WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:02.000 At scan, that's right. 00:00:02.000 --> 00:00:04.000 She's still in ER. 00:00:04.000 --> 00:00:06.000 Keep us posted, we'll be ready. 00:00:06.000 --> 00:00:08.000 Thank you. 00:00:08.000 --> 00:00:10.000 That's why I told Jodi and Rob I had to leave. 00:00:10.000 --> 00:00:12.000 That's why I left this on. 00:00:14.000 --> 00:00:16.000 So you could fire her in the door. 00:00:16.000 --> 00:00:18.000 Well, good luck. 00:01:00.000 --> 00:01:19.280 Good evening. Evelyn, could you please give the invocation? 00:01:19.280 --> 00:01:32.120 I just want to say it's a good, good, good feeling here tonight. It's peaceful and calm 00:01:32.120 --> 00:01:38.159 and I thank God for that. What did you say? 00:01:38.159 --> 00:01:40.480 She said we haven't got started. 00:01:40.480 --> 00:01:48.719 Oh that's true. Let's keep that. Let's bow our heads. Father God, as the City Council 00:01:48.719 --> 00:02:18.719 meeting begins tonight. I pray that Ephesians 4 and 3 which says, make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. Let peace prevail over this meeting tonight. Father God, I pray that the discussion of the Greater Freeport Partnership be accurate and straight on point. And let the memorandum of understanding discussion be an honest discussion. 00:02:18.719 --> 00:02:24.479 And last but not least Father, let every public comment, if any are spoken tonight, be with 00:02:24.479 --> 00:02:29.840 respect on every topic that is brought to the Council Floor tonight. 00:02:29.840 --> 00:02:33.719 In the mighty name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, I pray, Amen. 00:02:33.719 --> 00:02:34.719 Amen. 00:02:34.719 --> 00:02:37.360 And we will officially call this meeting to order. 00:02:37.360 --> 00:02:39.680 Madam Clerk, could you please take the roll? 00:02:39.680 --> 00:02:40.680 Mayor Miller? 00:02:40.680 --> 00:02:41.680 Here. 00:02:41.680 --> 00:02:42.680 Alderpersons, Klemm? 00:02:42.680 --> 00:02:43.680 Here. 00:02:43.680 --> 00:02:44.680 Johnson? 00:02:44.680 --> 00:02:45.680 Here. 00:02:45.680 --> 00:02:46.680 Simmons? 00:02:46.680 --> 00:02:47.680 Here. 00:02:47.680 --> 00:02:48.680 Parker? 00:02:48.680 --> 00:02:54.520 Sanders, here, and Sellers, here. If you could please stand for the pledge led by Alderman Simmons. 00:02:54.520 --> 00:03:06.160 To the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands, one 00:03:06.160 --> 00:03:18.439 nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. 00:03:18.439 --> 00:03:20.200 Item number four is the approval of the agenda. 00:03:20.200 --> 00:03:21.200 Is there such a motion? 00:03:21.200 --> 00:03:22.200 I move. 00:03:22.200 --> 00:03:23.200 Second. 00:03:23.200 --> 00:03:29.200 We have a motion made by Alderman Klemm, seconded by Alderman Sellers. All those in favor signify by saying aye. 00:03:29.200 --> 00:03:40.200 Aye. Opposed? That motion passes. Item number five is approval of the minutes from the Committee of the Whole held on November 10th and December 8th, 2025. Is there a motion to approve? 00:03:40.200 --> 00:03:42.200 So moved. Second. 00:03:42.200 --> 00:03:48.200 Motion made by Alderman Shadle, seconded by Alderman Sellers. All those in favor signify by saying aye. 00:03:48.200 --> 00:03:52.200 Aye. Opposed? That motion passes. 00:03:52.200 --> 00:04:00.040 Item six is public comments. There's no one signed in. So move on to item number seven, which is the Greater Freeport Partnerships Porter Leap Report. 00:04:09.080 --> 00:04:14.440 Thank you, Curt. Thank you. Good evening. Happy New Year to you all. 00:04:15.400 --> 00:04:19.960 Tonight's presentation will provide a more detailed information around some small business 00:04:19.959 --> 00:04:20.959 Huffines. 00:04:20.959 --> 00:04:23.560 We also have a number of business support efforts that occurred in the fourth quarter. 00:04:23.560 --> 00:04:29.799 However, a full summary of all the partnerships detailing of our strategic plan focus areas 00:04:29.799 --> 00:04:35.439 is provided in the quarterly report that Nicole is distributing now, as well as what was linked 00:04:35.439 --> 00:04:38.279 in the agenda for this evening. 00:04:38.279 --> 00:04:46.240 Before we dive into business support, as you will see on the front page of the partnerships 00:04:46.240 --> 00:04:48.040 Quarterly Report. 00:04:48.040 --> 00:04:53.360 We have hired a new Economic Development Manager and a new Membership Director. 00:04:53.360 --> 00:04:59.840 Leslie Mastroianni and Mercedes Joiner have joined the partnerships team filling vacant 00:04:59.840 --> 00:05:04.160 positions that were in within the staff. 00:05:04.160 --> 00:05:10.120 Curt, am I doing something or? 00:05:10.120 --> 00:05:11.120 Yes. 00:05:11.120 --> 00:05:12.120 Okay. 00:05:12.120 --> 00:05:31.480 Do you need me to... All right. Perfect. Thank you. All right. Report laid out in the strategic 00:05:31.480 --> 00:05:36.240 focus areas, as mentioned before, small business support efforts. So we're going to walk through 00:05:36.240 --> 00:05:40.879 three specific items. One, the local shopping campaign, which Nicole will highlight in just 00:05:40.879 --> 00:05:41.879 and others. 00:05:41.879 --> 00:05:44.819 The second will be the workforce connection with talent. 00:05:44.819 --> 00:05:48.639 This is an ongoing issue that all of our businesses are having. 00:05:48.639 --> 00:05:53.360 We'll talk about some efforts and programs that we've participated in. 00:05:53.360 --> 00:05:57.120 And the last but not least, some grant support that we've offered to small businesses. 00:05:57.120 --> 00:06:01.519 I'm going to turn it over to Nicole. 00:06:01.519 --> 00:06:05.959 Again, these are just highlights of the quarterly report. 00:06:05.959 --> 00:06:10.219 You don't want us up here talking about eight full pages, so we just pick out a specific 00:06:40.220 --> 00:06:45.680 We also started something new this year with a countywide cross-promotion postcard. 00:06:45.680 --> 00:06:52.280 We had 23 different businesses interested in creating a, I call it a postcard, but it wasn't sent out. 00:06:52.280 --> 00:06:56.140 It was actually placed at all 23 different distribution locations. 00:06:56.140 --> 00:06:59.660 We also started a new project this year, which is a new project. 00:06:59.660 --> 00:07:03.180 We have a new project that we're going to be doing in the next few weeks. 00:07:03.180 --> 00:07:07.180 We're going to be doing a new project that we're going to be doing in the next few weeks. 00:07:07.180 --> 00:07:25.960 and so on. In addition to those, there were also holiday events. Mistletoe Walk was held 00:07:25.960 --> 00:07:32.519 in downtown Freeport on November 22. New features for Mistletoe Walk this year included six 00:07:32.519 --> 00:07:38.000 Living Windows, which were really well attended and a great addition that we hope it continues 00:07:38.000 --> 00:07:43.319 to grow, as well as starting to utilize the Karcher Block Pocket Park. 00:07:43.319 --> 00:07:47.479 That's where Santa was, a s'more station, and you could fill out letters to Santa and 00:07:47.479 --> 00:07:50.039 place them in the box there as well. 00:07:50.039 --> 00:07:55.199 Lena had their hometown Christmas and lighted parade on December 5th. 00:07:55.199 --> 00:07:59.120 Weather didn't cooperate with them quite as much this year, but they still had almost 00:07:59.120 --> 00:08:07.120 and a great array of businesses that stayed open and then brought vendor booths downtown as well. 00:08:07.120 --> 00:08:14.120 Then an additional event this year was a last minute shopping opportunity with Holly Day Hustle. 00:08:14.120 --> 00:08:24.120 We had about a dozen participating businesses for that promotion and we highlighted different items that each store picked out. 00:08:24.120 --> 00:08:27.759 McDonough, and so on. So if you are looking for a particular item for that last-minute 00:08:27.759 --> 00:08:31.840 person on your gift list, this would help you see what each of those merchants could 00:08:31.840 --> 00:08:37.519 provide. I'll turn it back over to Andrea. 00:08:37.519 --> 00:08:41.759 As we talked about, one of the other things that we have worked on to help support small 00:08:41.759 --> 00:08:46.919 businesses was around workforce development. So always going back to the data and taking 00:08:46.919 --> 00:08:51.680 a look and tracking our numbers here. Again, this is information that's reported from Illinois 00:08:51.680 --> 00:08:53.680 and 00:08:54.780 --> 00:08:56.780 I'm going to talk about the employment 00:08:57.880 --> 00:09:00.040 security and this is September 2025. I understand this is a few 00:09:00.040 --> 00:09:04.040 months dated but as we might remember a couple of months ago, 00:09:04.040 --> 00:09:08.040 late last year, there was a government shutdown. That had a 00:09:08.040 --> 00:09:11.040 ripple effect in terms of reporting out some information 00:09:11.040 --> 00:09:15.040 on employment data was one of those. So as you will see that 00:09:15.040 --> 00:09:19.040 there were within Stevenson County in September of 2025, 00:09:19.039 --> 00:09:21.039 and 00:09:22.039 --> 00:09:24.039 the 00:09:25.039 --> 00:09:27.039 City of Freeport. 00:09:28.039 --> 00:09:32.039 The unemployment rates within Stevenson County and the City of Freeport were pretty comparable to the state. 00:09:33.039 --> 00:09:40.039 Within the same month, there were over 1,300 unique job postings in September by 327 different employees. 00:09:40.039 --> 00:09:42.699 and 00:09:42.699 --> 00:09:42.799 the 00:09:42.799 --> 00:09:43.599 employees. 00:09:43.599 --> 00:09:50.599 The median wage for those positions, again median, was a little over $35 an hour which equates to a salary of $73,000 a year. 00:09:50.599 --> 00:09:59.599 Again, just for a frame of reference, and this is data reported by the census, medium household income for 2025 in Stevenson County is $33,000 a year. 00:09:59.599 --> 00:10:02.059 and 00:10:02.059 --> 00:10:04.139 I'm going to go back to the slide here. 00:10:04.139 --> 00:10:10.219 The top 25 in Stevenson County is just shy of $62,000 a year. 00:10:10.219 --> 00:10:15.619 As you can see, what's on the slide here, those were the top employers that were posting 00:10:15.619 --> 00:10:17.939 and those were the top occupations. 00:10:17.939 --> 00:10:24.059 We have tracked this data pretty much for most of 2025 and I would say that those top 00:10:24.059 --> 00:10:25.059 and so on. 00:10:25.059 --> 00:10:26.059 They all have their own significance. 00:10:26.059 --> 00:10:28.179 They stay very similar. 00:10:28.179 --> 00:10:33.739 So this information was key in terms of as we go and talk to our educational partners, 00:10:33.739 --> 00:10:39.299 which I'll get to in just a second, but I want to just emphasize that even if 921 people 00:10:39.299 --> 00:10:44.139 were employed, that would not fill all the open positions that's in Stevenson County. 00:10:44.139 --> 00:10:51.699 So retaining our workforce is critical, which leads to other efforts that the partnership 00:10:51.699 --> 00:10:55.519 Bader, and 00:10:55.519 --> 00:10:58.519 Mary. 00:10:58.519 --> 00:11:01.519 So there were three different events all in the fourth quarter. 00:11:01.519 --> 00:11:06.519 Manufacturing Day, Highland Community College in conjunction with Freeport High School puts on a career and job fair. 00:11:06.519 --> 00:11:10.519 And then Highland does an Ag Expo. Again, Manufacturing Day. 00:11:10.519 --> 00:11:15.019 You're targeting students who are interested in entering into a manufacturing 00:11:15.019 --> 00:11:21.019 career or working with a manufacturer. It's a great opportunity for students to get out of the classroom and to get into 00:11:21.019 --> 00:11:24.979 and to get into some of the facilities that they drive by every day, but they might not 00:11:24.979 --> 00:11:29.179 have any idea what they do inside or what they make. 00:11:29.179 --> 00:11:32.859 Students are able to tour, they end up back at Highland where they're able to meet an 00:11:32.859 --> 00:11:34.779 employer expo. 00:11:34.779 --> 00:11:38.499 Highland Community College and Freeport High School Career Fair is something similar to 00:11:38.499 --> 00:11:40.979 that just at a larger scale. 00:11:40.979 --> 00:11:45.859 With over 637 attendees, you had 10 area high schools represented. 00:11:45.859 --> 00:11:50.299 So it was a great opportunity for area high school students and some Highland Community 00:11:50.299 --> 00:11:52.299 and 00:11:53.299 --> 00:11:54.299 other 00:11:54.299 --> 00:11:55.299 individuals. 00:11:55.299 --> 00:11:56.299 We are also working with the 00:11:56.299 --> 00:11:58.299 community college students and members of the public to 00:11:58.299 --> 00:12:00.299 interface with employers from all different industries 00:12:00.299 --> 00:12:01.299 throughout Stevenson County. 00:12:01.299 --> 00:12:04.299 And again, Highland Ag Expo, which happens at the beginning 00:12:04.299 --> 00:12:07.299 of December, you're looking at something very similar in 00:12:07.299 --> 00:12:10.299 format to a manufacturing day, but it's specifically to the 00:12:10.299 --> 00:12:13.299 Ag industry, connecting college students who are already in an 00:12:13.299 --> 00:12:17.299 Ag pathway and area high school students who probably are also 00:12:17.299 --> 00:12:18.679 are connecting with employers, 00:12:18.679 --> 00:12:21.239 their understanding about their opportunities at Highland 00:12:21.239 --> 00:12:23.159 so we can keep that talent local. 00:12:25.519 --> 00:12:28.039 And last but not least, a recent win 00:12:28.039 --> 00:12:31.479 that we were really happy to have played in a critical part 00:12:31.479 --> 00:12:34.319 is the beginning of 2025, the state of Illinois 00:12:34.319 --> 00:12:37.139 put out a small business infrastructure grant. 00:12:37.139 --> 00:12:39.019 This is a tad bit unusual in the fact 00:12:39.019 --> 00:12:42.539 that small business support grants don't often, 00:12:42.539 --> 00:12:44.299 outside of COVID times, 00:12:44.299 --> 00:12:45.299 and others. 00:12:45.299 --> 00:12:47.799 They will come directly to small businesses themselves. 00:12:47.799 --> 00:12:53.379 Often they will come to other entities, but typically not directly to a small business. 00:12:53.379 --> 00:12:57.779 And part of the reason for that is state grants can be somewhat cumbersome or complicated 00:12:57.779 --> 00:12:58.779 to apply for. 00:12:58.779 --> 00:13:03.779 But the state of Illinois, in receiving some feedback, put together a small grant program. 00:13:03.779 --> 00:13:08.159 We held an informational seminar for any business that was interested in applying. 00:13:08.159 --> 00:13:09.499 About 22 attended. 00:13:09.499 --> 00:13:12.419 This is in January of 2025. 00:13:12.419 --> 00:13:16.859 We worked then with five businesses who were very serious in their application. 00:13:16.859 --> 00:13:21.819 We were able to work with them, put together the documentation, get them SAMS qualified 00:13:21.819 --> 00:13:27.539 and Gattaport and all the things you need to do to become qualified to apply for a state 00:13:27.539 --> 00:13:28.539 grant. 00:13:28.539 --> 00:13:35.699 From those five businesses that applied, there were three local grants that were awarded. 00:13:35.699 --> 00:13:42.499 So in total, the grant award in sum from all three businesses is nearly three quarters of 00:13:42.499 --> 00:13:44.219 a million dollars. 00:13:44.219 --> 00:13:51.579 So $725,000 is coming back between these three businesses to help them grow. 00:13:51.579 --> 00:13:57.739 We are continuing to work with each one of these businesses to provide them grant administration, 00:13:57.739 --> 00:14:00.979 project assist experience as we can. 00:14:00.979 --> 00:14:06.659 They have two years to expend grant funds in what they outlined in their project scope, 00:14:06.659 --> 00:14:12.259 but we're very excited that we were happy to play a part of that. 00:14:12.259 --> 00:14:17.739 And looking to the future, Basecamp, if you know someone who is looking to start a business 00:14:17.739 --> 00:14:25.059 or has a small business but would like to grow or maybe need some resources, some support, 00:14:25.059 --> 00:14:27.459 our Basecamp is starting January 20th. 00:14:27.459 --> 00:14:34.859 Again, that program is designed for small businesses and entrepreneurs who are looking to just deepen their resources, get a little bit more education. 00:14:34.859 --> 00:14:40.659 It runs for 12 weeks, 6 classes, Tuesday evenings at the Partnership Office. 00:14:40.659 --> 00:14:43.859 Feel free to contact me or Nicole or the Partnership Office. 00:14:43.859 --> 00:14:47.259 Just call our main line and we were happy to give you more information. 00:14:47.259 --> 00:14:54.559 We continue to work with Freeport High School and the Foundation for Northwest Illinois on the CEO program, which is under development. 00:14:54.559 --> 00:14:56.559 and 00:14:57.859 --> 00:14:59.859 Michael. 00:15:01.959 --> 00:15:03.399 We're going to launch this year, but it's set to launch in fall of 00:15:03.399 --> 00:15:05.399 2026. 00:15:06.519 --> 00:15:08.659 Again, this is almost similar to a base camp type program that 00:15:08.659 --> 00:15:11.339 runs a year long, but it's targeted to juniors and seniors 00:15:11.339 --> 00:15:13.339 to help them understand the skill set that they need to 00:15:15.619 --> 00:15:17.619 develop small businesses. And in conjunction with that, they're 00:15:17.619 --> 00:15:20.199 not just sitting in a classroom. They're going out and interfacing 00:15:20.199 --> 00:15:23.439 with small businesses. They're meeting with business leaders, 00:15:23.439 --> 00:15:29.519 on another grant application that, if awarded, would expand our small business support efforts, 00:15:29.519 --> 00:15:33.639 enhance those, and expand the partnerships capacity. 00:15:33.639 --> 00:15:36.399 So thank you for your attention. 00:15:36.399 --> 00:15:39.679 Happy to answer any questions. 00:15:39.679 --> 00:15:40.679 Thank you, Andrea. 00:15:40.679 --> 00:15:41.679 Thank you. 00:15:41.679 --> 00:15:42.679 Any questions, Council? 00:15:42.679 --> 00:15:43.679 Thank you. 00:15:43.679 --> 00:15:44.679 Thank you. 00:15:44.679 --> 00:15:45.679 All right, thank you. 00:15:45.679 --> 00:15:46.679 Thank you. 00:15:46.679 --> 00:15:47.679 Did you have one? 00:15:47.679 --> 00:15:48.679 Yeah. 00:15:48.679 --> 00:15:49.679 Alderman Johnson. 00:15:49.679 --> 00:15:50.679 I did. 00:15:50.679 --> 00:16:20.679 Alderman Johnson. I was looking in the report that was given out to us. Yes. And it was saying regarding the six leads for industry that we could not respond to as we have no existing buildings that meet requirements or can't meet water sewer demands. And I was wondering, will well number 12 help that at all, the situation with water and sewer demands to get more industry in here? Yes and no. In terms of 00:16:20.679 --> 00:16:31.679 Oftentimes, sometimes it's because the manufacturer, typically it's a manufacturer, uses so much water that it would tax the city's system. 00:16:31.679 --> 00:16:38.679 It's very possible that with the new well, I don't know the exact numbers in terms of the capacity, that that would help with that. 00:16:38.679 --> 00:16:41.679 It would alleviate that burden. 00:16:41.679 --> 00:16:57.679 The other thing to think about, too, and that's, you know, in working with conjunction with community development and the city leadership, is making sure that the well, the water capacity might be there, but making sure that we have land available for that manufacturer. 00:16:57.679 --> 00:17:04.039 That was kind of my other question, because I wondered if there were buildings, is it because 00:17:04.039 --> 00:17:09.339 the buildings, they weren't able to restore them to the point where they needed them, 00:17:09.339 --> 00:17:15.079 or there wasn't enough room for them to expand where the existing buildings were? 00:17:15.079 --> 00:17:20.399 Typically it is not, it's, everyone's a case by case basis, so I'm going to say in a little 00:17:20.399 --> 00:17:26.559 bit more generality, is it's not that they don't have room to expand adjacent to the 00:17:26.559 --> 00:17:34.179 existing facility, it's oftentimes manufacturing is looking for a much higher floor to ceiling 00:17:34.179 --> 00:17:40.339 height to accommodate their equipment and machinery than many of the existing facilities 00:17:40.339 --> 00:17:41.339 we have today. 00:17:41.339 --> 00:17:42.339 Yeah. 00:17:42.339 --> 00:17:43.339 Okay. 00:17:43.339 --> 00:17:44.339 Good question. 00:17:44.339 --> 00:17:45.339 All right. 00:17:45.339 --> 00:17:46.339 Thank you. 00:17:46.339 --> 00:17:47.339 Thank you. 00:17:47.339 --> 00:17:50.839 Item number eight is discussion regarding the MOU with the Illinois Department of Transportation 00:17:50.839 --> 00:17:51.839 for South Street. 00:17:51.839 --> 00:17:52.839 Manager Boyer. 00:17:52.839 --> 00:17:53.839 Thank you, Your Honor. 00:17:53.839 --> 00:17:59.839 Thank you, Your Honor. Go ahead and hit the lights. I'm pleased tonight to discuss an MOU 00:18:00.480 --> 00:18:06.239 between the City of Freeport and IDOT related to mill and overlay of South Street. That's one of 00:18:06.239 --> 00:18:12.159 our main corridors through town. It's also in a pretty significantly deteriorated status. Staff 00:18:12.159 --> 00:18:19.039 has been meeting with District 2 for years, probably every, up to every quarter, but at least 00:18:19.039 --> 00:18:23.599 twice a year. And we've always been told that's a state unmarked route. There's nothing we're 00:18:23.599 --> 00:18:53.599 We're going to do with it. You're going to have to deal with it locally. However, what they say genius is when preparation meets opportunity. Fortunately, Representative Cabello and Rick Barco had a conversation. I think Cabello oversees IDOT District 2 in some part or fashion with the state level. And they were discussing how difficult it was for them to deploy all of the millions of dollars that they have to deploy because it just can't get enough staff. And Representative Cabello 00:18:53.599 --> 00:18:57.359 said to him, well why don't you just give the money straight to the communities. 00:18:57.359 --> 00:18:59.299 So that's what's happening on South Street. 00:18:59.299 --> 00:19:03.920 So we're planning to receive approximately $5 million from District 2 for the mill and 00:19:03.920 --> 00:19:05.579 overlay of South Street. 00:19:05.579 --> 00:19:13.039 The bid letting goes out this June and things should be moving forward shortly after that. 00:19:13.039 --> 00:19:17.879 I will mention that part of the deal here is that we need to reconstruct the ramps in 00:19:17.879 --> 00:19:23.239 the corridor and we have budgeted for that and they are, will be coming before you for 00:19:23.239 --> 00:19:28.059 Bid approval and construction before the time before June comes. We want to make sure those 00:19:28.059 --> 00:19:32.339 are all completed before June. So there's nothing holding back IDOT from resurfacing 00:19:32.339 --> 00:19:37.719 South Street. So essentially, this conversation tonight is just that we'll be receiving at 00:19:37.719 --> 00:19:44.099 least $5 million in outside funding to resurface South Street. This will be starting in 2026. 00:19:44.099 --> 00:19:45.299 So thank you. 00:19:45.299 --> 00:19:46.299 Any questions on the MOU? 00:19:46.299 --> 00:19:52.579 I would just like to know about how long do they think that that will take? 00:19:52.579 --> 00:19:58.379 I hate to promise anything or speculate but I would hope we could get it done in 26 but 00:19:58.379 --> 00:19:59.579 if it doesn't get done in 26 00:19:59.579 --> 00:20:03.259 26, but if it doesn't get done in 26, it'll certainly be done in 27. 00:20:03.259 --> 00:20:04.259 Okay. 00:20:04.259 --> 00:20:05.259 Good job. 00:20:05.259 --> 00:20:06.259 Alderman Stacey? 00:20:06.259 --> 00:20:08.220 Will the ramps be done by Freeport staff? 00:20:08.220 --> 00:20:14.460 No, they'll be done by a contractor. 00:20:14.460 --> 00:20:17.019 Anything else? 00:20:17.019 --> 00:20:22.099 Item number nine is discussion regarding ordinance amending codified ordinance to add incentive 00:20:22.099 --> 00:20:28.639 pay for lead copper samples to be taken for lead service line replacement grant application. 00:20:28.639 --> 00:20:33.559 Thank you, Your Honor. As everybody knows, we've been doing lead service line 00:20:33.559 --> 00:20:39.379 remediations since probably the fall of 2020. To date, I think we've 00:20:39.379 --> 00:20:45.679 remediated 1,600 lead services and we have a few hundred left to go. The problem 00:20:45.679 --> 00:20:49.119 here is we're still regulated by our total number of lead services, which 00:20:49.119 --> 00:20:52.919 means we have a certain sample regime that we have to do and we're at a place 00:20:52.919 --> 00:20:57.159 where we've got so few left in the system that we're finding it difficult 00:20:57.159 --> 00:21:27.159 Fowler, 00:21:57.159 --> 00:22:13.440 and so to get adequate sampling, we need to help that. This will be temporary though. Once we get all the lead services done, we will go to copper monitoring at that point. And we can open that up and we won't have nearly as a challenging time getting the samples taken. So that's all I've got. 00:22:14.119 --> 00:22:16.079 Thank you. Any questions? Alderman Johnson. 00:22:16.559 --> 00:22:21.799 I just wondered what sections of the city are the eligible homes located in that could do the testing? 00:22:21.799 --> 00:22:33.799 I can't tell you eligible areas, it's address by address at this point, so which addresses haven't had the lead services remediated yet, and like I said, it's getting to be a very few of them at this point. 00:22:33.799 --> 00:22:42.799 So we've done work all over town, now in one specific area or another, but it's just address by address at this point. So, yeah. 00:22:44.799 --> 00:22:48.799 If there's no further discussion, I'll need a motion and a second to move this forward. 00:22:48.799 --> 00:22:49.799 So move. 00:22:49.799 --> 00:22:50.799 Second. 00:22:50.799 --> 00:22:55.240 Motion made by Alderman Sellers, seconded by Alderman Shadle to move this to Manager Boyer. 00:22:55.240 --> 00:22:58.119 Would there be the next meeting or you got something further down the line? 00:22:58.119 --> 00:23:00.039 I think it'll be coming before the next meeting. 00:23:00.039 --> 00:23:00.960 The next meeting? 00:23:00.960 --> 00:23:01.960 Yeah. 00:23:01.960 --> 00:23:02.960 Okay. 00:23:02.960 --> 00:23:03.960 All those in favor? 00:23:03.960 --> 00:23:04.960 Aye. 00:23:04.960 --> 00:23:05.960 Opposed? 00:23:05.960 --> 00:23:07.559 That motion passes. 00:23:07.559 --> 00:23:08.719 Item number 10 is public comment. 00:23:08.719 --> 00:23:09.719 Is there any public? 00:23:09.719 --> 00:23:10.719 Tommy. 00:23:10.720 --> 00:23:24.359 I want to tell you, the Police Chief is doing a good job of working, and Jodi Miller, when 00:23:24.359 --> 00:23:30.440 you're going to come and see a house where we live? 00:23:30.440 --> 00:23:33.000 Not sure, Tommy. 00:23:33.000 --> 00:23:39.559 Because we do, they cook us food and everything. 00:23:39.559 --> 00:23:41.879 Police. 00:23:41.879 --> 00:23:47.319 And Baron, do you sign all about the cleaners in Freeport? 00:23:47.319 --> 00:23:48.319 The what? 00:23:48.319 --> 00:23:49.319 The cleaners downtown. 00:23:49.319 --> 00:23:50.319 Oh, yep. 00:23:50.319 --> 00:23:54.679 We're still waiting for the approval to take it down. 00:23:54.679 --> 00:23:56.639 Approve it. 00:23:56.639 --> 00:23:59.920 I'm trying, sir. 00:23:59.920 --> 00:24:05.960 Any other public comments, Linda? 00:24:05.960 --> 00:24:17.079 I just want to thank the Lord for all the grants and all the money we've gotten and all the 00:24:17.079 --> 00:24:21.359 people that did all the work because I know it's a lot of work to write to get all those 00:24:21.359 --> 00:24:22.359 grants. 00:24:22.359 --> 00:24:25.919 So I just want to say I'm really thankful for the grants and everybody who's worked 00:24:25.919 --> 00:24:30.879 on them and thankful to the Lord and I just decree unity, prosperity and peace over the 00:24:30.879 --> 00:24:36.960 and the City tonight and we're moving forward in 2026 and I'm really thankful for that. 00:24:36.960 --> 00:24:42.500 The other thing is there is a Martin Luther King Breakfast at St. James CME Church on this 00:24:42.500 --> 00:24:43.899 coming Saturday. 00:24:43.899 --> 00:24:47.279 So if anybody is interested in going, I think you can just contact the Church because you 00:24:47.279 --> 00:24:48.819 do have to have a ticket to go. 00:24:48.819 --> 00:24:49.819 Alright. 00:24:49.819 --> 00:24:51.519 Thank you. 00:24:51.519 --> 00:24:54.099 Any other public comments? 00:24:54.099 --> 00:24:56.159 And I will entertain a motion to adjourn. 00:24:56.159 --> 00:24:57.159 So moved. 00:24:57.159 --> 00:24:58.159 Second. 00:24:58.159 --> 00:25:00.399 The motion made by Alderman Sellers, seconded by Alderman Shadle. 00:25:00.399 --> 00:25:02.399 All those in favor? 00:25:02.399 --> 00:25:03.399 Aye. 00:25:03.399 --> 00:25:04.399 Have a good evening. 00:25:04.399 --> 00:25:04.419 Thank you.