WEBVTT 00:00:02.379 --> 00:00:07.379 It's five o'clock on February 12th. 00:00:07.900 --> 00:00:10.419 This is the meeting of the Public Works Committee. 00:00:10.419 --> 00:00:14.099 And I would like to call ahead and call the meeting to order. 00:00:14.099 --> 00:00:16.739 Item 2.0 is the approval of the agenda. 00:00:16.739 --> 00:00:19.780 Is there a motion to approve the agenda? 00:00:19.780 --> 00:00:20.620 So moved. 00:00:20.620 --> 00:00:23.179 Moved by Mr. Moderow, second by Mr. Jogerst. 00:00:23.179 --> 00:00:24.820 Any discussion? 00:00:24.820 --> 00:00:26.699 So then all those in favor say aye. 00:00:26.699 --> 00:00:27.980 Aye. 00:00:27.980 --> 00:00:29.260 Motion is approved. 00:00:29.260 --> 00:00:38.259 Item 3.0 is the review and approval of the meeting minutes from the last meeting that was January 8th, 2026. 00:00:38.259 --> 00:00:40.259 Is there a motion to approve the meeting minutes? 00:00:40.259 --> 00:00:42.700 Sure. 00:00:42.700 --> 00:00:46.700 Moved by Mr. Jogerst, seconded by Mr. Moderow. 00:00:46.700 --> 00:00:50.020 Any discussion? 00:00:50.020 --> 00:00:52.020 Seeing none, all those in favor say aye. 00:00:52.020 --> 00:00:53.020 Aye. 00:00:53.020 --> 00:00:55.020 Motion is approved. 00:00:55.020 --> 00:01:04.019 4.0 is the approval of the claims, we have $82,898.30, it's a pleasure to the committee. 00:01:04.019 --> 00:01:07.019 I'll make a motion to approve the claims. 00:01:07.019 --> 00:01:10.019 I have a motion to approve the claims, is there a second? 00:01:10.019 --> 00:01:12.019 Second by Mr. Moderow. 00:01:12.019 --> 00:01:13.019 Any discussion? 00:01:13.019 --> 00:01:15.019 I do have a question. 00:01:15.019 --> 00:01:16.019 Go for it. 00:01:16.019 --> 00:01:24.019 I saw that we paid Sir Marks a lot for your new facilities, and we also paid the animal hospital. 00:01:24.019 --> 00:01:30.459 Yes, because the animals are still, it's going to be probably two payments for a few months 00:01:30.459 --> 00:01:32.659 because they're still over there too. 00:01:32.659 --> 00:01:33.659 You don't have the crating? 00:01:33.659 --> 00:01:34.659 Right. 00:01:34.659 --> 00:01:35.659 We don't have the tendrils. 00:01:35.659 --> 00:01:36.659 Yeah, sure. 00:01:36.659 --> 00:01:37.659 Thank you. 00:01:37.659 --> 00:01:38.659 It's up to the puppies. 00:01:38.659 --> 00:01:41.659 Now the puppies are at the meeting. 00:01:41.659 --> 00:01:42.659 Thank you. 00:01:42.659 --> 00:01:43.659 Yes. 00:01:43.659 --> 00:01:44.659 Any other discussion? 00:01:44.659 --> 00:01:51.659 Seeing none, all those in favor of opening the claims, say aye. 00:01:51.659 --> 00:01:52.659 Aye. 00:01:52.659 --> 00:01:53.659 Motion is approved. 00:01:53.659 --> 00:01:58.340 5.0 is the public comment, I don't see anyone here tonight. 00:01:58.340 --> 00:02:02.939 We'll start with the Department of the Reports Animal Control. 00:02:02.939 --> 00:02:03.939 Okay. 00:02:03.939 --> 00:02:10.979 So we started taking in the cats again, we had 21 intakes, six were surrenders, four 00:02:10.979 --> 00:02:19.340 were city transfers, three were county strays, and eight, we had two separate owners passing 00:02:19.340 --> 00:02:22.219 away, one had six cats. 00:02:22.219 --> 00:02:28.300 outcomes you had ten transferred to rescue two are adopted one was reclaimed 00:02:28.300 --> 00:02:34.159 and we have eight adoptables dogs we only took six in one surrender three 00:02:34.159 --> 00:02:41.379 county two cities three are adoptable one was rescued the two that are on 00:02:41.379 --> 00:02:46.060 straight full time they actually were county dogs that the owners opt to sign 00:02:46.060 --> 00:02:51.340 them over and I believe both of them will be going to Friends Forever either 00:02:51.340 --> 00:02:52.340 and so on. 00:02:52.340 --> 00:02:57.340 So hopefully somebody that knows can maybe take her, because I think that would be really 00:02:57.340 --> 00:02:58.340 helpful. 00:02:58.340 --> 00:02:59.340 Thank you. 00:02:59.340 --> 00:03:00.340 Thank you. 00:03:00.340 --> 00:03:01.340 Thank you. 00:03:01.340 --> 00:03:02.340 Thank you. 00:03:02.340 --> 00:03:03.340 Thank you. 00:03:03.340 --> 00:03:04.340 Thank you. 00:03:04.340 --> 00:03:11.539 and her family was. And they tested out at the college and she just lit up when somebody 00:03:11.539 --> 00:03:16.939 started talking to her in her language she actually knows. So hopefully somebody that 00:03:16.939 --> 00:03:25.139 knows can maybe take her because I think that would be ideal for her. Current inventory 00:03:25.139 --> 00:03:32.379 as of this report was 10 adoptable cats, two pregnant. Those two actually have been transferred 00:03:32.379 --> 00:03:39.939 to a rescue already, 10 adaptable dogs, our two Jessica Jones court-based dogs. 00:03:39.939 --> 00:03:45.580 Her court date has now been pre-trial set for 3-4. 00:03:45.580 --> 00:03:50.620 So we've had these dogs since 7-17 of 24. 00:03:50.620 --> 00:03:57.659 Andrew crisis six running at large tickets are on for 1-22. 00:03:57.659 --> 00:04:01.939 He was supposed to be getting an attorney, a different attorney. 00:04:01.939 --> 00:04:12.939 Other things, Ben and Jerry who are one of our longest, two of our longest residents were adopted together. They're doing wonderful. 00:04:12.939 --> 00:04:29.939 Facebook and Pet Finders is all current on all our adoptable cats and dogs and I try like if it's one that we've had for a while, I always share them when I add new because they get lost in the shuffle. 00:04:29.939 --> 00:04:38.939 I also enrolled in an online shelter training in enrichment and that's also in your packet, kind of the outline of the program. 00:04:38.939 --> 00:04:45.939 And then I put in the breakdown of the donations from 25, 26, and the GoFundMe. 00:04:45.939 --> 00:04:51.939 The GoFundMe all will technically be in the 26 because we haven't withdrawn any. 00:04:51.939 --> 00:04:55.939 So it will go in for the 26 once we start withdrawing. 00:04:55.939 --> 00:05:14.939 I do have, I think, two more $250 checks that came in, and then, um, minors training in, outside of Lena, he's going to donate $5,000 for kennels, so we should be getting that next week, I believe. 00:05:14.939 --> 00:05:21.939 We talked quite a bit. Um, I was reached out to, was it Freeport Pod? 00:05:21.939 --> 00:05:30.339 Fricod, and they're going to do an interview with me on Wednesday of next week about the 00:05:30.339 --> 00:05:31.339 new building. 00:05:31.339 --> 00:05:35.019 They just reached out to me today, actually. 00:05:35.019 --> 00:05:39.459 One of the new stations reached out, but they never, after we talked the liability, they've 00:05:39.459 --> 00:05:46.819 never reached back out, so at least that one's local, so hopefully that will get us more 00:05:46.819 --> 00:05:47.819 public. 00:05:47.819 --> 00:05:50.819 Otherwise, that's it for that. 00:05:50.819 --> 00:05:58.220 Plans were just the two rents and then the updated intake is updated with new 00:05:58.220 --> 00:06:08.360 holes on it. I got that Tuesday, I think it was, for their January. January and 00:06:08.360 --> 00:06:16.199 December are usually the slow months. That picks back up on February for intakes. 00:06:16.199 --> 00:06:26.569 How long is that course supposed to run? 00:06:26.569 --> 00:06:34.569 The course is actually open for a year. It's basically go on your own, so it's the first steps. 00:06:34.569 --> 00:06:42.569 I just started it last week. The first step is basically working one of your own dogs through some steps, 00:06:42.569 --> 00:07:12.569 and then you pick like a shelter dog to do it and then there's cat enrichments and different things. I've always wanted to do it. I just, this building will allow me to do it on like breaks and stuff. I can go and start working with animals and make them more adaptable because they'll have some basic stuff done to them. Plus the enrichment part. I've done a lot of research on that and that makes the animals so they're not so stressed, so they're not like pacing in their cage and so 00:07:12.569 --> 00:07:14.529 so they show better for the people. 00:07:14.529 --> 00:07:17.449 And when I talked to Nick, the dog trainer, 00:07:17.449 --> 00:07:20.170 we talked about, and I agree with this, 00:07:20.170 --> 00:07:21.649 I've seen it in several shelters 00:07:21.649 --> 00:07:24.170 where you don't even allow the adopters 00:07:24.170 --> 00:07:26.949 to go back into the kennel area. 00:07:26.949 --> 00:07:29.910 You kind of screen them and find the animals 00:07:29.910 --> 00:07:32.769 and bring the animals out that you think would be best fit 00:07:32.769 --> 00:07:35.089 for their family, because then they're not seeing them. 00:07:35.089 --> 00:07:37.610 The dogs don't show well in kennels usually. 00:07:37.610 --> 00:07:40.209 They're barking and carrying on because there's people. 00:07:40.209 --> 00:07:41.170 There's people. 00:07:41.170 --> 00:07:52.170 So this way you actually pick up animals and bring them out and show them and then if they still want to go back then obviously you take them back but this kind of helps. 00:07:52.170 --> 00:08:03.170 Cats are a little different but the dogs they just, they're idiots. They honestly are. When people come in it's no different than when I get home. 00:08:03.170 --> 00:08:08.170 My dogs are idiots because they know I get home, they eat and then we go play. 00:08:08.170 --> 00:08:13.170 so it's the same so that programs and I kind of and actually the program says 00:08:13.170 --> 00:08:18.610 we'll see I believe it that they have a program where it actually teaches the 00:08:18.610 --> 00:08:25.089 dogs to be quiet in the page when people come in so if that's true it's well worth 00:08:25.089 --> 00:08:29.610 my money spent that was my question you're paying for this out of your 00:08:29.610 --> 00:08:35.129 pocket yeah I pay for it yeah if there is no room in your budget man it's not 00:08:35.129 --> 00:08:52.129 It wasn't expensive for you. It was like $200 I think. You obviously don't feel like it's a burden. No. It was actually on sale. I think it's like a $400 program. 00:08:52.129 --> 00:09:22.129 Oh. So I'm like, yep, bye now. And you got a year to do it. Yeah, and you got a year that this program is open that you can go back and look at it and which I'm like, be nice if it was open all the time because we're not going to be in the building right away. And then I'm like, should I bought it? And I'm like, ah, I can take notes. It's fine. And they actually give you printouts and you actually take a test after each thing. So you get printout. So you can use it. 00:09:22.129 --> 00:09:25.490 later on, but it's only open for the year. 00:09:25.490 --> 00:09:27.210 Oh, I thank you for telling me that. 00:09:27.210 --> 00:09:27.710 Absolutely. 00:09:27.710 --> 00:09:29.289 It looks like it's going to be a good year. 00:09:29.289 --> 00:09:29.789 Yeah. 00:09:29.789 --> 00:09:32.129 So far, I've only done a few steps, 00:09:32.129 --> 00:09:36.740 and I've been training docs since I was 12. 00:09:36.740 --> 00:09:40.580 So it's pretty interesting that I'm learning new things 00:09:40.580 --> 00:09:43.220 already that it's interesting. 00:09:43.220 --> 00:09:45.139 I didn't think of it that way. 00:09:45.139 --> 00:09:47.889 Good. 00:09:47.889 --> 00:09:49.610 Any other questions? 00:09:49.610 --> 00:09:55.570 Do you mean to say January 22nd or do you 00:09:55.570 --> 00:09:57.570 I'm going to take about 20 seconds on that. 00:09:58.000 --> 00:10:17.909 It's been postponed so many times that... Yeah, yeah, I agree. 00:10:17.909 --> 00:10:23.909 Probably when I did this report, it was... 00:10:23.909 --> 00:10:27.909 They both get so continued with it. 00:10:31.909 --> 00:10:37.909 That was, now it's 227, is the new portrait. 00:10:41.320 --> 00:10:44.320 Do you have a certificate of occupancy for the new building? 00:10:44.320 --> 00:10:49.679 Who would I get that through? 00:10:49.679 --> 00:10:52.679 There's an email I sent you back in January, the city of Freeport, 00:10:52.679 --> 00:10:57.679 the building inspector needs to go through that building and the fire marshal before you can occupy it anyway. 00:10:57.679 --> 00:10:58.679 Okay. 00:10:58.679 --> 00:11:00.679 So if you have animals in there, you need to get them out. 00:11:00.679 --> 00:11:01.679 Okay. 00:11:01.679 --> 00:11:02.680 Can't do that. 00:11:02.680 --> 00:11:05.680 You want me to resend the email to you? 00:11:05.680 --> 00:11:06.680 Yes, please. 00:11:06.680 --> 00:11:10.680 Have you applied for the special use permit for the outside fence? 00:11:10.680 --> 00:11:13.680 It was put up before we got there, though. 00:11:13.680 --> 00:11:16.680 You're putting something up outside, aren't you? 00:11:16.680 --> 00:11:20.680 Well, eventually, but not for a while. 00:11:20.680 --> 00:11:25.680 It's about a 90-day process to get the special use permit from the City of Freeport. 00:11:25.680 --> 00:11:40.379 I think also the inspector from the Department of Ag is also needing to go through the building. 00:11:40.379 --> 00:11:47.450 Yes. He said we can have the animals there though. 00:11:47.450 --> 00:11:51.450 So have you asked him to come and do the inspection? 00:11:51.450 --> 00:11:56.450 He says he will do it once we get the kennels in. He's been out there, yes. He's seen inside the building. 00:11:56.450 --> 00:12:03.049 and he was out, yeah, he was out shortly after Georgia and I talked about it. 00:12:03.049 --> 00:12:08.970 He was in the area doing something and I said, hey, he came out to talk to me, he's like, 00:12:08.970 --> 00:12:13.450 I'm like, do you have time to go through it and see if you think, the only thing he recommended 00:12:13.450 --> 00:12:20.450 was like a Mott sink type thing to dump the shop vac that we're using for the kennels 00:12:20.450 --> 00:12:31.289 into that. So they're already measured and they're, they have one on order. So, no, he, he thinks the building is perfect. Way much of an upgrade for them. 00:12:32.690 --> 00:12:48.769 What ventilation is also a criteria is how we have, there's been, yeah, there's actually fans, exhaust fans in there. So that one's fine. And both the dog room, cat room and the grooming area. That was something they added. 00:12:48.769 --> 00:13:02.769 So the registration receipts are down $3,000 for our monthly goal, and we were down in December as well, so you blame that just on the city. 00:13:02.769 --> 00:13:12.769 December and January always seems to be the slow months. I know like December is probably because of Christmas, but January is usually slow and then it picks up. 00:13:12.769 --> 00:13:21.490 and I think 200 notices out last week so and like the notices I know are getting to people 00:13:21.490 --> 00:13:27.169 because they're coming in or they're paying online so they're definitely getting there 00:13:27.169 --> 00:13:32.250 because I always write on the notices like if I'm doing like let's say Lena doesn't 00:13:32.250 --> 00:13:36.889 give our takes out and I get all their review certificates on Friday I send a notice usually 00:13:36.889 --> 00:13:43.049 on Tuesday because I give them a little time, they just got it done, and then I write on 00:13:43.049 --> 00:13:47.830 the date that I sent the notice and I've noticed that the mail is actually getting there and 00:13:47.830 --> 00:13:51.470 they're actually doing it almost right away when they get it. 00:13:51.470 --> 00:13:58.970 So even though Lena does give them a sheet that says how you can pay, sometimes they 00:13:58.970 --> 00:14:06.730 just think that, you know, well, they catch it, but I don't think they realize they still 00:14:06.730 --> 00:14:11.730 email us their certificates, so same way with TLC. 00:14:11.730 --> 00:14:14.730 The six dogs that you brought in, were they registered? 00:14:14.730 --> 00:14:17.730 The county dogs? 00:14:17.730 --> 00:14:18.730 Yeah. 00:14:18.730 --> 00:14:21.730 You had six intake, right? 00:14:21.730 --> 00:14:22.730 We had- 00:14:22.730 --> 00:14:25.730 One surrender, three county strays, two cities. 00:14:25.730 --> 00:14:32.730 The, so none of those, while the, I kind of think they didn't surrender us, the three 00:14:32.730 --> 00:14:39.329 County dogs, the two of them that were signed over, actually one was from Wisconsin, he 00:14:39.329 --> 00:14:43.769 crossed the state line, and he was signed over to us. 00:14:43.769 --> 00:14:48.289 If they get reclaimed, they have to, we make sure they're correct. 00:14:48.289 --> 00:14:53.899 So only none of those dogs got reclaimed that we took in. 00:14:53.899 --> 00:14:57.339 So if they get reclaimed, they have to pay the pickup fee, they have to pay rabies and 00:14:57.339 --> 00:15:00.379 registration if they're not current. 00:15:00.379 --> 00:15:07.019 So with that show on this revenue sheet, it's a pickup? Is that where you would list that? 00:15:07.019 --> 00:15:11.139 Yes, if we had a pickup, yes. But we didn't have anybody reclaim. 00:15:11.139 --> 00:15:13.940 Yeah, we didn't have in December either. 00:15:13.940 --> 00:15:21.700 Yeah, and that's the problem. We don't know. Pickups are hard because we can go months 00:15:21.700 --> 00:15:26.980 with all these strays coming in, like starting spring, March, we get all, you know, it starts 00:15:26.980 --> 00:15:33.490 is opening up again and dogs are running and then we have nobody reclaim any of them. 00:15:33.490 --> 00:15:39.250 So these dogs, you took them straight to the Freepark Animal Hospital for the rabies shot? 00:15:39.250 --> 00:15:40.250 Yes. 00:15:40.250 --> 00:15:48.730 The county ones that I picked up, no, the six that we took in, they're housed at the 00:15:48.730 --> 00:15:56.579 animal hospital, but we don't, the vaccinations get done at the college if we do anything. 00:15:56.579 --> 00:16:01.579 But if they're like adopted or reclaimed, then they have to have their rabies shot and they have to be registered. 00:16:01.579 --> 00:16:06.579 So, I'm confused. Yeah, I'm confused too. If they came in. 00:16:06.579 --> 00:16:13.579 The intake means like, so one was surrendered over, I can't remember which dog that was. 00:16:13.579 --> 00:16:18.579 Three were picked up as county streets. One was the Border Collie, the other one was the Border Collie mix. 00:16:18.579 --> 00:16:23.579 Those dogs weren't reclaimed. So there's no registration for those dogs until they get adopted. 00:16:23.579 --> 00:16:49.680 Why did the city bring us dogs? 00:16:49.680 --> 00:16:53.680 because if we didn't take them, they were going to be put down. 00:16:53.680 --> 00:17:01.399 So we kind of, they're full, we have a little bit more room, 00:17:01.399 --> 00:17:04.400 but that's no change with the new building. 00:17:04.400 --> 00:17:10.029 We're going to have to have an agreement, a contract with them. 00:17:10.029 --> 00:17:13.029 Yes. 00:17:13.029 --> 00:17:17.029 The bank account, fund 16. 00:17:17.029 --> 00:17:20.029 We haven't been getting an update on that for the last couple months. 00:17:20.029 --> 00:17:23.029 Okay. 00:17:23.029 --> 00:17:28.029 and I can tell you that the fund balance is around $21,000. 00:17:31.110 --> 00:17:34.670 Unfortunately, that balance contains 00:17:34.670 --> 00:17:36.309 all the donation money as well. 00:17:36.309 --> 00:17:40.069 So it's being blended with our regular operational money, 00:17:40.069 --> 00:17:42.389 which is something I was hoping to always avoid. 00:17:42.389 --> 00:17:44.389 But the only way to do it differently 00:17:44.389 --> 00:17:48.069 is with having the treasurer set up a separate bank account. 00:17:48.069 --> 00:17:49.569 So we're trying to avoid that. 00:17:49.569 --> 00:18:00.569 But if we take the donation money back out, which you claim is $11,900, we're down to $9,500. 00:18:00.569 --> 00:18:04.569 I'm going to stop you for a minute. The GoFundMe technically is not in there. 00:18:04.569 --> 00:18:05.569 Okay. 00:18:05.569 --> 00:18:09.569 The GoFundMe hasn't been withdrawn, so that's not in that bank account. 00:18:09.569 --> 00:18:10.569 It's still in the GoFundMe account. 00:18:10.569 --> 00:18:16.569 Yes. So that one hasn't been. But yes, the rest would be. 00:18:16.569 --> 00:18:43.570 Which leads me to another thing is I've asked for the donation report to be itemized. It was in our meeting minutes we just approved that I asked for it last month. The sheet that I have, the last time I have an updated detailed donation was from the 19th of November. Someone from the committee has seen something other than I have. 00:18:43.570 --> 00:18:45.570 How do you want to break that? 00:18:45.570 --> 00:18:47.570 Just like what you were doing. 00:18:47.570 --> 00:18:49.570 And then you stop. 00:18:49.570 --> 00:18:59.029 The last thing I'm going to bring up 00:18:59.029 --> 00:19:01.029 is our website. 00:19:01.029 --> 00:19:03.029 I've asked again and again and again 00:19:03.029 --> 00:19:05.029 to keep that donation page going 00:19:05.029 --> 00:19:07.029 and it's not on there. 00:19:07.029 --> 00:19:09.029 I just looked again today 00:19:09.029 --> 00:19:11.029 and our fundraiser 00:19:11.029 --> 00:19:13.029 page 00:19:13.029 --> 00:19:15.029 has got information on there from 00:19:15.029 --> 00:19:17.029 back in October with 00:19:17.029 --> 00:19:19.029 the Lena Brewing Company. 00:19:19.029 --> 00:19:39.840 Anyone else have any other questions? Okay, thank you. Before we move on to Highway, I'm going to 00:19:39.840 --> 00:19:50.000 pull a request to enter into an executive session. I'm going to state five ILCS 122C, which is the 00:19:50.000 --> 00:19:54.559 Employment Matters, the Appointment, Employment, Compensation, Discipline, Performance, or 00:19:54.559 --> 00:19:57.559 to special off specific employees. 00:19:57.559 --> 00:20:04.000 employees. So with that, I would like to make a motion to go into executive session. I will need a second and a hold on it. 00:20:06.000 --> 00:20:13.000 I have a second from Mr. Newton. Is there any discussion about it? Seeing none, all those in favor say aye. 00:20:13.000 --> 00:20:14.000 Roll call. 00:20:14.000 --> 00:20:16.000 Roll call. Sorry. Mr. Newton. 00:20:16.000 --> 00:20:17.000 Aye. 00:20:17.000 --> 00:20:20.000 Mr. Jogerst, or Mr. Moderow, sorry. 00:20:20.000 --> 00:20:21.000 Aye. 00:20:21.000 --> 00:20:22.000 Mr. Jogerst. 00:20:22.000 --> 00:20:23.000 Aye. 00:20:23.000 --> 00:20:24.000 And Ms. Williams. 00:20:24.000 --> 00:20:25.000 Aye. 00:20:25.000 --> 00:20:27.000 Thank you for watching!