WEBVTT

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Do you have it?

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It was 10.30.

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My husband and I went down to Georgia.

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That had to be a better trip.

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It wouldn't be for us.

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I'll go grab it, sorry.

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Good evening. Pastor Anna, could you please give the invocation this evening?

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Good evening. God bless everyone. In Psalm 32a says, I will instruct you and teach you

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in the way which you should go. I will guide you with my eye. We're going to pray. Heavenly

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Father, in the mighty name of Jesus, we exalt and bless your name at this hour. We thank

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Thank you for the opportunity to gather together to make important decisions for this community.

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I pray for everything turns out well and that you will be done.

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May your wisdom, compassion, and mercy be poured out upon us.

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May your Holy Spirit help us make the best decision for the well-being of all.

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In the name of Jesus we pray, Amen.

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And we'll officially call this meeting to order. Madam Clerk, could you please take the roll. Mayor Miller? Here. Alderpersons, Klemm? Here. Johnson? Here. Simmons will be marked absent for now. Parker? Here. Stacy? Here. Shadle? Here. Sanders? Here. And Sellers? Here. Then I need a motion in order for Alderman Simmons to attend remotely. So moved.

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Second.

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

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All those in favor?

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No.

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Okay, Madam Clerk, could you please take the roll?

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Shadle?

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Aye.

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Sanders?

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Aye.

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Sellers?

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Aye.

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Klemm?

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Aye.

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Johnson?

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Aye.

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Parker?

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Aye.

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P.M. Is she on? Good. Okay. And if you could please stand for the Pledge of Allegiance led

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by Alderman Shadle. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and

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to the republic for which it stands, one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice

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for all. Item number one is approval of the agenda. However, we will not be having

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item number 25, which is executive session. Is there a motion to approve? Second. A motion made by Alderman Shadle, seconded by Alderman Sellers. Madam Clerk, would you please take the role?

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Shadle? Aye. Sanders? Aye. Sellers? Aye. Klemm? Aye. Johnson? Aye. Simmons?

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Parker, aye, Stacy, is it fair to ask why we won't be having closed session, there wasn't

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anything to discuss, okay, aye, and Alderperson Simmons, can you hear me, yes, and how do

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Do you vote on the agenda?

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Do you approve the agenda?

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Motion passes 8-0.

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Item number 2 is the approval of the minutes from the regular meeting on August 18th, 2025.

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Is there a motion to approve?

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So moved.

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Second.

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A motion made by Alderman Shadle, seconded by Alderman Parker.

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Madam Clerk, would you please take the roll?

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Madam, Madam Mayor, may I interject? I did receive a message today that people at home are still having difficulty hearing Alderpersons, so if you could lean in, is that okay if I ask? Please lean into your microphone, even when you vote, they're not hearing you at home.

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Shadle? Aye.

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Sanders? Aye.

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Thank you. Sellers? Aye.

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Klemm? Aye.

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Johnson? Aye.

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Simmons? Aye.

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Parker? Aye.

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And Stacy? Aye.

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Aye. And the motion passes 8 to 0. Item number 3 is recognition of service awards. Chief?

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Well, we have two officers that hit some milestones this month. One of them, Dan Moore. He gets his 10 year anniversary this month, which is quite an accomplishment.

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Dan actually started off as a member of our auxiliary. He's currently a firearm instructor. He's also a member of our emergency response team and he's a field training officer.

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Dan currently is assigned to the detective bureau where he's a general case detective and he just got his drone license so he's our first licensed drone pilot.

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Dan has also received our highest award, the Award of Valor, on two separate occasions

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and he's also been with us at the end of many other letters of recognition.

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So I thank you for your service and congratulations on 10 years.

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Just real quick too, Officer Eric Diemer, he couldn't be with us tonight, but he hit the 20-year milestone, which is a big one. He was going to be here, but something happened at the last minute, but his father was actually a long-time police officer for the Pre-Port Police Department, so he's a legacy officer.

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who is a Legacy Officer. He also started off as a member of the Auxiliary. He's also a Firearms Instructor.

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He spent some time working in the State Line Area Narcotics Team, which is a drug task force that we're in with the Illinois State Police.

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He's also a member of our Emergency Response Team. He's a Field Training Officer.

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And he as well has received throughout his career many letters of accommodation and recognition.

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So we thank Eric for his 20 years of service.

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and

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a number four is public comments Steve Carol on item number 19.

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Okay, excuse me, I'm Steve Carol and this is about the public comments on non-agenda items.

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At the last council meeting, there were many citizens that showed up to express their concerns about the outrageous rent increases that they were experiencing.

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Since that was not on the council agenda, they were told in a very imperious tone, they would have to wait until the end of the meeting to express their views.

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That particular meeting lasted a little over four hours. Not very citizen friendly, now is it?

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To compound the outrage, not one elected official at that meeting asked for a suspension of the rules to allow those folks to express their outrage.

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You know, the hypothetical vote on that motion would have been very telling, and maybe we'll have a repeat of that.

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and others.

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By changing the Council rules to allow public comments on agenda and not agenda items at

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the beginning and end of Council meetings would ensure that what happened at that last

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Council meeting wouldn't happen again.

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It's obvious to many that several of you are frightened of the First Amendment.

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Perhaps some of you should consider stepping down.

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and you in particular Jodi, step down, find something else to do, go back to flipping burgers.

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There's Robert Holtz that signed in but doesn't say whether you are talking on an agenda item.

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Then you'll have to wait till the end.

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Pardon me?

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I have a special thank you.

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Well, according to the attorney, he said you have to wait to the end, because it's not an agenda item.

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Okay.

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Thank you.

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And then Rolanda Allen, same for you.

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Are you on an agenda item?

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No?

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Okay.

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No? Okay. Then we will move on to the consent agenda, which is routine in nature and will

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be voted as one unless there's a member of the council that would like to have something

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removed for further discussion. Seeing none, the consent agenda consists of

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approving to receive and place on file the Board and Commission minutes from the Foreign

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Fire Insurance Board dated June 12th, the Library Board July 9th, Fire and Police Commission

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July 22nd, 2025. Freeport Partnerships Monthly Report dated August 2025. The adoption of Resolution

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2025-106 which is a resolution to request temporary closures of streets for the Freeport High School

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Homecoming Parade. Approval of the finance bills payable in total of $989,343.30 and the approval

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of Payroll for Pay Period Ending August 23rd, 2025 in the total of $588,244.78 and also

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the finance reports and the cash and investment reports for July 2025. Is there a motion to

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approve?

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So moved.

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Second.

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The motion made by Alderman Sellers, seconded by Alderman Shadle. Madam Clerk, could you

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please take the roll?

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Shadle?

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Aye.

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Sanders?

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Is that an abstain? Yes. Sellers? Aye. Klemm? Aye. Johnson? Aye. Simmons? Aye. Parker? Aye.

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And Stacy? No. The motion passes 6 to 1 with one abstention. Item number 6 is the

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first reading of ordinance 2025-53. Could you please read this? Ordinance

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Authorizing the City to Enter into a Fifth Renewal to Lease Agreement with Pete Albert

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for 103-111 South Liberty Avenue.

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Thank you.

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Manager Boyer.

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Thank you, Your Honor.

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The City of Freeport entered into a lease agreement with Pete Albert to lease the first floor

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of the former Raleigh metal-clad building on September 2, 2020.

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The lease has been extended four times with the associated terms listed here in the memo.

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On 21 it was $1,000 and 22 was $2,000, same with 23 and 24.

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The fifth renewal extends the lease for one year, commencing September 15th and ending

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September 14th, 2026.

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The annual rent remains $2,000 and is consistent with the previous two rentals renewals.

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That is a new provision we've included this year is potentially the ability to terminate

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the lease early in case of the current tenant expressing interest in purchasing the building

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at the Future. So the city receives approximately $2,000 annually in rent and staff recommends

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moving forward renewing the lease with Pete Elber at the Raleigh Metal Clad Building.

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So moved. Second.

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We have a motion made by Alderman Seller, seconded by Alderman Parker to move this ordinance

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on to the next regular scheduled meeting discussion. Alderman Stacey?

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Yes. Um, who's paying the taxes on this building?

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Um, the city owns it, so.

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So the city is paying the taxes?

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I'm sorry, yes, Michelle?

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Um, the city originally placed the property taxes and then were reimbursed.

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So we do get the rental fee every year and then we get paid for the property taxes.

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But is that discounted favor because it's in the city's name? How much is paid for taxes on that building?

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I'll need a few minutes.

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Alderman Sanders?

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I understand that the considerations some considerations have been made in the event if anything changes

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within the future of this building and the fact that we have not had opportunity to talk

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and others.

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And I want to talk about the discovery of why we should lease this, continuously lease this

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building to a certain individual.

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And we have not done our homework on it.

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We have not had enough time to make that distinction yet whether or not this particular occupant

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should continue to utilize that building.

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and I am, I am under the thought that the council has not come to a conclusion or any

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kind of a resolution for that building and if we are not doing that, we don't know what

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we're selling the building to, selling the building for to even make that kind of a discussion

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and if we're going to discuss possibilities for future references for the occupant that's occupying this building or apartment or whatever it is that we need to look into it, explore a little bit more in depth to see if it's conducive to the taxpayers here in the City of Freeport and we don't want anybody to have the impression or the appearance, especially council, having the appearance of giving

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and I have been in consideration to any individual for whatever, the impropriety of, the appearance

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of it looks very, very suspicious to me at this point in time.

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And I like to be able to look into it more than just coming to council, looking at it

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on the agenda and then rendering a vote for it.

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I think what should happen is we need to do this exploratory observation, inspection by council, independent councils so they can make it an educated or the right type of decision making that needs to go into this particular area.

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and others.

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We're not doing any of those kinds of things, and we need to be able to be on our job to

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to get that kind of information to make sound decisions when it comes to reevaluating that

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particular property and it's not considered or been brought up by any other potential buyers

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or rental options.

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So that's my opinion on it.

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I think that's what we should do as a council to not have the appearance of a given

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consideration to anybody that's using taxpayer's property so Alderman Parker

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make a motion to call it's first reading so we're not quite there yet any other

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just Alderman Johnson I just wondered what would happen to the building if we

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do not it's a three-part question here what would happen to the building if we

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We do not lease it. Is there others who have expressed interest in renting or buying this

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building and has there been any improvement in this area during the last four years during

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its rental time?

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Let me try to answer all those for you. The building, I think, is five floors and four

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floors are unoccupied. So if anybody else wanted to rent a floor in it, that would definitely

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be an option as far as, and what was the second, third one?

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I've wondered if anyone else has been interested in renting or buying this building.

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Have not received any other interest, however, we're always open to it.

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Any improvements?

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No improvements that I'm aware of, it's storage as far as I know.

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Alderman Stacey?

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Yes. Is advertisement out there informing people that this building can be purchased and what

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is this new provision grants?

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If I could just do my best to answer that. We generally have not done a lot of advertising

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for it. We have a lot of vacant space throughout the downtown. So we could do that at some

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expense to the city if that was council's desire and also as far as the purchasing

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obviously we we would ideally like to not have the city own this building

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eventually so this just provides a provision so that if we were able to get

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an estimate and a kind of move an agreement to a value we could bring that

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and for counsel to liquidate this building hopefully in the future.

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If Attorney Zito.

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Zito.

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Just to add on to what the City Manager indicated, so that additional provision about purchase,

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it provides the tenant with an option to purchase.

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So if that during this one-year term of this lease, that the parties happen to reach an

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agreement.

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So we would have to have discussions, they would have to come to us and say, hey, I'm

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interested in buying the property, we would have to come as a city through council to

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Do you want to talk about how we can reach an agreement on a price and what all the specific terms of the purchase would be if we are able to reach an agreement then we would enter into a formal real estate purchase contract and go through that process to ultimately purchase but if we can't reach an agreement then then there's not an agreement there so I'm not talking about I'm not just speaking of the the current guy that's getting it every year for 2000 I'm talking about how would anyone in the city

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Be aware and know. What are you even asking for the building? How do we know if it's not advertised?

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Well, there are five floors total. There's one that's occupied, so there's four other floors.

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So on public record, if there are other people that are interested in using it for cold storage,

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please approach the city. We'd be happy to entertain any offers. But it's been empty for

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for a number of years except for Mr. Albers.

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And it is a cost offset to the city to have someone there.

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And GFP is aware of any empty building

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and would be more than willing to tell someone

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if they had interest in something specific.

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So my question is not being answered.

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How do the citizen of Freeport know that purchasing

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This building is an option if information is not put out there.

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I don't care nothing about what Greater Freeport Partnership know.

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I don't care about how many floors.

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My question was, how would anybody know that this building was up to purchase to be considered

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if it's not advertised, then put out there.

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I would say the same way any other developer does it.

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They go on a property search.

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They find out who owns it.

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Then they call the owner, say, is your building for sale?

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I'd like to buy it.

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That's generally how.

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Do we own over 200 businesses?

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Yes.

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Director Duckman.

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I just did want to say that I know the Greater Freeport

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Partnership does work with interested parties that

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come to the city wanting to invest.

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and I know that I've been on other parts of the Raleigh building and, you know, showed

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it to prospective developers.

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So I know that they're active in shopping the property.

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So when developers come to the city, I know the Greater Freeport Partnership does a good

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job utilizing that as a resource when people are interested.

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Director Richter, do you have the answer to your first question?

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Yes.

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So the amount that's been reimbursed to the city for the tax year of 2024, which was billed

00:23:21.140 --> 00:23:27.060
in this year, was $142.54.

00:23:27.060 --> 00:23:28.060
Thank you.

00:23:28.060 --> 00:23:35.220
So that's all the taxes that he's paying yearly, $142.54?

00:23:35.220 --> 00:23:40.220
Yes, because that's all that the city pays on that property, and typically the city would

00:23:40.220 --> 00:23:45.860
not paid property taxes at all but our tax assessor charges the city as any

00:23:45.860 --> 00:23:52.220
tax assessor would for if the city rents or makes income on a property then it is

00:23:52.220 --> 00:23:56.860
taxed but otherwise property would not be taxed and the reason it's a lower tax

00:23:56.860 --> 00:24:01.140
amount is it's only renting one floor so they they're only assessing taxes on the

00:24:01.140 --> 00:24:08.600
one floor that the city is making income Alderman Sanders did you have your hand

00:24:08.600 --> 00:24:38.600
Yes, I did. From what I'm understanding while I listen to what is being said, all of this comes up to a discretionary opinion, not an actual terminology or agreement or any of those kinds of things that binds the city to

00:24:38.600 --> 00:24:41.600
Wendell, or Lance, or Erick, or John, or anyone in the room.

00:24:41.600 --> 00:24:45.600
So this is a very important area for us to think about when it comes to the property of an individual.

00:24:45.600 --> 00:24:48.600
When it comes to a particular individual or an individual

00:24:48.600 --> 00:24:52.600
or to any particular occupant of a rental part of the city when it comes to taxpayers

00:24:52.600 --> 00:24:56.600
that is owning the property.

00:24:56.600 --> 00:25:00.600
It is a discretion at this point in time for anyone that wants to decide

00:25:00.600 --> 00:25:06.600
to occupy any city property

00:25:06.600 --> 00:25:13.640
what happens when you whenever you talk about a five-story building and then let

00:25:13.640 --> 00:25:19.040
one occupant within that building come in and pay a certain amount of dollars

00:25:19.040 --> 00:25:25.960
who made that discretion every call who set up those parameters of where and how

00:25:25.960 --> 00:25:33.840
much does an occupant of a building a five-story occupy whether or not it's

00:25:33.840 --> 00:25:43.000
Bunny, John, Robert, and Mary, and I know for a long time, I've been a member of the

00:25:43.000 --> 00:25:49.520
White House and I've been a member of the House of Representatives and I've been a

00:25:49.520 --> 00:25:55.120
member of the House of Representatives for the last four years and I've been a member

00:25:55.120 --> 00:26:03.880
Johnson should be calling the shots about how that building is used and how is it benefiting

00:26:03.880 --> 00:26:12.720
the citizens of Freeport. If that building is not being overall utilized and marketed

00:26:12.720 --> 00:26:18.520
for potential rental property to anybody else that wants to exploit that property, then

00:26:18.520 --> 00:26:24.800
we're not doing our just due about getting this particular building on the market so

00:26:24.800 --> 00:26:54.800
and more tenants can be in that building. We're not utilizing that service or the service of that building at this time. So what we need to do is change provisions with the structure of how we're going to utilize this building with the taxpayers commenting and having an opinion and have their views and an opinion on this property that we may not that if we don't have all the details maybe someone

00:26:54.800 --> 00:26:55.800
and others.

00:26:55.800 --> 00:27:02.480
We are not exploiting the taxpayers to let them know that this building is out there and

00:27:02.480 --> 00:27:09.640
anyone that wants to occupy any portions of that building, we have not set up the perimeters

00:27:09.640 --> 00:27:16.360
nor the provisions of that building, guidelines or anything to allow anyone else to be able

00:27:16.360 --> 00:27:20.400
to come in and occupy that building.

00:27:20.400 --> 00:27:25.920
So we need to take a re-evaluation of how we got that thing set up because right now

00:27:25.920 --> 00:27:33.640
in document form, paper form, any tangible document agreement or whatever, with this

00:27:33.640 --> 00:27:39.460
particular occupant and the building, we need to take an assessment over the whole thing

00:27:39.460 --> 00:27:46.200
and make sure that we're following proper guidelines that council set.

00:27:46.200 --> 00:27:57.200
We don't have none of these kinds of things that council can refer back to and that there's no ordinance at this current time.

00:27:57.200 --> 00:28:09.200
We have not even tried to amend or adopt this particular deal with any occupants that wants to occupy that building.

00:28:09.200 --> 00:28:12.200
So my whole thing is that we need to re-evaluate.

00:28:12.200 --> 00:28:14.200
Your time has expired, Alderman Sanders.

00:28:14.200 --> 00:28:20.040
If there's no further discussion, we'll move this on to the next regularly scheduled meeting.

00:28:20.040 --> 00:28:24.840
Move on to item number seven, which is the first reading of ordinance 2025-54.

00:28:24.840 --> 00:28:26.720
Could you please read this?

00:28:26.720 --> 00:28:31.000
Ordinance Establishing the Gladewood Special Service Area and Accepting Dedication of Roadways

00:28:31.000 --> 00:28:34.640
and Levy of Taxes to Offset the Cost of Special Services.

00:28:34.640 --> 00:28:35.640
Thank you.

00:28:35.640 --> 00:28:36.640
Manager Boyer.

00:28:36.640 --> 00:28:37.640
Thank you, Your Honor.

00:28:37.640 --> 00:28:41.480
The City received a petition from a majority of the property owners in the Gladewood subdivision

00:28:41.480 --> 00:29:11.480
requesting the creation of a special service area or SSA. Following required notices, the public hearing on May 28th, no valid objections were filed. The ordinance established the SSA dedicate subdivision roadways to the city and outlines a framework for funding ongoing maintenance. The SSA ensures improvements to the subdivisions upper and lower entrances, including roadway base and asphalt upgrades, meeting engineering standards. The city will also accept the internal

00:29:11.480 --> 00:29:13.480
and

00:29:15.480 --> 00:29:17.480
the

00:29:19.480 --> 00:29:21.480
public street network.

00:29:23.480 --> 00:29:25.480
Establishing the SSA creates a

00:29:27.480 --> 00:29:29.480
sustainable mechanism for funding services to be benefited without the area without burdening existing taxpayers with the full cost of needed improvements.

00:29:31.480 --> 00:29:33.480
The ordinance provides for an annual levy of $400 and brought up to me also that's for a term of 15 years.

00:29:37.480 --> 00:29:39.480
So across 16 parcels, the revenues will offset costs of roadway maintenance and improve the

00:29:41.480 --> 00:29:42.480
and others.

00:29:42.480 --> 00:29:43.920
We are also working with the City of Washington to improve improvements specific to the Gladewood

00:29:43.920 --> 00:29:47.080
area, ensuring equitable cost recovery.

00:29:47.080 --> 00:29:51.900
Staff recommends approval of this ordinance in establishing the Gladewood Special Service

00:29:51.900 --> 00:29:52.900
Area.

00:29:52.900 --> 00:29:53.900
Motion to approve.

00:29:53.900 --> 00:29:54.900
Second.

00:29:54.900 --> 00:29:57.900
We have a motion made by Alderman Klemm.

00:29:57.900 --> 00:29:58.900
Seconded.

00:29:58.900 --> 00:30:05.940
May by Alderman Klemm, seconded by Alderman Sellers to move this ordinance forward. Discussion?

00:30:05.940 --> 00:30:17.340
Alderman Stacy? Yes. How many homeowners in the Gladewood area has agreed and is okay

00:30:17.340 --> 00:30:28.620
with this $400 and what does that fee involve as far as fixing the streets and snow removal?

00:30:28.620 --> 00:30:36.180
what does this ordinance give the Gladewood people well there's 16 parcels

00:30:36.180 --> 00:30:42.420
that are involved and it benefit from improved access to their area you

00:30:42.420 --> 00:30:50.220
mentioned snow removal and all 16 agreed no not all 16 a majority of the 16 I

00:30:50.220 --> 00:30:55.900
believe there is nine or ten that agreed with that the snow removal is

00:30:55.900 --> 00:30:58.100
is currently performed by the Park District,

00:30:58.100 --> 00:31:00.980
and that is an agreement that predates,

00:31:00.980 --> 00:31:05.860
I think it was former Mayor Galrapp signed that agreement.

00:31:09.180 --> 00:31:10.460
Did you want your second one?

00:31:10.460 --> 00:31:11.100
Yes.

00:31:11.100 --> 00:31:11.600
Go ahead.

00:31:11.600 --> 00:31:16.420
Have they had an opportunity, all of them,

00:31:16.420 --> 00:31:21.340
to have an opportunity at that stand

00:31:21.340 --> 00:31:26.220
and speak on this matter as to why or why not

00:31:27.660 --> 00:31:30.259
they wanna pay that $400.

00:31:30.259 --> 00:31:33.660
I mean, nine or 10 out of 16 is still.

00:31:33.660 --> 00:31:36.140
Yeah, well, we did provide,

00:31:36.140 --> 00:31:39.340
we followed the state statute on setting up an SSA

00:31:39.340 --> 00:31:41.980
and in that it required a meeting

00:31:41.980 --> 00:31:44.740
and each person was able to have a dialogue

00:31:44.740 --> 00:31:47.420
and ask questions and go back and forth

00:31:47.420 --> 00:31:50.340
with the engineers, myself, Attorney Cox.

00:31:50.340 --> 00:31:55.180
so that process was filed so as far as opportunities to stand here in front of

00:31:55.180 --> 00:32:00.220
council obviously it's an agenda item so they could speak now if they wanted to

00:32:00.220 --> 00:32:04.860
or they could have spoke at public comments.

00:32:04.860 --> 00:32:13.660
Alderman Klemm? What was the mumble the 30 days what? They also had 30 days to file an

00:32:13.660 --> 00:32:19.220
objection with me and I received none. Alderman Klemm? Sure I just wanted to say I

00:32:19.220 --> 00:32:24.000
I don't know the exact date but a hearing was held here in City Hall and there was

00:32:24.000 --> 00:32:29.360
conversation back and forth with many of the homeowners that were here it was

00:32:29.360 --> 00:32:35.519
laid out as to the all the costs and what would be done it was agreed to the

00:32:35.519 --> 00:32:42.680
biggest areas in need are the the entrance and the exit coming into it the

00:32:42.680 --> 00:32:47.680
others will be fixed so that it isn't full of potholes and stuff and then we

00:32:47.680 --> 00:32:54.040
will get it into our process to get the whole thing surfaced. So all of that was

00:32:54.040 --> 00:33:01.880
discussed and it was open to everybody. Yes, there were some people that objected.

00:33:01.880 --> 00:33:10.120
Sure there were. It was one of those things that wasn't, was never found until

00:33:10.120 --> 00:33:16.160
work came up on the Gladewood Bridge. When work was studied on the Gladewood

00:33:16.160 --> 00:33:22.800
Bridger came up that the this has never been transferred to the city so it's

00:33:22.800 --> 00:33:28.640
kind of a bad deal and this is one of the best ways to rectify it and everybody

00:33:28.640 --> 00:33:34.400
in there will have new roads and have decent roads to drive on. So are you

00:33:34.400 --> 00:33:41.360
saying that it's now the city is under the city? Establishing a special service

00:33:41.360 --> 00:33:47.960
is part of it becoming it's it's required to set that up so we have some cost

00:33:47.960 --> 00:33:54.920
recovery in exchange the city takes over the street. Alderman Sanders, yeah I was

00:33:54.920 --> 00:33:59.980
going to ask where where are the numbers coming from and who set the pyramid who

00:33:59.980 --> 00:34:07.960
sets up the guidelines for cost effective of overall the overall for this

00:34:07.960 --> 00:34:08.960
and others.

00:34:08.960 --> 00:34:09.960
So, I'm going to ask you a question about how do we

00:34:09.960 --> 00:34:14.079
determine the cost for the city part of the maintenance of that area and how do we determine

00:34:14.079 --> 00:34:17.920
what the numbers are going to be, what it's going to cost, where the fundings are going

00:34:17.920 --> 00:34:30.720
to go after receiving any type of provisions, I mean, any revenue, I'll put it like that,

00:34:30.720 --> 00:34:36.640
any kind of revenue, where does this money end up and how does it benefit the taxpayers

00:34:36.640 --> 00:34:42.360
of the City, and the maintenance overall cost, and not only that, how do we come up with

00:34:42.360 --> 00:34:43.360
the $400?

00:34:43.360 --> 00:34:46.159
I'm trying to figure out where these numbers come in from.

00:34:46.159 --> 00:34:51.880
Well, the $400 came from, started with an estimate that was calculated, the attorney

00:34:51.880 --> 00:34:55.200
and myself worked on, you know, what is reasonable.

00:34:55.200 --> 00:35:00.099
We also looked at engineering estimates for what it would take to take care of the emerging

00:35:00.099 --> 00:35:05.400
issues on the entrance and exit to Gladewood, and then also just more of a common sense

00:35:05.400 --> 00:35:35.400
and I have been working on the entrance and exit approach as far as, you know, what's realistic here? What is realistic? So although this doesn't completely recover every dime required to do the immediate repairs, this goes a long way of cutting down the city's expenses with dealing with the emergent issues on the entrance and exit. So what's going to include, what's included right now and what we'll be working on for next year is base repair and resurfacing of the entrance and exit. If I recall right, it was about 200 feet on

00:36:05.400 --> 00:36:07.860
that is not how the procedures work.

00:36:07.860 --> 00:36:10.920
You don't get to guide the council.

00:36:10.920 --> 00:36:12.780
You don't get to guide the council

00:36:12.780 --> 00:36:15.780
when he having a one-on-one conversation

00:36:15.780 --> 00:36:19.380
to determine whether or not we are in a conversation.

00:36:19.380 --> 00:36:22.579
We can't even make that distinction right now because why?

00:36:22.579 --> 00:36:27.579
I have to continue to use my questions at your discretion,

00:36:28.740 --> 00:36:33.740
calling out when can I talk to my administrative body

00:36:33.740 --> 00:36:36.340
when he's sitting right here talking to me.

00:36:36.340 --> 00:36:38.260
You can talk to him every day if you want to,

00:36:38.260 --> 00:36:39.780
but he hits the floor. That's not the point.

00:36:39.780 --> 00:36:42.100
That is not the point.

00:36:42.100 --> 00:36:45.780
I am getting fed up with the fact that we have to go

00:36:45.780 --> 00:36:46.619
by certain protocols. I'm getting fed up

00:36:46.619 --> 00:36:48.059
that you're being disruptive.

00:36:48.059 --> 00:36:50.000
It's not, well. Would you like your second time?

00:36:50.000 --> 00:36:51.700
Otherwise, just move away from the microphone.

00:36:51.700 --> 00:36:53.780
My point is this.

00:36:53.780 --> 00:36:57.539
He did not go through the same thing that I went through.

00:36:57.539 --> 00:37:02.059
He just interjected himself in the conversation

00:37:02.059 --> 00:37:06.980
and Stacey, and I was having a question about. So you didn't have that call to make that.

00:37:06.980 --> 00:37:07.980
So, but anyway.

00:37:07.980 --> 00:37:10.100
So, Alderman Stacey, would you like your time, I'm sorry, Alderman Stacey.

00:37:10.100 --> 00:37:14.340
No, I want to ask, I want to answer the question. I want to ask the second question because...

00:37:14.340 --> 00:37:16.420
Would you like to have the floor, Alderman Sanders?

00:37:16.420 --> 00:37:17.420
Yes, I would.

00:37:17.420 --> 00:37:18.780
Okay, that's all you needed.

00:37:18.780 --> 00:37:29.500
Okay. Well, I don't like to, I don't, okay, my point is this. You're having a meeting,

00:37:29.500 --> 00:37:40.700
You had a meeting with the Claywood area council people committee or whatever the case is that

00:37:40.700 --> 00:37:48.460
you went through to establish how you come up with numbers and the council don't see

00:37:48.460 --> 00:37:49.840
those numbers.

00:37:49.840 --> 00:37:52.420
We don't see how you came about those numbers.

00:37:52.420 --> 00:37:58.500
It's not saying that what you're saying that it's more like a discretionary thing that

00:37:58.500 --> 00:38:03.900
is based upon your consideration and your opinion about the numbers.

00:38:03.900 --> 00:38:05.519
That's what I'm concerned about.

00:38:05.519 --> 00:38:10.900
And my thing is that is not the right approach to do that.

00:38:10.900 --> 00:38:16.700
And council is to be formed before any decisions are being made out in the field when it comes

00:38:16.700 --> 00:38:21.220
to redirecting things, fundings, and all of these kinds of things.

00:38:21.220 --> 00:38:29.300
and the City has to be clued in so we can make an intelligent decision and understand

00:38:29.300 --> 00:38:31.659
the process of what you're doing.

00:38:31.659 --> 00:38:37.800
We can't come to council understanding what you did before we had an opportunity to talk

00:38:37.800 --> 00:38:40.840
about it because it's not in the memo.

00:38:40.840 --> 00:38:44.079
Everything that you talk about is not always in the memo.

00:38:44.079 --> 00:38:50.140
And so what I'm saying is there's a lot of variations that are going on that we have

00:38:50.140 --> 00:38:53.140
and I talked about when it comes to this particular area.

00:38:53.140 --> 00:38:54.659
Don't get me wrong.

00:38:54.659 --> 00:38:56.880
I just want to know how we got here.

00:38:56.880 --> 00:38:58.539
That's all I'm asking.

00:38:58.539 --> 00:39:01.260
Because a lot of things that we're doing

00:39:01.260 --> 00:39:04.059
is not being revealed unto the council.

00:39:04.059 --> 00:39:06.860
And the council needs to know beforehand

00:39:06.860 --> 00:39:11.860
so they can make a form and opinion or decision

00:39:12.019 --> 00:39:15.100
about what is going on out in the field.

00:39:15.100 --> 00:39:18.780
I have no problem with it unless I can understand

00:39:18.780 --> 00:39:21.059
and the process of how you got here.

00:39:21.059 --> 00:39:23.380
And if that is not how we're doing things,

00:39:23.380 --> 00:39:25.940
then we need to restructure some of those things

00:39:25.940 --> 00:39:30.940
so we can get a clear view on how to go to the next step

00:39:31.860 --> 00:39:34.360
or how we're gonna get to the next step.

00:39:34.360 --> 00:39:37.659
And then not only that, the council is always informed

00:39:37.659 --> 00:39:39.500
of how we got there.

00:39:39.500 --> 00:39:41.100
Am I out of time now?

00:39:41.100 --> 00:39:42.619
No, you still got a minute and 30 seconds.

00:39:42.619 --> 00:39:43.820
No, I don't want it now.

00:39:45.300 --> 00:39:47.019
Is there any, and I'm sorry, Alderman, Stacy,

00:39:47.019 --> 00:39:48.180
you already spoke twice.

00:39:48.780 --> 00:39:54.780
Is there any other discussion? Otherwise, we will move this forward to the next City Council meeting.

00:39:54.780 --> 00:39:58.780
Item number 8 is the first reading of ordinance 2025-55.

00:39:58.780 --> 00:40:07.780
I don't know if Alderman Stacy really heard what you said or she had a question to ask, I believe.

00:40:07.780 --> 00:40:14.780
Yes, she had already spoke twice. Yep. Did you have something further than Alderman Klemm?

00:40:14.780 --> 00:40:23.780
Did you have something you wanted to add? No? Okay. Then we'll move on to the first reading of Ordinance 20-25-55. Could you please read this?

00:40:23.780 --> 00:40:29.680
Maintenance, Amending Part 2, Administration Code, Titles 6, Administration, Chapter 240,

00:40:29.680 --> 00:40:35.860
Police Department, Section 240.04 and Chapter 242, Fire Department, Section 242.05.

00:40:35.860 --> 00:40:36.860
Thank you.

00:40:36.860 --> 00:40:37.860
Manager Boyer?

00:40:37.860 --> 00:40:38.860
Thank you, your honor.

00:40:38.860 --> 00:40:40.840
If you'll look at the memo, a revised memo.

00:40:40.840 --> 00:40:46.180
There's a mistake in the one that I put forward with the agenda.

00:40:46.180 --> 00:40:51.800
State law generally sets a mandatory requirement, age of 65, for police and firefighters.

00:40:51.800 --> 00:40:56.960
The City's Code currently references those requirements for the Chief of Police, that's

00:40:56.960 --> 00:41:01.560
Section 240.04, and Fire Chief, Section 242.05.

00:41:01.560 --> 00:41:08.560
However, age alone does not determine whether an individual is fit to serve as Chief.

00:41:08.560 --> 00:41:13.500
Our current Fire Chief continues to provide exemplary leadership and has earned the trust

00:41:13.500 --> 00:41:15.360
of his department and community.

00:41:15.360 --> 00:41:19.480
It is the City's best interest to allow him to continue to serve as long as he wishes

00:41:19.480 --> 00:41:23.160
is provided he remains capable and effective.

00:41:23.160 --> 00:41:25.100
As a home rule unit, the city of Freeport

00:41:25.100 --> 00:41:26.680
may establish its own requirements

00:41:26.680 --> 00:41:29.000
for the position of police and fire chief.

00:41:29.000 --> 00:41:31.800
And the ordinance adds new subsections

00:41:31.800 --> 00:41:35.640
clarifying that the position of chief of police and fire chief

00:41:35.640 --> 00:41:38.900
will not be subject to a mandatory retirement age of 65.

00:41:38.900 --> 00:41:41.240
This change ensures leadership decisions

00:41:41.240 --> 00:41:44.440
are based on performance and ability and not age.

00:41:44.440 --> 00:41:47.320
From a legal perspective, the Federal Age Discrimination

00:41:47.320 --> 00:41:54.760
and Employment Act restricts mandatory retirements except in limited cases by removing the age cap

00:41:54.760 --> 00:42:01.480
for chiefs the city reduces potential exposure to any kind of discrimination issues and aligns with

00:42:01.480 --> 00:42:07.080
best practices across Illinois municipalities so staff recommend there is no financial impact

00:42:07.080 --> 00:42:12.440
and staff recommends moving forward with the amendment removing the maximum age for

00:42:13.800 --> 00:42:16.600
police and fire chiefs. Is there a motion to move this forward?

00:42:16.600 --> 00:42:25.000
Somo. Second. Also suspension of the rules. We have a motion made by Alderman Parker,

00:42:25.000 --> 00:42:30.200
seconded by Alderman Sellers. Discussion on this ordinance? We have a motion to suspend the rules.

00:42:31.080 --> 00:42:37.880
Second. We have a motion to suspend the rules made by Alderman Parker, seconded by Alderman Sellers.

00:42:38.600 --> 00:42:43.800
Suspension of the rules is non-debatable. Yeah, I know. That's very clever. That's very clever.

00:42:43.800 --> 00:42:50.480
Sanders, please. Yeah, I saw this coming. This is a non-debated issue. I understand that. Okay, so Madam Clerk,

00:42:50.480 --> 00:42:54.360
could you please take the roll on this? I understand that. I saw that coming. Shadle? I wanted to know that.

00:42:55.120 --> 00:43:01.020
Sanders? No. Sellers? Aye. Klemm? Aye. Johnson? Aye. Simmons?

00:43:07.720 --> 00:43:13.040
Oh, I said no. Sorry. Thank you. Parker? Aye. And Stacy? No.

00:43:13.800 --> 00:43:14.640
and

00:43:14.640 --> 00:43:15.800
the

00:43:15.800 --> 00:43:18.040
motion passes 6 to 2.

00:43:18.040 --> 00:43:20.200
So now before you is the final passage.

00:43:20.200 --> 00:43:23.740
Alderman Sanders, would you like to have a question on this?

00:43:23.740 --> 00:43:26.560
Yeah, I just can't understand how

00:43:27.760 --> 00:43:29.020
one of the

00:43:29.020 --> 00:43:30.740
constituents,

00:43:30.740 --> 00:43:34.260
leaders of their ward cannot come to the

00:43:35.920 --> 00:43:37.880
to the terms or the,

00:43:39.880 --> 00:43:41.200
however you want to put it,

00:43:41.200 --> 00:44:01.200
and I have come to a conclusion that we should suspend this particular rule and not have a clear understanding and talk about why the ordinance clearly states this and we want to ignore it.

00:44:01.200 --> 00:44:10.200
The fact is, I'm willing to go along with discussions if it's the proper thing to do.

00:44:10.200 --> 00:44:40.200
and I, and I'm here, I've got someone in here that's talking about suspended when the ordinance is talking about the cap age. It's talking about establishing that and then not only that, you obviously didn't read the fact that there was discretionary and opinions going on in this particular agenda, on this particular ordinance in its entirety. Someone is throwing their opinions into this memo without council having a chance to

00:44:40.200 --> 00:44:49.320
and even discuss it, let alone getting it right in the ordinance perspective, we're

00:44:49.320 --> 00:44:52.440
not doing the just due diligence of the ordinance.

00:44:52.440 --> 00:44:59.800
Now, if there's any amendments that needs to be made, then let the rest of the council

00:44:59.800 --> 00:45:06.720
be able to speak out on that particular, on this particular ordinance so the people, the

00:45:06.720 --> 00:45:07.720
and others.

00:45:07.720 --> 00:45:11.760
We need to understand the public and hear what the opinions are, why we should do this, because

00:45:11.760 --> 00:45:19.160
if the ordinance gives you a cap, why are we trying to change that cap, and we need

00:45:19.160 --> 00:45:27.440
to know who's bringing that thought into the council thought.

00:45:27.440 --> 00:45:33.039
I understand the City Manager is throwing his opinion in there, his discretionary opinion

00:45:33.039 --> 00:45:38.720
and wanting for us to take the consideration of what he is saying.

00:45:38.720 --> 00:45:41.020
That's not how this works.

00:45:41.020 --> 00:45:48.160
There's an ordinance that allows counsel the opportunity to weigh in on this particular

00:45:48.160 --> 00:45:53.220
memo that has been presented to us and the public as well.

00:45:53.220 --> 00:46:01.080
This is not so based upon one individual's discretionary mindset about how to go about

00:46:01.080 --> 00:46:02.080
doing it.

00:46:02.080 --> 00:46:18.080
No, it is all about the council making those discretionary parameters and whether or not we want to consider allowing the cap to be raised or the cap to be removed.

00:46:18.080 --> 00:46:26.080
And that's exactly what this is talking about, having the cap to be removed and then we're supposed to not have a committee

00:46:26.080 --> 00:46:33.160
to make sure that whether or not this individual is eligible health-wise or whatever the case

00:46:33.160 --> 00:46:42.920
may be, who's setting up these guidelines? We can't say we got a Fire Chief and a Police

00:46:42.920 --> 00:46:52.600
Chief in the Council or in the Administrator body at 99 years old. Where does this stop?

00:46:52.600 --> 00:46:53.600
and so on.

00:46:53.600 --> 00:46:57.360
And nobody sitting here is qualified to make those discretionary calls.

00:46:57.360 --> 00:46:58.360
No one.

00:46:58.360 --> 00:47:04.200
You suspended it, sir, so you don't get an opportunity to voice your opinion on this

00:47:04.200 --> 00:47:05.200
particular matter.

00:47:05.200 --> 00:47:10.560
But my point is, there's no committee set up to make that distinction whether or not

00:47:10.560 --> 00:47:18.200
an individual is going to be effective enough to continue without a cap on it and the ordinance

00:47:18.200 --> 00:47:21.200
set it there so that could happen.

00:47:21.200 --> 00:47:26.200
Now, if we want to change things as a council, that's one thing. We can amend it.

00:47:26.200 --> 00:47:31.200
Thank you Alderman Sanders. Your time has expired. Alderman Stacy, did you have your hand up?

00:47:31.200 --> 00:47:37.200
What is the advantage for suspending the rules?

00:47:37.200 --> 00:47:39.200
Manager Boyer?

00:47:39.200 --> 00:47:44.200
I think it's in deference to our current Chief.

00:47:44.200 --> 00:47:46.200
What?

00:47:46.200 --> 00:47:53.120
It's in deference to our current chief so that we make a timely decision and able to move forward and not have this subject come back

00:47:53.480 --> 00:47:55.480
over and over again if the council is

00:47:57.000 --> 00:48:04.039
Accepting of moving forward with this change. And so are you saying not suspending the rules? It's not being fair to no

00:48:04.039 --> 00:48:08.080
I did not say it's not fair. I just simply said in deference to

00:48:08.720 --> 00:48:10.720
our current chief I

00:48:11.220 --> 00:48:13.760
Would request the suspension of the rules

00:48:13.760 --> 00:48:14.760
Fowler.

00:48:14.760 --> 00:48:22.240
So what are we looking at as far as time-wise, suspending the rules or not suspending the

00:48:22.240 --> 00:48:23.240
rules?

00:48:23.240 --> 00:48:24.240
What are we looking at?

00:48:24.240 --> 00:48:25.240
A week?

00:48:25.240 --> 00:48:31.360
It would be moving to, actually, suspension of the rules is kind of already over with.

00:48:31.360 --> 00:48:33.080
So it's a non-debatable thing.

00:48:33.080 --> 00:48:34.280
You either vote yes or no.

00:48:34.280 --> 00:48:37.960
So to talk about suspension of the rules is kind of pointless.

00:48:37.960 --> 00:48:40.720
Do you want to talk about the ordinance itself?

00:48:40.720 --> 00:48:45.120
and if it would have not passed, then it would have been pushed back two weeks.

00:48:45.120 --> 00:48:50.860
Okay, so I just wanted to know what was the advantage in suspending the rules and you're

00:48:50.860 --> 00:48:53.960
telling me two weeks.

00:48:53.960 --> 00:48:54.960
That's the time frame.

00:48:54.960 --> 00:48:58.760
Alderman Parker, did you want to add to that?

00:48:58.760 --> 00:49:01.640
Yeah, as long as apparently he was talking to me directly.

00:49:01.640 --> 00:49:03.080
I'm entitled to my opinion.

00:49:03.080 --> 00:49:09.640
I totally believe it and if you read the ordinance that he put out, it gives you an option if

00:49:09.640 --> 00:49:28.700
and

00:49:28.700 --> 00:49:35.940
Miller. Thank you. Any other discussion? If not, Alderman Johnson.

00:49:35.940 --> 00:49:46.020
Just wanted to say that in the ordinance section 242.32, it talks about periodic physical examinations.

00:49:46.020 --> 00:49:52.100
So every member shall take and pass physical examinations whenever directed by the Board

00:49:52.100 --> 00:49:57.940
of Fire and Police Commission. So if it's someone that's 65 or older and we think there

00:49:57.940 --> 00:49:58.780
There might be some

00:49:58.780 --> 00:50:03.519
We're older and we think there might be some problems with their physical or mental status,

00:50:03.519 --> 00:50:05.820
maybe not capable of doing the job.

00:50:05.820 --> 00:50:13.000
Then they can order a physical exam to safeguard that, you know, that point that they are physically

00:50:13.000 --> 00:50:16.300
able and mentally able to do the job.

00:50:16.300 --> 00:50:19.620
There's no further discussion?

00:50:19.620 --> 00:50:20.620
Yeah.

00:50:20.620 --> 00:50:21.620
Alderman Sanders.

00:50:21.620 --> 00:50:22.620
Yeah.

00:50:22.620 --> 00:50:52.620
Addy coupling to that observation whether or not someone need or board or someone needs to be available committee or if someone needs to be able to say that a certain individual needs to take an agility test to be examined to determine whether or not he's fit to do that job well the point is there's no mechanism in place right at this current

00:50:52.620 --> 00:50:53.620
and others.

00:50:53.620 --> 00:50:58.060
We do not have time to make that discretionary observation, monitoring system.

00:50:58.060 --> 00:51:09.420
We do not have that to determine whether a person that has been considered beyond retirement,

00:51:09.420 --> 00:51:17.720
when the ordinance says, this is the deadline of the retirement, you must follow the ordinance.

00:51:17.720 --> 00:51:23.880
and others, but to give consideration for someone to continue after the ordinance has

00:51:23.880 --> 00:51:31.080
already been put in place, the council has to place an amendment or have one already

00:51:31.080 --> 00:51:33.160
in place to even call that.

00:51:33.160 --> 00:51:39.519
No one person makes these kinds of declarations or make any kind of opinion about it unless

00:51:39.519 --> 00:51:47.560
we have all been informed about the possibilities of these things happening.

00:51:47.560 --> 00:51:58.560
I have no problem with the consideration of amending if a person has the agility and the ability to work beyond the retirement age.

00:51:58.560 --> 00:52:00.560
I have no problem with that.

00:52:00.560 --> 00:52:06.560
But my problem is we never talked about a cap even after 65.

00:52:06.560 --> 00:52:08.560
We have not even got to that point yet.

00:52:08.560 --> 00:52:13.240
and so to have that discussion and have a committee to make that that kind of

00:52:13.240 --> 00:52:21.280
determination to inform counsel that this person is sound mind, capable,

00:52:21.280 --> 00:52:26.920
effective and all of these there's no there's nothing in place that gives us

00:52:26.920 --> 00:52:32.120
that that vision that gives us that understanding so all of this that we're

00:52:32.120 --> 00:52:39.500
We're talking about is is mute right now because we need to reevaluate what we just talked

00:52:39.500 --> 00:52:46.800
about and that's that's that's the essence of all of this so we need to redo all of it

00:52:46.800 --> 00:52:50.480
including the suspension that was thrown out there as well.

00:52:50.480 --> 00:52:51.480
Chief Miller.

00:52:51.480 --> 00:52:52.640
Yes thank you your honor.

00:52:52.640 --> 00:52:58.560
So maybe I can help bring this to light or make it clear I actually brought this forward

00:52:58.560 --> 00:53:06.280
Boyer, I wanted to get in front of this. I discovered that there is this Fire and Police

00:53:06.280 --> 00:53:10.600
Commission statute that's out there. And obviously, looking at the Police Chief and myself, we

00:53:10.600 --> 00:53:19.280
all know that this is about me and not him. So looking at, and Attorney Zito will correct

00:53:19.280 --> 00:53:24.680
me if I'm misinterpreting, but what this came down to is it's a Fire and Police Commission

00:53:24.680 --> 00:53:54.680
and the City of Illinois.

00:53:54.680 --> 00:54:00.960
and myself are not under Fire and Police Commission. We're merely appointed by the City Manager

00:54:00.960 --> 00:54:08.560
with Council approval. So that is the determination between rank and file Fire and Police Commission

00:54:08.560 --> 00:54:16.100
and City Manager. So what this states is any position that is below the Chief level and

00:54:16.100 --> 00:54:22.039
meaning that they're tested, they're promoted, they come up through the ranks, this is governed

00:54:22.039 --> 00:54:29.960
by the 65-year rule. But for police chiefs, fire chiefs, we aren't part of that Fire and

00:54:29.960 --> 00:54:36.360
Police Commission statute. We're the administration, which is appointed position with your approval.

00:54:36.360 --> 00:54:41.200
So we're just trying to clear this up and make it more understandable, bring the ordinance

00:54:41.200 --> 00:54:49.480
to light, have the ability for elected officials to be aware of it, and then be finished with

00:54:49.480 --> 00:54:55.580
and I. I'm going to stay with it above board and have transparency and honesty about this.

00:54:55.580 --> 00:55:00.720
I'm sorry, Alderman Sanders, you already had your two. Alderman Stacy?

00:55:00.720 --> 00:55:11.039
Thank you, Chief Miller, for explaining that. And you know it's nothing against you with

00:55:11.039 --> 00:55:19.800
with me in any way, shape or form. I'm just trying to understand what's at hand, but before

00:55:19.800 --> 00:55:25.560
I can even get an understanding, the rules are suspended, and I just needed to know what

00:55:25.560 --> 00:55:38.360
the advantage was in suspending the rules. And that happens quite often, and it is disturbing

00:55:38.360 --> 00:55:41.460
because no one could even explain it to me.

00:55:41.460 --> 00:55:44.320
The mayor made more sense than City Manager Boyer,

00:55:45.580 --> 00:55:47.180
but the way you just broke it down

00:55:47.180 --> 00:55:50.980
made more sense than anything anybody done said.

00:55:50.980 --> 00:55:53.539
So for that, I do thank you.

00:55:53.539 --> 00:55:58.539
And I have no problem if it's no weeks,

00:55:58.539 --> 00:56:00.760
one week or two weeks,

00:56:00.760 --> 00:56:03.760
you're more than qualified and capable

00:56:03.760 --> 00:56:06.860
of carrying on your title.

00:56:06.860 --> 00:56:10.000
Suspension of the rules doesn't stop discussion.

00:56:10.000 --> 00:56:12.760
It just is an order of procedure.

00:56:12.760 --> 00:56:15.260
So if there's no further discussion on this,

00:56:15.260 --> 00:56:16.539
you already spoke twice, sorry.

00:56:16.539 --> 00:56:17.620
Can I get a third one?

00:56:17.620 --> 00:56:20.100
No, you'd have to have council approval.

00:56:22.140 --> 00:56:22.980
Alderman Klemm.

00:56:26.260 --> 00:56:29.340
I was in this position 16 years ago.

00:56:29.340 --> 00:56:31.980
That means I'm an old fart, okay?

00:56:31.980 --> 00:56:33.940
So if you do some math into it,

00:56:33.940 --> 00:56:40.900
The times have really changed. Years ago, when these things were set up as being a mandatory

00:56:40.900 --> 00:56:48.460
65, you know, people over 65 years old at that point were pretty well ready for retirement.

00:56:48.460 --> 00:56:54.180
You take a look at things today with modern technology and medicine, modern medications

00:56:54.180 --> 00:57:00.380
and everything else, people are living a lot longer, people are living better for a longer

00:57:00.380 --> 00:57:30.380
and the rest of the city.

00:57:30.380 --> 00:57:35.380
and a number of months to get a person into that position.

00:57:35.920 --> 00:57:40.080
So I believe it helps us to retain a person

00:57:40.080 --> 00:57:42.480
for a number of years as long as they're capable.

00:57:44.720 --> 00:57:46.000
There's no further discussion.

00:57:46.000 --> 00:57:47.480
Madam Clerk, please take the roll.

00:57:47.480 --> 00:57:48.440
Shadle.

00:57:48.440 --> 00:57:49.280
Aye.

00:57:49.280 --> 00:57:50.100
Sanders.

00:57:53.520 --> 00:57:54.400
Aye.

00:57:54.400 --> 00:57:55.240
Sellers.

00:57:55.240 --> 00:57:56.060
Aye.

00:57:56.060 --> 00:57:56.900
Klemm.

00:57:56.900 --> 00:57:57.740
Aye.

00:57:57.740 --> 00:57:58.580
Johnson.

00:57:58.580 --> 00:57:59.400
Aye.

00:57:59.400 --> 00:58:00.240
Simmons.

00:58:00.240 --> 00:58:21.480
No. Parker? Aye. Stacy? Aye. And the ordinance passes 7-1. Item number 9 is the first reading

00:58:21.480 --> 00:58:27.080
of Ordinance 2025-56. Could you please read this? Ordinance amending chapters 1248 and

00:58:27.080 --> 00:58:32.280
1250 of the Zoning Code of the City of Freeport concerning ground-mounted solar arrays.

00:58:32.280 --> 00:58:33.880
Director Duckman.

00:58:33.880 --> 00:58:36.120
Thank you, Madam Mayor.

00:58:36.120 --> 00:58:42.840
Staff had been directed by the City of Freeport Planning Commission to move forward with a

00:58:42.840 --> 00:58:49.620
text amendment to change our zoning code for the ground-mounted solar arrays.

00:58:49.620 --> 00:58:52.079
And so, a little background here.

00:58:52.079 --> 00:59:00.880
our Planning Commission in its last two it's last we had two solar ground mounted solar

00:59:00.880 --> 00:59:07.400
projects where our Planning Commission voted on in residential districts and those two

00:59:07.400 --> 00:59:15.320
they voted against voted it down and through much discussion what was brought up was that

00:59:15.320 --> 00:59:19.920
our Planning Commission doesn't feel that in residential neighborhoods or in our smaller

00:59:19.920 --> 00:59:49.920
and others.

00:59:49.920 --> 00:59:58.920
August 14th and the Planning Commission made a recommendation with these changes by a vote of 5 to 0 with zero abstentions.

00:59:58.920 --> 01:00:06.920
to zero with zero abstentions. And in line with our Planning Commission, staff is recommending moving this forward.

01:00:06.920 --> 01:00:08.920
Is there such a motion?

01:00:08.920 --> 01:00:09.920
So moved.

01:00:09.920 --> 01:00:10.920
Second.

01:00:10.920 --> 01:00:16.920
There will be a motion made by Alderman Klemm, seconded by Alderman Sellers. Discussion on this ordinance?

01:00:16.920 --> 01:00:19.920
Alderman Sanders?

01:00:19.920 --> 01:00:36.720
Director Duckman, give me the, you said there was a vote of 5-0-0.

01:00:36.720 --> 01:00:37.720
Yes.

01:00:37.720 --> 01:00:38.720
Correct.

01:00:38.720 --> 01:00:40.880
And who was the five?

01:00:40.880 --> 01:00:45.119
I could get those names for you by the time we have our second reading.

01:00:45.119 --> 01:00:46.119
Okay.

01:00:46.119 --> 01:00:49.519
And what was the opinion of the public about this?

01:00:49.519 --> 01:00:56.519
there was no major public comment here about this and I would say that in

01:00:56.519 --> 01:01:01.720
general when we talk about the special use when we're talking about these

01:01:01.720 --> 01:01:06.480
special use permits for solar I would say overwhelmingly the neighbors don't

01:01:06.480 --> 01:01:11.000
want it essentially what they're saying at these zoning hearings is I live in a

01:01:11.000 --> 01:01:14.320
residential neighborhood I don't want to wake up looking at solar panels in my

01:01:14.320 --> 01:01:23.500
and I. I, I, I, I, that's what I was listening to. Yes, yes. And so, uh, the, the pursuit

01:01:23.500 --> 01:01:30.340
or are we trying to push this agenda that the solar system wants, uh, company wants

01:01:30.340 --> 01:01:36.460
to try to impose upon the general public with this service is basically what we're listening

01:01:36.460 --> 01:01:43.599
to. I do. Well, the Planning Commission is saying that they don't want, based on what

01:01:43.599 --> 01:01:49.280
what they've heard in special use permit hearings that they from the community that they don't

01:01:49.280 --> 01:01:56.139
they no longer want to have it allowed in our residential districts you know some statistics

01:01:56.139 --> 01:02:00.720
here you would still be able to do it as a rooftop you would still be able to by right

01:02:00.720 --> 01:02:06.320
put the solar panels on your roof what we're talking about is going into your backyard

01:02:06.320 --> 01:02:11.320
in a residential neighborhood and installing solar panels on the ground so instead of having

01:02:11.320 --> 01:02:18.599
You know, folks that walk out of their backyard and see grass or a shed or garage you would see essentially solar panels.

01:02:19.119 --> 01:02:30.440
Okay, so that won't impose upon those that... well, this is not a blanket slate for no solar panels for any residents.

01:02:30.480 --> 01:02:32.480
You would still be able to put it on the roof.

01:02:32.480 --> 01:02:33.480
You can't? Okay.

01:02:33.639 --> 01:02:35.880
Any other discussion?

01:02:36.960 --> 01:02:37.960
Alderman Stacey?

01:02:37.960 --> 01:02:47.559
You know, I've said this before, and it concerns me that we're willing to do it for some but

01:02:47.559 --> 01:02:49.320
not for all.

01:02:49.320 --> 01:02:56.760
We just agreed to have a church, an area at this church, they wanted it on the ground.

01:02:56.760 --> 01:03:03.460
Last year there was a couple homes in their backyard, they wanted it on the ground.

01:03:03.460 --> 01:03:13.139
and so now we're wanting to take away the ability to have that variance so that it can't be put

01:03:13.139 --> 01:03:22.059
on the ground, however, we did it for some.

01:03:22.059 --> 01:03:23.059
Is there a question there?

01:03:23.059 --> 01:03:24.059
Are you asking me?

01:03:24.059 --> 01:03:29.019
Yeah, how do you determine why do it for some and not do it for all?

01:03:29.019 --> 01:03:31.139
Again that's what a special use permit is.

01:03:31.139 --> 01:03:36.700
So what you currently have is anybody who would like to in a residential neighborhood would

01:03:36.700 --> 01:03:41.900
like to install solar panels in their backyard.

01:03:41.900 --> 01:03:46.860
They have to go through a hearing with the Zoning Board of Appeals, Planning Commission

01:03:46.860 --> 01:03:52.740
and then ultimately presented to council and that's why currently you are voting with your

01:03:52.740 --> 01:03:57.260
other fellow council members on whether or not somebody can have it.

01:03:57.260 --> 01:03:59.700
That's what's happening right now.

01:03:59.700 --> 01:04:09.539
This proposed ordinance says everybody is no. There is no longer a council vote on it. So

01:04:09.539 --> 01:04:13.380
when you're talking about same for some and keeping it the same for all, voting on this

01:04:13.380 --> 01:04:20.500
ordinance makes it the same for all. It takes away the discretion. It makes it fair.

01:04:20.500 --> 01:04:23.260
But we've already allowed some.

01:04:23.260 --> 01:04:24.260
Correct.

01:04:24.260 --> 01:04:25.260
Yes, you have.

01:04:25.260 --> 01:04:40.260
and so now to say Sally got it but Jane can't and if we vote yes on this ordinance then we're saying Sally beat the punch, Jane didn't make it.

01:04:40.260 --> 01:04:51.260
Yes, you are correct. That's exactly what this ordinance is saying is that our Planning Commission has reviewed an event through the past two, the past two hearings that they've heard.

01:04:51.260 --> 01:04:56.440
and others, and they voted against it and they don't see it in line with our zoning

01:04:56.440 --> 01:05:01.980
and with our land use because of the complaints mainly of our public at these hearings and

01:05:01.980 --> 01:05:02.980
the neighbors.

01:05:02.980 --> 01:05:04.980
Alderman Sanders, would you like your second time?

01:05:04.980 --> 01:05:05.980
Yeah.

01:05:05.980 --> 01:05:10.340
So, there is an ordinance is what you're declaring at this point.

01:05:10.340 --> 01:05:16.860
There is an ordinance involved in the process for people to make an educated decision or

01:05:16.860 --> 01:05:20.220
determining their opinions and things like that.

01:05:20.220 --> 01:05:28.019
and others. The ordinance should be stipulating exactly what the provisions are in that ordinance

01:05:28.019 --> 01:05:33.300
and the guidelines for that ordinance. And I'm just wondering, have the people been educated

01:05:33.300 --> 01:05:38.079
about this ordinance to determine whether or not the decisions that they're making and

01:05:38.079 --> 01:05:43.099
why we have an ordinance that sounds like it's imposing upon them or whatever the case

01:05:43.099 --> 01:05:44.099
and others.

01:05:44.099 --> 01:05:46.099
I'm not sure what your case is, but I understand what you're saying.

01:05:46.099 --> 01:05:53.860
What you're saying is the Planning Board has nullified the whole concept.

01:05:53.860 --> 01:05:59.400
And so the next move is for the solar system is to what, move out of the City of Freeport

01:05:59.400 --> 01:06:02.340
to move on or how does that work?

01:06:02.340 --> 01:06:03.340
No.

01:06:03.340 --> 01:06:09.420
So essentially what, on August 14th we had a public hearing that was publicly noticed

01:06:09.420 --> 01:06:15.699
and it was discussed and this amendment for an ordinance change was discussed and it was

01:06:15.699 --> 01:06:21.860
proposed to bring it to council for a vote and that's essentially what happened there.

01:06:21.860 --> 01:06:27.420
Your solar companies are going to still be able to put solar panels on roofs.

01:06:27.420 --> 01:06:29.059
They're still going to be able to do that.

01:06:29.059 --> 01:06:31.579
There's no change to that.

01:06:31.579 --> 01:06:36.420
What essentially this is going to do is it's going to take away the, we can give it to

01:06:36.420 --> 01:06:37.860
this one, we can give it to that one.

01:06:37.860 --> 01:07:07.860
we can give it to this one we can give it to that one because that's going to if you vote no against this you are voting to take the control to say they you know Sally can have it Mark can't that's what's going on right now if this passes you're essentially saying Sally and Mark cannot have it John can't have it no one can have it in a residential in a residential neighborhood and the reason for that is the Planning Commission is charged to make recommendations on how land use effects is in line with our comprehensive plan

01:07:07.860 --> 01:07:13.500
and they've after the past few zoning hearings they've said look we don't think

01:07:13.500 --> 01:07:18.119
this fits with what we're doing in our community and we want to remove it right

01:07:18.119 --> 01:07:22.400
and that's what they're proposing to council right now okay Darren did you

01:07:22.400 --> 01:07:29.380
want to add to that I'm on the Planning Commission along with many other members

01:07:29.380 --> 01:07:33.420
and this has been a unanimous decision with everybody on the Planning Committee

01:07:33.420 --> 01:07:36.579
that we are not in favor of ground-mountain solar in residential

01:07:36.579 --> 01:07:38.579
Moore, return home.

01:07:43.680 --> 01:07:45.680
Get to know the council, the council

01:07:48.800 --> 01:07:50.800
neighborhoods, it's distracting, it's

01:07:51.920 --> 01:07:53.920
obtrusive, the current ordinance reads

01:07:55.140 --> 01:07:58.559
that you can go on the rooftop, you don't have to come to the

01:07:58.559 --> 01:08:00.559
council.

01:08:01.460 --> 01:08:03.000
You only have to come to the council if you want to do

01:08:03.000 --> 01:08:07.440
who have been denied by the Planning Commission but they still have come here and you guys

01:08:07.440 --> 01:08:12.079
overruled the recommendation from the people that you're asking to review this stuff.

01:08:12.079 --> 01:08:16.819
It was reviewed in depth and I was not at the last meeting but the meeting before that

01:08:16.819 --> 01:08:21.960
that we discussed it, it was discussed for over 30 minutes and everyone there was unanimous

01:08:21.960 --> 01:08:28.760
that they didn't want to see ground mounted in residential zoned properties.

01:08:28.760 --> 01:08:34.960
Now, again, there's a difference between residential properties and these commercial developments.

01:08:34.960 --> 01:08:37.159
It's two different ordinances, right?

01:08:37.159 --> 01:08:41.720
So we're just talking about household properties in town.

01:08:41.720 --> 01:08:43.680
That's all we're discussing at this.

01:08:43.680 --> 01:08:49.539
And we're saying as a group, and I agree with it, that we don't want to have that option.

01:08:49.539 --> 01:08:53.319
It's cheaper for the solar companies to stick a pole in the ground and put solar panels

01:08:53.319 --> 01:08:55.100
on it than to put it on the roof.

01:08:55.100 --> 01:08:58.659
That's the option they're going to choose every time if they can get it.

01:08:58.659 --> 01:09:02.659
We don't even want to review those at the Planning Commission anymore. That's why we're asking for this.

01:09:02.659 --> 01:09:08.659
Alderman Sanders, you've already spoke twice. Alderman Stacy, would you like your second time?

01:09:08.659 --> 01:09:14.659
I didn't ask you to not speak again. I did not ask you to let me speak my second time.

01:09:14.659 --> 01:09:18.659
659 and 704. Wow.

01:09:18.659 --> 01:09:28.659
Darren, last year you came to council. There was a home that wanted these panels on the ground.

01:09:28.659 --> 01:09:47.659
You talked about how there was no endangerment to anything or anybody and twice, at least twice last year we approved and voted for ground panels.

01:09:47.659 --> 01:09:56.500
there was a home no I'm telling you because you came to council and you spoke

01:09:56.500 --> 01:10:00.779
about they're not being high

01:10:00.779 --> 01:10:07.059
Fowl, they're not being harmful and- No, I believe you're confusing the landfill

01:10:07.059 --> 01:10:12.739
solar project with residential. The residential ones, to my knowledge, have all been turned

01:10:12.739 --> 01:10:16.739
down. Alderman Sellers.

01:10:16.739 --> 01:10:21.380
Wait, Duckman was speaking. Go ahead.

01:10:21.380 --> 01:10:24.300
I gave the floor to Alderman Sellers. Go ahead.

01:10:24.300 --> 01:10:31.340
So I think she's talking about when we okayed the property for Ted Oatendall.

01:10:31.340 --> 01:10:36.460
But if you saw his land, it's totally, it's totally different.

01:10:36.460 --> 01:10:39.960
It's not, it's acres of land.

01:10:39.960 --> 01:10:43.739
So it's not where he has a house next door and a house next door.

01:10:43.739 --> 01:10:44.739
It's acres of land.

01:10:44.739 --> 01:10:48.380
No, Ted was just one of two or three.

01:10:48.380 --> 01:10:51.619
Oh no, I just remember the one and it was Ted Oatendall.

01:10:51.619 --> 01:10:58.979
and then we did the church, but that's out on Pearl City Road.

01:10:58.979 --> 01:11:01.019
And I'm even talking about last year.

01:11:01.019 --> 01:11:03.259
I'm talking about what was done last year.

01:11:03.259 --> 01:11:07.259
Okay, so Director, do you have more you want to add?

01:11:07.259 --> 01:11:15.239
No, I just wanted to say Director Steekle is probably the most outspoken against residential

01:11:15.239 --> 01:11:16.239
solar.

01:11:16.239 --> 01:11:31.239
I think it goes back to Park Hills Church had a zoning hearing in 2023, might be 2024, it was two years ago though I believe, and our Planning Commission looked at that, approved it, and the neighbors have been angry about it ever since.

01:11:31.239 --> 01:11:45.239
and anytime, I will tell you, anytime, you know, moving forward from them, Director Steekle has been outspoken against how solar, ground mounted solar looks in residential neighborhoods, whether it be a large lot or not.

01:11:45.239 --> 01:11:52.239
And so he has been consistent in how solar panels fit with our land use.

01:11:52.239 --> 01:11:57.239
Essentially, he's on the side that thinks it doesn't fit in the community.

01:11:57.239 --> 01:12:12.239
So, I just want to say that to be fair, and I know that for a fact, there was one on Lincoln Boulevard that wanted to put it in their backyard. I know Director Steekle voted against that. I know he voted against the Harmony Church one.

01:12:12.239 --> 01:12:19.239
So, he's been consistent to not vote for it. That's just all I wanted to just make that point.

01:12:19.239 --> 01:12:35.239
I wanted you to speak because I thought you were going to answer my question and not take up or feel like you needed to support Darren. I wasn't being harsh with Darren. I'm just speaking.

01:12:35.239 --> 01:12:39.239
Yeah, if there's a question, I'll answer. I didn't know the question.

01:12:39.239 --> 01:12:53.239
Well, and let's remember this is first reading, so it'll be on in two weeks, so if you have more questions, you know, feel free to call, come to your weekly meetings, make notes so you can ask more questions in the next meeting.

01:12:53.239 --> 01:13:00.239
If there's no further discussion, we'll move on to item number 10, which is the adoption of Resolution 2025-101. Could you please read this?

01:13:00.239 --> 01:13:04.239
Resolution approving agreement for the purchase of Office 365.

01:13:04.239 --> 01:13:17.519
35. Thank you. Director Sutman. Thank you, Mayor. This agreement or procurement is to

01:13:17.519 --> 01:13:25.639
purchase Office 365 Productivity Suite software for all city staff, including water and sewer

01:13:25.639 --> 01:13:33.359
and police. Which one is that? Office 365. 365? Government version. Okay.

01:13:33.359 --> 01:13:43.359
I won't read the memo, pervatum, but generally it is more expensive than we have now. We're what we call an on-prem shop, is what we call ourselves.

01:13:43.359 --> 01:13:56.359
We own, the software is run locally, our servers are here, all that stuff. This is going to be a little more expensive, but there are compliance and some security wins and security losses with it.

01:13:56.359 --> 01:14:02.599
it's kind of the industry trend is going this way it helps us out with a lot more

01:14:02.599 --> 01:14:08.960
integrations with future software so we get for the city and that's kind of the

01:14:08.960 --> 01:14:16.319
meat of it financially it's going to cost just under 21,000 per year which of

01:14:16.319 --> 01:14:23.599
that the city which includes fire and PD so it's not just City Hall staff will pay

01:14:23.599 --> 01:14:25.599
and

01:14:26.599 --> 01:14:27.599
other

01:14:27.599 --> 01:14:28.599
people.

01:14:28.599 --> 01:14:29.599
We pay around $17,000.

01:14:29.599 --> 01:14:30.599
Watering

01:14:30.599 --> 01:14:33.599
is the world pay around $3,700.

01:14:33.599 --> 01:14:34.599
Any questions?

01:14:34.599 --> 01:14:35.599
Is there a motion to adopt?

01:14:35.599 --> 01:14:36.599
So moved.

01:14:36.599 --> 01:14:37.599
Second.

01:14:37.599 --> 01:14:40.599
The motion made by Alderman Klemm, seconded by Alderman Shadle.

01:14:40.599 --> 01:14:41.599
Discussion on the resolution.

01:14:41.599 --> 01:14:42.599
Alderman Sanders?

01:14:42.599 --> 01:14:45.599
Yeah, what happens when you don't adopt?

01:14:45.599 --> 01:14:49.599
I mean, first and second adoption.

01:14:49.599 --> 01:14:51.599
We have to chime in on the adoption.

01:14:51.599 --> 01:14:59.559
Is it mandatory that we conclude with an adoption to accept or do we just accept things and

01:14:59.559 --> 01:15:03.199
just move on just to have it in our discussion?

01:15:03.199 --> 01:15:08.960
I'm just talking off the top of my head because you're not going to mark me down for a question.

01:15:08.960 --> 01:15:11.880
I'm not asking a question yet.

01:15:11.880 --> 01:15:17.519
So while I'm not asking a question, my whole thing is this.

01:15:17.519 --> 01:15:24.639
What made the determination for you two, you guys, to want to install a new server? Not

01:15:24.639 --> 01:15:32.399
only that, who are we? What's wrong with the old server? We don't know exactly. I'm still

01:15:32.399 --> 01:15:40.799
going because if she stops me, I have to come back again. And if we are looking at the possibility

01:15:40.799 --> 01:15:41.599
and

01:15:41.599 --> 01:15:42.799
the

01:15:42.799 --> 01:15:43.799
city of

01:15:43.799 --> 01:15:45.799
upgrading a new server.

01:15:45.799 --> 01:15:50.799
Where does the old server go with all that data information on that particular server?

01:15:50.799 --> 01:15:56.799
Because we don't want a Hillary Clinton kind of situation jumping off in the city.

01:15:56.799 --> 01:16:01.799
And so what I'm concerned about, who's safeguarding?

01:16:01.799 --> 01:16:09.799
I know you got all kind of security mechanisms in place, but who's making those determinations

01:16:09.799 --> 01:16:18.880
of servers, how many servers, one or two servers, where does all this resource information,

01:16:18.880 --> 01:16:26.479
data information is stored, does it go onto a new server that we're considering or do

01:16:26.479 --> 01:16:34.279
we dismantle the old service and who covers that and who takes care of that, those are

01:16:34.279 --> 01:16:35.279
and others.

01:16:35.279 --> 01:16:36.279
So, I just want to let you know that I'm not going to go into details of my concern because

01:16:36.279 --> 01:16:42.679
we don't want to have data running around loose throughout the city, you know, where

01:16:42.679 --> 01:16:48.039
anyone can get their hands on it and use it at their own discretion or theft, fraud or

01:16:48.039 --> 01:16:49.599
whatever the case may be.

01:16:49.599 --> 01:16:56.639
I just like to know how it's being secured and I just, I know, I know, I know service

01:16:56.639 --> 01:16:57.639
go out bad.

01:16:57.639 --> 01:17:07.840
I'm stating my comment my yeah and and I know they go bad I know that it's time

01:17:07.840 --> 01:17:12.039
for upgrading with new software and all of these kinds of things to be put in

01:17:12.039 --> 01:17:17.880
place but I just want to know how we're gonna go about the data security of

01:17:17.880 --> 01:17:23.399
those servers that we want to replace. Director Sutman would you like to answer

01:17:23.399 --> 01:17:30.239
answer all those questions yes thank you so this is the off next is the server

01:17:30.239 --> 01:17:36.960
should I just answer it now so when I do do the server they'll be running parallel

01:17:36.960 --> 01:17:40.599
for a short time while the data is copied over and then yes when that old

01:17:40.599 --> 01:17:44.799
server is decommissioned whether it goes on the surplus auction or whatever the

01:17:44.799 --> 01:17:51.319
drives will be wiped and I'm assuming shredded per standard okay alderman

01:17:51.319 --> 01:18:07.519
Stacey. Last year we spent thousands of dollars for a new system and now here not

01:18:07.519 --> 01:18:17.719
you personally but here you come again twenty one thousand. What did we not get

01:18:17.719 --> 01:18:25.319
last year that we need this year. So last year kind of my big IT purchase was a new physical

01:18:25.319 --> 01:18:31.799
server box, a host server for the police department. They kind of have their own NOC, Network Operation

01:18:31.799 --> 01:18:38.880
Center. This is for Office 325 and we'll get into there's another network operation center

01:18:38.880 --> 01:18:47.439
for the city. So what we bought last year, think of that as the processing and the storage.

01:19:17.439 --> 01:19:18.439
and many more.

01:19:18.439 --> 01:19:19.439
I think that's what we're trying to do.

01:19:19.439 --> 01:19:20.439
I think that's what we're trying to do.

01:19:20.439 --> 01:19:21.439
I think that's what we're trying to do.

01:19:21.439 --> 01:19:23.679
We're trying to do it for the administrative bodies or other branches within the city or

01:19:23.679 --> 01:19:30.979
how we're covering all of this because I'm looking at a $27,000 cost here and I'm like,

01:19:30.979 --> 01:19:33.880
okay, what are we getting?

01:19:33.880 --> 01:19:38.399
What kind of a breakdown are we getting for each department?

01:19:38.399 --> 01:19:41.679
Who's all being served with these whole servers?

01:19:41.679 --> 01:20:00.679
Without going into the entire network topology for security reasons, this will serve, yes, administrative, city hall, basically all staff, other than the police, they're on a different domain.

01:20:00.679 --> 01:20:04.679
We're on a different domain, so we keep the hardware separate, too.

01:20:04.679 --> 01:20:12.679
But it runs application servers, your basic network controls, as well as some storage.

01:20:12.679 --> 01:20:14.679
Any other discussion?

01:20:14.679 --> 01:20:17.679
Like the water department and all that?

01:20:17.679 --> 01:20:19.679
Nothing goes to the cloud, right?

01:20:19.679 --> 01:20:21.679
We're not, thank you.

01:20:21.679 --> 01:20:24.679
I was hoping you said, no.

01:20:24.679 --> 01:20:35.179
and the different departments like with Daring, Water Works Department, all that is connected with this?

01:20:35.179 --> 01:20:36.179
Yes.

01:20:38.179 --> 01:20:39.179
Anyone else?

01:20:41.179 --> 01:20:43.679
Seeing none, Madam Clerk, would you please take the roll?

01:20:44.179 --> 01:20:45.179
Shadle?

01:20:45.179 --> 01:20:45.679
Aye.

01:20:45.679 --> 01:20:46.679
Sanders?

01:20:46.679 --> 01:20:47.179
Aye.

01:20:47.179 --> 01:20:47.679
Sellers?

01:20:47.679 --> 01:20:48.179
Aye.

01:20:48.179 --> 01:20:49.179
Klemm?

01:20:49.179 --> 01:20:49.679
Aye.

01:20:49.679 --> 01:20:50.179
Johnson?

01:20:50.179 --> 01:20:50.679
Aye.

01:20:50.679 --> 01:20:51.679
Simmons?

01:20:51.679 --> 01:20:52.679
Aye.

01:20:52.679 --> 01:20:53.679
Parker?

01:20:53.679 --> 01:20:54.179
Aye.

01:20:54.179 --> 01:21:03.059
Stacy. No. The resolution is adopted seven to one. Item number 11 is the adoption of

01:21:03.059 --> 01:21:07.939
resolution 2025-102. Could you please read this? Resolution approving the purchase of

01:21:07.939 --> 01:21:14.259
a host server for the city from CDW-G. Thank you, Director Shetman. Thank you. So this

01:21:14.259 --> 01:21:20.939
is for the new host server for the city. We covered a lot of it in the questions from

01:21:20.939 --> 01:21:26.539
and the last one, but this is just to refresh the server that was bought in 2017.

01:21:26.539 --> 01:21:30.739
The reason for replacing it is the hardware is getting older, the incidents of data failure

01:21:30.739 --> 01:21:33.339
go up and up every year.

01:21:33.339 --> 01:21:37.699
Knock on wood, we haven't had any with this server, it's treated us very well.

01:21:37.699 --> 01:21:43.279
But as any machine you have in your life, it'll wear down over time and start to break.

01:21:43.279 --> 01:21:48.859
With computer systems, you also have to worry about things like firmware support, and so

01:21:48.859 --> 01:21:49.859
and others.

01:21:49.859 --> 01:21:50.859
We need a motion to adopt.

01:21:50.859 --> 01:21:51.859
So moved.

01:21:51.859 --> 01:21:52.859
Second.

01:21:52.859 --> 01:22:07.859
We have a motion made by Alderman Shadle, seconded by Alderman Klemm.

01:22:07.859 --> 01:22:08.859
Discussion.

01:22:08.859 --> 01:22:09.859
Alderman Sanders.

01:22:09.859 --> 01:22:10.859
Yeah.

01:22:10.859 --> 01:22:12.979
What kind of servers are they?

01:22:12.979 --> 01:22:15.619
Are they Mac or PC, Android?

01:22:15.619 --> 01:22:16.619
No, not Android.

01:22:16.619 --> 01:22:18.459
I know you want to do an Android.

01:22:18.459 --> 01:22:21.579
but what kind of operating systems are we looking at

01:22:21.579 --> 01:22:24.539
when we're talking about host servers?

01:22:24.539 --> 01:22:29.539
Where we're working, what operating systems are we using?

01:22:31.699 --> 01:22:36.699
I never heard of a department area using Mac servers

01:22:37.699 --> 01:22:40.459
or whatever or anything like that.

01:22:40.459 --> 01:22:42.879
What kind of we're indulging in?

01:22:43.799 --> 01:22:46.059
Yeah, it's what was spec to us was a Dell server.

01:22:46.059 --> 01:22:47.579
It'll be a Windows environment.

01:22:47.579 --> 01:22:48.579
Okay.

01:22:48.579 --> 01:22:53.779
Pretty standard, basic, small business type stuff, but with the government compliance.

01:22:53.779 --> 01:22:54.779
Okay.

01:22:54.779 --> 01:22:55.779
Okay.

01:22:55.779 --> 01:22:56.779
Alderman Stacey.

01:22:56.779 --> 01:22:57.779
Okay.

01:22:57.779 --> 01:23:12.259
So, not counting the 21,000 you just asked for, now you're asking for another 27,000.

01:23:12.259 --> 01:23:14.299
Did you budget any of this?

01:23:14.299 --> 01:23:15.299
Yes.

01:23:15.299 --> 01:23:27.299
Just to clarify, the last one we just passed, that was for Office 365. It's like when you're at work and you go on your email or a spreadsheet, that's what the last one was. This one's an actual physical box.

01:23:27.299 --> 01:23:29.299
But you budgeted?

01:23:29.299 --> 01:23:31.299
Yes, both are budgeted.

01:23:31.299 --> 01:23:38.299
Any other discussion? Seeing none, Madam Clerk, please take the roll.

01:23:38.299 --> 01:23:39.299
Shadle?

01:23:39.299 --> 01:23:40.299
Aye.

01:23:40.299 --> 01:23:41.299
Sanders?

01:23:41.299 --> 01:23:42.299
Aye.

01:23:42.299 --> 01:23:43.299
Sellers?

01:23:43.299 --> 01:23:44.299
Aye.

01:23:44.299 --> 01:23:50.659
Simmons, Parker, and Stacy.

01:23:50.659 --> 01:23:51.779
No.

01:23:51.779 --> 01:23:54.979
The resolution is adopted, 7 to 1.

01:23:54.979 --> 01:23:59.419
Item number 12 is the adoption of resolution 2025104.

01:23:59.419 --> 01:24:00.739
Could you please read this?

01:24:00.739 --> 01:24:03.659
Resolution authorizing emergency water main repairs

01:24:03.659 --> 01:24:06.059
by Fisher Excavating on Warren Avenue.

01:24:06.059 --> 01:24:07.459
Thank you, Manager Boyer.

01:24:07.459 --> 01:24:08.619
Thank you, Your Honor.

01:24:08.619 --> 01:24:12.899
Recently, we've had multiple failures on Warren Avenue,

01:24:12.899 --> 01:24:16.379
approximately eight breaks in the last several months.

01:24:16.379 --> 01:24:18.979
This is a six inch cast iron pipe

01:24:18.979 --> 01:24:22.659
that was installed in 1931 and it's a known issue

01:24:22.659 --> 01:24:25.299
in terms of its vintage age.

01:24:26.179 --> 01:24:29.479
Staff has been investigating this particular area

01:24:29.479 --> 01:24:32.119
and is requesting emergency water main replacement

01:24:32.119 --> 01:24:34.579
on Warren, approximately 800 feet.

01:24:35.559 --> 01:24:38.799
That would also ensure replacement of water main gate valves,

01:24:38.799 --> 01:24:41.399
fire hydrants and water service connections

01:24:41.399 --> 01:24:43.199
for the right-of-way.

01:24:43.199 --> 01:24:47.519
The replacement cost is estimated between $230,000 and $250,000

01:24:47.519 --> 01:24:50.519
based on unit price bid and staff requests

01:24:50.519 --> 01:24:53.479
moving forward with Fisher excavating

01:24:53.479 --> 01:24:59.079
to replace the aging water main on Warren.

01:24:59.079 --> 01:25:00.919
Is there a motion to adopt?

01:25:00.919 --> 01:25:01.799
Second.

01:25:01.799 --> 01:25:04.959
Any motion made by Alderman Shadle,

01:25:04.959 --> 01:25:07.279
seconded by Alderman Sellers?

01:25:07.279 --> 01:25:09.759
Alderman Sanders, did you have your hand up?

01:25:09.759 --> 01:25:29.259
You engineered this project, and we have not done a scheduling replacement of the water

01:25:29.259 --> 01:25:31.199
main on Warren.

01:25:31.199 --> 01:25:38.279
I recall that in that area, they did have a lot of deficiencies in those water mains

01:25:38.279 --> 01:25:45.519
down through there and I'm wondering did you cover all aspect of that area for replacement

01:25:45.519 --> 01:25:52.879
and whether or not the material that we're going to use to replace it, it's not going

01:25:52.879 --> 01:25:59.519
to be the old past material that's existing there now.

01:25:59.519 --> 01:26:07.239
So we should be making all new connections through that area so we don't have to have

01:26:07.239 --> 01:26:09.679
and I have had these kind of failures.

01:26:09.679 --> 01:26:12.479
We're spending $250,000 or whatever

01:26:12.479 --> 01:26:14.399
the amount comes out to.

01:26:15.479 --> 01:26:19.479
But my thing is we have looked at all of the area

01:26:21.959 --> 01:26:26.119
of the last time anything was installed in the past

01:26:27.559 --> 01:26:29.659
to see if it needs to be brought up to date

01:26:29.659 --> 01:26:32.879
because the new lines and everything

01:26:32.879 --> 01:26:35.079
can affect old existing line.

01:26:35.079 --> 01:26:36.079
and so on.

01:26:36.079 --> 01:26:48.799
And so I'm just wondering how we're looking at that aspect of it and moving forward and

01:26:48.799 --> 01:26:54.159
I would like to move forward with that because I don't want to see nobody out at four in

01:26:54.159 --> 01:27:00.839
the morning with water main breaks at temperatures 20 below zero and all of these kinds of things

01:27:00.839 --> 01:27:00.939
and

01:27:00.939 --> 01:27:01.139
John.

01:27:01.139 --> 01:27:04.639
We're going to have to do more things because that can possibly happen if we don't move forward

01:27:04.639 --> 01:27:05.119
with it.

01:27:05.119 --> 01:27:10.539
So yeah, I just wanted to hear what you had to say in regards to that whole general thing.

01:27:10.539 --> 01:27:14.439
Just making sure you finished all your thoughts so that way there is no back and forth.

01:27:14.439 --> 01:27:14.659
Yes, I did.

01:27:14.659 --> 01:27:14.859
You good?

01:27:14.859 --> 01:27:14.979
All right.

01:27:14.979 --> 01:27:15.199
I'm good.

01:27:15.199 --> 01:27:16.639
Darren, you want to answer those?

01:27:16.639 --> 01:27:18.279
So sure.

01:27:18.279 --> 01:27:22.699
The replacement this year will only be 800 feet, so it's from Gleena De Cable, which

01:27:22.699 --> 01:27:24.499
is shown on the map.

01:27:24.499 --> 01:27:28.359
That's all we have money for this year, so we can't afford to do the rest of it.

01:27:28.359 --> 01:27:58.359
We'll have to program the rest in the section that we're replacing has had the vast majority of breaks. That's why we're doing that 800 feet. It also affects a couple of businesses there on the corner of Galena, the grooming store, the barbershop that are frequently without water. We have had eight breaks on this in the last recent months. We made some pressure changes to try to slow some of the breaks down. But on the last break that we had, we actually took out about a 20 foot section

01:27:58.359 --> 01:28:02.359
and some of the worst Maine that I've seen in a very long time so I'm

01:28:02.359 --> 01:28:07.759
recommending replacement now we have very good prices from Fishers they're

01:28:07.759 --> 01:28:11.799
working on Harvey right now and if we approve this tonight when they're done at

01:28:11.799 --> 01:28:16.959
Harvey they will go to Warren. Alderman Sanders you didn't tell me what kind of

01:28:16.959 --> 01:28:24.259
material that was going to be installed this is 1931 cast iron and we're gonna

01:28:24.259 --> 01:28:30.259
We're gonna go out and see if we can find some from 1910 and put that in, just to make sure, you know.

01:28:30.259 --> 01:28:34.259
What about the, do we have, is there, is there more efficient?

01:28:34.259 --> 01:28:35.259
Alderman Sanders is plastic.

01:28:35.259 --> 01:28:36.259
Yeah, oh, okay.

01:28:36.259 --> 01:28:42.259
I'm kidding, we're putting in, our city standard is C909, PVC, pressure rated, 2000.

01:28:42.259 --> 01:28:45.259
Thank you, that's what I was waiting for.

01:28:45.259 --> 01:28:47.259
Is there any other discussion?

01:28:47.259 --> 01:28:49.259
Alderman Stacey.

01:28:49.259 --> 01:29:00.259
What is going to be affected from this in our street department that's already been established for this year?

01:29:00.259 --> 01:29:06.259
So as it's notated in the financials, it won't affect anything that we're doing.

01:29:06.259 --> 01:29:12.259
We're suggesting taking this out of reserve funds to get this done because it's been such a problem

01:29:12.259 --> 01:29:18.259
and we've spent so much money repairing it already this season that we just don't feel like it's practical.

01:29:48.259 --> 01:29:53.059
Significant and the last time we were digging it up before we even got the street patched. So

01:29:54.099 --> 01:30:00.019
it needs to be done. Alderman Johnson. He answered my question. I was wondering how much one repair

01:30:00.019 --> 01:30:00.519
Costs.

01:30:00.519 --> 01:30:30.439
Plumb, Johnson, Simmons, Parker, Stacey, The resolution is adopted.

01:30:30.439 --> 01:30:38.439
Number 13, adoption of Resolution 2025-105. Could you please read this?

01:30:38.439 --> 01:30:44.439
Resolution approving purchase of 24-foot equipment trailer from Knight Equipment for water and sewer construction equipment.

01:30:44.439 --> 01:30:45.439
Manager Boyer.

01:30:45.439 --> 01:30:51.439
Thank you, Your Honor. City crews use equipment, trucks, and trailers to move equipment around to different projects.

01:30:51.439 --> 01:30:56.439
We have a utility trailer that was purchased in 1988.

01:30:56.439 --> 01:31:00.079
It's had multiple repairs of the frame and it recently failed

01:31:00.879 --> 01:31:05.639
Staff is requesting move forward with the purchase of a new 18,000 pound

01:31:06.519 --> 01:31:07.879
equipment trailer

01:31:07.879 --> 01:31:10.679
the amount of the from night equipment is

01:31:11.359 --> 01:31:18.119
$13,995 for a 24 foot trailer and staff requests City Council move forward with this

01:31:18.319 --> 01:31:20.679
Is there a motion to adopt? So moved

01:31:20.679 --> 01:31:27.959
second a motion made by Alderman Shadle seconded by Alderman Sellers discussion

01:31:27.959 --> 01:31:35.159
Alderman Sanders oh yeah we did you did go up a bit so am I correct on that one

01:31:35.159 --> 01:31:40.559
that we we received three we received three prices and this was by far the

01:31:40.559 --> 01:31:46.639
cheapest we're also going with a 20-23 model to save money still new and what's

01:31:46.639 --> 01:31:47.639
and Stacey.

01:31:47.639 --> 01:31:48.639
What's the cost?

01:31:48.639 --> 01:31:50.639
It's in the memo, $13,995.

01:31:50.639 --> 01:31:51.639
Okay.

01:31:51.639 --> 01:31:54.639
Alderman Stacey?

01:31:54.639 --> 01:31:57.639
£18,000.

01:31:57.639 --> 01:32:02.639
Our street can't even handle that.

01:32:02.639 --> 01:32:05.639
Well, I would hope it could, but yes.

01:32:05.639 --> 01:32:11.639
This is for hauling the skid steer around, which weighs about £12,000.

01:32:11.639 --> 01:32:14.639
Our streets are rated for £60,000 to £80,000.

01:32:14.639 --> 01:32:44.639
60 to 80. And this is in the budget? Yes. Any other discussion? How long does a trailer like this last? Quite a long time. The last one was from 1988, so I think we've got every nickel out of it. We probably could, but it's unusable at this part. It's scrap. Right now, the crews are requesting this. We're sharing a trailer between water, sewer, and streets.

01:32:44.639 --> 01:32:52.639
and with the street work and everything we got on, it's just a hassle. They're losing a lot of time chasing around town, trying to get equipment moved around.

01:32:52.639 --> 01:32:54.639
Madam Clerk, please take the roll.

01:32:54.639 --> 01:32:55.639
Shadle? Aye.

01:32:55.639 --> 01:32:56.639
Sanders? Aye.

01:32:56.639 --> 01:32:57.639
Sellers? Aye.

01:32:57.639 --> 01:32:58.639
Klemm? Aye.

01:32:58.639 --> 01:32:59.639
Johnson? Aye.

01:32:59.639 --> 01:33:00.639
Simmons? Aye.

01:33:00.639 --> 01:33:01.639
Parker? Aye.

01:33:01.639 --> 01:33:02.639
And Stacy? Aye.

01:33:02.639 --> 01:33:08.639
The resolution is adopted 8-0.

01:33:08.639 --> 01:33:13.639
Item number 14 is adoption of resolution 2025-107. Could you please read this?

01:33:13.639 --> 01:33:19.199
Resolution authorizing its support to the Illinois Department of Transportation's Safe Routes to School program.

01:33:19.599 --> 01:33:21.119
Manager Boyer.

01:33:21.119 --> 01:33:28.000
Thank you, Your Honor. The City of Freeport has several school crossings that are dated and require equipment repair and replacement for

01:33:28.119 --> 01:33:31.279
the safety of school children crossing the busy streets.

01:33:32.079 --> 01:33:34.759
The Public Works staff has identified a

01:33:35.759 --> 01:33:41.519
STRS, that's Safe Routes to School State Grant opportunity to fund the replacement of this equipment.

01:33:41.519 --> 01:33:48.559
and the IDOT Department of Transportation has a safe routes to school program that is grant

01:33:48.559 --> 01:33:52.779
opportunities for potential equipment replacements of safe school crossing equipment.

01:33:52.779 --> 01:33:58.239
The new lighting LED systems installed are solar based replacements with much brighter

01:33:58.239 --> 01:34:05.359
warning equipment and this grant if awarded would be used for $250,000 of equipment replacement.

01:34:05.359 --> 01:34:09.279
A formal resolution will be brought to City Council and must be passed as part of the

01:34:09.279 --> 01:34:39.279
and the application. And that is what we're asking for today. So as far as the Safe Routes to School key points, it's again a $250,000 maximum grant per project. There is no matching fund for the first year. And this is a competitive application. Safe Routes to School grants can also only be used for construction and safety funding. Engineering fees cannot be included in this grant award. And application deadline is October 15. And we are partnering with Freeport

01:34:39.279 --> 01:34:44.759
School District 145 on application support and staff recommends City Council that we pursue

01:34:44.759 --> 01:34:45.759
this grant opportunity.

01:34:45.759 --> 01:34:47.839
Is there a motion to adopt?

01:34:47.839 --> 01:34:48.839
Second.

01:34:48.839 --> 01:34:57.000
We have a motion made by Alderman Sellers, seconded by Alderman Johnson, Alderman Sanders.

01:34:57.000 --> 01:35:12.319
Yeah, we're venturing into a public entity to help offset or to help them to reconstruct

01:35:12.319 --> 01:35:20.199
the safety protocols for the school and if I'm not mistaken, you also mentioned the fact

01:35:20.199 --> 01:35:22.199
and others.

01:35:24.199 --> 01:35:27.199
So, I'm hoping that the school will be able to do something

01:35:27.199 --> 01:35:30.199
to help the students, to help the students get involved in

01:35:30.199 --> 01:35:35.199
the project, that they will also help funding. Is it help

01:35:35.199 --> 01:35:41.199
funding the project? Or are we just relying on a grant to

01:35:41.199 --> 01:35:45.199
make that distinction? So, my whole thing is when I'm

01:35:45.199 --> 01:35:49.199
hearing things, it sounds like if we're getting a grant, where

01:35:49.199 --> 01:35:55.639
and I. We're going to be functioning with the city to couple this project together with

01:35:55.639 --> 01:36:03.639
them. Who is, is there discounts, is there fundings other than grants that is going to

01:36:03.639 --> 01:36:10.000
help offset this project? Is that what we're looking at?

01:36:10.000 --> 01:36:15.599
Well, what we're looking at pursuing a $250,000 grant to upgrade crossing signals in front

01:36:15.599 --> 01:36:19.839
One of the schools that are in the right of way, we're actually just seeking the school

01:36:19.839 --> 01:36:25.439
district support in the pursuit of this outside funding so that we can improve those crossing

01:36:25.439 --> 01:36:26.439
guards.

01:36:26.439 --> 01:36:27.439
Right.

01:36:27.439 --> 01:36:28.439
All right.

01:36:28.439 --> 01:36:29.439
Anyone else?

01:36:29.439 --> 01:36:31.519
Madam Clerk, please take the roll.

01:36:31.519 --> 01:36:32.519
Shadle?

01:36:32.519 --> 01:36:33.519
Aye.

01:36:33.519 --> 01:36:34.519
Sanders?

01:36:34.519 --> 01:36:35.519
Aye.

01:36:35.519 --> 01:36:36.519
Sellers?

01:36:36.519 --> 01:36:37.519
Aye.

01:36:37.519 --> 01:36:38.519
Klemm?

01:36:38.519 --> 01:36:39.519
Aye.

01:36:39.519 --> 01:36:40.519
Johnson?

01:36:40.519 --> 01:36:41.519
Aye.

01:36:41.519 --> 01:36:42.519
Simmons?

01:36:42.519 --> 01:36:43.519
Aye.

01:36:43.519 --> 01:36:44.519
Parker?

01:36:44.519 --> 01:36:45.519
Aye.

01:36:45.519 --> 01:36:50.519
Item number 15 is the Adoption of Resolution 2025-108. Could you please read this?

01:36:50.519 --> 01:36:57.519
Resolution authorizing its support to the Illinois Department of Natural Resources Open Space Land Acquisition Development Grant.

01:36:57.519 --> 01:36:59.519
Manager Boyer.

01:36:59.519 --> 01:37:07.519
Thank you, Your Honor. The Illinois Department of Natural Resources administers the Open Space Land Acquisition and Development Grant, or OSLAD,

01:37:07.519 --> 01:37:13.119
Oslad, grant program to support local outdoor recreation projects.

01:37:13.119 --> 01:37:18.119
The City intends to submit for an Oslad application for the Pocket Park on West Stevenson, formerly

01:37:18.119 --> 01:37:24.399
the ABETS Books location, and place resolution of authority to satisfy the Illinois Department

01:37:24.399 --> 01:37:27.879
of Natural Resources application requirements.

01:37:27.879 --> 01:37:32.839
Oslad requires a governing body resolution authorizing application submittal and acknowledging

01:37:32.839 --> 01:37:34.039
program conditions.

01:37:34.039 --> 01:38:04.039
funding is awarded. The attached resolution uses the IDNR prescribed language for Auslan applications, and passing the resolution enables staff and other partners to finalize and submit the application ahead of the program. The city is listed by the IDNR as a disadvantaged community which allows an application for up to $600,000 in Auslan funding without any local match. Greater Freeport Partnership received recently an award of $50,000 through the T-Mobile grant. It will also be used in the funding

01:38:04.039 --> 01:38:08.879
of this package an application deadline September 30th so staff is targeting

01:38:08.879 --> 01:38:14.519
Council's action on September 2nd today to meet submittal timing. There's no

01:38:14.519 --> 01:38:19.199
immediate general fund impact for the application resolution as a disadvantaged

01:38:19.199 --> 01:38:23.759
community applicant the city may request up to 600,000 with no local match

01:38:23.759 --> 01:38:29.679
under the OZLAD. The GFP T-Mobile $50,000 grant contribution will further

01:38:29.679 --> 01:38:36.159
Miller, Enhance the Scope, and staff recommends moving forward with allowing staff to pursue

01:38:36.159 --> 01:38:37.159
this grant.

01:38:37.159 --> 01:38:38.559
Is there a motion to adopt?

01:38:38.559 --> 01:38:39.559
So moved.

01:38:39.559 --> 01:38:40.559
Second.

01:38:40.559 --> 01:38:45.199
A motion made by Alderman Shadle, seconded by Alderman Sellers.

01:38:45.199 --> 01:38:46.199
Discussion on the grant.

01:38:46.199 --> 01:38:47.199
I have a question.

01:38:47.199 --> 01:38:48.199
Alderman Simmons.

01:38:48.199 --> 01:38:55.479
Is this the park in the area next to Joe's that you're speaking of, or is this another

01:38:55.479 --> 01:38:56.479
parking park?

01:38:56.479 --> 01:38:58.239
Yes, you're correct.

01:38:58.239 --> 01:39:00.239
It's Jason to Joe's.

01:39:00.239 --> 01:39:02.239
Alderman Stacy?

01:39:02.239 --> 01:39:18.239
You know, these little pocket parks does nothing for our kids in 3rd and 5th Ward.

01:39:18.239 --> 01:39:24.239
And we need a park for our kids to play in.

01:39:24.239 --> 01:39:33.239
I have said that since I've been on the council. Can we turn this into a park? Can we turn that into a park?

01:39:33.239 --> 01:39:40.239
And now this is the second time these little pocket parks have come up.

01:39:40.239 --> 01:39:45.239
We need a real park for our kids in 3rd and 5th Ward.

01:39:45.239 --> 01:39:48.239
You do realize that this is in 3rd Ward?

01:39:48.239 --> 01:39:52.239
It's a pocket park.

01:39:52.239 --> 01:40:00.539
Any other discussion? It's not a park. If there's no further discussion, Madam Clerk, please take the roll. There is. There is.

01:40:00.539 --> 01:40:24.539
I agree with Alderman. Stacy, as far as the plan that I saw for this park, it's great for the downtown community, but as far as a small playground area for the kids over in the 3rd, 5th Ward area close to the King Center, this does nothing for them.

01:40:24.539 --> 01:40:31.079
and there has already been a grant awarded for that pocket part so I'm not

01:40:31.079 --> 01:40:36.179
sure why we don't use this grant for another area in a different pocket part.

01:40:36.179 --> 01:40:44.359
Alderman Sellers? I think what no no no I think my question needs an answer. What

01:40:44.359 --> 01:40:48.779
was your question? My question is why aren't we considering any other areas

01:40:48.779 --> 01:40:52.539
where we can actually put a small playground in something like Milton

01:40:52.539 --> 01:40:58.419
Park. Well, this resolution is about approving this grant. It's not about a

01:40:58.419 --> 01:41:05.579
discussion on parks. It is though, because it's why wasn't this grant, why

01:41:05.579 --> 01:41:10.219
wasn't the application for a different area, seeing as we already got the T-Mobile

01:41:10.219 --> 01:41:15.899
grant for this specific park downtown. I'm not against the park downtown, but

01:41:15.899 --> 01:41:20.699
for this grant, why not apply for a different area?

01:41:22.539 --> 01:41:26.699
Do you want to take a shot at that?

01:41:26.699 --> 01:41:27.819
I'll take a shot at it.

01:41:27.819 --> 01:41:30.699
I know that the pocket park was discussed for probably

01:41:30.699 --> 01:41:34.419
and has had a plan associated with it for about five,

01:41:34.419 --> 01:41:37.819
well, I'd say probably five years.

01:41:37.819 --> 01:41:39.699
I know there were designs for it.

01:41:39.699 --> 01:41:43.739
And it went through several layers of grant applications.

01:41:43.739 --> 01:41:46.499
And I think certainly if there's other areas

01:41:46.499 --> 01:41:51.219
that council members or anyone from the public

01:41:51.219 --> 01:41:55.419
would like to get started on a plan get started on it you know bring it bring it

01:41:55.419 --> 01:42:00.019
to City Manager Boyer's attention and get started on the planning process and

01:42:00.019 --> 01:42:03.179
what it would take to get a park but I mean this particular pocket park I know

01:42:03.179 --> 01:42:08.459
has been in plans it has been through subject of applications for grants for

01:42:08.459 --> 01:42:12.259
at least the four years I've been here and when I started here it had already

01:42:12.259 --> 01:42:17.139
been through other iterations of planning and grant applications so I

01:42:17.139 --> 01:42:25.259
So I mean that's the short answer as to why this particular parcel is up for the grant.

01:42:25.259 --> 01:42:29.859
The other parcels and properties we're talking about certainly could be in the future.

01:42:29.859 --> 01:42:34.659
Also would like to state that the City of Freeport doesn't own many parks.

01:42:34.659 --> 01:42:38.639
I believe this might be the only one and that the Park District owns many of its parks and

01:42:38.639 --> 01:42:40.299
owns that planning process.

01:42:40.299 --> 01:42:45.539
So if there's an existing park where citizens would like to see better facilities, that's

01:42:45.539 --> 01:42:51.059
Certainly something to bring up to the Park District if there's parcels of land that the city owns that

01:42:52.739 --> 01:42:56.259
Council members would like to see maybe possibly investigated for Park

01:42:56.259 --> 01:43:01.939
I think it's a great idea and I think that's something to talk about with City Manager Boyer in your weekly meetings

01:43:02.539 --> 01:43:10.219
And you're right. It it's there bring the Park District to the table if you want to have a playground for in a certain area

01:43:10.739 --> 01:43:13.799
Alderman Sellers. Yeah, I guess that's what I was gonna say. I know that

01:43:13.799 --> 01:43:22.479
when the King Center first came there we had a small group of people that worked

01:43:22.479 --> 01:43:27.879
when George Galrap was mayor trying to get another park because they took away

01:43:27.879 --> 01:43:34.959
Henney Park and that was years ago and we were in with the Park District and I

01:43:34.959 --> 01:43:42.239
know about five years ago me and Mr. Jim Ryan we had had discussion with the guy

01:43:42.239 --> 01:43:49.179
and I have to go through the district because they have all kinds of rules and regulations

01:43:49.179 --> 01:43:52.879
on how you can use the land and what kind of land.

01:43:52.879 --> 01:44:00.359
So I do agree because I grew up in a park and I do agree that the kids need a park in

01:44:00.359 --> 01:44:07.119
that area but it's – like the Mayor said, we need to bring the park district to the

01:44:07.119 --> 01:44:12.879
Yeah, we have to go to the table or go to the Park District when they have their board meetings and talk about getting a park.

01:44:12.879 --> 01:44:13.719
Alderman Sanders?

01:44:13.719 --> 01:44:14.719
Because we do need one.

01:44:14.719 --> 01:44:36.839
I have to object to what Council just said because we have not fully done our homework when it comes to who has jurisdiction of anything that the city is administering to the public city when it comes to any entity, parks

01:44:36.839 --> 01:44:38.839
or whatever the case may be.

01:44:38.839 --> 01:44:42.039
I can't see why it is that we're consulting

01:44:42.039 --> 01:44:45.259
with the Park District because the Park District

01:44:45.259 --> 01:44:47.179
is not ever here.

01:44:47.179 --> 01:44:49.159
They're running their own scheme

01:44:49.159 --> 01:44:54.159
and we're not going to just push everything

01:44:54.239 --> 01:44:59.039
on the Park District when the grant is for the city at large.

01:44:59.039 --> 01:45:03.999
And I'm like, who's governing this idea

01:45:03.999 --> 01:45:09.599
to submit anything to the Park District to govern over it so they make determinations

01:45:09.599 --> 01:45:19.559
on how council is trying to submit recommendations and ideas for their district.

01:45:19.559 --> 01:45:26.499
And I don't think pocket parks have anything to do with the Freeport Park District when

01:45:26.499 --> 01:45:30.519
it comes to district areas.

01:45:30.519 --> 01:45:36.959
and I think if we're looking at council for consideration on how we should plan this, how

01:45:36.959 --> 01:45:42.719
we should go to the city manager and talk more about it and things of this nature and

01:45:42.719 --> 01:45:49.959
while we're doing that, there is no park district board members or staff in the midst of this

01:45:49.959 --> 01:45:56.599
conversation and so I think it's irrelevant for us to even make a suggestion that we implement

01:45:56.599 --> 01:46:03.559
and another organization or another district department or whatever that has not been involved

01:46:03.559 --> 01:46:07.439
in any of the city council's decision making.

01:46:07.439 --> 01:46:13.319
So my thing is I think it's irrelevant for them to do that and I think we should maintain

01:46:13.319 --> 01:46:20.959
a course where we collaborate with our city manager as council people to make these kinds

01:46:20.959 --> 01:46:23.679
of provisions for our district.

01:46:23.679 --> 01:46:29.959
I don't think we should have someone else having jurisdiction over our district on what we want

01:46:29.959 --> 01:46:33.559
to have in our district and so that's mine.

01:46:33.559 --> 01:46:37.919
And you are correct that it's nothing of this topic so we kind of got to get out of that

01:46:37.919 --> 01:46:40.999
little rabbit hole and we need to be back on it.

01:46:40.999 --> 01:46:41.999
We're talking about Park.

01:46:41.999 --> 01:46:42.999
Correct.

01:46:42.999 --> 01:46:43.999
We're not talking about that.

01:46:43.999 --> 01:46:45.559
The Park district was brought up.

01:46:45.559 --> 01:46:46.559
Did you just shush me?

01:46:46.559 --> 01:46:47.559
No.

01:46:47.559 --> 01:46:48.559
Okay.

01:46:48.559 --> 01:46:49.559
So, okay.

01:46:49.559 --> 01:46:50.559
I don't shush you.

01:46:50.559 --> 01:46:51.559
We need to be back.

01:46:51.559 --> 01:47:06.559
Let's go back to the grant. This is adopting the resolution to support this grant. We don't need to talk about Park District stuff.

01:47:06.559 --> 01:47:09.559
It came up. It actually came up.

01:47:09.559 --> 01:47:15.559
I would like to call point of order to bring us back to the topic.

01:47:15.559 --> 01:47:20.999
We do need to come back to this topic. It's on the resolution to support this grant, and

01:47:20.999 --> 01:47:22.679
so is there any further discussion?

01:47:22.679 --> 01:47:26.239
I don't know if you heard me, but I would like to speak.

01:47:26.239 --> 01:47:28.759
Well, actually, Alderman Simmons, you've spoken twice already.

01:47:28.759 --> 01:47:31.999
Right. That's why, and if council will allow.

01:47:31.999 --> 01:47:37.799
That's correct, only twice. So if there's no further discussion, Alderman Stacy?

01:47:37.799 --> 01:47:44.679
Excuse me. No, I thought, according to our rules, if I would like to speak again, council

01:47:44.679 --> 01:47:47.279
will call a vote on that if they agree.

01:47:47.279 --> 01:47:47.919
You're correct.

01:47:47.919 --> 01:47:50.799
So let's take the roll.

01:47:50.799 --> 01:47:55.799
Madam Clerk, on the approval of allowing Alderman Simmons

01:47:55.799 --> 01:47:57.959
another time to speak.

01:47:57.959 --> 01:47:58.679
Shadle?

01:47:58.679 --> 01:48:00.199
No.

01:48:00.199 --> 01:48:00.999
Sanders?

01:48:00.999 --> 01:48:01.599
Yes.

01:48:01.599 --> 01:48:02.159
Sellers?

01:48:07.039 --> 01:48:07.719
Klemm?

01:48:07.719 --> 01:48:08.479
Aye.

01:48:08.479 --> 01:48:09.119
Johnson?

01:48:09.119 --> 01:48:09.799
Aye.

01:48:09.799 --> 01:48:10.519
Simmons?

01:48:10.519 --> 01:48:11.639
Oh, yeah, you can vote.

01:48:14.679 --> 01:48:25.679
Is that a yes, Simmons? Parker? No. Stacy? Yes. It passes. Okay, so Alderman Simmons, go ahead.

01:48:25.679 --> 01:48:35.679
Thank you. That's funny that we don't know. I don't speak much and when I speak, I speak quick. However, my question to the grant was,

01:48:35.679 --> 01:48:46.919
and I have spoken to county board members about land that we were then awarded and park

01:48:46.919 --> 01:48:52.199
district members about board members about getting a pocket park in our area.

01:48:52.199 --> 01:48:59.399
My question that was not answered is why is this particular grant for this area downtown

01:48:59.399 --> 01:49:05.199
when we already got a grant for that area downtown which only includes cornholes, cornhole

01:49:05.199 --> 01:49:10.999
Gaines. This grant could be used more beneficially for us if we use it in a different area. Why

01:49:10.999 --> 01:49:17.359
was that not listed?

01:49:17.359 --> 01:49:23.159
Thank you, Alderperson, Simmons. I think I understand what you're asking. I think what

01:49:23.159 --> 01:49:28.639
I was trying to explain before was that the pocket park that we're speaking of that is

01:49:28.639 --> 01:49:34.359
is the subject of this grant application, has been in a planning process for five years.

01:49:34.359 --> 01:49:39.879
And that is why in particular there have been multiple applications.

01:49:39.879 --> 01:49:45.239
I know there was a Commonwealth Edison grant that was applied for in 2020.

01:49:45.239 --> 01:49:51.999
There's a plan for this park that has been submitted for this grant application.

01:49:51.999 --> 01:49:56.799
And as I said earlier, I think that if there's another area in a different time where we

01:49:56.799 --> 01:50:00.479
We have a plan for a parcel or if its own

01:50:00.479 --> 01:50:13.979
or if it's owned by the City, I'm sure City Manager Boyer would certainly want to talk about it or it could be brought to Council a specific piece of property that the City owns that a park could be proposed.

01:50:13.979 --> 01:50:22.779
I don't think it's, I think it's a good idea. I just know that there are plans and that this pocket park in particular has been in process for five years.

01:50:22.779 --> 01:50:28.179
It didn't just get dreamt up overnight and that is the reason why it was the subject of this grant.

01:50:28.179 --> 01:50:42.879
Right now the city does not have any preliminary plans, doesn't have a particular parcel where a park would be a good fit and that would make it difficult to send an application in when we don't have an idea or a general plan for a parcel.

01:50:42.879 --> 01:50:52.479
I think that the beginning of it is to say the city owns this particular parcel, we have some great ideas in our ward, let's talk about it and then in the future let's move forward with grants.

01:50:52.479 --> 01:50:57.559
I think you have a great idea, it's just, there is no current parcel that the city owns

01:50:57.559 --> 01:51:02.119
where this park is being proposed, so that's the reason.

01:51:02.119 --> 01:51:03.399
Alderman Stacy?

01:51:03.399 --> 01:51:10.159
When there was discussion earlier this year, spoke about the property that City Manager

01:51:10.159 --> 01:51:19.679
Boyer wanted to buy in the Liberty area, I said then, could a park be put there?

01:51:19.679 --> 01:51:24.979
So it's not that we haven't searched this out and haven't tried to.

01:51:24.979 --> 01:51:35.039
I would also like to know how much does it cost to apply for this OSLAD grant?

01:51:35.039 --> 01:51:37.839
I'll be honest, and I haven't been a part of this grant application.

01:51:37.839 --> 01:51:42.879
That's why, City Manager Boyer, I'm answering the question, to be fair, I haven't been part

01:51:42.879 --> 01:51:44.079
of this grant application.

01:51:44.079 --> 01:51:47.039
When I am part of a grant application, I certainly can't answer that question.

01:51:47.039 --> 01:52:02.399
I'm answering these questions because I've been aware of the pocket park, I know the Greater Freeport Partnership has done a great job moving it forward, I've been part of the planning process for quite some time, I just in particular have not put together this grant application so I can't answer that question intelligently.

01:52:02.399 --> 01:52:08.499
Okay, I need an answer, City Manager Boyer, you talked about a Commonwealth Edison grant,

01:52:08.499 --> 01:52:14.519
how much did we pay for that one? Now you're talking about an OSLAD grant, how much is

01:52:14.519 --> 01:52:21.719
it going to cost the city to apply for a grant that we may or may not get for another pocket

01:52:21.719 --> 01:52:27.839
park? Actually, Darren is the one that needs to answer this, Darren, you guys are writing

01:52:27.839 --> 01:52:34.979
it's part of the master service agreement at $7,500 for the application and I want

01:52:34.979 --> 01:52:42.999
to also remind everybody for the OSLAD grant so I'm just trying to clarify this

01:52:42.999 --> 01:52:48.359
from what I've been listening to the city of Freeport is not typically in the

01:52:48.359 --> 01:52:53.039
park business that's the park district's responsibility with their own taxing

01:52:53.039 --> 01:53:03.039
So when you're looking at playground type equipment, those type of parks, if you look around town, all the ones that are maintained are maintained by the park district, not the city.

01:53:03.039 --> 01:53:12.039
We do, I believe, I'm pretty sure I'm correct, the city does not, the city proper city council does not own any parks within the city.

01:53:12.039 --> 01:53:16.299
the the grant that we're talking about the pocket park is what they call an

01:53:16.299 --> 01:53:22.959
urban park which is very high on the list of Osled to have parks in downtown

01:53:22.959 --> 01:53:26.519
communities where there's lots of pavement structure and it's not your

01:53:26.519 --> 01:53:32.599
traditional type of park this is a park that brings in games and other things

01:53:32.599 --> 01:53:38.179
like bags or tabletop games other items like that that can be utilized in a

01:53:38.179 --> 01:53:39.339
and a small space.

01:53:39.339 --> 01:53:42.499
The space between these two buildings is not enormous

01:53:42.499 --> 01:53:45.779
to overcome or to put things in.

01:53:45.779 --> 01:53:49.919
And so if the city were to make a park in this location,

01:53:49.919 --> 01:53:52.459
it would be a very low maintenance park

01:53:52.459 --> 01:53:53.679
that doesn't need a lot of work

01:53:53.679 --> 01:53:56.059
because we don't have additional staff members

01:53:56.059 --> 01:53:58.759
to take care of parks, right?

01:53:58.759 --> 01:54:01.859
Parks need a lot of maintenance between trees,

01:54:01.859 --> 01:54:04.799
lawn care, garbage, upkeep.

01:54:04.799 --> 01:54:06.299
This would be more of an urban park

01:54:06.299 --> 01:54:10.899
it's going to have a lot more concrete, very little grass, or maybe even turf, something

01:54:10.899 --> 01:54:12.579
that doesn't need to be maintained.

01:54:12.579 --> 01:54:15.999
Okay, I don't care about all that description.

01:54:15.999 --> 01:54:25.459
It's going to cost $7,500 just to apply for a grant that we may not even get.

01:54:25.459 --> 01:54:29.459
Yes ma'am, it's a lot of work to apply for these grants.

01:54:29.459 --> 01:54:33.839
Any further, Alderman Sanders?

01:54:33.839 --> 01:54:42.599
There is, there is pocket parks throughout the city. Am I correct? Oh, well, uh, there's

01:54:42.599 --> 01:54:46.999
I believe they're called neighborhood parks. Well, what do you call a pocket, a pocket

01:54:46.999 --> 01:54:53.119
park, pocket park? What are, what are those? We're changing the names to

01:54:53.119 --> 01:54:56.519
We don't have a pocket park. Well, there's one located right there on

01:54:56.519 --> 01:55:01.279
Iroquois and State Street, isn't it? I believe that's called the neighborhood park

01:55:01.279 --> 01:55:25.839
and

01:55:25.839 --> 01:55:29.399
Broadway.

01:55:29.399 --> 01:55:30.399
Is that a pocket park?

01:55:30.399 --> 01:55:31.399
Is that a-

01:55:31.399 --> 01:55:32.399
Okay.

01:55:32.399 --> 01:55:33.399
Get back on topic.

01:55:33.399 --> 01:55:34.399
We are.

01:55:34.399 --> 01:55:35.399
I'm talking about a pocket park.

01:55:35.399 --> 01:55:36.399
But that's not a pocket park.

01:55:36.399 --> 01:55:37.399
You're asking questions-

01:55:37.399 --> 01:55:38.399
I'm asking a question.

01:55:38.399 --> 01:55:39.399
Is that a pocket park?

01:55:39.399 --> 01:55:40.399
It has nothing to do with this grant.

01:55:40.399 --> 01:55:42.839
So let's stay on topic of this grant.

01:55:42.839 --> 01:55:43.839
Mayor, I-

01:55:43.839 --> 01:55:45.839
Do you have a question about the grant?

01:55:45.839 --> 01:55:52.999
Oh, Mayor, I resent that remark you just made because that was not proper for you to object

01:55:52.999 --> 01:55:53.999
that.

01:55:53.999 --> 01:55:54.999
Okay.

01:55:54.999 --> 01:56:00.759
I'm trying to find out information what kind of pocket parks description has is it pocket

01:56:00.759 --> 01:56:05.679
parks or is it neighborhood parks and that's what I'm that's what I'm talking about a

01:56:05.679 --> 01:56:11.519
pocket park is typically between two buildings you know what man so I didn't know you was

01:56:11.519 --> 01:56:15.759
I didn't know you was working with Darren and his department you don't know a lot of

01:56:15.759 --> 01:56:19.559
things so if you want yeah you're right I don't know let's talk about the grant well

01:56:19.559 --> 01:56:23.719
the thing is I am talking about it because you're not allowing me to finish what I'm

01:56:23.719 --> 01:56:25.919
I'm trying to talk about.

01:56:25.919 --> 01:56:28.839
Do you have a question about the grant?

01:56:28.839 --> 01:56:30.419
Why are you being specific?

01:56:30.419 --> 01:56:33.239
Because that's what we have to do to be efficient in our meetings.

01:56:33.239 --> 01:56:34.239
Stay on topic.

01:56:34.239 --> 01:56:38.919
We're going to have a dialogue about this after this.

01:56:38.919 --> 01:56:39.919
Call me.

01:56:39.919 --> 01:56:40.919
No, I'm not talking about this.

01:56:40.919 --> 01:56:41.919
Anybody else have anything to discuss?

01:56:41.919 --> 01:56:43.199
Council is going to have this.

01:56:43.199 --> 01:56:44.199
If there's no further discussion.

01:56:44.199 --> 01:56:45.799
Are you ready for the roll, ma'am?

01:56:45.799 --> 01:56:46.799
Shadle?

01:56:46.799 --> 01:56:47.799
Aye.

01:56:47.799 --> 01:56:48.799
Sanders?

01:56:48.799 --> 01:56:49.799
No.

01:56:49.799 --> 01:56:50.799
Sellers?

01:56:50.799 --> 01:56:51.799
Aye.

01:56:51.799 --> 01:56:52.799
Klemm?

01:56:52.799 --> 01:57:07.399
No. Parker? No. Stacy? No. The resolution is adopted 5-3. Item number 16, could you please

01:57:07.399 --> 01:57:14.399
read this for the record? Approval of bid, which was opened on August 27, 2025. Demolition

01:57:14.399 --> 01:57:20.919
and asbestos abatement for 8 residential properties. Thank you, Director Duckman. Thank you, Madam

01:57:20.919 --> 01:57:29.939
Mayor, City staff has published in the journal standard a request for proposal for the demolition

01:57:29.939 --> 01:57:34.599
and asbestos abatement of eight properties and that was published on August 21st in the

01:57:34.599 --> 01:57:40.359
journal standard and then a bid opening was held August 27th at 9 a.m.

01:57:40.359 --> 01:57:46.079
City received bids from three contractors and I provided an analysis below which is

01:57:46.079 --> 01:57:48.639
up on the screen as well.

01:57:48.639 --> 01:57:52.299
And based upon the bids received,

01:57:52.299 --> 01:57:54.939
staff is recommending moving forward with Kleckner

01:57:54.939 --> 01:57:58.319
excavating in the amount of $103,000

01:57:58.319 --> 01:58:00.279
as they are the lowest responsible bidder

01:58:00.279 --> 01:58:03.679
in their lump sum bid for all eight properties.

01:58:03.679 --> 01:58:04.719
Motion to approve.

01:58:04.719 --> 01:58:05.799
Second.

01:58:05.799 --> 01:58:07.599
We have a motion made by Alderman Klemm,

01:58:07.599 --> 01:58:09.559
seconded by Alderman Sellers.

01:58:09.559 --> 01:58:12.239
Discussion on the bids.

01:58:12.239 --> 01:58:14.119
Madam Clerk, please take the roll.

01:58:14.119 --> 01:58:14.799
Shadle?

01:58:14.799 --> 01:58:15.299
Aye.

01:58:15.299 --> 01:58:25.139
Sanders, Sellers, Klemm, Johnson, Simmons, Parker, and Stacy.

01:58:25.139 --> 01:58:29.539
The motion passes 8-0.

01:58:29.539 --> 01:58:35.539
Item number 17 is a presentation regarding the City's role in Landlord-Tenant Relationships.

01:58:35.539 --> 01:58:37.539
and Mr. Boyer.

01:58:45.539 --> 01:58:47.539
Thank you, your honor.

01:58:47.539 --> 01:58:58.539
So recently there was a large portfolio that changed hands between Tim Chapman and Pied Piper Realty LLC.

01:58:58.539 --> 01:59:02.539
There was a number of different properties here.

01:59:02.539 --> 01:59:08.539
Preport portfolios purchased approximately 225 properties with about

01:59:08.539 --> 01:59:14.459
47 of those being with a current lease. We've got 53 duplexes and we've got

01:59:14.459 --> 01:59:18.659
several of them that were considered owner-occupied as they were set up that

01:59:18.659 --> 01:59:26.619
way with Tim Chapman. So approximately 193 total properties remained or

01:59:26.619 --> 01:59:32.019
are unoccupied or unrenovated at this time. A little background, a letter was

01:59:32.019 --> 01:59:38.699
sent out July 29th to the tenants.

01:59:38.699 --> 01:59:42.659
There's quite a bit here, but the big picture

01:59:42.659 --> 01:59:46.339
is the month-to-month renters were

01:59:46.339 --> 01:59:50.339
notified that their effective lease would

01:59:50.339 --> 01:59:52.979
be over September 1st, and their rent

01:59:52.979 --> 01:59:54.619
will be adjusted at that time.

01:59:54.619 --> 01:59:56.459
So these are month-to-month renters.

01:59:56.459 --> 02:00:00.179
Generally speaking, these month-to-month is

02:00:00.179 --> 02:00:02.179
Community,

02:00:02.179 --> 02:00:07.579
is convenient from a a runner standpoint because they don't have to make any

02:00:07.579 --> 02:00:13.739
long-term commitments however it does provide flexibility also the fixed term

02:00:13.739 --> 02:00:19.179
tenants the current leases remain unchanged until expiration and that was

02:00:19.179 --> 02:00:25.539
notified in this letter there is quite a few bits you can look it up for your if

02:00:25.539 --> 02:00:29.859
you want to I can provide you a copy of this but the discussion the new leases

02:00:29.859 --> 02:00:37.199
there would be an inspection scheduled started reaching out to people in person called August 5th

02:00:38.279 --> 02:00:45.319
to the month-on-month tenants to kind of start discussing what what to do they wanted to engagement with the the renters and

02:00:45.759 --> 02:00:47.759
then also

02:00:48.559 --> 02:00:50.559
Reaching out for the in-person meeting

02:00:51.279 --> 02:00:52.359
where

02:00:52.359 --> 02:00:58.859
You're currently residing would basically be the topic of discussion whether it is suitable what need to be repaired what need to

02:00:58.859 --> 02:01:05.939
move forward. Just to give you a quick update on some of the commentary that's

02:01:05.939 --> 02:01:14.379
been out there. This is HUD's free market analysis and essentially is showing that

02:01:14.379 --> 02:01:20.659
there's a range of reasonable range within the various units that are

02:01:20.659 --> 02:01:25.979
available. Obviously if you look down here are some of these houses. I can't

02:01:25.979 --> 02:01:48.979
I can't verify this 100%, but I've heard that there's some very low rents for like a three and four bedroom home that HUD actually proposes here should be a little higher than than that amount, so the rents, while being a little different kind of fall in line overall with HUD's guidelines.

02:01:48.979 --> 02:01:54.139
the city's role so there's as we move forward one of the things we've been

02:01:54.139 --> 02:01:58.539
working on especially with Chapman properties before the portfolio was sold

02:01:58.539 --> 02:02:03.859
was that we needed all landlords to register with the landlord database that

02:02:03.859 --> 02:02:09.259
gives us the ability to follow up on complaints and code enforcement actions

02:02:09.259 --> 02:02:13.779
it also gives us the ability to know who's in what unit and who owns that

02:02:13.779 --> 02:02:18.379
unit so we're working on that as matter of fact Ptolemy I believe when we get

02:02:18.379 --> 02:02:23.739
in the discussion section, Wayne will be kind of providing a little bit of an update on

02:02:23.739 --> 02:02:24.739
that.

02:02:24.739 --> 02:02:30.119
And then we can also enforce ordinance and codes for the properties.

02:02:30.119 --> 02:02:34.499
This works through our code enforcement supervisor and our code enforcement hearings.

02:02:34.499 --> 02:02:39.659
This has been relatively successful, but it is, you know, we have limited resources and

02:02:39.659 --> 02:02:41.379
it is somewhat of a slow process.

02:02:41.379 --> 02:02:46.719
So we've had a number of folks, I don't know the complete number, the most up-to-date number,

02:02:46.719 --> 02:03:04.719
Yes, I believe the number we have since the takeover of these properties, I believe we've had three tenant inspection requests.

02:03:04.719 --> 02:03:10.719
So three, that gives us the authority to go into three of those units.

02:03:10.719 --> 02:03:16.479
So a state law just recapping some of the more pertinent sections so rent control

02:03:16.479 --> 02:03:21.159
preemption acts you can read that but a unit of local government shall not enact

02:03:21.159 --> 02:03:24.479
maintain or enforce any ordinance or resolution that would have the effect of

02:03:24.479 --> 02:03:28.639
controlling the amount of rent charged for leasing private residential or

02:03:28.639 --> 02:03:33.899
commercial property and then again in section 10 of the act a home rule unit

02:03:33.899 --> 02:03:37.619
may not regulate or control the amount of rent charged for leasing private

02:03:37.619 --> 02:03:39.719
D. Ellis, and all of those of you who are living on residential or commercial properties.

02:03:39.719 --> 02:03:45.299
In addition to that, Illinois Attorney General states that, in a week-to-week or month-to-month

02:03:45.299 --> 02:03:50.619
tenant, landlord can raise your rent by any amount if he or she gives you proper notice

02:03:50.619 --> 02:03:53.059
and Illinois does not have a rent control law.

02:03:53.059 --> 02:03:58.379
Therefore, your landlord can raise your rent as much as he or she deems necessary.

02:03:58.379 --> 02:03:59.699
So what are the next steps?

02:03:59.699 --> 02:04:07.099
Well, we have Pied Piper Group represented here today, as well as Attorney Cox and Director

02:04:07.099 --> 02:04:12.939
Duckman, who can speak to any of the more precise points on the situation as we

02:04:12.939 --> 02:04:16.299
move forward. I think there's a suggestion that we could increase the

02:04:16.299 --> 02:04:22.379
number of notice days for a rent increase from 30 to 60 days. That would be

02:04:22.379 --> 02:04:26.779
fine with someone with a signed lease. However, if people are on a month-to-month

02:04:26.779 --> 02:04:32.939
already, that does present some concerns, but certainly not insurmountable. So

02:04:32.939 --> 02:04:38.939
and others. So anyway, as we go through this process tonight, I hope this becomes enlightening.

02:04:38.939 --> 02:04:43.499
I think we've just hit a quick summary of some of the back and forth commentary that's

02:04:43.499 --> 02:04:50.099
been online and discussion with individuals and also some of the tenants. So with that,

02:04:50.099 --> 02:04:54.659
I'd like to go ahead and move to the next item, which is discussion.

02:04:54.659 --> 02:05:01.459
Okay. So let's try to keep this part of the discussion to the city's role. I know there

02:05:01.459 --> 02:05:05.859
There are other things that Alderman, Stacy, and Klemm wanted to discuss, but let's keep

02:05:05.859 --> 02:05:08.019
this part of it just to the city's role.

02:05:08.019 --> 02:05:10.019
Attorney Cox, did you want to add to anything?

02:05:10.019 --> 02:05:14.059
I'm just here to answer questions.

02:05:14.059 --> 02:05:15.059
Alderman Sanders.

02:05:15.059 --> 02:05:18.659
Are you calling me now?

02:05:18.659 --> 02:05:19.659
Yes.

02:05:19.659 --> 02:05:20.659
Oh, okay.

02:05:20.659 --> 02:05:22.299
On the city's role.

02:05:22.299 --> 02:05:35.179
Now, my question would be is the state of Illinois attorney office is the ones that are stipulating

02:05:35.179 --> 02:05:42.299
jurisdiction over this particular matter that we're discussing in our agenda right now is

02:05:42.299 --> 02:05:43.779
what we're saying.

02:05:43.779 --> 02:05:45.939
What the city's role is, correct.

02:05:45.939 --> 02:05:46.939
Yeah.

02:05:46.939 --> 02:05:54.859
and because that is happening, because that has not obscured the fact that we should be

02:05:54.859 --> 02:06:01.779
able to also make amendments, we have not talked about whether we can amend anything

02:06:01.779 --> 02:06:10.419
to what the state's attorney had put in the role of how they govern this.

02:06:10.419 --> 02:06:22.499
So have we challenged this as a council to see if any amendments can be introduced to

02:06:22.499 --> 02:06:23.819
make changes?

02:06:23.819 --> 02:06:29.999
I hate to find out that that is a possibility if we have not done our homework and we're

02:06:29.999 --> 02:06:36.739
sitting on something that probably can be amended or altered or changed.

02:06:36.739 --> 02:06:44.479
How current are we with the update of how old is this memo that we're looking at?

02:06:44.479 --> 02:06:45.939
How old is it?

02:06:45.939 --> 02:06:53.099
And if things have changed, who looked into whether or not there has been major changes

02:06:53.099 --> 02:07:00.939
that will make a difference to those renters when landlords are raising their rent and

02:07:00.939 --> 02:07:02.059
everything?

02:07:02.059 --> 02:07:05.619
Have anything come down the pipeline that changes anything?

02:07:05.619 --> 02:07:11.939
Have we done that? Have we looked into that particular matter? And so, I would suggest

02:07:11.939 --> 02:07:20.379
or whoever's presenting this particular memo to have more answers for us as a council.

02:07:20.379 --> 02:07:25.619
We can look into the matters ourselves, but we're looking at our city manager because

02:07:25.619 --> 02:07:32.799
he's managing the city. And so, my question would be is, can we look into it further to

02:07:32.799 --> 02:07:38.779
to see if there's any other possibilities or amendments that could be implemented into

02:07:38.779 --> 02:07:44.599
this whole scenario of this amendment because the way it sits right now, there's no challenging

02:07:44.599 --> 02:07:51.099
base going on from council or to the general public within the city.

02:07:51.099 --> 02:07:57.939
There should be a mechanism for us to at least challenge what we're seeing here so we just

02:07:57.939 --> 02:08:06.219
Don't leave it up to the state's attorney to make the priority decisions for the city.

02:08:06.219 --> 02:08:11.779
I'm going to ask Attorney Cox to address that, but we legally can't tell a business what

02:08:11.779 --> 02:08:18.019
they can charge for rent, but we can talk about terminating lease, correct, Attorney

02:08:18.019 --> 02:08:19.019
Cox?

02:08:19.019 --> 02:08:22.019
Well, yeah.

02:08:22.019 --> 02:08:27.619
Hi, thank you.

02:08:27.619 --> 02:08:31.959
So the state has enacted, as Manager Boyer pointed out, something called the Rent Control

02:08:31.959 --> 02:08:37.259
Preemption Act, and that is an express limitation of any municipality's authority, including

02:08:37.259 --> 02:08:38.259
a home rule.

02:08:38.259 --> 02:08:40.819
Can you speak up because we can't hear you?

02:08:40.819 --> 02:08:42.319
Can you turn him up?

02:08:42.319 --> 02:08:46.019
Can you turn up his microphone?

02:08:46.019 --> 02:08:48.259
I'll get closer.

02:08:48.259 --> 02:08:51.299
Everybody hear me okay?

02:08:51.299 --> 02:08:55.899
The state has enacted, as Manager Boyer pointed out, something called the Rent Control Preemption

02:08:55.899 --> 02:09:03.139
Act, and that is an express limitation of any municipality, including a home rule municipality,

02:09:03.139 --> 02:09:06.579
which Freeport happens to be, it's a limitation of that authority.

02:09:06.579 --> 02:09:12.699
Any municipality in the state of Illinois derives its authority from the state.

02:09:12.699 --> 02:09:15.779
State in turn derives its authority from the federal constitution.

02:09:15.779 --> 02:09:23.539
However, if the state doesn't give us the authority, or in a home rule situation specifically

02:09:23.539 --> 02:09:32.179
We can't alter that. We can, however, make changes or requirements in leases which do

02:09:32.179 --> 02:09:38.539
not affect rent. So when we talk about rent control, which is, I believe, the vast majority

02:09:38.539 --> 02:09:45.259
of the complaints here were rent spikes. The city cannot regulate that. That power was

02:09:45.259 --> 02:09:48.739
taken away from us by Springfield. And that's that.

02:09:48.739 --> 02:09:50.619
Okay. Thank you.

02:09:50.619 --> 02:10:02.139
We don't want to know what the city can't do. We want to know what the city can do. There is some things that can be put in

02:10:02.139 --> 02:10:10.139
and others, and we have a lot of things that can be put in this ordinance that would give

02:10:10.139 --> 02:10:14.139
our constituents some support.

02:10:14.139 --> 02:10:21.139
And we want to talk about Chapman, but let the record show that there was four or five

02:10:21.139 --> 02:10:31.139
different people involved in this selling property, two-port, three-port portfolio LLC.

02:10:31.139 --> 02:11:01.139
and others, at least five. And then Freeport Portfolio acts the Pied Piper, which we all know about the Pied Piper, and there's nothing good about the Pied Piper to manage their property, but what you may not know is that Freeport Portfolio, LLC and Pied Piper are the same

02:11:01.139 --> 02:11:31.139
Fowler. They're two in one. And they have came to our city and have played our mayor and our city managers as suckers. And they're running a muck on our city. And in case you don't know what a muck is, it's a scam. And so we have to do something. No one has the right. I feel you should feel, City

02:11:31.139 --> 02:11:40.899
Boyer, City Mayor, that anybody can come in our city and do this to us.

02:11:40.899 --> 02:11:46.539
And so my expectations of both of you are great.

02:11:46.539 --> 02:11:49.459
I don't want to know what we can't do.

02:11:49.459 --> 02:11:53.979
I want to focus on what we can do for our constituents.

02:11:53.979 --> 02:11:55.099
I have a question.

02:11:55.099 --> 02:11:58.539
Can you tell me what you were accusing the manager and I of doing because I kind of didn't

02:11:58.539 --> 02:12:00.699
understand that.

02:12:00.699 --> 02:12:07.039
I didn't accuse you and the manager of anything. I said you all have allowed people to come

02:12:07.039 --> 02:12:14.719
into our city and play you like suckers. It's what I said.

02:12:14.719 --> 02:12:20.659
You do realize that we don't have authority on whether someone can purchase something.

02:12:20.659 --> 02:12:23.219
It's not about purchasing.

02:12:23.219 --> 02:12:27.379
So with all this discussion, what are you proposing that we do?

02:12:27.379 --> 02:12:40.739
You tell me, what can you do? I mean, you can't take a property and charge $1,200 and $1,500

02:12:40.739 --> 02:12:51.859
in a $500, $600 neighborhood. That's like going to the Eastside where you ought to said

02:12:51.859 --> 02:12:57.619
Only 10% or 50, half of what the property over there are worth.

02:12:57.619 --> 02:13:01.579
You can't even fix the roof on your house.

02:13:01.579 --> 02:13:07.499
But then somebody can come in and say, oh, I'm going to charge $1,200 for rent.

02:13:07.499 --> 02:13:10.339
Bullcrap.

02:13:10.339 --> 02:13:20.739
It has to be something put in place that the price of these rental agreements fit the area

02:13:20.739 --> 02:13:33.679
and I want to tell every renter out there, get an inspection. You as a renter have rights.

02:13:33.679 --> 02:13:40.139
Know your rights. There used to be books out there that said renter rights. I don't know.

02:13:40.139 --> 02:13:45.019
Greater Freeport Partnership, do you all have something like that? Who have something like

02:13:45.019 --> 02:13:46.019
Cain and others.

02:13:46.019 --> 02:13:47.019
So I want to make sure that we can do something about that.

02:13:47.019 --> 02:13:50.219
That the renters can go and know what their rights are.

02:13:50.219 --> 02:13:54.899
Okay, so again, this presentation about the city's role.

02:13:54.899 --> 02:13:59.779
So again, we cannot put on a cap on anyone's rent.

02:13:59.779 --> 02:14:00.779
We can't do that.

02:14:00.779 --> 02:14:01.779
So what are you proposing?

02:14:01.779 --> 02:14:03.219
And that's not what I'm asking you to do.

02:14:03.219 --> 02:14:04.419
So what are you proposing?

02:14:04.419 --> 02:14:11.339
Because that's...you're trying to blur the lines of what the city's role is.

02:14:11.339 --> 02:14:14.339
So if you have something to propose, let's talk about it.

02:14:14.339 --> 02:14:15.339
I do.

02:14:15.339 --> 02:14:16.339
Alderman, Alderman, Simmons?

02:14:16.339 --> 02:14:17.339
Alderman Stacey has yielded.

02:14:17.339 --> 02:14:18.339
Alderman Stacey, are you done?

02:14:18.339 --> 02:14:19.339
Yes.

02:14:19.339 --> 02:14:20.339
All right.

02:14:20.339 --> 02:14:33.339
So I propose that we as a city develop and create our own homeless shelter because FACC

02:14:33.339 --> 02:14:36.939
is filled to the brim and can't take anymore.

02:14:36.939 --> 02:14:38.179
We have no rent cap.

02:14:38.179 --> 02:14:39.619
We can't do anything about that.

02:14:39.619 --> 02:14:41.859
but what we can do is prepare for the fallout.

02:14:45.059 --> 02:14:51.859
What is it you're proposing? I didn't catch that. Homeless shelter. Director Duckman. No, I don't think

02:14:51.859 --> 02:14:57.139
that's a bad idea. I think with budget seizing coming up, I think Alderperson Simmons would be

02:14:57.139 --> 02:15:01.459
a good idea if you brought together a plan, a staff, what it would cost, maybe, you know,

02:15:01.459 --> 02:15:06.579
some developers or maybe an RFP we could put out for that and get some general ideas of the cost

02:15:06.579 --> 02:15:36.579
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.

02:15:36.579 --> 02:15:37.579
and others.

02:15:37.579 --> 02:15:40.779
I think that's the priority one kind of thing going on with the citizens of Freeport.

02:15:40.779 --> 02:15:48.639
And I don't think there's no one wants to see anyone in homeless shelters at all.

02:15:48.639 --> 02:15:57.579
But what I'm proposing is that we get together as council, have a planning discussion to

02:15:57.579 --> 02:16:02.579
have, to see if we can all be on the same page if there's something that council can

02:16:02.579 --> 02:16:13.859
Lookinto, and then consult with the City Council, not with the City Manager, and the developers,

02:16:13.859 --> 02:16:15.939
Wayne Duckman.

02:16:15.939 --> 02:16:25.659
I think we should have a roundtable of some sort just to talk about this issue.

02:16:25.659 --> 02:16:30.619
This is an issue that is not going to go away.

02:16:30.619 --> 02:16:36.419
and people will be suffering if nothing happens on our end.

02:16:36.419 --> 02:16:42.819
If we could do anything, come up with any kind of a proposal, suggestion, recommendations

02:16:42.819 --> 02:16:49.099
and things of this nature, if there's any governmental programs or grants that could

02:16:49.099 --> 02:16:52.619
be implemented into whatever we're discussing.

02:16:52.619 --> 02:16:57.379
Those things need to be brought out on the table and I feel like this, we're not getting

02:16:57.379 --> 02:17:03.739
enough information from our council members talking about these subject

02:17:03.739 --> 02:17:09.819
matters it's almost like we went into silent mode but anyway this is what we

02:17:09.819 --> 02:17:16.299
need to start doing opening up to the city's the citizens of Freeport and I

02:17:16.299 --> 02:17:19.219
would welcome you to have that discussion with City Manager at your

02:17:19.219 --> 02:17:23.419
next meeting yeah yeah that sounds good we can make that we can make that happen

02:17:23.419 --> 02:17:27.419
Is there any other discussion on the city's role?

02:17:27.419 --> 02:17:29.419
Alderman Klemm?

02:17:29.419 --> 02:17:31.419
Sure.

02:17:31.419 --> 02:17:37.419
Last week, Alderman Stacy and I attended a meeting

02:17:37.419 --> 02:17:41.419
that was put together by Josh Atkinson.

02:17:41.419 --> 02:17:46.419
It was a meeting that brought up some of the issues that were out there

02:17:46.419 --> 02:17:50.419
due to the recent purchase of the Chapman property.

02:17:50.419 --> 02:18:00.739
K. City Manager and I and Steve Cox and I and CeCe and I have had some long discussions

02:18:00.739 --> 02:18:09.899
on this. One thing we've got to realize is that there's two sides to this whole project.

02:18:09.899 --> 02:18:15.659
If we take and one of the things is that Reverend Dye's got her sign up out here that says we

02:18:15.659 --> 02:18:22.379
We should extend it to 60 days. You know, that really sounds like a good idea. The flip

02:18:22.379 --> 02:18:27.419
side of that, if I'm a landlord, when you move into my house, now I'm not going to ask

02:18:27.419 --> 02:18:31.539
you for one month or two months. I'm going to ask you for three or four months because

02:18:31.539 --> 02:18:35.059
when you're going to leave in the last couple months, you aren't going to pay your rent

02:18:35.059 --> 02:18:41.619
and you're going to be gone. You know, so the landlord's also in this, and I'm not

02:18:41.619 --> 02:18:47.819
not defending the landlords 100 percent. I believe what brought up here as Pied Piper

02:18:47.819 --> 02:18:55.319
bought this, okay, keep in mind over the last, which Stacy started to mention, over the last

02:18:55.319 --> 02:19:02.179
number of months or the last couple years, we've had property bought up by two or three

02:19:02.179 --> 02:19:09.179
We have three different outfits, not just one. We used to have a good home-based landlord

02:19:13.339 --> 02:19:18.899
tenant situation that was owned by people from town. You know, now we're getting more

02:19:18.899 --> 02:19:25.459
from out of town, okay, but we haven't heard from Pied Piper. You know, their intention

02:19:25.459 --> 02:19:30.699
may to be to do something to these properties, but when we put the numbers of properties

02:19:30.699 --> 02:19:31.699
and others.

02:19:31.699 --> 02:19:34.979
They were far different than what came out at the first meeting.

02:19:34.979 --> 02:19:40.299
You know, we were talking 300 properties, and then when you boil it down to there were

02:19:40.299 --> 02:19:46.539
two, three different kinds of properties that Chapman had that we all got to look at differently,

02:19:46.539 --> 02:19:47.539
you know.

02:19:47.539 --> 02:19:55.579
So I believe anything that we can do in the long run to help any renters or help with

02:19:55.579 --> 02:20:02.099
with the landlords or renters that we can work out some things that we need to change.

02:20:02.099 --> 02:20:04.099
and

02:20:05.219 --> 02:20:06.099
the

02:20:06.099 --> 02:20:08.099
President.

02:20:09.099 --> 02:20:15.099
And I think that's the long distance end on this thing. And

02:20:15.099 --> 02:20:21.099
costs and everything else are going up. As we talk about the

02:20:21.099 --> 02:20:27.099
difference in months, how much deposit and all that goes up, as

02:20:57.099 --> 02:20:59.599
have not kept up with the times.

02:20:59.599 --> 02:21:02.359
But those are the discussions we need to have

02:21:02.359 --> 02:21:04.599
and how we can help anybody involved.

02:21:04.599 --> 02:21:05.979
Right on, right on.

02:21:05.979 --> 02:21:06.819
That's right on.

02:21:06.819 --> 02:21:09.039
Was there other discussion on the city's role?

02:21:09.039 --> 02:21:09.919
Alderman Johnson.

02:21:11.079 --> 02:21:14.699
If we change some ordinances right now,

02:21:14.699 --> 02:21:17.019
like say we change it and say,

02:21:17.019 --> 02:21:20.419
okay, you got to give them 60 days notice,

02:21:21.499 --> 02:21:24.219
that would not affect what's happening right now,

02:21:24.219 --> 02:21:25.739
but would affect the future.

02:21:25.739 --> 02:21:26.819
Is that correct?

02:21:26.819 --> 02:21:28.419
or am I wrong on that?

02:21:28.419 --> 02:21:29.899
It would affect leases entered into

02:21:29.899 --> 02:21:31.539
after the effective date of the ordinance.

02:21:31.539 --> 02:21:34.459
After the effective date of the ordinance, okay.

02:21:34.459 --> 02:21:37.779
And also is it, would it be legal

02:21:37.779 --> 02:21:40.459
for the city to put in some kind of ordinance

02:21:40.459 --> 02:21:44.859
that said a house or a property could not,

02:21:44.859 --> 02:21:47.899
a renter house or property could not be sold

02:21:47.899 --> 02:21:51.939
unless it passes an inspection saying that it's up to code.

02:21:51.939 --> 02:21:54.819
Would that be something legal that could be done?

02:21:54.819 --> 02:21:56.699
I don't know, I'm just asking.

02:21:56.699 --> 02:22:04.699
I can tell you, and Alderman Klemm may be able to speak to this a bit as well, that was approached many years ago.

02:22:04.699 --> 02:22:17.699
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.

02:22:17.699 --> 02:22:25.699
I'll tell you the pushback, and again, I'm a little bit out of my territory here, this is just again historical knowledge.

02:22:25.699 --> 02:22:50.699
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.

02:22:50.699 --> 02:23:00.699
If it gets beyond a standard maintenance code for the era in which the house was built,

02:23:00.699 --> 02:23:03.699
it's prohibitively expensive to upgrade that.

02:23:03.699 --> 02:23:07.699
Now there's certainly something to be said for doing that,

02:23:07.699 --> 02:23:11.699
in that all housing then eventually will come up to current standards,

02:23:11.699 --> 02:23:14.699
but that doesn't come without a price.

02:23:14.699 --> 02:23:18.699
So what happens is we greatly increase the cost to sell something,

02:23:18.699 --> 02:23:23.119
... something or specifically drive down the price of property if

02:23:23.119 --> 02:23:26.139
I am a seller, the buyer is going to pay me less because they

02:23:26.139 --> 02:23:27.359
know they are going to need to do a bunch of work.

02:23:27.399 --> 02:23:29.319
Alderman Sellers?

02:23:29.319 --> 02:23:32.099
Yes.

02:23:32.099 --> 02:23:36.019
I think that with the city I think with this situation I can

02:23:36.019 --> 02:23:39.159
understand long term...

02:23:39.159 --> 02:23:42.319
If you are in a long term lease you will get it until your lease

02:23:42.319 --> 02:23:48.559
is over with so you still have time to move, but if you are

02:23:48.559 --> 02:23:55.579
if there's a situation where it's month to month, I can't see the 60 day notice thing

02:23:55.579 --> 02:23:57.879
because you're doing it month to month.

02:23:57.879 --> 02:24:10.399
And then we also have the situation where people were in the program of buying on contract.

02:24:10.399 --> 02:24:16.679
Once you buy on contract, that's not anything with the city because if you're buying on

02:24:16.679 --> 02:24:23.319
Contract and you're under that, that's on you and you have to deal with that. So I can

02:24:23.319 --> 02:24:31.939
understand the 60-day notice on people whose contract is getting ready to end within the

02:24:31.939 --> 02:24:37.199
next six months or something like that. I can go along with that. But if you still,

02:24:37.199 --> 02:24:42.359
if you signed your lease in May and you've got way till May, it doesn't apply. And I

02:24:42.359 --> 02:24:49.739
I think that not having the 60-day be an ordinance for everybody because there are good landlords

02:24:49.739 --> 02:24:54.939
out there that are doing what they're supposed to do and handling their business and they're

02:24:54.939 --> 02:25:00.459
already having problems with 30 days, you know, trying to get people out.

02:25:00.459 --> 02:25:06.439
So I can understand with this situation and under this contract we do the 60-day notice,

02:25:06.439 --> 02:25:11.399
but I just can't see it going across the board because that hurts landlords that are out

02:25:11.399 --> 02:25:12.399
and Stacey.

02:25:12.399 --> 02:25:29.839
We have been asked of the constituents, the renters that's going through this, is that

02:25:29.839 --> 02:25:38.159
for less than three years to 60 days, for three years or more, 120 days, and I checked

02:25:38.159 --> 02:26:08.159
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

02:26:08.159 --> 02:26:23.839
For these people and for ourselves I just say I also recommend that anybody who

02:26:23.839 --> 02:26:27.119
sees an issue with their apartment to please come in and fill out we have them

02:26:27.119 --> 02:26:30.479
sitting on the desk today we always have them at the front desk if there's any

02:26:30.479 --> 02:26:36.079
issue with a place that you're renting to please come in we do require that you

02:26:36.079 --> 02:26:40.799
You signed permission for us to access the property.

02:26:40.799 --> 02:26:44.159
That's for the city's liability to ensure that if the landlord comes in and said that

02:26:44.159 --> 02:26:48.339
we were trespassing, we always have a right to enter.

02:26:48.339 --> 02:26:52.079
So before we will enter, the city will enter a property.

02:26:52.079 --> 02:26:57.639
We do require that you give us the written permission and staff always, we always look

02:26:57.639 --> 02:26:59.799
forward to helping in any way we can.

02:26:59.799 --> 02:27:04.439
And if there are any issues, we will, once this is filled out, we will certainly go in

02:27:04.439 --> 02:27:09.519
and investigate the property and hold that landlord accountable for any violations that

02:27:09.519 --> 02:27:15.319
they have. So that's something I just want to echo and hope that our community takes

02:27:15.319 --> 02:27:20.239
advantage of that if they feel that there's something in the building that is improper.

02:27:20.239 --> 02:27:26.959
So but that is important to know that you do have to you do have to fill this out first.

02:27:26.959 --> 02:27:36.359
I would like to make a motion that we as a Council, as the Mayor, as City Manager, and

02:27:36.359 --> 02:27:49.499
as Attorney Cox sit down and discuss not what we can't do, but what we can do so that everybody

02:27:49.499 --> 02:27:55.359
can have the same knowledge and an understanding.

02:27:55.359 --> 02:27:58.959
We don't need a motion for that. If you want to come in and talk about your ideas, you're welcome to.

02:27:58.959 --> 02:28:11.959
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.

02:28:11.959 --> 02:28:15.459
Wouldn't that be a violation of the Open Meetings Act?

02:28:15.459 --> 02:28:20.459
No, not if we make it public and put it out there. We need to talk.

02:28:20.459 --> 02:28:25.379
What would that be, a special city council meeting?

02:28:25.379 --> 02:28:28.379
Yeah, I think what's being suggested is a special meeting.

02:28:28.379 --> 02:28:30.979
We call a special meeting any other time.

02:28:30.979 --> 02:28:35.259
We've had special meetings.

02:28:35.259 --> 02:28:41.339
Okay so what are you, what exactly is your motion?

02:28:41.339 --> 02:28:50.059
That we call a special meeting with you, Boyer, Attorney Cox, and the eight Aldermen.

02:28:50.059 --> 02:28:57.019
and of course you Dovie. Is there a second to that? Yeah I second that. We have a

02:28:57.019 --> 02:29:00.379
motion on the floor made by Alderman Stacey seconded by Alderman Sanders to

02:29:00.379 --> 02:29:07.179
call a special meeting in as stated with those involved. Madam Clerk would you

02:29:07.179 --> 02:29:12.939
please take the role on that? Shadle? Okay you want to have a discussion on on the

02:29:12.939 --> 02:29:17.219
special meeting? Yeah no well no that's what's on the table right now is the

02:29:17.219 --> 02:29:23.299
Special Meeting. Okay. Alderman Shadle, did you want to talk about the special meeting? I just

02:29:23.299 --> 02:29:29.459
wondered when we were thinking about doing this to see whether it fits schedules or

02:29:29.459 --> 02:29:38.579
how we're gonna coordinate all this. We have two meetings next week. We're in the

02:29:38.579 --> 02:29:43.699
season of beginning our financial cows. We'll just call it clerk. Will that Dovie

02:29:43.699 --> 02:29:46.539
We just call it.

02:29:46.539 --> 02:29:47.539
So Steve?

02:29:47.539 --> 02:29:54.259
Well, if I may, that sounds like potentially a setting on the Committee of the Whole.

02:29:54.259 --> 02:29:56.819
I mean, that's for a discussion.

02:29:56.819 --> 02:30:02.079
So setting aside a segment of time on the agenda in the

02:30:02.079 --> 02:30:04.079
and

02:30:06.079 --> 02:30:08.079
Thomas.

02:30:09.599 --> 02:30:12.699
I'm happy to attend that. We can have that discussion. I think

02:30:12.699 --> 02:30:15.559
that if there's a special meeting for that on a different

02:30:15.559 --> 02:30:19.559
night, it's just another City Council meeting for discussion.

02:30:19.559 --> 02:30:23.559
So if I can throw that out as a suggestion, if it goes on the

02:30:23.559 --> 02:30:25.559
cow...

02:30:25.559 --> 02:30:55.559
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

02:30:55.559 --> 02:31:25.559
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

02:31:25.559 --> 02:31:29.559
and I would be happy to take a look at them and I can hopefully be a little better prepared when I'm here.

02:31:29.559 --> 02:31:36.559
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?

02:31:36.559 --> 02:31:39.559
I would like a special meeting.

02:31:42.559 --> 02:31:44.559
Do you want to propose a date and a time?

02:31:49.559 --> 02:31:51.559
Well, I guess if I have to.

02:31:55.559 --> 02:32:24.799
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.

02:32:25.559 --> 02:32:28.559
Let's make it two weeks from now.

02:32:28.559 --> 02:32:32.119
Let's make it two weeks from now.

02:32:32.119 --> 02:32:35.259
Do we know what's on the COW for next week?

02:32:35.259 --> 02:32:36.259
Is it full?

02:32:36.259 --> 02:32:39.439
There's going to be discussion on the COW.

02:32:39.439 --> 02:32:45.939
There's going to be discussion on the COW about this matter, but that's not what I'm asking.

02:32:45.939 --> 02:32:48.239
I'm asking for a special meeting.

02:32:48.239 --> 02:32:54.039
I don't care if it's Wednesday the 17th, I'm just asking for a special meeting.

02:32:54.039 --> 02:33:01.179
Well, yeah, let's convert that council COW meeting into this special meeting.

02:33:01.179 --> 02:33:02.179
And so that way...

02:33:02.179 --> 02:33:03.179
No.

02:33:03.179 --> 02:33:04.179
They're two separate things.

02:33:04.179 --> 02:33:05.179
No.

02:33:05.179 --> 02:33:09.959
What I'm getting at is the fact that we use all the time that we would normally use in

02:33:09.959 --> 02:33:18.839
the COW for this special meeting, and now our attention will be prioritized to this special

02:33:18.839 --> 02:33:22.479
meeting as opposed to the COW.

02:33:22.479 --> 02:33:23.879
and

02:33:23.879 --> 02:33:24.479
the

02:33:24.479 --> 02:33:24.799
Council on the

02:33:24.879 --> 02:33:25.399
Department of

02:33:25.479 --> 02:33:25.879
Health.

02:33:25.879 --> 02:33:26.479
We have a special meeting for the

02:33:26.479 --> 02:33:29.679
COW meeting, just a COW like thing, but we're

02:33:29.679 --> 02:33:32.679
going to convert it into a special meeting.

02:33:32.679 --> 02:33:36.359
And then that way, we don't have to bring another

02:33:36.359 --> 02:33:39.479
agenda up for the COW just for the primary reason

02:33:39.479 --> 02:33:43.479
why we are bringing a special meeting.

02:33:43.479 --> 02:33:46.479
Or an additional date or an additional time.

02:33:46.479 --> 02:33:49.479
Yeah, 6 o'clock on the COW, 6 o'clock until its

02:33:49.479 --> 02:33:50.479
and others.

02:33:50.479 --> 02:33:58.239
And then all of the information that we come to will be distributed to the public.

02:33:58.239 --> 02:34:04.819
The public can come to the website, see what went on in the discussion, and what we came

02:34:04.819 --> 02:34:05.819
up with.

02:34:05.819 --> 02:34:11.119
So you want to put an agenda item on the COW to discuss what you're saying?

02:34:11.119 --> 02:34:16.799
Yeah, for the primary reason why we're here, but it's not, yeah, there you go, same thing.

02:34:16.799 --> 02:34:22.259
is it going to be is the special meeting going to be the COW that's what that's

02:34:22.259 --> 02:34:26.919
what he said I know that's what you're saying but what do you say man I don't

02:34:26.919 --> 02:34:31.159
think what do you say City Manager Boyer I don't want us to say this is going to

02:34:31.159 --> 02:34:37.119
be a special meeting on the COW and then we have 15 other items that needs

02:34:37.119 --> 02:34:43.519
discussed we still have agenda items on the COW it can be an additional point

02:34:46.799 --> 02:34:58.799
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.

02:34:58.799 --> 02:35:05.799
So as of right now, the motion is just to have a special meeting to discuss this topic.

02:35:05.799 --> 02:35:07.799
and

02:35:08.799 --> 02:35:10.799
John.

02:35:12.799 --> 02:35:16.799
I think, no, her motion was just to have a special meeting to talk about this topic.

02:35:16.799 --> 02:35:27.799
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.

02:35:27.799 --> 02:35:50.939
and

02:35:50.939 --> 02:35:56.699
and Stacey. So I think what's critical right now is ultimately, Alderman Stacey, this is

02:35:56.699 --> 02:36:01.339
your motion that's on the floor right now. So it's up to you. Do you want to keep it

02:36:01.339 --> 02:36:05.399
as a special meeting? In which case then I would suggest that we need to find a date.

02:36:05.399 --> 02:36:09.739
Or are you willing to amend your motion or withdraw your motion and a new motion be made

02:36:09.739 --> 02:36:15.659
to just make this an agenda item on an upcoming COW? But it wouldn't be exclusive. It wouldn't

02:36:15.659 --> 02:36:20.339
be this topic is the only agenda item on the COW because we have our COW coming up has

02:36:20.339 --> 02:36:22.219
and other agenda stuff on it already.

02:36:27.739 --> 02:36:28.859
Alderman Stacey.

02:36:28.859 --> 02:36:31.019
I withdraw my motion.

02:36:31.019 --> 02:36:34.019
Alderman Sanders, will you remove your second?

02:36:34.019 --> 02:36:35.259
Yes.

02:36:35.259 --> 02:36:38.659
Okay, so now back to,

02:36:38.659 --> 02:36:41.759
again, the presentation was about the city's role.

02:36:43.499 --> 02:36:45.159
Make your motion, Larry.

02:36:45.159 --> 02:36:47.099
and

02:36:47.099 --> 02:36:51.099
I'm going to take a moment to ask you a question.

02:36:51.099 --> 02:36:53.099
Why am I making a motion?

02:36:53.099 --> 02:36:55.099
You wanted it at the COW.

02:36:55.099 --> 02:37:01.099
No, no, Cecelia, don't confuse what was being said.

02:37:01.099 --> 02:37:03.099
You wanted a special meeting.

02:37:03.099 --> 02:37:11.099
If it lands on the COW, we'll just use your special meeting on the COW.

02:37:11.099 --> 02:37:13.099
That was the present, that's what I was presenting.

02:37:13.099 --> 02:37:19.859
Miller, Mayor, Mayor, Mayor, Mayor, Mayor, Mayor, Mayor, Mayor, Mayor, Mayor, Mayor, Mayor, Mayor, Mayor.

02:37:19.859 --> 02:37:27.319
We're not going to be talking about the state signing. So, it doesn't matter how we use the COW,

02:37:27.319 --> 02:37:35.619
as long as your special meeting was implemented or inserted into the COW so we can just talk about that issue only.

02:37:35.619 --> 02:37:37.619
and

02:37:38.699 --> 02:37:40.699
John.

02:37:41.999 --> 02:37:45.999
I'm not sure if you have items on the agenda if we have a COW saying

02:37:45.999 --> 02:37:49.999
that your special meeting is not going to be the only thing that's

02:37:49.999 --> 02:37:52.999
at the COW. Is that what I'm understanding?

02:37:52.999 --> 02:37:56.999
» And I don't want to because it gets confusing when you say

02:37:56.999 --> 02:37:59.999
that you have a special meeting during the COW. You can't have a

02:37:59.999 --> 02:38:02.999
special meeting during the COW. You're either at a COW meeting

02:38:32.999 --> 02:38:35.999
I need a motion for it. I know that, Mayor.

02:38:40.999 --> 02:38:44.999
Okay, so are we ready to move on to item number 18?

02:38:44.999 --> 02:38:46.999
Madam Mayor. Pardon me?

02:38:46.999 --> 02:38:48.999
We still haven't concluded.

02:38:48.999 --> 02:38:50.999
Director Duckman?

02:38:50.999 --> 02:38:55.999
Yeah, we haven't concluded on what direction we're going to go with this.

02:38:55.999 --> 02:39:01.999
So, Stacy, do you want to continue with your special meeting on next Monday?

02:39:01.999 --> 02:39:25.939
and

02:39:25.939 --> 02:39:31.859
Item number 18, which is discussion about rent increases by the Pied Piper group and

02:39:31.859 --> 02:39:36.659
the impact of the community. So I don't know if Alderman Stacy and Klemm, if you want to

02:39:36.659 --> 02:39:42.219
speak first or if you want to give an opportunity for Pied Piper to just say a few things. It's

02:39:42.219 --> 02:39:43.219
your call.

02:39:43.219 --> 02:39:48.859
I'd appreciate it as long as Pied Piper is here, if they would speak of what their plans

02:39:48.859 --> 02:39:53.259
are and what are coming up so we really know what we're talking about.

02:39:53.259 --> 02:39:55.259
Would you like to have the microphone for a few minutes, sir?

02:39:55.259 --> 02:39:56.259
Okay.

02:39:56.259 --> 02:40:01.259
Thank you for coming.

02:40:01.259 --> 02:40:03.259
and others.

02:40:05.139 --> 02:40:09.199
Who is this guy? Piper? Yes. Could you just state your name for

02:40:09.199 --> 02:40:15.199
the record, please? Moby Perak.

02:40:15.199 --> 02:40:17.199
That isn't what he said.

02:40:21.199 --> 02:40:27.199
It's my turn, right? Okay. First and foremost, thank you for

02:40:27.199 --> 02:40:31.559
and others. Thank you for having me here. And I would like to take this time to address

02:40:31.559 --> 02:40:39.359
the few concerns that are going around town about what the issue has been about rent increases.

02:40:39.359 --> 02:40:46.759
The idea here is that you cannot have two lemons in both of your hands and portray what

02:40:46.759 --> 02:40:49.359
you have to portray. You have to listen to both sides.

02:40:49.359 --> 02:40:50.359
What?

02:40:50.359 --> 02:40:56.419
So I basically sent out a notice to all the residents, let them know that I'd be coming

02:40:56.419 --> 02:41:02.179
to see them and have a conversation with them about their condition of the property and about

02:41:02.179 --> 02:41:04.419
meeting them in person.

02:41:04.419 --> 02:41:10.579
But when I went in person, I was able to address the question, let them know about the tenant

02:41:10.579 --> 02:41:17.539
benefit package, about what we're doing for them and about how the rent won't increase

02:41:17.539 --> 02:41:21.419
until the work has been done to the property.

02:41:21.419 --> 02:41:25.279
And there was homeownership offered and there was a lot of communication, a lot of promises

02:41:25.279 --> 02:41:28.399
and others were made with the tenants that were not portrayed correctly due to whatever

02:41:28.399 --> 02:41:30.679
apparent reasons.

02:41:30.679 --> 02:41:38.419
So the purpose I'm here is to address all these issues that are going on currently.

02:41:38.419 --> 02:41:41.759
I have not given anybody any 30-day notices.

02:41:41.759 --> 02:41:44.719
I have not given anybody eviction notices.

02:41:44.719 --> 02:41:48.119
I have not spoken to anybody about kicking them out of their homes.

02:41:48.119 --> 02:41:50.599
There are two ways, right?

02:41:50.599 --> 02:41:54.719
Either we could have come in right away, their rent will increase.

02:41:54.719 --> 02:41:56.799
because of the acquisition of the cost,

02:41:56.799 --> 02:41:59.919
blindly increase the rent without knowing the people

02:41:59.919 --> 02:42:01.839
living in the property, who's living there,

02:42:01.839 --> 02:42:04.839
their pets, their people, whoever that is, right?

02:42:04.839 --> 02:42:07.219
And cost increase and you guys will still be here

02:42:07.219 --> 02:42:09.399
creating a chaos saying that hey,

02:42:09.399 --> 02:42:13.119
how can Pied Pepper come in and increase the rent

02:42:13.119 --> 02:42:14.719
without meeting anybody in person,

02:42:14.719 --> 02:42:16.159
without knowing the condition of the property,

02:42:16.159 --> 02:42:19.159
without knowing the condition we're living in?

02:42:19.159 --> 02:42:22.079
But here you go, you guys are talking about inspection.

02:42:22.079 --> 02:42:24.759
Please, go ahead, go ahead, order the inspection.

02:42:24.759 --> 02:42:27.559
That's why I'm here talking to you in person, understanding

02:42:27.559 --> 02:42:30.119
what the condition of the property is, and setting the

02:42:30.119 --> 02:42:32.399
condition of your situation of how much you're earning, how

02:42:32.399 --> 02:42:34.199
much you're making, if you're even eligible to make the

02:42:34.199 --> 02:42:35.719
payment or not.

02:42:35.719 --> 02:42:38.039
That's why I was in there, but you guys made a ruckus out of

02:42:38.039 --> 02:42:42.559
it, made a social media post out of it, and caused all sort

02:42:42.559 --> 02:42:44.959
of rumors that didn't make sense.

02:42:44.959 --> 02:42:48.439
So prove to me what was the case for.

02:42:48.439 --> 02:42:51.959
Our goal here is to come improve every property that is

02:42:51.959 --> 02:42:54.359
here in Freeport, in our portfolio.

02:42:54.359 --> 02:42:56.319
Make the condition better, living condition better,

02:42:56.319 --> 02:43:00.799
streets better, and make the community better.

02:43:00.799 --> 02:43:02.079
That's our whole idea.

02:43:02.079 --> 02:43:03.759
We wanna fix this property.

02:43:03.759 --> 02:43:06.199
That's why we're here in person talking to you guys.

02:43:06.199 --> 02:43:08.279
Otherwise, why would we do that?

02:43:08.279 --> 02:43:09.119
That's the whole purpose.

02:43:09.119 --> 02:43:13.159
We have to fix all 320 units, all 225 properties.

02:43:13.159 --> 02:43:14.239
They all need work.

02:43:15.159 --> 02:43:18.399
The people that are living there are on month-to-month leases.

02:43:18.399 --> 02:43:20.759
I don't wanna disrupt any landlord rules.

02:43:20.759 --> 02:43:21.759
and others.

02:43:21.759 --> 02:43:22.759
It shouldn't be the case.

02:43:22.759 --> 02:43:28.679
I'm here telling you guys that what we're doing currently right now, if you go to PiedPiperGroup.com

02:43:28.679 --> 02:43:33.799
slash free board slash community, you'll be able to know everything about what we're trying

02:43:33.799 --> 02:43:34.799
to accomplish.

02:43:34.799 --> 02:43:39.559
Nobody at this moment is getting a rental increase until the work is done that is going

02:43:39.559 --> 02:43:40.959
to be communicated.

02:43:40.959 --> 02:43:45.119
So I'm not sure where the ruckus is coming from, but that is not the case.

02:43:45.119 --> 02:43:48.319
If you have heard otherwise, well, that's on you guys.

02:43:48.319 --> 02:44:04.319
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?

02:44:04.319 --> 02:44:06.319
I have not.

02:44:06.319 --> 02:44:08.319
They have letters.

02:44:08.319 --> 02:44:17.319
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.

02:44:17.319 --> 02:44:18.319
and Cain.

02:44:18.319 --> 02:44:19.319
The other thing that they have to do is to re-cancel the market rent that is applicable

02:44:19.319 --> 02:44:22.799
for the condition that they should be living in, not the condition they're living in right

02:44:22.799 --> 02:44:25.039
now, not at all.

02:44:25.039 --> 02:44:33.079
Well, why then was, did you start calling all the ones you had put notices on their

02:44:33.079 --> 02:44:42.399
doors and telling them now that you recanted it, you pulled it back, and that they're not

02:44:42.399 --> 02:44:43.399
going up?

02:44:43.399 --> 02:44:44.399
No, not now.

02:44:44.399 --> 02:44:45.399
That's where you recanted it.

02:44:45.399 --> 02:44:51.399
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.

02:44:51.399 --> 02:45:00.399
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.

02:45:00.399 --> 02:45:02.399
Freeport here is the one that does not reflect the condition of the property.

02:45:02.399 --> 02:45:05.399
Are you assessing renters?

02:45:05.399 --> 02:45:10.399
Larry, if you would like to have it, you should let him finish and then I will call on you.

02:45:10.399 --> 02:45:40.399
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

02:45:40.399 --> 02:45:52.399
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.

02:45:52.399 --> 02:46:01.399
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.

02:46:01.399 --> 02:46:04.959
Currently, there are no leases being signed for all the one-to-one tenants.

02:46:04.959 --> 02:46:10.159
What we're saying is, hey, if you like what you see, if you guys want to move forward, let's talk.

02:46:10.159 --> 02:46:11.599
Let's have a conversation.

02:46:11.599 --> 02:46:15.799
Let's address a situation where, if you agree, we will make sure that we accommodate your request,

02:46:15.799 --> 02:46:19.999
move you into the property that makes sense so we can fix the property, address the condition,

02:46:19.999 --> 02:46:23.559
address the liability as a landlord or as a property manager we have to take.

02:46:23.559 --> 02:46:24.719
And we work with them.

02:46:24.719 --> 02:46:28.399
If the people that are not able to afford their rents or they don't want to move forward,

02:46:28.399 --> 02:46:31.539
We will work with them. You don't need to do 60 days of ordinance here.

02:46:31.539 --> 02:46:33.039
You guys are wasting all your time.

02:46:33.039 --> 02:46:37.399
We're saying you'll work with them to work three months, four months, five months, six months.

02:46:37.399 --> 02:46:40.039
If it takes them, help them. Accommodate them.

02:46:40.039 --> 02:46:43.279
Work with them to educate them on sectional authority.

02:46:43.279 --> 02:46:46.039
They don't even know about sectionalism with them.

02:46:46.039 --> 02:46:47.639
Well, here they are.

02:46:47.639 --> 02:46:51.599
So I don't know where anybody got any information from, how the speculation came about,

02:46:51.599 --> 02:46:57.199
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.

02:46:57.199 --> 02:46:59.599
That will not be the case.

02:46:59.599 --> 02:47:04.439
If that's what the case is, then I'm here to address it.

02:47:04.439 --> 02:47:05.639
Alderman Sanders?

02:47:05.639 --> 02:47:07.759
Yeah, in addition to what you're saying,

02:47:07.759 --> 02:47:10.719
I understand what you're going through.

02:47:10.719 --> 02:47:18.399
I just wanted to make sure that the renters or leasers are

02:47:18.399 --> 02:47:24.559
hearing you clearly, especially with the economic status,

02:47:24.559 --> 02:47:26.879
affordability, things of that nature.

02:47:26.879 --> 02:47:31.879
I like the fact that you do look at a tenant's income

02:47:32.319 --> 02:47:35.239
to determine whether or not this family can afford

02:47:35.239 --> 02:47:39.879
this particular apartment, home, or whatever the case is.

02:47:39.879 --> 02:47:42.959
That is a plus, that's the plus thing

02:47:42.959 --> 02:47:45.679
that shows that you're doing due diligence

02:47:45.679 --> 02:47:50.119
to help any prospective renter or leaser,

02:47:50.119 --> 02:47:54.319
leasy I should say, and to help them navigate

02:47:54.319 --> 02:47:57.359
through all of the things that they have to go through

02:47:57.359 --> 02:48:01.319
to afford one of the places that you have for rental

02:48:01.319 --> 02:48:04.919
or for sale, that they're able to be accommodated

02:48:04.919 --> 02:48:09.919
by whatever their economic structures is

02:48:10.479 --> 02:48:14.039
to afford that particular property.

02:48:14.039 --> 02:48:17.199
So yeah, I hear you saying that.

02:48:17.199 --> 02:48:20.319
I would agree with you that that is

02:48:20.319 --> 02:48:21.859
what should be put in place.

02:48:21.859 --> 02:48:22.859
and others.

02:48:22.859 --> 02:48:31.799
The people need to know this very clearly beforehand that these are what your requirements are

02:48:31.799 --> 02:48:32.799
and things like that.

02:48:32.799 --> 02:48:38.879
So I agree with you on how you're going about doing it.

02:48:38.879 --> 02:48:43.919
I don't know if you're making any promises or anything like that for sure, but the fact

02:48:43.919 --> 02:48:50.219
that a matter is if that information is available to any prospective tenant or renter that he

02:48:50.219 --> 02:48:56.959
We would be able to work with you, talk with you, negotiate with you on your terms or any

02:48:56.959 --> 02:48:59.779
terms that you guys can agree with.

02:48:59.779 --> 02:49:03.099
I love to see that that's going on.

02:49:03.099 --> 02:49:05.079
That's what you're conveying to us.

02:49:05.079 --> 02:49:08.159
You're conveying the fact that this is your strategy.

02:49:08.159 --> 02:49:11.179
This is what you guys are doing.

02:49:11.179 --> 02:49:16.859
That is what people need to see from another position.

02:49:16.859 --> 02:49:19.659
They need to know that you're doing that.

02:49:19.659 --> 02:49:25.299
and I like the fact that you are, you're stipulate, you're saying that this, but like you said,

02:49:25.299 --> 02:49:31.399
information can be misled or information can be brought out wrong and everybody has a different

02:49:31.399 --> 02:49:36.679
story by the time it trickle down to the next runner, they got a whole different story and

02:49:36.679 --> 02:49:42.559
so the whole thing about it is when they come to inquire about a house or an apartment or

02:49:42.559 --> 02:49:47.259
whatever the case is, you can just lay it and then find out what their circumstances

02:49:47.259 --> 02:49:53.699
Zahr. Can they afford to rent anything from you? And then, like you said, it cuts down

02:49:53.699 --> 02:50:00.699
the confusion. There's no misunderstandings and things like that. So I agree with you.

02:50:00.699 --> 02:50:02.579
so I agree with you.

02:50:02.579 --> 02:50:04.599
Any other questions Alderman Johnson?

02:50:05.659 --> 02:50:08.859
So currently you're stating that none of the rents

02:50:08.859 --> 02:50:11.599
are going to go up at this point

02:50:11.599 --> 02:50:14.179
and the only, the time the rents will go up

02:50:14.179 --> 02:50:18.219
is after the homes are fixed.

02:50:18.219 --> 02:50:20.419
Correct. Is that what you're saying?

02:50:20.419 --> 02:50:21.899
Okay.

02:50:21.899 --> 02:50:26.059
The other thing is the places that you are going

02:50:26.059 --> 02:50:29.419
to be fixing up, someone lives in them now,

02:50:29.419 --> 02:50:35.419
Are they going to be able to stay in there while you fix that home up or that rental property?

02:50:35.419 --> 02:50:37.419
No, they will not be able to.

02:50:37.419 --> 02:50:41.419
Okay, so where will they go while you fix that rent up?

02:50:41.419 --> 02:50:44.419
We will work with them to create an accommodation.

02:50:44.419 --> 02:50:51.419
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.

02:50:51.419 --> 02:51:21.419
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,

02:51:21.419 --> 02:51:23.419
and

02:51:24.719 --> 02:51:26.719
Robert.

02:51:28.419 --> 02:51:30.559
So, we have a lot of issues with the rent agreement, the lease

02:51:30.559 --> 02:51:33.699
agreement, but the market rent that we agree upon after fixing

02:51:33.699 --> 02:51:36.259
the property. So, they're living in good condition, better

02:51:36.259 --> 02:51:39.139
condition, and less liability condition. And most of these

02:51:39.139 --> 02:51:43.499
property, if not all of these properties, are going to be city

02:51:43.499 --> 02:51:46.339
court passing, so there will be no issues there. And then after

02:51:46.339 --> 02:51:48.339
12 months, if they're interested in buying the home they're

02:51:48.339 --> 02:51:51.339
living in, they're more than welcome to. We'll do the

02:51:51.339 --> 02:51:53.179
We're right there for them.

02:51:53.179 --> 02:51:58.299
So let's say they're paying $600 a month rent or $700 a month rent.

02:51:58.299 --> 02:52:01.339
Right now, where they're at, their house needs to be fixed.

02:52:01.339 --> 02:52:03.239
Their apartment needs to be fixed.

02:52:03.239 --> 02:52:06.199
They move into one of your homes that you've fixed up

02:52:06.199 --> 02:52:09.539
or that they can live in while you fix the other one up.

02:52:09.539 --> 02:52:13.439
What will they have to be paying for you a month, to you a month,

02:52:13.439 --> 02:52:20.099
to stay in that place while their apartment or home or whatever is being fixed?

02:52:20.099 --> 02:52:30.099
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.

02:52:30.099 --> 02:52:48.099
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.

02:52:48.099 --> 02:52:52.419
Johnson either is a yes or a no right if there's a yes they're agreeing to what

02:52:52.419 --> 02:52:55.559
are we gonna do with them how are we gonna work with them and given the

02:52:55.559 --> 02:52:59.079
condition that they deserve if they say no that is not the end of the world

02:52:59.079 --> 02:53:05.519
right there is no like hard code rule to evict them for a certain amount of time

02:53:05.519 --> 02:53:09.579
we understand I have family I have kids right we're not evil people here we're

02:53:09.579 --> 02:53:14.759
trying to provide good service to the community here that's what idea and if

02:53:14.759 --> 02:53:16.359
They feel like, hey, they need a couple of months.

02:53:16.359 --> 02:53:18.019
They need help, they need guidance.

02:53:18.019 --> 02:53:19.119
That's what we're here for.

02:53:19.119 --> 02:53:20.799
That's what we're going to individually work with each

02:53:20.799 --> 02:53:23.279
and every tenant and cater to their needs.

02:53:23.279 --> 02:53:25.079
Some met tenant of mine need two months,

02:53:25.079 --> 02:53:26.559
some tenant of mine need three months,

02:53:26.559 --> 02:53:27.699
some tenant of mine need four months,

02:53:27.699 --> 02:53:30.239
and we can help them get a Section 8 approved,

02:53:30.239 --> 02:53:31.879
or some sort of housing authority approved,

02:53:31.879 --> 02:53:33.999
or whatever we can to work with you guys

02:53:33.999 --> 02:53:37.399
to cater to their needs and make sure they're not homeless.

02:53:37.399 --> 02:53:40.599
But six months is what we're even going up to.

02:53:40.599 --> 02:53:42.119
We've got 60 days.

02:53:42.119 --> 02:53:45.679
and like I said, I wouldn't wanna have this conversation

02:53:45.679 --> 02:53:47.639
to disturb other landlords, right?

02:53:47.639 --> 02:53:48.599
That's not what you wanna hear.

02:53:48.599 --> 02:53:49.979
You don't wanna step on anybody's toes.

02:53:49.979 --> 02:53:52.339
We're trying to make sure that we can work directly

02:53:52.339 --> 02:53:53.339
and that's the case.

02:53:55.039 --> 02:53:55.939
Alderman Stacey.

02:53:58.439 --> 02:54:03.439
I want you to know that I hear you loud and clear,

02:54:05.519 --> 02:54:07.579
but I also want you to know

02:54:07.579 --> 02:54:17.299
that I saw the letters that were put on the houses okay so to sit here or stand

02:54:17.299 --> 02:54:30.739
there and make out like what I said didn't happen it's bull crap I saw the

02:54:30.739 --> 02:54:38.539
and I have a video of the call saying we're not going to raise your rent now.

02:54:38.539 --> 02:54:51.819
There was 123, I believe, month-to-month renters that received this notice on their door and

02:54:51.819 --> 02:54:55.819
it said $1,200 when they were paying $600.

02:54:55.819 --> 02:54:58.499
One said $1,249.

02:54:58.499 --> 02:54:59.499
You have the letters.

02:54:59.499 --> 02:55:02.499
I'm not telling you nothing you don't already know.

02:55:02.499 --> 02:55:06.499
That was not put on the door. That was not provided.

02:55:06.499 --> 02:55:11.499
No, but there was a letter put on the door and when they contacted you that's what they were told.

02:55:11.499 --> 02:55:26.499
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.

02:55:26.499 --> 02:55:32.099
Bates, but when those people were here last week with their kids crying thinking they

02:55:32.099 --> 02:55:42.659
were going to be homeless, it was based upon a letter they had got from Freeport Portfolio,

02:55:42.659 --> 02:55:52.979
LLC and you, your one, telling them that they had to sign a lease and their rent was going

02:55:52.979 --> 02:55:55.499
up or move.

02:55:55.499 --> 02:56:00.219
they have not come and told me this they must have come and told you this but not me this

02:56:00.219 --> 02:56:05.219
and I'm here telling you this the letter that was put to the door did not have any market

02:56:05.219 --> 02:56:10.279
rent or any type of rental discussion I had the discussion in person with them to show

02:56:10.279 --> 02:56:18.299
them the range of rents that a market is paying right now including section 8, Venebago, Orgelgo,

02:56:18.299 --> 02:56:22.499
any other Freeport Housing Authority what they're paying to have them understand what

02:56:22.499 --> 02:56:26.339
facebook, twitter, youtube, email, email, facebook, twitter.

02:56:26.359 --> 02:56:35.499
For the last few years, the United States has been

02:56:35.699 --> 02:56:41.839
making a big difference to the world.

02:56:41.839 --> 02:56:46.639
but I'm here I'm here to ensure that we can help them out and I'm being the I'm

02:56:46.639 --> 02:56:51.439
telling the truth here I'm here telling you none of the letter on were there

02:56:51.439 --> 02:56:54.579
said anything about the market rent so I don't know how you can tell me that I'm

02:56:54.579 --> 02:56:59.319
lying here no when they spoke with you this is what they were informed when

02:56:59.319 --> 02:57:02.719
they spoke with me what were they inform in person yes and I was there and

02:57:02.719 --> 02:57:06.479
sitting some of them have waited for you to come in and do an inspection and you

02:57:06.479 --> 02:57:10.599
didn't even show up no I showed up I showed up I saw showing up because of

02:57:10.599 --> 02:57:11.599
and so on.

02:57:11.599 --> 02:57:12.599
So I hope I've addressed your questions.

02:57:12.599 --> 02:57:13.599
Okay.

02:57:13.599 --> 02:57:14.599
Okay.

02:57:14.599 --> 02:57:15.599
So let's not debate between the two.

02:57:15.599 --> 02:57:16.599
This is, if you want to have a private phone call, you're welcome to do that.

02:57:16.599 --> 02:57:17.599
Is there any other discussion that anyone would like to have on item number 18?

02:57:17.599 --> 02:57:18.599
Okay.

02:57:18.599 --> 02:57:19.599
Okay.

02:57:19.599 --> 02:57:20.599
Okay.

02:57:20.599 --> 02:57:21.599
Okay.

02:57:21.599 --> 02:57:22.599
Okay.

02:57:22.599 --> 02:57:23.599
Okay.

02:57:23.599 --> 02:57:24.599
Okay.

02:57:24.599 --> 02:57:25.599
Okay.

02:57:25.599 --> 02:57:26.599
Okay.

02:57:26.599 --> 02:57:27.599
Okay.

02:57:27.599 --> 02:57:28.599
Okay.

02:57:28.599 --> 02:57:29.599
Okay.

02:57:29.599 --> 02:57:39.599
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?

02:57:39.599 --> 02:57:52.599
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.

02:57:52.599 --> 02:58:22.599
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

02:58:22.599 --> 02:58:25.959
that are gonna be receiving fines of $500 per unit.

02:58:25.959 --> 02:58:28.119
So I would like to state for the record

02:58:28.119 --> 02:58:31.879
that this council has put a tremendous challenge

02:58:31.879 --> 02:58:34.079
to my staff and we have delivered

02:58:34.079 --> 02:58:36.559
and there will be five cases.

02:58:36.559 --> 02:58:38.559
We are scheduling five hearings in October

02:58:38.559 --> 02:58:40.439
that are special hearings to prosecute

02:58:40.439 --> 02:58:44.159
and put everybody up for $500 per unit fines

02:58:45.359 --> 02:58:46.799
who have not registered the rentals.

02:58:46.799 --> 02:58:49.359
So the message is clear and is out there

02:58:49.359 --> 02:58:50.519
that if you have not registered,

02:58:50.519 --> 02:58:52.519
and

02:58:54.639 --> 02:58:56.639
the rest of the community.

02:58:57.959 --> 02:58:59.959
I think that's a good thing.

02:59:02.159 --> 02:59:04.159
I think it's a good thing that you will be fined accordingly.

02:59:05.359 --> 02:59:07.359
And thank you for making that a priority.

02:59:08.479 --> 02:59:10.479
And thank you to my staff for all the hard work that they put

02:59:11.579 --> 02:59:13.579
in to protect our community. So just wanted to make that clear.

02:59:14.819 --> 02:59:16.819
» Thank you. And thank you, Moby, for coming.

02:59:16.819 --> 02:59:21.339
10 slash 23 A, B, Written and Verbal Public Comments.

02:59:21.339 --> 02:59:22.339
Alderman Stacy.

02:59:23.539 --> 02:59:26.819
Alderperson, Simmons, do you have this one?

02:59:33.419 --> 02:59:35.859
Well, I'm not here as an assessment,

02:59:35.859 --> 02:59:40.419
but really, I believe we propose that we allow

02:59:40.419 --> 02:59:43.899
public comment in terms of the topic

02:59:43.899 --> 02:59:59.899
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.

02:59:59.899 --> 03:00:15.739
so are you proposing a motion to have the attorneys draft what you're asking I'm

03:00:15.739 --> 03:00:21.420
asking if that's what you're looking for because in order for that to be done

03:00:21.420 --> 03:00:25.420
there has to be a vote of counsel that it's the will of the council to have task

03:00:25.420 --> 03:00:29.420
the attorneys to do something so I'm asking you is that the direction you

03:00:29.420 --> 03:00:31.420
and

03:00:33.420 --> 03:00:35.420
James, and then the second amendment that we want is a motion to do that.

03:00:35.420 --> 03:00:37.420
Yes.

03:00:37.420 --> 03:00:39.420
Is there a second?

03:00:39.420 --> 03:00:41.420
Second.

03:00:41.420 --> 03:00:49.420
So we have a motion made by Alderman Simmons, seconded by Alderman Stacy in drafting the amendment as stated.

03:00:49.420 --> 03:00:51.420
And can I just say something?

03:00:51.420 --> 03:00:53.420
Sure.

03:00:53.420 --> 03:01:04.059
So, last week, with those families, and then people having to leave for whatever reason,

03:01:04.059 --> 03:01:10.420
they got to go to work, it's school tomorrow, we had a four hour plus meeting, or even tonight,

03:01:10.420 --> 03:01:21.979
this gentleman wanted to say something as far as thanking somebody for something, but

03:01:21.979 --> 03:01:28.340
it was not an agenda item and so he continued to sit here waiting for the end of public

03:01:28.340 --> 03:01:40.500
comments and so what this would do would give whomever the right to speak at the beginning

03:01:40.500 --> 03:01:47.539
if they're here and move forward and not have to sit and wait.

03:01:47.539 --> 03:01:55.379
We've had elderly people here sitting and waiting, and why not just get it done and get it over

03:01:55.379 --> 03:01:57.379
with and move forward?

03:01:57.379 --> 03:02:02.219
Yeah, that will come under non-agenda, non-agenda.

03:02:02.219 --> 03:02:03.219
Did you want to speak?

03:02:03.219 --> 03:02:04.219
I'm sorry.

03:02:04.219 --> 03:02:05.219
I'm sorry.

03:02:05.219 --> 03:02:11.539
But we're saying for public comments, it doesn't have to be an agenda item.

03:02:11.539 --> 03:02:12.539
Exactly.

03:02:12.539 --> 03:02:13.539
It can be anything.

03:02:13.539 --> 03:02:27.539
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.

03:02:27.539 --> 03:02:28.539
Yes.

03:02:28.539 --> 03:02:33.539
So if there's no further discussion on that, Alderman Sellers?

03:02:33.539 --> 03:02:40.840
I have a problem with that is because really our meetings are long is because we're coming

03:02:40.840 --> 03:02:45.579
unprepared so we're asking question after question after question after question instead

03:02:45.579 --> 03:02:52.440
of knowing proper preparation prevents poor performance so my issue is being here four

03:02:52.440 --> 03:02:59.100
hours on going over and over and over a bunch of stuff and then we've got you want it at

03:02:59.100 --> 03:03:03.619
at the beginning and you want it at the end, that's a lot because the purpose of having

03:03:03.619 --> 03:03:10.379
a public forum for agenda items at the beginning of the meeting and other items at the end

03:03:10.379 --> 03:03:17.459
of it is allow the council to effectively complete its business effectively.

03:03:17.459 --> 03:03:23.379
If everyone were allowed to speak freely on any subject at the start, it would prevent

03:03:23.379 --> 03:03:29.260
and the Council for Moving Forward with the Material and the Required Formula Action.

03:03:29.260 --> 03:03:36.260
A Council meeting is designed to have a meeting to conduct public, not public business, but

03:03:36.260 --> 03:03:38.379
Council business in the public.

03:03:38.379 --> 03:03:45.100
It's not to have everybody just talking because we cannot, if they get up there and speak,

03:03:45.100 --> 03:03:46.100
it's not going to be dialogue.

03:03:46.100 --> 03:03:49.340
They're just going to get there and speak and we're just going to look at them.

03:03:49.340 --> 03:03:51.659
We are talking about ...

03:03:51.659 --> 03:03:57.059
It's not going to be, it's not going to be a dialogue where everybody gets up. If we're

03:03:57.059 --> 03:04:01.059
going to have it at the beginning and at the end, that's just way too much.

03:04:01.059 --> 03:04:10.059
We are talking about three minutes, but three minutes with ten people is a long time.

03:04:10.059 --> 03:04:11.059
My God.

03:04:11.059 --> 03:04:13.100
I don't have a problem with people speaking.

03:04:13.100 --> 03:04:17.779
Let's just take a vote. We've been here for over three hours. Let's take the vote on if

03:04:17.779 --> 03:04:20.539
if you want to task the attorneys to do what was said.

03:04:20.539 --> 03:04:21.859
Madam Clerk, please take the roll.

03:04:21.859 --> 03:04:25.659
I'm sorry, say that again.

03:04:47.779 --> 03:05:08.459
and not at the end. We work for the people. We work for the people. Madam Clerk. I have

03:05:08.459 --> 03:05:13.959
a question. It is written into the ordinance. Attorney Zito, help me out here. There is a

03:05:13.959 --> 03:05:15.959
and

03:05:17.079 --> 03:05:19.079
John.

03:05:20.199 --> 03:05:22.199
So, we have a limit on how many people can speak to the same

03:05:22.319 --> 03:05:26.840
topic. Can you refresh how that works and would this apply when

03:05:26.840 --> 03:05:29.239
it's, I mean, if it's not related to an agenda item, we

03:05:29.239 --> 03:05:31.239
could have seven, eight different topics.

03:05:32.659 --> 03:05:35.959
Now, last week as an example, we had one topic. So, if you

03:05:35.959 --> 03:05:39.959
could address both multiple topics and one topic, please.

03:05:39.959 --> 03:05:43.920
as of right now can have a maximum of six speakers on it.

03:05:43.920 --> 03:05:46.739
And if there's people on both sides and they each get,

03:05:46.739 --> 03:05:48.319
you potentially get three and three, two and two,

03:05:48.319 --> 03:05:49.920
whatever it is, everyone gets their fair up,

03:05:49.920 --> 03:05:53.039
up to six speakers on any topic.

03:05:53.039 --> 03:05:56.399
So yeah, you could have a lot,

03:05:56.399 --> 03:05:57.819
you could have eight different topics.

03:05:57.819 --> 03:06:00.399
You could have up to six speakers on each topic,

03:06:00.399 --> 03:06:02.920
three minutes a person, it'd be all upfront.

03:06:03.879 --> 03:06:06.859
There's not that many people having something to say.

03:06:06.859 --> 03:06:13.979
that's just an excuse okay so Alderman Simmons just to be clear your motion is

03:06:13.979 --> 03:06:21.619
to task the attorneys to write the the ordinance rewrite the ordinance so it is

03:06:21.619 --> 03:06:29.059
public comment on agenda items and non-agenda only at the beginning and is

03:06:29.059 --> 03:06:33.659
that your second Alderman Stacy yes madam clerk please take the roll

03:06:33.659 --> 03:06:45.779
Shadle? No. Sanders? Yes. Sellers? No. Klemm? No. Johnson? No. Simmons? No. Parker? No. And Stacy?

03:06:51.180 --> 03:06:56.039
How do you vote? Aye. The motion fails. Of course. Five to three.

03:06:57.520 --> 03:07:01.219
Okay, we will move on to reports of Department Heads Finance.

03:07:01.219 --> 03:07:07.619
Thank you, Your Honor. I'd just like to echo what Dovie said, that Finance Committee of

03:07:07.619 --> 03:07:14.779
the Whole begins next week, and they should be before each Council slash COW meeting until

03:07:14.779 --> 03:07:16.659
we pass the budget.

03:07:16.659 --> 03:07:17.659
Is there a time?

03:07:17.659 --> 03:07:21.459
Would you explain the different format, time format?

03:07:21.459 --> 03:07:28.500
I'll try and do that as well as I can. So we did set up the Finance Committee of the

03:07:28.500 --> 03:07:37.500
to begin at 530 next week with the COW meeting to begin immediately following.

03:07:37.500 --> 03:07:42.520
So we're trying to eliminate the gap that sometimes happened last year between meetings

03:07:42.520 --> 03:07:48.299
where we all were kind of sitting around waiting 15 minutes until 6 o'clock to begin the next

03:07:48.299 --> 03:07:49.299
meeting.

03:07:49.299 --> 03:07:51.319
So we're going to start at 530.

03:07:51.319 --> 03:07:54.260
Once the Finance COW is finished, we'll go right into the COW.

03:07:54.260 --> 03:07:55.260
Thank you.

03:07:55.260 --> 03:07:56.260
The COW.

03:07:56.260 --> 03:07:57.260
Thank you.

03:07:57.260 --> 03:08:07.500
So, just to clarify, I think that the draft special COW meeting has 545, so most likely

03:08:07.500 --> 03:08:12.459
your finance will go at least 15 minutes, so it shouldn't be, from a practical standpoint,

03:08:12.459 --> 03:08:18.299
an issue, but heaven forbid that you have a finance COW start at 530, and let's say

03:08:18.299 --> 03:08:26.619
it only went five minutes, you still wouldn't be able to start the COW until 545.

03:08:26.619 --> 03:08:33.619
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.

03:08:33.619 --> 03:08:40.619
Did you look at my draft agenda, Attorney Zito? It said at 545 or as soon as the Finance COW adjourns.

03:08:40.619 --> 03:08:41.619
Correct, but...

03:08:41.619 --> 03:08:43.619
But it can't be earlier than 545.

03:08:43.619 --> 03:08:51.619
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.

03:08:51.619 --> 03:08:54.619
Director Duckman?

03:08:54.619 --> 03:08:56.619
Nothing tonight, Madam Mayor.

03:08:56.619 --> 03:08:58.619
Thank you. Darren?

03:08:58.619 --> 03:09:13.619
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.

03:09:13.619 --> 03:09:15.619
Fire?

03:09:15.619 --> 03:09:27.619
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.

03:09:27.619 --> 03:09:36.619
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.

03:09:36.619 --> 03:09:44.619
We just contain it, keep it from going any further. We are invoking the spill or pay ordinance to the responsible party.

03:09:44.619 --> 03:09:51.020
Party, they will be reimbursing the city nearly $1,800 for our response and our materials

03:09:51.020 --> 03:09:54.020
used.

03:09:54.020 --> 03:09:55.020
That's all I have.

03:09:55.020 --> 03:09:56.020
Thank you.

03:09:56.020 --> 03:09:57.020
Police?

03:09:57.020 --> 03:09:58.020
Yeah, I have no report tonight.

03:09:58.020 --> 03:09:59.020
IT?

03:09:59.020 --> 03:09:59.939
and others.

03:09:59.939 --> 03:10:28.939
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.

03:10:29.939 --> 03:10:37.539
City Manager. Just want to reach out to the staff that's been working on all of

03:10:37.539 --> 03:10:42.099
our road resurfacing program this year. I just wanted to say thank you all and got

03:10:42.099 --> 03:10:47.019
a busy week and I appreciate all your effort. Thank you. And I have nothing new

03:10:47.019 --> 03:10:54.739
to add. Alderman Shadle. Thursday 6 o'clock, Schwartz on Park Boulevard for the

03:10:54.739 --> 03:11:00.859
Sixth Ward Neighborhood Bunch. Alderman Sanders? Yeah just want to know are we

03:11:00.859 --> 03:11:06.859
almost in completion with our street program for this year? No we're we're

03:11:06.859 --> 03:11:13.859
getting we're getting there we still have one that we're gonna do that was an

03:11:13.859 --> 03:11:19.019
add-on Hans Harvey. Carroll still has to be surfaced that should be happening in a

03:11:19.019 --> 03:11:23.299
couple weeks but we're making significant progress. The West Ward

03:11:23.299 --> 03:11:25.419
and Mayor, Water Main Expansion should start in two weeks.

03:11:25.419 --> 03:11:29.939
So if I had engaged, we're probably 70% done,

03:11:29.939 --> 03:11:32.179
but a lot of good work going on

03:11:32.179 --> 03:11:34.419
and the crews are making really good progress

03:11:34.419 --> 03:11:36.819
and everybody's working well together, so.

03:11:36.819 --> 03:11:37.659
Okay.

03:11:37.659 --> 03:11:38.579
Alderman Sellers.

03:11:39.799 --> 03:11:41.419
Oh, nothing.

03:11:41.419 --> 03:11:42.259
Thank you.

03:11:42.259 --> 03:11:43.079
Alderman Klemm.

03:11:43.079 --> 03:11:44.419
Nothing here.

03:11:44.419 --> 03:11:45.859
Alderman Johnson.

03:11:45.859 --> 03:11:48.539
I just like to thank all the people that came out

03:11:48.539 --> 03:11:50.259
for the block party on Saturday.

03:11:50.259 --> 03:11:51.979
It was, there was a lot of people there

03:11:51.979 --> 03:11:55.539
and I think a lot of the residents that were there

03:11:55.539 --> 03:11:57.859
did get some resources and information

03:11:57.859 --> 03:11:59.179
that they needed to help them.

03:11:59.179 --> 03:12:01.619
So I was glad to see that.

03:12:01.619 --> 03:12:02.459
Alderman Simmons?

03:12:02.459 --> 03:12:03.299
I'm sorry, where was I?

03:12:03.299 --> 03:12:04.259
It was the block party.

03:12:04.259 --> 03:12:06.779
It was over at the Boys and Girls Club

03:12:06.779 --> 03:12:09.019
in the parking lot there.

03:12:09.019 --> 03:12:09.979
Thank you.

03:12:09.979 --> 03:12:10.899
Alderman Simmons?

03:12:18.859 --> 03:12:19.899
Alderman Parker?

03:12:19.899 --> 03:12:21.179
Nothing now, Your Honor.

03:12:21.179 --> 03:12:22.779
Alderman, Stacy?

03:12:22.779 --> 03:12:26.099
Yes, I would like to announce that there's

03:12:26.099 --> 03:12:32.059
going to be a fourth annual Terrence Cheeto Haynes

03:12:32.059 --> 03:12:34.819
three-on-three classic.

03:12:34.819 --> 03:12:38.939
This event will be held Saturday, September the 13th,

03:12:38.939 --> 03:12:41.019
starting at 10 o'clock AM.

03:12:43.979 --> 03:12:49.059
The age groups for the teams are 10 to 12, 13 to 15,

03:12:49.059 --> 03:12:51.959
and 16 to 18.

03:12:51.959 --> 03:12:54.459
There's no charge for this event,

03:12:55.499 --> 03:12:58.339
but they will be accepting donations

03:12:59.419 --> 03:13:03.859
toward the Terrence Cheadle Haynes

03:13:03.859 --> 03:13:07.419
Stop the Violence Scholarship Foundation.

03:13:07.419 --> 03:13:10.939
This is the young man that was shot on Pleasant,

03:13:10.939 --> 03:13:14.919
Angelina a few years ago.

03:13:16.419 --> 03:13:18.419
And this is the fourth annual

03:13:19.059 --> 03:13:24.779
Evert, in his honor.

03:13:24.779 --> 03:13:27.379
Move on to public comments, Rod Holtz.

03:13:27.379 --> 03:13:28.379
Thank you for waiting.

03:13:28.379 --> 03:13:37.459
I'll make this short since it's been a long meeting.

03:13:37.459 --> 03:13:44.619
Starting in January, I took on a project of trying to get my driveway redone.

03:13:44.619 --> 03:13:48.659
I ran into some loopholes,

03:13:48.659 --> 03:13:52.859
one of which being my wife had ovarian cancer

03:13:52.859 --> 03:13:55.859
and sadly she passed away the end of July.

03:13:56.859 --> 03:14:01.859
She never got to see our new driveway, but she did.

03:14:04.579 --> 03:14:07.859
Everything got completed around the middle of August

03:14:07.859 --> 03:14:12.859
and I had one loophole that I was trying to overcome

03:14:14.619 --> 03:14:24.899
and that was where the street met my driveway. So I went and I talked to, I called the street

03:14:24.899 --> 03:14:35.219
department after a friend of mine suggested that's who I try. I talked to her, the lady

03:14:35.219 --> 03:14:40.819
took down my address and she told me that she says within the next week or so when the

03:14:40.819 --> 03:14:46.959
The pothole people are out in your area. They'll be gladly to fix the end of your driveway.

03:14:46.959 --> 03:14:55.459
I said, great. About a week and a half went by, nothing happened. So I was in the area

03:14:55.459 --> 03:15:00.419
of the street department down on Island Avenue, so I decided, well, I'm going to try going

03:15:00.419 --> 03:15:08.419
down there, speak to them one on one. I wish I never did. The lady that I encountered down

03:15:08.419 --> 03:15:16.299
there was very rude. She acted like my first impression to her. She wanted to get in a

03:15:16.299 --> 03:15:23.939
fight with me. All I wanted to do was get some information on when they were going to

03:15:23.939 --> 03:15:33.899
fix that or if they were going to fix that. So I walked away kind of sad because I got

03:15:33.899 --> 03:15:42.419
another stone I gotta try to overcome so I figured well I'm gonna try calling the

03:15:42.419 --> 03:15:48.979
City Hall I did one morning before I went to work I encountered Michelle Nelson

03:15:48.979 --> 03:15:59.879
she was very kind considerate listen to my going on with my driveway and she

03:15:59.879 --> 03:16:08.879
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.

03:16:08.879 --> 03:16:19.879
Within two hours, Darren called me up and wanted to know what was going on, and I told him.

03:16:19.879 --> 03:16:27.879
and he informed me that and I didn't know this but that the end of this where the

03:16:27.879 --> 03:16:34.639
street and in the driveway meets that would be my contractors doing well I

03:16:34.639 --> 03:16:41.519
thought they're concrete people but we were talking a little bit

03:16:41.519 --> 03:17:11.519
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

03:17:11.519 --> 03:17:23.519
I was amazed, totally amazed with the hard work that you guys do during the summer and everything. I get that and all.

03:17:23.519 --> 03:17:35.519
But it looked totally professional and I want to give you a thank you for me and if you could give this to Michelle.

03:17:35.519 --> 03:17:59.579
are there any other public comments I'd like to clarify some things joy talked

03:17:59.579 --> 03:18:08.979
talked about Henny. We've lost Henny, we've lost Tutty, and we've lost Taylor. That's

03:18:08.979 --> 03:18:16.179
three areas where our children played and had in the wards that they're talking about.

03:18:16.179 --> 03:18:26.339
That's three, okay? History. Now, as far as what he's talking about, he never mentioned

03:18:26.339 --> 03:18:32.339
and the seven-day notices that we've all seen.

03:18:32.339 --> 03:18:38.019
As far as the city is concerned, what we heard from you guys a week ago was everything you

03:18:38.019 --> 03:18:41.399
couldn't do and nothing that you could do.

03:18:41.399 --> 03:18:48.899
What we also found was when Joshua had his meeting, we had no Rob Boyer, we had no Jodi

03:18:48.899 --> 03:18:55.299
Miller, we had no Alder people other than the two that were there, which tells us how

03:18:55.299 --> 03:19:00.499
How much you really care about what is happening to your constituents because you weren't there.

03:19:00.499 --> 03:19:02.179
You weren't there to hear them.

03:19:02.179 --> 03:19:03.819
You weren't there to listen to them.

03:19:03.819 --> 03:19:05.699
You weren't there to answer questions.

03:19:05.699 --> 03:19:11.539
And even when you did something on the television, neither of you stood before a television camera

03:19:11.539 --> 03:19:14.499
and addressed the constituents in this town.

03:19:14.499 --> 03:19:20.779
What you did was is use someone who is an employee of the city that nobody knows to

03:19:20.779 --> 03:19:22.779
speak for you.

03:19:22.779 --> 03:19:24.579
It's shameful.

03:19:24.579 --> 03:19:25.579
and others.

03:19:25.579 --> 03:19:30.779
And it's absolutely shameful that you guys won't stand before your constituents and listen

03:19:30.779 --> 03:19:31.779
to them.

03:19:31.779 --> 03:19:38.099
Tonight's vote on the comment section is absolutely ridiculous that you would allow this to go

03:19:38.099 --> 03:19:42.299
on for four to five hours and I don't care what the comments are or what the proposals

03:19:42.299 --> 03:19:48.059
are on the floor, that you would allow someone with babies, with children, to be sitting

03:19:48.059 --> 03:19:50.499
here for four hours to speak with you guys.

03:19:50.499 --> 03:19:54.219
When you can change the ordinance and you can change the direction of this meeting at

03:19:54.219 --> 03:19:59.819
your own beck and call whenever you feel like you want to and all we were asking for was the

03:19:59.819 --> 03:20:06.859
All we were asking for was the courtesy to allow individuals who had to go to work, some

03:20:06.859 --> 03:20:11.739
of whom are working two to three jobs, with children standing beside them, to speak to

03:20:11.739 --> 03:20:17.619
you as your constituents, as taxpayers, as working individuals in this town, you refused

03:20:17.619 --> 03:20:18.619
to do that.

03:20:18.619 --> 03:20:24.119
And tonight, City Council, shame on you, you've refused to do it again.

03:20:24.119 --> 03:20:28.359
You can sit here and listen to the monarchy that you are being fed by him, or you can

03:20:28.359 --> 03:20:30.359
and more.

03:20:31.379 --> 03:20:33.479
This is a community that is so

03:20:33.479 --> 03:20:36.479
affected by the fact that you can listen to your constituents

03:20:36.479 --> 03:20:38.479
and what you need to do is sit down and have a conversation

03:20:38.479 --> 03:20:42.479
with them. Instead of listening to him, listen to the people

03:20:42.479 --> 03:20:44.479
that are being affected. This man knows absolutely nothing

03:20:44.479 --> 03:20:46.479
about this community nor does he know anything about the people

03:20:46.479 --> 03:20:48.479
that are being affected. I'm going to tell you guys

03:20:48.479 --> 03:20:53.479
something. If you think for a second that this isn't going to

03:20:53.479 --> 03:20:57.479
affect this entire town, and I've said this before and

03:20:57.479 --> 03:21:20.739
�� I want to start by saying thank you to, you know, everybody involved positively and

03:21:20.739 --> 03:21:25.399
God like up here.

03:21:25.399 --> 03:21:32.559
and I want to say congratulations to the people that came last week, stood up and told their

03:21:32.559 --> 03:21:37.599
heartfelt stories because they really showed more care and concern about themselves than

03:21:37.599 --> 03:21:39.599
our city leaders.

03:21:39.599 --> 03:21:41.399
And I also want to say thank you to Josh Atkins.

03:21:41.399 --> 03:21:44.759
I don't care if y'all don't like him or not, but we wouldn't sit here and talk about this

03:21:44.759 --> 03:21:48.959
if he didn't held that meeting, but he was the only one that took the time out to make

03:21:48.959 --> 03:21:50.319
a meeting.

03:21:50.319 --> 03:21:51.319
Miller.

03:21:51.319 --> 03:21:56.319
Before that situation came to this council board, you've seen this on all social media

03:21:56.319 --> 03:22:00.999
because we know you guys watch it, Shadle or not, but you guys chose to ignore it until

03:22:00.999 --> 03:22:02.479
it became chaotic.

03:22:02.479 --> 03:22:08.719
And as leaders, you should have held a PowerPoint presentation or whatever you did that accounted

03:22:08.719 --> 03:22:13.839
to really nothing because we still have not asked for you to control the amount.

03:22:13.839 --> 03:22:20.079
We simply asked for the time to be a good timely fashion to give them considering their

03:22:20.079 --> 03:22:25.519
Freeport does not have jobs to accommodate anything to be raised.

03:22:25.519 --> 03:22:32.319
We do not have a council board that does not raise every tax they can on all of the people

03:22:32.319 --> 03:22:33.319
here.

03:22:33.319 --> 03:22:35.279
You guys need to think about the future.

03:22:35.279 --> 03:22:39.959
We don't have half of the creativity that we need to run a city.

03:22:39.959 --> 03:22:42.279
Let's use this as an example.

03:22:42.279 --> 03:22:48.399
We paid, what we say, Winter got $78,000 for boarding up the bottom of that building and

03:22:48.399 --> 03:22:50.599
and put in a six-foot fence around it.

03:22:50.599 --> 03:22:53.119
Where the hell is they shopping at?

03:22:53.119 --> 03:22:58.119
OSB at half inch is only $12 to $15.

03:22:58.239 --> 03:23:00.479
If we needed 300 sheets of that,

03:23:00.479 --> 03:23:03.479
that would only came to $5,000.

03:23:03.479 --> 03:23:06.719
Let's say the fence, way out of the ballpark, cost 20.

03:23:06.719 --> 03:23:09.919
Where is $78,000 accommodated for?

03:23:09.919 --> 03:23:13.139
My suggestion to the council is that you guys try to do

03:23:13.139 --> 03:23:15.999
a little bit more detailed finding

03:23:15.999 --> 03:23:17.719
on what they actually are doing,

03:23:47.719 --> 03:24:16.719
Dickenmuth, do you got an update by the way? Everybody asked me about this.

03:24:16.719 --> 03:24:26.599
Thomas, you let them know I'm working real hard.

03:24:26.599 --> 03:24:28.199
And then?

03:24:28.199 --> 03:24:32.939
We got a question.

03:24:32.939 --> 03:24:37.659
Are you going to fix the pothole by Jefferson Street?

03:24:37.659 --> 03:24:41.339
Any other public comments?

03:24:41.339 --> 03:24:43.799
Go ahead.

03:24:43.799 --> 03:25:04.799
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.

03:25:04.799 --> 03:25:34.799
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,

03:25:34.799 --> 03:26:04.799
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

03:26:04.799 --> 03:26:34.799
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

03:26:34.799 --> 03:26:39.519
in this room is to protect the people of this community.

03:26:39.519 --> 03:26:41.839
And you could have done that tonight

03:26:41.839 --> 03:26:44.959
by just putting in a simple 60-day amendment

03:26:44.959 --> 03:26:46.399
to that ordinance.

03:26:46.399 --> 03:26:48.479
And that would have taken them to,

03:26:48.479 --> 03:26:49.999
he could have went out tomorrow and said,

03:26:49.999 --> 03:26:52.319
boom, here's your guys' 16-day notice,

03:26:52.319 --> 03:26:53.879
and that would have given them two months,

03:26:53.879 --> 03:26:55.999
but they would have 60 days to figure things out.

03:26:55.999 --> 03:26:58.679
Now, they have no idea what's gonna happen

03:26:58.679 --> 03:27:02.539
because we just showed him, and I'm not picking on you, sir,

03:27:02.539 --> 03:27:08.179
that we're not gonna do anything we're gonna talk about it for the next month

03:27:08.179 --> 03:27:13.419
that's what we're gonna do and I just wish you guys I don't know if it was

03:27:13.419 --> 03:27:17.259
about me if it would have come from miss Yocum maybe you guys would have taken

03:27:17.259 --> 03:27:20.499
it a little more seriously but you guys could have done something and that's all

03:27:20.499 --> 03:27:24.019
the people are asking for they shouldn't be calling me to do it it's just they

03:27:24.019 --> 03:27:29.019
Don't Trust You to take them seriously. Thank you.

03:27:29.019 --> 03:27:32.019
Any other public comments?

03:27:41.019 --> 03:27:42.019
Wow.

03:27:42.019 --> 03:27:49.019
Hi, Sue Cook, Freeport. I just want to thank, I'm glad the 65

03:27:49.019 --> 03:28:07.019
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.

03:28:07.019 --> 03:28:35.019
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.

03:28:35.019 --> 03:29:05.019
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

03:29:05.019 --> 03:29:11.019
that Joshua had, and they were still scared. And they were hoping that somebody, that Gabby

03:29:11.019 --> 03:29:16.779
was going to be there, but Gabby didn't come that night. And so people were very, very

03:29:16.779 --> 03:29:22.499
scared. And yes, they spoke to the news because they did not have you there, or they did not

03:29:22.499 --> 03:29:29.499
have Gabby there to answer the questions they had. So the ruckus really wasn't a ruckus.

03:29:29.499 --> 03:29:37.459
and a ruckus. It was a crime. Please help us before we're homeless. Because it's going

03:29:37.459 --> 03:29:43.499
to be winter when they end up homeless. And that's not a good time to have babies in the

03:29:43.499 --> 03:29:49.839
snow. Okay? You said you had kids. Totally get it. It's not a good time to have babies

03:29:49.839 --> 03:29:57.019
in the snow. And I'm not going to start crying again, even though I look like I am. So please

03:29:57.019 --> 03:29:59.779
Take the ruckus for what it is.

03:29:59.779 --> 03:30:09.419
it is and take it to heart and help them out. Don't throw them out. And the 60 days, that's

03:30:09.419 --> 03:30:16.939
a good idea. It gives them two paychecks. 120 days is kind of long. I know that's Chicago

03:30:16.939 --> 03:30:24.179
as far as giving 60 days to let them leave. 30 days is kind of short. It's only one paychecks.

03:30:24.179 --> 03:30:31.979
60 days is two paychecks. 120 days? Yeah, that's long. So, I'm just asking for leniency.

03:30:31.979 --> 03:30:37.019
I know I'm coming up on my three minutes and so mask on. Thank you very much for letting

03:30:37.019 --> 03:30:52.179
me speak and thank you.

03:30:52.179 --> 03:31:04.459
Before I pray, I just want to say 120 days is really not that long when you've been renting

03:31:04.459 --> 03:31:14.819
10, 9, 10, and 12 years, and some of these renters have been there that long.

03:31:14.819 --> 03:31:22.899
My God, in the name of Jesus, I come to you as only I know how, seeking your face for

03:31:22.899 --> 03:31:32.339
direction and understanding, Father. For this is your city. It carries the title, the name,

03:31:32.339 --> 03:31:43.459
Freeport, for a reason. I need you to move, O God, on the behalf of your people. The ones

03:31:43.459 --> 03:32:02.499
May we look to the hills from which cometh our help, for our help cometh from you, a

03:32:02.499 --> 03:32:09.419
buying of the isms and schisms and the hands of the devil that would think it was going

03:32:09.419 --> 03:32:16.419
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.

03:32:39.419 --> 03:32:53.419
and we say victory is ours in the name of Jesus. We will not lay down and die. In Jesus' name, amen.

03:32:53.419 --> 03:33:01.419
That will conclude public comments. I'll entertain a motion for adjournment.

03:33:01.419 --> 03:33:02.419
So moved.

03:33:02.419 --> 03:33:03.419
Second.

03:33:03.419 --> 03:33:06.419
Motion made by Sellers, seconded by Shadle. Madam Clerk, please take the roll.

03:33:06.419 --> 03:33:07.419
Shadle.

03:33:07.419 --> 03:33:08.419
Aye.

03:33:08.419 --> 03:33:18.859
Sellers, Seller, Klemm, Johnson, Simmons, Parker, Stacey, motion passes.