Bringing us to this night, we're grateful for the ability to meet through the storm
and the cleanup today. We're grateful for the good work of the crews and the safety there. And Lord,
we are grateful for you who we owe our lives and our health and our safety to. Lord, tonight,
I pray that you bless this meeting. Lord, many are the plans of man, but it's by your blessing
that they are actually accomplished. Lord, I thank you for the servants here tonight
sitting around these tables, these desks. Lord, I thank you for their gifts and their willingness
to serve. And we thank you that despite the differences among us, we serve one place,
Police, One City. We pray that you'd help us to do that or that we would keep love of
neighbor alive among us, a willingness to turn the other cheek, a willingness to serve
in the midst of differences for a common goal. And Father, we pray that you'd give your blessings
tonight on the deliberations here. Lord, we thank you for swearing in tonight. We thank
Thank you for the fire department and the police force for our first responders.
We pray that you'd continue to give them success and safety.
Help them to bless our people, our city, with their service and may we be a blessing to
them.
And so we ask your blessing tonight, we pray in Jesus' name, amen.
Amen.
Thank you.
The meeting will be called to order at 6.01.
Mayor Miller is absent tonight.
Alderpersons, Klemm?
Johnson, Simmons, Parker, Stacy, Shadle, Sanders is absent, Sellers, and in the Mayor's absence could I have a motion to appoint a Chairperson Pro Tem?
I would make the motion to approve Alderman Shadle as Mayor Pro Tem.
Second.
All in favor say aye.
Aye.
Anyone opposed?
Chair, the meeting is yours.
Yours. Thank you. And could you join us in the Pledge of Allegiance led by Parker?
Thank you. That leads us to item one is the approval of the agenda. So move. Second. Motion by Klemm. Second by Sellers. All in favor.
Item 2 is Approval of the Minutes from the Council Meeting on February 17th of 2026.
Motion by Klemm, second by Sellers to approve.
All in favor?
Aye.
Opposed?
That motion passes.
and three is Fire Department Promotions prevented by Chief Cordy.
Firefighter Holtz on behalf of the City of Freeport Police and Fire Commission,
we want to honor you tonight for the work well done for the City of Freeport and the
Fire Department. The City of Freeport Board of Fire and Police Commission to
all whom these present chair, Travis Holtz, have been duly appointed to the
Travis was hired August 24, 2012.
He is an advanced certified firefighter, paramedic, instructor to fire apparatus engineer, company
fire officer, and hazardous materials technician.
He's also trained in rope operations and vehicle machinery.
He's got an associate's degree in fire science at Rock Valley College.
He received a life-saving award for the fire at 202 and a half West Main Street.
He previously ran the department's fire explorer program and adopted hydrant programs.
He's been a member of the Foreign Fire Board for four years.
He's a lifelong Freeport resident,
graduated from Freeport High School.
He's married to Desi, and this is their son, Trey.
Public comments on agenda items? None is listed. We'll go to the consent agenda.
and
John.
All items on the consent agenda are considered to be routine in
nature and will be enacted in one motion. There will be no
separate discussion of these items unless a council member
requests in which event the item will be removed from the
consent agenda and considered as the first item after approval
of the consent agenda.
Assist of Approval to Receive and Place on File, Minutes of the Committee Board and Commission
Meetings of Art and Culture Commission, January 8, 2026, Liquor Commission, December 11, 2025,
and February 12, 2026, Fire Department Report, February 2026, Building Permit Report, February
C.D.B.G. Housing Rehab Grant Invoices, February 26, 2026, March 12, 2026, Approval of the
Finance Bills Payable, Packet 8081, 8083, 8085 and 8086, and Unnumbered Packet Invoices
to be approved for payment
Payments in the amount of $140,424.28 for a total of $710,238.26.
Do I have a motion to approve?
So moved.
Motion by Parker, second by Johnson.
Yeah, that's it.
I had a question.
Alderman, Stacy. What are the unnumbered packets? What do they consist of? Unnumbered packets?
Would you be able to answer that, Director Rigna? So, unnumbered means we haven't run
them yet. So, the invoices that are in your packet, there's a report of the largest packet,
and the $1 million one. There's a list of every invoice that's going to be paid there.
And with your approval tonight, I'll be able to run those tomorrow.
And what if it exceeds what was approved?
The amounts are set. They're in your packet. The amount of the invoices are set.
They're in the packet. There's a listing of every single invoice that I would like to pay.
and with the Consent Agenda being passed tonight, then I will run them tomorrow.
Chair.
Oh, and Stacey, are you following?
No, I don't, but I will.
There's invoices that she just hasn't numbered in.
Voices. It'll give me a packet number. Oh, gotcha. That makes sense. Chairman Shadle.
Okay. And those amounts and those packet numbers match what all of you sign. And here that
goes to the Finance Department as well. This all lines up with that. Okay. Okay. Okay.
Madam Clerk, can you call the roll on that? Are you ready? Can everyone pull their microphones
Parker, Stacy, Shadle, Sellers, Klemm, Johnson, Simmons
Motion Passes 7-0
Thank you.
I move to Item 6, Appointments of Shelley Grigoroff to fill a vacant seat on the Board
of Fire and Police Commissioners effective through April 30th of 2027, the appointment
of Scott Arnold to the Police Pension Fund Board effective through April 30th of 2028,
appointment of Scott Arnold to the Firefighters Pension Fund Board effective through April
30th, 2029, reappointment of Robert Bush to the Board of Fire and Police Commissioners
effective through April 30th of 2029 and with approval we'd do this in one motion.
Yes, unless somebody wants somebody separate and is it by voice, Attorney Zito, by roll
call?
Okay.
Motion to approve.
Second.
Motion by Klemm, second by Sellers, is there any discussion?
If you could take the roll.
Parker?
Aye.
Aye. Shadle? Aye. Sellers? Aye. Klemm? Aye. Johnson? Aye. Simmons? Aye. And that motion passes seven to zero. Thank you and that leads us to the second reading of ordinance 2026-12 if you could.
Ordinance adopting zoning map. By Director Heimerdinger please. Thank you. The Illinois
May, Compiled Statues, requires a map to be published annually.
We showed this in our first reading where we have five amendments that went through Zoning,
Board of Appeals, and also Planning Commission, and then were approved by Council.
And then we have two inaccuracies that were identified this year.
We staff recommends the adoption of the 2025 official zoning map.
also move. Second. And is there any discussion? Madam Clerk, could you take the roll? I missed
the second time. Sorry. This is actually second reading up. So there'd actually be a motion
You're right. Thank you. Parker? Aye. Stacy? Aye. Shadle? Aye. Sanders? You're just going
to abstain for that one? Okay. Sellers? Aye. Klemm? Aye. Johnson? Aye. And Simmons? Aye.
And the ordinance passes 7-0.
With one abstention.
I'm sorry?
With one abstention, 7-0, with one exemption.
Thank you.
At 6-13.
Thank you.
All right.
Item number 8 is the first reading of Ordinance 2026-13.
Seamending Chapter 1448, Erosion Control Permits, Manager Boyer, thank you Mr.
Chair, last meeting on March 9th staff was available we went over the
amendments to Chapter 1448 MS4 stormwater erosion control permits as
mentioned during that time the proposed amendments established clear permit
classifications based on project size and type of land use disturbance the
The ordinance strengthens erosion and sediment control plans and requires requirements to
ensure appropriate best management practices are designed and implemented.
The amendments also clarify inspections, reporting, and documentation standards for regulated sites.
In addition, the ordinance expands enforcement authority including the issuance of stop work
orders when necessary.
These changes ensure continued compliance with the IEPA and MS4 stormwater obligations
while improving regulatory clarity and staff recommends moving this forward to a second
reading.
So move.
Second.
I have a motion by Sellers, second by Johnson.
Discussion.
Discussion now.
Discussion.
Great.
I just wanted to mention that we had a comments from Miss Johnson and we took
those into advisement and and changes were made to the alternating MS4
ordinances that are on tonight based on her comments. So those changes were made
Thank you. Any other discussion? Item 9. First reading of Ordinance 2026-14, Madam Clerk.
One second. Ordinance amending Part 6, General Offenses, Chapter 660, Additional Hazardous
Materials, Section 660.02, Definitions, 660.05, Prohibition, and adding Section 660.09, Injunctive
Relief and Administrative Hearing, 660.10, Access to Premises, 660.11, Notification of
Discharge, 660.12, Notice of Violation, 660.13, Suspension of Activities, and 660.14, Abatement
Costs The proposed amendments revise specific provisions
within Chapter 660 to clarify regulatory requirements and improve administrative efficiency.
The changes update the language for consistency within the code and remove outdated or conflicting
provisions.
also strengthen enforcement authority where necessary and ensure alignment with current
state regulations and city practices overall the revisions improve clarity for residents
contractors and staff supporting the effective implementation of the ordinance by our compliance
officer and staff recommends moving forward to second reading so move second motion by
seller second by Parker is there any discussion
Thank you, we'll go to item 10, which is the first reading of ordinance 2026-15.
Ordinance amending Part 10, Streets, Utilities, and Public Services, Title 4, Utilities, Chapter
1046, Sewers Generally, Section 1046.59, Discharge of Storms, Surface, or Groundwater
Manager, Boyer, Alderman, Shadle, The proposed changes to Section 1046.59 clarify prohibited
connections to the sanitary sewer and strengthens the City's authority to require corrective
action.
The City's authority to investigate and enforce violations.
These revisions are necessary to maintain compliance with the updated MS-4 permit and
protect the city's wastewater and stormwater systems.
Staff recommends moving this to second reading.
I need a motion and a second.
So moved.
Motion by Sellers.
Second.
Seconded by Johnson.
Is there any discussion?
Is this the one pertaining to going into the houses if necessary?
I believe it.
No, it was 660.
Is it not?
10, you're right.
That's what it's talking about.
I believe that was number nine.
Yeah, it was.
This one concerns hazards dumping into storms or on the street or things like that.
This would also pertain to the human feces in backyards, number 10 or number 9?
Number 9 is more appropriate to that, hazardous ways.
Are we also talking about dumping into the storm waters by residential or commercial or manufacturers. We are making reference to those types of facilities. Am I right about that?
Manhoe, to Storm sewer. What are the, what is the compliance there? Are we in
violation when that happens? Because we can't say to residents, you can't do it,
but yet the city has no other choice but to do it. I just wanted to know what kind
of standards do we have for that? Manager Boyer? Well, as it's related to this ordinance,
This is basically updating our stormwater codes to align with best practices from the EPA
because we are a MS4 community at this time and have been since I think 2020.
As far as illicit discharge, illicit discharges are prohibited.
When you say illicit discharge, not permitted discharges, break it down more clearly.
So everybody can understand when you say illicit, because illicit has a variance to it, who can
and who can't, and still let's be more specific when we say that, because we're talking about
something that is contaminating our water source into the river, I just want to know
Do you know how we're handling that? What is our protocol for handling those kinds of situations?
I can engage you afterwards on that, but we just spent $60 million on a Phase 1 wastewater
plan upgrade to deal with that.
Okay, okay. Thank you.
Anything else?
I don't.
Alderman Stacey?
I don't like the idea of talking with Alderman Sanders off the record after the meeting when
the public is wanting to hear answers and process now.
Now I want to know the understanding of elicited and who has the right and who don't have the
right and in what situations are you granted the right and where are we, what manholes
Those are re-poisoning and what side of town are they being directed to?
City Manager Boyer, this isn't related to this storm water.
We're basically bringing storm water regulations in line with state requirements.
I'm not sure what Alderperson states he's referring to specifically so again this isn't an open
forum to discuss everything under the sun or just on this agenda item.
Okay I'm not asking him to discuss everything under the sun.
And I will be respected.
First reading of Ordinance 2026-17, Madam Clerk.
I have 16 next in sequential order. Is that okay?
Did I get ahead of one? You might have.
Item 11, first reading of Ordinance 2026-16.
Ordinance amending Part 10, Streets, Utilities, and Public Services Code, Title 4, Utilities, Chapter 1040, Utilities Generally, Section 1040-07A and Section 1040-07B,
Connection Required Aligning with New Julie Laws Thank You. Manager Boyer. Thank
Your Honor. So Julie is our essentially the services does the locates for any
kind of excavation in town. Many people are familiar with it. You would call
Julie if you wanted to put a fix a water service line or maybe put a deck in and
the city has to respond rapidly to Julie requests that come in for contractors
and others.
In the past, certain private service laterals were not required to include tracer wire or
other locating technology which creates difficulties during excavation and utility marking. Excavations
must continue to be coordinated through Julie. The updated law expands the responsibility
of the private service owner to ensure that underground infrastructure is properly installed,
locatable and maintained in the right-of-way and on private property for all new installations
Settlers, Settlers
operators operating within the city and staff recommends moving this on to second reading.
Thank you. I have a motion to approve. So move. Move it on. Second. Motion by Johnson, second by
Sellers and discussion Alderman Sanders. Yeah, did I hear you right about even with repairs they
Station, Sit Down Tracer Wires, some form of tracer wire even during a repair.
In certain circumstances.
Okay, these are the new laws, okay.
Let's see, nothing else, we'll move to Item 12, first reading of Ordinance 2026-17.
Ordinance approving a special use permit to allow adult use cannabis dispensing facility
at 2725 Illinois Route 26, Unit A.
Thank you so much. Staff received a special use permit application on February 10, 2026
from Botavi Wellness LLC to allow an adult use cannabis dispensary organization at 2725
Illinois Route 26, Unit A here in Freeport, Illinois. The property is within the B3 Commercial
and Wholesale Business District, Section 1252.05B4 of the City Freeport Zoning Code states that
adult use cannabis dispensing organizations require a special use permit.
In 2019, the City Council passed an ordinance to allow adult use cannabis facilities in
the City of Freeport.
The special use permit is to examine the property and determine if the physical characteristics
and St. Louis.
The state of Illinois has expressively predominated local authority, including home rule authority,
as to the licensing and operations of cannabis businesses.
The state has, however, allowed local municipalities to regulate the siting of these businesses.
The City of Freeport in 2019 exercised this authority and enacted Chapter 1274, Adult Use
Cannabis, in their codified ordinances.
Specifically, the City of Freeport requires 1,500 feet between a dispensary and any school,
Nursery, or a licensed day care facility and 300 feet from any residential district.
In addition,
In addition to the distance requirement, the City of Freeport only permits adult-use cannabis dispensary organizations by use in two zoning districts, B3 Commercial and Wholesale Business, and Riverfront redevelopment zoning districts.
After applying these restrictions, only a few locations in Freeport meet the established requirements, and the proposed location is one of them.
The property is where the permit is requested is the Formal Rosati's Pizza and is the only vacant unit on the parcer and the only vacant unit in the shopping center.
Adequate parking exists in this location to accommodate expected occupancy.
C.
Traffic to the main corridors is not expected to be significantly impacted as even at peak
traffic flow to this type of business is small compared to the traffic already handled at
this location for the big box retailers, which is Walmart and Menards, who currently operate
there.
The shopping center in which this dispensary would be located is situated along South Route
Bender. There's an Appendix B that outlines that. And as a condition of the licensing,
the petitioner will also have to comply with all state and regulations concerning adult
use dispensary organizations, some way of which can be found on Appendix B within that
packet. And then on March 5th in 2026, the Zoning Board of Appeals recommended the approval
and John.
I will bring your attention to some of the appendix items.
The first one, Appendix A, which is not on the screen yet, but this outlines the petitioner's
ability to comply with Chapter 1274, which was adopted by the City of Freeport in 2019,
which outlines how a cannabis dispensary organization should sit within the City of Freeport and
outlines its compliance within those restrictions.
and then we go to Appendix B, which is a summary of security features for these types of businesses.
They have very stringent rules by the state.
As you can see there on the very first one, the colored floor plan up above, you can see
that they enter that green, that's a check-in room.
You have to be 21 to enter this facility. If you enter and you're not 21, they will immediately escort you out and you will be asked to leave.
The first thing that you do is you come into that locked vestibule, the check-in space, and that's where you would process your ID to verify your age.
And then from there, you would be ushered onto the area that is yellow on the screen, which outlines the sales floor.
The Salesforce is very, it's not what you expect, it's not like when you go to Warmer, Terminoids
or anything where there's all the, everything is out and you can grab what you want.
In this case, it's actually all dummy products, which means that everything is packaged like
it would exist, but you are just looking for the type that you want.
Co.
Southerners that outline security so every square inch of this place is monitored and
in fact the Illinois State Police has access to the camera system at all times without a
warrant or permission so everything is monitored.
The vault that you see is the pink on the right side of your screen right after the yellow.
And that is where all the product is kept.
They have to do inventory every single day.
If inventory is off, they have to immediately shut down and they have 24 hours to figure
and then as we move through the next page just shows you the floor plan without the security features highlighted. And then as we go through the to the elevators, you can see that there is no real product on the sales floor, it's just a demo product.
and then as you move through the next page just shows you the floor plan without the
security features highlighted and then as we go through the to the elevations the elevations
show that the biggest change of the building is just that the sign will be updated to the
name but from other than that there's there's nothing else so it blends nicely into the
the Facility and the Atmosphere down there already. They're not changing too much of
the location. And with that, staff recommends moving on to a second reading.
Thank you. We have a motion to move this on.
So move.
I would like to know has there been a meeting on this matter with the community and if so
when was it?
Yes, there was a Zoning Board of Appeals public hearing on March 5th that the community was
is able to come in and voice their concerns or support.
And when was this and at what time?
This was at the Zoning Board of Appeals that was March 5th at 530 here at City Hall in
Council Chambers.
March 5th?
March 5th, yes.
Oh, Sanders?
Go ahead.
At 530, you said?
At 530, yes.
Hold on a minute.
Hold on.
Alderman Klum?
Alderman, Stacey Dunn, Alderman Sellers and Alderman Johnson and I were here for the presentation
that the gentleman out here gave us, very excellent presentation, very excellent facility,
the way it's laid out, all the safety features involved in it and everything else.
But I will tell you right now, I'm not supportive of it for one reason, because if you stop
to figure, one of the things he brought up in his presentation was the fact that they're
going to have between 200 and 500 customers a day.
You add 200 and 500 customers a day to a place that already has over 1,000 over here and
has 1,000 here and you've got all the other five stores up here and you've got one road
I see the width of the thing. If you could take all the traffic and move it to the center one, you know where it which is down farther, you'd have something to talk about. But everybody is so inclined to come in with the one with the lights on it. I just see a major traffic problem. I have not in opposition to the product or to what's being done. It'll provide some people in Freeport will be able to buy stuff at Freeport rather than go to
Rockford or go to a neighboring place. I've also been in Rockford many times by the dispensaries there
and he brought up at that period of time, you know, during COVID and during the other thing
there was a much different, was a much different, not clientele but a bigger mass of people and
There's less places and all that kind of stuff. I understand all that, 100%.
and all that, 100%. But I think you have the traffic problem, etc.
and others, you know, and so in that way, anything that would move into that could bring
about the traffic jam and I agree with you that, yes, Minoits is busy, that entire area
is very busy, nobody wants to go, I go at 6 a.m. on Saturdays, not noon on Saturdays
because yes, there's a lot of traffic, though that, the lot and the road there, that's a
In a private lot, in a private road, the city can make suggestions to help, help kind of move traffic in a way that keeps it less chaotic. But above all, it is private. So at any point, anything could move into that facility. And you could have the same traffic issues. You know, this might bring about, you know,
If this moves in, if anything else moves in, maybe it brings up a good point of maybe there's
a second entrance that needs to be talked about that goes into that facility, but it
is a private lane and a private parking lot and so with that it's their responsibility
to make sure that they have the traffic flow.
Also keep in mind these individuals are not staying long, they come in, they get their
and I have a couple of questions.
So, I just want to say, I've been studying this for a long time, and I've been working
with the City of San Diego to create a product that they leave.
They're not sitting too long.
So, it's not going to hold up traffic.
They're coming in to get the merchandise that they want, and then they are exiting.
Mathis, and I've been studying this to the point where we're saying that the state allows
this to happen without the authority of the City of Freeport, County of Freeport, nor
home rule has no jurisdiction in these matters.
So what are we saying that we're forfeiting our legal rights to prohibit them from starting
up a business?
are we complaining that what the state is permitting that the city wants to put a put a hold on this issue because we have not received the proper regulation, the security, all of these provisions that need to be put in place before such an event even be considered.
but what I'm asking is, who is preempting this
according to the discussion log that I'm reading?
It sounds like it's the state of Illinois
or is codified that's permitting such an event
to take place in the city of Freeport saying,
if I understand this right,
saying that Freeport has no jurisdiction
or does our home rule has any jurisdiction?
Did I read that right? Did I follow that right? I must have misunderstood that somewhere along
the line. Okay, could someone completely inform those that might have misinterpreted what it
really means?
If you could, please, Ellen.
Yes, I can do that. What the state has made a rule is that cannabis is legal in the state
of Illinois. They are able to set up businesses. What the city has jurisdiction over is where does that business go within the city. And so the city in 2019 set up Chapter 1274, which outlines where the counselor at the time thought was reasonable restrictions on where it could go. And so in that way, they did
and then an additional 300 feet from any residential district.
And that was the statues that were in place that the city could impose.
So what the state did was say, cannabis is legal, businesses can operate to sell cannabis.
Cities have a legal system that allows businesses to sell cannabis.
City's have the jurisdiction to indicate in what locations and put restrictions on it.
And so those are the restrictions that we can place on it.
I did not. I did hear you say restrictions.
Yes.
The city has the rights to make restrictions.
On where it's located.
Just on that particular, you're saying that the city, and who are the petitioners that should be here before us, making that statement, making that claim of opening up a business and how they're going to help safeguard the citizens of the city of Freeport, when even if they're 21 years of age, I don't care, those ages can be obfuscated
and put and people can become props for younger adults when it when it does that who is regulating
those securities the state the state regulates so they're going to come in here and do the
regulations and set up all safeguards yes and and if um in my uh presentation the state the
The Illinois State Police has access to the cameras within the facility 24-7 without permission
or without warrants.
Sorry.
So they are looking into that.
Yeah.
Yeah, we need to bring more clarity to the people of Freeport.
If I can misconstrue what you just talked about, those kind of variables did not come
out initially in this discussion, how this is going to be handled.
Those are the things the citizens of the Freeport needs to be able to hear, that there's safeguards
all over this thing and that we should not be as citizens intimidated by all kinds of
things that could cause harm to the children and to the city of Freeport.
And so I think we need to be as council members to be more vigilant in studying that as well
I think that's a soul disrespect if I don't hear them standing up at that podium talking to us directly, not only directly to council but the cities, the citizens of Freeport.
I like to see their faces. I like to see these agencies that wants to come in and violate the premises of the city of Freeport, even if it's lawful, you know, I still like to see their faces, so we can hold them accountable.
Alderman Sellers.
I would just like to say that I am in agreement with it. I did come to the meeting that they did,
excuse me, do the presentation. The young man did an excellent presentation. He answered all the
questions. I know that my job is to listen to the information that the young man gave and he gave,
and there were other, just a very few citizens that came in. No one got up, no
one said anything. I do understand about the parking incident but I do think
that the time and the money that they're going to put into this establishment,
they kind of know what they're doing. You know, this is not their first one. After
listening to all the things that the young man said and then my other thing
is is because of our my job is to listen to what we already said we could have in
Freeport and that was in 2019 my job is to make sure that where they want to put
it maybe it might not be where I like but if it meets the criteria of what we
said where they need to be at in places I have to agree with it because it does
If it was something that, I don't know, but it's not. It's where we said they have to be in order to have it.
So, I wish that that night when we were there that maybe that question came up about the traffic coming in and out, I can't remember because
I believe that there will be a lot of money put into that place to take care of all those concerns.
So that's why I would have to say yes, because they did meet the qualifications that we did ask them to meet.
Alderman Stacey.
Okay. I believe that we the council have say so in allowing this to happen. Am I wrong in thinking that?
You have the right to approve a special use for the cannabis.
So if we voted down, then it don't come. Am I correct?
If you chose to do that, yes.
Okay, so we do have right under this home rule or whatever you're saying, Mr. Sanders,
because if it's voted down, then it won't happen.
And if we didn't have a choice in the matter, it wouldn't be on the floor.
And I don't care how much money they make, how much money is brought to the city.
What's that got to do with us?
because it's brought to the city. How do we benefit? What do we get out the deal?
Mr. Stiegel. Yeah. Um, I've just been involved in this on a handful of communities that have, have approved these dispensaries.
So just some items that I wanted to give you. So, um, the permits are regulated by the state.
The company would have to file a very large bond, millions of dollars, with the state of Illinois to be approved for a facility like this in Freeport.
There are two licenses, I believe, available for Stevenson County, so choosing no here would probably allow it to go to another town in our region.
That is a choice, but that may happen.
This is state controlled substance, so there are many rules that were presented at the commission meetings, like for instance, they have to have a security guard on site 24-7 of operation or while they're operating or they can't be open.
It's a scan-in only with a license, with the scan bar on it, not just anybody can walk in the facility. They only limit the amount of people that are in the facility.
There is a safety tax to this cannabis purchase that goes directly to the police department to help increase standards for the police department, not standards, but funding for the police department.
There's also a city tax that comes from the cannabis that is much larger than our other percentages of taxes.
and I believe it was presented at the Planning Commission that there is really three pockets in Freeport that would be available for this.
It's either north of town, south of town or somewhere in the downtown.
Those are the only three available based on our zoning right now that that are available for this type of facility.
So those are just facts.
You can do with them what you will.
Alderman Simmons.
So I'm not against the dispensary coming to Freeport. If I vote no, it will because I'm against the placement. We need to be strategic of where we're going to allow. Like you said, it's the first dispensary in Stevenson County. Here we are right on the border of Wisconsin. It is going to drive traffic and this is an area that already sees plenty of traffic. Where do we want to drive our traffic in Freeport? And clearly the other Alderman degree we have
Fowler.
We have enough in that area.
So I think north of town or even like you said, downtown is a business district.
Those are areas we are trying to drive more traffic to and that would be better placement
and you make it more agreement.
Oh, McLean, did you have another?
Not really, but I would echo what has been discussed, that the presentation, the security
of the site, all that kind of stuff, there's, I don't have an issue with whatsoever.
You know, I mean, the design of it to wear it, the thing that threw the red flag up to
me was 200 to 500 customers a day, you know, just knowing the area, just knowing what's
going on, and the only thing I could say to you, to your thing is, you know, it's private
and so on and so forth. But two wrongs don't make a right. I mean, you and I both know
Rosati's didn't have 200 to 500 customers a day. Okay. Thank you. Best day. Okay. So
that's a considerable amount of difference. You know, the parking lot, you know, so to
speak is debatable size on it. You know, one of the problems I would foresee that it happens
I would like to also know that is this if they purchase that or are they renting
those places? It's a lease. Oh okay.
How did I have to?
I think you were the first to talk.
I've spoken one time on this matter.
Okay, I believe you're wrong.
Alderman, Stacy.
So there was a couple things said.
You yourself stated that they are not going to be here long.
I didn't.
I did not say that.
Customers were not going to be there.
Yes.
Okay.
And Darren, you spoke about the city tax from the cannabis.
What percent of the city tax and where is that money going to go?
and account for our roads.
Attorney Zito.
So the amount of tax that goes directly to the city is a 3% tax.
That is a city ordinance that we were allowed to adopt back when the cannabis laws were
first, when the state first authorized cannabis, they allowed municipalities to impose a tax
up to 3% that would go directly to the general fund of the municipality and that's what
Item 13 Adoption of Resolution R-2026-31 Resolution Accepting a Grant from the Illinois Department
of Transportation Aviation Fuel Tax Program
Thank you Alderman Shadle. The City receives the Aviation Fuel Tax Grant from the Illinois Department of Transportation for the past four years.
It does not require a match. Grant funds are to be used for local governments for airport related purposes.
In the case of the City of Freeport, we've utilized the funds as reimbursement for expended airport management expenses.
and others.
So the City of Freeport has received a notice for the grant for 2025 Airport Fuel Tax Grant
in the amount of $44,098.58.
There's no match.
And once approved by the City Council, the City will submit invoices and proof of payment
of airport management expenses in order to receive the grant funds.
Upon review, an approval of the invoices submitted to IDOT allocations will be distributed to
the City.
Staff requests moving forward with resolution to accept the Aviation Fuel
Tax Grant. Motion approved. Motion first. Motion do we have a second? Second. Motion by
Klemm, second by Johnson. Any discussion? Alderman Sanders.
The aviation fuel grant. Who is presenting that to the city? Is that something that the
city is regulated to do each year or at any point in time that we are obligated to buy
few for what purpose or or how has it been used throughout the city is it for
city purposes or for just the airport or how is that how is that presented to the
city of Freeport? Manager Boyer? I think it's IDOT is trying to support the
aviation industry and they're doing it through this basically fuel grant. Thank
Thank you.
Nothing further, Madam Clerk, can you take the roll?
Parker?
Aye.
Stacy?
No.
Shadle?
Aye.
Sanders?
No.
Sellers?
Aye.
Klemm?
Aye.
Johnson?
Aye.
Simmons?
Aye.
The resolution is adopted 6-2.
Thank you.
Resolution R-2026-32, Madam Clerk
Resolution Approving a Certificate of Authority to Vote Regarding Rock Salt Contract Joint Participation Agreement with the State of Illinois
Manager Boyer
Thank you Alderman Shadle
The City purchases rock salt each year for snow removal operations.
City of Illinois has made a procedural requirement for municipalities to be included in the RockSalt
program.
The City must submit its RockSalt Contract Joint Participation Agreement by April 7th
with City Council resolution approval.
By passing this resolution, it essentially gives the City Manager, me, the authority
to submit and sign the agreement for this year's participation.
And just to give you a heads up, the state bid on salt is essentially the most efficient
way to acquire salt. We're working very diligently to put in a new salt shed that can handle
more volume and lower our overall cost of storage. And so staff is recommending moving forward
with this joint participation agreement. We need a motion and a second to move this.
So moved. Second. Motion by Sellers, second by Klemm. Discussion. Alderman Sanders. Yeah.
Manager Boyer, do we have any other option other than using rock salt because of the consequences
of the new roads that it can affect putting down the new road and using rock salt really
there's other snow melt products out there that are much more costly and I think in the past we've mixed in
Sand with Salt. I think that creates another problem, which is it fills up all of our stormwater
catch basins with sand. So this is really not, although maybe not perfect, it is the
best that we have, not just here in Freeport, but across the Midwest for maintaining safe
right-of-ways during winter snow removal operations.
I would like Director Steekle input on that matter and what's out there or what isn't out there that could help save the new asphalt on our streets.
The state, some of the state trucks use a liquid application.
It's very expensive.
It's really probably not in the affordable range for us.
And we don't have equipment to spread it either, but it's a liquid applied.
And then they still sometimes have to spread salt on days like today that we have, you
know, far too much snow than what can melt fast enough.
So unfortunately in Northern Illinois, there's not a lot of options that are cost-effective for municipalities. Rob actually brought us back to going to the state bid for rock salt. For some years we weren't involved in it and the cost really got very heavy.
I'd also like to remind you that we did approve a new salt shed just recently that's being built for salt. So really the effective use is not to over spread it. So on a day like today, we tried to spread as little salt as possible, just enough to get by because we have, you know, 60, 50, 60 degree temps coming towards the end of this week. So we wanted to have safe travel, but we don't want to over spread it. So we were very light on salt over the next two days.
Johnson. That's kind of been a practice. Um, 10 years ago, seven years ago, we, we did the sand salt mix to try to stretch our sand salt. But what Rob said is exactly right. The sand never goes away. It gets swept into the storm sewers. Then it floats out to the rivers and, or we have to clean all the storms, um, if it doesn't, and it really created a lot of extra work. Um, uh, Randy could speak to the, Randy Kolbauer, our Environmental Compliance Officer could speak to the salt.
We're already supposed to be rationing our salt back as we can or ratcheting it back as we can, because they're concerned about salt water going out to the storm basins, right? As it melts down. So, you know, conservation is the best way to go. The enemy of roads is heavy trucks, salt and water damage. And we have the trifecta up here in Northern Illinois, right? With the seasonal change of frost and heave of ground. So.
Isn't it cheaper to clean out the sand than it is to keep trying to overlay, redo, refix all these roads?
Yes and no. Yes, it costs money to take the sand out and we used to do that and try to reuse the sand.
You know, take it out and we would recycle it, take it back down to the plant, what we could, and try to filter it back in the next year without buying more.
The issue is that sand is not a melt, melting product.
So it doesn't work by itself.
It just sits there.
So if we don't put salt with it, it doesn't do anything.
And, uh, I believe Rob's first year here in Freeport, we actually
bought, uh, the higher content salt.
Uh, I think that some people call it blue salt.
And we tried to use that and mix that into, to be more effective as well.
But the cost of it just got out of control and really kills our budget.
We have a very large expenditure on salt annually.
Alderman Sanders
Bringing that out like that,
you just sparked an idea or thought in my head.
We don't have a program
or storm
excavation when it comes to vacuuming.
for those concentrated areas that absorb more salt and sand. Do we have a program that will help us to eliminate more sand during the spring weather time?
Great question. Starting in 2026, part of our EPA MS4 requirements is that about 20 to 25 percent of our storm basins and storm system have to be cleaned annually.
We've always tried to clean them. We have gotten behind in the last several years. We've had a lot of employee turnover in Public Works, as you guys are quite well aware of.
Well aware of. We've had a hard time keeping a full staff. We are up to full staff now finally. And again, we'll be planning on cleaning 20% of the catch basins and 20% of the piping annually. That's why we have our own vector trucks that we do that routine maintenance and we're getting people trained to do that. And as seasonal abilities allow spring and fall, we'll be cleaning those. Thank you. Madam Clerk.
Parker, Aye, Stacy, Aye, Shadle, Aye, Sanders, Aye, Sellers, Aye, Klemm, Aye, Johnson, Aye,
and Simmons, Aye, the resolution is adopted 8-0, thank you, the adoption of resolution
are 2026-33 resolution approving an extension and renewal of purchase of service agreement
with the Stevenson County Senior Center doing business as Senior Resource Center, thank
Thank you, Director Heimerdinger.
Thank you.
The City of Freeport has contracted the Senior Resource Center, Operational Services for
the Pretzel City Transit Program since 2018.
The purchase of service contract between the City and SRC is affected from July 1st, 2024
through July 30th, 2026 with the option to extend and renew for one additional year beginning
on July 1st, 2026 and ending on June 30th, 2027.
We need to renew in order to have Senior Resource Center continue operational management.
The City functions as the Rural Transit System Administrator for Stevenson County and has
selected the Senior Resource Center to provide public transportation services as a non-for-profit
pass-through provider via Pretzer City Area Transit.
The Senior Resource Center has the employee space and experience necessary to continue
to provide public transportation services needed for the City of Freeport and Stevenson County.
The City has provided the necessary vehicles via the Ordinance 2022-28.
Staff recommends the approval of the extension of the Purchase of Service Contract between
the City of Freeport and Senior Resource Center for the operation of Precious City Area Transit.
We have a motion for this. So moved. Second. Motion by Sellers, second by Klemm. Discussion?
Harker? Aye. Stacy? Aye. Shadle? Aye. Sanders is absent. Sellers? Aye. Klemm? Aye. Johnson? Aye.
and Simmons. The resolution is adopted 7-0. Thank you. Adoption of Resolution R-2026-34.
Resolution Accepting Special Warranty for 5311 Grant Application Regarding Pretzel City Transit.
Director Heimerdinger. Thank you. As part of our Annual Transportation
Grant Application to the State of Illinois under the 5311 Transportation Program and
Downstate Operating Assistance Program, DOAP, the City of Freeport, is required to have
the Council approval for the following, an ordinance adopting the transportation services
within Freeport and Stevenson County, a resolution authorizing an application to be made to the
Office of Intermodal Project Implementation, IDOT, for a financial assistance grant under
Section 5311 for a physical year of 2026 for the purpose of offsetting a portion of the public
transportation program operating deficiencies of the City of Freeport. Sorry, deficits of the City
of Freeport. A resolution accepting the special warranty for public transportation funding which
affirms the transit employees will be treated fairly under the terms of the warranty and resolution
Accepting the City of Freeport is participating in said grant programs and will provide local and matching funds which are obtained through service contracts, grant funding, allocations from Senior Resource Center, and donations.
The City of Freeport does not provide local matching funds to these operations.
Item 1 in the 1, 2, 3, 4 list above was approved by City Council on June 17, 2024, ordinance 2024-32.
Items 2 and 3 are what we are going to be voting on in resolutions for this number 16 agenda item and number 17.
They will not be required in conjunction with the ordinance in order to complete the application.
A resolution to apply for a DOAP funding is not required, but a resolution accepting funds after approval will be required.
and so that will bring number four will be eventually in the future will come to
council for that. For this one we are really focusing on number three which is
the special warranty for public transportation funding which affirms
that transit employees will be treated fairly under the terms of the warranty.
This is something that is passed every year in order to properly fill out the
application for the following year. An application process is ongoing right now.
Thank you. We have a motion. So moved. Second. Motion by Klemm. Second. Second by Parker.
Any discussion? Madam Clerk. Parker? Aye. Stacy? Aye. Shadle? Aye. Sanders? Aye.
Sellers? Aye. Klemm? Aye. Johnson? Aye. And Simmons? Aye. The resolution is adopted 8 to 0. Thank you. Adoption of resolution R-2026-35. Resolution authorizing execution and amendment of federal 5311 grant agreement for fiscal year 2027.
Director Heimerdinger.
Thank you. This is number 10, which is the, this is number two of what I was just discussing. It has the same memo attached, and this is for resolution authorizing an application to be made to the Office of Intermodal Project Implication, IDOT, for financial assistance grant under Section 5311 for physical year of 2026.
And because I didn't say it the last time and I don't need to repeat the other stuff, I'll add that the last physical year, PCAT, Precious City Area Transit offered 49,846 trips covering 250,000 miles within Stevenson County.
Of those trips, approximately 21,000 were for employment, 9,600 for medical visits, and 8,200 for shopping in the area.
As you can see, this provides a countless amount of travel for those who need it, especially for employment.
you can see how we would like to apply and continue providing public
transportation to Stevens County and the City of Freeport and this resolution is
passed yearly in order for us to provide information and to complete our
application. Do we have a motion? I so move. Second. Motion by Johnson, second by
Sellers. Discussion? Madam Clerk? Parker? Aye. Stacy? Aye. Shadle? Aye. Sanders? Aye. Sellers? Aye. Klemm? Aye. Johnson? Aye. And Simmons? Aye. The resolution is adopted, 8-0. Thank you. Adoption of Resolution R-2026-36. Resolution approving an agreement with Fehr Graham to provide bridge inspection services for the
City Bridges located on Hancock Avenue and on Van Buren Avenue.
Manager Boyer.
Thank you Alderman Shadle.
The city owns two bridges, Hancock and Van Buren.
They have to be inspected annually and Fehr Graham is the city's bridge engineer.
So we have a team with certified licensed personnel for specialty inspection work.
All inspections must be completed and finalized within reporting to the state of Illinois.
So the bridge inspections were expected in 2026 and given current structure ratings to
ensure travel safety and staff's recommendation.
City Council moved to move forward with the agreement with Fehr Graham for the bridge
inspections for 2026.
Do I have a motion?
So moved.
Second.
Motion by Klemm, second by Johnson, discussion?
Yeah.
Alderman, Sanders?
Yeah.
A manager, Boyer.
Yes.
Alderman, Sanders, Manager Boyer, upon the inspections for these bridges, are we in compliance
with the reports that are coming from Fehr and Graham, whether or not we're still meeting
the standards for inspections of reporting and if it's annually, how long have this been
and effective if it's been annually that we receive any reports on these
inspections of other conditions of these bridges are we in compliance with that
we are in compliance I'll just give you some background the Hancock bridge I
believe used to be every ten years and recently that was reduced by IDOT
requiring it every year due to the the guardrail and a deck condition in the
Van Buren Bridge, I believe that's every every two years, okay thank you for that.
So the Van Buren Bridge is basically the walk ride bridge that used to be an old
old train trestle. So yeah, but all this infrastructure has to be inspected
periodically and this year both of them need it. So we're just asking to move
forward with this agreement. Alderman Sanders, do you guys have knowledge of a
Trussle, or some form of apparatus behind this city sewer located over there. I know it's abandoned, but it's a railroad type trussle. Have that's been removed and what's becoming of it? You guys recall any of that? It's over by the Pecatonica River by and back of the treatment plant. You guys have any recollection of that?
There's nothing that exists there currently. The only two bridges we have is Hancock and Bay.
No, it's not a bridge, it's a railroad trestle.
Are we? Are we?
I believe we're talking about the viaduct and that's under construction and that should be completed by May.
Okay. Yep.
No, it's not the viaduct. That's not what we used to call the trestle. It's not the viaduct.
Are you ready?
Parker?
Aye.
Stacy If it has to be done, it has to be done. Shadle? Aye. Sanders? Aye. Sellers? Aye. Klemm? Aye. Johnson? Aye. And Simmons? Aye. The resolution is adopted, 8-0 Thank you. Adoption of Resolution R-202637 Resolution accepting a safety grant from the Illinois Public Risk Fund and authorizing the use of grant funds to purchase portable
Message Boards from Road Safe Traffic Systems Thank you, Manager Boyer.
Thank you Alderman Shadle.
City staff received a source well procurement quote for two IDOT approved message boards.
So those are the two behind.
So those are the tow behind boards we set up that say, you know, river level is this
high or, you know, construction in this area till such and such a date.
We had one recently, the motherboard, some of the electronics burned out on it rendering
it useless.
So this quote is from the road safe traffic systems and includes a message board trailer,
controller chargers, solar panel, generator power to run the unit completely.
The purchase of the two units is $32,750, delivered to Freeport.
This is a source well quote, which means the company that's involved already has an established
relationship with the state of Illinois and is considered a source well dealer, enabling
us to move forward with their source well quote.
It was also $8,000 cheaper than the other quotes received for the same units.
City staff also requires the City Council and staff to accept the Illinois Public Risk
Fund grant.
So this is a grant we receive once a year from our insurance company to purchase safety-related
equipment and this qualifies as safety-related equipment with the funds to be used for the
purchase of the city-owned construction message board.
The IPRF grant award will be $16,244 and the remaining funds of $16,506 were budgeted in
the street department budget this year including water and sewer for the 2026 planned purchase.
So staff will use IPRF grant funds for essentially one and pay for the other with budgeted funds
and staff recommends moving forward with the purchase of this equipment.
Motion by Klemm. Second. Second by Johnson. Any discussion? I know you had mentioned that the other one that we used to have is broke or whatever. What does that cost? What does that cost to get something like that fixed? I think we've had it fixed several times and I think at this point the parts availability are not, the parts aren't available anymore to get it repaired.
The current one that we have, Rob's correct, has been fixed several times and it's kind of obsolete. It's old. We've had it for a while.
I believe the motherboard and the electronics on it have burned up at least three times. I want to say we might have spent $5,000 on it the last time repairing it.
So we did budget for two of them this year. This just allows us to only, you know, buy one with the grant and buy one with some of the money that we budgeted.
For the $16,000, how long does something like this last? How long do they last?
I'm going to guess with good care, probably get 12 to 15 years out of them. I believe the
one that we have now is close to 15 years, if I recall. And this one, the last one that
we had didn't have like the solar part of it those are fairly new so we decided to
go with that you know save on the generators and stuff and and be more
respectful but with the kind of construction that the city crews have
been doing this is a safety mechanism them to to almost direct people from
staying out of the areas that we're working in. Alderman Sanders, yeah is that
also included with speed trafficking and strategic locations where hazards
for hazardous kind of areas that are deemed necessary for public awareness like that.
Yeah, so our other sign board, we were trying to use that for maybe some public events or
I believe Rob mentioned when the flooding was going on over the east side, we had posted
a board, you know, stay out in the flooding levels that were going on.
That is the intent of these boards.
There is a component to where, um, and we did not buy this and did not recommend it.
These could be added for, you know, speed components on it to show how fast you're traveling.
But that's another very expensive option that we just didn't think provided to the safety
of it.
Um, and the police department has their speed trailers.
So these are really going to be for events and or, um, really construction primarily
for construction or, or where we're working with city crews that we can post this as,
Dewey Street, you know, we're coming.
This road's going to be closed for, you know, 30 to 60 days.
You know, please avoid this area type stuff.
Yeah.
Okay.
Thanks.
I should mention too, that these boards are technically required.
Whenever we work on any of the IDOT corridors, doing our hot patching, our work,
those are part of the traffic control requirements.
And so renting these are very expensive to bring in for a day.
They're they're they're upwards of $3,000 a day to rent. Wow. It's crazy.
What have we done in the past?
Rented? I mean, we've we've had one, but it hasn't worked for the last. I believe last summer is when it burned up. So we just did without last year.
Rented one as we work on the IDOT corridors.
Parker?
Aye.
Stacy? Aye. Shadle? Aye. Sanders? Aye. Sellers? Aye. Klemm? Aye. Johnson? Aye. And Simmons? Aye.
That resolution is adopted 8-0. Thank you. Adoption of Resolution R-202638. Resolution authorizing
the purchase of portable handheld police radios from Motorola Solutions.
Thank you, Lieutenant Weichel.
I'm Lieutenant Polish.
All right, sorry.
That's all right.
No, there was a last minute change.
So the Freeport Police Department is currently in the fifth year of a five-year plan to replace
the portable handheld Motorola radios currently being utilized by all sworn police officers.
Their main radios in circulation still function, however they have reached end of life.
Currently Motorola is the only supplier of portable handheld police radios.
The Police Department has received a quote to replace 10 Motorola handheld police radios and accessories at a total cost of $63,596.10.
Funding for the 10 portable handheld Motorola radios and accessories is provided in Fiscal Year 2026 Police Department Capital Budget 331-302-7000 where $65,000 was budgeted for this purchase.
Thank you. Do I have a motion?
So moved.
Second.
The Radios, the Motorola's, they're not the only competitors on the market because they
can be integrated with Motorola or replacement of Motorola at very cheap prices, am I correct?
That's from the information I was given today by Lieutenant Weichel, he said Motorola was
I understand being the only supplier but they don't hold monopoly on competitors radios that could be standards also for replacement of motor rollers for a better option. Have we inspected that option as well?
Manager, Boyer, Alderman, Sanders, these are Starcom radios so they're they're not
available on the open market. They're specific for law enforcement.
Motorola has a pretty good clamp on that market. Yeah. Madam Clerk? Parker? Aye.
Stacey, Shadle, Sanders, Sellers, Klemm, Johnson, Simmons, and that resolution is adopted 8-0 as well.
Thank you. Adoption of resolution R-2026-39.
Resolution approving a quote from J&R Supply for the purchase of sewer and storm system manhole replacement castings and materials.
Thank you. Manager Boyer? Yes, thank you Alderman Shadle. This year we've got a lot
of construction and we've got a lot of manholes that need to be repaired, fixed,
whatever is part of our street program. So the city staff has received quotes
from our sewer castings and lid material supplier for the knee-high
representative. The utility staff requested a large order for more for
and Staff recommends moving forward with the material purchase.
Thank you. Do we have a motion?
So moved.
Second.
Motion by Klemm, second by Sellers. Discussion?
Yeah.
Alderman Sanders.
Yeah. There's one item probably, maybe not at all important, but what about the water
boxes to the water mains when they are defective and need to be repaired and replaced?
and Need to be repaired and replaced, especially on the new main roads, the new highways, the
new whatever that we are installing right now. Those have to have the at the first initial
installment of that road, they should have the adequate water boxes when they install
that where they don't have to come back and make repairs to it, tearing up the street
on a second time around on the very same street to replace water boxes I just I
was just curious are we adding that in are we including those items yes in the
Parker, Stacy, Shadle, Sanders, Sellers, Klemm, Johnson, and Simmons.
The resolution is adopted 8-0.
Thank you, moving on to Item 22 is Reports of Department Heads, Finance, Community Development.
Hi, I just wanted to remind everybody, it snowed a lot today, I hope that you are safe,
but keep in mind that we do want sidewalks shoveled so that kids can get to school and
anybody who needs to walk on the sidewalk can get to work tomorrow morning, so please
Help your neighbors out and get those sidewalks shoveled
so that everybody can get where they need to go safely.
Thank you.
And that's a 24-hour from the snowfall?
Yeah, 12 hours, yeah.
Public Works?
Yeah, just a few things.
I'd really like to thank our Public Works crews for starting
around, actually, they work Sunday night salting.
And they started this morning around 3 o'clock plowing streets
didn't finish up till this afternoon. Appreciate their dedication to getting it done. I want to let everybody know that we're not going to continue to haul snow out over the next few days. We're not going to do major plow backs. It's going to be up in the 50s by Thursday. So a lot of this is going to melt away quickly. So we don't want to waste city fuel and manpower hauling snow away that's going to melt. I'd like to thank Randy Kolbauer who came to the
This meeting and last meeting shows her interest in the department and helping us rewrite the
ordinances for the MS4 and the erosion and the Julie stuff.
She didn't have to come, but she's been at the last two meetings.
The 1719 Main Street demo, obviously with the weather, it's slowed down a little bit.
So as the stone melts away, we hope to see some action there next week.
You'll see probably fences coming in this week if they haven't got in there.
And then just a reminder to all the Aldermen that at the next meeting, we will have had
three bid openings for street projects for this year.
So be package A, B, and C that'll be on the next agenda to move forward so we can start
the construction process earlier this year, hopefully.
Thank you.
IT?
Nothing tonight. Fire. Nothing this evening. And I don't think I forgot anybody. City Manager. Thank you Alderman. I just wanted to also put a little highlight. I want something there and just mentioned. So over the last 24 hours, Freeport and Stevenson County experienced a significant late season winter storm with the National Weather Service
Placing, Blizzard Warning & Reporting Hazardous Conditions, Accumulating Snow, Blowing & Drifting Snow, Wind Gusts, 40-45 mph, Official Snow Fall Reporting, Illinois 24-hour totals, 9 inches, Border Storm Area, Reduced Visibility, Bitter Cold & Difficult Travel Conditions
Well, at this time, it is my understanding that we completed snow removal operations without
any property damage or employee injuries, which reflect a safe, disciplined, and highly
professional response by our crews, and I just want to personally thank them very much
for their hard work this last 24 hours.
Thank you.
That takes us to Council Announcement.
Alderman Klemm?
Okay, we have a Neighborhood Watch coming up next week on 423 at Schwartz Funeral Home
and also I want to echo the good job that the public works done.
I did see them out last night probably about 7 o'clock putting salt down on all the main
thoroughfares and stuff so they really did do a good job and we're by this morning so
thank you guys.
Alderman Johnson?
Alderman Johnson? Yes, we have a neighborhood watch meeting this Thursday at 6 30 p.m. at 3002 Farmedale Lane.
Thank you. Alderman Simmons? I don't have anything. Thank you. Well, I do want to say that the street
crews did an awesome job. It was a lot of snow and by the afternoon you were all able to get out and move around like it never happened.
Thank you Alderman Parker. Just our Neighborhood Watch meeting is next Monday night, 4th Monday of the month. Thank you.
Yes, I would like to announce my 5th Ward Neighborhood Watch tomorrow at the Church on the corner of Carroll and Empire at 6 o'clock.
And also, I believe, Alderman, Johnson, if you could help me with this, that there's a public forum meeting this week.
What are you talking about? Are you talking about for the tower?
Yes.
I believe that's April 2nd, isn't it?
So the Zoning Board of Appeals for the JC Wi-Fi Tower will be on April 2nd. They are hosting a, JC Wi-Fi is going to host a town hall here at City Hall. That day will, that will be announced tomorrow, the day in time.
What I would like to see happen is when we have a meeting of that nature coming up that
the community have say so that it's announced so that we know what is coming up.
It's always publicly noticed on the website.
Okay, I understand that, but I'm just asking that they be announced here at the council.
If that's asking too much, then I'll take it from the rep and announce it myself, but
I'm just trying to...
There is a schedule of regular meetings on the website when you can go to any Zoning
Board meeting, and when I post agendas on Friday, emails go to over 100 people.
they go on the website and and the board back here by OMA regulations. Do we have a time on that? On the town hall? Yeah. That will be announced tomorrow. It will be published on the website tomorrow. We're just finalizing some some details today. Thank you. I have nothing. Alderman Sanders? Yeah, I have one request and recommendation that I'd like to propose
Stand Valentine House to Council that
we get behind senior citizens within our city
and create a program that will allow us or them
if they're certain age can get before they
get out of their house because of massive snow
like we have today.
I don't know if they have
a sign-up program where they can call in
and say that they need to get out
because in the case of emergencies,
you have elderly stuck in the home they can't they can't get out on the sidewalks and things of that
nature even onto the to the vehicles i'm just wondering if there's a program that we can put
together that will allow them to call in or because of the you have to be a certain age
that you can't you know get out and physically get out there in that snow like today was you know i
I saw older people out trying to mask that snow,
trying to get as much as they can out,
but you know how snow is, it can affect their health
in trying to remove snow.
So I was just wondering if we can make,
we can adopt something, put something together
to allow them to be able to call in
and ask for a little help.
That's all I have to say.
Alderman, Sellers. I have nothing. Thank you. It leads us to public comments, agenda
or non-agenda. My name is Marcus Signer. I've been here my whole life. A lot of
things have changed. I had a question. Something happened today and I have a
real real concern on it. I was wondering
on it. I was wondering, you're a lieutenant and everything is, what's your schedule?
Working at the police station?
They can't answer questions. This is comments only. OK.
So I can't ask Stacy a question because I feel she was only one
who actually answered the question.
Well, this is not a forum for questions. This is a forum.
Well, all I have to say is today I got threatened for my life.
Individual got a shovel while I was on a property
Suttman, removing snow, called the police, police came, basically the guy, police officer
was a straight mean person to me.
I had other witnesses there that said they seen this individual hit my truck with a shovel.
I showed the officer the trail of my truck where I wasn't going towards him, I was going
the opposite way so he can't try to say that was the excuse for hitting my vehicle.
I had one of his officers there basically went up to the guy basically hey put a no
trespassing on him so then he can't even do the property that he has a contract
on when I was the victim today there wasn't no arrest there was nothing done
what they do with me if someone was assaulting me they wouldn't even be
arrested that day I have a problem with Freeport police like they target me if
when I call them they won't help me they all they would do is say we'll do a
Police Report will send it to Carl Larson. Carl Larson is friends with also Steve Stovall, who said he was going to harm me. And when he seasoned on a four wheeler, he was going to harm me. So Carl Larson, I feel is really close to certain individuals. That's why we're not getting the right justice here. If I was to threaten somebody today, I would be arrested like this. There wouldn't be no, can we send the paperwork to Carl Larson to see if there's enough evidence? Like, what is it going to take?
and then all that happens is if I call the police and say someone did something to me,
the police will write it up like he wants to press charges on me for something I never did,
just for calling for help. That's crazy to me. That's crazy to me.
And Carl Larson is number one in charge and he's friends with Steve Stovall who threatened me.
Of course he ain't going to like me. He still affiliates with them.
And I come here to say too, my worry right now is if Thurman gets in there,
I'm definitely screwed. They will put me under the bus and put false stuff on me.
Thurman is real real close to Steve Stovall. So if they are colleagues
together, you think I have a shot at real justice? No. It's a setup. And I learned
in this city we can all come to about safety and all this. How can we do safety
when law enforcement's threatening us? They're the one who's supposed to serve
We can't do nothing because it's up to Carl Larson and Carl Larson will not do a damn thing about it if it has something with law enforcement.
Sir, your time's up.
Three minutes. Thank you.
Anyone else?
I would take a motion for adjournment.
So move.
Second.
Motion by Sellers, second by Johnson. All in favor?