WEBVTT 00:00:04.589 --> 00:00:19.219 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. 00:00:19.219 --> 00:00:21.219 Madam Court, please, call the roll. 00:00:21.219 --> 00:00:26.780 Kathy Wilkins, here. Kathleen Altensey, here. 00:00:26.780 --> 00:00:28.780 Kevin McIlwain, here. 00:00:28.780 --> 00:00:29.780 Ted Odendahl, here. 00:00:29.780 --> 00:00:31.780 Patrick Sellers, here. 00:00:31.780 --> 00:00:33.780 Okay, everybody's here so it's a poem. 00:00:33.780 --> 00:00:42.619 Before we start the meeting, I want to entertain a motion to remove item 6 from the agenda, 00:00:42.619 --> 00:00:48.259 the discussion and approval of rebuilding together Stevenson County service provider 00:00:48.259 --> 00:00:54.859 agreement. The reason why, we didn't allocate enough funding in our capital, general capital 00:01:24.859 --> 00:01:41.900 Yes sir. Do we need a motion and a second? Yes, a motion and a second. So moved. I'll second it. Motion, obviously, seconded by. Roll call or voice, Mike? Our voice is fine. 00:01:41.900 --> 00:01:55.900 Okay, all in favor? Aye. Any opposed? Motion carries. Okay, strike number six off the agenda. Okay, the first of our minutes is the approval of minutes for the May 18th, 2026 meeting. 00:01:55.900 --> 00:02:00.900 Sellmolt, Sarkin, Aldensey, O'Donnell 00:02:16.830 --> 00:02:21.819 I didn't see any corrections. 00:02:21.819 --> 00:02:25.060 Are there any questions on the Minister's Trustees? 00:02:25.060 --> 00:02:26.060 Okay, all in favor? 00:02:26.060 --> 00:02:27.060 Aye. 00:02:27.060 --> 00:02:31.060 Any opposed? Motion carries. 00:02:31.060 --> 00:02:33.060 The next order of business is the approval of bills payable. 00:02:33.060 --> 00:02:35.060 Any motion and a second please? 00:02:35.060 --> 00:02:36.060 So moved. 00:02:36.060 --> 00:02:37.060 Second. 00:02:37.060 --> 00:02:39.060 Motion by Mcllwain, second by Odendahl. 00:02:39.060 --> 00:02:41.060 Please take a look at the bills payable if you haven't done so already. 00:02:41.060 --> 00:02:51.949 My only question is, we have a lot of cub foods, and is that an indication of... 00:02:51.949 --> 00:02:56.949 Yes, yes. That's an indication. Yes. 00:02:56.949 --> 00:02:58.949 Sorry, I didn't mean to over-speak you. 00:02:58.949 --> 00:03:01.949 No, no, no. No, you're fine. Yes. 00:03:01.949 --> 00:03:15.270 Do we know if those are people who have lost SNAP benefits? 00:03:15.270 --> 00:03:27.110 More than likely, yes. We've had a couple of clients talk to us about it. You might 00:03:27.110 --> 00:03:32.990 be seeing people putting more and more towards cub foods of their grant. So you're probably 00:03:32.990 --> 00:03:36.150 going to see that number for cub foods increase. 00:03:36.150 --> 00:03:39.870 And that does usually happen at the second. 00:03:39.870 --> 00:03:45.389 Yes, but more so now since they've cut SNAP benefits. 00:03:45.389 --> 00:03:48.719 Bless you. 00:03:48.719 --> 00:03:51.080 Well, we knew it was coming. 00:03:51.080 --> 00:03:52.439 And we're prepared. 00:03:52.439 --> 00:03:53.479 We're prepared. 00:03:53.479 --> 00:03:58.800 We'll be fine, and we're going to help as many people as we possibly can. 00:03:58.800 --> 00:04:02.039 So we've been preparing for this. 00:04:02.039 --> 00:04:03.560 We've been knowing it was coming. 00:04:03.560 --> 00:04:05.360 So now it's here. 00:04:05.360 --> 00:04:09.840 Yeah, and we've talked about this at prior meetings, 00:04:09.840 --> 00:04:17.000 Knowing that this was coming, not being, just the current political environment is definitely 00:04:17.000 --> 00:04:18.000 not stable. 00:04:18.000 --> 00:04:19.000 Right. 00:04:19.000 --> 00:04:22.639 Especially when it comes to support of social net programs. 00:04:22.639 --> 00:04:30.170 So yeah, so we've been making a priority to make sure we are prepared to respond if needed. 00:04:30.170 --> 00:04:35.050 So it looks like it's about to be that time when it's needed. 00:04:35.050 --> 00:04:36.050 Yes. 00:04:36.050 --> 00:04:48.899 We are also being in contact with the catastrophic insurance companies to probably get catastrophic 00:04:48.899 --> 00:04:53.120 insurance back again because as they're cutting the medical things we need to make sure that 00:04:53.120 --> 00:04:58.600 insurance is in place before it really happens and there's a mad rush for everybody to try 00:04:58.600 --> 00:05:02.079 and get back on this catastrophic insurance. 00:05:02.079 --> 00:05:05.959 So we've been in contact with them and I'm going to keep in contact with them until we're 00:05:05.959 --> 00:05:18.439 Are we set up to help people who, just as far as getting the paperwork done that they 00:05:18.439 --> 00:05:23.120 need to get done related to SNAP, I mean, I don't know the details, but part of what 00:05:23.120 --> 00:05:27.639 I'm understanding is they expect a lot of people to lose just because they're not up 00:05:27.639 --> 00:05:29.680 to date on their paperwork. 00:05:29.680 --> 00:05:34.040 Well, we really, that's more of a DHS thing. 00:05:34.040 --> 00:05:43.040 No, the only thing we make sure they do is keep their appointments. We make sure that 00:05:43.040 --> 00:05:47.240 if they have a DHS appointment, we will make that as part of the community. We're trying 00:05:47.240 --> 00:05:51.000 to make sure that they are getting there to their appointments and then provide transportation 00:05:51.000 --> 00:05:55.120 for them to get to those appointments. Yes. 00:05:55.120 --> 00:06:03.199 And the, what's it called, the piece of paper that says, okay, you have three family members. 00:06:03.199 --> 00:06:07.360 This should be your income if you want to be eligible for SNAP. 00:06:07.360 --> 00:06:09.160 Has that changed, too? 00:06:09.160 --> 00:06:12.240 Well, I don't know. 00:06:12.240 --> 00:06:16.439 I don't know all the changes that's happened with SNAP. 00:06:16.439 --> 00:06:20.519 I mean, it's happening so fast, it's hard to keep up with it. 00:06:20.519 --> 00:06:26.759 The main thing that I know that's happened is that they now have a 40-hour a month work 00:06:26.759 --> 00:06:31.980 requirement, and the hard part is going to be finding places for people to go to suffice 00:06:31.980 --> 00:06:44.480 We haven't encountered a whole lot of that yet, but I'm anticipating that ramping up here pretty quick. 00:06:44.480 --> 00:06:51.480 So we have been in contact with, if we can, with other places to where we can have clients go in and do things. 00:06:51.480 --> 00:07:08.480 I know a lot of places either require extensive background checks for volunteerism or, you know, they require so many hoops that the person has to jump through in order just to volunteer. 00:07:08.480 --> 00:07:14.480 I know the Park District is like that. It's very difficult to do volunteerism with the Park District. 00:07:14.480 --> 00:07:28.480 and I understand the paperwork thing because they have to make sure they're covered and everything but it makes it difficult because trying to find a place for people to go to suffice these hours is not going to be easy. 00:07:28.480 --> 00:07:47.079 So, DHS has their work cut out for them, and if we can help in any way, we're going to do that, so that's where, you know, that's where our thoughts are. If we can do anything to help these individuals suffice those hours, we're going to do that if we can. 00:07:47.079 --> 00:07:49.079 Do you say it was 40 hours a week? 00:07:49.079 --> 00:07:50.079 A month, a month, a month. 00:07:50.079 --> 00:07:51.079 That's, okay. 00:07:51.079 --> 00:07:52.079 Yep, 40 hours a month. 00:07:52.079 --> 00:07:55.259 Okay. 00:07:55.259 --> 00:08:03.819 Also, with students that are old enough to be able to work, some of those students are 00:08:03.819 --> 00:08:10.740 getting those jobs during the summer months, I mean like part district and part time here 00:08:10.740 --> 00:08:12.019 and part time there. 00:08:12.019 --> 00:08:13.019 Yes, yes. 00:08:13.019 --> 00:08:14.019 So, yeah. 00:08:14.019 --> 00:08:21.180 Yeah, I think the bigger issue is going to be those who either, and again, this is the 00:08:21.180 --> 00:08:28.740 Park that's unclear on the work requirement changes but the people who have a type of 00:08:28.740 --> 00:08:39.789 disability that's keeping them from working or people who, like if you're a single parent 00:08:39.789 --> 00:08:44.110 it'd be difficult to find daycare to be able to pull that off. 00:08:44.110 --> 00:08:49.830 Those are probably two cases I can think of where people who are probably the most vulnerable, 00:08:49.830 --> 00:08:54.830 I mean, people who are healthy and can work, honestly, you should be able to find a job somewhere. 00:08:54.830 --> 00:08:58.830 You should be able to find something for 40 hours a week, you know what I mean? 00:08:58.830 --> 00:09:00.830 And you just should be able to. 00:09:00.830 --> 00:09:04.830 Yeah, if you're healthy and fine. 00:09:04.830 --> 00:09:10.830 But yeah, personally, I think more of the concern are those two categories, 00:09:10.830 --> 00:09:15.830 because you've got this work requirement that's very difficult for you to meet. 00:09:15.830 --> 00:09:20.830 People who are disabled, people who are actually pending disability, have disability cases pending. 00:09:20.830 --> 00:09:29.830 You know, if they start doing volunteer work, that means that the disability pending thing is going to go away, 00:09:29.830 --> 00:09:33.830 because they say, hey, you can work then. So that's the gray area. 00:09:33.830 --> 00:09:34.830 Wow. 00:09:34.830 --> 00:09:36.830 That's the gray area, yeah. I agree. 00:09:36.830 --> 00:09:43.830 And in the past, I've seen people that have filed for disability, and it goes on and on, 00:09:43.830 --> 00:09:53.750 and that person dies. And then the disability all of a sudden works out. Yeah, we've seen that happen. 00:09:53.750 --> 00:09:59.750 Kind of late. Yes. Are there any more questions on claims of demands, Trustee? Sorry. 00:09:59.750 --> 00:10:14.000 Wilkins, McIlwain, Altensey, Odendahl, Sellers, Motion passed. 00:10:14.000 --> 00:10:15.000 Motion passed. 00:10:15.000 --> 00:10:18.000 The next item is the Supervisor's Report. 00:10:18.000 --> 00:10:26.570 Trustees, on May 22, 2026, Freeport Township lost one of its most devoted servants. 00:10:26.570 --> 00:10:34.570 Former Township Supervisor Ms. Sheila Hooper passed away leaving behind a legacy that cannot be measured in years alone, though the years themselves speak volumes. 00:10:35.570 --> 00:10:50.570 From 1977 to 2013, Ms. Hooper showed up for 36 years. She gave not just her time, but herself, her knowledge, her compassion, her tireless focus, and every skill she possessed, all in the quiet, determined pursuit of one goal. 00:10:50.570 --> 00:10:56.169 and Gould to make life better for the people of Freeport Township, not some people, all 00:10:56.169 --> 00:10:57.169 of the people. 00:10:57.169 --> 00:11:01.730 That kind of dedication is rare because it is, because it cannot be manufactured. 00:11:01.730 --> 00:11:07.129 It does not come from a desire for recognition or the appeal of a title or the promise of 00:11:07.129 --> 00:11:08.129 financial reward. 00:11:08.129 --> 00:11:10.970 No, that kind of dedication is born from something deeper. 00:11:10.970 --> 00:11:17.210 It is a calling, a pull from within that says these people matter, this community matters, 00:11:17.210 --> 00:11:19.169 and I will give my best to prove it. 00:11:19.169 --> 00:11:22.169 Ms. Hooper answered that call, and she never stopped answering it. 00:11:22.169 --> 00:11:26.169 Thirty-six years is not a career, it's a covenant. 00:11:26.169 --> 00:11:35.169 A lifetime commitment offered freely, renewed daily, and fulfilled with the kind of compassion that changes communities from the inside out. 00:11:35.169 --> 00:11:40.169 She did not simply hold an office, she held Freeport in her heart and she showed it. 00:11:40.169 --> 00:11:46.169 The Freeport Township is better because Sheila Hooper was here, and she will not be forgotten. 00:11:46.169 --> 00:11:53.169 Please join me in the moment of silence in recognition of the life and accomplishments of former Supervisor Sheila Hoover. 00:11:53.169 --> 00:12:06.319 Thank you. Madam Clerk, please add this to the record. 00:12:06.319 --> 00:12:21.360 Trustees, another thing. Please know that it is a citizen's right to criticize their government. 00:12:21.360 --> 00:12:38.360 It is their right to do that. We have to be respectful in our responses, accurate and factual, always keeping in mind that we are servants of the people. 00:12:38.360 --> 00:12:48.360 We have to make sure that we are always taking the high road. That's what we do at Freeport Township. 00:12:48.360 --> 00:12:54.360 That's what gives us the support and love of the citizens of Freeport. 00:12:54.360 --> 00:12:58.360 And that's what keeps our integrity grounded. 00:12:58.360 --> 00:13:07.360 All right, the next order of business is the Assessor Report, Assessor Ridgway, Assessor Ridgway has nothing to report. 00:13:07.360 --> 00:13:11.360 The next order of business is Trustees Report, Trustees. 00:13:11.360 --> 00:13:22.009 Thank you for that piece for Sheila Hooper. 00:13:22.009 --> 00:13:29.009 I was very close to the family while I worked there and she was a good person. 00:13:29.009 --> 00:13:31.009 Yes, I agree. 00:13:31.009 --> 00:13:37.409 Anything trustees? Yeah, I asked you a question after the meeting last week. I 00:13:37.409 --> 00:13:41.649 think it'll be good for everyone to hear your response. When I asked you when the 00:13:41.649 --> 00:13:47.649 allocation for the software and remember I asked if it was um which software was 00:13:47.649 --> 00:13:53.289 was it a software for the accounting or the value mission and you kind of gave 00:13:53.289 --> 00:14:04.139 me some really good explanation as to why we were doing that. For Ames or the 00:14:04.139 --> 00:14:11.779 Altensey, Assessor's IMS Software Program. That is the annual fee that we paid at the 00:14:11.779 --> 00:14:22.180 last meeting was for five computers, two tablets. They also do updates on a regular basis, because 00:14:22.180 --> 00:14:27.139 you asked me if we needed to look at updating it, but they are really good about updating 00:14:27.139 --> 00:14:33.420 the system when it needs it. If we ask for something to be done to help our office, they'll 00:14:33.420 --> 00:14:44.420 I'll look to see if this is something that could help others. Same way that we might get updates because someone else asked for something that is helpful in the assessment field. 00:14:44.420 --> 00:14:54.420 I think that's what we talked about. Yep, that was it. Yep. So I thought that was good info for everyone to have. Thank you. That's it. Okay. Trustees, anything else? 00:14:54.420 --> 00:14:59.240 Okay, the next talk of business is public comments. Any public comments? 00:14:59.240 --> 00:15:09.319 Shane Orlow, and I'm glad that you prefaced what I was going to say with that comment. 00:15:09.319 --> 00:15:18.319 Yes, as public citizens, we're allowed to criticize you, but I think that you guys have been under some undue criticism 00:15:18.319 --> 00:15:26.319 that should not be coming from a certain place, because I don't see him in this room right now. 00:15:26.319 --> 00:15:39.319 What I want you guys to know is that I'm thankful that you guys have always responded to my comments, my public comment, and you have had conversations with me and the community. 00:15:39.319 --> 00:15:45.319 You have helped out Ms. Wilken. I believe you dropped some shoes off for the high school. 00:15:45.319 --> 00:15:53.319 And I mean, you guys are doing, you guys are doing the job that you guys need to do. 00:15:53.319 --> 00:16:01.639 and the criticism is not warranted and I just want that to be said by somebody in 00:16:01.639 --> 00:16:07.960 the community because I appreciate what you guys are doing. I had something else 00:16:07.960 --> 00:16:12.120 I wanted to say but I don't even care right now I'm just appreciate I 00:16:12.120 --> 00:16:17.519 appreciate that you guys are doing what you need to get done and you're doing it 00:16:17.519 --> 00:16:42.519 Dissension 00:16:49.149 --> 00:16:58.940 and business are coming for the town. I'll entertain a motion to adjourn until Monday, June 15th, 1026 at 4.30 p.m. 00:16:58.940 --> 00:16:59.940 So moved. 00:16:59.940 --> 00:17:00.940 Second. 00:17:00.940 --> 00:17:01.940 Opposed? 00:17:01.940 --> 00:17:02.940 Opposed? 00:17:02.940 --> 00:17:03.940 Opposed? 00:17:03.940 --> 00:17:04.940 All in favor? 00:17:04.940 --> 00:17:05.940 Aye. 00:17:05.940 --> 00:17:06.940 Any opposed? 00:17:06.940 --> 00:17:09.639 Meeting adjourned. 00:17:09.639 --> 00:17:10.639 Thank you all.