Meeting Events

Meeting: omjlt6dn4n0.2026-4-14_freeport_township_meeting

Meeting date: 2026-04-14

Meeting type: annual_township_meeting

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

• Establish salary for the moderator — Passed

  • Summary: Motion made regarding the amount to pay the moderator.
  • Attribution: Barbara Burns, elector body
  • Evidence: “First thing we have on the agenda is we have to establish the salary for the moderator and I need a motion and a second as to how much. So anybody want to give me an idea of how much we want to pay this person?”
  • Evidence: “Okay is there any other motions any other all in favor of a hundred dollars to pay the moderator say aye all opposed say no okay the moderator will be get a hundred dollars for playing with us today”
  • Source timestamp: 00:34

• Election of the moderator

  • Summary: Motion made by Stephen, seconded by Harv, Burns.
  • Attribution: Stephen
  • Evidence: “Motion made by Stephen, seconded by Harv, Burns.”
  • Source timestamp: 00:50

• Closing nominations for moderator election

  • Summary: A motion was entertained to close nominations for the moderator.
  • Attribution: Barbara Burns
  • Evidence: “Hearing none, I will entertain a motion to close nominations. Second.”
  • Review flags: unattached_motion_request
  • Source timestamp: 00:50

• Election of the moderator

  • Summary: Motion made regarding the election of Shane Orlow as moderator.
  • Attribution: Kathy Wilken
  • Evidence: “Second. Kathy Wilken and seconded by Harv.”
  • Source timestamp: 00:50

• Vote on the moderator for Shane Orlow

  • Summary: The vote was taken for Shane Orlow to be the moderator.
  • Attribution: Barbara Burns
  • Evidence: “So all in favor of Shane Orlow? All opposed?”
  • Source timestamp: 02:13

• Presentation and review of annual Township Meeting Minutes for 2025 — Passed

  • Summary: A motion was required and passed to approve the presentation and review of the annual Township Meeting Minutes for 2025.
  • Attribution: elector body
  • Evidence: “Next order of business. Yep. Presentation and review of annual Township Meeting Minutes for 2025. We need a motion. And a second. I did, he did take the oath. It’s all here. Wake up. Motion to second, anybody? Motion to second, please. Second. All in favor. Aye. Okay, motion passed.”
  • Source timestamp: 03:00

• Approval of presentation (Assessor’s Report) — Passed

  • Summary: A motion was required and passed to approve the presentation.
  • Attribution: elector body
  • Evidence: “Next, we have Super. Okay, I’m sorry. We need a motion and a second to approve the presentation. Kerry Eisenhower. Second. Yep. All in favor. All opposed.”
  • Evidence: “Okay. I’m learning on the job here. Yeah, okay. Motion passes.”
  • Source timestamp: 05:46

• Procedural acknowledgment of previous action — Passed

  • Summary: The motion passed.
  • Evidence: “Motion passes.”
  • Source timestamp: 06:14

• Motion required to approve report

  • Summary: The chair requested a motion and a second to approve the report.
  • Attribution: Chair/Procedural
  • Evidence: “We need a motion and a second to approve his. Okay, we need a motion and a second to approve the report.”
  • Review flags: unattached_motion_request
  • Source timestamp: 16:24

• Approval of report — Passed

  • Summary: The vote on approving the report occurred.
  • Attribution: Electors
  • Evidence: “Second. All in favor. Okay.”
  • Source timestamp: 16:35

• Motion required for general assistance levy vote

  • Summary: The chair noted the need for a motion and second regarding voting on maintaining $1 million for the general assistance levy.
  • Attribution: Chair/Procedural
  • Evidence: “We don’t have to do a motion on this. Item number eight, voting on maintaining $1 million for the general assistance levy. We need a motion and a second. Or do we vote on it first? I’m sorry. No, that’s all right. It’s one mil. One mil. It’s not a mil. One mil. I’m sorry. That’s okay. Most people do the same thing. We still need a motion and a second.”
  • Review flags: unattached_motion_request
  • Source timestamp: 18:14

• Maintaining $1 million for general assistance levy — Passed

  • Summary: The vote on maintaining $1 million for the general assistance levy occurred.
  • Attribution: Electors
  • Evidence: “Motion and a second. One mil. I’ll correct myself. Sorry for that. One mil for the general assistance levy. We need a motion and a second.”
  • Evidence: “Second.”
  • Evidence: “Okay. All in favor.”
  • Source timestamp: 18:50

• Disposal of surplus/obsolete equipment — Passed

  • Summary: A motion was made regarding the disposal of two computers without hard drives.
  • Attribution: Chair/Procedural, Electors
  • Evidence: “Item number nine. The vote on disposal of surplus slash obsolete equipment. And the list is provided. It is two computers without hard drives. Two computers without hard drives. So we need a motion in this. We need a motion in a second.”
  • Evidence: “Who said the Gary? Thank you.”
  • Evidence: “All in favor? Okay.”
  • Source timestamp: 19:23

• Adjournment of Annual Town Meeting

  • Summary: Motion to adjourn until April 13th, 2027 at 6:05 PM.
  • Attribution: Moderator
  • Evidence: “We are going to vote to adjourn until April 13th, 2027 at 6:05 PM Motion in a second. Motion.”
  • Evidence: “All in favor? All done.”
  • Source timestamp: 26:18

Procedural Actions

• Start of Meeting and Pledge of Allegiance

  • Summary: The meeting started at 6:05 PM, and the Pledge of Allegiance was administered.
  • Attribution: Barbara Burns
  • Evidence: “Good evening, everybody. It’s 6.05, and we’re going to start this meeting. My name is Barbara Burns, and I’m the town clerk for Freeport Township, and to my left is our attorney, Michael J. Phillips, and would you please stand for the Pledge of Allegiance?”
  • Source timestamp: 00:04

• Acceptance of oath of office by moderator

  • Summary: Shane Orlow was asked to take and affirm the oath of office for the moderator.
  • Attribution: Barbara Burns
  • Evidence: “Mr. Orler, would you come up to accept the oath of office? Raise your right hand. Do you solemnly swear or affirm that you will faithfully and impartially discharge the duties of the moderator at this town hall meeting to the best of your ability? I do.”
  • Source timestamp: 02:13

• Public comment opportunity

  • Summary: The chair opened the floor for any other business or public comments.
  • Attribution: Chair/Procedural
  • Evidence: “Number 10, any other business coming before the town or electors? This is where any public wants to talk. If anybody from the public would like to speak?”
  • Source timestamp: 19:34

• Public comments status

  • Summary: The meeting confirmed there were no public comments for the next item.
  • Attribution: Moderator
  • Evidence: “Next item is public comments. Any public comments? None.”
  • Source timestamp: 25:42

Presentations and Reports

• Reading of annual financial statement from the town clerk

  • Summary: The reading of the annual financial statement was noted as being available on a back table.
  • Attribution: Barbara Burns
  • Evidence: “Next. Okay, we have number six, reading of the annual financial statement from the town clerk. You all have this statement. I don’t have to read it anymore, but it’s on the back table if you all wanna look at it.”
  • Source timestamp: 03:28

• Annual report of the officers of the Town Board (Assessor’s Report)

  • Summary: Philip Byrd presented as Chief Deputy Assessor, noting that Meta Ridgway, Township Assessor, sent apologies. He stated that per Illinois state statutes, property is to be assessed at one-third of market value.
  • Attribution: Philip Byrd
  • Evidence: “Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. My name is Philip Byrd, and I am Chief Deputy Assessor for Freeport Township. Meta Ridgway, our Township Assessor, sends her apologies. She will not be able to make it tonight, unfortunately.”
  • Source timestamp: 03:53

• Supervisor’s Report

  • Summary: Patrick Sellers presented an account of Freeport Township’s status and future direction.
  • Attribution: Patrick Sellers
  • Evidence: “Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. I am Patrick Sellers, Supervisor of your Freeport Township. And tonight, as I have done year after year, I stand before you to give an honest account of where we are, how we have served you, and where I believe we must go from here.”
  • Source timestamp: 06:20

• Supervisor’s Report for Freeport Township

  • Summary: Patrick Sellers, Supervisor of Freeport Township, presented an account of the township’s performance in 2025, noting that all state mandated services were conducted with excellence and no tax money was wasted.
  • Evidence: “Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. I am Patrick Sellers, Supervisor of your Freeport Township. And tonight, as I have done year after year, I stand before you to give an honest account of where we are, how we have served you, and where I believe we must go from here. … In 2025, Freeport Township conducted all its state mandated services with excellence. Every program ran, every eligible client was served, our staff showed up day after day and did their jobs with professionalism and dedication. Not a single dollar of your hard-earned tax money was wasted. Our budgets remain firmly in the black.”

• Board of Trustees report

  • Summary: Kelvin McIlwain stated the trustee board did an awesome job working with the assessor and supervisor to be fiscally responsible, maintain a balanced budget, and provide staff/assessor’s office technology. Specific examples included emergency donations to local food banks and programs helping young people find employment.
  • Attribution: Kelvin McIlwain
  • Evidence: “Yes. Kelvin McIlwain. Kelvin McIlwain. McIlwain, Kelvin McIlwain, Freeport Township Trustee. Just want to say the past year, our trustee board has done an awesome job and has been proud to work with our assessor and our supervisor to always be fiscally responsible, have a balanced budget, but even more importantly, provide our staff and assessor’s office with the technology and tools they need to get proper assessments and our properties, and also be in a position to work with our township supervisor to provide programs that meet needs of the community. Some specific examples that were done this past fiscal year was an emergency donation to our local food banks when it looked like there was uncertainty in funding for government Assistant Programs, and also programs that have helped young people in our community make themselves available, more ready for jobs, and even find employment. So we were happy to do those type of activities and we look forward to continuing with that in next fiscal year.”
  • Source timestamp: 16:55

• Nicolette Niki Bender Award presentation history

  • Summary: The speaker noted that over the past five years at the annual town meeting, they and Patrick Sellers (supervisor of Freeport Township) have been honored to present the Nicolette Niki Bender Award for Outstanding Public Service.
  • Evidence: “Okay, I’m sorry. Over the past five years or so, at our annual town meeting, I and Patrick Sellers, supervisor of Freeport Township, have been blessed with the distinct honor of presenting the Nicolette Niki Bender Award for Outstanding Public Service.”
  • Source timestamp: 19:55

• Presentation of the 2026 Nicolette Nikki Bender Award to Gary Osnall

  • Summary: The speaker presented the 2026 Nicolette Nikki Bender Award to Mr. Gary Osnall.
  • Attribution: Patrick Sellers
  • Evidence: “Ladies and gentlemen, I present the 2026 Nicolette Nikki Bender Award to none other than Mr. Gary Osnall, receiving it.”
  • Source timestamp: 22:20

Metrics

• Residential property assessment increase in 2025

  • Summary: In 2025, residential property assessments had to increase approximately 14 percent due to the rise in residential market values to maintain the required one-third level of assessments by the state of Illinois.
  • Attribution: Philip Byrd
  • Evidence: “In 2025, due to the rise in residential market values, the residential property assessments had to increase approximately 14 percent to maintain the required 33 and a third level of assessments by the state of Illinois.”
  • Source timestamp: 04:33

• Preliminary assessment projection for 2026

  • Summary: For the 2026 year, preliminary market analysis reflects that overall assessments will again need to be increased in an attempt to be more reflective of the real estate market here in Freeport Township.
  • Attribution: Philip Byrd
  • Evidence: “For the 2026 year, our preliminary market analysis reflects overall assessments will again need to be increased in an attempt to be more reflective of the real estate market here in Freeport Township.”
  • Source timestamp: 04:55

Discussion

• Concerns regarding neighborhood deterioration and community issues

  • Summary: Patrick Sellers expressed concern over the deterioration of neighborhoods, citing dilapidated/abandoned properties, illegal dumping, and creeping criminal activity that has crossed further west than previously confined.
  • Evidence: “But pride in what we have done well does not give us permission to look away from what remains broken. And tonight, I’m here to not to simply celebrate accomplishments, but I’m here to tell you For as long as I have held this office, I have spoken openly and urgently about the deterioration of our neighborhoods.”
  • Source timestamp: 07:45

• Critique of political culture regarding community issues

  • Summary: Sellers criticized the tendency to maintain an illusion of peace rather than confronting disorder, stating it is easier to host ribbon cuttings than to shut down drug corners.
  • Evidence: “I have come to understand something about political culture. It is far more comfortable to maintain the illusion of peace than to do the hard, unglamorous work of confronting disorder. It’s easier to host ribbon cuttings than to shut down drug corners.”
  • Source timestamp: 09:31

• Specific community problems requiring attention

  • Summary: Sellers listed several specific issues including youth being shot and killed in streets, open illegal drug sales, discovery of illegal firearms at an Airbnb, lack of plain speaking from authorities during raids, and the suicide of a 12-year-old child.
  • Evidence: “When youth are being shot and killed in our streets, there is a problem. When illegal drugs are sold openly in our neighborhoods in plain sight without shame, there is a problem. When illegal firearms are discovered at an Airbnb in one of our more prominent neighborhoods, there’s a problem. When Homeland Security, the FBI, the IRS, and local law enforcement conduct coordinated raids in our communities and the residents are left to piece together the story from rumor and speculation because no one in authority is willing to speak plainly, there is a problem. And when a 12-year-old child takes his own life and the public response is little more More than a murmur, a moment of quiet, and then silence. There is a problem.”
  • Source timestamp: 10:41

• Call for sustained action following community failure

  • Summary: Sellers stated that the listed realities represent a collective failure of systems, priorities, or will, demanding sustained courageous action.
  • Evidence: “Each one of these realities represents a failure, not a failure of any single person, but a collective failure, a failure of systems, of priorities, of will. And they demand not silence, but sustained courageous action.”
  • Source timestamp: 11:34

• Declaration of intent regarding political consequences

  • Summary: Sellers stated he does not care about the potential negative political consequences of his candid remarks.
  • Evidence: “I am fully aware of what my comments and my candor will cost me. I know that these remarks will be characterized by some as pessimistic, as divisive, as unhelpful.”
  • Source timestamp: 12:44

• Statement on the status quo and community representation

  • Summary: The speaker stated they did not run for office to be popular or comfortable, but because they believe the community deserves representation by people who tell the truth and advocate relentlessly. They argued that maintaining the status quo is a choice, and when it leads to children dying, drug flow, and fear, it is the wrong choice.
  • Attribution: Patrick Sellers
  • Evidence: “I know that certain invitations will not be extended to me, that certain conversations will go quiet when I enter the room, and that my political standing among the comfortable class will suffer for it. But let me be clear, I do not care about that. I am at peace with those consequences. I did not run for this office to be popular. I did not run to be comfortable. I did not run so that I could be included in the right social circus to protect my political I ran because I believe, and I still believe, that this community deserves representation by people who will tell the truth, advocate relentlessly on people’s behalf, and refuse to be domesticated by expectations of political conformity. There is a concept in politics called the status quo. The idea that things are as they are and maintaining that stability is itself a form of governance. I have no quarrel with stability, when stability means safety and flourishing, but when the status quo means that children are dying, drugs are flowing freely, and that families live in fear, and that an entire generation grows up believing that no one in power sees them or cares, then the status quo is not neutral. The status quo is a choice, and it is the wrong choice. I will never silence my voice to preserve a seat at a table. Not when silence could mean the difference between life and death for the people I would duly elect to serve, not now or not ever.”
  • Source timestamp: 13:25

• Public comments regarding the Nicolette Niki Bender Award

  • Summary: A speaker presented the 2026 Nicolette Nikki Bender Award for Outstanding Public Service, noting that it was a joyous occasion because of the recipient’s deserving nature, but also an aggrieved one because it was the first time the award would be presented without Niki Bender.
  • Attribution: Patrick Sellers
  • Evidence: “Over the past five years or so, at our annual town meeting, I and Patrick Sellers, supervisor of Freeport Township, have been blessed with the distinct honor of presenting the Nicolette Niki Bender Award for Outstanding Public Service. This year’s presentation is both a joyous and an aggrieved occasion. Joyous because this year’s recipient, like all previous recipients, so deserving of this award and aggrieved because 2026 represents the first time this award will be presented without Niki’s physical presence on this earth.”
  • Source timestamp: 19:55

• Acceptance of the Nicolette Bender Award by recipient

  • Summary: The award recipient accepted the Nicky Bender award of public service and thanked the board for the consideration.
  • Attribution: Gary Osnall
  • Evidence: “I’m humbly honored to accept the Nicky Bender award of public service let me get myself collected here I have known and worked with Nikki on various community projects for about 25 plus years and she was an influencer. Everybody knows she was an influencer and she impacted a lot of people with her leadership and she made a big impact on our community and Nicky with their leadership capabilities. She is definitely a role model for public service.”
  • Source timestamp: 23:14

• Thank you to trustees and Patrick Sellers regarding grants

  • Summary: The speaker thanked the trustees and Patrick specifically for many grants received in the last three years for the BAC, which impacted veteran care.
  • Attribution: Gary Osnall
  • Evidence: “And I want to extend a heartfelt thank you to this board for this and the many other considerations. So God bless everybody. And in the interim while I’m up here, I just want to thank the trustees and Patrick especially for the many grants that we’ve received in the last three years for the BAC, which has made a big impact on our ability to take care of our veterans.”
  • Source timestamp: 24:45