Good evening. Evelyn, could you please give the invocation?
Well, should we bow our heads?
Dear Father God,
As we open another city council meeting, we open with the guidance of your Holy Spirit.
Father, as each discussion takes place, we ask that each council member will keep in mind who they are representing and who elected them.
Your eyes see everything and your ears are open to every word spoken here tonight, regardless of who is saying it.
Father, surround each council member who desires to serve the city with godly wisdom and integrity to do what is right in your sight for all the people for the city of Freeport.
1 Timothy 2, 1 and 3 and I'm paraphrasing. We have to pray for those in authority so we can lead a quiet and peaceable life in godliness and reverence to you, Father.
This is good and it's acceptable in your sight. In the name above all names, Jesus Christ, Messiah. Amen.
Thank you, Evelyn. So now we'll officially call this meeting to order. Madam Clerk, could you please take the roll?
Miller, Alderpersons, Klemm, Johnson, Simmons, Absent, Parker, Stacy, Shadle, Sanders, Sellers.
You can please stand for the Pledge of Allegiance led by Alderman Parker.
Alderman Parker, the meeting is yours.
Okay.
Thank you.
Number four is the approval of the agenda.
So moved.
Second.
All in favor?
Aye.
Anybody opposed?
Okay.
Excuse me.
Was that Klemm, Shadle?
Klemm and Shadle, yes.
I'm sorry.
That's okay.
Number five. Approval of the minutes from the Committee of a Whole meeting held on April 14th, 2025.
Motion approved. Second. Shadle and Sellers, all in favor say aye. Aye. Anybody opposed? Thank you.
Public comments or is none?
Number seven, Recognition of Service Award presented by Lieutenant Dykema for Patrolman Richard McEmo. Is that right?
Richard Messoniel, I've been in the recognition for 10 years in the service of the 3 Port Police Department,
which actually started in the Auxiliary Police Department in 2007.
He was hired full-time in 2015. He's being hired as an FTO, a field training officer. He's been part of the Emergency Response Team. He's a member of our Gang Unit. He was first get started. He's been a fire arms instructor. He's completed lead homicide training. He's a member of the State Veterinary and Hepatitis Team. He's currently one of our K-9 officers. He's part of the K-9DJ.
Just going through his file, he's done a great job. He's done a lot. There are a lot of recommendations from the Seasonal Patrol, the Dazing and Slant Unit, and even several citizens who are responsible for what he did for them while working here. So congratulations on 10 years.
Dovie, would you note that Alderman Simmons. Thank you.
Okay, number eight. Presentation of the Illinois Section Water American Water Works Water Ambassador
Award presented by Shawna Richardson.
Good evening. I'm Seth Groenwald. I'm here on behalf of the Illinois section of
the American Water Works Association.
and this is Kaylee Spain. She is an Education and Government Affairs Specialist for the section and we're here tonight to honor the City of Freeport for receiving the Gold Ambassador Water Award.
Just as a quick little overview of what ISAWWA is, the Illinois section, American Water Works Association, provides resources for education of safe and sustainable water.
We have 2,400 members across the state and over 50,000 members in our association globally.
The ISA-WWA Water Ambassador Program was created to elevate public perception, knowledge, and
consumer education of the water industry.
The program aims to accomplish these goals by presenting a new communication platform
of educational and promotional content in a manner that is relevant, engaging, and consistent
among participants.
How it works, participating members can access water education tools as well as content from
the ISA-WWA website and then communicate to their community through social media, website
postings, bill inserts, newsletters, tours, community events, schools, etc.
Schools, etc.
and the State of Sustainable Water for Everyone, so we will go on and grab this, and congratulations to your three-quarter team.
Thank you very much.
So, we'd just like to take a minute, Communications Director Brian Bridge and our Environmental
Compliance Officer Randy Kolbauer put together a short video presentation on our water quality
and our newest water facility that we'd like to share tonight.
The video may be a hair glitchy on this presentation, but it'll be posted on the website tomorrow
for the whole community.
Okay, number nine, presentation of 40 Days of Peace presented by William Brown, High
Hope Freeporter.
Good evening council members, mayor, city manager, staff, fire chief, so my name is
Williams, William Brown, I, along with my wife, are the founders of High Hope Freeport.
High Hope Freeport, our mission is to, through community building and unity, cause a reduction
in community violence.
What I want to present to you today is the outline for the 40 Days of Peace and Community
Building.
Each council member should have an outline of what the 40 Days of Peace and Community
Community Building is.
Community Building is, so if you can follow me in your outline, I will give you more.
So part of it is identifying the need.
We recognize in Freeport, like most small cities, that there has been an increase in
community violence, specifically in youth-led violence, right?
So in that, it's interchangeable things, which is economic sustainability, limited awareness
Anderson, Access to Mental Health and Trauma-Informed Services, Lack of Safe, Engaging Environments
to Our Youth, and a Deep Need for Real Connection and Freeport.
So in order to truly address this, community violence, we have to look at the root causes
of Community Violence, which is financial instability, job placement, generational trauma, generational
support systems, lack of spaces, cycles of retaliation, and unaddressed mental health
and trauma issues.
Our response to this, High Hope Freeport's response to this, is simple, but powerful.
We want to present Beautifying the Block, where we go out into our High Hope Identified High
We also have our shoot hoops and knock guns tournaments that offer positive outlets for our young people.
We also have Church in the Streets that brings faith back into our high hope communities.
We also have the Resource Block Parties.
It's been a lot said through those that choose to sit behind a Facebook app
and type out what our Resource Block Parties are.
and others.
We're going to look out where our resource block parties are and choose to ignore the
idea that they are our resources.
So in our resource block parties, there will be resources that we will bring to those block
parties outside of Bouncy Houses, right?
As each council member look, there is an outline of our community resource partners.
They also will be broadening on that and we'll have a larger scope of it.
at those resource block parties. It will be community surveys to take real data from those
that live in those identified high hope communities, areas that we're going to. That data will
be collected and it will be used as an evaluation tool to measure the outcome and the impact
of the 40 days of peace and community building. Along with that, it will give us the information
and we need to connect the individuals in our high hold communities with the community partner
resources that can fulfill the needs that they have.
At the very center of the 40 Days of Peace and Community Building is community building.
There's been a lot of divisiveness, particularly in this chamber.
Normally, I don't respond to any social media combats or anything that's posted about High
Hope Freeport because honestly, I could care less what anybody think about me that's not
out there doing the work.
But it's been continuously, High Hope Freeport, the Faith Leaders for Peace have been continuously
attacked.
Today, that stops.
and when I say attack, I prefer specifically to Ms. Wendy Pearson and Mr. Joshua Atkins.
High Hope Freeport was founded by me and my wife. High Hope Freeport does not belong to
Jodi Miller. High Hope Freeport belongs to us, the founders, our board and the community
and Mayor Freeport. The 40 Days of Peace and Community Building Initiative is not funded
by Jodi Miller or the City. FHN, M45 Marketing, Walmart, Faith Center are our sponsors along
with T-Shirt Fundraising and Community Donations.
Let's get that clear. Also, let's share some hard truths. Not one person in this council
or in this community can predict when someone is going to shoot a bullet. Not one initiative,
not one plan will help us resolve the community violence problem that we have. What we'll
Holt, is Unity. I'm going to change the culture today and let that tone be set. On my shirt
you see it says Pushin' Peace in the Port. That is what High Hope Freeport is about.
Pushin' Peace in Freeport. The collective way that we get peace in Freeport is Unity
in Freeport. The divisiveness, the politicalness, it shouldn't be attached with peace. This
This narrative that is being pushed here, again, by Ms. Wendy William, Wendy Pearson,
and Joshua Atkins, has tend to troll over into the youth.
Our mentor youth at Banks-Bogana Alternative School, I will share this with you because
for him it was a teachable moment.
While attending his basketball game at the Boys & Girls Club, he brought the flyer that
that I had a young people passing out, right?
He's 16.
I was there attending the game.
He was officiating and two more of my young people
were there to support their siblings.
I showed up for them.
He brought this to me and said,
Mr. Brown, while we were passing this out, I took one home.
My mother saw it and said that Wendy Pearson
and Joshua Akin said is a joke.
He proceeded to pull his phone out and show me her performing in this chamber, point to Mayor Miller saying it was a joke.
On this, it says High Hope Freeport. It doesn't say Mayor Miller.
We work with the Faith Leaders for Peace and Mayor Miller, yes.
I won't shy away from that. Because my goal and my plan here is to support the youth. That's what I'm about.
Saving our youth from making mistakes that will lead them to prison for the rest of their life or lead them to taking somebody else's life.
And when anybody, I don't care your stature, what you think you are in the community, who you think you are in the community,
Coney, threatened to poison a man of our youth. I want the smoke. I'm going to show up for
that. I proceeded to tell this young man, I guided him to highhopefreeport.com website.
On that website, I took him to that first Peace March and I showed him pictures of Wendy
Pearson at that Peace March. So for her to think it was a joke, maybe it wasn't an opportunity
for her to grab attention. I also further went to show him that former, that Joshua,
Joshua Atkins, during his former election campaign, also had photos from Howe Freeport
Peace March as his way of addressing crime. The teachable moment in that was for me to
teach him about emotional intelligence. Emotional intelligence meaning not to respond when you
you know the truth. Emotional intelligence being, I have grandkids, I know what it looks
like when people seek attention. Again, I repeat to you all, I hope Freeport is about
unity. One thing that no one in this council, regardless of your political affiliation,
should have no discrepancy about is that we need to work and build for our youth. At the
At the end of the day, that's what matters.
I will tell you why I'm so adamant about it.
I was raised in the city of Chicago.
I'm not originally from Freeport.
I came up in the system.
At two years old, I was in DCFS.
Seven, eight years old, I lived on the streets
because I ran from foster homes and group homes.
At 19, I was in prison with a 15-, 25-, and 50-year sentence.
while in prison I made a pivotal transformation in my life
because of my oldest son.
Coming to visit me while I was sitting and sitting
and he couldn't touch me.
I made that change in prison.
I went on to get my education.
I got a GED.
I have an associate's degree in general studies.
I have an associate's degree in political science.
I further went on to become a certified paralegal.
Into my sins, Governor J.B. Pritzer commuted my sins based on the programs that I created while I was in prison.
I returned home here to Freeport to my wife.
I was one of those kids that you call thugs, punks, and whatever other name that you want to get them.
At the end of the day, regardless of whatever title you give them, they still our kids.
Gates, that many, any failure that's on them is on us as a community and adults in the community.
They are our responsibility from that young black kid with dreads, their heads a black
hoodie on.
Fries, their hair's a black hoodie on, to that young Hispanic kid with tattoos on his
face or that rough young white kid that you think just bad. They are our kids. I stand
for them. If they don't have a voice, I'll be that voice for them. I also stand for Freeport
because what I didn't share with you while I was sitting in prison for a crime that I
I did not commit. I had two staunch advocates. One was Denise Davenport. She was the mother
of Dion Davenport. Her son lost his life, which was the case that I was charged with.
She was my staunchest advocate because she knew I didn't commit the crime. She wrote
the governor. She showed up at trials. My wife was my advocate. And I'm going to tell
and others.
I want to share with you the amazing thing about Freeport and why I'm indebted to Freeport.
She had an online petition.
I've only shared this once.
That was Saturday at our Peace March.
She put an online petition and out of the 400 plus signatures that were signed on there,
132 people from Freeport signed that signature before I stepped a foot in here.
I never stepped a foot in Freeport.
So I'm indebted to Freeport.
My work will continue.
I do this unapologetically without permission and without response, but I need us all, specifically
you as a council and a Freeport community.
It's about unity, regardless of the divisiveness.
Our children and our young people hear that.
They embrace that.
So when Wendy spoke that this was a joke, I'm going to tell you who it wasn't a joke
Hsu. Every name on this list is a young person we've lost here in Freeport. I speak with
their mothers. Nisi Ellis was there. She spoke on the loss of her son, Montreal Scott. My
and more.
I want to tell you something.
Before our vet showed up, she was late, but she spoke on that loss.
Peace is not a joke.
Losing our youth is not a joke.
For those of you that weren't there, it is what it is.
But for those of you that had the courage to show up, I can tell you there's a large
difference where the truth of the matter is this, if you think is a place in politics
or a piece where you can make it political is not.
I'm going to tell you who was there, Akia Sanders.
Yes, the Akia Sanders that's known for being in this chamber, right?
Akia is my sister.
Mayor Miller was there.
We know they are not on the same court.
But because they believe in peace, their heart spoke.
Because they want to save our youth, their heart spoke.
They were there. So going forward, I ask not only this council, but I ask the city of Freeport, join me as we embark on these 40 days of peace and community building.
We may very well not be able to stop every shot that's fired. But again, I repeat, any initiative, no one plan will do that.
but community will. Going forward, I hope Freeport will play our role in what it is to quell community violence.
We have programs that we are going to introduce, but that's just our role in it.
Every individual in our city has a role. Every community organization has a role.
Cole. Collectively, we can start making that impact. Collectively, we can make that change.
I am willing to sit down and speak with anybody that wants to be a part of that change. I
not only speak to you as a citizen of Freeport, I speak to you as someone that's doing that
work. The same streets that we marred Saturday were streets where we lost five lives. And
Those same streets, I walk by myself, go out and talk to the community, to that young man who may be going wayward.
I work a third shift job at Snack King. I work 12 out of shift some days, but if that young man called me and said he needs to get a work, I'm getting up out of my sleep and taking him to work.
That's how committed I am.
My three young people that I've adopted that go to Banks-Bergana School, anytime they need me to show up, I show up.
I invite you all to show up. They'll have a game at the Boys & Girls Club Thursday.
I have young people from Pearl City, West Carroll, that came out to help us clean up.
They was late, Joy. They came out to help us clean up.
because I built that relationship with the young people
because at the end of the day,
no matter about our political discrepancies,
what we are building is for the future.
Let's hold that sacred.
Let's not make peace a joke.
Let's not politicize it.
Let's not talk so bad about our city because the young people hear it.
Every time I speak to a young person, I share these two things with them.
and
the
Council. I tell them every day they wake up, they have a choice and a chance, a chance to be great, a chance to do something great, and I want them to choose to do so. I want to share that with the Council today and the community as a whole. Today, we have a chance to be united for peace.
to be united for peace, regardless of whatever your political agenda is.
Today let's choose to do so.
Thank you. Thank you.
Thank you Mr. Brown. Okay, next on the agenda number 10
is discussion regarding ordinance amending chapter
220, Rules of the Council, Pending Motion to Amend the Language of Section 220.1029
to Read, Agenda Items for the City Council Meetings and Committee of a Whole Meetings
shall be requested by the Mayor, the City Manager, or to Alderman, or as referred to
it by the City Council. All agenda items shall be accompanied by supporting documentation
stating the purpose of the agenda item such as a memo including the background, discussion,
financial consideration, recommendation, and association with strategic plan.
Attorney Zito.
Oh thank you Mr. Chairman.
So just to give a brief history from last week as to how we got to this agenda item
tonight.
At last week's council meeting there was the rules of council ordinance that was presented
which proposed certain changes to Section 220.10 of the City Code of Ordinances.
One of the proposed changes was a change to the manner in which agenda items can be placed on the agenda.
Currently, two Alderpersons are allowed to have an item placed on the agenda,
whether the City Council agenda or a Committee of the Whole agenda.
proposed change required a majority of older persons to place something on the
agenda. So that was a proposed change in the ordinance. There was a motion in a
second to move the ordinance forward to the next City Council meeting next week.
After that motion and second was made to move the item forward, Alderman Johnson
made a motion to amend the proposed language and her motion was to not
and
John.
The idea was to require a majority of older persons in order to be able to add something to the agenda, but rather that two older persons could still place an item on the agenda.
However, they had to provide the supporting documentation, whether that take the form of a memo that then gave the background on the agenda item, whatever financial considerations there are, and then how it was in line with the strategic plan.
After that motion was made by Alderman Johnson, then Alderman Simmons made a motion to continue the conversation and she motioned to refer Alderman Johnson's motion to the COW and that's how we got here for further discussion so what's before you tonight is a discussion on Alderman Johnson's motion which is to allow for two Alderpersons to place an item on the agenda provided that they provide supporting documentation i.e. a memo any other documentation in support of
Smith, whatever their reason for having the agenda item on the agenda is for.
Okay.
Any discussion on that?
Is there a motion for that?
It's discussion, but it's already a motion that's been made.
It was made at the last meeting and then Alderman Simmons asked to refer it back to committee
to talk about Alderman Johnson's motion more.
So there hasn't been a vote on Alderman Johnson's motion.
That's why we're here for more discussion on her.
discussion on her motion, on Alderman Johnson's motion.
Cecelia?
Good.
Okay, so if someone wants to put something on the agenda, but they do not include a memo,
then it can't happen?
My understanding of, and Alderman Johnson can speak for it if I get this wrong.
My understanding of Alderman Johnson's proposed amendment is that if two Alderman place something
on the agenda, then they have to provide supporting documentation for it the same way that staff
provides typically provides a memo there.
And how long do they have to present that memo?
it is my understanding is that if they want it it has to when they make the
request basically to have the item placed on the agenda that in enough time to
make the packet they would have to provide the memo because when we have a
what is it called when we get an agenda like Tuesday a draft memos are never
never posted then. So my question still remains, when does the memo have to be?
Oh, I'm sorry, Chair. Go ahead. Typically, I like items by Thursday, by 5 o'clock.
Okay. Personally, I'm going to make my comment and then we'll go to Larry. I'd rather see
it go back to originally where we need a majority of the Council, but that's only my opinion.
Okay, Larry, you got something?
Yeah, I've been sitting here for almost over two years, and as Council, and the fact that
we're beginning to understand the process of adding items to the agenda, the minute that
this Avenue path opened up now it is so inconvenience to some that certain people are putting things
on the agenda. I find that kind of a hypocritical for someone to now want to change the course
Michael, and the Board of Trustees.
We have a very diverse of directions on how we proceed
with agendas.
When I first came here, that was no problem.
Why? Because we didn't understand the
process of putting ordinance drafts and
discussions together to put on the agenda.
We had not understood that yet.
Now that we are understanding the process, it's beginning to
and I addressed that issue so you can change it so the majority we can see
right through what you're doing you know we can understand exactly why this is
happening so the agenda won't be for enforced because of the majority has to
have input on on a particular item before two people can put an item on the
Sander. Right now she pulled it back so it can be two people but a memo must follow.
Well the memo does not give you enough clarity what you have to stipulate within that memo.
Where is this memo and how do you define this memo and what is the criteria of this memo
in order for someone to introduce a memo because you're coming off pretty vague about the description
of what a memo should have within its content and how we should go about making the decision
on what you present, who makes the determination.
Alderman Sanders, if you want something on the agenda, you according to that agenda item
Create the Memo Honey. Okay. Okay. Well, I look at this as an inconvenience for some and a convenience for others. So my thing is, whatever we're doing to try to amend something, I like to see the council inject these proposals. I don't want to see no one else interfering with council when it comes to
Asserting, what items go on the agenda.
That's why she pulled it back.
Yeah, and that's been a problem.
I thank you for doing that.
But the thing about it is,
it's too much stuff happening within the council.
There's a reason why people can read what we're talking about
and understand the manipulation and
deceptions and things of that nature that is taking place.
We just didn't show up for
I just didn't show up for the convenience of just sitting on the council. I came to understand what's the process of our community, city managements and city options are when it comes to council.
I came to understand and learn. And what I'm learning is something that I am confused about. Why do we go through the process if you're going to vote everything down that the citizens of Freeport is advocating for? I just can't see that.
So, my whole mission is to understand why the council goes through these dilemmas and manipulations that we go through.
And I'm not addressing no one certain person, I'm just addressing the fact that what I see through my own eyes and others are seeing,
we just gotta stop doing what it is that we're doing and do the right thing.
and I don't want to hear no one else okay well let me let me let me pause yeah any other comments about this Larry on here it does say what needs to be accompanied to it and the reason it says that is to give us a better idea of what the thoughts are behind it who it's going to benefit how is it going to help the city move forward
Foward, how is it going to help the people in the city?
So those are the things we want to know when something is being discussed, what exactly
you're thinking regarding this discussion.
And also if there's anything in that discussion that might be answered outside of the council
floor.
There might be some questions in the discussion that could be answered before it's brought
to the council floor for discussion.
So if we have a memo regarding it, it would give us all better understanding of what it
and others that you're bringing forward.
Cecelia?
Alderman Stacy, please.
Okay, Alderman Stacy, please.
So, the memo needs to consist of the purpose of the agenda item,
including background. I don't know what that means.
Fowler.
Discussion is on the agenda for discussion.
I don't know what including background nor discussion means.
And what if there is no financial consideration?
Alder, or Attorney Ziedel?
So I guess the best way I could try to say this is to give the example of like the memos
that staff currently attaches, you know, so pick any one of the memos typically that staff
attaches to an agenda item there, so even using the memo that's in the packet tonight
on this agenda item, it's broken up into background and it gives a little bit of background
as to, you know, why this item is being brought before the council or there, and then it goes
into a discussion, you know, as to, hey, what are, for example, let's say, why are you advocating?
Let's say this is an item that you want on it, you know, so you're going to say, well,
this is why I want to bring this topic up, you know, here are the details of it, you
know, we need to do this, this, and this, it would, you know, the financial impact is,
would cost this much for us to do this you know and again I'm trying to do this
on the fly right now but let's say you wanted to do you think we need to buy a
new street paver right let's say that's the item you want to have put on the
agenda you could say the background is well our we currently don't have enough
roads aren't getting fixed enough we need to be able to fix more roads and we
only fix this many roads this many miles of roads in the past I think that should
be double. And that's the background, right? That we're only fixing so
right that we're only fixing so many miles of road right now your proposal
then is to say we should buy a second streets all paver and then the
discussion you could go into all the pros and cons of it and lay out from your
perspective what the pros and cons are you can then say what the financial
impact well it's gonna cost X hundred thousand dollars to buy this so that's
why you know the city would need to vote on whether or not to do that and then
how's it in line with the strategic plan so then I mean I need to call Darren and
and say how much is it, does it cost to buy this item?
And I think that's going to what Alderman Johnson was saying that there might need to be some homework done in order for the memo to be put together so that people understand why a particular Alderman is bringing forward an agenda item, which is usually a proposal, you know, usually you want something done or some action to be taken.
usually you just want to know why something happened but that's okay as we
move on I have several things on the agenda tonight and so I will probably
come back to you so you can help me understand what memo would I need to put
with something.
Alderman Johnson, did you have more to say on that?
No, that's all right.
Anyone else?
Alderman Simmons.
I just, we're going back a little bit, but I just want to address you Alderman Parker for saying that you would be against that.
I just wonder why would you be against an Alderperson who can draft a memo,
state in their case, and the reasons and financial responsibility,
why would you be against them if they have a second being able to bring that to us, has been,
since the beginning of this council?
Well, that was just my opinion. If you got the information that they just explained what Alderman Stacy said and her, I would have no problem going with just two of them with the memo and explaining everything.
Alderman Sanders.
Yeah, I'd like to have us to categorize a listing of criteria for all of the things that you
guys are referring to so we can see it in documentation and writing.
I heard the request, I heard an example.
I like to see it in writing.
That's what I'm saying.
If we're requesting something, then everything has to be documented where no one is making
and others.
They have to do the check-off list, this, this, this, been covered, and then that way
we know as council that all of the stipulations of this item that's being put on the agenda
has been covered.
So we need to do that in order to keep everyone in alignment with what we just heard as an
example and wait a minute I'm not done I'm not done what we what we should be
presented with and that goes for everybody and that includes administrative
bodies within the city structure should also be attached to all of those items
that we just got done talking about. Attorney Zito wants to respond to that.
background okay discussion financial all right well you've been on it you own it
that's good that is a good that's a great thing and now well the thing about it is
we are we're we're making progress I love progress but I don't like
manipulation I like progress okay thank you all right any more discussion we go
You answered it for him. You answered his question for him. Good job.
I have a question for you. Can we amend the amendment that has been proposed?
you can't you yes you can not tonight back at the council meeting right because
tonight was just put on your your motion when you referred it here was just to
have further discussion on Alderman Johnson's proposed amendment so when
it's on the agenda for next it'll be on the agenda for next week at the council
so where we would be is we would have Alderman Johnson's motion on the floor
as she's presented it you couldn't make a motion to tweak her motion in some way
change the proposed language that she wanted there if that seconded and approved and passes then your amendment to her amendment would exist and then we would work back down the ladder, you know, and then we would vote on her amendment as amended by your amendment and then right back down.
Number 11, if there is no quorum during the first roll call at the May 19, 2025 council meeting, who authorized the second roll call presented by Alderman Sanders and Alderman Stacy?
Alderman Sanders, go ahead.
Yeah, I wanted to be put on record. I wanted to be stated that actions before a quorum, actions before a roll call was taking place on this Council floor.
I just wanted on record of who authorized action to be taken on this council floor without council having a roll call or a quorum within this council I like to know I want to have that put on record so so we know that we do not have to follow protocol according to
and others.
I would like to know who authorized the proceeding of May 19th and then who canceled, well, I'm
I'm not there I don't have that down yet but I will but that's another that's
another item I'm gonna put on the agenda but I want to get that I want to get
past this first I want to make sure that we understand who authorizing procedures
without a quorum and without a roll call and we follow that and I am ashamed of
with Council Members allowing things to take place in that fashion without input or objections.
I'm like flabbergasted that nobody made an appeal.
No one said anything, and that's what frustrated me to bring this out, and I like to know,
I wanted to be put on record who authorized that action that took place before roll call
and a courtroom. I don't have an answer for you, but I know the Attorney General approved it, but I don't know if anybody has an answer.
Aaron, go ahead.
So Alderman Sanders, there was a roll call at the beginning of the meeting at 6 o'clock.
No, it was not. There was a roll call. No, it was not.
The meeting was called to order, and there was a roll call, and Alderman Johnson had already been seated,
and therefore when there was a roll call there were there was a quorum present because there were five aldermen present I
That's fine. I'm just telling you procedurally what happened. I'm not saying you're free to have your own opinion on it
I'm just telling you procedurally what happened
Okay
number 12
Discussion regarding ordinance amending various provisions of the city code of ordinance
Regarding Residency Requirements for Department Heads and Certain Other Employees Presented by Alderman Sanders and Alderman Stacy.
Whichever one wants to respond to that.
Well, it takes me back to the May 5th cancellation.
and from my understanding that the residency ordinance was voted on and passed.
If that happened, you cannot send out an agenda saying that council or the assembly is canceled
because of lack of whatever. I'd like to know who canceled our meeting May 5th. I like that to be on record. Who's canceling things without the authorization and the knowledge of council understanding why that cancellation took place? And nobody is wanting, nobody wants to put their names on this. But my point is a residency ordinance was passed and it shouldn't have
Pass, it was invalid to pass it because it was canceled. The meeting was canceled. When
was a meeting?
and others.
When was a meeting put together, when was a meeting put together with council that allowed
the proper voting that should have taken place and what date, time, and the meeting time
that that had taken place?
Who canceled that?
Attorney Zito?
Alderman Sanders.
The May 5th meeting was not canceled.
May 12th is what he means.
Yeah, May 12th.
That's what I meant.
Oh, okay.
May 12th.
and Jodi.
No Quorum, and there was no roll call of a quorum in place. There was nothing in place
to make that happen. And if that is the case, I did not see that in my, I did not see that
being passed and voted on. I did not see that, and so I'd like to address that. When was
it passed and when was it voted on?
So the Residency Requirement Ordinance was on the agenda for May 19th. As I stated on the last agenda item, there was a quorum at the time that the meeting was called. I know you disagree, that's fine. There was a quorum of five Alderpersons present, so the meeting may move forward. When we got to the agenda item that dealt with the Residency Requirement, it was voted on at that meeting on the 19th.
Can I say this? Who conducted that voting process? Who conducted it?
He's gonna tell you. That was a regular City Council meeting so that meeting was
chaired by the mayor and then it was conducted by the Alderpersons that were
and the five other persons that were here.
Alderman Shadle.
And again, this is the May 19th meeting that the Attorney General's Office sent a letter saying,
Sent a letter? Wow.
I believe I have the floor.
Miller, that there was no wrongdoing done, the quorum was established, the meeting was
in order, the item was taken up at the meeting, voted on, and passed.
Alderman Johnson?
I have some questions regarding this discussion.
For you, I have several of them.
How is this discussion pursuing what is good for us and for this city?
Who will benefit from this discussion?
What is your goal, your hope to accomplish from this discussion?
What is the purpose of this discussion?
Will this discussion bring harm to any?
And could some of this discussion and questions have been done outside of the council floor?
So could you answer those please?
and so on.
So, oh yeah, if you're referring to me, the fact of the matter that you are, have an opinion,
that's what you're stating right now.
I'm asking you questions.
Yeah, but you have to understand, we are governed by ordinances.
We have laws in place that has already been placed in place.
So for you to address your opinions and then ask me questions about the very same things
and I have a question for you. I'm wondering if you have any questions about our laws. This is what governs this council. Ordinances governs this council. I want you to know that if you didn't know that. So your opinion and expressions does not say anything to me because I'm following, this is my objective, is to follow the ordinance since it was presented before me. And if there's anything that is not abiding to the ordinance, then I'm going to follow that.
and I will speak up and I will say what it is and what it isn't and so for you to try
to point that out to me, I'm addressing you to let you know, read your ordinance and that
governs who you are at your council seat and that's what we go by.
If you step out of line with that, then it's invalid.
Yes, we never get the answer pertaining to who canceled the May 12th meeting.
Right, so that's an off-topic question because the agenda item is talking about the residency
ordinance.
Well, it came up, I didn't bring it up.
It only came up because Alderman Sanders referenced the 12th meeting, but the residency requirement
had nothing to do with the meeting on the 12th.
So we corrected him and said that the residency ordinance was on the 19th.
And then we had the conversation move forward from there.
Item number 13.
No.
We're not.
You've already spoke twice.
No, I have not on the residency.
I only spoke once.
At the Cal, there's no limit.
No limits on the Cal?
Now you need to understand the protocol, too.
Listen, I'm talking to the attorney.
It's not clear.
Our ordinance currently doesn't specify.
It's not real clear.
So it's been in the discretion of the chair.
So this is how we operate.
You got my apologies.
Yeah.
Well, this is how we operate anyway.
Okay.
So let's remember the rules.
He's the chair, and he gets to say who has the floor, and let's go back to the topic
that you actually had on this, and that's about residency.
Is there things for residency, is the question.
Hold up.
Wait a minute.
It is out of order. It is totally out of order, just as you spoke just then.
Number 13. Yeah, it is out of order. No, no, I'm still referring to...
Larry. We are done with that.
How can we be done with something when I'm on the floor?
...water treatment plant. Alderman Stacy and Alderman Simmons.
Wow.
This is... Alderman Stacy, do you have it on you?
Yes. Circus.
it's been two years since we voted on and spoke about the Hancock wastewater treatment plant.
I would like to know where are we at with the wastewater treatment plant.
Sure. We're about 43% so far. Approximately 23 and a half million dollars have been paid out to our
We are a contractor IHC. The weather has been good and we have not had any significant groundwater issues.
Everything is going according to the design plan except for contaminated soils that we had at the very beginning of the project and were remediated back to the Winnebago landfill.
The ultraviolet building will be completed in late fall of 25 and ready for the spring startup.
Once we start, the chlorine system will be demolished and removed.
The chemically enhanced primary treatment will be estimated to be completed by the summer of 26.
Headworks and lab building early 27 and the headworks was dug to an elevation of 55 feet below the surface to install the building foundation.
The treatment plan has been working adequately during the construction and the contracting engineer and wastewater treatment plan staff meet two times a month for coordination.
IHC, that is the contractors doing a very good job for the City of Freeport and currently we're tracking for a final completion in the summer 27.
Okay.
You said something in your very first sentence about 43 percent.
What was that?
We're about 43 percent complete.
43 percent complete.
Okay, so that I don't have to go over each line that you just talked about, can I get a copy of that?
Sure. Okay, so then I'm done with that one.
Item 14, same area, update on the Hancock Bridge, Alderman Stacy and Alderman Simmons.
When we first spoke about this, these two things were put together, these two items, the wastewater plant and the bridge.
I know there was a lot of discussion about the other factories being able to get their equipment and this and that.
So where are we actually at with the bridge?
So design is in final review with the Federal Highway Administration. It's making, it's working on city site or sidewalk and running north of the bridge to Album Street. Also the Federal Highway Administration is making the city investigate historical handrails on the bridge as part of the environmental sign-off. The funding agency was requiring 220 feet of pavement reconstruction in both directions to be removed and
there's a hump there so we wanted to remove that hump and it will take the
stress off of the structure. The project is being pushed to a bid letting in the
summer of 26 and the city is trying to resolve land acquisition issues
currently as that is a primary hurdle. Temporary and permanent easement
documents are being prepared and the walk and ride trail must be closed during
the construction.
Trail, must be closed during the construction.
Currently planning on the summer of 26 with bidding
and a nine month completion date after that.
Question, are they going to have to do something
with the underpass then, before then, for semis and stuff?
Yes, we're currently working on the viaduct, yes.
Alderman, Stacy.
And you said completed nine months
after it goes out for bidding.
that's correct yes nine months after the startup construction that's not usually
the same date as the bidding it's not the same as startup construction usually
have about a month to six weeks of contracts and insurance requirements and
things like that to get going so you're saying nine months after start of
of Construction.
Yes, ma'am.
Alderman Simmons.
I had a question, City Manager.
When you said land acquisition, what land are you speaking of?
Essentially we're dealing with an older part of town.
We have some issues with certain overlaps of property lines and we're working to resolve
those right now.
That's not, that didn't, like, the buildings right there by the bridge? I mean, I can ask you this later.
Yeah, we could talk about offline, but essentially you have property lines that kind of overlap the area, and then we're resolving that.
Alderman Sanders.
Do we have benchmarks set up for each project for completion? Because like these jobs that we're doing right now, these projects that we're doing, there should be a mark too for completion.
Do we have that in our design, because I like to know if these jobs are bidded out, are they meeting their compliance? Are they in compliance?
And so we should be able to have a completion date or somewhere thereabouts around that time.
So we do have that available to, for us to look at and get access to it.
Every project that the city puts out either has a completion date
or a calendar date, excuse me, a calendar date, or a working day contract.
Everyone's a little bit different but there's always a completion deadline
Contractors get more time if we have weather issues or we have something that's out of their control.
McEvoy, Dominic, Kamino, Chris, Bruce, anno, David, Brad There's, there wouldn't be a strain
on the residents in that area would it, as far as exiting.
Any time.
No.
We will never let, just to be clear, we will never let the Hancock Ridge and the Hancock
Viaduct go at the same time.
One will have to be complete before the other can start.
We have to have emergency access and resident access either way.
So our plan is to do this by then.
There is an emergency exit?
Well, there will be.
Oh, OK.
It'll be either the bridge or the viaduct.
We plan to get the bridge done first.
And that's why the bridge letting
is going to push to next year.
Got you.
Right?
So excuse me, I think I said it wrong.
We're planning to get the viaduct done first.
And the bridge letting is being pushed to next year.
OK.
All right, number 15, update on the grant for the bike path.
in collaboration with the Highland Community College and Park District, Alderman Stacy
and Alderman Simmons.
Yes.
We had all this information pertaining to a new back path that wanted to be done out
in the Highland area.
I think it was even going to take you all the way around down to Covers and it was affiliated
with the City of Freeport, the Park District, and Highland.
It was voted down at one point, however it was brought back and passed.
So we've heard nothing.
and I would like some information on where we're at with this bike path.
Just be happy to answer that.
So at the end of May, the city was notified that we did not receive the grant for the
ITEP grant that would pay for the project.
In addition to that, no one in Northern Illinois received any ITEP money for Walk-Ride Infrastructure
and our next opportunity for that will be in 2026.
All right. Number 16.
Hold it.
Yes.
Go ahead, Larry.
Alderman Sands.
What year did you say that would be?
2026 will be the next opportunity to bid.
Okay. And that would be revised or, yes, the grant proposition would be revised for that
particular project?
would be revised as far as dates and so on but it would come back to the council yes okay
that's what I wanted it will come back to the council as a new question when the new
opportunity when the opportunity comes around in 2026 we'll go back around all our partners
and make sure everybody wants to be a part of it again in which time if everybody approves
then we will move forward with it if they don't approve then that's then that won't
Number 16. Update on the property at 521 West Cottonwood that was transferred to the land
bank presented by Alderman Stacy and Alderman Simmons.
I keep getting phone calls from a neighbor in Cottonwood inquiring that nothing is being
Dunn, with this property that we gave to the land bank.
And I'm just wondering what is really going on?
Is there someone out there that's going to remodel this home?
And after they were given the property, weren't they allowed nine months to complete this
this project. We can handle this on a phone call, but the city transferred 521 West Cottonwood
to Northern Illinois Land Bank in December of 2024. The Northern Illinois Land Bank transferred
the property to Ivan Silver in May 29th, 2025. Ivan is under contract to complete the renovation
of this property in nine months with a deadline of February 28th, 2026.
OK, but you're going too fast.
OK, well.
You said May 29th.
What happened?
The property was transferred to the contractor on May 29th.
So Ivan's got till February 28th to get it done of 26.
And the Northern Illinois Land Bank has the authority
to reclaim the property from Mr. Silver
if he does not adhere to the timeline.
Okay, you also said this could have been answered
with a phone call.
Yes.
I don't doubt that, City Manager Boyer,
but when I'm getting calls and questions
about products such as this,
I like for the people to hear it directly from you.
That's why I bring it to the council floor.
You can give them my phone number
and they can hear it directly from me also.
Okay, so this was like an item
that shouldn't have never happened or?
Dovie, I'm talking to City Manager Boyer.
I would say we could handle this with a phone call.
Yeah, I would just say most requests like that, Alderperson, Stacy, most Alderpersons,
including yourself, do call me and ask about it, if there's a problem property, and then
I'll, if it's not addressed, I'll direct it to one of our inspectors to look at.
But yeah, I've talked with you about properties in the past, and pretty much every Alderperson
up here.
So I think what City Manager Boyer is saying is, is you could certainly call me, or you
City Manager, Boyer would probably direct that question to me to answer okay and I
did direct this person to you and I did even give them your number and when he
said item number 16 I was looking at you but you weren't looking at me so he's
the manager that's why I looked at him I didn't care who answered right so as I
As I said before, you're always welcome.
As I said before, you're always welcome to call me. I always respond to calls. I think any
elder person here can say, hey, I've had a problem with the property. I send it to Wayne or talk to
him, email, phone, text message, and I get back quickly on that. I think this is exciting for
the City of Freeport, just to be honest. There are many properties here that either get demolished
or sit vacant, and this is really a good thing. So, I'm excited to see what this developer is
is going to do with the property but in the future if you wanted to obviously City Manager
Boyer is my direct report so certainly if you have questions on a property I think what
he's saying is to give him a call I directed them to you because I know this is your baby
yeah yeah no I appreciate that perfect job but I wanted them to hear because I don't
know if they're here tonight if not hopefully they're listening and they're getting it directly
from him and I'm not feeding no one a line did we find out about you can't
answer that but just like the trailer that was placed on that property and
nobody knew so you and I have talked yes yes number 17 actually can I make a
comment really alderman Stacy all updates are best served with efficiency by
and so on.
The meeting is a very interesting one.
We're not going to be able to make it for you by simple picking up a phone or coming
to the meetings that our City Manager or myself have opened to you.
So if you want to go that route, because if we actually spent an update on every single
question that came across our desk, we would be sitting here in Council meetings forever,
but that's not the purpose of Council meetings.
It's to address the legislative portions of things, the policies, not updates.
So updates are really best served with a discussion in our offices.
Okay.
I can respect that.
But with that being said, we got to work extra hard on the trust factor and the damage that
has been done in that area because that's huge to me.
And so I don't want to argue you didn't say this.
I said that. No, you didn't. Yes, I did. I don't want that either. That doesn't look
good on the floor either. So, I guess as we all work on the trust factor and rebuilding
communication, it will get better.
Alderman, the answer.
Well, I was just wondering if, you know, the people that are asking you questions, if they
called directly or talked directly with Manager Boyer or with any of the people on the council.
They would have the trust faster would be there than they would tell that person.
The answer, you know, you said you had people in your ward or people that were calling you
have them directly call or get in touch with Manager Boyer or Mr. Duckman.
I did.
Okay. And did those people get in touch with them?
To my knowledge, yes.
And they got their answers?
Sanders. No. And then when Duckman and I spoke, there was still some unanswered questions,
like a trailer that had been moved onto that property that they didn't even know who it
belonged to. So why is someone just looking at this open space thinking they could put
their trailer there? So no, it didn't go away. It kind of got bigger.
But I did my part with directing like I was supposed to.
Number 17, update on the performance of McGuire Woods Consulting LLC, presented by Alderman
Stacy and Alderman Simmons.
We paid all this money for a lobbyist, and it's been over a year. Have no updates, have
no knowledge, understanding of what they have or have not done for us. And so I would really
I'd be happy to speak to that. McGuire Woods, again, is our lobbyist. They have been working
hard at state level to secure funding for projects that we've identified as priorities
as we move forward, looking for help on all those, as well as any federal opportunities.
We receive a monthly newsletter and an update from them, I would say, about every week.
and as of right now we're working in several areas but no specific grants have been identified
as of yet.
Okay, and so this is costing us $90,000 a year, $72,000 a year.
How many years do we continue if nothing comes forth?
I mean, do you know what we could do with $72,000 on our streets?
I'm guessing about 50, maybe 100 feet.
But I would say we're going to be reviewing the progress.
And I think we need to sit down and decide
whether we're going to continue to move forward with this or not.
I will also highlight the fact that lobbying
is not a linear process, and it also requires certain opportunities and people to be there
during those opportunities.
So in this particular environment, very difficult with federal funding being cut in many different
areas.
So it is a bit of a challenge, but we're continuing to manage it.
City Manager Boyer, was that a smart comment when you said 100 feet?
I was trying to give you an answer to your question, yeah, it's about 100 linear feet.
Alderman, Sanders. Yeah, I did. That kind of threw me off for a second. Let me recapture
my visual thought. Did we as council, city manager, voted to allow them to operate on
our behalf yes we did okay that's all I wanted to know number 18 is public
comment any public comment well get the first row and then we'll go second
third row fourth row I just want to say that I was noticing at my street my
neighborhood there's a lot of people with three rulers young kids with three
Willers. I did mention it to him about it and also I wanted to say that there's
still work to be done on on the our street because they haven't done no water
works on the street yet. The water is not really the tastiest water in the
world. I just want to say that. Can you state your name for the record? David
Cobertson. David, what was that location? It's over on Ringgold Street. The water, the road is really
bad. It's like you, you can, you can go make a sandbox out of it, the road. The three-wheelers,
what? Yeah, the three-wheelers, yeah. There's a whole bunch of kids with three-wheelers, riding
three-wheelers, like the youngest age of like 11 to 15. And they're riding on Ringgold? Yeah, like riding three-wheelers and four-wheelers and
and like dirt bikes and they're riding on Ringgold also it's really dangerous I
worry about them I don't know if it happened before kids I wish they would
stop it I want to see anybody get hurt in front of me that would tear me apart
hmm any other public comments Wendy
Good evening, City of Freeport. Council, those elected officials. I am 1323 South Chicago
Avenue. My name is Wendy Pearson. I'd like to make a couple comments. I listened to Mr.
Brown today speak. I was at the hospital with my son. Saturday, the day of the march, I
is a funeral for a relative in Chicago.
Had I not been there, I would have been at that march,
just as I was at the first one.
And yes, I said it was a joke, not this one, the second one.
And if he was scouring people's Facebook pages,
he would have seen that I said that I was proud of him
for this weekend.
Now, I said it before and I'll say it again.
The first march was a joke.
It was a joke simply because the day before that Friday,
there were shootings in the 700 block of Liberty.
There were shootings in the 900 block of Carroll.
The march happened the next day.
We started at the old Germania lot.
We went down Adams Pass, the Raggedy Rowling Building,
back down to the Germania lot,
downtown and back to the Germania lot.
We never went into the communities
where there were shootings and deaths.
He says that he has a list of all the people
that have been murdered in his town.
and others that have been murdered in this town.
I'm gonna go back to 1980s,
where the two white brothers were murdered
on the west east side of town,
bound, gagged, tied up, beaten and house shed on fire.
These murders have been going on in this town
since the 80s.
This particular one has never been solved.
Scott has never been solved.
So before he starts talking about the people
that he's got on the list,
go all the way back to the murders
that haven't been solved before he was even involved,
before he was thought of,
it has been happening in this town forever.
Now, I've helped to organize marches.
I've been involved with peace marches
from Chicago to Springfield to Washington DC
to Freeport, Illinois.
Not once has Mr. Brown reached out to any of us
to help with what he's doing.
I don't have anything against anything that anybody's doing.
I'm actually, I'm pretty happy about it.
And I'm gonna tell you why I'm happy about it,
because I'm sick of those video freak words being on my show.
Hey, you don't have to do it.
As far as anybody else is concerned,
anybody that wants to do something in this town,
anybody can tell you that I've been supportive
of anything that was positive that was going on in this town
and I will continue to be that way.
I have spoken continuously about our young people
picking up the mantle and I'm still saying the same thing.
Our young people need to pick up the mantle.
We need to be in the streets.
We don't need to be against each other
and talking crazy, but I'm gonna tell you something else.
Mr. Brown was in my face two weeks ago at a party.
What he had to say, he could have said to me.
I don't have a problem with saying anything
to anybody in their face, okay?
Thank you.
So I just wanna put it out there
and I wanna make it very clear.
Time has expired.
That's why it's a joke.
Ms. Pearson.
Anybody else?
Come on up.
Oh, I'm sorry.
Yeah, she stood up too.
My name is Janelle Fokers. I've been a dispatcher for the Freeport Police Department for the past seven and a half years.
My coworker spoke to you recently on some of the changes to our working conditions and protocols.
I believe I need to reiterate some of the concerns and update you on a new change that has been implemented in the last three weeks since she addressed you.
We continue to work alone in the room on shifts that are not fully staffed and at times where employees are enjoying much needed vacation time.
As you can imagine, this puts significant pressure on the only person actively working in the room.
Yes, there are two people on duty, but at times only one actively handling all the phone calls, both 911 and non-emergency, radio traffic, and assisting the public coming into the lobby during that time.
One person handling all of that alone puts a substantial risk not only on the public and the dispatcher, but also the police, fire, and EMS personnel responding to these potentially life-threatening scenarios.
News, which leads to the most recent change that we've been told is a process that we're
expected to follow. Currently, when all of our city ambulances are on a call and there
is a need for additional ambulance, the Fire Department will request a mutual aid ambulance.
The closest ambulance service to dispatch requires a phone call versus radio contact
to request an ambulance. We have been directed to put our in-progress 911 call on hold.
Yes, you heard me correctly. All the 9-1-1 call from your loved one panicked and scared because they need help
administering CPR has to be placed on hold which stops any and all communication between the person in need and the dispatcher trained to help them until
help can physically arrive on scene. This goes against everything
I've been trained to do in my entire career and is a huge liability to everyone involved. Callers, responders,
and others, the city and dispatchers all alike, and completely against my moral belief.
I love what I do and want to help not only my loved ones, but yours on what could potentially
be the worst day of their life.
Putting their 911 call on hold is completely unacceptable to me.
With that said, I encourage each one of you to come spend time in the 911 Center with
us.
Learn what we do, ask questions so you can understand why we are so passionate about
what we do, and are so concerned about the added liability to ourselves, the city, and
and the safety of our officers and fire personnel.
Thank you.
Come on up.
Yep.
Okay, that's the first.
I'm gonna take the mask off.
My name is Sue Cook and I am on Winchester Drive
in Freeport, Illinois.
I am stunned to hear what she just said
because I have written something
to talk about the exact same thing.
911 is very, very critical.
I worked in the hospital, I worked in x-ray.
I know, I worked in the ER, I know how critical 911 is.
These people deserve our respect and they deserve our care.
They deserve our kindness and our care.
And I just wanna give them a round of applause.
I know this is taking some of my minutes, but they have saved my husband's life three times.
And I cannot believe that the golden age of Freeport is going to be ushered in with possibly
not a 911 center.
I don't know if the ASME contract has been signed.
I don't know if you signed anything with the critical people in the unions, but this is
Fowler.
This is important for Freeport.
We need this.
If 911 goes away, are you just going to send it over to the Stewart Center for their call
center to answer?
So we really, really, everybody in here has probably been touched by 911.
Your family, your loved ones, your friend, my husband.
If you care about 911, raise your hands.
Raise your hand.
That is 911 strong.
That's union strong.
There's only one other thing, if I have any time left, I'm going to say this because it's number 15 on the last agenda, I'm going to talk really fast, and that is that we're paying $12,000 for vision boards.
If you're going to be setting up goals for the Councilmen, and you're going to be standing there talking, we can use a white word, we can use a little vision board, we can use Pinterest, and it will be cheaper than $12,000.
Mayor, you are a visionary. If you are the visionary, then you should be able to hold
that meeting with the councilman and bring in what you need for your goals and what you
want Three Port to achieve with them. You don't need $12,000. That $12,000 can go to
support the 911 people. You don't need that. Pull that $12,000 back. Be the visionary that
that you claim to be, take your people,
show them Pinterest and say, vision board.
If you have a mobile phone and can download Pinterest,
it's free, it's an app.
If you don't, plain old whiteboard
like you used to do for the old science fairs,
stick up magazine pictures and say, here's my goal.
This is what we want to achieve.
There you go.
Thank you very much for letting me speak
and I'm gonna put my mask on.
And that was a first.
you know I really wasn't even aware that we were talking about 9-1-1 or your name
Micaiah Stacy we know who I am anyway I don't really understand what's going on
I was at work but if we're talking about defunding our police call center I'm
I'm going to be very blunt with you. I was a victim of domestic violence last Sunday and if it hadn't have been for the call center, officer, I believe her name is Sanchez, I hope I'm saying that right, and the other officers that answered that call, I wouldn't be here and this isn't the first time that it's happened with that person and I know right now we're really focused on the gun violence in Freeport because it's loud and it hurts and everybody hears it whether it
was the gunshot or on social media,
and people's families are being torn apart.
But I'm not the first one.
There was a young woman, Gabby, a couple years ago,
that was murdered by her boyfriend.
I have personal friends from a year ago
when I was living in Iowa who would send me pictures
of the bruises this man was inflicting,
show me videos of him screaming at her,
show me texts of just the verbal abuse.
She took him to court, he sat behind bars for two months,
and when I walk into my own gym, that man is standing there.
And I don't really know what to do with this.
There's just so much crime in Freeport.
And like I said, I know that gun violence is loud
and it's fast, but we need to really focus on
all of the violence in Freeport.
It's not just about guns.
I shouldn't have to worry about
where I'm gonna lay my head at night
because that man can get to me.
We shouldn't have to worry about our kids
riding their bikes.
I shouldn't have to worry about my nephew's baseball game.
I shouldn't be on edge in Walmart.
I shouldn't be concerned for the kids
down at center school playing in the park over there.
I shouldn't be worried about going to Crate Park,
having a cookout with my friends,
and constantly looking around
to see what everyone else is doing.
We're doing a good job.
These marches are good.
It brings awareness, but now we need some action.
Thank you. Thank you. Anyone else? Tommy? Didn't even want to tell you. I want to
Tike, I want to tell Craig Duggan, he's got a good job in the Police Department in Freeport.
And Dwayne Duggan, did you hear they're going to turn down the Queeners?
I did.
Then when?
This fall.
Oh, this fall.
Oh, this fall. And I want to tell Jodi Miller that's a good job of the mayor of Freeport
and my name was on Channel 23 News. Did you see it? If you could put it on YouTube, it's
on YouTube. Okay. Young lady in the pink sweatshirt.
I want to speak on that. I think it's a bad idea to have majority rules. Only because I'll never see Parker and all these other little peck of whatever they are putting anything in there because in the third and fifth ward they have a reason to put something on the agenda. Those are the houses that are getting knocked down. There's affecting people over there. We expect them to be able to speak for us. Did y'all forget about that?
Parker, and one thing for sure, I ain't never seen you speak up hardly about anything.
We have a reason to have the people in that area speak up for us because that stuff is
really happening, really affecting people.
Most of the killings are over there.
We're losing our whole living space due to the fact that y'all have underlying agendas
that y'all don't think we know about.
That's what I'm going to say about that.
and others.
The other thing that I've been watching since I've been to this meeting is bullying.
I'm going to say it, I'm a factual, I'm not negative, I'm factual.
Whatever y'all got going, whatever Sanders got going on, I ain't seen nobody offer to
help him.
I seen a lot of y'all laughing.
And then as soon as Will spoke on how we need to lead the youth, we have a youth in this
room right now, that as soon as something happened with Sanders, he watched every one of you adults
Fowler.
He's the one that's laughed.
Instead of trying to help the situation, obviously he didn't understand something, get some clarity.
Help him out.
That's some real childish stuff that y'all are doing.
Y'all got him watching, laughing, and this is the person that y'all are supposed to be
leading as a youth council member.
Crazy.
It's real crazy.
So it starts by who?
Us.
He had to listen to who.
And then let me tell you something else.
Sanders is smart enough, smart enough to not be a chief of police and vote a domestic battery
drunk on any commission. He has not put his hands on nobody. He has not called nobody
names at all. He is asking for clarity about things that he don't understand. I ain't see
nobody help him for that. And then Rob, you sit up here and act like that little money
grow on trees. That goes back to when we were the money don't grow on trees. Put the money
where it needs to be. You ride down Adam Street, two seconds, you make a right or a left turn,
you back to a circus. Yes, so that 50 to 100 feet matter to the third ward.
Hi, my name is Cheryl Altman. First of all, I'd like to thank three Aldermen, Stacy, Sanders,
Simmons for speaking out for us.
The rest, I don't know.
Johnson, you just was getting your question, Sanders.
Why don't you question people when
we come up with these things?
You guys don't ask questions then,
but you're questioning him.
That's a crack.
You're here for us, not for the mayor,
because don't tell them you don't say that.
Whatever, but you do.
And Rob, I have tried to call you twice.
I would really like a phone call back.
You say you answer your phone, but no.
So I will expect a phone call tomorrow from you.
Thank you.
Mr. Brown.
Yeah, I just wanted to come up again.
One of my youngest reached out to me.
Forgive me my passion speak.
So I wanna send a shout out to all my youngest
at Banks, Burgana, Pearl City, and West Carroll,
and ask you all to come out to the Boys and Girls Club.
I also ask anybody in the community that want to step up
and be a coach, step back.
Basketball League is looking for fire coaches.
Come out and support the youth.
And to Wendy, God bless you.
I'll take that burden.
Anything else? Okay. Yeah. Yeah. Oh, I'm sorry. Thank you. As I've said before, I'll say again. We start in prayer. We can end in prayer. Oh, no. Father God, in the name of Jesus.
of Jesus. We praise you and we thank you for this day. For this is the day that you have
made and we will continue to rejoice and be glad in it. For we look to you, oh God, to
the hills from which cometh our help. We need your leadership. We need your guidance. We
We need you to order our steps according to your word that we may be able to be all that we are called to be in these last and evil days.
Lord Jesus, I decree and declare that Freeport will be what you created it to be, a Freeport.
Not later, but right now, I decree we are free in the name of Jesus.
Continue to lead us, guide us, speak to our hearts.
May we see people through your eyes.
May we understand who we are committed to
and what we are supposed to do for the constituents of this city.
These and other blessings, I pray in Jesus' name,
giving you God all glory, honor, and praise.
Amen.
Okay, next, Wayne's agenda.
Adjournment, I'm sorry.
Motion to adjourn.
Shadle, Secretary Simmons.
What about the, we don't do that here?
Not for the cow we don't, we don't go around to the cow.
This is the cow?
Yeah.
You lucky.
Yeah, I know I'm lucky.
You make me lucky.
All in favor say aye.
You're lucky.
Aye.
Opposed?