WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:02.000 and 00:00:03.000 --> 00:00:05.000 John. 00:00:10.880 --> 00:00:17.719 Show you by our heads. Dear Father God, I pray for the City 00:00:17.719 --> 00:00:22.879 Council meeting tonight. I pray for unity and respect be among 00:00:22.879 --> 00:00:26.879 the members. Father, give every Council member your wisdom and 00:00:26.879 --> 00:00:33.179 as they discussed and passed every item on the agenda tonight. 00:00:33.179 --> 00:00:38.100 I pray that every decision be righteous in your sight for the benefit of the city and 00:00:38.100 --> 00:00:41.100 for your glory only. 00:00:41.100 --> 00:00:44.759 Father bring unity where there might be disunity. 00:00:44.759 --> 00:00:48.599 Father bless each council member's family. 00:00:48.599 --> 00:00:54.359 Help every member to listen well, speak truthfully, and act justly. 00:00:54.359 --> 00:01:17.000 Alderperson, Klemm, Alderperson, Johnson, Simmons, Parker, Stacy, Shadle, Sanders, Sellers, 00:01:17.000 --> 00:01:18.000 We have a quorum. 00:01:18.000 --> 00:01:41.740 If you could please stand for the Pledge of Allegiance led by Alderman Johnson. 00:01:41.740 --> 00:01:43.500 Item number four is the approval of the agenda. 00:01:43.500 --> 00:01:44.500 Is there such a motion? 00:01:44.500 --> 00:01:45.500 So moved. 00:01:45.500 --> 00:01:46.500 Second. 00:01:46.500 --> 00:02:16.500 made by Alderman Shadle, seconded by Alderman Sellers. All those in favor signify by saying aye. Aye. Opposed? That motion passes. Item number five is approval of the minutes from the Committee of the Whole meeting on October 14th, 2025. Is there a motion to approve? So moved. Second. Motion made by Alderman Shadle, seconded by Alderman Sellers. All those in favor signify by saying aye. Aye. Opposed? That motion passes. Darren, can you see if there's any 00:02:16.500 --> 00:02:25.280 sign in for a public comment okay but he'll wait until the next yep I did 00:02:25.280 --> 00:02:31.479 receive one you did just hand them to me yes okay dear council members as the 00:02:31.479 --> 00:02:35.560 city of Freeport's tourism I'll first say it's from Nicole Haas with the Greater 00:02:35.560 --> 00:02:40.120 Freeport Partnership as the city of Freeport's tourism promotion agency the 00:02:40.120 --> 00:02:44.639 Greater Freeport Partnership would like to express our enthusiastic support for 00:02:44.640 --> 00:02:53.160 for establishing a sister city relationship between Freeport, Illinois and Lilditz, Pennsylvania. 00:02:53.160 --> 00:02:59.020 This partnership represents a unique opportunity to celebrate shared heritage, foster cultural 00:02:59.020 --> 00:03:05.880 exchange and strengthen tourism initiative that benefit both communities. 00:03:05.880 --> 00:03:10.920 Freeport and Lidditz share a deep-rooted German heritage which is evident in local traditions, 00:03:10.920 --> 00:03:13.360 architecture and culinary history. 00:03:13.360 --> 00:03:31.800 Freeport cities proudly embrace their connection to the pretzel, a symbol of German culture and craftsmanship. Freeport's legacy as the pretzel city and Lidditz renowned pretzel making tradition create a natural bond that can be showcased through joint festivals and future cross-promotion. 00:03:31.800 --> 00:03:37.800 Beyond pretzels, this sister city designation opens doors to broader tourism opportunities. 00:03:37.800 --> 00:03:45.800 Freeport offers visitors a vibrant mix of attractions, including historic sites, scenic parks, and a thriving arts community. 00:03:45.800 --> 00:03:53.800 Lidditz, celebrated as one of America's most charming small towns, brings its own rich history on cultural vibrancy. 00:03:53.800 --> 00:03:59.800 Together, these destinations can collaborate on marketing campaigns, heritage tourism initiatives, 00:03:59.800 --> 00:04:04.960 and Appeal to Visitors Seeking Authentic Small Town Experiences Steeped in Tradition. 00:04:04.960 --> 00:04:09.560 We believe this partnership will not only honor our shared history, but also create meaningful 00:04:09.560 --> 00:04:13.840 connections that drive tourism potential and economic activity. 00:04:13.840 --> 00:04:18.100 The Greater Freeport Partnership is committed to supporting this initiative and looks forward 00:04:18.100 --> 00:04:20.920 to the exciting possibilities it will bring. 00:04:20.920 --> 00:04:27.319 Thank you, Nicole Haas, Greater Freeport Partnership Marketing and Tourism Director. 00:04:27.319 --> 00:04:28.319 Thank you. 00:04:28.319 --> 00:04:35.719 7 is presentation of potential Sister Pretzel City, Lidditz, Pennsylvania, Tim Connors. 00:04:35.719 --> 00:04:46.800 Hello, everyone. I'm Tim Connors, 2082 Chelsea Avenue, Freeport, Illinois. What Ms. Haas 00:04:46.800 --> 00:04:56.959 just said, I 100% agree with. A while ago I went into an antique store and I saw a pretzel 00:04:56.959 --> 00:05:26.959 Hicks, and I worked on that. I was a pretzel pot holder. And that pretzel pot holder, all kinds of pretzels around it, I turned it over and it said, Liditz, Pennsylvania, home of the pretzels. Now I looked at it and I'm not going to say what I said when I looked at that. I said, that's not the case. We're home of the pretzels. I need to call the mayor. So I contacted the mayor of Liditz, Pennsylvania. His phone number immediately came up on Google. And I chatted with him for four minutes. 00:05:26.959 --> 00:05:28.959 and the rest of the board. 00:05:28.959 --> 00:05:31.959 He's been in the business for 40 minutes. 00:05:31.959 --> 00:05:41.959 With the conversation, he told me that he was in, he owned the oldest commercial bakery in the United States of America. 00:05:41.959 --> 00:05:44.959 And along with that, the Sturgis Bakery Company. 00:05:44.959 --> 00:05:54.959 And his brother-in-law owns the Tom Sturgis Pretzel Company that has been a part of, of Littice, Pennsylvania and around the area, 00:05:54.959 --> 00:06:01.199 as we spoke we talked about how Freeport and Lidditz were so much alike when it 00:06:01.199 --> 00:06:07.000 came to the German heritage to the point that Mayor Snyder said to me when can I 00:06:07.000 --> 00:06:13.639 come up and visit and I said well do you want a big activity and he goes I want a 00:06:13.639 --> 00:06:19.919 big activity I said I it I invite you to Pretzel City Brewfest and he goes can I 00:06:19.920 --> 00:06:20.920 and Mary. 00:06:20.920 --> 00:06:21.920 I come the entire weekend. 00:06:21.920 --> 00:06:28.000 So, basically, what happened was I jumped very high in the air and got an appointment 00:06:28.000 --> 00:06:35.120 with Mayor Miller as quickly as possible and let her know that this was a possibility of 00:06:35.120 --> 00:06:37.680 someone who was quite interested in our town. 00:06:37.680 --> 00:06:44.720 As we spoke, he said, I think we should become Sister Cities and I said, I think so too. 00:06:44.720 --> 00:06:49.879 He's like, let me come in, take some pictures and see what this is all about and see what 00:06:49.879 --> 00:07:19.879 He loved Freeport. He loved Freeport so much from the standpoint that he said this town has so much potential. Now, Lidditz, Pennsylvania is a 9,000 populated borough that is in between Hershey, Pennsylvania and Lancaster, Pennsylvania. What's the largest thing in there? It's a 25,000 soundstage that all of the big concert individuals come in and play. 00:07:19.879 --> 00:07:49.879 Taylor, Taylor Swift, Katy Perry 00:07:49.879 --> 00:07:56.500 What Mayor Snyder did was he put together a PowerPoint that's right here and he basically 00:07:56.500 --> 00:08:02.019 took pictures of us and I always think it's wonderful, I always think it's wonderful when 00:08:02.019 --> 00:08:08.319 someone who doesn't know you or isn't really comfortable with you shows the beauty of the 00:08:08.319 --> 00:08:15.319 The town that you live in, and here's his PowerPoint. 00:08:38.320 --> 00:09:08.320 and he also wanted to be on the big pretzel of our astroturf for the football field but for some reason didn't want a picture I thought it was really it was interesting on Friday I was with him for about five or six hours telling the story of Freeport and showing everything and you saw the picture of the old Van Buren bridge and I thought it was so wonderful that when we walked down to the Van Buren bridge he looked down to his right and he said around the corner 00:09:08.320 --> 00:09:35.320 and I said, you already know our town, Mayor. You already know our town. So they a few weeks ago, he did this presentation and to his board, his city, his city council, his city board, and they all fell in love with us too. And they immediately said, let's create a resolution for us to become sister cities. So now it's our turn. 00:09:35.320 --> 00:09:44.560 Police. So now it's our turn. And I wholeheartedly am excited for the fact that there might be 00:09:44.560 --> 00:09:51.000 new pretzels coming into this town. There might be more tourism coming into this town. 00:09:51.000 --> 00:09:57.040 I've developed a new friend. I'm, my wife and I are going in May to Philadelphia for 00:09:57.039 --> 00:10:00.039 for a couple days and then staying with Mayor Snyder for three days. 00:10:00.039 --> 00:10:04.199 and then staying with Mayor Snyder for three days for Lidditz. 00:10:04.199 --> 00:10:09.159 Along with that, if everything works out here and we have a resolution and we are 00:10:09.159 --> 00:10:13.559 Sister Cities, we're going to have a big Zoom meeting. 00:10:13.559 --> 00:10:16.919 I said a few of us could go down and visit him and he said the weather's too 00:10:16.919 --> 00:10:20.199 bad in in Lidditz during December, so no. 00:10:20.199 --> 00:10:27.480 So we would come together for a group Zoom meeting and basically 00:10:27.480 --> 00:10:34.480 Do you have any questions? 00:10:34.480 --> 00:10:35.480 Yes. 00:10:35.480 --> 00:10:36.480 Cool. 00:10:36.480 --> 00:10:37.480 Thank you. 00:10:37.480 --> 00:10:38.480 Thank you. 00:10:38.480 --> 00:10:39.480 Thank you. 00:10:39.480 --> 00:10:51.480 So, if there's no other discussion, is it agreed upon that we'll move this resolution 00:10:51.480 --> 00:10:54.480 to, I'm guessing, Tim, December 1st? 00:10:54.480 --> 00:11:10.480 Thank you very much. We appreciate it. Item number eight is Discussion of Engineering 00:11:10.480 --> 00:11:15.959 Agreements with Fehr Graham for National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System, Permitting Services 00:11:15.959 --> 00:11:20.679 and Design Engineering for Phase Two of the Wastewater Treatment Plant Upgrades. Manager 00:11:20.679 --> 00:11:28.480 Breuer. Thank you Your Honor. Just moving forward we're in the process of completing 00:11:28.480 --> 00:11:33.519 phase 1 down at the wastewater plant and if you would haven't been there and like 00:11:33.519 --> 00:11:37.500 to go please let me know. I'll be happy to take you. That includes the chemically 00:11:37.500 --> 00:11:42.519 enhanced primary treatment, that handles the inundation of stormwater that comes 00:11:42.519 --> 00:11:46.439 in through the sewer system so that we don't flood out our wastewater plant. It 00:11:46.439 --> 00:11:51.579 It also includes new headworks that'll have grid separation and bar screen that'll be much 00:11:51.579 --> 00:11:55.799 more effective at removing constituents from the waste stream before it gets into our pumping 00:11:55.799 --> 00:11:56.799 equipment. 00:11:56.799 --> 00:11:58.480 We'll also be finite. 00:11:58.480 --> 00:12:03.139 We're working on the lab building and offices at this time, and I think we're very close 00:12:03.139 --> 00:12:08.819 to completing the UV treatment process, which will allow us to get away from chlorine, which 00:12:08.819 --> 00:12:13.699 creates disinfection byproducts that are harmful to aquatic life. 00:12:13.699 --> 00:12:20.000 With that being said, we're moving toward phase two at this time. Phase two is sludge handling. 00:12:20.000 --> 00:12:26.500 We recently submitted and received our national pollution discharge permit that requires us 00:12:26.500 --> 00:12:33.220 to reduce our, what they call, we need to do nutrient removal. That's phosphorus, nitrogen, 00:12:33.220 --> 00:12:38.379 dent type of thing. In order to do that, there'll be more coagulation that goes on at the plant 00:12:38.379 --> 00:12:42.859 and that coagulation will cause solids to drop out in the treatment process and that 00:12:42.859 --> 00:13:12.859 We'll end up in the sludge handling process. It will roughly double our sludge handling needs. So at this point, the next phase is to be upgrading our gravity belt thickener and our other process handling equipment and also our sludge storage area. But this time, that's kind of the high level summary. And at this point, I'd like to turn it over to Darren to kind of go through some of the details. Sure. We put together a small power plant. We put together a small power 00:13:12.859 --> 00:13:42.859 to give us some basis. So Kurt, if you can go to the next slide, please. So phase one is what we're currently constructing. It was approximately $60 million upgrade. It started in 2023. As Rob said, we're working on the Headworks, which is the facility that brings all the waste into the facility and screens it. It does also grid separation, chemically enhanced primary treatment is 00:13:42.859 --> 00:13:49.019 is a facility that handles overruns of the plant, so we no longer discharge directly to the river. 00:13:50.379 --> 00:13:55.659 UV disinfection is a big upgrade at the facility, so we're no longer feeding chlorine, and the goal 00:13:55.659 --> 00:14:02.059 is to have that operational for next spring. And then the lab and administrative building are 00:14:02.059 --> 00:14:09.980 being constructed right now. Phase two, and let me step back for a moment, I just want everybody 00:14:09.980 --> 00:14:15.859 to know this project process has been going on since 2015 is when we started the wastewater 00:14:15.859 --> 00:14:18.299 treatment overhaul. 00:14:18.299 --> 00:14:22.299 There was a two-year planning effort that was put together to lay out the steps and 00:14:22.299 --> 00:14:30.179 stages as USEPA let us know that the affluent discharge limits would be changing in Illinois 00:14:30.179 --> 00:14:38.519 specifically to impaired streamways due to primarily phosphorus and other items within 00:14:38.519 --> 00:15:08.519 and our waystreams. So the three phase approach has been put together. Actually, originally, it was a five phase approach. But with EPA requirements, things had to be advanced. So we are about 12 to 15 months away from completion of phase one. So phase two is the approximately $45 million of construction. We need to start 00:15:08.519 --> 00:15:13.879 Robert, the construction in 2027 in order to meet our discharge limits. 00:15:13.879 --> 00:15:19.680 As Rob stated, it is the sludge handling and digestion portion of the process, which I'll 00:15:19.680 --> 00:15:23.519 get into a little bit more later. 00:15:23.519 --> 00:15:30.159 In order to reduce and remove phosphorus from our waste stream, it will more than double 00:15:30.159 --> 00:15:35.680 our sludge handling efforts that we remove at the wastewater treatment plant every day. 00:15:35.679 --> 00:15:40.319 So, our facilities are not large enough or equipped to handle it. 00:15:40.319 --> 00:15:46.500 It should be known that the last major upgrade at the wastewater treatment facility was done 00:15:46.500 --> 00:15:47.980 in the 70s. 00:15:47.980 --> 00:15:55.839 There was a biological activated filter that was installed around in the 80s to enhance 00:15:55.839 --> 00:15:57.720 ammonia removal. 00:15:57.720 --> 00:16:04.559 But so it's been, you know, many, many years since we've seen upgrades at the plant. 00:16:04.559 --> 00:16:10.240 I've got a map that I'll show you but the site is very tight to work on and there's not a lot of 00:16:10.240 --> 00:16:18.000 space left on it especially since the solar panels were added I believe that was in 2018. 00:16:19.119 --> 00:16:24.799 Phase three is yet to come but is part of the process. Phase three includes primary 00:16:24.799 --> 00:16:31.439 filtration systems which will enhance the phosphorus removal but phase three and two 00:16:31.440 --> 00:16:39.680 we have strategically split in order to basically go after more forgivable funds from the Illinois EPA 00:16:39.680 --> 00:16:47.200 by splitting the project into two different times. The plan right now is for primary filtration 00:16:47.200 --> 00:16:53.200 to occupy the space that the digesters actually occupy now so until we get that cycle built 00:16:53.839 --> 00:16:58.879 we can't move on to the primary filtration. So Kurt, can you go to the next slide please? 00:16:58.879 --> 00:17:05.880 I forgot to mention, right now it's thought that Phase 3 construction will be around $25 million. 00:17:05.880 --> 00:17:12.880 To give you some history of the NPDS permit, so it's the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination Permit. 00:17:12.880 --> 00:17:18.880 It is approved by the Federal EPA and enforced by the Illinois EPA. 00:17:18.880 --> 00:17:24.880 This permit sets the regulations of our discharge to the Pecatonica River. 00:17:24.880 --> 00:17:29.980 River, and without this permit we would actually have to shut the water system off because 00:17:29.980 --> 00:17:32.559 we can't discharge without this permit. 00:17:32.559 --> 00:17:36.139 So it's a very important piece of what we do as a city. 00:17:36.139 --> 00:17:41.639 The city is the primary owner of our collection system for wastewaters and currently in Freeport 00:17:41.639 --> 00:17:48.240 we have segregated systems which means that we don't have stormwater and sewer water combined. 00:17:48.240 --> 00:17:49.599 They're all separated. 00:17:49.599 --> 00:17:54.759 We don't know of any connected points that would be illegal at this point. 00:17:54.759 --> 00:17:59.480 I'm not saying there might not be some that exist currently, but none that we know of 00:17:59.480 --> 00:18:07.039 and we're constantly searching for those annually in the reduction of our I&I efforts. 00:18:07.039 --> 00:18:13.200 The last NPDES permit was just issued October 24th of 25. 00:18:13.200 --> 00:18:18.480 There was a draft permit that was issued and a public notice that went out for any comments. 00:18:18.480 --> 00:18:30.480 In the new permit, it is required that phosphorus will be down to 0.5 mg per liter by January 1, 2030. 00:18:30.480 --> 00:18:35.480 As I stated before, we knew as a city that that requirement was going to come. 00:18:35.480 --> 00:18:40.480 They've been telling us for over 10 years that these requirements would come down. 00:18:40.480 --> 00:18:45.480 Currently we discharge phosphorus at about 2 to 3 mg per liter. 00:18:45.480 --> 00:18:50.039 Leader. So that's just a, you know, more of a trivia question to show what our 00:18:50.039 --> 00:18:56.240 reduction needs to be. Modifications for phosphorus removal in the small footprint 00:18:56.240 --> 00:19:00.559 that we have will be chemical removal. There's also biological removal. It's a 00:19:00.559 --> 00:19:06.680 much larger process and needs a lot more equipment. So the city has the basis to do 00:19:06.680 --> 00:19:14.279 chemical removal. When you do chemical removal, it adds a lot more sludge to 00:19:14.279 --> 00:19:44.279 Waste Stream as we remove the phosphorus in the sludge. And I think we mentioned it before, but it will over double the capacity of our sludge, if not, it might not triple it, but it will definitely be over double of what we create daily. And we're going to have to do more pressing operations and longer. Right now, we only press usually four days a week, we'll probably have to press up to six days a week. Once once we go to phosphorus removal. Concurrently, 00:19:44.279 --> 00:19:50.199 U.S. EPA and Illinois EPA continue to look for other phosphorus reduction methods. Phosphorus 00:19:50.199 --> 00:19:56.440 also comes off of farm fields and other contributories, but we are the main contributor 00:19:56.440 --> 00:19:59.559 to the Pecatonica River from the Freeport waste stream. 00:19:59.559 --> 00:20:01.159 and a river from the Freeport waste stream. 00:20:01.159 --> 00:20:05.200 So we are one that really is being focused on 00:20:05.200 --> 00:20:06.200 for the Peck River. 00:20:07.200 --> 00:20:08.220 Next slide please. 00:20:09.879 --> 00:20:14.879 This is a, in the NPS permit, there is 20 special conditions. 00:20:15.039 --> 00:20:16.720 It's 25 pages. 00:20:16.720 --> 00:20:19.759 Anybody that won't want to see it, you know, you can FOIA. 00:20:19.759 --> 00:20:22.200 It has a lot of special information in it. 00:20:22.200 --> 00:20:25.159 There's two specific items that I wanted to point out 00:20:25.159 --> 00:20:26.879 that we're talking about tonight. 00:20:26.879 --> 00:20:40.879 So, the, excuse me for a second, special condition 20 is the requirement of the phosphorus removal and there was a schedule put in here for phase two. 00:20:40.879 --> 00:20:54.480 This is actually part of the permit and it basically states that we need to get under design and have design completed by June of next year with a bid with a final completion date of June 30th, 2030. 00:20:54.480 --> 00:21:14.839 The reason this is important is in order to meet our sludge removal and our phosphorus removal capacities, we need to get design two underway so we can bid this next fall or summer, excuse me, in order to be able to also construct phase three in time to meet the permit requirements. 00:21:15.679 --> 00:21:21.559 Again, this is a very large process, very large construction and a very small footprint. 00:21:21.559 --> 00:21:35.559 Special Conditions 17 and 18 have also came out in every permit that we're aware of in our class of facility that we have to also monitor our favorite term in Freeport, PFAS. 00:21:35.559 --> 00:21:41.559 That is a new requirement as part of this permit and that's why we brought it up in this discussion. 00:21:41.559 --> 00:21:46.559 So PFAS, obviously we all know that we've been dealing with that on the water side. 00:21:46.559 --> 00:22:16.559 We have to also test out all of our significant industrial users, our landfill, and our regular waste streams to identify where we can reduce and or eliminate phosphorus. And that is a very important part of what we're trying to do with our waste water supply and our waste water supply and our waste water supply and our waste water supply and our waste water supply. 00:22:16.559 --> 00:22:22.799 for the next five years that we have to do that testing, which that ultimately means that 00:22:22.799 --> 00:22:29.240 there will be rule coming down for PFAS reduction within the next permit cycle or the next two 00:22:29.240 --> 00:22:30.679 permit cycles. 00:22:30.679 --> 00:22:35.240 So that's an important constraint that they're putting on everyone. 00:22:35.240 --> 00:22:41.199 Next slide, please. 00:22:41.200 --> 00:22:47.500 I really wanted to just present this slide to discuss that we have been working on this 00:22:47.500 --> 00:22:51.259 project since 2015. 00:22:51.259 --> 00:22:55.420 The plan was approved in 2017 and sent to the EPA. 00:22:55.420 --> 00:22:59.980 They have approved the wastewater upgrades at the facility. 00:22:59.980 --> 00:23:05.500 Again, we went to a three-step process due to some of the changes within the permits 00:23:05.500 --> 00:23:07.019 so we can meet our limits. 00:23:07.019 --> 00:23:18.240 I believe within the permit, it outlines that if we don't meet our permit by 2030, we will be fined for every day that we do we do exceed these limits. So it's very important that we move forward with this. 00:23:20.460 --> 00:23:32.940 Next slide please. So just as a refresher, I wanted to give you a slide of the wastewater treatment plants so we we can all see what we're dealing with here. So this specific facility right there. 00:23:32.940 --> 00:23:41.940 The sludge handling facility, this is where all of our solid waste goes into and is stored before it's scooped up and taken to the field and land applied. 00:23:41.940 --> 00:23:47.940 The two digesters here are really original and integral to the plant. 00:23:47.940 --> 00:23:50.940 Most of the concrete on these structures has failed. 00:23:50.940 --> 00:23:57.940 The methane system that is currently on this plant system, sometimes at night you can go by and see it burning off. 00:23:57.940 --> 00:24:05.740 off, the methane system is worn, we can't even really run any of the boilers or anything 00:24:05.740 --> 00:24:10.799 off the methane system, currently our industrial waste patterns are not strong enough to provide 00:24:10.799 --> 00:24:14.720 enough methane to actually run equipment off of. 00:24:14.720 --> 00:24:22.259 And then phase three, which is getting very tight back here, was made for new clarifiers, 00:24:22.259 --> 00:24:26.399 instead of using the space because it's getting very full of piping and constraints, the new 00:24:26.400 --> 00:24:31.920 New Primary Clarifiers will go in this digestion area once demolition is done. 00:24:31.920 --> 00:24:38.240 Again, right now we're doing the lab building construction, the headworks construction is 00:24:38.240 --> 00:24:41.839 going on right here, and the UV construction is going on back here. 00:24:41.839 --> 00:24:47.139 So the site is completely full, and I just want to point out, these are the solar panels 00:24:47.139 --> 00:24:53.200 that were installed many years ago, and these really border and perimeter the plant, so 00:24:53.200 --> 00:24:55.079 we're kind of running out of room. 00:24:55.079 --> 00:25:11.079 Next slide please. Again, this is just a quick design photo of what's going on at the site currently. I know Brian Bridges put out some videos if you've seen those of the construction. Next slide please. 00:25:11.079 --> 00:25:23.079 Again, this is the Headworks facility that's being built. This elevation down here at the bottom is 55 feet below the ground level. That's how far we have our waste being pumped up into this building. 00:25:23.079 --> 00:25:35.079 and the building. This is a big screening room and this is a grit removal. This is one of the reasons these these projects are so expensive. Next slide please. 00:25:35.079 --> 00:25:49.079 This is the sept. So the sept. I don't know how else to describe this other than it looks like a giant Olympic swimming pool waste is conveyed into this, and it is what they call a short cycle treatment. 00:25:49.079 --> 00:25:54.919 so when we get access flows in Freeport which is our I&I season this facility will allow treatment 00:25:54.919 --> 00:25:59.799 to handle and still meet our affluent requirements. Next slide please. 00:26:03.240 --> 00:26:09.559 This is the UV disinfection building. This will have a UV equipment in it that's redundant that 00:26:09.559 --> 00:26:15.799 will again eliminate our need for chlorine. We will still have a little bit of chlorine in for 00:26:15.799 --> 00:26:20.359 We're cleaning in the plant, but this will eliminate 99% of all chlorine that's being 00:26:20.359 --> 00:26:24.199 discharged to the river as part of our disinfection process. 00:26:24.199 --> 00:26:26.000 Next slide. 00:26:26.000 --> 00:26:30.119 This is the lab building that is just currently starting to go up. 00:26:30.119 --> 00:26:34.119 This will house a new laboratory for all of our wastewater staff that does our testing 00:26:34.119 --> 00:26:38.119 daily and a couple of administration offices. 00:26:38.119 --> 00:26:43.199 A very important building because Freeport saves thousands of dollars, actually more 00:26:43.199 --> 00:26:50.699 More Than Thousands annually by doing as much of the testing as we can with our own staff. 00:26:50.699 --> 00:26:53.179 Next slide, Kurt, thank you. 00:26:53.179 --> 00:27:00.940 So what I want to point out is again, here's the existing sludge handling facilities. 00:27:00.940 --> 00:27:06.219 This will be moving and eliminated in order to move over to this side of the solar panels. 00:27:06.219 --> 00:27:11.179 This is where we're projecting the digester and the sludge handling buildings going in 00:27:11.179 --> 00:27:41.179 and the future. And the pipe conveyance will be along the frontage of the solar panels to get here. This is the only space available left for the size of equipment. And then phase three, you can hardly see it here, it'll be right where the digesters are here. That's where the primary filters will go after they can be demoed. Next slide, Kurt. So I just wanted to give you a quick explanation of the 00:27:41.179 --> 00:28:11.179 So our waste water comes into the plant. There's a lot of fancy equipment that does removal of hard objects, toilet paper, rags, material people flush. And then through that process, it goes into clarifiers. And the clarifiers allow settlement of the waste and skim off, excuse me, scum and oils off the top. And then from that process, it goes into 00:28:11.179 --> 00:28:35.179 and then to our digesters. Through our digesters is where the waste really gets thickened. And heavier solids are provided out and it goes into our dewatering systems which Freeport we call, I call them the pattycake presses. It's a machine driven to actually squeeze the water out of the waste and make it more solid. 00:28:35.179 --> 00:28:38.900 and then, um, then it goes into our drying building at the sludge process. 00:28:39.319 --> 00:28:44.960 And then, um, as, as that's hauled out approximately four times a year to land 00:28:44.960 --> 00:28:49.599 applications, that we have a third party contractor that does the land negotiations 00:28:49.599 --> 00:28:50.920 and the, the sludge spreading. 00:28:51.179 --> 00:28:55.420 Cecelia, I'll remind you that it only goes on animal fields, not human 00:28:55.420 --> 00:28:56.719 consumption fields, right? 00:28:56.719 --> 00:28:58.179 We had that discussion before. 00:28:58.619 --> 00:29:01.920 Um, but that's the process for, for waste. 00:29:02.259 --> 00:29:04.299 Um, it's not unique to Freeport. 00:29:04.299 --> 00:29:17.699 It's the same everywhere we go, and it's the simplified version of what we have going on at our plant. Next slide. So this is a picture of our existing digesters. As you can see, 00:29:20.099 --> 00:29:29.859 much of the concrete is starting to crack and have control joint issues. The equipment that's inside this control room is very aged and old. 00:29:29.860 --> 00:29:34.860 We've had numerous issues and repair problems with these digesters. 00:29:34.860 --> 00:29:36.860 Next slide please. 00:29:36.860 --> 00:29:42.860 This is existing photos of the patty cake presses. 00:29:42.860 --> 00:29:45.860 This is how we dewater and squeeze the solids out. 00:29:45.860 --> 00:29:53.860 This building is very acidic and we've had to go to great lengths to secure this facility. 00:29:53.860 --> 00:29:56.860 As you can see back in the corner here, you can see like we put up tarps. 00:29:56.860 --> 00:29:59.500 They're almost like shower curtains trying to 00:29:59.500 --> 00:30:02.700 They're almost like shower curtains trying to keep the 00:30:02.700 --> 00:30:07.140 acids within the perimeter of where the material is pressed so 00:30:07.140 --> 00:30:10.779 it can go back into our RAS system, which is return 00:30:10.779 --> 00:30:14.079 activated sludge that that squeezed out portion goes back 00:30:14.079 --> 00:30:17.119 into the head of the plant and is returned back for biological 00:30:17.119 --> 00:30:24.619 material to eat and reduce our waste. Next slide, please. This 00:30:24.619 --> 00:30:28.420 is our the interior of the sludge storage building. This is 00:30:28.420 --> 00:30:58.420 This is what we call cake. This is what our sludge turns into within the waste building. There's conveyors that take it out in here. You can kind of see the lines on the walls. This building will fill up probably eight to 10 feet in the air with sludge. We push it in with big wheel loaders. And then when Cinegro, our land applicator comes in, we scoop this out. I believe it's somewhere around 20 semis at a time that are taken out to the field and then land applied. This facility 00:30:58.420 --> 00:31:26.859 is antiquated. It's old new facilities, new technology allows for semi back ends and different kind of a conveyance and new types of structures. This particular facility is looking very worn. As you can see, a lot of the old structure inside has wood, which is not a component that's used anymore in this type of construction due to the acidity and the gases and things that are put off within these buildings. Next slide, please. 00:31:28.420 --> 00:31:32.019 So I wanted to give you a couple examples of other projects that we've done. 00:31:32.339 --> 00:31:35.539 This is actually a new style press system. 00:31:36.579 --> 00:31:38.140 This is a belt system. 00:31:38.140 --> 00:31:41.380 There's different types of systems that can be provided, 00:31:41.579 --> 00:31:45.619 but you can see the difference between the controls, the floor grating, 00:31:45.819 --> 00:31:49.180 things like that, that keep the acidities and also the cleanliness 00:31:49.180 --> 00:31:52.940 of the facility to a steady constant. 00:31:53.140 --> 00:31:56.740 You also see in everything that's done in the wastewater system now, 00:31:56.740 --> 00:32:05.740 It's required that you provide redundancy, so you'll have two of everything. That way, if anything goes down for maintenance or failure, you'll always have a backup to keep running. 00:32:05.740 --> 00:32:08.740 Next slide please. 00:32:08.740 --> 00:32:17.740 This is a picture of another unit that we did with new digesters and a new control building for the sludge handling material. 00:32:17.740 --> 00:32:29.740 This project was done in 2023. It just gives you kind of an idea of the footprint and the magnitude of what new digesters that are the appropriate size would need to be for the City of Freeport. 00:32:29.740 --> 00:32:36.740 The ones that we have currently are very undersized for the amount of waste that we take in. 00:32:36.740 --> 00:32:42.740 And with that, I will take any questions on either one of the proposals. 00:32:42.740 --> 00:32:49.140 again I'd like to state this shouldn't be anything too new to most of you we've 00:32:49.140 --> 00:32:57.740 been working on this project again since really 2017 phase one is I would say 00:32:57.740 --> 00:33:04.339 about 60 65 percent complete with construction I don't know if anybody's 00:33:04.339 --> 00:33:08.779 been by there there currently is probably up to 75 people working there 00:33:08.779 --> 00:33:15.460 Dayley. We've had little issues with the property outside of the contamination 00:33:15.460 --> 00:33:19.220 issues that we ran into. We've had little issues with the project, some, 00:33:19.700 --> 00:33:25.819 some, you know, incurses that you run into with projects of this size, some 00:33:25.819 --> 00:33:31.940 code changes that have been made along the way over a seven year design period 00:33:31.940 --> 00:33:36.519 that we had to update a few things for but but very little problem with that 00:33:36.519 --> 00:33:40.480 Project. I don't know, Rob, did I miss anything? 00:33:43.279 --> 00:33:48.039 I think you pretty well covered everything out there. Oh, one 00:33:48.039 --> 00:33:51.119 point you need to remember too is the sludge handling at this 00:33:51.119 --> 00:33:55.079 point is fully depreciated. The digesters were built in the 00:33:55.079 --> 00:34:00.440 30s. The concrete is basically falling apart. And the 00:34:00.440 --> 00:34:04.720 equipment in the dewatering shed and the dewatering building is 00:34:04.720 --> 00:34:11.119 Very old and is breaking down frequently and the as Darren mentioned the sludge 00:34:11.639 --> 00:34:14.280 Storage building is made of wood, which is a problem 00:34:14.760 --> 00:34:21.000 So even without any requirements from the EPA coming down the pike for phosphorus removal 00:34:21.720 --> 00:34:25.340 It would be necessary to replace these structures 00:34:26.000 --> 00:34:30.800 Very soon if not in the kind of similar timeline. So yeah 00:34:30.800 --> 00:34:38.639 One other, I guess, thought or statement that I'll throw out is this is not unique to Freeport. 00:34:39.679 --> 00:34:46.639 Many communities our size and greater are going through this. The tough problem for this type of 00:34:46.639 --> 00:34:52.320 project is, I'll give you the comparison, just Rockford to Freeport, right? Rockford has to 00:34:52.320 --> 00:34:57.199 have the same treatment plant that we have to have here to treat our waste. They have a lot more 00:34:57.199 --> 00:35:27.199 and more people there to pay for it. It's a bigger plant, a bigger size, but they get to share the cost amongst more people. So your DNA is how many people you have in your city. Your waste streams are similar. The equipment is similar for all this. Most of the equipment that is at our plant now, with the exception of the things that have been constructed, is fully depreciated. You guys see that coming through with emergency repairs and pumps and things continuously throughout the process. The waste stream is a 24-7 business. 00:35:27.199 --> 00:35:35.199 in this town. It never goes away and it never stops. We have operators that run 24-7 there, 00:35:35.199 --> 00:35:41.679 seven days a week. This is not something that we can run from and the permit requirements are very 00:35:41.679 --> 00:35:49.840 solid now about what needs to happen and there's several facilities just in our local northern 00:35:49.840 --> 00:36:14.519 Fripport has been ranked as one of the top projects on that list to be done because they 00:36:14.519 --> 00:36:19.239 know the gravity of what we're facing here with the permit limits. 00:36:19.239 --> 00:36:25.780 Thank you. Don, could you turn the lights back on? Any discussion on these updates? Alderman 00:36:25.780 --> 00:36:29.079 Sellers? Yes, I'd just like to know what is the total 00:36:29.079 --> 00:36:35.539 amount that you said that the sludge, this new thing that's coming from the EPA, how 00:36:35.539 --> 00:36:40.880 much is just that costing? I know we have to do all the building work and all that, 00:36:40.880 --> 00:36:46.119 but all this new... Oh, I'm sorry, the PFAS testing? 00:36:46.119 --> 00:36:51.119 Yes. You said every every city has to do this with their water plants. 00:36:51.119 --> 00:36:56.159 Everybody that's getting an NPS permit like us will have to do the PFAS testing. 00:36:56.159 --> 00:37:01.840 It's it's we haven't seen a permit that was issued that doesn't have it in it now. 00:37:01.840 --> 00:37:06.440 What we're going to do is we're going to do we call it a cost share project with the city. 00:37:06.440 --> 00:37:13.559 So the city is going to do the sampling themselves through the labs and their operators and get the results. 00:37:13.559 --> 00:37:17.679 and then Fehr Graham is going to have our engineers write all the reports and their reduction 00:37:17.679 --> 00:37:23.880 plans. So that cost is going to be $41,000. I just got that completed today. And that's 00:37:23.880 --> 00:37:28.800 one of the work orders that will be coming forward. And then the design of the wastewater 00:37:28.800 --> 00:37:34.720 treatment plant facility, I'm waiting on one of the partners to come back to MEP to get 00:37:34.720 --> 00:37:39.720 their final number, but it'll be approximately it'll be just under $3 million for that design 00:37:39.720 --> 00:37:41.559 portion of the 45 million. 00:37:41.559 --> 00:37:43.000 Okay, one more question. 00:37:43.000 --> 00:37:44.119 Alderman Sellers? 00:37:44.119 --> 00:37:47.199 And so with that, so are you saying that 00:37:48.599 --> 00:37:53.599 we are going to have to come up with the 45 million, 00:37:55.679 --> 00:37:59.960 or you're looking for grants and you're pretty sure 00:37:59.960 --> 00:38:03.800 that we're gonna be able to get some of this refunded 00:38:03.800 --> 00:38:06.800 kinda through some of these grants that are already, 00:38:06.800 --> 00:38:09.280 you're already out there looking for, correct? 00:38:09.280 --> 00:38:39.279 So on the 45, the phase two only project, we are confident, can't guarantee anything, but we're confident that we'll qualify for $5 million in forgiveness on that. Rob and I have made a commitment to try to chase other funding for that project. I'm not going to lie to you. I don't know where that's coming from right now. I don't know of any program out there or any other opportunity at this moment to chase funding for the wastewater treatment plant. Part of that process, Alderwomans are 00:38:39.279 --> 00:38:44.639 and others is that the EPA gave all of these cities plenty of notice that these requirements 00:38:44.639 --> 00:38:49.159 were coming down the line and, you know, due to the age of the facilities. 00:38:49.159 --> 00:38:56.720 So that's where planning and utility costs and user rates, that's where that kind of 00:38:56.720 --> 00:38:58.039 is developed on this. 00:38:58.039 --> 00:39:03.099 So our intent on all three of the phases from the original start, because we know the city 00:39:03.099 --> 00:39:14.220 can't flow the cash to fund all this, is to go through the revolving state process, which we have done for many of the large projects. We qualify for some 00:39:14.220 --> 00:39:24.980 forgivable funds. We also plan to contact our congressional direct people to see if there's any funding available that direction. But the bearer 00:39:24.980 --> 00:39:31.139 of a lot of this is going to end up being user rates for the utility because that's how these projects work. 00:39:33.099 --> 00:39:44.099 Any other discussion? Thank you, Darren. We will move on to public comment. Is there any public comment this evening? 00:39:52.099 --> 00:39:58.099 Hi, my name is Cheryl Alderman. The first time there's public comment, there's not much on here to even speak about. 00:39:58.099 --> 00:40:01.199 speak about, I mean, face it. 00:40:01.199 --> 00:40:05.299 Second of all, we're talking about the partnership 00:40:05.299 --> 00:40:06.699 with the other Pennsylvania. 00:40:06.699 --> 00:40:07.539 That's super. 00:40:08.819 --> 00:40:12.500 But if they really saw how bad the crime in this town was, 00:40:12.500 --> 00:40:13.500 I think they'd run. 00:40:14.779 --> 00:40:17.500 Nobody here wants to face the crime. 00:40:17.500 --> 00:40:20.539 There's nothing even on here about the crime. 00:40:20.539 --> 00:40:23.839 I mean, let's face it, the crime's worse in this town. 00:40:25.460 --> 00:40:27.159 It was never like this before. 00:40:28.099 --> 00:40:51.099 Also, second thing, why is Pete Elber still down that building? He's now using taxpayers' money. He was supposed to be out at the end of September. It's way past that. Why is he still here? Why haven't you guys made any attempt to kick him out? He's using, getting it for free now. 00:40:51.099 --> 00:40:57.839 and Rob. I'm still waiting for all that paperwork that was promised to me. The one paperwork 00:40:57.839 --> 00:41:04.339 that you supposedly sent me, it was dated on the 9th, but then you caught that you didn't 00:41:04.339 --> 00:41:09.659 put that paperwork up until the 13th on my building. So you tried to cross out that 9 00:41:09.659 --> 00:41:18.460 and put a 13 there and then head upstairs, you know, notarize it. You're wrong. And I 00:41:18.460 --> 00:41:29.659 still haven't heard anything about Albers. Why were they there? They weren't certified by the state of Illinois to be tearing this building down. No action has been done against them yet. But there will be. 00:41:32.299 --> 00:41:35.179 Any other public comments this evening? Yes. 00:41:37.619 --> 00:41:46.259 Good evening, Council and members of the public. Before we close tonight's meeting, I would just like to take a brief moment to recognize a very special occasion that takes place today. 00:41:46.259 --> 00:41:50.259 the 250th birthday of the United States Marine Corps. 00:41:50.259 --> 00:41:58.259 Before our nation even declared its independence, a small group of men gathered in Philadelphia and formed a corps of Marines. 00:41:58.259 --> 00:42:04.259 From that day forward, the story of the Marines has been tied to the story of America itself. 00:42:04.259 --> 00:42:15.259 250 years later, Marines remain ready to fight, ready to win, and ready to uphold the trusted places in this country since 1775. 00:42:15.259 --> 00:42:21.539 75. To mark this milestone, I would like to share the official 250th birthday message from 00:42:21.539 --> 00:42:28.139 General Eric M. Smith, the Commandant of the Marine Corps. 250 years ago, before our nation 00:42:28.139 --> 00:42:33.059 declared its independence, a small group of men gathered in Philadelphia formed a Corps 00:42:33.059 --> 00:42:40.259 of Marines. From that moment, our story has bound to the story of America itself a quarter 00:42:40.259 --> 00:42:46.099 of a Millennium Later. Marines remain at the center of our nation's defense, ready to fight, 00:42:46.099 --> 00:42:52.739 ready to win, and ready to uphold the trust placed in us in 1775. According to centuries, 00:42:52.739 --> 00:42:57.460 across centuries, Marines have fought on distant shores and in desperate battles, 00:42:57.460 --> 00:43:03.619 earning a reputation for discipline, toughness, and valor. From the Revolution to the World Wars, 00:43:03.619 --> 00:43:09.460 from Chopultepec to today's operations across the globe, every generation has proven worthy 00:43:09.460 --> 00:43:14.579 of the Title Marine. They secured liberty, defended allies and carried forward the promise 00:43:14.579 --> 00:43:20.900 of a free nation and a free world. We are their heirs of that legacy and we are its stewards. 00:43:20.900 --> 00:43:27.299 This anniversary reminds us that our standards are the foundation of the Marine Corps. Honor, 00:43:27.299 --> 00:43:32.980 courage, commitment are not abstractions, but the code that binds us to one another 00:43:32.980 --> 00:43:39.219 and to all who went before. Every Marine, every climb and place must hold true to these values. 00:43:39.219 --> 00:43:45.219 The conflicts ahead will demand nothing less. I cannot be prouder of the Marines I see serving 00:43:45.219 --> 00:43:51.380 today, at home and at sea and across the globe. You carry forward our proud tradition with skill 00:43:51.380 --> 00:43:57.139 and ferocity. It is your disciplined initiative and fighting spirit that anchors our Corps. 00:43:57.139 --> 00:44:03.059 The battles of the next 250 years will be a challenge to us in new ways, but I have no doubt 00:44:03.059 --> 00:44:07.059 We will prevail. Happy birthday, Marines. Thank you, Your Honor. 00:44:07.059 --> 00:44:11.059 Thank you. With that, I will entertain a motion for adjournment. 00:44:11.059 --> 00:44:15.059 So moved. Second. Motion made by Alderman Sellers, seconded by Alderman Shadle. 00:44:15.059 --> 00:44:19.059 All those in favor, signify by saying aye.