Meeting Events

Meeting: mopsvxvjf6e.committee_of_the_whole_6_8_2026

Meeting date: 2026-06-08

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

• Approval of agenda item number four — Passed

  • Summary: Motion made by Alderman Shadle and seconded by Alderman Klemm to approve the agenda.
  • Attribution: Alderman Shadle
  • Evidence: “Item number four is the approval of the agenda. Is there such a motion? So moved. Motion made by Alderman Shadle, seconded by Alderman Klemm. All those in favor, signify by saying aye. Aye. Opposed? That motion passes.”
  • Source timestamp: 07:21

• Approval of minutes from May 11th, 2026 meeting — Passed

  • Summary: Motion made by Alderman Shadle and seconded by Alderman Johnson to approve the minutes from the committee of the whole meeting on May 11th, 2026.
  • Attribution: Alderman Shadle
  • Evidence: “Item number five is approval of the minutes from the committee of the whole meeting on May 11th, 2026. Is there a motion to approve? So moved. Second. Motion made by Alderman Shadle, seconded by Alderman Johnson. All those in favor, signify by saying aye. Aye. Opposed? And that motion passes.”
  • Source timestamp: 08:02

• Approval of minutes from the committee of the whole meeting on May 11th, 2026 — Passed

  • Summary: Motion to approve the minutes from the committee of the whole meeting on May 11th, 2026.
  • Attribution: Alderman Shadle, N/A
  • Evidence: “Item number five is approval of the minutes from the committee of the whole meeting on May 11th, 2026. Is there a motion to approve? So moved. Second. Motion made by Alderman Shadle, seconded by Alderman Johnson.”
  • Evidence: “All those in favor, signify by saying aye. Aye. Opposed? And that motion passes.”
  • Source timestamp: 08:02

Procedural Actions

• Calling meeting to order and roll call

  • Summary: The Mayor called the meeting to order and conducted a roll call.
  • Attribution: Mayor Miller
  • Evidence: “Mayor Miller here Alder persons Klemm here Johnson here Simmons Parker here Stacey here Shadel here Sanders and Sellers here thank you before we get started I would like to address what and John. I would like to remind you that the Pledge of Allegiance is a flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation under God, one nation under God, one nation under God. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation under God. We have one person signed in, Shante Bradford. Yes, if you would like to stand to the podium, you have three minutes.”
  • Source timestamp: 01:20

• Procedure for staff requests

  • Summary: A reminder was given that any request for city staff to perform homework or find information must first be directed to the City Manager according to council rules.
  • Evidence: “So i just want to remind everyone that per our council rules is there any requests for city staff to do something, do homework, find anything, should be directed to the city manager first and then he can dole out the homework according to our ordinance.”
  • Source timestamp: 40:13

• Procedure for discussing adding street lighting to the budget

  • Summary: The council needs to determine the right procedure to discuss adding street lighting to the budget since an older person cannot do it.
  • Evidence: “So do we need to go back to a point of procedure, Alderman Stacey wants to have a discussion on adding street lighting to the budget, however, just one older person can’t do that. So what’s the right procedure to make that discussion happen?”
  • Source timestamp: 42:41

• Public comment conclusion and adjournment motion

  • Summary: The chair confirmed the end of public comments and entertained a motion to adjourn.
  • Evidence: “Are there any other public comments this evening? If not, I will entertain a motion to adjourn. So moved. Second. All those in favor signify by saying aye.”
  • Source timestamp: 01:10:34

Presentations and Reports

• Quarterly report by the Arts and Culture Commission

  • Summary: Commissioner Jessica Modica provided a brief review of the first Sculpture Walk for Downtown Freeport.
  • Attribution: Commissioner Jessica Modica
  • Evidence: “item number seven which is the quarterly report by the Arts and Culture Commission, Commissioner Jessica Modica. Great, good evening. Thank you for allowing me to provide a brief review of the first Sculpture Walk for Downtown Freeport.”
  • Source timestamp: 08:12

• Quarterly report on the first Sculpture Walk for Downtown Freeport

  • Summary: The first Sculpture Walk featured seven sculptures installed along Chicago Avenue between Douglas Street and Spring Street in September of 2025, representing a partnership between the Freeport Art Museum, the City of Freeport, and the Arts and Culture Commission.
  • Attribution: Commissioner Jessica Modica
  • Evidence: “Great, good evening. Thank you for allowing me to provide a brief review of the first Sculpture Walk for Downtown Freeport. I won’t take up too much of your time tonight. Hopefully you’ve all had a chance to walk along Chicago Avenue and take in on your own the and the Seven Sculptures that we were able to install downtown in September of 2025.”
  • Source timestamp: 08:12

• Artistic components and technology for Sculpture Walk

  • Summary: The event includes a QR code at each stop allowing access to a free audio tour provided by the artists, and users can download the AutoCast app which plays the tour and highlights open area businesses downtown.
  • Attribution: Commissioner Jessica Modica
  • Evidence: “Another thing that we were able to do, which was really important for interactive, Dibb, being able to interact with the sculptures, as at each stop there is a QR code that people can use to access a free audio tour that describes each piece, and this description is provided by the artists themselves. So and if the viewers wish, they can download an app, the AutoCast app, on their phone, And if they do that, it not only plays the tour, but it automatically senses where they’re at in the tour and will automatically play. Another thing that I noticed about the AutoCast app that I really like, especially when we’re talking about how art adds to economic development and walkability, is that on that app, it also highlights area businesses downtown, ones that are open at the time that the person is walking and interacting with the artwork.”
  • Source timestamp: 10:40

• Economic impact of Sculpture Walks

  • Summary: Sculpture walks encourage people to slow down while walking downtown, leading them to spend more money. Research from Americans for the Arts indicated that communities with sculpture walks saw visitors contribute $15 more to local businesses than those without.
  • Attribution: Commissioner Jessica Modica
  • Evidence: “I will say that the biggest thing is that beyond the beauty, They encourage more walkability and the way that they do it is they encourage people to slow down and we know that when people slow down while they’re walking through downtown, they will spend more money. They’ll spend more time means spending more money downtown and we also know from research from the Americans for the Arts who gathered information on this, communities that include We did sculpture walks in their downtown. People that visit contribute 15 more to those businesses than communities that don’t have sculpture walks.”
  • Source timestamp: 14:35

• Ambulance Rates Ordinance Discussion

  • Summary: The fire department presented data showing that current ambulance rates are significantly below the average for surveyed departments and proposed rate increases.
  • Attribution: Chief Cordy
  • Evidence: “Item number eight is discussion regarding ordinance amending ambulance rates. Chief Cordy. Thank you, Mayor. As we all know, the fire department is one of the essential functions of the city and the ambulance service is a large portion of what we do. In reviewing some Some of our data this year, we realized that we were leaving money on the table for some of the fees that we were charging. The last time the ambulance rates were reviewed were in 2022.”
  • Source timestamp: 15:44

• ComEd franchise agreement for lighting upgrades

  • Summary: City Manager Boyer reported that ComEd was re-opened regarding a request to upgrade lighting in all wards, not just 5th Ward, due to LEDs losing approximately 5% of lumens annually. The goal is proper maintenance using outside funding.
  • Evidence: “At this time, I’m not aware of this list that Alderman Stacy is talking about. I do know that in the last two weeks, we’ve reopened the franchise agreement with ComEd. One item on the request is to upgrade not only 5th Ward lighting but lighting in all wards with a schedule of light replacements.”
  • Source timestamp: 30:42

Metrics

• Sculpture Walk submissions and selection statistics (2025-2026)

  • Summary: For the 2025-2026 Sculpture Walk, there were 31 total submissions from 22 artists, resulting in seven selected sculptures.
  • Attribution: Commissioner Jessica Modica
  • Evidence: “All in all, we had 31 submissions by 22 artists and seven, like I said, were selected by the commissioners.”
  • Source timestamp: 12:26

• Ambulance Patient Demographics

  • Summary: 88% or actually 88.5% of clientele/patients transported are Medicare or Medicaid patients; 5.7% is insurance pays, 3.8% is self-pay, and 1.1% is government pay.
  • Attribution: Chief Cordy
  • Evidence: “As we look at the spreadsheet, we found out that we’re in the bottom third of the 22 departments that were surveyed. And we also participate in what’s called a GEMT program, which is Government Emergency Medical Transport. I think it was Chief Liggett that got us involved in that. Basically what they do is they evaluate different departments on different criteria and then they set a rate that they will assist to pay the difference for Medicare and Medicaid patients. Our current rate that we received back this year was $1,317 for an ALS type 1 and $1,322 for an ALS type 2.”
  • Source timestamp: 18:08

• Current Ambulance Rates vs. Survey Average

  • Summary: The current resident rate is $1,200 (basic or advanced life support call) and the non-resident rate is $1,700. The surveyed average for a basic call is $1,874, and for a non-resident basic call is $1,971.
  • Attribution: Chief Cordy
  • Evidence: “Our current rate for residents is $1,200, whether it’s a basic call or an advanced life support call. $1,700 For non-residents… As we go through the spreadsheet, you see what the average is, $1,874 for a basic call and $1,971 for a non-resident basic call.”
  • Source timestamp: 17:43

• Proposed Ambulance Rate Increases

  • Summary: Proposals include increasing the resident call rate to $2,000 across the board and the non-resident rate to $2,500 across the board.
  • Attribution: Chief Cordy
  • Evidence: “What we would like to increase to would be $2,000 for resident calls across the board and $2,500 for non-residents across the board.”
  • Source timestamp: 21:07

• Mileage and Lift Assist Rate Changes

  • Summary: Proposals include increasing mileage charge from $14 to $20 per mile, keeping ALS intercept at $450, and changing lift assists to $150 across the board.
  • Attribution: Chief Cordy
  • Evidence: “Increasing the mileage to $20, keeping the ALS intercept the same, and then changing and we got kind of behind on some of those. So the idea is we’re just gonna turn that over to the billing company and let them handle it… The lift assists, like I said, we’re looking to go to 150 across the board.”
  • Source timestamp: 21:26

• UCPI based annual increase calculation for service rate

  • Summary: The ordinance allows an annual increase based upon the UCPI not exceeding 5%. For four years without an increase (23: 3.4%, 24: 2.9%, 25: 2.7%, this year: 3.8%), the total calculated increase would be $152.80, resulting in a resident rate of $1,352.80 and a non-resident rate of $1,852.08.
  • Evidence: “The UCPI, according to the ordinance, it says the Adopted Ordinance provides for an annual increase based upon the UCPI not exceeding 5%. And for the four years that we didn’t increase, in 23 the UCPI I was 3.4% and 24 it was 2.9% and 25 2.7% and this year 3.8%. So totaling all those up would be an increase of if you do it every year would be an increase of $152.80 which would make it $1,352.80 for resident rate and $1,852.08 for non-resident rate.”
  • Source timestamp: 26:03

• Street light replacement cost and timeline

  • Summary: The replacement of 63 lights occurred in 2026 at a cost of $374 per light, totaling about $24,000. The initial discussion regarding this was in 2025.
  • Evidence: “I believe it was 2026 is when we finally replaced 63 lights at a cost of $374 per each, so it was about $24,000.2025? 2425 Is when we first started talking about it, but I pulled the memo from 2026 when we did the replacements, excuse me, 2025, you’re correct.”
  • Source timestamp: 35:32

• Cost of new street lighting infrastructure

  • Summary: Adding fixtures not on existing ComEd poles is significantly more costly than replacing existing light packages; an estimate was given of $14,000 for a new pole and fixture.
  • Evidence: “If we’re looking at additional lighting that’s not on an existing ComEd facility, which would be one of their poles, we’re probably looking at more like $14,000 to add a new pole, new light fixture to a streetway.”
  • Source timestamp: 41:02

• Cost comparison for street lighting replacement vs. addition

  • Summary: Replacing Cobra heads last year cost $374 a piece; adding new poles and fixtures outside existing ComEd facilities is estimated to cost around $14,000.
  • Evidence: “So replacing Cobra heads last year were $374 a piece. If we’re looking at additional lighting that’s not on an existing ComEd facility, which would be one of their poles, we’re probably looking at more like $14,000 to add a new pole, new light fixture to a streetway.”
  • Source timestamp: 40:51

Discussion

• Ordinance amending ambulance rates

  • Summary: Chief Cordy noted that the last review of the ambulance rates was in 2022, and reviewing current data showed potential revenue left uncollected from existing fees.
  • Attribution: Chief Cordy
  • Evidence: “Item number eight is discussion regarding ordinance amending ambulance rates. Chief Cordy. Thank you, Mayor. As we all know, the fire department is one of the essential functions of the city and the ambulance service is a large portion of what we do. In reviewing some Some of our data this year, we realized that we were leaving money on the table for some of the fees that we were charging. The last time the ambulance rates were reviewed were in 2022.”
  • Source timestamp: 15:44

• Lift Assist Charges Scope

  • Summary: The law passed in Illinois allows departments to charge for lift assists only for facilities, not for other ambulance services or citizens/customers themselves.
  • Attribution: Chief Cordy
  • Evidence: “Also, there was a law that was passed in Illinois this year that allows departments to charge for lift assists if they weren’t already doing it. Those are for facilities only and for other ambulance services. We do not charge and we have no intention of charging the citizens or the customers themselves. It’s only the facilities that have staff on site that then they call us in to do their lift assist for them.”
  • Source timestamp: 22:50

• Refusal Charges Policy

  • Summary: There is no charge for ambulance refusals; the department will treat at the scene if transport is declined by the patient/citizen.
  • Attribution: Chief Cordy
  • Evidence: “And the refusals. We don’t charge for refusals… But if either your injury and illness don’t warrant transport, you decide on your own that you don’t want to be transported. There is no charge, George, there is no bill for those.”
  • Source timestamp: 23:24

• Lift Assist Charging Confirmation

  • Summary: The department confirms they currently do charge for lift assists and that the proposed change only affects facilities.
  • Attribution: Chief Cordy
  • Evidence: “Chief, did you say that some departments do have Lyft assist charges, but we do not? No, we have Lyft assist charges. We’ve had those since 22, I think, either 19 or 22… And you also said that the lift assist charges are for facilities like assisted living yes yes we’ve got a we’ve got a list Liberty Village Oakley Court Park View Pearl Point Heritage Woods Wind Prairie Serenity Estates the Citadel at st. Joseph’s where we included the hospital in there because we’ve gone there a few times to to help move patients inside the hospital and then Star Ambulance, which we’ve done lift assists in moving patients with before. And we currently do charge or do not? We do.”

• Lift assist charges and proposed fee increase

  • Summary: The current ordinance charges $145 for lift assists in half-hour increments, but a proposal was made to charge a flat rate of $150 regardless of duration.
  • Evidence: “Yeah. Well, the ordinance right now states $145 charged in half hour increments. Okay. So what I’m proposing is $150, just a one-time fee, no matter how long it takes.”
  • Source timestamp: 25:49

• Ordinance adjustment frequency

  • Summary: A question was raised regarding whether the ordinance allows automatic annual CPI adjustments or if it must always return to council.
  • Evidence: “Does that ordinance then reflect that can automatically happen each year or is that always have to come back to council? That’s supposed to be an annual adjustment So that doesn’t need to come back before council if you’re just going to do the CPI”
  • Source timestamp: 27:00

• Departmental funding for capital improvements

  • Summary: The department keeps 46% of revenue, which is intended to fund future deterioration and replacement of vehicles and buildings. This fund was established in the late 80s/early 90s as a capital improvement fund for the fire department.
  • Evidence: “the department keeps 46% of the revenue from this and that will eventually start to deteriorate as far as the replacement of vehicles, replacement of buildings. I think it was Chief Jim Gale that implemented this back in the late 80s, early 90s with the intent of being a capital improvement fund for the fire department.”
  • Source timestamp: 28:30

• Second list of street lighting locations

  • Summary: Alderman Stacy and Simmons discussed moving forward with a second list of street lighting locations. A memo detailing this was expected but had not been provided.
  • Evidence: “item number nine is discussion regarding second list of street lighting locations, Alderman’s, uh, Stacy and Simmons. Yes. We are seeking to start on the second list.”
  • Source timestamp: 29:11

• High crime/low light data requirement for street lighting

  • Summary: Chief Rostow stated he was not provided any first or second list regarding potential locations, emphasizing the need for data and intervention when addressing situational crime prevention.
  • Evidence: “I was not made aware or given of any first list, second list or any list thereof with the potential of locations or addresses. I was not given a single thing or given a phone call.”
  • Source timestamp: 32:36

• Crime prevention and investment scope

  • Summary: The discussion highlighted that crime prevention requires an all-encompassing approach beyond just street lighting, addressing issues like substance abuse, gun violence, and domestic violence.
  • Evidence: “So really I think what everyone is thinking is a theory of change that is encompassing of changing behavior and a changing behavior for anything potential such as stopping offenders, changing the behavior, stopping the cycle of domestic violence, social impact issues. And again, it’s really, as I said again, it’s not just one encompassing and there’s really no police department that just says one equals another because that’s why I said earlier it’s really a heterogeneous result for it and lighting really is an antiquity in regards to having some type of result for that.”
  • Source timestamp: 33:49

• Fifth Ward crime reporting scope

  • Summary: Alderman Simmons stated that the previous list was not limited to Fifth Ward, as crime occurs throughout all wards.
  • Evidence: “For the record, City Manager Boyer, I had no hands-on creating either list. And it’s not fair for you to insinuate that it was just for Fifth Ward. It was not just for Fifth Ward. There’s crime all over.”
  • Source timestamp: 34:31

• Future lighting replacement funding and negotiation

  • Summary: The speaker noted that while current budget listings do not show funds for light replacements, council direction could facilitate them. They suggested using the expiring franchise agreement as an opportunity to negotiate a more powerful deal.
  • Evidence: “currently I don’t believe we have anything, uh, listed in the and the budget for light replacements, but with the direction of council, obviously those things can be done… I would echo, uh, city manager Boyer’s idea of the franchise agreement, cause that’s the best scenario for us to get the done through the lowest cost.”
  • Source timestamp: 36:09

• LED lighting performance comparison

  • Summary: The speaker noted that many towns signed agreements similar to Freeport’s regarding LEDs; while intended to reduce electricity usage, some LEDs are poorly lit, providing only a narrow path of light instead of the previous flood approach.
  • Evidence: “It’s been several mayors ago when the LEDs, uh, were picked, most towns around here signed the same agreement that Freeport did, and they’re finding out that many of the LEDs while they were used to reduce electric usage have also become very poorly lit on the streets and basically the street lights are there to illuminate stop signs and in small parts of intersections with a very narrow path of light rather than a flood type approach like an incandescent used to be.”
  • Source timestamp: 36:34

• Need for increased lighting in high-traffic/accident areas

  • Summary: Alderman Simmons argued that even though lighting doesn’t cure crime, it is beneficial in high traffic and accident areas because it aids in capturing evidence (e.g., from ring cameras).
  • Evidence: “However, as the young Lady that came up here and spoke mentioned, her car’s been hit twice. We would have gotten a suspect had the street been lit enough for her ring camera to catch the assailant. So in areas where there’s high traffic and high accidents, it is more than beneficial to add lighting in those areas.”
  • Source timestamp: 37:54

• Cost consideration for safety improvements

  • Summary: Alderman Simmons countered cost concerns by stating that if millions of dollars could be spent on adding a waterway benefit to one business, then costs should not be the primary issue for necessary lighting improvements.
  • Evidence: “As far as the cost, I understand that adding lights may be costly, but we had no problem sinking millions of dollars into adding waterway to benefit one business. So costs should not be the issue.”
  • Source timestamp: 39:21

• Path for council review of street lighting proposals

  • Summary: The council has the opportunity to discuss whether or not they favor staff investigating possible solutions and costs for adding street lighting, which would give staff direction.
  • Evidence: “I think ultimately right now, this is the opportunity for the council to discuss whether or not they are in favor of kind of having staff walk down a path of looking into this, which would entail everything from, you know, what are possible solutions, and then what are the costs of those solutions, and then how do we find money for those solutions there.”
  • Source timestamp: 43:13

• Franchise agreement process vs. direct budgeting for street lights

  • Summary: The speaker advised following through with the franchise agreement negotiation first; if that fails to yield desired results, then looking at budgeting and installing lights at the city’s expense.
  • Evidence: “I think it’s best if we follow through and I are going to work through with the franchise agreement process and do our best to negotiate that and then at that time, if we don’t get our desired result, then we look at budgeting and installing lights at the city’s expense.”
  • Source timestamp: 45:15

• Intent and purpose of street lighting

  • Summary: The speaker stated that most lighting reflects areas around intersections or traffic signals to highlight them, which is common in communities. They also noted the shift from older incandescent flood patterns to modern LEDs designed for directional light.
  • Evidence: “But I think if you would review most of town, you’ll see that most of the lighting reflects areas around intersections or traffic signals to highlight them. And that’s, that’s part for the course of most communities. You know, in today’s age, the lights have changed a lot with, There’s something called the dark sky lighting, where they don’t want any light protruding up in the air, you know, to save the planet.”
  • Source timestamp: 47:39

• Street lighting coverage and effectiveness

  • Summary: The current street lighting only lights up about 25 feet at max, compared to 100 or 150 feet previously; the change from incandescent to LED has reduced lumen output without narrowing the light scope.
  • Attribution: Alderman Johnson
  • Evidence: “So when they were measured out between blocks, the light was lighting up 100 or 150 feet, where today it’s only lighting up about 25 feet at max. […] But again, it’s the change in lighting from incandescent to LED. They can’t they can’t reduce the lumen to reduce the energy without narrowing the scope of the light. So much of that doesn’t get lit anymore.”
  • Source timestamp: 48:37

• Energy consumption reduction due to lighting changes

  • Summary: Power usage is estimated to be about 30%, 30 or 35% of what it used to be when incandescent lights were used.
  • Attribution: Michelle
  • Evidence: “I think our power usage is about 30%, 30 or 35% of what it used to be, too, back when we had incandescence.”
  • Source timestamp: 52:07

• Council process for addressing requests and suggestions

  • Summary: Alderman Sanders stated that the Council is not collaborating or coming up with a resolution on the requests made, suggesting they are acting as individuals rather than collectively.
  • Attribution: Alderman Sanders
  • Evidence: “And I hear reflections are coming out We’re out of order, as far as I am concerned, in the process of making the decision on the request that is being put before us. The Council is not colluding or collaborating with each other in order to come up with a scenario, a resolution for what is being asked of us to proceed with.”
  • Source timestamp: 52:42

• Need for collective council decision-making on city issues

  • Summary: Huffines emphasized that the Council needs to meet and move as a body to provide direction so staff can fulfill requests, rather than acting individually.
  • Attribution: Huffines
  • Evidence: “Yeah, council needs to meet with each other. So city manager knows our directive and he’s going to try to fulfill all of the Blanks and the questions that we have and things of this nature but if we’re not moving as a council to help him move down the road then we’re still clueless about a lot of things that are happening throughout the city if we have not collectively gotten together to even make discussion matters on these issues.”
  • Source timestamp: 55:19

• Council function and collective decision-making

  • Summary: The speaker emphasized that the council needs to meet collectively to direct the city manager and move resolutions forward, as individual action is insufficient.
  • Evidence: “We’re acting as individual councilmen, but we’re not coming up with resolution as councilmen together to solve any problems and issues that are going forward before council and for the public. Yeah, council needs to meet with each other.”
  • Source timestamp: 55:19

• City Manager’s advice on funding resources

  • Summary: The speaker advised prioritizing outside resources (state money or grant money) over local budget funds when addressing problems.
  • Evidence: “So in my mind, the first step is you try to spend other agency money or state money or grant money First, and then if you have a need and you still can’t get it done, then you look at what we have for our local budget, and do the best you can with that,”
  • Source timestamp: 57:51

• Council role in gathering information for City Manager

  • Summary: The speaker stated that the council must gather information from the City Manager to help facilitate areas they are unaware of.
  • Evidence: “Well, adding to that, City Manager, is that you are one of our forerunners to gather the information so we can move forward as council to make a determination to help you facilitate those areas that we don’t have no clue about and understand the process of all of that”
  • Source timestamp: 58:21

• Council need for collective discussion on issues

  • Summary: The speaker reiterated that the council must discuss subjects collectively rather than acting individually to make rational decisions.
  • Evidence: “And so that’s my whole problem is that we as council collectively is not really gathering up enough information from you to make rational and in. Rational and making decisions on whatever program, whatever problems that we’re trying to solve, we can stand as individuals, as councils, trying to help you solve resolutions as individuals.”
  • Source timestamp: 59:36

• Public Works Director’s appeals for resolution

  • Summary: The speaker noted that the Public Works director makes appeals but no resolution has come from his appeal.
  • Evidence: “And the same goes with our public works director. If anybody was really truly listening to him, He’s making appeals on things that he would like to do. And he’s addressing council. But at the end of the day, at the end of the discussion, we still haven’t came together to give him his resolution.”
  • Source timestamp: 01:00:29

• Council consensus on addressing issues

  • Summary: The speaker stated that the council must address issues as a collective body rather than individually to achieve results.
  • Evidence: “And council has to address whatever director departments are trying to address to a council. We have to talk about it as a council, as a collective, not as an individual because you never get anything done individually because we’re not coming together to discuss the whole thing.”
  • Source timestamp: 01:00:56

• Need for collective action on problems

  • Summary: The speaker expressed concern that the council is stagnated and nobody wants to help solve the issues being discussed.
  • Evidence: “We’re stagnated between all of us and nobody wants to help solve the issues that you’re talking about.”
  • Source timestamp: 01:01:44

• Understanding of ComEd franchise agreement for lighting budget

  • Summary: The speaker understood the direction was to get a franchise agreement with ComEd to assist in budgeting for the lighting situation and then identify specific sections needing extra lighting.
  • Evidence: “Olloman Johnson. The way I’m understanding this is that we get the franchise agreement with ComEd which will help us in doing our budgeting regarding the lighting situation to maybe help with that and then we’ll again identify possibly those sections or intersections or whatever that need the extra lighting so that we can put the plan in place.”
  • Source timestamp: 01:02:00

• Confirmation of direction on ComEd agreement

  • Summary: The speaker confirmed that the understanding regarding the franchise agreement and lighting plan was incorrect.
  • Evidence: “So that’s kind of, in my understanding, right, that’s kind of our direction or the direction to go to bring resolve to the situation. Incorrect.”
  • Source timestamp: 01:02:25

• Inquiry about past street light removal in Rockford

  • Summary: A speaker asked for information regarding whether the mayor in Rockford previously considered removing many street lights due to electricity budgeting.
  • Evidence: “Last year, I believe, in Rockford, the mayor at one point, I believe, was asking to remove the whole and a whole bunch of street lights and stuff over there.”
  • Source timestamp: 01:02:33

• Comparison of spending priorities (lights vs. wrongful death suits)

  • Summary: A speaker questioned the city manager on whether funds should be spent on street lights or on wrongful death lawsuits.
  • Evidence: “And as she was saying, talking about these lights, now city manager, would you rather spend the money on the lights or would you rather spend the money on wrongful death suits?”
  • Source timestamp: 01:08:06

Public Comment

• Inquiry regarding residency address and handicap parking

  • Summary: A resident questioned how to reside at a non-existent address for handicap parking purposes, citing utility bills and police records showing the address as 218 West Broadway Street.
  • Attribution: Public Commenter
  • Evidence: “I would like to know how I can reside at an address that doesn’t exist. I’ve lived in Freeport now a little bit over a decade. I had asked for a handicap parking and I was told I had to go to Public Works. Went to Public Works, they said my address didn’t exist. So I had to go back and provide utility bills and a lease and the police that shows my address is 218 West Broadway Street, which apparently was a house prior to them reconstructing and making it a two-apartment building.”
  • Source timestamp: 05:21

• Issue with street lighting on Broadway Street

  • Summary: A resident commented that only one streetlight covers the entire 200 block of Broadway Street, leading to safety concerns due to high speeds.
  • Attribution: Public Commenter
  • Evidence: “So in asking that question about the handicapped park and I was dismissed, I went back to talk about streetlights. 6,218 West Broadway, I’m not sure if you guys know where that is, sits right behind Faith Center Church. It is a speedway track. People fly through there like it’s a autobahn. I’ve had two vehicles totaled sitting in front of my house and my cameras couldn’t catch it because there’s only one street light on the whole 200 block of Broadway Street. So who am I to address with that issue?”
  • Source timestamp: 06:07

• Art placement and visibility across Freeport wards

  • Summary: A public commenter expressed concern that art installations are mainly on Chicago Street when the area is named Freeport, arguing art should be in every ward to benefit all residents.
  • Evidence: “I’m just a little concerned about why the art is mainly on Chicago Street if it says Freeport. I mean, ain’t got no problem with it even being downtown, but why is it only being on Chicago Street? It’s for everybody to enjoy, everybody to spend money.”
  • Source timestamp: 01:04:21

• Need for comprehensive street lighting improvements

  • Summary: A public commenter strongly criticized the lack of adequate street lighting in certain areas, citing a fatality where poor visibility was a factor.
  • Evidence: “And then I’m thinking like the connection with these street lights that nobody’s actually, I mean they’re connecting with it, but it’s kind of, I feel like it’s getting brushed under the rug. We had a lady that died. It was plenty of cameras on the street. Nobody could see nothing.”
  • Source timestamp: 01:04:52

• Call for addressing crime and infrastructure neglect

  • Summary: A public commenter demanded attention to violence in certain areas, criticizing officials for ignoring visible issues like poor lighting and missing street signs.
  • Evidence: “We are losing, let me tell you, I’m gonna keep it real. We losing black people to violence in the areas that y’all know better than to just keep on talking about this everywhere.”
  • Source timestamp: 01:05:24

• Comparison of spending priorities: lights vs. wrongful death suits

  • Summary: A public commenter questioned whether city funds would be spent on street lights or on covering wrongful death lawsuits.
  • Evidence: “And as she was saying, talking about these lights, now city manager, would you rather spend the money on the lights or would you rather spend the money on wrongful death suits?”
  • Source timestamp: 01:08:06

• Concerns regarding local governance and nepotism

  • Summary: A community member expressed frustration over perceived nepotism in Freeport, citing examples of unqualified individuals being hired.
  • Evidence: “And this nepotism that happens in Freeport and let’s not all sit here and act like it doesn’t happen. That’s why he’s not getting paid and we’re not getting the money because you’re putting people in positions and they have no idea what they’re doing.”
  • Source timestamp: 01:08:31

• Personal medical care experience critique

  • Summary: A speaker recounted a negative hospital experience where staff allegedly lacked basic skills, leading to personal distress.
  • Evidence: “Ask me how I know I sat in Freeport Memorial Hospital three weeks ago with neuropathy pain and I had to instruct the nurse on how to handle me because she didn’t know what she was doing. She couldn’t get the IV started, I had to walk her through it.”
  • Source timestamp: 01:08:49

• Healthcare system critique and personal resilience

  • Summary: A medically retired individual spoke about their long career in healthcare, surviving multiple strokes, and the source of Medicare/Medicaid funding.
  • Evidence: “However. Com, to talk about Medicare and Medicaid, I’m medically retired. Somebody who’s been in the healthcare field for over 30 years, I wish I could work. I wish I could work. So those monies come from, you have people like myself who, well, I’ve survived seven strokes.”
  • Source timestamp: 01:09:34

• Witnessing council meeting proceedings

  • Summary: A speaker stated their presence was motivated by witnessing an ‘atrocity of a council meeting last week.’
  • Evidence: “So that’s why I’m here tonight, because I watched this atrocity of a council meeting last week.”
  • Source timestamp: 01:09:47

Follow-ups

• Discussion on setting aside funds for lighting

  • Summary: The speaker requested that money be set aside specifically for lighting when the budget was created this year, noting that City Manager Boyer had previously agreed to discuss it.
  • Evidence: “I just want to say that at the time when we were going over the budget and creating a budget for this year. I did openly ask and request that money be set aside for lighting alone. And City Manager Boyer, you referred to me that we would talk about that and we would get that done, but we have not talked about it and we have not got it Dunn.”
  • Source timestamp: 41:30

• List of lighting needs from Chief Shenberger

  • Summary: The speaker noted that a list previously emailed by Chief Shenberger was not discussed, but the speaker stated they have access and can make it happen.
  • Evidence: “And I don’t know what happened to the list that you were emailed by Chief Shenberger. However, I have access and I can get that list and make it happen.”
  • Source timestamp: 41:30

• Investigation into Rockford street light removal

  • Summary: Tom Klemm agreed to look into whether any streetlights were actually removed in Rockford.
  • Evidence: “Tom, I apologize. I’m unaware of that situation in Rockford, but I’ll look into it to see if they actually ever removed any streetlights in Rockford.”
  • Source timestamp: 01:03:29