Good evening.
Justin, could you please give the invocation this evening?
Good evening, Madam Mayor, Council, and all the guests.
Would you please pray with me?
Almighty God, to you, all hearts are an open book.
You know not only our actions, but the thoughts and the intentions of our hearts.
You made us to love you, to love our neighbors as ourselves.
You've created us with wisdom and justice and goodness and so I pray tonight that you would persuade us and enable us and strengthen all of us here tonight to do justly, to love mercy and to walk humbly with you.
Miller.
Help us to turn away from what is evil and choose against what is insincere, unhelpful, and dishonest.
We thank you for showing your goodness and mercy every day in our lives and in this city.
Lord, we pray that you would show your wisdom in the work of this council, of our citizens.
Pray that you would enable each one here in whatever capacity they serve to discern their We are called to honor you above all others and to put interests of others ahead of their own.
Lord, we thank you for this country, for the United States of America, for the freedoms that we enjoy.
We thank you for every woman and man whom you have gifted and appointed to serve our community and ask for your grace to help them to have the understanding and ability to make decisions that would encourage public trust and promote the highest values of good societies.
Bates, May it be true of us that we plan good rather than evil, justice and peace rather than violence.
May Freeport be a place where people are committed to live in good and right relationship with each other, a place where we plan to do good rather than evil, to seek self-sacrifice and peace rather than selfishness and conflict, all of which can only be by by your grace and so we ask, in your name, who freely gave yourself for us.
Amen.
Thank you.
So now we'll officially call this meeting to order, Madam Clerk, could you please take the roll?
Mayor Miller?
Here.
Alderpersons, Klemm?
Here.
Monroe?
Whoa, excuse me.
Johnson?
Here.
Simmons?
Here.
Parker?
Here.
Stacy?
Here.
Shadle?
Here.
If you could please stand for the Pledge of Allegiance, led by Alderman Johnson.
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.
Item number one is the approval of the agenda.
Is there such a motion?
So moved.
Second.
Schaefer, and Alfreida Schaefer.
Motion made by Alderman Shadle, seconded by Alderman Sellers.
All those in favor signify by saying aye.
Aye.
Opposed?
That motion passes.
Item number two is public comment.
We have a few signed in.
Alfreida Schaefer, you can come to the microphone and then if you can state your name, that would be great.
Hello.
Good evening.
My name is Alfreida Schaefer.
I actually wanted to speak on item number, I believe it's eight.
And the reason why it's important to me is because I actually own property in the Fifth Ward.
And Ms. Stacy has brought to her attention about an issue that I was having with my property.
I am a black young lady who was very excited about receiving the opportunity to purchase property in Freeport.
They did the seal bits, I was able to purchase a lot, it had a garage attached to it.
The structure is fine, the sound is strong.
During this period of time, actually before I purchased it, I talked to Wayne Duckman concerning it.
She explained to me at the time that I needed to have, the idea is to build a home.
So we went through a couple of things, a couple of suggestions of things that I can do, however I ended up making a personal garden out there.
During this period of time, I was approached three different times, my permit was unapproved, New to one time it was a $210 fine and they denied my permit for my license of a major electric company in Freeport and I was told by him to contact and they said that it was a $210 fine prior to me taking residence of the property and then the second time they told me that I could come up and pick up the money that it was some type of issue in the computer so I wasn't able to, they refunded the money and said that I still couldn't get DePermit.
So I contacted Wayne at that time and he explained to me that because I didn't have a home on my lot that I was not able to get existing electricity on it, which it hid existing electricity because it had switches and plugs and everything else in the garage.
So at the time I was told to contact Ms. Stacy.
I was told to have my alderman contact him.
So I just want to say that I think that it's very important because only the ones that are part of that district knows what's going on, and she didn't hesitate.
She helped me out a lot.
She talked to him.
She was able to find out some very important information for me.
She came over to my lot to actually see me water in my garden.
She did not, you know, go by what was said.
She actually came to actually investigate on her own on both ends.
And I just really do think that it's very important.
Shaffer.
That we look at those things because right now it's like with me being a black woman it was fine.
Thank you Ms. Shaffer, your time has expired.
Okay.
Thank you.
And if there are any other public comments, remember they have to be on agenda items.
The next one is the key of Sanders.
Touch on item number six and eight.
I was actually the one that directed Frida to contact the aldermen in that area.
I want to say it isn't important for our aldermen to be able to speak out and to, without being Fine without being put in backs against the wall and we are in that ward so why would it be important or why would it not be important for them to be able to speak, put things on the agenda because the situation that happened with Alfredo was the building inspector told her that it was nothing in the ordinance, there was nothing written down to where she couldn't do what she was asking to do and then in return after being denied a permit They actually said to Mrs. Stacy that we asked to buy her lot.
One thing I want y'all to know is that we are hip to whatever is going on behind these doors.
You guys are prompt to community development is the main one.
He is basically denying permits to gain access to the property over there.
That's how we feel.
Y'all have put blocks on the state or on the county tax sale and you're showing your hand.
Showing your hand.
We're not going to give up.
And if she's not able to get her permit after going through all of the legal things, that is opening the city for another lawsuit.
She's supposed to be able to go to her alderman and put things on the agenda that a fifth ward, a third ward cares about.
There's not things happening everywhere.
All I see is you guys with your neighborhood watch.
That's like an activity to some of y'all.
There's actually things Higgins.
So, we're going to be talking about things happening in our ward that we need our aldermen to be able to address.
And don't think that we don't know that you guys are packed up in here like nerds versus or jocks versus the geeks.
We know that if y'all get five people or whatever y'all got going on trying to pack up and hush them, we know that we're not going to be able to account on our aldermen.
So you're kind of like taking their job title away and their ability to help their own people.
And I don't know how you feel.
I don't know what's great about that.
Nothing this shouldn't even be on the agenda to even try to find them.
That's like freedom of speech We need to start doing a research on some of this stuff should be violating our constitutional rights Plain and simple.
It's shameful that you guys are actually trying to silence freedom of speech Beach.
Gary Gordon.
Good evening everybody.
I'm speaking on Ordinance 2025-37.
I get it.
I know majority rules.
He, she, they who have the majority can pretty much do whatever they want.
And that's fine when you're making a softball team line up for deciding when to go for dinner or when you've discussed something again and you finally come to the decision where you have to make a I understand that.
But I think you have to realize, you know, what's the best thing for the 23,000 members of this community?
If there is going to be elimination of being able to hear from those voices that aren't in the majority, you know, is that really good for the whole community?
What about the voices of those who elected somebody to represent them and their interests?
Do those voices suddenly get lost?
You know, I live in a part of the city where the majority rules.
But despite being in that location, I believe that Ordinance 37 is wrong.
You have to realize this community is like a body.
If part of the body is hurting or sick or injured, the majority of the body can't just say, ah, we're not interested.
If you don't count, we don't need you to make a decision.
This community of ours has some broken, injured, and hurting parts, and by bringing healing and attention to the broken parts, the whole community benefits.
Ignore an injury or illness long enough and it usually gets worse.
Your desire to streamline, work, or punish dissenting voices, or even eliminate them altogether is likely possible tonight, I can understand you guys have the majority, but but in your hearts, I think some of you know in your heart that it's the wrong thing to do.
It would be a courageous thing for you to vote no on that ordinance.
And we always remember that absolute power eventually does corrupt.
Thank you.
Wendy Pearson?
Good evening, the City of Freeport.
My name is Wendy Pearson.
I reside at 1323 South Chicago Co.
Avenue.
I'm here to speak on six and eight, and basically what I have to say, both of them evolve in together.
I am in totally agreement with the young man who just left this podium.
Those of us that live in the fifth ward, that live in the third ward, that lives in the wards that you guys are trying to silence, you need to understand something.
We voted Huffines.
They're our voice.
We should make the determination as to what they speak on, not any of you.
The fact of the matter is in order for them to speak two times and you silence them for the third time without any true explanation as to why other than you want to control what is happening in this city.
And if you haven't realized at this point, you're not in control.
The city and the people are speaking.
The other day, 400,500 plus Freeport residents marched against what is happening in this country and in this town.
All of you who sit under the mega category need to understand that none of us are going to stop this battle.
We're not going to stop fighting.
We've been fighting for too long.
If you understand that everything that you do affects everyone in this community, then your heart should tell you that you need to do the right thing, and the right thing is and the people who voted in.
Klemm, some of us voted for you.
The bottom line is you need to understand that silencing us isn't going to stop us.
You will have people standing out there, 400 plus, outside of your doors, waiting for you to not sneak out the back door, because you are going to have to deal with your constituents.
Every last one of us, the ones that live on the east side, the ones that live on the west, Lerner, Kareem, and many others.
Those of us that live on the west side, those of us that live on the other side of town, those who live in the areas where they're not being affected or going to rise up, and they're going to speak, and they're going to demand justice.
And some of you, believe it or not, are not going to be sitting in those seats the next four years because you got in this town.
But believe you, me, there are some of us that are going to walk the streets and knock every Hussain, the dirt and the dust that has been pushed under the rug for many years.
Be careful how you treat our people.
Be careful how you treat the people of Freeport.
Be careful how you treat our children because those same people are going to be sitting in those seats determining your life, your lifestyle, your livelihood, your whole environment is going to be determined by people that are going to look after you, hopefully.
But when they start to remember history, you will be the last ones they think of.
Thank you, Wendy.
Your time has expired.
Understand.
Be careful how you treat our people.
Move on to item number three, which is the consent agenda.
The consent agenda 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.
The consent agenda consists of approving to receive and placed on file.
The Board and Commission Minutes from the Zoning Board of Appeals dated May 1st, 2025.
The Building Permit and Fire Department Reports May 2025.
The Finance Bills payable in the total of $1,125,210.63 and the Approval of Pay Rule for Pay Period ending May 31st, 2025 in the total of $673,289.80.
Is there a motion to approve?
So moved.
Second.
We have a motion made by Alderman Shadle, seconded by Alderman Sellers.
Madam Clerk, could you please take the roll?
Johnson?
Yeah, aye.
Simmons?
Aye.
Parker?
Aye.
Stacy?
Aye.
Shadle?
Aye.
Sanders?
Aye.
Sellers?
Aye.
And Klemm?
Aye.
The motion passes 8-0.
Item number four is an appointment.
Could you please read this?
And Knapp. » Is there a motion to approve? » Second. » A motion made by Alderman Sellers, seconded by Alderman Shadle.
Madam Clerk, can we do a discussion?
All those in favor signify by saying aye. » Aye. » Opposed?
Ordinance amending Chapter 1060, Waste and Recycling Collection and Disposal, Section 1060.04, regarding garbage fees.
Thank you.
Elizabeth?
Oh no, I'm sorry, I wrote the wrong one.
Director Richter.
Thank you, Your Honor.
So this is the second reading of this ordinance.
If you recall from our last council meeting, I read from the memo that last year the City Council voted to suspend the annual increase for trash pickup that normally takes effect on July 1st.
We kept the same rate.
We did not change it.
At this time, the ordinances that has been suggested will adjust those rates.
We can't keep them the same rate every year.
Our contract was for 10 years.
So we are adjusting the rates from now until the end of that contract.
There's a chart on my memo indicating what those rates would be.
They are still a little bit below each year than what the rates were in the previous ordinance.
So it is Finance Department's recommendation for Council to pass the ordinance.
Discussion?
Alderman Stacey?
And where would this increase of monies be placed?
Richter.
There is a specific fund only for trash.
So any of the money that is collected for trash goes into the health and environmental fund.
That's trash.
So we collect the money there.
We pay the bill to the haulers from there.
We also pay refresh free port out of there.
We also have, you know, any bad debt that and I write off, that we bring to council every year, we bring that in November, December, the bad, any people that didn't pay their water bills, or I'm sorry, strike that, trash, garbage, when we do the write-offs from seven years ago, there's a little bit of piece of that, that'll go through that fund as well.
So it's just that fund, that's where the money goes.
Oldham and Sanders?
Yeah.
How did you come up with the scale for increase and decrease?
Sure.
What's your mechanism that creates that?
So we have to be able to cover these bills.
I understand that, but I'm trying to figure out how are you implementing this scale for adjustments and what percentage, at what percentage are you doing that and what kind of scale and John, and I am very grateful to the Board of Trustees for providing the information that you need, the information that you need, the help that you're using to make these kinds of increases on any item that you deem that feels necessary, where you're getting this information and how you disseminate it to the public because they need to know exactly that is that is affected by what we're doing here so but yeah are we are are we doing anything to notify people that these increases are taking effect because of this reason and I understand we have reserves and things for to pay to pay bills and things like that but when you see things like that that we need to and I'm not a voter, I'm not a voter, I'm not a voter.
The people needs to be informed.
Why are we increasing anything?
And what creates that mechanism that causes that?
Director Richter, back to your response.
So actually, I'm not increasing.
I am decreasing the rate that is in the ordinance right now.
So I'm making it less.
So in order to come up with these rates that I'm proposing, I had to project out the next five years of expenses in this fund and then figure out how many people are paying for trash charges in the city of Freeport and come up with a rate.
So, when I put the expenses together, so those, the budget for 2026, 2027, 2028 is not finalized.
We are even there.
I'm projecting and I conferred with the city manager, how often are we going to do refresh Freeport?
Are we doing it every day or every year, every month?
That was the plan.
So for the five years, I projected that.
We're talking about electronics recycling.
How often are we going to do that?
Are we going to do that every year or are we going to do that every other year?
So I discussed that with him.
I think there's been discussions about a tire possibly thing about bringing in tires as well on a different date.
So how often are we going to do that?
So I had to project all that out and figure out how much the fund would need in order to be sustainable.
And I did that, and I was able to reduce the amounts that were in the ordinance previously.
Thank you, Director, for your efficiency.
Any other?
Let me see if anybody else has one time.
Any other discussions?
Alderman Sanders?
Yeah, well, I understand you're saying you're trying to come up with a solution for that.
I'm just general paraphrasing what you're saying, that you're trying to come up with a solution, but who's helping you with this solution?
Who are the party people that helps you determine what you feel?
Because you can't base anything based on what you feel.
It has Winslow.
So I think there has to be some kind of a focus, a forecast on each thing that you're implementing or want to implement.
And we as the public, the taxpayers of these dollars that you're suggesting that should be increased, but I understand you saying we're not meeting the status, the standard Right now in the ordinance, we have not brought it up to a certain level within the ordinance to even talk about this issue.
Is that what we're implying here?
If that is the case, we need to know how you're making these adjustments with the increases and how you're coming about it.
I know I sound redundant right about now, but I'm not trying to be.
Huffines.
I would like for the general public to be notified and have complete clarity of what the process of how we got to where we're going, how we're getting to this particular area of increase because it's affecting people.
When we do things like that and it's based upon feelings, we need more than just one individual making that decision.
And I'd like to know who are the other party officials that is looking at what you're making decisions on.
Attorney Zito.
So, maybe I can try to help clarify.
So, our current garbage rates that get charged to the citizens, it's set forth in an ordinance and that's a set dollar amount.
What Director Richter has determined in looking at the expenses is that we're collecting more Winslow.
So she's actually proposing to lower the garbage fee to everybody because we don't need to collect this much money to cover our expenses.
And that's what this ordinance, that's before the council.
So ultimately, we're letting the public know because you guys are discussing it right now at the council level.
And then you guys are going to vote on whether or not to decrease the garbage rates because we don't, Director Richter has determined that we don't need to collect this much money.
Settler.
So that's the ordinance that's before you guys right now.
If you approve it, then the rates will go down as to what's being charged for garbage to the citizens.
So when we say down, that is not down like today's rate down.
We are just bringing down what is in the ordinance.
So it's telling me to adjust it up to say 20.
I'm just using round numbers.
And the ordinance says July 1st of this year, I need to make it $26.
I'm saying no, it can be $25.5.
You know, it's just, it's proportionately reduced.
Alderman Stacey?
Is some of this money going to the expense of the every first Saturday of the month where people could go dump stuff?
This money is going toward that?
Yes it is.
Isn't it also true that a lot of contractors are taking advantage and dumping their stuff more so than a lot of tons is being weighed?
But I don't know how much of it is the citizens of Freeport compared to contractor and business people Releasing, Aron, Joe, Br Taylor, Robert, Triple T, Bernie, and just real quick for the news media, we're getting messages that where you're standing is blocking the YouTube video people from being able to see who's speaking.
Certainly you're allowed to be here if we could just have you shift behind the table where you can still get a view but not blocking the YouTube people.
Thanks.
No, no worries.
Okay, Darren.
To my knowledge, the Refresh Freeport has been mostly residential stuff and Gills has been managing it, and thank you to all of you for watching.
We had a lot of great people watching for a lot of commercial debris or other things.
So to my knowledge, it's been very successful and we have not been reported back that it's been crazy.
And actually, there's been a ton of mattresses that have been brought in through Refresh Report, which is nice to see.
So what you say, there is some commercial debris?
Which they would because the tonnage has been way more than was anticipated and so I think that they would reject those types of loads so I don't believe it's been a lot of construction debris's period.
It's been a lot of household debris that people don't seem to have an avenue to get rid of.
Stuff that doesn't fit in your garbage can.
Any other discussion?
I was just going to comment, actually Refresh Freeport's been so successful I believe the The ordinance is adopted 8-0.
Number six is the second reading of ordinance 2025 37 could you please read this ordinance amending chapter 220 council section 220 10 rules of council and section 220 So this is up for second reading as well at the last city council meeting.
I went over the memo that, and went over all the proposed changes to the rules of council ordinance.
I won't bore you by rereading it again, but at the last council meeting Alderman Johnson did make a motion to amend section 220.10 subparagraph 29 which deals with placing items on the agenda.
As proposed, there was a change that said that it would require a majority of the aldermen to place an item on the agenda.
Alderman Johnson proposed to change that language to say that two aldermen could still place Johnson.
And then Alderman Simmons made a motion to refer that motion to the Committee of the Whole last week.
So at the Committee of the Whole last week, that item, that motion of Alderman Johnson's was discussed in further detail.
So where we're at as far as tonight is, is that what's on the floor before you would be Alderman Johnson's motion to change the language of subparagraph 29 to reflect that two aldermen could still place an item on the agenda provided they gave a memo with that agenda item.
So procedurally that's we're at the discussion stage of that motion.
Any further discussion on that amendment, Alderman Sellers?
And I think that she's doing it, nobody is trying to stop anyone from talking.
It's just that we just would like to know when you do have something on the agenda, we know what it's about.
And some of the things that was on the agenda last week were mainly just questions.
And those are things that you can just go in and ask those questions.
Is trying to stop anyone from talking and speaking at the meetings.
No one is.
Well, I just want to remind the public that there will be silence.
This is your warning.
So please don't interrupt again.
Alderman Sellers, were you finished?
Yes.
Alderman Sanders?
Well, yeah it does suppress counsel from speaking if you're trying to make modifications where the council and the mayor because no one defined that part to me I understand the council has the right to conduct quorum's but I didn't know in this well I'm talking on portion to the to the next portion because right We're just on the amendment of two aldermen with supporting document.
Well, what I'm saying is to support this document even with the two aldermen.
Yeah, it's just there's no nothing to do with quorum at this point.
That's you can talk about after we get done with this amendment portion.
Does that make sense?
Well, I thought there was relatively speaking of the same issue.
No, okay, it's it's just about changing the language to be two aldermen with supporting documents such as a memo.
That's what's on the floor right now that's the motion that's on the floor was this amendment to change it to where to Alderman plus a memo would be able to put something on the agenda now once we get done dealing with that issue then we can then the whole ordinance is back on the floor and you can people whoever can bring up any other topics regarding this ordinance that they want to talk about okay so is there any other discussion on this amendment Alderman Simmons so the Winslow.
The way this reads though is if the amendment was discussed and we are voting on the original changes including the amendment.
Right now what's on the floor is Jess Alderman Johnson's motion there and if that's approved then I would go and rewrite the ordinance to include that language.
So what you see in the ordinance right now is the original from first reading there still Johnson.
And that's what Alderman Johnson is proposing to change.
Obviously, I haven't changed it yet because I don't know if it's going to be approved or not.
So.
Well.
So, just the amendment.
Well, can I speak on it?
On the amendment.
Yeah, but what you're not saying is that for this particular ordinance to even be considered as an amendment.
There was no majority at that time of aldermen voting for that particular item.
There was no majority in effect when this first came about to make a modification to amend it for the majority of the aldermen and the mayor making these changes.
Was present at the committee meeting why are you everyone was present so there I'm I'm trying to give clarification from what I understand I'm trying to give you the way that I understand I understood it and my thing is my thing is if there was no reason to implement or suggest this Huffines.
There was not supposed to be any modification changes or suggestion for an amendment.
This had to be brought to the council as an agenda to try to make modification, but it came out that it was a majority, and it has never been a majority.
And so since it had never been a majority at the outset, at the very beginning, how How are we making amendments and modifications to even justify whether or not all the men all have to vote whether or not an agenda is approved?
I have a question.
Are you back to the May 19th question that you've had a couple of times, is that what you're asking?
No, I'm not.
Don't deflect.
No, I'm just trying to understand.
Well, I'm talking about this agenda and this ordinance.
That's what I'm referring to.
If the ordinance was not introduced initially, we wouldn't be having this conversation is what I'm getting at.
We would not be sitting here talking about this ordinance if it had not been introduced because everything was already in play.
No changes had to be made.
Everything was according to previous ordinance or the past ordinance before it was introduced to be modified or changed or have an amendment to it.
And that's what I'm getting at.
Okay, Attorney Zito, you want to answer that?
So this item, this ordinance was placed on a city council agenda.
Yep.
And so then there was a motion in second to put it on the floor.
So to Alderman motioned and seconded it.
And then there was discussion that was started to be had.
And that's when Alderman Johnson then made her motion to amend it.
So, but it was on a council agenda.
My question is, who brought that to the agenda?
Who implemented that suggestion that that ordinance, that particular ordinance be placed on the agenda?
That's what I'm getting at.
Who put that in there so we can be, why are we sitting here discussing something somebody put on the agenda?
Who is, if it wasn't the council that put it on the agenda, why is I'm answering your question.
That's what it takes to put something on.
But he's asking who chose to put this ideal out there?
Well, so let's talk about that for a minute.
It was present, if that's what you're asking, although I have, again, we're not off, we're off topic there Alderman Sanders with your, it has something to do with the amendment.
I would have to say that was presented originally by attorney Zito.
I don't know what the date was and quite honestly, I don't think I've had more phone calls of any topic of the efficiency of, or the lack of, of these meetings.
So myself, several aldermen sitting here actually spoke with attorney Zito about how do we fix this?
How do we make us better?
How do we become more efficient?
That's how it started.
You know what, I don't like.
Are there any other discussion concerning the amendment itself?
Actually, you've already spoken twice.
Have I?
Well, I will speak again today.
Yes, but right now, it's about the amendment.
I want folks to know that I will speak again.
And you are welcome to.
Right now we're talking about this amendment.
Okay, thank you.
If there's no further discussion on the, oh, I'm sorry, Alderman Stacey.
You know, it's not like we can bring something to the agenda asking for thousands and millions of dollars.
Huffines.
When we bring something to the agenda, it's basically for clarity and understanding.
And so, you know, it's an insult now to say to first try and take away two people adding something to the agenda, to a majority, when you know the majority is five to three.
That was the first insult.
And the salt added to the wound.
It's now we have to add a memo and a description and whatever the four things were.
To something that we're just seeking clarity about.
It's not like we're asking counsel to vote on a new lawnmower or hangers and others at the airport or water mains breaks and piping and tubing and fixing and it's just a way to try and shut us down or we got to put in the work as if we don't have jobs Besides this one, this was not broke.
And to come at us with the majority rules, it's five to three.
You always rule, OK?
This is just heartbreaking, because you want to say you're not trying to shut us up, but you are.
You want to say this isn't happening that isn't happening but it is and so I guess it is what it is.
Well I kind of have to differ with you Alderman Stacey because this if you if you're just looking for a point of clarity again phones are on doors are open if if all you're looking for is an answer to something you're you You and every one of the council members are welcome to make phone calls to myself, to the city manager.
We welcome that.
We also welcome that weekly meeting that many attend and some don't at all.
So if you'd like to have more input, if you'd like to have updates, if you'd like to have questions answered, that's where the efficiency comes in, is making those meetings, making those phone calls, coming.
We welcome your input.
Come see us.
You say you welcome our input, but we have to dance to the beat of your drum, and that drum stopped beating a long time ago when we were lied to, we were looked down upon, we were ignored, we were made to feel and try to look stupid, like we don't know what We're talking about I should not have to go through all this rigmarole because I won't come to your office and sit and talk with you.
See that's the real issue here because some of us don't come to your office.
Some of us are not comfortable coming to your office.
Some of us don't believe and trust what you say because you say one thing in our face and when we get to the council floor not you but when we get to the council floor it's another whole different story.
And I've pointed it out time and time again and so yeah I quit going and I don't go and and I choose not to go, but I will start sending emails because I will have a paper trail on every subject, every concern and every topic that I bring to you as the mayor and to City Manager Boyer in his absence, as well as to you, Attorney Zito.
I don't have a problem with that.
Is there any other discussion on the amendment?
We're still on the amendment, Larry.
Have I exhausted my time?
You have.
On the amendment.
We're still on the amendment.
I exhausted it, okay.
If there's no further discussion, Madam.
Could you just repeat it again?
It's just to change it back to the two?
Correct.
Right.
That's what the amendment is.
Changing it back to two aldermen with supporting documents such as the memo and all the terminology that went along with that.
Johnson, Johnston, Simmonds, Parker, Stacey, Shadle, Sanders, Sellers, and Klemm.
The motion passes 6-0 on the amendment only.
6-2.6-2.
I meant 2.
Thank you, attorney.
Okay.
So now before you is the ordinance with that amendment in it.
So further discussion, Madam, would you like to talk about your piece?
Sorry, I thought you were calling for a final vote.
Not yet.
Okay.
No, it's discussion on, on, with the amendment in there.
Madam Clerk, could you speak to the issue that was put on each one of the Aldermen's desks concerning the order of business clarification?
Yes, the order of business is covered under 220-10-10 or section 7 of ordinance 2025-37.
The previous order of business is outdated, it references committees that no longer stand since we've gone to the seven aldermen and the aldermen at large.
We're more applicable back when we had 14 older persons and probably should have come out of there some time ago.
There are some suggested revisions to meet more what we've been doing by practice, some items that have come before us that just weren't considered before such as proclamations and items like that.
So there is a proposed insert of informational presentations.
And Attorney Zito, I gave you that one with, I did not give you that one with the red marked up.
So informational presentations would be like the awarding of the American Water Works Association.
We have the auditors coming in soon.
So those types of informational presentations.
Also, something we do on the agenda is appointments.
In the old listing, there really is no place for that.
So we just kind of inserted it and made places.
So now that's proposed as a seventh order of business.
Am I still looking at the wrong one?
And then we've also proposed a ceremonial presentation and that would be our proclamations and things of that nature where a vote is not required.
Could you give more clarity for that?
Like when a group.
What is it?
Yeah, what is it?
What is it, proclamation?
No, no, the ceremony and honorary presentation.
That would be like a proclamation.
It could be, it would be, I have it.
So that would include things like proclamations, swearing ins, promotions, recognition of service awards, all those things that there's no vote on.
It's just a ceremony that takes place.
Something Honorary.
Okay.
I just thought maybe this is the first time I saw that.
Yes.
That's why we wanted to put these things in an actual document because we already do those things.
Okay.
So, Madam Clerk, do you have more things to add on what you have made change?
I could note it's not part of this, but we used to just put other, and the suggestion is to change that to bid openings at other miscellaneous city business.
And previously it used to just say new business.
We have inserted the council announcements in there when each of you go around and have a chance to speak.
We've just clarified that that is new business and council announcements.
And it's been listed that way on the agenda for a while, but we're just updating the ordinance to reflect that.
Could you explain the bit?
I'm sorry, I'm sorry.
Go ahead and finish your- I think, I believe that's it.
Okay, so before we go any further, is there a motion to amend 220-10-10?
Yeah, I know, but we need it on the floor first.
Oh, okay, okay.
For the order of business.
Is there a motion?
So moved.
I second.
So we have a motion made by Alderman Sellers, seconded by Alderman Johnson, to amend that portion.
Alderman Sanders.
Yeah, the new business, when you say new business, how did you refer to that particular section, when you talk about new business?
Just a standard agenda format.
I don't understand what that is.
I don't know, does it come from Robert Rules of Order, Attorney Zeno?
Vance, and Mrs. Huffines.
Mr. Vance, what's the time for a new business?
What's the time for a new business?
The time for a new business is when you take care of old business and new business and our ordinance only stated new business before, but for quite some time, as long as I've been here, we listed on the agenda as council announcements and new business.
Okay.
So, okay, the breakdown of new business could refer to, it's kind of broad when we say that.
What it means is the time that each one of you are allowed at the end of the meeting to say whatever you want.
That's what that means.
Zito.
That's it?
Okay.
Any other discussion Alderman Stacy?
So why get rid of communications and written reports?
Why get rid of reports of standing committees?
Why not?
We don't have standing committees.
That's an old, old.
It never was updated.
Go ahead.
When there there were 14 older persons on the floor, there was a finance committee, there was a community development committee, there were many, many committees when there were 14 older persons and those committees no longer exist.
But we still have some committees that exist.
No, we have a committee of the whole.
We do?
It's the second Monday of every month, Larry.
Oh, the term, it's the term, okay.
That's why I said clarity because terminology has a lot to do with it, with clarification.
So that's the reason why I said that.
Okay.
Any other questions on the amendment?
Madam Clerk, would you please take the role on the amendment only to update the order of business as stated?
Johnson?
Aye.
Simmons?
Aye.
Parker?
Aye.
Stacy?
No.
Shadle?
Aye.
Sanders?
And just that amendment passes six to two.
Okay, so now we have a further amended ordinance.
Any further discussion on the entire package?
Alderman Johnson?
On number four, I would like to amend it where it says two minutes.
I would like to amend that to say three minutes because we give the public three minutes.
We should have three minutes as well.
Can you repeat where?
Number four, Miller.
On the ordinance here, it says this ordinance also provides that each of the two turns or any additional turn of approval by council is limited to two minutes.
The two minutes can be extended by a majority vote of council.
I would like to amend that to say three minutes.
I believe it's under Section 210.15.
She was item number four.
She was referring to item number four on the memo.
Four on the memo.
Memo.
Number four.
Okay, so can you repeat what you what you want for an amendment?
Okay, it'll read it exactly as it is except it instead of two minutes it would be three minutes.
Okay, so what it states is further each each member's two turns to speak shall not exceed three minutes in duration unless a majority of the council votes for additional time set.
That what you're asking?
Right, this Johnson.
This ordinance also provides that each of the two turns is limited to three minutes is what I wanted to say.
The three minutes can be extended by a majority vote of council.
Yes.
So we have a motion.
Is there a second?
This is not open for discussion.
Second.
We have a motion made by Alderman Johnson, seconded by Alderman Sellers to amend as stated discussion on that.
Yeah.
Alderman Sanders?
I'm sorry.
The recommendation from Ms. Johnson is using the ordinance for three minutes.
Is that what's stated in the ordinance?
Three minutes?
Two.
Two minutes.
And you want to make an amendment for?
Three.
Three minutes.
Why are we stopping at three minutes?
I'm just trying to get an understanding.
Where did you come from Johnson.
I think the public gets three minutes, so the council should at least have three minutes.
Any other discussion?
Alderman Simmons?
So I agree with you, Alderperson Johnson, but would you agree to five?
Even the quickest statements normally take a good minute, depending on what you say, sometimes a minute and a half.
I've been watching since this is on the table.
I think five is more than enough time to get your point across per topic.
So then you know that means ten, because it's twice.
You're asking for there to be ten minutes per item per alderman?
Neither of us.
Most of us don't use it.
I just want to make sure you understand what you're asking.
I understand what I'm asking.
You can keep up.
Thank you.
Go ahead.
So there's a motion and a second for the three minutes right now.
Are you proposing an amendment to change the three to a five?
Yes.
Okay, so if you're saying you're making that motion.
Well, I was asking an older person, Johnson will be willing to amend her motion.
Oh, okay.
But if not, in the spirit of compromise, it's still half of what is already listed on the original ordinance.
Originally, the way it stands right now is two minutes, twice.
No, No, not this one you're proposing before the changes.
It was 10.
I'm quite sure it was 10.
There was actually no time limit set in the code as it reads right now.
Right, so it's up to Alderman Johnson if she wants to change it from 3 to 5.
Okay, I'll meet you out there.
Okay, we'll amend it to 4.
Okay, so your motion then, you're changing your motion, your original motion from A change from two minutes to four minutes.
Correct.
Okay, but that would take a sec.
Alderman Sellers, are you willing to amend your second to reflect four minutes?
Yes.
Okay, so then what's on the floor right now for discussion is a motion by Alderman Johnson to change the two minutes to four minutes seconded by Alderman Sellers.
We're at discussion on that proposed change.
Well, if there's no further discussion, Madam Clerk, please take the roll on changing section 8, number 15, to state not to exceed four minutes, speaking twice.
Johnson?
Aye.
Simmons?
Aye.
Parker?
Aye.
Stacy?
No.
Shadle?
Aye.
Sanders?
No.
Sellers?
Aye.
Klemm?
Aye.
That amendment passes six to two.
Okay any further discussion on the amended portions and the entire package of rules of counsel seeing none madam clerk please take the role Johnson aye Simmons no Parker aye Stacy no Shadel aye Sanders no Sellers aye and Klemm the The ordinance passes five to three as amended.
Item number seven is the first reading of ordinance 2025-39.
Could you please read this?
Ordinance approving zoning map amendment at 1500 Southwest Avenue submitted by REA for asset LLC to examine the proposed zoning map change from a B11 restricted retail business.
One one restricted retail business to a b2 one limited service business district Elizabeth Staff received a zoning map amendment for 1500 Southwest Avenue Freeport, Illinois, that's the Cubs shopping plaza Brown's shoe stores fifth third the petitioners requesting approval of a zoning map amendment The owner of the properties are looking to make the tenant space more attractive allowing for a greater variety of uses The tenant is looking to occupy the vacant space, intending to open up a gym.
The existing uses of the nearby properties are similar in use.
They're either zoned more intensely as B21 or B3, so this is the lowest zoned one in the district.
There's Southwest Corridor has numerous shopping plazas and there's other gyms in the district along with athletic and recreational fields right in the district as well.
On June 12th, I'm sorry, on June 5th, 2025, the Zoning Board of Appeals recommended approval of a vote by five yeas, zero nays, and zero abstentions.
On June 12th, 2025, the Planning Commission also recommended approval by a vote of six yeas, zero nays, and zero abstentions.
Staff did review LaSalle Sinclair factors and recommends the zoning map amendment for 1500 Southwest Avenue from a B11 restricted retail Business to a B21 Limited Service Business District area.
Thank you.
Is there a motion to move Ordinance 2025-39 onto the next meeting?
Second.
Motion made by Alderman Parker, seconded by Alderman Sellers.
Discussion on the ordinance?
Alderman Sanders.
Yeah, I understand the existing business complex that's already there is what we're referring to.
And they want to establish or opening or design a different modification of that complex in order for them to establish whatever that she was referring because I understood portions of it, but I don't understand the full details of what they're asking for.
And so we're not looking at the full details of it.
I know you mentioned Jim, but we don't know how it's going to be, you know, produced in those areas and whether or not it causes any kind of infractions upon any other businesses there.
Are they taking over the whole complex over there or how they're working that?
Because I can't see that space over there being large enough.
What is their purpose?
I'll put it like that.
What is their main objectives and their purpose for wanting all of these things done?
Elizabeth.
So there's a vacant spot right now at the property.
It's been vacant since about October of 2022 where the hallmark was, that's part of that location.
So the tenant is, they were approached, they have a tenant in line for that property Miller.
We have a lot of businesses that are trying to rezone that property or for that space.
Okay.
And what they're trying to do is open a gym, but they would need to zone it to a B-2-1 to have it as a gym.
So all of those businesses are established already.
They're looking to rezone it for a B-2-1.
Now that is different, right, than what it is right now.
Yeah, because some.
So, and there's, you know, there's some stores right now.
Those are well-established stores and it's a well-established business corridor.
So there's lots of shopping plazas, right?
Not just there.
Winslow.
There's one across the street.
There's down, you know, by the Meadows Mall, across the street.
We have lots of shopping plazas in that area.
There is some residential, you know.
But we're talking about Cubs.
Yep.
Right behind, you know, right by Cubs.
Yeah.
Is there going to be any renovation of this area?
There's going to be some minor renovations to just that tenant space, just to that open space.
No demolition?
None of that going on.
Okay.
Upgrades to make it more suitable for a gym.
Okay.
Odom and Stacy?
So the people that wants the gym came to the city or the other businesses came to the city?
The property owner who owns the plaza came to the city and they said that they have tenants looking to rent the space, but they would need to get it rezoned.
So they're trying to actively fill their space so that they can.
Thank you.
Elizabeth, is there any urgency of their timeframe?
I did ask them about that.
They didn't specify that.
Okay.
If there's no further discussion, on to item number eight, which is the adoption of resolution 2025-66.
Could you please read this?
Imposing Censure on Three Council Members Who Were Willfully and Deliberately Absent from the May 19, 2025 Council Meeting.
Alderman Shadle.
Thank you.
At the May 19, 2025 Council Meeting, there were three Alder Persons absent from the meeting.
Outgoing Alder Person Monroe made a statement to the news media in front of City Hall moments before the meeting.
Alderperson Stacy was in front of the City Hall at this time as well.
In his statement, Monroe mentioned that Simmons and Sanders were not there to avoid violating Illinois law.
The overall intent of this action was to impede the business of this council by causing a failure of a quorum.
This is quite clear in that they informed the news media exactly of their intent prior to the meeting.
Fortunately, this tactic was unsuccessful as they evidently didn't understand that it was Alderperson Johnson's presence and not ex-Alderman Monroe's that mattered for the purpose of achieving a quorum.
And this council was able to convene and do the very important work which was before us on the agenda.
Regardless of the ultimate failure of these tactics, a concerted effort by elected older persons to prevent the business of the city they were elected to serve is not the type of conduct either we as a council nor the constituents of the wards who elected them should be expected to tolerate.
There is no absolute proof that Simmons and Sanders were a part of this conspiracy and therefore should be removed from this resolution for the reasons I am making for these reasons I am making a motion to approve a resolution imposing censure on all the person Stacy for her behavior on May 19th 2025 including unexcused and deliberate absenteeism and participating in a Deliberate and Actual Conspiracy to stop this council from doing business and if approved I am requesting that the resolution imposing censure be adopted as presented and made part of the permanent records of the city of Freeport.
So you made that motion is there a second?
I'll second it.
Motion made by Alderman Shadle seconded by Alderman Klemm Madam Clerk back when this item was first on the agenda there was a motion and a second correct to get it on the floor for discussion correct okay so there was originally the motion in second so Alderman made by I assume by Alderman Shadle and Alderman Klemm most likely back then just to get it on the floor for discussion Alderman Shadle is yours your motion now technically a motion to amend your original motion to Your amendment now is to remove Alderman Sanders and remove Alderman Simmons from the censure motion, correct?
Yes.
Okay.
And then, Alderman Klemm, you are the second on this amendment, correct?
Correct.
Okay.
So discussion on the amendment only.
The amendment only?
Why are we jumping over the fence to get to an amendment?
Because Alderman Shadle just made a motion to amend his original motion because he originally made the motion a few weeks ago.
But that has nothing to do with the ordinance itself.
No, the original ordinance.
The protocol and the resolution of this May 19th, that has not been resolved yet.
Correct.
So I don't want you jumping over the fence.
I'm not.
To this part of the resolution that Alderman Shadle is recommending because there's more other things to talk about before we get to this part and I don't want us to lose oversight of that and not bring this into the council as well.
That should be brought up for discussion because protocol was not met and I just want to make make sure that this has been recorded because procedures did not take effect like it should and people are doing things that they're not authorized to do.
Johnson, Simmons, Parker, Stacy, Shadle, Sanders, Sanders?
No.
Sellers?
Aye.
And Klemm?
Aye.
The amendment is approved 5-3.
Okay, so now before you is the amended version of this resolution.
Discussion.
Alderman Sellers.
I don't know if this is the part, but I would like to add in there that if you are going to be absent, that you make a call to the city clerk, because she has to take attendance.
So is this the time that you would, no, okay.
No, this is just a central resolution.
So if you wanted to require, if anyone's going to be absent, that they inform the clerk and give the reason.
That's a change to our ordinance.
So that would be an ordinance change.
And I would have to, you'd have to propose that as an ordinance change, but this is just a censure resolution.
Further discussion on Alderman Sanders.
Yeah, so there's no adoption or drafting of this particular censure.
This is not, this is not a rule or what I want to say, valid, it's not really valid to even have this implemented into this discussion.
Even the suggestion that Alderman Shadle even brought up the fact of censorship does not give him the authorization to impede upon the Aldermen's, even though I know it's overloaded and everything like that and it's going up for a vote.
But my point is that in my argument, this should not have been brought to the floor until we had in-depth discussions about it, what is relevant and what is not, and how the protocols are set up, and what is the consistency, the consistency of how we adopt things and how we do things in this administration and this council.
So I don't feel this is, and you can oppose that if you choose to wanna do so, but my thing is that is how I have always seen it and I have been here for the last two years and nothing has reached the level that it is reaching today because some zealous person wants to get their way because they are upset.
But when we get a chance to talk about the actual May 19th meeting, that's where I want to go with this whole conversation, but I had to chime in now otherwise I wouldn't have Alderperson, Shadle, I appreciate your amendment to that and I understand what you're trying to do.
However, seeing as the other ordinance passed in the future, if that were to ever happen and you've felt there's a fine being imposed now that we've set punishments, I just feel Alderman, Simmons, just for clarification, are you, is your motion to table this to another meeting or to table indefinitely?
I add indefinitely.
Got it, okay.
And John.
So, I think that's my second.
I didn't clarify that your second is to table indefinitely.
Yes.
Okay.
So, now before you is a motion to table indefinitely.
Is there discussion on the tabling itself?
Madam Clerk, would you please?
I don't mind tabling it because we got it all out.
If you were working your job and you weren't going to come in, you would have to call and let them know.
So I think it's only proper protocol to call and let someone know when you're not going to be here.
Because this is our job.
Older person, Shadle.
Older person, Simmons.
I can understand what you're saying.
As long as this is something that has been brought to light, that it's unacceptable and it's not going to be tolerated we can let it go there's no further discussion on the tabling motion that would be Stacy please take the role so this is on postponing indefinitely Johnson I Simmons Parker Stacy, Shadle, Sanders, Sellers, and Klemm.
The motion to postpone indefinitely passes 6 to 2.
Item number 9 is the adoption of resolution 2025-69.
Could you please read this?
Resolution ratifying emergency electrical repairs to police and I'm going to introduce the next item of discussion.
It's the East Department Air Conditioning System by Morris Electric.
Can I put a.
Yeah, I know, but you omitted my discussion prior to.
Alderman Sanders, we're on the next item here.
Yeah, but we are.
Okay.
All right.
You're not going to let me discuss that matter that I referred to earlier.
Okay.
All right.
This is an emergency electrical repairs to the air conditioning system at Morris.
I'm not going to read through the whole memo, but we've been blowing compressors over there regularly and about four or five weeks ago we had another compressor that went out.
We brought Morris Electric in as a specialist.
They helped us bring in Commonwealth Edison which we've had to the facility two or three times.
They brought a specialist in from the city that has special load sensing equipment to the building.
They had accused the city of adding additional load to the police facility, which had not happened.
And we knew that the long story short is when a lot of electrical equipment in the area would run it would short the power from the PD.
And others.
Thus, like de-phasing some of the three-phase motors and making the motors unbalanced and they would fry the compressors.
After research, it was found that the Banks-Bergana building had added eight air conditioning systems since it reopened up and they never turned in a load letter to ComEd.
So they added all that load to the same grid pulling from the same transformers.
And so when all of those air conditioners hit, when our air conditioners did, it de-balanced the system.
That was proven out through the study that we did out there.
We put some pressure on ComEd to come out and replace the transformers and they did on overtime to get it done.
This has probably been an issue that's been going on for probably about the time I've been doing the public works role three years because we've had ComEd out there three times and they they really were persistent that there wasn't an issue till we were able to get the specialist out with the proper equipment to measure it so thanks to their help most of its resolved since then we did fry another compressor but it was because the compressor was bad it actually blew a piston it had nothing to do with the electrical content and so we're asking to pay Morris Electric their invoice fee for helping us we are also did a bunch of We've started a rewiring at the facility and updated some items to make sure that the system wasn't grounding out.
All in prevention to make sure this was happening.
We have other bills that are coming along with this.
This is just the first one of a few.
And we are turning this into a ComEd electrical claim that we've already started the process with the city's insurance company.
So all these bills will be turned over as a physical electrical claim.
But we do need to get our vendors paid for the good work they've provided.
Is there a motion to adopt this resolution?
Shall move.
Second.
A motion made by Alderman Shadle, seconded by Alderman Sellers.
Discussion on the resolution, Alderman Sanders.
Yeah, I understand what you're saying.
And these contractors wants to get paid exp.
Wants to get paid expeditiously as soon as possible as we as we are talking well they're they're good contractors and they're not begging for the money but you know but they can't wait for the insurance claim to crack they shouldn't have to wait for a claim that they weren't part of okay they just provide a good service to us do we know what the claim has not been investigated yet is that correct um I wouldn't say it's not investigated we just submitted the Huffines to replace this equipment and the balance that needs to be paid.
And not only that, what are we suggesting in paying the contractors early for the work service that they have done?
I wouldn't say we're going to pay them early.
We've already provided the service.
We will pay them for the service and then we will seek our reimbursement through the insurance company, which is the way more its claims are done.
Okay.
Yeah, so there'll be three invoices that I know of for sure will have this Morris invoice.
We have a bill from Geostar which is our HVAC master supplier that's been working out there.
And then Genesis Power with the generator systems, we should have invoices from them.
I've also asked Michelle to go back through the time that we've been dealing with this and collect those invoices as well as part of the claim because we've had a lot of work done there in the last couple years.
So we are maintaining what we already have in existence, right?
We're just going to maintain that and that would be sufficient enough that we don't have to come back and request any more funding for that particular job?
Just the bills that we have coming, Alderman Sanders.
The system there, as we've discussed for many years here, is very old.
I was just wondering, I know you said the Banks Pergagna building, I mean, they had the 10 air conditioners, so if they were to turn them on again, it's going to have to be a lot of work to replace the AC outside, so I don't think we're looking to do that in a building that we would like to exit shortly.
I was just wondering, I know you said the Banks Pergagna building, I mean they had the 10 air conditioners, so if they were to turn them on again it wouldn't affect us.
The day that we found out the load requirement issues, the Commonwealth Ed specialist calculated new transformer sizes for the rear of the alley there where we pull our feed from, and We put on some specialized electric monitor equipment that shows that we haven't had any more power issues since that day.
Any further discussion on this resolution?
Yeah, I forgot to ask, what is the total at this current time?
Somebody can help me.
13,000 A change.
Yeah, 13,000 was just the electrical.
We had a lot of electrical redone within the actual AC unit and all the feeds that run into the building were done because those were original and we were afraid that they may have been grounding out in the old conduit.
So those were all new conduits and pretty heavy copper wire that was raining back into the building.
So that amount, that balance would cover the three invoices is what we're seeing.
No, that's just one invoice from one supplier.
This bill will probably be, in all reality, close to $100,000 when we're all done.
Oh, see, that's a different number.
Yeah.
Yeah, okay.
That's what I. Just the compressor for that system is about $40,000.
Yeah, okay.
All right.
If there's no further discussion, Madam Clerk, please take the roll.
Johnson.
Aye.
Simmons.
Aye.
Parker.
Aye.
Stacy.
Aye.
Shadle.
Aye.
Sanders.
And Klemm.
The resolution is adopted 8 to 0.
Item number 10 is reports from department heads finance.
Thank you.
Community development.
Thank you.
Public Works.
Just a couple quick things.
The Carroll Street water main project is starting this week.
You'll probably see signs, road cutting coming up.
There was is an accident on the communication.
The section that's being done is from Adams to Empire, excluding Galena Street, but that whole portion will be done.
I believe they're starting near Empire Street and working their way to the north.
That project, again, they're starting today.
Contractors should be in sometime this week to start opening up the street in Tang and Watermain.
The street projects that we bid, and those will all be starting next Monday.
Kelsey Excavating will be in.
We met with them today and they will be starting on Cleveland Avenue and then working their way around town.
And then we have a pre-con set up with fishers for the middle of the week.
So the water main projects can start, which that will start at Blackhawk Avenue as well.
So as we stated last week, about $6.7 million with the road construction that will be taking place for the rest of the summer.
Thank you.
Fire Department?
Yes, thank you, Your Honor.
Some of my personnel have expressed to me that they would like me to share some of their activities and the calls that they respond to throughout the week to council members and also the public.
So to comply with their request of me, I've got a few calls to share with the council and the public of their response.
So on June 5th, Bishop responded to the Lindow Theater and found a gentleman in full cardiac arrest.
He was in the lobby, our paramedics got there, the engine company, and they successfully resuscitated him.
He was flown to Hospital Rockford for further care, and now, last report, he was sitting up talking to his family, and they were wishing him a Happy Father's Day.
So that was a successful resuscitation.
Also last week they had a similar situation at the golf course and that same thing they had successful resuscitation that gentleman also was flown to Rockford and he's he's receiving additional care some other incidents we had four car crashes one was a rollover with injuries and we spawned into We started a garage fire on Foley that was set by three juveniles, witnessed by a construction crew that were doing the lead service line remediation.
So we had good witnesses to that event there.
We responded to a bedroom fire started by a small child with a lighter on Ringgold.
So it was a busy week for those folks, they did a great job, so keeping up with their requests there we are then, I shared with you some of their calls, so thank you.
Thank you.
Police?
Yeah, I just want to recognize Darren first off for the air conditioning issue.
As we know, it's been a problem, but he knew that there was an issue that needed to be figured out, and he was adamant about that, and I really appreciate all the work that he put into that.
Secondly, I just wanna address some statements that were made during public comment at last week's Committee of the Whole meeting.
Initially, I'd like to state that the work that individuals do in the Dispatch Center is some of the most important work at the police department.
They deserve the highest praise for their selflessness in ensuring Freeport residents feel safe and are heard.
The Dispatch Center is fully staffed with two to three dispatchers per shift.
Of those, 10 are trained, two are being trained right now.
In addition, there is built-in redundancy where any call that is not able to be answered by the two or three dispatchers is automatically forwarded to other dispatch centers.
This process is used in multiple other dispatch agencies, as well as agencies where there is only one dispatcher on duty.
Regarding the comments about calls being placed on hold, if a private ambulance company needs to be contacted, the appropriate protocol is to place the caller on hold for a brief period while making contact with the private ambulance company.
This practice is acceptable and recognized by the Illinois State 911 Administrator and is a policy of other agencies as well and does not present a safety risk to the public.
If anyone has any questions or inquiries about how the Dispatch Center operates, feel free to contact either myself or Deputy Chief Davis.
Thank you.
Library?
Thank you.
I just wanted to highlight our summer reading program.
Last week we had our kickoff event and we had over 500 people attend our event and we already have registered probably close to 500 kids for summer reading and we every event has been attended very well so we're looking forward to you.
This week I think we have a Bluey party as in the Wee Party as in the cartoon is on Friday so you can go to our website to get more information about that.
Thank you.
IT, I had to remind the council and the listening audience that this coming weekend starts the 40 days of peace and community building with High Hope Freeport.
Friday on the area of Chicago and Frank will be 8 AM for beautifying the block and then Saturday in that same and Frank.
From 1 to 4 is the resource block party and then on Sunday on Chicago and Frank is the church in the street from 1 to 2.30.
So if you would like to come to any or all of those three different things, please, please do so.
If you need a reminder of timeframes and such, please let me know and I'll be happy to get that to you.
With that Alderman Johnson Alderman Johnson yeah I just want to remind everybody there's praise in the park Friday at Crate Park at 7 PM the assemblyman will be the ones that will be presenting the music and also the neighborhood watch for the second ward is this Thursday at 6:30 PM at 3002 Farmdale Dillane, Alderman Simmons, the only thing is the neighborhood watch is next Monday night on Laurel Street, Stacy, Shadle, just want to point out that our neighborhood watch is going to get moved from July 3rd because of the holiday being the next day it'll give and me a week later on July 10th at Schwartz on Park Boulevard.
Alderman Sanders?
Yeah, I'd like to just elaborate on this Chapter 20 Rules of Council and Section 2, 2010, Order of Business.
I'm just curious to want to know, has any changes and I would like to know, in this order, been modified, reconstructed, and anything of that nature been moved from one position to another and only people that I know that, only person I know that is presenting this, was there any changes in the order of these rules of council and I'd like to know who established those changes and what was recommended for Miller.
I feel that those changes, because I feel that these changes are out of alignment of the process that we usually go through, the formality that we was going through previously before I actually saw this rule of council.
Seemed like some things have been changed in that order is the reason why we're going through the protocol that we're going through right now.
So I like to address that because I want it to be changed back to its regular standard processing, because that right there suppresses council opportunity to speak on the subject matter of the public announcements.
When the citizens of Freeport comes in, it cancels out council from injecting their views and and rebutting of anything that the general public might present to the council or to this city hall.
So I like if that change had been made, I like for us to put it back because I see that this is seen to me to me it seems like a manipulation process took place here and I see that it's been taken out and then put something else been put in there and I don't think that should and Mr. Anderson.
I'm not asking for anything to change.
Well, you asked if it was already voted on and yes, it was already voted on.
Yeah, but that's what I'm asking myself.
I'm asking for my own understanding and my own clarification.
Alderman Seller, Thank you.
Thank you.
Ollerman, Sellers?
Nothing.
Ollerman, Klemm?
Yeah, I'd just like to take a second to thank Pat Ingram and his crews this morning.
We had an Arcando Association, some branches come down and blocked the street and the guys were right there to take care of it.
Thank you guys for all you do and all the people who work for the city.
We really appreciate it.
We'll move on to item number 14, which is public comment.
Are there any public comments?
Yes.
Okay, I'll keep this short.
Joshua Atkinson.
Tonight, you guys, this body defended the ordinance change to change city council rules.
Many of the changes in there were never discussed on this floor.
They were just in there, so it was up to you guys all to look in there.
I hope you guys saw all those rules that are now being changed.
But you defended the whole thing by saying to Alderman Stacy, just come talk to us, just give us a call, come to the meetings.
While I sat here for the past two meetings, this one and the one before, while Alderman Sanders, although it takes him a little bit sometimes to get there, flat out asked a very simple question very clearly, who put this ordinance on the agenda?
And still, we have no answer for that.
Said we got a bunch of words.
So that's why.
They're not going to come to the meetings.
That's why they're not going to call you.
And that's why they're going to get everything in an email.
Now I want to talk about conduct and what's unacceptable around here tonight.
Thank you for your report.
Awesome.
Tell the guys.
Awesome.
Police chief.
Tonight, you gave Kevin an update, a recap of last last public comment, but I don't know if this is true or not, Scott, but I just heard about it today, that the young woman who spoke and pleaded for this council to help her at the conditions at the police department was written up when she returned to work and accused of lying.
And I really hope that's not true.
If it is, I hope that the eight aldermen here find out and get to the bottom of it on why we're retaliating.
No comments from the public.
Another public comment, Wendy?
I would like to, Wendy Pearson, I would like to first tell the chief that we're happy with you guys.
Anything that I say is not a reflection of what you are doing or what Chris is doing.
But I also was told that the young lady was reprimanded for coming up here speaking her Herpes, that she was written up.
I would like to first address the contract for city workers.
As you guys know, the city has been in negotiation with city workers for the past three to four months.
The deadline for them to be able to strike is May, I'm sorry, June 25th.
I'd like to say to you this, regardless to what the chief has just stated, there have been times that I've walked up in the police station there was one dispatch person, just one.
The same thing I've been told has happened in the sheriff's department as well.
Now I wanna give you a scenario.
I want you to understand what the state of emergency is for this city.
If our city workers decide to strike, that means that the entire city will be shut down.
No services, no police department, no water service, no street services, no services whatsoever.
And you can smirk if you want to.
But the fact of the matter is this.
If we have two phone calls that comes to the city of Freeport's dispatch and we have two that come from the sheriff's office at the same time.
We've got one to two dispatchers.
Imagine one of those calls not being answered because the county also has these calls.
So you know what our next line of defense is people?
Ogle County, 30 to 45 minutes away for an emergency situation.
If we don't have enough.
Now, to be clear and to be honest and to be fair, there aren't enough people to help with what the chief has talked about.
We have a shortage of EMTs, okay?
So if we have more EMTs, will we have this problem?
I don't think so.
But the fact of the matter is, is you guys need to sit down with our city workers.
You need to negotiate a fair and honest contract with them.
And I'm going to tell the city that I've encouraged some of them to strike.
And I've encouraged them to strike for one day because one day of shutting down this city will show what has not been accomplished, the things that have not been done, the manner in which we're being treated.
Now, do I want us to lose power in the streets?
We have shootings happening all over town.
Do we not need our police department?
Of course we do.
We also need our people to be paid properly, to not be put down, to not be rolled up because they speak their minds and tell their struggles.
Unfortunately, that is what is occurring here.
That is what is occurring here.
Now the chief said we have four crashes and two heart attacks and a fire.
What would happen if there was.
Ms. Pearson your time has expired.
I want you guys to understand the dear emergency that we're sitting at and we're facing.
Your time has expired.
I want you to understand that the chief and the and the fire chief have issues on their hands that they can't.
You're out of order.
Sue, I believe your hand was up.
Hi there, Sue Cook.
I live on on Winchester Drive.
And I have a question because first off, I hope I didn't get that little girl written up.
I gave an impassioned plea last week.
That is my First Amendment rights.
My First Amendment rights, which understandably here, I guess under number six is not gonna happen anymore because if somebody makes a sound back there, you're out of order.
You're out of order twice.
And the police chief could escort us out the door.
Now for me, that's okay, because I do need help getting down the steps, but it is seriously a first amendment right problem.
If somebody back there cheers, if somebody boos, if somebody claps, regarding decorum during meetings, the provision has been changed to provide that any person, any person, any person who is deemed to be out of order are violating the rules of council twice can be removed.
Somebody made a sound, you're out of order.
Somebody goes, or clap, you're out of order.
Somebody claps twice, sir, could you help them out?
Why?
What are you scared of?
Are you scared of us asking a question?
I know that you and I probably went to school together.
You could, I mean, there's no problem with you answering questions that I'm asking.
I'm not asking hard questions.
And I'm not asking him meanly, but I really, really hope that I did not hurt that little girl last week.
And I hope that we do get to keep our First Amendment rights.
Also, one other question, what happened to Juneteenth?
I noticed that you have American Freedom Days from June 19th to July 4th.
Does that include?
Because the banks are off for Juneteenth.
So I just wondered, thank you very much.
So I heard a couple things that was kind of important.
One was that Mrs. Stacy said, trust.
I've been coming to these meetings for maybe a year or something like that.
There is no trust.
There's no trust.
So who do you expect to come to you?
Because they trust you?
After you've improved over and over again who you may be?
Without answering a simple, a very simple question that has been asked a bunch of meetings, a bunch of times that you could have answered behind closed doors.
Nobody is willing on this panel to just answer simple questions, but trust me, when you get trust, you do actions that are trustworthy to gain trust.
I don't see that period.
There's nobody that's going to trust you if you cannot be honest.
You cannot answer one question, a simple, simple question.
Back to what Sue said, what are you guys afraid of?
Got to be afraid of something.
And then let's not forget, to me, in Freeport, as an entrepreneur, I have faced so many things.
But the best fight was when my backup is always against the wall.
I fight real good when my back is against the wall.
I told you once before, I'm God's child.
Can nobody stop me, discourage me, steer me wrong, like Wayne has tried to do numerous amounts of time, like they are trying to do to Frieda.
I'm glad that I did go through this.
I'm glad that Josh running against you was the best thing for Freeport.
He may not have won, but he woke us up.
He woke us all the way up.
I'm always going to speak for my people, no matter what.
I'm always going to applaud my people.
Let's say this, because Miss Stacy still ain't got recognition for getting them street lights on Oak.
But y'all definitely took a picture and excluded the Fifth Ward ultimate that put that on the agenda with only two people without a memo.
But she definitely affected positive change around that neighborhood.
And still no thank you.
That is the saddest thing up here.
And that lady getting written up for being public about what's going on, sad.
She scared the hell out of you though, didn't she?
Next.
Go ahead.
Micaiah Stacy.
I remember in 2020 when the Black Lives Matter protest and all that was going on and the wording defund the police came up and everybody was throwing a fit because we need our police, we need our police.
But then you come to the city of Freeport where we don't pay our policemen or our dispatchers a living wage and you don't call that defunding.
You don't call not paying people to live in the town that you want them to live in by our ordinances, defunding.
I'm just very confused on how any of that works.
I'm also confused on how that works at the same time that we're doing 40 days of peace, which I'm very interested to see how this goes.
I hope it goes well.
But to have 40 days of peace, you have to have a police force that wants to work with you and work with the city.
Underpaid policemen do not really care what they do.
I can tell you that I've seen it.
We've all seen it.
It's all been broadcasted.
Also, I have a question about the 40 days of peace.
If there is not peace during the 40 days, does the clock restart or what are we doing?
I heard before I walked in, I was listening on my phone because I was at work and I heard talk of prayer in the streets and then a prayer thing at a park and all that.
And I think that's fine.
Your faith is your faith.
Whatever you have to do to make yourself feel comfortable, feel loved, feel important, whatever.
But there is a church on every block in this city.
At what point are we going to understand that prayer is nothing without action?
You can pray all day.
I can pray that I can get a Mercedes Benz next week.
If I don't go to work, make that money, work hard, that Benz is not gonna fall into my lap.
We can pray all we want, but as a city, we need to put some work behind that prayer.
Thank you.
Anyone else?
Good evening.
My name is Cheryl Altman.
First, I'd like to again thank Altman, Stacy, for your hard work, Sanders for your hard work, and Simmons for your hard work.
The rest of you, for shame is all I got to say.
Shadle, you said that you work for the people, but you don't ever ask any questions.
None of the rest of you guys ask questions.
I don't understand, if you work for the people, ask questions, get information, help the citizens out.
Second of all, since the last meeting we had another gun found, good job Mayor.
Second of all, third of all, I hope you're happy that now you're getting the city to be a distressed city Mayor, because the only people you're going to have coming to this town is criminals.
Good people, taxpayers, are going to be out of here.
No questions asked.
And Sue, I don't know if she went to school with me or not, but I went to school with you, so I know you.
Also, when the people get up here at first to pray, you bow your head, say amen at the end, but when Norman Stacy gets up here, you're like, uh-huh, uh-huh.
There's a word for that.
I think it's hypocrite.
Any other public comments?
Paige Kerr, I just want to add to the record and I think it's unfair that she was written up for expressing her freedom of speech.
Thank you.
Any other public comments?
I just wanted to tie in, well continue where I started off at, just wanted to say that You know, as a citizen of Freeport, a resident of Freeport, you know, I am very thankful to be in this city, but it's very, it's very, it's a Henry.
It's a difficult time for me right now with all the things that you have to deal with knowing that you're trying to do the right thing.
You're trying to live your life in a way that brings hope in a future for your kids.
And I just want to say that with everything that I have been through, as far as with my garage receiving electricity, I I think that it's just a shame that living, having my lot where it's at, I'm not in a position where I can have electricity in order to secure my property and the items that I have.
There are several residents and property around Freeport that has electricity without a home on it.
So I just find it that, you know, I'm not for sure what's going on.
I even, my instructor from Highland Community College was also contacted during this time.
For what reason, I do not know.
It was lies told on me that the city was trying to buy my lot from me, which was a complete lie.
And no one has ever came to me with that option.
I just do not understand.
I don't understand what a resistant is.
Even the electrician from ProSource, he said, I have never dealt with a county like this.
What is the problem?
It's only electricity into a existing garage.
He said he'd done many of them in Freeport.
So I just wanna say whatever that's going on in this town that is blocking me from at least receiving electricity so that I can maintain my lot, so that I could take care of my plants that I just put on there through Highland Community College.
I don't understand.
I guess I'm just gonna have to go through another source, but I will not silence myself from this.
It is total discrimination because other people have the right to have the same thing that I'm asking for.
And I just do not understand what is the resistance, What's going on?
I'm paying for it.
It's my lot.
I just do not understand.
And I just really hope that you guys look into that to find out the reason why.
Why is that?
Why is it so hard?
It shouldn't be a reason when other people have it.
Thank you.
If there's no other, all right, another public comment.
Before I close out tonight in prayer, I just wanted to share a scripture, John 16 and 33.
These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace.
In the world ye shall have tribulations, that's trials and sorrow.
But take heart because I have overcome the world.
Let us pray.
Father God in the name of Jesus, I praise you and I thank you for being who you are.
Thank you Lord Jesus for ordering our steps according to your word, giving us answered questions and understandings Father God this journey has not been easy but it's a journey and we don't quit we keep it moving so I just praise you and I thank you for being God all by yourself I thank you for that peace of God that surpasses all understanding and I thank Thank you, Father God, for this council.
I thank you that we are free.
This is a free port.
It's not we'll be free.
It's not gonna be free.
We are already free.
I put my hope and my trust in you.
In Jesus' name I pray.
Amen.
If there's no further public comment, I will entertain a motion for adjournment.
So moved.
Motion made by Shadle, seconded by Parker.
All those in favor signify by saying aye.
Aye.