WEBVTT

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We got two, huh?

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What's going on?

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Working through their permit time.

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

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

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

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

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tonight.

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Let there be no division between any council member.

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

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

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us.

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In Jesus' name, amen.

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Amen.

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Thank you, Evelyn.

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Now we'll officially call this meeting to order.

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

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

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I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for

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which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty.

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Alderman Sellers, the meeting is yours.

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Thank you.

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

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So moved.

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Second.

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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?

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Aye

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Any opposed? Motion passes.

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

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So moved.

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Second.

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Okay, it was first by Shadle.

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Okay, first, Shadle.

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Okay, and second, Klemm.

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Okay, all in favor?

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Aye.

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Any opposed?

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Motion passed.

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at this time we'll have public comments and there are three names the first name

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is Diane Yocum

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hello my name is Diane Yocum and I'm a citizen of Freeport and I noticed on the

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and the agenda number 15 that is coming up again about some of these ordinance changes

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that one wants to do I think to some of the meeting principles that go on here in particular

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fines and so forth.

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

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and others.

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This is part four, where it states, any member present when her name is called to vote on

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any question during a meeting of the City Council or any of its committees and who shall

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refuse or neglect to vote shall forfeit $100 of their compensation for the current month

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unless he or she has a conflict of interest in subject matter of the question and discloses

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and others.

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This is the nature of the conflict of the City Council and the City Council by majority

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of vote excuses said member from voting at his or her request prior to the commencement

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of the roll call on said question.

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Now it's my understanding that the Council indeed and I understand every one of you has

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a copy of Robert's Rules of Order and under Robert's Rules of Order it states in Section

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and

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the City Council members.

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And I think that there is a right of abstention and it is not

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necessarily always connected to having a conflict of interest.

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And so by putting this in, I think it is an unjust and unfair

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principle that is being added into this because for me, not

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only is it unjust, but it also I think is down a slippery slope

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and others. And heaven knows we've got concerns about that enough as it is, and that I do

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not think this is fair, that it's right, that it's just, and I think it's very undemocratic

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per se. I don't particularly like this whole ordinance as a whole, but some of these principles

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I think are not necessary. You already have, I understand in the ordinance, rules about

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what you can do and cannot do regarding this, and I think these changes are completely unnecessary

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and others.

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If you don't have your Robert's Rules of Order, I suggest you

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look at 45.

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3 and read that section through. There's another area where it

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talks about if you have a conflict of interest, which by

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all means, any person should indeed abstain from voting, but

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by right, you do have that under Robert's Rules of Order, the

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option to abstain whether or not, and it doesn't have to be

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have to be called an abstention when the vote is called, but you do by right have that freedom

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and that opportunity to abstain.

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Thank you.

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Thank you.

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Next on the list is Akia Sanders.

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How y'all doing?

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This is my sister.

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We own 404 together.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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because they would have a hard time proving intent.

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There was three different occasions he brought my belongings to whoever,

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but it's called theft after the fact or something like that,

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but you mean to tell me three times he didn't know he had my stolen property?

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Insane.

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And then on another note, as this came out,

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I was told that Rob Boyer was asking or telling people,

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do you know who this is about?

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

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says more about you than it says about me.

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

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Thank you.

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Good evening. I owned a house at 124 Blackhawk, and I think that they did the fast-track demolition

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process on me. We were not served any notice, no registration. One day it was there, the

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next day it was gone. And we had a whole bunch of stuff in there. As a matter of fact, when

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they went through my house, they broke in to go through the house. The house was locked.

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So now I lost not only my house, but all my building material that was in this house and

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that's unfair that I was not served any notice and then we have another property that we're

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trying to get, we have our contractor's license, we're trying to get a permit, we had to have

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an engineer for 16 to 422 and a half prospectors, we had the engineer come in, gave them the

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report that it's a sound building, we got a permit last year, but they refused to give

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me this year and we were two thirds of the way done with the house and now they want

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and try tearing that down too.

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This is unfair.

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The city needs to take a look at some of their buildings

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like the Raleigh Building,

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which has been a very eyesore for years.

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And you've guys got grants, but yet it's still standing

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and you've got trees growing in there,

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hundreds of windows that are broken.

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That's the biggest eyesore in Freeport.

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Okay, at this time, we'll move to discussion seven,

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Discussing Regarding Possible Implementation of a FLOC License Plate Reader, LPR, and

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Video System, Presentation by Chief Shenberger.

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Thank you.

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So the Freeport Police Department has utilized Vigilant, which is Motorola, LPR cameras at

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various locations in the city, and Sound Thinking Gunshot Detection Sensors.

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The use of LPR cameras and Sound Thinking have significantly helped the PD staff with

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with Shots Fired Investigations.

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LPR cameras have also benefited PD staff with investigating other crimes, including recovery

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of stolen vehicles, serious felonies, and retail thefts.

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Staff has been working with representatives...

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working with representatives from FLOC

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with potentially expanding our technological resources

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that will allow officers to be more proactive

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and improve the response to criminal incidents.

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FLOC offers a three-pronged approach,

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LPR cameras, live video cameras, and gunshot detection.

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The City of Freeport is currently under contract

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with Sound Thinking and Vigilant until 2027.

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Staff is looking for other alternatives

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to improve public safety

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Files at FLOC can offer more alternatives under one user-friendly program.

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

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This is just something we're looking to explore and looking into possibility of maybe being

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some grant funding out there or in the future of reallocating funds that's used towards

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sound thinking and Vigilant after the expiration of the contracts.

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

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until the contract expires.

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I also have Blaine Thomas, he's a representative from FLOC, he's just gonna give a little

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presentation to the council and everyone who's watching here and at home, just to give you

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an idea of what FLOC can do for the city.

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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.

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Yeah, absolutely. While he's pulling up the slides, I can speak a little bit to who FLOC

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is. My main objective for this time is really to highlight what the company, what our company

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does, what FLOC does. Briefly speak to our technologies. There's a lot to go into, but

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I'm gonna try to highlight the ones that the Chief brought up.

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And then finally kind of share the vision of Flock

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and how all the technology works.

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What does that mean, Flock?

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Flock's the name of our company.

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Huh?

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Just the name of the company.

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Name of the company?

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Mm-hmm, okay.

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Yeah, correct.

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So to give you all some context,

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Flock is a public safety technology company.

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We have a host of hardware sensors,

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whether that be live video, LPR cameras,

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gunshot detection, drones, mobile security trailers,

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a number of different technology assets.

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We then take all of that data and put it

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into a public safety platform that allows

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the police department to make objective,

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data-driven decisions.

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To give you a little bit of an idea

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of the scale of our company.

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We work with approximately 1,500 law enforcement agencies

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in cities across the United States,

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have right at about 90,000 license plate reading cameras

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throughout the country.

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

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So, oh.

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Thomas.

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

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Yeah.

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Blaine Thomas.

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Thank you.

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Yep.

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

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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

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and I want to make sure that the public's data is that the city is a good steward of public data.

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

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

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

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we have a three-pronged approach when it comes to the when it comes to the data

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that that our technology captures. We detect the data and then we decode it

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and then we deliver it. In that decoding layer we take AIML models and put it

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over the different technologies that we have whether that be over the image that

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a license plate reader captures or a video stream that a live video camera

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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.

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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.

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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.

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

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and Joseph.

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

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So if an incident happens in a given part of the city, the police department can go back

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and see what vehicles were in the city during that time.

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

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They had a 911 call that somebody heard gunshots.

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

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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.

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

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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.

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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

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is new.

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What makes our live video cameras a little bit different

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is that they have the ability to detect people and vehicles.

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So while it's not an LPR camera, it

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can still record characteristics of vehicles that pass it,

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as well as have features like pupil detection.

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So let's just say that if you want

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to be alerted to maybe groups of people

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past a certain time of night, the cameras

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with the capability to do that.

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Next, gunshot detection.

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Gunshot detection is also not.

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Detection, Gunshot Detection is also not a new technology.

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

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

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

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

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

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and others.

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Holtz, and

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to a relatively precise area.

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The one thing that I do want to talk to you before I speak to how this platform works

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together is the things that we do to make sure that data is protected.

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

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We do not sell the data.

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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.

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

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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.

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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

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any agencies in the area that might have access

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to that data, this will all be public.

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To speak a little bit about how the platform works together

00:22:07.140 --> 00:22:09.860
I use this example here to kind of illustrate

00:22:09.860 --> 00:22:12.259
how it all comes together.

00:22:12.259 --> 00:22:14.619
LPR, live video, gunshot detection,

00:22:14.619 --> 00:22:17.740
they are products that do great on their own

00:22:17.740 --> 00:22:22.740
but together they really start to have a profound impact

00:22:22.940 --> 00:22:27.940
So if we, this is a bank robbery case here,

00:22:28.519 --> 00:22:30.680
but if we use our imaginations here,

00:22:30.680 --> 00:22:33.099
if we get a hit on a LPR camera,

00:22:33.099 --> 00:22:36.220
and you have live video cameras in town as well,

00:22:36.220 --> 00:22:39.539
you can say, if you get an alert on a LPR,

00:22:39.539 --> 00:22:42.740
you can then go into the live video cameras around there,

00:22:42.740 --> 00:22:45.779
and officers can be getting situational awareness

00:22:45.779 --> 00:22:48.420
to what is going on while they are in route,

00:22:48.420 --> 00:22:50.460
as opposed to just maybe getting a call for service

00:22:50.460 --> 00:22:55.460
and showing up to that call without a lot of context.

00:22:55.799 --> 00:22:57.619
Same thing works with gunshot detection.

00:22:57.619 --> 00:23:02.440
If you get an alert that a gunshot was detected,

00:23:02.440 --> 00:23:05.599
police can then go and look at the cars

00:23:05.599 --> 00:23:08.259
that were in the vicinity during that time,

00:23:08.259 --> 00:23:10.299
as well as pull up live video cameras

00:23:10.299 --> 00:23:14.460
to understand what is going on on the ground while en route.

00:23:15.799 --> 00:23:19.000
I will pause there.

00:23:19.000 --> 00:23:24.799
I think that that covers the 60,000 foot view.

00:23:24.799 --> 00:23:27.759
And more than happy to answer any questions

00:23:27.759 --> 00:23:31.160
if we are doing questions.

00:23:31.160 --> 00:23:32.759
Are there any questions at this time?

00:23:36.240 --> 00:23:37.200
Thank you.

00:23:37.200 --> 00:23:39.500
I've got a few.

00:23:39.500 --> 00:23:47.360
So just a quick deep dive into some of your past with cameras.

00:23:47.359 --> 00:23:50.079
seems like there's a lot of issues with cameras popping up

00:23:50.079 --> 00:23:52.680
as far as the Fourth Amendment of the Constitution.

00:23:52.680 --> 00:23:54.519
I noticed that there was a lawsuit that was filed

00:23:54.519 --> 00:23:57.299
back in October of last year against FLOC.

00:23:58.319 --> 00:24:01.380
How, you know, storing this data for 30 days

00:24:01.380 --> 00:24:05.799
clearly is potentially a way to track somebody

00:24:05.799 --> 00:24:07.660
who's not committed any crimes.

00:24:07.660 --> 00:24:10.220
What is FLOC doing to protect citizens' rights

00:24:10.220 --> 00:24:13.920
and the community from that type of intrusive behavior?

00:24:13.920 --> 00:24:21.240
Yeah, so what I will say to that is we have a legal team that I can connect you with that

00:24:21.240 --> 00:24:24.039
can answer that in depth.

00:24:24.039 --> 00:24:29.440
What I can, because I don't want to speak out of term on public record, what I can confidently

00:24:29.440 --> 00:24:34.159
say though is there have been a number of cases where precedent was set that this technology

00:24:34.159 --> 00:24:35.159
is okay.

00:24:35.159 --> 00:24:39.659
The state of Illinois has said that this technology is okay under certain parameters.

00:24:39.660 --> 00:25:09.660
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

00:25:09.660 --> 00:25:11.660
and

00:25:12.799 --> 00:25:15.440
John, and I'm going to start with the police officer or some

00:25:15.440 --> 00:25:19.200
official could not run your license plate multiple times to

00:25:19.200 --> 00:25:23.000
check on somebody's status, their information for no reason,

00:25:23.000 --> 00:25:28.099
just going in for random. Are there protections like that

00:25:28.099 --> 00:25:30.099
with this type of software?

00:25:31.200 --> 00:25:33.920
» Yeah, thank you for asking that question. In the sake of

00:25:33.920 --> 00:25:37.840
trying to be timely, I breeze over that. Any time that the

00:25:37.839 --> 00:25:42.480
Thomas. I cannot go out in there and look at my wife's license plate willy-nilly. What

00:25:42.480 --> 00:25:47.559
I would have to do is I would have to put a search reason as to why, and then the system

00:25:47.559 --> 00:25:54.720
would log that myself, Blaine Thomas, searched XYZ license plate for whatever reason, and

00:25:54.720 --> 00:25:57.880
that's an audit trail that lives in the system.

00:25:57.880 --> 00:25:59.880
Awesome. Thank you very much.

00:25:59.880 --> 00:26:02.880
Yeah. Thank you for the questions.

00:26:02.880 --> 00:26:10.880
Yeah, is that dedicated to the Police Department only? Of what Alderman Monroe was just talking about?

00:26:10.880 --> 00:26:13.880
The ability to use the system?

00:26:13.880 --> 00:26:14.880
Yes.

00:26:14.880 --> 00:26:27.880
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.

00:26:27.880 --> 00:26:31.360
and they manage the system.

00:26:31.360 --> 00:26:41.480
So the police department ultimately can, they grant access to who they want access granted

00:26:41.480 --> 00:26:42.480
to.

00:26:42.480 --> 00:26:43.480
Okay.

00:26:43.480 --> 00:26:47.960
So this would not be something that the public can access?

00:26:47.960 --> 00:26:49.159
Yes, correct.

00:26:49.159 --> 00:26:50.159
Okay.

00:26:50.159 --> 00:26:56.920
What is a sound thinking, vigilant that the city is currently running?

00:26:56.920 --> 00:26:59.079
you familiar with that?

00:26:59.079 --> 00:27:02.880
Yeah, those are competitive products to FLOC.

00:27:02.880 --> 00:27:03.720
They are what?

00:27:03.720 --> 00:27:06.119
They're competitive, those are products

00:27:06.119 --> 00:27:08.319
that our competitors have taken to market.

00:27:09.440 --> 00:27:12.559
And the City of Freeport is affiliated

00:27:12.559 --> 00:27:15.119
or own anything of that nature?

00:27:16.119 --> 00:27:17.559
Chief, do you wanna?

00:27:17.559 --> 00:27:21.559
Yeah, we have vigilant LPR cameras

00:27:21.559 --> 00:27:24.880
and then Sound Thinking, formerly known as ShotSpotter,

00:27:24.880 --> 00:27:27.279
We have a contract with them as well.

00:27:27.279 --> 00:27:30.360
And we only, do we have mapping

00:27:30.360 --> 00:27:32.900
of where these cameras are located?

00:27:32.900 --> 00:27:34.159
No, we don't.

00:27:34.159 --> 00:27:36.440
Okay, so who did the installation

00:27:36.440 --> 00:27:41.440
and then provide the locations of these devices?

00:27:41.460 --> 00:27:43.400
Well, I mean, we know where they're at.

00:27:43.400 --> 00:27:44.240
Oh, okay.

00:27:44.240 --> 00:27:45.599
They're in fixed locations.

00:27:45.599 --> 00:27:47.079
Okay.

00:27:47.079 --> 00:27:49.839
So yeah, but the installation, I believe,

00:27:49.839 --> 00:27:52.039
I think we went to it in 2021,

00:27:52.039 --> 00:27:54.579
but it might not have been rolled out

00:27:54.579 --> 00:28:24.559
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.

00:28:24.579 --> 00:28:29.700
you do okay at the discretion of the police department yes correct we we

00:28:29.700 --> 00:28:34.139
require a permit for it we we we pull permits for every installation so whether

00:28:34.139 --> 00:28:40.420
that be on city right away or or IDOT right away so they're okay so there's

00:28:40.420 --> 00:28:47.099
books and pamphlet installations and the value of these cameras that the city

00:28:47.099 --> 00:28:51.940
May, Michael Cinder,énor me not consider purchasing

00:28:51.940 --> 00:28:59.099
so their is things that we can look at to make a determination if that's the route

00:28:59.099 --> 00:29:03.559
that we like to go. Yeah just to understand just to make sure that I

00:29:03.559 --> 00:29:07.460
understand the question correctly are you asking are there like budgetary

00:29:07.460 --> 00:29:15.059
quotes and other types of documentation. Yes, yeah. Okay, are there any other

00:29:15.059 --> 00:29:24.660
Chief, Shenberger, I really appreciate you bringing this forward. Like last year, we brought

00:29:24.660 --> 00:29:31.780
forward the drones and they were turned down, but it shows that we have some of this existing

00:29:31.780 --> 00:29:37.420
technology now, but this is a chance to upgrade it, move it around and locate it in more spots

00:29:37.420 --> 00:29:43.180
that may be more beneficial. But I appreciate the fact that you are proactive in taking

00:29:43.179 --> 00:29:49.219
to look at the different things that we can do. Needless to say, manpower is one thing

00:29:49.219 --> 00:29:55.900
that is increasing, but anything that we can do to help with, assist manpower, is really

00:29:55.900 --> 00:29:59.859
a great thing for the City. Thanks for bringing it forward.

00:29:59.859 --> 00:30:14.599
Yes, Chief Shenberger, I would like to know are we or would we be replacing what we have

00:30:14.599 --> 00:30:23.659
already spent money on or is this in addition to what we already have?

00:30:23.659 --> 00:30:28.819
So I mean eventually the contracts with Vigilant and Sound Thinking they expire in 2027 so

00:30:28.819 --> 00:30:31.659
So we would have to consider renewing.

00:30:31.659 --> 00:30:39.000
I'm just exploring options on perhaps getting started with the FLOC system and possibly transitioning

00:30:39.000 --> 00:30:45.099
to that if the council is on board with that.

00:30:45.099 --> 00:30:50.819
I'm just putting this out there just to show what's available to us.

00:30:50.819 --> 00:30:57.019
As of now, Vigilant, like I said, that was paid up front, so it doesn't cost us anything,

00:30:57.019 --> 00:31:09.539
and the Sound Thinking, we pay annually. There's two more years left on that as well.

00:31:09.539 --> 00:31:16.179
So you're saying, Chief Shenberger, that if we add this, this will take away the other

00:31:16.179 --> 00:31:19.659
two shot spotters that we have?

00:31:19.659 --> 00:31:24.819
It could eventually, yeah. Because, I mean, if you think about it, we have an LPR system

00:31:24.819 --> 00:31:29.019
that's one company then we have some thinking that's another company well they

00:31:29.019 --> 00:31:34.139
offer you know LPR's live video which is something we've well I've been talking

00:31:34.139 --> 00:31:41.019
about and gunshot detection all in one company one program instead of you know

00:31:41.019 --> 00:31:46.339
utilizing different programs we have we have a fixed camera you know that takes

00:31:46.339 --> 00:31:50.099
one program we have a portable camera that takes another so it's just a good

00:31:50.099 --> 00:31:54.099
and I have the option to have something that can offer all three with just one program.

00:31:54.099 --> 00:32:04.099
So one more question. So this would be an upgrade and we paying one bill instead of paying maybe two or is that?

00:32:04.099 --> 00:32:11.099
It could be, yeah, I see it as an upgrade and I mean he could talk more about the cost of it.

00:32:11.099 --> 00:32:16.099
So like, for example, Vigilant, right, we paid for that up front.

00:32:16.099 --> 00:32:21.599
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.

00:32:21.599 --> 00:32:30.099
That was quite a process. It took about three or four months for me to get the replacements and get them fixed.

00:32:30.099 --> 00:32:37.099
With FLOC, they would come out and just do it. It's a per-camera cost, but that includes everything.

00:32:37.099 --> 00:32:42.099
It's an all-inclusive, it's like $3,000 a camera, but it's all-inclusive.

00:32:42.099 --> 00:32:48.019
that includes cloud storage that includes replacing the camera all that stuff okay

00:32:48.019 --> 00:32:54.659
thank you any other questions oh it's Blaine right yeah Blaine I've been to a

00:32:54.659 --> 00:33:00.659
couple presentations of Blaine's and just something I wanted to bring up that I

00:33:00.659 --> 00:33:04.899
thought was really valuable other police departments in the area including I

00:33:04.899 --> 00:33:10.579
believe the county police the state police in our area and many of the

00:33:10.579 --> 00:33:25.259
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.

00:33:25.939 --> 00:33:40.539
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,

00:33:40.579 --> 00:33:42.419
and everything like that.

00:33:43.619 --> 00:33:48.619
Yeah, so one of FLOC's biggest value adds to a community

00:33:51.259 --> 00:33:53.879
is the broader network of FLOC.

00:33:53.879 --> 00:33:55.980
I briefly touched on it earlier,

00:33:55.980 --> 00:33:59.179
but when you join the FLOC network,

00:33:59.179 --> 00:34:02.539
you not only have access to the cameras

00:34:02.539 --> 00:34:07.259
that are in your city, but also the surrounding cities,

00:34:07.259 --> 00:34:32.039
and

00:35:02.039 --> 00:35:05.679
and others that suspect what was in their town.

00:35:05.679 --> 00:35:08.679
I have one more question.

00:35:08.679 --> 00:35:16.319
So you're saying does it only have to be a flock camera or could it be any camera from

00:35:16.319 --> 00:35:18.279
any camera that takes pictures?

00:35:18.279 --> 00:35:22.539
I mean, does it only have to be your company or could it be any camera?

00:35:22.539 --> 00:35:25.599
Any camera that's integrated into the flock system.

00:35:25.599 --> 00:35:33.559
For example, there are some license plate readers that will be fixed to police cars.

00:35:33.559 --> 00:35:38.079
So that would be a case where those cameras are ingested into the FLOC system.

00:35:38.079 --> 00:35:42.559
So that would be a case that that license plate is now in the FLOC system.

00:35:42.559 --> 00:35:45.039
So is that just in the state of Illinois?

00:35:45.039 --> 00:35:46.039
No.

00:35:46.039 --> 00:35:50.759
So the cameras are all over the country.

00:35:50.759 --> 00:35:55.960
The reason that I use the state of Illinois is because LPR policy is different from city

00:35:55.960 --> 00:35:57.019
to city.

00:35:57.019 --> 00:36:02.679
So it ultimately is dependent on the policy of the police department and the broader city

00:36:02.679 --> 00:36:12.159
as to what cameras you have access to as well as what other cities have access to your cameras.

00:36:12.159 --> 00:36:21.960
So would these cameras be placed on our ComEd poles?

00:36:21.960 --> 00:36:22.960
What poles?

00:36:22.960 --> 00:36:23.960
Excuse me?

00:36:23.960 --> 00:36:24.960
Sorry?

00:36:24.960 --> 00:36:25.960
Utility poles.

00:36:25.960 --> 00:36:26.960
Oh, utility poles.

00:36:26.960 --> 00:36:29.519
So the cameras are infrastructure free, so they run off solar power.

00:36:29.519 --> 00:36:35.599
So we generally will put a pole in the ground ourselves.

00:36:35.599 --> 00:36:41.920
Mounting on power company poles can sometimes be costly, or I shouldn't say costly, but

00:36:41.920 --> 00:36:46.000
There can be a fee associated with that sometimes, because that's not our property.

00:36:46.000 --> 00:36:48.960
And did you say it's $3,000 per camera?

00:36:48.960 --> 00:36:56.119
Approximately, yes, there are some differences in price based off different models, but for

00:36:56.119 --> 00:37:05.799
a standard camera, yes ma'am, $3,000.

00:37:05.799 --> 00:37:09.119
One other comment I'll make, because I've seen this a couple times, and this was in

00:37:09.119 --> 00:37:10.980
a brief version.

00:37:10.980 --> 00:37:16.099
One of the stats that he had at another meeting I was at that I was really taken back by was

00:37:16.099 --> 00:37:23.139
70 percent of the crimes use a vehicle at some point within the crime.

00:37:23.139 --> 00:37:31.099
And so that's why the LPR technology is so important to the situation of finding out

00:37:31.099 --> 00:37:32.099
who does it.

00:37:32.099 --> 00:37:37.299
So, for instance, if somebody was targeting an area, I think you said you could actually

00:37:37.299 --> 00:37:59.779
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.

00:37:59.779 --> 00:38:05.779
What's the acronym? It's a license plate reader. License plate reader, is that what it means? Okay.

00:38:05.779 --> 00:38:12.779
Are there any other questions? Well, thank you so much. Thank you so much. Appreciate you all.

00:38:12.779 --> 00:38:26.779
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?

00:38:26.779 --> 00:38:32.179
this is just this is just something I've been working on for a few months you

00:38:32.179 --> 00:38:38.259
know continue talking with Blaine and his team and we'll get to the point where

00:38:38.259 --> 00:38:44.579
I'll you know get a bid or get an offer and I let the council know and then

00:38:44.579 --> 00:38:48.259
decide that you guys decide what you want to do but right now it's just kind

00:38:48.259 --> 00:38:52.739
of in its infancy you know we're in the planning stage of it trying to find the

00:38:52.739 --> 00:38:55.579
the best option that we have for the city

00:38:55.579 --> 00:38:59.819
while utilizing the technology we still have right now

00:38:59.819 --> 00:39:02.019
so and that we're using, so.

00:39:02.019 --> 00:39:05.380
Okay, and we currently have two more years in that contract.

00:39:05.380 --> 00:39:06.340
Correct, yep.

00:39:08.559 --> 00:39:09.779
Any other questions?

00:39:09.779 --> 00:39:13.019
If not, we'll move on to number eight,

00:39:13.019 --> 00:39:15.579
Greater Freeport Partnership Quarterly Presentation

00:39:15.579 --> 00:39:19.759
to Council presented by Andrea Schwartz-Winters.

00:39:22.739 --> 00:39:43.500
Are you putting it in the presentation book? Okay, all right, awesome. Good evening and

00:39:43.500 --> 00:39:49.579
happy new year. Tonight's presentation, we will recover the highlights of our work in

00:39:49.579 --> 00:39:57.619
and many others, and I'm going to talk a little bit more about the report that you received

00:39:57.619 --> 00:39:59.819
in your packets.

00:39:59.819 --> 00:40:01.819
and

00:40:03.819 --> 00:40:05.819
John.

00:40:08.039 --> 00:40:10.039
As in previous presentations, we are outlining this in order of

00:40:11.339 --> 00:40:13.579
our strategic plan key focused areas, which just to remind you

00:40:13.579 --> 00:40:15.579
all, our business retention and expansion, which involves our

00:40:17.319 --> 00:40:19.319
workforce development efforts, new business development and

00:40:19.319 --> 00:40:21.319
attraction. This includes attracting new businesses,

00:40:23.599 --> 00:40:25.599
helping businesses start and assisting small businesses to

00:40:26.699 --> 00:40:28.699
grow. Marketing the region to

00:40:29.819 --> 00:40:34.779
and the opportunities for growth and work in Stevenson County, as well as marketing the

00:40:34.779 --> 00:40:39.299
partnership services to future and existing businesses.

00:40:39.299 --> 00:40:45.979
Visitor attraction, which encompasses our tourism attraction efforts.

00:40:45.979 --> 00:40:51.539
Advocacy and policy is related to our internal work, and we do a lot to track legislation

00:40:51.539 --> 00:40:54.779
that might affect local industries and communities.

00:40:54.779 --> 00:40:58.279
It's been very active in the fourth quarter, and I would foresee that in the first quarter

00:40:58.279 --> 00:41:00.279
and

00:41:02.279 --> 00:41:04.279
Jodi.

00:41:05.679 --> 00:41:08.279
We are looking to always build the partnerships capacity by

00:41:08.279 --> 00:41:10.279
increasing our membership numbers and maintaining a high

00:41:10.279 --> 00:41:12.279
retention rate.

00:41:14.279 --> 00:41:16.279
I would like to highlight some fourth quarter wins, some

00:41:16.279 --> 00:41:18.279
positive news from the fourth quarter.

00:41:22.279 --> 00:41:26.279
As outlined in our strategic plan, we completed a countywide

00:41:26.279 --> 00:41:33.539
and the key takeaway points in the report you have before you, but the survey was completed

00:41:33.539 --> 00:41:40.519
last quarter and 84% of the businesses that responded reported that their company was

00:41:40.519 --> 00:41:43.519
stable or expanding.

00:41:43.519 --> 00:41:45.879
We see that as positive news.

00:41:45.879 --> 00:41:51.779
An existing ag manufacturer publicly announced last quarter that they've established a partnership

00:41:51.779 --> 00:41:55.459
to revolutionize ethanol production by capturing

00:41:55.459 --> 00:41:57.699
and converting CO2.

00:41:57.699 --> 00:42:02.419
Now, this is not my area of expertise by any means,

00:42:02.419 --> 00:42:05.779
but I think if you see anything in conversations

00:42:05.779 --> 00:42:07.779
around what's happening in the energy sector

00:42:07.779 --> 00:42:11.379
and alternative energy, I think that this is key.

00:42:11.379 --> 00:42:13.339
And this company is on the forefront.

00:42:13.339 --> 00:42:16.619
This project has been in the works for over two years.

00:42:16.619 --> 00:42:18.839
Enterprise Zone benefits will be utilized

00:42:18.839 --> 00:42:21.959
to make this project come to fruition.

00:42:21.959 --> 00:42:24.359
But not only is this helping to diversify

00:42:24.359 --> 00:42:28.359
this company's existing income stream,

00:42:28.359 --> 00:42:30.459
it's also allowing them to use something

00:42:30.459 --> 00:42:34.159
with their byproduct that puts them as a competitor

00:42:34.159 --> 00:42:36.399
and entering into another market.

00:42:36.399 --> 00:42:40.999
So they are looking at how do they continue production

00:42:40.999 --> 00:42:45.279
of ethanol and push into other markets at the same time.

00:42:45.279 --> 00:42:47.039
They're doing something that they're one

00:42:47.039 --> 00:42:49.479
and the rest of the first in the nation.

00:42:49.479 --> 00:42:50.919
This is outstanding work.

00:42:51.799 --> 00:42:54.479
An existing manufacturer in Freeport added jobs

00:42:54.479 --> 00:42:57.839
to support a new service that was previously outsourced.

00:42:57.839 --> 00:43:02.839
With that has come job creation around nine new jobs.

00:43:03.279 --> 00:43:05.679
We attracted a new manufacturer to Freeport

00:43:05.679 --> 00:43:08.459
to fill an existing space and co-locate

00:43:08.459 --> 00:43:10.759
with a current manufacturer.

00:43:10.759 --> 00:43:13.219
This is still under development and in the works.

00:43:13.219 --> 00:43:15.799
I will meet with this company later this week

00:43:15.799 --> 00:43:18.459
and

00:43:18.499 --> 00:43:28.499
the former visitor center building was sold, closed on December 31st and will open as a new business later this spring.

00:43:28.499 --> 00:43:36.499
We were also awarded five awards from the state conference, at the state conference from the Illinois Main Street Association.

00:43:36.499 --> 00:43:44.499
Two of those awards are in recognition of volunteers, awarded to Tim Connors and the Pretzel Pickers.

00:43:44.499 --> 00:43:53.499
We were also able to take home some hardware in relationship to a promotional approach for our Rediscovery Your Downtown campaign.

00:43:53.499 --> 00:43:59.499
And noteworthy was our Economic Vitality Business Startup Program Basecamp.

00:43:59.499 --> 00:44:08.499
Additionally, our organizational approach, the partnership was recognized for its merged collaborative approach to economic development,

00:44:08.499 --> 00:44:10.499
and

00:44:12.499 --> 00:44:14.499
Dr.

00:44:16.499 --> 00:44:18.499
Jodi.

00:44:20.499 --> 00:44:32.499
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.

00:44:32.499 --> 00:44:34.499
and

00:44:35.499 --> 00:44:39.499
John. I mentioned our business survey results. We connected businesses with the Illinois

00:44:39.499 --> 00:44:45.499
WorkShare Program, which is an alternative to layoffs. As you might see in the news,

00:44:45.499 --> 00:44:50.499
and I'll allude to this a little bit later, is that there has been some upheaval. Commodity

00:44:50.499 --> 00:44:56.499
prices have been lower. That has a ripple effect into some of the Ag manufacturing or

00:44:56.499 --> 00:45:01.499
Ag sector. With that, you have some local manufacturers who are related to that sector

00:45:01.499 --> 00:45:03.499
and

00:45:04.619 --> 00:45:06.619
I'm going to talk about the business sector.

00:45:07.719 --> 00:45:09.719
We have a lot of business sectors in the business sector and they have taken a hit.

00:45:11.539 --> 00:45:13.539
And so understanding that there are programs available for those businesses so that they can do

00:45:13.959 --> 00:45:17.959
something in an alternative to layoff, we're trying to connect them with resources to keep as many

00:45:17.959 --> 00:45:19.959
people employed here as we can.

00:45:21.179 --> 00:45:25.179
We worked with 11 entrepreneurs and assisted them in their business development process, the

00:45:25.179 --> 00:45:27.179
majority of which were women or minorities.

00:45:27.179 --> 00:45:28.179
Johnson.

00:45:28.179 --> 00:45:32.339
We connected multiple Stevenson County businesses with an international business forum that

00:45:32.339 --> 00:45:35.039
was hosted by Representative Cabello.

00:45:35.039 --> 00:45:39.259
It was an opportunity to understand what they would need to do to kind of enter the global

00:45:39.259 --> 00:45:43.559
market and what relationships they would need to build, and there was representation from

00:45:43.559 --> 00:45:47.459
multiple different countries.

00:45:47.459 --> 00:45:49.859
Workforce solutions.

00:45:49.859 --> 00:45:58.459
As we've talked about, we can't have thriving businesses without a talented workforce.

00:45:58.459 --> 00:46:02.059
The highlights of our workforce development effort was really around building our local

00:46:02.059 --> 00:46:04.719
workforce pipeline.

00:46:04.719 --> 00:46:08.379
We had the honor of working with our educational partners as well as our business community

00:46:08.379 --> 00:46:14.419
and really trying to bridge that gap in the fourth quarter by playing a key role in these

00:46:14.419 --> 00:46:34.419
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.

00:46:34.419 --> 00:46:36.419
and

00:46:37.519 --> 00:46:39.799
John. It's an opportunity for businesses or

00:46:39.799 --> 00:46:42.339
for students to understand that there are future career

00:46:42.339 --> 00:46:46.219
opportunities right here. This was they were able to secure

00:46:46.219 --> 00:46:50.659
internships and some job offers through these events. And I

00:46:50.659 --> 00:46:54.579
think maybe most importantly was the take away that employers

00:46:54.579 --> 00:46:57.759
and the community gave that helped the student to build an

00:46:57.759 --> 00:47:00.939
understanding that their community wants them to stay

00:47:00.939 --> 00:47:04.799
Coon, and some of them to be gainfully employed and contribute to the community that they

00:47:04.799 --> 00:47:05.799
have called home.

00:47:05.799 --> 00:47:09.939
Additionally, last quarter we reported that our efforts led to a connection between the

00:47:09.939 --> 00:47:12.499
yield program and goodwill industries.

00:47:12.499 --> 00:47:16.219
We are happy to say that that effort is paying off.

00:47:16.219 --> 00:47:20.219
This connection led to funding, which has expanded the yield program training to include

00:47:20.219 --> 00:47:26.299
education on alternative energy sector and basic electrical construction.

00:47:26.299 --> 00:47:32.939
This is a requirement as of the CEJA grant, or that is an acronym for the Climate and

00:47:32.939 --> 00:47:35.099
Equitable Jobs Act.

00:47:35.099 --> 00:47:39.699
So that was a key training component that needed to be involved in the yield program

00:47:39.699 --> 00:47:47.259
for them to access these funds to help fund the yield program.

00:47:47.259 --> 00:47:54.099
Next in business attraction and development, in the last quarter we received 14 leads.

00:47:54.099 --> 00:48:16.259
We were not able to respond to three leads due to the requirement of a large acreage and

00:48:16.259 --> 00:48:22.619
or a building that met specific requirements and one opportunity what required a heavy

00:48:22.619 --> 00:48:29.419
Water user that would not it wouldn't work for the City of Freeport. Additionally there were six

00:48:29.419 --> 00:48:35.019
leads that originated from local businesses and or government agencies. There are three new businesses

00:48:35.819 --> 00:48:39.500
and three were existing or relocating businesses within the community.

00:48:40.299 --> 00:48:44.299
I will now turn the presentation over to Nicole. We'll talk about marketing the region.

00:48:44.299 --> 00:48:57.099
Good evening. Fourth quarter was really about trying to promote the area to existing residents

00:48:57.099 --> 00:49:03.019
to continue to help small businesses, organizations, and future events thrive, whether that was

00:49:03.019 --> 00:49:08.219
in the fourth quarter itself or in the upcoming year. We printed, it was a first-time project,

00:49:08.219 --> 00:49:13.500
a 12-month calendar because we continue to try to find new ways to help people understand

00:49:13.500 --> 00:49:43.500
and

00:49:43.500 --> 00:49:51.500
We hope that with that success, we will have even more advertising dollars to make a larger print order next year.

00:49:51.500 --> 00:49:59.500
Shop Local for the Holidays was the campaign started in mid-November, highlighting opportunities and different small businesses.

00:49:59.500 --> 00:50:06.019
Bates, and different small businesses so residents could learn to shop local as they purchased

00:50:06.019 --> 00:50:09.059
all of their holiday gifts.

00:50:09.059 --> 00:50:13.659
Mistletoe Walk was part of that as well, which happened on November 23rd.

00:50:13.659 --> 00:50:18.320
From our survey to downtown businesses who participated, we've received great reviews

00:50:18.320 --> 00:50:21.940
in actually participating locations for the most part.

00:50:21.940 --> 00:50:27.019
All of them, or a great portion of them, over 70% cited increased in pedestrian traffic

00:50:27.019 --> 00:50:32.380
and increased sales in compared to the last year and the last year was a day and a half event and

00:50:32.380 --> 00:50:37.900
this was just in one day alone and I might also say weather was not as nice this year as it was

00:50:37.900 --> 00:50:43.420
in previous years so that really goes to show how many people came out to support businesses during

00:50:43.420 --> 00:50:50.300
mistletoe walk. The photo you see here is another feature that we added this year in the lot next

00:50:50.300 --> 00:50:59.300
We actually set up a couple of different photo locations as well as a free s'mores bar for residents.

00:50:59.300 --> 00:51:06.300
Visitor Attraction, we hosted our annual tourism partner meeting on November 14th at Lena Brewing Company.

00:51:06.300 --> 00:51:14.300
This is our opportunity to talk to the executive directors of different nonprofits who own attractions or hotels,

00:51:14.300 --> 00:51:21.980
Files, a lot of other agencies here in town about what went well in 2024, what we're planning

00:51:21.980 --> 00:51:27.179
on for 2025, and how we can be involved and also hear their feedback on other ways that

00:51:27.179 --> 00:51:30.519
we can help their attraction or organization.

00:51:30.519 --> 00:51:38.260
A lot of them have some issues with funding or increasing programming, so we continue

00:51:38.260 --> 00:51:39.260
and many more.

00:51:39.260 --> 00:51:43.940
Thank you to send multiple grant opportunities for attraction funding to those parties who

00:51:43.940 --> 00:51:45.260
can apply.

00:51:45.260 --> 00:51:49.099
The Choose Your Adventure campaign wrapped up in October with engagement that is greater

00:51:49.099 --> 00:51:50.900
than tourism industry average.

00:51:50.900 --> 00:51:56.920
Why I recognize that is when you see the ads pop up, whether you're on social media or

00:51:56.920 --> 00:52:02.139
whether you're on Google, the amount of times that somebody will click on that ad is considered

00:52:02.139 --> 00:52:07.940
and the industry average for local tourism entities.

00:52:07.940 --> 00:52:13.099
We actually scored almost double what that industry average is, so that's a pretty good

00:52:13.099 --> 00:52:15.420
indicator that we've been using.

00:52:15.420 --> 00:52:22.480
Presle City Brewfest, which was held September 28th, that is one of our largest tourism events

00:52:22.480 --> 00:52:26.659
where we are really looking to attract people from outside of this area.

00:52:26.659 --> 00:52:31.019
This year was no different, more than 50% of our attendees because all of our tickets

00:52:31.019 --> 00:52:32.840
Siseg, Ben, and

00:52:32.840 --> 00:52:33.840
T.S.

00:52:33.840 --> 00:52:37.780
We can tell by zip code that 50 percent or more were coming from 30 miles away

00:52:37.780 --> 00:52:41.199
and I'll turn it over to Bill.

00:52:41.199 --> 00:52:43.639
Thank you.

00:52:43.639 --> 00:52:45.840
Good evening.

00:52:45.840 --> 00:52:50.119
So membership was pretty steady in the fourth quarter.

00:52:50.119 --> 00:52:54.500
As you can see, we are still hovering around 400 members.

00:52:54.500 --> 00:53:01.579
We added 10 members over that course of time, and we continue to retain our members at a

00:53:01.579 --> 00:53:08.219
very high rate, which we're proud of and hope to continue to do.

00:53:08.219 --> 00:53:10.780
And really, that's all we have.

00:53:10.780 --> 00:53:14.019
If there's questions, I think we'd all be glad to entertain.

00:53:14.019 --> 00:53:29.900
are there any questions if none oh oh I'm sorry I didn't see you okay so Andrea

00:53:29.900 --> 00:53:35.780
you did the first slides with the businesses so these questions probably

00:53:35.780 --> 00:53:43.659
should come to you so my question was with the increase in membership that

00:53:43.659 --> 00:53:47.980
That means we've gotten more businesses in Freeport?

00:53:47.980 --> 00:53:50.179
With the increase in membership to the partnership?

00:53:50.179 --> 00:53:51.179
Yeah.

00:53:51.179 --> 00:53:53.780
Well, we hope there's a correlation between that, right?

00:53:53.780 --> 00:53:59.840
I mean, our goal is that as we work with businesses and show our value that they become members

00:53:59.840 --> 00:54:00.840
to the partnership.

00:54:00.840 --> 00:54:01.840
Okay.

00:54:01.840 --> 00:54:02.840
Go ahead.

00:54:02.840 --> 00:54:12.559
So, do those members pay, but my question is, do non-profit members pay to be a member?

00:54:12.559 --> 00:54:17.760
They do, we have a non-profit rate that's $165 a year.

00:54:17.760 --> 00:54:30.579
Okay, and then, for the sale of the business center, was that to a business that you found

00:54:30.579 --> 00:54:36.139
and reached out to and convinced to come to Freeport, not you personally, but the partnership?

00:54:36.139 --> 00:54:42.039
That was through a connection that one of the ownership group had, we worked with them,

00:54:42.039 --> 00:54:46.679
We met with them when they were going through their due diligence process and we talked

00:54:46.679 --> 00:54:50.559
about the enterprise zone that's out there, what their plans for the building were, how

00:54:50.559 --> 00:54:55.320
our organization could support their business as they moved to Stevenson County.

00:54:55.320 --> 00:55:00.599
They're not a business that's here currently and they would be relocating their business

00:55:00.599 --> 00:55:01.599
here.

00:55:01.599 --> 00:55:02.599
Right.

00:55:02.599 --> 00:55:07.800
So they came, they were coming anyways and you reached out to see how you could help.

00:55:07.800 --> 00:55:08.800
Correct.

00:55:08.800 --> 00:55:10.079
Yes, they were.

00:55:10.079 --> 00:55:12.719
That was through a connection from the ownership group.

00:55:12.719 --> 00:55:17.920
Do you have any more questions, Alderman Simmons?

00:55:17.920 --> 00:55:18.920
I do.

00:55:18.920 --> 00:55:19.920
Oh, okay.

00:55:19.920 --> 00:55:20.920
What are retention visits?

00:55:20.920 --> 00:55:22.579
What does that mean?

00:55:22.579 --> 00:55:23.579
Retention visits, sure.

00:55:23.579 --> 00:55:24.579
Great question.

00:55:24.579 --> 00:55:25.960
It's really just a meeting.

00:55:25.960 --> 00:55:30.519
We go and we meet with the business and we talk about what's going on in their business.

00:55:30.519 --> 00:55:33.920
We usually ask them for some information around employment numbers.

00:55:33.920 --> 00:55:34.920
Is that changed?

00:55:34.920 --> 00:55:36.920
How do they see their business growing?

00:55:36.920 --> 00:55:39.920
Do they see their business declining?

00:55:39.920 --> 00:55:43.199
How do they see their business fitting into the larger market?

00:55:43.199 --> 00:55:44.800
What can we do to help?

00:55:44.800 --> 00:55:48.599
Are they're having any infrastructure troubles?

00:55:48.599 --> 00:55:50.039
Are they're having workforce issues?

00:55:50.039 --> 00:55:53.199
It's really just a meeting to talk about the health of their business.

00:55:53.199 --> 00:55:56.039
Is it okay?

00:55:56.039 --> 00:55:58.119
Is that okay?

00:55:58.119 --> 00:56:04.480
So if in these retention visits they say, hey, I'm missing this, this, and that, then

00:56:04.480 --> 00:56:09.119
do you go out and find that for them or at least put them in touch with the people who

00:56:09.119 --> 00:56:10.119
Fowler.

00:56:10.119 --> 00:56:19.159
And so sometimes it's not even, there are programs that we connect them with, like let's

00:56:19.159 --> 00:56:23.119
use the WorkShare program as an example.

00:56:23.119 --> 00:56:26.800
It sat down with a business and they were talking about that they were going to be slowing

00:56:26.800 --> 00:56:31.400
down in the fourth quarter and that they looked like they were going to be running not as

00:56:31.400 --> 00:56:35.220
many days, not as many shifts per week.

00:56:35.220 --> 00:56:40.420
and so I knew there was a potential that there could lay off or furlough workers.

00:56:40.420 --> 00:56:45.019
And so I knew of this WorkShare program, their HR department did not currently, that's where

00:56:45.019 --> 00:56:50.460
we coordinated and had a presentation and then I invited as many businesses, I let all

00:56:50.460 --> 00:56:55.820
the businesses know that we were offering this to try to connect them with resources.

00:56:55.820 --> 00:57:01.900
So your question is exactly, that's what we're doing is we're connecting them with the resources

00:57:01.900 --> 00:57:02.900
っていう.

00:57:02.900 --> 00:57:05.139
And I'm just kind of looking at the slides that are being presented.

00:57:05.139 --> 00:57:14.180
All of the slides that have been presented has no pause, no gaps, or has no time to inject

00:57:14.180 --> 00:57:15.480
our resources.

00:57:15.480 --> 00:57:22.480
I'm looking at these, this annual report, looking at the slides that are being presented.

00:57:22.480 --> 00:57:33.480
All of the slides that have been presented has no pause, no gaps, or has no time to inject a question.

00:57:33.480 --> 00:57:42.480
While the slides are flowing, the audience or the council has not an opportunity to elaborate on the things that you're presenting.

00:57:42.480 --> 00:58:12.480
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,

00:58:12.480 --> 00:58:16.480
and I have a lot of information in regards to all of the things that we've been hearing.

00:58:16.480 --> 00:58:26.480
I'm subject to ask, well, I want to ask all this that you laid out in these slides,

00:58:26.480 --> 00:58:31.480
where can we find more detailed information so we can follow up?

00:58:31.480 --> 00:58:38.480
Because there was no telephone numbers to make contact with during these slides and things of this nature.

00:58:38.480 --> 00:58:59.480
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.

00:58:59.480 --> 00:59:14.480
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.

00:59:14.480 --> 00:59:36.480
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.

00:59:36.480 --> 00:59:43.360
I mean, it's almost like we didn't slow this video tape down or this track down.

00:59:43.360 --> 00:59:48.599
We didn't get a chance to absorb it mentally because it was just flying by us.

00:59:48.599 --> 00:59:56.400
And so if we want to have an opportunity to come back and ask you about these things,

00:59:56.400 --> 00:59:59.519
because there's a whole lot of things that took place.

00:59:59.519 --> 01:00:29.519
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

01:00:29.519 --> 01:00:31.519
and others, and I'm going to be talking about the

01:00:31.519 --> 01:00:34.519
annual reporting that you guys are doing because this is just

01:00:34.519 --> 01:00:37.519
surface, surface annual reporting that is not digging deep

01:00:37.519 --> 01:00:41.519
into the process of what your program is all about. So that's

01:00:41.519 --> 01:00:44.519
all I'm saying. I just needed to get more...

01:00:44.519 --> 01:00:48.519
Alderperson, Sanders, well, first, this would be a great

01:00:48.519 --> 01:00:51.519
time if there's any questions that you'd like to ask about

01:00:51.519 --> 01:00:53.519
anything we presented, we would be happy to answer.

01:00:53.519 --> 01:00:54.519
Sure.

01:00:54.519 --> 01:00:57.519
Second, I know I think in the agenda was linked to this

01:00:57.519 --> 01:00:59.519
and

01:01:00.519 --> 01:01:02.519
John.

01:01:03.619 --> 01:01:07.619
This is our full fourth quarter report and we just extrapolated or

01:01:07.619 --> 01:01:11.619
took out highlights of what's in here and presented it to you

01:01:11.619 --> 01:01:15.619
tonight. So more detail is in here and I would be happy or any

01:01:15.619 --> 01:01:18.619
member of staff would be happy to sit down and we can answer any

01:01:18.619 --> 01:01:21.619
questions you have at a later time. If you want to walk

01:01:21.619 --> 01:01:25.619
through this, we would be happy to answer any questions then or

01:01:25.619 --> 01:01:26.619
and so on.

01:01:26.619 --> 01:01:38.420
So we're all querying about what it is that Greater Freeport Partnership is actually doing.

01:01:38.420 --> 01:01:45.219
And I just don't want you to come here and just give us these reports without giving

01:01:45.219 --> 01:01:46.699
us really analytics.

01:01:46.699 --> 01:01:52.420
No, and understood that this would be of benefit for anyone in the public residents of Freeport

01:01:52.420 --> 01:01:56.219
Taylor, Stevenson County to know what we're doing and that is why everything that I've

01:01:56.219 --> 01:02:00.699
mentioned tonight as well as a link to this report is on our website at greaterfreeport.com.

01:02:00.699 --> 01:02:01.699
Great.

01:02:01.699 --> 01:02:05.780
People are welcome to view that and reach out to us if they have specific questions.

01:02:05.780 --> 01:02:06.780
Sure.

01:02:06.780 --> 01:02:07.779
All right.

01:02:07.779 --> 01:02:08.779
Thank you.

01:02:08.779 --> 01:02:09.779
Alderman Stacy.

01:02:09.779 --> 01:02:10.779
Yes.

01:02:10.779 --> 01:02:15.980
You had said something about grant funding.

01:02:15.980 --> 01:02:24.820
who can apply who can apply for grant funding that you have we can well I

01:02:24.820 --> 01:02:30.460
think I'll let Nicole elaborate on that is that the grant that we the grant

01:02:30.460 --> 01:02:34.699
funding that we helped other organizations apply for was not grants

01:02:34.699 --> 01:02:40.500
that we were administrate administering or there were grants that we operate we

01:02:40.500 --> 01:02:45.260
were connecting those organizations to a grant opportunity that I believe the

01:02:45.260 --> 01:02:47.659
and the state had in this specific instance.

01:02:50.139 --> 01:02:51.579
I believe I was the one who mentioned

01:02:51.579 --> 01:02:53.760
that the Illinois Office of Tourism provided

01:02:53.760 --> 01:02:57.019
two grant opportunities that closed in December.

01:02:57.019 --> 01:02:59.380
We provided those via email.

01:02:59.380 --> 01:03:01.340
I mean, they're always available through the state,

01:03:01.340 --> 01:03:05.420
but we were just alerting the attractions and events

01:03:05.420 --> 01:03:09.619
who we thought fit the criteria to those

01:03:09.619 --> 01:03:13.139
and then offered our help in writing letters of support,

01:03:13.139 --> 01:03:15.179
helping to gather data for that.

01:03:15.179 --> 01:03:19.739
those opportunities. Also from the Foundation for Northwest Illinois, they have a letter

01:03:19.739 --> 01:03:26.300
of intent that is soon due on February 1st. So we have alerted nonprofit organizations

01:03:26.300 --> 01:03:32.099
that can apply for those funds as well to that opportunity. So we try to be selective

01:03:32.099 --> 01:03:35.820
to really send opportunities to where they're going to fit.

01:03:35.820 --> 01:03:41.820
Okay, I have one more question. On your hotel occupancy,

01:03:44.460 --> 01:03:50.699
this is your fourth quarter report, but it stops at September. What happened to October,

01:03:50.699 --> 01:03:54.539
November, and December? I apologize for that. When I had to send it to you guys,

01:03:54.539 --> 01:04:01.179
the last hotel had not submitted theirs. I will send out the revised report for that.

01:04:01.179 --> 01:04:03.179
and others.

01:04:03.179 --> 01:04:08.179
I didn't want to guess at their occupancy for the fourth quarter and I hadn't heard back from them.

01:04:08.179 --> 01:04:10.179
So thank you for noticing that.

01:04:10.179 --> 01:04:14.179
I will send, they got back to me of course the day after your agenda came out.

01:04:14.179 --> 01:04:17.179
So I will resend that to everybody so you can see that.

01:04:17.179 --> 01:04:19.179
Thank you so much for asking.

01:04:19.179 --> 01:04:21.179
Alderman Sanders.

01:04:21.179 --> 01:04:27.179
The visitors for site that was sold.

01:04:27.179 --> 01:04:39.179
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?

01:04:39.179 --> 01:04:53.179
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.

01:04:53.179 --> 01:05:13.179
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?

01:05:13.179 --> 01:05:16.780
If I can answer your first question and then if there was another question about a purchase,

01:05:16.780 --> 01:05:19.139
I'm happy to have you follow up.

01:05:19.139 --> 01:05:24.300
The Stevenson County Visitor Center Board, which is a separate organization from the

01:05:24.300 --> 01:05:29.579
partnership, was founded to construct the visitor center.

01:05:29.579 --> 01:05:35.099
That organization, which was a separate nonprofit, owned the visitor center and the partnership

01:05:35.099 --> 01:05:40.900
leased that building to run visitor center services from that facility.

01:05:40.900 --> 01:05:45.579
So when it was sold, that was never an asset of the partnership.

01:05:45.579 --> 01:05:47.820
We were only leasing that space.

01:05:47.820 --> 01:05:54.659
So what they, it was their business to sell it, you know, authorize the sale, and what

01:05:54.659 --> 01:05:57.079
they do with that money is up to that board.

01:05:57.079 --> 01:05:58.860
That's completely separate from our organization.

01:05:58.860 --> 01:06:01.500
So that's the Stevenson County board.

01:06:01.500 --> 01:06:03.199
It is a separate nonprofit.

01:06:03.199 --> 01:06:06.340
It has nothing to do with the actual county.

01:06:06.340 --> 01:06:08.820
It was just the name of the organization.

01:06:08.820 --> 01:06:16.599
Oh I purchased the building. They were the ones who owned the building and sold it and sold it. Okay. All right. Thank you

01:06:18.300 --> 01:06:20.900
You had two events to raise money

01:06:21.579 --> 01:06:24.059
one was for decorations for

01:06:24.779 --> 01:06:28.380
Next year Christmas and one was to beautify

01:06:30.579 --> 01:06:32.260
Downtown mm-hmm

01:06:32.260 --> 01:06:38.139
Did I miss it or was that spoken about? It's it's outlined in the actual written report

01:06:38.139 --> 01:07:08.139
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

01:07:08.139 --> 01:07:38.139
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

01:07:38.139 --> 01:07:40.139
and I.

01:07:40.139 --> 01:07:42.139
That's the way it has been.

01:07:42.139 --> 01:07:46.139
It hasn't been, or I guess just today, it's a full 30 days, so we're still collecting all of the expenses.

01:07:46.139 --> 01:07:50.139
So I'd hate to give you a full figure right now.

01:07:50.139 --> 01:07:54.139
Are there any other questions?

01:07:54.139 --> 01:07:56.139
I do. Thank you.

01:07:56.139 --> 01:07:58.139
This is a question that I'm not sure who would handle it.

01:07:58.139 --> 01:08:02.139
How much city funding was used to build the visitor center?

01:08:02.139 --> 01:08:04.139
Oh.

01:08:04.139 --> 01:08:14.860
that was in 2000 and yes so very much predates this organization let alone me so so would the sale

01:08:15.420 --> 01:08:22.300
return any of that funding back to the city so the this is the my only portion of it that i

01:08:22.300 --> 01:08:28.300
know alderman monroe so i will give you what i can that um the majority of those payments have

01:08:28.300 --> 01:08:33.739
been paid by hotel motel tax i don't know if there was an any initial investment at all from the city

01:08:33.739 --> 01:08:45.739
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.

01:08:45.739 --> 01:08:47.739
Okay.

01:08:47.739 --> 01:09:00.739
Oh, sorry, I'd like to follow up with another question so on your slides, there were three businesses that did not.

01:09:00.739 --> 01:09:30.739
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

01:09:30.739 --> 01:09:39.859
member of Freeport residents, county residents, so on, so forth, you know, how do we fix that

01:09:39.859 --> 01:09:44.039
problem that we've got because we've been asking the same question and I know the city

01:09:44.039 --> 01:09:50.340
manager, we keep asking him, we're not getting the answers that I would like to hear, especially

01:09:50.340 --> 01:09:56.779
when we've invested $60, almost $65 million into the wastewater treatment plant.

01:09:56.779 --> 01:09:59.460
Yeah, it would be great to use that.

01:09:59.460 --> 01:10:06.460
Yeah, it would be great to use a heavy water user that would be able to pay some of that back, right?

01:10:06.460 --> 01:10:14.460
So, one of the key things we know, Greenfield site development, having shovel-ready sites is key,

01:10:14.460 --> 01:10:20.460
not only for attracting new businesses, but for any existing businesses that would need to expand.

01:10:20.460 --> 01:10:28.460
Late last quarter, we submitted a grant application to the state of Illinois for a site readiness planning grant.

01:10:28.460 --> 01:10:29.460
and others.

01:10:29.460 --> 01:10:33.460
The state said that they were going to what notice of award was in January, so we're waiting

01:10:33.460 --> 01:10:34.460
to hear.

01:10:34.460 --> 01:10:39.140
That would help us, that grant was structured for planning, not construction, but it would

01:10:39.140 --> 01:10:44.779
help us identify key locations where we could do planning activities.

01:10:44.779 --> 01:10:49.279
We've already met with some of the landowners, but what would it take to get infrastructure

01:10:49.279 --> 01:10:51.920
there so that it could become shovel ready?

01:10:51.920 --> 01:10:54.000
So it's kind of the first step.

01:10:54.000 --> 01:11:01.039
We hope to get any day now hopefully a notice of award and then we would proceed with planning

01:11:01.039 --> 01:11:02.039
activities.

01:11:02.039 --> 01:11:03.039
So.

01:11:03.039 --> 01:11:04.039
Thank you.

01:11:04.039 --> 01:11:05.039
Alderman Klemm.

01:11:05.039 --> 01:11:06.039
Yes.

01:11:06.039 --> 01:11:12.239
I think we had a little bit of misinformation there, but I'll see if I can correct some

01:11:12.239 --> 01:11:13.239
of it.

01:11:13.239 --> 01:11:16.840
The City has zero amount of money in the Visitors Bureau.

01:11:16.840 --> 01:11:20.800
Years ago it was organized by a group of people that was a complete separate entity.

01:11:20.800 --> 01:11:24.800
I think it ended up that there were four people that ended up owning it.

01:11:24.800 --> 01:11:28.800
They ended up selling it, so guess what? The money's there.

01:11:28.800 --> 01:11:32.800
We can talk about several ready projects.

01:11:32.800 --> 01:11:36.800
For years we can start out by

01:11:36.800 --> 01:11:40.800
mill race crossing. The county themselves

01:11:40.800 --> 01:11:44.800
lost about three places that were going to go in there and were voted

01:11:44.800 --> 01:11:48.800
down by the county. We still do not have water and sewer

01:12:18.800 --> 01:12:19.800
and others.

01:12:19.800 --> 01:12:22.279
We are a big water user. Needless to say, we are

01:12:22.279 --> 01:12:25.159
reconstructing at the plant and have been, and there will be

01:12:25.159 --> 01:12:28.359
Phase II, III and IV. So it isn't as though it is something

01:12:28.359 --> 01:12:31.520
that is going to end tomorrow and it is going to continue.

01:12:31.520 --> 01:12:37.520
But all those costs are not necessarily laid on the greater

01:12:37.520 --> 01:12:41.159
Freeport partnership. A lot of those costs are laid upon the

01:12:41.159 --> 01:12:44.480
City of Freeport, the County of Steveson. If you remember, they

01:12:44.480 --> 01:12:52.199
they went out for an estimate for water and fell far short of the dollars and cents, so

01:12:52.199 --> 01:12:57.220
the project was not completed. We still all as a group need to work to complete those

01:12:57.220 --> 01:13:00.520
projects so we can get some of those done.

01:13:00.520 --> 01:13:07.319
We don't have an overabundance of structures that sometimes people are looking for. We

01:13:07.319 --> 01:13:11.720
know that there are two, three, four that have been sold here lately that have great

01:13:11.720 --> 01:13:13.720
and

01:13:14.720 --> 01:13:16.720
John.

01:13:17.720 --> 01:13:26.720
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.

01:13:26.720 --> 01:13:28.720
Are there any yet?

01:13:28.720 --> 01:13:30.720
Alderman Simmons.

01:13:30.720 --> 01:13:32.720
I'm sorry.

01:13:32.720 --> 01:13:40.720
I have one last question for the Workforce Solutions slide with the different events or career type fairs.

01:13:40.720 --> 01:13:42.720
and

01:13:43.720 --> 01:13:45.720
John.

01:13:46.720 --> 01:13:48.720
So I'm just wondering if you have any

01:13:49.720 --> 01:13:50.720
information about the

01:13:50.720 --> 01:13:52.720
organizations that you've been

01:13:53.720 --> 01:13:55.720
involved in, or that you've been

01:13:56.720 --> 01:13:57.720
involved in or that you've been

01:13:57.720 --> 01:13:59.720
involved in and created by GFP or

01:14:00.720 --> 01:14:02.720
something that once you found out

01:14:03.720 --> 01:14:04.720
about them, then you joined on and

01:14:04.720 --> 01:14:06.720
offered resources.

01:14:07.720 --> 01:14:08.720
The manufacturing day has been in

01:14:08.720 --> 01:14:27.720
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.

01:14:27.720 --> 01:14:35.600
and others. The career and job fair was something that I think we created in partnership with

01:14:35.600 --> 01:14:42.000
Highland and Freeport High School. Before it had been Highland had their own job fair and

01:14:42.000 --> 01:14:46.960
then about three weeks later Freeport High School did. And so this was kind of a brain

01:14:46.960 --> 01:14:52.039
child sitting together and saying this would probably be most efficient for the employers

01:14:52.039 --> 01:14:56.520
especially as both of these events had been put in the fourth quarter and we know how

01:14:56.520 --> 01:15:00.960
P. and others. That is how everyone's fourth quarter is very

01:15:00.960 --> 01:15:05.159
busy, especially if a business is on a calendar fiscal year,

01:15:05.159 --> 01:15:08.159
that if we could combine these events.

01:15:08.159 --> 01:15:12.819
So, no, we did not create the Ag Industry Expo. Highland

01:15:12.819 --> 01:15:15.560
Community College Ag Industry Expo has been in existence for a

01:15:15.560 --> 01:15:18.819
number of years, but we continue to help provide them with

01:15:18.819 --> 01:15:21.680
information to make sure that they are reaching the right

01:15:21.680 --> 01:15:25.260
person at the right company so that they make sure that they

01:15:25.260 --> 01:15:27.260
and

01:15:29.260 --> 01:15:31.260
the

01:15:33.260 --> 01:15:53.260
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.

01:15:55.260 --> 01:15:56.260
Hicks, and more.

01:15:56.260 --> 01:15:58.239
And I think that's a really important program, especially getting people, more people into

01:15:58.239 --> 01:15:59.300
the trades.

01:15:59.300 --> 01:16:04.500
So I saw an opportunity with the CEJA grant that maybe that would work for funding.

01:16:04.500 --> 01:16:09.060
And so it was really connecting the dots, reaching out into our network, Goodwill Industries,

01:16:09.060 --> 01:16:13.460
the Workforce Connection, really understanding who the point person was, and then connecting

01:16:13.460 --> 01:16:18.340
some leadership within the Yield organization to connect them.

01:16:18.340 --> 01:16:20.659
And thankfully, it worked out.

01:16:20.659 --> 01:16:26.939
Alderman Klemm If I could, just one more thing for the audience

01:16:26.939 --> 01:16:28.659
so they know.

01:16:28.659 --> 01:16:34.140
All of these documents that were presented tonight, over a week ago we received the fourth

01:16:34.140 --> 01:16:41.699
quarter presentation, the floor packet was a slide presentation before tonight's meeting.

01:16:41.699 --> 01:16:47.060
It was in there at least on Friday's meeting, in the packet.

01:16:47.060 --> 01:16:53.420
We're not allowed to ask questions.

01:16:53.420 --> 01:16:54.420
Were you talking about the fourth quarter?

01:16:54.420 --> 01:16:55.420
Go ahead and talk together so you can figure it out.

01:16:55.420 --> 01:16:56.420
No, it's figured out.

01:16:56.420 --> 01:16:57.420
I asked my questions because they were not presented in the packet.

01:16:57.420 --> 01:16:58.420
They were presented by email.

01:16:58.420 --> 01:16:59.420
Not the questions that I asked.

01:16:59.420 --> 01:17:00.420
Okay.

01:17:00.420 --> 01:17:01.420
We're going to move on.

01:17:01.420 --> 01:17:02.420
Okay, you guys.

01:17:02.420 --> 01:17:03.420
We've got to bring the meeting to order.

01:17:03.420 --> 01:17:04.420
You don't have to.

01:17:04.420 --> 01:17:05.420
We have the information.

01:17:05.420 --> 01:17:06.420
You have to bring the meeting to order.

01:17:06.420 --> 01:17:07.420
Okay.

01:17:07.420 --> 01:17:08.420
Thank you, Andrea.

01:17:08.420 --> 01:17:09.420
Thank you.

01:17:09.420 --> 01:17:10.420
We appreciate it.

01:17:10.420 --> 01:17:11.420
We had the information.

01:17:11.420 --> 01:17:15.300
We have to bring the meeting to order, okay.

01:17:15.300 --> 01:17:16.300
Thank you, Andrea.

01:17:16.300 --> 01:17:17.300
Thank you.

01:17:17.300 --> 01:17:18.300
We appreciate it.

01:17:18.300 --> 01:17:24.500
Okay, at this time, we're going to go to question number nine, discussion regarding ordinance

01:17:24.500 --> 01:17:29.940
amending chapter 608 and 806 of the Liquor Code.

01:17:29.940 --> 01:17:32.460
The presentation is by Attorney Cox.

01:17:32.460 --> 01:17:36.619
I know, that's what he's, he does it, I know.

01:17:36.619 --> 01:17:37.619
Good evening.

01:17:37.619 --> 01:17:38.619
Good evening.

01:17:38.619 --> 01:17:41.020
Taylor, but just good governance generally.

01:17:41.020 --> 01:17:42.020
I'm with you.

01:17:42.020 --> 01:17:46.619
This is part of the Liquor Commission's commitment to keep our liquor ordinance up to speed and

01:17:46.619 --> 01:17:53.460
up to date, keeping track of legal developments through ILCC and conditions that we're experiencing

01:17:53.460 --> 01:17:59.539
on a regular basis, including things that Dovie and I run into in the licensing process.

01:17:59.539 --> 01:18:01.220
I'm not going to take much time.

01:18:01.220 --> 01:18:05.779
Please stop me, ask questions, as we're going through here, I'm going to move pretty quick.

01:18:05.779 --> 01:18:13.220
So if you look at Section 2, that's a modification of Section 608, which previously required

01:18:13.220 --> 01:18:15.819
that everybody keeps a landline phone.

01:18:15.819 --> 01:18:19.739
Not sure how many of our establishments have a landline phone anymore, but we feel that

01:18:19.739 --> 01:18:23.020
that's probably an obsolete requirement.

01:18:23.020 --> 01:18:26.859
As long as we can get a hold of somebody via cell phone, that's good enough, and that's

01:18:26.859 --> 01:18:33.659
taken care of through our authorized agent process and our resident manager.

01:18:33.659 --> 01:18:38.819
Section 3 involves a modification of Section 608-18.

01:18:38.819 --> 01:18:45.779
This is actually a statement which came out from ILCC's legal division regarding retail

01:18:45.779 --> 01:18:50.940
establishments having paint and pours, things like that, to attract businesses in.

01:18:50.940 --> 01:18:55.739
I think, you know, generally those are well received by the public, but ILCC is really

01:18:55.739 --> 01:18:59.020
putting their foot down about what's allowed and what's not.

01:18:59.020 --> 01:19:04.100
So if you are serving free alcohol, for instance, to get people into your store, that's just

01:19:04.100 --> 01:19:05.739
not okay.

01:19:05.739 --> 01:19:10.579
We did put a de minimis of eight or less persons there so that if it's just a social gathering,

01:19:10.579 --> 01:19:16.480
that's not going to run afoul of the provision, but if you're running a special or something

01:19:16.480 --> 01:19:19.980
open to the public, that's not allowed.

01:19:19.980 --> 01:19:25.140
Couple modifications to the Definitional Section in 806.01.

01:19:25.140 --> 01:19:30.699
as we added a Brewer and then there's a Class BR if you look at Section 5 there as well.

01:19:30.699 --> 01:19:35.500
This was simply added because we have, we never had somebody that fell under this category

01:19:35.500 --> 01:19:36.899
before.

01:19:36.899 --> 01:19:42.539
Recently Generations has been upgraded in terms of their Brewer license and we just

01:19:42.539 --> 01:19:47.980
didn't have anything to track that so we're adding something that tracks almost exactly

01:19:47.980 --> 01:19:53.539
with what ILCC has for their definition.

01:19:53.539 --> 01:19:58.460
So, Resident Manager previously required a full-time employee.

01:19:58.460 --> 01:19:59.500
That's just not the situation.

01:19:59.500 --> 01:20:04.899
and employee. That's just not the situation. You know, these managers kind of bounce around

01:20:04.899 --> 01:20:11.899
from store to store and there's no reason to require a full time. We have specific provisions

01:20:11.899 --> 01:20:16.819
that say that we have to be able to get a hold of you and we've got contact information

01:20:16.819 --> 01:20:23.819
for each of the establishments there. In 806.03, we've got tier three licenses, we've

01:20:23.819 --> 01:20:53.819
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

01:20:53.819 --> 01:21:04.460
Barr. And a couple more, again, just technical changes, 806.07, that's Section 6 of the

01:21:04.460 --> 01:21:10.779
ordinance. It took out the requirement of listing all owners in a publicly held corporation,

01:21:10.779 --> 01:21:16.140
Walmart, Walgreens, that sort of thing. We don't need a list of every shareholder. And

01:21:16.140 --> 01:21:20.300
they don't provide it anyway. They just tell us to go look at the website. So that doesn't

01:21:50.300 --> 01:21:59.020
South, to pick up the exchange, which is a new establishment.

01:21:59.020 --> 01:22:00.020
And that's it.

01:22:00.020 --> 01:22:04.260
Again, nothing very exciting there, but all changes that need to be made, and the Liquor

01:22:04.260 --> 01:22:07.739
Commission has all vetted this and is recommending those changes.

01:22:07.739 --> 01:22:10.859
So any questions for me on the?

01:22:10.859 --> 01:22:11.859
Any questions?

01:22:11.859 --> 01:22:12.859
Thank you.

01:22:12.859 --> 01:22:13.859
If not, thank you.

01:22:13.859 --> 01:22:14.859
Thank you.

01:22:14.859 --> 01:22:21.659
Wood do we need a recommendation to move that forward to say I'll make a

01:22:21.659 --> 01:22:26.979
recommendation to move it forward to the next meeting in the second okay it was

01:22:26.979 --> 01:22:38.819
first by Clem and then second by Parker all in favor aye aye all opposed the

01:22:38.819 --> 01:23:00.420
Thank you Alderpersons, Sellers.

01:23:00.420 --> 01:23:06.500
So at the heart of this proposed ordinance, so we're discussing it today, is to move

01:23:06.500 --> 01:23:08.500
Knapp,

01:23:36.500 --> 01:23:39.439
There's a significant amount of staff time.

01:23:39.439 --> 01:23:47.699
Our water superintendent has to go out and physically inspect all of these connections.

01:23:47.699 --> 01:23:53.479
And there's also staff time involved in processing the pictures, the paperwork, et cetera.

01:23:53.479 --> 01:23:58.760
And so the request has been made and gone through our building commission, has reviewed

01:23:58.760 --> 01:24:05.439
this as well, and made a recommendation to go from the $50 to $150 for a water and or

01:24:05.439 --> 01:24:07.579
for Service Install.

01:24:07.579 --> 01:24:15.319
The other part of this that's being discussed is increasing from $30 to $100 for any standard

01:24:15.319 --> 01:24:19.079
water line that's going to be installed in a building.

01:24:19.079 --> 01:24:26.039
The reason for this is our plumbing inspector, which is B&F Code Services out of the Chicago

01:24:26.039 --> 01:24:32.619
suburbs, they raise their rates from $80 to $100 per hour and the intent here is to help

01:24:32.619 --> 01:24:33.619
and others.

01:24:33.619 --> 01:24:40.659
This ordinance changes went through our Building Commission.

01:24:40.659 --> 01:24:44.399
What's not being discussed is there's some technicalities with the types of connections

01:24:44.399 --> 01:24:51.600
used in our solar that will be discussed at the next when this goes to Council with recommendation

01:24:51.600 --> 01:24:57.500
for approval, but really wanted to kind of discuss and focus on the increasing the rates

01:24:57.500 --> 01:25:00.779
for our inspections or pardon me for our permits.

01:25:00.779 --> 01:25:04.779
After this time, is there any question?

01:25:04.779 --> 01:25:05.779
Okay, Alderman Sanders.

01:25:05.779 --> 01:25:08.779
Yeah, how are you doing, Doc?

01:25:08.779 --> 01:25:11.779
Good.

01:25:11.779 --> 01:25:23.779
Listening to the reason why the cost is increasing for homeowners, is this subject, is this a

01:25:23.779 --> 01:25:24.520
Sritamurthy, Bitch, Andres, Dr.

01:25:24.560 --> 01:25:25.319
Weiss.

01:25:25.359 --> 01:25:26.159
How's the situation for you?

01:25:26.180 --> 01:25:27.600
Is this a strategy that we need to get you

01:25:27.619 --> 01:25:28.060
on?

01:25:28.079 --> 01:25:30.220
What does this mean for our

01:25:30.260 --> 01:25:31.319
community?

01:25:31.359 --> 01:25:32.000
Is this an institution that is

01:25:32.020 --> 01:25:33.460
mandatory for all homeowners?

01:25:33.500 --> 01:25:35.159
Is this a policy, ordinance or

01:25:35.199 --> 01:25:36.039
something that has not been

01:25:36.060 --> 01:25:37.039
implemented yet, but we

01:25:37.060 --> 01:25:38.500
are making the decision or

01:25:38.539 --> 01:25:39.940
wanting to do an increase on

01:25:39.960 --> 01:25:41.100
people's property or for their

01:25:41.140 --> 01:25:43.539
services for these upgrades?

01:25:43.579 --> 01:25:45.100
The reason for discussion is

01:25:45.140 --> 01:25:46.340
this would go to council.

01:25:46.380 --> 01:25:48.140
The intent is to bring this to

01:25:48.180 --> 01:25:49.140
council at the next meeting.

01:25:49.180 --> 01:25:51.140
I think whenever we are talking

01:25:51.180 --> 01:25:52.479
about something like raising

01:25:52.479 --> 01:25:54.960
about something like raising rates on permits.

01:25:54.960 --> 01:25:59.479
It's a good idea to bring it to a COW, Committee of the Whole, talk about it, discuss it.

01:25:59.479 --> 01:26:05.159
So right now, there's not actually, there's no action being taken on this today, but it's

01:26:05.159 --> 01:26:08.239
going to be moving forward to a council meeting.

01:26:08.239 --> 01:26:14.279
So now is the time to ask questions about why there was, why was it suggested that we

01:26:14.279 --> 01:26:16.399
raise the rates for this?

01:26:16.399 --> 01:26:21.439
So certainly, you know, you could hear this and say, this is ridiculous, no way, keep

01:26:21.439 --> 01:26:28.560
and I anticipate certain people are, and that's fair, but as a member of staff, it's important

01:26:28.560 --> 01:26:39.159
to say that the rates from our plumbing inspector, which is contracted out to BNF code services,

01:26:39.159 --> 01:26:42.720
they've raised their rates from $80 to $100, so we're trying to capture some of that money

01:26:42.720 --> 01:26:44.039
back.

01:26:44.039 --> 01:26:49.000
The other part of this is we are doing a better job in our public works department of ensuring

01:26:49.000 --> 01:27:19.000
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

01:27:19.000 --> 01:27:26.680
Farncoe is the connection that goes on to a sewer service pipe.

01:27:26.680 --> 01:27:30.199
And if those aren't done properly, you can't have what's known as infiltration, which is

01:27:30.199 --> 01:27:31.359
bad for your treatment plant.

01:27:31.359 --> 01:27:34.640
You're basically treating storm water as opposed to sewage water.

01:27:34.640 --> 01:27:39.399
So we've done a better job, I've worked with the Public Works team to do a better job of

01:27:39.399 --> 01:27:44.640
making sure that, hey, when we're getting a sewer service, let's make sure this is done

01:27:44.640 --> 01:27:45.640
every time.

01:27:45.640 --> 01:28:01.159
Yeah, and the method that you might use to determine whether or not storm water or any

01:28:01.159 --> 01:28:09.359
kind of infiltration is getting into a property owner's sewer line, you would have to do some

01:28:09.359 --> 01:28:10.359
and others.

01:28:10.359 --> 01:28:11.359
Thank you.

01:28:11.359 --> 01:28:12.359
Thank you.

01:28:12.359 --> 01:28:13.359
Thank you.

01:29:13.359 --> 01:29:17.359
and the work done, which is part of it is photographs.

01:29:17.359 --> 01:29:18.359
Right.

01:29:18.359 --> 01:29:19.359
Okay.

01:29:19.359 --> 01:29:20.359
Thank you.

01:29:20.359 --> 01:29:21.359
I have a question.

01:29:21.359 --> 01:29:29.399
Do you think that, I know you said from $50 to $150, correct?

01:29:29.399 --> 01:29:31.039
That is what's being proposed.

01:29:31.039 --> 01:29:32.039
That's what will be proposed.

01:29:32.039 --> 01:29:34.880
Do you think that, you know, that's tripling it.

01:29:34.880 --> 01:29:39.079
So do you think that there's some way that we could start off with maybe trying $100

01:29:39.079 --> 01:29:45.039
and see how that, you know, affects, you know, different plumbers and, you know, so that

01:29:45.039 --> 01:29:47.920
price won't be put on to the consumer so much.

01:29:47.920 --> 01:29:53.520
If we could just, since we do, you know, that the, you said the other company raised their

01:29:53.520 --> 01:29:58.960
price, you know, we have to do something, so do you think that just doing it to 50 instead,

01:29:58.960 --> 01:29:59.800
I mean, do-

01:29:59.800 --> 01:30:29.800
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

01:30:59.800 --> 01:31:03.880
McAuley. So our Building Commission, we presented it to them. These were the prices that was

01:31:03.880 --> 01:31:12.039
agreed upon. However, you know, incremental increase, certainly, you know, that's your

01:31:12.039 --> 01:31:16.480
purview and something to consider. You know, you can obviously put that in ordinance if

01:31:16.480 --> 01:31:17.480
that's what you'd like to do.

01:31:17.480 --> 01:31:18.480
Okay. Alderman Monroe.

01:31:18.480 --> 01:31:25.400
Thank you, Alderperson, Sellers. Wayne, thanks for taking my call today and returning my

01:31:25.400 --> 01:31:31.119
Cronenberg, Michael, and question for you really comes back to, you know, why are we

01:31:31.119 --> 01:31:43.880
not tying the actual cost of the inspection as opposed to setting a rate in the ordinance?

01:31:43.880 --> 01:31:48.119
It would make sense if they charge $100 an hour and they come out for less than an hour

01:31:48.119 --> 01:31:52.400
and they're going to charge it for $100, they would pay $100, not $150.

01:31:52.400 --> 01:31:53.400
Why would we do that?

01:31:53.400 --> 01:31:54.400
That was number one.

01:31:54.400 --> 01:31:59.159
Number two, why are we using a company out of Chicago when we probably have somebody closer

01:31:59.159 --> 01:32:01.159
that could do it for less money?

01:32:01.159 --> 01:32:07.640
Well, the thing is, we do not have one that I'm aware of that has been on the contract

01:32:07.640 --> 01:32:09.780
to do plumbing inspections.

01:32:09.780 --> 01:32:15.840
So believe it or not, the state license to do plumbing is a highly coveted license.

01:32:15.840 --> 01:32:19.520
I believe it's, and again, I could be wrong on the years here, but I believe it's ten

01:32:19.520 --> 01:32:21.520
years you have to work for a licensed plumber.

01:32:21.520 --> 01:32:24.159
So you cannot just go out and say, I want to be a plumber.

01:32:24.159 --> 01:32:26.440
It's like some people come out and say, I'm a contractor.

01:32:26.440 --> 01:32:28.699
It's a little easier to do that than it is to be a plumber.

01:32:28.699 --> 01:32:33.360
Plumbers have a very strong grip on being a plumbing inspector.

01:32:33.360 --> 01:32:38.000
And oftentimes, when you have that license as a plumber,

01:32:38.000 --> 01:32:40.680
you're golden for your career.

01:32:40.680 --> 01:32:43.279
And oftentimes, so my point that I'm getting at

01:32:43.279 --> 01:32:47.260
is, in the community, to then be a plumbing inspector,

01:32:47.260 --> 01:32:51.159
that's a highly coveted designation to have.

01:32:51.159 --> 01:32:55.199
it's not not to say somebody couldn't do it locally or not to say that we

01:32:55.199 --> 01:33:00.800
couldn't look into possibly at a next that's something you know you can task

01:33:00.800 --> 01:33:05.940
staff with I can double-check when our contract ends with BNF but we could

01:33:05.940 --> 01:33:09.280
certainly reopen it again and kind of look into that professional service so

01:33:09.280 --> 01:33:12.360
that would answer your question to answer your question is is we'd have to

01:33:12.360 --> 01:33:15.520
go out again and see when our contract with BNF ends and then we could look

01:33:15.520 --> 01:33:19.920
into entering with another another company or going for an RFP to kind of

01:33:49.920 --> 01:33:56.239
and they recommended approval have you taken advantage of GFP to see what they

01:33:56.239 --> 01:34:01.640
have what leads or direction they can lead us I work well with the greater

01:34:01.640 --> 01:34:05.760
Freeport partnership I've never known them to be plumbing experts but I I guess

01:34:05.760 --> 01:34:12.600
I could go down that path I mean by the next time I will make a comment at the

01:34:12.600 --> 01:34:17.560
council meeting what the GFP had to say can you tell me how many permits pulled

01:34:17.560 --> 01:34:31.880
in 2024? Yes, 39 for plumbing. Thank you. Darren? I sit on the Building Commission and there is a

01:34:31.880 --> 01:34:37.000
very reputable local plumber that sits on that Commission and and he agreed that the field

01:34:37.000 --> 01:34:44.800
structure that was set was reasonable and I believe it was approved unanimously. If the council decides

01:35:14.800 --> 01:35:44.800
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.

01:35:44.800 --> 01:35:59.440
Are you saying though, are you saying that there is no local inspectors to be hired?

01:35:59.440 --> 01:36:03.640
I am saying that because I would have to look at our contract with BNF.

01:36:03.640 --> 01:36:07.039
We entered into a contract and I do not know the deadline there and that's an easy enough

01:36:07.039 --> 01:36:09.699
ask, which I will get the deadline for BNF.

01:36:09.699 --> 01:36:14.820
We have a contract with BNF Services to do these inspections.

01:36:14.820 --> 01:36:21.460
And so once that contract would expire, we can put an RF request for proposal for that

01:36:21.460 --> 01:36:26.780
to kind of gather and it would probably fall under request for qualifications as well since

01:36:26.780 --> 01:36:30.100
they have to have that state plumbing the proper licenses.

01:36:30.100 --> 01:36:34.579
But once the once the contract is over with BNF, we can certainly put that out for a bit

01:36:34.579 --> 01:36:35.579
again.

01:36:35.579 --> 01:36:36.940
Do you know how long we've been in it?

01:36:36.940 --> 01:36:42.500
I know as long as I've been here, we've been using BNF, so three years at least, but I

01:36:42.500 --> 01:36:46.779
can get that information to double check.

01:36:46.779 --> 01:37:00.619
Wayne, sir, have we looked within our own entity, within the city ranks itself, because

01:37:00.619 --> 01:37:10.619
Everyone that works for the city has some form of qualification of doing any kind of plumbing inspections.

01:37:10.619 --> 01:37:19.619
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,

01:37:19.619 --> 01:37:23.619
do we have the personnel that could be qualified?

01:37:23.619 --> 01:37:35.619
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.

01:37:35.619 --> 01:37:36.619
And I know he's shaking his head because...

01:37:36.619 --> 01:37:49.619
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.

01:37:49.619 --> 01:38:07.619
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.

01:38:07.619 --> 01:38:10.619
Oh, in that respect, yeah, I can understand that.

01:38:10.619 --> 01:38:16.020
and as and I would just say that that is a highly coveted in this state that's a

01:38:16.020 --> 01:38:21.699
highly coveted a highly coveted license to have and anybody who has it is very

01:38:21.699 --> 01:38:25.980
protective of that license meaning people will go and try to get their own

01:38:25.980 --> 01:38:30.819
plumbing license and if a plumber finds out you put their name on it and they you

01:38:30.819 --> 01:38:34.619
didn't work there 10 years or the required years they'll go after you

01:38:34.619 --> 01:38:39.699
because they really protect that plumbing license so when we talking about

01:38:39.699 --> 01:39:03.699
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?

01:39:03.699 --> 01:39:33.699
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,

01:39:33.699 --> 01:39:38.980
Cooper, Contractor, and you don't have inspections, work gets done, it doesn't get inspected,

01:39:38.980 --> 01:39:40.780
people can get hurt, people can get sick, etc.

01:39:40.780 --> 01:39:44.980
So that's the liability of the city to make sure that that happens?

01:39:44.980 --> 01:39:47.739
We have to do inspections on all construction, yes.

01:39:47.739 --> 01:39:48.739
Okay.

01:39:48.739 --> 01:39:49.739
Yes.

01:39:49.739 --> 01:39:50.739
Alright.

01:39:50.739 --> 01:39:51.739
Alright.

01:39:51.739 --> 01:39:52.739
Thank you for that.

01:39:52.739 --> 01:39:53.739
Are there any other questions?

01:39:53.739 --> 01:39:54.739
Okay.

01:39:54.739 --> 01:39:59.579
At this time, do we want to move this to a first reading?

01:39:59.579 --> 01:40:00.079
is there.

01:40:00.079 --> 01:40:03.079
First reading. Is there a motion?

01:40:03.079 --> 01:40:07.079
Make a motion to move it to next council meeting.

01:40:07.079 --> 01:40:08.079
Second.

01:40:08.079 --> 01:40:14.079
Okay, it's been moved and seconded by Klemm and Shadle. All in favor?

01:40:14.079 --> 01:40:15.079
Aye.

01:40:15.079 --> 01:40:19.079
All opposed? Motion passed.

01:40:19.079 --> 01:40:37.079
Number 11, Discussion Regarding Solution 20, no, R-2025-01, Approving Memorandum of Agreement, MOA, Between the City and the American Federation and State.

01:40:37.079 --> 01:40:46.079
City and Minnesota Employee asked me to create the position of Instrumental and Control Technician and Electrician.

01:40:46.079 --> 01:41:06.079
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.

01:41:06.079 --> 01:41:11.600
Fins. However, one of the department's two skilled grade 17 maintenance positions has

01:41:11.600 --> 01:41:18.559
remained vacant for nearly a year due to lack of qualified candidates who are obviously not

01:41:18.559 --> 01:41:24.399
applying. This increases the strain on the team and causing a growing backlog of routine

01:41:24.399 --> 01:41:31.439
maintenance activities. Staff is proposing a new pay grade 15, so that would be two grades

01:41:31.439 --> 01:41:37.279
and others below the grade 17 just mentioned, and this would focus on routine maintenance

01:41:37.279 --> 01:41:43.420
tasks as a promotion step toward the currently vacant 17 role.

01:41:43.420 --> 01:41:48.559
This position would be easier to fill internally, offering advancement opportunities while ensuring

01:41:48.559 --> 01:41:56.159
the maintenance crew remains adequately staffed and trained to support critical utility operations.

01:41:56.159 --> 01:42:00.840
The approach also fosters employee growth, promotes retention, and provides budgetary

01:42:00.840 --> 01:42:05.800
Davis, helping to maintain safe and efficient operation of the utility.

01:42:05.800 --> 01:42:12.180
I'd just like to go over a couple of the highlights in terms of the two positions here.

01:42:12.180 --> 01:42:20.859
So on a grade 15, you would have basic knowledge of water and wastewater process, power and

01:42:20.859 --> 01:42:28.500
control circuits, and hand power tools and minimum exposure to PLC and SCADA systems.

01:42:28.500 --> 01:42:34.460
So that would be like your motor drivers and controllers and also the software that's related

01:42:34.460 --> 01:42:38.340
to those operating those in the system.

01:42:38.340 --> 01:42:44.960
The responsibilities would be somewhat lower than the grade 17 so that'd be routine maintenance

01:42:44.960 --> 01:42:51.420
including lubrication oil changes, general building repairs and equipment inspections,

01:42:51.420 --> 01:42:57.300
assistance to maintenance utility workers as needed and on-call duties for emergencies.

01:42:57.300 --> 01:43:04.680
In addition, the experience required would also be less, two years of industrial, environmental,

01:43:04.680 --> 01:43:11.100
or wastewater and water systems, and that's the primary focus of the 15.

01:43:11.100 --> 01:43:16.559
So just to give you a little bit of context, the grade 17, which is the current position

01:43:16.559 --> 01:43:24.260
that had trouble filling, that essentially would expand the responsibilities into troubleshooting,

01:43:24.260 --> 01:43:27.260
We have a number of things that we need to focus on.

01:43:27.260 --> 01:43:31.260
So from a technical skills perspective, that would include

01:43:31.260 --> 01:43:34.260
comprehensive knowledge of water and wastewater process,

01:43:34.260 --> 01:43:39.260
advanced understanding and operational use of PLCs and SCADA

01:43:39.260 --> 01:43:43.260
system, strong troubleshooting skills for power control circuits

01:43:43.260 --> 01:43:47.260
and instrumentation, and proficiency in reading

01:43:47.260 --> 01:43:49.260
electrical schematically.

01:44:19.260 --> 01:44:24.340
and the Grade 17 also currently requires five years of industrial environmental or water

01:44:24.340 --> 01:44:30.000
wastewater systems with at least three years focused on electrical, plumbing, HVAC, and

01:44:30.000 --> 01:44:31.000
electronics.

01:44:31.000 --> 01:44:40.180
So staff would request that we move this on to the next meeting and that eventually approving

01:44:40.180 --> 01:44:47.159
this Grade 15 position as an intermediate step to the Grade 17 for the Water and Wastewater

01:44:47.159 --> 01:44:49.159
Miller, Maintenance Department.

01:44:49.159 --> 01:44:51.159
Are there any questions?

01:44:51.159 --> 01:44:53.159
Yes.

01:44:53.159 --> 01:44:57.159
I'm looking at you with these query eyes.

01:44:57.159 --> 01:44:59.159
Because I don't agree with...

01:44:59.159 --> 01:45:01.159
Did you...

01:45:01.159 --> 01:45:05.159
Well, let me say this first.

01:45:05.159 --> 01:45:09.159
AFMI, the American Federation,

01:45:09.159 --> 01:45:13.159
they entered into a meeting with you

01:45:13.159 --> 01:45:15.159
to discuss the agreement

01:45:15.159 --> 01:45:31.159
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?

01:45:31.159 --> 01:45:33.159
Asking is supportive of it.

01:45:33.159 --> 01:45:45.479
Okay, so the job description that you listed meet the rate, quality, does that fit the

01:45:45.479 --> 01:45:54.279
job description at the rate that you're mentioning at a 15, maybe go into a 17, but does that

01:45:54.279 --> 01:45:59.199
fit the job description criteria?

01:45:59.199 --> 01:46:01.399
Does that fit?

01:46:01.399 --> 01:46:07.559
have we, because I'm like this here, I don't want to hire a guy that does not have these

01:46:07.559 --> 01:46:16.059
kind of technical background skills at a rate of 15, a guy that's with all of this listing

01:46:16.059 --> 01:46:23.359
of description, he has to be qualified, certified somewhere along the line, and I don't think

01:46:23.359 --> 01:46:30.600
15, a grade 15 would be the appropriate one, and I'm just wondering, am I, is my ear, my

01:46:30.600 --> 01:46:37.420
and I have ears cleaned out or something is just not balancing right, it just don't balance

01:46:37.420 --> 01:46:41.720
right to me right now and I guess that's the reason why we'll move it to the next

01:46:41.720 --> 01:46:48.340
round so I can probably come to you again and have a full blown discussion on how did

01:46:48.340 --> 01:47:00.319
we get there and why did AFME, AFME, whatever they are, agree with that?

01:47:00.319 --> 01:47:06.319
I have to go with the problem with, I have a problem with the balancing of the rate, the

01:47:06.319 --> 01:47:10.720
grade, the pay grade and all this other kind of stuff, I have a, I have a problem with

01:47:10.720 --> 01:47:16.519
that, okay, and so I just want to get in, get into, get in tune with it, just to see

01:47:16.519 --> 01:47:17.519
how do we get there.

01:47:17.519 --> 01:47:22.920
Are you saying you're gonna, you want to get with Manager Boyer and talk with him later?

01:47:22.920 --> 01:47:23.920
Yes.

01:47:23.920 --> 01:47:24.920
Okay, okay.

01:47:24.920 --> 01:47:25.920
Sure, we can set up a time.

01:47:25.920 --> 01:47:26.920
Yeah.

01:47:26.920 --> 01:47:27.920
Yes.

01:47:27.920 --> 01:47:50.920
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?

01:47:50.920 --> 01:48:03.920
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.

01:48:03.920 --> 01:48:18.920
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.

01:48:18.920 --> 01:48:22.960
and the independence level two requires greater autonomy

01:48:22.960 --> 01:48:25.920
and decision making where the level one operates

01:48:25.920 --> 01:48:29.119
under close supervision and the experience,

01:48:29.119 --> 01:48:31.720
the level two demands more years of experience

01:48:31.720 --> 01:48:35.119
and specialized knowledge reflecting the advanced nature

01:48:35.119 --> 01:48:38.000
of the role and then administrative responsibilities

01:48:38.000 --> 01:48:40.399
level two includes administrative tasks

01:48:40.399 --> 01:48:43.600
like processing invoices and managing subcontractors

01:48:43.600 --> 01:48:45.439
and that's not included in the level one.

01:48:45.439 --> 01:48:48.520
So I hope that covers some of the main differences there.

01:48:48.920 --> 01:48:58.640
yeah I just was handed them they're both hyperlinked to that you ever saw the 15

01:48:58.640 --> 01:49:15.840
okay forgive me you are correct um how long have this job when it was filled how

01:49:15.840 --> 01:49:21.519
How many years have someone been in this position that was not qualified?

01:49:21.519 --> 01:49:27.359
When this job became available, the person that had it before, it became available, was

01:49:27.359 --> 01:49:31.000
not qualified, did not have these qualifications.

01:49:31.000 --> 01:49:39.600
A young man did it on this job and now things are changing and he's being asked to accept

01:49:39.600 --> 01:49:52.359
the position at a lower level and why not bring him in at the level everybody

01:49:52.359 --> 01:49:58.519
else came in at and give him the needed training or schooling like we do everybody else to

01:49:58.520 --> 01:49:59.720
to get him prepared.

01:49:59.720 --> 01:50:03.079
to get him prepared for the position.

01:50:05.079 --> 01:50:07.000
I believe that's that's kind of what we're doing.

01:50:07.000 --> 01:50:09.079
We're trying to make a permanent change here,

01:50:09.960 --> 01:50:12.199
similar to like a street trainee.

01:50:12.199 --> 01:50:14.840
We don't hire people in as street maintenance workers.

01:50:15.119 --> 01:50:16.880
We hire them in a street trainee.

01:50:16.880 --> 01:50:20.720
So I think we're making a you know, we're really improving

01:50:21.199 --> 01:50:25.520
this this particular case by providing that stair step.

01:50:25.520 --> 01:50:29.400
So I think we're as you noted, there's there's been times

01:50:29.400 --> 01:50:48.400
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.

01:50:48.400 --> 01:50:57.400
So will he be getting training from his supervisor, the person that held this position before he did?

01:50:57.400 --> 01:51:02.680
Well I mean we've had several people promoted or hired in and promoted we had

01:51:02.680 --> 01:51:08.760
one gentleman who is no longer with the city so obviously he won't be here we've

01:51:08.760 --> 01:51:14.460
got two other gentlemen one is now the foreman and the other one is instrument

01:51:14.460 --> 01:51:18.600
controls technician currently spent a lot of time on the wastewater side and

01:51:18.600 --> 01:51:24.400
he'll be doing a lot of the mentoring and training yes and he's qualified yes he's

01:51:24.400 --> 01:51:32.260
when you when you have as many years in grade as this individual had, yes, he is

01:51:32.260 --> 01:51:41.640
qualified. Is there a motion to move this for first reading? So moved. Second. Okay, it

01:51:41.640 --> 01:51:53.760
was first by Klemm and second by Shadle. All in favor? Aye. Opposed? Aye. Okay, motion passed.

01:51:54.400 --> 01:52:07.440
discussion regarding our 2025-4 approving memorandum of understanding with the

01:52:07.440 --> 01:52:12.320
Fraternal Order of Police regarding post-employment health plan by Chief

01:52:12.320 --> 01:52:20.800
Shenberger. Thank you. This was presented last week to the council. The intent of

01:52:20.800 --> 01:52:28.480
this is to enter in MOU with the Fraternal Order of Police Labor Council regarding three

01:52:28.480 --> 01:52:37.039
individuals who either have or will reach the years of retirement during this next contract.

01:52:37.039 --> 01:52:44.880
This was something that was part of the negotiations to get rid of the post-employment health care

01:52:44.880 --> 01:52:52.400
Mayor, Plan, but yet offer these three individuals an opportunity to have their sick time paid

01:52:52.400 --> 01:52:57.280
out if they chose to retire during these next three years of this contract.

01:52:57.280 --> 01:53:00.800
Are there any questions?

01:53:00.800 --> 01:53:07.360
Alderman Murrah, you have a question?

01:53:07.360 --> 01:53:08.360
Yes I do.

01:53:08.360 --> 01:53:09.360
Thank you.

01:53:09.360 --> 01:53:14.320
So Chief, was this taken out during the negotiations or was it just overlooked?

01:53:14.320 --> 01:53:19.320
I mean, Attorney Zito probably can elaborate something he's got to say.

01:53:19.320 --> 01:53:26.320
So, the PEP plan was negotiated out of the contract there.

01:53:26.320 --> 01:53:29.320
So that's something that is in this current contract.

01:53:29.320 --> 01:53:31.320
The FOP negotiated it out.

01:53:31.320 --> 01:53:36.320
It wasn't something that they were willing to give it up as a part of the contract.

01:53:36.320 --> 01:53:39.320
However, what they negotiated as a part of that will give it up.

01:53:39.320 --> 01:53:42.320
But there are three particular employees, they're the only three,

01:53:42.320 --> 01:53:48.159
and Richard, and all of these three that are going to qualify for under the original plan,

01:53:48.159 --> 01:53:51.440
because they're going to hit their, within these next three years they would hit the 20

01:53:51.440 --> 01:53:56.159
years and they would have the requisite number of hours of days that could be cashed in.

01:53:56.159 --> 01:54:00.960
So they asked, we'll give up PEP, but could you grandfather these, just these three people in?

01:54:00.960 --> 01:54:07.680
So we've already approved the agreement. And now we're coming back to memorialize the,

01:54:07.680 --> 01:54:12.560
3, because it wouldn't be appropriate to write the three of them into the overall contract

01:54:12.560 --> 01:54:13.560
there.

01:54:13.560 --> 01:54:17.720
So that's why you would handle this separately as a side MOU, just with regards to these

01:54:17.720 --> 01:54:19.480
three people, to grandfather these people in.

01:54:19.480 --> 01:54:23.760
Again, there's no payment to them if they don't choose to retire in the next, within

01:54:23.760 --> 01:54:26.920
the term of this, this, this CBA.

01:54:26.920 --> 01:54:32.360
So if they don't require in the next retire, excuse me, in the next three years or in 27,

01:54:32.360 --> 01:54:33.720
then this goes away.

01:54:33.720 --> 01:54:37.320
And then, and then PEP's gone for everybody at that point.

01:54:37.320 --> 01:54:54.320
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.

01:54:54.320 --> 01:55:04.320
The next status update of the street light at the intersection of Iroquois and State. Presentation Manager Boyer.

01:55:04.320 --> 01:55:12.320
Thank you, Madam Chair. I would like to invite Representative George Galrapp to do this kind of touch base on this.

01:55:12.320 --> 01:55:17.320
I think he's pretty well handled this already.

01:55:21.320 --> 01:55:24.320
Good evening. George Galrapp, President of Freeport,

01:55:24.320 --> 01:55:30.560
of ComEd. So, as I was asked, I started in the Fifth Ward. I did a survey of Fifth Ward

01:55:30.560 --> 01:55:35.760
for all the lights there. Looking at them, they're all functional. They don't have any

01:55:35.760 --> 01:55:39.119
foliage in front of them. Of course, here we are in January. It would be good to go

01:55:39.119 --> 01:55:43.680
through this again in the spring when there are trees and things like that. I continue

01:55:43.680 --> 01:55:50.920
to work with City Manager Rob Boyer and Darren Steekle, Public Works. I went north of the

01:55:50.920 --> 01:55:56.800
and the 5th Ward and the 3rd Ward, and went to the corner of Ottawa and State Street, ComEd

01:55:56.800 --> 01:56:04.680
installed a light there today, it went from a 40 watt to a 70 watt, which is 75% brighter,

01:56:04.680 --> 01:56:11.720
and actually encompasses a little bit of Shalom Park, that's the correct pronunciation.

01:56:11.720 --> 01:56:16.920
I asked them to tilt it a little bit, I called three aldermen up that were within the area,

01:56:16.920 --> 01:56:22.600
told him that the left messages for him, and I talked directly to Alderman Sanders about

01:56:22.600 --> 01:56:27.239
the light, asked him to drive by it, see what he thought about it. It's quite a bit brighter.

01:56:27.239 --> 01:56:32.960
It's a big difference from when I was there last week. Okay. Any questions or concerns?

01:56:32.960 --> 01:56:44.560
Yeah, I did have a question. As I looked at the park, I didn't think it was illuminated

01:56:44.560 --> 01:56:45.560
No, it's not.

01:56:45.560 --> 01:56:56.760
And because anybody that wants to peddle anything in that area can conceal any evidence, even

01:56:56.760 --> 01:57:04.640
though there's a little lighting there, but it does not cast off enough to eliminate the

01:57:04.640 --> 01:57:15.520
for the possibility of someone either bringing illegal alcohols, drugs, weapons, whatever,

01:57:15.520 --> 01:57:18.320
country bands or whatever the situation is.

01:57:18.320 --> 01:57:25.200
I don't think it's bright enough to deter individuals that they just can't just show

01:57:25.200 --> 01:57:30.659
up at this park and try to conceal their actions and things like that.

01:57:30.659 --> 01:57:37.180
I would like for it to be so bright over there that they wouldn't even want to come back.

01:57:37.180 --> 01:57:38.180
And I agree.

01:57:38.180 --> 01:57:39.180
I agree 100%.

01:57:39.180 --> 01:57:43.400
But if you want to do that, it's private property, so you're going to have to go to the property

01:57:43.400 --> 01:57:44.400
owners.

01:57:44.400 --> 01:57:45.400
Right.

01:57:45.400 --> 01:57:47.940
And they're going to have to call a new business to install a light, and they're going to have

01:57:47.940 --> 01:57:48.940
to pay for it.

01:57:48.940 --> 01:57:49.940
All right.

01:57:49.940 --> 01:57:50.940
Okay.

01:57:50.940 --> 01:57:54.700
I don't believe that City Council or the administration would approve using tax breaks.

01:57:54.700 --> 01:57:55.860
What about a lamp?

01:57:55.860 --> 01:57:59.220
What about just a lamp, a little property lamp?

01:57:59.220 --> 01:58:03.500
and one that stands up in the yard and that there to be up to the property owner how they

01:58:03.500 --> 01:58:07.900
want to do that they don't want okay okay I don't know who owns that property me

01:58:07.900 --> 01:58:12.579
neither I don't I don't anybody else on the council I know you do okay so it's

01:58:12.579 --> 01:58:16.100
really up to the property owner and I'm sure this it's very supportive by the

01:58:16.100 --> 01:58:20.340
city of Freeport but it's it's something that would have to be done with the

01:58:20.340 --> 01:58:24.380
property owner and a new business the ComEd and I'd be happy to walk them

01:58:24.380 --> 01:58:43.380
I would like to thank you for that. I, too, on the way here tonight drove through and it is a little better.

01:58:43.380 --> 01:59:09.380
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.

01:59:09.380 --> 01:59:21.380
I have a list that I received from Chief Shenberger, the concerned areas where crime happens and take place.

01:59:21.380 --> 01:59:28.380
And I would like to do that this week if possible.

01:59:28.380 --> 01:59:33.380
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?

01:59:33.380 --> 01:59:35.380
You didn't call me today.

01:59:35.380 --> 01:59:40.659
I called the 908 number yeah Fred that I got the Freeport website is that an

01:59:40.659 --> 01:59:46.900
office number no sir okay I got it on my phone the number I called I'll let you

01:59:46.900 --> 01:59:54.260
know what is it nine zero eight nine eight one four okay I'll check my phone

01:59:54.260 --> 02:00:00.500
please and thank you okay all right any other questions any other questions

02:00:00.500 --> 02:00:02.500
Any other questions?

02:00:02.500 --> 02:00:04.500
Alderman?

02:00:04.500 --> 02:00:06.500
Not so much a question, just a comment.

02:00:06.500 --> 02:00:08.500
Yes.

02:00:08.500 --> 02:00:10.500
I do appreciate that it was done and handled in a very timely manner.

02:00:10.500 --> 02:00:12.500
Oh, you're welcome.

02:00:12.500 --> 02:00:14.500
Anytime. Thank you.

02:00:14.500 --> 02:00:16.500
Well, I'd like you to get to the corner of Oak

02:00:16.500 --> 02:00:18.500
and Empire.

02:00:18.500 --> 02:00:20.500
Oak and Empire.

02:00:20.500 --> 02:00:22.500
I'll do that on the way home.

02:00:22.500 --> 02:00:24.500
Do La Cresta out there where

02:00:24.500 --> 02:00:26.500
Monroe lived.

02:00:26.500 --> 02:00:28.500
Okay, as we move on,

02:00:28.500 --> 02:00:42.500
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.

02:00:42.500 --> 02:00:54.500
Thank you, Madam Chair. Eric, could you put the map up? Yeah, thanks, Wayne.

02:00:54.500 --> 02:01:02.500
So, over the last several months, we've been working with the county, discussing several topics. This property is one of them.

02:01:02.500 --> 02:01:14.500
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.

02:01:14.500 --> 02:01:23.500
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.

02:01:23.500 --> 02:01:25.739
we have some lots in that area.

02:01:25.739 --> 02:01:29.699
We're investigating some infill housing possibilities

02:01:29.699 --> 02:01:33.960
and I know we've worked with GFP a couple of years ago

02:01:33.960 --> 02:01:35.500
on a concept for this.

02:01:35.500 --> 02:01:37.899
So I think it makes a lot of sense for the city

02:01:37.899 --> 02:01:41.539
to take over this property from the county.

02:01:41.539 --> 02:01:45.100
And it would be an opportunity for us to also control it

02:01:45.100 --> 02:01:48.060
and make sure it is maintained in the interim

02:01:48.060 --> 02:01:51.340
till we are able to move forward with any residential

02:01:51.340 --> 02:01:53.300
or commercial opportunities with it.

02:01:53.300 --> 02:02:02.619
So, I guess I will open the floor for any questions or discussion.

02:02:02.619 --> 02:02:06.939
What would it cost us to take this property off the county's hands?

02:02:06.939 --> 02:02:13.699
I believe the county is just willing to deed it over to the city, so at zero or minimal

02:02:13.699 --> 02:02:14.699
cost.

02:02:14.699 --> 02:02:15.699
A dollar.

02:02:15.699 --> 02:02:16.699
A dollar.

02:02:16.699 --> 02:02:18.380
It's in your packet.

02:02:18.380 --> 02:02:21.380
And what does the city plan to do with this property?

02:02:21.380 --> 02:02:28.539
well as I just mentioned we're looking at a couple of infill projects along this

02:02:28.539 --> 02:02:32.699
corridor being that we've just redone it and we've also investigated some other

02:02:32.699 --> 02:02:38.739
commercial activity or potential for development there so I would say either

02:02:38.739 --> 02:02:43.340
one of those would fall under the category of what we would be looking at

02:02:43.340 --> 02:02:46.579
Would the city consider a third Ward Park?

02:02:48.779 --> 02:02:55.100
Well, that would be up for discussion and that would have to involve the Park District, but I'd definitely put that yes.

02:02:55.619 --> 02:02:58.939
So the answer would be yes, we could have further conversations about that.

02:03:02.100 --> 02:03:08.560
Any other discussion? Yeah. Yeah, just FYI Alderman Stacey, the Park District was the original owners.

02:03:13.340 --> 02:03:15.659
The Park District was the original?

02:03:15.659 --> 02:03:22.340
Yes, and it was deeded over to the county as a part of West Block when they acquired it.

02:03:22.340 --> 02:03:26.859
So I would find it hard to believe that the Park District would want to get back in that,

02:03:26.859 --> 02:03:28.619
but there's a possibility, I don't know.

02:03:28.619 --> 02:03:34.539
Well, I'm a little surprised because I just had a conversation with a gentleman on Saturday,

02:03:34.539 --> 02:03:40.380
and I will be having another one with him tomorrow.

02:03:40.380 --> 02:03:57.579
Alderman. Yeah, Freeport Park District covers a lot of areas in Freeport and their locations

02:03:57.579 --> 02:04:05.220
has not been, what I want to say, conveyed or revealed of why they have this jurisdiction

02:04:05.220 --> 02:04:10.220
under their government, under their jurisdiction.

02:04:10.300 --> 02:04:14.380
I just like to know where does the city factor in?

02:04:14.380 --> 02:04:17.380
Why is it that the Freeport Park District

02:04:17.380 --> 02:04:19.579
has so much territory, land, property

02:04:19.579 --> 02:04:21.380
here in the city of Freeport?

02:04:21.380 --> 02:04:26.380
Did they inherit it or did the city give it over to them,

02:04:27.420 --> 02:04:31.140
parked it into their possession to create parks

02:04:31.140 --> 02:04:32.699
and things of this nature?

02:04:32.699 --> 02:04:40.779
I just like to know how it originated that the Park District was able to cover much land

02:04:40.779 --> 02:04:48.180
base here in the City of Freeport and we don't have that because I'm trying to get it all

02:04:48.180 --> 02:04:52.979
out right now because I may not get another chance.

02:04:52.979 --> 02:04:59.579
So I like to get more details about it, I would like to have a conversation, I would

02:04:59.579 --> 02:05:29.579
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

02:05:29.579 --> 02:05:35.140
thing, and see what we come up with. I think we can work on that, but I would

02:05:35.140 --> 02:05:38.939
suggest maybe we start with a one-on-one with the Park District Director. Okay.

02:05:38.939 --> 02:05:45.659
Okay. Are there, Alderman Klemm? I just have a question I agree with is not a

02:05:45.659 --> 02:05:50.859
problem. I just want to ask about the corner at the top of the drawing there.

02:05:50.859 --> 02:05:57.060
You show four lots that are equal and then you show a fifth one and I'm just

02:05:57.060 --> 02:05:58.060
Cronenberg.

02:05:58.060 --> 02:06:03.020
I'm just wondering if that creates a headache down the line or what that is?

02:06:03.020 --> 02:06:06.579
My guess is that would be like a driveway or something that somebody had at one time

02:06:06.579 --> 02:06:08.779
and somehow got orphaned in the data.

02:06:08.779 --> 02:06:12.579
Eric, I don't know if you can overlay the city-owned parcels.

02:06:12.579 --> 02:06:17.460
Do we own any of the other adjacent parcels there?

02:06:17.460 --> 02:06:21.939
Sure.

02:06:21.939 --> 02:06:26.579
I may be staying corrected here, but I believe we actually currently own a couple of parcels

02:06:26.579 --> 02:06:56.579
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

02:06:56.579 --> 02:07:02.340
and Tom, and I think it's a good opportunity to pick that up and be able to control that

02:07:02.340 --> 02:07:03.340
moving forward.

02:07:03.340 --> 02:07:06.060
I just, oh, go ahead Tom, I can wait.

02:07:06.060 --> 02:07:07.060
Go ahead.

02:07:07.060 --> 02:07:08.539
I was just going to make a motion to move it forward.

02:07:08.539 --> 02:07:14.500
Oh no, I just wanted to know, at one time, I know as a little girl I lived in that area,

02:07:14.500 --> 02:07:20.060
so at one time that used to be a park, it was called Tutty Baker Park, and that's what

02:07:20.060 --> 02:07:22.579
that was.

02:07:22.579 --> 02:07:23.579
So I know that.

02:07:23.579 --> 02:07:24.579
Okay.

02:07:24.579 --> 02:07:25.579
Fantastic.

02:07:25.579 --> 02:07:38.180
make a motion to discuss it at the next meeting do I get a second excuse me

02:07:38.180 --> 02:07:48.260
motion first by Clem second by Parker are there oh I thought he was pointing I

02:07:48.260 --> 02:08:10.260
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.

02:08:10.260 --> 02:08:25.500
Discussion regarding Ordinance, Amending Chapter 220, Council Section 220.10, Rule of Council,

02:08:25.500 --> 02:08:30.300
presentation by Alderman Stacey and Monroe.

02:08:30.300 --> 02:08:46.140
Yes, on November 12th, there was an ordinance that was brought to the council.

02:08:46.140 --> 02:08:54.140
Mayor Miller was not present, Attorney Zito presented, and it was voted on and moved to

02:08:54.140 --> 02:09:10.859
Supposedly the December 16th Agenda, however, it never showed up and I want to know who have that power

02:09:13.180 --> 02:09:16.859
to take something from an agenda when it's been voted on.

02:09:16.859 --> 02:09:30.220
John. What right and why did it happen? Why was it removed? That's what I would like to

02:09:30.220 --> 02:09:33.220
know. Please and thank you.

02:09:33.220 --> 02:09:58.420
I can answer the question. So this ordinance was originally there along with my understanding

02:09:58.420 --> 02:10:00.420
with some other Alderpersons to present this.

02:10:00.420 --> 02:10:03.859
with some other Alderpersons to present this ordinance here.

02:10:03.859 --> 02:10:08.060
It was scheduled to be placed on the November COW.

02:10:08.060 --> 02:10:11.739
There at that November COW, the mayor was not absent,

02:10:11.739 --> 02:10:14.180
so I presented the, or the mayor was absent, excuse me,

02:10:14.180 --> 02:10:18.260
so I presented the ordinance at that meeting.

02:10:18.260 --> 02:10:20.100
Then this item was laid over.

02:10:20.100 --> 02:10:21.739
There was a motion a second to lay this over

02:10:21.739 --> 02:10:25.460
to the following COW for further discussion there.

02:10:25.460 --> 02:10:27.480
So that would have been the December COW.

02:10:27.480 --> 02:10:57.480
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,

02:10:57.480 --> 02:11:01.539
and it starts to move its way forward and then when that applicant says you know

02:11:01.539 --> 02:11:05.340
what change of mind I don't want to move this forward anymore the item just gets

02:11:05.340 --> 02:11:10.260
removed so that's why I relate when the mayor contacted me and said hey the

02:11:10.260 --> 02:11:15.840
people that were proponents of this were withdrawing it so I said okay following

02:11:15.840 --> 02:11:20.380
past practice I reached out to Dovie and said hey the people that wanted this no

02:11:20.380 --> 02:11:23.399
longer want it you know they don't they don't want to put these changes for it

02:11:23.399 --> 02:11:26.399
and Stacey, and I'm the one that's been asked to take it off.

02:11:26.399 --> 02:11:29.399
I'm not the one that's been asked to take it off anymore.

02:11:29.399 --> 02:11:32.399
So that's why it was taken off the agenda.

02:11:32.399 --> 02:11:41.399
Attorney Zito, once it was asked to be moved forward by myself and seconded by Alderwoman Simmons,

02:11:41.399 --> 02:11:49.399
shouldn't it have come to us if you were going to question or decide to just take it off?

02:11:49.399 --> 02:11:57.699
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.

02:11:57.699 --> 02:12:06.699
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.

02:12:06.699 --> 02:12:16.000
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?

02:12:16.000 --> 02:12:25.140
I just felt disrespected. I felt like my opinion and what I asked for and what we all took a

02:12:25.140 --> 02:12:33.720
vote for, 7-0, I believe Alderman Monroe was missing that, that it should have been acknowledged

02:12:33.720 --> 02:12:42.460
and should have been granted. Because regardless of who puts on or who takes off, just like

02:12:42.460 --> 02:12:55.100
and I. And I said no, I want it on January's COW. And I've been told over and over again

02:12:55.100 --> 02:13:04.300
that as long as two people bring it, that anything can be on an agenda. So two people

02:13:04.300 --> 02:13:08.100
brought it. And it should have been respected.

02:13:08.100 --> 02:13:26.100
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.

02:13:26.100 --> 02:13:31.100
But for the 16th, seven people, seven people agreed to bring it.

02:13:31.100 --> 02:13:40.659
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.

02:13:40.659 --> 02:13:44.460
So the that's that's the difference here.

02:13:44.460 --> 02:13:57.579
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.

02:13:57.579 --> 02:13:59.100
it can come to committee.

02:13:59.100 --> 02:14:01.859
Committee can say we vote to move it forward

02:14:01.859 --> 02:14:02.980
to first reading.

02:14:02.980 --> 02:14:05.659
If prior to first reading or even prior to second reading,

02:14:05.659 --> 02:14:08.300
the applicant says, guess what?

02:14:08.300 --> 02:14:11.500
My application, I withdraw my application.

02:14:11.500 --> 02:14:14.340
Typically that item then is just removed from the agenda

02:14:14.340 --> 02:14:17.420
without the council saying, you know, okay,

02:14:17.420 --> 02:14:19.659
we officially allow for it to be removed,

02:14:19.659 --> 02:14:21.220
you know, your application to be withdrawn.

02:14:21.220 --> 02:14:22.340
It's usually just withdrawn.

02:14:22.340 --> 02:14:26.039
But that involved one person, this involved eight.

02:14:26.039 --> 02:14:33.480
I suppose, well, it involved, I suppose the proponents of the ordinance originally, there

02:14:33.480 --> 02:14:37.260
was more than one person there, asked for it to be withdrawn.

02:14:37.260 --> 02:14:42.779
I suppose ultimately, to clarify, if you know, if this is what the council wants to say that

02:14:42.779 --> 02:14:51.779
hey, whenever anything is moved forward to council, even if it's subsequently withdrawn

02:14:51.779 --> 02:15:21.779
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,

02:15:21.779 --> 02:15:25.819
that wanted it put forward they said we don't want it anymore we don't you know

02:15:25.819 --> 02:15:29.659
we don't feel the need to move forward with those proposed changes there now if

02:15:29.659 --> 02:15:32.859
you want to put forward to say hey well I still want to talk about some changes

02:15:32.859 --> 02:15:36.619
maybe not those changes I you know maybe I didn't agree with those changes but I

02:15:36.619 --> 02:15:41.899
want some other changes made to this this rules of council then just like our

02:15:41.899 --> 02:15:46.980
one it says two people put it on and you guys can move forward with then you know

02:15:46.980 --> 02:15:47.980
and so on.

02:15:47.980 --> 02:15:52.100
So, whatever changes that you guys want, they are sold.

02:15:52.100 --> 02:15:55.100
Are there any other questions?

02:15:55.100 --> 02:16:04.699
Is this something that you want to read in, you want to take a note?

02:16:04.699 --> 02:16:05.699
I don't know.

02:16:05.699 --> 02:16:06.699
Okay.

02:16:06.699 --> 02:16:07.699
We'll move.

02:16:07.699 --> 02:16:08.699
Oh.

02:16:08.699 --> 02:16:09.699
Oh.

02:16:09.699 --> 02:16:10.699
We can move it to the...

02:16:10.699 --> 02:16:12.260
Nobody's made a motion to move it.

02:16:12.260 --> 02:16:13.260
Oh, okay.

02:16:13.260 --> 02:16:14.260
Right.

02:16:14.260 --> 02:16:15.260
I'm saying it.

02:16:15.260 --> 02:16:21.699
Now, the group that wanted this draft here withdrew that prior to the December whatever.

02:16:21.699 --> 02:16:26.579
Now if Alderman, Stacy, and whoever else, if you guys have other changes, like your own

02:16:26.579 --> 02:16:30.539
changes that you want to make to that section, we can put, we can do that.

02:16:30.539 --> 02:16:38.700
My purpose for bringing it here tonight was to get clarity on why it was not on the December

02:16:38.700 --> 02:16:44.500
16th agenda when it was voted on and passed to be.

02:16:44.500 --> 02:16:48.020
and the response to that is because the proponents of the original proponents of the ordinance

02:16:48.020 --> 02:16:50.340
asked to have it withdrawn.

02:16:50.340 --> 02:16:53.780
They didn't want to even, they didn't want to put forth those suggestions anymore.

02:16:53.780 --> 02:17:01.899
And I still feel that once, once I asked for it and it was seconded that it was no longer

02:17:01.899 --> 02:17:09.899
at that level and that if indeed that was, was going to happen, which is what did happen,

02:17:09.899 --> 02:17:19.440
It would have been respectful to inform Rachel and I, Alderman Simmons and I, what you were

02:17:19.440 --> 02:17:26.620
doing instead of just not doing it like we were going to forget and not remember or not

02:17:26.620 --> 02:17:27.620
know.

02:17:27.620 --> 02:17:28.620
Alderman Rowe?

02:17:28.620 --> 02:17:29.620
Yeah.

02:17:29.620 --> 02:17:30.620
Whatever.

02:17:30.620 --> 02:17:31.620
Discussion on it?

02:17:31.620 --> 02:17:32.620
No.

02:17:32.620 --> 02:17:33.620
Moving on.

02:17:33.620 --> 02:17:34.620
Not at this time.

02:17:34.620 --> 02:17:35.620
Okay.

02:17:35.620 --> 02:17:36.620
Yeah.

02:17:36.620 --> 02:17:37.620
Okay.

02:17:37.620 --> 02:17:38.620
We'll move on to item number 16.

02:17:38.620 --> 02:17:48.620
Discussion regarding electric bill provider of kilowatt hours, distribution fees, and the process for residents to switch to a different provider.

02:17:48.620 --> 02:17:51.620
Alderman Stacy Monroe again.

02:17:51.620 --> 02:18:03.620
Yes. So, gentleman came here and he proposed some rates. Could you help me with his name, Manager Boyer, or the company?

02:18:03.620 --> 02:18:04.620
Company.

02:18:04.620 --> 02:18:12.780
It's Mike Mudge with Rock River Energy, but that's the Generation Aggregation Contract

02:18:12.780 --> 02:18:18.139
that's different than the increase changes recently, just for him.

02:18:18.139 --> 02:18:19.139
Okay.

02:18:19.139 --> 02:18:29.180
So he came here and he presented some numbers to us, we all received this in the mail and

02:18:29.180 --> 02:18:40.940
you either had to act out using this company or you automatic was switched and then he came

02:18:40.940 --> 02:18:53.940
back about oh I don't know six to eight weeks later and because rates were going up he could

02:18:53.940 --> 02:19:05.540
not guarantee us at the original quote am I correct it is however we have there's

02:19:05.540 --> 02:19:16.380
not oh no the rate is not going up I'm sorry no no no he he questioned if they

02:19:16.380 --> 02:19:23.260
would be able to meet what they had told us the first time and we discussed I

02:19:23.260 --> 02:19:29.180
because rates were going up not their rates they didn't know. Well this is about

02:19:29.180 --> 02:19:34.000
generation and on the generation side they weren't sure what was going to

02:19:34.000 --> 02:19:38.739
happen with the ICC ruling coming down the pike so they were expressing their

02:19:38.739 --> 02:19:44.260
nervousness about being able to fulfill the aggregation contract that we had bid

02:19:44.260 --> 02:19:50.739
and accepted and that has to do with generation. We could not we could not

02:19:50.739 --> 02:19:57.739
not canceled the contract, they would have to drop us. We couldn't drop them.

02:19:57.739 --> 02:20:05.459
Yeah, offhand since I didn't realize the direction of this conversation and I guess I don't have

02:20:05.459 --> 02:20:07.659
everything I need to adequately.

02:20:07.659 --> 02:20:11.299
He gave us three different options.

02:20:11.299 --> 02:20:12.780
Yes, he did.

02:20:12.780 --> 02:20:18.500
Long story short, my phone have been blowing up because people feel like their electric

02:20:18.500 --> 02:20:25.139
bills are higher than ever before and they don't want to stay with this company.

02:20:25.139 --> 02:20:28.579
they want to go back to their original holders.

02:20:28.579 --> 02:20:38.579
If they were on an original aggregation contract with the previous AEP, that contract lapsed

02:20:38.579 --> 02:20:50.180
and then we re-bid it with, so if they were on ComEd previously, they can go back to ComEd

02:20:50.180 --> 02:20:51.180
and that's fine.

02:20:51.180 --> 02:20:57.979
when they call ComEd they're being told that the company you signed with has to release

02:20:57.979 --> 02:20:58.979
you.

02:20:58.979 --> 02:21:00.899
ComEd can't just switch them over.

02:21:00.899 --> 02:21:05.299
So they should just call Mike Mudd, they should call Rock River Energy to get that moving

02:21:05.299 --> 02:21:06.299
forward.

02:21:06.299 --> 02:21:07.299
No.

02:21:07.299 --> 02:21:12.180
He doesn't want them calling him, I've already been told that.

02:21:12.180 --> 02:21:14.219
I'm sorry, Nordic, thank you Dovie.

02:21:14.219 --> 02:21:20.459
But we do need information available to the constituents so that they can have the correct

02:21:20.459 --> 02:21:22.459
and

02:21:24.459 --> 02:21:26.459
Dr.

02:21:28.459 --> 02:21:30.459
Jodi.

02:21:32.459 --> 02:21:44.459
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.

02:21:44.459 --> 02:22:14.459
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

02:22:14.459 --> 02:22:20.459
and others, and I'm looking to us to assist them or figure out a way to get out of this agreement with Nordic.

02:22:20.459 --> 02:22:32.459
Yeah. I feel the same sentiments that you guys are feeling because I called them.

02:22:32.459 --> 02:22:41.459
I called them directly. And when I was looking at my utility bill, their service,

02:22:41.459 --> 02:22:52.459
Davis, whatever they're supposed to be providing was not part of my subsidy or my letter stating

02:22:52.459 --> 02:23:01.579
that I'm using Nordic, Nordic is, but Kamea charged me because they did not comply with

02:23:01.579 --> 02:23:02.579
Kamea.

02:23:02.579 --> 02:23:08.100
Kamea had no idea that that should have been implemented to my electric bill, so I called

02:23:08.100 --> 02:23:15.420
Nordic, and they're scrambling trying to get the right information to me and telling me

02:23:15.420 --> 02:23:20.979
that they're going to take care of it. Well, I'm going to look at my bill of this year,

02:23:20.979 --> 02:23:26.619
this month, and see if their name is on there, see if there's any adjustments being made

02:23:26.619 --> 02:23:35.739
because they gave me sure numbers that would benefit me, and I have not seen that yet.

02:23:35.739 --> 02:23:44.379
So, yeah, there's something nefarious going on there and I'd like to know what it is myself.

02:23:44.379 --> 02:23:46.340
We can follow up on that.

02:23:46.340 --> 02:23:49.139
So how can we get the people this information?

02:23:49.139 --> 02:23:54.020
Is it something that can go on the city's website?

02:23:54.020 --> 02:24:00.539
Yes, we will basically get with Mike, address the concerns that you've expressed tonight,

02:24:00.539 --> 02:24:04.739
put together a statement, we can push that out on social media, then we can get with

02:24:04.739 --> 02:24:09.819
Smith, also to ensure some of the customers aren't confused because there was an increase

02:24:09.819 --> 02:24:15.239
on their distribution and green energy portion of their bill. So to ensure that we're actually

02:24:15.239 --> 02:24:20.520
talking apples to apples here, they may be confused because just recently the ICC approved

02:24:20.520 --> 02:24:26.299
an increase going forward, which was pretty substantial on the portion of their bill that's

02:24:26.299 --> 02:24:33.360
not related to the generation. It's related to distribution and so on. So as long as we're

02:24:33.360 --> 02:24:35.360
We're talking about the same thing here? Yes.

02:24:35.360 --> 02:24:41.360
Are there any other questions?

02:24:41.360 --> 02:24:49.360
If we could, I'm just trying to confuse things more here. Not actually, but as you mentioned,

02:24:49.360 --> 02:24:55.360
there's an upcharge on the distribution side and that kind of stuff. Well, Mr. Galrabs

02:24:55.360 --> 02:25:02.360
here, could he explain that so we know what's there, or an estimate of what's there, so

02:25:02.360 --> 02:25:09.360
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.

02:25:21.360 --> 02:25:30.360
Let's start with Nordic Energy. Their phone number for customer service is 877-808-1022.

02:25:30.360 --> 02:25:36.600
So and when people call to opt out at this late date they want to make sure

02:25:36.600 --> 02:25:41.199
that there's no type of administrative fee attached to it. Some of these

02:25:41.199 --> 02:25:44.600
companies do have it. It should have been on the contract whether or not they had

02:25:44.600 --> 02:25:50.319
it. I checked with City Manager on that. As far as ComEd's concerned, you'll

02:25:50.319 --> 02:25:55.319
see a rate increase for because we're the suppliers or we're the distribution

02:25:55.319 --> 02:25:59.199
side, we're the wires and the poles. We take the energy and bring it to your

02:26:29.200 --> 02:26:34.200
so you have Nordic who supplies your energy and ComEd who delivers it to your home.

02:26:34.200 --> 02:26:40.200
Has ComEd fees went up since September?

02:26:40.200 --> 02:26:47.200
I believe January 1st they went up slightly, but the main increase will be June 1st of 2025.

02:26:47.200 --> 02:26:49.200
Can I get that information to you?

02:26:49.200 --> 02:26:50.200
Fees, yep.

02:26:50.200 --> 02:26:54.200
Okay. It's been a two-year process with the ICC

02:26:54.200 --> 02:26:59.920
that we've had a multi-year grid plan in place to make sure that the grid is

02:26:59.920 --> 02:27:06.440
sustainable we are the number one company electric company in the nation right

02:27:06.440 --> 02:27:12.680
right now so some of the state senators and in represented this question why we

02:27:12.680 --> 02:27:17.360
want to continue to put money into our system and we want to stay number one we

02:27:17.360 --> 02:27:21.680
want to make sure that you have your power we see a lot more people working

02:27:21.680 --> 02:27:22.680
and others.

02:27:22.680 --> 02:27:26.639
We're working in their homes, a lot more electricity being used, and we want to make sure we maintain

02:27:26.639 --> 02:27:29.639
the system itself.

02:27:29.639 --> 02:27:33.920
Nobody likes an increase, even myself, even though I work for ComEd, but if you want to

02:27:33.920 --> 02:27:40.159
maintain things and have good reliable service, we have to continue to take care of our grid,

02:27:40.159 --> 02:27:41.159
which we do.

02:27:41.159 --> 02:27:42.159
Thank you.

02:27:42.159 --> 02:27:43.159
Okay?

02:27:43.159 --> 02:27:44.159
I have a question.

02:27:44.159 --> 02:27:45.159
Debbie?

02:27:45.159 --> 02:27:46.159
Oh, Debbie.

02:27:46.159 --> 02:27:52.959
Switching from Nordic to ComEd will not necessarily lower their electric bill significantly.

02:27:52.959 --> 02:27:54.959
I looked up the rates. Nordic is...

02:27:54.959 --> 02:27:55.959
Do you have them?

02:27:55.959 --> 02:27:58.959
Yeah, I think Nordic is at 6.399.

02:27:58.959 --> 02:28:00.959
0.08315?

02:28:00.959 --> 02:28:02.959
Yeah, that's a little bit different than I have.

02:28:02.959 --> 02:28:06.959
So, I think we're within one hundredth of a penny.

02:28:06.959 --> 02:28:08.459
What is ComEd right now?

02:28:08.459 --> 02:28:12.459
I believe within one hundredth of a penny compared to Nordic.

02:28:12.459 --> 02:28:13.459
Of what?

02:28:13.459 --> 02:28:14.459
A penny.

02:28:14.459 --> 02:28:15.959
From the rate you said?

02:28:15.959 --> 02:28:20.840
yeah they had three nine six point three nine nine and then we were six point four

02:28:20.840 --> 02:28:27.239
and you were six point four yeah and that that is lower than Nordic but Nordic

02:28:27.239 --> 02:28:31.079
will stay at that contracted rate for three years and ComEd can fluctuate

02:28:31.079 --> 02:28:36.200
right up and down correct correct and the electrical supply is not the largest

02:28:36.200 --> 02:28:43.979
part of the bill no I don't believe so it just depends on who you use yeah so

02:28:43.979 --> 02:28:47.979
So that's the apples and apples that Manager Boyer was talking about.

02:28:47.979 --> 02:28:53.979
But you would really like to have Mike Mudge come here and talk to your, talk to the Council again.

02:28:53.979 --> 02:29:01.979
I think that would be, he's been a proven person as far as getting great rates since I was Mayor.

02:29:01.979 --> 02:29:07.979
We were the first administration to have an aggregation. Saved everybody about $300 a year.

02:29:07.979 --> 02:29:10.979
So it just depends on where your supplier is.

02:29:10.979 --> 02:29:17.979
So, it's tough right now, though. It's difficult right now with electrification and how much energy is being used.

02:29:17.979 --> 02:29:21.979
Okay. All right. Thank you. It's been a pleasure.

02:29:21.979 --> 02:29:26.979
Any other discussion? If not, we'll move to 17.

02:29:26.979 --> 02:29:36.979
The discussion and explanation of a fast track demo process presented by Stacy and Monroe, are you doing the presentation?

02:29:36.979 --> 02:29:38.979
No.

02:29:38.979 --> 02:29:50.500
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.

02:29:50.500 --> 02:29:56.739
There's not a lot of information online that we have. If you have. Awesome.

02:29:56.739 --> 02:30:19.940
Awesome. So, who's doing the presentation? Oh. Okay, thank you Alderperson Monroe, Alderperson

02:30:19.940 --> 02:30:27.780
Stacy. Starting off here just going back this was in April 28th of 2023. I'm

02:30:27.780 --> 02:30:32.539
pulling this from we had an orientation so it's just kind of a little background

02:30:32.539 --> 02:30:35.920
and when I kind of talked about this in the past it's kind of a little bit of a

02:30:35.920 --> 02:30:41.979
refresher. So I talked about in that orientation kind of the four main areas

02:30:41.979 --> 02:30:45.780
my department works in code enforcement planning and zoning building code

02:31:15.780 --> 02:31:22.920
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

02:31:22.920 --> 02:31:32.860
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

02:31:32.860 --> 02:31:43.020
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

02:32:13.020 --> 02:32:16.860
At that point, when you're at one of these hearings, a fine would be issued.

02:32:16.860 --> 02:32:25.219
The next two steps are how you eventually get to fast track demolition here.

02:32:25.219 --> 02:32:30.360
Chronic nuisance is the big step here before you get to fast track demolition.

02:32:30.360 --> 02:32:34.920
Chronic nuisance means you get three of these violations in a six month period.

02:32:34.920 --> 02:32:43.000
So you have to have three judgments in a six month period to be declared a chronic nuisance.

02:32:43.000 --> 02:32:48.239
All of the fast track demolitions that I have processed have gone through this chronic nuisance

02:32:48.239 --> 02:32:50.799
process first.

02:32:50.799 --> 02:32:54.680
And then finally, we get to this fast track demolition process.

02:32:54.680 --> 02:33:00.639
When I was speaking back in 2023, one of the process, one of the points I mentioned was

02:33:00.639 --> 02:33:09.479
that my department, one of the goals when I took over the apartment in 2022 was to increase

02:33:09.479 --> 02:33:10.479
code enforcement.

02:33:10.479 --> 02:33:40.479
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

02:33:40.479 --> 02:33:46.119
and more fast-track demolitions, which ultimately gets you to more blight remediation, which

02:33:46.119 --> 02:33:48.119
is in line with our strategic plan.

02:33:48.119 --> 02:33:51.739
I mean, I'll get there later, but kind of go forward here.

02:33:51.739 --> 02:33:56.000
So won't get on too much about chronic nuisance, but want to kind of talk about it a little

02:33:56.000 --> 02:33:57.000
bit here.

02:33:57.000 --> 02:33:59.119
Three violations in a six-month period.

02:33:59.119 --> 02:34:02.319
It requires a judgment from a hearing officer.

02:34:02.319 --> 02:34:07.299
So again, these cases go due process is important.

02:34:07.299 --> 02:34:14.059
A hearing officer has to declare a property a chronic nuisance.

02:34:14.059 --> 02:34:19.979
City can be granted authority to take action, remove garbage and debris, demolish a structure,

02:34:19.979 --> 02:34:25.920
could also, big one here is this $100 a day.

02:34:25.920 --> 02:34:31.539
So when you get to this point, that judge is going to give you $100 a day.

02:34:31.539 --> 02:34:37.340
and that tends to lead properties into high liens, etc.

02:34:37.340 --> 02:34:42.559
And then what I talk about is that in 2023 we had 20 fast track demolitions.

02:34:42.559 --> 02:34:47.860
So this is kind of what I talked about when I was going through our orientation for that

02:34:47.860 --> 02:34:48.860
year.

02:34:48.860 --> 02:34:51.579
So now we talk about fast track demolition.

02:34:51.579 --> 02:34:56.399
Again, kind of what I talked about when you saw that ladder there, it is the last resort

02:34:56.399 --> 02:34:57.940
in the process.

02:34:57.940 --> 02:34:58.940
and John.

02:34:58.940 --> 02:35:03.139
It essentially means you've gone through at least, you know, three code enforcement cases,

02:35:03.139 --> 02:35:11.699
you had a judgment for chronic nuisance, and now you're at a part for fast-track demolition.

02:35:11.699 --> 02:35:14.979
So why did I come here?

02:35:14.979 --> 02:35:19.139
I created this slide here to kind of say, okay, I see the numbers, we see the statistics,

02:35:19.139 --> 02:35:23.940
we've seen the process, but why do fast-track demolition?

02:35:23.940 --> 02:35:26.199
Why have it?

02:35:26.199 --> 02:35:27.199
I thought it was a good point.

02:35:27.199 --> 02:35:33.559
I think when we came up with a strategic plan, I really did appreciate Alderperson Monroe

02:35:33.559 --> 02:35:41.360
says, well, I don't want to pay for a strategic plan that is just simply put on a memo and

02:35:41.360 --> 02:35:43.559
nobody does anything with it, right?

02:35:43.559 --> 02:35:48.360
Why just have a strategic plan if you're not going to run departments behind a strategic

02:35:48.360 --> 02:35:49.360
plan?

02:35:49.360 --> 02:35:54.440
So I kind of tied here how fast-track demolitions are tied to the strategic plan in the sense

02:35:54.440 --> 02:35:56.440
Smith, and

02:35:57.440 --> 02:35:59.440
John, and I'm going to start with a couple of things.

02:36:00.440 --> 02:36:04.440
One of our major goals, one of our major strategic initiatives

02:36:04.440 --> 02:36:07.440
here, safe and inclusive community. One of our key

02:36:07.440 --> 02:36:10.440
strategies here is to ensure that neighborhood buildings are

02:36:10.440 --> 02:36:13.440
well kept improving safety by expanding enforcement time for

02:36:13.440 --> 02:36:17.440
code enforcement team, increasing penalties, continue

02:36:17.440 --> 02:36:21.440
funding, and implementation of demolition blight reduction

02:36:21.440 --> 02:36:27.039
My department is essentially judged by making sure that I keep our neighborhoods safe by

02:36:28.319 --> 02:36:33.119
remediating blights. So while we're getting into the technicalities of how this works,

02:36:33.119 --> 02:36:40.079
why do it? Well, this is why we're doing it. And all of our council members put into this plan

02:36:40.079 --> 02:36:46.799
and agreed upon this plan. All right, so now this is where it gets to be, I would say, a little bit

02:36:46.799 --> 02:36:51.199
and I have a little bit more in depth granular, but I've highlighted some important parts.

02:36:51.199 --> 02:36:54.000
This is a statute that the city enacts.

02:36:54.000 --> 02:37:00.879
So property has to be three stories or less.

02:37:00.879 --> 02:37:05.680
The corporate official designated to be in charge of enforcing the Municipalities Building

02:37:05.680 --> 02:37:14.239
Code, that's me, is in charge of enforcing the Building Code and determines that the

02:37:14.239 --> 02:37:15.239
and others.

02:37:15.239 --> 02:37:19.760
The building is open and vacant, an immediate continuing hazard to the community in which

02:37:19.760 --> 02:37:21.199
the building is located.

02:37:21.199 --> 02:37:25.719
Then the officials shall be authorized to post a notice no less than two feet by two

02:37:25.719 --> 02:37:29.479
feet in size on the front of a building.

02:37:29.479 --> 02:37:35.159
Practically speaking, this is what you'll see as an orange sign put on the building.

02:37:35.159 --> 02:37:44.159
Next step would be you have to do three types of notices in addition to the building.

02:37:44.159 --> 02:37:50.520
Do, the Posted Notice, Certified Mail, Newspaper Published, and then you have to record a notice

02:37:50.520 --> 02:37:55.840
at your Recorder's Office.

02:37:55.840 --> 02:38:01.079
So looking up here, I'm just highlighting in other parts as a municipality may proceed

02:38:01.079 --> 02:38:08.039
to demolish, and I'm just reading the highlighted parts here for a fact here of what we're essentially

02:38:08.039 --> 02:38:09.239
talking about.

02:38:09.239 --> 02:38:14.079
Under this subsection, within a 120-day period following the date of the mailing of the notice,

02:38:14.079 --> 02:38:19.239
if the appropriate official determines that the demolition is necessary to remedy an immediate

02:38:19.239 --> 02:38:21.119
and continuing hazard.

02:38:21.119 --> 02:38:29.399
So that basically says once the letter is mailed and the 30-day period has lapsed for

02:38:29.399 --> 02:38:39.600
an injunction, the city has 120 days from that mailing period to demolish the structure.

02:38:39.600 --> 02:38:42.559
Following and another important part here is following demolition, the municipality may

02:38:42.559 --> 02:38:47.159
May, File a Notice of Lean Against the Real Estate for the Cost of the Demolition.

02:38:47.159 --> 02:38:53.000
So oftentimes, another part that's been tasked with my department is being stronger on property

02:38:53.000 --> 02:38:54.000
owners.

02:38:54.000 --> 02:38:56.959
We're talking about, you know, why aren't we holding people accountable?

02:38:56.959 --> 02:38:58.799
Why aren't we holding people accountable?

02:38:58.799 --> 02:39:03.799
Fast-track demolition is a means to hold problem property owners accountable.

02:39:03.799 --> 02:39:05.399
And how is it?

02:39:05.399 --> 02:39:10.719
Well, essentially, once that demolition is performed, the city can then put a lien against

02:39:10.719 --> 02:39:14.239
and the property.

02:39:14.239 --> 02:39:24.639
So our department takes that information and kind of puts it into this flow chart here.

02:39:24.639 --> 02:39:29.340
And it makes all of that language and legalese a little bit, that statute a little bit easier

02:39:29.340 --> 02:39:31.180
to understand.

02:39:31.180 --> 02:39:35.799
So you start with a building that is three stories or less in height.

02:39:35.799 --> 02:39:39.899
It's got to be open and vague and it has to be an immediate and continuing hazard.

02:39:39.899 --> 02:39:43.299
and I talk about posting the notice on the building.

02:39:43.299 --> 02:39:46.739
We have 30 days to do our three notices here.

02:39:46.739 --> 02:39:48.619
And then in 30 days, we talk about, hey,

02:39:48.619 --> 02:39:50.219
has an objective been filed?

02:39:50.219 --> 02:39:52.899
If yes, then we stop this fast track demolition.

02:39:52.899 --> 02:39:55.139
If no, we demolish the structure.

02:39:55.139 --> 02:39:56.699
And then in 180 days,

02:39:56.699 --> 02:40:04.739
Miller, and then in 180 days, we record a lien or have the ability to record a lien.

02:40:04.739 --> 02:40:09.619
And so that concludes the process. Is there other, I mean, maybe we'll put the slideshow

02:40:09.619 --> 02:40:16.459
back on in case they have some questions? Are there any questions or do you guys want

02:40:16.459 --> 02:40:23.499
to take this to a private? Oh, I'm sorry. Yes. Who? Oh, no, I do have questions. I do.

02:40:23.499 --> 02:40:32.799
so I've actually got several questions so as we've seen in in many City Council

02:40:32.799 --> 02:40:39.219
meetings I just want to keep that on case you had a question on that yeah many

02:40:39.219 --> 02:40:45.559
City Council meetings that come you come along with City Manager to the council

02:40:45.559 --> 02:40:52.319
asking for money to be appropriated to tear down specific houses okay so why

02:40:52.319 --> 02:40:58.399
Why are these different than those instances and why not just hold that money back for

02:40:58.399 --> 02:41:00.119
these fast-track demolitions?

02:41:00.119 --> 02:41:03.399
Well, there's a couple different reasons there.

02:41:03.399 --> 02:41:08.719
I mean, there is a time period on fast-track demolitions of 120 days.

02:41:08.719 --> 02:41:12.379
But I'm also trying to understand, I'm genuinely trying to understand your question here.

02:41:12.379 --> 02:41:16.019
So we're talking about the fast-track process.

02:41:16.019 --> 02:41:21.479
So I'm really genuinely just trying to understand your question so I can answer it appropriately.

02:41:21.479 --> 02:41:28.759
Well, my question is, is why don't you come to council for these types of demolitions?

02:41:28.759 --> 02:41:29.759
That makes sense.

02:41:29.759 --> 02:41:37.839
So when I go to a slide here, and on this, this is directly from the statute.

02:41:37.839 --> 02:41:43.959
It talks about how the corporate official designated to be in charge of enforcing the

02:41:43.959 --> 02:41:48.139
municipality's building code determines that a building is open and vacant and an immediate

02:41:48.139 --> 02:41:51.719
Hazzard to the community which the building is located then the official

02:41:51.719 --> 02:41:55.379
shall be authorized to post the notice and you know on a two-by-two sign and

02:41:55.379 --> 02:41:59.739
then it goes on to the duties. Gotcha. So that's... So I'm gonna come back at you to

02:41:59.739 --> 02:42:04.519
different ones. So why on a house that you fast-track demolition you've put

02:42:04.519 --> 02:42:09.219
these notices up you then go back to that person and say no you cannot have a

02:42:09.219 --> 02:42:14.499
permit to correct the issues that are outstanding? Sure. That's you most of the

02:42:14.499 --> 02:42:20.019
Time, and I could show in specific cases, and I think one of our people here, I think was Miss

02:42:20.019 --> 02:42:26.499
Altman had stated, oftentimes when these buildings are up, the structures are deemed dangerous and

02:42:26.499 --> 02:42:33.299
unsafe. Oftentimes we get a dangerous and unsafe designation at the chronic nuisance hearing.

02:42:34.179 --> 02:42:38.259
So when a building is considered dangerous and unsafe, at that point, the city is going to

02:42:38.259 --> 02:42:49.499
So, the goal is that the State Department to get out of a

02:42:49.499 --> 02:42:53.959
structure and also the City Department to require that you

02:42:53.959 --> 02:42:59.039
have a structural engineer approve the plans to save this

02:42:59.039 --> 02:43:00.259
structure.

02:43:00.259 --> 02:43:03.999
And if they don't provide that, the City will not move forward

02:43:03.999 --> 02:43:04.999
with a permit.

02:43:04.999 --> 02:43:06.159
That is not going to happen.

02:43:06.159 --> 02:43:13.039
to move forward with a permit and that happens. It's stated in our code that the department

02:43:13.039 --> 02:43:17.439
rule require that and it's also common practice in many municipalities.

02:43:18.559 --> 02:43:25.919
So once you get that engineering letter saying that it's safe and that it should be remedied

02:43:27.279 --> 02:43:31.839
and you continue forward with the demolition, is that a normal practice?

02:43:31.839 --> 02:43:38.439
Well I've yet to I'll be honest with you I've yet to see an actual engine when

02:43:38.439 --> 02:43:42.159
I've been in these processes and I've been in this faster I've done a process

02:43:42.159 --> 02:43:46.239
several of them here I've yet to seen us I've yet to see a satisfactory

02:43:46.239 --> 02:43:51.719
architect or engineer come in and provide plans stating that demolition

02:43:51.719 --> 02:43:55.199
you know or stating that they have the plans to reconstruct the property I've

02:43:55.199 --> 02:44:00.079
yet to see one I've definitely seen people say a contractors you know might

02:44:00.079 --> 02:44:05.519
Right, right, a letter, but ultimately when you're dealing with fire damage, you're dealing

02:44:05.519 --> 02:44:09.679
with age, you're dealing with termite damage, you're dealing with immense water damage on

02:44:09.679 --> 02:44:15.679
these structures, I am going to require a full analysis from an architect or structural engineer

02:44:15.679 --> 02:44:21.159
to protect the safety of the people who live in that building, because ultimately there

02:44:21.159 --> 02:44:26.699
are situations where not only can a city be liable, but the actual head of the apartment

02:44:26.699 --> 02:44:32.139
can be liable if somebody gets hurt and dies on a permit, allowing somebody to build something

02:44:32.139 --> 02:44:36.459
that somebody falls and dies in or collapses and dies.

02:44:36.459 --> 02:44:39.099
I'll be honest.

02:44:39.099 --> 02:44:44.059
I've gone back and I've looked at some of the houses that you fast-track demolitioned

02:44:44.059 --> 02:44:51.539
and I have seen significantly worse around this town and I'm really questioning right

02:44:51.539 --> 02:44:55.699
now if this is the right rules.

02:44:55.699 --> 02:45:00.339
and I think no well I mean it is the correct rules this is from the statute but I mean we

02:45:00.339 --> 02:45:05.059
go back to and we're not following them okay that's fair I mean if you think that they're

02:45:05.059 --> 02:45:11.299
not being followed I mean I will certainly listen I'm listening with all ears and there's

02:45:11.299 --> 02:45:18.099
also do there's also due process and anybody here who has had a fast track demolition is

02:45:18.099 --> 02:45:22.219
certainly welcome and I've spoken with them and provided resources that says if you feel

02:45:22.219 --> 02:45:27.639
Scott,

02:45:39.139 --> 02:45:39.719
Alderman would,

02:45:39.719 --> 02:45:41.459
I wish I could believe you,

02:45:41.459 --> 02:45:44.339
I understand, I understand the lack of trust.

02:45:44.339 --> 02:45:46.899
Aldermen Jadle?

02:45:46.899 --> 02:46:03.899
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.

02:46:03.899 --> 02:46:10.899
That happened three times in six months before he can get to that point.

02:46:10.899 --> 02:46:17.859
It's three judgments plus an additional judgment for the chronic nuisance.

02:46:17.859 --> 02:46:20.619
So they've been aware of this.

02:46:20.619 --> 02:46:21.619
But if you can't get the permit.

02:46:21.619 --> 02:46:24.619
I think I have the floor, sir.

02:46:24.619 --> 02:46:25.619
Yeah, you do.

02:46:25.619 --> 02:46:34.419
And if you haven't got it in your head after four times coming in here and speaking with

02:46:34.419 --> 02:46:41.979
with a judge, then I don't know what argument you have.

02:46:41.979 --> 02:46:44.019
Thank you.

02:46:44.019 --> 02:46:50.419
So we'll go down this road, and I can show images of the property in concern.

02:46:50.419 --> 02:46:56.379
I can show text messages from city employees to an individual sitting in this audience

02:46:56.379 --> 02:47:02.419
tonight whose house and property were taken and torn down.

02:47:02.419 --> 02:47:32.419
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

02:47:32.419 --> 02:47:33.199
and

02:47:33.199 --> 02:47:39.159
I'm not hollering. I got hollered out. I've got the floor. I'm telling you right now. This is appalling to me.

02:47:40.339 --> 02:47:41.639
Appalling.

02:47:41.639 --> 02:47:47.859
That we would go in and tear a property down that's got a better roof, got better outside exterior.

02:47:47.859 --> 02:47:53.479
I can pull up the images still on Google Earth. I can walk through it. I can look at it.

02:47:53.479 --> 02:47:55.479
I've seen pictures on the inside.

02:47:55.919 --> 02:47:58.479
And I've got, and I drive down

02:47:58.479 --> 02:48:05.619
Brown, 26th, on West Ave, and I've got roofs collapsing, porches collapsing, and those

02:48:05.619 --> 02:48:09.999
buildings are still there, and we're fast-tracking this young lady's house.

02:48:09.999 --> 02:48:10.999
For what?

02:48:10.999 --> 02:48:14.679
Well, I can answer some of that.

02:48:14.679 --> 02:48:19.799
Number one, if there's any properties, and I've sat down with many community groups,

02:48:19.799 --> 02:48:24.599
community leaders, if there's properties that are a concern, I will listen, I will take

02:48:24.599 --> 02:48:27.279
them, and I will work them through due process.

02:48:27.279 --> 02:48:28.359
So that's number one.

02:48:28.359 --> 02:48:31.319
if there's properties with concern, we will address it.

02:48:31.319 --> 02:48:32.999
I can assure you of that.

02:48:32.999 --> 02:48:34.959
I will work it through due process.

02:48:34.959 --> 02:48:37.159
But I'm sure you're talking about the next agenda item,

02:48:37.159 --> 02:48:42.159
which is discussion regarding demolition of 404 East Shawnee.

02:48:42.959 --> 02:48:44.239
If that's what we're talking about,

02:48:44.239 --> 02:48:46.539
we can move on to that agenda item whenever you're ready.

02:48:46.539 --> 02:48:47.759
We can go right into that.

02:48:47.759 --> 02:48:50.319
But I believe Mr. Alderperson Klemm had a question,

02:48:50.319 --> 02:48:52.119
but whenever you're ready,

02:48:52.119 --> 02:48:54.599
fully prepared to talk about that property as well.

02:48:54.599 --> 02:48:58.079
Well, then let's move on and let let's let Alderman Klemm.

02:48:58.239 --> 02:49:02.359
Yeah, I just I just like to say sorry.

02:49:05.599 --> 02:49:06.999
What do you have to say?

02:49:06.999 --> 02:49:08.639
Nothing, nothing now.

02:49:08.639 --> 02:49:10.239
But yes, I'm sorry.

02:49:10.239 --> 02:49:13.559
I can't I can't see well that way.

02:49:14.439 --> 02:49:15.559
I flagged you three times.

02:49:15.559 --> 02:49:16.719
I'm not a flagger.

02:49:16.719 --> 02:49:18.919
But anyway, do you have something you need?

02:49:18.959 --> 02:49:20.279
No. Yeah, OK.

02:49:20.279 --> 02:49:24.239
OK, well, then we'll move on to Alderman Klemm, because I just like getting

02:49:24.239 --> 02:49:54.239
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.

02:49:54.239 --> 02:49:56.759
that had three houses, wrote out a check for five.

02:49:56.759 --> 02:50:03.559
and others, and we have a number of our three houses that are still in violation at $100

02:50:03.559 --> 02:50:05.039
a day.

02:50:05.039 --> 02:50:11.039
And when we got a van moved out of one of the houses, the guy next door, the house sits

02:50:11.039 --> 02:50:13.399
in between a business and his house.

02:50:13.399 --> 02:50:16.359
It's so overgrown, you can hardly see the house.

02:50:16.359 --> 02:50:20.959
The business sent me a text and said, thank you for getting that van moved, it's only

02:50:20.959 --> 02:50:23.799
taken me ten years to do it.

02:50:23.799 --> 02:50:32.559
So that gives you an idea how long these properties have been not mowed, gone before a hearing

02:50:32.559 --> 02:50:35.399
judge, and to go into this whole fast track deal.

02:50:35.399 --> 02:50:37.399
It isn't just one house here.

02:50:37.399 --> 02:50:38.399
There's plenty of them around.

02:50:38.399 --> 02:50:39.399
Thank you.

02:50:39.399 --> 02:50:42.399
Do you have anything you want to say?

02:50:42.399 --> 02:50:50.599
I just want to ask a question in regards to a home that's been sitting for over ten years

02:50:50.599 --> 02:50:51.599
probably.

02:50:51.599 --> 02:51:21.599
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

02:51:21.599 --> 02:51:51.599
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

02:51:51.599 --> 02:52:21.599
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.

02:52:21.599 --> 02:52:27.959
in a very bad area, I'm not going to say neighborhood, but in a very bad area, and it's been sitting

02:52:27.959 --> 02:52:37.679
there for over 10 years, boarded up, and I'm quite sure we have those two foot signs, whatever,

02:52:37.679 --> 02:52:43.839
but I don't see a two foot demo sign for that property. I'm just wondering why is that,

02:52:43.839 --> 02:52:44.839
why is that possible?

02:52:44.839 --> 02:52:47.759
I can sit, I can meet with the Alderperson Sanders and get that figured out.

02:52:47.759 --> 02:53:05.759
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.

02:53:05.759 --> 02:53:32.759
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?

02:53:32.759 --> 02:53:42.759
Sure. I presented a little process here for preparing something for a show. I knew this was a question to be asked.

02:53:42.759 --> 02:53:46.759
Lots of questions about this property and its demolition.

02:53:46.759 --> 02:53:50.759
You know, in the future, I saw that this was put on I think on a Friday.

02:53:50.759 --> 02:53:53.759
Today you called me, I was able to get some information for you.

02:53:53.759 --> 02:53:55.759
I'm always here to go over this in person.

02:53:55.759 --> 02:54:00.759
So, if you ever want to talk about something like this again, just call me up.

02:54:00.759 --> 02:54:05.059
Call me up. I've met with Alderperson Stacy plenty of times. I can always talk in person

02:54:05.059 --> 02:54:10.439
for more detail, but I really wanted to make sure that I met, you know, you had questions

02:54:10.439 --> 02:54:14.519
on this property, so I kind of wanted to go through it here. This is a picture, we timestamp

02:54:14.519 --> 02:54:19.639
our pictures. This is a picture of the property on September 3rd, 2024. So I'm going to go

02:54:19.639 --> 02:54:25.179
over, kind of show some pictures, and then go over the history of this property. This

02:54:25.179 --> 02:54:30.359
picture was taken April 17th of 2024. Obviously, I put this on here because there was questions

02:54:30.359 --> 02:54:33.079
about whether there are holes in the building, yes.

02:54:33.079 --> 02:54:35.679
Were there problems with the roof, yes.

02:54:35.679 --> 02:54:38.759
This is, I just wanted to show some evidence there.

02:54:38.759 --> 02:54:40.759
Pictures of the outside, were there

02:54:40.759 --> 02:54:42.639
issues with the foundation, yes.

02:54:42.639 --> 02:54:45.759
This would require a structural analysis and a permit

02:54:45.759 --> 02:54:48.199
to move forward.

02:54:48.199 --> 02:54:51.959
A couple more pictures here, more of the back of the house,

02:54:51.959 --> 02:54:53.679
issues with the back of the house here.

02:54:53.679 --> 02:54:55.799
Again, time stamps, our inspectors

02:54:55.799 --> 02:54:57.839
time stamp all pictures.

02:54:57.839 --> 02:55:00.439
Moving on to the inside of the house.

02:55:00.439 --> 02:55:03.759
As you can see in this picture, it might be a little difficult.

02:55:03.759 --> 02:55:07.439
But you can see here, this was taken October 10th.

02:55:07.439 --> 02:55:09.799
And it gives the address here.

02:55:09.799 --> 02:55:12.079
And it kind of shows what's being taken picture here,

02:55:12.079 --> 02:55:12.799
drywall.

02:55:12.799 --> 02:55:14.679
And it says here, fireplace.

02:55:14.679 --> 02:55:17.439
One of the issues in this building

02:55:17.439 --> 02:55:21.719
is work being done without a permit.

02:55:21.719 --> 02:55:26.079
And so we're going to get to the three permits that were pulled.

02:55:26.079 --> 02:55:29.079
but one of the issues here is that in the permit,

02:55:29.079 --> 02:55:30.859
when I start to talk about the permits,

02:55:30.859 --> 02:55:32.859
which is later on in my presentation,

02:55:32.859 --> 02:55:34.919
one of the issues with this drywall here is that

02:55:34.919 --> 02:55:38.819
had this, this would be eventually pulled or torn off

02:55:38.819 --> 02:55:43.239
because we would need to see the exhaust in this fireplace

02:55:43.239 --> 02:55:45.879
or also need to see connections to a fireplace.

02:55:45.879 --> 02:55:49.439
So if you cover up, that's anybody in the city of Freeport

02:55:49.439 --> 02:55:51.619
or any municipality for that matter in Illinois,

02:55:51.619 --> 02:55:54.399
when you start drywalling before you move forward

02:55:54.399 --> 02:55:58.779
and the proper steps in an inspection, you do have to take that off so that you can make

02:55:58.779 --> 02:56:03.719
sure that the exhaust and everything coming out of natural gas connections are done correctly.

02:56:03.719 --> 02:56:09.019
So I wanted to show time stamped, time date material to put people's minds at ease that

02:56:09.019 --> 02:56:13.939
hey, this happened, these pictures took place, due process happened.

02:56:13.939 --> 02:56:16.759
So I'm going to keep moving forward.

02:56:16.759 --> 02:56:21.199
Another picture here, this is another picture here of some of the drywall that was installed.

02:56:21.199 --> 02:56:27.919
and the rest of us here again October 10th drywall living room again showing pictures you can't see

02:56:27.919 --> 02:56:32.639
great in here but you could see going looking at the outside of the building you could see holes

02:56:32.639 --> 02:56:38.159
or protrusions where people are entering the city has received multitude of complaints which I will

02:56:38.159 --> 02:56:44.479
get into about people breaking and entering into this into this property vacant property

02:56:44.479 --> 02:56:56.479
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?

02:56:56.479 --> 02:57:02.479
So, this is what's known, I'm doing a little title history here, of like, who owns, of who owns a property.

02:57:02.479 --> 02:57:12.479
So, this information here comes from our tax assessor. In 2016, the property was sold from this person to the Freeport Habitat for Humanity.

02:57:12.479 --> 02:57:19.759
Okay. Habitat for Humanity bought this house for $2,000. It was my understanding that when Habitat

02:57:19.759 --> 02:57:27.279
for Humanity bought it, the property had been sitting in a poor condition, I believe since

02:57:27.279 --> 02:57:36.559
2010 circa. It was long standing when Habitat for Humanity had bought it for $2,000. So then,

02:57:36.559 --> 02:57:46.479
When looking at the title history, in 2017, the Habitat for Humanity quit claims of property to Raven.

02:57:48.239 --> 02:57:52.319
So then the question becomes, well, what's the connection between Raven and IKEA?

02:57:53.679 --> 02:57:58.559
Taking some information from a summary report interview that's conducted by City Fire Marshal

02:57:58.559 --> 02:58:05.279
Hilary Broschus on December 19th of 2021. This is regarding two arson cases on the property from

02:58:05.279 --> 02:58:10.879
from that year and so this information was taken from that interview and in that property

02:58:10.879 --> 02:58:15.119
it says she, meaning Akia Sanders, advised that she and Raven were the sole owners of

02:58:15.119 --> 02:58:16.199
the property.

02:58:16.199 --> 02:58:20.899
She stated that they purchased the home for $2,000 from Habitat for Humanity.

02:58:20.899 --> 02:58:23.199
There is no mortgage on the property.

02:58:23.199 --> 02:58:25.919
Akia advised that there is not any insurance on the home.

02:58:25.919 --> 02:58:28.939
She commented that she did not think she could get insurance on the home due to the current

02:58:28.939 --> 02:58:30.379
state of it.

02:58:30.379 --> 02:58:34.559
This is important, very important information to have because when we're considering dangerous

02:58:34.559 --> 02:58:40.639
Davis, and Unsafe Structures not having insurance is a death sentence for our community.

02:58:40.639 --> 02:58:45.199
What happens when kids go in there and they hurt themselves?

02:58:45.199 --> 02:58:46.519
Where are they going to get there?

02:58:46.519 --> 02:58:47.519
What's going to happen?

02:58:47.519 --> 02:58:50.719
What happens when people fight a fire and they burn?

02:58:50.719 --> 02:58:57.479
This house has no insurance, which really adds to how scary it is to have these properties

02:58:57.479 --> 02:58:59.759
in our community.

02:58:59.759 --> 02:59:26.759
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.

02:59:26.759 --> 02:59:37.759
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.

02:59:37.759 --> 02:59:49.759
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.

02:59:49.759 --> 02:59:56.759
Taxes. So in 2024, Liz Pendens, which is a fancy way for saying a notice.

02:59:56.759 --> 03:00:03.999
C. Way for saying a notice, they're basically saying on December 9th of 2024, in June they're

03:00:03.999 --> 03:00:09.999
going to be taking ownership of Ms. Tiffany Sanders' property for back taxes.

03:00:09.999 --> 03:00:18.719
So if the taxes aren't paid, the property, this will soon be the county's property.

03:00:18.719 --> 03:00:21.959
And then I kind of go into here a little bit showing all the years that the taxes weren't

03:00:21.959 --> 03:00:22.959
paid.

03:00:22.959 --> 03:00:28.999
It was since 2021 the taxes have not been paid and here's some back tax payment amounts

03:00:32.239 --> 03:00:39.359
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

03:00:40.159 --> 03:00:43.279
The city provided three permits for this property

03:00:44.239 --> 03:00:50.599
Which totaled five years six months and 19 days of minimal progress

03:01:20.599 --> 03:01:30.599
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.

03:01:30.599 --> 03:01:45.599
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.

03:01:45.599 --> 03:01:45.799
and

03:01:46.299 --> 03:01:47.539
during this time period.

03:01:47.759 --> 03:02:06.679
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.

03:02:07.099 --> 03:02:15.359
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.

03:02:15.599 --> 03:02:21.439
So there was a two-year permit granted from December 17th to December 17th of 2022.

03:02:22.559 --> 03:02:30.879
Again, the city in 2022 granted a six-month extension. This had expired on June 17th of 2022.

03:02:30.879 --> 03:02:35.679
So again, this narrative of the city not working with the property owner is very unfair

03:02:36.399 --> 03:02:42.319
because they're coming to us with a permit and we're saying, where's the progress? It's not there.

03:02:42.319 --> 03:02:44.639
and Mayor.

03:02:44.639 --> 03:02:49.519
On January 11th of 2021, I'm showing the work that was done in this permit.

03:02:49.519 --> 03:02:53.999
A rough electrical work was completed and this is from the inspection on January 11th

03:02:53.999 --> 03:02:55.279
of 2021.

03:02:55.279 --> 03:03:00.279
The inspection was approved for three rooms only and this was the only work that was performed

03:03:00.279 --> 03:03:05.359
for the entire period and approved by our inspector was during this two-year period.

03:03:05.359 --> 03:03:14.359
So now you're looking at 2018 to 2022, four years, and you had rough electrical work done

03:03:14.359 --> 03:03:16.279
in three rooms.

03:03:16.279 --> 03:03:17.839
That was what was done.

03:03:17.839 --> 03:03:20.479
That was the work done.

03:03:20.479 --> 03:03:24.119
So in 2022, we issued another permit.

03:03:24.119 --> 03:03:25.679
This was one year.

03:03:25.679 --> 03:03:32.039
And this went from October 21st of 2022 to November 28th of 2020, a lot of 20s in there.

03:03:32.039 --> 03:03:33.039
Pardon me for that.

03:03:33.039 --> 03:03:34.039
and others.

03:03:34.039 --> 03:03:35.039
I'm going to read it a few times fast.

03:03:35.039 --> 03:03:36.039
2023.

03:03:36.039 --> 03:03:43.079
The work that was done there was there was footing inspections for a room addition.

03:03:43.079 --> 03:03:44.559
It was approved with notes.

03:03:44.559 --> 03:03:48.219
As I kind of showed before, there were some issues with some of the footings and the foundation

03:03:48.219 --> 03:03:49.659
on that property.

03:03:49.659 --> 03:03:52.119
So that's why it was approved with notes.

03:03:52.119 --> 03:03:59.099
Now at the end of this, our inspector went in and he's coming in at the end of this three

03:04:29.099 --> 03:04:33.019
So now we're going to talk about our code enforcement history on this property.

03:04:33.019 --> 03:04:37.839
What were some of the code enforcement issues that ultimately led to it being a nuisance

03:04:37.839 --> 03:04:40.659
to this community?

03:04:40.659 --> 03:04:46.519
There were two arson cases in 2021 on this property.

03:04:46.519 --> 03:04:52.579
This property was properly inspected by City Fire Marshal Hillary Broschus and this was

03:04:52.579 --> 03:04:57.139
taken directly from her report, which was given on both arson cases.

03:04:57.139 --> 03:05:02.059
and the Act or omission that brought the ignition source and material first ignited together

03:05:02.059 --> 03:05:05.419
was a deliberate act of a person or persons.

03:05:05.419 --> 03:05:12.659
So when I come in and I say it's a nuisance and a danger to the community, it happens.

03:05:12.659 --> 03:05:14.499
People are burning these vacant buildings.

03:05:14.499 --> 03:05:17.299
I'm asking you to please understand the facts.

03:05:17.299 --> 03:05:19.059
I'm not making this up.

03:05:19.059 --> 03:05:24.899
People burn these buildings to the ground and people die and the owners don't have insurance.

03:05:24.899 --> 03:05:28.899
I don't know what else I can do to prove that this is a nuisance to the community and a danger.

03:05:28.899 --> 03:05:32.899
Please tell me what danger is if that is not.

03:05:32.899 --> 03:05:35.899
Here, this is from the report.

03:05:35.899 --> 03:05:39.899
Two reports in one night. First fire happened here.

03:05:39.899 --> 03:05:43.899
Second fire happened here.

03:05:43.899 --> 03:05:49.899
Here's a picture of the fire that happened.

03:05:49.899 --> 03:05:54.899
Here's one of the evidence pictures of the arson that happened on that property.

03:05:54.899 --> 03:06:06.899
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.

03:06:06.899 --> 03:06:15.899
So, I highlighted an important part of the findings of this case.

03:06:15.899 --> 03:06:22.899
A couple important parts to remember here is that Nicole Bauer is our hearing officer.

03:06:22.899 --> 03:06:30.899
So when my team provides data and information on these buildings, Nicole Bauer looks at it and makes a judgment.

03:06:30.899 --> 03:06:40.899
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.

03:06:40.899 --> 03:07:10.899
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

03:07:10.899 --> 03:07:12.899
and

03:07:14.019 --> 03:07:15.899
John, and I'm going to talk about the

03:07:15.899 --> 03:07:19.899
reasonable doubt. So a lot of us look at cases, we look at the

03:07:19.899 --> 03:07:23.899
city and we go, aha, I found a mistake, there's reasonable doubt

03:07:23.899 --> 03:07:26.899
that Mr. Duckman did his job wrong, throw everything out the

03:07:26.899 --> 03:07:29.899
window. I'm highlighting preponderance of evidence

03:07:29.899 --> 03:07:33.899
because it's a different burden of proof, it's a different level

03:07:33.899 --> 03:07:37.899
and I have some legal training and multitude of my degrees in

03:07:37.899 --> 03:07:44.419
to me is that you have two scales. Here's the defendant scales and here's the city,

03:07:44.419 --> 03:07:49.539
their evidence, and then here's the evidence that will be provided by the defendant, the

03:07:49.539 --> 03:07:53.459
owner of the property. And then the judge is going to look at it and say, okay, does

03:07:53.459 --> 03:07:58.139
the evidence tip slightly towards the city or slightly towards the defendant? So it's

03:07:58.139 --> 03:08:03.099
different than, aha, the city made a mistake, there's reasonable doubt. That's a different

03:08:03.099 --> 03:08:07.339
burden of proof. So oftentimes we're looking at the city, they made a typo here, they did

03:08:07.339 --> 03:08:12.299
did something wrong here, often times a hearing officer or if it goes to a civil case, they're

03:08:12.299 --> 03:08:18.179
going to look at it by the preponderance of evidence versus what we're all used to, right?

03:08:18.179 --> 03:08:21.539
We're all used to beyond a reasonable doubt.

03:08:21.539 --> 03:08:25.979
So I highlighted that there so that we can start to understand how some of these cases

03:08:25.979 --> 03:08:30.099
are looked at.

03:08:30.099 --> 03:08:33.859
So we have our next case here.

03:08:33.859 --> 03:08:38.939
And if you notice, the preponderance of evidence statement here doesn't exist.

03:08:38.939 --> 03:08:42.339
Well, why doesn't it exist?

03:08:42.339 --> 03:08:45.459
The property owner showed up to this case.

03:08:45.459 --> 03:08:50.919
So the judge is saying, I looked at the city's case, these violations here, I looked at it,

03:08:50.919 --> 03:08:54.699
and they proved their case by preponderance of evidence.

03:08:54.699 --> 03:08:58.779
The second case, appearance.

03:08:58.779 --> 03:09:00.959
They didn't show up.

03:09:00.959 --> 03:09:03.339
So they did not show up on this case.

03:09:03.339 --> 03:09:08.899
they didn't show up to testify and that goes back to was notice given.

03:09:08.899 --> 03:09:13.279
Our hearing officer looks and checks this box saying yes, the City of Freeport notified

03:09:13.279 --> 03:09:15.659
properly.

03:09:15.659 --> 03:09:19.939
And then any box check below the statement constitutes as a final order, default, defendant

03:09:19.939 --> 03:09:23.219
failed to appear and the hearing will be held before me this day.

03:09:23.219 --> 03:09:27.859
It goes back to that similar with parking tickets, etc.

03:09:27.859 --> 03:09:30.879
And then that's why you see here she signs off.

03:09:30.879 --> 03:09:43.199
This is case number 2, case number 3, similar to case number 2, there was no appearance,

03:09:43.199 --> 03:09:48.979
despite the fact that they showed up at the first case, notice was given, default judgment.

03:09:48.979 --> 03:09:56.459
So now we're at $1,700 plus $1,200, that's $2,900.

03:09:56.459 --> 03:10:04.099
Miller, that's 2,900 plus 33, 35, you're looking at about $3,200 already right now

03:10:04.099 --> 03:10:07.219
that has been accumulated.

03:10:07.219 --> 03:10:12.079
So now we talk about, and you should all see this falls right in line with the process

03:10:12.079 --> 03:10:22.919
I laid out to all the officials when they came here in April of 2023, except the city

03:10:22.919 --> 03:10:29.119
worked with this property owner for five years before any code enforcement even was enacted.

03:10:29.119 --> 03:10:31.639
Five years before any of this processing enacted.

03:10:31.639 --> 03:10:36.279
So we have actually been more generous to this property owner than the typical out of

03:10:36.279 --> 03:10:40.619
town person who never has been here and never applied for a permit.

03:10:40.619 --> 03:10:42.579
So here it is.

03:10:42.579 --> 03:10:47.859
This case went before the judge on May 16th of 2024.

03:10:47.859 --> 03:10:49.739
And then this is kind of what the judgment says.

03:10:49.739 --> 03:10:52.739
And I want to bring this up here.

03:10:52.739 --> 03:10:55.500
Here's the $100 per day.

03:10:55.500 --> 03:10:58.239
Here is also Nicole Bauer writing a statement.

03:10:58.239 --> 03:10:59.799
This is not Wayne Duckman.

03:10:59.799 --> 03:11:02.579
This is Nicole Bauer, our hearing officer.

03:11:02.579 --> 03:11:07.619
This case has been ongoing for a significant period of time.

03:11:07.619 --> 03:11:18.859
There was ample time to appear on the other cases with legal counsel if the defendant

03:11:18.859 --> 03:11:26.739
had chose to do so, plus ample time to correct these issues prior to this hearing.

03:11:26.739 --> 03:11:27.899
This is due process.

03:11:27.899 --> 03:11:28.899
This is time.

03:11:28.899 --> 03:11:29.899
This is not my words.

03:11:29.899 --> 03:11:35.259
This is the words of an independent hearing officer.

03:11:35.259 --> 03:11:43.439
So in addition to this $100 per day, the city says, and it's a little hard to read here,

03:11:43.439 --> 03:11:48.219
but the city sought, and it was, this statement was incorporated in herein, so I'm showing

03:11:48.219 --> 03:11:56.179
where it is, the city was requesting that this be defined in Chapter 1456 of the city's

03:11:56.179 --> 03:12:04.219
codified ordinances to be using remedy conditions that would be considered dangerous and unsafe.

03:12:04.219 --> 03:12:11.339
So on top of my statutory duties given to determine that a property is dangerous and

03:12:11.339 --> 03:12:17.859
unsafe, I brought it before a hearing officer who said this is a dangerous unsafe building.

03:12:17.859 --> 03:12:24.659
was brought before a hearing officer and they made that judgment in conjunction to the sign

03:12:24.659 --> 03:12:33.259
I put on the sign was put on the building.

03:12:33.259 --> 03:12:37.139
Questions are going to be had.

03:12:37.139 --> 03:12:38.139
Declaration of Chronic Nuisance.

03:12:38.139 --> 03:12:39.539
The property contains a structure.

03:12:39.539 --> 03:12:40.779
This comes from above.

03:12:40.779 --> 03:12:47.119
So this here comes from above here and then I highlighted this.

03:12:47.119 --> 03:12:51.479
The property contains a structure which is dangerous and unsafe building as defined in

03:12:51.479 --> 03:12:57.599
Chapter 1456 of these Qualified Ordinances and or within the meaning of the statute.

03:12:57.599 --> 03:13:02.279
The structure is defined as C attached and incorporated herein.

03:13:02.279 --> 03:13:05.319
And that's where we went to here.

03:13:05.319 --> 03:13:11.779
And then when you scroll down, I decide this is from our ordinances what was being defined

03:13:11.779 --> 03:13:15.559
and it states, as used in this chapter, dangerous and unsafe building means any dwelling which

03:13:15.559 --> 03:13:45.559
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

03:13:45.559 --> 03:13:58.559
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.

03:13:58.559 --> 03:14:13.559
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.

03:14:13.559 --> 03:14:17.000
showed a picture of its foundation and by the way it doesn't have to be all of

03:14:17.000 --> 03:14:21.959
these but I'm showing examples of how they're all can be checked because of

03:14:21.959 --> 03:14:28.779
its condition item D such a lack of a door or window is available and to be

03:14:28.779 --> 03:14:32.879
frequently by male factors or disorderly persons who are not lawful occupants of

03:14:32.879 --> 03:14:37.199
such structure I showed a hole on the side of the wall I showed places where

03:14:37.199 --> 03:14:55.199
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.

03:14:55.199 --> 03:14:56.199
Fowler.

03:14:56.199 --> 03:15:01.599
Contains garbage, debris, or other hazardous, noxious, or unhealthy substances or materials

03:15:01.599 --> 03:15:04.399
so far as to pose a threat to the public health and safety.

03:15:04.399 --> 03:15:11.399
Yep, I think that one was considered as well and check.

03:15:11.399 --> 03:15:19.719
So my department has been staffed with holding problem property owners accountable.

03:15:19.719 --> 03:15:21.379
That's what a lien does.

03:15:21.379 --> 03:15:28.939
This lien was filed on September 6th of 2024 and encompasses all of the due process and

03:15:28.939 --> 03:15:38.579
all of the judgments granted by our hearing officer to the tune of $14,451.

03:15:38.579 --> 03:15:44.419
Now when this property, I'm just assuming they're not going to pay their property taxes

03:15:44.419 --> 03:15:51.299
because what a tax lien does and what a tax deed does is that wipes out any of these liens.

03:15:51.299 --> 03:16:11.299
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.

03:16:11.299 --> 03:16:18.619
I'm glad you're mad because now do the Raleigh building now do other buildings

03:16:18.619 --> 03:16:22.739
and I'll point them out to you and I'll drive around this town let's meet let's

03:16:22.739 --> 03:16:29.479
do it I'll do it I'm here okay okay let's call the meeting back to order could you

03:16:29.479 --> 03:16:33.579
could you turn the light could you turn the light on for me because I can't see

03:16:33.579 --> 03:16:39.099
yep yeah are you are you done I can still no I've still got more to talk oh

03:16:39.099 --> 03:17:09.099
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.

03:17:09.099 --> 03:17:11.099
and

03:17:12.139 --> 03:17:14.139
John.

03:17:15.959 --> 03:17:18.959
I don't know if there's been a fire or not. I don't have the

03:17:18.959 --> 03:17:20.959
research. But all the windows are busted.

03:17:21.859 --> 03:17:25.859
Well, the structure is not in great shape. But I'm just saying.

03:17:25.859 --> 03:17:30.859
Okay. Okay. Wait a minute. We're going to have Alderman Sanders

03:17:30.859 --> 03:17:32.859
say something, then we'll move on.

03:17:32.859 --> 03:17:34.859
and

03:17:35.859 --> 03:17:37.859
the

03:17:38.859 --> 03:17:40.859
President.

03:17:41.859 --> 03:17:44.859
I appreciate all that you just mentioned.

03:17:45.859 --> 03:17:53.859
For the preponderance of evidence, it's been there for almost a decade or more.

03:17:54.859 --> 03:18:01.859
It was just an absolute eye sore, but after listening to all the detailed information that you guys are going through,

03:18:02.859 --> 03:18:06.059
and I have gone through, your staff and everyone.

03:18:06.059 --> 03:18:11.759
I say I take my hat off to everything that went forward

03:18:11.759 --> 03:18:15.059
because it was exactly how you described it.

03:18:15.059 --> 03:18:19.259
I want to say thank you, sir, and I want you to know it doesn't always have to come to

03:18:19.259 --> 03:18:20.259
this floor.

03:18:20.259 --> 03:18:24.939
You can call me and I will talk with you and if there's problem properties, please call

03:18:24.939 --> 03:18:25.939
me instead of a time.

03:18:25.939 --> 03:18:29.439
You called me today at 3 o'clock and you said, hey, Wayne answered the phone.

03:18:29.439 --> 03:18:32.359
This doesn't have to go like this every time.

03:18:32.359 --> 03:18:36.039
you can call me and we will look at these buildings and we'll work together I

03:18:36.039 --> 03:18:43.079
want to I want to work to get this done. Alderman, Stacy, Alder, I mean Manager, Boyer, Boyer,

03:18:43.079 --> 03:18:48.759
number one director thank you for that presentation but are you complete with

03:18:48.759 --> 03:18:51.899
your presentation or were you just interrupted there's more questions I can

03:18:51.899 --> 03:18:59.159
show this I could show more ifness okay okay we can we can go into that please

03:18:59.159 --> 03:19:01.719
finish the presentation without being interrupted thank you

03:19:01.719 --> 03:19:26.000
I just wondered why it wasn't demolished September 3rd, why did it come to December?

03:19:26.000 --> 03:19:30.139
I genuinely will answer that question.

03:19:30.139 --> 03:19:56.429
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

03:19:56.429 --> 03:20:02.629
White, so from the date of September 3rd, the city has 120 days, we have 120 days demolished

03:20:02.629 --> 03:20:08.709
from this date, but you might as well knock off 30 days because you can't, the property

03:20:08.709 --> 03:20:14.269
owner has 30 days to properly file at the Circuit Court an injunction.

03:20:14.269 --> 03:20:20.789
So here is the time stamp date of September 3rd, 2024.

03:20:20.789 --> 03:20:24.669
You can see the sign.

03:20:24.669 --> 03:20:31.309
Here's the notices, remember I talked about you got to have letter, this is the letter,

03:20:31.309 --> 03:20:35.469
this is the recorded notice, and this is the receipt that it was put in the paper on September

03:20:35.469 --> 03:20:39.109
10th, 11th, and 12th.

03:20:39.109 --> 03:20:42.629
Those are the notices.

03:20:42.629 --> 03:20:47.589
Now I talk about, you said, well hey, why did you not demolish it sooner?

03:20:47.589 --> 03:20:54.989
Akiya Sanders petitioned for injunction on October 17th of 2024.

03:20:54.989 --> 03:20:59.829
This injunction was dismissed on December 19th of 2024.

03:20:59.829 --> 03:21:05.729
And this right here has the date, December 19th, and it says plaintiff's complaint is

03:21:05.729 --> 03:21:06.729
dismissed.

03:21:06.729 --> 03:21:10.349
And there's the plaintiff, Akiya Sanders and Tiffany Sanders, it was dismissed.

03:21:10.349 --> 03:21:12.589
So now we go through this process.

03:21:12.589 --> 03:21:20.949
was dismissed, Albert & Son commenced demolition after this dismissal, Akia filed and Ms. Sanders

03:21:20.949 --> 03:21:25.509
have filed a new petition on December 19, 2024, so she filed another petition which

03:21:25.509 --> 03:21:27.989
had to be answered.

03:21:27.989 --> 03:21:33.469
When that was filed, Albert & Son by myself was told to stop the demolition work because

03:21:33.469 --> 03:21:38.509
of the injunction, and if you remember the process, if somebody files an injunction or

03:21:38.509 --> 03:21:46.029
A petition of some sort, you stop, the work stopped, you need to get that stopped.

03:21:46.029 --> 03:21:54.489
So Albert and Son, when this work was done, they would then return the personal property

03:21:54.489 --> 03:22:00.009
to the site on December 20th of 20th, excuse me, I keep getting too many 20s in here.

03:22:00.009 --> 03:22:07.089
So when they, my understanding of this is that they took the property off site, instead

03:22:07.089 --> 03:22:13.029
of the Street, they put it in their shop and then I was on site to make sure that construction

03:22:13.029 --> 03:22:18.729
had stopped per the new petition that was filed and Ms. Sanders and I talked and she

03:22:18.729 --> 03:22:25.829
said hey there's property of mine that's missing and I said let me call the contractor and

03:22:25.829 --> 03:22:28.809
have it returned and that's where I'm talking about here.

03:22:28.809 --> 03:22:34.529
The property was returned to the site on December 20th of 2024.

03:22:34.529 --> 03:22:39.729
I have pictures of that as well. I don't have it here, but I confirm that the property was returned.

03:22:39.729 --> 03:22:48.429
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.

03:22:48.429 --> 03:22:54.429
This petition was dismissed on December 27th of 2024.

03:22:54.429 --> 03:22:59.929
Defendant's motion to dismiss the City of Freeport is the defendant.

03:22:59.929 --> 03:23:04.609
and the Motion to Dismiss is granted.

03:23:10.329 --> 03:23:11.729
Reading through my notes here.

03:23:13.169 --> 03:23:16.449
Petition was dismissed on December 27th, 2024.

03:23:16.449 --> 03:23:18.009
Albernso began demolition immediately

03:23:18.009 --> 03:23:19.689
following this dismissal.

03:23:19.689 --> 03:23:21.769
Ms. Sanders was allowed to enter the premises

03:23:21.769 --> 03:23:24.129
to remove personal property.

03:23:24.129 --> 03:23:25.929
Ms. Sanders notified me at that time

03:23:25.929 --> 03:23:27.929
that there was personal property missing.

03:23:27.929 --> 03:23:57.929
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

03:23:57.929 --> 03:24:00.769
Back to the site.

03:24:00.769 --> 03:24:05.249
After that, Ms. Sanders claimed that there was additional property missing.

03:24:05.249 --> 03:24:10.809
I told Ms. Sanders, I said, at this point, you need to file a police report to ensure

03:24:10.809 --> 03:24:15.769
that if there's any property missing, you need to make sure that you have due process

03:24:15.769 --> 03:24:19.689
and you get it back, because I said, they're telling me that they returned everything in

03:24:19.689 --> 03:24:21.849
that building.

03:24:21.849 --> 03:24:25.689
And I said, you need to file a police report.

03:24:25.689 --> 03:24:32.229
to my knowledge that they did. Now there's been an accusation last week that I've

03:24:32.229 --> 03:24:36.369
been targeting Ms. Sanders for these properties and I just want to go over

03:24:36.369 --> 03:24:42.729
some statistics. Two of the 20 properties demolished in 2024 by Fast Track were

03:24:42.729 --> 03:24:48.409
Ms. Sanders. Zero of the 20 properties in 2023 were Ms. Sanders and zero of the five

03:24:48.409 --> 03:24:51.769
properties in 2022 were Ms. Sanders. The two properties that went through the

03:24:51.769 --> 03:24:59.169
Fashtrack Demolition Process, 402, 404 Shawnee, which was demolished on December 27th of 2024,

03:24:59.169 --> 03:25:01.769
and the other one was 909 South Oak.

03:25:01.769 --> 03:25:06.209
And this is the property that was Fashtrack demolished on 909 South Oak.

03:25:06.209 --> 03:25:08.529
It's not targeting.

03:25:08.529 --> 03:25:10.369
It's going after blight remediation.

03:25:10.369 --> 03:25:16.009
This is the property that I've been accused of targeting the person on.

03:25:16.009 --> 03:25:18.489
This is it.

03:25:18.489 --> 03:25:22.369
Two building permits issued in 2022 on 909 South Oak.

03:25:22.369 --> 03:25:24.329
City worked with the property owner.

03:25:24.329 --> 03:25:29.569
These two permits expired on August 5th, 2023, stating it was dangerous to even enter the

03:25:29.569 --> 03:25:32.329
building, to stay away, watch the floor joist.

03:25:32.329 --> 03:25:35.009
It was extremely dangerous property.

03:25:35.009 --> 03:25:36.929
Code enforcement cases began.

03:25:36.929 --> 03:25:41.249
This should look very familiar because it follows the exact playbook that I had mentioned

03:25:41.249 --> 03:25:44.489
in the orientation in 2023.

03:25:44.489 --> 03:25:46.169
Code enforcement case here.

03:25:46.169 --> 03:25:47.609
Code enforcement case here.

03:25:47.609 --> 03:25:55.689
enforcement case here, chronic nuisance judgment, May 18th, 2023, fast track notice on October

03:25:55.689 --> 03:25:59.889
11th, property demolished on January 29th.

03:25:59.889 --> 03:26:01.589
And that's the rest of it.

03:26:01.589 --> 03:26:05.569
So that is why it took longer for this property to be demolished.

03:26:05.569 --> 03:26:08.569
Can you come back forward?

03:26:08.569 --> 03:26:09.569
Right, back.

03:26:09.569 --> 03:26:10.569
Keep going up.

03:26:10.569 --> 03:26:11.569
Okay.

03:26:11.569 --> 03:26:12.569
Back.

03:26:12.569 --> 03:26:17.569
I wanted the one that had the doors and the window.

03:26:17.569 --> 03:26:28.569
Okay, so when I went over there, this is what I saw. Not the holes and everything you show in the first picture.

03:26:28.569 --> 03:26:38.569
So I saw new windows, I saw new doors, I saw that. So I knew work was being put into it.

03:26:38.569 --> 03:26:53.569
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.

03:26:53.569 --> 03:27:01.569
Well, let's see here. I mean, let's talk about that a little bit here.

03:27:01.569 --> 03:27:06.929
you know it is what it is but right you know even when they put the sign up it looked a whole heck

03:27:06.929 --> 03:27:15.409
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

03:27:15.409 --> 03:27:28.289
windows i saw the work being put into right all right is that is that yes yes you're done okay

03:27:31.569 --> 03:28:01.569
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

03:28:01.569 --> 03:28:08.409
and other people's information but does anybody else have anybody else have James

03:28:08.409 --> 03:28:13.889
are you done with what you want to talk about you're done okay okay I guess we

03:28:13.889 --> 03:28:24.529
move on to 20 to our public comments oh my goodness I'm moving on I'm willing

03:28:24.529 --> 03:28:31.289
can I make a motion that we move this to a later date and take it off okay I'll

03:28:31.289 --> 03:28:35.329
take it I'll make a motion since in the essence of time to take this offer to

03:28:35.329 --> 03:28:43.129
okay is there a second I don't have a date at this point mm-hmm is there a

03:28:43.129 --> 03:28:50.209
second second it's been moved in second to have this taken off the agenda for

03:28:50.209 --> 03:29:04.209
tonight. All in favor? Aye. It was Sanders. All in favor? Aye. All opposed? Okay now we'll

03:29:04.209 --> 03:29:11.009
move on to public comments. Are there any public comments? Okay. Would you state your

03:29:11.009 --> 03:29:21.729
name okay now you see in this fast track you give three types of warnings the

03:29:21.729 --> 03:29:30.489
posting certified letter and the orange sticker on the on their houses first of

03:29:30.489 --> 03:29:36.409
all my house was all enclosed doors new windows in there from window world the

03:29:36.409 --> 03:29:40.289
door was locked it was kicked in by cities and officials to inspect this

03:29:40.289 --> 03:29:49.189
House, I was never sent any certified letter that you were tearing down my house at all.

03:29:49.189 --> 03:29:53.729
I had building materials, a whole bunch of stuff in there that has just disappeared,

03:29:53.729 --> 03:29:54.729
gone.

03:29:54.729 --> 03:29:56.729
and I don't feel

03:29:56.729 --> 03:30:01.229
and I don't feel that it was right for you guys just to come and take that

03:30:01.229 --> 03:30:06.569
property without a certified letter. I hadn't even come into this hearing

03:30:06.569 --> 03:30:11.969
administrative for that property at 124 Black Hawk. Never once did I appear in

03:30:11.969 --> 03:30:17.649
front of the hearing committee to get this taken care of. Not once did I have an

03:30:17.649 --> 03:30:25.369
opportunity. But you still took that house. That's wrong. You sit here and

03:30:25.369 --> 03:30:27.849
and I have been complaining about the landlord's property,

03:30:27.849 --> 03:30:30.089
but the city owns a lot of properties

03:30:30.089 --> 03:30:33.009
that are in worse shape than what the house you tore down.

03:30:33.009 --> 03:30:35.089
We'll get the Raleigh Building going again.

03:30:35.089 --> 03:30:36.369
I have seen people in there.

03:30:36.369 --> 03:30:37.889
I own properties up there.

03:30:37.889 --> 03:30:39.309
There's trees growing through in there.

03:30:39.309 --> 03:30:40.549
The roof is caving in.

03:30:40.549 --> 03:30:41.569
That's been there for years,

03:30:41.569 --> 03:30:43.549
but the city still has not taken,

03:30:43.549 --> 03:30:46.329
they wanna hold the landlord accountable for their actions,

03:30:46.329 --> 03:30:47.929
but the city won't be accountable

03:30:47.929 --> 03:30:50.029
for their actions in their property.

03:30:50.029 --> 03:30:52.689
This building has been there for years like that.

03:30:52.689 --> 03:30:57.689
So it's wrong for you to come on the landlords when you don't want to take care of your own properties.

03:30:59.689 --> 03:31:02.689
Okay, did you want to say something ma'am?

03:31:02.689 --> 03:31:05.689
In the green, you had your hand up?

03:31:05.689 --> 03:31:07.689
Okay, come on up.

03:31:11.689 --> 03:31:18.689
My name is Miss Garris and this is kind of a wild ride tonight.

03:31:18.689 --> 03:31:21.689
This is the first meeting that I've been to ever here.

03:31:21.689 --> 03:31:29.529
and I feel for everybody here and on the housing side what we were talking about

03:31:29.529 --> 03:31:34.969
with the building and permits and all that kind of stuff I'm coming from the

03:31:34.969 --> 03:31:41.489
side of I live next to a house like that I think there's a correlation with

03:31:41.489 --> 03:31:48.569
Habitat for Humanity I think is what it's called in selling these properties

03:31:48.569 --> 03:31:57.709
like this because in my case a realtor got a hold of it and he's been known well

03:31:57.709 --> 03:32:01.889
known to do this over and over again where he buys properties doesn't take

03:32:01.889 --> 03:32:09.489
care of them I had a 10-foot antenna heavy iron fall on my house in the

03:32:09.489 --> 03:32:17.009
middle of the night I am a single female have no backup I had to take care of

03:32:17.009 --> 03:32:39.009
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,

03:32:39.009 --> 03:32:47.449
Picked up the garbage, had to call the police for drug deals constantly on that house.

03:32:47.449 --> 03:32:52.849
I had to put up a flood light just to protect my own self.

03:32:52.849 --> 03:32:59.949
So, while I feel for the people putting money into these houses,

03:32:59.949 --> 03:33:04.249
you know, you have to understand where the homeowners coming from as well,

03:33:04.249 --> 03:33:08.249
because we're affected by all that.

03:33:08.249 --> 03:33:15.849
So, that's the part I want to say on that.

03:33:15.849 --> 03:33:24.789
The other issue that I wanted to talk about is maybe could someone look at, from the city,

03:33:24.789 --> 03:33:29.329
the couple intersections, some issues there.

03:33:29.329 --> 03:33:36.529
I'm not sure the addresses, but one of them is by the fire station on Adams.

03:33:36.529 --> 03:33:45.329
They newly redid the street, which looks great, and it's great to drive on. That's much appreciated.

03:33:45.329 --> 03:33:50.049
There's a stop sign, however, that's turned towards Adams, and people keep thinking that

03:33:50.049 --> 03:33:55.889
they're supposed to stop there. I have witnessed, and then had it happen to me today, where

03:33:55.889 --> 03:34:02.529
I had to slam on my brakes because the person in front of me was confused and didn't know

03:34:02.529 --> 03:34:06.329
if they should be stopping at that sign.

03:34:06.329 --> 03:34:08.689
It's actually for the side street coming this way,

03:34:08.689 --> 03:34:11.089
but it's facing this way on Adams.

03:34:11.089 --> 03:34:12.749
Your time has expired.

03:34:12.749 --> 03:34:13.249
OK.

03:34:13.249 --> 03:34:15.089
OK, thank you.

03:34:15.089 --> 03:34:17.449
Who can I talk to about the other intersection?

03:34:17.449 --> 03:34:18.849
Right there.

03:34:18.849 --> 03:34:22.729
I think it's, I want to say Winnishek and Adams,

03:34:22.729 --> 03:34:25.249
but I'm not sure.

03:34:25.249 --> 03:34:26.449
Yeah.

03:34:26.449 --> 03:34:28.249
Is there someone we can talk to, or I

03:34:28.249 --> 03:34:30.969
can talk to about another intersection?

03:34:30.969 --> 03:34:44.449
I guess Alderman Klemm had a... I just wanted to announce, I originally had a neighborhood

03:34:44.449 --> 03:34:51.609
watch meeting set up for January 28th, which is my normal date. January 28th is going to

03:34:51.609 --> 03:34:58.969
be a candidate forum at the library. I don't want to interfere with that. I think it's

03:34:58.969 --> 03:35:02.489
it's more important for people to go meet the candidates

03:35:02.489 --> 03:35:04.849
and listen to what they have to say.

03:35:04.849 --> 03:35:06.329
So I've sent a notice out.

03:35:06.329 --> 03:35:09.889
I will send other notices out, but I will rearrange a date.

03:35:09.889 --> 03:35:11.929
Maybe I can get together and do it

03:35:11.929 --> 03:35:14.169
at the same time as Greg's.

03:35:14.169 --> 03:35:15.249
Thank you.

03:35:15.249 --> 03:35:17.429
Is there any other, Mike?

03:35:22.169 --> 03:35:23.009
Uh-oh.

03:35:24.849 --> 03:35:27.829
Well, I came up here to say,

03:35:28.969 --> 03:35:30.729
Everybody can start smiling now, OK?

03:35:30.729 --> 03:35:33.169
We can get the tension out.

03:35:33.169 --> 03:35:36.569
On behalf of Flight Radio Studio Production Company,

03:35:36.569 --> 03:35:38.969
I am the program director.

03:35:38.969 --> 03:35:42.049
And I am inviting the whole city council

03:35:42.049 --> 03:35:47.489
to this upcoming Saturday's Dance Against Cancer Ball, OK?

03:35:47.489 --> 03:35:49.929
It's a 70s and 80s Dance Against Cancer Ball.

03:35:49.929 --> 03:35:54.089
We are raising money for the Leonard C. Ferguson Cancer

03:35:54.089 --> 03:35:55.209
Center.

03:35:55.209 --> 03:36:00.169
and what we're doing is, is trying to improve the city

03:36:00.169 --> 03:36:03.389
with through Flight Radio 105.7 FM.

03:36:03.389 --> 03:36:06.089
So I'm inviting all council members,

03:36:06.089 --> 03:36:08.489
please attend this Saturday.

03:36:09.809 --> 03:36:11.929
Mike, could you say your name?

03:36:11.929 --> 03:36:12.769
Say your name.

03:36:12.769 --> 03:36:14.969
Oh, Michael Johnson, I'm sorry.

03:36:14.969 --> 03:36:16.249
All right.

03:36:16.249 --> 03:36:17.249
Okay, thank you.

03:36:18.849 --> 03:36:21.089
Okay, the event is being held at the Eagles Club

03:36:21.089 --> 03:36:23.809
this Saturday at seven o'clock until 11.

03:36:23.809 --> 03:36:30.409
The Real Deal Band will be performing, and yeah, we're coming out to have a good time.

03:36:30.409 --> 03:36:32.889
And we're doing some community support, okay?

03:36:32.889 --> 03:36:33.889
Okay.

03:36:33.889 --> 03:36:34.889
Let's stop being mean.

03:36:34.889 --> 03:36:36.689
Everybody, let's get some smiles on our face.

03:36:36.689 --> 03:36:37.689
Thank you.

03:36:37.689 --> 03:36:38.689
That's right.

03:36:38.689 --> 03:36:39.689
Yep.

03:36:39.689 --> 03:36:40.689
Just a second.

03:36:40.689 --> 03:36:44.209
We'll get Kia and then you, okay?

03:36:44.209 --> 03:36:51.809
So if you was listening to me, I didn't say that they didn't work with me during my permit

03:36:51.809 --> 03:36:52.809
phase.

03:36:52.809 --> 03:36:53.809
and others.

03:36:53.809 --> 03:37:22.129
So, when somebody files a paper, it stops, so why didn't you stop when you and Steve Cox

03:37:22.129 --> 03:37:27.609
Cox got served that paper. That was not a, let's make a decision, Steve Cox and Wayne

03:37:27.609 --> 03:37:32.129
Duckman. That was for the judge. And to the judge hear it, it wasn't supposed to be knocked

03:37:32.129 --> 03:37:38.169
down. He dismisses it. You don't dismiss the idea of me filing a paper. You, I mean, if

03:37:38.169 --> 03:37:42.409
you want to see that you talked about me bad in here, if you consider that a win, I never

03:37:42.409 --> 03:37:47.289
said that you didn't work with me. It was over a 5,000 square foot house. It took a

03:37:47.289 --> 03:37:48.289
and others.

03:37:48.289 --> 03:37:49.289
That was a lot of time.

03:37:49.289 --> 03:37:50.849
That was a lot of material.

03:37:50.849 --> 03:37:53.569
And then nobody talks about my stuff being stolen.

03:37:53.569 --> 03:37:56.749
Three times it took somebody to bring my stuff three different times.

03:37:56.749 --> 03:38:01.889
How do you overlook bounce houses three times my size?

03:38:01.889 --> 03:38:06.729
You had did nothing but show that the privilege is Jodi Miller's brother.

03:38:06.729 --> 03:38:08.009
He can steal what he want to.

03:38:08.009 --> 03:38:11.769
I never heard that there was a contract that you guys had, demo houses, but go shopping

03:38:11.769 --> 03:38:13.089
first.

03:38:13.089 --> 03:38:14.089
Steal something first.

03:38:14.089 --> 03:38:15.809
I never heard that.

03:38:15.809 --> 03:38:19.369
So somebody should answer, there's theft after the fact, and I'm just going to tell you,

03:38:19.369 --> 03:38:22.769
like if you know me, you know this ain't the end of it, this is only a council meeting,

03:38:22.769 --> 03:38:28.049
I got laws to make sure that stick to me, and I never meant to mislead anybody, not

03:38:28.049 --> 03:38:32.089
you at all, this is truly what happened to me, and I'm going to see fit that something

03:38:32.089 --> 03:38:36.769
happens to him and whoever else is against me.

03:38:36.769 --> 03:38:38.769
And if you know me, that's not my brother.

03:38:38.769 --> 03:38:39.769
and Tom.

03:38:39.769 --> 03:38:47.809
Okay, we're going to have, we're going to have, Akeia, Akeia, Akeia, Akeia, let's not, let's

03:38:47.809 --> 03:38:48.809
not do this.

03:38:48.809 --> 03:38:55.129
Right, yes, right, but both, both, we're just going to have more, right, right, we're going

03:38:55.129 --> 03:38:56.129
to have.

03:38:56.129 --> 03:38:57.369
You truly show who you for, truly.

03:38:57.369 --> 03:38:58.369
Yes, I don't care.

03:38:58.369 --> 03:39:01.689
Okay, I got no minutes, but you need to, you need to hear.

03:39:01.689 --> 03:39:04.169
I don't care what you say.

03:39:04.169 --> 03:39:06.229
We're just, we're leading a council meeting.

03:39:06.229 --> 03:39:09.229
Okay, you need to stop or you're going to be removed.

03:39:09.229 --> 03:39:12.229
Tommy, would you come up and say what you've got to say?

03:39:12.229 --> 03:39:14.229
Yes, yes, bye-bye.

03:39:14.229 --> 03:39:16.229
Right, bye-bye.

03:39:24.229 --> 03:39:26.229
Motion for adjournment.

03:39:26.229 --> 03:39:28.229
Wait, we've got to listen to Tommy.

03:39:28.229 --> 03:39:30.229
Tommy wants to say something.

03:39:31.229 --> 03:39:33.229
Who? Wait a minute.

03:39:33.229 --> 03:39:35.229
Tommy, that's what it's about.

03:39:35.229 --> 03:39:56.589
and Jodi.

03:39:56.589 --> 03:40:03.309
you have something you want to say okay Saturday January the 18th there would be a national day

03:40:03.309 --> 03:40:10.989
of racial healing at the Freeport Farm Bureau from nine to one the purpose is to reflect

03:40:11.709 --> 03:40:21.949
on our shared values and engage in conversation to heal division and bring our community together

03:40:21.949 --> 03:40:32.149
that's Saturday from nine to one the 18th at the Farm Bureau and let's not

03:40:32.149 --> 03:40:39.469
forget Monday January the 20th Dr. King's celebration so I guess there

03:40:39.469 --> 03:40:49.829
won't be counsel that day no Monday at 530 and Mr. James Ryan says I hope that

03:40:49.829 --> 03:41:00.829
that this year's attendance will reflect the diversity of our community as we celebrate one of our greatest heroes.

03:41:02.829 --> 03:41:12.829
One last thing. Thursday, January 16th, 2nd Ward Neighborhood Watch meeting at 630 at the Carson's House.

03:41:13.829 --> 03:41:18.829
Same place as always, no snow. You said January 16th? Thursday, January 16th.

03:41:19.829 --> 03:41:28.189
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?

03:41:28.189 --> 03:41:29.189
Aye.