# Meeting Events

Meeting: `bsmw4hbtrvu.committee_of_the_whole_7_14_2025`

Meeting date: `2025-07-14`

Meeting type: `committee_of_the_whole`

This is a deterministic derived artifact, not official meeting minutes. Related records may be grouped for review while complete machine provenance remains in the JSON artifact.

## Decisions and Votes

- **Approval of Agenda Item Number Four** — Passed
  - **Summary:** Motion to approve item number four (approval of the agenda).
  - **Evidence:** “Item number four is approval of the agenda. Is there such a motion? So moved.”
  - **Evidence:** “All those in favor signify by saying aye. Aye. Opposed? That motion passes.”
  - **Source timestamp:** [01:10](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BSMw4HBTrVU&t=70s)

- **Approval of Minutes from June 9th, 2025** — Passed
  - **Summary:** Motion to approve the minutes from the Committee of the Whole meeting held on June 9th, 2025.
  - **Evidence:** “Item number five is approval of the minutes from the Committee of the Whole meeting held on June 9th, 2025. Is there a motion? We have a motion made by Alderman Shadle seconded by Alderman Johnson”
  - **Evidence:** “all those in favor signify by saying aye aye opposed that motion passes”
  - **Source timestamp:** [01:32](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BSMw4HBTrVU&t=92s)

- **Moving ordinance forward for first reading**
  - **Summary:** Alderman Shadle moved to move the ordinance forward.
  - **Evidence:** “Make a motion, move this forward. Second.”
  - **Source timestamp:** [48:36](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BSMw4HBTrVU&t=2916s)

- **Moving ordinance forward to next meeting**
  - **Summary:** A vote was taken on moving the item forward to the next regularly scheduled meeting.
  - **Evidence:** “If there's no further discussion, all those in favor of moving this forward to the next regularly scheduled meetings, signify by saying aye. Aye.”
  - **Source timestamp:** [49:35](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BSMw4HBTrVU&t=2975s)

- **Closing prayer by Alderman Stacy** — Passed
  - **Summary:** Alderman Stacy closed the proceedings with a prayer.
  - **Evidence:** “Alderman Stacy. I just want to close out in prayer. Father God, in the name of Jesus, you are the author and the finisher of our faith. So Father God, I lose your healing power over the city of Freeport, and I speak to the north, the south, the east, and the West, O God. Thank you Lord Jesus for opening up our eye gates and our ear gates that we may hear and understand what you are calling for Freeport this season, O God. Continue to order our steps according to your word for we know if you don't do it, it won't be done. So now we just give you the honor the praise and the glory for you alone are worthy and we speak victory over this city for it will be all that you intended to be it carries the name free port for a reason and I just speak healing and and Victor in Jesus name. Amen.”

- **Adjournment of meeting** — Passed
  - **Summary:** Vote on the motion to adjourn was passed.
  - **Evidence:** “I will entertain a motion for adjournment. So move.”
  - **Evidence:** “Second. All those in favor? Aye.”
  - **Source timestamp:** [59:51](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BSMw4HBTrVU&t=3591s)

## Procedural Actions

- **Calling the Committee of the Whole to Order**
  - **Summary:** The meeting was called to order.
  - **Evidence:** “Now we'll call this committee of committee of the whole meeting to order.”
  - **Source timestamp:** [00:37](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BSMw4HBTrVU&t=37s)

- **Pledge of Allegiance**
  - **Summary:** The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Alderman and Stacy.
  - **Evidence:** “And if you could please stand for the Pledge of Allegiance led by Alder and Stacy.”
  - **Source timestamp:** [00:37](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BSMw4HBTrVU&t=37s)

- **Ordinance Advancement to Council Review**
  - **Summary:** If council moves forward tonight, the speaker will draft the ordinance for presentation at the next City Council meeting for first reading.
  - **Evidence:** “And so just a touch on process that if the council tonight at this committee meeting decides to move votes to move forward then I'll draft the ordinance there so that it will be brought back to you guys at the next city council meeting for first read there so but again you guys got a vote to move forward so I have direction to actually draft the ordinance up.”
  - **Source timestamp:** [45:42](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BSMw4HBTrVU&t=2742s)

- **Motion to move ordinance forward**
  - **Summary:** The motion made by Alderman Shadle was seconded by Alderman Klemm.
  - **Evidence:** “We have a motion made by Alderman Shadle, seconded by Alderman Klemm.”
  - **Source timestamp:** [48:36](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BSMw4HBTrVU&t=2916s)

- **Public comment period continuation**
  - **Summary:** The chair asked if there were any other public comments.
  - **Evidence:** “Any other public comment? Go ahead, Tommy.”
  - **Source timestamp:** [51:41](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BSMw4HBTrVU&t=3101s)

- **Public comment period continuation**
  - **Summary:** The chair asked if there were any other public comments.
  - **Evidence:** “Any other public comments? Oh, I have. Go ahead.”
  - **Source timestamp:** [56:42](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BSMw4HBTrVU&t=3402s)

## Ordinances and Resolutions

- **Updates for overweight and oversized permitting ordinance (Section 460.16)**
  - **Summary:** The City of Freeport has an ordinance section 460.16 requiring updates/modifications for overweight and oversized permitting, proposing changes to include a fee structure, mandatory route submission, and specific penalty amounts.
  - **Attribution:** City Staff/Attorney
  - **Evidence:** “The City of Freeport has codified an ordinance section 460.16 that requires updates and modifications for overweight and oversized permitting. One of the challenges here is many communities have updated ordinances related to this. We have a lot of folks coming through town using accessing our transportation network and one of the challenges is we need an opportunity to have a fee to recover the costs that are related to reviewing that permit and also that gives us the opportunity to keep heavy loads off of certain routes. When we repave a new Street in town. We don't necessarily want a shorter route that happens to go across our newly paved street to take priority over an other route that may be a little longer, but doesn't take doesn't take operators right through some of our nicest redone sections. So city staff and the attorney are suggested in the following changes in 460.11 section. So the title should be modified to say overweight and oversized vehicles, create an Wait and oversized City of Freeport permit that has to be submitted with the exact route for the trip permitting process and invoicing methods. Permitting should be required inside city limits, no matter what roads are being used within the city limits, including state IDOT routes, as they can still turn off onto local streets once they come into city limits. We need to add 625 ILCS 5-15301 to this section, and that created an O and O, a fee schedule that currently does not exist, and that would include $150 for an individual one-time permit, $1,200 for an annual permit, and the annual permits are tied to the individual license plate of the vehicle only. The oversized and overweight vehicle will still need to report the exact route every time by email with permit numbers each time for record approval. Also suggest a $500 penalty for non-compliance of permitting. The penalties in 422.99 are set at a $100 penalty and companies will not get permits and will change if it's not increased. So staff and the attorney time is the only financial impact to this at this point and staff recommends this ordinance amendment. If applicable, it will be done for the July 21st meeting for council approval.”
  - **Source timestamp:** [30:13](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BSMw4HBTrVU&t=1813s)

## Presentations and Reports

- **Tree City USA Recognition and Status Update**
  - **Summary:** Manager Boyer presented on Freeport's status as a Tree City USA Community, noting past recognitions and current standards.
  - **Evidence:** “Item number seven which is the presentation of the Tree City USA manager Boyer thank you honor good evening everyone it's a privilege to stand before you tonight to accept on On behalf of the City of Freeport, I renew designation as Tree City USA Community. Since 2021, Freeport has proudly held this recognition and in 2023, we earned the Tree City USA Growth Award, acknowledging our measurable progress in expanding and improving urban forestry in meaningful ways.”
  - **Source timestamp:** [01:44](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BSMw4HBTrVU&t=104s)

- **Fire and Police Pension Actuary Reports**
  - **Summary:** Jen Turk presented an overview of the pension fund status, noting funding levels and required contributions.
  - **Evidence:** “Item number eight is the presentation of the Fire and Police Pension Actuary Reports. Jen Turk. I'm Jen Turk, I'm from Neihart, we're the actuaries for the police and fire plans.”
  - **Source timestamp:** [05:51](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BSMw4HBTrVU&t=351s)

- **Asset performance metrics for 2024**
  - **Summary:** Market value assets showed about a 10% return in 2024, while the actuarial value, which smooths returns, was at about four and a half percent.
  - **Attribution:** Don.
  - **Evidence:** “So the market value for 2024 was about 10% returns. There's another kind of asset value that we use which is called that actuarial value And that's more of a smoothed value where we average out a few years of returns So we don't have big spikes in the contributions So when we look at the return on that basis, we are at about four and a half”
  - **Source timestamp:** [07:11](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BSMw4HBTrVU&t=431s)

- **Asset Value Volatility Comparison**
  - **Summary:** The market value (red line) is volatile based on daily market swings, whereas the actuarial value (black line) smooths these returns over several years for long-term planning.
  - **Attribution:** Don.
  - **Evidence:** “So to kind of take away some of that volatility of that red line. Those are rates of return. We kind of smooth in, kind of do an averaging of investment returns... So you can see the black line. That's the actual value, smooth value. You can see it still has some peaks and valleys, but it really cuts through and kind of tries to maintain a little bit more of steady progress for your long-term planning.”
  - **Source timestamp:** [10:51](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BSMw4HBTrVU&t=651s)

- **Freeport partnership quarterly report focus on jobs**
  - **Summary:** The presentation will focus on job data based on feedback received from previous reports. In May 2025, there were 927 unique job postings by 249 employers in Stephenson County.
  - **Attribution:** Andrea Schultz-Winter
  - **Evidence:** “We took some feedback that we had received from previous reports asking questions about jobs. So that's where we're going to focus... There was in the month of May 927 unique job postings in May 2025 by 249 employers.”
  - **Source timestamp:** [16:54](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BSMw4HBTrVU&t=1014s)

- **Future focus areas for community development**
  - **Summary:** Three key areas identified from public engagement sessions are financial education (helping renters become homeowners), housing improvement resources for existing homeowners, and strategies for increasing residential units through partnerships.
  - **Attribution:** Don
  - **Evidence:** “Future effort. What we heard from those engagement sessions from the public is that work will really need to be focused in three separate areas. One will be around financial education, helping that renter become the future homeowner. And what's the pathways to do that? Housing improvement. What resources are out there? If I'm a homeowner, if I'm already a homeowner, how do I access some of these resources to improve my residence? And then housing growth. How do we get more residential units to come online? And that's where the partnerships work will really be focused.”
  - **Source timestamp:** [20:19](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BSMw4HBTrVU&t=1219s)

- **Childcare workforce support and information campaign**
  - **Summary:** Plans include developing a public information campaign in the third quarter, targeting employers with existing childcare resources (like YWCA services), building capacity for new providers, and providing processes for in-home child care.
  - **Attribution:** Don
  - **Evidence:** “Additionally, in childcare, we know that there are many people who would like to enter the workforce or return to the workforce after having a child, but they have nowhere for their young one to go. So we developed a survey to engage our childcare providers as well as our employers to really We understand what the impact of those shortages are. These responses are being used to inform a public information campaign that will be launched in the third quarter. But I can tell you already that some of those focus areas of that campaign are going to be around targeting our employers to let our employers know what child care resources do exist. Some people don't know that the YWCA is a service area within Freeport and they provide We're connecting those resources with the HR department, so when they have employers that come to them and say, hey, I'd really like to come up to show up for my shift, but I'm having trouble finding childcare, they can help connect those dots. Some of the other things we're going to be talking about is trying to build that capacity, attracting new childcare providers, also helping those that are here, how do they grow more slots, how do they expand? Sand. And if there are any in-home child care providers that are in existence or there are more that want to come online, what resources, what processes do they need to go through to offer in-home child care? And lastly, also targeting the information for parents and guardians, helping them know what resources are out there.”
  - **Source timestamp:** [21:38](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BSMw4HBTrVU&t=1298s)

- **Talent attraction strategy for Freeport/Stephenson County**
  - **Summary:** The strategy involves highlighting community advancements to attract people back, focusing on alumni families and young families. It emphasizes that housing and childcare barriers must be addressed concurrently with employer outreach.
  - **Attribution:** Monroe
  - **Evidence:** “Good evening. We have spoke to you in previous presentations regarding our talent attraction strategy. That was really trying to organically grow who we got back to Freeport. So letting people know who were here, hey, this is really great. Things are advancing. Here's some new opportunities that are happening. Come on back. It was hard to reach people that way. So we're being much more creative about that now, being a little bit leaning into the weird is the one session I listened to the other day, but just saying you've grown up, so have we and kind of highlighting some of the ways that our community continues to thrive and bringing the people back who want to be part of that progressive movement. So one of them is bringing back alumni families, people who already have a connection to this Settlers, and then also young families, because that is the demographic that's going to help us continue to enrich our communities. And as Andrea said, some of those barriers are housing and childcare. So again, all of this kind of has to work at the same time.”
  - **Source timestamp:** [23:04](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BSMw4HBTrVU&t=1384s)

- **Business support services for growth**
  - **Summary:** Services include holding a session on succession planning to help businesses transition ownership, and hosting an annual home show for small businesses and contractors to interact with the public.
  - **Attribution:** Don
  - **Evidence:** “One of the ways we work on jobs is we try and help existing businesses to thrive and we help those who want to start businesses to get access to the tools and the resources that help them grow. So we've done a few things in the last quarter on that realm. One we held a session on succession planning. We know that one of the reasons some businesses close is because business owners can't or and John. We have a lot of people who don't want to continue and they have a hard time finding someone, they don't have someone to follow, to take over the business for them. And so we held a session working with a local law firm to talk about those strategies and to start planning that early on before you need it. [...] We also had a home show in April, a home show, it's the second, third time we've done the home show, and it's just an opportunity for some of our businesses, our contractors, our small businesses to interact with people.”
  - **Source timestamp:** [26:28](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BSMw4HBTrVU&t=1588s)

- **Business support and local economic development initiatives**
  - **Summary:** Details on business support programs including a home show with over 30 participating businesses, the Basecamp program which had 14 participants (11 women, 3 men) leading to two new businesses opening, and the proposed CEO program in conjunction with the Freeport School District.
  - **Attribution:** Miller
  - **Evidence:** “We also had a home show in April, a home show, it's the second, third time we've done the home show, and it's just an opportunity for some of our businesses, our contractors, our small businesses to interact with people. Miller. We have a wide range of usually small businesses that participate. Over 30 businesses this year participated and got to talk to several hundred people that came to the home show. We finished up the 2025 base camp in the beginning of the second quarter. We had our last class and then we had our pitch competition. Our pitch competition was a chance for the and the participants of the Basecamp to show what they learned, to talk about their business, to pitch their competition, their business to a panel of judges that then rated them and we were able to give out over $6,000 in prizes, in cash prizes to those businesses so that kind of helps them, you know, thrive and do some things. This year in Basecamp we had 14 participants, 11 women, 3 men, and it was a busy group and I. During the class that started in January and ended in April, we had two of them open businesses. One was Full Circle Cafe, which is in the library, and one was a lawn care business, which was kind of a side business for one of our participants. Another participant changed focus and decided that she was interested in working and purchasing a business, and we helped her connect with a business that was interested in selling and they're actively discussing that and we're working with them about resources. And several other businesses have told us that the skills that they learn and the connections that they made during base camp have helped them with their business. And then the last thing that we have in the entrepreneurial section is our CEO program. This is a brand new program that we're doing in conjunction with the school district, with and the Freeport School District that is a class that doesn't cost the school district anything, and it takes a class full of students, it's a four-credit class, and it teaches them entrepreneurial and business skills, kind of the soft skills, puts them in front of 80 different businesses over the course of the year, and teaches them those soft skills but also teaches them about all the industries that are right here in Freeport that they can they can make a career out of and this is a this the Midland CEO program is already being done in over 70 different communities around the country so there's there it's been road tested So it's been road tested and the evidence shows that there's a lot of those kids that go through that program end up staying in town. They realize they can have a career, they can start a business, they can work for a business that they met during the class and have a very fruitful career. So we're working right now to get that program up and running and we're looking forward to that as a great way to grow some entrepreneurs”
  - **Source timestamp:** [26:49](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BSMw4HBTrVU&t=1609s)

- **Ordinance amendment for oversized/overweight loads**
  - **Summary:** The ordinance amendment is intended to regulate oversized or overweight trucks, specifically those over 80,000 pounds, to protect bridges like the one on Hancock. It proposes a flat fee structure instead of weight-based enforcement due to lack of city-owned certified scales.
  - **Attribution:** Manager Boyer
  - **Evidence:** “So this is not for standard semi loads. This is not for buses. This would not apply to garbage trucks. It would not apply to the fire department. It would not apply to agricultural during season. So our main routes are permitted at 80,000 pounds. So this would be trucks that are over 80,000 pounds, which is the legal load limit. This would also protect our bridge that we have on Hancock.”
  - **Source timestamp:** [33:35](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BSMw4HBTrVU&t=2015s)

- **Ordinance amendment for oversized/overweight loads**
  - **Summary:** The ordinance formalizes a record-keeping process for oversized and overweight permits, which has historically been handled informally via email or word of mouth.
  - **Attribution:** Manager Boyer
  - **Evidence:** “it does seem that it has never really been a permit processed to it, where there's actual physical permit filled out. It was always just kind of done by emails or word of mouth, and I would like to formalize something that is a record keeping process just like our other permits, so it's fair to all and everybody has to do the same standards to be able to have it done.”
  - **Source timestamp:** [35:12](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BSMw4HBTrVU&t=2112s)

- **Reason for ordinance amendment (State detours)**
  - **Summary:** The need for this ordinance arose because the state of Illinois began detouring oversized loads onto local roads, specifically Henderson Road, which is not designed for such weight.
  - **Attribution:** Manager Boyer
  - **Evidence:** “I do want to let you guys know the reason this came up was the state of Illinois has been detouring oversized loads outside of town down Henderson Road. We own Henderson Road and it's a local road to the city limits and they're killing that road and breaking it apart.”
  - **Source timestamp:** [36:28](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BSMw4HBTrVU&t=2188s)

- **Proposed Ordinance Changes for Contractor Fees**
  - **Summary:** The current permit process is expected to resolve most issues; the goal is to get council backing for fees so contractors are incentivized to comply correctly from the start.
  - **Evidence:** “So I think this process here would clean up 90% of all the issues that we're having at this time and the good contractors that come through town they're good about calling and giving us routes and that and I direct them on the routes as I see fit or say please don't go on this street or don't go over this bridge type stuff but this would clean up the process currently is very hard within our system to find this process and so we want to bring We want to bring it to light. We want to get council backing of it. We want to have fees that honestly have contractors want to do it right the first time.”
  - **Source timestamp:** [42:39](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BSMw4HBTrVU&t=2559s)

## Metrics

- **2024 Market Value of Pension Assets**
  - **Summary:** The market value for 2024 was about 10% returns.
  - **Evidence:** “So the market value for 2024 was about 10% returns.”
  - **Source timestamp:** [07:11](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BSMw4HBTrVU&t=431s)

- **Actuarial Value Return Basis**
  - **Summary:** When looking at the return on the actuarial basis, the rate is about four and a half.
  - **Evidence:** “So when we look at the return on that basis, we are at about four and a half”
  - **Source timestamp:** [07:11](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BSMw4HBTrVU&t=431s)

- **Census and Salary Increases**
  - **Summary:** The counts went up slightly, and salary increases were just barely higher than expected on both plans, very close to what the assumptions would be.
  - **Attribution:** Don.
  - **Evidence:** “Not a lot of movement with the census Davis, the counts went up slightly, salary increases were just barely higher than expected on both plans, very close to what the assumptions would be.”
  - **Source timestamp:** [07:11](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BSMw4HBTrVU&t=431s)

- **Funding Percentages and Contributions**
  - **Summary:** The funding percentages came down just a hair from last year because the actuarial value rate of return was a little bit less than the hurdle rate of 6-7-5, and contributions will go up depending on the assumptions used.
  - **Attribution:** Don.
  - **Evidence:** “The funding percentages came down just a hair from last year, and that's because of that actuarial value rate of return being a little bit less than your, you know, hurdle rate, if you will, of 6-7-5, and then the contributions go up a little bit depending on which set of Assumptions, the board decides to use.”
  - **Source timestamp:** [07:54](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BSMw4HBTrVU&t=474s)

- **Participant Information Changes (Active Employees)**
  - **Summary:** The number of active employees increased; three actives from the fire plan left, but six new people were hired. For the police side, six people left during 2024 and 11 were hired.
  - **Attribution:** Don.
  - **Evidence:** “So you can see from last year to this year, both the actives, which is current employees had gone up. I think three actives from the fire plan had left, but then six new people were hired. And this counts as of January 1st. So that could have changed a little in the interim. A little bit more turnover on the police side even. There was, I believe six people had left during 2024 and 11 were hired.”
  - **Source timestamp:** [08:50](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BSMw4HBTrVU&t=530s)

- **Average Age and Service Changes (Police)**
  - **Summary:** The average age came down due to turnover where more mature police officers were replaced by younger hires, causing service to also go down slightly on the police side.
  - **Attribution:** Don.
  - **Evidence:** “On the right hand side, you can see that the average age came down a little bit and that was due to that turnover. So you lost a couple of, you know, longer tenured, you know, I don't wanna say older, but more mature police officers getting hired in younger guys. So age went down, service went down a little bit on that police side just because of that turnover.”
  - **Source timestamp:** [10:01](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BSMw4HBTrVU&t=601s)

- **Funded Percentage Comparison**
  - **Summary:** Last year's funded percentage was just under 98%; if current assumptions are maintained, the funded percentage is projected to be at 96% this year.
  - **Attribution:** Don.
  - **Evidence:** “You can see you're very well funded. Last year, that first column is the last prior evaluation. You were at just a hair under 98%. This year, if we keep all of the assumptions that we use, so salary increases, mortality, how long people are gonna live, if we keep that all the same for this valuation, we'd be at that middle column. So you can see the funded percentage comes down a little bit from a hair under 98 down to 96.”
  - **Source timestamp:** [12:09](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BSMw4HBTrVU&t=729s)

- **Contribution Calculation Components**
  - **Summary:** The total normal cost represents the value of all officers and firefighters working another year. Employee contributions are paid at about 10 percent, and amortization is used to pay off unfunded liability over approximately 15 years.
  - **Attribution:** Don.
  - **Evidence:** “So that total normal cost, kind of the first line, that's the value of all the officers and the firefighters working another year... Employees pay a portion of that, so that's what that employee contribution line is. They pay 9.9, I think we're at, or 10 percent-ish... Then that amortization, kind of in the middle of the calculation, that's where we're paying off that unfunded liability. So it's being gradually recognized, kind of like a mortgage, for the next 15 years I think we're at now.”
  - **Source timestamp:** [13:16](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BSMw4HBTrVU&t=796s)

- **Projected Contribution Costs (Fire)**
  - **Summary:** The contribution is projected to increase from $700 up to $850 for the fire, or about $791,000 if new assumptions are adopted.
  - **Attribution:** Don.
  - **Evidence:** “So the contribution, if we make no changes, is going to go from $700 up to $850 for the fire. If we adopt, if the fire board and the police board adopt new assumptions that we're looking at, it'll be about $791,000 for the contribution.”
  - **Source timestamp:** [13:43](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BSMw4HBTrVU&t=823s)

- **Unemployment rate comparison**
  - **Summary:** The unemployment rate in Freeport increased slightly from April to May 2025, but remains below the state average of 4.8% and the national rate of 4.2%.
  - **Attribution:** Andrea Schultz-Winter
  - **Evidence:** “I want to draw your attention to a couple of key items was the unemployment rate in Freeport went up slightly from April of this year to, from April to May 2025... However, our unemployment rate is still below the state average, which is a 4.8%. And the national rate is right at 4.2 as well.”
  - **Source timestamp:** [16:28](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BSMw4HBTrVU&t=988s)

- **Job posting wage data**
  - **Summary:** The median wage for unique job postings in May 2025 was $26.40 per hour, equating to about $55,000 per year.
  - **Attribution:** Andrea Schultz-Winter
  - **Evidence:** “Of those job postings, the median wage was $26.40 per hour, which equates to about $55,000 per year.”
  - **Source timestamp:** [17:18](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BSMw4HBTrVU&t=1038s)

- **Postcard mailing response rate for new residents**
  - **Summary:** Out of 158 postcards mailed to new residents in Stephenson County during the second quarter, 15 returned, representing a 10% return rate.
  - **Attribution:** Monroe
  - **Evidence:** “Actually 158 postcards were mailed to new residents in the second quarter, that's in all of Stephenson County. But it's what I'm gonna say it's passive when you mail out a postcard, we can't, I don't have more contact information than just the address that they purchased. But we've had 15 of those return back to us. So 10% and say, yeah, I wanna know more about Freeport or Stephenson County or where I live.”
  - **Source timestamp:** [24:22](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BSMw4HBTrVU&t=1462s)

- **Community event impact metrics**
  - **Summary:** The community church event resulted in 422 people praying for them, 13 salvations, and 6 rededications.
  - **Evidence:** “We had a report that we ended up praying for 422 people and we had 13 salvations and 6 rededications”
  - **Source timestamp:** [56:42](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BSMw4HBTrVU&t=3402s)

- **Community event resources given**
  - **Summary:** 930 bottles of free water were given away.
  - **Evidence:** “and we gave away 930 bottles of free water”
  - **Source timestamp:** [56:42](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BSMw4HBTrVU&t=3402s)

## Discussion

- **Fire contribution calculation changes**
  - **Summary:** The fire contribution is projected to increase from $700 up to $850 if no changes are made, but could be about $791,000 for the contribution if the fire board and police board adopt new assumptions.
  - **Attribution:** Don
  - **Evidence:** “So the contribution, if we make no changes, is going to go from $700 up to $850 for the fire. If we adopt, if the fire board and the police board adopt new assumptions that we're looking at, it'll be about $791,000 for the contribution.”
  - **Source timestamp:** [13:43](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BSMw4HBTrVU&t=823s)

- **Police funding percentage changes**
  - **Summary:** The funded percentage decreases slightly with old assumptions and increases slightly with new assumptions. The contribution could go up to about 482,000 if everything stays the same, or to 430,000 if the board adopts proposed changes.
  - **Attribution:** Don
  - **Evidence:** “The funded percentage comes down just a little bit if we keep the old assumptions, comes up a hair if we keep the new assumptions. Similar story for the contribution goes and so on. It goes up to about 482,000 if we keep everything the same. And if we adopt those changes that the board's going to look at, we'll be at 430,000, give or take a couple thousand.”
  - **Source timestamp:** [14:04](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BSMw4HBTrVU&t=844s)

- **Barriers to employment and community needs**
  - **Summary:** Employers' primary barrier to growth is having enough qualified employees or talent. Community success requires childcare, an intentional talent attraction campaign, training opportunities, and ensuring new residents are 'sticky' in the community.
  - **Attribution:** Andrea Schultz-Winter
  - **Evidence:** “about 73 to date, is that employers would like to grow. Their barrier to growth is having enough qualified employees, qualified talent... You need childcare. You need a purposeful, intentional talent attraction campaign. You need training opportunities. We need, once we get a new resident here, we need to make sure that they're sticky, that they know what's going on in the community, that they get involved, that they understand”
  - **Source timestamp:** [18:38](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BSMw4HBTrVU&t=1118s)

- **Housing needs identified by public engagement**
  - **Summary:** Public feedback from stakeholder engagement sessions indicated a need for focus in three areas: financial education to help renters become homeowners, resources for existing homeowners to improve residences, and strategies for increasing the number of residential units coming online.
  - **Attribution:** Andrea Schultz-Winter
  - **Evidence:** “Future effort. What we heard from those engagement sessions from the public is that work will really need to be focused in three separate areas. One will be around financial education, helping that renter become the future homeowner. And what's the pathways to do that? Housing improvement. What resources are out there? If I'm a homeowner, if I'm already a homeowner, how do I access some of these resources to improve my residence? And then housing growth. How do we get more residential units to come online?”
  - **Source timestamp:** [20:19](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BSMw4HBTrVU&t=1219s)

- **Scope and application of proposed overweight and oversized permitting ordinance changes**
  - **Summary:** Clarification that the new regulations apply only to trucks over 80,000 pounds (the legal load limit) and do not apply to standard semi loads, buses, garbage trucks, fire department vehicles, or agricultural equipment during season.
  - **Attribution:** Speaker
  - **Evidence:** “So this is not for standard semi loads. This is not for buses. This would not apply to garbage trucks. It would not apply to the fire department. It would not apply to agricultural during season. So our main routes are permitted at 80,000 pounds. So this would be trucks that are over 80,000 pounds, which is the legal load limit. This would also protect our bridge that we have on Hancock.”
  - **Source timestamp:** [33:35](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BSMw4HBTrVU&t=2015s)

- **Protection of municipal infrastructure from heavy loads**
  - **Summary:** The speaker noted concerns about overweight loads using roads like Empire Street and Pearl City Road, emphasizing the need to protect public investments in road infrastructure.
  - **Attribution:** Manager Boyer
  - **Evidence:** “Manager Boyer? I just wanted to also add to that. We've had a number of different cases where large heavy oversized loads have been trying to detour onto Empire Street. Obviously, we've invested quite a bit there. And we're not terribly interested in having overweight loads going down Empire to Pearl City Road.”
  - **Source timestamp:** [37:29](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BSMw4HBTrVU&t=2249s)

- **Tracking damage from oversized loads**
  - **Summary:** The speaker highlighted that a formal permit process would allow the city to track who caused damage (e.g., ripping down cables or electrical lines) when loads detour off established routes.
  - **Attribution:** Manager Boyer
  - **Evidence:** “If we have a permit process, then we can track down who was there during those times and generally find out who has made the damage. If they're driving through the right-of-ways, if they're dragging trailers off streets, and it happens more than you know.”
  - **Source timestamp:** [39:23](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BSMw4HBTrVU&t=2363s)

- **Permitting and Damage Prevention for Infrastructure**
  - **Summary:** The discussion covered the issue of unauthorized damage to infrastructure like cables and electrical lines, emphasizing that a permit process would allow tracking down responsible parties. Specific concerns were raised regarding overweight trucks entering Freeport.
  - **Evidence:** “Something that's happened quite often is they get off route, and they rip down either cable, frontier lines, electrical lines, and without permitting, we don't know who did it, and we can't track it down, and it ends up costing the city time and money that we should be recouping from these Kessler, Robert, John, Michael, Jason, Henry, and many more. And if we have a permit process, we have a lot of people who are not there, and we have a lot of permit ease if they make the damage, but often they just drive away.”
  - **Source timestamp:** [38:10](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BSMw4HBTrVU&t=2290s)

- **Overweight Truck Monitoring Systems**
  - **Summary:** A discussion occurred regarding implementing systems to monitor overweight trucks entering Freeport, suggesting state police involvement for weigh stations and signage guidance.
  - **Evidence:** “I just wanted to find out because I know the state because I know the state police, they have some kind of a system in place to have trucks to come in to weigh that, if they're knowing what their weight capacity is before, while they're traveling the road, before they leave they stable, if they know what their weight capacity is, could they not be instructed to go to some kind of waiting and John. And I think that's a very important mechanism or whatever before they enter into Freeport when they realize that if they see signs on the road that they could be overweight coming throughout, coming through the city, there should be signs like that available so they would be guided long before they reach K. Or they can pay the fee or whatever the case may be is.”
  - **Source timestamp:** [39:51](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BSMw4HBTrVU&t=2391s)

- **Local Weighing Enforcement Capabilities**
  - **Summary:** Staff confirmed local weighing is possible but likely unenforceable without a trained city weights and loads officer; state backup could weigh trucks with portable scales at a potential cost to the city.
  - **Evidence:** “Could we weigh them? Yes, there are places that we could weigh them locally, but it would probably be unenforceable because the city of Freeport doesn't have a weights and loads officer on their staff that is trained. If we specifically wanted to weigh a truck or a group of people that we thought were breaking our ordinance or rules, we could call in a state officer backup with portable scales. I would be unsure if we would have to pay for that or not, because we would likely have to pay for their time in order to bring those scales into town and they do do stings sometimes on state routes to check the oversized loads.”
  - **Source timestamp:** [41:45](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BSMw4HBTrVU&t=2505s)

- **Ordinance Status and Revision Needs**
  - **Summary:** The current ordinance is basic and gives too much discretion to the Public Works Director; a more rigid, firm rule set is desired for fairness across all contractors.
  - **Evidence:** “Attorney Zito, and I won't speak for him, but him and I have looked at the current ordinance, and it's very basic, and it basically leaves a lot of discretion to the Public Works Director that I don't like. I would rather have rigid and firm rules that are not at my discretion, so nobody's getting any favoritism, and that we're just toeing the line that the city should.”
  - **Source timestamp:** [43:55](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BSMw4HBTrVU&t=2635s)

- **Overweight vehicle warning signs and permits**
  - **Summary:** Discussion regarding notifying the public about required permits for overweight and oversized vehicles by adding signs to city limit signs.
  - **Evidence:** “Is there warnings that would notify any overweight vehicle? So part of the process then second fold is once this is done, we would notify on the outside limits of town that permits are required for overweight and oversized. Those are signs that can be added to the city limit signs.”
  - **Source timestamp:** [45:20](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BSMw4HBTrVU&t=2720s)

- **Overweight vehicle restrictions at Hancock Bridge**
  - **Summary:** A concern was raised that weights over 80,000 pounds cannot cross the Hancock Bridge due to its condition.
  - **Evidence:** “So we can move forward with the overweight and overpermit. We will not be able to allow weights that are over 80,000 pounds across the Hancock Bridge. We cannot do that. It's not in good enough shape.”
  - **Source timestamp:** [46:14](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BSMw4HBTrVU&t=2774s)

- **State statute exemption for bridges from overweight restrictions**
  - **Summary:** A discussion point noting that state statute says bridges are always exempt to overweight.
  - **Evidence:** “And in the state statute, if you look through it, it actually says in there, if you adopt the state statute, that bridges are always exempt to overweight.”
  - **Source timestamp:** [46:35](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BSMw4HBTrVU&t=2795s)

- **Enforcement penalties for permits**
  - **Summary:** City Manager Boyer stated that current enforcement has no real penalties or teeth, and they only review and approve permits.
  - **Evidence:** “There's no real penalties or teeth in it. So there's really, they call us, we review their permit, we approve their permit, but we really have no consequence for them not obeying our permit.”
  - **Source timestamp:** [47:06](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BSMw4HBTrVU&t=2826s)

- **Codified ordinance status and need for revision**
  - **Summary:** A concern was raised that the codified ordinance is antiquated, references unfinished sections (like a fee schedule or permit app), and reads too subjectively.
  - **Evidence:** “The question I would have is this codified ordinance is very antiquated been on the books for a long time it references stuff I'm sure it was pulled from somewhere at one point but was never finished with an actual fee Schedula, or a permit app, so it looks like it was started, has a little bit of information to it, but never really brought to the point of a full conclusion here, which is what I'm trying to do, because right now it reads very subjectively, and I just don't like that.”
  - **Source timestamp:** [47:24](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BSMw4HBTrVU&t=2844s)

- **Purpose of moving the ordinance forward**
  - **Summary:** Clarification that the vote is only to move it to a first reading, which will allow drafting and subsequent readings.
  - **Evidence:** “No, we're just voting to move it forward, that's it. To move it to a first reading. To approve them to do the ordinance.”
  - **Source timestamp:** [48:49](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BSMw4HBTrVU&t=2929s)

- **Public funding sufficiency and local economic issues**
  - **Summary:** A speaker questioned the adequacy of a $55,000 salary given rising costs like water bills and criticized tax practices and lack of job opportunities.
  - **Evidence:** “Do you generally think that's enough for the public? You know, you listed actually the issues that you see with that kind of salary up there. You see child care is an issue. You see housing is an issue. You see all these, you listed it. So we should really take a look at what are we doing here. We're forcing our public to require this assistance. Genuinely, $55,000 a year is not enough. We have the water bills that are going higher and higher. You guys are choosing to put back on that grocery tax. Your events that you host, you take money back from us, from those people that you pay $55,000 a year. And there's people that get paid less than that, and there's people of course that get paid more than that. But that's not enough and that's not something to be proud of in this community. Your workers are not thriving, they're surviving. They're paying their bills and that's it. They're lucky to go to your events on that kind of salary. You better hope you have a double income. You're going to have retention with that kind of salary because those kind of people cannot leave. They are stuck working for you unless another opportunity opens up but in this town there's Declanage. There's not. There's not good opportunities for the youth, for anyone. We do nothing here. So take a look at yourself and really look at the core of what are we doing. We're forcing our public to require your help. It's disgusting and it leaves a bad taste in the public's mouth. Thank you.”

- **Cleaners schedule confirmation**
  - **Summary:** A speaker confirmed the date for cleaners regarding a previous discussion.
  - **Evidence:** “Dickleman. You said about the cleaners that's going to be September 3rd? That's right, September 3rd, Tommy.”
  - **Source timestamp:** [51:41](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BSMw4HBTrVU&t=3101s)

## Public Comment

- **Salary adequacy for public services**
  - **Summary:** A resident questioned if a $55,000 salary is sufficient given rising costs like water bills and housing issues.
  - **Evidence:** “I mostly just have a question of the $55,000 salary that you're pretty proud of. Do you generally think that that's enough for the public? You know, you listed actually the issues that you see with that kind of salary up there. You see child care is an issue. You see housing is an issue. You see all these, you listed it. So we should really take a look at what are we doing here. We're forcing our public to require this assistance. Genuinely, $55,000 a year is not enough.”
  - **Source timestamp:** [50:02](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BSMw4HBTrVU&t=3002s)

- **Tree management at Cray Park and along back roads**
  - **Summary:** A speaker inquired about generating saplings from rare trees at Cray Park and whether mature trees on a tree-lined back road would be removed for sapling generation or if the road would remain two lanes.
  - **Evidence:** “Hi, Sue Cook, Winchester Drive, and I have a question about the trees. At Cray Park. The two trees that are very, very rare, will we be taking cuttings from those or anything to kind of generate saplings so that we have the ability to not just have two, but the ability to have more because that's a tourist attraction. That's how you bring in the tourist is to say we have this. This is not in every single park, but we have it. So if we can generate more of the trees, if we can grow more trees, more saplings and use that, I think that would be a wonderful way to add to the tourist attraction. Are you guys hearing this or am I muffled? Okay, good. Then the other is on the tree lined back road that goes back like where you would go to Walmart, going out of the park. I noticed that a lot of the Mormon trees are down. Are you taking the mature trees down to add saplings or will that become a two lane road?”
  - **Source timestamp:** [53:13](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BSMw4HBTrVU&t=3193s)

- **Downtown revitalization proposal based on Monroe's model**
  - **Summary:** A speaker suggested implementing a program similar to one offered by Monroe, which provided zero rent for storefronts for six months with specific guidelines.
  - **Evidence:** “The next is for the GDP. Have you thought about the Monroe idea? Cause we're coming into Christmas and we have these six months and we have a lot of open storefronts. And something that Monroe did that I think that we could do and do very, very well is to offer, Monroe offered these storefronts at a zero rent, zero rent for a period of time. And I think it was six months because they wanted us to run through Christmas. You had specific guidelines. If you didn't meet those guidelines, boom, you were paying rent. You had to have your plan. You submitted your plan ahead of time. The council actually looked at the plans. The mayor and the council, I don't think they have a city manager there, looked at the plans. They filled up their downtown. I think they had one that backed out afterwards.”
  - **Source timestamp:** [54:07](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BSMw4HBTrVU&t=3247s)

- **Positive impact of Tutti-Baker Day festival**
  - **Summary:** A speaker expressed deep appreciation for the community turnout at Tutti-Baker Day, citing specific metrics like 422 people praying for Jesus and 13 salvations.
  - **Evidence:** “I would just like to say that I was really impressed by Tutti-Baker Day this year. It brought a lot of community out and it was just a fun time and it brought a lot of churches out. My church had a tent and we had multiple churches and ministries involved in it and I just want to kind of give a We had a report that we ended up praying for 422 people and we had 13 salvations and 6 rededications and we gave away 930 bottles of free water and it was such a blessing and just to see the community come together like with the community church event that was down there, there was multiple churches that came down there and they worshiped together and I've heard nothing but good things about the fireworks. I don't know if you guys all saw the fireworks They were pretty amazing, and if it wasn't for this festival and bringing the community together, think about it, 422 people said yes to Jesus for us to pray for them. So Tutti Bigger Days made an impact on this community, and it caused unity to come to this community with all the churches coming together, and I just think it's so awesome. So thank you.”
  - **Source timestamp:** [56:42](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BSMw4HBTrVU&t=3402s)

- **Event schedule for '40 days of peace'**
  - **Summary:** The event schedule includes a cleanup on Friday, a resource party on Saturday, and church in the street on Sunday at Knowlton Park.
  - **Evidence:** “What is the event? The same thing as before It's a cleanup on Friday. It's a resource party on Saturday and church in the street on Sunday, and it'll be at Knowlton Park at Norton Park.”
  - **Source timestamp:** [59:33](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BSMw4HBTrVU&t=3573s)

## Proclamations and Recognitions

- **Illinois State Champion Trees Nomination**
  - **Summary:** Two rare American chestnut trees in Freeport were nominated as Illinois State Champion Trees for inclusion in the Illinois Big Tree Register.
  - **Evidence:** “This year we also celebrate a remarkable new recognition. Right here in Freeport we are home to two rare American chestnut trees, a species once nearly wiped out by blight across North America. These trees standing approximately 73 feet tall with a 135 inch circumference have been nominated as Illinois State Champion Trees for the inclusion in the Illinois Big Tree Register.”
  - **Source timestamp:** [04:45](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BSMw4HBTrVU&t=285s)

- **Praise for Jodi Moos and Teddy Baker Day Pope/Chief**
  - **Summary:** A speaker praised Jodi Moos and the Chief regarding their work on Teddy Baker Day.
  - **Evidence:** “And I want to tell Jodi Moos, she does a good job of that Teddy Baker Day Pope and the Chief do a good job with driving that. Please sing.”
  - **Source timestamp:** [52:04](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BSMw4HBTrVU&t=3124s)

## Follow-ups

- **Meeting with Police and Fire Boards**
  - **Summary:** A meeting is scheduled for later this month with both the police board and the fire board to discuss options.
  - **Attribution:** Don.
  - **Evidence:** “So later this month, we're meeting with both the police board and the fire board to talk about a few options.”
  - **Source timestamp:** [08:15](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BSMw4HBTrVU&t=495s)

- **Drafting New Permit Application Process**
  - **Summary:** A draft permit application will be created, similar to the right-of-way permit form, allowing submission via email with required lead time for processing and invoicing.
  - **Evidence:** “Aaron and I have been working on a draft that is very similar and John. We will create a permit app similar to the right-of-way permit form that somebody can fill out, email to us, has a time required ahead of time that it will be processed in so we have reasonable due time to get it done. And then we will invoice them accordingly with online payment options if they choose.”
  - **Source timestamp:** [44:18](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BSMw4HBTrVU&t=2658s)

- **Implementation of Overweight/Oversized Notification Signs**
  - **Summary:** If approved, the process includes notifying the public by adding signs at the outside limits of town requiring permits for overweight and oversized vehicles.
  - **Evidence:** “second fold is once this is done, we would notify on the outside limits of town that permits are required for overweight and oversized. Those are signs that can be added to the city limit signs.”
  - **Source timestamp:** [45:20](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BSMw4HBTrVU&t=2720s)

- **Ordinance drafting timeline**
  - **Summary:** The follow-up action is for Aaron and the speaker to create the permit application and bring it back for first and second readings.
  - **Evidence:** “Aaron and I will to come back, we'll create the permit application and then we'll bring it back for a first reading and a second reading.”
  - **Source timestamp:** [48:59](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BSMw4HBTrVU&t=2939s)

- **Inclusion of X-ray and radiation therapy services for ADA board list**
  - **Summary:** A speaker requested adding X-ray and radiation therapy to the ADA board's list, noting Freeport has a standalone radiation therapy department.
  - **Evidence:** “Also please add x-ray to your list when you have nurses and things like that. X-ray and radiation therapy because we have those departments in Freeport. We have a radiation therapy department. Not a lot of places do. We have a standalone radiation therapy department.”
  - **Source timestamp:** [54:58](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BSMw4HBTrVU&t=3298s)

- **ADA board parking request for TuttiFest**
  - **Summary:** A speaker requested that the ADA board secure handicap parking for TuttiFest.
  - **Evidence:** “And then also just one thing for the ADA board is that TuddyFest for parking for the handicap, if you could get.”
  - **Source timestamp:** [55:17](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BSMw4HBTrVU&t=3317s)

- **Upcoming community events**
  - **Summary:** On Wednesday, there is a 'Shoot Hoops and Not Guns' event at the YMCA sponsored by the Boys and Girls Club at 5 o'clock.
  - **Evidence:** “I just want to remind everybody that on Wednesday they're gonna have out at Highland it's called Shoot Hoops and Not Guns and it's sponsored by the Boys and Girls Club and it will be at the YMCA so if you got some time come out and support the kids at 5 o'clock”
  - **Source timestamp:** [58:37](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BSMw4HBTrVU&t=3517s)

- **Upcoming community movie night**
  - **Summary:** On Saturday, July 19th at 8 o'clock, there will be a movie night on King campus featuring the movie Praise D. O'Connor.
  - **Evidence:** “and then on Saturday July 19th at 8 o'clock we will have on King campus they will have a movie night and the movie is Praise D. O'Connor”
  - **Source timestamp:** [58:37](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BSMw4HBTrVU&t=3517s)

## Attendance

- **Roll Call Attendance Check**
  - **Summary:** Attendance was taken for Mayor Miller, Alderman Klemm, Alderman Johnson, Simmons, Parker, Stacy, Shadle, Sanders, and Sellers.
  - **Evidence:** “Mayor Miller? Here. Alderpersons, Klemm? Here. Johnson? Here. Simmons? Here. Parker? Here. Stacy? Here. Shadle? Here. Sanders? Here. And Sellers?”
  - **Source timestamp:** [00:37](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BSMw4HBTrVU&t=37s)