Pastor Justin, could you please give the invocation?
Yes, sure.
Thank you.
Good evening, Madam Mayor.
Oh, I choked myself up there.
Good evening, Madam Mayor, Council, and everyone.
Would you please pray with me?
Our God, we bow before you tonight.
We're grateful for your gifts in our lives, and even as the sun shines tonight,
Shines tonight and we begin to enter the season of summer. Lord we're thankful for this season as a
season of celebration even with Freeport High School last night and other high schools throughout
our communities, our young people graduating or even coming home from college for the summer.
Lord we thank you as families and friends prepare to celebrate this season this summer. Lord we
we thank you even as city workers have a season to work on things long planned and carefully
funded up till now and Lord we are grateful that part of the celebration this year is the
250th anniversary of our great nation and Lord we do pray that you continue to guide
and bless or that you would help us to live as a good people even as whether it's
Freeport, or this country, we are only great as long as we are good. And so, Father, we pray that
you would give us wisdom, wisdom to see our great and deep need of your assistance and wisdom.
Lord, we pray that you'd help us to be a self-giving people, ready and willing to serve
others more than ourselves. And Lord, we pray that you would help us and this council in all these
We thank you for your help. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Thank you. Now we'll officially call this meeting to order. Madam Clerk, please take your roll. Mayor Miller? Here. Alderpersons, Klemm? Here. Johnson? Here. Simmons? Here. Parker? Here. Stacy? Here. Shadle? Here. Sanders? Here. And Sellers? Here. If you could please stand for the Pledge of Allegiance led by Alderman Klemm.
One Nation, Under God, Indivisible, with Liberty and Justice for All
We have a motion made by Alderman Shadle, seconded by Alderman Johnson. All those in
favor signify by saying aye. Aye. Opposed? That motion passes.
Well, as you can see, this is National Public Works Week, so thank you, Pat, for bringing
all of your crew along tonight on behalf of the City of Freeport, whereas public works
professionals focus on infrastructure, facilities, and services that are of vital importance
of the Public Health, High Quality of Life, and the Well-Being of the People of Freeport.
And whereas, these infrastructure, facilities, and services could not be provided without
the dedicated effort of Public Works professionals who are engineers, managers, and employees
at all levels of government and the private sector who are responsible for rebuilding,
improving and protecting our nation's transportation,
water supply, water treatment and solid waste systems,
public buildings and other structures and facilities
essential to our citizens.
And whereas it is in the public's interest
for the citizens, civic leaders and children in Freeport
to gain knowledge of and maintain an ongoing interest
and understanding of the importance of public works
and public works programs in their prospective communities.
Now, therefore, I, Jodi Miller, hereby declare May 17th through the 23rd, 2026 as National Public Works Week in the City of Freeport and I urge all citizens to join with representatives of the American Public Works Association and government agencies in activities, events, and ceremonies designed to pay tribute to our public works professionals, engineers, managers, and employees and to recognize the substantial contributions that they make to protect our public health,
Safety and Advancing Quality of Life for All. Thank you.
Next is public comment, however, the two signed in are non-agenda, so they'll have to wait
and
the
consent agenda is considered to be routine in nature and acted as one motion unless there's a member of council would like to have something removed for further discussion.
The consent agenda is approval to receive and placed on file minutes from the board and commission meetings from the police pension and fire pension boards, February 4th, 2026, Art and Culture Commission, March 12th, 2026, and the Liquor Commission, April 9th, 2026.
and
the building permit report. Also is the adoption of resolution 202677, which is the request for temporary closure of streets for cruise night on August 15th. And also is the approval of the finance bills payable in the total of $3,593,970.04 and payroll for pay period ending May 20th.
May 2nd, 2026, in the total of $714,634.55. Is there a motion to approve?
So moved. Second.
Is there a motion made by Alderman Shadle, seconded by Alderman Sellers? Any discussion?
Madam Clerk, please take the roll. Klemm?
Aye. Johnson?
Aye. Simmons?
Aye. Parker?
Aye. Stacy?
Aye. Shadle?
Aye. Sanders?
and Sellers. The motion is approved eight to zero. Item number six are reappointments. Could you please read those? All of these reappointments are to the board of library trustees, all effective through May 31st, 2029, Alan Green, Betty Butler and Tasha Mazik. Thank you. Council, what's your pleasure? You want to do this all in one or separate? All in one. All in one? Yeah. Okay. Is there a motion to approve? So moved.
Second. We have a motion made by Alderman Klemm, seconded by Alderman Shadle. Discussion on the appointments. Alderman Johnson. I just wondered, now when they're reappointed, do they have to reapply to be on the board or?
Well, the process is usually in communication with the library director and myself and, you know, just checking attendance, seeing about their, you know, their involvement and then they're asked if they're in good standing, then they're asked if they would like to continue and all three of them said yes.
Okay, one more question.
Sure.
What if someone else would like to be on the board and these people are up?
Like any of our commissions, they just need to fill out the form that's online and, you know, let us know what particular commission they're looking at and then we just keep a file.
Okay, thank you.
Madam Clerk, would you please take the roll?
Klemm?
Aye.
Johnson?
No.
Simmons?
Aye.
Parker?
Aye.
Stacy?
Aye.
Shadle?
Aye.
Sanders?
Aye. The motion is approved seven to one. Item number seven is the second reading of Ordinance 2026-
is the second reading of Ordinance 2026-29. Could you please read this?
Ordinance amending Chapter 806, Liquor, Section 806.02C1, Tier 3 licenses to clarify parameters of Class R Caterer License.
Thank you. Manager Boyer?
Thank you, Your Honor. This ordinance came through the Liquor Commission. It was presented to Council on May 4th.
Smith, Steve Cox was here to present and also to take questions and this basically clarifies
parameters of the CR class liquor license and the Liquor Commission and staff recommends
moving forward with this ordinance.
Discussion?
Alderman Sanders?
What is the CR?
That's a Caterers License.
Is that what that stands for?
Yes.
and who's going to give a presentation for that? Well, who's going to present that other than Council voting on it? Is there more detailed information on this?
We had that presentation. I think it was on the COW. It was presented by Attorney Cox and then it was first reading at the last meeting.
Okay, I just needed a refreshment summary of it, if I can get that.
It's in your memo, the whole thing, background discussion.
Okay.
All right.
Thank you.
You're welcome.
Madam Clerk, please take the roll.
Klemm?
Aye.
Johnson?
Aye.
Simmons?
Aye.
Parker?
Aye.
Stacy?
Aye.
Sellers. The ordinance is approved, 8-0. Item number 8 is the first reading of Ordinance
2026-30. Could you please read this? Ordinance amending Title 10, Employment Provisions,
Chapter 290, Compensation and Benefits, Section 290.01d3, regarding classification plan to
change title of, I think it's just City Accountant, is that correct, to Finance Specialist. Director
Richter. Thank you, Your Honor. The Finance Department
The applicant currently employs one staff person title of City Accountant. The main duties of the position include payroll processing, accounts payable, and accounts receivable.
The current title of City Accountant may lead a potential applicant to believe that the job duties associated with the position would include budgetary compliance, maintaining the general ledger, and preparing financial statements.
As the position is currently being recruited, we thought now would be the appropriate time
to change the title of the position.
The Finance Department is requesting a change to Ordinance 290.01d3 to remove the position
of Deputy City Accountant and replace it with Finance Specialist.
We would also like to remove the title City Accountant from Section 290.01e.
There are no changes to the job description or increases in staffing levels related to
this change.
It's strictly just the title of the position I would like to change.
Is there a motion to move this on to the next council meeting?
So moved.
Second.
We have a motion made by Alderman Sellers, seconded by Alderman Klemm.
on the Ordinance. Item number nine is the first reading of Ordinance 2026-31.
Can I back you up for a minute? Sure. Why do we need an ordinance for this
declaration that you're making? Attorney Zito. Because the name of the position is
is set forth in our city code of ordinances in order to change an ordinance you need to use an ordinance
to change it that's why it's has to be an ordinance to kind of even though this is a very just a simple
housekeeping item to change the name you still need an ordinance because the original name is
set forth by ordinance okay good good good item number nine is the first reading of ordinance
20 26 31 could you please read this ordinance authorizing the sale recycling donation and or
disposal of certain personal items owned by the city. This this ordinance is Fire
Department turnout gear. Chief Cordy. Thank you. According to the National Fire
Protection Association, all of the gear that the firefighters wear has a life
expectancy of 10 years. At the end of that 10 years, to be compliant, we have to
No longer use that equipment back in February this board voted to purchase some replacement gear in the meantime we've had quite a bit that has been accumulating in the station and we've got a listing of it 40 sets 40 coats 45 sets of pants 11 sets of boots and a helmet all that equipment has
Reynolds, run its useful life through the NFPA so we can no longer use that.
We have two different options of what we can do with it.
We can either throw it in the landfill or we can donate it.
There's other countries that do not abide by the same NFPA standards that we do.
So a lot of the Central America, Southern America are able to utilize this gear because
is in many cases, it's still very useful.
It's just that based on our standards,
we can no longer use it.
So at this point, we found a group called Hearts in Motion.
It's a nonprofit organization based in Sherville, Indiana
that collects and then donates this type of equipment
to those countries.
And we'd like to have this ordinance approved
to follow through with that.
At this point, the gear has no dollar value to anybody in the United States, and it has
no cost to the city to donate this.
Thank you.
Is there a motion to move this forward?
So moved.
Second.
Motion to suspend the rule.
We have a motion made by Alderman Shadle, seconded by Alderman Sellers, and we have
a motion to suspend the rules made by Alderman Klemm, seconded by Alderman Parker.
Suspension of the rules is non-debatable and must pass by two-thirds majority.
Madam Clerk, could you please take the roll on suspension only?
Klemm?
Aye.
Johnson?
Aye.
Simmons?
Aye.
Parker?
Aye.
Stacy?
Aye.
Shadle?
Aye.
Sanders?
Aye.
And Sellers?
Aye.
The motion for suspension passes 8-0.
So then before you, then, is the final passage for this ordinance.
Is there any further discussion?
Alderman Johnson?
Okay, Chief, you said it was still useful, so it would still protect those people when
Klemm, Johnson, Simmons, Parker, Stacy, Shadle, Sanders, Sellers, and the ordinance passes
8 to 0.
And item number 10 is the first reading of ordinance 2026.32.
Could you please read this?
Authorizing the Sale, Recycling, Donation, and or Disposal of Certain Personal Property
Owned by the City.
For this ordinance, there's some City Hall Office Furniture and Police Department Office
Furniture located at 709 South Liberty.
Thank you.
Chief Rostow.
Hi.
Do you have the pictures?
Yep.
Please.
709 South Liberty, as you entered in there, it was used for a community policing office
and it has not been used in the last 15 years under Chief Whitmore.
If you go into the building, everything has been destroyed either by water, mold, rodents, fleas
and nothing can be used out of there. There are miscellaneous furniture that has been rusted.
As you can see with all the pictures that are there, there's nothing that is useful for the Freeport Police Department.
there's great damage that they have there we did go through there there are no
records that are there they only have paperwork that is full of mold and that
paperwork is really booklets from DARE a program that we don't even use and so we
are seeking for this to be at least on the list for sale recycling and donation
Thank you. Is there a motion to move this ordinance forward? So moved. Second.
Is there a motion made by Alderman Klemm, seconded by Alderman Sellers? Discussion on the ordinance? Mayor? Yes. There is some IT equipment as well. Okay.
And I don't have that in the same frame. Alderman Sellers? Does this need to be amended too?
I'm sorry, would you like this one to be amended also? Yes. Okay.
I make a motion to amend. You mean suspension? Suspension. Second. Okay, we have a motion on the
floor made by Alderman Seller, seconded by Alderman Shadle for suspension, and again,
it's two-thirds majority and non-debatable. Madam Clerk, would you please take the role
on the suspension only? Klemm? Aye. Johnson? Aye. Simmons?
Johnson, Simmons, Parker, Stacy, Shadle, Sanders, and Sellers. The motion to suspend
passes 6 to 2 and Mayor I missed the first and the second on the original
Motion. Klemm Sellers. Thank you. So then before you, yes Alderman Simmons. Well I'll wait till you say what you're about to say. Okay so now before you is for the final reading for this ordinance. Is there a discussion? So what's the plan with this? Do you plan to sell it, give it to somebody, have it demolished? Well I don't plan to sell it. I believe that a group, an
A religious organization within Freeport wants to purchase it, a ministry group.
But this ordinance is only about the surplus.
Yes, it's only about the surplus.
All those pictures of what's inside.
Do we have a list?
Well, I just heard something about something technical in nature, part of this recycling
disorder, and we're being asked to dispose of it in a way that allows someone else to
Intercept it and I don't understand what is the criteria for disposing such gear or such technology
to a facility or whoever is asking for this donation. We don't have a list of items
List it before us to determine whether or not we should make sure that is not that anything that we're
disposing is in a compromising position. So we don't want to have that out there without us having an
opportunity to expose what it is in the technical field of what we're about to get rid of.
Yes. I'm just disappointed because I'm sure this house was given to the police department. And for it to be in the shape that it's in, it's really discriminatory.
Well, seeing the shape that is in is really discouraging to see that, where was the care? I mean, and you spoke about rust, mold, rodents, and we still want to give it to somebody?
are organizations that desire it. However, that isn't what this topic is. This isn't
about the surplus that's inside. So there's no further discussion. Madam Clerk, please
take the roll. Klemm? Aye. Johnson? Aye. Simmons? Aye. Parker? Aye. Stacy? Aye. Shadle? Aye.
Sanders? Aye. And Sellers? Aye. The ordinance passes 8 to 0. Item number
Ordinance Adding a Chapter 1480 to the Codified Ordinances Concerning Outdoor Lighting Regulations
Thank you.
Director Heimerdinger.
Thank you, Madam Mayor.
The Community & Economic Development Department was directed by the Planning Commission to
draft an ordinance for outdoor lighting regulations after discussing the lack of lighting regulations
within the City of Freeport.
There is currently not a policy in place for outdoor lighting regulations. Staff presented a draft, Chapter 1480, Outdoor Lighting Regulations to Planning Commission, where input and corresponding edits were made.
After being approved by the Planning Commission on May 8th, the newly drafted ordinance was then presented to the Building Commission for further edits last Wednesday on May 13th.
Chapter 1480 establishes new outdoor lighting regulations for the City of Freeport to reduce nuisance lighting, improve public safety, minimize light pollution, and create constant standards for outdoor lighting installations throughout the community.
Key ideas of the ordinance is that it establishes a maximum light spillover limit onto property lines and other nearby residents.
So if you're in a commercial district, it limits how much can spill into residential so that those who are living in their homes are not impacted by commercial lighting in a negative way.
It requires outdoor lighting to be properly shielded for the neighboring properties, but also traffic and make sure that it's shielded for glare for the drivers.
Prohibits flashing lights, search lights, laser lighting, and other lighting that may be distracting.
Establishes exceptions for residential properties, holiday lighting, public street lights, ADA-required lighting,
recreational facilities, and temporary permitted events.
And then it creates standards for illuminated signs and electric messaging centers,
which are all the new billboards that you see in town and it's technology that's going
to be pushing that even more into the future and then establishes enforcement procedures
and penalties for violation.
The lighting ordinance supports the city's goal for safe and inclusive community as it
ensures neighborhoods and vehicles are not negatively impacted by lighting on signs and
buildings.
This does not require any additional funding and staff, the Building Commission, the Planning
Commission recommend approval of the addition of Chapter 1480, outdoor lighting regulations
following a first and second reading by the City Council.
Thank you.
Is there a motion to move this forward?
So moved.
Second.
We have a motion made by Alderman Johnson, seconded by Alderman Sellers.
Discussion on the ordinance?
Alderman Johnson.
Just to clarify, Gertrude, for those that are listening, who all does this affect?
Huffines, the businesses, residents, or who all does it affect?
Yes, absolutely.
So this affects everybody except for residential structures containing less than four dwelling
units.
So if you live in a single story or a duplex up to four units, this will not apply to you.
This is for everybody else, churches, commercial structures, you know, big apartment buildings
and manufacturing.
We'll move on to item number 12, which is the adoption of resolution 2026-75.
Could you please read this?
Resolution approving the purchase of a mulching head attachment from Westside Tractor Sales.
Thank you.
Manager Boyer.
Thank you, Your Honor.
The current Public Works Department has a mini excavator among the equipment that we
Inventory and Use. We'd like to buy a mulching head for the mini excavator that allow us
to do mulching and brush and nuisance weeds and small trees, removals and ditches and
areas that are very difficult to get to with our other equipment. So this is in the 2026
Budget, we have a source well quote for $23,500.
That is from, oh gosh, let's see here, pardon me, Westside Tractor Sales, sorry, wanted
to verify that.
So staff recommends moving forward with the acquisition of the new mulching head for the
John Deere mini excavator.
Is there a motion to adopt?
So moved.
Second.
Motion made by Alderman Klemm, seconded by Alderman Shadle. Discussion on the resolution? Alderman Stacy?
Yes, can you tell me if this was budgeted for and if so, what budget would it be coming out of?
It was budgeted in the capital equipment.
Madam Clerk, please take the roll.
Klemm?
Aye.
Johnson?
Aye.
Simmons, Parker, Stacy, Shadle, Sanders, and Sellers. The resolution is adopted 7-1.
Item number 13 is the adoption of resolution 2026-76. Would you please read
this? Resolution ratifying emergency engagement of precision piping and
fabrication to fabricate steel backwash gate at the city's wastewater treatment
Thank you, Manager Boyer. Thank you, Your Honor. Staff request the ratification of this expenditure. We had to replace a 72 inch by 72 inch electrically actuated sluice gate at the wastewater plant. Once we installed the
Water Plant. Once we installed the new UV disinfection lighting system, we ran into a
situation where the existing sluice gate was not holding enough back pressure and unfortunately
it's because the old one was very deteriorated and the gate mechanisms had essentially corroded
Sellers, and we were able to have that made for us for $59,232.50, so staff recommends
moving forward with the ratification of this emergency repair.
Thank you.
Is there a motion to adopt?
So moved.
Seconded.
We have a motion made by Alderman Klemm, seconded by Alderman Sellers.
Discussion on the resolution?
Madam Clerk, please take the roll.
Klemm?
Aye.
Johnson?
Aye.
Parker, Stacy, Shadle, Sanders, and Sellers.
The resolution is adopted 8-0.
Item number 14 is the adoption of resolution 2026-78.
Could you please read this?
Resolution authorizing emergency box culvert repairs by NYCAM Construction on Sealy Avenue.
Thank you.
Manager Boyer?
Thank you, Your Honor.
For Sealy in Reed Park, there's a small bridge that goes over what becomes the home or drainage
District, Homer Drainage, Box Culvert that runs all the way to the Benton and Jackson
Outfall.
Unfortunately, the box culvert is kind of falling apart and we want to make sure we
catch it before it gets too bad.
We don't want there to be a damaged vehicle driving by and hit a section that's caving
in.
So, staff went out and found a local contractor that could take care of the work for $9,212
dollars. There is a we did some estimating and it probably will last five to ten
years where the total cost of a total replacement will be over $60,000. So staff
recommends moving forward with the bucks paying the box color repair invoice. Thank
you. Is there a motion to adopt? So move. Is there a motion made by Alderman Klemm, seconded by
Alderman Sellers. Discussion on the resolution. Alderman Sanders.
Manager Boyer, do we have qualified people who can work on culverts, box culverts?
We do but this is a repair to a fairly large one so and we're very busy with
all the other work we're doing throughout the city. What's the cost of
A little over $9,000. $9,000? Yes. Was it replacement with cement piping? I might have to turn that over. Darren's probably got more of the details on that one.
Yeah. The repair was a concrete repair. The wing wall basically had eroded and broke off of the structure. So we had Nycam Construction come in and pin it with epoxy dowel bars and then pour the wall back in.
and then we also had public works go in after they were done and we rip-wrapped the east side of the culvert there's where the Homer drainage ditch goes underground near the mobile station that it creates this almost washing effect down in that basin and it was eroding the structure away to my knowledge we've never worked on it before it's been eroding more and
and with the cost of a complete wall, wing wall replacements being $60,000, I thought
this was the prudent choice to get us by for 10 years so we could plan for the next step.
The box covered itself is in good shape, it's the wing walls that are really starting to
fall apart.
Would you like your second?
Would the construction interfere with traffic, how much traffic flow do we have in this area
and will it be obstruction to any form of traffic after repair, you know, I just want
to make sure if we're going to invest that kind of money into that kind of project that
it is still going to be, you know, road safety and whether or not we're, whether we go through
with the process of it.
Oh, well, the repair has already been completed.
And yes, in my opinion, it was the prudent thing to do.
The street is used as a connection to the park.
Heavily traveled.
No, it's not one of our heavier traveled streets.
Do we have an obligation to fix it and repair it?
We do. The park district put us on notice that they were considering it a hazard.
There are a lot of children that are right next to the pool area.
And I thought that they were correct.
and the repair probably obviously I think will last more than 10 years.
And so it would buy us quite a bit of time for us to decide what the next step is.
The box, we actually crawled through the box culvert ourselves
and the box culvert doesn't need to be replaced.
There's a couple of patches that are required in it, but other than that, it's good shape.
My belief is that the box culvert was replaced at some point,
but the wing walls were reused.
They look very aged and maybe original from, you know,
Publicカル a W Sound C ignition 0 P 0, what depends five years if it's already done?
for 10 years?
What is it all about for five years compared to ten years?
And is there a warranty on the work?
Sure. I can answer all those questions. So the first one was, last one was warranty. All contracts in Illinois for construction can only have a one year warranty. That's the state statute limit. So that's what you get is one year. I believe based on the repair that we did with concrete and epoxy dowel bars, that it will easily last 10 years. In my opinion, we fixed it right. We didn't cut corners. We filled it in right. And
Docksey, epoxy doll bars. I would estimate that that box culverts probably been there for at least 50 plus years. So fixing with concrete and doing it right at that time was the prudent choice. And the reason we brought it to council was to be transparent about the expenditure of the repair. We have the emergency authority to fix things that we think are going to cost the city a lot more money in the future. And if the wing well would have fell off, we would have been a total replacement of that site. So we would have been
you know well up and a lot more money than this so I just wanted to be
transparent that the repair was needed the Park District put us on notice that
it was an issue we knew that the issue was there we just it got severely worse
over the last year and so we wanted to make sure it got repaired. Alderman Stacey
So this was one of those director decisions that Director Michelle spoke about last week as an emergency, yes.
That's nothing new just so you know.
Excuse me?
I understand that. I was just saying it was nothing new. I mean, that's why it was spoke
about last week about increasing different dollar amounts so that if something needs to
be done, the director along with City Manager Boyer can make that decision and do it, correct?
So, that's all I'm saying. So, one thing that we didn't note in there is obviously it wasn't budgeted, so we will move budget items around, things that we were hoping to do that we will have to use this money on towards it now and that's part of the emergency authority. When we fix stuff we have to figure out where that money is going to come from and so we'll have to move things around in our budget to make sure that I just prudently as not just somebody working for the city as a resident, it's the right choice
to try to minimize the future cost of this and carry it out farther so we can plan long-term
for a real replacement when the box culvert itself is needed, not just when the wing walls
fall apart.
Thank you.
All right.
Madam Clerk, please take the roll.
Klemm?
Aye.
Johnson?
Aye.
Simmons?
Aye.
Parker?
Aye.
Stacy?
Aye.
Shadle?
Aye.
Item number 15 is the adoption of Resolution 2026-79. Please read this.
Resolution granting authority emergency repairs to HVAC system of the blower
building of the wastewater treatment plant by no
Building, Wastewater Treatment Plant, Nelson Carson, Mechanical Contractors
the building and the total cost of that was $74,238 and it'll come from the capital budget.
We were budgeting for this in the capital budget, there was $400,000 set aside for this
boiler replacement and we were able to do it for $74,000, significant savings.
So staff is recommending moving forward or ratifying this emergency repair.
Nice job on that.
Is there a motion to adopt?
So moved.
Second.
You have a motion made by Alderman Klemm, seconded by Alderman Sellers. Discussion on the resolution. Alderman Sanders.
Yeah, Manager Boyer, that blower, are we talking about replacement, repair? How did you indicate that?
The boiler failed, you know, the heat exchanger started leaking and failed, so we replaced it with set-aside units in the building.
Okay. So we just basically don't use the, we're not going to use the boiler anymore.
We're going to just replace the whole item. Yes, we're not going to replace the boiler.
We're simply going to replace it with heaters essentially, instead of a boiler.
Madam Clerk, please take the roll.
Klemm?
Aye.
Johnson?
Aye.
Simmons?
Aye.
Parker?
Aye.
Stacy?
Aye.
Shadle?
Aye.
Sanders?
Aye.
and Sellers. Aye. The resolution is adapted 8 to 0. Item number 16 is the
adoption of resolution 202680. I'm sorry. Sorry. I wanted to just
give some credit to one of our staff members for that last item.
Brandon Wells, which is the head of our maintenance department,
he really came up with the solution to save over $300,000 on the repair to that building
and I wanted to make sure that he got credit for it. It was his idea that we didn't need to replace
the methane boilers and that's the value of having some of our own maintenance staff and some of our
own people that think out in our departments. So I wanted to make sure the council understood the
value that Brandon brought on that project. Thank you. Awesome. Yep. Thank you. Good job, Brandon.
Item number 16 is the adoption of resolution 202680. Could you please read this?
Resolution authorizing the city to dispose of surplus city real property at 709 South Liberty Avenue.
Thank you. Manager Boyer.
Thank you, Your Honor. As previously discussed, it's the city's intent to
liquidate the 709 South Liberty Police Department. It's been vacant for many years and we've kind of
had a brief conversation already this evening regarding it. But first we have to approve it
Move it at Surplus Inventory for us to move forward with getting it into the right hands.
Right now we've been talking with the Minister's Alliance about their interest in the structure
and fixing it and using it as a classroom for their training program.
So but that is what we have right now and we're working with the community to get that
done so we'll have a separate resolution giving this to that entity.
So with that, staff recommends moving forward with this resolution to declare it a surplus
inventory.
It's your motion to adopt.
So move.
Second.
The motion made by Alderman Sellers, seconded by Alderman Klemm.
Discussion on the resolution.
Alderman Stacy?
Yes.
Can you say who will be receiving this?
Ray, at this time, the plan is to essentially gift it to the Ministers Alliance.
But that's not in the writing on this particular resolution.
This is just declaring it as surplus.
Right.
That is correct.
Alderman Sanders?
Yeah.
Identify the Ministers of Alliance and who is acquiring it, who's really bringing it
to our attention.
Well, it's a group of ministers who have been working to do, I guess, a VOTEC program to
teach students about installing one mill farms, doing electrical work and that kind of thing.
And they've expressed interest in this property for use as a classroom for their efforts.
There's no further discussion.
There's no further discussion. Madam Clerk, please take the roll.
Klemm? Aye.
Johnson? Aye.
Simmons? Aye.
Parker? Aye.
Stacy? Aye.
Shadle? Aye.
Sanders? Aye.
And Sellers? Aye.
The resolution is adopted 8-0.
Reports from department heads. Finance?
Nothing this evening. Thank you.
So I have a couple announcements, and then I actually have something I'd like to say about Public Works Week that I probably should have said earlier, but I appreciate some of the guys staying. So officially today, the Hancock Shawnee Vidoc was opened. The paving is done. There might be a little grass and dirt seeding that needs to be done over there yet, but in all intents and purposes, it's wrapped up. The new height of the bridge is normal height at 14 foot, six inches.
Finches. So all commercial vehicles that are under state law should be able to underpass
that now, which is a huge accomplishment and gives us two accesses for the businesses back
there and the residents should be very happy. As a reminder, there is a stop sign out there
that needs to be used by our residents. There's many people. In two days, we've counted 17
We're proud of that project. It's been a long time coming. If anybody's been counting, it's been probably close to two years, probably three years since we've been talking about it. So it's nice to have that one done. The municipal lot is really making good progress. There was plantings done down there. There's a lot of work to be done. There's a lot of work to be done. There's a lot of work to be done. There's a lot of work to be done.
I've had a lot of questions. Why so many plantings?
The city of Freeport has requirements with municipal parking lots, parking
lots in general that you have to have green space.
So there's a lot more plantings and islands that were put in there.
It should be paved hopefully by the end of next week.
If the weather allows, it still won't be open.
They'll be striping and things going on
to finish it up.
But for all intents and purposes, it's going very well.
and then we're about ready to kick off our 26 paving operation it looks like
Seminole will be paved sometime this week I believe then the following week
we'll hopefully be doing some of the paving in Gladewood and the Crate Park
agreements that we had and then we should be moving to Concord between
and so on. Between Seminole and Laurel sometime around the first week of June. And also Dewey, the street replacements should be starting over there very shortly as well. So please, we are passing out neighborhood flyers, if you will, that have specific text codes for your area on that. Please sign up for those text codes. You'll get the latest information. We still have
We've got people from the areas calling in. We'd prefer to work through these text codes that are on your sheets specific for your area. If you don't have one, please reach directly out to me.
And then I just like to read something that I prepared for National Public Works Week.
I'm very lucky and proud to be part of the Public Works team here in Freeport. Appreciate the role. I really enjoy working with this crew and these people.
and I want to tell you how important it was the raises that we gave these people to recognize them last year for the quality of work that they're doing, how important that is to not only the morale but the work that we can get done.
As we celebrate National Public Works Week, I'd like to extend a sincere gratitude and appreciation to the outstanding men and women who serve our community through public works.
Works. These dedicated professionals are the backbone of the City's daily operations and
their commitment helps ensure that the Freeport remains a safe, functional, and welcoming
place to live, work, and raise a family. Public Works employees are often the first to arrive
and the last to leave when our community faces challenges, whether it's maintaining street
and many more challenges, whether it's maintaining streets, sidewalks, managing water, wastewater, caring for public facilities, clearing snow during harsh winter weather storms, repairing infrastructure through all types of weather, or responding to emergencies at all hours of the day and night, their work is essential to the quality of life we sometimes take for granted. What makes Public Works staff truly exceptional is not the skill and professionalism they bring to the jobs, but also the pride they take in serving the residents of Freeport.
Much of their work happens behind the scenes without any recognition,
yet their efforts touch every neighborhood, every business and every resident
during their daily tasks.
Their dedication, teamwork and willingness to serve often in difficult weather
and demanding conditions deserves our deepest respect and appreciation.
National Public Works Weeks gives an opportunity to recognize the people
who keep our city moving forward every day.
On behalf of the city of Freeport, I thank
I provide a thank you to our incredible Public Works team for your hard work, sacrifice, and unwavering commitment to our community.
Your efforts do not go unnoticed, and we are truly grateful for everything you do for the Citizens of Freeport.
Thank you.
Fire.
Yes along with Public Works Week this is also Emergency Medical Services Week. EMS
is about 80% of what the fire department does here in Freeport and those guys put
a lot of time and effort into going on all the calls all times of the day and
night and see lots of things that most people don't want to see and have to deal
with it so we appreciate you and we are honored to have you working with us. Thank
Thank you.
Police?
Well, I'll be sharing the Public Works and Fire EMS because ours was last week.
I'll allow that.
So I'd like to thank the public and the community who came out in order to have our Dunkin'
Donuts cop on top initiative.
We were able to raise $4,816.80 at all those proceeds will be going to the Special Olympics.
so a lot of the department members that were here came out to support so I really do appreciate
that thank you very much I also want to acknowledge Fisher Exchange and AFSCME who donated quite
a bit of money for this cause and the cause was very important and also to the community
members who came out on National Police Week and donated and made terrific cookies they
actually brought us plants they brought us flowers they had brought us cards in order
Miller, to recognize all the work that my officers do.
So I greatly appreciate that and I'll allow you two to fight it out this week.
Library?
I also greatly appreciate Public Works.
They've been helping us at the library as well as EMS and police since last week was
police week.
But I'd also like to encourage the community to make sure that they check out our website
to keep on top of all of our events.
IT?
Manager. Well, thank you, Your Honor. I actually have nothing for tonight, although I think it's
been fairly well covered by everyone. Thank you. I would agree. And just a reminder, Monday is
Memorial Day, so City Hall will be closed. The parade downtown starts at 10 o'clock. So if you
are part of the Council and would like to walk in the parade, you should be at the corner of Main and
and Walnut by 915 and Alderman Klemm, yes, once again thank you to all the employees of
the city, you guys do a great job and it's nice to be able to recognize all of you, especially
when it's the police chief tonight, she's got a corporal and three new recruits out
in the audience and it was very good to see them here and I hope they learn something
and democracy in action here also 26 next week Tuesday night is a neighborhood watch
at Schwartz's I believe manager Blair will be there and Darren thank you guys and all
the alerts you put out it's really neat for the people that live in those areas especially
like in use of Gladewood for example where you had one end or the other end closed off
Huff to know what was going on, so thank you.
Alderman Johnson?
I say ditto to everything that Tom said.
I appreciate everybody, the public works, the police, the fire department, all of them.
It takes a whole team to make a city move, so we appreciate all of you.
Also on Thursday evening will be the neighborhood watch for the second ward, and it is at 1833
West Laurel Street at the Laurel Street Community Church.
We happen to use the same church they do for our Neighborhood Watch. It is being cancelled because it's set for next Monday, Labor Day, Memorial Day, so we will not have one.
Alderman Stacy? Yes. I want to thank the police officers for their extra effort at graduation last night. It was totally changed.
I've worked for this district almost 25 years and it's never been like that.
But it was a good, safe way of doing things. And for that, I thank you.
Yeah, we've never been able to not bring in our purses or unless they were clear.
So, yeah, I embrace the extra security that went forth for graduation.
Tomorrow, Tuesday the 19th will be my Neighborhood Watch at the church on Carroll and Empire at 6 o'clock with Officer Alderman Shadle.
I just want to reiterate what Darren had said about the text message notification system.
I signed up for it for the Gladewood project and I getting very detailed text as Tom said there was instances where the south entrance was going to be closed and so that the residents knew that they needed to come in the north entrance there's going to be one of those for each and every project that we have this summer you can go to the the city website navigate through from there at gogov if you have
Alderman, Alderman, Alderman, Alderman, Alderman
and Daniel, who are the members of the Police Department.
Thank you for all that you guys do.
Really appreciate it.
We have two that are signed in for public comment.
Ryan Walton.
I'm just here to give thanks.
One for you, Mayor Miller.
Thank you for your tenureship and your leadership through everything that you've served here for the community.
I believe you make it better every single day.
Police Department. Year to date, it's told that they've seized over more than 40 illegal firearms and 65
search warrants,
which is impressive, which I think
they don't get enough thanks for the hard work they do, and you guys literally make my community safe for every day, and it's inspiring to
you know, call this place home and one day have a family here, so thank you.
Thank you.
Ricky Stedman.
Thank you, Mayor. Good evening, everyone.
I was given information for a street name on South, 700 South Liberty Street.
The person that was doing it got ill, so they passed it over to me.
I have all the signatures of the homeowners that were required to get this done.
I also have the financial costs also, so I'm here to see where we go forward from here.
I'm sure they can see you after the meeting.
Okay.
Thank you.
See you after the meeting.
Director Heimerdinger.
Okay.
Thank you.
Are there any other public comments this evening?
Seeing none, I will entertain a motion for adjournment.
So moved.
Second.
Motion made by Alderman Seller, seconded by Alderman Shadle.
All those in favor.