WEBVTT 00:00:00.110 --> 00:00:04.540 and John. 00:00:04.540 --> 00:00:13.060 So you borrow heads. 00:00:13.060 --> 00:00:18.420 Dear Father God, I pray for the city council meeting tonight. 00:00:18.420 --> 00:00:22.980 I pray for unity and respect be among the members. 00:00:22.980 --> 00:00:27.699 Father, give every council member your wisdom and guidance 00:00:27.699 --> 00:00:33.179 as they discussed and pass every item on the agenda tonight. 00:00:33.179 --> 00:00:38.100 I pray that every decision be righteous in your sight for the benefit of the city and 00:00:38.100 --> 00:00:45.460 for your glory only. Father, bring unity where there might be disunity. Father, bless each 00:00:45.460 --> 00:00:54.340 council member's family. Help every member to listen well, speak truthfully and act justly. 00:00:54.340 --> 00:00:56.700 In Jesus Christ's name. Amen. 00:00:56.700 --> 00:00:57.700 Amen. 00:00:57.700 --> 00:01:01.659 Thank you, Evelyn. Now we'll call this meeting to order. Madam Clerk, could you please take 00:01:01.659 --> 00:01:02.659 the roll? 00:01:02.659 --> 00:01:12.260 Miller, Alderperson Klemm is absent, Alderperson Johnson, Simmons is absent, Parker, Stacy, 00:01:13.540 --> 00:01:19.379 Shadle, Sanders, and Sellers. We have a quorum. If you could please stand for the Pledge of 00:01:19.379 --> 00:01:26.980 Allegiance led by Alderman Johnson. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of 00:01:26.980 --> 00:01:36.980 America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. 00:01:36.980 --> 00:01:55.980 Item number four is the approval of the agenda. Is there such a motion? So moved. Second. Motion made by Alderman Shadle, seconded by Alderman Sellers. All those in favor signify by saying aye. Aye. Opposed? That motion passes. 00:01:55.980 --> 00:02:00.780 Motion passes. Item number five is approval of the minutes from the Committee of the Whole 00:02:00.780 --> 00:02:04.540 meeting on October 14th, 2025. Is there a motion to approve? 00:02:04.540 --> 00:02:05.540 So moved. Second. 00:02:05.540 --> 00:02:10.620 Motion made by Alderman Shadle, seconded by Alderman Sellers. All those in favor signify 00:02:10.620 --> 00:02:12.379 by saying aye. Aye. 00:02:12.379 --> 00:02:19.900 Opposed? That motion passes. Darren, can you see if there's any sign in for public comment? 00:02:19.900 --> 00:02:24.939 Mr. Connors. Okay, but he'll wait until the next, yep. 00:02:24.939 --> 00:02:31.300 I did receive one. You did? Just hand them to me. Yes. Okay. Dear council members, as 00:02:31.300 --> 00:02:35.599 the City of Freeport's Tourism, I'll first say it's from Nicole Haas with the Greater 00:02:35.599 --> 00:02:40.860 Freeport Partnership. As the City of Freeport's Tourism Promotion Agency, the Greater Freeport 00:02:40.860 --> 00:02:47.219 Partnership would like to express our enthusiastic support for establishing a sister city relationship 00:02:47.219 --> 00:02:52.219 between Freeport, Illinois and Lilditz, Pennsylvania. 00:02:52.879 --> 00:02:56.379 This partnership represents a unique opportunity 00:02:56.379 --> 00:02:59.620 to celebrate shared heritage, foster cultural exchange, 00:02:59.620 --> 00:03:02.740 and strengthen tourism initiative 00:03:02.740 --> 00:03:05.340 that benefit both communities. 00:03:05.340 --> 00:03:08.639 Freeport and Lilditz share a deep-rooted German heritage, 00:03:08.639 --> 00:03:10.740 which is evident in local traditions, 00:03:10.740 --> 00:03:13.139 architecture, and culinary history. 00:03:13.139 --> 00:03:31.800 Both cities proudly embrace their connection to the pretzel, a symbol of German culture and craftsmanship. Freeport's legacy as the pretzel city and Lidditz's renowned pretzel-making tradition create a natural bond that can be showcased through joint festivals and future cross-promotion. 00:03:31.800 --> 00:03:37.800 Beyond Pretzels, this sister city designation opens doors to broader tourism opportunities. 00:03:37.800 --> 00:03:45.800 Freeport offers visitors a vibrant mix of attractions, including historic sites, scenic parks, and a thriving arts community. 00:03:45.800 --> 00:03:53.800 Lidditz, celebrated as one of America's most charming small towns, brings its own rich history on cultural vibrancy. 00:03:53.800 --> 00:03:59.800 Together, these destinations can collaborate on marketing campaigns, heritage tourism initiatives, 00:03:59.800 --> 00:04:04.960 and appeal to visitors seeking authentic small town experiences steeped in tradition. 00:04:04.960 --> 00:04:09.560 We believe this partnership will not only honor our shared history, but also create meaningful 00:04:09.560 --> 00:04:13.840 connections that drive tourism potential and economic activity. 00:04:13.840 --> 00:04:18.120 The Greater Freeport Partnership is committed to supporting this initiative and looks forward 00:04:18.120 --> 00:04:20.920 to the exciting possibilities it will bring. 00:04:20.920 --> 00:04:27.319 Thank you, Nicole Haas, Greater Freeport Partnership Marketing and Tourism Director. 00:04:27.319 --> 00:04:28.319 Thank you. 00:04:28.319 --> 00:04:33.279 7 is the presentation of potential sister pretzel city, Lidditz, Pennsylvania, Tim 00:04:33.279 --> 00:04:39.970 Connors. 00:04:39.970 --> 00:04:40.970 Hello, everyone. 00:04:40.970 --> 00:04:46.290 I'm Tim Connors, 2082 Chelsea Avenue, Freeport, Illinois. 00:04:46.290 --> 00:04:52.930 What Ms. Haas just said, I 100% agree with. 00:04:52.930 --> 00:04:59.009 A while ago, I went into an antique store and I saw a pretzel potholder. 00:04:59.009 --> 00:05:03.490 And that pretzel potholder, all kinds of pretzels around it. 00:05:03.490 --> 00:05:06.649 I turned it over and it said Lidditz, Pennsylvania, 00:05:06.649 --> 00:05:08.790 home of the Pretzels. 00:05:08.790 --> 00:05:11.970 Now I looked at it and I'm not going to say what I said 00:05:11.970 --> 00:05:15.170 when I looked at that, I said that's not the case. 00:05:15.170 --> 00:05:16.769 We're home of the Pretzels. 00:05:16.769 --> 00:05:18.730 I need to call the mayor. 00:05:18.730 --> 00:05:22.930 So I contacted the mayor of Lidditz, Pennsylvania. 00:05:22.930 --> 00:05:25.810 His phone number immediately came up on Google 00:05:25.810 --> 00:05:27.930 and I chatted with him for 40 minutes. 00:05:28.790 --> 00:05:32.290 With the conversation, he told me that he was in, 00:05:32.290 --> 00:05:35.649 He owned the oldest commercial bakery 00:05:35.649 --> 00:05:37.430 in the United States of America. 00:05:38.930 --> 00:05:41.769 And along with that, the Sturgis Bakery Company. 00:05:41.769 --> 00:05:46.769 And his brother-in-law owned the Tom Sturgis Pretzel Company 00:05:47.470 --> 00:05:51.329 that has been a part of Lidditz, Pennsylvania 00:05:51.329 --> 00:05:54.250 and around the area all the way up to Milwaukee, Wisconsin 00:05:54.250 --> 00:05:56.050 and Chicago, Illinois. 00:05:56.050 --> 00:05:59.889 As we spoke, we talked about how Freeport and Lidditz 00:05:59.889 --> 00:06:03.389 We're so much alike when it came to the German heritage. 00:06:03.389 --> 00:06:06.490 To the point that Mayor Snyder said to me, 00:06:06.490 --> 00:06:08.209 when can I come up and visit? 00:06:09.129 --> 00:06:12.930 And I said, well, do you want a big activity? 00:06:12.930 --> 00:06:14.589 And he goes, I want a big activity. 00:06:14.589 --> 00:06:19.370 I said, I invite you to Pretzel City Brewfest. 00:06:19.370 --> 00:06:21.850 And he goes, can I come the entire weekend? 00:06:21.850 --> 00:06:26.850 So basically what happened was I jumped very high in the air 00:06:27.110 --> 00:06:28.769 and got an appointment with Mayor Miller 00:06:28.769 --> 00:06:29.769 Huffines. 00:06:29.769 --> 00:06:44.730 I think we should become sister cities, and I said, I think so, too. 00:06:44.730 --> 00:06:50.009 He's like, let me come in, take some pictures, and see what this is all about, and see what 00:06:50.009 --> 00:06:52.009 Freeport is all about. 00:06:52.009 --> 00:06:55.129 Ladies and gentlemen, he loved Freeport. 00:06:55.129 --> 00:07:00.629 He loved Freeport so much from the standpoint that he said this town has so much potential. 00:07:00.629 --> 00:07:08.009 Now Lidditz, Pennsylvania is a 9,000 populated borough that is in between Hershey, Pennsylvania 00:07:08.009 --> 00:07:11.209 and Lancaster, Pennsylvania. 00:07:11.209 --> 00:07:13.170 What's the largest thing in there? 00:07:13.170 --> 00:07:20.529 It's a 25,000 sound stage that all of the big concert individuals come in and practice 00:07:20.529 --> 00:07:23.410 before they go out and perform. 00:07:23.410 --> 00:07:26.689 Taylor Swift, Katy Perry, all of these individuals. 00:07:26.689 --> 00:07:30.529 And along with that, they have a wonderful downtown 00:07:30.529 --> 00:07:34.250 that grew and grew even more. 00:07:34.250 --> 00:07:37.290 And as Mayor Snyder said to me, 00:07:37.290 --> 00:07:39.490 after we stopped in Nine East and he chatted 00:07:39.490 --> 00:07:42.610 with about 18 people and walked downtown, 00:07:42.610 --> 00:07:47.939 said to me, wow, this is a great city. 00:07:47.939 --> 00:07:49.220 I can't wait. 00:07:49.220 --> 00:07:53.939 So what Mayor Snyder did was he put together a PowerPoint. 00:07:53.939 --> 00:07:55.540 that's right here. 00:07:55.540 --> 00:07:58.220 And he basically took pictures of us. 00:07:58.220 --> 00:08:00.100 And I always think it's wonderful. 00:08:00.100 --> 00:08:02.699 I always think it's wonderful when someone 00:08:02.699 --> 00:08:06.100 who doesn't know you or isn't really comfortable with you 00:08:07.060 --> 00:08:10.939 shows the beauty of the town that you live in. 00:08:10.939 --> 00:08:41.279 And here's his PowerPoint, there he is. 00:08:41.279 --> 00:08:45.200 And he also wanted to be on the big pretzel 00:08:45.200 --> 00:08:47.879 of our astroturf for the football field, 00:08:47.879 --> 00:08:50.279 but for some reason didn't want a picture. 00:08:50.279 --> 00:08:55.480 I thought it was really interesting on Friday. I was with him for about five or six hours 00:08:55.480 --> 00:08:59.840 telling the story of Freeport and showing everything. And you saw the picture of the 00:08:59.840 --> 00:09:04.159 old Van Buren Bridge. And I thought it was so wonderful that when we walked down to the 00:09:04.159 --> 00:09:08.679 Van Buren Bridge, he looked down to his right and he said, around the corner there, that's 00:09:08.679 --> 00:09:12.860 where Tutty Baker probably would have been, wouldn't he? And I said, you already know 00:09:12.860 --> 00:09:19.860 our town, Mayor. You already know our town. So they, a few weeks ago, he did this presentation. 00:09:20.279 --> 00:09:28.039 and to his board, his city council, his city board and they all fell in love with us too 00:09:28.600 --> 00:09:35.399 and they immediately said let's create a resolution for us to become sister cities. 00:09:37.080 --> 00:09:44.840 So now it's our turn and I wholeheartedly am excited for the fact that there might be new 00:09:44.840 --> 00:09:49.000 pretzels coming into this town, there might be more tourism coming into this town, 00:09:49.000 --> 00:09:57.080 Stone. I've developed a new friend. My wife and I are going in May to Philadelphia for 00:09:57.080 --> 00:10:00.000 a couple days and then staying with Mayor Snyder for three days. 00:10:00.000 --> 00:10:01.120 and then staying with Mayor Snyder for three days for Lititz. 00:10:02.279 --> 00:10:05.440 Along with that, if everything works out here 00:10:05.440 --> 00:10:08.679 and we have a resolution and we are Sister Cities, 00:10:08.679 --> 00:10:11.639 we're going to have a big Zoom meeting. 00:10:11.639 --> 00:10:13.799 I said a few of us could go down and visit him 00:10:13.799 --> 00:10:16.559 and he said the weather's too bad in Lititz 00:10:16.559 --> 00:10:18.279 during December, so no. 00:10:18.279 --> 00:10:22.879 So we would come together for a group Zoom meeting 00:10:22.879 --> 00:10:27.559 and basically Zoom-wise shake hands 00:10:27.559 --> 00:10:31.509 and Become Sister Cities. 00:10:31.509 --> 00:10:34.600 Do you have any questions? 00:10:34.600 --> 00:10:35.440 Yes. 00:10:35.440 --> 00:10:36.279 Cool. 00:10:37.240 --> 00:10:38.080 Thank you. 00:10:41.490 --> 00:10:42.330 Thank you. 00:10:43.730 --> 00:10:46.330 So if there's no other discussion, 00:10:46.330 --> 00:10:50.330 is it agreed upon that we'll move this resolution to, 00:10:50.330 --> 00:10:52.929 I'm guessing, Tim, December 1st? 00:10:52.929 --> 00:10:55.730 I would say December 1st, yes. 00:10:55.730 --> 00:10:56.649 Everybody okay with that? 00:10:56.649 --> 00:10:57.490 I make a motion. 00:10:57.490 --> 00:10:58.309 Put it on for resolution? 00:10:58.309 --> 00:10:59.649 Yep. 00:10:59.649 --> 00:11:00.490 Okay, we don't need it. 00:11:00.490 --> 00:11:01.570 You said December 1st. 00:11:01.570 --> 00:11:02.529 Okay. 00:11:02.529 --> 00:11:08.490 All right. Thank you very much. We appreciate it. Item number eight is discussion of engineering 00:11:08.490 --> 00:11:13.970 agreements with Fehr Graham for National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System, permitting services 00:11:13.970 --> 00:11:18.690 and design engineering for phase two of the wastewater treatment plant upgrades. Manager 00:11:18.690 --> 00:11:21.990 Boyer. 00:11:21.990 --> 00:11:26.870 Thank you, Your Honor. Just moving forward, we're in the process of completing phase 00:11:26.870 --> 00:11:32.110 one down at the wastewater plant. And if you haven't been there and like to go, please 00:11:32.110 --> 00:11:35.870 Huffines. Let me know. I'll be happy to take you. That includes the chemically enhanced 00:11:35.870 --> 00:11:41.309 primary treatment that handles the inundation of stormwater that comes in through the sewer 00:11:41.309 --> 00:11:46.190 system so that we don't flood out our wastewater plant. It also includes new headworks that 00:11:46.190 --> 00:11:51.909 will have grid separation and bar screen that will be much more effective at removing constituents 00:11:51.909 --> 00:11:56.509 from the waste stream before it gets into our pumping equipment. We'll also be finned. 00:11:56.509 --> 00:12:01.169 We're working on the lab building and offices at this time, and I think we're very close 00:12:01.169 --> 00:12:31.169 Harris, and Thomas, and we will be working on phase two. We are set to complete the UV treatment process, which will allow us to get away from chlorine, which creates disinfection byproducts that are harmful to aquatic life. With that being said, we are moving toward phase two at this time. Phase two is sludge handling. We recently submitted and received our national pollution discharge permit that requires us to reduce our, what they call, we needed to do nutrient removal. 00:12:31.169 --> 00:13:01.169 and Den type of thing. In order to do that, there'll be more coagulation that goes on at the plant and that coagulation will cause solids to drop out in the treatment process and that will end up in the sludge handling process. It will roughly double our sludge handling needs. So at this point, the next phase is to be upgrading our gravity belt thickener and our other process handling equipment and also our sludge storage area. But this time, that's kind of the high level summary. And at this point, I'd like to turn it over to 00:13:01.169 --> 00:13:03.690 and Darren to kind of go through some of the details. 00:13:03.690 --> 00:13:04.690 Sure. 00:13:04.690 --> 00:13:14.610 We put together a small PowerPoint to give us some basis. 00:13:14.610 --> 00:13:18.029 So Curt, if you can go to the next slide, please. 00:13:18.029 --> 00:13:22.129 So phase one is what we're currently constructing. 00:13:22.129 --> 00:13:25.490 It was approximately $60 million upgrade. 00:13:25.490 --> 00:13:28.009 It started in 2023. 00:13:28.009 --> 00:13:31.889 As Rob said, we're working on the headworks, which is the facility that brings all the 00:13:31.889 --> 00:13:39.590 waste into the facility and screens it, does also grid separation, chemically enhanced 00:13:39.590 --> 00:13:45.789 primary treatment is a facility that handles overruns of the plant so we no longer discharge 00:13:45.789 --> 00:13:47.769 directly to the river. 00:13:47.769 --> 00:13:53.450 UV disinfection is a big upgrade at the facility so we're no longer feeding chlorine and the 00:13:53.450 --> 00:13:57.710 goal is to have that operational for next spring. 00:13:57.710 --> 00:14:01.069 and then the lab and administrative building are being constructed right 00:14:01.069 --> 00:14:08.069 now. Phase two, and let me step back for a moment. I just want everybody 00:14:08.069 --> 00:14:12.789 to know this project process has been going on since 2015 is when we 00:14:12.789 --> 00:14:16.950 started the wastewater treatment overhaul. There was a two year 00:14:16.950 --> 00:14:21.710 planning effort that was put together to lay out the steps and stages as 00:14:21.710 --> 00:14:26.710 US EPA let us know that the, the affluent discharge limits would be 00:14:26.710 --> 00:14:33.670 changing in Illinois specifically to impaired streamways due to primarily 00:14:33.670 --> 00:14:39.309 phosphorus and other items within our waste streams. So the three phase 00:14:39.350 --> 00:14:43.789 approach has been put together. Actually, originally, it was a five 00:14:43.789 --> 00:14:48.549 phase approach. But with EPA requirements, things had to be 00:14:48.549 --> 00:15:18.549 advanced. So we are about 12 to 15 months away from completion of phase one. So phase two is the approximately $45 million of construction. We need to start the construction in 2027 in order to meet our discharge limits. As Rob stated, it is the sludge handling and digestion portion of the process, which I'll get into a little bit more 00:15:18.549 --> 00:15:48.549 or later. In order to re reduce and remove phosphorus from our waste stream, it will more than double our sludge handling efforts that we remove at the wastewater treatment plant every day. So our facilities are not large enough or equipped to handle it. It should be known that the last major upgrade at the wastewater treatment facility was done in the 70s. There was a biological 00:15:48.549 --> 00:15:56.710 Activated filter that was installed around the in the 80s to enhance ammonia removal. But so it's, 00:15:56.710 --> 00:16:03.269 it's been, you know, many, many years since we've seen upgrades at the plant. The the I've got a map 00:16:03.269 --> 00:16:09.110 that I'll show you. But the site is very tight to work on. And there's not a lot of space left on it, 00:16:09.110 --> 00:16:18.149 especially since the solar panels were added. I believe that was in 2018. Phase three is yet 00:16:18.149 --> 00:16:25.190 to come, but as part of the process, phase three includes primary filtration systems, which will 00:16:25.190 --> 00:16:32.069 enhance the phosphorus removal. But phase three and two, we have strategically split in order to 00:16:33.829 --> 00:16:39.350 basically go after more forgivable funds from the Illinois EPA by splitting the project into two 00:16:39.350 --> 00:16:47.829 different times. The plan right now is for primary filtration to occupy the space that the digesters 00:16:47.829 --> 00:16:54.230 actually occupy now. So until we get that cycle built, we can't move on to the primary filtration. 00:16:54.789 --> 00:17:01.670 So can you go to the next slide, please? I forgot to mention, right now it's thought that phase three 00:17:01.670 --> 00:17:08.389 construction will be around $25 million. To give you some history of the NPS permit. So it's the 00:17:08.389 --> 00:17:15.670 National Pollute and Discharge Elimination permit. It is approved by the federal EPA and enforced by 00:17:15.670 --> 00:17:18.029 by the Illinois EPA. 00:17:18.029 --> 00:17:23.869 This permit sets the regulations of our discharge to the Pecatonica River. 00:17:23.869 --> 00:17:27.950 And without this permit, we would actually have to shut the water system off because 00:17:27.950 --> 00:17:30.509 we can't discharge without this permit. 00:17:30.509 --> 00:17:34.089 So it's a very important piece of what we do as a city. 00:17:34.089 --> 00:17:38.569 The city is the primary owner of our collection system for wastewaters. 00:17:38.569 --> 00:17:43.430 And currently in Freeport, we have segregated systems, which means that we don't have storm 00:17:43.430 --> 00:18:13.430 Warnwater and Sewerwater combined. They're all separated. We don't know of any connected points that that would be illegal at this point. I'm not saying there might not be some that exists currently, but none that we know of. And we're constantly searching for those annually in the reduction of our I&I efforts. The last NPDES permit was just issued October 24th of 25. There was a draft permit that was issued and a 00:18:13.430 --> 00:18:28.430 In the new permit, it is required that phosphorus will be down to 0.5 mg per liter by January 1st, 2030. 00:18:28.430 --> 00:18:33.429 As I stated before, we knew as a city that that requirement was going to come. 00:18:33.429 --> 00:18:38.429 They've been telling us for over 10 years that these requirements would come down. 00:18:38.429 --> 00:18:43.829 Currently, we discharge phosphorus at about two to three milligrams per liter. 00:18:43.829 --> 00:18:49.130 So that's just, you know, more of a trivia question to show what our reduction needs to be. 00:18:49.130 --> 00:18:56.130 Modifications for phosphorus removal in the small footprint that we have will be chemical removal. 00:18:56.130 --> 00:19:01.230 There's also biological removal. It's a much larger process and needs a lot more equipment. 00:19:01.230 --> 00:19:05.630 So the city has the basis to do chemical removal. 00:19:05.630 --> 00:19:35.630 When when you do chemical removal, it adds a lot more sludge to the waste stream as we remove the phosphorus in the sludge. And I think we mentioned it before, but it will over double the capacity of our sludge. If not, it might not triple it, but it will definitely be over double of what we create daily. And we're going to have to do more pressing operations and longer. Right now we only press usually four days a week, we'll probably have to press up to six days a week. 00:19:35.630 --> 00:19:47.509 Uh, once, once we go to phosphorus removal, um, concurrently, uh, US EPA and Illinois EPA continue to look for other phosphorus reduction methods. 00:19:47.730 --> 00:19:57.590 Phosphorus also comes off of farm fields and other, uh, contributaries, uh, but we are the main contributor to the Pecatonica river from the Freeport waste stream. 00:19:57.590 --> 00:19:58.590 So, we'll see you next time. 00:19:58.590 --> 00:19:58.610 Bye. 00:19:58.610 --> 00:20:01.400 Miller River from the Freeport waste stream, so we are one that really is being focused 00:20:01.400 --> 00:20:03.920 on for the Peck River. 00:20:03.920 --> 00:20:06.359 Next slide please. 00:20:06.359 --> 00:20:13.559 This is a, in the NPS permit, there is 20 special conditions, it's 25 pages, anybody 00:20:13.559 --> 00:20:18.000 that won't want to see it, you know, you can FOIA, it has a lot of special information 00:20:18.000 --> 00:20:19.000 in it. 00:20:19.000 --> 00:20:23.519 There's two specific items that I wanted to point out that we're talking about tonight. 00:20:23.519 --> 00:20:34.460 So the, excuse me for a second, special condition 20 is the requirement of the phosphorus removal. 00:20:34.460 --> 00:20:37.500 And there was a schedule put in here for phase two. 00:20:37.500 --> 00:20:41.180 This is actually part of the permit and it basically states that we need to get under 00:20:41.180 --> 00:20:47.460 design and have design completed by June of next year with a bid with a final completion 00:20:47.460 --> 00:20:51.059 date of June 30th, 2030. 00:20:51.059 --> 00:20:56.400 The reason this is important is in order to meet our sludge removal and our phosphorus 00:20:56.400 --> 00:21:03.140 removal capacities, we need to get design two underway so we can bid this next fall or 00:21:03.140 --> 00:21:09.940 summer, excuse me, in order to be able to also construct phase three in time to meet 00:21:09.940 --> 00:21:11.859 the permit requirements. 00:21:11.859 --> 00:21:19.420 Again, this is a very large process, very large construction and a very small footprint. 00:21:19.420 --> 00:21:27.980 condition 17 and 18 have also came out in every permit that we're aware of in our class of facility 00:21:27.980 --> 00:21:35.420 that we have to also monitor our favorite term in Freeport PFAS. That is a new requirement as part 00:21:35.420 --> 00:21:41.339 of this permit and that's why we brought it up in this discussion. So PFAS obviously we all know 00:21:41.339 --> 00:21:46.059 that we've been dealing with that on the water side it's also becoming a very large term in the 00:21:46.059 --> 00:22:16.059 Wastewater Stream. And so we have to start testing our waste streams for PFAS. And there's, I think, about 30 different constituents of PFAS. We have to also test out all of our significant industrial users, our landfill, and our regular waste streams to identify where we can reduce and or eliminate phosphorus. And that is a requirement in this permit for the next five years that 00:22:16.059 --> 00:22:32.299 We have to do that testing, which that ultimately means that there will be rule coming down for PFAS reduction within the next permit cycle or the next two permit cycles. So that's an important constraint that they're putting on everyone. Next slide, please. 00:22:37.599 --> 00:22:46.000 I really wanted to just present this slide to discuss that we have been working on this project since 2015. 00:22:46.000 --> 00:22:56.000 The plan was approved in 2017 and sent to the EPA. They have approved the wastewater upgrades at the facility. 00:22:56.000 --> 00:23:03.000 Again, we went to a three-step process due to some of the changes within the permits so we can meet our limits. 00:23:03.000 --> 00:23:12.000 I believe within the permit, it outlines that if we don't meet our permit by 2030, we will be fined for every day that we do exceed these limits. 00:23:12.000 --> 00:23:13.000 Lennon. 00:23:13.000 --> 00:23:17.279 So it's very important that we move forward with this. 00:23:17.279 --> 00:23:18.759 Next slide, please. 00:23:18.759 --> 00:23:22.400 So just as a refresher, I wanted to give you a slide of the wastewater treatment plant 00:23:22.400 --> 00:23:26.279 so we can all see what we're dealing with here. 00:23:26.279 --> 00:23:32.160 So this specific facility right there, the sludge handling facility, this is where all 00:23:32.160 --> 00:23:37.480 of our solid waste goes into and is stored before it's scooped up and taken to the field 00:23:37.480 --> 00:23:38.920 and land applied. 00:23:38.920 --> 00:23:45.200 The two digesters here are really original and integral to the plant. 00:23:45.200 --> 00:23:47.960 Most of the concrete on these structures has failed. 00:23:47.960 --> 00:23:53.639 The methane system that is currently on this plant system, sometimes at night you go by 00:23:53.639 --> 00:23:57.680 and see it burning off, the methane system is worn. 00:23:57.680 --> 00:24:04.039 We can't even really run any of the boilers or anything off the methane system. 00:24:04.039 --> 00:24:08.279 Currently our industrial waste patterns are not strong enough to provide enough methane 00:24:08.279 --> 00:24:14.279 to actually run equipment off of and then phase three, which is getting very tight 00:24:14.279 --> 00:24:20.200 back here, was made for new clarifiers instead of using the space because it's 00:24:20.200 --> 00:24:22.360 getting very full of piping and constraints. 00:24:22.639 --> 00:24:27.720 The new primary clarifiers will go in this digestion area once demolition is done. 00:24:29.480 --> 00:24:32.839 Again, right now we're we're doing the lab building construction. 00:24:33.360 --> 00:24:36.799 The headworks construction is going on right here and the UV 00:24:36.799 --> 00:24:38.240 B. Construction's going on back here. 00:24:38.240 --> 00:24:40.440 So the site is completely full. 00:24:40.680 --> 00:24:44.720 And I just want to point out, um, these are the solar panels that were installed, 00:24:45.240 --> 00:24:49.519 uh, many years ago and these really border and perimeter the plants. 00:24:49.519 --> 00:24:51.000 So we're kind of running out of room. 00:24:51.839 --> 00:24:53.319 Um, next slide, please. 00:24:54.360 --> 00:24:59.680 Um, again, this is just a quick, uh, uh, design photo of what's 00:24:59.680 --> 00:25:01.559 going on at the site currently. 00:25:01.839 --> 00:25:04.279 Uh, I know Brian Bridges put out some videos. 00:25:04.279 --> 00:25:06.240 If you've seen those of, of the construction. 00:25:06.240 --> 00:25:08.900 Next slide, please, please. 00:25:08.900 --> 00:25:11.619 Again, this is the Headworks facility that's being built. 00:25:12.000 --> 00:25:16.660 This elevation down here at the bottom is 55 feet below the ground level. 00:25:16.660 --> 00:25:19.880 That's how far we have our waste being pumped up into this building. 00:25:20.920 --> 00:25:24.579 This is a big screening room and this is a grit removal. 00:25:25.180 --> 00:25:28.420 This is one of the reasons these these projects are so expensive. 00:25:29.039 --> 00:25:30.799 Next slide, please. 00:25:31.380 --> 00:25:32.680 This is the SEPT. 00:25:32.680 --> 00:25:35.940 So the SEPT, I don't know how else to describe this, 00:25:35.940 --> 00:25:40.579 Thomas, other than it looks like a giant Olympic swimming pool. 00:25:40.579 --> 00:25:45.819 Waste is conveyed into this, and it is what they call a short cycle treatment. 00:25:45.819 --> 00:25:51.019 So when we get access flows in Freeport, which is our I&I season, this facility will allow 00:25:51.019 --> 00:25:55.860 treatment to handle and still meet our affluent requirements. 00:25:55.860 --> 00:26:00.059 Next slide, please. 00:26:00.059 --> 00:26:03.000 This is the UV disinfection building. 00:26:03.000 --> 00:26:08.319 This will have a UV equipment in it that's redundant that will again eliminate our need 00:26:08.319 --> 00:26:10.440 for chlorine. 00:26:10.440 --> 00:26:14.200 We will still have a little bit of chlorine in for cleaning in the plant, but this will 00:26:14.200 --> 00:26:19.460 eliminate 99% of all chlorine that's being discharged to the river as part of our disinfection 00:26:19.460 --> 00:26:20.460 process. 00:26:20.460 --> 00:26:22.500 Next slide. 00:26:22.500 --> 00:26:26.619 This is the lab building that is just currently starting to go up. 00:26:26.619 --> 00:26:30.619 This will house a new laboratory for all of our wastewater staff that does our testing 00:26:30.619 --> 00:26:36.619 Daly, and a couple administration offices. A very important building because Freeport 00:26:36.619 --> 00:26:42.339 saves thousands of dollars, actually more than thousands annually by doing as much of 00:26:42.339 --> 00:26:50.380 the testing as we can with our own staff. Next slide, Curt. Thank you. So what I want 00:26:50.380 --> 00:26:58.779 to point out is, again, here's the existing sludge handling facilities. This will be moving 00:26:58.779 --> 00:27:02.579 and eliminated in order to move over to this side of the solar panels. 00:27:02.579 --> 00:27:06.180 This is where we're projecting the digester and the sludge 00:27:06.180 --> 00:27:08.299 handling buildings going in the future. 00:27:10.059 --> 00:27:14.860 And the pipe conveyance will be along the frontage of the solar panels to get here. 00:27:15.579 --> 00:27:19.259 This is the only space available left for the size of equipment. 00:27:19.700 --> 00:27:25.500 And then phase three, you can hardly see it here. 00:27:25.539 --> 00:27:27.299 It'll be right where the digesters are here. 00:27:27.299 --> 00:27:31.799 Miller. That's where the primary filters were go after they can be demoed. Next 00:27:31.799 --> 00:27:37.940 slide, Kurt. So I just wanted to give you a quick explanation of the treatment 00:27:37.940 --> 00:27:42.740 process. So our wastewater comes into the plant. There's a lot of fancy equipment 00:27:42.740 --> 00:27:50.860 that does removal of hard objects, toilet paper, rags, material, people 00:27:50.860 --> 00:27:56.299 flush. And then through that process, it goes into clarifiers. And the 00:27:56.299 --> 00:28:05.259 Clarifiers allow settlement of the waste and skim off scum and oils off the top. 00:28:05.779 --> 00:28:11.539 And then from that process, it goes into our digesters through our digesters is 00:28:11.539 --> 00:28:17.059 where the waste really gets thickened and heavier solids are provided out. 00:28:17.059 --> 00:28:20.420 And it goes into our dewatering systems, which Freeport we call, I 00:28:20.420 --> 00:28:21.920 call them the patty cake presses. 00:28:21.920 --> 00:28:29.920 It's a machine driven to actually squeeze the water out of the waste and make it more solid. 00:28:31.440 --> 00:28:35.200 And then, then it goes into our drying building at the sludge process. 00:28:35.599 --> 00:28:42.320 And then as, as that's hauled out approximately four times a year to land applications that we 00:28:42.320 --> 00:28:47.279 have a third party contractor that does the land negotiations and the sludge spreading. 00:28:47.279 --> 00:28:53.279 I'll remind you that it only goes on animal fields, not human consumption fields, right? 00:28:53.279 --> 00:28:55.799 We had that discussion before. 00:28:55.799 --> 00:28:59.380 But that's the process for waste. 00:28:59.380 --> 00:29:01.039 It's not unique to Freeport. 00:29:01.039 --> 00:29:03.200 It's the same everywhere we go. 00:29:03.200 --> 00:29:08.240 And it's the simplified version of what we have going on at our plant. 00:29:08.240 --> 00:29:09.920 Next slide. 00:29:09.920 --> 00:29:13.360 So this is a picture of our existing digesters. 00:29:13.360 --> 00:29:22.840 As you can see, much of the concrete is starting to crack and have control joint issues. 00:29:22.840 --> 00:29:27.320 The equipment that's inside this control room is very aged and old. 00:29:27.320 --> 00:29:31.920 We've had numerous issues and repair problems with these digesters. 00:29:31.920 --> 00:29:34.880 Next slide, please. 00:29:34.880 --> 00:29:39.480 This is existing photos of the patty cake presses. 00:29:39.480 --> 00:29:42.840 This is how we dewater and squeeze the solids out. 00:29:42.840 --> 00:29:50.240 This building is very acidic, and we've had to go to great lengths to secure this facility. 00:29:50.240 --> 00:29:54.480 As you can see back in the corner here, you can see like we put up tarps, they're almost 00:29:54.480 --> 00:29:56.000 like shower curtains trying to 00:29:56.000 --> 00:29:57.240 They're almost like shower curtains trying to keep the 00:29:57.240 --> 00:30:01.680 acids within the perimeter of where the material is pressed so 00:30:01.680 --> 00:30:05.319 it can go back into our RAS system, which is return 00:30:05.319 --> 00:30:08.599 activated sludge that that squeezed out portion goes back 00:30:08.599 --> 00:30:11.640 into the head of the plant and is returned back for biological 00:30:11.640 --> 00:30:19.160 material to eat and reduce our waste. Next slide, please. This 00:30:19.160 --> 00:30:22.960 is our the interior of the sludge storage building. This is 00:30:22.960 --> 00:30:52.960 This is what we call cake. This is what our sludge turns into within the waste building. There's conveyors that take it out in here. You can kind of see the lines on the walls. This building will fill up probably eight to 10 feet in the air with sludge. We push it in with big wheel loaders. And then when Cinegro, our land applicator comes in, we scoop this out. I believe it's somewhere around 20 semis at a time that are taken out to the field and then land applied. This facility 00:30:52.960 --> 00:30:59.740 It's antiquated, it's old, new facilities, new technology allows for semi-backends and 00:30:59.740 --> 00:31:03.480 different kind of conveyance and new types of structures. 00:31:03.480 --> 00:31:07.539 This particular facility is looking very worn. 00:31:07.539 --> 00:31:13.680 As you can see, a lot of the old structure inside has wood, which is not a component 00:31:13.680 --> 00:31:18.380 that's used anymore in this type of construction due to the acidity and the gases and things 00:31:18.380 --> 00:31:20.680 that are put off within these buildings. 00:31:20.680 --> 00:31:26.680 So I wanted to give you a couple examples of other projects that we've done. 00:31:26.680 --> 00:31:32.680 This is actually a new style press system. This is a belt system. 00:31:32.680 --> 00:31:38.680 There's different types of systems that can be provided, but you can see the difference between the controls, 00:31:38.680 --> 00:31:47.680 the floor grading, things like that to keep the acidities and also the cleanliness of the facility to a steady constant. 00:31:47.680 --> 00:31:51.640 You'll also see in everything that's done in the wastewater system now, it's 00:31:51.640 --> 00:31:53.480 required that you provide redundancy. 00:31:53.480 --> 00:31:55.200 So you'll have two of everything. 00:31:55.200 --> 00:31:58.519 That way, if anything goes down for maintenance or failure, you'll 00:31:58.519 --> 00:32:00.160 always have a backup to keep running. 00:32:01.200 --> 00:32:03.000 Next slide, please. 00:32:03.680 --> 00:32:10.240 This is a picture of another unit that we did with new digesters and a new control 00:32:10.240 --> 00:32:12.319 building for the sludge handling material. 00:32:12.759 --> 00:32:16.000 This project was done in 2023. 00:32:16.000 --> 00:32:28.680 Just gives you kind of an idea of the footprint and the magnitude of what new digesters that are the appropriate size would need to be for the city of Freeport. The ones that we have currently are are very undersized for the amount of waste that we take in. 00:32:31.839 --> 00:32:42.559 And with that, I will take any questions on either one of the proposals. Again, I'd like to state this shouldn't be anything too new to most of you. 00:32:42.559 --> 00:33:03.559 We've been working on this project again since really 2017. Phase 1 is I would say about 60-65% complete with construction. I don't know if anybody's been by there. There currently is probably up to 75 people working there daily. 00:33:03.559 --> 00:33:05.160 Bailey. 00:33:05.160 --> 00:33:11.680 We've had little issues with the property outside of the contamination issues that we ran into. 00:33:11.680 --> 00:33:17.319 We've had little issues with the project, some, you know, increases that you run into 00:33:17.319 --> 00:33:25.360 with projects of this size, some code changes that have been made along the way over a seven 00:33:25.360 --> 00:33:30.839 year design period that we had to update a few things for, but very little problem with 00:33:30.839 --> 00:33:39.360 that project. I don't know Rob, did I miss anything? I think you pretty well covered 00:33:39.360 --> 00:33:45.440 everything out there. Oh, one point you need to remember too is the sludge handling at 00:33:45.440 --> 00:33:52.799 this point is fully depreciated. The digesters were built in the 30s. The concrete is basically 00:33:52.799 --> 00:34:00.079 falling apart. And the equipment in the dewatering shed and the dewatering building is very old 00:34:00.079 --> 00:34:07.119 Gold, and is breaking down frequently. And as Darren mentioned, the sludge storage building 00:34:07.119 --> 00:34:13.239 is made of wood, which is a problem. So even without any requirements from the EPA coming 00:34:13.239 --> 00:34:21.079 down the pike for phosphorus removal, it would be necessary to replace these structures very 00:34:21.079 --> 00:34:27.440 soon if not in the kind of similar timeline. So yeah. 00:34:27.440 --> 00:34:34.559 One other, I guess, thought or statement that I'll throw out is this is not unique to Freeport. 00:34:34.559 --> 00:34:38.199 Many communities our size and greater are going through this. 00:34:38.199 --> 00:34:44.840 The tough problem for this type of project is, I'll give you the comparison, just Rockford 00:34:44.840 --> 00:34:46.360 to Freeport, right? 00:34:46.360 --> 00:34:51.119 Rockford has to have the same treatment plant that we have to have here to treat our waste. 00:34:51.119 --> 00:34:52.920 They have a lot more people there to pay for it. 00:34:52.920 --> 00:34:57.400 It's a bigger plant, a bigger size, but they get to share the cost amongst more people. 00:34:57.400 --> 00:35:01.079 So, your DNA is how many people you have in your city. 00:35:01.079 --> 00:35:02.440 Your waste streams are similar. 00:35:02.440 --> 00:35:05.539 The equipment is similar for all this. 00:35:05.539 --> 00:35:09.079 Most of the equipment that is at our plant now, with the exception of the things that 00:35:09.079 --> 00:35:12.099 have been constructed, is fully depreciated. 00:35:12.099 --> 00:35:16.800 You guys see that coming through with emergency repairs and pumps and things continuously 00:35:16.800 --> 00:35:18.679 throughout the process. 00:35:18.679 --> 00:35:22.519 The waste stream is a 24-7 business in this town. 00:35:22.519 --> 00:35:25.199 It never goes away and it never stops. 00:35:25.199 --> 00:35:31.220 We have operators that run 24-7 there, seven days a week. 00:35:31.220 --> 00:35:34.260 This is not something that we can run from. 00:35:34.260 --> 00:35:40.340 And the permit requirements are very solid now about what needs to happen. 00:35:40.340 --> 00:35:45.720 And there's several facilities just in our local Northern Illinois area that are going 00:35:45.720 --> 00:35:47.679 through this process. 00:35:47.679 --> 00:35:52.539 We intend to go after a state revolving fund loan. 00:35:52.539 --> 00:35:57.900 It's been the plan all along for these three phases, and we should qualify for the maximum 00:35:57.900 --> 00:36:02.220 amount of forgiveness on each project, which is $5 million. 00:36:02.220 --> 00:36:08.920 And Freeport has been ranked as one of the top projects on that list to be done because 00:36:08.920 --> 00:36:13.760 they know the gravity of what we're facing here with the permit limits. 00:36:13.760 --> 00:36:14.760 Thank you. 00:36:14.760 --> 00:36:16.559 Don, could you turn the lights back on? 00:36:16.559 --> 00:36:18.300 Any discussion on these updates? 00:36:18.300 --> 00:36:20.739 Older and Sellers? 00:36:20.739 --> 00:36:21.739 Aldrin, Sellers? 00:36:21.739 --> 00:36:22.739 Yes. 00:36:22.739 --> 00:36:28.340 I'd just like to know what is the total amount that you said that the sludge, this new thing 00:36:28.340 --> 00:36:33.179 that's coming from the EPA, how much is just that costing? 00:36:33.179 --> 00:36:37.099 I know we have to do all the building work and all that, but all this new... 00:36:37.099 --> 00:36:40.500 Oh, I'm sorry, the PFAS testing? 00:36:40.500 --> 00:36:41.500 Yes. 00:36:41.500 --> 00:36:42.500 Yes. 00:36:42.500 --> 00:36:46.019 You said every city has to do this with their water plants, correct? 00:36:46.019 --> 00:36:50.639 that's getting an NPS permit. Um, like us will have to do the PFAS testing. 00:36:50.639 --> 00:36:53.960 It's, it's, we haven't seen a permit that was issued that doesn't have it in it 00:36:53.960 --> 00:36:59.320 now. Um, uh, what we're going to do is we're going to do, we call it a cost 00:36:59.320 --> 00:37:00.679 share project with the city. 00:37:00.900 --> 00:37:06.179 So the city's going to do the sampling themselves through the labs and their 00:37:06.179 --> 00:37:08.019 operators and get the results. 00:37:08.019 --> 00:37:11.639 And then fair grams going to have our engineers write all the reports and their 00:37:11.639 --> 00:37:41.639 Reduction Plants. So that cost is going to be $41,000. I just got that completed today. And that's one of the work orders that will be coming forward. And then the design of the wastewater treatment plant facility, I'm waiting on one of the partners to come back to MEP to get their final number, but it'll be approximately it'd be just under $3 million for that design portion of the 45 million. Okay, one more question. And so with that, so are you saying that 00:37:41.639 --> 00:37:52.039 but we are going to have to come up with the 45 million or we're going to, you're looking 00:37:52.039 --> 00:37:58.380 for grants and you're pretty sure that we're going to be able to get some of this refunded 00:37:58.380 --> 00:38:04.019 kind of through some of these grants that are already out there looking for, correct? 00:38:04.019 --> 00:38:11.420 So on the 45, the phase two only project, we are confident, can't guarantee anything, 00:38:11.420 --> 00:38:14.460 We're confident that we'll qualify for 5 million in forgiveness on that. 00:38:14.860 --> 00:38:19.300 Rob and I have made a commitment to try to chase other funding for that project. 00:38:20.179 --> 00:38:21.380 I'm not going to lie to you. 00:38:21.380 --> 00:38:23.139 I don't know where that's coming from right now. 00:38:23.139 --> 00:38:28.340 I don't know of any program out there or any other opportunity at this moment to 00:38:28.340 --> 00:38:30.260 chase funding for the wastewater treatment plant. 00:38:30.619 --> 00:38:37.220 Part of that process, Alder Woman Sellers is that the EPA gave all of these cities 00:38:37.220 --> 00:38:40.619 plenty of notice that these requirements were coming down the line. 00:38:40.619 --> 00:38:43.460 and, um, you know, do the age of the facilities. 00:38:43.460 --> 00:38:50.300 So that's where planning and, and, and utility cost and, um, user rates, that's 00:38:50.300 --> 00:38:52.420 where that kind of is developed on this. 00:38:52.420 --> 00:38:57.300 So our intent on all three of the phases from the original start, because we know 00:38:57.300 --> 00:39:02.260 the city can't flow the cash to fund all this is to go through the, uh, revolving, 00:39:02.860 --> 00:39:06.940 uh, state process, which we have done for many of the large projects. 00:39:06.940 --> 00:39:25.659 We qualify for some forgivable funds. We also plan to contact our congressional direct people to see if there's any funding available that direction. But the bearer of a lot of this is going to end up being user rates for the utility, because that's how these projects work. 00:39:29.230 --> 00:39:37.880 Any other discussion? Thank you, Darren. We will move on to public comment. Is there any public comment this evening? 00:39:37.880 --> 00:39:52.690 Hi, my name is Cheryl Altman. The first time there's public comment, there's not much on here to even speak about. 00:39:52.690 --> 00:39:59.360 speak about. I mean, face it. Second of all, we're talking about the partnership with the 00:39:59.360 --> 00:40:05.440 other Pennsylvania. That's super. But if they really saw how bad the crime in this town was, 00:40:06.320 --> 00:40:12.639 I think they'd run. Nobody here wants to face the crime. There's nothing even on here about the 00:40:12.639 --> 00:40:20.719 crime. I mean, let's face it, it's crimes worse in this town. It was never like this before. 00:40:22.000 --> 00:40:28.039 also second thing why is Pete Elber still down that building he's now using 00:40:28.039 --> 00:40:33.119 taxpayers money he's supposed to been out the end of September it's way past 00:40:33.119 --> 00:40:41.389 that why is he still here why haven't you guys made any attempt to kick him out 00:40:41.389 --> 00:40:47.469 he's using getting it for free now and Rob I'm still waiting for all that 00:40:47.469 --> 00:40:52.829 paperwork that was been promised to me the one paperwork that you supposedly 00:40:52.829 --> 00:40:54.670 who was the first person to be sent me. 00:40:54.670 --> 00:40:57.949 It was dated on the 9th, but then you caught that 00:40:57.949 --> 00:40:59.349 you didn't put that paperwork up 00:40:59.349 --> 00:41:01.309 till the 13th on my building. 00:41:01.309 --> 00:41:04.949 So you tried to cross out that nine and put a 13 there 00:41:06.030 --> 00:41:08.909 and then head upstairs, you know, notarize it. 00:41:09.929 --> 00:41:10.769 You're wrong. 00:41:12.269 --> 00:41:14.710 And I still haven't heard anything about Elbers. 00:41:14.710 --> 00:41:16.190 Why were they there? 00:41:16.190 --> 00:41:18.429 They weren't certified by the state of Illinois 00:41:18.429 --> 00:41:20.070 to be tearing this building down. 00:41:20.070 --> 00:41:22.070 No action has been done against them yet. 00:41:22.829 --> 00:41:32.940 but there will be. Any other public comments this evening? Yes. Good evening council and members 00:41:32.940 --> 00:41:36.940 of the public. Before we close tonight's meeting, I would just like to take a brief moment to 00:41:36.940 --> 00:41:43.260 recognize a very special occasion that takes place today, the 250th birthday of the United States 00:41:43.260 --> 00:41:49.260 Marine Corps. Before our nation even declared its independence, a small group of men gathered in 00:41:49.260 --> 00:41:55.099 Philadelphia and formed a corps of Marines. From that day forward, the story of the Marines has 00:41:55.099 --> 00:41:58.340 has been tied to the story of America itself. 00:41:58.340 --> 00:42:06.340 250 years later, Marines remain ready to fight, ready to win, and ready to uphold the trusted 00:42:06.340 --> 00:42:10.900 places in this country since 1775. 00:42:10.900 --> 00:42:16.000 To mark this milestone, I would like to share the official 250th birthday message from General 00:42:16.000 --> 00:42:19.500 Eric M. Smith, the Commandant of the Marine Corps. 00:42:19.500 --> 00:42:24.539 250 years ago, before our nation declared its independence, a small group of men gathered 00:42:24.539 --> 00:42:31.980 in Philadelphia formed a Corps of Marines. From that moment, our story has bound to the 00:42:31.980 --> 00:42:38.039 story of America itself a quarter of a millennium later. Marines remain at the center of our 00:42:38.039 --> 00:42:43.000 nation's defense, ready to fight, ready to win, and ready to uphold the trust placed 00:42:43.000 --> 00:42:50.679 in us in 1775. Across centuries, Marines have fought on distant shores and in desperate 00:42:50.679 --> 00:42:55.079 Battles, earning a reputation for discipline, toughness, and valor. 00:42:55.079 --> 00:43:00.199 From the Revolution to the World Wars, from Chopultepec to today's operations 00:43:00.199 --> 00:43:04.840 across the globe, every generation has proven worthy of the title Marine. 00:43:04.840 --> 00:43:08.639 They secured liberty, defended allies, and carried forward the promise 00:43:08.639 --> 00:43:11.039 of a free nation and a free world. 00:43:11.039 --> 00:43:15.000 We are their heirs of that legacy, and we are its stewards. 00:43:15.000 --> 00:43:19.360 This anniversary reminds us that our standards are the foundation 00:43:19.360 --> 00:43:25.920 of the Marine Corps. Honor, courage, commitment are not abstractions, but the code that binds us 00:43:25.920 --> 00:43:32.239 to one another and to all who went before. Every Marine, every climb and place must hold true to 00:43:32.239 --> 00:43:38.400 these values. The conflicts ahead will demand nothing less. I cannot be prouder of the Marines 00:43:38.400 --> 00:43:44.719 I see serving today at home and at sea and across the globe. You carry forward our proud tradition 00:43:44.719 --> 00:43:50.239 with Skill and Ferocity. It is your disciplined initiative and fighting spirit that anchors 00:43:50.239 --> 00:43:56.199 our Corps. The battles of the next 250 years will be a challenge to us in new ways, but 00:43:56.199 --> 00:44:02.099 I have no doubt we will prevail. Happy birthday Marines. Thank you, Your Honor. 00:44:02.099 --> 00:44:05.039 Thank you. With that, I will entertain a motion for adjournment. 00:44:05.039 --> 00:44:06.360 So moved. Second. 00:44:06.360 --> 00:44:10.039 Motion made by Alderman Sellers, seconded by Alderman Shadle. All those in favor signify 00:44:10.039 --> 00:44:12.039 and the tribe of San Diego.