Good evening. Michelle, could you please give the invocation? Good evening. We thank you for your word in Proverbs 3, 5 through 6. It says, Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.


and all your ways submit to him and he will make all your paths straight.


Lord, we ask tonight that you would impart wisdom on each one here tonight, that they would have ears to hear and eyes to see what you would say, for your word instructs us not to lean on our own understanding but yours.


So we ask for wisdom tonight concerning all things for Freeport, submitting all of our ways to you, Lord, that you would make all the decisions clear.


We thank you, Lord, that according to Proverbs 2.6 says, for the Lord gives wisdom and from his mouth comes knowledge and understanding.


That's what we seek tonight, wisdom and understanding. I ask that you bless each one here tonight with your love and grace.


In Jesus Christ's name we pray, amen. Amen. Thank you. Now we'll officially call this meeting to order.


Madam Clerk, would you please take the roll? Mayor Miller. Here. Alderpersons, Klemm. Here. Johnson.


Here. Simmons. Stacy? Here. Shadle? Here. Sanders is absent and Sellers? Here. Thank you. Now if you could please stand for the Pledge of Allegiance led by Alderman Sellers.


I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands, one Nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.


Item number one is the approval of the agenda. Is there such a motion? So moved. Second. A motion made by Alderman Shadle, seconded by Alderman Sellers. All those in favor signify by saying aye. Aye. Opposed? That motion passes. Item two is approval of the minutes from the council meeting on April 20th, 2026. Is there a motion to approve? So moved. Second.


Okay, we have a motion made by Alderman Johnson, seconded by Alderman Shadle. All those in favor, signify by saying aye.


Aye. Opposed? That motion passes. Item number three is the presentation of the 2025 Water Ambassador Award. Seth.


Good evening, everybody. I'm Seth Gronwald. I'm here on behalf of the Illinois section of the American Water Works Association.


Congratulations to the City of Freeport for being selected for the Gold Water Ambassador Award for 2026.


2025 is really the award, but we're presenting in 2026. A little bit of background about the ISA-WWA.


The ISA-WWA 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 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's 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.


There are three levels of awards, bronze, silver, and gold. Each is determined based on the frequency and method of communications and this year Freeport has reached the gold standard.


Howard. This year, which is our 5th year of the program, the ISA-WWA is awarding 36 gold level water ambassadors and one bronze level water ambassador throughout the state. Thank you to our communities and specifically Freeport for efforts in educating the public about water systems and for the work that you guys do to maintain safe and sustainable water I'd like to give credit to the City of Freeport and the Council members for their participation and this is a lot of that is the city knowledge and people that want to be in participation of the board and getting to know the water system and the city manager because we're always pushed to train and get everybody knowledgeable about water.


We'll have quite a few proclamations to read and it seems only fitting that the first Suttman, and the first one has to do with drinking water, so, um, Randy, I don't know if you'd like to come up for this, okay, so the first proclamation is Drinking Water Week, whereas water is our most valuable natural resource, and whereas drinking water serves a vital role in daily life, serving an essential purpose to health, hydration, and hygiene needs for the quality of life our citizens enjoy, and whereas hard, hard work performed by the We are all stewards of the entire water sector, designing capital projects, operators ensuring the safety and the quality of our drinking water, or a member of the pipe crew maintaining the infrastructure, communities rely on to transport high quality drinking water from its source to the consumer's tap. And whereas, we are all stewards of water infrastructure upon which current and future generations depend. And whereas, the citizens of our city are called upon to help protect Mayor of Freeport declare May 3rd through the 9th, 2026 as Drinking Water Week in the City of Freeport and urge all of our residents to continue to utilize the clean drinking water that city services provide.


Thank you, Randy. Thank you very much. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.


Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Okay. So the next one is International Firefighters Day.


Whereas International Firefighters Day is observed each year on May Firefighters are quick to respond to uncertain situations to mitigate danger and combat the threat of destructive fire in order to protect individuals, families, and the economic being of our community.


And whereas the demands of firefighting are accomplished or accompanied by personal and physical tolls that all firefighters knowingly accept while risking their own lives to protect the lives of others.


and whereas the Freeport Fire Department is a key community asset to health and safety as the department responded to over 6,000 calls in 2025 alone.


So therefore, I, Jodi Miller, hereby declare May 4th, 2026 as International Firefighters Day in the City of Freeport and encourage all residents to help fire suppression in their own right by taking necessary safety precautions to help save lives in their own communities.


Please join me for the next proclamation. Oh, did you want to say anything? Not now.


Okay. Can we get a picture real quick? Sure. The next proclamation is National Day of Prayer, whereas the first National Day of Prayer was was proclaimed by the Continental Congress in 1775.


and others. This year marks the 75th anniversary of the National Day of Prayer, and whereas this year's and many more.


The first theme is glorifying God among the nations, seeking him in all generations, taken from 1 Corinthians, I'm sorry, 1 Chronicles 16, 24, which says, tell of his glory among the nations, his wonderful deeds among all the peoples.


And whereas it is appropriate for the citizens of Freeport and Stevenson County to join in this year's National Day of Prayer and to call upon the Almighty for guidance and assistance.


Now, therefore, I, Jodi Miller, declare May 7th, 2026 as the National Day of Prayer in the City of Freeport and extend greetings and well wishes to all who observe this day.


I just want to let everybody know that, yeah, we do have room for people to come to the morning session.


Fowler. You do need to call for a reservation, though, because we do provide food for that.


And the number to call is 815-297-2918 if you'd like to come to the morning session.


And also there is, and it's at the Farm Bureau Building. And the evening session is at 7 o'clock at Breakthrough Church.


So all are welcome. Thank you. What time is the morning? The morning one is at 7 a.m. at Farm Bureau Building.


Thank you. Thank you. The next proclamation is World Migratory Bird Day, whereas migratory birds are some of the most beautiful and easily observed wildlife that share our communities, and whereas these migrant species also play an important economic role in our community, controlling insect pests and generating millions in recreational dollars statewide, and whereas migratory birds and their habitats are declining throughout the Americas, facing a growing number of and John.


The United States has been under threat on their migration routes in both their summer and winter homes.


And whereas citizens enthusiastic about birds informed about the threats that they face and empowered to help address these threats can directly contribute to maintaining healthy bird populations.


And whereas since 1993, World Migratory Bird Day has become a not only a day to foster appreciation for wild birds and to celebrate and support the migration conservation but also as a call to action. Now therefore I Jodi Miller hereby declare May 9th, 2026 as World Migratory Bird Day in the City of Freeport and then urge all citizens to support these efforts to protect these migrant birds and their habitats in our community.


I am Juliet Maduro, board member of the Northwest Illinois Bird and Nature Alliance. I am here today as part of our annual proclamation recognizing World Migratory Bird Day.


The city of Freeport has been recognized as a bird city of Illinois since 2022.


We are among the first of three cities in the state to earn this designation.


We have to renew this recognition every three years and our chapter has supported the fees and completes the application for the city every year.


This recognition is similar to Tree City USA, but the mission of Bird City Illinois is to encourage all communities in Illinois to implement sound bird conservation practices by offering public recognition to those that succeed in enhancing the environment for birds and educating the public about the relationship between birds and people and how that contributes to a healthy community.


As part of the requirement our municipality is required to fulfill certain requirements including this annual proclamation and a world migratory birthday event.


This year our sixth annual event is taking place this Saturday, May 9th at Oakdale in an open house style from 10am to 1pm with co-hosts the Freeport Public Library, Freeport Park District and University of Illinois Extension and 4-H Youth Education.


Each year is a different annual international theme and this year highlights the role of Huff, Community Science, where community members help with counting birds and contributing their observations for bird conservation.


It's a free event and is rain or shine. We will have activities for all ages and abilities including bird outings on the hour using the Accessible Trail.


We have free snacks and giveaways, many varieties of bird crafts, and a migration obstacle course.


And tonight I wanted to give a special thanks to Josh Elliott from Elliott Graphics who helped expand our migration game and donated their services to help support this event for our community.


and I just brought examples of the game that the kids roll the die and they learn how to migrate so I appreciate their donation.


We invite the community and council members to attend and we thank the city for the annual recognition of being a bird city of Illinois.


and our last proclamation is National Police Week, whereas there are more than 800,000 law enforcement officers serving the communities across the United States, including the dedicated members of the Freeport Police Department, and whereas it is important that all citizens recognize the duties, responsibilities, hazards, and sacrifices undertaken by our brave men and women in law enforcement whose unwavering commitment ensures that our families and communities may thrive in peace.


And whereas the Freeport Police Department is in initiating crucial improvements to crime response and prevention through trained officers and technology.


And whereas as they live within our community and protect us from dangers that surround us, Freeport considers the police department vital to the lives of every resident in our city.


Now therefore, I, Jodi Miller, hereby declare May 10th through the 16th, 2026 as National Police Week in the City of Freeport, and I encourage all our residents to join the Freeport Police Department in Crime Prevention.


Thank you, Chief. Did you want to say something? National Police Week was founded in 1962 by our President John F. Kennedy, and it was specifically for those law enforcement officers who made the ultimate sacrifice, who gave their lives and along with their family members who still are serving in some type of form of our department. National Police Week, yes, is important, but we also have to think about those that are still serving, those that are keeping our streets safe, those that are working with the community, and those that put on the badge every day, knowing that one day and hopefully never that they are going to be injured or hurt.


Thank you. Item number five is recognition of service awards. Manager Boyer. Thank you, Your Honor. Just give me one second here.


Tonight we'd like to recognize Matt Graves, who could not be here, but Matt Graves is currently our lab manager doing important work sampling, running analysis and ensuring compliance of the city's utilities that are maintaining and others, maintaining the parameters required by the Illinois EPA.


So we thank Matt. He started as an operator at the wastewater plant, and then he moved his way up and now he is the lab manager.


So thank you very much, Matt. Secondly, I'd like to also recognize Andrew Lampe. Andrew Lampe's been with the city for five years.


He has been working with the street department, and he is a very dedicated employee that always answers his phone, and very conscientious with his work and surroundings.


Andrew is always willing to jump in and help where he can whenever. So we thank Andrew Lampe for the five years of service to the City of Freeport.


item number six is public comment but there are none signed up so we'll move on to item number seven which is the consent agenda the consent agenda is considered to be routine in nature and act is one motion unless there's a member of the council would like to have something removed for further discussion the consent agenda consists of approval to receive and place on file from the Minutes of the Board of Fire and Police Commissioners, February 24, March 3, and March 24, 2026.


The report of CDBG Housing Rehab Grant Payment from April 30, the finance bills payable in the total of $2,528,931.16 and the approval of payroll from the pay period ending- The total of payroll from the pay period ending April 18th, 2026 in the total of $710,137.56. Is there a motion to approve?


So moved. Second. We have a motion made by Alderman Shadle, seconded by Alderman Klemm.


Madam Clerk, could you please take the roll? Sellers? Aye. Klemm? Aye. Johnson? Aye. Simmons?


Aye. Parker? the motion passes seven to zero item number eight is that time of year with the Finance Committee of the Whole and a an appointment that needs to be made for the chair and the vice chair madam mayor Alderman Clem I would like make a motion to retain Alderman Shadle as chair from last year and Alderman Sellers as vice Vice-Chair from last year.


Is there a second? Second. Do we have a motion made by Alderman Klemm, seconded by Alderman Parker?


Discussion on the motion? Madam Clerk, all those in favor? Yeah, Alderman Stacy. I thought that position changed yearly to give others opportunity.


I can't. It's a council decision. All those in favor signify by saying aye. Aye. Can we go back now? Okay. Yes. Alderman Simmons.


I would motion to recommend Alderperson Johnson as Vice Chair. and I second. So just for clarification purposes, there was a main motion on the floor that was made by Alderman Clem and seconded by Parker.


If anything were to change from that original main motion, we would need a motion to amend the main motion, Settlers, and I believe is what Alderman Simmons is seeking to do and Alderman Sellers seeks to second.


Okay. So, before you then, is the amended motion to have Alderman Shadle as the Finance Chair and Alderman Johnson as the Vice Chair?


Is that correct? Yeah. Okay. So, all those in favor of that amended motion, well the motion, the motion and the second is Alderman Simmons and Alderman Sellers.


And this vote is on the amendment only, correct? That is correct. So this is just on the amendment.


Wait a minute, I want to change my amendment. You may not want to second it.


In order to change a motion on the floor the second would have to be withdrawn first.


Who withdraws it? The ones that made it. Yeah, it would be Alderman Sellers withdrawing her second and then Alderman Johnson can make another motion because you can only have one motion to amend on the floor at a time.


just if you original my original amendment that motion I won't ask you to withdraw okay so just everybody's clear the motion is the amended for Shadle and Johnson as the chair and vice chair for this year's Finance Committee of the Whole any further discussion I guess that would take care of the final vote two worded that way correct ultimately yes okay We'll begin with Sellers. Aye. Klemm? Aye. Johnson? Aye. Simmons? Aye. Parker? Aye. Stacy? Aye. And Shadle? Aye. The amendment passes seven to zero.


Okay. Is that how I call it? The amendment and the final action? Yeah, the main motion is amended. Okay.


Okay, we'll move on to item number nine, which is the first ring of ordinance 2026-29. Could you please read this?


Ordinance amending Chapter 806 Liquor, Section 80602C1, Tier 3 Licenses to clarify parameters of Class CR Caterer License.


Thank you, Manager Boyer. Thank you, Your Honor. The City has had in place for a number of years a licensing requirement for caterer retailers who serve alcoholic liquor.


Recent clarifications from the Illinois Liquor Control Commission suggested that cities should clarify existing language to avoid any confusion over terminology.


The proposed changes to the codified ordinances are intended to address these issues. And I would also ask that Clerk Anderson has a few things she'd like to highlight.


I'll just continue reading. The state of Illinois licenses the sale of alcoholic liquors by caterer retailers, only where the caterer charges a package price for food and beverage, and the sales of liquor are an incidental part of food service.


The Liquor Commission believes that the promotion of legitimate catering services for private events should be fostered.


However, the Liquor Commission is also concerned that the existing regulations could allow for operation of a mobile pub, which is not believed to be a beneficial use within the city.


The Liquor Commission suggests taking an example from several other Illinois communities which have specifically limited catering licensees to private, invitation-only events.


To avoid any arguments about the definition of incidental, the Liquor Commission is suggesting the adoption of a 50-50 minimum food-to-beverage value ratio, which means a caterer could charge, For example, $50 for an event, but the food would have to be $25 or more of the value and the liquor sales would be the smaller half.


Is there a motion to move this forward? So move. Second. We have a motion made by Alderman Sellers, seconded by Alderman Shadle.


Discussion, Alderman Klemm. Yes, who determines that Magic 50-50? The guy in charge of it?


Yes, it'd be an honor system, but we would not expect them to serve popcorn and say it was $24 popcorn.


You know, it should be a local, a local range of an acceptable price for that kind of meal.


Alderman Johnson? So could there possibly be, they would have to write down, you know, when they get their license or whatever, write down, this is what our food is going to be, this is what our alcohol is going to be, so we can kind of monitor that 50-50, or would that not be a possibility?


I think it's possible but let's see. A caterer needs to notify me, what is it Mayor, within 10 days of the event or something like that, where they're going to operate.


I don't know that we would have much control over saying you must do this and this. I think your monitoring suggestion is probably pretty good, but that could really greatly vary and that would be a contract or an agreement between the caterer and the bride and the groom, or the graduate, or whoever would be planning the party.


If there's no further discussion, that will move on to the next City Council meeting.


Item number 10 is the Adaption of Resolution 2026-61, could you please read this? Resolution approving agreement with Lexington Computer Recycling for Electronic Recycling Services.


Manager Boyer. Thank you, Your Honor. The City is planning to do another electronics recycling event on June 6th. That will be a Saturday and it will be held at the Stevenson County Fairgrounds.


Last year we had a similar event where we collected 1,096 screens, 3.2 total tons of electronic waste and roughly 400 residents took advantage of it last year. We went out to bid, and we received only one bid, I'm sorry, request for quote, and we received one quote back from Lexington Computer Recycling. Their quote was a $5,000 base fee with 35 cents per pound for every flat screen TV, 15 cents per pound for, I'm sorry, every monitor, 85 cents per pound for every cathode ratio monitor. Staff recommends moving forward. This is roughly, I would say it's maybe 25 to 30 percent of what it was last year and staff approves and requests moving forward with this quote. Is there a motion to adopt?


Is there a motion to adopt? So moved. Second. Any motion made by Alderman Seller, seconded by Alderman Shadle, discussed. Madam Clerk, please take the roll.


Klemm? Aye. I do. Sellers? Aye. Klemm, I will record as aye. Johnson? Aye. Simmons? Aye.


Parker? Aye. Stacy? Aye. Shadle. Aye. The resolution is adopted seven to zero. Item number 11 is the adoption of resolution 202662. Please read this. Resolution approving a facade improvement grant agreement for the property located at 2 West Springs Street. Thank you. Director Heimerdinger. Thank you Madam Mayor. So I'm gonna read this only one time so bear with me and then I have the next seven so I'll be a The 2026 FASAD Improvement Grant received nine applications, reflecting strong participation.


The program's original budget was $30,000, funded through the Downtown TIF District, and this was exceeded by total requests.


However, unspent funds from prior years allowed the City of Freeport to increase the available allocation to $60,000.


Each application was reviewed and scored by the Historical Preservation Commission. Final scores reflect the average of individual commissioners' evaluation using the adapted criteria, which includes historical significance, scope of improvements, transformation impact, and contribution to the streetscape and urban fabric.


Today, we have out of the nine applications submitted, seven are being presented to you tonight.


The first one was the highest score, which was 94.25 out of 100. And that is to West Spring, which is up on the screen.


This is what it looks like relatively in the last couple years. It was recently painted, like in October, but this is what it looked like prior to it Being painted before winter.


And then if we scroll down just a bit, so you see the before and then this is what it will look like after.


So this particular case, they requested 15,000 and the historical preservation recommended funding allocation before you is 15,000 for this property.


They're doing extensive renovations and rehab to the interior and also to the exterior. We will allow up to 50% of the cost.


This plan is to rehab it so that the upstairs will become apartment units and the garage doors will become tenant garage space to serve the upstairs units and then the bottom floor There will be some commercial property, commercial businesses, and this is right next to the window.


This is right on Spring in Chicago. So the staff recommends funding this particular project to West Spring for the fall funding request, which was $15,000.


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


I would like to see, there's seven I believe on here. I would like to hear the discussion on all of them and I would like to have it moved to the COW for further discussion.


Well, I'll answer the first statement. The first statement is you will see all of them.


We're starting with two West Spring. All of them have been separated into separate resolutions. So there's seven resolutions. We're on the first one and for the COW discussion, this already went through Historical Preservation Commission. This is their big thing every year that they do their due diligence to give scores with their level of expertise. All of them have some amount of connection to architecture, historical preservation and community planning.


So, they're the experts in the field and they bring those requests, much like Zoning Board of Appeals or Planning Commission, to Council, so part of the discussion would have to happen tonight on any of these.


Anything else? So, why can't it go to the COW? Because we're voting on it tonight.


This is the time for resolutions. We can't vote on resolutions at cows. I don't want to vote on it at the cow. I wanted to take some time and do some research of my own and have discussion of it at the cow.


The research has been done by the Historic Preservation Committee. So that's what they're Well, I'm not saying that I even want more at it. I mean, if I'm not mistaken, you said that the city, like the 15,000 plus the city is putting in 15,000.


No, so this particular project, how it works is every application or every applicant has the opportunity to ask for 50% of the project costs up to $15,000.


So is the applicant asking for that $15,000? Yes. And is the city giving it to them?


That is what is being determined tonight with a vote by the council members. and there's nine different buildings but seven tonight.


Seven qualify. The historical preservation met and they discussed all of these properties and all of the applications and they have moved forward with seven of them to stick to the budget and also the highest Schooling Wants based on the budget that that we could allocate to this.


Alderman Parker, is it out of line for me to make a motion to approve this?


It's already their motion is already done. I'm not saying no. No, I didn't. I'm saying I'm trying to understand more about it and when stuff comes to us it could have been last month at the COW. Well the historical preservation met on April, oh that would have been April 20th. But just to know what they were thinking, what they were considering, what was going to come to us as a as a Council.


Manager Boyer. Alderperson, Stacy, as a matter of fact, that may not just be such a bad idea.


I think we can do that maybe moving forward. Tonight we're a little bit under the gun because it's already been proposed, you know, reviewed by the Historical Preservation Committee and it's up for vote tonight.


However, I think we can accommodate that moving forward. We have to remember what the responsibilities of the council is. If we get into the weeds on everything that the commissions are appointed to do, we're going to get ourselves into a lot of things that we just, that's not our purpose.


It's like, you know, we have an arts commission that will be choosing the sculptures, that's their job. The historic preservation, that's their job to figure out these, these facade improvements.


They're not coming to us and saying, oh, you know, give us your input, you know, it's no different than the sculptures that they pick.


We either trust their judgment or we don't. They should be removed from counsel or removed from the committee if we don't think that they're doing their job. But that's their job.


So I might have ordered to ask questions. Yes. So just fall into the weeds like we have many a times and then we're just in the weeds but it's a goal because it came to council.


They're doing their job, Alderman Stacy. I'm not saying that they're not doing their job.


Okay, so how would this have been better for you? I don't know, I'm asking you a question.


You know, it's like, when something is brought to the council, if anybody question it, or or want further discussion then there's a problem and I don't think that that's fair to me to put me on the spot like I said it could have been brought to the COW in April and it could have been discussed what they were thinking, what they were hoping for, what they were planning for but it wasn't.


But it wasn't. We were out of here in 20 minutes. I will note that the Commission hadn't happened before the COW.


So these applications weren't due before we had the COW. So I couldn't have brought them to Council.


In addition, tonight, during this time, you do have the opportunity to ask questions. And you have the opportunity to vote no to ones that you don't see fit.


and all the applications, all the applications, the memo and the agreement posted to this agenda on Friday for review.


And you have to remember that all the council members are welcome to attend any of the commissions.


You get those notifications from the clerk. And so once a year this Historic Preservation Committee meets, you could have gone and no No one, I mean that's not stopping anyone from attending those.


You could have asked questions in it, like any of the commissions. Alderman Shadle, did you have your hand up?


Yes, I did, and I don't usually get into this discussion, but these topics were all discussed by myself with Manager Boyer.


I missed my normal Thursday afternoon meeting this week, but we met on Friday and we discussed this.


So when it comes to the council floor, it's not a surprise. And I know you've said in the past, you have issues with trust or whatever, but here's a classic example of have that meeting and it's not gonna be a surprise.


And if I could have that meeting with City Manager Boyer alone like you did, then maybe I would have that meeting.


It was only because I was gone, Alderman Stacey. If there's no further discussion, Madam Clerk, please take the roll.


Sanders, Klemm, Johnson, Simmons, Parker, Stacy, and Shadle. The resolution is adopted 6-1. Item number 12 is the adoption of resolution 2026-63.


Could you please read this? Resolution approving a facade improvement grant agreement to the property located at 13 East Stevenson Street.


Director Heimerdinger? Thank you. This is the second one that we're going to show today.


And this one, the requested fund amount was $2,500. And the staff recommends the full requested amount of $2,500.


This property is actually owned by Tricor Insurance. It is the, if you're going from the, it's the one in the middle.


So if you're going in, it would be the very, the third one. or if you're going from the other side. I think the mouse is on it so you guys can see.


What this project entails is a painting of the façade to kind of freshen it up.


That I think if you go further down we can see what that would kind of look like.


And so they kind of use like paint samples so it'll be a more white instead of tan color and then A darker, charcoal, gray, black color to kind of make it more vibrant and make it look a little bit more clean for the streetscape.


Is there a motion to adopt? So moved. Second. A motion made by Alderman Parker, seconded by Alderman Sellers.


Discussion on this resolution. Madam Clerk, please take the roll. Sellers. Aye. Klemm. Aye. Johnson. Aye. Simmons. Aye. Parker. Aye. Stacy. No. And Shadle. Aye. The resolution is adopted 7 to 1. Item number 13 is the adoption of resolution 202664. Could you please read this? Resolution approving a facade improvement grant agreement for the property located at 22 East Exchange Street. Excuse me. Director Heimerdinger. You said 7 to 1.


Leave It 6 to 1. And I wrote it incorrectly, 6 to 1. Thank you.


Let me check the other one. Thank you, Madam Mayor. So this is the third one.


This is 22 East Exchange. This is also known as the new museum that will be going in here.


And their project entails a side entrance. I think if you scroll down just a bit, we can see the before and after. They took some lovely photos for us.


So that's the before. This is a side entrance. They already have the canopy, but they have a window opening for a storefront.


And then this is what it would look like after. So you can see that canopy. There's a nice storefront being inserted into that location.


The total funding request was $5,601.50, and the Staff and Historic Preservation Commission recommends funding the total amount of $5,601.50.


Is there a motion to adopt? So moved. Second. The motion made by Alderman Seller, seconded by Alderman Shadle.


Discussion on the resolution? Madam Clerk please take the roll. Sellers? Aye. Excuse me, Klemm? Aye. Johnson? Aye. Simmons? Aye. Parker? Aye. Stacy? Aye. And Shadle? Aye. The resolution is adopted 7-0. Item 14 is the adoption of Resolution 2026-65. Could you please read?


Resolution Approving a Facade Improvement Grant Agreement for the Property Located at 2-6 E. Stevenson Street.


Director Heimerdinger. Thank you Madam Mayor. This is 2-6 E. Stevenson. This is our fourth one. This is also kind of known as the Smith Building.


What's being done here is I don't have a before and after because you wouldn't see a difference, but there is major tuck pointing being done.


That is what they submitted their application for. There's also a lot of other work being done for this building in addition to that, roofs and windows and interior build outs as well.


So, for this particular building, they're going to be spending $91,000 on tuck pointing and they are asking for a funding request of $10,000.


and so staff and the Historical Preservation Commission recommends funding the full amount of $10,000 for tuck pointing.


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


Discussion on this resolution. Madam Clerk, please take the roll. That was Shadle, Sellers. Yeah, whatever.


No, it was Sellers. Other way around. Sellers, Shadle. And the votes, Sellers. Aye. Klemm? Aye. Johnson? Aye. Simmons? Aye. Parker? Aye. Stacy? No. And Shadle? Aye. The resolution is adopted six to one.


And item number 15 is the adoption of resolution 2026-66. Could you please read this?


Resolution approving a façade improvement grant agreement for the property located at 1 West Main.


Director Heimerdinger. Thank you Madam Mayor. This is One West Main. This is a fifth application that the Historical Preservation Commission would love to see funded. What is being done here if you scroll down you can get a kind of a sense of before and after. So what will be completed is there'll be some lighting going in as well as an awning and then if you kind of scroll down just a little We're going to take a little bit, you'll see some more after photos of what that kind of looks like.


This is right on Chicago, so the lighting will be very beneficial to the later events happening and kind of add to the historic nature of this building.


Total funding request for this project is $7,979.50 and the staff and the Historical Preservation Commission recommends approving the full allocation and the full funding request of $7,979.50.


Is there a motion to adopt? So moved. Second. Seconds. Alderman Klemm, seconded by Alderman Sellers. Discussion on the resolution. Madam Clerk please take the roll. Sellers? Aye. Klemm? Aye. Johnson? Aye. Simmons? Aye. Parker? Aye. Stacy? No. And Shadle? Aye. The resolution is adopted 6 to 1. And item number 16 is the adoption of resolution 2020.


Resolution approving a facade improvement grant agreement for the property located at 27 South State.


Director Heimerdinger. Thank you, Madam Mayor. This is a sixth application that the Historical Preservation Commission would love to see funded.


This involves a new awning canopy over one of the entrances used at 27 South State.


This entrance goes into a school classroom that they use, and so this is an area that students are entering and exiting quite frequently.


If you scroll down, you can see the before and after that was submitted with the application.


So that's before. It's very outdated and kind of weathering pretty bad. And this is the new one, same color, just a slightly different style to help shed water They're a little bit better and withstand the weather and so they are asking for a funding request of $1,572 and the staff and the Historic Preservation Commission would recommend funding the full requested amount of $1,572.


Is there a motion to adopt? So moved. Second. In motion made by Alderman Sellers, seconded by Alderman Shadle. Discussion on the Resolution.


Madam Clerk, please take the roll. Sellers? Aye. Klemm? Aye. Johnson? Aye. Simmons? Aye. Parker? Aye.


Stacy? Aye. Anne Shadle? Aye. The Resolution is adopted 7-0. And Item Number 17 is the Adoption of Resolution 2026-68. Could you please read this?


Resolution of approving a façade improvement grant agreement for the property located at 21 South Chicago Avenue.


Director Heimerdinger. Thank you, Madam Mayor. This is our last one, the seventh application the Historical Preservation Commission recommends funding.


This building needs some TLC and they are working on the inside and the outside and so this is part of a bigger project.


They are hoping to put either apartments or Airbnb on the second floor. There's no before and after submitted for this project mainly because what they are asking us to fund wouldn't make a huge noticeable difference or a before and after. They're looking at windows and also on the The left side of this photo, there is a part of the building that is not brick, it's actually like wood over there.


And so that needs to be completely redone because it's a lot of wood rot.


And so they'll be doing windows and also some tuck pointing, some finishing up some, a second for a painting of the paint, that's the brick that's already painted.


and then replacement of windows. I think the, if I remember the application correctly, it is somewhere near, it is definitely six figures being put into this building and they are requesting the full, the full limit of $15,000 to help them with their overall improvements knowing that these will be allocated to the outside of the building.


and so the staff and the Historical Preservation Commission recommends funding the full $15,000 for the owners, property owners at 21 South Chicago.


Is there a motion to adopt? I so move. Second. With a motion made by Alderman Johnson, seconded by Alderman Klemm.


Discussion on this resolution? Madam Clerk, please take the roll. Sellers? Aye. Klemm? Aye. Johnson?


Aye. Simmons? Aye. Parker? Aye. Stacy? No. Ann? Shadle? Aye. And that resolution is adopted 6-1.


And item number 18 is the adoption of resolution 2026-69. Would you please read this?


Resolution, ratifying emergency roof repairs to Hangar K at the Albertus Airport by Freeport Industrial Roofing.


Manager Boyer? Thank you, Your Honor. Recently, we had some pretty heavy rains. Hangar K's ridge vent is a fiberglass plastic. It has failed and it was allowing rain just to kind of rain straight in the hangar, so we went ahead and had a Freeport Industrial come out and replace that ridge cap and the cost was over my Allowable Amount. So the total amount for the emergency repair was $10,190 and staff recommends moving forward with ratification of the payment of this invoice. Motion to approve. Second. We have a motion made by Alderman Klemm, seconded by Alderman Sellers. Discussion on the resolution. Madam Clerk, would you please Settlers, Klemm, Johnson, Simmons, Absent, Parker, Stacy, and Shadle.


The resolution is adopted 5 to 1. Item number 19 is the adoption of resolution 2026-70.


Could you please read this? Approving an Agreement with Crawford Murphy & Tilley for Airport Terminal Building Design and Special Services Engineering at the Freeport Albertus Airport.


Manager Boyer. Thank you, Your Honor. Crawford Murphy Tilley or CMT is our engineering partner at the airport and does our airport work.


We've been working on the terminal building for a number of, well really this last year Here we've been working very diligently on it and we are ready to go to bid on the projects.


However, we need to approve a resolution for design engineering, construction observation and the like.


The total amount of this agreement is $138,600 and the project total cost will be about $1,028,000 for the build out of the terminal.


We budgeted $100,000 for engineering in the 26th budget. However, CMT has mentioned that we can go ahead and submit for the remainder of the balance, the $38,600 in fiscal year 2027. So the staff recommends moving forward with this agreement with CMT for the build out of the terminal building.


Is there a motion to adopt? So moved. Second. Is there a motion made by Alderman Sellers, seconded by Alderman Klemm? Discussion on Johnson, Huffines, John Huffines, John Huffines, John City. So it's a pretty substantial addition to the city using outside funding. Thank you.


Alderman Stacy. And what is the city's 5%? Of the total, we budget about $200,000 thereabouts.


Madam Clerk, please take the roll. Sellers? Aye. Klemm? Aye. Johnson? Aye. Simmons is absent. Parker? Aye. Stacy? No. And Shadle? Aye. That resolution is adopted 5 to 1.


Item number 20 is the adoption of resolution 2026-71. Could you please read this? Resolution rescinding previously adopted resolution are 2026-40 regarding an intergovernmental agreement with the with the Freeport Park District for reimbursement of paving costs for Gladewood Drive.


Thank you, Your Honor. I'll take total responsibility for this request, this resolution moving forward.


We had discussions with the Park District about repaving the park road coming out of Gladewood.


We're going to be there doing glade work. Wood. So we're going to be there doing Gladewood already. The park came to us and asked us if we would repave the section from Gladewood out to Woodside Drive. We went ahead and put together the resolution and then I was notified that there were some changes that were necessary.


So these next three items are really having to do with the park district. The first one is is resending our first resolution 2026-40 and then adopting 2026-40 and then adding 2026-72 and 2073 after discussions with the Park District, they would prefer us to not not only pave the Park Boulevard from Gladewood to Woodside Drive, but they want to also add a section from the maintenance facility at the stop sign to Gladewood.


So the entire stretch from the maintenance shed all the way out to Woodside Drive, I think that's a good collaboration and they did have a few terms they wanted to see changed.


So staff recommends moving forward with rescinding resolution 2026-40 and then adopting the B, 2026, 72, and 73. So then doing those separately, is there a motion for the resend part, which is 71? Second. We have a motion made by Alderman Klemm, seconded by Alderman Sellers. Discussion on this particular resolution? Yeah, I just wanted to add to this that these three resolutions will provide $100,000 worth of funding from the Park District to the City of Freeport for the complete cost of doing the work. Actually, excuse me, it's $200,000. It's 140 for one section and 60 for another. So basically this agreement is giving us 100% reimbursement for the city costs for them to participate in our project. So this is at no cost and Rob's gracious to take the blame, but 21 repeal is my fault because I I didn't confer with the Park District's attorney prior to presenting that any discussion does it say that they I'm sorry does it say that they will cover it 100% yes in writing yes each each uh 2073 says that they will reimburse us 140,000 and 2074 or 2026 74 says they'll reimburse us $40,000 we've


run the estimates and that will cover our cost Alderman Klemm, just a follow-up and that's doing it with our guys and our paving for paving yes and for the removals and shaping uh it's part of the Fischer's Contract. That's how we came up with the costs. Thank you.


Madam Clerk, please take the roll. Sellers. Aye. Klemm. Aye. Johnson. Aye. Simmons. Aye. Parker.


Aye. Stacy. Aye. And Shadle. Aye. The resolution is adopted 6-7 to 0. Item number 21 is adoption of resolution 2026-72. Could you please read this? Resolution authorizing an intergovernmental Agreement with the Freeport Park District for roadway improvements at Crate Park, Alternate One.


Manager Boyer. So this resolution is simply the same as the last one except with the changes the Park District requested and staff recommends moving forward with this resolution.


Is there a motion to adopt? So move. Second. Motion made by Alderman Johnson, seconded by Alderman Sellers.


Discussion on the resolution? Madam Clerk, please take the roll. Sellers? Aye. Johnson, Simmons, Parker, Stacy, and Shadle. The resolution is adopted 7-0.


And item number 22 is the adoption of resolution 2026-73. Could you please read this?


Resolution authorizing an intergovernmental agreement with the Freeport Park District for roadway improvements at Crate Park, alternate 2.


Manager Boyer? As mentioned before, this is the section from the maintenance shed to Gladewood Drive, and Staff recommends moving forward.


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


Discussion on the resolution? Madam Clerk, please take the roll. Sellers? Aye. Klemm? Aye. Johnson?


Aye. Simmons? Aye. Parker? Aye. Stacy? Aye. Shadle? and Item 23 is the adoption of Resolution 2026-74. Could you please read this?


Resolution approving a tower occupancy agreement with Computer Dynamics formerly known as JCWiFi for the use of city water towers for internet facilities on the Carroll and Burchard Water Towers. Manager Boyer?


Thank you, Your Honor. This is an agreement we've had with JCWiFi for a number of years.


Peters, they have internet equipment up on the Bercher Tower and also the Carroll Tower.


We are renewing this agreement for the next three years, however, there is an increase in the rent.


We went from $300 a month to $600 a month, and staff recommends moving forward with this agreement with computer dynamics.


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


Discussion on the resolution, Alderman Stacy. So you're telling me that this went from 300 a month to 600 a month for the next three years?


Yes. And there's no one else that you have searched out to see if they could do any better?


Well, Alderman, Stacy, this is a local company that we've been doing our best to work with and in lieu of the, I guess there was a tower that they were trying to build that did not work out so they wanted to go forward and renew this contract so we did negotiate it with them and we felt that $600 would be a pretty substantial increase being 100% increase off of the last contract and they're in agreement.


So you were okay with doubling? Yes. With the cost doubling? Yes. Aaron? This is not the only available space on our towers.


This is just the first person right now that we have to go on them.


We have more space if more people want to join. We have other options to rent more space on each tower if anyone's interested in those.


if there's no further discussion I don't I don't think so you you understand they're paying us they're pretty yeah okay oh okay Madam Clerk, please take the roll. Oh, I am on the wrong page. Sellers is absent. Klemm? Aye. Johnson? Aye. Simmons? I'm sorry, did you say aye? I didn't say anything. I was going slow. You're waiting. Sit down. Okay. I'll come back to her. Okay. Aye. Parker? Aye. Stacy? Aye.


Shadle. Aye. And back to you Alderman, Sellers. On 19. On the water tower rental. Okay. Aye.


And that resolution is adopted 7-0. Item 24 is discussion amending section 840-09 of citywide garage sale ordinances to change the date. Alderman Stacy, did you want to present that?


Section 840.09 of the codified ordinances was passed for citywide garage sale twice a year on October 16, 2006.


These garage sales were once known as the Cherokee Hills Garage Sales and now are acknowledged as Citywide Garage Sale.


O'Neill. Currently, the ordinance allows citywide sales to happen twice a year in June and in September, the Thursday, Friday, and Saturday of each month. Being that the third weekend of June has become a federal celebrated holiday, we would like to see the citywide garage sales Move to the second weekend consisting of Thursday, Friday, and Saturday or the fourth weekend consisting of Thursday, Friday, and Saturday for both months, June and September.


Director Heimerdinger, Thank you again for your phone call last week. We can absolutely adjust the future side citywide garage sales to avoid conflicting with Juneteenth.


This is the first time in a long time the city has hosted a citywide garage sale and Our intent was to ensure that we were fully compliant with the existing ordinances established in 2006.


Because of that, it is set for June, the Thursday, Friday, Saturday of June from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., which is outlined in that ordinance that was read off previously.


We, following the June sale, we plan to bring forward an ordinance to council for consideration.


A key proposed change will be adjusting the time so that it doesn't overlap with Juneteenth in the future.


There might be some other changes once we have this one go, if it needs to be 3 days, if the hours need to change based on how this event goes, but absolutely without a doubt will move it so it doesn't interfere in the future with Juneteenth, absolutely.


Thank you. Alderman Simmons. I guess my question is why is it, why in the future we're still six weeks out?


Has publication gone out or anything? Yeah, publication has gone out and our ordinance is still the current ordinance.


Well, we'd like to stick with it now since the publication. It's already been advertised as those dates.


What she's saying is that for the first time in a very long time, she organized the garage sale for this year.


Understood. Okay. Clerk Anderson? And I believe quite a few people have already RSVP'd and are being logged on a map.


Like 5.30 this evening, we've had 45 addresses already signed up. You'll be seeing a map come out shortly, a nice Google map that allows you to click on them and be able to track how to get there to make it easy for the day of.


We also hope that since it does interfere, one of the days does interfere with Juneteenth, we hope that it doesn't create any, that people can celebrate both and that people are able to celebrate and go to a garage sale and also celebrate at the activities around town celebrating Juneteenth.


Do you have the exact times of the garage sales? Yes, the garage sales per the ordinance are 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on those days and then what we have done is we've asked, you know, the people who are signing up to host their own garage sale at their residence what time they're going to be open and those dates are outlined on the Google Maps so when you click on the link when it becomes live later on this week you'll be able to see when that that particular sale is going to be open within those three days.


Alderman Simmons. When can we expect these ordinance changes? You'll see the ordinance right after the June sales.


So they just come through. And we just have the attorney to write the new ordinance on how we're going to shift it.


So it'll be coming this summer. Huffines, Paul, Dr. Huffines, Thomas, Paul, Dr. Huffines, Paul, Dr. Huffines, Paul, Dr.


with uh with certain things. Manager Boyer? I have every confidence that uh our Community Development Director will find the right uh the right range of options for us to look at.


Oh I totally agree. I'm just saying there's always a conflict. It doesn't matter what you're doing.


The comparison was a slap in the face to hundreds of years of enslaved people in their lives.


That is crazy that you would even make that comparison ma'am. Well I have a lot of value to Alderman, Father's Day, so it's a matter of what your preference is, is all I'm saying.


It's a holiday. I think every preference is non-enslavement. Alderman Stacey. The third weekend of June is Father's Day weekend.


So thank you for showing your hand. Okay, so any further discussion? Otherwise, we can move on.


Reports of department heads, finance? Nothing, Your Honor, thank you. Community development? I don't have anything tonight, thank you.


Public Works? Just a couple things. I'd like to reiterate how important it was that we received the 25 Water Ambassador Gold Award.


It's a really big achievement. Public Works continuously takes a lot of grief about water quality in Freeport, and I believe This is at least the third, if not fourth year in a row that we've received the gold award, which is really empowering considering how many communities in Illinois serve drinking water.


And it is a quality based and educational based award, along with the investment that the city has put into the waterworks.


I had an old mentor remind me one time that all civilizations started around good water quality.


So that's the most important thing into building our community is continuing to have good water and sewer.


Also, just a couple project updates. Hopefully by Friday, the Vidoc will be paved and then it can be reopened next week.


I'm glad to say that the new height requirement will be 14 feet 6 inches, so it was even greater than we predicted.


So that will allow full-size semis to go under there permanently. Once it's reopened, we are having new signs made with the new heights.


Heitz. There's also been crash bars installed on both sides. The 2026 street projects are underway. We chose to start in Wadewood this year to get away from the park district. The park has a lot of things going on this year, along with their own projects that they're doing and our well projects. That has been already going for a week. Concord started today, putting traffic control up and they'll be mobilized.


We're organizing equipment and Seminole will be right behind it and at the COW I'll have an update of all the other projects but we're laying out plans with fishers and helms to get everything hopefully completed by the end of September this year.


So, if you have any questions relating projects at Freeport, feel free to send me an email or text and we'll be glad to help.


One key item that we've done this year for not just council, but the people in the areas, I've worked with the community communications director, and we're putting one leaflet out to the areas that we're working in on that leaflet.


There will be our special city code that you can punch into your text, and then there's going to be a word, keyword for each projects that will be on that first paper.


For instance, in Gladewood, it was Gladewood Freeport. If you text to that number and then it'll send you a text back and you say yes, you will get weekly project updates so you can be informed and we will not be bringing more paper around that gets very expensive to have manpower delivering flyers after flyers that people don't see. And unfortunately, most people like to communicate through text. So each project area, whether it be Benton or Demeter or Dewey, We will have its own project code that will get distributed to all the owners in that area one time at the beginning and if they choose to opt into the text, they'll get them for the duration of the project and when the project's over, they will quit.


It's only a one-way text. You'll only receive notifications. If you still have a project issue or complaint, our phone numbers will be on the flyer. Feel free to reach out to myself, our inspector, or Pat Ingram and we'll be happy to deal with any project issues.


will be happy to deal with any project issue along the way. But I wanted to find a streamlined way to communicate with people that want to be informed.


If you don't live in the area and you still want to be informed, anybody can text into these, but I don't assume that everybody wants notifications about Concord that doesn't live in the area.


So, again, if you have any questions, we've been trying to put that out on social media, but we're happy to answer them.


And please, if you live in the affected area, sign up so you get the latest information thank you nice job on that communication fire yes your honor Yes, Your Honor. Over the last weekend, our three recruits graduated with honors from the Romeoville Fire Academy. They're back in town and hopefully will be going on shift here soon. They've got some more local training that they have to do. And thank you for the proclamation. I just wanted to reiterate a little bit about that. That was based on five Firefighters that died in Australia in a brush fire, but it also collaborates with National Fallen Fighters Memorial Weekend, which was this past weekend, at the United States Fire Academy in Emmitsburg, Maryland.


Please. Again, thank you for the proclamation to the City Council and Madam Mayor. On the 15th of May of 2026, we're going to have a Dunkin' Donuts Special Olympics cop Tom, you'll appreciate that.


Library. Yes, thank you, Mary. I just wanted to let everybody know that registration for youth programming for Summer Read is open. You do not want to miss anything that Amanda has planned.


Land. This year's theme is Unearth a Story at the Library. So we hope to see everybody there because summer reading is for all ages, not just youth as well.


IT? City Manager? Nothing tonight, Your Honor. And I don't either. Alderman Sellers? Nothing. Alderman Klemm?


First off, I'd like to thank Darren and the communication and I've signed up for and I have the tax and we've gotten them on all the projects and they're really great and really important to the people in those areas.


The ones for Gladewood were very extensive and you know really laid things out. Also at the end of the month we'll be having a neighborhood watch and the only comment I got on garage sales is in 20 years of being on an Alderman, Settlers.


That's the project. Garage sales, when we've made that ordinance, drug on forever. And once you get the public involved in it, you'll get a whole new idea of what they think.


But just, you know, it was funny, but when you brought it up, I think it's a good thing that you're doing.


I don't have a problem with it. But if you've got a lot of feedback from the public, don't be surprised.


I just want to thank the over 150 walkers that came Saturday for Coalition for Life. It was a great turnout.


Alderman Simmons? Alderman Parker? The only thing is our neighborhood watch meeting this month is canceled because it's on Memorial Day. Thank you.


Alderman Stacey? Yes. A couple things. The police officer currently over our neighborhood watch is moving on to bigger and better things. And we will be welcoming Miguel as of the third Tuesday of this month.


for Fifth Ward. And I also want to say that last Thursday, I indirectly was placed in a situation that required some fast moving to keep a family whole.


and Paperwork was not in place, but City Manager Boyer and Darren, Director, Stico, I want to thank you for doing what you did so that that family could remain whole.


It was bigger than you really can imagine, and thank you. Alderman Shadle. Just want to mention our Six Ward Neighborhood Watch Thursday this week at 6 p.m. at Schwartz on Park Boulevard.


Public comment. I'd just like to say about the garage sales. I'm one who've already signed up and had you change it. I don't know if I, you know, garage sales are a lot of work and it's kind of strategic how you have to plan them and you did a very good job planning them because I do believe there's some hardcore garage sellers out there. Okay. And they liked a bing bang boom. And I don't, the way that it falls, you did perfectly because I think Route 75, it's like a week Baker, so before us, and then I know Orangeville is having theirs, I do believe the week before, and then I know that Rockton is having it the week before 75.


So it's very strategic on how you plan things, so I think you did a wonderful job, and garage sales are a lot of work, so people want people to come, and it also, they're going to eat lunch here, they're going to do all the things.


You don't want to have it when someone else is having their garage sales in their town.


It's got to be strategic, so well done. Jodi Miller, look at this, I went to a special one for Jackson Lockford, got second place and Stacey. All that. And when you're going to do that, the Queen is doing good, Darren.


Yep, it's about two-thirds down, maybe a little bit more than that. So brick by brick, it's coming down. And Stacy, you did a good job speaking tonight.


Thank you. Any other public comments? I'll entertain a motion to adjourn. So moved. Second. Motion made by Alderman Sellers, seconded by Alderman Shadle.