You can't even fix the roof on your house. But then somebody can come in and say, oh, I'm going to charge $1,200 for rent.


Bullcrap. It has to be something put in place that the price of these rental agreements fit the area and I want to tell every renter out there, get an inspection. You as a renter have rights.


Know your rights. There used to be books out there that said renter rights. I don't know.


Greater Freeport Partnership, do you all have something like that? Who have something like Cain and others.


So I want to make sure that we can do something about that. That the renters can go and know what their rights are.


Okay, so again, this presentation about the city's role. So again, we cannot put on a cap on anyone's rent.


We can't do that. So what are you proposing? And that's not what I'm asking you to do.


So what are you proposing? Because that's...you're trying to blur the lines of what the city's role is.


So if you have something to propose, let's talk about it. I do. Alderman, Alderman, Simmons?


Alderman Stacey has yielded. Alderman Stacey, are you done? Yes. All right. So I propose that we as a city develop and create our own homeless shelter because FACC is filled to the brim and can't take anymore.


We have no rent cap. We can't do anything about that. but what we can do is prepare for the fallout.


What is it you're proposing? I didn't catch that. Homeless shelter. Director Duckman. No, I don't think that's a bad idea. I think with budget seizing coming up, I think Alderperson Simmons would be a good idea if you brought together a plan, a staff, what it would cost, maybe, you know, some developers or maybe an RFP we could put out for that and get some general ideas of the cost We build your city. How much would you know if you had a budget for construction in your city, because that would cost we would have to look at, you know, the cost for that. But it would definitely have to be something that the city would budget for. Definitely worth an investigation and come up with some numbers and what it would cost.


and others. I think that's the priority one kind of thing going on with the citizens of Freeport.


And I don't think there's no one wants to see anyone in homeless shelters at all.


But what I'm proposing is that we get together as council, have a planning discussion to have, to see if we can all be on the same page if there's something that council can Lookinto, and then consult with the City Council, not with the City Manager, and the developers, Wayne Duckman.


I think we should have a roundtable of some sort just to talk about this issue.


This is an issue that is not going to go away. and people will be suffering if nothing happens on our end.


If we could do anything, come up with any kind of a proposal, suggestion, recommendations and things of this nature, if there's any governmental programs or grants that could be implemented into whatever we're discussing.


Those things need to be brought out on the table and I feel like this, we're not getting enough information from our council members talking about these subject matters it's almost like we went into silent mode but anyway this is what we need to start doing opening up to the city's the citizens of Freeport and I would welcome you to have that discussion with City Manager at your next meeting yeah yeah that sounds good we can make that we can make that happen Is there any other discussion on the city's role?


Alderman Klemm? Sure. Last week, Alderman Stacy and I attended a meeting that was put together by Josh Atkinson.


It was a meeting that brought up some of the issues that were out there due to the recent purchase of the Chapman property.


K. City Manager and I and Steve Cox and I and CeCe and I have had some long discussions on this. One thing we've got to realize is that there's two sides to this whole project.


If we take and one of the things is that Reverend Dye's got her sign up out here that says we We should extend it to 60 days. You know, that really sounds like a good idea. The flip side of that, if I'm a landlord, when you move into my house, now I'm not going to ask you for one month or two months. I'm going to ask you for three or four months because when you're going to leave in the last couple months, you aren't going to pay your rent and you're going to be gone. You know, so the landlord's also in this, and I'm not not defending the landlords 100 percent. I believe what brought up here as Pied Piper bought this, okay, keep in mind over the last, which Stacy started to mention, over the last number of months or the last couple years, we've had property bought up by two or three We have three different outfits, not just one. We used to have a good home-based landlord tenant situation that was owned by people from town. You know, now we're getting more from out of town, okay, but we haven't heard from Pied Piper. You know, their intention may to be to do something to these properties, but when we put the numbers of properties and others.


They were far different than what came out at the first meeting. You know, we were talking 300 properties, and then when you boil it down to there were two, three different kinds of properties that Chapman had that we all got to look at differently, you know.


So I believe anything that we can do in the long run to help any renters or help with with the landlords or renters that we can work out some things that we need to change.


and the President. And I think that's the long distance end on this thing. And costs and everything else are going up. As we talk about the difference in months, how much deposit and all that goes up, as have not kept up with the times.


But those are the discussions we need to have and how we can help anybody involved.


Right on, right on. That's right on. Was there other discussion on the city's role?


Alderman Johnson. If we change some ordinances right now, like say we change it and say, okay, you got to give them 60 days notice, that would not affect what's happening right now, but would affect the future.


Is that correct? or am I wrong on that? It would affect leases entered into after the effective date of the ordinance.


After the effective date of the ordinance, okay. And also is it, would it be legal for the city to put in some kind of ordinance that said a house or a property could not, a renter house or property could not be sold unless it passes an inspection saying that it's up to code.


Would that be something legal that could be done? I don't know, I'm just asking.


I can tell you, and Alderman Klemm may be able to speak to this a bit as well, that was approached many years ago.


And that was, it was determined not to do that. And that was the political will at the time. It can certainly be explored again.


I'll tell you the pushback, and again, I'm a little bit out of my territory here, this is just again historical knowledge.


the argument would be that well if as soon as a property has to be brought up to current standards to code and not just grandfathered in as existing and I'm sure Wayne can tell you there's a difference between IPMC and then current building codes and that sort of thing.


If it gets beyond a standard maintenance code for the era in which the house was built, it's prohibitively expensive to upgrade that.


Now there's certainly something to be said for doing that, in that all housing then eventually will come up to current standards, but that doesn't come without a price.


So what happens is we greatly increase the cost to sell something, ... something or specifically drive down the price of property if I am a seller, the buyer is going to pay me less because they know they are going to need to do a bunch of work.


Alderman Sellers? Yes. I think that with the city I think with this situation I can understand long term...


If you are in a long term lease you will get it until your lease is over with so you still have time to move, but if you are if there's a situation where it's month to month, I can't see the 60 day notice thing because you're doing it month to month.


And then we also have the situation where people were in the program of buying on contract.


Once you buy on contract, that's not anything with the city because if you're buying on Contract and you're under that, that's on you and you have to deal with that. So I can understand the 60-day notice on people whose contract is getting ready to end within the next six months or something like that. I can go along with that. But if you still, if you signed your lease in May and you've got way till May, it doesn't apply. And I I think that not having the 60-day be an ordinance for everybody because there are good landlords out there that are doing what they're supposed to do and handling their business and they're already having problems with 30 days, you know, trying to get people out.


So I can understand with this situation and under this contract we do the 60-day notice, but I just can't see it going across the board because that hurts landlords that are out and Stacey.


We have been asked of the constituents, the renters that's going through this, is that for less than three years to 60 days, for three years or more, 120 days, and I checked Surrounding Areas and in Surrounding Areas it's already in place on their ordinance so I know this is something we can do and I understand Attorney Cox what you said did not fly I don't know how many years ago this is a new season this is a new breed of people we have got to do something For these people and for ourselves I just say I also recommend that anybody who sees an issue with their apartment to please come in and fill out we have them sitting on the desk today we always have them at the front desk if there's any issue with a place that you're renting to please come in we do require that you You signed permission for us to access the property.


That's for the city's liability to ensure that if the landlord comes in and said that we were trespassing, we always have a right to enter.


So before we will enter, the city will enter a property. We do require that you give us the written permission and staff always, we always look forward to helping in any way we can.


And if there are any issues, we will, once this is filled out, we will certainly go in and investigate the property and hold that landlord accountable for any violations that they have. So that's something I just want to echo and hope that our community takes advantage of that if they feel that there's something in the building that is improper.


So but that is important to know that you do have to you do have to fill this out first.


I would like to make a motion that we as a Council, as the Mayor, as City Manager, and as Attorney Cox sit down and discuss not what we can't do, but what we can do so that everybody can have the same knowledge and an understanding.


We don't need a motion for that. If you want to come in and talk about your ideas, you're welcome to.


I want us to get together as a whole, not one-on-one, not you and Boyer and me, you and Boyer and Shadle, you and Boyer, us as a council.


Wouldn't that be a violation of the Open Meetings Act? No, not if we make it public and put it out there. We need to talk.


What would that be, a special city council meeting? Yeah, I think what's being suggested is a special meeting.


We call a special meeting any other time. We've had special meetings. Okay so what are you, what exactly is your motion?


That we call a special meeting with you, Boyer, Attorney Cox, and the eight Aldermen.


and of course you Dovie. Is there a second to that? Yeah I second that. We have a motion on the floor made by Alderman Stacey seconded by Alderman Sanders to call a special meeting in as stated with those involved. Madam Clerk would you please take the role on that? Shadle? Okay you want to have a discussion on on the special meeting? Yeah no well no that's what's on the table right now is the Special Meeting. Okay. Alderman Shadle, did you want to talk about the special meeting? I just wondered when we were thinking about doing this to see whether it fits schedules or how we're gonna coordinate all this. We have two meetings next week. We're in the season of beginning our financial cows. We'll just call it clerk. Will that Dovie We just call it.


So Steve? Well, if I may, that sounds like potentially a setting on the Committee of the Whole.


I mean, that's for a discussion. So setting aside a segment of time on the agenda in the and Thomas.


I'm happy to attend that. We can have that discussion. I think that if there's a special meeting for that on a different night, it's just another City Council meeting for discussion.


So if I can throw that out as a suggestion, if it goes on the cow...


and Stacey could put on for the next cow if she wanted to is what you're saying or a special setting just in terms of scheduling I know that can be difficult so I just thought I would throw that out there it's probably better use of our time in a cow Alderman Johnson I was just wondering if possibly we could each one of us could write down the things that we are thinking possibly that could be included in the ordinance to help you know the tenants as well as the landlords Lawrence. I mean there's two sides to every story here. To improve the housing in the city of Freeport if we could write down some of those things that we could present them to you ahead of time so we would know whether they were legal things that we could do or not do and then maybe go from there with that. Certainly any question that I can research ahead of time I appreciate. Right. So if anybody ever wants to send any questions my way I'm happy and I would be happy to take a look at them and I can hopefully be a little better prepared when I'm here.


Okay, so back to what's on the table is a special meeting versus a COW. Alderman, Stacy, do you have a preference on that?


I would like a special meeting. Do you want to propose a date and a time?


Well, I guess if I have to. Thirsty the fourth at four o'clock. I'm sorry I would not be able to make that meeting. I already have something. What would work in your schedule? Go ahead. No, what would work in your schedule? And that's not enough time to. Yeah, it has to be at least 48 hours, ma'am.


Let's make it two weeks from now. Let's make it two weeks from now. Do we know what's on the COW for next week?


Is it full? There's going to be discussion on the COW. There's going to be discussion on the COW about this matter, but that's not what I'm asking.


I'm asking for a special meeting. I don't care if it's Wednesday the 17th, I'm just asking for a special meeting.


Well, yeah, let's convert that council COW meeting into this special meeting. And so that way...


No. They're two separate things. No. What I'm getting at is the fact that we use all the time that we would normally use in the COW for this special meeting, and now our attention will be prioritized to this special meeting as opposed to the COW.


and the Council on the Department of Health. We have a special meeting for the COW meeting, just a COW like thing, but we're going to convert it into a special meeting.


And then that way, we don't have to bring another agenda up for the COW just for the primary reason why we are bringing a special meeting.


Or an additional date or an additional time. Yeah, 6 o'clock on the COW, 6 o'clock until its and others.


And then all of the information that we come to will be distributed to the public.


The public can come to the website, see what went on in the discussion, and what we came up with.


So you want to put an agenda item on the COW to discuss what you're saying?


Yeah, for the primary reason why we're here, but it's not, yeah, there you go, same thing.


is it going to be is the special meeting going to be the COW that's what that's what he said I know that's what you're saying but what do you say man I don't think what do you say City Manager Boyer I don't want us to say this is going to be a special meeting on the COW and then we have 15 other items that needs discussed we still have agenda items on the COW it can be an additional point Okay, so I'm confused on what we're having for a motion. Are we putting it on the cow or are we picking a date? Because we're never going to agree on a date.


So as of right now, the motion is just to have a special meeting to discuss this topic.


and John. I think, no, her motion was just to have a special meeting to talk about this topic.


Okay. Now part and parcel of that, it probably wouldn't make sense if we're going to have a special meeting to then pick a date so that we know whether or not people can be here or not for it.


and and Stacey. So I think what's critical right now is ultimately, Alderman Stacey, this is your motion that's on the floor right now. So it's up to you. Do you want to keep it as a special meeting? In which case then I would suggest that we need to find a date.


Or are you willing to amend your motion or withdraw your motion and a new motion be made to just make this an agenda item on an upcoming COW? But it wouldn't be exclusive. It wouldn't be this topic is the only agenda item on the COW because we have our COW coming up has and other agenda stuff on it already.


Alderman Stacey. I withdraw my motion. Alderman Sanders, will you remove your second? Yes. Okay, so now back to, again, the presentation was about the city's role.


Make your motion, Larry. and I'm going to take a moment to ask you a question.


Why am I making a motion? You wanted it at the COW. No, no, Cecelia, don't confuse what was being said.


You wanted a special meeting. If it lands on the COW, we'll just use your special meeting on the COW.


That was the present, that's what I was presenting. Miller, Mayor, Mayor, Mayor, Mayor, Mayor, Mayor, Mayor, Mayor, Mayor, Mayor, Mayor, Mayor, Mayor, Mayor.


We're not going to be talking about the state signing. So, it doesn't matter how we use the COW, as long as your special meeting was implemented or inserted into the COW so we can just talk about that issue only.


and John. I'm not sure if you have items on the agenda if we have a COW saying that your special meeting is not going to be the only thing that's at the COW. Is that what I'm understanding?


» And I don't want to because it gets confusing when you say that you have a special meeting during the COW. You can't have a special meeting during the COW. You're either at a COW meeting I need a motion for it. I know that, Mayor.


Okay, so are we ready to move on to item number 18? Madam Mayor. Pardon me?


We still haven't concluded. Director Duckman? Yeah, we haven't concluded on what direction we're going to go with this.


So, Stacy, do you want to continue with your special meeting on next Monday? and Item number 18, which is discussion about rent increases by the Pied Piper group and the impact of the community. So I don't know if Alderman Stacy and Klemm, if you want to speak first or if you want to give an opportunity for Pied Piper to just say a few things. It's your call.


I'd appreciate it as long as Pied Piper is here, if they would speak of what their plans are and what are coming up so we really know what we're talking about.


Would you like to have the microphone for a few minutes, sir? Okay. Thank you for coming.


and others. Who is this guy? Piper? Yes. Could you just state your name for the record, please? Moby Perak.


That isn't what he said. It's my turn, right? Okay. First and foremost, thank you for and others. Thank you for having me here. And I would like to take this time to address the few concerns that are going around town about what the issue has been about rent increases.


The idea here is that you cannot have two lemons in both of your hands and portray what you have to portray. You have to listen to both sides.


What? So I basically sent out a notice to all the residents, let them know that I'd be coming to see them and have a conversation with them about their condition of the property and about meeting them in person.


But when I went in person, I was able to address the question, let them know about the tenant benefit package, about what we're doing for them and about how the rent won't increase until the work has been done to the property.


And there was homeownership offered and there was a lot of communication, a lot of promises and others were made with the tenants that were not portrayed correctly due to whatever apparent reasons.


So the purpose I'm here is to address all these issues that are going on currently.


I have not given anybody any 30-day notices. I have not given anybody eviction notices.


I have not spoken to anybody about kicking them out of their homes. There are two ways, right?


Either we could have come in right away, their rent will increase. because of the acquisition of the cost, blindly increase the rent without knowing the people living in the property, who's living there, their pets, their people, whoever that is, right?


And cost increase and you guys will still be here creating a chaos saying that hey, how can Pied Pepper come in and increase the rent without meeting anybody in person, without knowing the condition of the property, without knowing the condition we're living in?


But here you go, you guys are talking about inspection. Please, go ahead, go ahead, order the inspection.


That's why I'm here talking to you in person, understanding what the condition of the property is, and setting the condition of your situation of how much you're earning, how much you're making, if you're even eligible to make the payment or not.


That's why I was in there, but you guys made a ruckus out of it, made a social media post out of it, and caused all sort of rumors that didn't make sense.


So prove to me what was the case for. Our goal here is to come improve every property that is here in Freeport, in our portfolio.


Make the condition better, living condition better, streets better, and make the community better. That's our whole idea.


We wanna fix this property. That's why we're here in person talking to you guys.


Otherwise, why would we do that? That's the whole purpose. We have to fix all 320 units, all 225 properties.


They all need work. The people that are living there are on month-to-month leases. I don't wanna disrupt any landlord rules.


and others. It shouldn't be the case. I'm here telling you guys that what we're doing currently right now, if you go to PiedPiperGroup.com slash free board slash community, you'll be able to know everything about what we're trying to accomplish.


Nobody at this moment is getting a rental increase until the work is done that is going to be communicated.


So I'm not sure where the ruckus is coming from, but that is not the case.


If you have heard otherwise, well, that's on you guys. So are you standing there telling me you did not send out letters to all the month to month renters telling them that their rent was going to increase from $600 to $1,200?


I have not. They have letters. I have the letters too. I wrote the letters. I made the letters. I sent the letters. I took the letters in person, spoke to them, showed them the market rent.


and Cain. The other thing that they have to do is to re-cancel the market rent that is applicable for the condition that they should be living in, not the condition they're living in right now, not at all.


Well, why then was, did you start calling all the ones you had put notices on their doors and telling them now that you recanted it, you pulled it back, and that they're not going up?


No, not now. That's where you recanted it. I am not going to pull anything back that I have not committed to, ma'am. I am not going to pull anything back that I have not committed to. I have not told them anything.


I just told them, here I am, sitting in front of you, looking at the condition you are living in, which is horrendous, but here you are paying the rent that does not reflect the condition of the property.


Freeport here is the one that does not reflect the condition of the property. Are you assessing renters?


Larry, if you would like to have it, you should let him finish and then I will call on you.


I can take all the questions once I'm done speaking. What I'm here to say is that once all those notices went out, when I went to visit 35 to 40 tenants into their homes, I met people with low income, I met people with good income, I met people with families that were concerned, I made sure I addressed all those concerns to understand the type of demographics that's living in the property. As a property manager, as a property management company, I don't know what What do you guys expect for them to do? You guys are smart individuals yourself. You become a rental owner. You would want to know who's living in your property, what the condition of the property is, right? And what the situation is so you can address it. It's a property.


So here we are. We have all the situation. We have created a community page. We're going to be addressing all the questions, concerns, updates moving forward over there.


Currently, there are no leases being signed for all the one-to-one tenants. What we're saying is, hey, if you like what you see, if you guys want to move forward, let's talk.


Let's have a conversation. Let's address a situation where, if you agree, we will make sure that we accommodate your request, move you into the property that makes sense so we can fix the property, address the condition, address the liability as a landlord or as a property manager we have to take.


And we work with them. If the people that are not able to afford their rents or they don't want to move forward, We will work with them. You don't need to do 60 days of ordinance here.


You guys are wasting all your time. We're saying you'll work with them to work three months, four months, five months, six months.


If it takes them, help them. Accommodate them. Work with them to educate them on sectional authority.


They don't even know about sectionalism with them. Well, here they are. So I don't know where anybody got any information from, how the speculation came about, but you can bring any person that I spoke to in person in front of me and let them tell me what I told them.


That will not be the case. If that's what the case is, then I'm here to address it.


Alderman Sanders? Yeah, in addition to what you're saying, I understand what you're going through.


I just wanted to make sure that the renters or leasers are hearing you clearly, especially with the economic status, affordability, things of that nature.


I like the fact that you do look at a tenant's income to determine whether or not this family can afford this particular apartment, home, or whatever the case is.


That is a plus, that's the plus thing that shows that you're doing due diligence to help any prospective renter or leaser, leasy I should say, and to help them navigate through all of the things that they have to go through to afford one of the places that you have for rental or for sale, that they're able to be accommodated by whatever their economic structures is to afford that particular property.


So yeah, I hear you saying that. I would agree with you that that is what should be put in place.


and others. The people need to know this very clearly beforehand that these are what your requirements are and things like that.


So I agree with you on how you're going about doing it. I don't know if you're making any promises or anything like that for sure, but the fact that a matter is if that information is available to any prospective tenant or renter that he We would be able to work with you, talk with you, negotiate with you on your terms or any terms that you guys can agree with.


I love to see that that's going on. That's what you're conveying to us. You're conveying the fact that this is your strategy.


This is what you guys are doing. That is what people need to see from another position.


They need to know that you're doing that. and I like the fact that you are, you're stipulate, you're saying that this, but like you said, information can be misled or information can be brought out wrong and everybody has a different story by the time it trickle down to the next runner, they got a whole different story and so the whole thing about it is when they come to inquire about a house or an apartment or whatever the case is, you can just lay it and then find out what their circumstances Zahr. Can they afford to rent anything from you? And then, like you said, it cuts down the confusion. There's no misunderstandings and things like that. So I agree with you.


so I agree with you. Any other questions Alderman Johnson? So currently you're stating that none of the rents are going to go up at this point and the only, the time the rents will go up is after the homes are fixed.


Correct. Is that what you're saying? Okay. The other thing is the places that you are going to be fixing up, someone lives in them now, Are they going to be able to stay in there while you fix that home up or that rental property?


No, they will not be able to. Okay, so where will they go while you fix that rent up?


We will work with them to create an accommodation. We have 35 to 40 units that are vacant currently that we're working on bringing in a good condition that are promising to our tenants.


and we will work with them to either ship them there, hotel or any other accommodation that caters and mutually agreed on, once they agree that they are okay to move forward, they will come and they will apply as a proper tenant, go through application screening, get their pets, everything identified and while we're doing that process, once they're approved, we'll move them, we'll cater with them, fix their property in seven to 14 days, fast as possible and then cater back to them, bring them back to their property. Now once they do sign the 12 months agreement, and Robert.


So, we have a lot of issues with the rent agreement, the lease agreement, but the market rent that we agree upon after fixing the property. So, they're living in good condition, better condition, and less liability condition. And most of these property, if not all of these properties, are going to be city court passing, so there will be no issues there. And then after 12 months, if they're interested in buying the home they're living in, they're more than welcome to. We'll do the We're right there for them.


So let's say they're paying $600 a month rent or $700 a month rent. Right now, where they're at, their house needs to be fixed.


Their apartment needs to be fixed. They move into one of your homes that you've fixed up or that they can live in while you fix the other one up.


What will they have to be paying for you a month, to you a month, to stay in that place while their apartment or home or whatever is being fixed?


That is up to us for a discuss, right? When we discuss the options on how that will work out, it most likely will remain the same as it is because we won't take long. We're not going to take months.


And so what they need to understand is after you fix up their apartment, then they have to sign a new lease because the rent will go up, which is understandable because you're fixing up at a cost to fix up an apartment. So people would need to understand that. Okay. Thank you.


Johnson either is a yes or a no right if there's a yes they're agreeing to what are we gonna do with them how are we gonna work with them and given the condition that they deserve if they say no that is not the end of the world right there is no like hard code rule to evict them for a certain amount of time we understand I have family I have kids right we're not evil people here we're trying to provide good service to the community here that's what idea and if They feel like, hey, they need a couple of months.


They need help, they need guidance. That's what we're here for. That's what we're going to individually work with each and every tenant and cater to their needs.


Some met tenant of mine need two months, some tenant of mine need three months, some tenant of mine need four months, and we can help them get a Section 8 approved, or some sort of housing authority approved, or whatever we can to work with you guys to cater to their needs and make sure they're not homeless.


But six months is what we're even going up to. We've got 60 days. and like I said, I wouldn't wanna have this conversation to disturb other landlords, right?


That's not what you wanna hear. You don't wanna step on anybody's toes. We're trying to make sure that we can work directly and that's the case.


Alderman Stacey. I want you to know that I hear you loud and clear, but I also want you to know that I saw the letters that were put on the houses okay so to sit here or stand there and make out like what I said didn't happen it's bull crap I saw the and I have a video of the call saying we're not going to raise your rent now.


There was 123, I believe, month-to-month renters that received this notice on their door and it said $1,200 when they were paying $600.


One said $1,249. You have the letters. I'm not telling you nothing you don't already know.


That was not put on the door. That was not provided. No, but there was a letter put on the door and when they contacted you that's what they were told.


And then last week you pulled back all of what you said and now what you said tonight I guess is what's in place.


Bates, but when those people were here last week with their kids crying thinking they were going to be homeless, it was based upon a letter they had got from Freeport Portfolio, LLC and you, your one, telling them that they had to sign a lease and their rent was going up or move.


they have not come and told me this they must have come and told you this but not me this and I'm here telling you this the letter that was put to the door did not have any market rent or any type of rental discussion I had the discussion in person with them to show them the range of rents that a market is paying right now including section 8, Venebago, Orgelgo, any other Freeport Housing Authority what they're paying to have them understand what facebook, twitter, youtube, email, email, facebook, twitter.


For the last few years, the United States has been making a big difference to the world.


but I'm here I'm here to ensure that we can help them out and I'm being the I'm telling the truth here I'm here telling you none of the letter on were there said anything about the market rent so I don't know how you can tell me that I'm lying here no when they spoke with you this is what they were informed when they spoke with me what were they inform in person yes and I was there and sitting some of them have waited for you to come in and do an inspection and you didn't even show up no I showed up I showed up I saw showing up because of and so on.


So I hope I've addressed your questions. Okay. Okay. So let's not debate between the two.


This is, if you want to have a private phone call, you're welcome to do that.


Is there any other discussion that anyone would like to have on item number 18?


Okay. Okay. Okay. Okay. Okay. Okay. Okay. Okay. Okay. Okay. Okay. Okay. Do you want to have a private phone call? You're welcome to do that. Is there any other discussion that anyone would like to have on item number 18?


I appreciate that. I just wanted to add thank you to you. I know you contacted my department about registering your rentals. You showed up to any of the recently there was a some code cases. Thank you for showing up.


I wanted to add, because it was brought up by City Manager Boyer, currently the City of Freeport, I want to thank in particular Doug Quinn, Katie Smith, and my entire staff has done a tremendous amount of work ensuring that we prosecute anybody who is not a registered rental and there's currently going to be 480 properties going to have cases in October and that's a total of 332 landlords that are gonna be receiving fines of $500 per unit.


So I would like to state for the record that this council has put a tremendous challenge to my staff and we have delivered and there will be five cases.


We are scheduling five hearings in October that are special hearings to prosecute and put everybody up for $500 per unit fines who have not registered the rentals.


So the message is clear and is out there that if you have not registered, and the rest of the community.


I think that's a good thing. I think it's a good thing that you will be fined accordingly.


And thank you for making that a priority. And thank you to my staff for all the hard work that they put in to protect our community. So just wanted to make that clear.


» Thank you. And thank you, Moby, for coming. 10 slash 23 A, B, Written and Verbal Public Comments.


Alderman Stacy. Alderperson, Simmons, do you have this one? Well, I'm not here as an assessment, but really, I believe we propose that we allow public comment in terms of the topic At the beginning of the meeting, a question of recognition for the honor of the meeting for those people who are there to sit in the room with her or the people who still have to sit in the whole meeting, and that they are there to see.


so are you proposing a motion to have the attorneys draft what you're asking I'm asking if that's what you're looking for because in order for that to be done there has to be a vote of counsel that it's the will of the council to have task the attorneys to do something so I'm asking you is that the direction you and James, and then the second amendment that we want is a motion to do that.


Yes. Is there a second? Second. So we have a motion made by Alderman Simmons, seconded by Alderman Stacy in drafting the amendment as stated.


And can I just say something? Sure. So, last week, with those families, and then people having to leave for whatever reason, they got to go to work, it's school tomorrow, we had a four hour plus meeting, or even tonight, this gentleman wanted to say something as far as thanking somebody for something, but it was not an agenda item and so he continued to sit here waiting for the end of public comments and so what this would do would give whomever the right to speak at the beginning if they're here and move forward and not have to sit and wait.


We've had elderly people here sitting and waiting, and why not just get it done and get it over with and move forward?


Yeah, that will come under non-agenda, non-agenda. Did you want to speak? I'm sorry. I'm sorry.


But we're saying for public comments, it doesn't have to be an agenda item. Exactly.


It can be anything. The motion is to have the attorneys write that up. If you don't agree, vote no. If you do, or it doesn't matter, it still has to go for a vote once it's done. So the motion is to task the attorneys to do this.


Yes. So if there's no further discussion on that, Alderman Sellers? I have a problem with that is because really our meetings are long is because we're coming unprepared so we're asking question after question after question after question instead of knowing proper preparation prevents poor performance so my issue is being here four hours on going over and over and over a bunch of stuff and then we've got you want it at at the beginning and you want it at the end, that's a lot because the purpose of having a public forum for agenda items at the beginning of the meeting and other items at the end of it is allow the council to effectively complete its business effectively.


If everyone were allowed to speak freely on any subject at the start, it would prevent and the Council for Moving Forward with the Material and the Required Formula Action.


A Council meeting is designed to have a meeting to conduct public, not public business, but Council business in the public.


It's not to have everybody just talking because we cannot, if they get up there and speak, it's not going to be dialogue.


They're just going to get there and speak and we're just going to look at them.


We are talking about ... It's not going to be, it's not going to be a dialogue where everybody gets up. If we're going to have it at the beginning and at the end, that's just way too much.


We are talking about three minutes, but three minutes with ten people is a long time.


My God. I don't have a problem with people speaking. Let's just take a vote. We've been here for over three hours. Let's take the vote on if if you want to task the attorneys to do what was said.


Madam Clerk, please take the roll. I'm sorry, say that again. and not at the end. We work for the people. We work for the people. Madam Clerk. I have a question. It is written into the ordinance. Attorney Zito, help me out here. There is a and John.


So, we have a limit on how many people can speak to the same topic. Can you refresh how that works and would this apply when it's, I mean, if it's not related to an agenda item, we could have seven, eight different topics.


Now, last week as an example, we had one topic. So, if you could address both multiple topics and one topic, please.


as of right now can have a maximum of six speakers on it. And if there's people on both sides and they each get, you potentially get three and three, two and two, whatever it is, everyone gets their fair up, up to six speakers on any topic.


So yeah, you could have a lot, you could have eight different topics. You could have up to six speakers on each topic, three minutes a person, it'd be all upfront.


There's not that many people having something to say. that's just an excuse okay so Alderman Simmons just to be clear your motion is to task the attorneys to write the the ordinance rewrite the ordinance so it is public comment on agenda items and non-agenda only at the beginning and is that your second Alderman Stacy yes madam clerk please take the roll Shadle? No. Sanders? Yes. Sellers? No. Klemm? No. Johnson? No. Simmons? No. Parker? No. And Stacy?


How do you vote? Aye. The motion fails. Of course. Five to three. Okay, we will move on to reports of Department Heads Finance.


Thank you, Your Honor. I'd just like to echo what Dovie said, that Finance Committee of the Whole begins next week, and they should be before each Council slash COW meeting until we pass the budget.


Is there a time? Would you explain the different format, time format? I'll try and do that as well as I can. So we did set up the Finance Committee of the to begin at 530 next week with the COW meeting to begin immediately following.


So we're trying to eliminate the gap that sometimes happened last year between meetings where we all were kind of sitting around waiting 15 minutes until 6 o'clock to begin the next meeting.


So we're going to start at 530. Once the Finance COW is finished, we'll go right into the COW.


Thank you. The COW. Thank you. So, just to clarify, I think that the draft special COW meeting has 545, so most likely your finance will go at least 15 minutes, so it shouldn't be, from a practical standpoint, an issue, but heaven forbid that you have a finance COW start at 530, and let's say it only went five minutes, you still wouldn't be able to start the COW until 545.


If you wanted to, I mean, the reality is you're probably not going to have a Finance COW only go 15 minutes, I would imagine.


Did you look at my draft agenda, Attorney Zito? It said at 545 or as soon as the Finance COW adjourns.


Correct, but... But it can't be earlier than 545. Exactly. So that really applies if it's at 550, then you can start right at 550, but you have to set a time for the Special COW to still start.


Director Duckman? Nothing tonight, Madam Mayor. Thank you. Darren? Just a reminder, the Hancock-Vydok, Hancock-Chonney-Vydok will be closed. If it wasn't done today, it will be done tomorrow and it should be probably three and a half months it will be closed for the renovations to lower the street.


Fire? Yes, thank you, Your Honor. Last Thursday, B-Shift responded to a local gas station on West Avenue for a hydraulic oil spill on the property.


The on-duty shift used 26 bags of oil dried to contain the spill. They are charged the responsibility of hiring a clean-up crew.


We just contain it, keep it from going any further. We are invoking the spill or pay ordinance to the responsible party.


Party, they will be reimbursing the city nearly $1,800 for our response and our materials used.


That's all I have. Thank you. Police? Yeah, I have no report tonight. IT? and others.


IT? Airport. Just real quick, just to let everybody know that this year unfortunately we will not be having the air show. The promoter ended up having some health issues so he is not able to continue on. So first and foremost hopefully he gets on the right track and he can end up ramping up for next year. But this year is unfortunately cancelled. Just to let you know. Thank you.


City Manager. Just want to reach out to the staff that's been working on all of our road resurfacing program this year. I just wanted to say thank you all and got a busy week and I appreciate all your effort. Thank you. And I have nothing new to add. Alderman Shadle. Thursday 6 o'clock, Schwartz on Park Boulevard for the Sixth Ward Neighborhood Bunch. Alderman Sanders? Yeah just want to know are we almost in completion with our street program for this year? No we're we're getting we're getting there we still have one that we're gonna do that was an add-on Hans Harvey. Carroll still has to be surfaced that should be happening in a couple weeks but we're making significant progress. The West Ward and Mayor, Water Main Expansion should start in two weeks.


So if I had engaged, we're probably 70% done, but a lot of good work going on and the crews are making really good progress and everybody's working well together, so.


Okay. Alderman Sellers. Oh, nothing. Thank you. Alderman Klemm. Nothing here. Alderman Johnson. I just like to thank all the people that came out for the block party on Saturday.


It was, there was a lot of people there and I think a lot of the residents that were there did get some resources and information that they needed to help them.


So I was glad to see that. Alderman Simmons? I'm sorry, where was I? It was the block party.


It was over at the Boys and Girls Club in the parking lot there. Thank you.


Alderman Simmons? Alderman Parker? Nothing now, Your Honor. Alderman, Stacy? Yes, I would like to announce that there's going to be a fourth annual Terrence Cheeto Haynes three-on-three classic.


This event will be held Saturday, September the 13th, starting at 10 o'clock AM. The age groups for the teams are 10 to 12, 13 to 15, and 16 to 18.


There's no charge for this event, but they will be accepting donations toward the Terrence Cheadle Haynes Stop the Violence Scholarship Foundation.


This is the young man that was shot on Pleasant, Angelina a few years ago.


And this is the fourth annual Evert, in his honor. Move on to public comments, Rod Holtz.


Thank you for waiting. I'll make this short since it's been a long meeting. Starting in January, I took on a project of trying to get my driveway redone.


I ran into some loopholes, one of which being my wife had ovarian cancer and sadly she passed away the end of July.


She never got to see our new driveway, but she did. Everything got completed around the middle of August and I had one loophole that I was trying to overcome and that was where the street met my driveway. So I went and I talked to, I called the street department after a friend of mine suggested that's who I try. I talked to her, the lady took down my address and she told me that she says within the next week or so when the The pothole people are out in your area. They'll be gladly to fix the end of your driveway.


I said, great. About a week and a half went by, nothing happened. So I was in the area of the street department down on Island Avenue, so I decided, well, I'm going to try going down there, speak to them one on one. I wish I never did. The lady that I encountered down there was very rude. She acted like my first impression to her. She wanted to get in a fight with me. All I wanted to do was get some information on when they were going to fix that or if they were going to fix that. So I walked away kind of sad because I got another stone I gotta try to overcome so I figured well I'm gonna try calling the City Hall I did one morning before I went to work I encountered Michelle Nelson she was very kind considerate listen to my going on with my driveway and she She referred me. She says, I'll take this down as an email. She took my name and my phone number, and she talked with Darren Steakl.


Within two hours, Darren called me up and wanted to know what was going on, and I told him.


and he informed me that and I didn't know this but that the end of this where the street and in the driveway meets that would be my contractors doing well I thought they're concrete people but we were talking a little bit and I went a little bit further and Darren finally wanted me to take a picture and I sent it to him and sorry but this was around 10 o'clock I went home from work to at lunchtime and I got out of my truck and I parked out on the street and I was walking towards and I just about fell down on the street I was amazed, totally amazed with the hard work that you guys do during the summer and everything. I get that and all.


But it looked totally professional and I want to give you a thank you for me and if you could give this to Michelle.


are there any other public comments I'd like to clarify some things joy talked talked about Henny. We've lost Henny, we've lost Tutty, and we've lost Taylor. That's three areas where our children played and had in the wards that they're talking about.


That's three, okay? History. Now, as far as what he's talking about, he never mentioned and the seven-day notices that we've all seen.


As far as the city is concerned, what we heard from you guys a week ago was everything you couldn't do and nothing that you could do.


What we also found was when Joshua had his meeting, we had no Rob Boyer, we had no Jodi Miller, we had no Alder people other than the two that were there, which tells us how How much you really care about what is happening to your constituents because you weren't there.


You weren't there to hear them. You weren't there to listen to them. You weren't there to answer questions.


And even when you did something on the television, neither of you stood before a television camera and addressed the constituents in this town.


What you did was is use someone who is an employee of the city that nobody knows to speak for you.


It's shameful. and others. And it's absolutely shameful that you guys won't stand before your constituents and listen to them.


Tonight's vote on the comment section is absolutely ridiculous that you would allow this to go on for four to five hours and I don't care what the comments are or what the proposals are on the floor, that you would allow someone with babies, with children, to be sitting here for four hours to speak with you guys.


When you can change the ordinance and you can change the direction of this meeting at your own beck and call whenever you feel like you want to and all we were asking for was the All we were asking for was the courtesy to allow individuals who had to go to work, some of whom are working two to three jobs, with children standing beside them, to speak to you as your constituents, as taxpayers, as working individuals in this town, you refused to do that.


And tonight, City Council, shame on you, you've refused to do it again. You can sit here and listen to the monarchy that you are being fed by him, or you can and more.


This is a community that is so affected by the fact that you can listen to your constituents and what you need to do is sit down and have a conversation with them. Instead of listening to him, listen to the people that are being affected. This man knows absolutely nothing about this community nor does he know anything about the people that are being affected. I'm going to tell you guys something. If you think for a second that this isn't going to affect this entire town, and I've said this before and �� I want to start by saying thank you to, you know, everybody involved positively and God like up here.


and I want to say congratulations to the people that came last week, stood up and told their heartfelt stories because they really showed more care and concern about themselves than our city leaders.


And I also want to say thank you to Josh Atkins. I don't care if y'all don't like him or not, but we wouldn't sit here and talk about this if he didn't held that meeting, but he was the only one that took the time out to make a meeting.


Miller. Before that situation came to this council board, you've seen this on all social media because we know you guys watch it, Shadle or not, but you guys chose to ignore it until it became chaotic.


And as leaders, you should have held a PowerPoint presentation or whatever you did that accounted to really nothing because we still have not asked for you to control the amount.


We simply asked for the time to be a good timely fashion to give them considering their Freeport does not have jobs to accommodate anything to be raised.


We do not have a council board that does not raise every tax they can on all of the people here.


You guys need to think about the future. We don't have half of the creativity that we need to run a city.


Let's use this as an example. We paid, what we say, Winter got $78,000 for boarding up the bottom of that building and and put in a six-foot fence around it.


Where the hell is they shopping at? OSB at half inch is only $12 to $15.


If we needed 300 sheets of that, that would only came to $5,000. Let's say the fence, way out of the ballpark, cost 20.


Where is $78,000 accommodated for? My suggestion to the council is that you guys try to do a little bit more detailed finding on what they actually are doing, Dickenmuth, do you got an update by the way? Everybody asked me about this.


Thomas, you let them know I'm working real hard. And then? We got a question.


Are you going to fix the pothole by Jefferson Street? Any other public comments? Go ahead.


Good evening, Council. My name is Joshua. I'll keep this short, and I promise sweet, and I'm going to start with Mr. Duckman over there. Outstanding. With the Ptolema and all that stuff, I'm shocked, but kudos. Fantastic. That's really good to hear. I hope that all works out.


All right, every one of you received an email from me a week ago, exactly a week ago, and what you chose to do with it was nothing, fine, you know, who am I, nobody, right, but then you sat here today and you argued for about 30 minutes it seemed like, and I could be exaggerating, I couldn't see the clock, about when to have the next meeting to talk about all that stuff, I know it's easy from the outside to look at you guys and say well gosh they should be doing this or you should be doing this or the Mayor should be doing this that is so easy and a luxury we get from out here I understand that but you guys could have taken that 30 minutes had any of you either made a motion or just put it on the agenda and said this is our opportunity to talk about it we can talk about it right now if if Tom Klemm says I I think it should be 120 days and Cecelia says no I think it should be 40 you guys could have We used that time tonight, however many hours we've been here and talked about it and been over and done with it or you know Alderman Johnson could have said you know what I think we should add this in there that was the time you don't have to schedule another time to do it because I want to believe that this gentleman here is being as honest as possible I talked to not him but his co-worker and I can't remember her name but she was very nice on the phone we invited him to the meeting they chose not to come I want to assume that they are being truthful but if they're not your job in


in this room is to protect the people of this community. And you could have done that tonight by just putting in a simple 60-day amendment to that ordinance.


And that would have taken them to, he could have went out tomorrow and said, boom, here's your guys' 16-day notice, and that would have given them two months, but they would have 60 days to figure things out.


Now, they have no idea what's gonna happen because we just showed him, and I'm not picking on you, sir, that we're not gonna do anything we're gonna talk about it for the next month that's what we're gonna do and I just wish you guys I don't know if it was about me if it would have come from miss Yocum maybe you guys would have taken it a little more seriously but you guys could have done something and that's all the people are asking for they shouldn't be calling me to do it it's just they Don't Trust You to take them seriously. Thank you.


Any other public comments? Wow. Hi, Sue Cook, Freeport. I just want to thank, I'm glad the 65 Caff was gone. I just have to say, yes, good. That should be gone. If you're fit, ages should not keep anybody from a job, says the 65-year-old woman that's standing here. So, I'm glad it's gone.


The other thing is, do we have a contract with ASFE yet? Has that happened? I'm worried. We just celebrated Labor Day, and we celebrated the unions, and we celebrated workers, and workers' rights, and what they need, and I haven't heard anything about that yet, and I'm very, very worried.


Please God don't let them walk away because I do not want to lose 9-1-1 and I came up here and I said that last week and I said it while I was crying so you may not have heard that but there it is as far as the ruckus that was caused sir ruckus was not caused by just people going out and going I'm gonna cause some chaos people came and were scared and they came to the meeting that Joshua had, and they were still scared. And they were hoping that somebody, that Gabby was going to be there, but Gabby didn't come that night. And so people were very, very scared. And yes, they spoke to the news because they did not have you there, or they did not have Gabby there to answer the questions they had. So the ruckus really wasn't a ruckus.


and a ruckus. It was a crime. Please help us before we're homeless. Because it's going to be winter when they end up homeless. And that's not a good time to have babies in the snow. Okay? You said you had kids. Totally get it. It's not a good time to have babies in the snow. And I'm not going to start crying again, even though I look like I am. So please Take the ruckus for what it is.


it is and take it to heart and help them out. Don't throw them out. And the 60 days, that's a good idea. It gives them two paychecks. 120 days is kind of long. I know that's Chicago as far as giving 60 days to let them leave. 30 days is kind of short. It's only one paychecks.


60 days is two paychecks. 120 days? Yeah, that's long. So, I'm just asking for leniency.


I know I'm coming up on my three minutes and so mask on. Thank you very much for letting me speak and thank you.


Before I pray, I just want to say 120 days is really not that long when you've been renting 10, 9, 10, and 12 years, and some of these renters have been there that long.


My God, in the name of Jesus, I come to you as only I know how, seeking your face for direction and understanding, Father. For this is your city. It carries the title, the name, Freeport, for a reason. I need you to move, O God, on the behalf of your people. The ones May we look to the hills from which cometh our help, for our help cometh from you, a buying of the isms and schisms and the hands of the devil that would think it was going I want to run a scheme through our city. You take control. You give us what we need to be successful. We trust you in advance. We praise you in advance. We give you all glory, honor, for you alone are worthy.


and we say victory is ours in the name of Jesus. We will not lay down and die. In Jesus' name, amen.


That will conclude public comments. I'll entertain a motion for adjournment. So moved. Second. Motion made by Sellers, seconded by Shadle. Madam Clerk, please take the roll.