Meeting Events

Meeting: 3l7qohunuos.committee_of_the_whole_8-11-2025

Meeting date: 2025-08-11

Meeting type: committee_of_the_whole

This is a deterministic derived artifact, not official meeting minutes. Related records may be grouped for review while complete machine provenance remains in the JSON artifact.

Decisions and Votes

• Alderman Stacy’s Remote Attendance — Passed

  • Summary: A motion was made and seconded to allow Alderman Stacy to attend remotely.
  • Evidence: “I’ll need a motion for Alderman Stacy to attend remotely. Is there such a motion? So moved. I’ll second. We have a motion made by Alderman Shadle, seconded by Alderman Johnson.”
  • Evidence: “The motion passes five to zero”
  • Source timestamp: 01:51

• Approval of Agenda Item Number Four — Passed

  • Summary: A motion to approve item number four (approval of the agenda) was made and seconded.
  • Evidence: “And item number four is the approval of the agenda. Is there such a motion? So moved. Second.”
  • Evidence: “The motion passes six to zero.”
  • Source timestamp: 02:16

• Approval of Minutes from July 14th, 2025

  • Summary: A motion was made and seconded to approve the minutes from the Committee of the Whole meeting held on July 14th, 2025, as amended.
  • Evidence: “So with that, I would entertain a motion to approve the minutes from the Committee of and the whole meeting held on July 14th, 2025 as amended. I so move. Second.”
  • Review flags: unattached_motion_request
  • Source timestamp: 04:10

• Approval of Amended Minutes Motion — Passed

  • Summary: The motion to approve the amended minutes passed six to zero.
  • Evidence: “and the motion passes six to zero.”
  • Source timestamp: 04:51

• Motion to adjourn the meeting

  • Summary: A motion was made and seconded to adjourn.
  • Attribution: Alderman Shadle
  • Evidence: “So moved. Second. We have a motion made by Alderman Shadle, seconded by Alderman Parker.”
  • Source timestamp: 01:13:29

• Vote on adjournment motion

  • Summary: The roll call vote confirmed attendance for the adjournment motion.
  • Attribution: chair
  • Evidence: “Madam Clerk, would you please take the roll? Oh, I forgot about roll. I’m so sorry. Shadle? Aye. Sanders? Aye. Klemm? Aye. Johnson? Aye. Parker? Aye. And Stacy? Do we still have her? Aye. Yeah, she said aye. Aye. Okay. Thank you.”
  • Source timestamp: 01:13:35

Procedural Actions

• Calling the Committee of the Whole to Order

  • Summary: The meeting was officially called to order after roll call.
  • Attribution: Mayor Miller
  • Evidence: “Thank you, Evelyn, and we’ll officially call this committee of the whole meeting to order.”
  • Source timestamp: 01:12

• Pledge of Allegiance

  • Summary: The Pledge of Allegiance was conducted, led by Alderman Shadle.
  • Evidence: “if you could please stand for the Pledge of Allegiance led by Alderman Shadle”
  • Source timestamp: 02:16

• Agenda item seven discussion regarding municipal electrical aggregation program

  • Summary: The council agreed to move the discussion on Item number seven (municipal electrical aggregation program) to the next September council meeting.
  • Attribution: Scott
  • Evidence: “Item number seven is discussion regarding municipal electrical aggregation program presented by Mike Mudge, but he’s not here. So what’s the pleasure of the council? And I think we moved it to the next September cow or? I would say yes. Do we need the bow down there? No. Okay. We’ll just put it on the September agenda.”
  • Source timestamp: 07:23

• Agenda item eight discussion regarding community solar with Illinois shines

  • Summary: The council agreed to move the discussion on Item number 8 (community solar with Illinois shines) to the next meeting.
  • Evidence: “And same for item number 8, which is the discussion regarding community solar with Illinois shines. That was also a Mike Mudge presentation. So we’ll move that to the next meeting as well.”
  • Source timestamp: 08:06

• Second round of questioning request

  • Summary: A member requested and was granted permission for a second round of questioning.
  • Evidence: “Would you would like your second? Alderman Stacey, would you like your second round of questioning? Yes, I want my second round.”
  • Source timestamp: 30:18

• Moving to Item 10 Discussion

  • Summary: The discussion moved on to item number 10 regarding the construction of ADA ramps at the intersection of South Park Boulevard and Church Street.
  • Evidence: “Okay, so we’ll move on to item number 10, which is discussion regarding the construction of ADA ramps at the intersection of South Park Boulevard and Church Street.”
  • Source timestamp: 37:03

• Moving to Public Comment

  • Summary: The meeting moved on to item number 12, which was public comment.
  • Evidence: “Then we will move on to item number 12, which is public comment.”
  • Source timestamp: 56:52

• Adjournment motion

  • Summary: The chair entertained a motion for adjournment.
  • Attribution: chair
  • Evidence: “Any other public comments this evening? Seeing none, I’ll entertain a motion for adjournment. So moved.”
  • Source timestamp: 01:13:29

Projects

• Necessity and scope of new lift station for Lamb Road district — Passed

  • Summary: The project is necessary because the inverted line in the landfill carrying all industrial flow would require significant dollars to dig up, especially since Landfill two and three are unregulated with only a clay bottom.
  • Attribution: Darren Stiegel
  • Evidence: “Why is this project necessary? The inverted line that’s in the landfill that carries all the industrial flow is in the landfill. It would take significant more dollars to dig that line up and Parrott. It’s very deep. Some of the manholes here in the back of the landfill are over 30 feet deep to access. Plus, if anybody knows anything, landfill two and three was an unregulated landfill. So back in the early days of the landfill, anything could be put in that landfill.”
  • Source timestamp: 10:10

• Potential service area for the new lift station

  • Summary: The proposed line could serve a large acreage including Baileyville, Airport Road extending to Mill Race, and other undeveloped areas.
  • Evidence: “So when we resize the lift station, the 500 acres here in the green were cut off, while the 375 acres of Lamb Road, the 570 acres, to the east, Curt, if you can go to the next slide. And also, the west development was also pulled in, in case this were developed. So there’s 140 acres here. There’s another 400 acres going to the west. There’s a 20 acre site that had already been parceled out up here on the corner, which the sewer will be running right along Forest Road right here. And there’s another 215 acres to the west that will all be able to come to this new lift station. Additionally, there’s already 200 acres in this site development that all drain here now.”
  • Source timestamp: 12:22

Presentations and Reports

• Walnut Road lift station proposal and current sewer line condition

  • Summary: Presenter provided information on the proposed lift station location at the corner of the landfill, noting the current sewer runs through the back of the landfill along the perimeter and under the river.
  • Attribution: Darren Stiegel
  • Evidence: “So I was asked to provide some maps and some information on the Walnut Road lift station. The proposed location is right here at the corner of the landfill. Our current sewer runs from the Lamb Road area through the back of the landfill along this perimeter and under the river and ties to a manhole in this vicinity.”
  • Source timestamp: 08:18

• Infrastructure capacity and development potential for Freeport

  • Summary: The project involves a 20 acre site already parceled out on the corner, another 215 acres to the west connecting to the new lift station, and an existing 200 acres draining to this point. Snack King is noted as the largest user, contributing about 140,000 gallons daily. The new lift station will have pumps capable of flowing 2,700 gallons per minute with 100 horsepower and can accommodate future wet well attachments. The force main is 16 inch and approximately 4,000 feet long; a gravity main of about 1,500 feet is also part of the project.
  • Attribution: Miller
  • Evidence: “There’s a 20 acre site that had already been parceled out up here on the corner, which the sewer will be running right along Forest Road right here. And there’s another 215 acres to the west that will all be able to come to this new lift station. Additionally, there’s already 200 acres in this site development that all drain here now. Snack King is our largest user, they contribute about 140,000 gallons a day just from Snack King alone. So this line would contribute to one of our heaviest industrial lines that is sent every day to the city. The new lift station will have pumps that are able to flow 2,700 gallons per minute and they’re 100 horsepower. So they’ll be open up for future development. It also could have a wet well attachment to it in the future had encased that area grow bigger that it could just be added, like bolted onto it to add more flow. The force main is 16 inch and it’s about $4,000, sorry, 4,000 feet of this project. There’s also a gravity main that’s about 1,500 feet that’s part of this project to tie in and basically abandon and place the existing line.”

• Landfill drainage system status

  • Summary: The laterals from the landfill connect back where the inverted section runs through, which is a point that cannot be overcome this time. The line from the laterals on will remain active to continue draining as normal.
  • Attribution: Curt
  • Evidence: “So right back here in the back of the landfill, the laterals that come out of the landfill connect back here. That’s how the landfills completely drain now. So that line from the laterals on will stay active so it can continue to drain like it normally has been. The inverted section again runs through here and that’s something that we just can’t overcome this time.”
  • Source timestamp: 14:19

• Development potential acreage estimate

  • Summary: The total calculated development area that could connect to the station is about 1,820 acres, suitable for residential, commercial, or industrial use in Freeport.
  • Attribution: Miller
  • Evidence: “We’ve calculated. I mean, I believe it’s you don’t go off of every measurement that’s on that map, but it’s a the total of about 1,820 acres total that could come to this station. So it’s a large, large development area that could benefit Freeport for many years to come if development were to happen either residentially or commercially or industrial in that area.”
  • Source timestamp: 15:31

• Wastewater capacity needs and lift station intent

  • Summary: City Manager Boyer explained that additional capacity is needed due to heavy water use and flow limitations from an inverted section, noting the original intent was always to include a lift station.
  • Attribution: City Manager Boyer
  • Evidence: “Yes, it’s been in the capital plan for a couple of years. And as we’ve discussed, as Darren’s outlined, as far as we have a very heavy water user out there that basically we’re at limitation on what’s available in terms of flow because of the inverted section. And that’s in part due to the fact that they are very diligent in helping us by necking down their flow, but the capacity is needed. And I’m guessing back in the day when this was all done, there was always an intent to put in some type of lift station here, just due to the volume of flow that’s available there. And so as we build out, we need additional capacity so that we can then convey that back and the wastewater plant.”
  • Source timestamp: 23:07

• Economic development potential at airport area

  • Summary: A presentation reviewed the availability of jobs and expansion opportunities near the airport, noting that Snack King is a major water user.
  • Evidence: “If we take a look and go back to the presentation that Greater Freeport Partnership did, we One of the things that they mentioned was the availability of jobs and the availability of expansion at some of these places.”
  • Source timestamp: 33:28

• ADA Ramps at South Park Blvd and Church St Compliance Issues

  • Summary: The current intersection of Church Street and Park Street is not ADA permissible and does not meet PROAG standards. Specific ramps were identified as illegal by standards, such as the ramp near Monroe Clinic Eye Care.
  • Evidence: “So this is the intersection of Church Street and Park Street and it is currently not ADA permissible and it doesn’t meet PROAG standards… Their carriage ramp is illegal by standards. You can no longer send a handicapped person out into traffic with no crossing across the street from them. In this particular instance, there isn’t one across the street from them.”
  • Source timestamp: 38:05

• ADA Ramps at South Park Blvd and Church St Connectivity Issues

  • Summary: A connectivity issue exists because city ordinances state that St. John’s Church owns the sidewalk issue, and Carl Sandburg owns the issue on their property; the city does not own the sidewalk.
  • Evidence: “Currently our ordinances say that St. John’s Church own this issue and Carl Sandburg owns the issue on their property. The city does not own the sidewalk.”
  • Source timestamp: 39:45

• ADA Ramps at South Park Blvd and Church St Illegal Crossings

  • Summary: Ramps were shown to be illegal by PROAG standards because there was no sidewalk connection across the street from them, leading disabled individuals into traffic.
  • Evidence: “Again, these are not legal pro by pro ag standards because there’s no sidewalk connection across the street from this. So again, having a ramp here sends somebody that’s disabled out into traffic with nowhere to go.”
  • Source timestamp: 40:14

• ADA Ramps at South Park Blvd and Church St Sidewalk Compliance

  • Summary: The city owns the piece of sidewalk at every intersection, and a tilted up sidewalk platform must be 2% in each direction to meet code; another ramp was noted as illegal.
  • Evidence: “The city owns this piece of the sidewalk of the ADA corner at every intersection. We are responsible for this mechanism right here. So this tilted up sidewalk, this platform has to be 2% in each direction in order to meet code. This does not. This leg of the ramp has to be, well, this one’s illegal, but it would have to be under 8%.”
  • Source timestamp: 41:41

• ADA Ramps at South Park Blvd and Church St Compliant Crossings Example

  • Summary: Compliant sidewalk crossings require truncated domes and ramps sloped down to under 8% with a resting spot for mobility challenged people.
  • Evidence: “Here’s the truncated dome. These are required by law at every crossing now and as you can see the ramps are sloped down to under 8% and have a resting spot for people that are mobility challenged as they cross streets.”
  • Source timestamp: 42:59

• Compliance standards for handicapped access ramps and crossings

  • Summary: The speaker noted that existing ramp areas were not considered legal by city or PROAG standards due to curb heads and slope issues. Compliant examples shown featured slopes under 8% with resting spots, and specific crossings required slopes under 2% or 5%.
  • Evidence: “So neither side of this crossing is considered legal to the city standards or to the pro-ag standards that being said, they’re legal as is, they just don’t meet our standards for mobility challenge people. This is why the grievance process and the committee was formed to address these type of issues. Next slide, please. So I wanted to show you just for your information, these are a couple pictures of areas that are compliant that have had replacements. So this is the kind of sidewalk crossing that we would suggest at park. Going out into park but coming across church. Here’s the truncated dome. These are required by law at every crossing now and as you can see the ramps are sloped down to under 8% and have a resting spot for people that are mobility challenged as they cross streets. It should be noted that this area here also has to be under 2% and the crossing that goes Rhoads, John, and the others. The number of those across the street here has to be under 5%.”
  • Source timestamp: 42:47

• Compliant sidewalk features for sight-impaired individuals

  • Summary: The speaker presented photos of fully compliant sidewalks that include head walls, which assist people with sight issues by providing tactile guidance up to the truncated dome.
  • Evidence: “Next slide please. Here’s another one that we did last year. We had some record photos of ones that have been replaced. Again, this is a fully compliant sidewalk. A lot of the new series have these, so they call them head walls on them. That’s for people that have sight issues so they can tap those as they know they’re getting up to the truncated dome. Going straight across and they feel for the other side of the ramp when they come across to make sure that they’re getting there.”
  • Source timestamp: 43:43

• City standard for sidewalk updates at intersections

  • Summary: The city is responsible by PROAG codes to fix an entire corner and 15 feet back in each direction on the sidewalk when updates are done, which is a federal standard required when using state or federal money.
  • Evidence: “Next slide please. Here’s another one that was done recently. Again, you can see a typical double crossing, so this would be something that will go on each side. Again, the city’s responsible by PROAG codes is that we have to fix this entire corner and 15 feet back in each direction on the sidewalk as the updates are done. That is the standard. That’s a federal standard. Anytime we use state or federal money on any street project, even local money now, we have to make that upgrade as we hit those intersections.”
  • Source timestamp: 44:04

• Sidewalk width standards at open spaces

  • Summary: The speaker noted that the standard requires new sidewalks to be put at five feet wide and then reduced back to whatever is there, citing an example near Westwood where it opens up for school kids.
  • Evidence: “And here’s, this is an alternate, this is considered somewhere that has an open space. So this I believe might be over by Westwood where it opens up for school kids. Again, see how the truncated dome goes all the way across? That’s the signal to somebody that’s mobility challenged Huffines. And then our standard requires, actually Proag does as well, the new sidewalks have to be put at five feet wide and then reduced back to whatever’s there so you can kind of see the changes that were made at this intersection.”
  • Source timestamp: 44:43

• Transportation Services Agreement for Pretzel City Transit punch Cards at the library

  • Summary: The library seeks to become a location for purchasing ride vouchers and punch cards, with no financial impact to the city or library; the library will compensate the city monthly.
  • Attribution: Director Huffines
  • Evidence: “Director Huffines. Thank you. The library is always seeking collaborations and partners to help improve the services and resources that we provide to our community. Pretzel City Transit is heavily used by library users. We are seeking to make access to ride vouchers and punch cards more accessible by becoming a location for people to purchase vouchers and We provide inventory reports to the city upon request and the library will compensate the city monthly for all vouchers and punch cards sold. There’s no financial impact to the city or the library and the city staff recommend approving the agreement with the Freeport Public Library and in the strategic plan, it supports strong public and private partnerships.”
  • Source timestamp: 52:18

Metrics

• Industrial flow contribution from Snack King

  • Summary: Snack King is noted as the largest industrial user, contributing approximately 140,000 gallons a day.
  • Evidence: “Snack King is our largest industrial user, they contribute about 140,000 gallons a day just from Snack King alone.”
  • Source timestamp: 13:06

• New lift station pumping capacity

  • Summary: The new lift station will have pumps capable of flowing 2,700 gallons per minute with 100 horsepower.
  • Evidence: “The new lift station will have pumps that are able to flow 2,700 gallons per minute and they’re 100 horsepower.”
  • Source timestamp: 13:34

• ADA ramp compliance in City of Freeport

  • Summary: The City of Freeport has over 1,500 ADA ramps, with only about 25% currently compliant.
  • Evidence: “So the City of Freeport has over 1,500 ADA ramps. We only have about 25% compliant currently.”
  • Source timestamp: 48:37

• Ramp replacements in District 2

  • Summary: Last year, District 2 IDOT replaced 300 ramps in the entire district; over the last three years, the city of Freeport has replaced 322 ramps.
  • Evidence: “Rob and I went to a meeting with the District 2 IDOT. Last year they replaced 300 ramps in our entire district, which our district is very large. It goes from East Butte to Rockford to Peoria to the Quad Cities. The city of Freeport has replaced 322 ramps in the last three years not counting any that we’ve replaced this year.”
  • Source timestamp: 48:37

• Ramp replacements and quality assurance

  • Summary: Last year, the district replaced 300 ramps; Freeport has replaced 322 ramps in the last three years.
  • Attribution: Don Johnson
  • Evidence: “Last year they replaced 300 ramps in our entire district, which our district is very large. It goes from East Butte to Rockford to Peoria to the Quad Cities. The city of Freeport has replaced 322 ramps in the last three years not counting any that we’ve replaced this year”
  • Source timestamp: 48:37

• Ramp replacement costs and scope

  • Summary: The cost to replace each corner ramp is between $12 and $20,000. The city expects to do around 40 ramps this year.
  • Attribution: Don Johnson
  • Evidence: “They’re somewhere between 12 and $20,000 to replace each corner. I don’t have the exact number, but I think we’re doing around 40 ramps this year between all the different street and water main projects.”
  • Source timestamp: 51:25

Discussion

• Lift station necessity and funding source for Lamb Road TIF area

  • Summary: Speaker argued against building a lift station using excess TIF funds because the existing sewer system has functioned fine for 19 years, and proposed alternative plans involving water/sewer to the airport were deemed county fantasy and against taxpayer best interests.
  • Attribution: Scott
  • Evidence: “I want to let you know my opinion that we absolutely do not need a Lyft station at this point. The Lyft station is being built within the Lamb Road TIF. Those funds are to be spent on the Lamb Road development. That’s where Wal-Mart and Menards are and a few industries. It was set up as an industrial TIF. It has not really grown as an industrial TIF. However, the businesses out there have been flushing their toilets just fine for the last 19 years and now we want to spend the The excess fund of about three million dollars to put in a lift station. Why? This is what you need to really seriously consider. Why are we spending taxpayer dollars?”
  • Source timestamp: 05:27

• Water and sewer for airport connection

  • Summary: Speaker stated that the plan to put water and sewer out to the airport, which would require pumping sewage from the airport down to the lift station using taxpayer-funded property taxes, is not necessary.
  • Attribution: Scott
  • Evidence: “I want to let you know that there in the past has been this agenda to put water and sewer out to the airport. The way this could fit in is that we would put the water and sewer out there and then flush the sewer from the airport down to the lift station which the taxpayers are going to be paying for with these property taxes and then pump it up to our wastewater treatment facility. We do not We do not need to be spending any money on a lift station and we definitely do not need to be spending more money on water and sewer for the airport.”
  • Source timestamp: 06:13

• TIF fund expenditure recommendation

  • Summary: Speaker recommended against spending TIF funds on a lift station for a development that is set to close, noting it constitutes taxpayer abuse.
  • Attribution: Scott
  • Evidence: “I recommend that we do not spend, it’s It’s in fact a taxpayer abuse to be spending TIF funds to put a lift station out there for a development that it’s going to be closing that TIF expires in 2026. And we’re just now talking about putting a lift station to lift crap out of there. It isn’t right.”
  • Source timestamp: 06:49

• Challenges with existing sewer line infrastructure for lift station

  • Summary: The current sewer line within the landfill is inverted, pushes uphill through the area, and accessing manholes can be difficult due to depth and the nature of the underlying soil.
  • Attribution: Darren Stiegel
  • Evidence: “This current line with the settlement of the landfill is inverted and actually pushes uphill Hill, right through this area right here. We’ve done numerous inspections on it and flow is continuously trapped here to make it around. Some of our heaviest industrial flows are from the Lab Road District. A matter of fact, Snack King is our largest industrial user.”
  • Source timestamp: 09:17

• Necessity of infrastructure for future development

  • Summary: Boyer highlighted that if the area south of town develops, this lift station will be necessary infrastructure to allow the water treatment plant to drain. Additionally, the new water treatment plant at Forest Road and Park will also drain to this landfill basin.
  • Attribution: Boyer
  • Evidence: “I just wanted to also just highlight the fact that if we’re able to as we move on and develop areas south of town this will be a necessary piece of infrastructure to have in place so we have a place for the water treatment plant to drain as well. Yeah, thank you. So I did forget to mention that the new water treatment plant that’s being built out at the corner of Forest Road and Park will also go to this landfill that a complete area was designed to drain to this basin as well.”
  • Source timestamp: 14:37

• Adverse effects of not building the lift station

  • Summary: The dangers include the landfill lateral breaking or inverting, preventing the Lamb Road Tip District from draining, which would cause an emergency situation as there is no other bypass. Furthermore, without the system, Snack King could face production issues and potential violations due to backups.
  • Attribution: Alderman Johnson
  • Evidence: “The dangers are that the landfill lateral breaks more or inverts more and doesn’t allow the Lamb Road Tip District to drain. That would put us in an emergency situation we have no other bypass we have no other work around for it currently as the landfill settles it appears that the inversion is continuing to be more and more and more… So basically this is a giant pump system to pump sanitary waste to our system to get it to the interceptor. So what we would end up having is if we don’t put this in place, the Lamb Road area, especially Snack King, which is our largest provider, could potentially run into an issue of production. If we can’t take the flows through there, they will back up. We will get violations eventually.”

• Feasibility and timing of the infrastructure study

  • Summary: Alderman Sanders questioned the duration and purpose of the current study, asking how long it has been going on since the proposal was first raised, given that the system has functioned without complications for over 20 years. He also requested hard copies of the study.
  • Attribution: Alderman Sanders
  • Evidence: “Alderman Sanders? Yes, Darren, when did this proposal come out and when was this study to bring such a proposal to the council in order for us to recognize this type of a project to make an assessment on whether or not it’s feasible for something that’s been in existence for over 20 some years and there has not been any complications during these times and then to modify the system now because of possibilities, that’s what we’re saying, because of other avenues or other developments can come in play, we don’t cap our hand off, but the point of the matter is how long have this study’s been going on and the purpose of this study at this time and how come the council is not read into that study and how come. To that study and how come. To that study and how come we have not seen hard copies of that study because you jumping around with these, with this laser beam does not impress me at all because it doesn’t tell me anything, okay?”
  • Source timestamp: 18:56

• Feasibility and history of the proposed lift station project

  • Summary: A speaker questioned the timeline, necessity, and documentation supporting a proposal for modifying a system with over 20 years of complication-free operation, specifically questioning why a $3 million lift station was needed if no pumping is currently occurring.
  • Evidence: “Yes, Darren, when did this proposal come out and when was this study to bring such a proposal to the council in order for us to recognize this type of a project to make an assessment on whether or not it’s feasible for something that’s been in existence for over 20 some years and there has not been any complications during these times and then to modify the system now because of possibilities, that’s what we’re saying, because of other avenues or other developments can come in play, we don’t cap our hand off, but the point of the matter is how long have this study’s been going on and the purpose of this study at this time and how come the council is not read into that study and how come. To that study and how come we have not seen hard copies of that study because you jumping around with these, with this laser beam does not impress me at all because it doesn’t tell me anything, okay? And so my whole thing is if I’m gonna make a decision or the citizens of Freeport make a decision, they wanna make sure that their council members are very well in tune with what you’re doing and if they come to us, if our constituents come to us and ask us, what’s going on out there? And do we necessarily have to pay for something like that if it’s not necessary? I haven’t found the reason why we have to modify anything at this point this year or anytime soon until we have done a complete study to prove anything and the rest of the board. So I’m just wondering, is there anything different than why we, why so much of an emergency to put this lift station in for any pumping at all? Because there is no pumping going on out there at this present time that I know of.”
  • Source timestamp: 18:56

• Project timeline and status clarification

  • Summary: Alderperson Shadle requested a response regarding the proposal, after which City Manager Boyer stated it has been in the capital plan for a couple of years.
  • Attribution: Alderman Shadle, City Manager Boyer
  • Evidence: “Alderman Shadle would like to have a response and then city manager. Thank you. Has this been talked about for a year and a half or two years? It’s been on the floor, been at the council. Anybody that’s paying attention knows about it. Yeah, I resent that. It has been in the capital plan. I resent that because you didn’t bring me up to date. This happened a year or so ago. So to retain that kind of information, you was just loaded with it. Okay. City manager? I just wanted to remind everybody, it’s been in the capital plan for a couple of years.”
  • Source timestamp: 22:24

• Project status and necessity for sewer repair

  • Summary: A speaker echoed concerns about the project’s duration, stating it has been discussed for two years, is designed, permitted by the EPA, and represents a necessary permanent fix to an existing problem involving landfill placement over old sewer lines.
  • Evidence: “I would echo Rob’s and Greg’s sentiment. It’s been talked about for two years. The project’s completely done, designed, permitted, ready for construction. It’s been bid. I mean, we’ve talked about this numerous times. This line has issues. This isn’t a creation just to add another station. It’s a repair and a permanent fix to a problem that we’re having. Again, it’s designed, permitted by the EPA. We’re not going to get a permit to dig up the landfill. There isn’t another resolution here. We have the creek crossing to deal with. And frankly, the sewer that was put in there, which I don’t know the era, was not a good plan to put a landfill on top of it. So unfortunately, I didn’t do that. I didn’t make the problem. I’m just trying to help find a solution for it. We have a bid that we’ve already bid the project. We have a potential awarder tonight, excuse me, on the 18th. And it was brought to this meeting to just re-talk about why it is that we’re here because there’s been so much gossip about how we got here. So we’re here to clarify the error.”

• Citizen expectation regarding council updates

  • Summary: A speaker stressed that citizens rely on the council keeping them updated on processes, noting that information should not be withheld for two years.
  • Evidence: “Yeah, it would be very appreciated to the citizens of Freeport who relies on our understanding of the process when putting projects together and bringing us up to date and up to speed. The people of the city of Freeport needs, they’re not sitting in their homes with a retainer mindset that they should hold on to any information for two years. That’s not gonna happen, but it would be respectful and considerate of our staff to keep us up to date, keep us up to breath so we’ll know that it’s coming.”
  • Source timestamp: 25:03

• Procedural requirement for reintroducing proposals

  • Summary: A speaker stated they have no objection if the item passed previously, but object if it is reintroduced without a formal vote to re-evaluate the proposal.
  • Evidence: “And one other thing is too, I just wanted to find out whether or not we voted on this thing. If we voted on it, then I don’t have no argument with it. If it passed, then I have no argument with it. But if it’s being reintroduced to us, then I have a problem with it because we have not set back to re-evaluate what it is that we’re proposing at this moment.”
  • Source timestamp: 25:44

• Agenda review and planning for council discussions

  • Summary: A discussion was held regarding the need to spend time going over agendas with the mayor so that attendees are not caught flat-footed on what is coming before council.
  • Evidence: “I do so with Alderman Shadle and Alderman Klemm and Alderperson Johnson and also Alderperson Sellers. We talk about these things during those conversations and I know we’ve met but it’s been a very long time since we’ve met but we did have a conversation this morning or this afternoon briefly that would have been another opportunity however we really need to spend some time with you and me and the mayor going over the agendas so that you’re not feeling caught flat-footed on what’s coming before council so and that’s why we’re having this discussion”
  • Source timestamp: 26:16

• City infrastructure planning priorities

  • Summary: A critique was made regarding the prioritization of spending, suggesting focus should be on streets rather than other projects.
  • Evidence: “It’s crazy how we continue not to organize what needs to happen in our city first. We can put this type of money, we can into a lift station, but our streets are continue to be crap. Oh, but we don’t have an account for our streets.”
  • Source timestamp: 26:29

• Nursing home benefit from new lift station

  • Summary: A question was raised regarding how the nursing home would benefit from a proposed lift station.
  • Evidence: “I do have a question. How will the nursing home benefit from this lift station? Since the nursing home was threw up in my face today, how is it going to benefit the nursing home? How will it benefit the nursing home?”
  • Source timestamp: 28:33

• Nursing home sewer flow connection

  • Summary: It was stated that the nursing home flow would go into the new lift station, but not necessarily benefit from it.
  • Evidence: “The nursing home flow will go into the new lift station. The nursing home flow would go into the new lift station… So they wouldn’t necessarily benefit from it. They would just have a different angle to connect to it.”
  • Source timestamp: 29:22

• Transparency in council meetings

  • Summary: A member expressed frustration with private meetings and demanded that issues be addressed on the floor for public knowledge.
  • Evidence: “I’m willing to meet behind closed doors and not keep my constituents and the public informed. And that’s what meeting behind closed doors do. I want stuff addressed on the floor so that the community and the constituents know exactly what’s going on.”
  • Source timestamp: 30:36

• Landfill regulations history

  • Summary: A discussion detailed the changing state regulations regarding landfill monitoring, including past proposals to grow trees on top of it.
  • Evidence: “Alderman Klemm. I’d just like to bring up that, you know, over the years and this is many years, there’s been a lot of discussion regarding the landfill and how it has changed and what we’ve had to do with it.”
  • Source timestamp: 32:15

• Airport infrastructure limitations

  • Summary: It was noted that commercial building development near the airport is limited by the lack of water, sewer, and toilet facilities.
  • Evidence: “There. You know, Cliff at one point talked about a machining operation that would come over here from Rockford that was at the airport that would have been one of the places that would have taken up a good share of that land, but they couldn’t do it because there’s no water and sewer. There’s no toilet facility at the airport.”
  • Source timestamp: 34:52

• Project Need and Lift Station Design

  • Summary: The project is deemed necessary for the area, and the station was designed to last a lifetime, intended as a permanent lift station. The discussion noted that gravity systems are preferred over lift stations due to elevation restrictions.
  • Evidence: “It is a needed project for that area and this station was designed to last a lifetime, not just, you know, a throwaway project. This would be a permanent lift station. We currently have nine within the city. Due to our elevation restrictions, it’s just unnecessary. We do not try to design lift stations. We try to design gravity systems. There’s just no way to pull this change off through a gravity system.”
  • Source timestamp: 36:34

• Purpose of the grievance process and ADA commission

  • Summary: The committee was formed to address issues like those discussed, and Jodi can file a grievance which will go to the ADA commission. The next meeting includes a proposal to repair Park and Church, for which current funding is unavailable.
  • Evidence: “The reason the commission was created was to address issues like the one we’re talking about. And Jodi can file a grievance. Once the grievances are filed, it will go to the ADA commission. And we’re just talking about this tonight because on the next meeting, there’s going to be a proposal to repair park and church. We currently don’t have funding for that in the budget. So it’s the council’s pleasure to help find funding or what we’re gonna do.”
  • Source timestamp: 45:22

• Community interest in Park and Church intersection improvements

  • Summary: The petitioner understands the change would be desired by the community, noting that the Park and Church intersection is next to a church, an eye doctor, is in a safe routes to school area, and the petitioner lives less than 900 feet away.
  • Evidence: “I have talked to the petitioner and they understand they would be excited to see this change happen and as a community we should want it to happen. The park and church intersection has a handful of items that I wanna point out. A, it’s next to a church, it’s next to an eye doctor, it’s in the safe routes to school and the petitioner lives less than 900 feet away from this intersection.”
  • Source timestamp: 45:47

• Proposal for reconstructing areas with ADA compliance

  • Summary: Alderman Sanders agreed that it would be efficient for the city to provide a proposal to reconstruct areas, ensuring sidewalks and ADA ramps meet proper slope requirements.
  • Attribution: Alderman Sanders
  • Evidence: “Alderman Sanders. Yeah, Darren, I have to agree with you on a lot of your points that you’re making and it would be efficient for us as the city to look at that to give you an honest proposal to go forth with something of that nature to reconstruct those areas for remodification and not only that, to make sure that those sidewalks and those ADA ramps are meeting the slope of those ramps.”
  • Source timestamp: 46:18

• Need for continuous sidewalk connectivity

  • Summary: The speaker agreed with the need to look at reconstructing areas where sidewalks end abruptly, suggesting a city-wide effort to connect blocks and find funding sources.
  • Evidence: “I can see where it starts off and then I can see the slope of those ramps. Now I’m looking at the slopes, I’m saying, well, that’s too fast for a person for a wheelchair. Even with some folks, if they’re just running or trotting, it would be a little bit too fast, it can lose their footing. But I agree with you when it comes to reconstructing those areas, especially the part where sidewalks have no, the sidewalk to no end or however you put that, I see that all over the city. And I think we should look at that even more, you know, for homeowners, residents, or whatever, who would love to have sidewalks to be connected from one block to the next block, you know, I can see that happening. And so I think we should look at all of the areas and find the fundings, look where the fundings could be accumulated from and work from there.”
  • Source timestamp: 47:27

• ADA commission decision-making process

  • Summary: The speaker clarified that the ADA commission can only make recommendations for repairs; final decisions rest with the council after grievances go through the commission.
  • Evidence: “So part of the ADA commission is the commission can’t move forward with any repairs without council approval, so every one of these grievance or petitioners will come to the city after it goes to the ADA commission. You will actually make the final decision, the commission’s just a recommendation to fix.”
  • Source timestamp: 48:26

• Pretzel City Transit voucher purchase location

  • Summary: The current locations to purchase vouchers are Highland Community College and the Pretzel City Transit office; the library is being proposed as an additional site.
  • Attribution: Director Huffines
  • Evidence: “So currently you can purchase at Highland Community College and Pretzel City Transit office, but those are the only two locations in the city to purchase.”
  • Source timestamp: 54:14

• Timing of library agreement proposal

  • Summary: The agreement was brought before the committee about a week or two ago, and approval is needed before marketing can begin.
  • Attribution: Alderman Sanders
  • Evidence: “When did this come into form for the library? About a week or two ago. Yep. Is that a notification that was distributed throughout the city? No. So before we do any type of marketing or telling anybody that we’re looking into doing this, we need to make sure that the city’s on board.”
  • Source timestamp: 54:32

• Voucher usage scope

  • Summary: It was unclear if vouchers cover distances outside the city limit or if they are limited to one voucher per ride within the city limits.
  • Attribution: Don Johnson
  • Evidence: “Do you know, does it take more than one voucher to go certain distances, or is it just one voucher per ride? Do you have any idea? I didn’t know. As far as I’m aware, the voucher would be used in the city limit. But outside the city limit, it might take more than that.”
  • Source timestamp: 56:31

• Voucher usage for Pretzel City bus rides

  • Summary: A question was raised regarding whether more than one voucher is needed for certain distances or if only one voucher per ride is sufficient.
  • Evidence: “Do you know, does it take more than one voucher to go certain distances, or is it just one voucher per ride? Do you have any idea?”
  • Source timestamp: 56:31

• Connection between Lyft and Mill Race project funding

  • Summary: A speaker questioned the connection between a proposed Lyft service and the mill race project, noting other areas requiring taxpayer funds.
  • Evidence: “As far as the issues that we’re talking about in regards to mill race, I have to wonder how much of a connection this Lyft is going to have or has with the mill race project, We have a lot of issues with the airport, with putting water out there, with the weed farm, all of which is taxpayer dollars that have been, are being negotiated at these tables to come out of our pockets, most of which we don’t use.”
  • Source timestamp: 01:03:24

• Taxpayer use of funds and local infrastructure issues

  • Summary: Questioned the connection between Lyft and the mill race project, noting other taxpayer-funded issues like the airport, water lines, and weed farm, which primarily benefit the 1%.
  • Evidence: “As far as the issues that we’re talking about in regards to mill race, I have to wonder how much of a connection this Lyft is going to have or has with the mill race project, We have a lot of issues with the airport, with putting water out there, with the weed farm, all of which is taxpayer dollars that have been, are being negotiated at these tables to come out of our pockets, most of which we don’t use. Of that area that used the airport are business people who are in the 1%. Most of us here aren’t in the 1%.”
  • Source timestamp: 01:03:24

• Council consideration of public sentiment

  • Summary: Stated that public sentiments cannot be dismissed and emphasized the need for council members to substantiate statements with facts.
  • Evidence: “Alderman Sanders. You know, I take honor in listening to our constituents and when they come to this podium to express opinions, give their acknowledgment, give their message to council and to anybody else, when I hear public sentiments are addressing issues, we just can’t cast them to the side. And I, and act as if though we didn’t hear them and not take it into consideration.”
  • Source timestamp: 01:05:53

• Council procedure regarding unverified statements

  • Summary: Stated that council members must back up any points about negating another councilman’s statement without official reports with facts.
  • Evidence: “When I, from now on, when counsel bring up a point about negating anything another councilman says without any official reports to back up his substantiation of anything that he might and I say, he or she better have themselves backed up with facts and fiction and that goes for everybody on this staff and this administration because from this day on after listening to what I heard today, that’s exactly what councils or myself or anybody else is is gonna be pursuing those factual conversation that takes place in this government body in the council.”
  • Source timestamp: 01:06:49

• Respect for public input at council meetings

  • Summary: Appreciated public sentiments and requested that they not be dismissed.
  • Evidence: “So from here on out, I would appreciate council appreciating public sentiments, public announcement and stop casting them to the side, to the side of the road as if though they have no stake in this whole process and they do have everything to say about.”
  • Source timestamp: 01:07:58

• Staff/Administration limitations on action

  • Summary: Mentioned that some people are unable to act due to how the voting apparatus does not balance.
  • Evidence: “And the thing about it is some of us got our hands tied. Why? Because the voting apparatus does not balance.”
  • Source timestamp: 01:08:33

• Public understanding of council proceedings

  • Summary: Warned that the public is paying attention and should not assume they are not understanding what is being said.
  • Evidence: “If our public comments and the public are listening tentatively about what is being said up here, they have put it all together. Don’t assume that they’re not understanding what is being said and what is taking place.”
  • Source timestamp: 01:08:51

Public Comment

• Lift Station Discussion

  • Summary: Rhonda Scott stated that she does not believe a lift station is needed at this time, noting it is being built within the Lamb Road TIF.
  • Evidence: “Good evening, Rhonda Scott from Fourth Ward. I’m here to speak about the lift station… my opinion that we absolutely do not need a Lyft station at this point. The Lyft station is being built within the Lamb Road TIF.”
  • Source timestamp: 05:13

• Comments regarding Alderman Sanders and Alderman Parker

  • Summary: A speaker addressed comments made by Alderman Sanders regarding Alderman Parker during the July 1st City Council meeting, noting that while inappropriate comments have occurred before, the remarks on the 21st were particularly offensive.
  • Attribution: Rebecca Peters
  • Evidence: “I appreciate this opportunity to address the comments made by Alderman Sanders regarding Alderman Parker during the July 1st City Council meeting. I need to acknowledge that this is not the first time any council member has made inappropriate comments during a meeting, and Alderman Sanders is not the only one who has made them. However, the remarks made on the 21st were particularly offensive, rude, and had no bearing whatsoever on what was happening during the meeting.”
  • Source timestamp: 57:11

• Critique of solid waste project proposal funding and process

  • Summary: A speaker challenged a presentation regarding solid waste, stating that the presenter is not an engineer and that studies proving the need for the project are required. The speaker alleged a conflict of interest involving Fehr Graham and questioned the use of Lamb Road TIF funds without inclusion in the State Comptroller’s reports.
  • Evidence: “First of all, Mr. Stegall, which presented the presentation with his laser and a map, He is not an engineer and he didn’t bring you any studies showing that we have a problem with solid waste getting stuck there. If he has them, they should be brought. But we need studies proving that there’s a need for this project… In order to do a project like this, with Lamb Road TIF funds, it must be included in the Lamb Road TIF report that is filed with the State Comptroller.”
  • Source timestamp: 59:30

• Critique of city development plans and infrastructure funding

  • Summary: A speaker criticized ongoing discussions about future development, specifically questioning the necessity of a lift station using Lamb Road TIF funds without public approval through the required TIF report filing.
  • Evidence: “Take a look at those Lamb Road TIF reports. Is not a lift station in there, they should not even be allowed to use those funds without that going into the TIF report with public approval and that meeting is every October of the year.”
  • Source timestamp: 01:00:41

• Concerns about sidewalk construction vs. street repair

  • Summary: A speaker supported sidewalks but questioned their value until potholes on the streets are fixed, citing safety concerns for individuals with mobility issues.
  • Evidence: “The sidewalks are great, I agree with that, but until the streets are fixed, what good What is it?”
  • Source timestamp: 01:01:43

• Request for better coordination during property visits

  • Summary: A speaker requested that officials ensure they are present when visiting their property to avoid misunderstandings regarding tenancy or ownership.
  • Evidence: “Also, Rob, next time you guys come on my property, better make sure I’m there. Because when I talk to you, you did me dirty. So you got two of my houses on winter. One tenant moved out, didn’t know about it. The next house next door, you guys thought was mine, but I sold it.”
  • Source timestamp: 01:01:43

• Support for local family and community issues

  • Summary: Thanked Huffines for support regarding a young man’s mother who is a hairdresser across the street.
  • Evidence: “Neither is it enough to cover the lives the life of a young man named Michael who mother is a hairdresser here across the street from all these. So I want to thank you for the support that Huffines.”
  • Source timestamp: 01:03:07

• Condition of local streets and neighborhood safety concerns

  • Summary: Invited listeners to ride down Iroquois Street to see overgrown bushes, and expressed concern about poor maintenance on the east and west sides of town, citing personal history of moving into a drug-addicted area.
  • Evidence: “I’d like also say that we pay taxes in this town. And when you ride down Iroquois, and I invite any of you that are willing to look at the truth to ride down Iroquois. And when you ride down Iroquois, you’re gonna see two houses sitting on a corner across from each other. One of them is so filled with trees and weeds and bushes that you can’t see the address on the house and you can’t see the house. It goes from around the corner on Iroquois, back around the corner, and these bushes are taller than I am. It is horrible that when things are not being taken care of in this city, it appears that they always happen or don’t happen on the east side and the west side of town. As a child, I couldn’t walk on the west side of town. I couldn’t knock on a door and I couldn’t live on Carroll. When I bought my first house, I bought it on Carroll because of that. Not knowing that I was buying myself into a drug addicted area with drugs and shootings occurring almost every day.”
  • Source timestamp: 01:04:51

• Call for community action regarding local crime

  • Summary: Urged Freeport to take action to stop daily shootings in areas like Benton, Pleasant, Mark Drive, Porches on Spring Street, and Walnut.
  • Evidence: “Freeport, you need to understand that there is something that you can do to stop these shootings, the ones that are occurring on Benton, the ones that are occurring on Pleasant, the ones that are down the street from the school, the ones that are happening on Mark Drive, the ones that are happening on Porches on Spring Street, the ones that are happening on Walnut, that haven’t occurred, but we have marches. I’d like to say to you Freeport, stand up. Don’t allow them to keep doing what they’re doing to us in this town.”
  • Source timestamp: 01:05:25

• Appreciation for library summer programs and end-of-year party

  • Summary: Thanked the library for its summer reading program and Make It Mondays, specifically praising Ms. Amanda’s care with many children.
  • Evidence: “Good evening, Michelle Swalve. I just wanted to thank the library for their summer reading program and their Make It Mondays that they had this summer. My daughter and I got to enjoy a lot of the Make It Mondays and the summer reading program. I just wanted to applaud Ms. Amanda. She did such an awesome job with those kids.”
  • Source timestamp: 01:09:20

• Appreciation for event hosting

  • Summary: Expressed appreciation for Director Huffines and staff for organizing the end-of-year party despite high heat.
  • Evidence: “and then they had end of the year party and even though it was really really hot Director Huffines and her staff they did such a wonderful job putting that on and I just appreciate all the and so forth.”
  • Source timestamp: 01:09:46

• Warning to council members regarding research and conduct

  • Summary: Warned officials that some are not doing their research before attending meetings and making rude remarks.
  • Evidence: “and I can say one more thing, sorry, and just say that we do sit out here and we do hear what is being said and we hear that there is a lot of people, some of you not doing your research before you come here and wasting our time. So I mean we are educated out here.”
  • Source timestamp: 01:10:17

• Gratitude for pothole repair in municipal lot

  • Summary: Thanked whoever filled potholes in the handicapped parking spaces down in the municipal lot.
  • Evidence: “This is going to be kind of different for me, but I just wanted to say thank you to whoever it was that filled in the potholes in the handicapped parking spaces down in the municipal lot, because I think I came up here and I ragged about that quite a bit.”
  • Source timestamp: 01:11:20

• Pothole repair and ADA accessibility improvements

  • Summary: The speaker thanked someone for filling potholes in the handicapped parking spaces in the municipal lot and praised the addition of an ADA ramp.
  • Attribution: public
  • Evidence: “So I want you to know that, you know, the squeaky wheel, sometimes somebody hears that squeaky wheel and they fill in the potholes. We now have four beautiful handicapped spots Johnson. They’re not exactly marked, but they’re perfect down in the municipal lot. So that’s great. Thank you very much for bringing in the ADA ramp because of reasons and for watching how the ramp ends when you go into the street because it will fling somebody out of a manual chair.”
  • Source timestamp: 01:11:37

• Accessibility features for visually impaired individuals

  • Summary: The speaker requested that attention be paid to adding a beeping sound feature for safety when people use canes, similar to what is heard in Chicago.
  • Attribution: public
  • Evidence: “Also, there is one thing that someone said to me, and that was the beeping sound that you might want to look at for sight. So that when they come down, not only do they feel with the cane, the two sides, but they also hear that sound.”
  • Source timestamp: 01:12:24

Proclamations and Recognitions

• Support for community heroes and victims
  • Summary: A speaker thanked the public for their support shown through purchases of coloring books symbolizing local heroes who have been killed or murdered.
  • Evidence: “I want to thank you for your support for the coloring books that you have bought. That symbolizes the heroes in our community that have been killed or murdered or in an accident that was never a justice was never brought forth.”
  • Source timestamp: 01:02:23

Follow-ups

• Scheduling time for agenda review

  • Summary: Manager Boyer offered to meet with Alderman Sanders, Alderman Shadle, Alderman Klemm, Alderperson Johnson, and Alderperson Sellers to review agendas so council members are not unprepared.
  • Attribution: Manager Boyer
  • Evidence: “Alderman Sanders, we do have any opportunity throughout the month to get together and talk about what’s on the agenda. I do so with Alderman Shadle and Alderman Klemm and Alderperson Johnson and also Alderperson Sellers. We talk about these things during those conversations and I know we’ve met but it’s been a very long time since we’ve met but we did have a conversation this morning or this afternoon briefly that would have been another opportunity however we really need to spend some time with you and me and the mayor going over the agendas so that you’re not feeling caught flat-footed on what’s coming before council so and that’s why we’re having this discussion.”
  • Source timestamp: 26:08

• Keeping abreast of ADA improvements plans

  • Summary: The speaker requested that John keep the committee informed of his progress and intentions regarding proposed changes.
  • Evidence: “But one thing I do like for you to do if you don’t mind doing that, and John. So, we’re keeping us abreast to all that you’re coming up with, yeah, you know, just bringing it to us, let us know where you’re at, what your intents are, and that kind of thing.”
  • Source timestamp: 48:10

Attendance

• Roll Call for Committee of the Whole Meeting
  • Summary: Attendance was taken for council members, noting Simmons and Sellers were absent, and Stacy would be marked absent initially.
  • Evidence: “Madam Clerk, could you please take the role? Mayor Miller? Here. Alderpersons, Klemm? Here. Johnson? Here. Simmons is absent. Parker? Here. Stacy will be marked absent for the moment. Shadle? Here. Sanders? Here. And Sellers is absent.”
  • Source timestamp: 01:12