We got two, huh?

What's going on?

Working through their permit time.

Good evening. Evelyn, could you please give the invocation?

Father God, we thank you for being who you are in all areas of our government.

Thank you for leading and guiding this city council meeting tonight.

Father, please lead and guide every council member in all the discussions that are discussed tonight.

Let there be no division between any council member.

Psalms 3312 says, blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord.

We thank you for the city of Freeport and for the leaders you have put in place to lead us.

In Jesus' name, amen.

Amen.

Thank you, Evelyn.

Now we'll officially call this meeting to order.

Mayor Miller, Alderpersons, Klemm, Monroe, Simmons, Absent, Parker, Stacy, Shadle, Sanders, Sellers, and Alderpersons, Simmons, are you present?

If you could please stand for the Pledge of Allegiance led by Alderman Sellers.

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.

Alderman Sellers, the meeting is yours.

Thank you.

At this time, can I have a motion to approve the agenda?

So moved.

Second.

It was approved by, first by Greg, well Shadle, Shadle, thank you, Shadle and Klemm, let me see, let me put that on here, Shadle, second Klemm, okay, all those in favor?

Aye Any opposed? Motion passes.

Approval of minutes from the Committee of a Whole meeting held on December 9th, 2024.

So moved.

Second.

Okay, it was first by Shadle.

Okay, first, Shadle.

Okay, and second, Klemm.

Okay, all in favor?

Aye.

Any opposed?

Motion passed.

at this time we'll have public comments and there are three names the first name is Diane Yocum hello my name is Diane Yocum and I'm a citizen of Freeport and I noticed on the and the agenda number 15 that is coming up again about some of these ordinance changes that one wants to do I think to some of the meeting principles that go on here in particular fines and so forth.

One part of that that I especially want to speak against is section 20, I believe it's and others.

This is part four, where it states, any member present when her name is called to vote on any question during a meeting of the City Council or any of its committees and who shall refuse or neglect to vote shall forfeit $100 of their compensation for the current month unless he or she has a conflict of interest in subject matter of the question and discloses and others.

This is the nature of the conflict of the City Council and the City Council by majority of vote excuses said member from voting at his or her request prior to the commencement of the roll call on said question.

Now it's my understanding that the Council indeed and I understand every one of you has a copy of Robert's Rules of Order and under Robert's Rules of Order it states in Section and the City Council members.

And I think that there is a right of abstention and it is not necessarily always connected to having a conflict of interest.

And so by putting this in, I think it is an unjust and unfair principle that is being added into this because for me, not only is it unjust, but it also I think is down a slippery slope and others. And heaven knows we've got concerns about that enough as it is, and that I do not think this is fair, that it's right, that it's just, and I think it's very undemocratic per se. I don't particularly like this whole ordinance as a whole, but some of these principles I think are not necessary. You already have, I understand in the ordinance, rules about what you can do and cannot do regarding this, and I think these changes are completely unnecessary and others.

If you don't have your Robert's Rules of Order, I suggest you look at 45.

3 and read that section through. There's another area where it talks about if you have a conflict of interest, which by all means, any person should indeed abstain from voting, but by right, you do have that under Robert's Rules of Order, the option to abstain whether or not, and it doesn't have to be have to be called an abstention when the vote is called, but you do by right have that freedom and that opportunity to abstain.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Next on the list is Akia Sanders.

How y'all doing?

This is my sister.

We own 404 together.

I just want to state that she was never served at her address. Steve Cox used my address to serve her. My sister lives in Rockford.

They asked you where do you want the deed sent? She sent the deed to me. But that was not to be used. That's her primary address. He did that on his own.

I was also called Friday by the police to say that they are not going to press any charges on Tony. I don't know if his last name Miller, Albert, or whatever his name is.

because they would have a hard time proving intent.

There was three different occasions he brought my belongings to whoever, but it's called theft after the fact or something like that, but you mean to tell me three times he didn't know he had my stolen property?

Insane.

And then on another note, as this came out, I was told that Rob Boyer was asking or telling people, do you know who this is about?

This is a Kia Sanders. I don't know what he meant by that, but I just want him to know that means more says more about you than it says about me.

Okay, next on the list is Cheryl. Is it Altman?

Thank you.

Good evening. I owned a house at 124 Blackhawk, and I think that they did the fast-track demolition process on me. We were not served any notice, no registration. One day it was there, the next day it was gone. And we had a whole bunch of stuff in there. As a matter of fact, when they went through my house, they broke in to go through the house. The house was locked.

So now I lost not only my house, but all my building material that was in this house and that's unfair that I was not served any notice and then we have another property that we're trying to get, we have our contractor's license, we're trying to get a permit, we had to have an engineer for 16 to 422 and a half prospectors, we had the engineer come in, gave them the report that it's a sound building, we got a permit last year, but they refused to give me this year and we were two thirds of the way done with the house and now they want and try tearing that down too.

This is unfair.

The city needs to take a look at some of their buildings like the Raleigh Building, which has been a very eyesore for years.

And you've guys got grants, but yet it's still standing and you've got trees growing in there, hundreds of windows that are broken.

That's the biggest eyesore in Freeport.

Okay, at this time, we'll move to discussion seven, Discussing Regarding Possible Implementation of a FLOC License Plate Reader, LPR, and Video System, Presentation by Chief Shenberger.

Thank you.

So the Freeport Police Department has utilized Vigilant, which is Motorola, LPR cameras at various locations in the city, and Sound Thinking Gunshot Detection Sensors.

The use of LPR cameras and Sound Thinking have significantly helped the PD staff with with Shots Fired Investigations.

LPR cameras have also benefited PD staff with investigating other crimes, including recovery of stolen vehicles, serious felonies, and retail thefts.

Staff has been working with representatives...

working with representatives from FLOC with potentially expanding our technological resources that will allow officers to be more proactive and improve the response to criminal incidents.

FLOC offers a three-pronged approach, LPR cameras, live video cameras, and gunshot detection.

The City of Freeport is currently under contract with Sound Thinking and Vigilant until 2027.

Staff is looking for other alternatives to improve public safety Files at FLOC can offer more alternatives under one user-friendly program.

So there is no funding at this time or any costs.

This is just something we're looking to explore and looking into possibility of maybe being some grant funding out there or in the future of reallocating funds that's used towards sound thinking and Vigilant after the expiration of the contracts.

but the contract with Vigilant was paid up front, so there is no annual cost with that until the contract expires.

I also have Blaine Thomas, he's a representative from FLOC, he's just gonna give a little presentation to the council and everyone who's watching here and at home, just to give you an idea of what FLOC can do for the city.

Yes, thank you, Chief, and to the Council and everybody here. I know that you all have a packed agenda tonight, so I greatly appreciate you all giving us the time to go through this.

Yeah, absolutely. While he's pulling up the slides, I can speak a little bit to who FLOC is. My main objective for this time is really to highlight what the company, what our company does, what FLOC does. Briefly speak to our technologies. There's a lot to go into, but I'm gonna try to highlight the ones that the Chief brought up.

And then finally kind of share the vision of Flock and how all the technology works.

What does that mean, Flock?

Flock's the name of our company.

Huh?

Just the name of the company.

Name of the company?

Mm-hmm, okay.

Yeah, correct.

So to give you all some context, Flock is a public safety technology company.

We have a host of hardware sensors, whether that be live video, LPR cameras, gunshot detection, drones, mobile security trailers, a number of different technology assets.

We then take all of that data and put it into a public safety platform that allows the police department to make objective, data-driven decisions.

To give you a little bit of an idea of the scale of our company.

We work with approximately 1,500 law enforcement agencies in cities across the United States, have right at about 90,000 license plate reading cameras throughout the country.

For the sake of time, I'll kind of continue here, so the way that the company works is So, oh.

Thomas.

Could I please get your name while we're waiting?

Yeah.

Blaine Thomas.

Thank you.

Yep.

I can go from here. Am I able to scroll down on this? Okay, great.

Yeah, so I went into this a little bit. I'll be brief on this slide. We at FLOC, we understand that public safety is a dynamic, creates dynamic challenges, and it's also a resource constraint business, whether that be manpower or financial resources, we use our technology to try to multiply the impact that a police force and a city can ultimately have while still providing safeguards to ensure and I want to make sure that the public's data is that the city is a good steward of public data.

To kind of go over this one more time, so at the top you'll see a number of different technologies.

What you see from left to right is LPR, gunshot detection, and live video.

We also have a few other products, but those are the primary ones that I'll speak to this evening.

we have a three-pronged approach when it comes to the when it comes to the data that that our technology captures. We detect the data and then we decode it and then we deliver it. In that decoding layer we take AIML models and put it over the different technologies that we have whether that be over the image that a license plate reader captures or a video stream that a live video camera We'll pick up. And then we deliver that, we ultimately deliver that data in a digestible manner to law enforcement. There's a number of different ways that we do that, which I'll go into when I dive into the products a little bit more.

LPR cameras, this is something that you all already have in the city. What makes our LPR cameras a little bit different is that they are plugged into the nationwide network of flock cameras.

What that means is that if, say, a vehicle that is associated with a felony warrant out of Chicago, Bloomington, insert whatever city, you will, if one of those passes a camera in your city, the police department will get alerted to that.

The idea of that is being able to prevent crime, to go and investigate certain vehicles before a crime is committed.

and Joseph.

Also, the police department has the ability to go back and look at historical data.

So if an incident happens in a given part of the city, the police department can go back and see what vehicles were in the city during that time.

I was just down visiting a customer on the eastern side of the state.

They had a 911 call that somebody heard gunshots.

And that was the extent of what the police department had.

They looked at their LPR cameras in the area within about a 15 minute time window of that 911 call, saw one car that had blood on it, one car that had bullet holes in it.

So the idea is being able to give the police department more data, more insights to do their job.

I always like to just spend a second on the slides, I think it's important, just really speak to what LPR is, what it isn't.

and LPR takes a LPR sorry a license plate reader takes a picture of the back of the vehicle we are going to get the license plate of that vehicle as well as some unique characteristics make model color there's a bumper sticker roof rack etc what we are not doing with these cameras is there is no facial recognition going on we are not looking for or at individuals we are simply just looking at at a vehicle next piece that I want to go into is live video live video is nothing that is is new.

What makes our live video cameras a little bit different is that they have the ability to detect people and vehicles.

So while it's not an LPR camera, it can still record characteristics of vehicles that pass it, as well as have features like pupil detection.

So let's just say that if you want to be alerted to maybe groups of people past a certain time of night, the cameras with the capability to do that.

Next, gunshot detection.

Gunshot detection is also not.

Detection, Gunshot Detection is also not a new technology.

We have a couple statistics on this board that we take pride in.

The first one would be 90% accurate to within 90 feet.

Gunshot detection is really only as good as it is accurate.

We actually slow rolled this product to market to make sure that it was as accurate as possible.

If you have a wide area that a potential gunshot could have happened, it is not as effective and others.

Holtz, and to a relatively precise area.

The one thing that I do want to talk to you before I speak to how this platform works together is the things that we do to make sure that data is protected.

Ultimately, the police department, therefore the city, owns all of its data.

We do not sell the data.

I personally don't have access to the data. It's not like every FLOC employee has access to the data or anything like that.

The city owns the data. The city is able to create policies around their data, and you own 100% of that data.

Also, the data is only retained for 30 days. This is not a technology that can go back and look at the movements of an individual over two years.

the idea is to get is to get this objective data for a period of time to allow law enforcement to do their jobs and then to have the data go away there also is a transparency portal which we provide if the city would like that this is a public website that anybody in the community or the really the country can have access to what this will do is it will show if the city has an LPR policy it will show that as well as how the LPR is used any agencies in the area that might have access to that data, this will all be public.

To speak a little bit about how the platform works together I use this example here to kind of illustrate how it all comes together.

LPR, live video, gunshot detection, they are products that do great on their own but together they really start to have a profound impact So if we, this is a bank robbery case here, but if we use our imaginations here, if we get a hit on a LPR camera, and you have live video cameras in town as well, you can say, if you get an alert on a LPR, you can then go into the live video cameras around there, and officers can be getting situational awareness to what is going on while they are in route, as opposed to just maybe getting a call for service and showing up to that call without a lot of context.

Same thing works with gunshot detection.

If you get an alert that a gunshot was detected, police can then go and look at the cars that were in the vicinity during that time, as well as pull up live video cameras to understand what is going on on the ground while en route.

I will pause there.

I think that that covers the 60,000 foot view.

And more than happy to answer any questions if we are doing questions.

Are there any questions at this time?

Thank you.

I've got a few.

So just a quick deep dive into some of your past with cameras.

seems like there's a lot of issues with cameras popping up as far as the Fourth Amendment of the Constitution.

I noticed that there was a lawsuit that was filed back in October of last year against FLOC.

How, you know, storing this data for 30 days clearly is potentially a way to track somebody who's not committed any crimes.

What is FLOC doing to protect citizens' rights and the community from that type of intrusive behavior?

Yeah, so what I will say to that is we have a legal team that I can connect you with that can answer that in depth.

What I can, because I don't want to speak out of term on public record, what I can confidently say though is there have been a number of cases where precedent was set that this technology is okay.

The state of Illinois has said that this technology is okay under certain parameters.

are 30 days data retention is under the that is a that is less retention than the the the state law has but I can I can provide some some greater context as a follow-up to you have follow-up that'd be the two we wanted to we don't get to in this okay well go ahead so my second question coming back to that and I appreciate that information there are safeguards put in place so that a and John, and I'm going to start with the police officer or some official could not run your license plate multiple times to check on somebody's status, their information for no reason, just going in for random. Are there protections like that with this type of software?

» Yeah, thank you for asking that question. In the sake of trying to be timely, I breeze over that. Any time that the Thomas. I cannot go out in there and look at my wife's license plate willy-nilly. What I would have to do is I would have to put a search reason as to why, and then the system would log that myself, Blaine Thomas, searched XYZ license plate for whatever reason, and that's an audit trail that lives in the system.

Awesome. Thank you very much.

Yeah. Thank you for the questions.

Yeah, is that dedicated to the Police Department only? Of what Alderman Monroe was just talking about?

The ability to use the system?

Yes.

Yeah, so the way that it works is yes. The Police Department ultimately is the, I don't want to say owner, is the owner of the system, and what I mean by that is a bad word.

and they manage the system.

So the police department ultimately can, they grant access to who they want access granted to.

Okay.

So this would not be something that the public can access?

Yes, correct.

Okay.

What is a sound thinking, vigilant that the city is currently running?

you familiar with that?

Yeah, those are competitive products to FLOC.

They are what?

They're competitive, those are products that our competitors have taken to market.

And the City of Freeport is affiliated or own anything of that nature?

Chief, do you wanna?

Yeah, we have vigilant LPR cameras and then Sound Thinking, formerly known as ShotSpotter, We have a contract with them as well.

And we only, do we have mapping of where these cameras are located?

No, we don't.

Okay, so who did the installation and then provide the locations of these devices?

Well, I mean, we know where they're at.

Oh, okay.

They're in fixed locations.

Okay.

So yeah, but the installation, I believe, I think we went to it in 2021, but it might not have been rolled out Till 22. So. Okay, but these cameras that that we're looking at, the city hasn't purchased any of those yet, have they? Yeah, you're correct. The city has not purchased any cameras. And do you sell this all over the country? Is this device sold all over the country? Yes. Okay. And who does the installation of these cameras? We do.

you do okay at the discretion of the police department yes correct we we require a permit for it we we we pull permits for every installation so whether that be on city right away or or IDOT right away so they're okay so there's books and pamphlet installations and the value of these cameras that the city May, Michael Cinder,énor me not consider purchasing so their is things that we can look at to make a determination if that's the route that we like to go. Yeah just to understand just to make sure that I understand the question correctly are you asking are there like budgetary quotes and other types of documentation. Yes, yeah. Okay, are there any other Chief, Shenberger, I really appreciate you bringing this forward. Like last year, we brought forward the drones and they were turned down, but it shows that we have some of this existing technology now, but this is a chance to upgrade it, move it around and locate it in more spots that may be more beneficial. But I appreciate the fact that you are proactive in taking to look at the different things that we can do. Needless to say, manpower is one thing that is increasing, but anything that we can do to help with, assist manpower, is really

a great thing for the City. Thanks for bringing it forward.

Yes, Chief Shenberger, I would like to know are we or would we be replacing what we have already spent money on or is this in addition to what we already have?

So I mean eventually the contracts with Vigilant and Sound Thinking they expire in 2027 so So we would have to consider renewing.

I'm just exploring options on perhaps getting started with the FLOC system and possibly transitioning to that if the council is on board with that.

I'm just putting this out there just to show what's available to us.

As of now, Vigilant, like I said, that was paid up front, so it doesn't cost us anything, and the Sound Thinking, we pay annually. There's two more years left on that as well.

So you're saying, Chief Shenberger, that if we add this, this will take away the other two shot spotters that we have?

It could eventually, yeah. Because, I mean, if you think about it, we have an LPR system that's one company then we have some thinking that's another company well they offer you know LPR's live video which is something we've well I've been talking about and gunshot detection all in one company one program instead of you know utilizing different programs we have we have a fixed camera you know that takes one program we have a portable camera that takes another so it's just a good and I have the option to have something that can offer all three with just one program.

So one more question. So this would be an upgrade and we paying one bill instead of paying maybe two or is that?

It could be, yeah, I see it as an upgrade and I mean he could talk more about the cost of it.

So like, for example, Vigilant, right, we paid for that up front.

I've had a couple of things go wrong with them, so I had to go through the company to RMA to get them replaced.

That was quite a process. It took about three or four months for me to get the replacements and get them fixed.

With FLOC, they would come out and just do it. It's a per-camera cost, but that includes everything.

It's an all-inclusive, it's like $3,000 a camera, but it's all-inclusive.

that includes cloud storage that includes replacing the camera all that stuff okay thank you any other questions oh it's Blaine right yeah Blaine I've been to a couple presentations of Blaine's and just something I wanted to bring up that I thought was really valuable other police departments in the area including I believe the county police the state police in our area and many of the Smaller. Communities are utilizing FLOC. Rockford is entirely FLOC. Yeah, in Rockford too. Yeah, forgot about Rockford. Thank you. And maybe you could speak to the ins and outs of that and what the benefit of being on the same program as the other communities around you.

Yeah, absolutely. Ms. Sellers, just just so you're aware, there's a slide in the PowerPoint in your agenda packet that goes over some of the things that are included in the in the subscription, like the the maintenance, and everything like that.

Yeah, so one of FLOC's biggest value adds to a community is the broader network of FLOC.

I briefly touched on it earlier, but when you join the FLOC network, you not only have access to the cameras that are in your city, but also the surrounding cities, and and others that suspect what was in their town.

I have one more question.

So you're saying does it only have to be a flock camera or could it be any camera from any camera that takes pictures?

I mean, does it only have to be your company or could it be any camera?

Any camera that's integrated into the flock system.

For example, there are some license plate readers that will be fixed to police cars.

So that would be a case where those cameras are ingested into the FLOC system.

So that would be a case that that license plate is now in the FLOC system.

So is that just in the state of Illinois?

No.

So the cameras are all over the country.

The reason that I use the state of Illinois is because LPR policy is different from city to city.

So it ultimately is dependent on the policy of the police department and the broader city as to what cameras you have access to as well as what other cities have access to your cameras.

So would these cameras be placed on our ComEd poles?

What poles?

Excuse me?

Sorry?

Utility poles.

Oh, utility poles.

So the cameras are infrastructure free, so they run off solar power.

So we generally will put a pole in the ground ourselves.

Mounting on power company poles can sometimes be costly, or I shouldn't say costly, but There can be a fee associated with that sometimes, because that's not our property.

And did you say it's $3,000 per camera?

Approximately, yes, there are some differences in price based off different models, but for a standard camera, yes ma'am, $3,000.

One other comment I'll make, because I've seen this a couple times, and this was in a brief version.

One of the stats that he had at another meeting I was at that I was really taken back by was 70 percent of the crimes use a vehicle at some point within the crime.

And so that's why the LPR technology is so important to the situation of finding out who does it.

So, for instance, if somebody was targeting an area, I think you said you could actually Oh, what's the acronym to the LPR? What's the acronym to the license plate reader? License plate reader, is that what it means? Okay.

What's the acronym? It's a license plate reader. License plate reader, is that what it means? Okay.

Are there any other questions? Well, thank you so much. Thank you so much. Appreciate you all.

At this time, I would just like to know if Chief Shenberger, where do we go? Do we go to wanting to get more information or do we want to take a vote on and put it in a first reading? How do we want to do this?

this is just this is just something I've been working on for a few months you know continue talking with Blaine and his team and we'll get to the point where I'll you know get a bid or get an offer and I let the council know and then decide that you guys decide what you want to do but right now it's just kind of in its infancy you know we're in the planning stage of it trying to find the the best option that we have for the city while utilizing the technology we still have right now so and that we're using, so.

Okay, and we currently have two more years in that contract.

Correct, yep.

Any other questions?

If not, we'll move on to number eight, Greater Freeport Partnership Quarterly Presentation to Council presented by Andrea Schwartz-Winters.

Are you putting it in the presentation book? Okay, all right, awesome. Good evening and happy new year. Tonight's presentation, we will recover the highlights of our work in and many others, and I'm going to talk a little bit more about the report that you received in your packets.

and John.

As in previous presentations, we are outlining this in order of our strategic plan key focused areas, which just to remind you all, our business retention and expansion, which involves our workforce development efforts, new business development and attraction. This includes attracting new businesses, helping businesses start and assisting small businesses to grow. Marketing the region to and the opportunities for growth and work in Stevenson County, as well as marketing the partnership services to future and existing businesses.

Visitor attraction, which encompasses our tourism attraction efforts.

Advocacy and policy is related to our internal work, and we do a lot to track legislation that might affect local industries and communities.

It's been very active in the fourth quarter, and I would foresee that in the first quarter and Jodi.

We are looking to always build the partnerships capacity by increasing our membership numbers and maintaining a high retention rate.

I would like to highlight some fourth quarter wins, some positive news from the fourth quarter.

As outlined in our strategic plan, we completed a countywide and the key takeaway points in the report you have before you, but the survey was completed last quarter and 84% of the businesses that responded reported that their company was stable or expanding.

We see that as positive news.

An existing ag manufacturer publicly announced last quarter that they've established a partnership to revolutionize ethanol production by capturing and converting CO2.

Now, this is not my area of expertise by any means, but I think if you see anything in conversations around what's happening in the energy sector and alternative energy, I think that this is key.

And this company is on the forefront.

This project has been in the works for over two years.

Enterprise Zone benefits will be utilized to make this project come to fruition.

But not only is this helping to diversify this company's existing income stream, it's also allowing them to use something with their byproduct that puts them as a competitor and entering into another market.

So they are looking at how do they continue production of ethanol and push into other markets at the same time.

They're doing something that they're one and the rest of the first in the nation.

This is outstanding work.

An existing manufacturer in Freeport added jobs to support a new service that was previously outsourced.

With that has come job creation around nine new jobs.

We attracted a new manufacturer to Freeport to fill an existing space and co-locate with a current manufacturer.

This is still under development and in the works.

I will meet with this company later this week and the former visitor center building was sold, closed on December 31st and will open as a new business later this spring.

We were also awarded five awards from the state conference, at the state conference from the Illinois Main Street Association.

Two of those awards are in recognition of volunteers, awarded to Tim Connors and the Pretzel Pickers.

We were also able to take home some hardware in relationship to a promotional approach for our Rediscovery Your Downtown campaign.

And noteworthy was our Economic Vitality Business Startup Program Basecamp.

Additionally, our organizational approach, the partnership was recognized for its merged collaborative approach to economic development, and Dr.

Jodi.

Moving on to business retention and expansion. Key activities were 18 business retention visits were conducted last quarter. As always, we need to understand what the needs and difficulties of our local businesses are so that we're able to respond to them with solutions and resources.

and John. I mentioned our business survey results. We connected businesses with the Illinois WorkShare Program, which is an alternative to layoffs. As you might see in the news, and I'll allude to this a little bit later, is that there has been some upheaval. Commodity prices have been lower. That has a ripple effect into some of the Ag manufacturing or Ag sector. With that, you have some local manufacturers who are related to that sector and I'm going to talk about the business sector.

We have a lot of business sectors in the business sector and they have taken a hit.

And so understanding that there are programs available for those businesses so that they can do something in an alternative to layoff, we're trying to connect them with resources to keep as many people employed here as we can.

We worked with 11 entrepreneurs and assisted them in their business development process, the majority of which were women or minorities.

Johnson.

We connected multiple Stevenson County businesses with an international business forum that was hosted by Representative Cabello.

It was an opportunity to understand what they would need to do to kind of enter the global market and what relationships they would need to build, and there was representation from multiple different countries.

Workforce solutions.

As we've talked about, we can't have thriving businesses without a talented workforce.

The highlights of our workforce development effort was really around building our local workforce pipeline.

We had the honor of working with our educational partners as well as our business community and really trying to bridge that gap in the fourth quarter by playing a key role in these and I have been working on these three events here, working to coordinate, schedule, promote, help organize Manufacturing Day, the Career and Job Fair, which was co-hosted by Highland Community College and Freeport High School, and the Ag Expo.

and John. It's an opportunity for businesses or for students to understand that there are future career opportunities right here. This was they were able to secure internships and some job offers through these events. And I think maybe most importantly was the take away that employers and the community gave that helped the student to build an understanding that their community wants them to stay Coon, and some of them to be gainfully employed and contribute to the community that they have called home.

Additionally, last quarter we reported that our efforts led to a connection between the yield program and goodwill industries.

We are happy to say that that effort is paying off.

This connection led to funding, which has expanded the yield program training to include education on alternative energy sector and basic electrical construction.

This is a requirement as of the CEJA grant, or that is an acronym for the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act.

So that was a key training component that needed to be involved in the yield program for them to access these funds to help fund the yield program.

Next in business attraction and development, in the last quarter we received 14 leads.

We were not able to respond to three leads due to the requirement of a large acreage and or a building that met specific requirements and one opportunity what required a heavy Water user that would not it wouldn't work for the City of Freeport. Additionally there were six leads that originated from local businesses and or government agencies. There are three new businesses and three were existing or relocating businesses within the community.

I will now turn the presentation over to Nicole. We'll talk about marketing the region.

Good evening. Fourth quarter was really about trying to promote the area to existing residents to continue to help small businesses, organizations, and future events thrive, whether that was in the fourth quarter itself or in the upcoming year. We printed, it was a first-time project, a 12-month calendar because we continue to try to find new ways to help people understand and We hope that with that success, we will have even more advertising dollars to make a larger print order next year.

Shop Local for the Holidays was the campaign started in mid-November, highlighting opportunities and different small businesses.

Bates, and different small businesses so residents could learn to shop local as they purchased all of their holiday gifts.

Mistletoe Walk was part of that as well, which happened on November 23rd.

From our survey to downtown businesses who participated, we've received great reviews in actually participating locations for the most part.

All of them, or a great portion of them, over 70% cited increased in pedestrian traffic and increased sales in compared to the last year and the last year was a day and a half event and this was just in one day alone and I might also say weather was not as nice this year as it was in previous years so that really goes to show how many people came out to support businesses during mistletoe walk. The photo you see here is another feature that we added this year in the lot next We actually set up a couple of different photo locations as well as a free s'mores bar for residents.

Visitor Attraction, we hosted our annual tourism partner meeting on November 14th at Lena Brewing Company.

This is our opportunity to talk to the executive directors of different nonprofits who own attractions or hotels, Files, a lot of other agencies here in town about what went well in 2024, what we're planning on for 2025, and how we can be involved and also hear their feedback on other ways that we can help their attraction or organization.

A lot of them have some issues with funding or increasing programming, so we continue and many more.

Thank you to send multiple grant opportunities for attraction funding to those parties who can apply.

The Choose Your Adventure campaign wrapped up in October with engagement that is greater than tourism industry average.

Why I recognize that is when you see the ads pop up, whether you're on social media or whether you're on Google, the amount of times that somebody will click on that ad is considered and the industry average for local tourism entities.

We actually scored almost double what that industry average is, so that's a pretty good indicator that we've been using.

Presle City Brewfest, which was held September 28th, that is one of our largest tourism events where we are really looking to attract people from outside of this area.

This year was no different, more than 50% of our attendees because all of our tickets Siseg, Ben, and T.S.

We can tell by zip code that 50 percent or more were coming from 30 miles away and I'll turn it over to Bill.

Thank you.

Good evening.

So membership was pretty steady in the fourth quarter.

As you can see, we are still hovering around 400 members.

We added 10 members over that course of time, and we continue to retain our members at a very high rate, which we're proud of and hope to continue to do.

And really, that's all we have.

If there's questions, I think we'd all be glad to entertain.

are there any questions if none oh oh I'm sorry I didn't see you okay so Andrea you did the first slides with the businesses so these questions probably should come to you so my question was with the increase in membership that That means we've gotten more businesses in Freeport?

With the increase in membership to the partnership?

Yeah.

Well, we hope there's a correlation between that, right?

I mean, our goal is that as we work with businesses and show our value that they become members to the partnership.

Okay.

Go ahead.

So, do those members pay, but my question is, do non-profit members pay to be a member?

They do, we have a non-profit rate that's $165 a year.

Okay, and then, for the sale of the business center, was that to a business that you found and reached out to and convinced to come to Freeport, not you personally, but the partnership?

That was through a connection that one of the ownership group had, we worked with them, We met with them when they were going through their due diligence process and we talked about the enterprise zone that's out there, what their plans for the building were, how our organization could support their business as they moved to Stevenson County.

They're not a business that's here currently and they would be relocating their business here.

Right.

So they came, they were coming anyways and you reached out to see how you could help.

Correct.

Yes, they were.

That was through a connection from the ownership group.

Do you have any more questions, Alderman Simmons?

I do.

Oh, okay.

What are retention visits?

What does that mean?

Retention visits, sure.

Great question.

It's really just a meeting.

We go and we meet with the business and we talk about what's going on in their business.

We usually ask them for some information around employment numbers.

Is that changed?

How do they see their business growing?

Do they see their business declining?

How do they see their business fitting into the larger market?

What can we do to help?

Are they're having any infrastructure troubles?

Are they're having workforce issues?

It's really just a meeting to talk about the health of their business.

Is it okay?

Is that okay?

So if in these retention visits they say, hey, I'm missing this, this, and that, then do you go out and find that for them or at least put them in touch with the people who Fowler.

And so sometimes it's not even, there are programs that we connect them with, like let's use the WorkShare program as an example.

It sat down with a business and they were talking about that they were going to be slowing down in the fourth quarter and that they looked like they were going to be running not as many days, not as many shifts per week.

and so I knew there was a potential that there could lay off or furlough workers.

And so I knew of this WorkShare program, their HR department did not currently, that's where we coordinated and had a presentation and then I invited as many businesses, I let all the businesses know that we were offering this to try to connect them with resources.

So your question is exactly, that's what we're doing is we're connecting them with the resources っていう.

And I'm just kind of looking at the slides that are being presented.

All of the slides that have been presented has no pause, no gaps, or has no time to inject our resources.

I'm looking at these, this annual report, looking at the slides that are being presented.

All of the slides that have been presented has no pause, no gaps, or has no time to inject a question.

While the slides are flowing, the audience or the council has not an opportunity to elaborate on the things that you're presenting.

and my thing is, if you're presenting these types of slides, then there must be a space where questions can filter in because you're blowing over these slides, the whole crew is going over these slides, but we're not able to inject a question to open it up to the public so we can get more, not collaboration, but detail, information, and I have a lot of information in regards to all of the things that we've been hearing.

I'm subject to ask, well, I want to ask all this that you laid out in these slides, where can we find more detailed information so we can follow up?

Because there was no telephone numbers to make contact with during these slides and things of this nature.

We have no way to validate whether or not these things have taken place, it's just stuff that is thrown together and we're supposed to assume that it's relevant to the council, if we don't have further details, we just can't take things right off the surface and can't do anything about it.

to the Council. If we don't have further details, we just can't take things right off the surface and can't dig deeper into the programs that you're presenting and the slides that you're presenting.

So I think I would like to see more detailed construction of what we're doing or what you're doing because that is very relevant to us because the public needs to hear more details in the effects that the Greater Freeport is causing, creating within the city.

I mean, it's almost like we didn't slow this video tape down or this track down.

We didn't get a chance to absorb it mentally because it was just flying by us.

And so if we want to have an opportunity to come back and ask you about these things, because there's a whole lot of things that took place.

There's a whole lot of things that took place in the last quarter according to you guys but we have not had an opportunity to evaluate these things and objectively looked at it for our own satisfaction and we're just not contesting the things that you're bringing to the Council and I would like to be able to absorb more of the details of the work that you guys are doing and others, and I'm going to be talking about the annual reporting that you guys are doing because this is just surface, surface annual reporting that is not digging deep into the process of what your program is all about. So that's all I'm saying. I just needed to get more...

Alderperson, Sanders, well, first, this would be a great time if there's any questions that you'd like to ask about anything we presented, we would be happy to answer.

Sure.

Second, I know I think in the agenda was linked to this and John.

This is our full fourth quarter report and we just extrapolated or took out highlights of what's in here and presented it to you tonight. So more detail is in here and I would be happy or any member of staff would be happy to sit down and we can answer any questions you have at a later time. If you want to walk through this, we would be happy to answer any questions then or and so on.

So we're all querying about what it is that Greater Freeport Partnership is actually doing.

And I just don't want you to come here and just give us these reports without giving us really analytics.

No, and understood that this would be of benefit for anyone in the public residents of Freeport Taylor, Stevenson County to know what we're doing and that is why everything that I've mentioned tonight as well as a link to this report is on our website at greaterfreeport.com.

Great.

People are welcome to view that and reach out to us if they have specific questions.

Sure.

All right.

Thank you.

Alderman Stacy.

Yes.

You had said something about grant funding.

who can apply who can apply for grant funding that you have we can well I think I'll let Nicole elaborate on that is that the grant that we the grant funding that we helped other organizations apply for was not grants that we were administrate administering or there were grants that we operate we were connecting those organizations to a grant opportunity that I believe the and the state had in this specific instance.

I believe I was the one who mentioned that the Illinois Office of Tourism provided two grant opportunities that closed in December.

We provided those via email.

I mean, they're always available through the state, but we were just alerting the attractions and events who we thought fit the criteria to those and then offered our help in writing letters of support, helping to gather data for that.

those opportunities. Also from the Foundation for Northwest Illinois, they have a letter of intent that is soon due on February 1st. So we have alerted nonprofit organizations that can apply for those funds as well to that opportunity. So we try to be selective to really send opportunities to where they're going to fit.

Okay, I have one more question. On your hotel occupancy, this is your fourth quarter report, but it stops at September. What happened to October, November, and December? I apologize for that. When I had to send it to you guys, the last hotel had not submitted theirs. I will send out the revised report for that.

and others.

I didn't want to guess at their occupancy for the fourth quarter and I hadn't heard back from them.

So thank you for noticing that.

I will send, they got back to me of course the day after your agenda came out.

So I will resend that to everybody so you can see that.

Thank you so much for asking.

Alderman Sanders.

The visitors for site that was sold.

Who does all of the real estate is governed by, I should say, and who takes care of that and when was it up for sale again?

We didn't get any reports on that and we'd like to get a report on where did the asset go that was invested in that property or sold for that property.

and the property. Where did all of those things go and where did they end up? And then not only that, the building, something else that you brought up that was supposed to be purchased. Did I hear that right?

If I can answer your first question and then if there was another question about a purchase, I'm happy to have you follow up.

The Stevenson County Visitor Center Board, which is a separate organization from the partnership, was founded to construct the visitor center.

That organization, which was a separate nonprofit, owned the visitor center and the partnership leased that building to run visitor center services from that facility.

So when it was sold, that was never an asset of the partnership.

We were only leasing that space.

So what they, it was their business to sell it, you know, authorize the sale, and what they do with that money is up to that board.

That's completely separate from our organization.

So that's the Stevenson County board.

It is a separate nonprofit.

It has nothing to do with the actual county.

It was just the name of the organization.

Oh I purchased the building. They were the ones who owned the building and sold it and sold it. Okay. All right. Thank you You had two events to raise money one was for decorations for Next year Christmas and one was to beautify Downtown mm-hmm Did I miss it or was that spoken about? It's it's outlined in the actual written report I mean I know we would love to highlight lots more but we try to be respectful of everybody's time which is why we provide so many different opportunities to read about things the first concert that you were saying was for downtown beautification actually had to be canceled that never happened so that one it is actually rescheduled I believe it's for April 5th if my memory serves me and then the second one was Christmas Wizards which was held at the Masonic Temple What? Christmas Wizards. It was a Trans-Siberian orchestra tribute. That is the one that was for future holiday decorations. Obviously, holiday decorations are an asset that, you know, don't depreciate in a year. They would be available for years to come. So we are still collecting expenses from that. But we do anticipate having a profit from that that will then be restricted for holiday decorations in the future. But you haven't made a profit yet. We are still so it has and I.

That's the way it has been.

It hasn't been, or I guess just today, it's a full 30 days, so we're still collecting all of the expenses.

So I'd hate to give you a full figure right now.

Are there any other questions?

I do. Thank you.

This is a question that I'm not sure who would handle it.

How much city funding was used to build the visitor center?

Oh.

that was in 2000 and yes so very much predates this organization let alone me so so would the sale return any of that funding back to the city so the this is the my only portion of it that i know alderman monroe so i will give you what i can that um the majority of those payments have been paid by hotel motel tax i don't know if there was an any initial investment at all from the city and the City of Freeport. Again, that would have been much earlier in the construction project and that would have to go question to be asked to the nonprofit who owned the board or who owned the building.

Okay.

Oh, sorry, I'd like to follow up with another question so on your slides, there were three businesses that did not.

and I have been talking about this for four years now we've put almost two million dollars into the GFP and we're still not in any better place to bring in large-scale businesses that would help a significant number of businesses in the GFP and we're still not in any better place to bring in large-scale businesses that would help a significant number of businesses in the member of Freeport residents, county residents, so on, so forth, you know, how do we fix that problem that we've got because we've been asking the same question and I know the city manager, we keep asking him, we're not getting the answers that I would like to hear, especially when we've invested $60, almost $65 million into the wastewater treatment plant.

Yeah, it would be great to use that.

Yeah, it would be great to use a heavy water user that would be able to pay some of that back, right?

So, one of the key things we know, Greenfield site development, having shovel-ready sites is key, not only for attracting new businesses, but for any existing businesses that would need to expand.

Late last quarter, we submitted a grant application to the state of Illinois for a site readiness planning grant.

and others.

The state said that they were going to what notice of award was in January, so we're waiting to hear.

That would help us, that grant was structured for planning, not construction, but it would help us identify key locations where we could do planning activities.

We've already met with some of the landowners, but what would it take to get infrastructure there so that it could become shovel ready?

So it's kind of the first step.

We hope to get any day now hopefully a notice of award and then we would proceed with planning activities.

So.

Thank you.

Alderman Klemm.

Yes.

I think we had a little bit of misinformation there, but I'll see if I can correct some of it.

The City has zero amount of money in the Visitors Bureau.

Years ago it was organized by a group of people that was a complete separate entity.

I think it ended up that there were four people that ended up owning it.

They ended up selling it, so guess what? The money's there.

We can talk about several ready projects.

For years we can start out by mill race crossing. The county themselves lost about three places that were going to go in there and were voted down by the county. We still do not have water and sewer and others.

We are a big water user. Needless to say, we are reconstructing at the plant and have been, and there will be Phase II, III and IV. So it isn't as though it is something that is going to end tomorrow and it is going to continue.

But all those costs are not necessarily laid on the greater Freeport partnership. A lot of those costs are laid upon the City of Freeport, the County of Steveson. If you remember, they they went out for an estimate for water and fell far short of the dollars and cents, so the project was not completed. We still all as a group need to work to complete those projects so we can get some of those done.

We don't have an overabundance of structures that sometimes people are looking for. We know that there are two, three, four that have been sold here lately that have great and John.

We have a lot of potential for stuff, but I appreciate your work on it moving forward and we all need to work together to try and get these places shovel ready so we can do something.

Are there any yet?

Alderman Simmons.

I'm sorry.

I have one last question for the Workforce Solutions slide with the different events or career type fairs.

and John.

So I'm just wondering if you have any information about the organizations that you've been involved in, or that you've been involved in or that you've been involved in and created by GFP or something that once you found out about them, then you joined on and offered resources.

The manufacturing day has been in I think trying to evolve that event and I think next year opening it up, talking with, it's right now CareerTech and seeing how it might be expanded into other Freeport high school students that would get exposure into what manufacturing is.

and others. The career and job fair was something that I think we created in partnership with Highland and Freeport High School. Before it had been Highland had their own job fair and then about three weeks later Freeport High School did. And so this was kind of a brain child sitting together and saying this would probably be most efficient for the employers especially as both of these events had been put in the fourth quarter and we know how P. and others. That is how everyone's fourth quarter is very busy, especially if a business is on a calendar fiscal year, that if we could combine these events.

So, no, we did not create the Ag Industry Expo. Highland Community College Ag Industry Expo has been in existence for a number of years, but we continue to help provide them with information to make sure that they are reaching the right person at the right company so that they make sure that they and the Yield. Yield. We've helped promote the program as much as we can through the community. But what our key role, I think, was late last year, we knew the Yield program through board members and through other community members that we've engaged with didn't have sustainable funding. They didn't know how they were going to continue. It's such a critical, critical role.

Hicks, and more.

And I think that's a really important program, especially getting people, more people into the trades.

So I saw an opportunity with the CEJA grant that maybe that would work for funding.

And so it was really connecting the dots, reaching out into our network, Goodwill Industries, the Workforce Connection, really understanding who the point person was, and then connecting some leadership within the Yield organization to connect them.

And thankfully, it worked out.

Alderman Klemm If I could, just one more thing for the audience so they know.

All of these documents that were presented tonight, over a week ago we received the fourth quarter presentation, the floor packet was a slide presentation before tonight's meeting.

It was in there at least on Friday's meeting, in the packet.

We're not allowed to ask questions.

Were you talking about the fourth quarter?

Go ahead and talk together so you can figure it out.

No, it's figured out.

I asked my questions because they were not presented in the packet.

They were presented by email.

Not the questions that I asked.

Okay.

We're going to move on.

Okay, you guys.

We've got to bring the meeting to order.

You don't have to.

We have the information.

You have to bring the meeting to order.

Okay.

Thank you, Andrea.

Thank you.

We appreciate it.

We had the information.

We have to bring the meeting to order, okay.

Thank you, Andrea.

Thank you.

We appreciate it.

Okay, at this time, we're going to go to question number nine, discussion regarding ordinance amending chapter 608 and 806 of the Liquor Code.

The presentation is by Attorney Cox.

I know, that's what he's, he does it, I know.

Good evening.

Good evening.

Taylor, but just good governance generally.

I'm with you.

This is part of the Liquor Commission's commitment to keep our liquor ordinance up to speed and up to date, keeping track of legal developments through ILCC and conditions that we're experiencing on a regular basis, including things that Dovie and I run into in the licensing process.

I'm not going to take much time.

Please stop me, ask questions, as we're going through here, I'm going to move pretty quick.

So if you look at Section 2, that's a modification of Section 608, which previously required that everybody keeps a landline phone.

Not sure how many of our establishments have a landline phone anymore, but we feel that that's probably an obsolete requirement.

As long as we can get a hold of somebody via cell phone, that's good enough, and that's taken care of through our authorized agent process and our resident manager.

Section 3 involves a modification of Section 608-18.

This is actually a statement which came out from ILCC's legal division regarding retail establishments having paint and pours, things like that, to attract businesses in.

I think, you know, generally those are well received by the public, but ILCC is really putting their foot down about what's allowed and what's not.

So if you are serving free alcohol, for instance, to get people into your store, that's just not okay.

We did put a de minimis of eight or less persons there so that if it's just a social gathering, that's not going to run afoul of the provision, but if you're running a special or something open to the public, that's not allowed.

Couple modifications to the Definitional Section in 806.01.

as we added a Brewer and then there's a Class BR if you look at Section 5 there as well.

This was simply added because we have, we never had somebody that fell under this category before.

Recently Generations has been upgraded in terms of their Brewer license and we just didn't have anything to track that so we're adding something that tracks almost exactly with what ILCC has for their definition.

So, Resident Manager previously required a full-time employee.

That's just not the situation.

and employee. That's just not the situation. You know, these managers kind of bounce around from store to store and there's no reason to require a full time. We have specific provisions that say that we have to be able to get a hold of you and we've got contact information for each of the establishments there. In 806.03, we've got tier three licenses, we've We have a caterer license. We had previously and intentionally left out the incidental part of food service that is required here. Again, this is an ILCC legal thing. Dovie is very connected with the Clerk's Network and ILCC has been pushing back on that and saying that if you are a caterer, liquor can be provided as part of a package, but it has to be incidental to food service. You can't just have a traveling Barr. And a couple more, again, just technical changes, 806.07, that's Section 6 of the ordinance. It took out the requirement of listing all owners in a publicly held corporation, Walmart, Walgreens, that sort of thing. We don't need a list of every shareholder. And they don't provide it anyway. They just tell us to go look at the website. So that doesn't South, to pick up the exchange, which is a new establishment.

And that's it.

Again, nothing very exciting there, but all changes that need to be made, and the Liquor Commission has all vetted this and is recommending those changes.

So any questions for me on the?

Any questions?

Thank you.

If not, thank you.

Thank you.

Wood do we need a recommendation to move that forward to say I'll make a recommendation to move it forward to the next meeting in the second okay it was first by Clem and then second by Parker all in favor aye aye all opposed the Thank you Alderpersons, Sellers.

So at the heart of this proposed ordinance, so we're discussing it today, is to move Knapp, There's a significant amount of staff time.

Our water superintendent has to go out and physically inspect all of these connections.

And there's also staff time involved in processing the pictures, the paperwork, et cetera.

And so the request has been made and gone through our building commission, has reviewed this as well, and made a recommendation to go from the $50 to $150 for a water and or for Service Install.

The other part of this that's being discussed is increasing from $30 to $100 for any standard water line that's going to be installed in a building.

The reason for this is our plumbing inspector, which is B&F Code Services out of the Chicago suburbs, they raise their rates from $80 to $100 per hour and the intent here is to help and others.

This ordinance changes went through our Building Commission.

What's not being discussed is there's some technicalities with the types of connections used in our solar that will be discussed at the next when this goes to Council with recommendation for approval, but really wanted to kind of discuss and focus on the increasing the rates for our inspections or pardon me for our permits.

After this time, is there any question?

Okay, Alderman Sanders.

Yeah, how are you doing, Doc?

Good.

Listening to the reason why the cost is increasing for homeowners, is this subject, is this a Sritamurthy, Bitch, Andres, Dr.

Weiss.

How's the situation for you?

Is this a strategy that we need to get you on?

What does this mean for our community?

Is this an institution that is mandatory for all homeowners?

Is this a policy, ordinance or something that has not been implemented yet, but we are making the decision or wanting to do an increase on people's property or for their services for these upgrades?

The reason for discussion is this would go to council.

The intent is to bring this to council at the next meeting.

I think whenever we are talking about something like raising about something like raising rates on permits.

It's a good idea to bring it to a COW, Committee of the Whole, talk about it, discuss it.

So right now, there's not actually, there's no action being taken on this today, but it's going to be moving forward to a council meeting.

So now is the time to ask questions about why there was, why was it suggested that we raise the rates for this?

So certainly, you know, you could hear this and say, this is ridiculous, no way, keep and I anticipate certain people are, and that's fair, but as a member of staff, it's important to say that the rates from our plumbing inspector, which is contracted out to BNF code services, they've raised their rates from $80 to $100, so we're trying to capture some of that money back.

The other part of this is we are doing a better job in our public works department of ensuring We've done a better we've done a better job with that I think and not I don't want to get too much into the weeds about why it wasn't done as good in the past or as efficiently but I've worked hard with the public works team to kind of look at especially with our sewer connections oftentimes there's what's known as infiltration which is basically storm water or groundwater runoff that will get Farncoe is the connection that goes on to a sewer service pipe.

And if those aren't done properly, you can't have what's known as infiltration, which is bad for your treatment plant.

You're basically treating storm water as opposed to sewage water.

So we've done a better job, I've worked with the Public Works team to do a better job of making sure that, hey, when we're getting a sewer service, let's make sure this is done every time.

Yeah, and the method that you might use to determine whether or not storm water or any kind of infiltration is getting into a property owner's sewer line, you would have to do some and others.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

and the work done, which is part of it is photographs.

Right.

Okay.

Thank you.

I have a question.

Do you think that, I know you said from $50 to $150, correct?

That is what's being proposed.

That's what will be proposed.

Do you think that, you know, that's tripling it.

So do you think that there's some way that we could start off with maybe trying $100 and see how that, you know, affects, you know, different plumbers and, you know, so that price won't be put on to the consumer so much.

If we could just, since we do, you know, that the, you said the other company raised their price, you know, we have to do something, so do you think that just doing it to 50 instead, I mean, do- I think it's a reasonable compromise. I mean, this is a public service, correct? So the idea, you know, public services, which governments provide, the idea is not always to make sure you're making a profit or making money. But at the end of the day, too, you also want to be responsible with the public's money. And so you're also looking at it going, okay, we see, you know, we're increasing in this in the case of, you know, with having our inspectors do a better job documenting the service connections, you know, and making sure that we're making sure that we're making sure that we're making sure that we're making sure that we're making McAuley. So our Building Commission, we presented it to them. These were the prices that was agreed upon. However, you know, incremental increase, certainly, you know, that's your purview and something to consider. You know, you can obviously put that in ordinance if that's what you'd like to do.

Okay. Alderman Monroe.

Thank you, Alderperson, Sellers. Wayne, thanks for taking my call today and returning my Cronenberg, Michael, and question for you really comes back to, you know, why are we not tying the actual cost of the inspection as opposed to setting a rate in the ordinance?

It would make sense if they charge $100 an hour and they come out for less than an hour and they're going to charge it for $100, they would pay $100, not $150.

Why would we do that?

That was number one.

Number two, why are we using a company out of Chicago when we probably have somebody closer that could do it for less money?

Well, the thing is, we do not have one that I'm aware of that has been on the contract to do plumbing inspections.

So believe it or not, the state license to do plumbing is a highly coveted license.

I believe it's, and again, I could be wrong on the years here, but I believe it's ten years you have to work for a licensed plumber.

So you cannot just go out and say, I want to be a plumber.

It's like some people come out and say, I'm a contractor.

It's a little easier to do that than it is to be a plumber.

Plumbers have a very strong grip on being a plumbing inspector.

And oftentimes, when you have that license as a plumber, you're golden for your career.

And oftentimes, so my point that I'm getting at is, in the community, to then be a plumbing inspector, that's a highly coveted designation to have.

it's not not to say somebody couldn't do it locally or not to say that we couldn't look into possibly at a next that's something you know you can task staff with I can double-check when our contract ends with BNF but we could certainly reopen it again and kind of look into that professional service so that would answer your question to answer your question is is we'd have to go out again and see when our contract with BNF ends and then we could look into entering with another another company or going for an RFP to kind of and they recommended approval have you taken advantage of GFP to see what they have what leads or direction they can lead us I work well with the greater Freeport partnership I've never known them to be plumbing experts but I I guess I could go down that path I mean by the next time I will make a comment at the council meeting what the GFP had to say can you tell me how many permits pulled in 2024? Yes, 39 for plumbing. Thank you. Darren? I sit on the Building Commission and there is a

very reputable local plumber that sits on that Commission and and he agreed that the field structure that was set was reasonable and I believe it was approved unanimously. If the council decides to make sure the connections are proper to our potable water system as well so it is something that we have worked hard with Wayne to make sure that we are doing a very good job of it and we have made it mandatory for a physical inspection of all of these connections now it's not something that somebody's taking a picture of and send us the superintendent or one of the crew members are going to verify it documenting it and recording it for our future as bill it records for the city.

Are you saying though, are you saying that there is no local inspectors to be hired?

I am saying that because I would have to look at our contract with BNF.

We entered into a contract and I do not know the deadline there and that's an easy enough ask, which I will get the deadline for BNF.

We have a contract with BNF Services to do these inspections.

And so once that contract would expire, we can put an RF request for proposal for that to kind of gather and it would probably fall under request for qualifications as well since they have to have that state plumbing the proper licenses.

But once the once the contract is over with BNF, we can certainly put that out for a bit again.

Do you know how long we've been in it?

I know as long as I've been here, we've been using BNF, so three years at least, but I can get that information to double check.

Wayne, sir, have we looked within our own entity, within the city ranks itself, because Everyone that works for the city has some form of qualification of doing any kind of plumbing inspections.

This is the work that they do. If they're working in this particular field and they're asked to do these types of inspections, do we have the personnel that could be qualified?

because I assume that all personnel that works in construction have that ability to do those inspections. I see Darren over there shaking his head.

And I know he's shaking his head because...

Yeah, but my thing is, my thing is that before Darren, personnel, city personnel were doing those types of things, of inspection jobs and things of that nature.

Yeah, so let's back it up to kind of look at what's going on here. You're talking about, BNF is doing our plumbing inspections, so let's say you're running into your house and you just ran all new copper packs, you ran new water lines in your house, that has to be a licensed plumbing plumber.

Oh, in that respect, yeah, I can understand that.

and as and I would just say that that is a highly coveted in this state that's a highly coveted a highly coveted license to have and anybody who has it is very protective of that license meaning people will go and try to get their own plumbing license and if a plumber finds out you put their name on it and they you didn't work there 10 years or the required years they'll go after you because they really protect that plumbing license so when we talking about We go to a certain point when we're evaluating whether there's infractions or any kind of intrusions or anything that is creating a problem on the city side. Who does the inspection for the property owner?

So that's where you are, see, I think, I know where you're going with it, with this. When you have a water or sewer service connection, which goes into the city's utility, that's their asset, that's where our water superintendent is going and checking, because that's, they're doing that to protect the asset of the city, to ensure that there's not that infiltration we talked about, and then when you get a building permit with the city, the city is doing its inspection, which is protecting the property owner, because if you don't have a licensed plumber, if you don't have a property, Cooper, Contractor, and you don't have inspections, work gets done, it doesn't get inspected, people can get hurt, people can get sick, etc.

So that's the liability of the city to make sure that that happens?

We have to do inspections on all construction, yes.

Okay.

Yes.

Alright.

Alright.

Thank you for that.

Are there any other questions?

Okay.

At this time, do we want to move this to a first reading?

is there.

First reading. Is there a motion?

Make a motion to move it to next council meeting.

Second.

Okay, it's been moved and seconded by Klemm and Shadle. All in favor?

Aye.

All opposed? Motion passed.

Number 11, Discussion Regarding Solution 20, no, R-2025-01, Approving Memorandum of Agreement, MOA, Between the City and the American Federation and State.

City and Minnesota Employee asked me to create the position of Instrumental and Control Technician and Electrician.

Thank you Madam Chair. The City of Freeport's maintenance department, primarily the utility we're speaking of, is vital to the care and operation of the utility facilities performing high skilled tasks to support water and wastewater treatment plans.

Fins. However, one of the department's two skilled grade 17 maintenance positions has remained vacant for nearly a year due to lack of qualified candidates who are obviously not applying. This increases the strain on the team and causing a growing backlog of routine maintenance activities. Staff is proposing a new pay grade 15, so that would be two grades and others below the grade 17 just mentioned, and this would focus on routine maintenance tasks as a promotion step toward the currently vacant 17 role.

This position would be easier to fill internally, offering advancement opportunities while ensuring the maintenance crew remains adequately staffed and trained to support critical utility operations.

The approach also fosters employee growth, promotes retention, and provides budgetary Davis, helping to maintain safe and efficient operation of the utility.

I'd just like to go over a couple of the highlights in terms of the two positions here.

So on a grade 15, you would have basic knowledge of water and wastewater process, power and control circuits, and hand power tools and minimum exposure to PLC and SCADA systems.

So that would be like your motor drivers and controllers and also the software that's related to those operating those in the system.

The responsibilities would be somewhat lower than the grade 17 so that'd be routine maintenance including lubrication oil changes, general building repairs and equipment inspections, assistance to maintenance utility workers as needed and on-call duties for emergencies.

In addition, the experience required would also be less, two years of industrial, environmental, or wastewater and water systems, and that's the primary focus of the 15.

So just to give you a little bit of context, the grade 17, which is the current position that had trouble filling, that essentially would expand the responsibilities into troubleshooting, We have a number of things that we need to focus on.

So from a technical skills perspective, that would include comprehensive knowledge of water and wastewater process, advanced understanding and operational use of PLCs and SCADA system, strong troubleshooting skills for power control circuits and instrumentation, and proficiency in reading electrical schematically.

and the Grade 17 also currently requires five years of industrial environmental or water wastewater systems with at least three years focused on electrical, plumbing, HVAC, and electronics.

So staff would request that we move this on to the next meeting and that eventually approving this Grade 15 position as an intermediate step to the Grade 17 for the Water and Wastewater Miller, Maintenance Department.

Are there any questions?

Yes.

I'm looking at you with these query eyes.

Because I don't agree with...

Did you...

Well, let me say this first.

AFMI, the American Federation, they entered into a meeting with you to discuss the agreement On this 15 classified upgrade for new job creation, is that what took place, has that taken place, or are we just talking about it right now, discussing this matter?

Asking is supportive of it.

Okay, so the job description that you listed meet the rate, quality, does that fit the job description at the rate that you're mentioning at a 15, maybe go into a 17, but does that fit the job description criteria?

Does that fit?

have we, because I'm like this here, I don't want to hire a guy that does not have these kind of technical background skills at a rate of 15, a guy that's with all of this listing of description, he has to be qualified, certified somewhere along the line, and I don't think 15, a grade 15 would be the appropriate one, and I'm just wondering, am I, is my ear, my and I have ears cleaned out or something is just not balancing right, it just don't balance right to me right now and I guess that's the reason why we'll move it to the next round so I can probably come to you again and have a full blown discussion on how did we get there and why did AFME, AFME, whatever they are, agree with that?

I have to go with the problem with, I have a problem with the balancing of the rate, the grade, the pay grade and all this other kind of stuff, I have a, I have a problem with that, okay, and so I just want to get in, get into, get in tune with it, just to see how do we get there.

Are you saying you're gonna, you want to get with Manager Boyer and talk with him later?

Yes.

Okay, okay.

Sure, we can set up a time.

Yeah.

Yes.

City Manager Boyer, I had hoped to see a job description at the 15th level. So can you tell me what duties are different between the 15th level and the 17th level?

I did just touch on those. I did just touch on those. So the main changes are the technical skills and the responsibilities and then the experience required.

Overall summary, the level of complexity, the level two involves more complex systems, PLCs and SCADA, and advanced troubleshooting while the level one focuses on routine maintenance and foundational skills.

and the independence level two requires greater autonomy and decision making where the level one operates under close supervision and the experience, the level two demands more years of experience and specialized knowledge reflecting the advanced nature of the role and then administrative responsibilities level two includes administrative tasks like processing invoices and managing subcontractors and that's not included in the level one.

So I hope that covers some of the main differences there.

yeah I just was handed them they're both hyperlinked to that you ever saw the 15 okay forgive me you are correct um how long have this job when it was filled how How many years have someone been in this position that was not qualified?

When this job became available, the person that had it before, it became available, was not qualified, did not have these qualifications.

A young man did it on this job and now things are changing and he's being asked to accept the position at a lower level and why not bring him in at the level everybody else came in at and give him the needed training or schooling like we do everybody else to to get him prepared.

to get him prepared for the position.

I believe that's that's kind of what we're doing.

We're trying to make a permanent change here, similar to like a street trainee.

We don't hire people in as street maintenance workers.

We hire them in a street trainee.

So I think we're making a you know, we're really improving this this particular case by providing that stair step.

So I think we're as you noted, there's there's been times and I have had a lot of conversations in the past when folks get promoted into a position based on their background and experience and their resume and I think that this is a necessary change that will allow our staff to graduate into more complex roles.

So will he be getting training from his supervisor, the person that held this position before he did?

Well I mean we've had several people promoted or hired in and promoted we had one gentleman who is no longer with the city so obviously he won't be here we've got two other gentlemen one is now the foreman and the other one is instrument controls technician currently spent a lot of time on the wastewater side and he'll be doing a lot of the mentoring and training yes and he's qualified yes he's when you when you have as many years in grade as this individual had, yes, he is qualified. Is there a motion to move this for first reading? So moved. Second. Okay, it was first by Klemm and second by Shadle. All in favor? Aye. Opposed? Aye. Okay, motion passed.

discussion regarding our 2025-4 approving memorandum of understanding with the Fraternal Order of Police regarding post-employment health plan by Chief Shenberger. Thank you. This was presented last week to the council. The intent of this is to enter in MOU with the Fraternal Order of Police Labor Council regarding three individuals who either have or will reach the years of retirement during this next contract.

This was something that was part of the negotiations to get rid of the post-employment health care Mayor, Plan, but yet offer these three individuals an opportunity to have their sick time paid out if they chose to retire during these next three years of this contract.

Are there any questions?

Alderman Murrah, you have a question?

Yes I do.

Thank you.

So Chief, was this taken out during the negotiations or was it just overlooked?

I mean, Attorney Zito probably can elaborate something he's got to say.

So, the PEP plan was negotiated out of the contract there.

So that's something that is in this current contract.

The FOP negotiated it out.

It wasn't something that they were willing to give it up as a part of the contract.

However, what they negotiated as a part of that will give it up.

But there are three particular employees, they're the only three, and Richard, and all of these three that are going to qualify for under the original plan, because they're going to hit their, within these next three years they would hit the 20 years and they would have the requisite number of hours of days that could be cashed in.

So they asked, we'll give up PEP, but could you grandfather these, just these three people in?

So we've already approved the agreement. And now we're coming back to memorialize the, 3, because it wouldn't be appropriate to write the three of them into the overall contract there.

So that's why you would handle this separately as a side MOU, just with regards to these three people, to grandfather these people in.

Again, there's no payment to them if they don't choose to retire in the next, within the term of this, this, this CBA.

So if they don't require in the next retire, excuse me, in the next three years or in 27, then this goes away.

And then, and then PEP's gone for everybody at that point.

Are there any other questions? If not, do we have a motion to move this to the first reading by Parker and Klemm? All in favor? All opposed? Motion passed.

The next status update of the street light at the intersection of Iroquois and State. Presentation Manager Boyer.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I would like to invite Representative George Galrapp to do this kind of touch base on this.

I think he's pretty well handled this already.

Good evening. George Galrapp, President of Freeport, of ComEd. So, as I was asked, I started in the Fifth Ward. I did a survey of Fifth Ward for all the lights there. Looking at them, they're all functional. They don't have any foliage in front of them. Of course, here we are in January. It would be good to go through this again in the spring when there are trees and things like that. I continue to work with City Manager Rob Boyer and Darren Steekle, Public Works. I went north of the and the 5th Ward and the 3rd Ward, and went to the corner of Ottawa and State Street, ComEd installed a light there today, it went from a 40 watt to a 70 watt, which is 75% brighter, and actually encompasses a little bit of Shalom Park, that's the correct pronunciation.

I asked them to tilt it a little bit, I called three aldermen up that were within the area, told him that the left messages for him, and I talked directly to Alderman Sanders about the light, asked him to drive by it, see what he thought about it. It's quite a bit brighter.

It's a big difference from when I was there last week. Okay. Any questions or concerns?

Yeah, I did have a question. As I looked at the park, I didn't think it was illuminated No, it's not.

And because anybody that wants to peddle anything in that area can conceal any evidence, even though there's a little lighting there, but it does not cast off enough to eliminate the for the possibility of someone either bringing illegal alcohols, drugs, weapons, whatever, country bands or whatever the situation is.

I don't think it's bright enough to deter individuals that they just can't just show up at this park and try to conceal their actions and things like that.

I would like for it to be so bright over there that they wouldn't even want to come back.

And I agree.

I agree 100%.

But if you want to do that, it's private property, so you're going to have to go to the property owners.

Right.

And they're going to have to call a new business to install a light, and they're going to have to pay for it.

All right.

Okay.

I don't believe that City Council or the administration would approve using tax breaks.

What about a lamp?

What about just a lamp, a little property lamp?

and one that stands up in the yard and that there to be up to the property owner how they want to do that they don't want okay okay I don't know who owns that property me neither I don't I don't anybody else on the council I know you do okay so it's really up to the property owner and I'm sure this it's very supportive by the city of Freeport but it's it's something that would have to be done with the property owner and a new business the ComEd and I'd be happy to walk them I would like to thank you for that. I, too, on the way here tonight drove through and it is a little better.

Okay, 75% better. You said we went from a 40, a 70, we went from a 40 to a 70. Yes, yes, so 75% more Lumen. It looks much better. It does look better. Hopefully we can work together as I'd like to drive through the fifth board with you like I did today and we can take a look.

I have a list that I received from Chief Shenberger, the concerned areas where crime happens and take place.

And I would like to do that this week if possible.

Let me check my schedule and get a hold of you. The cell number I called today is the best one to reach you at?

You didn't call me today.

I called the 908 number yeah Fred that I got the Freeport website is that an office number no sir okay I got it on my phone the number I called I'll let you know what is it nine zero eight nine eight one four okay I'll check my phone please and thank you okay all right any other questions any other questions Any other questions?

Alderman?

Not so much a question, just a comment.

Yes.

I do appreciate that it was done and handled in a very timely manner.

Oh, you're welcome.

Anytime. Thank you.

Well, I'd like you to get to the corner of Oak and Empire.

Oak and Empire.

I'll do that on the way home.

Do La Cresta out there where Monroe lived.

Okay, as we move on, regarding resolution approving the transfer property commonly known as 431 and 437 South Adams Avenue from Stevenson County to City of Freeport presented by Manager Boyer.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Eric, could you put the map up? Yeah, thanks, Wayne.

So, over the last several months, we've been working with the county, discussing several topics. This property is one of them.

Currently, the county owns this property and has come to the city asking if we'd have any interest in taking this property off their hands.

I am favorable toward that since it is so close to some of the other community facilities and it would fit in close with our existing.

we have some lots in that area.

We're investigating some infill housing possibilities and I know we've worked with GFP a couple of years ago on a concept for this.

So I think it makes a lot of sense for the city to take over this property from the county.

And it would be an opportunity for us to also control it and make sure it is maintained in the interim till we are able to move forward with any residential or commercial opportunities with it.

So, I guess I will open the floor for any questions or discussion.

What would it cost us to take this property off the county's hands?

I believe the county is just willing to deed it over to the city, so at zero or minimal cost.

A dollar.

A dollar.

It's in your packet.

And what does the city plan to do with this property?

well as I just mentioned we're looking at a couple of infill projects along this corridor being that we've just redone it and we've also investigated some other commercial activity or potential for development there so I would say either one of those would fall under the category of what we would be looking at Would the city consider a third Ward Park?

Well, that would be up for discussion and that would have to involve the Park District, but I'd definitely put that yes.

So the answer would be yes, we could have further conversations about that.

Any other discussion? Yeah. Yeah, just FYI Alderman Stacey, the Park District was the original owners.

The Park District was the original?

Yes, and it was deeded over to the county as a part of West Block when they acquired it.

So I would find it hard to believe that the Park District would want to get back in that, but there's a possibility, I don't know.

Well, I'm a little surprised because I just had a conversation with a gentleman on Saturday, and I will be having another one with him tomorrow.

Alderman. Yeah, Freeport Park District covers a lot of areas in Freeport and their locations has not been, what I want to say, conveyed or revealed of why they have this jurisdiction under their government, under their jurisdiction.

I just like to know where does the city factor in?

Why is it that the Freeport Park District has so much territory, land, property here in the city of Freeport?

Did they inherit it or did the city give it over to them, parked it into their possession to create parks and things of this nature?

I just like to know how it originated that the Park District was able to cover much land base here in the City of Freeport and we don't have that because I'm trying to get it all out right now because I may not get another chance.

So I like to get more details about it, I would like to have a conversation, I would I would love to have more than just, what I want to say, I want to talk about it more with other individuals, understanding the whole magnet to all of it, and so I would like to create a meeting that we can, some form of way that everybody can get involved and talk about it, I'm talking about the whole council, I'm talking about everybody to talk about the thing, and see what we come up with. I think we can work on that, but I would suggest maybe we start with a one-on-one with the Park District Director. Okay.

Okay. Are there, Alderman Klemm? I just have a question I agree with is not a problem. I just want to ask about the corner at the top of the drawing there.

You show four lots that are equal and then you show a fifth one and I'm just Cronenberg.

I'm just wondering if that creates a headache down the line or what that is?

My guess is that would be like a driveway or something that somebody had at one time and somehow got orphaned in the data.

Eric, I don't know if you can overlay the city-owned parcels.

Do we own any of the other adjacent parcels there?

Sure.

I may be staying corrected here, but I believe we actually currently own a couple of parcels Fowler. We have a lot of materials there as well from previous demolitions. So that would allow us to kind of accumulate that piece and perhaps move forward with another project there, whether that be infill housing or recreational related. But I think it makes sense in it because we have our, we already have an established crew that's taken care of lots. The only maintenance related to it besides cleaning it up is mowing it. So since we are kind of in a good and Tom, and I think it's a good opportunity to pick that up and be able to control that moving forward.

I just, oh, go ahead Tom, I can wait.

Go ahead.

I was just going to make a motion to move it forward.

Oh no, I just wanted to know, at one time, I know as a little girl I lived in that area, so at one time that used to be a park, it was called Tutty Baker Park, and that's what that was.

So I know that.

Okay.

Fantastic.

make a motion to discuss it at the next meeting do I get a second excuse me motion first by Clem second by Parker are there oh I thought he was pointing I I just went blank. All in favor? All in favor? All opposed? Motion passed. Number 16, discussion regarding electric bill provider of kilowatt hours, distribute fees and process for residents to switch to a different provider.

Discussion regarding Ordinance, Amending Chapter 220, Council Section 220.10, Rule of Council, presentation by Alderman Stacey and Monroe.

Yes, on November 12th, there was an ordinance that was brought to the council.

Mayor Miller was not present, Attorney Zito presented, and it was voted on and moved to Supposedly the December 16th Agenda, however, it never showed up and I want to know who have that power to take something from an agenda when it's been voted on.

John. What right and why did it happen? Why was it removed? That's what I would like to know. Please and thank you.

I can answer the question. So this ordinance was originally there along with my understanding with some other Alderpersons to present this.

with some other Alderpersons to present this ordinance here.

It was scheduled to be placed on the November COW.

There at that November COW, the mayor was not absent, so I presented the, or the mayor was absent, excuse me, so I presented the ordinance at that meeting.

Then this item was laid over.

There was a motion a second to lay this over to the following COW for further discussion there.

So that would have been the December COW.

Prior to the December COW, the mayor contacted me and said, Aaron, the group of Alderman and I, we talked that we're proponents of this, I've put this forward, you know what, we don't want to, we're not ready, we think we've got to look at this more, so, you know, we want it removed from the agenda, we're not pushing it forward anymore, there, so, that's happened before in the past, when someone who proposes an item, whether it be a property owner who says that, hey, I'm applying for a text amendment to the zoning code or whatever, and it starts to move its way forward and then when that applicant says you know what change of mind I don't want to move this forward anymore the item just gets removed so that's why I relate when the mayor contacted me and said hey the people that were proponents of this were withdrawing it so I said okay following past practice I reached out to Dovie and said hey the people that wanted this no longer want it you know they don't they don't want to put these changes for it and Stacey, and I'm the one that's been asked to take it off.

I'm not the one that's been asked to take it off anymore.

So that's why it was taken off the agenda.

Attorney Zito, once it was asked to be moved forward by myself and seconded by Alderwoman Simmons, shouldn't it have come to us if you were going to question or decide to just take it off?

I think the only thing about this Alderman, Stacy, was the fact that normally, yes, it would be on the agenda, right, for further discussion.

The only reason why the difference here was because the people that were pushing it, that wanted it in the first place, that asked for it to be on the agenda, basically withdrew it.

Why would that matter? It had went past that step. It had went to another level by two different people. So why would that have mattered?

I just felt disrespected. I felt like my opinion and what I asked for and what we all took a vote for, 7-0, I believe Alderman Monroe was missing that, that it should have been acknowledged and should have been granted. Because regardless of who puts on or who takes off, just like and I. And I said no, I want it on January's COW. And I've been told over and over again that as long as two people bring it, that anything can be on an agenda. So two people brought it. And it should have been respected.

Well, and that's why it's on now, because two people have asked to have it on, so that's why it was put back on, because you and Alderman Monroe have asked for it to be put back on, and that's fine, you can always do that there, and that's an accurate statement, that our ordinances say that any two Alderpersons can have an item added to the agenda.

But for the 16th, seven people, seven people agreed to bring it.

and I think that to have further discussion on it and the difference being is that at that point though, the proponents of the ordinance in the first place asked to have it withdrawn.

So the that's that's the difference here.

You know, so I give the example that when an applicant, a citizen says applies for a text amendment to change the code, right, to change the zoning code or whatever it is that can go through Zoning Board of Appeals.

it can come to committee.

Committee can say we vote to move it forward to first reading.

If prior to first reading or even prior to second reading, the applicant says, guess what?

My application, I withdraw my application.

Typically that item then is just removed from the agenda without the council saying, you know, okay, we officially allow for it to be removed, you know, your application to be withdrawn.

It's usually just withdrawn.

But that involved one person, this involved eight.

I suppose, well, it involved, I suppose the proponents of the ordinance originally, there was more than one person there, asked for it to be withdrawn.

I suppose ultimately, to clarify, if you know, if this is what the council wants to say that hey, whenever anything is moved forward to council, even if it's subsequently withdrawn or the person, you know, drops it, you know, doesn't want it anymore, that will still hear the, you know, put it on the agenda and the council can then be informed of the fact that, hey, such and such is withdrawing the motion and then you guys can say, okay, well, if you're withdrawing the motion, then there's no, you know, or you're withdrawing the topic, then there's no really a need to discuss it anymore unless someone else wants to keep, you know, if you want to discuss it, you can have it placed back on, right? You know, because that's the difference here is that the original group, that wanted it put forward they said we don't want it anymore we don't you know we don't feel the need to move forward with those proposed changes there now if you want to put forward to say hey well I still want to talk about some changes maybe not those changes I you know maybe I didn't agree with those changes but I want some other changes made to this this rules of council then just like our one it says two people put it on and you guys can move forward with then you know and so on.

So, whatever changes that you guys want, they are sold.

Are there any other questions?

Is this something that you want to read in, you want to take a note?

I don't know.

Okay.

We'll move.

Oh.

Oh.

We can move it to the...

Nobody's made a motion to move it.

Oh, okay.

Right.

I'm saying it.

Now, the group that wanted this draft here withdrew that prior to the December whatever.

Now if Alderman, Stacy, and whoever else, if you guys have other changes, like your own changes that you want to make to that section, we can put, we can do that.

My purpose for bringing it here tonight was to get clarity on why it was not on the December 16th agenda when it was voted on and passed to be.

and the response to that is because the proponents of the original proponents of the ordinance asked to have it withdrawn.

They didn't want to even, they didn't want to put forth those suggestions anymore.

And I still feel that once, once I asked for it and it was seconded that it was no longer at that level and that if indeed that was, was going to happen, which is what did happen, It would have been respectful to inform Rachel and I, Alderman Simmons and I, what you were doing instead of just not doing it like we were going to forget and not remember or not know.

Alderman Rowe?

Yeah.

Whatever.

Discussion on it?

No.

Moving on.

Not at this time.

Okay.

Yeah.

Okay.

We'll move on to item number 16.

Discussion regarding electric bill provider of kilowatt hours, distribution fees, and the process for residents to switch to a different provider.

Alderman Stacy Monroe again.

Yes. So, gentleman came here and he proposed some rates. Could you help me with his name, Manager Boyer, or the company?

Company.

It's Mike Mudge with Rock River Energy, but that's the Generation Aggregation Contract that's different than the increase changes recently, just for him.

Okay.

So he came here and he presented some numbers to us, we all received this in the mail and you either had to act out using this company or you automatic was switched and then he came back about oh I don't know six to eight weeks later and because rates were going up he could not guarantee us at the original quote am I correct it is however we have there's not oh no the rate is not going up I'm sorry no no no he he questioned if they would be able to meet what they had told us the first time and we discussed I because rates were going up not their rates they didn't know. Well this is about generation and on the generation side they weren't sure what was going to happen with the ICC ruling coming down the pike so they were expressing their nervousness about being able to fulfill the aggregation contract that we had bid and accepted and that has to do with generation. We could not we could not

not canceled the contract, they would have to drop us. We couldn't drop them.

Yeah, offhand since I didn't realize the direction of this conversation and I guess I don't have everything I need to adequately.

He gave us three different options.

Yes, he did.

Long story short, my phone have been blowing up because people feel like their electric bills are higher than ever before and they don't want to stay with this company.

they want to go back to their original holders.

If they were on an original aggregation contract with the previous AEP, that contract lapsed and then we re-bid it with, so if they were on ComEd previously, they can go back to ComEd and that's fine.

when they call ComEd they're being told that the company you signed with has to release you.

ComEd can't just switch them over.

So they should just call Mike Mudd, they should call Rock River Energy to get that moving forward.

No.

He doesn't want them calling him, I've already been told that.

I'm sorry, Nordic, thank you Dovie.

But we do need information available to the constituents so that they can have the correct and Dr.

Jodi.

And that's what the purpose of this was for here tonight. To inform the people of the number they need to call if they want to switch back to comment so that they're not being tossed to and fro and getting nowhere.

Where? What was in your contract? It was in your contract when you made that decision on if you wanted to stay or if you wanted to go. Alderman Sellers. Yeah, go ahead. So, so one of the things and I think this is where the concern and the fusions coming from. A lot of people submitted the form saying they were opting out. Now they're being told they never received the letter. They're not able to opt out. So they're stuck in this no man's land between Nordic and ComEd. Thank you. And they're and others, and I'm looking to us to assist them or figure out a way to get out of this agreement with Nordic.

Yeah. I feel the same sentiments that you guys are feeling because I called them.

I called them directly. And when I was looking at my utility bill, their service, Davis, whatever they're supposed to be providing was not part of my subsidy or my letter stating that I'm using Nordic, Nordic is, but Kamea charged me because they did not comply with Kamea.

Kamea had no idea that that should have been implemented to my electric bill, so I called Nordic, and they're scrambling trying to get the right information to me and telling me that they're going to take care of it. Well, I'm going to look at my bill of this year, this month, and see if their name is on there, see if there's any adjustments being made because they gave me sure numbers that would benefit me, and I have not seen that yet.

So, yeah, there's something nefarious going on there and I'd like to know what it is myself.

We can follow up on that.

So how can we get the people this information?

Is it something that can go on the city's website?

Yes, we will basically get with Mike, address the concerns that you've expressed tonight, put together a statement, we can push that out on social media, then we can get with Smith, also to ensure some of the customers aren't confused because there was an increase on their distribution and green energy portion of their bill. So to ensure that we're actually talking apples to apples here, they may be confused because just recently the ICC approved an increase going forward, which was pretty substantial on the portion of their bill that's not related to the generation. It's related to distribution and so on. So as long as we're We're talking about the same thing here? Yes.

Are there any other questions?

If we could, I'm just trying to confuse things more here. Not actually, but as you mentioned, there's an upcharge on the distribution side and that kind of stuff. Well, Mr. Galrabs here, could he explain that so we know what's there, or an estimate of what's there, so So we know there's issues on that side. When you get done with dealing with one part of it, you know what the other charge is.

Let's start with Nordic Energy. Their phone number for customer service is 877-808-1022.

So and when people call to opt out at this late date they want to make sure that there's no type of administrative fee attached to it. Some of these companies do have it. It should have been on the contract whether or not they had it. I checked with City Manager on that. As far as ComEd's concerned, you'll see a rate increase for because we're the suppliers or we're the distribution side, we're the wires and the poles. We take the energy and bring it to your so you have Nordic who supplies your energy and ComEd who delivers it to your home.

Has ComEd fees went up since September?

I believe January 1st they went up slightly, but the main increase will be June 1st of 2025.

Can I get that information to you?

Fees, yep.

Okay. It's been a two-year process with the ICC that we've had a multi-year grid plan in place to make sure that the grid is sustainable we are the number one company electric company in the nation right right now so some of the state senators and in represented this question why we want to continue to put money into our system and we want to stay number one we want to make sure that you have your power we see a lot more people working and others.

We're working in their homes, a lot more electricity being used, and we want to make sure we maintain the system itself.

Nobody likes an increase, even myself, even though I work for ComEd, but if you want to maintain things and have good reliable service, we have to continue to take care of our grid, which we do.

Thank you.

Okay?

I have a question.

Debbie?

Oh, Debbie.

Switching from Nordic to ComEd will not necessarily lower their electric bill significantly.

I looked up the rates. Nordic is...

Do you have them?

Yeah, I think Nordic is at 6.399.

0.08315?

Yeah, that's a little bit different than I have.

So, I think we're within one hundredth of a penny.

What is ComEd right now?

I believe within one hundredth of a penny compared to Nordic.

Of what?

A penny.

From the rate you said?

yeah they had three nine six point three nine nine and then we were six point four and you were six point four yeah and that that is lower than Nordic but Nordic will stay at that contracted rate for three years and ComEd can fluctuate right up and down correct correct and the electrical supply is not the largest part of the bill no I don't believe so it just depends on who you use yeah so So that's the apples and apples that Manager Boyer was talking about.

But you would really like to have Mike Mudge come here and talk to your, talk to the Council again.

I think that would be, he's been a proven person as far as getting great rates since I was Mayor.

We were the first administration to have an aggregation. Saved everybody about $300 a year.

So it just depends on where your supplier is.

So, it's tough right now, though. It's difficult right now with electrification and how much energy is being used.

Okay. All right. Thank you. It's been a pleasure.

Any other discussion? If not, we'll move to 17.

The discussion and explanation of a fast track demo process presented by Stacy and Monroe, are you doing the presentation?

No.

No. No, we're going to we're going to start off with trying to understand, you know, kind of the process for a fast track demolition.

There's not a lot of information online that we have. If you have. Awesome.

Awesome. So, who's doing the presentation? Oh. Okay, thank you Alderperson Monroe, Alderperson Stacy. Starting off here just going back this was in April 28th of 2023. I'm pulling this from we had an orientation so it's just kind of a little background and when I kind of talked about this in the past it's kind of a little bit of a refresher. So I talked about in that orientation kind of the four main areas my department works in code enforcement planning and zoning building code this is all general but a property then would have one week to address a violation at that point a property with issue to citation with an associated hearing date and a little background there is anybody who receives gets to step three we have a hearing officer you're given a

date I always consider it similar to traffic court but it's not it's it's an administrative hearing process and essentially at this point this is At that point, when you're at one of these hearings, a fine would be issued.

The next two steps are how you eventually get to fast track demolition here.

Chronic nuisance is the big step here before you get to fast track demolition.

Chronic nuisance means you get three of these violations in a six month period.

So you have to have three judgments in a six month period to be declared a chronic nuisance.

All of the fast track demolitions that I have processed have gone through this chronic nuisance process first.

And then finally, we get to this fast track demolition process.

When I was speaking back in 2023, one of the process, one of the points I mentioned was that my department, one of the goals when I took over the apartment in 2022 was to increase code enforcement.

So, as you can see, these are the years here, and this is kind of cumulatively how many code enforcement cases, inspections, hearings we've had, and I was really proud of the team, as you can see here in 2022, and it's carried on into 2023 as well, we really increased the number of inspections, which that leads to, ultimately at that time when I was talking about it, is it leads to higher chronic nuisance cases, and then eventually and more fast-track demolitions, which ultimately gets you to more blight remediation, which is in line with our strategic plan.

I mean, I'll get there later, but kind of go forward here.

So won't get on too much about chronic nuisance, but want to kind of talk about it a little bit here.

Three violations in a six-month period.

It requires a judgment from a hearing officer.

So again, these cases go due process is important.

A hearing officer has to declare a property a chronic nuisance.

City can be granted authority to take action, remove garbage and debris, demolish a structure, could also, big one here is this $100 a day.

So when you get to this point, that judge is going to give you $100 a day.

and that tends to lead properties into high liens, etc.

And then what I talk about is that in 2023 we had 20 fast track demolitions.

So this is kind of what I talked about when I was going through our orientation for that year.

So now we talk about fast track demolition.

Again, kind of what I talked about when you saw that ladder there, it is the last resort in the process.

and John.

It essentially means you've gone through at least, you know, three code enforcement cases, you had a judgment for chronic nuisance, and now you're at a part for fast-track demolition.

So why did I come here?

I created this slide here to kind of say, okay, I see the numbers, we see the statistics, we've seen the process, but why do fast-track demolition?

Why have it?

I thought it was a good point.

I think when we came up with a strategic plan, I really did appreciate Alderperson Monroe says, well, I don't want to pay for a strategic plan that is just simply put on a memo and nobody does anything with it, right?

Why just have a strategic plan if you're not going to run departments behind a strategic plan?

So I kind of tied here how fast-track demolitions are tied to the strategic plan in the sense Smith, and John, and I'm going to start with a couple of things.

One of our major goals, one of our major strategic initiatives here, safe and inclusive community. One of our key strategies here is to ensure that neighborhood buildings are well kept improving safety by expanding enforcement time for code enforcement team, increasing penalties, continue funding, and implementation of demolition blight reduction My department is essentially judged by making sure that I keep our neighborhoods safe by remediating blights. So while we're getting into the technicalities of how this works, why do it? Well, this is why we're doing it. And all of our council members put into this plan and agreed upon this plan. All right, so now this is where it gets to be, I would say, a little bit and I have a little bit more in depth granular, but I've highlighted some important parts.

This is a statute that the city enacts.

So property has to be three stories or less.

The corporate official designated to be in charge of enforcing the Municipalities Building Code, that's me, is in charge of enforcing the Building Code and determines that the and others.

The building is open and vacant, an immediate continuing hazard to the community in which the building is located.

Then the officials shall be authorized to post a notice no less than two feet by two feet in size on the front of a building.

Practically speaking, this is what you'll see as an orange sign put on the building.

Next step would be you have to do three types of notices in addition to the building.

Do, the Posted Notice, Certified Mail, Newspaper Published, and then you have to record a notice at your Recorder's Office.

So looking up here, I'm just highlighting in other parts as a municipality may proceed to demolish, and I'm just reading the highlighted parts here for a fact here of what we're essentially talking about.

Under this subsection, within a 120-day period following the date of the mailing of the notice, if the appropriate official determines that the demolition is necessary to remedy an immediate and continuing hazard.

So that basically says once the letter is mailed and the 30-day period has lapsed for an injunction, the city has 120 days from that mailing period to demolish the structure.

Following and another important part here is following demolition, the municipality may May, File a Notice of Lean Against the Real Estate for the Cost of the Demolition.

So oftentimes, another part that's been tasked with my department is being stronger on property owners.

We're talking about, you know, why aren't we holding people accountable?

Why aren't we holding people accountable?

Fast-track demolition is a means to hold problem property owners accountable.

And how is it?

Well, essentially, once that demolition is performed, the city can then put a lien against and the property.

So our department takes that information and kind of puts it into this flow chart here.

And it makes all of that language and legalese a little bit, that statute a little bit easier to understand.

So you start with a building that is three stories or less in height.

It's got to be open and vague and it has to be an immediate and continuing hazard.

and I talk about posting the notice on the building.

We have 30 days to do our three notices here.

And then in 30 days, we talk about, hey, has an objective been filed?

If yes, then we stop this fast track demolition.

If no, we demolish the structure.

And then in 180 days, Miller, and then in 180 days, we record a lien or have the ability to record a lien.

And so that concludes the process. Is there other, I mean, maybe we'll put the slideshow back on in case they have some questions? Are there any questions or do you guys want to take this to a private? Oh, I'm sorry. Yes. Who? Oh, no, I do have questions. I do.

so I've actually got several questions so as we've seen in in many City Council meetings I just want to keep that on case you had a question on that yeah many City Council meetings that come you come along with City Manager to the council asking for money to be appropriated to tear down specific houses okay so why Why are these different than those instances and why not just hold that money back for these fast-track demolitions?

Well, there's a couple different reasons there.

I mean, there is a time period on fast-track demolitions of 120 days.

But I'm also trying to understand, I'm genuinely trying to understand your question here.

So we're talking about the fast-track process.

So I'm really genuinely just trying to understand your question so I can answer it appropriately.

Well, my question is, is why don't you come to council for these types of demolitions?

That makes sense.

So when I go to a slide here, and on this, this is directly from the statute.

It talks about how the corporate official designated to be in charge of enforcing the municipality's building code determines that a building is open and vacant and an immediate Hazzard to the community which the building is located then the official shall be authorized to post the notice and you know on a two-by-two sign and then it goes on to the duties. Gotcha. So that's... So I'm gonna come back at you to different ones. So why on a house that you fast-track demolition you've put these notices up you then go back to that person and say no you cannot have a permit to correct the issues that are outstanding? Sure. That's you most of the Time, and I could show in specific cases, and I think one of our people here, I think was Miss Altman had stated, oftentimes when these buildings are up, the structures are deemed dangerous and unsafe. Oftentimes we get a dangerous and unsafe designation at the chronic nuisance hearing.

So when a building is considered dangerous and unsafe, at that point, the city is going to So, the goal is that the State Department to get out of a structure and also the City Department to require that you have a structural engineer approve the plans to save this structure.

And if they don't provide that, the City will not move forward with a permit.

That is not going to happen.

to move forward with a permit and that happens. It's stated in our code that the department rule require that and it's also common practice in many municipalities.

So once you get that engineering letter saying that it's safe and that it should be remedied and you continue forward with the demolition, is that a normal practice?

Well I've yet to I'll be honest with you I've yet to see an actual engine when I've been in these processes and I've been in this faster I've done a process several of them here I've yet to seen us I've yet to see a satisfactory architect or engineer come in and provide plans stating that demolition you know or stating that they have the plans to reconstruct the property I've yet to see one I've definitely seen people say a contractors you know might Right, right, a letter, but ultimately when you're dealing with fire damage, you're dealing with age, you're dealing with termite damage, you're dealing with immense water damage on these structures, I am going to require a full analysis from an architect or structural engineer to protect the safety of the people who live in that building, because ultimately there are situations where not only can a city be liable, but the actual head of the apartment can be liable if somebody gets hurt and dies on a permit, allowing somebody to build something that somebody falls and dies in or collapses and dies.

I'll be honest.

I've gone back and I've looked at some of the houses that you fast-track demolitioned and I have seen significantly worse around this town and I'm really questioning right now if this is the right rules.

and I think no well I mean it is the correct rules this is from the statute but I mean we go back to and we're not following them okay that's fair I mean if you think that they're not being followed I mean I will certainly listen I'm listening with all ears and there's also do there's also due process and anybody here who has had a fast track demolition is certainly welcome and I've spoken with them and provided resources that says if you feel Scott, Alderman would, I wish I could believe you, I understand, I understand the lack of trust.

Aldermen Jadle?

Yes, thank you. The thing we need to consider is you're emphasizing on what happens after they've had three violations in six months and have been in front of a judge.

That happened three times in six months before he can get to that point.

It's three judgments plus an additional judgment for the chronic nuisance.

So they've been aware of this.

But if you can't get the permit.

I think I have the floor, sir.

Yeah, you do.

And if you haven't got it in your head after four times coming in here and speaking with with a judge, then I don't know what argument you have.

Thank you.

So we'll go down this road, and I can show images of the property in concern.

I can show text messages from city employees to an individual sitting in this audience tonight whose house and property were taken and torn down.

and the problem is that people like you don't have a heart and care about the citizens of this city and it's based on the color of that person's skin and I know I have the floor I don't care I will show you the house I don't care if you like what I say or not what I'm saying is the fact and the truth no no no no no no don't correct my speech and I'm not hollering. I got hollered out. I've got the floor. I'm telling you right now. This is appalling to me.

Appalling.

That we would go in and tear a property down that's got a better roof, got better outside exterior.

I can pull up the images still on Google Earth. I can walk through it. I can look at it.

I've seen pictures on the inside.

And I've got, and I drive down Brown, 26th, on West Ave, and I've got roofs collapsing, porches collapsing, and those buildings are still there, and we're fast-tracking this young lady's house.

For what?

Well, I can answer some of that.

Number one, if there's any properties, and I've sat down with many community groups, community leaders, if there's properties that are a concern, I will listen, I will take them, and I will work them through due process.

So that's number one.

if there's properties with concern, we will address it.

I can assure you of that.

I will work it through due process.

But I'm sure you're talking about the next agenda item, which is discussion regarding demolition of 404 East Shawnee.

If that's what we're talking about, we can move on to that agenda item whenever you're ready.

We can go right into that.

But I believe Mr. Alderperson Klemm had a question, but whenever you're ready, fully prepared to talk about that property as well.

Well, then let's move on and let let's let Alderman Klemm.

Yeah, I just I just like to say sorry.

What do you have to say?

Nothing, nothing now.

But yes, I'm sorry.

I can't I can't see well that way.

I flagged you three times.

I'm not a flagger.

But anyway, do you have something you need?

No. Yeah, OK.

OK, well, then we'll move on to Alderman Klemm, because I just like getting We're working up that this is not the only place in the town, whether it be 404 or whether it be whatever, I'm working through a process of four houses in the first ward, three of them owned by one woman, one of them owned by another person, all are vacant houses that nobody lives in, the city mows them for them, sends them a bill, tries to lien their property and all that kind of stuff, and we finally got them on the $100 a day fine.

that had three houses, wrote out a check for five.

and others, and we have a number of our three houses that are still in violation at $100 a day.

And when we got a van moved out of one of the houses, the guy next door, the house sits in between a business and his house.

It's so overgrown, you can hardly see the house.

The business sent me a text and said, thank you for getting that van moved, it's only taken me ten years to do it.

So that gives you an idea how long these properties have been not mowed, gone before a hearing judge, and to go into this whole fast track deal.

It isn't just one house here.

There's plenty of them around.

Thank you.

Do you have anything you want to say?

I just want to ask a question in regards to a home that's been sitting for over ten years probably.

and my recollection is the last time I drove by it was still there boarded up and things of this nature and when I looked at the property of 404 East Shawnee I'm just wondering if that's the same property now I'm looking at the property on Shawnee on the north side of the street of Benton which is on the east side of the street of Benton so it's the northeast corner and I'm just, the reason why I'm asking is because it's been there so long, there's no fast track involved that that property is still sitting there and then we need an explanation because it's a definite nuisance, it's an eyesore in the community, have we paid any attention to that particular property and what are we doing about it because I don't know if it's in the bracket of homelessness This one needs to be demoed. It's a great question to ask. And off the top of my head, I don't have my system here. Right. To know what the status is of that actual property. However, many of the other people here have worked with me, and I would say probably all of them have called me and or I will return their calls and they'll say Okay, here's the property, what can you tell me? And where are we at? And I will do that for y'all the person Sanders we can sit down and talk about that property and I can provide updates.

in a very bad area, I'm not going to say neighborhood, but in a very bad area, and it's been sitting there for over 10 years, boarded up, and I'm quite sure we have those two foot signs, whatever, but I don't see a two foot demo sign for that property. I'm just wondering why is that, why is that possible?

I can sit, I can meet with the Alderperson Sanders and get that figured out.

We'll move on to, is there any other questions? If not, we'll move on to 18, the discussion regarding demolition of 404 East Shawnee, including personal property missing and reports stolen by the demolition company presented by Alderman Stacy and Monroe.

So I'll start with this. You know, I understand now kind of who you know, the authority and why it was done. But I will I will question. So number one, you know, who authorizes the company that tore the building down to remove property from the location, as well, then if it's unsafe, why were they in there, not just demo it? And, and who goes through that process?

Sure. I presented a little process here for preparing something for a show. I knew this was a question to be asked.

Lots of questions about this property and its demolition.

You know, in the future, I saw that this was put on I think on a Friday.

Today you called me, I was able to get some information for you.

I'm always here to go over this in person.

So, if you ever want to talk about something like this again, just call me up.

Call me up. I've met with Alderperson Stacy plenty of times. I can always talk in person for more detail, but I really wanted to make sure that I met, you know, you had questions on this property, so I kind of wanted to go through it here. This is a picture, we timestamp our pictures. This is a picture of the property on September 3rd, 2024. So I'm going to go over, kind of show some pictures, and then go over the history of this property. This picture was taken April 17th of 2024. Obviously, I put this on here because there was questions about whether there are holes in the building, yes.

Were there problems with the roof, yes.

This is, I just wanted to show some evidence there.

Pictures of the outside, were there issues with the foundation, yes.

This would require a structural analysis and a permit to move forward.

A couple more pictures here, more of the back of the house, issues with the back of the house here.

Again, time stamps, our inspectors time stamp all pictures.

Moving on to the inside of the house.

As you can see in this picture, it might be a little difficult.

But you can see here, this was taken October 10th.

And it gives the address here.

And it kind of shows what's being taken picture here, drywall.

And it says here, fireplace.

One of the issues in this building is work being done without a permit.

And so we're going to get to the three permits that were pulled.

but one of the issues here is that in the permit, when I start to talk about the permits, which is later on in my presentation, one of the issues with this drywall here is that had this, this would be eventually pulled or torn off because we would need to see the exhaust in this fireplace or also need to see connections to a fireplace.

So if you cover up, that's anybody in the city of Freeport or any municipality for that matter in Illinois, when you start drywalling before you move forward and the proper steps in an inspection, you do have to take that off so that you can make sure that the exhaust and everything coming out of natural gas connections are done correctly.

So I wanted to show time stamped, time date material to put people's minds at ease that hey, this happened, these pictures took place, due process happened.

So I'm going to keep moving forward.

Another picture here, this is another picture here of some of the drywall that was installed.

and the rest of us here again October 10th drywall living room again showing pictures you can't see great in here but you could see going looking at the outside of the building you could see holes or protrusions where people are entering the city has received multitude of complaints which I will get into about people breaking and entering into this into this property vacant property So, one of the questions that has been brought up by several people is, kind of, who owns this property? Who owns it, right? Who actually owns this property?

So, this is what's known, I'm doing a little title history here, of like, who owns, of who owns a property.

So, this information here comes from our tax assessor. In 2016, the property was sold from this person to the Freeport Habitat for Humanity.

Okay. Habitat for Humanity bought this house for $2,000. It was my understanding that when Habitat for Humanity bought it, the property had been sitting in a poor condition, I believe since 2010 circa. It was long standing when Habitat for Humanity had bought it for $2,000. So then, When looking at the title history, in 2017, the Habitat for Humanity quit claims of property to Raven.

So then the question becomes, well, what's the connection between Raven and IKEA?

Taking some information from a summary report interview that's conducted by City Fire Marshal Hilary Broschus on December 19th of 2021. This is regarding two arson cases on the property from from that year and so this information was taken from that interview and in that property it says she, meaning Akia Sanders, advised that she and Raven were the sole owners of the property.

She stated that they purchased the home for $2,000 from Habitat for Humanity.

There is no mortgage on the property.

Akia advised that there is not any insurance on the home.

She commented that she did not think she could get insurance on the home due to the current state of it.

This is important, very important information to have because when we're considering dangerous Davis, and Unsafe Structures not having insurance is a death sentence for our community.

What happens when kids go in there and they hurt themselves?

Where are they going to get there?

What's going to happen?

What happens when people fight a fire and they burn?

This house has no insurance, which really adds to how scary it is to have these properties in our community.

Okay. So, still looking on to who owns the property. When this thing, when this property was eventually going through the fast-track demolition process, Raven quick claims the property to Tiffany Sanders, which I believe, from what I understand to be, um, Ms. Akia Sanders, um, sister, and that, excuse me, that happened on June 7th of 2024.

So the title to Ms. Sanders was gone in June. So that, you know, I know you had stated it was her property. It's no longer her property. It's now her sister's property.

But moving forward, the county will soon be taking this property for back taxes. So they've not, they not only do not, they not only not paid insurance, they've not paid their taxes.

Taxes. So in 2024, Liz Pendens, which is a fancy way for saying a notice.

C. Way for saying a notice, they're basically saying on December 9th of 2024, in June they're going to be taking ownership of Ms. Tiffany Sanders' property for back taxes.

So if the taxes aren't paid, the property, this will soon be the county's property.

And then I kind of go into here a little bit showing all the years that the taxes weren't paid.

It was since 2021 the taxes have not been paid and here's some back tax payment amounts Okay building permit history we wanted to talk about why are we not providing permits to people it's a very good question to ask The city provided three permits for this property Which totaled five years six months and 19 days of minimal progress So I'm going to go over the actual permits now, what was pulled. In 2018, a permit was issued for one year. The dates are May 9th to May 9th of 2019.

The city granted a 180-day extension. So, again, working with our community to try to fix this building. We granted a six-month extension on top of this one-year extension.

and during this time period.

No work was performed during this, and there were no subsequent inspections because when you get a permit, you do work. You call the inspector and say I've done the electric I've done electrical work, I've done plumbing work, I'm ready for my inspection before I move on to the next step, that never happened on this permit in 2020.

A permit was issued for two years, probably asking, why did we give it two year permit. There was some leniency and terms for permits during the pandemic.

So there was a two-year permit granted from December 17th to December 17th of 2022.

Again, the city in 2022 granted a six-month extension. This had expired on June 17th of 2022.

So again, this narrative of the city not working with the property owner is very unfair because they're coming to us with a permit and we're saying, where's the progress? It's not there.

and Mayor.

On January 11th of 2021, I'm showing the work that was done in this permit.

A rough electrical work was completed and this is from the inspection on January 11th of 2021.

The inspection was approved for three rooms only and this was the only work that was performed for the entire period and approved by our inspector was during this two-year period.

So now you're looking at 2018 to 2022, four years, and you had rough electrical work done in three rooms.

That was what was done.

That was the work done.

So in 2022, we issued another permit.

This was one year.

And this went from October 21st of 2022 to November 28th of 2020, a lot of 20s in there.

Pardon me for that.

and others.

I'm going to read it a few times fast.

2023.

The work that was done there was there was footing inspections for a room addition.

It was approved with notes.

As I kind of showed before, there were some issues with some of the footings and the foundation on that property.

So that's why it was approved with notes.

Now at the end of this, our inspector went in and he's coming in at the end of this three So now we're going to talk about our code enforcement history on this property.

What were some of the code enforcement issues that ultimately led to it being a nuisance to this community?

There were two arson cases in 2021 on this property.

This property was properly inspected by City Fire Marshal Hillary Broschus and this was taken directly from her report, which was given on both arson cases.

and the Act or omission that brought the ignition source and material first ignited together was a deliberate act of a person or persons.

So when I come in and I say it's a nuisance and a danger to the community, it happens.

People are burning these vacant buildings.

I'm asking you to please understand the facts.

I'm not making this up.

People burn these buildings to the ground and people die and the owners don't have insurance.

I don't know what else I can do to prove that this is a nuisance to the community and a danger.

Please tell me what danger is if that is not.

Here, this is from the report.

Two reports in one night. First fire happened here.

Second fire happened here.

Here's a picture of the fire that happened.

Here's one of the evidence pictures of the arson that happened on that property.

So, moving forward, we're going to go on to the code enforcement cases that happened after the five and a half years of permits.

So, I highlighted an important part of the findings of this case.

A couple important parts to remember here is that Nicole Bauer is our hearing officer.

So when my team provides data and information on these buildings, Nicole Bauer looks at it and makes a judgment.

Here's her signature, here's the date, and you can see it matches up. It was after the city gave time and permits to fix the building.

it came afterwards and I want to talk about something very important and this is very it's a very good point to bring up I highlighted that the city of Freeport has proven violations by the preponderance of evidence I'm talking about preponderance of evidence here because we all watch Dateline we all watch TV and a lot of us quite frankly are obsessed with true crime and the burden of proof if you're going to put somebody in prison for the rest of their life is beyond a reason and John, and I'm going to talk about the reasonable doubt. So a lot of us look at cases, we look at the city and we go, aha, I found a mistake, there's reasonable doubt that Mr. Duckman did his job wrong, throw everything out the window. I'm highlighting preponderance of evidence because it's a different burden of proof, it's a different level and I have some legal training and multitude of my degrees in to me is that you have two scales. Here's the defendant scales and here's the city, their evidence, and then here's the evidence that will be provided by the defendant, the owner of the property. And then the judge is going to look at it and say, okay, does the evidence tip slightly towards the city or slightly towards the defendant? So it's different than, aha, the city made a mistake, there's reasonable doubt. That's a different burden of proof. So oftentimes we're looking at the city, they made a typo here, they did did something wrong here, often times a hearing officer or if it goes to a civil case, they're

going to look at it by the preponderance of evidence versus what we're all used to, right?

We're all used to beyond a reasonable doubt.

So I highlighted that there so that we can start to understand how some of these cases are looked at.

So we have our next case here.

And if you notice, the preponderance of evidence statement here doesn't exist.

Well, why doesn't it exist?

The property owner showed up to this case.

So the judge is saying, I looked at the city's case, these violations here, I looked at it, and they proved their case by preponderance of evidence.

The second case, appearance.

They didn't show up.

So they did not show up on this case.

they didn't show up to testify and that goes back to was notice given.

Our hearing officer looks and checks this box saying yes, the City of Freeport notified properly.

And then any box check below the statement constitutes as a final order, default, defendant failed to appear and the hearing will be held before me this day.

It goes back to that similar with parking tickets, etc.

And then that's why you see here she signs off.

This is case number 2, case number 3, similar to case number 2, there was no appearance, despite the fact that they showed up at the first case, notice was given, default judgment.

So now we're at $1,700 plus $1,200, that's $2,900.

Miller, that's 2,900 plus 33, 35, you're looking at about $3,200 already right now that has been accumulated.

So now we talk about, and you should all see this falls right in line with the process I laid out to all the officials when they came here in April of 2023, except the city worked with this property owner for five years before any code enforcement even was enacted.

Five years before any of this processing enacted.

So we have actually been more generous to this property owner than the typical out of town person who never has been here and never applied for a permit.

So here it is.

This case went before the judge on May 16th of 2024.

And then this is kind of what the judgment says.

And I want to bring this up here.

Here's the $100 per day.

Here is also Nicole Bauer writing a statement.

This is not Wayne Duckman.

This is Nicole Bauer, our hearing officer.

This case has been ongoing for a significant period of time.

There was ample time to appear on the other cases with legal counsel if the defendant had chose to do so, plus ample time to correct these issues prior to this hearing.

This is due process.

This is time.

This is not my words.

This is the words of an independent hearing officer.

So in addition to this $100 per day, the city says, and it's a little hard to read here, but the city sought, and it was, this statement was incorporated in herein, so I'm showing where it is, the city was requesting that this be defined in Chapter 1456 of the city's codified ordinances to be using remedy conditions that would be considered dangerous and unsafe.

So on top of my statutory duties given to determine that a property is dangerous and unsafe, I brought it before a hearing officer who said this is a dangerous unsafe building.

was brought before a hearing officer and they made that judgment in conjunction to the sign I put on the sign was put on the building.

Questions are going to be had.

Declaration of Chronic Nuisance.

The property contains a structure.

This comes from above.

So this here comes from above here and then I highlighted this.

The property contains a structure which is dangerous and unsafe building as defined in Chapter 1456 of these Qualified Ordinances and or within the meaning of the statute.

The structure is defined as C attached and incorporated herein.

And that's where we went to here.

And then when you scroll down, I decide this is from our ordinances what was being defined and it states, as used in this chapter, dangerous and unsafe building means any dwelling which which violates any provisions of this chapter and shall include but is not limited to any building or structure whether a dwelling or otherwise which a. is dangerous to the public health because of its construction condition which may cause or aid in the spread of disease or cause injury to the health of the occupants of it or of its neighboring structures I think well beyond preponderance of evidence that has been proven it's not just my opinion it's our hearing officer's opinion Clear as day, and then I'll just go on. Because of the faulty construction, age, lack of proper repair of any other cause is especially liable to fire and constitutes or creates a fire hazard.

I believe that one's checked. Reasons of faulty construction, age, lack of proper repair is liable to cause injury or damage by collapsing or by collapse or fall of any part of such a structure.

showed a picture of its foundation and by the way it doesn't have to be all of these but I'm showing examples of how they're all can be checked because of its condition item D such a lack of a door or window is available and to be frequently by male factors or disorderly persons who are not lawful occupants of such structure I showed a hole on the side of the wall I showed places where I showed that with time-dated pictures This has not been substantially completed, whose construction phase has been abandoned and which is unoccupied by persons legally in possession. Check, check, and check.

Fowler.

Contains garbage, debris, or other hazardous, noxious, or unhealthy substances or materials so far as to pose a threat to the public health and safety.

Yep, I think that one was considered as well and check.

So my department has been staffed with holding problem property owners accountable.

That's what a lien does.

This lien was filed on September 6th of 2024 and encompasses all of the due process and all of the judgments granted by our hearing officer to the tune of $14,451.

Now when this property, I'm just assuming they're not going to pay their property taxes because what a tax lien does and what a tax deed does is that wipes out any of these liens.

So, all that hard work of my staff is going to be unrecoverable when they continue to not pay their taxes and that goes to the county tax assessor and then you, sir, can yell at me for having to have people go and mow the grass because that's how that works. That's exactly how that works.

I'm glad you're mad because now do the Raleigh building now do other buildings and I'll point them out to you and I'll drive around this town let's meet let's do it I'll do it I'm here okay okay let's call the meeting back to order could you could you turn the light could you turn the light on for me because I can't see yep yeah are you are you done I can still no I've still got more to talk oh and I will make an apology here in front of the room. I was misled. But at the same time, I will say, I question a lot of what's around the city that's not been done the same thing to. And that is where we sit right now. And quite honestly, I think the same could be true. And I pick on the Raleigh building, because I think the same could be true.

and John.

I don't know if there's been a fire or not. I don't have the research. But all the windows are busted.

Well, the structure is not in great shape. But I'm just saying.

Okay. Okay. Wait a minute. We're going to have Alderman Sanders say something, then we'll move on.

and the President.

I appreciate all that you just mentioned.

For the preponderance of evidence, it's been there for almost a decade or more.

It was just an absolute eye sore, but after listening to all the detailed information that you guys are going through, and I have gone through, your staff and everyone.

I say I take my hat off to everything that went forward because it was exactly how you described it.

I want to say thank you, sir, and I want you to know it doesn't always have to come to this floor.

You can call me and I will talk with you and if there's problem properties, please call me instead of a time.

You called me today at 3 o'clock and you said, hey, Wayne answered the phone.

This doesn't have to go like this every time.

you can call me and we will look at these buildings and we'll work together I want to I want to work to get this done. Alderman, Stacy, Alder, I mean Manager, Boyer, Boyer, number one director thank you for that presentation but are you complete with your presentation or were you just interrupted there's more questions I can show this I could show more ifness okay okay we can we can go into that please finish the presentation without being interrupted thank you I just wondered why it wasn't demolished September 3rd, why did it come to December?

I genuinely will answer that question.

I think the rest of these slides will answer that for you because I'm going to go into the process right now but the answer the question is you have to wait 30 days from September 3rd and then you have to wait for any court petitions from the property owner which I go into there were there were motions made at the circuit court by the property owners and I go into those details in this next slide so from the day White, so from the date of September 3rd, the city has 120 days, we have 120 days demolished from this date, but you might as well knock off 30 days because you can't, the property owner has 30 days to properly file at the Circuit Court an injunction.

So here is the time stamp date of September 3rd, 2024.

You can see the sign.

Here's the notices, remember I talked about you got to have letter, this is the letter, this is the recorded notice, and this is the receipt that it was put in the paper on September 10th, 11th, and 12th.

Those are the notices.

Now I talk about, you said, well hey, why did you not demolish it sooner?

Akiya Sanders petitioned for injunction on October 17th of 2024.

This injunction was dismissed on December 19th of 2024.

And this right here has the date, December 19th, and it says plaintiff's complaint is dismissed.

And there's the plaintiff, Akiya Sanders and Tiffany Sanders, it was dismissed.

So now we go through this process.

was dismissed, Albert & Son commenced demolition after this dismissal, Akia filed and Ms. Sanders have filed a new petition on December 19, 2024, so she filed another petition which had to be answered.

When that was filed, Albert & Son by myself was told to stop the demolition work because of the injunction, and if you remember the process, if somebody files an injunction or A petition of some sort, you stop, the work stopped, you need to get that stopped.

So Albert and Son, when this work was done, they would then return the personal property to the site on December 20th of 20th, excuse me, I keep getting too many 20s in here.

So when they, my understanding of this is that they took the property off site, instead of the Street, they put it in their shop and then I was on site to make sure that construction had stopped per the new petition that was filed and Ms. Sanders and I talked and she said hey there's property of mine that's missing and I said let me call the contractor and have it returned and that's where I'm talking about here.

The property was returned to the site on December 20th of 2024.

I have pictures of that as well. I don't have it here, but I confirm that the property was returned.

Again, a key is filed. This is now, this is again, Ms. Sanders filed a new petition on December 19th that we're talking about.

This petition was dismissed on December 27th of 2024.

Defendant's motion to dismiss the City of Freeport is the defendant.

and the Motion to Dismiss is granted.

Reading through my notes here.

Petition was dismissed on December 27th, 2024.

Albernso began demolition immediately following this dismissal.

Ms. Sanders was allowed to enter the premises to remove personal property.

Ms. Sanders notified me at that time that there was personal property missing.

I contacted Albert & Son and they returned the additional property to the site so that's the second time they brought property to the site and the conversation went like this I called Josh Albert and I said hey you better go through your site again and you better get the property over here now because we're not playing around the property owner is here they want their property back bring it back if you got it and he goes well I thought we did it all I said no don't take another check and look so that's exactly what happened and they immediately bought the property Back to the site.

After that, Ms. Sanders claimed that there was additional property missing.

I told Ms. Sanders, I said, at this point, you need to file a police report to ensure that if there's any property missing, you need to make sure that you have due process and you get it back, because I said, they're telling me that they returned everything in that building.

And I said, you need to file a police report.

to my knowledge that they did. Now there's been an accusation last week that I've been targeting Ms. Sanders for these properties and I just want to go over some statistics. Two of the 20 properties demolished in 2024 by Fast Track were Ms. Sanders. Zero of the 20 properties in 2023 were Ms. Sanders and zero of the five properties in 2022 were Ms. Sanders. The two properties that went through the Fashtrack Demolition Process, 402, 404 Shawnee, which was demolished on December 27th of 2024, and the other one was 909 South Oak.

And this is the property that was Fashtrack demolished on 909 South Oak.

It's not targeting.

It's going after blight remediation.

This is the property that I've been accused of targeting the person on.

This is it.

Two building permits issued in 2022 on 909 South Oak.

City worked with the property owner.

These two permits expired on August 5th, 2023, stating it was dangerous to even enter the building, to stay away, watch the floor joist.

It was extremely dangerous property.

Code enforcement cases began.

This should look very familiar because it follows the exact playbook that I had mentioned in the orientation in 2023.

Code enforcement case here.

Code enforcement case here.

enforcement case here, chronic nuisance judgment, May 18th, 2023, fast track notice on October 11th, property demolished on January 29th.

And that's the rest of it.

So that is why it took longer for this property to be demolished.

Can you come back forward?

Right, back.

Keep going up.

Okay.

Back.

I wanted the one that had the doors and the window.

Okay, so when I went over there, this is what I saw. Not the holes and everything you show in the first picture.

So I saw new windows, I saw new doors, I saw that. So I knew work was being put into it.

So, what you had showed in the beginning was not the final, this is more of the final of what it looked like when it was demolished.

Well, let's see here. I mean, let's talk about that a little bit here.

you know it is what it is but right you know even when they put the sign up it looked a whole heck of a lot better the work went into it that's all i'm gonna say i would i saw the doors i saw the new windows i saw the work being put into right all right is that is that yes yes you're done okay I guess my thought on this is that I agree with you. I hate that we had to bring all this. I think it's a private issue, and it should have been discussed more in the conference rooms with attorneys than us, you know, because you bring out people's personal information that, you know, to me, I just think it's a personal issue that should have been handled behind the closed doors to not bring out and other people's information but does anybody else have anybody else have James are you done with what you want to talk about you're done okay okay I guess we move on to 20 to our public comments oh my goodness I'm moving on I'm willing can I make a motion that we move this to a later date and take it off okay I'll take it I'll make a motion since in the essence of time to take this offer to

okay is there a second I don't have a date at this point mm-hmm is there a second second it's been moved in second to have this taken off the agenda for tonight. All in favor? Aye. It was Sanders. All in favor? Aye. All opposed? Okay now we'll move on to public comments. Are there any public comments? Okay. Would you state your name okay now you see in this fast track you give three types of warnings the posting certified letter and the orange sticker on the on their houses first of all my house was all enclosed doors new windows in there from window world the door was locked it was kicked in by cities and officials to inspect this House, I was never sent any certified letter that you were tearing down my house at all.

I had building materials, a whole bunch of stuff in there that has just disappeared, gone.

and I don't feel and I don't feel that it was right for you guys just to come and take that property without a certified letter. I hadn't even come into this hearing administrative for that property at 124 Black Hawk. Never once did I appear in front of the hearing committee to get this taken care of. Not once did I have an opportunity. But you still took that house. That's wrong. You sit here and and I have been complaining about the landlord's property, but the city owns a lot of properties that are in worse shape than what the house you tore down.

We'll get the Raleigh Building going again.

I have seen people in there.

I own properties up there.

There's trees growing through in there.

The roof is caving in.

That's been there for years, but the city still has not taken, they wanna hold the landlord accountable for their actions, but the city won't be accountable for their actions in their property.

This building has been there for years like that.

So it's wrong for you to come on the landlords when you don't want to take care of your own properties.

Okay, did you want to say something ma'am?

In the green, you had your hand up?

Okay, come on up.

My name is Miss Garris and this is kind of a wild ride tonight.

This is the first meeting that I've been to ever here.

and I feel for everybody here and on the housing side what we were talking about with the building and permits and all that kind of stuff I'm coming from the side of I live next to a house like that I think there's a correlation with Habitat for Humanity I think is what it's called in selling these properties like this because in my case a realtor got a hold of it and he's been known well known to do this over and over again where he buys properties doesn't take care of them I had a 10-foot antenna heavy iron fall on my house in the middle of the night I am a single female have no backup I had to take care of I bought that property, never did a thing to it for years and years, while I kept having people break into it, I had to board it up myself with my own money and tools, I mowed that lawn for probably 8 years because he never took care of that, Picked up the garbage, had to call the police for drug deals constantly on that house.

I had to put up a flood light just to protect my own self.

So, while I feel for the people putting money into these houses, you know, you have to understand where the homeowners coming from as well, because we're affected by all that.

So, that's the part I want to say on that.

The other issue that I wanted to talk about is maybe could someone look at, from the city, the couple intersections, some issues there.

I'm not sure the addresses, but one of them is by the fire station on Adams.

They newly redid the street, which looks great, and it's great to drive on. That's much appreciated.

There's a stop sign, however, that's turned towards Adams, and people keep thinking that they're supposed to stop there. I have witnessed, and then had it happen to me today, where I had to slam on my brakes because the person in front of me was confused and didn't know if they should be stopping at that sign.

It's actually for the side street coming this way, but it's facing this way on Adams.

Your time has expired.

OK.

OK, thank you.

Who can I talk to about the other intersection?

Right there.

I think it's, I want to say Winnishek and Adams, but I'm not sure.

Yeah.

Is there someone we can talk to, or I can talk to about another intersection?

I guess Alderman Klemm had a... I just wanted to announce, I originally had a neighborhood watch meeting set up for January 28th, which is my normal date. January 28th is going to be a candidate forum at the library. I don't want to interfere with that. I think it's it's more important for people to go meet the candidates and listen to what they have to say.

So I've sent a notice out.

I will send other notices out, but I will rearrange a date.

Maybe I can get together and do it at the same time as Greg's.

Thank you.

Is there any other, Mike?

Uh-oh.

Well, I came up here to say, Everybody can start smiling now, OK?

We can get the tension out.

On behalf of Flight Radio Studio Production Company, I am the program director.

And I am inviting the whole city council to this upcoming Saturday's Dance Against Cancer Ball, OK?

It's a 70s and 80s Dance Against Cancer Ball.

We are raising money for the Leonard C. Ferguson Cancer Center.

and what we're doing is, is trying to improve the city with through Flight Radio 105.7 FM.

So I'm inviting all council members, please attend this Saturday.

Mike, could you say your name?

Say your name.

Oh, Michael Johnson, I'm sorry.

All right.

Okay, thank you.

Okay, the event is being held at the Eagles Club this Saturday at seven o'clock until 11.

The Real Deal Band will be performing, and yeah, we're coming out to have a good time.

And we're doing some community support, okay?

Okay.

Let's stop being mean.

Everybody, let's get some smiles on our face.

Thank you.

That's right.

Yep.

Just a second.

We'll get Kia and then you, okay?

So if you was listening to me, I didn't say that they didn't work with me during my permit phase.

and others.

So, when somebody files a paper, it stops, so why didn't you stop when you and Steve Cox Cox got served that paper. That was not a, let's make a decision, Steve Cox and Wayne Duckman. That was for the judge. And to the judge hear it, it wasn't supposed to be knocked down. He dismisses it. You don't dismiss the idea of me filing a paper. You, I mean, if you want to see that you talked about me bad in here, if you consider that a win, I never said that you didn't work with me. It was over a 5,000 square foot house. It took a and others.

That was a lot of time.

That was a lot of material.

And then nobody talks about my stuff being stolen.

Three times it took somebody to bring my stuff three different times.

How do you overlook bounce houses three times my size?

You had did nothing but show that the privilege is Jodi Miller's brother.

He can steal what he want to.

I never heard that there was a contract that you guys had, demo houses, but go shopping first.

Steal something first.

I never heard that.

So somebody should answer, there's theft after the fact, and I'm just going to tell you, like if you know me, you know this ain't the end of it, this is only a council meeting, I got laws to make sure that stick to me, and I never meant to mislead anybody, not you at all, this is truly what happened to me, and I'm going to see fit that something happens to him and whoever else is against me.

And if you know me, that's not my brother.

and Tom.

Okay, we're going to have, we're going to have, Akeia, Akeia, Akeia, Akeia, let's not, let's not do this.

Right, yes, right, but both, both, we're just going to have more, right, right, we're going to have.

You truly show who you for, truly.

Yes, I don't care.

Okay, I got no minutes, but you need to, you need to hear.

I don't care what you say.

We're just, we're leading a council meeting.

Okay, you need to stop or you're going to be removed.

Tommy, would you come up and say what you've got to say?

Yes, yes, bye-bye.

Right, bye-bye.

Motion for adjournment.

Wait, we've got to listen to Tommy.

Tommy wants to say something.

Who? Wait a minute.

Tommy, that's what it's about.

and Jodi.

you have something you want to say okay Saturday January the 18th there would be a national day of racial healing at the Freeport Farm Bureau from nine to one the purpose is to reflect on our shared values and engage in conversation to heal division and bring our community together that's Saturday from nine to one the 18th at the Farm Bureau and let's not forget Monday January the 20th Dr. King's celebration so I guess there won't be counsel that day no Monday at 530 and Mr. James Ryan says I hope that that this year's attendance will reflect the diversity of our community as we celebrate one of our greatest heroes.

One last thing. Thursday, January 16th, 2nd Ward Neighborhood Watch meeting at 630 at the Carson's House.

Same place as always, no snow. You said January 16th? Thursday, January 16th.

Thank you. If there's no more, can I have a motion to adjourn? Second. Second. It has been moved and second. All in favor?

Aye.