We have that part of the day. Why are you here? All her fault. Your fault, Jodi. Hi Michelle, how are you? I'm alright, how are you doing? In your office, do you have anything and Sugar. Oh my goodness, whose idea was that? Um, Jolly Ranchers. Perfect. If I need them, I don't know if I do. Once in a while my blood sugar drops real low, I'm going to start beeping and I need to eat something with sugar. We've got candy. I don't think we have doughnuts, but you know we might. We just went to get a protein bar for me. If it goes that low, Oh, I'll just say it. Otherwise I'll pass. No, we don't want that. No, I'll have to do it. Just in case. Oh, perfect. Hand it. Yeah. Give it back to you. Oh, this is perfect. I won't need it. These will take care of me. Them two, I'm sure. They're usually really stocked over there. They got good stuff. 19 grams of sugar in this. That's perfect. 18 grams of sugar in that protein bar this would be plenty of it goes I'm not planning on it going down this is chocolate I'm sure this will be the six o'clock pastor Justin would you give the invocation good evening madam mayor Mayor, Council, everyone, would you please pray with me? Our God, creator, and Lord of all, we praise and thank you for your power and wisdom, your mercy and grace that you extend to all people. We thank you for your gifts. We thank you for life and health. We thank you for community, for this community. We thank you for human government. We thank you for calling and appointing public servants and other leaders here in our community. I ask that you might give to our leaders wisdom and strength and also the character to live and work with integrity. We ask that you give them mercy and grace to acknowledge their faults and to seek your help in their weaknesses. Lord, we look to you tonight for help for for the work of this council. May everyone here see their need to call upon you. May all hearts be inclined to seek the understanding that you freely offer and give. So please give to them the understanding and ability to make the decisions that would bring about a true self-giving love of neighbor that puts the interests of others first. The prosperity and safety of this community and its people. Grant us, Lord, the grace to clearly see and the rest of the board. I ask in the name of Christ, amen. Amen. Well, we're going to wait just maybe two more minutes to see if the aldermen that are standing outside are going to join us. Well, seeing as it doesn't look like any of the remaining aldermen are going to be present, Alderman Johnson, if you want to come up and take your seats, given the fact that you've already been previously sworn in. Congratulations. There you go. Okay, so we will officially call this meeting to order. Madam Clerk, would you please call the roll? Mayor Miller? Here. Alderpersons, Klemm? Here. Johnson? Here. Simmons is absent. Parker? Here. Stacy is absent. Shadle? Here. Sanders is absent. Sellers? Here. We have a quorum, Madam Mayor. and if you could all please stand and join us for the Pledge of Allegiance led by Alderman Sellers. 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 however we do have just a couple of changes. Huffines. There are two proclamations that will be added after the consent agenda and then also there was a typo and so there's a revision slightly to item number 13 which is hanger leases for airspeed jet services. They are hanger C2 not A2. So just a couple of minor things. Is there a motion to approve? So moved. Second. We have a motion made by Alderman Shadle, seconded by Alderman Sellers. All those in favor? Aye. Opposed? That motion passes. Item number two is approval of the minutes from the regular meeting on May 5th, 2025. Is there a motion to approve? So moved. Second. A motion made by Alderman Shadle, seconded by Alderman Parker. All those in favor signify by saying aye. Aye. Opposed? That motion passes. We have a few items that are on agenda for public comment. If you could please identify yourself and it's three minutes, we'll start with Debbie Leininger. Hello, I'm a resident of Freeport. Hold on, just one second. I'm sorry, just as a reminder, anyone making public comment that pursuant to our city council public comment rules, to please refrain from making any personal attacks during your public comment, thank you. Hello, my name's Debbie Leininger, I'm a Freeport resident. I moved here in 1974, and I remember the first thing and I noticed when I took a glass of water in the city, it had all these little white flakes in it. I go, what is that? And later I found out we had bad water, even back then. And I'm so thankful that we have Jodi Miller and Rob Boyer and the city council members, Linda Johnson and all the ones that are going to be on the board. I'm so thankful you all got elected and you're not afraid to tackle what was put aside by generations of mayors. They didn't wanna tackle the hard things and I'm so thankful that Jodi, that you look to the future and you wanna make sure that generations that come after us will be able to drink clear water, have good streets and have a prosperous Freeport. Rappers, Freeport. Thank you. Evelyn Ramos? I didn't hear that. Evelyn Ramos? Hi, my name is Apostle Evelyn Ramos. And I just have this word that I want to read. I want to congratulate Linda, Amanda Johnson, in taking her seat. And also, I want to pray for this council. May he send you help from the sanctuary and grant you support from Zion. May he remember all your sacrifices and accept your burnt offering. May he give you the desires of your heart and make all the plans succeed. May we shout for joy over your victory and lift up our banners in the name of our God. May the Lord grant you all your requests. And I pray that God will sit in the center of this council. Council, and I pray against the vision and anything that wants to come against that. We think of the people of this city, and so I bless you in the name of Jesus. The next would be Elba Valentia. Hi, my name is Elba Valentin. That's my first time over here. I'm sorry, I'm trying to speak in English, but I'm trying to speak Spanish much better for me. I want to give God glory for giving me this opportunity to bless each and every person that's in this place. And I give God thanks for giving me the opportunity to know some people and especially Linda Johnson. I know that she has a noble heart of serving and that has given her wisdom so that she can flourish in this new assignment and that the wisdom of God always be and her heart of compassion that it's not just for one group of people but it's for all and that's how she has made her feel, and I give God glory for that. Thank you. thank you Paul I'm not sure how to say your last name Paul Biggie as a former mayor of Cebu I just want to speak a blessing on the new council new council members and a blessing on the city of Freeport that's all hallelujah and I have no idea who wrote their name on the next line if that's you please well if I I don't, if you realize it's you, then help yourself up to the microphone, and lastly would be Michelle Schwab. I just wanted to congratulate all of you that are being sworn in today, especially Linda. I've known her for a while, she's a dear friend, and I just, I'm so happy that to be in the city that I haven't been here but a couple years, but this city has been very welcoming, and I'm very proud to be a Freeport resident. I would just like to pray this over you guys. It's Isaiah 43, 15. I am the Lord, Holy One, the creator of Israel, your King. Thus says the Lord, who makes a way in the sea and a path through the mighty waters, who brings forth a chariot and a horse, the army and the power, they shall lie down together and they shall not rise. They are extinguished, they are quenched like Wick. Do not remember the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing. Now it shall spring forth. Shall you not know it, I will even make a road in the wilderness and in the rivers and the deserts. And I just like to say that with this new season coming for you new ones coming on, I believe that God's saying that it's going to be it's going to be something new, something greater. And you guys are going to work together and there's going to be unity in this council. And I'm very very very pleased. Thank you. Okay with that we'll move on to item number four which is the swearing-in by the Honorable Glenn Shorsch. Good evening. Ms. Johnson, we will start with you. I'll project. All right, please repeat after me. I, Linda Johnson, Having been elected to the office of Alderman 2nd Ward in the City of Freeport, Illinois in the County of Stevenson, do hereby solemnly swear or affirm that I will support the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of Illinois and that I will faithfully discharge the duties of the office of alderman second ward according to the best of my ability Donald Parker all right please repeat after me raise your right hand I Donald Parker having been elected to the office of alderman fourth ward close enough in the city of Freeport Illinois in the county of Stevenson do solemnly swear or affirm that I will support the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of Illinois and I will faithfully discharge the duties of the Office of the Alderman Fourth Ward according to the best of my ability. Congratulations. Gregory B. Shadle. All right. Raise your right hand. Repeat after me. I, Gregory B. Shadle, having been elected to the office of Alderman Sixth Ward in the city of Freeport, Illinois, in the county of Stevenson, do solemnly swear or affirm that I will support the Constitution of the United States, and the Constitution of the State of Illinois, and that I will faithfully discharge the duties of the Office of Alderman Sixth Ward according to the best of my ability. Congratulations. Dovie? Yes. All right. I.W.L. Anderson, having been elected to the Office of City Clerk, in the In the City of Freeport, in the County of Stevenson, do solemnly swear that I will support the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of Illinois, and that I will faithfully discharge the duties of the Office of Circuit Clerk. and the City Clerk. You're all listening. you're all listening very good according to the best of my ability congratulations finally our mayor raise your right hand I Jodi Miller having been elected to the office of mayor in the city of Freeport in the county of Stevenson, who solemnly swear that I will support the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of Illinois, and that I will faithfully discharge the duties of the Office of Mayor according to the best of my ability. Congratulations Mayor. Okay, everybody look to your first, there we go. Eyes sideways. Okay, okay, thank you. Thank you, appreciate it. Thank you. Thank you. Okay. Okay, I don't know. Debbie, would you mind doing another roll call? Mayor Jodi Miller? Here. Alderpersons, Klemm? Here. Johnson? Simmons is absent, Parker? Here. Stacy and Shadle? Here. Well, excuse me. Stacy is absent and Shadle? Here. Sanders is absent and Sellers? Here. We still have a quorum. And item number six is the consent agenda. The consent agenda is considered to be routine in nature. An act is one motion unless there's a member of the council would like to have something removed for further discussion. Seeing Nunn. The consent agenda consists of approval to receive a place on file. The Board and Commission minutes from the Zoning Board of Appeals, April 3rd. Planning Commission, April 10th. Liquor Commission, April 10th, 2025. The Finance Department Report, March 25th. The Treasurer's Report for Police and Fire Pensions for the Fiscal Year of 2024. The Fire Department Report, April 25th. The Proclamation for National Economic Development Week for May 12th through the 16th, as well as the approval For approval of the finance bills payable in the total of $3,546,610.48 and for the approval of payroll for pay period ending May 3rd, 2025 in the total of $683,653.52. Is there a motion to approve? So moved. Second. We have a motion made by Alderman Shadle, seconded by Alderman Klemm. Madam Clerk, could you please take the roll? Sellers? Aye. Klemm? Aye. Johnson? Aye. Parker? Aye. Shadle? Aye. The consent agenda is approved, 5 to 0. Andrew, if your crew can join me. And that's all of you. Wow. This is how our public works, guys. These are the SMA employees. Huffines, James, Jim, Gertrude, Greg, Gregory, Heimerdinger, John, I'd like to read the following proclamation. Whereas public works professionals focus on infrastructure, facilities and services that are of vital importance to sustainable and resilient communities and to Anderson's to join with representatives of the American Public Works Association and the government agencies in activities, events, and ceremonies designed to pay tribute to our public works professionals, engineers, managers, and employees and to recognize the substantial contributions that they make to protecting our national health, safety, and advancing quality of life for all. Thank you, gentlemen. Yes. All right. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you, everybody. Good job. Thanks, guys. Unless you want to talk, I'll just stay here. Oh, you are going to talk. Of course you are. Okay. So, Chief Miller, on behalf of all of those that you represent, whereas emergency medical services are a vital public service, and whereas the members of the emergency medical service teams are ready to provide life-saving care to those in need 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and whereas access to quality emergency care dramatically improves the survival and recovery rate of those who experience sudden injury or illness and whereas emergency medical services has grown to fill a gap by providing important out-of-hospital care including preventative medicine, follow-up care and access to telemedicine and whereas the emergency medical service system Huffman. This program consists of first responders, emergency medical technicians, paramedics, emergency medical dispatchers, firefighters, police officers, educators, administrators, pre-hospital nurses, emergency room nurses, emergency physicians, trained members of the public, and others out of the hospital medical care providers. And whereas the members of the emergency medical teams, whether career or volunteer, engage in thousands of hours of specialized training and continued education to enhance their life-saving skills and whereas it is appropriate to recognize the value and the accomplishments of emergency medical service providers by designating the Emergency Medical Services Week. So now therefore, I, Jodi Miller, Mayor of the City of Freeport declare May 18th through the 24th, 2025 as Emergency Medical Services Week in the City of Freeport and I encourage our community to honor those who keep all of Freeport safe. I wanted to thank the mayor and council members for the proclamation and recognition for all the hard work our members do every day, day in and day out. But there's a reason why I'm up here alone. So I was going to have the entire shift come down here and join me to receive this proclamation. However, there's not enough room for parking for all of our fire apparatus. There's is not enough room for our members to be in this room, and most importantly, it would exceed the occupancy load and go against the fire code. So I'm sure they're all watching from the stations if they're not on calls right now. So my crew, my folks, thank you for all you do. Thank you. Thank you. Okay. Item number seven. Madam Clerk, if you could please read the appointments and reappointments. Beginning with reappointments, we have four to the Liquor Commission, effective until May 31st, 2020. Furnstatt, Tim Mahoney, Forrest Sen, and Jeffrey Davis, to the Board of Fire and Police Commissioners effective until April 30th, 2028, Ryan Becker, two people to the Building Commission both effective until April 30th, 2029, being Wayne Schofield and Ed Faulkner, Julie Reynolds to the Library Board effective until May 31st, 2028, Ronald Hayes to the Ethics Commission and a new appointment of Rebecca Quigle to the Arts and Culture Commission effective until August 31st, 2026. Thank you. If it pleases the council, we'll just do this in one motion. We have a motion made by Alderman Parker, seconded by Alderman Klemm. Madam Clerk, would you please take the roll? Sellers? Aye. Klemm? Aye. Johnson? Aye. Parker? Aye. Shadle? Aye. And the motion passes, five to zero. Thank you. Item number eight is appointments. Appointments. So as you all know, last year for 2024, Alderman Shadle and Alderman Sellers served in that capacity for chair and vice chair, and they are willing to do it again. So with that, if I could entertain a motion to appoint Alderman Shadle as the chair and Alderman Sellers as the vice. So moved. I'll second. We have a motion made by Alderman Parker. Seconded by Alderman Johnson. Madam Clerk could you please take the roll? Sellers? Aye. Klemm? Aye. Johnson? Aye. Parker? Aye. Shadle? Aye. And Sanders? This is absent. Sorry. It passes 5 to 0. Thank you. Item number 9 is the first reading of ordinance 2025-28. Could you please read this? Ordinance amending the boundaries of the Joint Northwest Illinois Certified Zone for the Diamond Sevincia Project. thank you presented by Andrea Schultz good evening I'm going to refer to the memo that was in your packet this evening a little background information the Northwest Illinois Enterprise Zone is a state authorized locally designated geographic area that provides special incentives to incorporate encourage economic development strengthen the business climate and help create jobs our region our regional zone includes areas of City of Freeport, Stevenson Davis, Joe Davis County, Village of Hanover, City of East Dubuque, and Village of Lena. Periodically, the boundary of the Enterprise Zone will be expanded to incorporate additional area to facilitate an economic development project such as a company expansion. Changes to the Enterprise Zone must be approved by all six units of government. For this specific project and why we're here tonight, the proposed Enterprise Zone boundary and Joseph. The diamond project was an addition to the facility and reconfiguration of the existing plant to allow to produce another cheese product that is currently only made in France. This $6.9 million expansion will create 42 jobs at the facility. There will be an effort to utilize local contractors and and the city of Freeport. The company has ambitious timelines and plans to start construction which is set to start later this summer. The northwest of the city of Freeport is the city of Freeport. The city of Freeport is the city of Freeport. to start construction, which is set to start later this summer. The Northwest Illinois Enterprise Zone is capped at 20 square miles. This project would add 104.39 acres to the zone, bringing the total area currently with this new addition to 13.6648 square miles. There is capacity in the zone for future projects and additions. So there's approximately 6.5 square miles left in the zone after this project would be added. I'm asking for approval of the resolution and ordinance so that this project can proceed forward. Happy to answer any questions you might have. Is there a motion to move Ordinance 2025-28 on to the next regular scheduled meeting? So move. Second. Ordinance is to suspend the rules. okay well we who is who Alderman Sellers who is the second? Klemm okay we have a motion made by Alderman Sellers seconded by Alderman Klemm to move ordinance 2025-28 on to the next meeting and Alderman Parker yeah motion to suspend the rules second give a motion made by Alderman Parker seconded by Alderman Shadle for suspension of the rules suspension of the rules is non-debatable and was passed by two-thirds majority. Madam Clerk, could you please take the roll on the suspension only? Sellers? Aye. Klemm? Aye. Johnson? Aye. Parker? Aye. Shadle? Aye. Suspension of the rules passes five to zero. Well, hang on, that needs two-thirds, so if you can call the mayors. Oh, thank you, Attorneys Needle. Miller? Aye. So it passes six to zero. So then And now before you, Council, is for final passage. Is there any discussion on that ordinance? Madam Clerk, please take the roll. Sellers? Aye. Klemm? Aye. Johnson? Aye. Parker? Aye. Shadle? Aye. And the ordinance passes 5-0. Thank you. Item number 10 is the first reading of Ordinance 2025-29. Could you please read this? Ordinance Reapproving Bladewood SSA Public Meeting Ordinance to Revise the Hearing Date. Thank you. Attorney Cox? And thank you, Andrea. Good evening. That ordinance might look a little bit familiar to you in that we've already passed it. It just had a date window that by the time we got everybody's approval and got everything locked in, we missed publication dates and we were just running outside the window. So when it became apparent we were going to have a trouble meeting the 40-day deadline, staff got a date that worked for everybody. I think we have a date certain and specified in the ordinance and we're just looking for re-approval of that ordinance so we're not outside our window and I think are asking for suspension of the rules so that we can hit that target date. Thank you. Is there a motion to move this forward? So moved. Second. We have a motion made by Alderman Shadle, seconded by Alderman Sellers to move Ordinance 202529 on. Is there a motion for suspension of the rules? So moved. We have a motion made by Alderman Parker, seconded by Alderman Johnson, for suspension of the rules against suspension of the rules is two-thirds majority and is non-debatable. Madam Clerk, could you please call the roll on the suspension only? Sellers? Aye. Klemm? Aye. Johnson? Aye. Parker? Aye. And Shadle? Aye. And Mayor Miller? Aye. The suspension passes six to zero. So then it is a second reading before you now. Is there any questions concerning the ordinance? Madam Clerk, Thank you, Attorney Cox. Item number 11 is the first reading of Ordinance 2025-30. Could you please read this? Ordinance amending various provisions of the City Code of Ordinances regarding residency requirements for department heads and certain other employees. Thank you. Manager Boyer? Thank you, Your Honor. We've discussed this at several council meetings at at least one Cal and so staff is asking to move forward with suspension of the rules. Is there a motion to move this forward? It's all moved. Second. We have a motion made by Alderman Shadle, seconded by Alderman Klemm to move ordinance 2025-30 on to the next meeting. Is there a motion for suspension? I'll second. We have a motion for suspension made by Alderman Parker, Miller, seconded by Alderman Johnson. Again, non-debatable, two-thirds majority. Madam Clerk, could you please take the roll? Sellers? Aye. Klemm? Aye. Johnson? Aye. Parker? Aye. Shadle? Aye. And Mayor Miller? Aye. Suspension passes, 6-0. And again, now this would be the second reading of this ordinance. Are there any questions concerning the residency? Madam Clerk, would you please take the roll? I just want to say... Oh yes, Alderman Sellers. I just want to say that the reason why I do think that this is a good thing is because these police officers or the people that hold these positions put their lives on the line for us and to make our community safe. So that's why I'm voting to get rid of it and I know Chief has done an awesome job and I thank him for all that he does. Thank you. Is there any other discussion? Madam Clerk, please take the roll. Sellers. Aye. Klemm. Aye. Johnson. Aye. Parker. Aye. And Shadle. Aye. And the ordinance passes five to zero. Item number 12 is the first reading of Ordinance 2025-31. Could you please read this? Ordinance. could you please read this ordinance amending chapter 806 alcoholic liquor sales to add a class E charity event license thank you attorney Cox thank you this is a funny one it's in front of you tonight this is a an ordinance which grants a year-long license which basically is an additional surcharge for if you get more than three t1 licenses in a given year right now we don't really We don't really have a restriction on how many T1s you can get, but we don't charge an additional fee for more than three currently. The reason we're doing this, quite honestly, is to help out GFP, who is really our only party that gets more than three T1s, and they're having trouble getting insurance coverage because they don't have an annual license. They just get repetitive T1s, which is perfectly allowable by law, but in order to help facilitate business within the events within the community, we're proposing that while we issue that year long license, I think that is a $250 fee that we've added to that kind of as a processing fee, which is in line with our other tier three licenses, which seem to track there. It's on par with our catering license, which we currently have. So asking that that be adopted, again, it only affects one party really, and just helps them out in their mission. It doesn't create a new license, it doesn't create any new privileges. If any way you can really look at it as we're dinging somebody for an additional license fee that they aren't paying now, but since they asked for it. Is there a motion to move this ordinance forward? So moved. Second. A motion made by Alderman Klemm, seconded by Alderman Shadle. Discussion on the ordinance. Alderman Shadle. Thank you and the commission for being proactive with us and meeting the needs. Thank you. Alderman Johnson. How much is a T1 license? T1 license, Dovie, help me out. Twenty-five dollars for non-profits. Okay, so they were paying seventy-five dollars a year for the T1 license. Is that what you're saying? So the T, yes, the T1 is just for not, that's our special license for not-for-profit entities. So right now they would be paying, actually more than that because they're getting more than three T1s. Yes, they get several T1s. It'd be music on Chicago, Pretzel Fest, all of the downtown GFP events. And those are still permitted separately, there's still a charge for that. And again, I don't think I would be up here suggesting that we add an additional charge to them if they hadn't asked for it. Okay, so we're already, can I? Yes. So they're already providing alcohol at those events anyway that's already been passed? Yes, there's no change to any license privileges or reduction of any license privileges. It's our existing T1. It's just a, you know, kind of a bulk user fee, I guess it would be called. Okay. Thank you. Alderman Klemm? Yeah, I was at the, thank you, I was at the Liquor Commission meeting and like Steve brought and John. And I think we have to get up to the main issue here was the state of Illinois in insurance. They were not able to get what they needed because they didn't have the permanent license. So this solves that question. So thanks for being aggressive on that and getting it done. »» And it's timely. Their insurance actually would have an issue at the end of June. »» Do we need to ask for a if not I would entertain a motion for suspension so move okay motion made by Alderman Parker seconded by Alderman Clem for suspension again suspension is non-debatable and two-thirds madam clerk could you please take the role Sellers aye Clem aye Johnson aye Parker aye Shadle aye oh I need Mayor Miller on this too aye the suspension passes six to zero so then for the final reading for Ordinance 2025-31. Are there any further questions for Attorney Cox? Seeing none, Madam Clerk, could you please take the roll? Sellers. Aye. Klemm. Aye. Johnson. Aye. Parker. Aye. And Shadle. Aye. The ordinance passes five to zero. Thank you. Item number 13 is the first reading of Ordinance 2025-32. Could you please read this? Ordinance approving hangar leases are corrected to C2, Airspeed Jet Services, C-10, Bryan Griffith, H-2, Freeport Flyers, Inc., H-3, Carl Searing, I, Larry Lyons, K-2, John F. Mitchell, L-4, John F. Mitchell, N-2, Marion Vittinghoff, N-5, Larry Lyons, and N-8, Alan Meyer. Thank you. Manager Boyer? Thank you, Your Honor. Just finishing up the rest of these leases and staff requests moving forward with this ordinance. Thank you. Is there a motion to move this forward? So moved. Second. We have a motion made by Alderman Shadle, seconded by Alderman Sellers. Discussion on the ordinance. I would entertain a motion for suspension so that these hanger leases can be signed. We have a motion made by Alderman Parker, seconded by Alderman Johnson. Again, two-thirds majority and non-debatable. Madam Clerk, could you please take the roll? Sellers? Aye. Klemm? Aye. Johnson? Aye. Parker? Shadle and Mayor, aye. The suspension passes six to zero, excuse me. So then before you is the ordinance in its final reading for ordinance 2025-32. Any questions? Madam Clerk, please take the roll. Sellers, aye. Klemm, aye. Johnson, aye. Parker, aye. And Shadle, aye. The ordinance passes five to zero. Item number 14 is the first reading of Ordinance 2025-33. Could you please read that? Ordinance approving special use permit application at 2600 West Pearl City Road, submitted by Harmony United Methodist Church to examine the special use of an R3 one-family resident zone property to allow for solar energy systems which utilize ground-mounted PV arrays per section 1250.01B20. Thank you. Director Duckman. Thank you, Madam Mayor. Staff received a special use application on March 2nd from Harmony Church for a solar energy system, essentially ground-mounted solar. I'll dim the lights so you can see it, or thank you all to person Parker. Just give a couple details here. As you can see, what they're requesting is this area right in here is where they're going are going to want to put the ground-mounted solar. This area in here, which they're allowed to do, is going to be on the structure. It's an accessory structure. And they're allowed to do that by right, but they're requesting to put solar panels ground-mounted in this location. So on May 1, the Zoning Board of Appeals recommended approval by a vote of five to zero Huffines. And on May 8th, the Planning Commission did not recommend approval. That vote was zero to six was zero abstentions. Now it's important to note that this actually would require, to pass, would require a majority vote since the Zoning Board of Appeals did recommend approval. I looked into that. I've double checked the ordinance today since the ZBA did recommend approval. It's a majority vote. Commission reviews it, makes recommendations, but ultimately does not have the authority to force a two-thirds majority to pass. So, you know, in looking at this application, staff reviewed it, want to be clear here that staff did not recommend approval for this, even though, so we're not in line with the Zoning Board of Appeals on their position. There was also some objections, Acting Public Works Director Steagall was one of the objectors at the ZBA. We also had a member of the public objecting from the ZBA and typically our objections are centering around visual pollution. Essentially people don't want to look at, you know, there's been complaints about the look of ground mounted solar as people drive by. So all that being said, staff is presenting this to you with not a recommendation from staff but the Zoning Board of Appeals has recommended approval. Is there a motion to move this forward? Alderman Klemm? I just wanted to make a statement that I will be opposed to this and it is in my area. Yeah, for discussion. So if there's not a first and a second, then it dies for the lack. Okay. Okay. Well, then we will move on. Item number 15 is the adoption of resolution 2025-46. Madam Clerk, could you please read this? Resolution approving client satisfaction offer an agreement extension with global payments direct for credit and debit card and check services. Thank you. Director Richter. Thank you, your honor. The City of Freeport has been... The City of Freeport has been with Global Payments Integrated since we converted financial software in 2020. Global Payments Integrated is our credit card processor for utility bills and miscellaneous city permits or fees. Our financial software, Tyler ERP10, supports only two credit card processors. First there's Global Payments Integrated and then Tyler also has their own credit card solution called Tyler Payments. The city charges a flat 3% fee if a resident chooses to use a credit card for utility payments or the miscellaneous fees. In addition to credit card fees, the city pays a $2 per transaction fee to author, to utilize the Tyler web portal that the payment is accepted through on, on the internet. The web portal is integrated with our cashiering module, so payment transactions can be seen in real time. So I went out to both of those companies to see what their best rates would be. Tyler Payments proposed a one and a half percent plus interchange fees from each type of credit card. So interchange fees are different per, you know, if you use a MasterCard, a Visa, Discover, they're all a little bit different, but the average is about one point five percent. However, Tyler also charges an additional dollar fifty per transaction. this would equal three percent of the amount charged plus a dollar fifty so for example if you charge a hundred dollars on your credit card the resulting fee would be four dollars and fifty cents i also went to global payments integrated their proposal was 2.79 percent of the charged amount so for example on a hundred dollars that would result in only two dollars and 79 cents The Finance Department is proposing a new two-year agreement at the rate of 2.79% with global payments integrated. The strategic plan alignment is responsive, efficient government, and I just request that we approve the extension. Thank you, Director Richter. Is there a motion to approve this resolution? So moved. Second. We have a motion made by Alderman Shadle, seconded by Alderman Sellers. Discussion on the resolution? Seeing none, Madam Clerk, would you please take the roll? Sellers? Aye. Klemm? Aye. Johnson? Aye. Parker? Aye. And Shadle? Aye. The resolution is adopted, five to zero. Item number 16 is the adoption of resolution 2025-47. Could you please read this? Resolution authorizing an amendment to the intergovernmental agreement for the operation of an enterprise zone for Diamond Sevincia Project. Thank you. Andrea Winter? This is simply referring to the project we talked about earlier. This is just a resolution authorizing the amendment to the IGA. The IGA between the six units of government is what makes the enterprise zone work. So any time there is a boundary expansion or any change to the enterprise zone, I need to go to all six units of government and ask for an amendment for that IGA. That's what this is. Happy to answer any questions. Thank you. Is there a motion to adopt? So moved. Second. We have a motion made by Alderman Sellers, seconded by Alderman Shadle. on the resolution. Madam Clerk, please take the roll. Sellers? Aye. Klemm? Aye. Johnson? Aye. Parker? Aye. And Shadle? Aye. That resolution is adopted 5-0. Thank you. Item number 17 is the adoption of resolution 2025-48. Would you please read this? Resolution approving construction engineering contract with Fehr Graham for 2025 water main projects. Thank you. Manager Boyer? Thank you, your honor. Fehr Graham has been our contract Heimerdinger for several years overseeing many jobs that we've done throughout the city. As this year we approached the road reconstruction projects, we are planning to replace about 3,000 feet of water main. This is located, these are located on Carroll Avenue, Blackhawk Avenue, Harvey, Willow, and these four areas have significant number of water main breaks and results in boil orders and problems with the distribution system. The Professional Engineering Services Agreement with Fehrer Graham represents $337,500 and staff's recommendation is moved forward with the agreement. Is there a motion to adopt? So moved. Second. We have a motion made by Alderman Shadle, seconded by Alderman Sellers, discussion on the resolution. Madam Clerk, please take the roll. Sellers? Aye. Klemm? Aye. and Shadle. The resolution is adopted five to zero. Item number 18 is the adoption of resolution 2025-49. Could you please read this? Resolution approving construction engineering contract with Fehr Graham for 2025 street projects. Thank you. Manager Boyer. Thank you your honor. The city of Freeport's bid design plans to reconstruct pavement and streets in Freeport. The 2025 project has been identified by the council in the five-year plan. The city is using a combination of funds from iDOT, motor for fuel tax, 1% local city funds and utility water, sewer storm, CIP to get the projects completed. Funding requires construction engineering and quality assurance as the previous contract and the city plans to fund the $225,000 construction engineering contract through the 2025 budget. Staff recommends moving forward with this resolution. Thank you. Is there a motion to adopt? So moved. Second. made by Alderman Shadle seconded by Alderman Johnson discussion on the resolution. I would just like to see if City Manager Boyer could at least give a description of the streets that you know from where to where so that everyone could I mean I have it in my notes but so they can see the streets that we are are going to be working on. I'd be happy to do that. But I've got Dr. Stekel here can go over that specifically. So the streets for this year's lineup that were selected by council last year is South Hans Drive from Meadows to South Street, West Cleveland Avenue from Burchard to Locust. So we won't be doing this section between Route 26. we won't do it with state highways. North Greenfield Drive from West Stevenson to Laurel, West Stevenson Street from Greenfield to Sunset. That's just the streets project. We also will be doing Carroll Avenue as part of that project. And that will go from Adams to Empire. And on the other water main project, we will also be doing Blackhawks Avenue from Empire to Dewey. We will also be doing Willow from Ridge to Laurel and we will also be doing Harvey from Lincoln to the end of that street and I'm sorry that name escapes me. Elizabeth Circle. Elizabeth Circle. It's a very aggressive timeline and the city staff will be paving all of those streets outside of Carroll Avenue with Sellers, Plum, Johnson, Parker, and Shadle. The resolution is adopted 5-0. Item number 19 is the adoption of resolution 2025-50. Could you please read this? Resolution approving renewal agreement with Ptolemy for rental registry platform. Thank you Madam Mayor. So last year in May 1st of 2024, the City of Freeport entered into an agreement with Ptolemy and at that time, the annual fee was $21,000 and there was an implementation fee of $4,000. Ptolemy has proposed to maintain the same annual fee of $21,000 and obviously there would be no $4,000 implementation fee. We've done metrics about Ptolemae and what they've done in the past year. They've identified, which in the past we've not been able to do, they've identified almost 2,700 parcels in the city of Freeport as suspected rentals. On top of that, we were then able to send out mailed notices, email notices to these properties, and we were able to register more than 2,000 of these properties. So for 2025, our participation rate in the rental registry is 77%. Now prior to utilizing Ptolemae, our highest participation rate was 32% and that was only 858 rental properties. So essentially we've more than doubled by implementing this software, we've more than doubled our participation rate. A couple of the highlights here is utilizing Ptolemae, we do not have to have our staff Enter paper applications into a spreadsheet, so that saves a massive amount of time. We've received a large amount of positive feedback from our landlords because they're now receiving instant notifications of code violations. It's an automated process. Williams, it's an automated process, so essentially as soon as our team issues a violation for grass problem with the property, this software actually, when you're a registered property, it instantly sends the notification because it has a, the software is able to read through our programs and then notify the landlord. So our landlords have been supportive of the progress so far. We've already collected $2,200 in late fees to date, and there's currently 606 properties that still need to register, and these properties on July 1st will be issued violations of $500 Per-Unit, and those properties will then have hearing dates set for late August, early September through our adjudication process. So that being said, staff is recommending moving forward with the Ptolemae software. Thank you. Is there a motion to adopt? So moved. Second. We have a motion made by Alderman Shadle, seconded by Alderman Klemm. Discussion on the resolution. Seeing none, Madam Clerk, please take the roll. Hughes, Klemm, Johnson, Parker, and Shadle. The resolution is adopted 5-0. Item number 20. We're almost halfway there, guys. Adoption of resolution 2025-51. Would you please read this? Resolution approving agreement with Thayer for EV charger installation. Thank you. Manager Boyer. Thank you, Your Honor. The City of Freeport received $320,000 in 2025 EV charging grant funding through the Illinois EPA Climate and Equitable Jobs Act, or CEJA. The EV chargers are going to be placed in two locations. The first is the municipal lot near the post office and the second is in the Lindo lot. After more research, each location is planned to have four of the CP280 chargers due to the incentive programs. Additionally, ComEd has now confirmed grants to the City of Freeport equal to $640,000 for the interconnection costs and make-ready incentives to both locations. Thayer and Fehr Graham have worked with ChargePoint and ComEd to maximize all funding opportunities over the last month. Potential outlining the cost of the project should be potentially nothing to only concrete paving and parking striping to the parking lot areas to make them fully ADA compliant. We currently have $180,000 budgeted for this project, but the cost participation with these grants should be far less for just restoration. ComEd grant rebates are only available until December 31st, 2025. As previously discussed, Darren Steekle, our Acting Public Works Director, informed the Council he would bring this back for approval for the built cost estimate with Thayer before continuing the project. and I have to say I'm extremely impressed and he has done an outstanding job especially on this one and I just want to say thank you for that. The City of Freeport's EV Charger Project was in the 2025 year budget and with grants of $960,000, $180,000 is budgeted to complete the project so staff request moving forward. Good job, Darren. Is there a motion to adopt this resolution? Second. We have a motion made by Alderman Shadle, seconded by Alderman Sellers. Is there a discussion on this resolution? Seeing none, Madam Clerk, please take the roll. Sellers? Aye. Klemm? Aye. Johnson? Aye. Parker? Aye. And Shadle? Aye. The resolution is adopted, 5-0. Item number 21 is the adoption of resolution 2025-52. Could you please read this? Resolution approving an intergovernmental agreement with Freeport School District 145 for reimbursement of water sewer line replacement costs. Thank you. Manager Boyer. Thank you, Your Honor. The city's 2025 year projects are installing a new water main on Blackhawk Avenue near Blackhawk School. Darren Steekle contacted Freeport School District 145 to include them in the collaboration of joining our project design and construction to replace their troubled commercial water FSD 145 has primarily agreed to reimburse the city of Freeport for all costs up to $25,500 for the full replacement of their commercial water service, which they are responsible for by code and ordinance. If the intergovernmental agreement is approved by council tonight, it will also go to the FSD 145's next board meeting for their review and approval and the city would pay for the water service to the awarded contractor and then seek reimbursement for the full cost from the school district. Staff recommends collaborating with FSD 145 to save the school district funding on replacing the service which they're having issues with while the street and water main are being replaced. Is there a motion to adopt? Second. Motion made by Alderman Shadle, seconded by Alderman Sellers. Discussion on the ordinance. I just want to commend whoever thought of getting this done during the project that this is the time to do this and to see the school district and the city work together is phenomenal to get this done probably in a lesser degree of cost for the school Settler, Huffines, Huffines, Huffines, Sellers, Klem, Johnson, Parker, Shadle. Item 22, the adaption of Resolution 2025-53. Resolution approving memorandum of understanding between the City of Freeport and Freeport Arts Center for sculpture walk. Thank you. Director Huffines. Thank you, Mayor. In the fall of 2024, the city of Freeport created an arts and culture commission. Since our first meeting, we've been working on creating a sculpture walk for the sculpture pads that were installed as a part of the Chicago streetscape project. The locations of the pads are on the map, which is on the screen. A sculpture walk is a curated public art experience where sculptures are displayed for the public to enjoy. The purpose of this agenda item is to create a memorandum of understanding between the Freeport Art Museum and the City of Freeport. We believe by working together, we can leverage resources to achieve a more impactful outcome for the community than either party can do alone. The MOU lists the obligations for each party. The Freeport Art Museum has the networking in place to solicit artists, manage submissions and underwrite the costs of the artist fees. The other reason this is beneficial for the city is because the Freeport Art Museum will finance our first sculpture walk. It was very important to the city council that no money be used from the city's budget for the Arts and Culture Commission. And without financial support, we cannot create the sculpture walk. City staff recommends approving the Memorandum of Understanding with the Freeport Art Museum and it supports the strategic plan through vibrant arts and culture experiences as well Hector, And these are all key, Drive connections and business partnerships. Thank you. Attorney cox I think you want to add anything? I know you're a part of pulling that together. I'll first need, ladies I see you walked in is there anything you would like to add? Okay, I'll entertain a motion to adopt. So moved. Second. We have a motion made by Alderman Shadle, seconded by Alderman Sellers. Discussion. just for a year the it's good for a year do do we revisit it in a year or is it long-standing or I think the intent is to revisit it in a year yes okay and then I just had a comment for the public okay from what I understand from talking with Ashley and Jessica that artists from all over are able to apply send in an application for any of their artwork so if you know any artists they can go and the city. They will go online on the city under the arts commission and they will find an application there that they can apply and put art, apply for putting the art in the city. And the deadline, the deadline was May 30th, but I was told that that will be extended probably until June 30th. It's a possibility, right? Is that right, Ashley? Art, and they would like to have it displayed in the city, have them go and look. Thank you. Alderman Sellers. I would just like to say that it would be, it's a great addition to the art museum that is being, the new art building downtown on the corner of State and Exchange. so I think it would be just great just having this to build it up for when the new art museum comes so I'm very proud to be a part of it. Alderman Johnson? The other thing is anyone from the is anyone from the public can go to the Arts Commission's meetings and so when they're going to be picking the sculptures that will be displayed downtown anyone from the public is able to go to that meeting and have input in that meeting they meet the first Thursday of every month correct at the library at what time it is the first Thursday of every month but it is here It's here in the council chambers at 5 p.m. So just an FYI. Alderman Parker? Yes, I had quite a few questions on this this morning. I contacted Ashley and she answered them all very good. So it made a big difference. Thank you. So I was wondering if maybe Director Huffines or if Jessica if you could just speak to I know there were some concerns about safety and you know there was a discussion with chief about that and how would can you just explain that as far as dimensions or how that might look so that way that can kind of just bring some clarity to any of those types of questions of people that have. Okay, so as the sculptures, as artists submit their sculptures to the Commission for consideration, we'll have an opportunity to look at each presented and I have worked with artists who are very well versed in the kinds of work and evaluate whether it would be a good appropriate size for each pad, each location. And so most of these artists, they do this for a living. They submit sculptures made specifically for a public outdoor display. So they're really well versed at the Winslow, that are both safe and appropriate for outdoor display. But we'll have an opportunity as a commission to evaluate each piece. And I know we'll be working with the officials to ensure their proper installation and safety for the community. Thank you. Any other questions or insight, Director? The only additional thing to add is that we will be able to, we know that each pad is different and that you have to pay attention to which type of sculpture can fit on each pad based on where it's located in reference to stop signs and fire hydrants. That will be taken into account. Any issues with that statement, Chief? Well, we just had the meeting on Thursday, so I did drive downtown and looked at some Bates, and all of the other people that we've talked to. And we've done some of the pads and everything. And talked to Ashley, and basically what she just said, that we put the appropriate size sculpture on the pads so it doesn't interfere with stop signs and that. Any other discussion? Thank you, Jessica. Madam Clerk, could you please take the roll? Sellers? Aye. Klemm? Aye. Johnson? Aye. Parker? Aye. thank you item number 23 is the adoption of resolution 2025 54 could you please read this resolution awarding facade improvement grant to 20 to 22 west main street thank you director duckman thank you madam mayor so i'm going to read one memo but i'll i'll reiterate it again for our facade improvement grant program so essentially the historic preservation committee C. reviewed two applications for the facade improvement grant on April 15th of 2025. And this year, our budget for the facade improvement grant is $25,000. This is funded through our downtown TIF. The total request from both applicants equal $25,000, so there is enough money in the budget to approve both applications. For the specific ordinance here, this is for 20 to 22 West Main Street. The applicant is Jen Yeager, and she is an esthetician. And the address is 20 to 22 West Main Street. That's the old Amity's Attic. So if you kind of look up there, you can see it's going to be a complete renovation. They're proposing to do downtown uppers. But really focus here on the transformation they're going to do with that facade. Huffines. It's a pretty exciting, pretty cool project. And their actual total costs for the project are close to $100,000 that they're going to invest in the property. Per our rules, the most that they can request is $15,000. So it's a reimbursement grant. Once they complete the work, the city would reimburse them. They received a, we score, it's a competitive grant. So their score out of 100 was 99 and staff is recommending approval or recommending moving this recommending approval of this resolution. Is there a motion to adopt? So moved. Second. The motion made by Alderman Shadle, seconded by Alderman Sellers. Discussion on this resolution? Madam Clerk, please take the roll. Sellers? Aye. Klemm? Aye. Johnson? Aye. Parker? Aye. Item number 24 is the adoption of resolution 20-25-55. Could you please read this? Resolution awarding façade improvement grant to 2-6 East Stevenson Street. Thank you, Director Duckman. Thank you, Madam Mayor. So this is a similar situation here. This was one of the other property that had sent an application in for the façade improvement grant. Hans, this specific property is known as the Smith Building, 260 Stevenson Street. The current owner is Victor De Luna. This property, what's being proposed is a $67,000 masonry and tuck pointing renovation of this property. And the applicant requested $10,000 for this. And the score of this property was a 75. Staff is recommending approval of the resolution. Is there a motion to adopt? So moved. Second. We have a motion made by Alderman Shadle, seconded by Alderman Johnson. Discussion on the resolution? I just have. Alderman Sellers? So once they get the tuck pointing done, what are they going to do with the building? Do they have any plans? Well, this is actually a preservation effort here. There is definitely some structural issues in the wall, and they really, the owner needs to fix the property. So they, we've been working, staff has been working with this property owner. They do not have, you know, they're not turning it into condos at the moment. They don't have a plan or, you know, housing of any sort. I wish I could say that the owner did, but this is simply a move here to restore the building so that hopefully something can be done with it, essentially save the building. Thank you. Any other discussion? Madam Clerk please take the roll. Sellers? Aye. Klemm? Aye. Johnson? Aye. Parker? Aye. And Shadle? Aye. And that resolution is adopted five to zero. Item number 25 is the adoption of resolution 2025-56. Could you please read this? Resolution authorizing and directing city staff to go out to bid for a Westwood water main extension on Stevenson Street from Bradmar Drive to the city limits and the addition of seven fire hydrants. Thank you, Manager. Thank you your honor as we've discussed this is the the westward water main extension would start at Bradmar and head out west on Stevenson. It would service 11 residents. It would also provide water to Highland College as well as to Open Bible. Highland College plans a research crop out there that will be providing the water for the restrooms. So we've discussed this and staff would like City Council resolution to move forward so that we can begin the Fitting Process. Is there a motion to adopt? So do. So, second. A motion made by Alderman Klemm, seconded by Alderman Shadle. Discussion? Darren. I'd just like to comment that the city has had very favorable bids in the last cycle that we've been running through, so it seems like there's a contractor urgency to have work, so it should hopefully have a competitive process here to reduce some of the costs. Alderman Shadle? Alderman Sellers? All Newman Sellers So this would just take care of the situation that we had with Open Bible and making them, they're going to pay for their connection and anybody else that needs to be connected, they will take care of their parts, right? That's correct. They're going to be doing their hookup, which amounts to about $50,000. They're going to actually provide an additional $15,000 for the project. Thank you. So yeah, that's normal, only when Sellers, when someone connects from the project being completed, then they connect to it. So that's their own expense, which they're doing just like everybody else. So, but in case you didn't catch what he just said, they're kicking in an additional 15,000 just in good faith, because the project really needs to get going. I mean, we've got space for 217 children in daycare that could be compromised if this doesn't get done. Madam Mayor. Alderman Johnson. Okay, we've got this paid for then, Manager Boyer. This will be coming from the utility fund reserve. Okay. Any other discussion? Madam Clerk please take the roll. Sellers? Aye. Klemm? Aye. Johnson? Aye. Parker? Aye. And Shadle? Aye. The resolution is approved, adopted 5-0. Thank you. Item number 26, could you please read the approval of this bid? Bid opening on April 24th for rehabilitation of 925 South Hyde Avenue. Thank you. Director Duckman. Thank you, Madam Mayor. So, this bid opening was part of our Community Development Block Grant Housing Rehabilitation where we have a total of $550,000 and of that, $64,000 is for Grant Administration and $486,000 goes to the Rehabilitations of Homes along our Adams Avenue corridor. and so this particular part property is for 925 South Hyde we had our bid opening on April 24th of 2025 and we received one bid of there was only one contractor bidding and it was for $48,330 by CMM and Associates some of the highlights this property is going to receive new flooring new windows new plumbing and with all that being said staff is recommending approval of this bid Thank you. Is there a motion to approve? So moved. Second. The motion made by Alderman Sellers, seconded by Alderman Shadle. Discussion on the bid. Seeing none, Madam Clerk, please take the roll. Sellers? Aye. Klemm? Aye. Johnson? Aye. Parker? Aye. And Shadle? Aye. The bid is approved, five to zero. Item number 27, another bid. Could you please read? Bid opening on the same date, April 24 for rehabilitation of 909 South Chippewa. And Director Duckman. Thank you, Madam Mayor. Again, this was part of our community development block grant, housing rehabilitation, and this particular property, 909 South Chippewa, we had the bid opening on April 24, 2025. Again, we had one contractor submit a bid, it was also CMM and Associates, and they are are the lowest responsible bidder at $43,735. Couple highlights for this rehabilitation is a new furnace, hot water heater, new windows, flooring, and plumbing in the kitchen. And that being said, staff is recommending approval of this bid. Is there such a motion? So moved. Second. Motion made by Alderman Shadle, seconded by Alderman Sellers. Discussion on the bid? I'd just like to ask. Yes. I know you said 48,000 for Hyde. What was it on Chippewa? So I don't get confused. All right. 909 South Chippewa was $43,735. 925 South Hyde was $48,330. Okay. Thank you. Yes. Any other discussion? Madam Clerk, please take the roll. Sellers? Klemm, Johnson, Parker, and Shadle. The motion is approved five to zero. Item number 28, another bid. Please read. The third bid opening on April 24th was for rehabilitation of 621 East Pleasant. Thank you, Director Duckman. Thank you, Madam Mayor. So 621 East Pleasant, again, this is part of our community development block grant housing rehabilitation and 621 East Pleasant. This bid was held also on April 24th of 2025 and this particular property again CMM and Associates was the only contractor that submitted a bid and they came in at $59,860. This particular property had a new roof, new porch, new gutters, and electrical work and that being said staff is recommending approval of this and Huffines. I move. I second. Motion made by Ollerman Sellers, seconded by Ollerman Klemm. Discussion on this bid. I just want to know the price again. Sure. The price is $59,860. Thank you. Item number 29 is another bid. Could you please read? This bid opening was on April 29th for MFT materials 25-000000-01-GM. Thank you. Manager Boyer? Thank you, your honor. The city had bids for the annual maintenance project for roads. We bid hot mix asphalt. The winning bidder was Helm. The total Cost, well the cost per ton was $63.10 delivered, which is actually a phenomenal price, maybe the best price we've had in the last five years. So staff requests council move forward and approve this resolution for the 2025 MFT. Thank you. Is there a motion to approve? So moved. Second. We have a motion made by Alderman Johnson, seconded by Alderman Shadle. Any discussion on this approval? Madam Clerk, please take the roll. Sellers? Aye. Klemm? Aye. Johnson? Aye. Parker? Aye. And Shadle? Aye. And that bid is approved, five to zero. Item number 30, is it another bid approval? Could you please read this? This bid was opened on May 6, 2025 for the Carroll Avenue Water Main and Street Improvements Project. Manager Boyer? Thank you, your honor. City held a public bid opening on May 6th for the Carroll Street Road and Water Main Improvement Project. Carroll Street has significantly aged original Water Main from the late 1890s. The street has old railroad trolley trestles underneath that are showing up through the pavement and creating washboarding. Carroll is a main artery of the local road system in the area and this segment of reconstruction will be from Adams Avenue to Empire. This infrastructure project was targeted and identified in council's five-year plan. City staff received free bids for the project. Helm Group's free port was the lowest responsive bidder at $1,528,338.50. The water and sewer project was planned for in the 2025 budget, and staff requests moving forward with the bid from Helm Group. Is there a motion to approve? So I'll move. Second. We have a motion made by Alderman Shadle, seconded by Alderman Sellers. Discussion? If I could please? Yeah. This is a very worthy candidate of this project. This street is in deplorable condition and this is going to be a big plus for this summer. There's no further discussion. Madam Clerk, please take the roll. Sellers? Aye. Klemm? Aye. Johnson? Aye. Parker? Aye. And Shadle? Aye. That bid is approved five to zero. Item number 31, another bid approval. Could you please read this? This bid opening on May 13th at 10 a.m. was the contractor water main and street projects for Blackhawk, Willow, and Harvey with city crews doing the paving. Thank you. Manager Boyer? Thank you, Your Honor. The city held a public bid opening on May 13th for South Blackhawk Avenue, Harvey Avenue, and Willow Avenue for the water main improvement project. So each of these projects has a large number of water main break-in issues that we discussed earlier when we approved the Fehr Graham construction engineering contract. So city staff received four bids for this project. Fisher Excavating a Freeport was the lowest responsive bidder at at $1,233,392.70, which was actually below engineer estimate. The water and street project was planned in the 2025 budget. And the project funding will come from local funds of the 1% sales tax that we approved last year. So staff asked council to move forward with the fisher excavating bid. Is there a motion to approve? So moved. Second. Motion made by Alderman Shadle, seconded by Alderman Sellers. Discussion on this bid. I just have one. Yes. With Black Hawk being such a long street, where is it going to stop and end with Black Hawk? Empire to what was it? Dewey. Empire to Dewey. If I could, Mayor, just want to make one correction on this. The money will be split between the 1% for the streets, and then the utility would be paying for the water main. so just clarifying that thank you any other discussion and clerk please take the roll Sellers aye Clem aye Johnson aye Parker aye and Shadle aye and that bid is awarded five to zero item number 32 could you please read this bid approval this bid was also held May 13th at 1030 a.m. for the contractor Street improvements including mill, grinding, shaping, and ADA ramps with City crews performing the overlay for 2025. Mayor, Mr. Boyer. Thank you, Your Honor. The City of Freeport annually bids out the road program to support our city paving operations. This includes grinding, shaping, and ADA ramps. This year we had three bids for the 2025 contract. contract, Kelsey excavating of Davis, Illinois was the lowest responsive bidder in the amount of $1,615,161. The low bid was under the engineers estimate as well. City has budgeted this in the fiscal year 2025 program and the city's 1% road fund will cover the costs of this project and staff requests moving forward with approval of the bid. Is there a motion to approve? So moved. Second. A motion made by Alderman Shadle, seconded by Alderman Sellers. Discussion on this bid. Madam Clerk, please take the roll. Sellers? Aye. Klemm? Aye. Johnson? Aye. Parker? Aye. And Shadle? Aye. And that bid is approved five to zero. Thank you. We'll move on to reports from department heads. Finance? Nothing, Your Honor. Thank you. Community development? Nothing tonight, Madam Mayor. Thank you. One comment I'd like to make Been helping with the public works department for the last couple years We have a immensely talented group of people that work for the city day in and day out They receive a ton of grief not many. Thank yous. So it means a lot when they get recognized To be honest with you. I've been surprised over the time that I work with public works how How much hatred is steered towards them about potholes and dirt and seeding and things like that so I wanted to commend them they all work very hard our managers that work that group they all work extra hours don't get paid for the time so I would like to ask the entire community to step up and respect our people they're the backbone of the city with the fire and the police department the water and the sewer keeps everything running in this town, and we have developed a niche here, saving streets by paving them ourselves, which there's not many communities that are doing that. So thank you to all the Public Works people. We agree. Fire Department. Yes, thank you. Since we've moved along so swiftly tonight, I'd like to once again recognize my staff for EMS week and all the hard work that they perform every day, all day long. So again, my gratitude and thanks go out to all members of the fire department with the help from dispatch and how they show us and tell us where we need to go to do those services. Also I think for the public's benefit, to understand it takes a new person that's hired and brought in the fire department more than two years to get adequately trained from the fire academy to EMT basic and then on to paramedic, that all takes more than two years. So we're extremely proud of all the folks that reached those accomplishments for the department and also for the city. And lastly, we're accepting applications till June 27th. So if you're less than 35 years old, have not been in serious trouble, come by and pick up an application. We'd love to have you. Thank you. Police. I have no report. Thank you. Thank you. Library. Just thank you for reappointing our board members tonight. Thank you. Communication? IT? Airport? City manager? I would just like to say one thing. Thank you to council for working together so we can get this done tonight. It was a pretty heavy lift. Thank you. And I would just like to remind those that Monday is Memorial Day, so City Hall will be closed on Monday, but remind the council as well as those that are out wanting to do something on Monday, line Bennett for the parade is at 9 a.m. and our spot is at the corner of Walnut and Main. And then the step off for the parade will be at 10 a.m. and it will run from Main Street down to State, back up Stevenson and in front of the courthouse. So if you're looking for something to do on Monday, that would be great to attend. So we will move on to council announcements, Alderman Sellers. Just have a safe Memorial Day. Thank you. Alderman Klemm? Just a reminder, we'll be having a neighborhood watch meeting the day after the holiday, so please feel free to come, bring a friend, bring your questions. Thank you. Alderman Johnson? I'm just thankful to be here and looking forward to serving Ward 2 and our community as best that I can. And I'd like to give my phone number out, it'll be on the website as well. 815-990-4379 and the best way to get a hold of me is leave a text and I would gladly get back to you but if you're leaving a text please put your your name and your number so I can address you properly when I call you back. Thank you so much. Thank you for joining. Alderman Parker? The only thing is next Monday is being Memorial Day we do not have a neighborhood watch meeting and so I want Green. Thank you. Alderman Shadle? Nothing tonight. Thank you. Thank you. Then that leaves us with item number 37, which is public comment. Are there any public comments? Wendy? I'm sorry. Yes. Good evening, Council. My name is Wendy Pearson. I reside at 1323 South Chicago Avenue. I'd like to speak on a couple of issues, and one of them is pertaining to a comment that was made on the comments in the beginning of this session. A young lady talked about Huffines. I want you to be aware of the fact that I have 14 family members and maybe more who have died from cancer based around contaminated soil and water from dumping on the east side. Your water issues, honey, aren't new. They've been a part of our life for all of our lives. It is still occurring now where you turn on your faucet and you get rust coming out of your pipes. and Joe, it needs to be cleared up that this is not a new issue, this is an issue that has been going on as long as I've been living, which is 65 years. I also would like to make it very clear that, well, let me say this, and I'm gonna direct this to Ms. Johnson, when we sit in the city council and we hear, yay, on every line item, there is something seriously wrong with that. And I'm going to ask you, Ms. Johnson, are you going to be a yay person? Are you going to represent the community in the manner in which you should as an alderman in that ward without everything coming out of your mouth being yes? I would also like to say this. When I was asked about the streets that needed to be repaired, I was told that the streets that needed to, that were going to be considered were streets that were through streets, meaning those streets came from downtown to the south end of this town. I'd like to know why Oak Street has been repaired when we have streets that are worse than Oak Street. I would like to know why. Every time I ride down Empire, I gotta deal with a police officer sitting on a corner of Oak and Empire because somebody's shooting up the block. And some people seem to think that we're safe. Wellfreeport, you're not safe. And you need to understand that until we, as a people, stand up against what is happening in this community, as well as in this council, and as well as in the county, we're going to fail. It is time for us to open our eyes, to speak up, to talk, to vote people out, to talk about contracts that aren't being fulfilled, lies that have been told, and a lack of clarity from this mayor and members of this council. I'm done but I'll be back and each and every time I come I'm going to call you out whether you want me to, like me to or tell me I can't because it is time that Wendy Pearson is not the only person that's been speaking in this town for 20 years. Now we have people that are standing up and Fighting! And my time may very well be over baby, but it ain't over yet. And just so you are aware, these five councilmembers that are sitting here are not a bunch of yes men. They've actually done their homework and they are prepared so they're ready to put their vote. Are there any other public comments this evening? Yes ma'am. My name is Janet Weber and I'm here on behalf of myself and my co-workers, the men and women of the City of Freeport 911 Dispatch Center. As of May 1st, 2025, dispatchers are required to stay in the building during lunch and rest breaks. We are expected to immediately return to the room in case of an emergency. By the time an emergency is dispatched and we return, our involvement in the emergent aspect would mostly be over. This further highlights the gap between management and dispatchers. In fact, some of us have been told that we need to get over it. We have been told that we need to get over it, and if we aren't happy or no longer content with the job, we should move along. Now, after nearly 30 years, the city has determined that past practice of a dispatcher leaving on their breaks and maintaining two fully trained dispatchers in the room, not the building, has been an error. They have taken the Ask Me contract and the 911 Board's intergovernmental agreement and misinterpreted it to flex their power on the dedicated employees who dared to stand up for their rights. As of May 1st, the city is no longer providing brake coverage for shifts that are short-staffed. What does that mean for the citizens of Freeport? When fully staffed, we operate with three dispatchers per shift across four shifts ensuring 24-7 coverage. During three-person shifts, two dispatchers remain on duty while one takes a break within the building while monitoring multiple radios and on standby for emergencies. Currently, we have two shifts operating with only two dispatchers. While one takes their break, one dispatcher answers all 911 calls for the City of Freeport and overflow from Stevenson County, managing non-emergency calls, alarm calls, assisting citizens in the lobby, and dispatching and communicating with police, fire, and ambulance personnel. This poses a significant risk to responders and citizens both. The City is prioritizing concerns of potential workman's comp claims arising from hypothetical accidents Huffines during paid breaks over the liability issues of leaving one dispatcher in the room to handle everything. Our foremost priority is to ensure our police officers and firefighters return safely to their families at the end of their shifts and the citizens we serve receive prompt appropriate assistance. The most at risk are officers and firefighters. We need to answer when they call. It is imperative that we respond promptly. The expectations placed upon us exceed what one person can safely maintain. We do not have the luxury of walking away to clear our head after a bad call. We stay in our seat, expected to answer the next call. Now we aren't allowed to leave the police department property during our 12-hour shifts. Despite the city's mental health awareness emails, they clearly are not concerned about our mental health. We have put this department before our loved ones. We come to work, sit in a room with our work family, and do our jobs to the best of our abilities. But we are human, and we are all reaching our breaking point. We all feel it is time to speak up and make you aware of the situation we find ourselves in. I urge this council to take action and address the issues I've brought forward tonight and support the dedicated, unseen employees who serve the Citizens of Freeport. Thank you for your time. Are there any other public comments this evening? Seeing none, we will, Madam Clerk, if you could read item number 38, which is executive session. We will just go in for exemption number two, pursuant to 5 ILCS 120 slash 2 C2, collective negotiating matters between the public body and its employees or their representatives or deliberations concerning salary schedules for one or more classes of employees. Thank you. Is there a motion to enter into executive session? So moved. Second. The motion made by Alderman Shadle, seconded by Alderman Sellers. Madam Clerk, could you please take the roll? Sellers? Klemm, Johnson, Parker, and Shadle. The motion passes five to zero.