Renee, could you please give the invocation this evening?

Good evening, Mayor, Council.

But Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them, every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every city or house divided against itself will not stand.

Matthew 12, 25.

Let us pray.

Father God, you are our God, and you alone hold all authority over us all.

For you are the creator of each and every one of us.

You have bestowed authority to those who sit here in council tonight for which we are grateful.

With that I ask, please bless each one of them tonight.

Give them wisdom and discernment to make decisions and benefit the community.

May you give them integrity to lead our city well, and may you guide them in the ways to protect the innocent, aid the needy, and support the goodness of our city, Freeport.

May you unite them in ways they never, ever have been united before, for their unity will help to keep Freeport standing strong and proud.

I pray you guard them from the temptations that would harm the city and its people's best interest.

I pray they turn to you in times of uncertainty and seek out your guidance and wisdom.

I pray that if anyone here tonight has never reached out to you, to your son, and accept him that they will tonight before sleep consumes them for the night.

Lord, I lift up the city of Freeport as we make preparations for our upcoming Tutti Baker Festival.

May our city come together during this festival with joy, love, patience, kindness for each other.

May we also pray for our outstanding police force this week as they kick off their canine fundraiser at the festival. May the council here tonight and the people of Freeport open their hearts and joy and give support that endeavor to bring a new canine to Freeport, and Officer to guide them so together they serve and protect our great city.

Keep a hedge of protection over our council, elected officials, our police force, fire department, and all other first responders who proudly work in this great city we call home. Oh God, you are our God. May you continue to bless us, guide us, and protect us from the great evil one. In Jesus, I ask in the name your son, amen. Amen. Thank you, Renee. Now we'll call this meeting to order. Madam Clerk, please take the roll. Mayor Miller. Here. Alder Persons, Klemm.

Here. Johnson. Here. Simmons is absent. Parker. Here. Stacy. Here. Shadle. Here. Sanders.

Here. And Sellers. Here. And if you could please stand for the Pledge of Allegiance I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

Item number one is approval of the agenda.

Is there such a motion?

So moved.

Second.

Motion made by Alderman Sellers, seconded by Alderman Shadle.

All those in favor signify by saying aye.

Aye.

Opposed?

That motion passes. Item number two is approval of the minutes from the council meeting on June 15th. Is there such a motion?

So moved.

Second.

There will be a motion made by Alderman Shadle, seconded by Alderman Sellers. All those in favor signify by saying aye.

Aye.

Opposed? That motion passes. Next we have a proclamation.

Just one second for me.

And then when I'm done you can say a few words.

Okay.

So tonight I have a proclamation for Parkview Home Centennial Day. Whereas Parkview Home of Freeport, Illinois was founded in 1926 as a not-for-profit organization committed to providing compassionate, dignified, and high-quality care to older adults in the Freeport community.

and whereas for 100 years Parkview Home has served generations of residents and families earning a reputation as a trusted and respected institution in Freeport and the surrounding area and whereas Parkview Home operates as a continuing care retirement community offering services including independent living, assisted living, skilled nursing care and memory care thereby meeting the and the evolving needs of residents, and whereas Parkview Home has enhanced the quality of life and well-being of its residents through employment opportunities, community partnerships, volunteer engagement and service.

And whereas the City of Freeport wishes to recognize and commend Parkview Home's Board of Directors, staff, volunteers and supporters for their dedication and commitment over the past century.

Now, therefore, I, Jodi Miller, hereby declare July 18th, 2026 as Parkview Home Centennial Day in the City of Freeport and encourage all residents to recognize the contributions that Parkview has made to this city and our community.

Thank you. Thank you.

Thank you Mayor Miller and members of the City Council.

My name is Farrell Labosh and I have the privilege of serving as the Executive Director of Parkview Home, a not-for-profit continuing care retirement community.

I'm honored to be here this evening representing our organization.

On behalf of our volunteer board of directors, staff, volunteers, and most importantly, our residents, thank you for this tremendous honor.

Recognizing July 18th, 2026 as Parkview Home Centennial Day is a meaningful tribute to everyone who has helped shape Parkview in this past century. Reaching our 100th anniversary is a proud milestone that truly belongs to the entire Freeport community. Our story began with a shared vision to create not a poor house or a charity institution, but a true home in every sense of That vision became a reality through the generosity of local citizens, including Charles H. Little and Joseph Emerit, whose gifts provided the foundation for what remains today a community-supported, not-for-profit organization dedicated to serving older adults with dignity, compassion, and respect.

Mr. Little challenged the citizens of Freeport to raise the remaining funds needed to secure the matching gift from his estate. As the deadline approached, the Freeport Rotary Club stepped in and rallied the community to ensure those funds were raised.

Because of that collective effort, the first board of directors led by John Bruce, Henry Dorman, and Oscar Zipf was able to purchase our Park Avenue campus and officially opened our doors on July 24th, 1926. Their vision continues to guide us today. From our first resident, Nettie Musser, to the hundreds of residents who have called Parkview homes since then, Parkview has continued to grow and evolve over the past century. We've expanded from a single residence managed by our first matron, Mamie Tripp, into a full continuum of care. Today, Today we're proud to offer independent living, villas, apartment homes, sheltered care, memory care, and 24-hour skilled nursing, enabling old Bickle, and Dr. Keeley.

Thank you for joining us today.

We are also grateful to the Green Parkview family for their support in the field of field nursing, enabling older adults to remain part of the Parkview family as their needs change.

For 100 years, Parkview has been proud to serve the Freeport community as a community-supported, not-for-profit organization.

We're deeply grateful for the generosity, trust, and here, and everyone throughout the Freeport community to join us at our centennial open house on Saturday, July 18th from 1 to 4 p.m. on our campus at the corner of Pearl City Road and Park Boulevard.

We will enjoy light refreshments by Hildale Catering, live entertainment by Mississippi Man and the Ukulele Express 815, we'll have campus tours, and a brief commemorative program beginning at 2 30 p.m. Thank you again for this incredible honor and for recognizing this milestone in Parkview's history. We hope you'll join us July 18th as we celebrate a century of caring, community, and service as we begin our second century of serving the Freeport community. Thank you. And we have a firefighter joining us tonight for recognition of service awards. Manager Boyer. Thank you, Your Honor. I'm going to pass it on to Chief Cordy. Zachary Downs was hired July 12th, 2021. Got his paramedic license in August of 2024. He's one of our certifiers that helps train the new firefighters and new paramedics. He's an advanced firefighter Miller, Technician, Technician Firefighter, has a lot of other certifications, Rope, Confined Space, Structural Collapse, Machinery Ops, All Operations Level, and Hazmat Ops.

He lives in Lena with his wife Jenna and their four children, Ben, Ella, Gideon, and Amelia.

And then next we have Stevenson County Sheriff's Office and Police Department Recognitions, Chief Frostow.

The Freeport Police Department and the Stevenson County Sheriff's Office are recognized tonight for their extraordinary courage and professionalism and restraint demonstrated by the officers following a successful resolution of a dangerous hostage barricade involving an armed suicidal individual.

Officers responded to a resident after receiving reports of a hostage barricaded person with an armed weapon.

The subject was armed with a dangerous weapon and repeatedly threatened to harm both himself and the responding officers. Recognizing the immediate danger to human life, officers quickly established a secure perimeter, evacuated nearby residents and coordinated their response to contain the situation. Crisis communication efforts were initiated by the attempt to peacefully de-escalate the incident while specialized tactical response came to the scene. Their actions undoubtedly prevented a tragedy. The city of Freeport extends its gratitude to the following individuals.

Sergeant Nick Rosenstein, would you come on up? Oh, I'm sorry, he is on an operation right now.

Corporal Richard McElmeal, Officer Jantz Hale, Officer Brunnen Mann, Boyer, Officer Madeline Perez, Officer Kaden Shenberger, Detective Tony Bradbury, and Detective Eric Deemer.

I don't believe the Sheriff's Department officers are here tonight, but also I want to recognize Deputy Kurtz and Deputy Hare.

So thank you very much.

and then I just wanted to highlight the fact that some of the officers that were not able to be here currently on a on a search warrant and a time-critical matter so thank you very much for all those who couldn't make it next is public comment Denner. Is there anyone signed in? Oh, I'm sorry. Never mind. We do have two that the clerk has for reading in. The first came from Shane Orlow. I write in public comment this

evening in regards to item number 17 on the agenda that lays out an improved retirement plan for the police chief position. I hope everyone that can votes no on this item. First, our police chief has been here for way less than a year. There has been minimal communication with the public about why there should be a gain in benefits at the cost of taxpayer money for this position in such a short time.

To be honest, there has been minimal communication about crime in Freeport altogether.

From the memo, quotes, as Chief Frausto has previously served over 25 years in law enforcement with the Chicago Police Department, she is ineligible to participate in the city of Freeport police pension or IMRF.

Since the plan will only be offered to one employee, many providers of this type of plan were not interested in setting up the plan for the city.

This sentence alone should tell you that our police chief is already getting the benefits from Chicago and should not be qualified to gain more from the Freeport citizens in such a short tenure.

A vote of no should already be established.

Furthermore, what has been accomplished?

There have been high-speed chases on West Street, reports of people shot just this past weekend, a plethora of domestic violence arrests, stolen property arrests, and drug busts recently.

Why are people feeling they can commit crime in this city at an alarming rate?

What was the contractual agreement when being hired as police chief?

Does the chief live here?

What are the daily working agenda items for the Chief of Police?

What new policing initiatives have been put in place?

What crime prevention plans have been implemented?

How much community interaction has been done?

Where is the communication with the people?

Simply what has been done here to earn what is being asked for from the people more money?

To quote the movie Office Space, what would you say you are doing here?

Create an open line of communication with the people.

Establish a community plan for crime that is also communicated to the people.

Create social media outlets where people can get communication.

A simple first step to gain trust from people is communication.

Thanks and respect are earned, not simply handed out at city council or neighborhood watch meetings.

Vote no on added benefits for the police chief position until the people see actual evidence of improvement in our police department, increased communication, and crime reduction initiatives.

Thank you to all of the officers that have been and continue to do the work under numerous leadership changes.

Your dedication does not go unnoticed by the people you serve.

Shane Orlow, 6th Ward Citizen of Freeport.

Secondly was one from Josh Atkinson.

Mayer, Miller, and members of the council, I urge you to vote no on ordinance 202634.

Just days ago, the city's independent 2025 comprehensive annual financial report was released.

While the city received a clean audit opinion, the auditors once again identified a serious concern.

Multiple city funds exceeded the budgets approved by this council.

According to the audit, those funds included drug forfeiture, fire capital improvements, water department, sewer department.

The auditors didn't simply note the overspending.

They again recommended stronger budget monitoring throughout the year to ensure expenditures remain consistent with council-approved appropriations.

That recommendation should give every member of this council pause.

A budget is not merely a suggestion.

It is a policy decision made by the elected representatives of the taxpayers.

When departments spend beyond those appropriations without timely budget amendments, it weakens the oversight that taxpayers expect from their local government.

Now this council is being asked to approve an ordinance that expands purchasing authority and reduces direct council oversight over certain expenditures.

Respectfully, that sends the wrong message.

Before granting city manager, Boyer and city staff additional spending authority, this council should first require demonstrated accountability.

City staff should show that they can consistently respect the budgets approved by the city council, operate within the city's financial policies and procedures, seek budget amendments before exceeding appropriations when circumstances change, rebuild public confidence that taxpayer dollars are being managed responsibly. Good stewardship begins with accountability, not with expanding authority. The taxpayers of Freeport deserve a government that follows the budgets their elected officials approve. Until the city demonstrates a sustained commitment to fiscal discipline and respect for council oversight, it would be irresponsible to grant broader purchasing powers with less oversight.

I respectfully ask each of you to vote no on ordinance 202634.

Thank you, Josh T. Atkinson.

And next we have Steve Carroll.

I am Steve Carroll.

Now, I am totally against Chief Rostow receiving any more benefits from the city for the simple reason that she should never have been hired in the first place.

She has displayed a thin-skinned arrogance in picking fights with elected officials and other governmental bodies.

Furthermore, she seems to feel it is her job to police the First Amendment.

Simply put, Mr. Boyer, your hire, your problem, please fix it.

Thank you.

Akia?

I'm Akia Sanders.

I wanted to talk about 17 real quick. I want to say nothing personal. The only thing that I have a problem with is that this has to come again and get busted out of the taxpayers. It shouldn't be that. It shouldn't be the water bill or the tax bill. We always get hit. Something else has to happen with that.

Then I want to say like, you know, not defending but rolling one bill in a day. What I do appreciate that is there was a rest.

There is things that kind of been done. She doesn't really know that Rob threw her in a mess or maybe she does know, you know, but Freeport is an actual mess. The responsibility of communication as far as what she should deserve, the failure for Rob to communicate with the constituents of Freeport, that falls on him.

They used the city page for all other tactics, smart comments, all kinds of other things.

He should have probably said maybe this was discussed in her original contract.

We don't know.

But there's some kind of communication that should have went on to the constituents so we understand what actually she's getting at the beginning because the whole Facebook is in an uproar and the town is upset because it looks like she's getting money after six months and I'm not really sure if summer's got it.

Anybody else? Got it. But you have the responsibility to communicate, Rob, with your hire, like he said. Your hire, your problem. This is your city that you're supposed to manage and you're failing terribly every decision that's made. So that's that.

Then I wanted to talk about Nile. Linda, I was so happy that you challenged the spending.

They can't spend no more money, like Josh just said. Things are going over budget. Try How to respect the fact that there is a budget in play and take care of it.

As soon as, dude here, Darren, whatever, he spoke and he persuaded you in two seconds flat.

I encourage everybody to still remain their own person, keep your own thoughts.

As far as I can see, between Jodi, Rob, and Darren, they're the ones that run the town.

Y'all, the people that say yes behind them are puppets in just faces.

Please care about the constituents.

please do what you were elected to do.

That's what we asking, but God ain't gonna see fit that this keep happening.

One day this will change and you will face the wrong decisions that you made for the people here.

Wendy Pearson.

My name is Wendy Pearson.

Good evening council.

When an individual has what is called an employment agreement contract, That means that they are contracted to do a certain thing.

I am totally against paying anything towards a pension for the chief of police after six months.

I don't believe that there has ever been anything like this to occur in this city before.

As far as her picking fights, yes, she's done that.

She's done it with me.

And eventually you'll find out what I'm talking about.

but in all actuality, this chief has no idea of who lives here, who the good characters are, who the bad characters are, what has occurred in this town, who the people of this town are and she seems to think that because she's gone to a few events that that should do it, it doesn't because when she goes to an event and nobody walks up and talks to her, nobody is trying to find out who she is, She hasn't walked in our community, knocked on doors, talked to my mother or any of our elders in this town.

I think that six months isn't enough time to prove herself or for us to have the type of respect that you expect us to have for her based around some of the comments that she has made one personally to me.

I do believe that if this chief shows us More than what she has shown us, beyond her 25 plus years in Chicago, beyond her degrees, beyond all of that, she has to get to know this community, the goods, the bads, the things that have happened within the police department and the things that are happening and are still happening in this city. Murders from 1988, still sitting on the book. Not her problem, but her problem now Now, because she walked into it, shooting on hooker over the weekend.

People complaining about fireworks simply because we don't have that option here for the celebration of this 250 years because Teddy Baker seems to be more important to this mayor than the 250 years that this country has been in existence.

The lack of respect to this community has got to stop.

The pouring out of dollars from our pockets have to stop. The lack of concern about what is occurring in each of our communities to the point where aldermen stay in their ward and won't come into another. It needs to stop. You guys need to come to every ward. You need to be at every watch meeting because whatever happens on one side of town eventually ends up on the other. I said this over 20 years ago when the shooting happened downtown and I also said it about you guys sitting here.

the time has expired. You are causing a disturbance. Please abide by the rules or you'll be escorted out. That concludes public comment. Madam Clerk is 628 Alderman Simmons entered. Item number seven is the consent agenda. The consent agenda is considered to be routine in nature I'm not sure unless the member of council would like to have something removed for further discussion.

Huffines.

The consent agenda is to approve and receive and place on file the minutes of the Historic Preservation Commission January 20th, Zoning Board of Appeals March 5th, Building Commission March 11th, May 13th, Planning Commission March 12th, April 9th, Library Board of Trustees April 8th, May 13th, Foreign Fire Insurance Board April 9th, Liquor Commission May 14th, Mortifier and Police Commission, May 26th and June 2nd, all of 2026.

Also is the Greater Freeport Partnership Report for June 26th.

Annual Treasurer's Report, May of 25th.

The Building Permit Report, June 26th.

The finance bills in the total of $4,845,629.27.

Payroll ending June 18th, 2026 for $722,480.69 in payroll ending July 2nd, 2026 in the total of $731,733.21. Is there a motion to approve the consent agenda?

So moved.

Second.

No.

No.

We have a motion made by Alderman Shadle, seconded by Alderman Sellers. Madam Clerk, Would you please take the roll?

Parker?

Yes.

No.

Yes.

Oh, definitely.

Stacy?

Oh, okay.

Got you.

Got you.

Yes.

Because there's a conflict of interest.

Okay, we're taking the roll right now.

Oh, okay.

Yeah.

Okay.

It was moving so fast.

He tried to speak up, Madam Mayor.

He tried before all the yeses went forth.

When I asked for a motion, I got a Shadle and Sellers and then he said nothing.

I asked for the role to be called.

If there was supposed to be an individual discussion, then it was to be before I read it all for the record.

I paused waiting for someone to say if they wanted something removed.

No one said anything.

With all respect, Mayor, I understand and for the purpose of staying in order, I understand that.

However, when we push things forward super fast and he said no, Alderman Sanders, you need to know if you disagree with the consent agenda, please make a motion because they gonna push it so we can say it's already pushed.

I did not ask you for a response I am letting him know the order so that he understands next time. Please let me explain that. Then why don't you have that discussion off the council floor because you're wasting everybody's time. I ain't wasting nobody's time it happened right now so I'm addressing it right now. You pick and choose when you want to follow I'll be that because you pick and choose when you want to follow order I'm just explaining it to him in the future make It should be no reason for me to be removed for explaining to him in the future. Please hush!

In the future, just do it before the call happens. I am explaining procedure. We should all want everyone to explain, to understand procedure.

Be quiet. You be quiet.

And you are out of order. Any more disturbance and you can leave.

You can leave as well.

You are out of order.

You are out of order.

You don't have the floor.

Please stop talking.

I don't need the floor for that.

And that's a problem.

You do.

So please stop talking.

to show everyone you don't want clarity, you want control.

I didn't try to disrupt any proceedings.

I just told him next time, do it before the roll is called.

That's all I said.

And that's the problem with you.

If you're done, I'm done, Mayor.

Let's go back to the beginning of this.

Because you know what?

For three years, this council has been sat.

I do agree with the consent agenda.

Could you please stop talking?

When you do.

I'm going to explain the rules so Alderman Sanders understands. You need to stop. Chief, please remove her.

For sitting here quietly, you want to remove me?

I am going to ask you to please be removed after...

There's going to be repercussions behind this. So if they do try to tactic, if they're using this tactic, there's repercussions behind this, Mayor.

I know. I'm letting Zito know as well. There's repercussions.

Alderman Sanders, please stop talking.

Okay. All right. There's going to be repercussions behind you.

Be quiet. You don't know what I'm doing.

Handle that. I will do my job.

Okay.

And if there's still a problem with my agreement, I can call my friend and try to do my job.

I understand that.

Please don't impede on it. I'm not impeding on it. I'm not. There's going to be repercussions behind this process, and that includes you. Please stop talking. You are out of order Alderman Sanders. Please stop. I will. I will. I will be heard though. Give me one second. Would you like for her to be removed? Mayor, that's a call of the chairperson there. So she's been called out of order twice per our council rules. Per our council rules.

Alderman Sanders, please stop talking you've been called out of order yeah I know and Alderman Sanders can I explain something to you no you cannot mayor okay this is not the time then we will continue well what I see is okay let's let's adjourn until this is settled please yeah because you guys we have a motion by Shadle seconded by Sellers for a short recess. Y'all gotta get y'all act together as council so while we're sitting here looking clueless to this council. Council does not permit agendas to flow through this council like that unless they know what's going on. And there's a conflict of interest.

If I'm leaving, I'm leaving with a bang. I'm leaving because she does not want you to understand the rules. She wants to have you removed. She does not want us to understand. If I'm leaving, I'm leaving with a bang. I'ma go. But she don't want us to say nothing. She don't want us to speak up. Me clarifying to you that it was too late, but in the future, do it before the role is called is a problem. And the reason that that is a problem is because she is a problem and she is a problem because we as a community, I will leave, but please don't grant me, will not vote. 25% of the registered voters did is the ones that voted. And that is why for explaining to him next time, do it before the roll. Please don't grab me.

But here's the thing, now you're a criminal trespass to public land. This is where we're at right now.

That's fine.

So we can't do this.

You cannot trespass against public land, lady. Police chief, you cannot trespass against public, public, you cannot, she's not trespassing.

Zito, you know that and you know that too, Mayor. She is not trespassing permanently. Period. There is no such thing as a government official trespassing here in this council. And until we understand that process, you guys are just as I can't even stomach. I can't even stomach the way you guys are doing.

doing things in this government when council does not make the decisions of how things are conducted Council set the agenda not you madam. Could you please roll please so This is a role. We're not in session right now. If he continues, it'll be another story. This is a role to recess Alder person Parker. What say you motion to recess? Yes. Yeah, that's gonna be Stacey is absent. Shadle? Sanders? Yes.

Sanders, Sellers, Klemm, Johnson, Simmons is absent. The motion passed.