WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:05.000 Good evening. Michelle, could you please give the invocation? 00:00:11.000 --> 00:00:19.000 Lord, we thank you tonight for this city of Freeport. We thank you that Freeport has a destiny and a purpose for your kingdom. 00:00:19.000 --> 00:00:25.000 Tonight we pray for an increase in wisdom and understanding, unity and community. 00:00:25.000 --> 00:00:28.000 Let this meeting be in order because you are a God of order. 00:00:28.000 --> 00:00:38.000 Let each one speak in respect to one another. Let grace abound in this meeting and let this meeting accomplish what it should, in Jesus' name. Amen. 00:00:38.000 --> 00:00:44.000 Now we'll call this committee, Committee of the Whole meeting to order. Madam Clerk, could you please take the roll? 00:00:44.000 --> 00:00:46.000 Mayor Miller? Here. 00:00:46.000 --> 00:00:48.000 Alderpersons, Klemm? Here. 00:00:48.000 --> 00:00:50.000 Johnson? Here. 00:00:50.000 --> 00:00:51.000 Simmons? Here. 00:00:51.000 --> 00:00:52.000 Parker? Here. 00:00:52.000 --> 00:00:54.000 Stacy? Here. 00:00:54.000 --> 00:00:55.000 Shadle? Here. 00:00:55.000 --> 00:00:56.000 Sanders? Here. 00:00:56.000 --> 00:01:01.679 and Sellers. And if you could please stand for the Pledge of Allegiance led by Alderman Stacy. 00:01:01.679 --> 00:01:17.680 I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. 00:01:31.680 --> 00:02:01.680 Alderman, Klemm. All those in favor signify by saying aye. Aye. Opposed? That motion passes. Item number five is approval of the minutes from the committee of the whole meeting held on June 9th, 2025. Is there a motion? So moved. Second. Take your choice. We have a motion made by Alderman Shadle, seconded by Alderman Johnson. All those in favor signify by saying aye. Aye. Opposed? That motion passes. We have no public comments on agenda items. 00:02:01.680 --> 00:02:08.000 So we will move on to item number seven which is the presentation of the Tree City USA Manager, Boyer. 00:02:17.680 --> 00:02:22.879 Thank you, Your Honor. Good evening, everyone. It's a privilege to stand before you tonight to 00:02:22.879 --> 00:02:28.319 accept on behalf of the City of Freeport our renewed designation as Tree City USA Community. 00:02:28.319 --> 00:02:36.359 Since 2021, Freeport has proudly held this recognition, and in 2023, we earned the Tree 00:02:36.359 --> 00:02:41.359 City USA Growth Award, acknowledging our measurable progress in expanding and improving urban 00:02:41.359 --> 00:02:44.019 forestry in meaningful ways. 00:02:44.019 --> 00:02:48.939 These honors are not just accolades, they are a reflection of our values and of your 00:02:48.939 --> 00:02:52.759 leadership as the governing body of the City of Freeport. 00:02:52.759 --> 00:02:57.759 The Committee of the Whole ensures that the preservation and growth of our urban forests 00:02:57.759 --> 00:02:58.759 and many more. 00:02:58.759 --> 00:03:02.479 We are proud to say that this city remains a part of our long-term vision. 00:03:02.479 --> 00:03:08.139 Tree City USA, a program of the Arbor Day Foundation, set out four key standards, a 00:03:08.139 --> 00:03:13.620 tree board or department, a public tree care ordinance, a dedicated forestry budget, and 00:03:13.620 --> 00:03:15.780 a meaningful Arbor Day observance. 00:03:15.780 --> 00:03:21.620 These aren't checkboxes, they're indicators the city is serious about sustaining quality 00:03:21.620 --> 00:03:24.699 of life and environmental stewardship. 00:03:24.700 --> 00:03:25.700 and John. 00:03:25.700 --> 00:03:31.980 This work would not be possible without dedicated partners. 00:03:31.980 --> 00:03:37.380 First, my gratitude to the City staff, especially Pat Ingram, whose leadership has kept our 00:03:37.380 --> 00:03:39.820 efforts focused and effective. 00:03:39.820 --> 00:03:43.700 Special thanks to our forestry crew, Keith and James, for their hard work maintaining 00:03:43.700 --> 00:03:46.140 and caring for our trees in all seasons. 00:03:46.140 --> 00:03:50.700 I also want to thank Nick Connolly, who's done an outstanding job according to Arbor 00:03:50.700 --> 00:03:51.700 and others. 00:03:51.700 --> 00:04:03.260 We are fortunate to partner with the Freeport Park District and particularly Bruce Cuberley 00:04:03.260 --> 00:04:07.420 who plays a major role in hosting Arbor Day events. 00:04:07.420 --> 00:04:13.260 We are equally grateful to the volunteers who take the time to prepare saplings for 00:04:13.260 --> 00:04:18.580 planting and help many of those events truly become community centered. 00:04:18.579 --> 00:04:22.740 The Yield Program led by Ted Odendahl and Robert Bush and Renata Weathersby continues 00:04:22.740 --> 00:04:25.019 to be a meaningful partner in this work. 00:04:25.019 --> 00:04:30.300 Their team helps plant and maintain the trees while also building real life skills and a 00:04:30.300 --> 00:04:33.779 sense of purpose for program participants. 00:04:33.779 --> 00:04:38.659 And I want to express special appreciation to Tiffany Bender who ensures our Tree City 00:04:38.659 --> 00:04:43.379 USA application is properly submitted each year, an important task that keeps Freeport 00:04:43.379 --> 00:04:46.120 and Good standing with the Arbor Day Foundation. 00:04:46.120 --> 00:04:49.639 This year we also celebrate a remarkable new recognition. 00:04:49.639 --> 00:04:54.840 Right here in Freeport, we are home to two rare American chestnut trees, a species once 00:04:54.840 --> 00:04:58.420 nearly wiped out by blight across North America. 00:04:58.420 --> 00:05:04.319 These trees, standing approximately 73 feet tall with a 135 inch circumference, have been 00:05:04.319 --> 00:05:09.800 nominated as Illinois State Champion Trees for the inclusion in the Illinois Big Tree 00:05:09.800 --> 00:05:10.920 Register. 00:05:10.920 --> 00:05:15.680 This is an extraordinary honor and a testament to the care and conditions we've cultivated 00:05:15.680 --> 00:05:16.680 Fremont. 00:05:16.680 --> 00:05:22.639 It's also a reminder that the legacy we plant today can grow into something truly historic. 00:05:22.639 --> 00:05:27.960 Committee members, this award and everything it represents would not be possible without 00:05:27.960 --> 00:05:30.040 your commitment. 00:05:30.040 --> 00:05:35.759 You are the stewards of our shared vision for a greener, healthier Freeport. 00:05:35.759 --> 00:05:40.600 Your leadership as both the city's governing body and our official tree board ensures that 00:05:40.600 --> 00:05:45.760 The trees are not an afterthought, but a foundational part of what makes our city thrive. 00:05:45.760 --> 00:05:49.800 On behalf of our staff, partners, and residents, thank you. 00:05:49.800 --> 00:05:51.400 Let's keep growing forward together. 00:05:51.400 --> 00:06:01.520 Thank you very much. 00:06:01.520 --> 00:06:05.560 Item number eight is the presentation of the Fire and Police Pension Actuary Reports, Jen 00:06:05.560 --> 00:06:21.079 Tuck. I'm Jen Tuck. I'm from Neihart. We're the actuaries for the police and fire plans. 00:06:21.079 --> 00:06:27.360 So our kind of role is to, as of January 1st, we give a snapshot of how well funded the 00:06:27.360 --> 00:06:33.420 plan is, how much unfunded liability is still left to be paid off, and then we determine 00:06:33.420 --> 00:06:36.220 and a contribution that's more aggressive 00:06:36.220 --> 00:06:37.780 than what the state minimum is. 00:06:37.780 --> 00:06:42.780 The state wants you to fund to 90% by 2040. 00:06:42.819 --> 00:06:47.259 The city has always been a little more conservative 00:06:47.259 --> 00:06:52.040 in their funding plan to get to 100% by 2040. 00:06:52.040 --> 00:06:56.560 So we'll look at a few kind of highlights of our process. 00:06:56.560 --> 00:06:57.700 First at the top there, 00:06:57.700 --> 00:07:02.700 you can see assets performed pretty well during 2024 00:07:02.699 --> 00:07:11.699 on a market value basis, which, when we say market value, that's just what's in the bank, basically, as of January 1st. 00:07:11.699 --> 00:07:16.699 So the market value for 2024 was about 10% returns. 00:07:16.699 --> 00:07:22.699 There's another kind of asset value that we use, which is called that actuarial value, 00:07:22.699 --> 00:07:31.699 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. 00:07:31.699 --> 00:07:40.699 So when we look at the return on that basis, we are at about four and a half, and we'll look at a chart that kind of shows the details behind that. 00:07:40.699 --> 00:07:52.699 Not a lot of movement with the census. The counts went up slightly. Salary increases were just barely higher than expected on both plans, very close to what the assumptions would be. 00:07:52.699 --> 00:08:07.699 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 six, seven, five. 00:08:07.699 --> 00:08:14.699 And then the contributions go up a little bit depending on which set of assumptions the board decides to use. 00:08:14.699 --> 00:08:21.699 So later this month we're meeting with both the police board and the fire board to talk about a few options. 00:08:21.699 --> 00:08:29.500 and then so yeah I guess the that's kind of the high level this shows all the 00:08:29.500 --> 00:08:35.700 participant information that goes into our evaluation so we get a snapshot it's 00:08:35.700 --> 00:08:42.179 the same kind of consolidated fund I do I type filing that you guys do every year 00:08:42.179 --> 00:08:48.059 so you can see from last year to this year both the actives which is current 00:08:48.060 --> 00:09:18.060 Miller, and the other current employees had gone up. I think three actives from the fire plant 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. So you can see it went up a little bit on both. Not a lot of movement otherwise. A couple new retirees, a couple new deaths, kind of 00:09:18.060 --> 00:09:20.060 and the rest of the groups. 00:09:20.060 --> 00:09:25.060 And then on that bottom section, it shows kind of averages for the groups. 00:09:25.060 --> 00:09:35.060 So in pay, that would include beneficiaries who are getting a spousal benefit, retirees, disabled participants. 00:09:35.060 --> 00:09:37.060 So you can see their monthly benefit. 00:09:37.060 --> 00:09:39.060 It goes up about as expected. 00:09:39.060 --> 00:09:42.060 There's 3% COLAs on a lot of their benefits. 00:09:42.060 --> 00:09:47.060 So each year you expect that to kind of step up as those COLAs get recognized. 00:09:47.060 --> 00:09:54.940 St., so you see both the police and the fire, they went up about as expected at that 3%. 00:09:54.940 --> 00:10:00.060 The bottom section you can see, the fire stayed fairly stable, there wasn't as much 00:10:00.060 --> 00:10:01.600 Fier stayed fairly stable. 00:10:01.600 --> 00:10:03.860 There wasn't as much turnover on that side. 00:10:03.860 --> 00:10:06.860 So the age and the service stayed very stable. 00:10:06.860 --> 00:10:08.140 On the right-hand side, 00:10:08.140 --> 00:10:10.780 you can see that the average age came down a little bit, 00:10:10.780 --> 00:10:13.180 and that was due to that turnover. 00:10:13.180 --> 00:10:17.140 So you lost a couple of, you know, longer tenured, 00:10:17.140 --> 00:10:18.340 you know, I don't want to say older, 00:10:18.340 --> 00:10:22.800 but more mature police officers 00:10:22.800 --> 00:10:25.380 getting hired in younger guys. 00:10:25.380 --> 00:10:26.580 So age went down, 00:10:26.580 --> 00:10:28.700 service went down a little bit on that police side 00:10:28.700 --> 00:10:30.680 just because of that turnover. 00:10:34.100 --> 00:10:36.980 So I touched on the assets. 00:10:36.980 --> 00:10:39.460 So that market value, that red line, 00:10:39.460 --> 00:10:42.580 that's what's actually in the bank as of January 1st. 00:10:42.580 --> 00:10:46.100 So it's at the whim of the market. 00:10:46.100 --> 00:10:48.060 There could have been a huge swing that day 00:10:48.060 --> 00:10:50.020 and all of a sudden you have higher assets 00:10:50.020 --> 00:10:53.420 or there could be a loss that day and you end up with lower. 00:10:53.420 --> 00:10:55.660 So to kind of take away some of that volatility 00:10:55.660 --> 00:11:13.660 We have that red line. Those are rates of return. We kind of smooth in, kind of do an averaging of investment returns. And so instead of recognizing a million dollar gain in one year, we'd kind of recognize that gradually of, you know, over the four or five years. 00:11:13.660 --> 00:11:29.660 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. 00:11:29.660 --> 00:11:54.660 So then this is just a different picture of it. This is the actual dollar values of both of those types of assets. So the market value, you can see more volatile. The actual value kind of cuts through that to smooth it out. So that's kind of exactly what we wanted to do. Some years it's higher, some years it's lower. But in the long run, we expect those would be the same on average. 00:11:54.660 --> 00:12:01.660 All right. A lot of numbers on this page. I'll try and point out kind of the key ones that we want to look at. 00:12:01.660 --> 00:12:10.660 So kind of halfway down, you can see that funded percentage. That's a big kind of reporting item that a lot of places look at. 00:12:10.660 --> 00:12:19.660 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 percent. 00:12:19.660 --> 00:12:36.660 This year, if we keep all of the assumptions that we use, so salary increases, mortality, how long people are going to live, if we keep that all the same for this valuation, we'd be at that middle column. 00:12:36.660 --> 00:12:42.660 So you can see the funded percentage comes down a little bit from a hair under 98 down to 96. 00:12:42.660 --> 00:13:12.660 and then this bottom half of that page kind of shows the the pieces that go into the contribution calculation so that total normal cost kind of the first line that's the value of all the officers and the firefighters working another year so they're gonna work a year they're gonna go from you know 10 years of service on average to 11 years of service so they're gonna get a higher benefit and that's what that represents is the 00:13:12.660 --> 00:13:17.540 and a portion that is being earned in this upcoming year. 00:13:17.540 --> 00:13:19.220 Employees pay a portion of that, 00:13:19.220 --> 00:13:21.840 so that's what that employee contribution line is. 00:13:21.840 --> 00:13:25.960 They pay 9.9, I think we're at, or 10% ish. 00:13:27.300 --> 00:13:29.420 There's, you don't pay any expenses out of that, 00:13:29.420 --> 00:13:30.940 so we don't count that. 00:13:30.940 --> 00:13:32.620 Then that amortization, 00:13:32.620 --> 00:13:34.900 kinda in the middle of the calculation, 00:13:34.900 --> 00:13:38.220 that's where we're paying off that unfunded liability. 00:13:38.220 --> 00:13:40.100 So it's being gradually recognized, 00:13:40.100 --> 00:13:43.380 kind of like a mortgage for the next 15 years 00:13:43.380 --> 00:13:44.340 I think we're at now. 00:13:45.340 --> 00:13:49.759 So the contribution if we make no changes 00:13:49.759 --> 00:13:54.220 is gonna go from 700 up to 850 for the fire. 00:13:54.220 --> 00:13:58.620 If we adopt, if the fire board and the police board 00:13:58.620 --> 00:14:00.940 adopt new assumptions that we're looking at, 00:14:00.940 --> 00:14:05.940 it'll be about 791,000 for the contribution. 00:14:07.519 --> 00:14:08.700 Any questions? 00:14:08.700 --> 00:14:11.820 it's a similar story on the police side. 00:14:14.000 --> 00:14:17.180 I think I need to go to the next page and it won't let me. 00:14:17.180 --> 00:14:18.460 It's a similar story. 00:14:18.460 --> 00:14:22.940 The funded percentage comes down just a little bit. 00:14:22.940 --> 00:14:25.340 If we keep the old assumptions, 00:14:25.340 --> 00:14:28.520 comes up a hair if we keep the new assumptions. 00:14:28.520 --> 00:14:33.520 Similar story for the contribution goes up to about 482,000 00:14:33.860 --> 00:14:35.880 if we keep everything the same. 00:14:35.880 --> 00:14:37.580 And if we adapt those changes 00:14:37.580 --> 00:14:38.580 and so on. 00:14:38.580 --> 00:14:39.580 So that's what the board is going to look at. 00:14:39.580 --> 00:14:43.100 We'll be at 430,000, give or take, a couple thousand. 00:14:43.100 --> 00:14:45.700 So any questions? 00:14:45.700 --> 00:14:52.460 I know it's a lot to throw at everyone, but and then we have just for disclosure kind 00:14:52.460 --> 00:14:55.340 of items at the end here if anyone's really bored. 00:14:55.340 --> 00:15:00.740 So this kind of shows the contributions or the assumptions that we're currently using 00:15:00.740 --> 00:15:06.500 and then this consolidated, that's the big study that the consolidated funds have done. 00:15:06.500 --> 00:15:09.820 So those are the ones that we're looking at as an option. 00:15:09.820 --> 00:15:13.180 So we'll finalize that at the end of the month, I guess. 00:15:13.180 --> 00:15:14.019 Hopefully. 00:15:15.560 --> 00:15:16.400 Legalities. 00:15:18.259 --> 00:15:19.100 Anything? 00:15:20.180 --> 00:15:21.019 Any questions? 00:15:23.780 --> 00:15:24.620 Thank you, Jen. 00:15:26.220 --> 00:15:27.580 Move on to item number nine, 00:15:27.580 --> 00:15:31.060 which is the Greater Freeport Partnership Quarterly. 00:15:31.060 --> 00:15:32.100 Andrea Schultz-Winter. 00:15:35.460 --> 00:15:36.300 Thank you. 00:15:36.500 --> 00:15:44.500 Good evening. We're going to start tonight's report a little differently than we have in previous quarterly presentations. 00:15:44.500 --> 00:15:53.500 We took some feedback that we had received from previous reports asking questions about jobs, so that's where we're going to focus. 00:15:53.500 --> 00:16:03.500 But as Nicole has handed out and I think as was attached into the agenda is a full digest of the partnerships activities in the last quarter. 00:16:03.500 --> 00:16:05.500 and 00:16:06.759 --> 00:16:16.759 the City of Michigan. And again, those are always organized by our strategic focus areas. And those focus areas were developed from our strategic plan, which was done in partnership with the city's strategic plan as well. 00:16:16.759 --> 00:16:28.759 So we're going to start, as I mentioned, with labor, with work. So in front of you on the screen is a bunch of numbers, a little less than what your previous presentation had. 00:16:28.759 --> 00:16:29.759 and others. 00:16:29.759 --> 00:16:34.240 I want to draw your attention to a couple of key items. 00:16:34.240 --> 00:16:42.740 The unemployment rate in Freeport went up slightly from April of this year to April to May 2025. 00:16:42.740 --> 00:16:47.200 Those are the most current data points that we have at this point. 00:16:47.200 --> 00:16:52.759 However, our unemployment rate is still below the state average, which is 4.8 percent, and 00:16:52.759 --> 00:16:56.860 the national rate is right at 4.2 as well. 00:16:56.860 --> 00:17:00.759 Some things that I would also like to draw your attention to is there was in the month 00:17:00.759 --> 00:17:08.420 of May 927 unique job postings in May 2025 by 249 employers. 00:17:08.420 --> 00:17:13.559 So in the previous month of April, there was 852 unique job postings. 00:17:13.559 --> 00:17:20.860 So those are unique job opportunities from employers who are in Stevenson County. 00:17:20.860 --> 00:17:21.860 and others. 00:17:21.860 --> 00:17:29.300 Of those job postings, the median wage was $26.40 per hour, which equates to about $55,000 00:17:29.300 --> 00:17:30.300 per year. 00:17:30.300 --> 00:17:35.620 So, when you have an idea of what job opportunities are out there, I would say that this is a 00:17:35.620 --> 00:17:37.940 good paying job. 00:17:37.940 --> 00:17:42.259 Some of the top employers posting are listed there before you, which as you look at the 00:17:42.259 --> 00:17:45.620 top occupations that you see, you can see some correlations. 00:17:45.620 --> 00:17:50.539 So, I think if you have young people at home or who are looking for career opportunities, 00:17:50.539 --> 00:17:56.059 These would definitely be educational pathways that I know Freeport High School as well as 00:17:56.059 --> 00:18:02.700 Highland Community College have curriculum in and these are needed professions currently 00:18:02.700 --> 00:18:06.180 and into the future. 00:18:06.180 --> 00:18:13.660 I know looking at preliminary data that already in June there is over a thousand job postings 00:18:13.660 --> 00:18:18.660 so there is an increase in the jobs that are available. 00:18:18.660 --> 00:18:25.700 So what I'm trying to illustrate here is that there are jobs in Freeport. 00:18:25.700 --> 00:18:29.220 And this correlates to what I'm really hearing from our business community. 00:18:29.220 --> 00:18:35.140 As we do business retention visits, which we've done over 40 in this quarter, about 00:18:35.140 --> 00:18:40.900 73 to date, is that employers would like to grow. 00:18:40.900 --> 00:18:48.000 Their barrier to growth is having enough qualified employees, qualified talent. 00:18:48.000 --> 00:18:53.519 and as we know and as we're going to talk about in our presentation today, employee growth, 00:18:53.519 --> 00:19:01.019 talent retention, talent recruitment happens because you need to have a lot of things going 00:19:01.019 --> 00:19:02.160 on in the community. 00:19:02.160 --> 00:19:03.480 You need child care. 00:19:03.480 --> 00:19:09.080 You need a purposeful, intentional talent attraction campaign. 00:19:09.080 --> 00:19:11.039 You need training opportunities. 00:19:11.039 --> 00:19:15.700 We need, once we get a new resident here, we need to make sure that they're sticky, 00:19:15.700 --> 00:19:19.700 that they know what's going on in the community, that they get involved, that they understand 00:19:19.700 --> 00:19:23.740 all the things that Freeport and Stevenson County has to offer, and they need to find 00:19:23.740 --> 00:19:24.740 somewhere to live. 00:19:24.740 --> 00:19:26.500 They need to have a home. 00:19:26.500 --> 00:19:34.300 We always want that paycheck that leaves that employer to come home to a bed in Freeport 00:19:34.300 --> 00:19:35.300 and Stevenson County. 00:19:35.300 --> 00:19:36.579 That's critical. 00:19:36.579 --> 00:19:42.019 If we have the jobs here, that's wonderful, but when that paycheck leaves the community, 00:19:42.019 --> 00:19:46.640 So does a lot of the money that goes with it. 00:19:46.640 --> 00:19:51.059 As mentioned, there are 73 business retention visits thus far this year. 00:19:51.059 --> 00:19:54.900 We're going to talk a lot about some of the barriers to employment and some of the activities 00:19:54.900 --> 00:19:59.519 that the partnership is working on to help overcome those barriers. 00:19:59.519 --> 00:20:00.019 and two that I. 00:20:00.019 --> 00:20:02.019 and others. 00:20:04.019 --> 00:20:06.019 We are working in collaboration with a lot of different community 00:20:06.019 --> 00:20:09.019 partners. We talked about housing being an issue. We have 00:20:09.019 --> 00:20:13.019 partnered with the NAACP Housing Committee as well as the United 00:20:13.019 --> 00:20:18.019 Way to hold a series of stakeholder engagement sessions. I 00:20:18.019 --> 00:20:21.019 know many of you who are in the room tonight were participating 00:20:21.019 --> 00:20:24.019 in those engagement sessions and we thank you. 00:20:24.019 --> 00:20:27.019 Future efforts, what we heard from those engagement sessions 00:20:27.019 --> 00:20:32.420 Sessions from the public, is that work will really need to be focused in three separate 00:20:32.420 --> 00:20:33.420 areas. 00:20:33.420 --> 00:20:38.660 One will be around financial education, helping that renter become the future homeowner. 00:20:38.660 --> 00:20:42.220 And what's the pathways to do that? 00:20:42.220 --> 00:20:43.220 Housing improvement. 00:20:43.220 --> 00:20:44.220 What resources are out there? 00:20:44.220 --> 00:20:49.500 If I'm a homeowner, if I'm already a homeowner, how do I access some of these resources to 00:20:49.500 --> 00:20:51.539 improve my residence? 00:20:51.539 --> 00:20:53.039 And then housing growth. 00:20:53.039 --> 00:20:56.700 How do we get more residential units to come online? 00:20:56.700 --> 00:21:00.339 and that's where the partnerships work will really be focused. 00:21:00.339 --> 00:21:04.700 Additionally, in child care, we know that there are many people who would like to enter 00:21:04.700 --> 00:21:11.579 the workforce or return to the workforce after having a child, but they have nowhere for 00:21:11.579 --> 00:21:13.900 their young one to go. 00:21:13.900 --> 00:21:19.900 So we developed a survey to engage our child care providers as well as our employers to 00:21:19.900 --> 00:21:23.859 really understand what the impact of those shortages are. 00:21:23.859 --> 00:21:25.859 and 00:21:27.180 --> 00:21:29.180 I'm going to talk about the child care 00:21:30.299 --> 00:21:32.299 resources that are being used to inform a public information 00:21:32.400 --> 00:21:34.400 campaign that will be launched in the third quarter. 00:21:35.799 --> 00:21:37.799 But I can tell you already that some of those focus areas of 00:21:37.900 --> 00:21:39.900 that campaign are going to be around targeting our employers 00:21:42.000 --> 00:21:44.000 to let our employers know what child care resources do exist. 00:21:47.180 --> 00:21:49.180 Some people don't know that the YWCA is a service area within 00:21:51.279 --> 00:21:53.279 Freeport, and they provide a lot of the subsidies that help 00:21:53.859 --> 00:21:55.859 and 00:21:57.879 --> 00:22:00.539 the other thing is we're going to be talking about is trying to 00:22:00.539 --> 00:22:05.599 build that capacity attracting new child care providers. Also 00:22:05.599 --> 00:22:09.500 helping those that are here, how do they grow more slots? How do 00:22:09.500 --> 00:22:13.579 they expand? And if there are any in-home child care providers 00:22:13.579 --> 00:22:17.480 that are in existence or there are more that we're seeing, 00:22:17.480 --> 00:22:20.980 how do we make sure that they're able to grow more slots? And 00:22:20.980 --> 00:22:25.299 and others that are in existence or there are more that want to come online. 00:22:25.299 --> 00:22:33.259 What resources, what processes do they need to go through to offer in-home child care? 00:22:33.259 --> 00:22:40.039 And lastly, also targeting the information for parents and guardians, helping them know 00:22:40.039 --> 00:22:41.819 what resources are out there. 00:22:41.819 --> 00:22:46.500 I'm going to turn the presentation over to Nicole, who's going to talk a little bit more 00:22:46.500 --> 00:22:48.259 and more about marketing the region. 00:22:52.039 --> 00:22:52.879 Good evening. 00:22:52.879 --> 00:22:55.240 We have spoke to you in previous presentations 00:22:55.240 --> 00:22:58.259 regarding our talent attraction strategy. 00:22:58.259 --> 00:23:02.539 That was really trying to organically grow 00:23:02.539 --> 00:23:04.740 who we got back to Freeport. 00:23:04.740 --> 00:23:06.779 So letting people know who were here, 00:23:06.779 --> 00:23:10.220 hey, this is really great, things are advancing, 00:23:10.220 --> 00:23:12.579 here's some new opportunities that are happening, 00:23:12.579 --> 00:23:13.500 come on back. 00:23:13.500 --> 00:23:18.380 and so on. It was hard to reach people that way. So we're being much more creative about 00:23:18.380 --> 00:23:23.700 that now, being a little bit leaning into the weird is the one session I listened to 00:23:23.700 --> 00:23:29.299 the other day, but just saying, you've grown up, so have we. And kind of highlighting some 00:23:29.299 --> 00:23:34.539 of the ways that our community continues to thrive and bringing the people back who want 00:23:34.539 --> 00:23:40.299 to be part of that progressive movement. So one of them is bringing back alumni families, 00:23:40.299 --> 00:23:44.139 who already have a connection to this area and want to raise their children in a similar 00:23:44.139 --> 00:23:45.139 way. 00:23:45.139 --> 00:23:49.740 And then also young families because that is the demographic that's going to help us 00:23:49.740 --> 00:23:53.579 continue to enrich our communities. 00:23:53.579 --> 00:23:56.819 And as Andrea said, some of those barriers are housing and childcare. 00:23:56.819 --> 00:24:00.579 So again, all of this kind of has to work at the same time. 00:24:00.579 --> 00:24:05.740 And then also helping employers to understand the resources that we as the partnership can 00:24:05.740 --> 00:24:31.180 and John, and I have people say well really who moves to Freeport? 00:24:31.180 --> 00:24:35.660 and 158 postcards were mailed to new residents in the second quarter. 00:24:35.660 --> 00:24:40.019 That's in all of Stevenson County, but it's, what I'm going to say, it's passive. 00:24:40.019 --> 00:24:44.660 When you mail out a postcard, we can't, I don't have more contact information than just 00:24:44.660 --> 00:24:53.579 the address that they purchased, but we've had 15 of those returned back to us, so 10% 00:24:53.579 --> 00:24:57.960 and say, yeah, I want to know more about Freeport or Stevenson County or where I live. 00:24:57.960 --> 00:25:03.619 So I've had the opportunity to meet with two different group meetings and then three people 00:25:03.619 --> 00:25:09.079 individually for coffee and tell them about the area, explain to them about what resources 00:25:09.079 --> 00:25:12.500 or who they can reach out to if they have questions. 00:25:12.500 --> 00:25:15.559 And overall, it's positive sentiment. 00:25:15.559 --> 00:25:23.799 We've had people from Florida, from Texas, and then more locally, Monroe, Wausau, Wisconsin. 00:25:23.799 --> 00:25:24.799 and so on. 00:25:24.799 --> 00:25:28.340 My last one that I did, I had a lot of people from the Cowler County region who had moved 00:25:28.340 --> 00:25:34.380 here and they can't say enough about how friendly the people in Freeport are. 00:25:34.380 --> 00:25:37.680 Somebody was saying, you know, I go to Walmart and the lady asked me how my day is and she 00:25:37.680 --> 00:25:39.440 genuinely wants to know the answer. 00:25:39.440 --> 00:25:43.039 I go to the DMV and the people are nice, like they're nice. 00:25:43.039 --> 00:25:47.220 And so those are the types of things that we really love to hear. 00:25:47.220 --> 00:25:53.420 They're not naive to the fact that every community can always do more to progress, but they understand 00:25:53.420 --> 00:25:54.259 and 00:25:54.259 --> 00:25:55.420 the 00:25:55.420 --> 00:25:56.420 community. 00:25:56.420 --> 00:26:02.579 We love hearing that feedback knowing that people who are coming here are really enjoying 00:26:02.579 --> 00:26:03.579 their experience. 00:26:03.579 --> 00:26:07.819 I will turn it over to Bill. 00:26:07.819 --> 00:26:10.960 Thank you. 00:26:10.960 --> 00:26:17.240 One of the ways we work on jobs is we try and help existing businesses to thrive and 00:26:17.240 --> 00:26:23.779 and we help those who want to start businesses to get the access to the tools and the resources 00:26:23.779 --> 00:26:25.200 that help them grow. 00:26:25.200 --> 00:26:28.960 So we've done a few things in the last quarter on that realm. 00:26:28.960 --> 00:26:32.759 One, we held a session on succession planning. 00:26:32.759 --> 00:26:38.240 We know that one of the reasons some businesses close is because business owners can't or 00:26:38.240 --> 00:26:43.240 don't want to continue and they have a hard time finding someone, they don't have someone 00:26:43.240 --> 00:26:46.059 to follow to take over the business for them. 00:26:46.059 --> 00:26:51.980 and so we held a session working with the local law firm to talk about the strategies 00:26:51.980 --> 00:26:58.259 and to start planning that early on before you need it. 00:26:58.259 --> 00:27:04.279 And we are looking forward to other opportunities to continue that conversation with the businesses 00:27:04.279 --> 00:27:08.079 and organizations that are interested. 00:27:08.079 --> 00:27:10.139 We also had a home show in April. 00:27:10.139 --> 00:27:15.319 A home show, it's the second, third time we've done the home show. 00:27:15.319 --> 00:27:20.480 and it's just an opportunity for some of our businesses, our contractors, our small businesses 00:27:20.480 --> 00:27:24.039 to interact with people. 00:27:24.039 --> 00:27:30.740 We have a wide range of usually small businesses that participate, over 30 businesses this 00:27:30.740 --> 00:27:38.519 year participated and got to talk to several hundred people that came to the home show. 00:27:38.519 --> 00:27:46.139 We finished up the 2025 base camp in the beginning of the second quarter. 00:27:46.139 --> 00:27:49.440 We had our last class and then we had our pitch competition. 00:27:49.440 --> 00:27:54.980 Our pitch competition was a chance for the participants of the base camp to show what 00:27:54.980 --> 00:28:02.720 they learned, to talk about their business, to pitch their business to a panel of judges 00:28:02.720 --> 00:28:09.400 that then rated them and we were able to give out over $6,000 in prizes, in cash prizes 00:28:09.400 --> 00:28:15.880 to those businesses so that kind of helps them, you know, thrive and do some things. 00:28:15.880 --> 00:28:22.700 This year in base camp we had 14 participants, 11 women, 3 men, and it was a busy group during 00:28:22.700 --> 00:28:26.740 the class that started in January, ended in April. 00:28:26.740 --> 00:28:29.660 We had two of them open businesses. 00:28:29.660 --> 00:28:35.180 One was Full Circle Cafe, which is in the library, and one was a lawn care business, 00:28:35.180 --> 00:28:38.700 which was kind of a side business for one of our participants. 00:28:38.700 --> 00:28:45.500 Another participant changed focus and decided that she was interested in working in purchasing 00:28:45.500 --> 00:28:50.900 a business, and we helped her connect with a business that was interested in selling, 00:28:50.900 --> 00:28:56.460 and they're actively discussing that, and we're working with them about resources. 00:28:56.460 --> 00:29:00.780 and several other businesses have told us that the skills that they learned and the connections 00:29:00.780 --> 00:29:06.059 that they made during base camp have helped them with their business. 00:29:06.059 --> 00:29:11.380 And then the last thing that we have in the entrepreneurial section is our CEO program. 00:29:11.380 --> 00:29:16.820 This is a brand new program that we're doing in conjunction with the school district, with 00:29:16.820 --> 00:29:24.740 the Freeport School District, that is a class that doesn't cost the school district anything 00:29:24.740 --> 00:29:32.380 and it takes a class full of students, it's a four credit class and it teaches them entrepreneurial 00:29:32.380 --> 00:29:37.360 and business skills, kind of the soft skills, puts them in front of 80 different businesses 00:29:37.360 --> 00:29:43.799 over the course of the year and teaches them those soft skills but also teaches them about 00:29:43.799 --> 00:29:49.299 all the industries that are right here in Freeport that they can make a career out of 00:29:49.299 --> 00:29:57.299 and the Midlands CEO program is already being done in over 70 different communities around 00:29:57.299 --> 00:29:59.819 the country so it's been road tested. 00:29:59.819 --> 00:30:07.379 So it's been road tested and the evidence shows that a lot of those kids that go through 00:30:07.379 --> 00:30:10.919 that program end up staying in town. 00:30:10.919 --> 00:30:14.500 They realize they can have a career, they can start a business, they can work for a 00:30:14.500 --> 00:30:19.519 business that they met during the class and have a very fruitful career. 00:30:19.519 --> 00:30:24.879 So we're working right now to get that program up and running and we're looking forward 00:30:24.879 --> 00:30:29.259 to that as a great way to grow some entrepreneurs that we think will feed right into our other 00:30:29.259 --> 00:30:34.259 and other services. So, with that, I think we're open to any questions. 00:30:39.259 --> 00:30:44.259 Any questions, Council? Thank you. 00:30:44.259 --> 00:30:49.259 Next, we'll move on to the discussion regarding ordinance establishing a fee for overweight. 00:30:49.259 --> 00:30:54.259 Manager Boyer. Thank you, Your Honor. The City of Freeport has 00:30:54.259 --> 00:31:02.259 We have a codified ordinance, Section 460.16, that requires updates and modifications for overweight and oversized permitting. 00:31:02.259 --> 00:31:08.259 One of the challenges here is many communities have updated ordinances related to this. 00:31:08.259 --> 00:31:15.259 We have a lot of folks coming through town accessing our transportation network. 00:31:15.259 --> 00:31:22.859 One of the challenges is we need an opportunity to have a fee to recover the costs that are related to reviewing that 00:31:24.379 --> 00:31:27.339 permit and also that gives us the opportunity to 00:31:28.099 --> 00:31:35.500 Keep heavy loads off of certain routes when we repave a new street in town. We don't necessarily want a 00:31:36.539 --> 00:31:42.500 Shorter route that happens to go across our newly paved street to take priority over an other route 00:31:42.500 --> 00:31:47.899 that may be a little longer but doesn't take doesn't take operators right through 00:31:47.899 --> 00:31:52.500 some of our nicest redone sections. So city staff and the attorney are 00:31:52.500 --> 00:31:57.859 suggesting the following changes in 460.11 section. So the title should be 00:31:57.859 --> 00:32:03.299 modified to say overweight and oversized vehicles. Create an overweight and 00:32:03.299 --> 00:32:08.220 oversized City of Freeport permit that has to be submitted with the exact route 00:32:08.220 --> 00:32:14.059 for the trip permitting process and invoicing methods. Permitting should be 00:32:14.059 --> 00:32:17.500 required inside city limits no matter what roads are being used within the 00:32:17.500 --> 00:32:21.779 city limits including state IDOT routes as they can still turn off onto local 00:32:21.779 --> 00:32:30.059 streets once they come into city limits. We need to add 625 ILCS 5-15301 to 00:32:30.059 --> 00:32:35.740 this section and that created an O&O fee schedule that currently does not exist 00:32:35.740 --> 00:32:43.139 West, and that would include $150 for an individual one-time permit, $1,200 for an annual permit, 00:32:43.139 --> 00:32:47.659 and the annual permits are tied to the individual license plate of the vehicle only. 00:32:47.659 --> 00:32:52.379 The oversized and overweight vehicle will still need to report the exact route every time 00:32:52.379 --> 00:32:57.659 by email with permit numbers each time for record approval. 00:32:57.659 --> 00:33:01.319 Also suggest a $500 penalty for noncompliance of permitting. 00:33:01.319 --> 00:33:07.359 The penalties in 422.99 are set at a $100 penalty and companies will not get permits 00:33:07.359 --> 00:33:11.000 and will change if it's not increased. 00:33:11.000 --> 00:33:16.619 So staff and the attorney time is the only financial impact to this at this point and 00:33:16.619 --> 00:33:20.139 staff recommends this ordinance amendment. 00:33:20.139 --> 00:33:24.879 If applicable, it will be done for the July 21st meeting for council approval. 00:33:24.879 --> 00:33:35.779 and for questions I'd also like to invite Darren Steekle to add to anything that I missed. 00:33:35.779 --> 00:33:38.740 So I just want to give you guys a clear overview of this. 00:33:38.740 --> 00:33:41.559 So this is not for standard semi loads. 00:33:41.559 --> 00:33:42.940 This is not for buses. 00:33:42.940 --> 00:33:45.199 This would not apply to garbage trucks. 00:33:45.199 --> 00:33:47.240 It would not apply to the fire department. 00:33:47.240 --> 00:33:50.839 It would not apply to agricultural during season. 00:33:50.839 --> 00:33:57.839 So our main routes are permitted at 80,000 pounds, so this would be trucks that are over 00:33:57.839 --> 00:34:01.359 80,000 pounds, which is the legal load limit. 00:34:01.359 --> 00:34:05.960 This would also protect our bridge that we have on Hancock. 00:34:05.960 --> 00:34:11.319 Anybody that's oversized or overweight would never be permitted to go across our bridges. 00:34:11.319 --> 00:34:17.519 Obviously, we've got to get Hancock, Vidoc, complete before we can put that in place. 00:34:17.519 --> 00:34:22.179 but it's one of our largest most expensive structures to protect. 00:34:22.179 --> 00:34:24.920 I have done research on this. 00:34:24.920 --> 00:34:28.539 Many towns our size and larger have different rules. 00:34:28.539 --> 00:34:34.460 Some of them are done on weight where they pay by the pound, but we don't have certified 00:34:34.460 --> 00:34:38.619 scales that are available to us that the city owns. 00:34:38.619 --> 00:34:44.539 And so talking with Chief Shenberger, we would not be able to enforce a permit at a weight 00:34:44.539 --> 00:34:45.539 limit. 00:34:45.539 --> 00:34:46.539 We took them to weigh them. 00:34:46.539 --> 00:34:49.380 We wouldn't have any officer that would be qualified 00:34:49.380 --> 00:34:51.420 because we don't own certified scales 00:34:51.420 --> 00:34:53.699 and the cost would be prohibitive to have. 00:34:53.699 --> 00:34:56.219 So what I came up with after reviewing a bunch of them 00:34:56.219 --> 00:34:57.739 was just a flat fee. 00:34:57.739 --> 00:35:00.819 And I talked to a few of our regular trucking companies 00:35:00.819 --> 00:35:03.460 that do oversize and overweight in Freeport. 00:35:03.460 --> 00:35:05.219 And they felt that the fees that are here 00:35:05.219 --> 00:35:07.500 are similar to other communities our size 00:35:07.500 --> 00:35:10.860 and very fair for annual permitting costs. 00:35:10.860 --> 00:35:13.219 So I'll give you an example. 00:35:13.219 --> 00:35:20.260 Normal semi that's hauling freight through Freeport would not need a permit somebody that's moving a very large excavator 00:35:20.260 --> 00:35:22.260 That's a wide load to a specific job 00:35:22.420 --> 00:35:27.619 That would need either a one-time permit or an annual permit to move that and then they have to 00:35:27.940 --> 00:35:33.139 Submit their route with the axle weights that they're running so we can review the route and say hey 00:35:33.139 --> 00:35:39.579 We just paved this street. We would want you to take a different route. So we're managing where they're going within the city 00:35:40.219 --> 00:35:42.219 It's a very fair expectation 00:35:42.219 --> 00:35:58.219 We have had an oversized and overweight permit, honestly, for years on the books, but it does seem that it has never really been enforced and there's never really been a permit process to it where there's actual physical permit filled out. 00:35:58.219 --> 00:36:08.219 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. 00:36:08.219 --> 00:36:14.940 so it's fair to all and everybody has to do the same standards to be able to have it done. 00:36:15.739 --> 00:36:20.779 If it's approved we would send this out to the people that we know that truck through Freeport 00:36:20.779 --> 00:36:25.579 all the time and we would give them a grace period to get this you know implemented so it's 00:36:25.579 --> 00:36:31.980 it's not something that we would be punitive on obviously we need to let people know that we 00:36:31.980 --> 00:36:36.619 we have this permit out there. I do want to let you guys know the reason this came up 00:36:36.619 --> 00:36:37.619 and others. 00:36:37.619 --> 00:36:42.980 And one of the things that came up was the state of Illinois has been detouring oversized 00:36:42.980 --> 00:36:47.659 loads outside of town down Henderson Road. 00:36:47.659 --> 00:36:53.059 We own Henderson Road and it's a local road to the city limits and they're killing that 00:36:53.059 --> 00:36:55.279 road and breaking it apart. 00:36:55.279 --> 00:36:57.000 We didn't know that was happening. 00:36:57.000 --> 00:37:02.699 We actually had a truck that had an accident and we asked him why are you on this street 00:37:02.699 --> 00:37:08.259 and he said well the state's telling us to take these roads and so we did look at their 00:37:08.259 --> 00:37:13.579 permit paperwork and it was the case but they detoured them on local roads that are not 00:37:13.579 --> 00:37:15.619 made for that kind of weight. 00:37:15.619 --> 00:37:21.599 So it kind of woke us up to the process here and that we need to have some more checks 00:37:21.599 --> 00:37:27.139 and balances on it to be fair to the constituents that are investing in the roads. 00:37:27.139 --> 00:37:35.739 discussion Alderman Sanders oh I can wait I can wait for anybody else that was 00:37:35.739 --> 00:37:40.460 there someone else that wanted to ask something manager where I just wanted to 00:37:40.460 --> 00:37:44.179 also add to that we've had a number of different cases where large heavy 00:37:44.179 --> 00:37:49.300 oversized loads have been trying to detour onto Empire Street obviously 00:37:49.300 --> 00:37:52.699 we've invested quite a bit there and we're not terribly interested in having 00:37:52.699 --> 00:37:57.460 We're having overweight loads going down Empire to Pearl City Road, and it's a convenience 00:37:57.460 --> 00:38:02.179 factor for the haulers, but we also have to protect our investment that we've made in 00:38:02.179 --> 00:38:03.179 these roads. 00:38:03.179 --> 00:38:06.300 And I think Darren's example of Henderson is a great example because it's on the edge 00:38:06.300 --> 00:38:07.659 of town. 00:38:07.659 --> 00:38:12.579 It's not really, it's kind of out of sight, out of mind for most people, hardly anybody 00:38:12.579 --> 00:38:13.579 lives there. 00:38:13.579 --> 00:38:17.940 There's just a couple of businesses out there, some important and major businesses, but they 00:38:17.940 --> 00:38:22.340 don't get back to us and say, hey, did you authorize this enormous gen set to go down 00:38:22.340 --> 00:38:27.779 here on a, you know, on a 16 axle trailer that, you know, is going down Henderson Road. 00:38:27.779 --> 00:38:32.539 So I think one of the issues and we're trying to tighten up is some of these ordinances that 00:38:32.539 --> 00:38:36.139 have to do with this, it gives us a little more enforcement capacity and then recover 00:38:36.139 --> 00:38:40.380 some of our review costs, which we currently don't have. 00:38:40.380 --> 00:38:46.699 Yeah, one more point I would like to make, Alderman Sanders, if I can. 00:38:46.699 --> 00:38:48.760 So Rob brought something to my memory. 00:38:48.760 --> 00:38:53.139 We do have these enormous generator loads that have been detoured because they don't fit 00:38:53.139 --> 00:38:56.739 under the bridge north of town. 00:38:56.739 --> 00:39:02.659 Something that's happened quite often is they get off route and they rip down either cable, 00:39:02.659 --> 00:39:08.260 frontier lines, electrical lines, and without permitting we don't know who did it and we 00:39:08.260 --> 00:39:12.519 can't track it down and it ends up costing the city time and money that we should be 00:39:12.519 --> 00:39:17.340 recouping from these permittees if they make the damage. 00:39:17.340 --> 00:39:18.340 and others. 00:39:18.340 --> 00:39:19.340 But often they just drive away. 00:39:19.340 --> 00:39:24.059 If we have a permit process, then we can track down who was there during those times and 00:39:24.059 --> 00:39:27.899 generally find out who's made the damage, you know, if they're driving through the right 00:39:27.899 --> 00:39:32.779 aways, if they're dragging trailers off the streets, and it happens more than you know. 00:39:32.779 --> 00:39:34.380 Alderman Sanders. 00:39:34.380 --> 00:39:45.739 Yeah, I was just curious about some procedures or protocols that can be put in place. 00:39:45.739 --> 00:39:53.859 and I understand what you guys are saying in regards to the damage that these big overload 00:39:53.859 --> 00:39:56.859 trucks can create. 00:39:56.859 --> 00:39:59.699 I just wanted to find out because I know the state 00:39:59.699 --> 00:40:07.939 Now, because I know the state police, they have some kind of a system in place to have 00:40:07.939 --> 00:40:15.779 trucks to come in to weigh that, if they're knowing what their weight capacity is before, 00:40:15.779 --> 00:40:20.139 while they're traveling the road, before they leave, they stable. If they know what their 00:40:20.139 --> 00:40:31.319 their weight capacity is could they not be instructed to go to some kind of waiting mechanism 00:40:31.319 --> 00:40:39.379 or whatever before they enter into Freeport when they realize that if they see signs on 00:40:39.379 --> 00:40:45.939 the road that they could be overweight coming through the city, there should be signs like 00:40:45.939 --> 00:41:11.039 and 00:41:11.039 --> 00:41:13.439 and the City of Kansas. 00:41:13.439 --> 00:41:15.599 So, I just want to ask you, 00:41:15.599 --> 00:41:17.919 what is the cost to the city 00:41:17.919 --> 00:41:21.199 when you're traveling through this city 00:41:21.199 --> 00:41:25.679 that the police department might interject or whatever, 00:41:25.679 --> 00:41:28.179 or what kind of monitoring system that we have 00:41:28.179 --> 00:41:31.679 that monitors trucks that are coming into Freeport 00:41:31.679 --> 00:41:36.239 and how we setting that up and is that going to be a cost 00:41:36.239 --> 00:41:40.639 to the city to have them to navigate around these areas 00:41:41.039 --> 00:41:48.399 so you had a bunch of questions there so I'll do my best okay so currently this 00:41:48.399 --> 00:41:52.159 permit would resolve most of the issues that you talked about because we don't 00:41:52.159 --> 00:41:56.839 have that could we weigh them yes there are places that we could weigh them 00:41:56.839 --> 00:42:01.599 locally but it would probably be unenforceable because the city of 00:42:01.599 --> 00:42:05.439 Freeport doesn't have a weights and loads officer on their staff that is 00:42:05.439 --> 00:42:11.839 Strain, if we specifically wanted to weigh a truck or a group of people that we thought were 00:42:12.399 --> 00:42:17.759 breaking our ordinance or rules, we could call in a state officer backup with portable scales. 00:42:18.480 --> 00:42:23.439 I would be unsure if we would have to pay for that or not because we would likely have to pay for 00:42:23.439 --> 00:42:29.839 their time in order to bring those scales into town and they do do stings sometimes on state routes 00:42:29.839 --> 00:42:39.359 Hicks to check the oversized loads. Again, farmers have permits that they can do different 00:42:39.359 --> 00:42:45.960 processes during agricultural times that they can be 10 to 15 percent overweight in the 00:42:45.960 --> 00:42:54.079 state statute. So I think this process here would clean up 90 percent of all the issues 00:42:54.079 --> 00:42:59.239 that we're having at this time. And the good contractors that come through town, they're 00:42:59.239 --> 00:43:03.439 They're good about calling and giving us routes and that and I direct them on the routes as 00:43:03.439 --> 00:43:08.639 I see fit or say please don't go on this street or don't go over this bridge type stuff but 00:43:08.639 --> 00:43:13.480 this would clean up the process currently is very hard within our system to find this 00:43:13.480 --> 00:43:16.539 process and so we want to bring it to light. 00:43:16.539 --> 00:43:18.919 We want to get council backing of it. 00:43:18.919 --> 00:43:29.219 We want to have fees that honestly have contractors want to do it right the first time and I again 00:43:59.219 --> 00:44:11.739 and I have looked at the current ordinance and it's very basic and it basically leaves 00:44:11.739 --> 00:44:15.859 a lot of discretion to the Public Works Director that I don't like. 00:44:15.859 --> 00:44:21.339 I would rather have rigid and firm rules that are not at my discretion so nobody's getting 00:44:21.339 --> 00:44:26.059 any favoritism and that we're just toeing the line that the city should. 00:44:26.059 --> 00:44:26.319 background company appreciated. 00:44:26.420 --> 00:44:27.199 Anyone fromigeen 00:44:27.199 --> 00:44:29.099 Rf 00:44:29.139 --> 00:44:30.199 e 00:44:30.199 --> 00:44:32.899 the 00:44:33.399 --> 00:44:34.899 rehears and say 00:44:35.019 --> 00:44:36.000 OK 00:44:36.000 --> 00:44:36.379 this is what I have t hem to do. 00:44:36.500 --> 00:44:37.339 This 00:44:37.379 --> 00:44:37.879 is the rules. 00:44:37.879 --> 00:44:39.239 They 00:44:39.279 --> 00:44:39.980 are refre. 00:44:40.139 --> 00:44:45.899 Ter 00:44:45.980 --> 00:44:52.599 is a 00:44:52.599 --> 00:44:53.500 . 00:44:53.500 --> 00:44:54.159 So we need to develop that. 00:44:54.159 --> 00:44:56.159 and 00:44:57.279 --> 00:44:59.279 Robert. 00:45:00.479 --> 00:45:03.460 We will create a permit app similar to the right-of-way 00:45:03.460 --> 00:45:07.259 permit form that somebody can fill out, email to us, has a 00:45:07.259 --> 00:45:11.059 time required ahead of time that it will be processed in so we 00:45:11.059 --> 00:45:14.379 have reasonable due time to get it done and then we will invoice 00:45:14.379 --> 00:45:18.519 them accordingly with online payment options if they choose 00:45:18.519 --> 00:45:20.519 and the people that truck through all the town all the 00:45:20.519 --> 00:45:22.519 time, we will set up an annual account with them just like we 00:45:22.519 --> 00:45:23.519 and the rest of the city. 00:45:23.519 --> 00:45:28.519 So, we're going to try to make it simple and easy on them. 00:45:28.519 --> 00:45:33.719 Is there warnings that would notify any overweight vehicle? 00:45:33.719 --> 00:45:40.239 So part of the process then second fold is once this is done, we would notify on the 00:45:40.239 --> 00:45:46.019 outside limits of town that permits are required for overweight and oversized. 00:45:46.019 --> 00:45:48.279 Those are signs that can be added to the city limit signs. 00:45:48.279 --> 00:45:49.279 Right. 00:45:49.279 --> 00:45:50.279 Good. 00:45:50.279 --> 00:45:51.279 Okay. 00:45:51.279 --> 00:45:52.279 Thank you. 00:45:52.279 --> 00:46:00.039 Just a touch on process that if the council tonight at this committee meeting decides to 00:46:00.039 --> 00:46:04.279 move votes to move forward then I'll draft the ordinance there so that it will be brought 00:46:04.279 --> 00:46:08.639 back to you guys at the next city council meeting for first read there so but again 00:46:08.639 --> 00:46:12.079 you guys got a vote to move forward so I have direction to actually draft the ordinance 00:46:12.079 --> 00:46:13.079 up. 00:46:13.079 --> 00:46:14.079 Alderman Stacey. 00:46:14.079 --> 00:46:22.259 I thought you said that we could not move forward with this until the bridge was done. 00:46:22.259 --> 00:46:29.460 So we can move forward with the overweight and overpermit, we just, we will not be able 00:46:29.460 --> 00:46:34.579 to allow weights that are over 80,000 pounds across the Hancock Bridge. 00:46:34.579 --> 00:46:38.279 We cannot do that, it's not in good enough shape. 00:46:38.279 --> 00:46:43.299 So that process will not be allowed at any point. 00:46:43.299 --> 00:46:47.739 And in the state statute, if you look through it, it actually says in there, if you adopt 00:46:47.739 --> 00:46:51.299 and Cora, to the right. 00:46:51.299 --> 00:46:54.359 And then back to the beginning. 00:46:54.359 --> 00:46:59.319 Well, there's no charge that you can go over a bridge that you're overweight on. 00:46:59.319 --> 00:47:04.480 You can always go over it, but that's not the state statute that bridges are always exempt 00:47:04.480 --> 00:47:05.199 to overweight. 00:47:05.199 --> 00:47:10.500 They want you to drive 20 miles around and then go over a bridge that you're overweight 00:47:10.500 --> 00:47:11.000 on. 00:47:11.000 --> 00:47:13.599 It creates too much damage to the structures. 00:47:13.599 --> 00:47:43.599 I can't actually answer that question. 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. And up until recently, I think we had verbal conversations with them. I know I've had several years ago when I first stepped in the door, and ever since then, Darren's been 00:47:43.599 --> 00:47:53.599 We've been reviewing those and it's been going fine. I just think that we don't, we need a little more enforcement penalty involved with this as well as being able to recover our time for the review. 00:47:57.599 --> 00:48:12.599 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 schedule or a permit app. 00:48:42.599 --> 00:48:59.599 We have a motion made by Alderman Shadle, seconded by Alderman Klemm. Any further discussion? 00:48:59.599 --> 00:49:01.960 So now we can vote at a cow? 00:49:01.960 --> 00:49:06.879 No, we're just voting to move it forward. That's it. To move it to a first reading, 00:49:06.880 --> 00:49:09.539 to approve them to do the ordinance. 00:49:14.199 --> 00:49:17.239 So by moving it forward, we'll create the ordinance. 00:49:17.239 --> 00:49:18.920 Aaron and I will, to come back, 00:49:18.920 --> 00:49:21.359 we'll create the permit application 00:49:21.359 --> 00:49:23.039 and then we'll bring it back for a first reading 00:49:23.039 --> 00:49:23.960 and a second reading. 00:49:23.960 --> 00:49:25.679 Right, right. 00:49:25.679 --> 00:49:27.799 I just didn't wanna spend the time and money redoing it 00:49:27.799 --> 00:49:29.840 if we're not, if the council doesn't 00:49:29.840 --> 00:49:32.000 and we have interest in moving it. 00:49:32.000 --> 00:49:34.559 Can that be ready by the June 21st meeting 00:49:34.559 --> 00:49:36.039 or do you need more time than that? 00:49:36.039 --> 00:49:47.639 if there's no further discussion all those in favor of moving this forward to 00:49:47.639 --> 00:49:54.039 the next regularly scheduled meetings signify by saying aye aye opposed okay 00:49:54.039 --> 00:49:58.480 then we will move on to item number 11 which is public comment is there any 00:49:58.480 --> 00:50:01.480 public comments this evening 00:50:01.480 --> 00:50:03.260 Wintory, and a lot of other folks. 00:50:03.260 --> 00:50:06.280 Those are the things that we're going to be discussing in our next meeting. 00:50:06.280 --> 00:50:08.920 So I'm going to ask you to do some kind of comment. 00:50:08.920 --> 00:50:15.300 Is there any public comments this evening? 00:50:15.300 --> 00:50:20.780 Page care 103, Arbor Drive. 00:50:20.780 --> 00:50:27.480 I mostly just have a question of the $55,000 salary that you're pretty proud of. 00:50:27.480 --> 00:50:31.240 Do you generally think that that's enough for the public? 00:50:31.240 --> 00:50:32.240 Fowler. 00:50:32.240 --> 00:50:34.719 You see all these, you listed it. 00:50:34.719 --> 00:50:37.480 So we should really take a look at what are we doing here. 00:50:37.480 --> 00:50:45.679 We're forcing our public to require this assistance, genuinely, $55,000 a year is not enough. 00:50:45.679 --> 00:50:48.639 We have the water bills that are going higher and higher. 00:50:48.639 --> 00:50:53.360 You guys are choosing to put back on that grocery tax. 00:50:53.360 --> 00:50:56.740 Your events that you host, you take money back from us. 00:50:56.740 --> 00:50:59.940 From those people that you pay $55,000 a year. 00:50:59.940 --> 00:51:29.940 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 gonna have retention with that kind of salary, because those kind of people cannot leave, they are stuck working for you, 00:51:29.940 --> 00:51:39.940 another opportunity opens up, but in this town there's not. There's not good opportunities for the youth, for anyone. We do nothing here. 00:51:39.940 --> 00:51:47.940 So take a look at yourself and really look at the core. What are we doing? We're forcing our public to require your help. 00:51:47.940 --> 00:51:53.940 It's disgusting and it leaves a bad taste in the public's mouth. Thank you. 00:51:53.940 --> 00:51:59.579 Is there any other public comment? Go ahead, Tommy. 00:52:02.900 --> 00:52:16.420 Dwayne Dickenley? Yes. You said about Queen's is going to be September 3rd? That's right, September 3rd, Tommy. 00:52:16.420 --> 00:52:24.840 Jodi Moos, she does a good job of that Teddy Baker day poke and the chief do a good job with driving that 00:52:25.599 --> 00:52:27.599 Please please sing 00:52:31.639 --> 00:52:33.639 Anyone else go ahead 00:52:46.420 --> 00:52:58.539 Hi, Sue Cook, Winchester Drive, and I have a question about the trees at Cray Park. The 00:52:58.539 --> 00:53:04.099 two trees that are very, very rare, will we be taking cuttings from those or anything 00:53:04.099 --> 00:53:10.619 to kind of generate saplings so that we have the ability to not just have two, but the 00:53:10.619 --> 00:53:16.380 ability to have more because that's a tourist attraction. That's how you bring 00:53:16.380 --> 00:53:24.780 and the Tourist, is to say we have this. This is not in every single park, but we have it. 00:53:24.780 --> 00:53:29.980 So if we can generate more of the trees, if we can grow more trees, more saplings, and 00:53:29.980 --> 00:53:36.420 use that, I think that would be a wonderful way to add to the tourist attraction. Are you 00:53:36.420 --> 00:53:43.699 guys hearing this or am I muffled? Okay, good. Then the other is on the tree-lined back road 00:53:43.699 --> 00:53:44.699 and Jeanne. 00:53:44.699 --> 00:53:46.239 We are, as you know, going to be a two lane road that goes back like where you would go 00:53:46.239 --> 00:53:48.599 to Walmart, going out of the park. 00:53:48.599 --> 00:53:51.860 I noticed that a lot of the the morma trees are down. 00:53:51.860 --> 00:53:55.720 Are you taking the mature trees down to add saplings? 00:53:55.720 --> 00:54:00.159 Or will that become a two lane road? 00:54:00.159 --> 00:54:07.280 I know that for a very, very long time, photographers use that for weddings, because it had the 00:54:07.280 --> 00:54:10.000 picturesque canopy that came over top. 00:54:10.000 --> 00:54:13.380 And I know that it also blocked out a lot of light. 00:54:13.380 --> 00:54:19.179 So I can understand putting in smaller saplings, but will that be a two-lane road? 00:54:19.179 --> 00:54:26.300 The next is for the GDP, have you thought about the Monroe idea? 00:54:26.300 --> 00:54:31.420 Because we're coming into Christmas, and we have these six months, and we have a lot of 00:54:31.420 --> 00:54:33.300 open storefronts. 00:54:33.300 --> 00:54:38.220 And something that Monroe did that I think that we could do and do very, very well is 00:54:38.220 --> 00:54:42.019 is to offer, Monroe offered these storefronts 00:54:42.019 --> 00:54:47.019 at a zero rent, zero rent for a period of time. 00:54:47.860 --> 00:54:48.860 And I think it was six months 00:54:48.860 --> 00:54:51.500 because they wanted us to run through Christmas. 00:54:51.500 --> 00:54:53.280 You had specific guidelines. 00:54:53.280 --> 00:54:55.099 If you didn't meet those guidelines, 00:54:55.099 --> 00:54:56.739 boom, you were paying rent. 00:54:58.059 --> 00:54:59.599 You had to have your plan. 00:54:59.599 --> 00:55:02.159 You submitted your plan ahead of time. 00:55:02.159 --> 00:55:04.699 The council actually looked at the plans. 00:55:04.699 --> 00:55:06.380 The mayor and the council, the city manager, 00:55:06.380 --> 00:55:08.260 I don't think they have a city manager there. 00:55:08.260 --> 00:55:09.619 Look at the plans. 00:55:09.619 --> 00:55:13.099 They filled up their downtown. 00:55:13.099 --> 00:55:16.260 I think they had one that backed out afterwards. 00:55:16.260 --> 00:55:19.659 Also, please add x-ray to your list 00:55:19.659 --> 00:55:22.099 when you have nurses and things like that. 00:55:22.099 --> 00:55:23.619 X-ray and radiation therapy, 00:55:23.619 --> 00:55:26.840 because we have those departments in Freeport. 00:55:26.840 --> 00:55:29.159 We have a radiation therapy department. 00:55:29.159 --> 00:55:31.659 Not a lot of places do. 00:55:31.659 --> 00:55:34.760 We have a standalone radiation therapy department. 00:55:34.760 --> 00:55:38.559 and then also just one thing for the ADA board 00:55:38.559 --> 00:55:43.280 is that TuddyFest for parking for the handicap, 00:55:43.280 --> 00:55:44.360 if you could get... 00:55:44.360 --> 00:55:47.039 Your time has exceeded, thank you. 00:55:47.039 --> 00:55:48.400 Well, that was close, but... 00:55:51.780 --> 00:55:53.680 Any other public comments? 00:55:53.680 --> 00:55:54.599 Alderman Stacey. 00:55:54.599 --> 00:56:09.199 I just want to close out in prayer. Father God, in the name of Jesus, you are the 00:56:09.199 --> 00:56:16.079 author and the finisher of our faith. So Father God, I lose your healing power 00:56:16.079 --> 00:56:22.860 over the city of Freeport and I speak to the north, the south, the east, and the 00:56:22.860 --> 00:56:32.860 West, oh God. Thank you, Lord Jesus, for opening up our eye gates and our ear gates, that we 00:56:32.860 --> 00:56:44.619 may hear and understand what you are calling for Freeport this season, oh God. Continue 00:56:44.619 --> 00:57:14.619 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 00:57:14.619 --> 00:57:27.659 for a reason and I just speak healing and victory in Jesus name. Amen. Any other 00:57:27.659 --> 00:57:39.019 public comments? Oh I have. Go ahead. I would just like to say that I was really 00:57:39.019 --> 00:57:48.019 I'm really impressed by Teddy 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. 00:57:48.019 --> 00:57:55.019 My church had a tent and we had multiple churches and ministries involved in it. 00:57:55.019 --> 00:58:07.019 And I just want to kind of give a praise 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. 00:58:07.019 --> 00:58:13.059 and it was such a blessing and just to see the community come together like 00:58:13.059 --> 00:58:16.760 with the community church event that was down there there was 00:58:16.760 --> 00:58:22.619 multiple churches that came down there and they worshiped together and I've 00:58:22.619 --> 00:58:25.340 heard nothing but good things about the fireworks I don't know if you guys all 00:58:25.340 --> 00:58:29.860 saw the fireworks but they were pretty amazing and if it wasn't for this 00:58:29.860 --> 00:58:35.099 festival and bringing the community together think about it 422 people said 00:58:35.099 --> 00:58:36.099 and Mary. 00:58:36.099 --> 00:58:37.099 Thank you. 00:58:37.099 --> 00:58:57.659 I just want to remind everybody that on Wednesday, they're going to have out at Highland. 00:58:57.659 --> 00:59:03.420 It's called Shoot Hoops and Not Guns and it's sponsored by the Boys and Girls Club and it 00:59:03.420 --> 00:59:09.099 will be at the YMCA, so if you got some time, come out and support the kids at 5 o'clock. 00:59:09.099 --> 00:59:16.940 And then on Saturday, July 19th, at 8 o'clock, we will have, on King Campus, they will have 00:59:16.940 --> 00:59:20.740 a movie night, and the movie is Praise This. 00:59:20.740 --> 00:59:25.940 Bring your chairs and snacks and families and just come out and enjoy the community 00:59:25.940 --> 00:59:29.820 movie at 8 o'clock at the Boys and Girls Club. 00:59:29.820 --> 00:59:32.140 Any other public comments? 00:59:32.139 --> 00:59:43.099 Nonology, yes ma'am. Wasn't there an event for the 40 Days of Peace Saturday? There's 00:59:43.099 --> 00:59:48.059 an event every other weekend that's in addition to what she just talked about. So 00:59:48.059 --> 00:59:52.819 isn't there an event this weekend? Yes, that's at Nolten Park. What is the event? 00:59:52.819 --> 00:59:56.779 The same thing as before, it's a cleanup on Friday, it's a resource party on 00:59:56.780 --> 01:00:02.619 Saturday and church in the street on Sunday and they'll be at Norton Park. 01:00:02.619 --> 01:00:06.539 at Norton Park. 01:00:06.539 --> 01:00:08.699 Any other public comments? 01:00:08.699 --> 01:00:10.699 I will entertain a motion for adjournment. 01:00:10.699 --> 01:00:11.380 So move. 01:00:11.380 --> 01:00:12.460 Second. 01:00:12.460 --> 01:00:13.500 All those in favor? 01:00:13.500 --> 01:00:14.000 Aye. 01:00:14.000 --> 01:00:14.819 Have a good evening.