They're going to have many people coming in and out. So this development is not going to, you know, this is not going to be able to change the traffic.


The only thing that it can do is add some paving to the area and it could help them add more storage for their facility.


They've stated that they want to stay here. They want to stay in Freeport. They want to expand at their location.


And they're looking for the city to partner with them. But I'm not going to sit here and tell you that this is going to aid in the traffic issues we have at Aldi, this development is not going to be able to do that.


Alderman Sanders, did you have? Yeah, first of all, I don't like the fact that when you are addressing counsel that someone is expressing their sentiments about how we're proceeding on any measures and talking about on anything, because I can hear it by the conversation that you had with her, she had and a complaint. It was subtle, but it was a complaint on top of it. Now, working with the city is one thing. We can talk about the possibilities and whether or not the city wants to look into these matters, but we don't even know what type of business. We don't even know what the purpose of it is all about. We don't have no objection for anyone trying to bring in a business, but to make it a business that sounds like it's putting us under pressure to make something happen, because that's your sentiment that I feel that you're presenting to us right now at this time.


Is there conversation with you, and you're expressing it here at the Council, and I reject and I. I would like to be able to talk to a person so we can come to a conclusion or resolution where we can move further down the road. But I don't like the expression that you're presenting to Council when anyone is talking to you about what we should be doing, that kind of thing. No, no, I'm still talking. And the fact that we are not listening or we have not acted on something that we don't have privy to yet.


And my point is, is that a private property? I wanted to ask that question.


Is that private property? Why is the city looking into complying with someone that has that type of view?


And I just wanted to make sure that I see it very clearly in my own head that this is what this particular business owner and others.


We have a lot of things that we want to do. We want to do things that the council wants to be able to do without any agitation, without any over expressing, or any of those kinds of things, because the council has an antenna.


And when that kind of rhetoric starts filtering in through the council, our antennas goes up.


but then you should not present it here to council. That's all I'm saying. I'm not against it.


It's just a fact that I just didn't like the way that it was presented.


Any other discussion? Alderman Stacy. So, you know, Culver's the biggest fast food place here in Freeport.


They took advantage of this money through a tax cut Now here we come again with a different tip. So is anybody that wants to advance their establishment going to be able to use tip money and get a yearly salary or yearly whatever to do what they want to do for their business with our tax dollars?


the answer is yes please wait clarify this is not about tax dollars this is this is tax yes this is the tip this is tax increment financing I can go back and answer it anybody looking if you have a business within the geographic area of a TIF district you are eligible for TIF financing when you're expanding your business and you're saying every year you're going to get dollars that's what Well when you go above, if you create and you build and expand your business, your property taxes are going to increase, correct?


That's correct. That's why we're having this redevelopment agreement is to provide incentives for businesses to expand.


businesses are wanting we're trying to read that's economic development we're trying to retain businesses we created TIF districts to have for two reasons to allow business to keep it to keep businesses to allow them to expand and the second reason is to attract new businesses you would want to come in and see visit the city staff and make sure what you're doing is an eligible eligible expenses but potentially yes so again it has to do with your property tax assessment if you're saying I would like to paint the inside of my building my answer to you would be you're not doing an improvement that's going to increase the tax assessment so you wouldn't be Taylor, and John, and I'm going to talk about the taxes. The taxes are going to be eligible for any dollars. So you have to essentially improve your business so that your taxes, your property taxes are going to increase because you're paid on the increment of those taxes going up. Okay. So this business is investing $150,000 to expand their business. Their taxes are going to go up and they're going to be eligible for that Money comes from the taxing body of the of the of the group that like like the


lamb roll it comes from the money of all the industries out there like downtown it comes from the taxing of the the stores and stuff downtown and usually downtown you would only be able to do like a facade like the outside yes can't do the inside and make it bigger and all that it's just the outside so you can't and John.


So, we are not going to get the taxing dollars and it doesn't come from the citizens. It comes from the taxing of the people that are in that TIF district.


So, you have a geographic area. This is the Meadows TIF district. There is a map.


And essentially when this would have, the TIF district was created, they did a study. You hire a professional Ferties, there's properties that are lacking development.


And so what happens is, at that time, there's a TIF base value for the tax assessment.


And so any time that the property taxes go above that TIF base, it goes back and stays within the TIF district.


That money stays to the city within a TIF district, and it has guidelines on how the money can be spent.


It could be spent for business expansion, it could be spent for business retention, professional services, things of that nature.


Alderman Shadle? The essence of this is they're getting back 75% of an increase in their taxes.


So if this building generates a tax bill of $2,000, their taxes would be $500. There's still going to be taxes collected. They're going to get a return from their property taxes of $1,500 out of the hypothetical $2,000. We're not laying out money to them. We're We're just diverting taxes back so that they have an incentive to make this investment.


An investment that's always going to be there when the 75% sun sets out, we get all that tax money then.


And it's on the increase. Where I shouldn't say we, the taxing bodies, get it.


It's on the increase. Alderman, State. Alderman, City Increase. Alderman Stacy. So, are you telling me that this business paid into the Meadows TIF? Yes.


Their property taxes are paying into the Meadows TIF, yes. There's no further discussion. Madam Clerk, please take the roll. Don't light up. Stacy?


I'm sorry, was that abstain? Shadle? Aye. Sanders? Aye. Sellers? Aye. Klemm? Aye. Johnson? Aye. Simmons? Aye. And Parker? Aye. The resolution is adopted 7 to 0 with one abstentia. Item number 17 is adoption of resolution 2025 and Chris. Resolution approving the purchase of polytetrafluoroethylene or PTFE membrane discs for wastewater facility aeration basins from Dryden Equipment.


Thank you, Manager Boyer. Thank you, Your Honor. I don't know how familiar everybody is with wastewater treatment, but this is one step in the wastewater treatment process. It's called aeration. There are Mechanicals in the bottom of the aeration tank that send bubbles of air through the effluent as it goes through the treatment process. Every seven to ten years these need to be replaced and we are at that time where we need to replace them. They are specific to the equipment that's in the aeration basin and the city's received an estimate from SSI aeration.


for $20,048. I'm sorry, from Dryden Equipment. The project was budgeted in the wastewater budget for 2025 and staff recommends moving forward with the membrane purchase.


Is there a motion to adopt? We have a motion made by Alderman Shadle, seconded by Alderman Johnson. Discussion on the resolution?


I just wanted to comment that we had $60,000 in the budget for this year and so we got a good price on doing the total amount that we needed.


Alderman Sanders? Yeah, I know this is very necessary. It is something that we should have no problem with.


and if it's an annual thing or is it not? I think it is an annual thing that we go through. It's not an annual thing. What is it, every five years or something?


Seven to ten. Seven to ten years, okay. But I know it's necessary. I don't know what the cost is. Do we have a cost factor for all of that? Do we have a...


Yes, $20,000. and Stacey. Okay. Okay. Well, anyway, I know it's necessary, so I just wanted to see where we were at with that.


Alderman Stacy. So, if it's going to cost $20,000, but Gary, you said we have 16.


Sixty. Six zero. Okay. That's what was budgeted for this year. And this is just materials only.


Our crews actually do the replacement themselves. but all of it to complete this project has been budgeted for yes ma'am there's no further discussion madam clerk please take the role Stacy Shadle Sanders Sellers is currently absent Clem Johnson Simmons and Parker I the resolution is Bickle, Michael, Frank, Michael, Craig, and more.


The item number 3 was adopted 7-0. The item number 18 is the adoption of resolution 2025-92.


Could you please read this? Resolution authorizing payment of an invoice from T&T iron and metal for electronic recycling services.


Director Bridge? Thank you, your honor. Oh, I'm sorry. That's okay. So so that we don't have to ask these questions.


and I. I'm one of the three to four people here in City Hall that was in charge of getting an electronic recycling event together. Not only that, but I'm also tasked with kind of getting out to the public not only stuff for electronic recycling, but also Refresh Freeport, which is our monthly dumping event that we do. The City of Freeport conducted an electronic recycling and the City of California.


This event could bring electronic devices such as televisions and computer monitors to be disposed of.


The City utilized the services of T&T iron and metal to dispose of the electronic devices.


This event was planned in coordination with other dumping events such as refresh Freeport. and others.


At the event, they collected 1,096 screens and 3.2 total tons of electronic waste. Roughly 400 residents took advantage of this service and the city received positive feedback from residents and surrounding communities. The full amount of the invoice has been budgeted for and will be paid from the Health and Environment Fund, which the cost of this specific invoice is and the budget is in the $300,000 range.


Thank you. Is there a motion to adopt? So moved. Second. We have a motion made by Alderman Shadle, seconded by Alderman Klemm.


Discussion on the resolution? Alderman Sanders. Where's the dumping ground is that with this material?


So the event was held at the fairgrounds on July 19th and the dumping grounds, I do not know the specific area, the company, TNT Iron and Metals, took the stuff away from Freeport.


So are they currently still established as just one time event or how does that work?


That's a good question. are currently working towards a more regular event of this sort.


Yeah, and I know that there should have been a notification that went out to the general public about this.


We broadcast this and everything. Yeah, plenty of people showed up. OK. And I'd like to see who's doing the collecting of anything.


is there residuals that comes from this? You're talking about money? Yeah, because there's a lot of gold.


There's a lot of gold and a lot of other material that can be broken down and be converted into monetary value.


The city of Freeport is not. We're not just giving the factory away, are we?


this is scrap metal that they're giving away. Yeah, that's what I thought. But we're not looking at the real intricate parts of that electronic equipment because there's value in there where the city could be recouping from or gaining something from it.


I don't care if it went to a charity or back to the TIF or TIF or whatever the case is.


We're not doing a complete assessment of how this program should be brought up because we're saying we're going to give you all our electronics that got gold and aluminum, whatever copper, whatever the case may be, we're going to give all that to you.


We don't, we just gonna just let you dispose of it and we don't have any recoup or residuals from all of that because it belongs to the city, it belongs to the citizens of Freeport. I don't care who picks it up, who gets it or whatever the case is. That is, that is a fortune that is being sent out of here. You know, that's all I'm just saying. Are we in a position to recoup anything?


, Mmmmm. And then the residents of Freeport took their own stuff to the event.


In all respect, that's the way the event was organized. And so we have full confidence that the residents of Freeport understand what they're giving up.


Okay. If there's no further discussion, Madam Clerk, please take the roll. Stacy? Shadle? Sanders?


Sellers? Klemm? Johnson? Simpson? Simmons, and Parker. I and if I may before I move on tire recycling event this Saturday same deal tires if you need more information website Facebook email thank you thank you oh at the fairgrounds yes and do you have a time eight o'clock thank you item number 19 is adoption of resolution 2025 93 could you please read Resolution Approving Transportation Services Agreement with Pretzel City Transit to Sell Punch Cards at the Library Thank you, Director Huffine. Thank you. The library is always seeking collaborations and partners to help improve our services and resources for our community.


Pretzel City Transit is heavily used by library users. We are seeking to make access to ride vouchers and punch cards more accessible by becoming a location for people to purchase ride vouchers and punch cards for Pretzel City Transit.


Although the Freeport Public Library is a department of the City of Freeport, we are a separate taxing district.


It is important to demonstrate the Library's commitment to selling these vouchers to IDOT, so we are entering into a formal agreement.


The City of Freeport's responsibilities under this agreement are to provide reliable on-time transportation to the Freeport Public Library users in a timely manner, Sander, the City Manager of the Freeport Public Library with vouchers and punch cards for sale at the library.


The Freeport Public Library is responsibilities under this agreement are to maintain an inventory of vouchers and punch cards to notate the vouchers to indicate they were purchased at the library to maintain accurate inventory on hand and sold vouchers and punch cards in provide in inventory reports to the city upon request.


The library will compensate the city monthly for all vouchers and punch cards sold. There is no impact on the city or library finances.


The city staff recommend approving the agreement with the Freeport Public Library and the strategic plan that supports strong public and private partnerships.


Thank you. Is there a motion to adopt? So moved. Second. Second. Motion made by Alderman Shadle, seconded by Alderman Sellers.


Discussion on the resolution? Seeing none. Stacey, Shadle, Sanders, Sellers, Klemm, Johnson, Simmons, and Parker. That resolution is adopted 8-0.


Item number 20 is adoption of resolution 2025-94. Could you please read this? Resolution approving purchase of two refurbished power load systems from Rowland Energy Refurbished Equipment and Clock Emergency Vehicles for the Fire Department.


Thank you, Your Honor. Before you this evening is the request to approve the purchase of power load systems for Ambulances 3 and 4. Ambulances 3 and 4 are in need of power load systems which securely fasten the stretcher to the back of the ambulance. When the vehicles were purchased in 2015 and 2016, the floors of the vehicles were built to accept this system, but the cost of the system was too excessive and was not added when the vehicles and others were ordered.


So the power load system consists of an arm that extends out of the back of the ambulance and loads the stretcher into the ambulance avoiding any manual lifting.


More importantly, it also safely secures the stretcher to the floor of the ambulance ensuring crash and rollover protection for a patient that may be on the back of that stretcher.


Our two newer ambulances are equipped with this feature. So that being said, it's important that the ambulances have the same similar equipment to avoid any confusion or operational errors during emergencies.


We want each vehicle to be outfitted exactly the same, all the equipment is located in the same cabinets in the back of the ambulance.


So the initial plan or budget provided funds to purchase one new power load system.


The key is new. New Power Load System for this year for Ambulance 3, and then we'd re-budget another one for Ambulance 4 next year.


So my guys did some research on this, and as we were obtaining pricing, we discovered that we could purchase two refurbished units for less than the cost of one brand new unit.


So the refurbished ones also come with a one-year warranty, so do the new ones.


So it makes perfect sense to save money and buy some refurbished ones that operate just as well as the newer ones do.


So the financial component of this is the Fire Capital Improvement Fund will cover the cost of the power load system and the installation.


The total cost for two refurbished power load systems installed $34,217.96. So comparatively, the cost for one new power load system is $35,857.


So we're already about $1,600 less expensive for twice the equipment. So no dollars from the general fund will be used for this purchase.


So the fire department is requesting approval of the resolution to purchase two refurbished power load systems for the back of the ambulance, three and four.


Is there a motion to adopt? So move. So move. Motion made by Alderman Parker, seconded by Alderman Sellers. Discussion on the resolution. Alderman Parker.


This is almost mandatory as a major safety issue for our firemen. And that 13, 34,000, if one of our officers break his back trying to do it, it's going to cost us more than that to take care of it.


So this is a great issue, and I'm very much in favor. There's no further discussion.


Madam Clerk, yes, Alderman Sellers. I just want to know how long will it take for these refurbished systems?


How long will it take to get all this where they're already ready? So they have them in stock already.


We've already looked into it and confirmed that installation is available locally from the ambulance provider we purchased our two new ones from.


So this is ready to go as soon as we have your approval. Alderman Sanders?


Yeah, these are not new items, am I correct? When you say, when this is refurbished, that means that we're purchasing used items at one point in time.


And I'm just curious, we couldn't budget new platform Johnson, David, and John, and I'm just curious why we're venturing into a refurbished type unit and whether or not it would be feasible one way or the other.


Can we guarantee, because if there's anything that's been refurbished that had been or that was an issue the very first time when it was brand new.


So I'm just curious. I would like to know if you can bring some little clarity to me on that part.


Sure, I understand your concerns and I had the same myself initially, but looking into it these are as good as factory replacements. So they've gone back to factory, they've been completely reworked, rebuilt, repainted, and to make us feel more comfortable they offer a one-year warranty and even the brand new ones have a one-year warranty. So this is being fiscally responsible getting two for less than the price of one.


There's no further discussion. Madam Clerk, please take the roll. Stacy? Aye. Shadle? Aye. Sanders? Aye. Sellers? Aye. Klemm? Aye. Johnson? Aye. Simmons? Aye. Parker? Aye. The resolution is adopted, 8-0.


Item number 21, adoption of resolution 202595. Could you please read this? Resolution Approving Purchase of Ferris ISX 2200 Mower with Kawasaki Motor and 60 Inch Mower Deck from Peabuddy's North, Pecatonica, Illinois, for the Fire Department.


Chief Miller. Thank you, Your Honor. Again, before you this evening is the request to approve the purchase of a commercial lawnmower for the Fire Department.


So, the Central Fire Station has nearly two and a half acres of land that we maintain ourselves. Each Friday, the lawn is cut by our members that are on duty and only interrupted by emergency calls. So, in 2018, the Fire Department acquired the lawnmarts you see up on the screen from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, IDNR. What they had at the time was an excessive property program that offered used or government equipment to municipalities that requested consideration. They applied for this. So we did receive that lawnmower and is now 15 years old and is experiencing several system failures. So the hydraulic system is what's used to steer each of the rear wheels. That's why you'll see it looks Winslow.


So, it looks like handlebars by the seat, one steers the left rear wheel, that one steers the right rear wheel.


So there is, it's hydraulically driven and the left steering mechanism, left wheel is starting to fail.


So as you're going in a straight line, your hands are dissimilar, you're not like this, your arms are like this.


So that's a hazard to the person who's operating that lawnmower. Also the frame and the mower deck have been repaired and welded numerous times in the past.


So again I'd like to remind council that this moor does not belong to this city.


It was obtained from the IDNR and it will need to be returned once we do acquire a replacement.


So discussion on this, the moor is 15 years old and struggles to complete weekly mowing Tasks, we have been fortunate.


We have been fortunate that it has serviced our needs for the past seven years at no cost other than maintenance and repairs.


So we looked into this and yes, the mower does have to be returned to the IDNR, but that program no longer exists.


We went to them trying to get a second free lawn mower and they said, no, we don't do that anymore.


So, we have to return that to their excess property program and so the finances of this acquisition, seven different more manufacturers were looked into and staff has determined that the Ferris 2200 model, the Kawasaki motor, best suits our needs and will accommodate us well into the future.


So the cost of this commercial lawnmower is $12,348. So there's money in this year's budget for this purchase and it's also be funded by the Fire Department Capital Improvement Fund using no dollars from the general fund for this purchase.


So also I'd just like to add that this is the same brand of more that they use in city yards for for city properties. They stock various belts and filters and have experience working on this model. So we did compare this to John Deere. And this was the least expensive more as well. So that's why we chose this one. And we're proposing it to you this evening for approval. Sir, motion to adopt.


Motion made by Alderman Klemm, seconded by Alderman Shadle. Discussion? Alderman Sanders. Chief, for the more we're considering the one that you put on the agenda here, would Would this only be utilized for fire department areas and not being loaned out to other departments for their program or property or whatever the case is?


Are we just going to designate this directly to the fire department usage? That would be my intent, yes.


Okay. All right. Alderman Stacey. I was just wondering, why can't Public Works go mow the lawn?


So, that is a question that I had considered and discussed it with Manager Boyer.


And we realized that the folks that do the cutting, the lawn cutting for the city, Two of them are part-time summer employees and the other ones are mostly used in resurfacing streets and doing sewer work and so they all have their other priority tasks to do.


I've got my staff that are there. If they're not out running emergency calls, they can be perched on that lawn mower and they'll take care of it.


It would be nice though to have our firemen area taken care of. and I hope you get it and I hope it lasts 15 years plus.


Thank you. There's no further discussion. Madam Clerk, please take the roll. Stacy? Aye. Shadle? Aye.


Sanders? Aye. Sellers? Aye. Klemm? Aye. Johnson? Aye. Simmons? Aye. And Parker? Aye. The resolution is adopted 8-0.


Item number 22 is adoption of resolution 2025-96. Could you please read this? Resolution, Approving to Accept the Conveyance of the Property Commonly Known as 17 West Stevenson Street from Marianne Garbens.


Manager Boyer. Thank you, Your Honor. Kurt, if there's any way you could do a Google map of the area, I'd appreciate that.


Marianne Garbens has offered to convey 17 Stevenson Street to the City of Freeport for $1.


We have an adjacent city-owned parcel that's right next door. or used to be the Wave Salon Aved Books location.


This property will qualify the site for significant outside grant funding for a new downtown pocket park.


The acquisition will complete site control, enabling the city to pursue park and placement grants.


Also recently, Greater Freeport Partnership secured a large T-Mobile grant, I believe it was $50,000.


So Ms. Garvin's request that the park be named after the historic building once located on the site and a small raised flower garden be included in the design for her use.


Staff recommends honoring these and all other minor requests consistent with city policy. Upon approval, staff will proceed with the acquisition, update the plan to reflect these features and apply for the Oslade grant, which is the one I am referring to.


So staff requests approval of the acquisition of 17 Stevenson Street for $1. Is there a motion to adopt?


So moved. The motion made by Alderman Sellers, seconded by Alderman Parker. Discussion on the resolution.


I do have one more. Sure. And I do want to thank the GFP for their effort leading that, that transfer. Thank you.


There's no discussion? I would like to just say. Okay, Alderman Stacy. I just want to say that this lady is a giver.


We all make mistakes. We all lose our cool. But to give this property for a dollar speaks volumes. And so I hope that that be acknowledged and recognized in more ways than one. And I I want to be the first one to say, thank you.


Alderman Sanders? Yeah, I have an awareness factor forming in my frontal lobe, I should say.


I see you, I see you, Parker. But I have a question in regards to the fact that it was given for a dollar, but what's the initial reason why it was given and the generosity that the city is supposed to look at this as a generous kind of thing, We have not looked at the cultural background of what I'm reading here in the memo of the people that are running this and we're not looking at the full scope of why we're inventing taxpayers' dollars until we do an investigative of what's going on and I'm looking at this memo and I'm looking at the wordings and I'm looking at the I'm hoping the interpretation is not what I'm thinking it is but from my position if we're not aware of certain things we should not vote on things until we have a complete clarity of the background nature listen to what I just


said, the background nature and cultural aspect of this, even to give it as a generosity, what is, what will the city get in return? Because remember, the city cannot put itself in a position where it becomes a label to something that is not conducive to the city at Larger, you might say, well, he's talking in coding.


Yeah, well, there is coding in there. And that's the reason why I'm bringing this awareness point up is that we should be looking into these kinds of things and see it before we decide to do anything with any property for any reason.


And I just wanted to make sure that council is very astute and others. We are very astute to what is being talked about here today on this matter, on this particular matter.


Oren Parker. Greater Freeport Partnership, this lot, there's three sections in it. They just had a grand opening and got a big grant to fix the weather to make it a park.


This is just adding 30 feet to it. So it's a great thing that she did for us and I'm sure it will help Greater Freeport Partnership and it will make the area room for more people.


Well, I put it like this here, obviously you weren't listening to me, no, that's my point, you weren't listening to me, so you didn't hear all the subscripts or the subject matter that underscores the things that I was talking about that comes out of this discussion memo that I'm looking at and if we have not looked at this memo this memo clear enough to understand the interpretation of certain things and the interpretation of certain things, whether it's given to us or not.


But what I am saying is we don't want to venture into something or be labeled something that is supporting something that is put in this memo.


That's my whole point. And if we have not done a background study of the things that have been put in this memo and don't know who the characters are, we don't understand the process and the culture of this character and the background of this character.


We need to do our study more efficiently because words do matter, you know, words do matter, and I just want you to know everything that we sometimes supposed to look at, we're supposed to define certain things that we don't understand. That's all I'm saying.


Thank you. That's all I'm saying. If there's no further discussion, Madam Clerk, please take the roll.


Stacy? Aye. Shadle? Aye. Sanders? No. Sellers? Aye. Klemm? Aye. Johnson? Aye. Simmons, and Parker. Aye. The resolution is adopted seven to one. Item number 23 is adoption of resolution 2025-99. Could you please read this? Resolution approving independent contractor agreement with Ultimate Surveying Application Corp for Wayne Duckman for consulting services for Community and Economic Development Department. City Manager. Thank you, Your Honor. As many of you know, Wayne has submitted his letter of resignation as a Community Development Director. I asked him to stay on and we worked out about 16 hours a week until we get his position filled, which is currently being evaluated and we're in the process of interviewing candidates. So Mr.


Duckman, for his own ease of accounting and so forth, asked that we use his LLC, which and many others, and we're going to continue to work with them to make sure that we're able to do that, which is Ultimate Serving Applications Corp, as essentially to pay for his services at 16 hours a week through that way. So staff recommends moving forward with an agreement with Ultimate Serving Applications Corporation on basically a week by week until we get the Community Director position filled.


and others that are required so far. We haven't asked for anything, but if some emergent issue comes up, I wanted to make sure to include that in case we need his services in addition.


Is there a motion to adopt? It's all moved. Second. A motion made by Alderman Shadle, seconded by Alderman Sellers. Discussion on the resolution.


Alderman Stacy? So do I understand? Stacy, can I just remind you to try to put all your questions together instead of the back and forth, please?


So do I understand you to be saying that we have agreed to, because I believe it's already happening, pay Duckman $1,040 for 16 hours?


$140,000? No, $1,040. Oh, yes, per week. For 16 hours. Yes, that works out to about as current pay and benefits at this time.


And also that you had nine applicants, qualified applicants that have applied. So why haven't they, the interviewing process started?


And why don't we have someone, knowing that he was leaving on the 31st of July, lined Dup to pick up the pieces and carry this load because if he go over that 16 hours then it goes up to how much an hour?


I mean it goes to $90 an hour if we go over 16 hours a week.


So the other question was Wayne tendered his resignation and we began the process of posting in the job very shortly thereafter within days in our conversation you told me that you had nine qualified applicants yes my question is why haven't we started we have started the interviewing process yes it's a multi-phase process what does that mean there's more than one interview any other discussion madam clerk please take the role stacy no Shadle? Sanders? Sellers? Klemm? Johnson? Simmons? Parker? The resolution is adopted 6-2. Item number 24 is the adoption of resolution 2025-100. Could you please read this? Resolution approving the American Harkins with Disabilities Acts Grievance Commission to repair certain sidewalks in the city and authorizing the City Manager to budget for such repairs.


Good evening. This is the same topic that we talked about at the COW, just bringing it back for a formal vote.


We have the ramps at Park and Church that are not compliant. We also had a petitioner write a letter to the Council that was read in public comment.


I will review anything that anybody wants to discuss. I'm not going to go through the entire thing again.


The intersection is not compliant. We started the 88 grievance policy to address situations like this.


The commission voted unanimously to bring this to council for a resolution. And currently, we don't have funding marked because this program started in the middle of the year.


I do think we might be able to have city construction Worker's do these intersections later this fall as time permits otherwise they would be pushed to spring but it is a necessary outcome that needs to happen here again we have in the state safe routes of school zone we're next to an eye doctor Parkview nursing home this route connects to the park systems and we have a petitioner that's actually driving his mobility device out in the Street to have safe access for him and his family during their enjoyment of the community.


So I think this is a needed project and I appreciate your support. Is there a motion to adopt?


So moved. Second. Motion made by Alderman Sellers, seconded by Alderman Shadle. Discussion on the resolution.


Alderman Sanders. Daren, Mr. Stegall, Sir, I'm looking at your map and I remember talking about the fact that we had this discussion last week, I believe it was, Sidewalk to Nowhere kind of program and then I look at the agenda here today and I notice something was added in this particular and others.


So, I think that's the agenda on this particular article resolution, I should say. Just let me clarify that.


Nothing's changed. Nothing's changed? This is exactly what was presented at the COW word for word.


It's the same. Okay. Okay, if nothing's changed, then when we're specifying certain things about the public property, I'm going to put it like that, sidewalks are public property, right?


and the ADA corners. Just only because that's not what it specifies inside of this ordinance agenda.


That's the reason why I'm bringing it up. It doesn't specify or designate every aspect of what this is supposed to accommodate.


And the reason why I ask that question is it feasible for a homeowner or public citizen Public Citizen to make a formal complaint about a sidewalk that sometimes, you know, sometimes they are lifted and you can trip and fall and break your leg, break your knee or whatever the case is. This is public property. When does it become ownership property and and not only the ownership property, how do we take care of the concerned adjacent property owners? Concerns about people walking down this path or this sidewalk and possibly tripping because we heard the story for many years. We know that's out there and that's the reason Whyte brought this subject up. Will we be tentative to most residents or public property or public streets or sidewalks that will get attention to be rectified so these kinds of incursion does not cause any hazards or anything of that nature to the general public? That's basically what I'm asking because because if homeowners or whoever wants something to be looked at it's our obligation to make sure it's not about


well where do where does that come in at well we just we covered that at the cow okay the homeowners in Freeport own the sidewalks in front of their residents okay Hicks in front of their residents or their businesses. We only own the ADA corners. The city...


Well, when I talked about sidewalk to nowhere, that's someone's property. Sidewalk to nowhere. And you're making a declaration of extending sidewalks. Well, that's what I'm getting.


That's how I'm understanding that. If I'm understanding it wrong, then it must be worded St. Louis, and the City of Washington.


So, this is a sidewalk to nowhere. There's no ramp that crosses the street to go out here.


This is called a carriage walk and they were popular back in the 90's, 80's, but they're no longer legal because a handicapped person that is visually impaired could go down this and Mr.


Miller. Okay. That subject, that right there did not come up in the last discussion. Yes, we discussed it.


I know it came up for discussion, but it was addressed as a sidewalk to nowhere according to what I was listening to, and that's the reason why I'm mentioning it, because there's a lot of residents throughout the city that have sidewalks to We're addressing it now because if you can do that, if you can address it here at the council, that means that it must be something that we're considering doing. That's what I'm looking at.


Our current ordinances have the ability to cite homeowners and our businesses for not extending their sidewalks. We have never chosen to do that in the city of Freeport.


Financially, it's not feasible for all these people, but the city could cite someone for not connecting their sidewalks.


Shadle, Sanders, Sellers, Klemm, Johnson, Simmons, Parker, the resolution is adopted 8-0. Item number 25, approval of a bid.


Could you please read this? Opening on July 22nd, lift station on Walnut Avenue. Manager Boyer.


Thank you, Your Honor. Fehr Graham designed and bid sanitary sewer lift station forced main piping and gravity improvements for the land road area sanitary sewer flow at the request of the city.


The existing sewer system has an issue, a significant issue near the landfill perimeter and cannot be accessed for repairs due to IEP regulations, landfill closure requirements and extreme depth of the sewer main from grade.


Seward area carries a significant flow to the city's interceptor on a daily basis and a public bid opening was held on July 22nd at 1030 a.m. City staff received four bids for the project from Martin and Company and Trek Group, Kelsey Excavating and Fisher Excavating. Fisher Excavating was missing required bid item so it was deemed non-responsive and Kelsey's excavating was is the lowest responsible bidder at $2,847,451.50.


Kelsey Excavating is currently working on the 2025 City Street project and has completed other sewer force main work for the city of Freeport with positive results.


The project completion is estimated for June, 2026, taking into account equipment lead times. This project is planned to be paid for with Land and Road TIF funds, and staff recommends moving forward with this bid.


Is there a motion to approve? So moved. The motion made by Alderman Shadle, seconded by Alderman Sellers. Discussion on the bid. Alderman Sanders. On the bid? On the bid.


Okay, I feel absolutely, absolutely feel that there should not even been a bid entertained, first of all, on the landfill excavation pro-bid far as work that is going to be supposedly done without a complete survey and evaluation to determine the future of the landfill.


Fils that are out there at the landfill on Walnut, there has to be information to the reason why we're working on a landfill sewer line that is possibly connected to the interceptors and I don't think a bid should go out for any of that kind of a project until we have We've done a complete evaluation and study on that particular landfill and bids should not even be considered before we have done our own homework here at the council and until that happens then we're walking into a blind, wooded area, that's my assessment of it and I think the people of the City of Freeport should know that there's sewer lines out at the landfill that has not had a study to determine its existence and that thing could be still open to the city, the public, causing all kinds of habits and problems so I think it needs to be reevaluated.


I don't like this, I don't like an incomplete study to determine whether or not we should be bidding on anything and I'm surprised a bid like that even hit the floor, hit this council floor.


I am so surprised and the derelict of duty that we have not done anything to make that discovery happen and I'm looking at it here on the agenda and I'm saying to myself, where's Where's the rest of the background noise? Where's the rest of the background information? Why haven't we had a formal discussion about these issues? We're just throwing money away without doing what we should be doing here, and I don't like the fact that it's been dismissed as if though we don't have a problem that could cause us problems within the near future, Are you asking us to vote tonight on giving Davis, Illinois, $2,847,451.50 that's the bid I can't I can't believe I'm here help me understand it's not Davis Illinois that's where the contractor that's their home address is Davis Illinois it's Kelsey excavating they're already doing work for the city of


Freeport they're doing our street projects and they were the low responsive bidder to the project so yes that is exactly what we're asking is to who award money to them as the low bidder.


Any other discussion? I would like to clarify something if I might. We had an entire meeting at the COW last week that we went over these exact topic with the council that was here.


We went through the flow and the gallons and this has been an issue since City Manager Bucus was on the staff.


He's actually the one that started the project and there is a need for sewer flow enforcement out there and it's resulting in the landfill, not because of the landfill, the flow problem is through the landfill.


This station will bypass the landfill and all the landfill flow from the leachate system will go into the station, as well as all of the Lamb Road Tifta stick and any expansion that happens in either direction.


and the expansion that happens in either direction east or west. Mike? Okay, now remember this is about the bid.


Well, he wasn't talking. Oh, well. All right, Mayor. You know, this stuff can become comical if you don't know exactly what is being said and then it'll just fly right over your head is if though you understood just what he was just saying.


I'm just gonna, if it's not about the bid, I just wanna make a comment about what he just said.


Is that okay? Without the term, without the word of bidding coming out of my mouth, I just wanna make a comment about what he just said.


Is that okay? Because he makes comments about what we say. Okay, go ahead. All right, all right.


and John. That whole landfill situation, going around the situation, but you never talked about how you're going to disconnect from the interceptors or how you're going to abandon that whole system throughout the whole process of doing anything. We're just going to abandon and others.


So, we're going to make an investment to divert the line away from its normal path already to accommodate what type of flow are we trying to demonstrate here because if it's not broke and why trying to reroute something that is not broke, I just don't get it.


And so if we're closing the landfill down, if the landfill is being closed down and excavation and all these kinds of things are going to take place over at the landfill, then we must do something about the existing sewer lines that are flowing to the interceptor out of of all places, and not talking about the disconnect, there has to be a disconnect there because if not, there could be infiltration at the intercept, wherever this thing dumps off to.


I'd like to know how you're going to reroute it and reconnect it, whatever you're thinking about doing.


I'm just baffled with all of that. So if there's no further discussion, Madam Clerk, did you have something?


I wanted an answer. The answer is it's all in the plan, and it's in the details.


But the details are too great to explain at a council meeting. These questions should be asked throughout the week so they can be answered not at this floor.


That discussion would take hours. But you haven't asked me any questions except for here.


I won't, because I won't. Alderman Sanders, you need to stop being out of order, please.


OK, I'm sorry. I apologize, Mayor. If there's no further discussion, Madam Clerk, please take the roll.


Stacy? No. Shadle? Aye. Sanders? No. Sellers? Aye. Klemm? Aye. Johnson? Aye. Simmons? No. Parker?


Aye. The motion passes five to three. Item number 26 is another bid. Could you please read?


Bid Opening on July 30th, CD007-2025, Demolition of 8 Properties. Thank you Madam Mayor, excuse me, 8 Properties were published in the Journal Standard on July 24th for a bid opening that occurred on July 30th at 9 o'clock in the morning at City Hall and it was for the demolition of 8 blighted properties and on July 30th staff have received bids from four contractors.


And based on the submitted bids, staff is recommending issuing a contract for the demolition of all eight properties to Albert and Sun Earthworks for the amount of $100,610, as they are the lowest responsible bidder.


Is there a motion to approve? So moved. Second. Motion made by Alderman Shadle, seconded by Alderman Sellers.


Discussion on the bids. Alderman, Stacy The money used for these demolitions are coming from what?


So yeah, I put that in the memo as well. Scroll down here a little bit.


Better yet. Yeah. and I were at a good meeting at the library. There was money that we had from the east side of town. Money and grants that were given to us to destroy property over there. Park Street, Crocker Street, Wilbur Avenue, Adelbert Avenue are all on the east side of town. We had money we had to use or lose. Why are we using that money to destroy property over there?


for those streets where we have money that we have to use or lose. I'll make it a little easier to see because it's a little bright outside, but maybe you can see it a little easier now.


Funding for the demolitions comes from FEMA floodway grant programs. Okay, but wasn't that FEMA floodway grant program for housing on the east side of town?


Correct. So the demolitions are funded by the FEMA floodway grant programs and then these are the houses that the property owners receive money for for selling their property and the city is demolishing it now as part of the FEMA program.


But Carroll, Prospect Terrace, Pleasant Street, and Williams Road, wherever that is, it's not in the FEMA, it's not in the area where the FEMA money was granted.


So, funding for the demolitions comes from the Illinois Housing Development Authority Strong Communities Program, which the city has now spent most of it, but there's still money left.


That program is $300,000 for the demolition of blighted properties and the FEMA Floodway Grant Program.


So, if it's on the east side and eligible, it receives the FEMA Floodway Grant Program money.


If it is not, it has fallen into the IDA Strong Community Program and that's where the funding comes from.


But what about the, what was it, 10 or 12 houses that was not on the east side of town, that were scheduled to come down this year, and none have come down?


I have no idea. Well, you'd have to give me specific properties. We now have 17 properties that are, this is at first eight, and I have another nine.


And this department, I believe, has another bid opening coming for 10 more properties. I spoke with you and City Manager Boyer and I asked for a list. So are you telling me this is 8 of the 17 on the list?


I would say probably yes. I don't have that list in front of me, but I don't know what properties...


I'm still waiting for it to... I don't know what, I mean, I could tell you that there's eight properties being demolished in this bid package. There's about to be nine more coming up after this, and then my staff is working on another ten. There's going to be another bid opening. So that would be twenty-seven properties probably in the next two months that are going to be demolished.


Okay. Madam Clerk, Alderman Klemm? Just because it was mentioned before, Wayne, many of us know about the properties on the east side, but could you explain, because some of the renters have come forward and could some of these houses be rebuilt, so on and so forth, tell them the status of what these houses, the condition of them, just so we...


Well, the short answer is any property on the east side, these properties, I've walked through the majority of these personally, because I have to let in our asbestos contractor.


So many of these properties have a water line through the house actually on the walls.


Many of them do. Many of them also have soggy floors from water damage. So practically speaking, they're beyond repair.


But then if you want to go into actual government regulation, FEMA at the federal level is not going who let a government entity like the city issue permits for fixing a property for, excuse me, for more than 50% of its value.


So there's a practical implication which basically says the buildings are gone too far, but there's also the federal government which is saying you cannot redevelop it.


Another common complaint, I've read some of the complaints from our community is that there's poor living conditions.


The truly unfortunate part is many of these properties are picked up, now the ones up here that were talked about, the non-FEMA Eastside properties, the sad thing is many of these properties are picked up for back taxes, they're not properly repaired and people are renting them and then the city ultimately comes by, has to do inspections and finds out that these properties that are so far gone are not completely repaired to an adequate level and it's sad that and our community is actually renting these properties.


is actually renting these properties so many of these properties are all of these properties are so far gone that they cannot be repaired thank you very much I appreciate it you're welcome Sanders and what you're also stipulating that there that that these properties are since they are at the and the point of demolition, there shouldn't be any occupiers even in those buildings as we speak today. Is that what you're saying?


Yes, that is correct. And that we should be moving forward to having those property tore down. Have we had any complaints about any of the properties that we're tearing down to be reconsidered for Rehab, or Rehabilitation and that kind of thing. Have we had that kind of expression down at the development, at the community development to reconsider anything that someone was interested in? All of these eastside properties here that you're seeing here were purchased at a closing. Paperwork was signed and the property owners, if they lived, they received appraised value plus $31,000 if they lived in the property during the time of the flood.


The other properties up here are either fast track demolitions or they are purchased off of the back or purchased from the county for back taxes.


So any property up here that is purchased for back taxes was owned by the county, the city owns it, there's not going to be a complaint.


Any property that is a fast track demolition has had proper notice and there's due process for that property owner to file a complaint and stop demolition.


So at any point in time, every one of these properties has had an opportunity to talk about development, et cetera, and they're no longer at that point.


Alderman, Sanders, please remember we're talking about a bid. Huh? This is about approving a bid.


Okay. You know sometimes I have to navigate myself through the process, even though it might be inconvenienced to a lot of folk that are listening, but the thing about it is, we're sticking to the bidding portion of it all, the only thing I like to know is, when you're looking and Bids for these properties that are supposed to be demoed and people have not any complaints about these property and reconsideration.


Are you receiving anything about these properties that should make you say, hmm, question it or reconsider or anything?


is anybody making any kind of proposals to the community about these properties? No, there's nothing substantive about these properties that's being proposed for redevelopment, etc.


Okay. All right then. Okay. Alderman Johnson? I just wondered what makes the difference in the price of the bid?


Is it just the size of the house, the material it's made out of, or what makes the difference between the prices?


Your biggest, sorry, go ahead. I apologize. No, that's it. Your biggest, truly the biggest gap that you're going to see up here on prices, majority of it's going to be asbestos abatement.


So every single property on here has an asbestos inspection and on the bid packet there is a list from a contractor that says what has asbestos on the property and if there's asbestos within the property that could more than double the price of a demolition.


So if a property doesn't have asbestos it's going to be a quick, it'll be a much lower price.


Thank you. Madam Clerk, please take the roll on approving the bid. Stacy? Aye. Shadle? Aye. Sanders? Aye. Sellers? Aye. Klemm? Aye. Johnson? Aye. Simmons? Aye. And Parker? Aye. The motion passes 8 to 0. Item number 27 is another bid approval. Could you please read this? Bid opening on July 30th.


C.D. 008-2025 Demolition of Nine Properties Director Duckman excuse me thank you madam mayor as promised here are the other nine properties that are up for demolition and these nine properties were published in the journal standard on July 24th and the bid opening was held at City Hall on July 30th and 915 city staff received bids from four contractors and this Based on the submitted bids, the lowest responsible builder was Alber and Sun Earthworks and they submitted a bid for $121,570 to demolish all properties and staff recommends issuing them the contract as the lowest responsible bidder.


Is there a motion to approve? So moved. Second. A motion made by Alderman Shadle, seconded by Alderman Klemm.


Discussion on the bid. Madam Clerk, please take the roll. Shadle, Sanders, Sellers, Klemm, Johnson, Simmons, and Parker.


Who is absent? The motion passes 7-0. Item number 28 is another bid, could you please read?


Bid opening on August 1st, 2025, CD009-2025, Fence Installation and Board Up at 114122 Delph, Liberty Avenue.


Thank you, Madam Mayor. So talk a little bit about what we have going on here.


We have a site plan here. Kind of showing what's going on at the Raleigh complex.


As everybody knows, the Raleigh building is in poor condition. There has been some stone falling off into this alley.


We've also broken windows around the area and recognizing that staff has worked with City Manager Boyer and discussed options on how we can better secure the site and so we put out to bid a site plan illustrating what we could do to secure the site so essentially there is a six foot high chain link fence that's going to go around the Raleigh Complex. It's going to connect. There's an existing garage here.


and I'm also going to include a board up, so I've drawn in red the building, the, okay, it's going to full screen mode.


Essentially I showed the, essentially it's going to be all of the first floor windows on the Raleigh Complex are going to be, I highlighted in red here what it's going to look like.


These windows will be boarded up, and then if you scroll up there will be a few more that will be boarded up.


Basically essentially all of the windows on the first floor will be boarded up and so the city staff at the bid opening it was published in the Journal Standard on July 27th and the bidding bid opening occurred on August 1st at 10 a.m. at City Hall and city staff received bids from three contractors Fence Peoria was eliminated as they did not submit the required all the required documents and The lowest responsible bidder was Winter Construction at a proposal of $78,000 and staff is recommending moving forward with Winter Construction for the installation of a fence and board up of all of the first floor windows at the Raleigh Building.


Is there a motion to approve? So moved. Second. We have a motion made by Alderman Shadle, seconded by Alderman Sellers.


Discussion, Alderman Stacy? If we're putting up a fence, why do we have to worry with the windows if there's going to be a fence around it, the whole building? And better yet, why not just tear it down?


Well, the demolition would probably push close to $10 million. So with budget season coming up, might be a good idea for you possibly propose that. But until then, securing the site is the best, best plan of action.


Other than just a fence, it's important that staff is trying to secure the area as much as possible.


So we have broken windows and glass, and it's an easier way that if somebody were to get in through the fence, they could still climb into the building.


So we're doing everything we can. Staff wants to do everything they can to secure the site and protect it from further vandalism.


So this is going to be what, a four foot fence? Six foot high fence.


6-foot high fence. 6-foot high fence. Link or? Chain link. Alderman, Sanders. Pullerman, Sanders. Mr. Duckman, that building been in place for how many years?


Probably close to a hundred years. Yeah and the main reason why and I want the general public to know the main reason why it hasn't been considered to be Demold at this time and what's the outbreak or the outcome or the environment that this particular building could bring onto the city and why haven't we made proposal for grants to do it the proper way and if there's a reason why that is, kind of educate us a little bit on why this building is still standing and we're talking and I have been taking $5 to try to mend it up with Band-Aids.


And there should be appropriate grants for this kind of hazard. This building is a complete hazard.


It's been here, like you say, over 100 years, but been out of commission, I'm gonna say, about over 50 years, that kind of thing.


But the point that I'm making is, how come we have not looked into this particular matter instead of throwing band-aids up against it and see what the outcome is that we're considering because that building has been an eyesore to the city of Freeport for decades and we need to be trying to be tentative or even about that as opposed, if we can take $10 million and find grants for $10 million to tear down a building, we should be able to take $10 million to erect housings, and a couple of things.


Well, you had a lot there. So I'll try to get it. I'll try to address all of your comments.


The first comment is when you walk down this alley, I don't know last time you walked down this alley, it's full of stone.


And what it is is the cap up here is likely people we know people are breaking into the here, it's likely people, we know people are breaking into this area.


We have evidence of that. We have proof of that. There's quite a bit of vandalism for people breaking in and it's likely that they're pushing all of the cap and stone into this alley.


And right now, after observing and knowing that, I find it just irresponsible to continue studied, and they paid for their work.


The work was done at that time as a way to allow God forbid somebody walks down there and that stone hits a person.


So, at that point, the most immediate action to do is to lock off this alley in the surrounding area.


Boyer, Mayor, Mayor, Mayor, Mayor, Mayor Yes, and we can investigate that. Yes, that takes time. Yes, it takes time. Other part to that is brownfield reuse. Other communities have had success in redeveloping, this is a brownfield site, an old industrial building that has lacked use in 50 years, let's say.


Okay, I have been part of bringing developers, potential developers into this site with ideas and I have. It's a tough sell. I'm not going to sit here and tell you that that's an easy sell. So the tough decision city staff has is and should should also look at in parallel at the same time is looking to redevelop it, which would eliminate the need for a demolition or also and parallel so at the same time and also investigate grants for its demolition. And that's what we're doing. That's a and so on.


I'm glad to hear that we are on the move with that as something that has been put on the back burner for decades and nobody has brought the subject matter up and I think it's a good time for the whole community to take that into consideration and say, well, hey, we're doing everything else, we're throwing lift stations and water wells and places like that and we're getting grants for all these kinds of things but one thing that we have not focused on is the haphazard things that is being in our community that it really is an environment problem.


It's not going to go away and the thing about it is we need to pursue grants that rectifies and take care of these kinds of things that we need to get rid of.


I can see that. I can see the environment of these building cause health breathing problems within the city without the city doing a full evaluation of the air of the city.


I don't even think we test our air here in the city of Freeport. To be honest with you, we should start, but you know I don't think we do but just to get just to get an idea what a building can do to the city without knowing that certain agents are floating it floating around out there in the community we need to do a study on that as well I'm just venting right now but understood we want to get back to this is about a bid Alderman Johnson do we have any bids at all how much it would We've not, but what was our demolition, what was the, what did we just receive for two, the dry cleaner downtown?


So the, yeah, the dry cleaner in the building next door that the city owns is going to cost a little over $1.2 million to demo just those two buildings and they're not built anywhere close to the solidness of this structure.


and I wanted to remind everyone when we got the 1.7 million dollars that was the by far largest award in the state of Illinois to take down any buildings they don't have grants of 10 million dollars to take down a building this size so the city will be footing the bill at some point along with a grant to take something like this down it's a very large cost here it's a complete concrete structure Johnson. The low bidder that bid, they didn't include some information. Can we not ask them for that information? That's not something we can do.


We looked and actually I looked into that matter with council and discussed it at length and we looked through our rules and regulations and it was determined that that's not it's not fair to the you know during the open bidding in an open bidding process it wouldn't be B. Fair to have everybody else submit a complete submittal, and this happens quite a bit where somebody forgets and document and they can't come back later and submit it.


That's common practice in not just Freeport but any community. We list out if there's 10 items you have to submit, you have to submit all 10 items or else you're thrown out of the open bid.


Alderman Sellers? Yes, I just want to know when all the fencing and everything is around, are we also going Johnson, Klem, Johnson, Simmons, Parker. So we have six to one passes. Item number 29 is another bid. Could you please read this? Bid opening on August 1st, CD 010-2025, asbestos abatement for hanger D at 2155 East and Dr. Duckman. Thank you, Madam Mayor.


So I have a couple pictures coming up here shortly, but essentially what we have is hangar D is at the Alberta's Airport and it's quickly deteriorating building and It truly needs to be demolished and staff is Going to self-perform this Public Works Department will self perform the demolition however, asbestos abatement has to be done by a licensed contractor for that work and so staff put out a bid for asbestos abatement for Hanger D at Alberta's Airport and it was published in the Journal Standard on July 27th and the bid opening was held August 1st at 1015 and staff.


at 1015 and staff received bids from two contractors and the one contractor did not submit a bid bond as required and so therefore their bid was eliminated and the staff is recommending going with the lowest responsible bidder of Environmental Management Services of Iowa and they submitted a bid of $27,750.


Is there a motion to approve? So move. Second. made by Alderman Sellers, seconded by Alderman Shadle. Discussion on this bid. Alderman Sanders.


I understand that bid, but there's an environmental issue with that bid. And what you're saying, they are certified to do the asbestos for demolition.


They are certified to do that. Yes, that was part of their submitted, they were required to submit their licenses as part of this bid.


So when we opened it and Clerk Anderson was a witness, can attest to it, had seen that they submitted their proper licensing.


Okay, any other city property have received any bids for Demolition with Asbestos. Okay, we're not going there.


This is about this particular bid at the airport, not all the other stuff. I don't like what you just said.


You know what? You keep going on in a direction that's not according to what is on.


I'm talking about a bid. You just asked about a bid for the entire city.


I don't care. So we are talking about a bid at Hangar D. What goes for one property goes for all property.


I'm asking a question about a bid. Would you like to ask a question about Hangar D?


Why are you directing my focus to just Hangar D? Because that's what the agenda is.


Hangar D is not the only problem. It is the only thing that's on this bid.


Okay. All right, Mayor. You are asserting yourself into... Is there any other discussion? If not, Madam Clerk, could you please take the role?


You can't be doing that, Mayor. Stacy? Aye. Shadle? Aye. Sanders? Sellers? Aye. Klemm? Aye. Johnson? Aye. Simmons? Aye. And Parker? Aye. The motion passes 7 to 1. Item number 30 is another bid approval. Please read this.


Bid opening on August 13th. Resurfacing of 18th Avenue. Manager Boyer? Thank you, Your Honor. Recon Corporation worked with the City of Freeport to reach an agreement for the development of the solar field at the end of 18th Avenue that's in the arcade.


As part of the agreement, Recon Corporation was to assist with roadway improvements to 18th Avenue because the idea is they'll be using 18th Avenue to do the installation, they'll be running trucks in and out of there, and the road was somewhat deteriorated and the point is to restore the road once they're completed with the solar field project.


So as part of the agreement, Recon Corporation will contribute $440,000 toward improvements on 18th Avenue and provide the City of Freeport with improvement plans prepared by Bowman for the improvements to 18th Avenue.


A public bid opening was held on August 13th at 10 a.m. at the City of Freeport.


City staff received three bids for the project, one from Martin & Company, one from Helm and Fisher's Excavating. Fisher's Excavating was the lowest responsible bidder at $511,212.0. Fisher Excavating is currently working on the 2025 City Water and Streets projects and has completed other street improvements within the City of Freeport with positive results. Project completion is estimated for October of 2025. This project is planned to be paid with the $440,000 in funds from the Solar Developer Recon Corporation with the remaining amount through local funds.


It should be noted that $133,000 of Fisher's total bid is contingency for unsuitable soils that may be encountered during the construction. Staff recommends moving forward with the bid.


Is there a motion to approve? So moved. Second. Motion made by Alderman Shadle, seconded by Alderman Sellers. Discussion on the bid. Seeing none, Madam Clerk, please take the roll.


Stacy? Aye. Shadle? Aye. Sanders is absent. Sellers? Aye. Klemm? Aye. Johnson? Aye. Simmons? Aye. And Parker? Aye. The motion passes 7-0.


Item number 31 is reports of department heads. Finance? Oh, none tonight. Public Works? Fire?


Yes, thank you, Your Honor. I know it's been a long meeting, but I feel I have the need to acknowledge and recognize two of my paramedics from a job well done.


On August 14th, Ambulance One was dispatched for an elderly male who a gas station at Shell Gas Station in Galena, those folks thought something just isn't right with this gentleman.


So our paramedics responded there, they took the time to have a discussion with the gentleman, find out why he was in our area here, where he was from, and then they looked even further to gather his name and phone number for family members.


So one of the paramedics phoned police dispatch, ran the gentleman's name. It turned out that he was endangered and missing from city Chicago for four or five days.


He had no idea how he got out here, why he was here. So they checked him out. They phoned the gentleman's daughter. They were elated that he's finally been located and he's safe. The ambulance crew, Adam Holtz and Nathan Stepp transported the gentleman to the hospital just to be checked out. And that's where the reunion of his family members took place. So 84-year-old gentleman disoriented didn't know how he got to Freeport from City of Chicago. So those turn out to be a good outcome for the gentlemen of my paramedics. Thank you. Thank you. Police? Nothing from the Police Department.


Library? Nothing tonight. Community Development? Nothing tonight, Madam Mayor. IT? Airport? City Manager? Just one thing, Mayor. I just want to reflect on the the wonderful work and I, and we're going to be doing a lot of work that was done on 18th Avenue.


I know it was kind of the last thing on the agenda, but that is one way the city was able to use our work with the various solar contractors to flip that around and turn that into new infrastructure.


So I just want to thank all the staff that were involved with that negotiation.


It's an excellent job. I want to remind everyone about take advantage of the tire recycling if that's something that it could be helpful to you and then reminder of two events this weekend is Paint the Port is on Friday night as well as Eats and Beats is Friday night and Saturday night. So two great events in the downtown at the Art Plaza and in the streets. Alderman Stacey? Nothing. Alderman Shadle? Yes, thank you. Last week the Committee of the Whole meeting There was mention made at public comment at the end that statements that myself and Director Steekle had made that were to quote lies and it had to do with the lift station on Walnut Road.


Our comments were that it has been talked about for two years and I just wanted to mention that I did a little digging and there was a Committee of the Whole meeting on Monday January 9th of 2023 where there was discussion regarding Walnut Lamb Road, Forest Main, and Lyft Station.


And a week later on Tuesday January 17th of 2023 it was passed to a resolution approving engineering agreement with Fehr Graham for design services, so that's all, thank you.


On that particular note that I was just hearing with other issues, nothing has not been conformed completely.


We have incomplete work that needs to be reevaluated and to be studied. and I don't care how many times we talk about the subject matter, it doesn't matter as long as we are understanding what it is that the city is trying to push the citizens of Freeport into. And we need to not only evaluate what council is doing, but we need to evaluate ourselves as far as anything else. Are we cohesive on any matter that the city might have on the agenda and do we all conform together to come to a resolution of anything and that's what I've been I've been sitting here for over two years now and and I and I watched I learned I figured out how the game is pretty much played and and we need to change our thinking and this is why and I.


Thinking. And this is why, I don't know how many minutes I got, but if you shut me down, I'm going to go up to the podium and talk some more.


But the thing is, we need to re-look at ourselves in the mirror every day to say, are we doing this Citizens of Freeport justice, because I sit here and I listen to lies sometimes.


People flagrantly lie about things and don't come out and tell the whole truth about things.


I don't call no names but the point of the matter is you know who you are and if you're not serving the people of the city of Freeport you should get off the council.


You should go do something else with the rest of your time and die off into the wood and maybe grab a fishing pole or something like that and dwindle away the rest of your life.


But this is how I feel at this point and I'm quite sure a lot of our constituents feel the same way.


Are we looking at, are we considering the people that we're here, that voted us in here to make a decision making, proper decision making?


You know, that's something that needs to be reevaluated amongst ourselves. And we should ask ourselves that same very question.


And you're going to hear me talk about stuff like this on occasion when I feel that we're doing things that is not within, in the finds of the people and they can criticize, people can criticize me that stands opposition of what I'm talking about, which I don't care. I don't care about none of that stuff. It's just the fact that am I talking to the people to gain their trust about whatever I learned that I will expose to them or divulge to them so they will be as educated as I am because Thomas, I'm learning, I'm learning the ropes around here and we need to stop it.


Alderman Sellers? I would just like to say I know we had a lot of people that came in and was talking about you know the housing and the rents and all those things and I totally get it and I understand because I've been on both sides.


I've been a single mom renting and I've also been a landlord so I do understand but we We have no control of what people charge on their rents.


That's just like if I wanted to sell my house, they can't tell me how much I can sell my house for.


So I do understand and my heart goes out because I hate that it's happening.


But we as city council, we cannot tell people what they can charge for rent.


And my heart goes out to everybody. But like I said, I've been on both sides.


I've been a single mom renting and I've been a landlord. so I just wanted everybody to know that we do have, we have compassion on what's going on but we have no control.


Alderman Klemm? I agree 100% with Joy, thank you. Alderman Johnson? My heart also does go out for those that they've raised their rent on, it's a horrible thing.


I also wanted to remind Second Ward, we have neighborhood watch meeting at 3002 Farmedale Lane at 6.30 p.m. on Thursday evening.


Alderman Simmons? No. Alderman Parker? Yes. Just a reminder, we have our neighborhood watch next Monday night at 6 o'clock.


That concludes to public comment. Okay. We probably should do the other people first. I have an email from Carol Krupke. I have lived in Freeport my entire life and I have lived in my current location for almost 22 years. I have lived here for so long because Carol Krupke. That's what I was gonna say. There is a before you say that you can't do nothing. You guys probably should dig and see what you can do. It's easy to get up here and say what you can't do. You guys do research for everything else. We had so many ordinance passed, so many things looked at,


Dugan for the benefit of the other side, let's quote that. It's amazing that you can get up here and honestly say that you can't do anything and you can research it. You can find out exactly what's happening because whether you believe it or not, this guy is going to come through, his plan is to get Section 8 people from Chicago and if you think the crime rate is going to go anywhere but up, this is going to affect more than every and others.


They might move next door, down the street, around the corner from all of you.


Opposed to the ones that, let's say, let's see the home rule benefited that you guys don't have to live here anymore.


Or say, or whatever you do. And that means that you guys can't use home rule to benefit the community, but you can use it to say that Mayor Miller doesn't have to live here, Wayne don't have to live here.


You guys can use it for all of that. and I'm so tired, let's get on another topic, I'm so tired of hearing shovel ready sites, nobody is coming here, is this, you gotta be rocking, nobody is coming here, this is a public online meeting and it looks a mess, we got Darren impersonate himself as FHA worker, we got Wayne tearing down the city for no reason at all, and we got a bunch of neighborhood watch meetings and ain't nothing to get watched, I'm just trying to figure this out, this ain't Rockets Science, man, dig in and do the due diligence for the community, or like he said, get up and move around.


You have something to do, you have a job to do, you work for us, they, Rob, he's such a nonchalant attitude, he don't care about nothing, nothing.


You have proved that so many times, you have to be inviting to walk up to, nobody wants Winslow.


You sit up there like an angry ball right now because you're getting your name wrong out.


You get read every time somebody says something that you want to speak on. You have to be approachable.


Nobody wants to talk to you, bro. That's just period. You have to be approachable, not have an attitude when somebody asks you a question that you have to repeat.


Repeat it! Next. My name is Cheryl Altman. My name is Cheryl Altman. My question is, why is Wayne getting, well, for 16 hours at $62.50 an hour? That is three to four times more than what an average person makes in this town.


And it's a shame, but you guys voted for that. You're wrong. Also, $2.1 million for Pretzel City Transit.


It's $3 in town, each way. Out of town, it's $6 each way. But the worst thing is you forgot to mention that all those vans and buses are given to the City of Freeport for free.


And then not even to mention all their donations, because I used to drive the bus.


I could bring in $400 in donations every two weeks. Easy. So where's that money?


The worst part is you're making that money and you got people out here are ready to strike but you won't give them a raise. For shame on you guys. And next, Wayne, you say that you walked through all these buildings? Wrong. You made me get an engineer, a structural engineer. You didn't like what he said because you said my building was structurally sound more than most.


but yet you sit there and gonna bash and tear my place down you've got the the roofs are falling in on the rally building you got frickin trees plus you already got a five hundred thousand dollar grant for that place so what you do with that and why are we getting Elbers and sons because Mayor Miller you related to him your mom was an Elber that's a conflict of interest you have your nieces matter of fact I got a picture with you and Sherry at her your nephew's invitation and I'd be glad to show it to you any day if you wanna see it.


You know, it's really a shame that it's who you know around here and I don't know who's more smug or arrogant, either you or Rob Boyer, but I don't know why, if we got a mayor, why do we need a city manager?


Miller. If we got him, why the heck do we need you? Next. How I just want to introduce myself and talk a little bit about what's going on and see what we all can do to come together and help.


My name is Jocelyn, I'm a mother and a long-time Freeport resident. And someone who is now along with many others fighting just to keep a roof over our family's heads.


I want to thank you Mayor Miller for responding to my previous emails and suggesting that I fill out the inspection request form here at City Hall.


I do appreciate the acknowledgement and the apology for my hardship, but respectfully, sympathy does nothing to...


Perfectly, Sympathy does nothing to provide housing, it doesn't stop evictions, and it does nothing to prevent the rent hikes that are already being enforced right now creating a monopoly of sorts. Many of us are now being told to sign new fixed term leases within seven days or face a 30 day notice to vacate.


The rent increases are as high as 50%. These are not proposed numbers. These are actually happening.


Some families are seeing jumps in rent from $650 to $1,300 overnight. These are imposed with promises to do light maintenance.


And to look further at the math, Freeport has an average wage of about $15 an hour or roughly $2,400 a month before taxes.


That's not enough to cover the rent increase, especially when you factor in groceries, utilities, child care, gas, and health care.


It's just not realistic. Hick, in addition to these points that I've come here to make, we are working families and we can't meet these necessary requirements.


How are individuals on social security or fixed income supposed to do that? The point is that they can't.


These requirements are designed to push people out and understand that there's only so much that can be done because the state of Illinois bans a rent control.


It means that what's happening here is completely legal and that's the problem. But that doesn't mean that the council is powerless.


I'm here to ask you to act and urgently. Some things that you can do are pass a local ordinance requiring 60 or 90 days to notice before significant rent increases or lease terminations.


Also, you could conduct immediate inspections of properties with sharp rent hikes to ensure that they meet health and safety codes, especially for any property raising rent by more than 10%.


You could even host a public forum with tenants and landlords so our voices are heard and to hopefully avoid the lack of actions done by landlords to help tenants with what matters to those living in these properties.


My last suggestion is to pass a resolution urging the state of Illinois to lift the rent control ban and return the power to cities like ours.


I'm not asking for special treatment. I'm asking for fairness for families, seniors, and working people who just want to stay in their homes, especially as we send our children back to school.


We deserve better than the, we deserve better than to be pushed out of the city that we've helped build.


Thank you. Thank you. Anyone else? Thank you. Anyone else? Thank you for giving me this opportunity. I noticed I've never been here to a meeting before. Can you state your name please? Ernestine Etman. I've never been here to a meeting before, I've watched you guys sometime on TV, but I didn't notice that you have prayer before you began, is that right?


I am a believer in Christ. I don't know what's going to happen from this day because my heart is just so heavy right now after seeing all those comments of people that it's going to have to leave from where and some other people who are living right now because they can't afford it.


And I just want to say, I'm not going to talk too long, but I want to say this to all of you.


I stayed, I stayed, and I listened to all that you guys had to say.


And those are some important things. But to me right now, what's most important is not seeing kids out in the streets.


Hicks. Nowhere to go. That's what hurts me. That's what's important to me right now. And so if you believe in the God of heaven, I want to see all of you do more than what you're doing. I know you may not can pull a string here or there, but it is something you can do as our leaders in this community. And I want to say this and I'm done. I know that but none of you are in these positions because somebody just voted you in.


I know that the God of Heaven allowed you to be in these positions and He expects you to do what you're supposed to do.


This is not going to be good for nobody in the city of Freeport. There's a lot of families, a lot that has been hurt by this and so in the days to come you're gonna feel it we might feel it but you're gonna feel it too and I want you to keep that in your mind that you're not here just because somebody voted you in you're here because God put you here thank you anyone else Hi, my name is Sue Cook, Winchester Drive. I was home, and I was watching online, and, but no, no, no, there are children, there were children standing here, begging for their home in Freeport.


We've never been a distressed city before. Don, you know that. This city was flourishing and beautiful and huge and good and there were homes and places for people.


There were not children standing in front of the City Council begging for their homes.


I know you can't do anything with the landlords. You can talk to them. I know you can talk to them, Rob. I know you can.


You may not be able to tell them where, excuse me, to put or how much to charge, but you can keep the kids and these people in their homes.


You can, you're powerful. You cannot say that you're a pastor and not be able to do this.


You are powerful. You are the City of Freeport Council. You are powerful and Freeport cannot be distressed.


And here we stand distressed. The second thing, for God sakes, for the people that are disabled in this town, don t take 911 away from them. Rob, give them the five bucks. Five bucks are a life. Five bucks are a life. It could be my husband, it could be me, it could be Cece, it could be the mayor.


We ve had head-ons. Here I am crying. I m sorry. I m really sorry. But we ve had head-ons.


We've had multiple head-ons. I've driven that road. I've had to drive off the road to avoid head-ons. Guys, we can't have no 9-1-1 in Freeport. We can't have roads where our cars go into the potholes and we have to pay $3,200 for an undercarriage, which has happened.


We can't be distressed and we can't let kids be out in the street and these people lose and Jodi.


We never were distressed, Jodi. Excuse me, Mayor Miller, we never were distressed. We never were distressed.


We don't have to be distressed now. Thank you for letting me stand here and cry.


I'm very sorry. Anyone else? Yeah, I'd like to make a public comment. Well, then you have to get up to the podium.


Do I? You want to speak as a citizen. That's the question. I'm sorry. I'm sorry.


I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry.


I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. and a citizen.


That's the protocol? Yeah. It's a public comment. Okay. All right. I don't want to take up too much time, but I feel the compassion of the members.


I feel the compassion of those that are in distress and if we have a heart or any empathy for what the community brought to us tonight, we should look, like I said earlier, we should conform as council people for the greater good of the people.


We should perform to come together on a topic issue that is hurting folk. If it's hurting people within our community, we should stand up and lend our voice to all of the causes and distress and the anxiety that folks are going through because of this one particular issue.


I like to see us all gather together, have an executive meeting on issues. It doesn't have to be an executive, it could be the whole force of the city of Freeport.


Having a common cause to rectify something that we have, as they say, the power we have to come together to help folk who are having issues.


My heart went out. I'm like this woman. I'm about to shed tears because of what we lack of doing.


We have avenues. We have pathways. We have areas that we can go into to seek out whatever it is that our community needs. And the fact that they don't know, they're not educated and I are educated to finding these programs and we're not lending our opportunity to help establish any programs that actually help people. I have not heard anything from our council that talks about a program that can benefit everyone that has a desire to want to better themselves in this community. I don't want to see people talking about I'm I'm going to be homeless, how do you come to the Council of Freeport and someone standing before you talking about I'm losing everything and I don't have no place to go, how could we just sit in our seat and after we adjourn tonight have no way of talking to one another, calling each other up, say hey we need to get up, we need to have a hall, a town hall and I have a meeting or some form or something to talk about that helps to help people.


I'm talking, and if there's something like that going on, everybody should be involved. Your time has expired. Thank you.


Anyone else? Cecelia? May I do it from here? Yes, I think that would be an exception.


You know, I don't know what we can do. I know that there's things that we have to do. I know that there's apartments out there that's not worth half of what they were already charging, and to go up double is ridiculous, but as renters you have rights.


and you had it right I don't know we might need inspectors to come in and look at these houses because they have to be valued at a level to be charged what they're charging and so I don't know what we can or can't do I'm gonna find out what we can or can't do but one thing I know how to do and that's pray so Father God In the name of Jesus, hear the hearts and the cries of your people.


Father God, make a way out of no way. We're looking to you for a miracle.


Yeah, you change is not. So just like you fed many with five fish and two loaves of bread, I'm asking you to work a miracle in this city on behalf of these, your children, your people.


Help us as a council to do any and everything we can do to make that difference.


to show ourselves strong, to show the value we have and the value that we carry.


Give us the words to say and the ability to do what needs to be done and we'll be sure to give you all honor, glory, and praise in advance for victory is ours. And I stand on that. In Jesus' name, Amen.


Is there any other public comments? I'll entertain a motion for adjournment. So moved. Second.


We have a motion made by Shadle, seconded by Parker. All those in favor, signify by saying aye.