979 --> 01:09:37.659
And brings people opportunity

01:09:37.659 --> 01:09:41.979
to use 4.7 more miles worth of bike paths.

01:09:41.979 --> 01:09:45.420
So we felt as though with it being other partnerships

01:09:45.420 --> 01:09:48.180
in this, you know, let's take a look at.

01:09:48.180 --> 01:09:51.220
you know let's take a look at this a second time and say is this do you want

01:09:51.220 --> 01:09:54.659
this or don't you want it if you don't want it all you got to do is vote no

01:09:54.659 --> 01:09:59.560
pretty simple and you got to remember it's it's it's committing to the funding

01:09:59.560 --> 01:10:04.279
for a possible grant we haven't secured the grant it's just a possible funding

01:10:04.279 --> 01:10:11.460
are you gonna put behind it so actually Alderman Stacy was next have we heard

01:10:11.460 --> 01:10:24.399
from Highland or the Park District. Are they're even willing to do this? Because we had no

01:10:24.399 --> 01:10:36.430
manager. Excuse me. I stopped talking so he could take the floor. I had the floor.

01:10:36.430 --> 01:10:41.270
Well, actually, now you don't. It's actually manager Boyer's floor. As I

01:10:41.270 --> 01:10:44.270
I understand I haven't spoken directly with Chris Kevister,

01:10:44.270 --> 01:10:46.710
but I believe our staff has,

01:10:46.710 --> 01:10:49.050
and I've spoken with the Park District directly,

01:10:49.050 --> 01:10:51.189
and everybody is favorable for this.

01:10:51.189 --> 01:10:53.869
It adds real amenities to the community.

01:10:53.869 --> 01:10:55.909
I talked to Highland on Friday,

01:10:55.909 --> 01:10:58.210
and they asked for the memorandum of understanding

01:10:58.210 --> 01:11:01.630
for their meeting tomorrow if it passes tonight.

01:11:01.630 --> 01:11:06.630
And I do want to say what was presented to the council

01:11:06.630 --> 01:11:11.630
was 200,000 for the city, 200,000 for the park district,

01:11:12.670 --> 01:11:17.670
200,000 for Highland that have now turned into 333,000.

01:11:20.029 --> 01:11:25.029
And let the record show that the people of Freeport

01:11:25.390 --> 01:11:29.869
pays taxes on this money, the city portion

01:11:29.869 --> 01:11:32.069
and the park portion.

01:11:33.189 --> 01:11:35.130
We have to pay taxes on this.

01:11:35.130 --> 01:11:49.579
and so as far as I'm concerned call the question. If that's a motion then to call

01:11:49.579 --> 01:11:54.659
the question there needs to be a second and then a vote on the question.

01:11:54.659 --> 01:12:00.500
There's a motion made by Alderman Stacey seconded by Alderman Klemm to call the question. Madam

01:12:00.500 --> 01:12:06.300
clerk take the roll on on ending discussion and calling the vote. One

01:12:06.300 --> 01:12:34.140
Settlers, and Seller, not Sellers, three in favor, four against and that probably fails.

01:12:34.140 --> 01:12:40.119
Hild. So that means, all that means is there's continued discussion. So Alderman Monroe.

01:12:40.119 --> 01:12:46.020
So I've got a couple of questions and this is a little bit of cart before the horse.

01:12:46.020 --> 01:12:54.060
So if we got this grant and everybody's agreement that this would move forward, what would be,

01:12:54.060 --> 01:12:59.399
who would be doing the work to do this? Would it go out to bid or would it be city and park

01:12:59.399 --> 01:13:02.479
district employees? How would that work?

01:13:02.479 --> 01:13:22.479
So IDOT requirements, would it have to be contracted out? Anything with IDOT money has to be bid and will have to be done by contractors on that project. That's the, I guess, the skinny of it.

01:13:22.479 --> 01:13:29.380
Did you have another question I didn't answer?

01:13:29.380 --> 01:13:31.380
It answers my question.

01:13:31.380 --> 01:13:35.199
Alderman Sanders.

01:13:35.199 --> 01:13:40.199
all the participating agencies that are participating

01:13:41.720 --> 01:13:45.319
in this investment that we're doing,

01:13:45.319 --> 01:13:48.079
especially with taxpayers' dollars.

01:13:48.079 --> 01:13:51.079
A lot of the funding for this grant

01:13:51.079 --> 01:13:53.760
has to be somewhat of a matching type thing.

01:13:53.760 --> 01:13:55.760
Is that what we're talking about?

01:13:55.760 --> 01:14:00.760
And then not only that, who's making decisions and surveys

01:14:00.760 --> 01:14:08.760
to determine the extension or the expansion of this particular project and who is it serving?

01:14:08.760 --> 01:14:17.760
Is it serving the whole total residential of the city of Freeport or is it just some and not others?

01:14:17.760 --> 01:14:25.760
Am I looking at it from that perspective because I know you were saying that you might have to make it,

01:14:25.760 --> 01:14:55.760
I'm putting it in my own words, that you, the designated areas that you were making suggestions for is for the grant purpose of being approved and so you designated certain areas for this grant and I'm not saying you're just holding us to that, binding the city to that, but it's just to get the grant presentation presented so we can

01:14:55.760 --> 01:15:25.760
We didn't get the grant approved. Is that how I'm looking at it? But it will be extended and provided for the whole city residential areas of Freeport because they are all taxpayers and their money has been, their tax dollars are being invested into this particular grant project and so I know you can't name everything to where it's going but the most vital areas is what the grant is going to be designed for.

01:15:25.760 --> 01:15:29.880
Huft, jim, unless y'all get this out there just for the sake of getting the grant, is that what we're saying?

01:15:31.359 --> 01:15:37.979
no, there's a map, and a memo, that was provided with this. the map shows the outline of the

01:15:37.979 --> 01:15:44.920
existing city trail system and the proposals for the expansion. most of it is within the west side

01:15:44.920 --> 01:15:50.920
of Freeport because that's where our existing trail system is so it's an expansion off of that trail.

01:15:50.920 --> 01:15:57.720
Again, like I said, I dot wise, part of the process, you have to kind of come up with

01:15:57.720 --> 01:16:04.680
a basic area of the trail and you have to hit the components of schools, shopping and

01:16:04.680 --> 01:16:06.640
residential areas to qualify.

01:16:06.640 --> 01:16:14.039
They want alternate recreational path opportunity for people from residential areas to get to

01:16:14.039 --> 01:16:18.479
parks, schools, and shopping that don't include vehicle traffic.

01:16:18.479 --> 01:16:20.600
I agree with you. All right.

01:16:22.720 --> 01:16:27.600
This project was already submitted for in 2022

01:16:27.760 --> 01:16:29.560
with the same three partners.

01:16:29.560 --> 01:16:32.239
And it was at that time when we weren't awarded,

01:16:32.560 --> 01:16:37.199
the three partners said at the time because ITEP only comes around every two years.

01:16:37.439 --> 01:16:40.119
And this is a larger amount than what they usually give.

01:16:40.119 --> 01:16:43.000
They usually are, I believe, half of this, about a million and a half.

01:16:43.439 --> 01:16:47.359
So everybody that was in the partnership said, if this comes open again,

01:16:47.359 --> 01:16:51.920
we want to reapply. Anybody that knows anything that's going on with grants

01:16:51.920 --> 01:16:56.779
within the within the grant community, grant timelines have condensed greatly

01:16:56.779 --> 01:17:02.000
so you you have a very short and nimble window to get these things together. This

01:17:02.000 --> 01:17:09.340
one in particular about 30 days. A city manager, mayor, they all both know that if

01:17:09.340 --> 01:17:13.060
this does not pass tonight it's dead because we don't have enough time to

01:17:13.060 --> 01:17:16.500
to have the public meeting that's required with this.

01:17:16.500 --> 01:17:20.939
Highland and the Park District, from my conversations,

01:17:20.939 --> 01:17:23.220
which have been emails, have been very positive

01:17:23.220 --> 01:17:24.979
about this project and the outlook of it

01:17:24.979 --> 01:17:29.180
and sharing the cost of it to expand that biking network.

01:17:29.180 --> 01:17:31.020
And it's really not just a bike network,

01:17:31.020 --> 01:17:32.380
it's a walking path network.

01:17:32.380 --> 01:17:35.899
Well, even if the grant was approved

01:17:37.140 --> 01:17:38.819
and things of that nature,

01:17:38.819 --> 01:17:41.939
who's gonna be doing the oversight and overseeing?

01:17:41.939 --> 01:17:47.500
The City of Freeport will be doing the overseeing, but it is under the memorandum of understanding

01:17:47.500 --> 01:17:51.899
it will be all three parties working together because that's what the outline of sharing

01:17:51.899 --> 01:17:53.380
the cost means.

01:17:53.380 --> 01:17:54.380
Okay.

01:17:54.380 --> 01:18:00.739
And if we submit, if it's a yes and we submit, City of Freeport is the lead agency for this

01:18:00.739 --> 01:18:01.739
project.

01:18:01.739 --> 01:18:02.739
Okay.

01:18:02.739 --> 01:18:13.500
and all rules or policies will be administered to the, will be subject to the councils overseeing

01:18:13.500 --> 01:18:14.659
of these projects?

01:18:14.659 --> 01:18:20.420
No, the rules for the project will have to come from the Illinois Department of Transportation.

01:18:20.420 --> 01:18:25.180
An ITEP project has to be run by their rules, not the city rules.

01:18:25.180 --> 01:18:26.180
Okay.

01:18:26.180 --> 01:18:37.180
Okay, so are you telling me that the Park District and Highland have had their meeting that we were waiting on?

01:18:37.180 --> 01:18:41.180
No, their meeting is dependent upon this meeting tonight.

01:18:41.180 --> 01:18:51.180
Okay. And when contracted out, when projects like this is contracted out,

01:18:51.180 --> 01:18:59.180
We, the council, have no say so when choosing the contractor. Would that be a correct statement?

01:18:59.180 --> 01:19:07.180
No, it goes to the low bid procurement process. That's how an ITEP grant, when you go to a bid,

01:19:07.180 --> 01:19:14.180
when we bid something out it goes to the low contract bid. And so whoever is the most responsible bidder

01:19:14.180 --> 01:19:19.539
with the low price can it should be recommended for that job that's that's

01:19:19.539 --> 01:19:25.180
with any project of the municipality so when is it that we don't have a choice

01:19:25.180 --> 01:19:32.529
you always have a choice that's why we there's been jobs they have come on the

01:19:32.529 --> 01:19:37.170
table so the only time you wouldn't be able to select a low bid contractor is

01:19:37.170 --> 01:19:41.369
if there's some disagreement with a contractor that the city has that they

01:19:41.369 --> 01:19:46.010
They hadn't performed in the past, they didn't fulfill a contract, they have a bond

01:19:46.010 --> 01:19:50.960
Settle, a contract, they have a bond issue, otherwise you're legally obligated to go with

01:19:50.960 --> 01:19:51.960
the low bidder.

01:19:51.960 --> 01:19:58.239
Now it can be overrode, but if it is, you could have to pay the original low bidder

01:19:58.239 --> 01:20:02.600
their profit on the project, and Erin can probably expand on that, but that's the procurement

01:20:02.600 --> 01:20:09.869
rules with government funding.

01:20:09.869 --> 01:20:15.689
So again, just generally speaking, right, so if a project goes to public bidding, right,

01:20:15.689 --> 01:20:19.170
to put the bid request out there.

01:20:19.170 --> 01:20:22.210
Contractors submit their proposals, right?

01:20:22.210 --> 01:20:24.329
You open the bid, typically then you award,

01:20:24.329 --> 01:20:26.449
as Darren said, to the lowest bidder, right?

01:20:26.449 --> 01:20:29.729
You want to take the least expensive bid there.

01:20:29.729 --> 01:20:33.649
Now that person, just as on previous agendas, right,

01:20:33.649 --> 01:20:36.529
when we open bids, the approval of that,

01:20:36.529 --> 01:20:39.329
the selection, the formal selection of that person,

01:20:39.329 --> 01:20:43.369
of that low bidder, still comes before the council there.

01:20:43.369 --> 01:20:44.689
So that's the general process.

01:20:44.689 --> 01:20:47.010
I think you're asking though, Alderman Stacy though,

01:20:47.010 --> 01:20:50.409
that there are times where it's just being presented

01:20:50.409 --> 01:20:52.210
to you as, oh, hey, we're gonna go

01:20:52.210 --> 01:20:53.970
with this particular person.

01:20:53.970 --> 01:20:55.489
I think that's what you're asking, right?

01:20:55.489 --> 01:20:58.689
A lot of times then that's where you'll hear city manager

01:20:58.689 --> 01:21:02.250
sometimes reference like a source well contract there.

01:21:02.250 --> 01:21:04.909
A lot of times there, a source well contract is

01:21:06.050 --> 01:21:08.010
it's technically already gone out to bid

01:21:08.010 --> 01:21:11.130
just at a higher level, just not at the city level.

01:21:11.130 --> 01:21:12.090
It's kind of gone out.

01:21:12.090 --> 01:21:14.250
They used to call it the state bid

01:21:14.250 --> 01:21:17.890
where the state would go through a bid process

01:21:17.890 --> 01:21:22.090
and they would award it to a particular car dealership

01:21:22.090 --> 01:21:23.810
at the state bid level, it was bid.

01:21:23.810 --> 01:21:28.810
And this dealership now has hundreds of police cars.

01:21:28.810 --> 01:21:31.489
So then a municipality who wants to buy from them

01:21:31.489 --> 01:21:33.430
doesn't have to go through the bid process itself

01:21:33.430 --> 01:21:35.170
because it already went through the bid process

01:21:35.170 --> 01:21:36.250
at the state level.

01:21:36.250 --> 01:21:37.569
And that's called source well now,

01:21:37.569 --> 01:21:38.930
they changed the name of it,

01:21:38.930 --> 01:21:40.050
but it used to be called the state bid.

01:21:40.050 --> 01:21:43.050
So a lot of times then if something is a source well

01:21:43.050 --> 01:21:44.050
Huffines.

01:21:44.050 --> 01:21:45.050
So that's one reason.

01:21:45.050 --> 01:21:55.729
Another reason that you might not get a choice is there's only one person that does this,

01:21:55.729 --> 01:22:00.130
or maybe five people in the entire country, and only one that does it anywhere remotely

01:22:00.130 --> 01:22:02.090
close to the state of Illinois.

01:22:02.090 --> 01:22:06.569
So in that sense, then, sometimes that one is just brought straight to you guys because

01:22:06.569 --> 01:22:11.529
it wouldn't be economical to hire a contractor out of California to come do that very specialized

01:22:11.529 --> 01:22:12.529
Huffines.

01:22:12.529 --> 01:22:17.250
You know, but there's one company in Illinois that does it, might be six hours away, but

01:22:17.250 --> 01:22:20.850
still cheaper than California, Boston, whatever it may be.

01:22:20.850 --> 01:22:24.029
So those are some of the examples of when you don't get it.

01:22:24.029 --> 01:22:28.770
Other times there may be a situation where you guys, and it's come up before, where

01:22:28.770 --> 01:22:31.670
you guys, you're asked to waive the formal bid process.

01:22:31.670 --> 01:22:36.289
You know, sometimes if it's an emergency, you know, an emergency repair had to be done,

01:22:36.289 --> 01:22:40.890
something broke over the weekend, they had to just go pick someone to fix the emergency

01:22:40.890 --> 01:22:45.090
B. Waterleak, and then they bring it back before you guys to ratify the emergency repair.

01:22:45.090 --> 01:22:49.210
Well, you guys don't have a choice there because they did it because the pike was, you know,

01:22:49.210 --> 01:22:50.890
spewing water over the weekend.

01:22:50.890 --> 01:22:52.850
So those are just some of the scenarios.

01:22:52.850 --> 01:23:00.909
Yeah, sure.

01:23:00.909 --> 01:23:04.109
Just one other comment that I meant to say earlier.

01:23:04.109 --> 01:23:12.069
So the, and it's at the bottom of the memo, but our 2024 to 2026 strategic plan for the

01:23:12.069 --> 01:23:16.869
city of Freeport that was brought forward, there's three sections within that plan that

01:23:16.869 --> 01:23:20.289
to talk about expanding the bike and rec path.

01:23:20.289 --> 01:23:25.289
So this project does meet that type of strategic plan.

01:23:27.189 --> 01:23:28.550
And I listed those at the bottom

01:23:28.550 --> 01:23:31.510
and I had went through it prior to the meeting

01:23:31.510 --> 01:23:34.029
just to make sure that those were listed

01:23:34.029 --> 01:23:42.039
within why the project's being brought forward.

01:23:42.199 --> 01:23:44.039
Okay, so no further discussion.

01:23:44.039 --> 01:23:47.520
Madam Clerk, please take the roll on resolution 2024-101.

01:23:49.880 --> 01:23:57.880
Madam Mayor, just an explanation. This vote here is for a matter of if it goes through or not, if we agree with it.

01:23:58.760 --> 01:24:00.319
Say that again.

01:24:00.319 --> 01:24:04.460
Its approval of the resolution is what this vote's for, correct? Correct.

01:24:04.460 --> 01:24:09.239
It's saying that we're committed to the funding if we are awarded the grant. Thank you.

01:24:10.920 --> 01:24:12.920
Klemm? Aye. Monroe?

01:24:13.800 --> 01:24:18.439
Aye. Simmons? No. Parker? Aye. Stacy? No.

01:24:18.439 --> 01:24:42.760
Shadle? Aye. Sanders? Aye. The motion passes for wait one to five to two. Okay we'll move on to item number ten which is the adoption of resolution 2024-103. Resolution setting the date and hours for trick-or-treating in the city for 2024.

01:24:42.760 --> 01:24:52.920
Manager Boyer? Thank you your honor. In the past trick-or-treating has been observed on Halloween October 31st. For the past several years the hours have been from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.

01:24:52.920 --> 01:24:58.180
P.M. This year Halloween falls on a Thursday. Staff is recommending keeping trick-or-treat

01:24:58.180 --> 01:25:04.520
on Thursday, October 31st from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. And staff recommends moving forward with

01:25:04.520 --> 01:25:11.039
that resolution, 2024-103. Is there a motion to adopt? There is. Second. A motion made

01:25:11.039 --> 01:25:18.439
by Alderman Parker, seconded by Alderman Shadle. Any discussion? Madam Clerk, please take the

01:25:18.439 --> 01:25:48.439
Klemm? Aye. Monroe? Aye. Simmons? Aye. Parker? Aye. Stacy? Aye. Shadle? Aye. And Sanders? Aye. The resolution is adopted seven to zero. Item number 11 is the adoption of resolution 2024-104. Could you please read this? Resolution approving a proposal from OEC for repairs and upgrades to the city's fuel station and a proposal from Northwest Environmental for limited phase two environmental site assessment services at the public works facility on Island

01:25:48.439 --> 01:25:49.439
Thank you.

01:25:49.439 --> 01:25:50.439
Thank you.

01:25:50.439 --> 01:25:51.439
Darin?

01:25:51.439 --> 01:25:52.439
Yeah.

01:25:52.439 --> 01:25:59.399
At the last council meeting, OEC's contract was discussed for the fuel station down on

01:25:59.399 --> 01:26:01.520
Island Avenue.

01:26:01.520 --> 01:26:07.720
The project was asked to have more respondents during the week.

01:26:07.720 --> 01:26:16.119
We have asked two more contractors to get bids for this project and no one responded.

01:26:16.119 --> 01:26:20.000
At this time, staff is asking council

01:26:20.000 --> 01:26:22.460
what's their wish to move forward or not.

01:26:23.399 --> 01:26:28.399
The price will substantially go up in 2025, 2026 and 2027

01:26:31.720 --> 01:26:32.880
for this project.

01:26:34.020 --> 01:26:37.279
We had some issues this week down at the fuel station

01:26:37.279 --> 01:26:42.279
and we're fine if this item doesn't move forward,

01:26:42.279 --> 01:26:44.399
This item doesn't move forward.

01:26:44.399 --> 01:26:46.720
We can address it next year.

01:26:46.720 --> 01:26:52.659
Currently, we think that negotiating this price now is in the best benefit of the City

01:26:52.659 --> 01:26:57.920
of Freeport and then the work would, we basically lock the price in now but do the work and

01:26:57.920 --> 01:27:00.199
budget for the work in 2025.

01:27:00.199 --> 01:27:02.920
Is there a motion to adopt?

01:27:02.920 --> 01:27:03.920
So moved.

01:27:03.920 --> 01:27:04.920
Second.

01:27:04.920 --> 01:27:08.399
A motion made by Alderman Parker, seconded by Alderman Shadle.

01:27:08.399 --> 01:27:09.399
Any discussion?

01:27:09.399 --> 01:27:10.399
Alderman Sanders.

01:27:10.399 --> 01:27:40.399
Alderman, Sanders. What's on the line here again? I use, I couldn't quite hear you. Sorry. The fuel station down on Island Street, last meeting we brought forward a quote to rehab the fuel station. The fuel station's having problems. It's at its end of its useful life. At the last meeting, you asked me to try to get some more proposals, so we did. Three different staff members. We tried to get three different companies to bid it. We got

01:27:40.399 --> 01:27:47.840
Zero responses back of any interest to move forward and bid this. OEC has been our supplier for 35 years.

01:27:48.359 --> 01:27:50.359
They do all of our routine

01:27:51.239 --> 01:27:56.479
testing, which I believe is monthly down at the station, and there's other tests that are done quarterly.

01:27:56.520 --> 01:28:05.039
They installed the existing station, and they're willing to work with us to have city crews and or other concrete firms do the work

01:28:05.479 --> 01:28:06.880
that they don't specialize in.

01:28:06.880 --> 01:28:10.279
but we don't have any other options at this point in time.

01:28:10.279 --> 01:28:11.119
Do not.

01:28:11.119 --> 01:28:14.600
Okay, that's all I wanted to know.

01:28:16.039 --> 01:28:17.319
All the questions.

01:28:17.319 --> 01:28:18.800
There's no further discussion.

01:28:18.800 --> 01:28:20.640
Madam Clerk, please take the roll.

01:28:20.640 --> 01:28:21.479
Klemm?

01:28:21.479 --> 01:28:22.300
Aye.

01:28:22.300 --> 01:28:23.140
Monroe?

01:28:23.140 --> 01:28:23.979
Aye.

01:28:23.979 --> 01:28:24.800
Simmons?

01:28:24.800 --> 01:28:25.640
Aye.

01:28:25.640 --> 01:28:26.479
Parker?

01:28:26.479 --> 01:28:27.300
Aye.

01:28:27.300 --> 01:28:28.140
Stacy?

01:28:28.140 --> 01:28:28.979
Aye.

01:28:28.979 --> 01:28:29.800
Shadle?

01:28:29.800 --> 01:28:30.640
Aye.

01:28:30.640 --> 01:28:31.479
And Sanders?

01:28:31.479 --> 01:28:32.300
Aye.

01:28:32.300 --> 01:28:33.140
The resolution is adopted seven to zero.

01:28:33.140 --> 01:28:36.039
Item number 12 is the adoption of resolution 2024-105.

01:28:36.039 --> 01:28:37.279
Could you please read this?

01:28:37.279 --> 01:28:39.680
Resolution approving intergovernmental agreement

01:28:39.680 --> 01:28:42.000
with Stevenson County for the use of county antenna

01:28:42.000 --> 01:28:44.079
tower at the county highway department

01:28:44.079 --> 01:28:48.000
by the city for enhancement of VHF communications

01:28:48.000 --> 01:28:50.399
within city and Stevenson County.

01:28:50.399 --> 01:28:50.899
Thank you.

01:28:50.899 --> 01:28:51.720
Chief Miller?

01:28:51.720 --> 01:28:53.000
Thank you, Your Honor.

01:28:53.000 --> 01:28:57.039
On July 8, the ETSB Board, Emergency Telephone System

01:28:57.039 --> 01:29:01.440
Board, agreed to fund the entire replacement of our VHF radio

01:29:01.440 --> 01:29:08.880
Network. In that proposal, included an additional receiver site located at the Stevenson County

01:29:08.880 --> 01:29:16.079
Highway Department garage or their building. So we're seeking tonight for you to approve

01:29:16.079 --> 01:29:22.039
a resolution to enter into an intergovernmental agreement with Stevenson County for the installation

01:29:22.039 --> 01:29:29.680
of radio components and antennae on their existing radio tower. We're seeking your

01:29:29.680 --> 01:29:30.680
approval tonight.

01:29:30.680 --> 01:29:38.880
Night. Is there a motion to adopt? Motion to adopt. So move. We have a motion made by

01:29:38.880 --> 01:29:43.579
Alderman Parker, seconded by Alderman Klemm. Any further discussion? Alderman

01:29:43.579 --> 01:29:45.819
Sanders.

01:29:45.819 --> 01:29:55.340
Yeah. With this antenna tower, are we leasing it as the city, a free port as opposed to the county?

01:29:55.340 --> 01:30:06.100
Are we leasing it, renting it, or is there any transfer of funds happening with the connection with this?

01:30:06.100 --> 01:30:13.539
it is the intergovernmental agreement and the resolution states there is no cost involved it's it's just

01:30:14.340 --> 01:30:19.300
them being held harmless in case our equipment gets struck by lightning or something to that effect

01:30:19.300 --> 01:30:25.060
now if one of their staff members were to tinker with it and create a short or do some damage to

01:30:25.060 --> 01:30:30.979
it they'd be on the hook for that but any natural causes any failures any maintenance that would

01:30:30.979 --> 01:30:35.539
would become the responsibility of my budget

01:30:35.539 --> 01:30:36.659
within the fire department.

01:30:36.659 --> 01:30:40.539
But right now, it's just them wanting assurances

01:30:40.539 --> 01:30:44.220
that we're not gonna hold them accountable

01:30:44.220 --> 01:30:47.460
if there's a natural issue with our equipment.

01:30:47.460 --> 01:30:51.060
So we don't have any insurance to...

01:30:51.060 --> 01:30:52.859
It will be insured with our city insurance.

01:30:52.859 --> 01:30:55.539
It will be insured, okay, because of, like you said,

01:30:55.539 --> 01:30:59.420
if there's any failure, not due to the department

01:30:59.420 --> 01:31:04.420
or the City of Freeport, we're not held responsible for that.

01:31:04.460 --> 01:31:05.300
That's correct.

01:31:05.300 --> 01:31:06.539
Okay, all right, thank you.

01:31:08.380 --> 01:31:10.260
There's no further discussion.

01:31:10.260 --> 01:31:11.899
Madam Clerk, please take the roll.

01:31:11.899 --> 01:31:13.020
Klemm. All right.

01:31:13.020 --> 01:31:14.140
Monroe. Aye.

01:31:14.140 --> 01:31:15.460
Simmons. Aye.

01:31:15.460 --> 01:31:16.539
Parker. Aye.

01:31:16.539 --> 01:31:17.859
Stacy. Aye.

01:31:17.859 --> 01:31:18.819
Shadle. Aye.

01:31:18.819 --> 01:31:20.699
And Sanders. Aye.

01:31:20.699 --> 01:31:23.420
The resolution is adopted, seven to zero.

01:31:23.420 --> 01:31:26.220
Item number 13, could you please read this discussion?

01:31:26.220 --> 01:31:32.180
Discussion regarding compensation for elected officials and appointed commissioners under

01:31:32.180 --> 01:31:40.260
the codified ordinances Chapter 220 for Council, Chapter 226 for Mayor, Chapter 228 for City

01:31:40.260 --> 01:31:46.220
Clerk, Chapter 262 for the Board of Fire and Police Commissioners, and Chapter 260 for

01:31:46.220 --> 01:31:49.979
the Liquor Commission.

01:31:49.979 --> 01:31:51.180
Manager Boyer.

01:31:51.180 --> 01:31:52.340
Thank you, Honor.

01:31:52.340 --> 01:31:58.140
With the municipal elections scheduled for April 2025, City Council must set the salaries

01:31:58.140 --> 01:32:02.939
of those positions by November 19th, 2024.

01:32:02.939 --> 01:32:06.699
The salaries of elected officials may not take effect during the term of any officer

01:32:06.699 --> 01:32:08.739
holding an elective office.

01:32:08.739 --> 01:32:14.539
The salaries must be adopted 180 days prior to the term of office commencing, and in the

01:32:14.539 --> 01:32:19.340
case of the City of Freeport, a new rate for older persons will only be effective for those

01:32:19.340 --> 01:32:49.340
elected in 2025 and future elections. Below is a detail of the current rates. We pay for the Mayor and City Clerk, Alderpersons, Board of Fire and Police, and Liquor Commission. We'd like to discuss the rates with council in order to prepare the ordinance that will be brought forward on a later date. Currently, the Mayor's history is illustrated on that table there with 1% increase in 22, 23, 24, and 25.

01:32:49.340 --> 01:33:02.340
We're including a table of potential adjustments we could make anywhere between what it would impact in terms of 1%, 2%, 3%, or 4%.

01:33:02.340 --> 01:33:09.340
In addition, the city clerk is on the back page there and it shows you the combined history of the city clerk.

01:33:09.340 --> 01:33:16.340
And then also potential options if council was to see fit to make any changes there.

01:33:16.340 --> 01:33:23.979
Alderpersons currently receive $3,800 per year and that is divided over 12

01:33:23.979 --> 01:33:30.659
months and the Board of Fire and Police Commissioners the chairman makes $1,200

01:33:30.659 --> 01:33:36.460
per year that's $300 per quarter and each member makes $700 per year or $175 per

01:33:36.460 --> 01:33:42.180
quarter. On the Liquor Commissioners current rates all members receive $75

01:33:42.180 --> 01:33:58.779
for Mayor, a 3% increase for each year of the term for the clerk and an increase in

01:33:58.779 --> 01:34:07.340
the clerk's municipal certification up to from $2,500 to $4,000, which is a professional

01:34:07.340 --> 01:34:08.340
Kessler.

01:34:08.340 --> 01:34:09.340
That is voluntary.

01:34:09.340 --> 01:34:16.619
And then Alderpersons increase annual amount to $3,915.

01:34:16.619 --> 01:34:23.220
So total increase in staff's recommendation is approximately $31,900.

01:34:23.220 --> 01:34:25.899
So this is brought to you for discussion.

01:34:25.899 --> 01:34:30.770
And yep, that's everything I have.

01:34:30.770 --> 01:34:31.770
Any discussion?

01:34:31.770 --> 01:34:37.250
Alderman Sanders?

01:34:37.250 --> 01:34:49.250
How is the compensation scale determined? And who makes those determinations?

01:34:49.250 --> 01:34:51.250
That would be the council.

01:34:51.250 --> 01:35:01.250
That would be the council. So we set the terms of the scale of compensation. Is that what I'm hearing?

01:35:01.250 --> 01:35:07.069
So ultimately I think what you have right now is that staff is making a

01:35:07.069 --> 01:35:12.510
recommendation but ultimately it's up to the council to approve whatever raises

01:35:12.510 --> 01:35:17.149
you guys want to give or no raises for elected officials there that's up to you

01:35:17.149 --> 01:35:20.550
guys if you guys want to do it but ultimately if you guys decide to move

01:35:20.550 --> 01:35:23.909
forward with this it's gonna have to be set in an ordinance so an ordinance was

01:35:23.909 --> 01:35:28.109
going to be brought back to you guys to vote on if that's the desire is to make

01:35:28.109 --> 01:35:48.270
and

01:35:48.270 --> 01:35:50.270
Bates, and the rest of the board.

01:35:51.270 --> 01:35:55.270
And then the next election, so the next election is this coming April there.

01:35:55.270 --> 01:36:03.270
So 180 days, at least 180 days before that, then you have to decide whether or not you're going to make any changes to elected officials' compensation there.

01:36:03.270 --> 01:36:04.270
So.

01:36:04.270 --> 01:36:09.270
So we need to bring this up again within 180 days.

01:36:09.270 --> 01:36:10.270
Before.

01:36:10.270 --> 01:36:16.430
to do this is mid-November. IML, Illinois Municipal League recommends that you

01:36:16.430 --> 01:36:21.869
adopt it usually around October, sometime in October, if you guys are going to do

01:36:21.869 --> 01:36:26.630
it at all. Yeah, so in other words, council needs to meet to have this

01:36:26.630 --> 01:36:34.510
discussion to make this one way or the other, up or down. That's what this is for.

01:36:34.510 --> 01:36:44.989
and so we need so we need to come to some kind of forum or session to make this

01:36:44.989 --> 01:36:49.510
discussion happen. Yeah that's what this is. Yeah yeah well we're doing it

01:36:49.510 --> 01:36:53.869
publicly right now. You have to. Right. You can't do it in executive. Okay. That's

01:36:53.869 --> 01:37:00.909
that's what I didn't know. I'm learning. So the staff recommendation or I suppose

01:37:00.909 --> 01:37:01.909
Huffines.

01:37:01.909 --> 01:37:02.909
That's right.

01:37:02.909 --> 01:37:05.369
Staff recommendation is a three percent increase.

01:37:05.369 --> 01:37:06.369
That's what the staff is?

01:37:06.369 --> 01:37:07.369
Three percent?

01:37:07.369 --> 01:37:08.369
That's what the...

01:37:08.369 --> 01:37:09.369
Yeah.

01:37:09.369 --> 01:37:10.369
You have the graph before you.

01:37:10.369 --> 01:37:11.369
What it would mean for one percent, two percent, three percent?

01:37:11.369 --> 01:37:12.369
Yeah.

01:37:12.369 --> 01:37:13.369
Yeah.

01:37:13.369 --> 01:37:14.369
I thought I heard...

01:37:14.369 --> 01:37:15.369
I thought I heard four percent.

01:37:15.369 --> 01:37:16.369
Well, it's in the graph.

01:37:16.369 --> 01:37:17.369
So you see the numbers.

01:37:17.369 --> 01:37:18.369
Okay.

01:37:18.369 --> 01:37:19.369
Yeah.

01:37:19.369 --> 01:37:20.369
That's right.

01:37:20.369 --> 01:37:21.369
Yeah.

01:37:21.369 --> 01:37:27.069
It should be noted also, and this is state statute, okay, so that the compensation of

01:37:27.069 --> 01:37:33.630
of an elected official cannot take place during their current term, okay?

01:37:33.630 --> 01:37:37.829
So you're always, while you're the sitting board right now, you're voting on whether

01:37:37.829 --> 01:37:41.510
or not the next council will have this raise, right?

01:37:41.510 --> 01:37:46.470
And that makes sense because you don't want people voting to give themselves a raise necessarily.

01:37:46.470 --> 01:37:52.470
So any increases would only take place, the soonest it would take place, is for those

01:37:52.470 --> 01:37:54.470
and

01:37:55.829 --> 01:37:59.829
the other half would be dictated to take place two years after that.

01:37:59.829 --> 01:38:03.829
Because no one is guaranteed, no one knows for certain if they're going to win or not.

01:38:03.829 --> 01:38:09.829
That's why it's fair to say for the half that's going to be up for election in April, you guys

01:38:09.829 --> 01:38:13.829
would vote on it. If you guys are running for election, you may or may not win. But at least

01:38:13.829 --> 01:38:19.829
you're not voting on your own salary at that point. You might be. You might be running for

01:38:19.829 --> 01:38:22.029
I'm not voting on your own salary at that point.

01:38:22.029 --> 01:38:23.510
You might be if you win,

01:38:23.510 --> 01:38:25.890
but if you don't win, then you didn't, so.

01:38:29.649 --> 01:38:40.460
So what's your pleasure, Dovie?

01:38:42.279 --> 01:38:45.199
Attorney Zito, you said something about

01:38:45.199 --> 01:38:47.579
if you choose to vote on it.

01:38:47.579 --> 01:38:49.380
In the case of the mayor and I,

01:38:49.380 --> 01:38:53.779
our wages are only set through this term of 2025.

01:38:54.720 --> 01:38:57.039
So please vote on something.

01:38:57.039 --> 01:38:57.880
Oh, thanks.

01:38:57.880 --> 01:39:00.880
Or mine. Mine and the mayor's will be zero.

01:39:00.880 --> 01:39:07.640
Got it. Sorry, I apologize there. So, yeah, it looks like Dovie's and the mayor's, there

01:39:07.640 --> 01:39:12.880
was a schedule for them in the existing ordinance that only goes through 2025. So you guys have

01:39:12.880 --> 01:39:18.119
to do something with them, even if it's just, I'm not suggesting anything, yo, but you need

01:39:18.119 --> 01:39:20.319
to at least put something back in place.

01:39:20.319 --> 01:39:22.279
Oren Shadle.

01:39:22.279 --> 01:39:25.800
But tonight, here's the thing. Tonight, you're not voting. This is just on for discussion.

01:39:25.800 --> 01:39:33.359
Do you want to direct the staff to move forward with a certain percentage, not move forward

01:39:33.359 --> 01:39:40.239
with anything, whatever it is, we're just looking for direction.

01:39:40.239 --> 01:39:42.640
the Mammal.

01:39:42.640 --> 01:39:49.119
In the memo, the last four years, so the mayor and I are set by four-year chunks.

01:39:49.119 --> 01:39:57.119
The last time we would have done this would have been in 2020, no 2021.

01:39:57.119 --> 01:40:03.039
At that time, the mayor and I were given 1% annually.

01:40:03.039 --> 01:40:20.199
Over that same course of time, non-bargaining, just general employees were given 2%, 2%, 4%, 4% while I stayed at 1%.

01:40:20.199 --> 01:40:26.239
If, and it has to, I mean that's stuck because that's the state statute and I get that.

01:40:26.239 --> 01:40:37.739
If I had had the opportunity to get the non-bargaining rate, my salary now would be about $65,000

01:40:37.739 --> 01:40:45.899
and you would be considering $65,000 plus an additional 1%, 2%, 3%, 4%.

01:40:45.899 --> 01:40:54.460
Because that didn't happen, let me turn that around, under the 3% proposed, I wouldn't

01:40:54.460 --> 01:40:57.819
be making the $65,000.

01:40:57.819 --> 01:41:02.779
If it was 2%, 2%, 4%, 4%, I'd be making $65,000 now.

01:41:02.779 --> 01:41:06.060
Because that didn't happen under the 3% raise,

01:41:06.060 --> 01:41:09.460
I would not make that $65,000 until the last year

01:41:09.460 --> 01:41:11.619
of the term of 2028.

01:41:11.619 --> 01:41:16.819
So I am respectfully requesting 4% rather than the 3%

01:41:16.819 --> 01:41:19.840
suggested.

01:41:19.840 --> 01:41:24.470
Alderman Shadle?

01:41:24.470 --> 01:41:29.039
That taking into account, I would

01:41:29.039 --> 01:41:41.800
Go along with the 4% for the city clerk and a removal of chapter 220, 220.06.

01:41:41.800 --> 01:41:45.199
Can you specify what do you mean there?

01:41:45.199 --> 01:41:51.300
Removal from the increase.

01:41:51.300 --> 01:41:53.220
You're talking about the liquor commissioners?

01:41:53.220 --> 01:41:54.220
No.

01:41:54.220 --> 01:41:57.140
Talking about the city council.

01:41:57.140 --> 01:41:58.140
Is council mayor?

01:41:58.140 --> 01:42:02.060
I'm sorry, I didn't catch the, okay.

01:42:02.060 --> 01:42:06.859
So you're saying no increase to council.

01:42:06.859 --> 01:42:15.319
Correct.

01:42:15.319 --> 01:42:17.560
But he doesn't speak for everybody.

01:42:17.560 --> 01:42:19.000
That's why this is a discussion.

01:42:19.000 --> 01:42:20.920
Yeah, I know.

01:42:20.920 --> 01:42:22.920
Because you're writing and I'm like.

01:42:22.920 --> 01:42:24.199
No, I just want to keep track.

01:42:24.199 --> 01:42:26.800
Oh, OK.

01:42:26.800 --> 01:42:27.800
Madam Mayor.

01:42:27.800 --> 01:42:28.720
Alderman Monroe.

01:42:28.720 --> 01:42:30.159
Thank you, ma'am.

01:42:30.159 --> 01:42:32.439
The one thing I'll also highlight is

01:42:32.439 --> 01:42:36.399
that since we've gone to the city manager form of government,

01:42:36.399 --> 01:42:38.319
the mayor and the city manager together

01:42:38.319 --> 01:42:39.319
Miller.

01:42:39.319 --> 01:42:43.760
I think that's a good way to make about double what we were paying previously.

01:42:43.760 --> 01:42:49.279
Somewhere in the $170,000 to $180,000 total range.

01:42:49.279 --> 01:43:01.520
And I do understand the mayor's importance in the role, but the one thing I've kind of

01:43:01.520 --> 01:43:05.960
had a problem with, and I'm not sure how other people feel, I know the last council felt

01:43:05.960 --> 01:43:06.960
Fowler.

01:43:06.960 --> 01:43:15.760
I have felt that the mayor's position does work more hours than what's expected per the

01:43:15.760 --> 01:43:17.960
pay that's on there.

01:43:17.960 --> 01:43:23.079
I know it's a part-time position, but I do believe that you work at least 30 hours a

01:43:23.079 --> 01:43:26.159
week, which would fall under the full-time.

01:43:26.159 --> 01:43:32.439
I do think we need to at least revisit the idea that the mayor position does get benefits

01:43:32.439 --> 01:43:40.359
along with that role, whatever the increase in the salary is, is to be debated. I also agree

01:43:40.359 --> 01:43:48.600
that the council not get a raise and we do look at the board of fire and police and liquor

01:43:49.880 --> 01:43:53.079
and the clerk a little bit differently than what we're looking at the council.

01:43:55.960 --> 01:43:59.640
It's just my thoughts, I'm putting them out there kind of as a position.

01:43:59.640 --> 01:44:30.880
I know it wasn't necessarily something everybody had the stomach for because it's a part-time position for benefits, but I do believe in order to get the best candidates always, you know, that we need to at least entice them with something to bring them to the office because it is a position that's not necessarily always looked upon with the amount of work that goes into it.

01:44:30.880 --> 01:44:35.520
I know you and Rob both do a lot of work but it does bother me that you know we

01:44:35.520 --> 01:44:39.960
now have two positions that we're paying double the amount to together but that's

01:44:39.960 --> 01:44:46.119
a that's a whole other conversation but just putting it out there. I'm not sure

01:44:46.119 --> 01:44:51.239
that your 170-180 is accurate I think it's it's lower than that and and I

01:44:51.239 --> 01:44:55.760
appreciate your thought on the whole package kind of deal because the way it

01:44:55.760 --> 01:44:59.960
stands right now according to ordinance the mayor doesn't get retirement or

01:44:59.960 --> 01:45:04.000
or insurance or cell phone allowance or car allowance.

01:45:04.000 --> 01:45:07.640
It is just a straight wage.

01:45:07.640 --> 01:45:11.720
You do the math on it, it's less than minimum wage.

01:45:11.720 --> 01:45:14.319
Attorney Zito?

01:45:14.319 --> 01:45:16.579
And this is just broadly, as you guys

01:45:16.579 --> 01:45:18.840
go through this discussion, that I just

01:45:18.840 --> 01:45:20.800
something for you guys to keep in mind there,

01:45:20.800 --> 01:45:22.920
because I think it helps aid the discussion.

01:45:22.920 --> 01:45:26.920
There is to think about just the offices.

01:45:26.920 --> 01:45:29.800
Don't tie a person to a particular person

01:45:29.800 --> 01:45:35.079
to it just like would you do this for the office of clerk regardless of who is in it because you're

01:45:35.079 --> 01:45:40.199
setting it for the future right so it could be and same thing for the older people same thing

01:45:40.199 --> 01:45:44.359
for the mayor don't think of who's currently holding the position just think about what would

01:45:44.359 --> 01:45:51.000
you pay whoever fills this position and whether or not that person should be compensated that

01:45:51.000 --> 01:45:55.880
particular way because i think it takes a lot of the potential emotion or thought personal thoughts

01:45:55.880 --> 01:46:23.210
How many hours do a part-time mayor work a week?

01:46:23.210 --> 01:46:28.100
Well, don't clock in if that's what you're asking me.

01:46:28.100 --> 01:46:36.779
I would say if I added the whole thing up it's going to be at least 40. I do a lot of things

01:46:36.779 --> 01:46:48.220
in the evenings, weekends, there's no set time frame. But then again, that's by my choice

01:46:48.220 --> 01:46:55.659
because it's technically a part-time position and like any elected official, you can choose

01:46:55.659 --> 01:46:56.659
and others.

01:46:56.659 --> 01:46:59.659
So, you choose to put in as much work as you want to.

01:46:59.659 --> 01:47:02.939
I mean, that's obvious in Alderman seats.

01:47:02.939 --> 01:47:07.500
You choose to how much you want to work.

01:47:07.500 --> 01:47:08.779
Alderman Sanders?

01:47:08.779 --> 01:47:17.000
Is it the council who helped to regulate or determine what a mayor pay salary should be

01:47:17.000 --> 01:47:23.819
or scale or wages should be like and the hours?

01:47:23.819 --> 01:47:27.060
and the, what I want to say, and.

01:47:28.819 --> 01:47:31.460
And this is a wage discussion.

01:47:31.460 --> 01:47:34.460
As far as hours go, I don't believe by ordinance,

01:47:34.460 --> 01:47:37.500
you can tell an elected official how many hours to work.

01:47:38.600 --> 01:47:39.979
There's no more than I could tell you,

01:47:39.979 --> 01:47:42.180
you have to put so many hours in.

01:47:42.180 --> 01:47:47.180
Well, I mean, we're using measures here to determine wages

01:47:47.180 --> 01:47:51.939
and we're trying to find out who's all involved

01:47:51.939 --> 01:47:53.659
and making these determinations.

01:47:53.659 --> 01:47:54.939
Is it the council?

01:47:55.779 --> 01:47:58.699
Is it the staff of the city?

01:47:58.699 --> 01:48:00.300
Who regulates that?

01:48:00.300 --> 01:48:02.180
Who makes that determination?

01:48:02.180 --> 01:48:06.420
If it's not an ordinance per se yet

01:48:06.420 --> 01:48:09.739
and to increase a particular office

01:48:11.420 --> 01:48:14.539
with wages, salary or whatever the case is,

01:48:15.659 --> 01:48:22.420
what part of this city agency

01:48:23.699 --> 01:48:31.100
Governs, what it is that determines the mayor's salary and what percentage and the hours and

01:48:31.100 --> 01:48:43.979
not only that, who's keeping stats, stats, who's keeping the status of what you're working

01:48:43.979 --> 01:48:48.300
and what you're worth, who determines that?

01:48:48.300 --> 01:48:52.619
You know, I thought it was by your peers, yeah, I thought it was by your peers.

01:48:52.619 --> 01:48:54.619
and John.

01:48:55.720 --> 01:48:58.720
So the wage is determined by the council, set by the council.

01:48:58.720 --> 01:49:00.720
Set by the council, that's what I thought.

01:49:02.720 --> 01:49:05.720
And coming back to the stats? The status, keeping up your

01:49:05.720 --> 01:49:08.720
status. Like how much I'm working, is that

01:49:08.720 --> 01:49:10.720
what you mean? Yes, those kinds of things.

01:49:10.720 --> 01:49:15.720
That, again, comes back to as an elected official, no different

01:49:15.720 --> 01:49:19.720
than the council, how much work do you choose to put in?

01:49:19.720 --> 01:49:27.180
as counsel that we can do we can put our own opinions we can influence other

01:49:27.180 --> 01:49:34.159
opinions to go along with no percentage wage increase I didn't know counsel can

01:49:34.159 --> 01:49:38.359
sit here and vote on something like that or make that determination without a

01:49:38.359 --> 01:49:41.880
full-blown decision

01:49:41.880 --> 01:49:42.399
Well, that's what the discussion is.

01:49:42.399 --> 01:49:44.039
So you have to set that by ordinance,

01:49:44.039 --> 01:49:46.279
which is what this discussion is, is to move forward

01:49:46.279 --> 01:49:47.399
with an ordinance.

01:49:47.399 --> 01:49:51.079
And the staff suggested a 3%.

01:49:51.079 --> 01:49:54.119
The clerk suggested a 4%.

01:49:54.119 --> 01:49:59.159
Alderman Shadle suggested a 0 for Alderman increase.

01:49:59.159 --> 01:50:01.479
Attorney Zito?

01:50:01.479 --> 01:50:03.960
Just to answer Alderman Sanders' question.

01:50:03.960 --> 01:50:14.640
So, end all be all, compensation for elected officials is determined by the council, okay?

01:50:14.640 --> 01:50:21.279
There are, in our current ordinance, there's no set hours, you know, eight to five, two

01:50:21.279 --> 01:50:28.600
to six, whatever it is, there's no set hours for alderman or the mayor, and I will say

01:50:28.600 --> 01:50:32.920
that that's probably typically pretty standard, that you don't set hours.

01:50:32.920 --> 01:50:33.920
Settlers.

01:50:33.920 --> 01:50:41.960
I heard an expression of full time, collective time is put in per week or 30 hours per week.

01:50:41.960 --> 01:50:47.399
Well, that right there says a lot to me, you know, when somebody puts that out there like

01:50:47.399 --> 01:50:56.239
that, that lets me know that something is regulated to make that increase for the mayor

01:50:56.239 --> 01:51:01.239
or any elected official, depending on what time

01:51:01.779 --> 01:51:06.199
that they're putting in to serve the people of the city.

01:51:06.199 --> 01:51:11.199
I didn't know we were in that position or in that area

01:51:11.380 --> 01:51:14.920
to regulate each other, to make that opinion,

01:51:14.920 --> 01:51:19.920
to determine whether we're a 0%, 1%, 2% or 3% or 4%.

01:51:21.239 --> 01:51:23.399
I thought it comes collectively together

01:51:23.399 --> 01:51:46.399
We are going to vote on it, but who's the narrative, who's narrating whether or not the subject matter should come up? Who's bringing the subject matter up? Do we all speak on it as councils to determine what it is that the council wages or increases should or should not be? Do we weigh in on that?

01:51:46.399 --> 01:51:47.399
Cronenberg.

01:51:47.399 --> 01:51:48.399
Correct.

01:51:48.399 --> 01:51:53.600
That's why I put on the agenda for the council to have a decision as to, hey, council, what

01:51:53.600 --> 01:51:54.600
do we all want to do?

01:51:54.600 --> 01:51:56.680
Do we want to give raises to the aldermen?

01:51:56.680 --> 01:51:58.079
Do we want to give raises to the clerk?

01:51:58.079 --> 01:52:01.520
Do we want to give raises to the mayor?

01:52:01.520 --> 01:52:03.640
What do we want to do about the Liquor Commission people?

01:52:03.640 --> 01:52:06.960
What do we want to do about the other commission people?

01:52:06.960 --> 01:52:08.960
This is for you guys to have the discussion.

01:52:08.960 --> 01:52:11.520
Every one of you guys can chime in and say, well, I think we should do this.

01:52:11.520 --> 01:52:12.520
I think we should do that.

01:52:12.520 --> 01:52:19.800
and hopefully there's going to be a consensus at least enough to direct staff to draft an

01:52:19.800 --> 01:52:24.359
ordinance that moves at least in the consensus direction there.

01:52:24.359 --> 01:52:28.039
So yeah, for the salary part, yeah, you guys control that there.

01:52:28.039 --> 01:52:29.039
Yep.

01:52:29.039 --> 01:52:30.039
Well, that's the whole thing.

01:52:30.039 --> 01:52:40.979
We don't have a council appointment chairperson or someone to help to direct or shape the

01:52:40.979 --> 01:52:44.100
the narrative of what we should or should not be doing

01:52:44.100 --> 01:52:47.859
far as how we come to our conclusions

01:52:47.859 --> 01:52:50.979
on anything that we decide to do.

01:52:50.979 --> 01:52:52.539
There's no set person.

01:52:52.539 --> 01:52:57.060
In other words, we're all just running wild in the council,

01:52:57.939 --> 01:53:01.859
not liking your viewpoint, not liking your viewpoint.

01:53:01.859 --> 01:53:04.899
These are the viewpoints that I feel

01:53:04.899 --> 01:53:09.100
and how we should go about determining

01:53:09.100 --> 01:53:12.819
whether or not who has the best solution and explanation

01:53:12.819 --> 01:53:15.939
for why they're saying what we're saying,

01:53:15.939 --> 01:53:17.500
we're saying what we're saying.

01:53:17.500 --> 01:53:20.479
So that's the reason why I'm asking, you know.

01:53:20.479 --> 01:53:23.979
So if you want, so if the concern is that,

01:53:23.979 --> 01:53:26.819
well, each individual council member might not know

01:53:26.819 --> 01:53:29.300
what's, you know, what's out there

01:53:29.300 --> 01:53:31.399
or what should the rate be there,

01:53:31.399 --> 01:53:34.859
well, what you guys have at your disposal is staff.

01:53:34.859 --> 01:53:36.579
You can direct as a council staff,

01:53:36.579 --> 01:53:37.979
can you go get some comparables

01:53:37.979 --> 01:53:40.659
as to what other communities our size

01:53:40.659 --> 01:53:43.100
are paying their elected officials.

01:53:43.100 --> 01:53:44.319
You know, and then they say, okay,

01:53:44.319 --> 01:53:47.439
are some of them quote unquote part-time mayors

01:53:47.439 --> 01:53:49.619
or some of them quote unquote full-time?

01:53:49.619 --> 01:53:50.899
That's a misnomer.

01:53:50.899 --> 01:53:52.460
I'll be the first one to tell you

01:53:52.460 --> 01:53:57.060
that how much a elected official is paid

01:53:57.060 --> 01:54:01.300
is kind of indicative of maybe what you're intending

01:54:01.300 --> 01:54:02.659
the hours to be.

01:54:02.659 --> 01:54:05.180
For example, just using the mayor position.

01:54:05.180 --> 01:54:07.180
If you're paying the mayor,

01:54:07.180 --> 01:54:11.039
Let's say $25,000, that is most likely not a full-time job.

01:54:11.039 --> 01:54:13.579
So you're most likely not expecting them

01:54:13.579 --> 01:54:15.460
to put in 40 hours a week.

01:54:15.460 --> 01:54:17.439
If they choose to put in 40 hours a week, that's fine.

01:54:17.439 --> 01:54:21.340
Now other mayors get paid 80, 90, $100,000.

01:54:22.600 --> 01:54:25.979
At that compensation level, you're probably expecting them

01:54:25.979 --> 01:54:29.380
to be in the office at least 40 hours a week.

01:54:29.380 --> 01:54:31.220
I'll give you the absurd example though,

01:54:31.220 --> 01:54:34.319
for whatever the elected official is,

01:54:34.319 --> 01:54:38.319
whether it's alderman, clerk, mayor, whatever it is there.

01:54:38.319 --> 01:54:40.579
You can set all the expectations you want

01:54:40.579 --> 01:54:42.680
and compensate them there.

01:54:42.680 --> 01:54:44.439
Every one of you guys could choose to show up

01:54:44.439 --> 01:54:47.560
or not show up to any meeting for the most part.

01:54:47.560 --> 01:54:51.500
And the recourse for the most part is at the ballot box.

01:54:51.500 --> 01:54:53.239
I'm not suggesting you guys do that.

01:54:53.239 --> 01:54:55.600
You're not fulfilling your duties, your obligations

01:54:55.600 --> 01:55:00.600
to your constituents and you know, but in theory, yeah.

01:55:00.920 --> 01:55:03.180
You know, if an elected official says

01:55:03.180 --> 01:55:09.579
Even though they were being compensated $100,000, if they say, well, I only showed up at 20%

01:55:09.579 --> 01:55:14.340
of the meetings, it doesn't change the fact that they still get paid their money, you

01:55:14.340 --> 01:55:15.340
know, to a certain extent.

01:55:15.340 --> 01:55:19.340
Now, I know Freeport has some rules in their ordinances that abrogates that, but for the

01:55:19.340 --> 01:55:23.739
most part, you know, if you don't think your elected official is showing up or doing the

01:55:23.739 --> 01:55:34.800
job that they're being paid for, the recourse is generally at the ballot box there, so.

01:55:34.800 --> 01:55:38.880
Boyer. I just said I would like to say if it's council's will I can get some

01:55:38.880 --> 01:55:54.880
comparables together. Yeah, I agree with that. Start in Chicago first. Mayor, I'm

01:55:54.880 --> 01:56:03.159
sorry you said. What's the latest? My recollection is that we have to swear in

01:56:03.159 --> 01:56:08.279
officials at the second meeting in May. That's what our ordinance calls for is

01:56:08.279 --> 01:56:10.920
is swearing in at the second meeting in May.

01:56:10.920 --> 01:56:13.840
I think I backed out 180 days from that.

01:56:13.840 --> 01:56:19.039
And it is, I think, mid-November is the absolute deadline.

01:56:19.039 --> 01:56:22.960
You never want to put an absolute deadline.

01:56:22.960 --> 01:56:26.840
That's why I think IML recommends that sometime in October

01:56:26.840 --> 01:56:28.520
that most communities, if you're going

01:56:28.520 --> 01:56:31.399
to do a change in compensation for elected officials,

01:56:31.399 --> 01:56:34.340
that you do it sometime in October.

01:56:34.340 --> 01:56:37.000
So given the fact that we have two meetings generally,

01:56:37.000 --> 01:56:42.439
you know that to the extent the direction could be given so that you could have the ordinance

01:56:43.720 --> 01:56:49.399
at the first meeting in October for first reading, second reading at the second meeting in October

01:56:49.399 --> 01:56:54.039
you know and then it's done before that November deadline. It gives you a little wiggle room if you

01:56:54.039 --> 01:56:58.279
absolutely need it because you could push it to the first meeting in November and still be okay.

01:56:58.920 --> 01:57:05.319
So what that basically means is we need to put something forward for the first meeting in October.

01:57:05.319 --> 01:57:14.680
Right. Right. But in the meantime, excuse me, this should be some kind of formal discussion

01:57:16.039 --> 01:57:23.640
that we should not just allow the time to elapse in desperation in order to determine where we

01:57:23.640 --> 01:57:30.359
at in our own mindset. I think that it would be it would be nice for us to talk about this as we go

01:57:30.359 --> 01:57:32.859
O'Olon.

01:57:32.859 --> 01:57:44.359
City Manager, do you think you could pull something together maybe by the Cal in October?

01:57:44.359 --> 01:57:47.300
It looks like we will have to suspend the rules in October.

01:57:47.300 --> 01:57:48.300
Yes.

01:57:48.300 --> 01:57:50.920
That will put it back to the third week.

01:57:50.920 --> 01:57:54.180
Do you think you could pull something together?

01:57:54.180 --> 01:57:55.539
Sorry, I will amend that.

01:57:55.539 --> 01:57:58.659
Something together by the first meeting in October?

01:57:58.659 --> 01:57:59.659
Yes.

01:57:59.659 --> 01:58:06.979
thank you as a discussion item I think we're still running into the same thing

01:58:06.979 --> 01:58:12.699
of ordinances our two readings right and and what I think my idea would be is

01:58:12.699 --> 01:58:16.940
that gives the city manager a chance to chat with each one of us get our get our

01:58:16.940 --> 01:58:22.340
thoughts put it together into more of a comprehensive along with the results

01:58:22.340 --> 01:58:26.619
that he gets back from his comparisons the comparables and then we can all kind

01:58:26.619 --> 01:58:27.619
and so on.

01:58:27.619 --> 01:58:30.059
So I think we can kind of talk through it because, I mean, there's going to be little things

01:58:30.059 --> 01:58:34.500
that we probably don't totally agree on that we can work out, but I think we can get to

01:58:34.500 --> 01:58:35.500
a place.

01:58:35.500 --> 01:58:41.579
So are you saying that he should have this discussion with each of you and bring it on

01:58:41.579 --> 01:58:48.739
as an ordinance for the first meeting in October so that way it has the first reading?

01:58:48.739 --> 01:58:53.300
I think that would be the goal, mainly because if we get to that point, we don't have to

01:58:53.300 --> 01:58:56.300
to suspend the rules and we bring something in.

01:58:56.300 --> 01:58:57.619
And if we don't reach an agreement,

01:58:57.619 --> 01:59:00.059
then we always have that option of falling back to the cow.

01:59:00.059 --> 01:59:01.779
We still have the opportunity to change things.

01:59:01.779 --> 01:59:02.619
Right.

01:59:02.619 --> 01:59:03.739
It's just, it's getting the process.

01:59:03.739 --> 01:59:05.859
And then it has to be quick.

01:59:05.859 --> 01:59:07.380
I think I understand that.

01:59:07.380 --> 01:59:08.779
But you know, at the same time,

01:59:08.779 --> 01:59:11.180
I mean, here we are the 16th, you know,

01:59:11.180 --> 01:59:12.699
we don't have another meeting this month.

01:59:12.699 --> 01:59:14.979
So, you know, we're in that position

01:59:14.979 --> 01:59:18.720
where we have to make it a little bit quicker,

01:59:18.720 --> 01:59:22.859
but yet not crush the city manager in the process.

01:59:22.859 --> 01:59:30.479
and his staff. No that's I think as long as I'm not hearing any objections with

01:59:30.479 --> 01:59:36.250
that direction for for staff I think that's fine I think that gives us

01:59:36.250 --> 01:59:38.809
marching orders.

01:59:38.809 --> 01:59:39.000
Sounds great.

01:59:39.000 --> 01:59:43.000
Did you say it was time to go home?

01:59:43.000 --> 01:59:44.000
No.

01:59:44.000 --> 01:59:45.000
Oh.

01:59:45.000 --> 01:59:46.000
Okay.

01:59:46.000 --> 01:59:48.000
Now we'll move on to department heads reports.

01:59:48.000 --> 01:59:49.000
Finance?

01:59:49.000 --> 01:59:50.000
Nothing, your honor.

01:59:50.000 --> 01:59:51.000
Thank you.

01:59:51.000 --> 01:59:52.000
Community development?

01:59:52.000 --> 01:59:53.800
Nothing tonight, Madam Mayor.

01:59:53.800 --> 01:59:54.800
Thank you.

01:59:54.800 --> 01:59:55.800
Public works?

01:59:55.800 --> 01:59:56.800
Yeah.

01:59:56.800 --> 02:00:00.079
Just a few updates.

02:00:00.079 --> 02:00:04.840
City crews are working on Iroquois, Chicago, and State.

02:00:04.840 --> 02:00:08.899
We have a contractor in right now grinding the streets.

02:00:08.899 --> 02:00:12.060
Should be done by Thursday at the latest.

02:00:12.060 --> 02:00:16.020
Looks like next week we'll be into paving those streets.

02:00:16.020 --> 02:00:17.760
Please keep your vehicles out of the way

02:00:17.760 --> 02:00:19.880
if you live on those streets.

02:00:19.880 --> 02:00:23.739
It greatly enhances the time we'll be able to get

02:00:23.739 --> 02:00:26.739
the work done when we're not chasing residents

02:00:26.739 --> 02:00:27.920
to move their cars.

02:00:29.659 --> 02:00:33.260
Adams Avenue, they started today doing some final shaping

02:00:33.260 --> 02:00:34.220
out there on the road.

02:00:34.220 --> 02:00:36.699
that should probably take most of this week.

02:00:36.699 --> 02:00:40.579
We should see some black binder going down pretty soon.

02:00:40.579 --> 02:00:44.100
They should just be doing a little bit of concrete work

02:00:44.100 --> 02:00:47.100
and some dirt work out there right now.

02:00:47.100 --> 02:00:49.619
Ridge and Westwood, the water main

02:00:49.619 --> 02:00:51.859
is being completed right now.

02:00:51.859 --> 02:00:54.739
I would say they're probably close to being half done

02:00:54.739 --> 02:00:56.260
with water main at this point.

02:00:59.260 --> 02:01:02.600
That project should be done by Thanksgiving.

02:01:04.220 --> 02:01:09.220
Water treatment plant, just an update on that.

02:01:09.220 --> 02:01:15.220
Soils, the contaminated soils, most of that material has been removed from the site and hauled off.

02:01:15.220 --> 02:01:22.220
They actually are installing piles that the buildings will go on on the sept

02:01:22.220 --> 02:01:27.220
and the UV, they've started installing the lower structure, the sump area,

02:01:27.220 --> 02:01:33.220
and more concrete to work so it's getting fairly busy out there with a lot of contractors working.

02:01:33.220 --> 02:01:48.699
also lead service lines. We're about two thirds done with this package so far. I tried to get a number on how many we've completed today, but I wasn't able to get that before the meeting. So a lot of good projects, a lot of work being done, and it's going to be a very busy fall.

02:01:49.979 --> 02:01:51.500
Thank you. Boyer?

02:01:52.180 --> 02:01:53.020
Nothing this evening.

02:01:53.180 --> 02:01:53.979
Thank you. Police?

02:01:54.340 --> 02:01:55.020
I have no report.

02:01:55.300 --> 02:01:56.260
Thank you. Library?

02:01:56.260 --> 02:02:03.020
I just want to remind everybody that are we're taking registration for our pumpkin decorating contest so you'll have

02:02:03.579 --> 02:02:04.739
until

02:02:04.739 --> 02:02:12.699
September 28th to register on our website and then you get a free pumpkin to decorate like a book character and the voting will happen

02:02:13.579 --> 02:02:15.500
Closer to Halloween

02:02:15.500 --> 02:02:17.500
Thank you IT

02:02:18.340 --> 02:02:22.260
Thank you, I don't think communication is in here is he nope

02:02:22.260 --> 02:02:28.500
Fowler. City Manager. I would just like to invite anyone interested. We're having a ribbon

02:02:28.500 --> 02:02:40.180
cutting on Oak Avenue tomorrow at 745, so if you can make it, you are invited. AM. Okay,

02:02:40.180 --> 02:02:43.220
I have three events I want to, I don't know if everyone's aware of them, so I was going

02:02:43.220 --> 02:02:49.979
to have you put these on your calendar if it works. Thursday, the 333rd National Guard

02:02:49.979 --> 02:02:53.340
is being deployed and they will be heading to Alaska.

02:02:53.340 --> 02:02:56.180
They're going to be deployed out of the Masonic Temple

02:02:56.180 --> 02:02:59.460
and Governor Pritzker is expected to be in attendance.

02:02:59.460 --> 02:03:01.539
I don't have any details other than just that.

02:03:01.539 --> 02:03:04.760
So when I find out timeframes, I'll let you know.

02:03:04.760 --> 02:03:09.760
Also, then next weekend, there is a celebration of life.

02:03:09.859 --> 02:03:14.720
It's the continuing of the peace within the community.

02:03:14.720 --> 02:03:18.020
So next Friday, the 27th, if you are available

02:03:18.020 --> 02:03:20.020
and Lindsey.

02:03:20.979 --> 02:03:23.859
We have a new

02:03:24.960 --> 02:03:26.960
plan for October 7th.

02:03:27.859 --> 02:03:29.859
We are going to have it at 10 o'clock in the morning.

02:03:32.979 --> 02:03:35.539
It's going to be cleaning up debris and trash along the Frank

02:03:35.539 --> 02:03:37.539
Street between Chicago and Carroll.

02:03:39.760 --> 02:03:42.539
Then on Saturday the 28th will be the block party which is

02:03:42.539 --> 02:03:44.539
music, food, resource tables, meet and greet atmosphere.

02:03:44.539 --> 02:04:09.840
Huffines, Scott,

02:04:14.539 --> 02:04:18.939
Get Together. I almost called it a party. There are cookies there. If you like good

02:04:18.939 --> 02:04:23.779
cookies, they have great ones. That'll go until about eight o'clock and that's all

02:04:23.779 --> 02:04:28.420
I have. Thank you. Alderman Simmons? I don't have anything. Thank you. Thank you. Alderman Parker?

02:04:28.420 --> 02:04:34.220
Nothing tonight, your honor. Thank you. Alderman Stacey? Yes, since it wasn't mentioned, I

02:04:34.220 --> 02:04:39.220
I would like to mention, Saturday the 21st,

02:04:39.560 --> 02:04:44.319
there will be a air show at the airport.

02:04:45.979 --> 02:04:50.979
Gates open at 10.30, the show starts at 1.30.

02:04:51.199 --> 02:04:55.579
There is a $15 general admission,

02:04:55.579 --> 02:04:58.659
children 10 and under are free.

02:04:58.659 --> 02:05:10.270
so let's go out and support our very important airport. Thank you Alderman

02:05:10.270 --> 02:05:15.689
Shadle. Nothing tonight. Thank you Alderman Sanders. Nothing Mayor. That leaves us with

02:05:15.689 --> 02:05:20.329
public comment the first that was signed in is Jim French if you'd like to go

02:05:20.329 --> 02:05:35.659
to the podium and you have three minutes. Jodi Miller, City Manager Rob Boyer,

02:05:35.659 --> 02:05:42.560
Harris, and Clerk Dovie Anderson, Ollivan, Don Parker, Dave Monroe, Tom Klemm, Cecelia,

02:05:42.560 --> 02:05:46.020
Stacy, George, Shadle, is that right?

02:05:46.020 --> 02:05:47.020
Sellers, Shadle.

02:05:47.020 --> 02:05:50.739
And Mayor Sanders, I don't know if Simmons is your name?

02:05:50.739 --> 02:05:53.739
Okay, I'm sorry, you must be new.

02:05:53.739 --> 02:05:59.819
I'm here tonight as a new resident of Freeport, Illinois, and my wife and I moved in on April

02:05:59.819 --> 02:06:00.819
15th.

02:06:00.819 --> 02:06:02.100
We are glad to be here.

02:06:02.100 --> 02:06:04.060
We are glad to be in Freeport.

02:06:04.060 --> 02:06:10.060
Freeport is known as a, on the website, as a jewel of a city. I don't know if you knew that or not.

02:06:10.060 --> 02:06:16.060
It's recommended as a place for people to come and retire. It's a wholesome city. The people here are friendly.

02:06:16.060 --> 02:06:23.060
They're intelligent. They're wise. They're cheerful and energetic and forward-looking.

02:06:23.060 --> 02:06:29.060
And we are not strangers to Dakota. We've been, I mean, Freeport, we've lived in Dakota since 1983.

02:06:29.060 --> 02:06:35.899
Freeport has been the center of our activities, our grocery shopping, our doctors, medical

02:06:35.899 --> 02:06:37.579
things, gas stations.

02:06:37.579 --> 02:06:43.380
We've been active in Highland and Winnipeg plays and musicals.

02:06:43.380 --> 02:06:49.020
The Anderson right here was Wendy and the star of Peter Pan out of Highland some years

02:06:49.020 --> 02:06:50.020
ago.

02:06:50.020 --> 02:06:51.859
I worked with Don Parker.

02:06:51.859 --> 02:06:56.979
My goodness, the guy is the chief of the police while we're putting in 9-1-1.

02:06:56.979 --> 02:07:01.300
I mean, we helped pass it, but the implementation of that took a lot of work.

02:07:01.300 --> 02:07:06.340
If you want to see who put the place and got the City of Freeport's Council and Center

02:07:06.340 --> 02:07:09.420
to be in the Freeport Police Station, you're to Don Parker.

02:07:09.420 --> 02:07:13.619
And so anytime you want to give that man a hand, say, Don, we thank you for what you've

02:07:13.619 --> 02:07:16.460
done to the public safety of the City of Freeport.

02:07:16.460 --> 02:07:17.460
Thank you.

02:07:17.460 --> 02:07:18.460
You're welcome.

02:07:18.460 --> 02:07:19.460
You're welcome.

02:07:19.460 --> 02:07:24.539
And I've had a chance to meet, I worked with Mark McElroy, the former mayor on a county

02:07:24.539 --> 02:07:25.539
government.

02:07:25.539 --> 02:07:30.020
and Jim Goetz, if you'll have me, my new Freeport lawyer.

02:07:30.020 --> 02:07:31.380
I know Judge Goldruff.

02:07:31.380 --> 02:07:32.779
I've met him a couple of times.

02:07:32.779 --> 02:07:33.840
He's a great guy.

02:07:33.840 --> 02:07:35.500
And I married Jodi Miller.

02:07:37.260 --> 02:07:40.600
Hurt to her husband, to her husband.

02:07:40.600 --> 02:07:43.420
I was the pastor that officiated their wedding.

02:07:43.420 --> 02:07:45.500
So I got a few credits here.

02:07:46.460 --> 02:07:47.899
Dr. Quinn-Fridge is my wife.

02:07:47.899 --> 02:07:51.020
She was a substance, a music teacher.

02:07:51.020 --> 02:07:53.739
I called Sandberg for a long time.

02:07:53.739 --> 02:07:57.420
She's the chairman and president of the Freeport Coral Society.

02:07:57.420 --> 02:08:01.420
She and her friends started CHOM,

02:08:01.420 --> 02:08:02.899
the Children's Hands-On Museum,

02:08:02.899 --> 02:08:04.659
and they worked there all the time.

02:08:05.539 --> 02:08:07.420
In my time, I've been a substitute teacher

02:08:07.420 --> 02:08:09.180
at a lot of the Freeport schools.

02:08:09.180 --> 02:08:10.979
I got to teach for a year at Aquin.

02:08:12.220 --> 02:08:13.100
It's been a pleasure.

02:08:13.100 --> 02:08:14.859
All the students, I had students

02:08:14.859 --> 02:08:18.500
at State and Local Government out of Highland.

02:08:18.500 --> 02:08:20.059
Been a Columbia instructor

02:08:20.059 --> 02:08:21.859
from Columbia College at nighttime.

02:08:21.859 --> 02:08:27.300
At any rate, for us in Dakota, this is a fun city.

02:08:27.300 --> 02:08:33.059
I think this is a mecca for entertainment, good restaurants, and a lot of other things.

02:08:33.059 --> 02:08:38.699
In any case, I hope they'll be able to talk with Rob Boyer, the manager, and Jodi Miller,

02:08:38.699 --> 02:08:39.699
the mayor.

02:08:39.699 --> 02:08:44.300
Fifteen, twenty minute discussions, and somebody will start saying, why don't you come and

02:08:44.300 --> 02:08:45.300
talk to the city council?

02:08:45.300 --> 02:08:46.859
You can share everything you have on your mind.

02:08:46.859 --> 02:08:48.579
Well, we've only got a few minutes here.

02:08:48.579 --> 02:08:50.180
Yes, and your time has exceeded.

02:08:50.180 --> 02:08:52.020
We appreciate all your kind words.

02:08:52.020 --> 02:08:56.779
Yes, if I could, I would like to be able to speak to both of you.

02:08:56.779 --> 02:08:59.380
But you can set up a meeting where our doors are open.

02:08:59.699 --> 02:09:01.460
OK, that's all I wanted to say tonight.

02:09:01.460 --> 02:09:02.819
Thank you very much. Hope to see you.

02:09:02.819 --> 02:09:04.460
This is not a one off.

02:09:04.460 --> 02:09:06.180
I hope to be able to come back and talk again.

02:09:06.180 --> 02:09:07.300
Thank you. All right. Thank you.

02:09:07.300 --> 02:09:09.859
And next on the list is Josh Atkinson.

02:09:18.779 --> 02:09:22.260
Good evening, Madam Mayor and Council, Joshua Atkinson, if we're here.

02:09:23.300 --> 02:09:25.779
I apologize, because I guess I signed the wrong sheet.

02:09:25.779 --> 02:09:30.940
I thought I was going to speak before but that's on me. I didn't stupid me. I'll be

02:09:30.940 --> 02:09:35.899
as clear and direct as possible. Last week one of our neighbors came before this

02:09:35.899 --> 02:09:39.380
One of our neighbors came before this council and spoke about the 49 young men who make

02:09:39.380 --> 02:09:42.039
up the Highlands baseball team.

02:09:42.039 --> 02:09:45.800
These students were recruited from all over the Central and South America, leaving behind

02:09:45.800 --> 02:09:49.880
their families and homes for an education and a shot at going pro.

02:09:49.880 --> 02:09:51.460
But they're struggling here.

02:09:51.460 --> 02:09:56.180
These young men don't have the basic necessities like winter coats.

02:09:56.180 --> 02:10:02.159
Over the past week, has anyone here cared enough to reach out to any of them?

02:10:02.159 --> 02:10:03.159
Thank you.

02:10:03.159 --> 02:10:09.239
I visited these young men myself after their practice last week, and what I saw was unacceptable.

02:10:09.239 --> 02:10:15.560
I joined in with the PUSH organization, represented by Frankie back there, which she was there

02:10:15.560 --> 02:10:18.760
serving food because these kids don't have enough to eat.

02:10:18.760 --> 02:10:23.420
I saw four young men crammed into a filthy two-bedroom apartment, sleeping on the floor,

02:10:23.420 --> 02:10:27.560
with no table, no chairs, no place to unpack their suitcases, not even an appropriate place

02:10:27.560 --> 02:10:28.920
to study.

02:10:28.920 --> 02:10:32.319
The appliances were rusted, and the overall conditions were terrible.

02:10:32.319 --> 02:10:36.819
But despite all of this, these boys were nothing but respectful and gracious.

02:10:36.819 --> 02:10:40.000
It's embarrassing to see how Freeport and Highland are treating these young athletes

02:10:40.000 --> 02:10:43.819
who chose to join our community for a shot at a better life.

02:10:43.819 --> 02:10:46.100
We should all be ashamed of this.

02:10:46.100 --> 02:10:49.939
Now let's bring this full circle, which is why I wanted to speak ahead of time.

02:10:49.939 --> 02:10:52.500
The bike path expansion can wait.

02:10:52.500 --> 02:10:57.699
I urge you all to get a hold of Highland and let them know that there is a better use for

02:10:57.699 --> 02:11:02.180
for their $330,000 input into this plan.

02:11:03.279 --> 02:11:05.920
It would be better spent on helping these student athletes

02:11:05.920 --> 02:11:08.539
and others under their care succeed.

02:11:08.539 --> 02:11:10.659
Rather than another four miles of bike path

02:11:10.659 --> 02:11:13.260
only benefiting the west side of town,

02:11:13.260 --> 02:11:15.180
we had to hear a lot of talk

02:11:15.180 --> 02:11:17.779
about how much you all love the children

02:11:17.779 --> 02:11:20.220
when it came to possibly spending $1 million

02:11:20.220 --> 02:11:24.220
of taxpayer money on a water main extension to open Bible.

02:11:24.220 --> 02:11:26.140
So where is that heartfelt energy

02:11:26.140 --> 02:11:28.979
when it comes to these 49 kids.

02:11:28.979 --> 02:11:31.619
We cannot continue to neglect our residents, visitors,

02:11:31.619 --> 02:11:33.779
and infrastructure and expect our population

02:11:33.779 --> 02:11:36.220
to stop declining, businesses to return,

02:11:36.220 --> 02:11:38.720
and the drugs and guns to disappear.

02:11:38.720 --> 02:11:40.899
If you truly want to represent this community,

02:11:40.899 --> 02:11:43.340
now is the time to step up and take real action.

02:11:43.340 --> 02:11:44.180
Thank you.

02:11:45.460 --> 02:11:53.920
Are there any other, Wendy?

02:11:53.920 --> 02:11:55.840
Good evening, Council.

02:11:55.840 --> 02:11:57.760
My name is Wendy Pearson.

02:11:57.760 --> 02:11:59.399
Those of you that don't know,

02:11:59.399 --> 02:12:03.880
there were a couple things that were said that I'd like to put some clarification

02:12:03.880 --> 02:12:09.199
on first of all when we talk about bids in this town the question I was going to

02:12:09.199 --> 02:12:13.800
ask is how many bids how many how often are there three bidders on any contract

02:12:13.800 --> 02:12:17.119
in this town and Darren happened to answer that with the question well with

02:12:17.119 --> 02:12:22.000
a with an answer to the fact that they put out for three bidders and got none

02:12:22.000 --> 02:12:26.680
how often are the bike and walking trails utilized in this town and who's

02:12:26.680 --> 02:12:30.399
who's utilizing them.

02:12:30.399 --> 02:12:32.720
As some of you know, my background is in minority business

02:12:32.720 --> 02:12:34.840
and contracts and specifications.

02:12:34.840 --> 02:12:36.260
So when you talk this,

02:12:36.260 --> 02:12:38.960
Darren knows I know what you're talking about.

02:12:38.960 --> 02:12:40.500
As far as an increase in salaries,

02:12:40.500 --> 02:12:44.359
I think the city of Freeport citizens have the right to know

02:12:44.359 --> 02:12:47.159
what the exact salaries are of the mayor

02:12:47.159 --> 02:12:49.600
and the city manager because tonight what was stated

02:12:49.600 --> 02:12:50.800
that their salaries are somewhere

02:12:50.800 --> 02:12:54.319
between 170 to $180,000.

02:12:54.319 --> 02:12:56.520
That does not give me directs or anybody else directs

02:12:56.520 --> 02:12:58.979
as to what those individual salaries are.

02:13:00.279 --> 02:13:06.529
Finally, I wish that we saw in our neighborhoods

02:13:09.090 --> 02:13:11.130
the individual who is supposed to be the eyes, ears,

02:13:11.130 --> 02:13:13.529
and mouth of us, the people.

02:13:13.529 --> 02:13:17.369
I wish I could see persons who supposed to be that

02:13:18.949 --> 02:13:23.510
in our communities, going to meetings,

02:13:23.510 --> 02:13:27.529
meeting with our children, going into our churches.

02:13:27.529 --> 02:13:30.609
I'm sorry, I don't agree on an increase for the mayor.

02:13:31.649 --> 02:13:35.930
I'd like to see our neighborhood and our mayor

02:13:35.930 --> 02:13:38.909
have an impact on what is happening in this city,

02:13:38.909 --> 02:13:40.850
what has been happening in this city for 20 years

02:13:40.850 --> 02:13:43.329
prior to her even becoming the mayor.

02:13:43.329 --> 02:13:44.649
I've not seen that impact.

02:13:46.130 --> 02:13:49.689
And this isn't personal, but I've watched too many people

02:13:49.689 --> 02:13:53.050
be put in the ground and too many of our children dead.

02:13:53.050 --> 02:13:55.449
I have a list of individuals who were shooting,

02:13:55.449 --> 02:13:57.010
were shot and now are dead.

02:13:58.550 --> 02:14:01.170
This latest shooting shouldn't have been

02:14:01.170 --> 02:14:04.329
a walk around the block, which is what we did.

02:14:04.329 --> 02:14:07.050
It should have been in our neighborhoods.

02:14:07.050 --> 02:14:09.149
It should have been with all of you,

02:14:09.149 --> 02:14:11.149
every one of you city council meetings,

02:14:11.149 --> 02:14:12.289
walking the streets with us.

02:14:12.289 --> 02:14:15.489
And I have not seen that from any of you.

02:14:16.729 --> 02:14:18.409
It's time to change it.

02:14:18.409 --> 02:14:19.810
It's time to stop the shootings.

02:14:19.810 --> 02:14:21.329
It's time for everybody to be involved

02:14:21.329 --> 02:14:22.569
in what is happening in our community

02:14:22.569 --> 02:14:25.050
because it's not just happening in the black community.

02:14:25.050 --> 02:14:27.510
it's happening all over Freeport now.

02:14:28.569 --> 02:14:32.590
Black, white, kids, young folks, old folks

02:14:32.590 --> 02:14:37.329
being traumatized by gunfire.

02:14:38.989 --> 02:14:41.069
A chief who has had to go out on a limb

02:14:41.069 --> 02:14:42.789
to try to keep from killing one of our own

02:14:42.789 --> 02:14:44.149
and I've had those conversations with him

02:14:44.149 --> 02:14:48.109
and I'd like to say thank you

02:14:48.109 --> 02:14:50.510
because that situation is one that I have been thinking

02:14:50.510 --> 02:14:52.829
was gonna happen in this town for a very long time

02:14:52.829 --> 02:14:55.510
and we've had that conversation and it has happened.

02:14:55.510 --> 02:14:56.670
Your three minutes has exceeded.

02:14:56.670 --> 02:15:00.949
We need change, people. And we need you all to help with the change. Not sit on your butts

02:15:00.949 --> 02:15:03.710
in here. Get on the streets.

02:15:03.710 --> 02:15:06.949
And just so you know, my salary was posted in the memo, so all you got to do is read

02:15:06.949 --> 02:15:07.949
it.

02:15:07.949 --> 02:15:08.949
All you got to do is give it to us.

02:15:08.949 --> 02:15:13.710
I'll tell you, at the beginning of the term, I made $27,915, and-

02:15:13.710 --> 02:15:16.989
Break it down.

02:15:16.989 --> 02:15:17.989
For you.

02:15:17.989 --> 02:15:19.989
No, break it down.

02:15:19.989 --> 02:15:27.079
Are there any other public comments? Then we'll entertain a motion for adjournment.

02:15:27.079 --> 02:15:28.079
So moved.

02:15:28.079 --> 02:15:30.649
Second.

02:15:30.649 --> 02:15:34.970
We have a motion made by Alderman Shadle, seconded by Alderman Monroe. All those in favor?