May 20, 2024 City Council Meeting

YEAH, YOU'RE

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[I.  Call to Order]

TO ORDER THE CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.

COUNCILMAN COLP HERE.

COUNCILMAN COOPER HERE.

COUNCILMAN MCDANIEL.

PRESENT.

COUNCILWOMAN GREGORY.

PRESENT.

COUNCILMAN HORN.

PRESENT.

COUNCILMAN KUHL PRESENT? MAYOR MOORE WOLF.

PRESENT, SEVEN.

PRESENT, NONE ABSENT.

PLEASE STAND AND JOIN IN THE PLEDGE.

ALLE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO GOODBYE THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH STANDS IN ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.

WE BEGIN OUR MEETINGS

[II.  Appearance of Citizens]

THE, UH, POLICY RELATIVE TO APPEARANCE OF CITIZENS IS AS FOLLOWS, A 30 MINUTE TIME PERIOD IS PROVIDED FOR CITIZENS TO PARENT EXPRESS THEIR VIEWS BEFORE THE CITY COUNCIL.

EACH CITIZEN SPEAKING WILL BE LIMITED TO ONE APPEARANCE OF UP TO THREE MINUTES.

NO IMMEDIATE RESPONSE WILL BE GIVEN BY CITY COUNCIL OR CITY STAFF MEMBERS.

CITIZENS ARE TO GIVE THEIR DOCUMENTS, IF ANY, TO THE POLICE OFFICER FOR DISTRIBUTION TO THE COUNCIL WHEN THE MAYOR DETERMINES THAT ALL PERSONS WISHING TO SPEAK IN ACCORDANCE WITH THIS POLICY HAVE DONE SO.

MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL AND KEY STAFF MAY MAKE COMMENTS.

DOES ANYONE WISH TO APPEAR BEFORE COUNCIL TONIGHT? IF SO, PLEASE COME TO THE PODIUM UP FRONT AND YOU JUST NEED TO GIVE US YOUR NAME.

WE DON'T NEED AN ADDRESS.

YES, MA'AM.

HELLO, MY NAME IS CHERRY JOHNSON.

UM, I WANNA SAY HELLO TO MAYOR WOLF, THE COUNCIL AND WELCOME BACK, UH, CITY MANAGER GLEASON.

FIRST, I WANNA THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TONIGHT.

UM, I'M A LIFELONG DECATUR RESIDENT.

I ATTENDED DECATUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND I'M A PROUD GRADUATE OF ORLAND COMMUNITY COLLEGE.

UM, I'M A CHILDCARE ADVOCATE AND I'VE BEEN IN THE CHILDCARE INDUSTRY FOR 19 YEARS.

IT'S PRETTY MUCH BEEN MY LIFE'S WORK.

I STARTED IN THE FIELD AT THE AGE OF 19 AND I WAS STILL AN AT ADOLESCENT, BASICALLY MYSELF.

SO IT'S BEEN AMAZING TO GROW WITHIN THE FIELD AND WATCH THE GROWTH OF THE CHILDCARE INDUSTRY.

I LOVE THE ABILITY TO MAKE DIFFERENCES IN CHILDREN LIVES AND BUILD A FOUNDATION FOR WHAT THEY WILL BECOME IN THE FUTURE.

UH, I'M THE OWNER OF LOVE LEARNING AND LAUGHTER DAYCARE.

I WORKED IN EVERY POSITION OF CHILDCARE FROM A BUS MONITOR TO OPERATOR, OPERATOR, AND OWNER OF A FACILITY.

AND I BELIEVE THAT THE GRADUAL INCREASE IN, IN POSITIONS HAS ALLOWED ME THE UNIQUE ASPECT TO SEE EVERY ASPECT OF THE FIELD AND PROVIDE AWESOME CARE FOR STUDENTS, FAMILIES, AND OUR COMMUNITY ALIKE.

UM, RIGHT NOW, CURRENTLY FOR MY IN-HOME DAYCARE, I HAVE 237 CHILDREN ON MY WAIT LIST.

IT'S AN HONOR THAT SO MANY PARENTS TRUST ME TO TAKE CARE OF THEIR CHILDREN AND KNOW THAT I'M COMMITTED TO HIGH QUALITY CHILDCARE IN OUR COMMUNITY.

I BELIEVE THAT A BIG COMPONENT OF CHILDCARE IS NOT ONLY PROVIDING CARE FOR THE CHILDREN, BUT HELPING THE FAMILIES OUT WITH RESOURCES AS WELL.

UH, ONE OF THE WAYS THAT WE PLAN TO HELP FAMILIES IS BY PROVIDING 24 HOUR CARE FOR THOSE FAMILIES THAT NEED TO WORK OUTSIDE OF THE CONVENTIONAL NINE TO FIVE HOURS.

AS AN INDUSTRIAL TOWN WHOSE JOBS OFTEN NEED EMPLOYEES AVAILABLE AROUND THE CLOCK, IT IS VITAL THAT PARENTS FEEL CONFIDENT THAT THEIR CHILDREN ARE SOMEWHERE SAFE AND LOVING WHILE THEY WORK OVERNIGHT.

AS AN INDUSTRIAL STATE, THIS GIVES US THE OPPORTUNITY TO REJUVENATE OUR WORK INDUSTRIES FORCE INDICATOR, AS WELL AS PROVIDING A LOOKING GLASS FOR OTHER SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES THAT MAY BE DEALING WITH THE SAME ISSUES AS WELL.

OUR NEED FOR HIGH QUALITY CARE HAS BECOME CRITICAL IN THE COMMUNITY SINCE COVID-19.

AND I WANNA THANK YOU FOR YOUR VOTE ON MARCH 20TH, 2023 THAT ALLOWS A PARTNERSHIP WITH LOVE LEARNING AND LAUGHTER DAYCARE.

WITHIN 24 HOURS AFTER YOUR APPROVAL, I RECEIVED 23 CALLS FROM QUALIFIED STAFF MEMBERS THAT WERE EAGER TO COME WORK.

AS OF RIGHT NOW, WE HAVE 45 STAFF MEMBERS READY TO COME ON BOARD AS SOON AS THE FACILITY IS AVAILABLE.

I'VE BEEN IN CONSTANT CONTACT WITH DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILY SERVICES AND MAKING SURE THAT THE FACILITY MEETS ALL REQUIREMENTS, AND THEY'VE BEEN HELPFUL AND EAGER TO HELP WITH THIS PROCESS.

I'VE ALSO BEEN IN CONTACT WITH AN ASSOCIATION OF CHILD DEVELOPMENT, A SPONSOR OF OUR FOOD PROGRAMS WITHIN ILLINOIS THAT ARE EAGER TO PROVIDE FOOD AND OTHER RESOURCES FOR OUR FAMILIES WITHIN THE CENTER.

THESE ARE ONLY TWO OF OVER 10 ENTITIES THAT HAVE REACHED OUT AND ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO PARTNERSHIPS AND HELPING, UM, WITH THE CHILDCARE CRISIS WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY.

I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE MORE TIME TO TALK ABOUT SPECIFICS OF THE PROJECT AND INVITE EVERYBODY TO COME OUT AND SEE THE CENTER AND SEE THE, THE COOL THINGS THERE.

I WANNA, I WANNA THANK YOU.

I'M SORRY MS. JOHNSON, YOU'RE OUT OF TIME.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

THANK YOU.

DOES ANYONE ELSE WISH TO APPEAR BEFORE COUNSEL? WE HAVE ONE WOMAN COMING DOWN RIGHT? OPEN THE DOOR FOR YOU.

? YES, I'M ROBERT WALKER.

I'VE BEEN A MEMBER OF THE VFW SINCE 1970.

I WAS IN VIETNAM AND IN 70 64 I WANTED TO BRING UP ABOUT IT WON'T DO NO GOOD ABOUT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

ME AND HIM CALLED HIM

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THEY HAD BE GOING 50, 60 MILES AN HOUR.

SO I CALLED THE POLICE.

WE GOT AN OFFICER ON THE WAY, THEN HE CALLED AFTER I DID, GOT AN OFFICER ON THE WAY.

SO I CALLED AN HOUR LATER.

WE GOT AN OFFICER ON THE WAY.

THAT WAS FRIDAY NIGHT, SATURDAY NIGHT, THE SAME THING.

I CALLED, THEY WAS SPEEDING, GOT AN OFFICER ON THE WAY.

I SAYS, YOU GOT A ANSWERING MACHINE THAT KEEPS SAYING THAT.

NO, WE HAVE ONE.

SO SUNDAY I GOT WOKE UP BY HIM, 1 12 30 IN THE MORNING.

I CALLED HIM, WE GOT AN OFFICER ON THE WAY.

I CALLED HIM AN HOUR LATER, ONE 30 IN THE MORNING, GOT AN OFFICER ON THE WAY, TWO 30 IN THE MORNING, SAME THING.

SO YESTERDAY AFTERNOON, ONE OF 'EM CAME OUT AND APOLOGIZED.

I SAID, SOMEBODY TOLD ME YOU ONLY HAVE TWO POLICE OFFICERS.

THAT'S NOT RIGHT.

I SAID, CAN'T THEY SIT THERE? LIKE, WHEN I DROVE A TRUCK IN INDIANA, THE POLICE SIT IN A NORMAL CAR WITH RADAR.

I SAID, NOBODY'S GONNA SLOW DOWN IF THEY SEE YOUR CAR SITTING THERE.

BUT, UH, HE COME OUT AND APOLOGIZED.

THAT'S NOT RIGHT, THOUGH.

I TOLD HIM, THERE'S, HE SEEN THEM TOO.

MY NEIGHBOR, TWO LITTLE KIDS ON BICYCLE.

AND THEY WAS WAITING.

ALL OF A SUDDEN THEY WENT LIKE THIS, WATCHING THEM GOING, FLYING BY.

AND I KNOW IT'S ON THE NEWS.

SOME TWO LITTLE CHILDREN PASSED ON.

BUT, UH, UH, WELL, LIKE THE OLD SAYING, I TOLD 'EM AT THE BFW AND THEY AGREED DURING WORLD WAR II, YOU KNOW WHY GERMANY AND BOMB PARIS, FRANCE INSTEAD OF DECATUR, THEY WANTED TO KILL SMART PEOPLE.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, MR. WALKER.

SHE GONNA KNOCK YOU DOWN.

A COPY.

HELLO, MY NAME IS MAX PRESS GROVE.

I LIVE HERE IN TOWN AND IAC ALL POLICE OFFICERS.

THE STATE IS THE VERY BEST THERE IS.

AND THEN THERE'S THE OTHER.

BUT THAT'S NOT WHAT I'M HERE PRIMARILY FOR THIS, UH, BUSINESS WITH THE WIDER PIPE REPLACEMENTS, FOLLOW THE THINKING.

RIGHT NOW EVERYBODY WANTS 30, 40, $50 AN HOUR AND THEY'RE GETTING IT.

BUT WHEN YOU'RE RETIRED AND YOU'RE AS OLD AS ME AND YOU LIVE ALONE AND YOU SUPPORT ALL THESE FINE BILLS, THERE'S GOTTA BE A STOP TO IT.

THE CITY MADE THE MISTAKE.

I DIDN'T, I THE WATER PIPING.

AND MOST CITIES ARE RESPONSIBLE TO STAND UP, USE THEIR OWN CREWS.

THEY'RE GETTING PAID TO REPLACE THOSE PIPES IF NEEDED.

BUT AS I UNDERSTAND IT, WE'RE GOING TO BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR HALF OF THE BILL.

SEE WHAT YOU THINK ABOUT THAT WHEN YOU GET MY AGE PAYING FOR ALL OF THAT.

BUT I DON'T RECALL.

YOU HAVE A COUNCIL MEMBER THAT WILL PROBABLY SAY SOMETHING, BUT YOU PEOPLE WERE ALL ELECTED TO REPRESENT SOME OF US NOT THE CITY.

SO YOU DON'T WANT TO, UH, I DON'T WANT YOU TO SIT THERE AND SAY YES, YES, YES TO EVERYTHING THE CITY WANTS.

YOU SHOULD BE THE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE PEOPLE FOR THE WHOLE TOWN.

SOMETIMES GOOD, SOMETIMES BAD, BUT NOT BE YES PEOPLE.

YOU HAVE ONE MEMBER PARTICULARLY THAT IS EXCELLENT AND VERY INTELLIGENT AND I ADMIRE HIM.

SO THINK ABOUT THIS WATER BUSINESS AND QUIT WANTING TO GOUGE US.

WE DIDN'T MAKE THE MISTAKE, BUT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO PAY FOR IT.

USE THE CITY AND DO IT A LITTLE BIT AT A TIME.

THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY.

HAVE A GOOD DAY.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, SIR.

GOOD EVENING.

MY NAME IS VICKI SHEETS AND I AM THE DECATUR TOWNSHIP ASSESSOR.

TONIGHT, I WANTED TO, UM, JUST TALK FOR A MINUTE ABOUT YOUR TAX BILL THAT EVERYBODY PROBABLY GOT IN THE MAIL ON FRIDAY.

UM, I JUST WANTED TO, UH, LET YOU KNOW THAT OF COURSE, IT'S TOO LATE TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT APPEALING THAT BILL, IF YOU FEEL LIKE YOUR ASSESSMENT IS WRONG, BUT YOU STILL HAVE TIME TO APPEAL YOUR ASSESSMENT FOR THE NEXT YEAR.

SO, UH, MY OFFICE WILL HAVE OUR BOOKS OPEN UNTIL JUNE 15TH.

IF YOU WANNA CALL THE OFFICE.

UM, AFTER THAT, YOU WILL NEED TO FILE AN APPEAL WITH THE

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AND YOU CAN DO THAT AT ANY TIME.

UH, BUT IT WON'T AFFECT THE BILL THAT IS PAYABLE FOR 2024, BUT IT COULD AFFECT THE BILL THAT YOU WOULD PAY IN 2025.

THE OTHER THING, UM, I WANNA MAKE SURE EVERYBODY KNOWS WHETHER THEY'RE LISTENING AT HOME OR ANYBODY EVEN SITTING HERE, IS WHEN YOU GET YOUR BILLS, YOU SHOULD CHECK FOR YOUR EXEMPTIONS BECAUSE FROM TIME TO TIME, THE EXEMPTIONS WILL FALL OFF AND EVERYBODY IS ENTITLED TO ONE HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION ON MOST HOMES.

THAT'S WORTH $6,000 OFF OF YOUR ASSESSED VALUE.

SO THAT'S ABOUT A $600 SAVINGS.

SO IF YOU DON'T HAVE THAT ON THERE, YOU NEED TO GO DOWN TO THE COUNTY OFFICE, GET THAT TAKEN CARE OF.

ALSO, IF YOU'RE OVER 65, YOU ARE QUALIFIED FOR A SENIOR EXEMPTION.

THIS DOESN'T GO BY INCOME OR ANYTHING, IT'S STRICTLY BY AGE.

SO IF YOU DON'T HAVE THAT ON THERE, AND YOU SHOULD HAVE THAT, YOU SHOULD GO DOWN TO THE, UM, MACON COUNTY SUPERVISOR OF ASSESSMENTS AND GET THAT, UM, PUT ONTO YOUR, UH, ASSESSMENT AS WELL.

THEN THERE'S VARIOUS OTHER EXEMPTIONS.

BUT, UM, AND YOU CAN LOOK THOSE UP ONLINE OR YOU CAN GET A PAMPHLET PROBABLY FROM THE COUNTY OFFICE, BUT THOSE EXEMPTIONS CAN MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE.

FOR INSTANCE, THE, UH, SENIOR EXEMPTION IS WORTH $5,000 OFF A ASSESSED VALUE.

SO IF YOU HAVE A SENIOR AND A HOMESTEAD, YOU'RE GETTING $11,000 OFF OF YOUR ASSESSED VALUE AND, AND THAT, UM, CAN REALLY ADD UP.

SO I JUST WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW THAT AND TO TELL YOU THAT, UM, THIS YEAR IN PARTICULAR, IT WAS DECATUR TOWNSHIP'S QUAD YEAR.

WE, UH, HAD TO DO SALES RATIO STUDIES.

WE HAD TO USE COVID SALES, WHICH PUSHED, UM, SOME OF THE ASSESSED VALUES UP QUITE A BIT.

ON TOP OF THAT, EVERYBODY IN DECATUR TOWNSHIP WAS GIVEN A 9.85% FACTOR EQUALIZATION FACTOR FROM THE COUNTY.

SO THAT PUSHED EVERYBODY UP ALMOST 10% OVER WHAT WE TURNED IN.

OTHER TOWNSHIPS ALSO GOT THIS FACTOR, BUT IN VARYING AMOUNTS, SOME MIGHT HAVE BEEN A 7%, SOME MIGHT HAVE GOTTEN 11%, BUT IN DECATUR TOWNSHIP IT WENT UP 10%.

SO JUST WANNA SAY CHECK YOUR BILLS AND MAKE SURE YOU THAT YOU HAVE ALL YOUR EXEMPTIONS.

SO THAT'S IT.

AND MY TIME'S UP.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, MS. SHEETS.

MY NAME IS PATRICIA GILLUM AND I'M HERE BECAUSE I UNDERSTAND THAT AT THE INSPECTOR LEVEL, THINGS HAVE BEEN ROLLED OUT HERE RECENTLY THAT ARE WHAT I FEEL IS DETRIMENTAL.

WE'VE HAD A POLICY OF IF SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH A PROPERTY, A 72 HOUR NOTICE TO CORRECT IS GENERALLY ISSUED.

I UNDERSTAND THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO CORRECT THE PROBLEM AND THEN GO BACK AND RE-OFFEND, BUT THE QUICKEST WAY TO HAVE PEOPLE QUIT TRYING IS TO KEEP PUTTING 'EM IN THE SAME POSITION.

SO LET ME START WITH THIS.

I MIGHT BE SHOOTING MYSELF IN THE FOOT BECAUSE I HAVE COURT TOMORROW MORNING ON A PROPERTY.

I'D LIKE TO TELL YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THIS PROPERTY BEFORE COVID.

I HAD IT RENTED OUT TO A LADY AND I HAD TO EVICT HER AFTER HER NEPHEW GOT OUTTA JAIL AND CAME AND STAYED WITH HER AND BASHED UP THE WINDOWS AND BASHED UP MY AIR CONDITIONING UNIT.

SHE WAS SEVERAL MONTHS BEHIND ON RENT.

NOW, THIS WAS PRE COVID.

I CLEANED IT UP, GOT IT FIXED UP.

I RENTED IT BACK OUT TO ANOTHER COUPLE WHO DIDN'T HAVE TO PAY ANYTHING ALL THROUGH COVI.

IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME SINCE I'VE HAD MONEY OFF OF THIS PROPERTY.

THEY DIDN'T HAVE TO PAY ANY RENT.

I EVICTED THEM, OWING ME OVER $25,000 FOR TWO AND A HALF YEARS WORTH OF RENT.

THEY WERE EXEMPTED FROM IT AS FAR AS THEY WERE CONCERNED.

AFTER THEY'D BEEN OUTTA THE PROPERTY FOR OVER THREE MONTHS.

I GOT NEWS THAT THE WINDOW WAS OPEN AND THERE WERE PEOPLE GOING IN AND OUT OF IT.

SO I TRIED TO SECURE MY PROPERTY AND I CHANGED THE LOCKS AND WE STARTED FIXING WINDOWS.

AND THE POLICE DEPARTMENT SHOWED UP AND SAID, OH, WELL, THEY SAY THEY STILL GOT STUFF IN HERE, EVEN THOUGH THE UTILITIES HAVE BEEN TURNED OFF FOR OVER THREE MONTHS.

SO I WAS MADE TO LEAVE.

OVER SIX MONTHS WENT BY BEFORE I FINALLY GAVE UP.

I TRIED AND TRIED AND TRIED TO GET THEM TO SIGN THE THING SAYING THAT THEY WERE NO LONGER IN IT.

I COULDN'T EVICT THEM.

THEY WEREN'T LIVING IN IT.

MY HANDS ARE TIED.

FINALLY, I GAVE UP AND I SAID, OKAY.

THEY VACATED THE PROPERTY.

WE'RE GONNA GO ON.

I FINALLY TOOK POSSESSION OF THE HOME LAST DECEMBER.

WELL, I USED TO HELP RUN A SECOND CHANCE MINISTRY, AND I HAD A HARD LUCK CASE THAT CAME INTO US THIS WINTER.

A YOUNG

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I AGREED HE AND HIS MOTHER WERE SUPPOSEDLY CAPABLE OF DOING ANY AND ALL REPAIRS.

WE TOLD THEM THAT THEY COULD NOT DO THE ELECTRICAL OR PLUMBING, BUT AS FAR AS CLEANING AND YOU KNOW, PATCHING SURE, NO PROBLEM.

WELL, UPON TURNING ON THE WATER, WE HAD A WATER LEAK.

SO I SENT SOMEBODY OVER TO FIX IT.

CONTRACTOR TURNS AROUND AND THERE ARE NAKED TODDLERS IN THE CRAWLSPACE, AND HE CALLED MY OFFICE AND SAID, CAN YOU DO SOMETHING ABOUT THE PARENTAL SUPERVISION SITUATION? AND WE, MY STAFF TOLD, GET OUT, GET OUT.

DON'T STAY IN THERE AND PUT YOUR SUB SELF SUBJECT YOURSELF TO THAT POSSIBILITY.

GET OUT.

SO WE DID.

WE TRIED SENDING OVER MULTIPLE PEOPLE ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS.

WE SCHEDULED SEVERAL APPOINTMENTS.

AND MS. GILLUM, I'M SORRY, BUT YOUR TIME LIMIT IS UP.

HELLO, MY NAME IS VIOLET GILLUM.

I'M GOING TO CONTINUE HER SPEECH.

WE SCHEDULED SEVERAL APPOINTMENTS AT WHICH TIME THE PARENTS EITHER WEREN'T THERE OR LEFT UPON OUR ARRIVAL.

ON ONE OCCASION, THE STEPDAD SAID VERBATIM, WELL, I LET YOU IN, NOW YOU CAN DO THE WORK.

I'M GOING TO LEAVE.

HE WAS REMINDED THAT THIS WAS NOT OUR POLICY.

ULTIMATELY, THIS CAME, THIS COUPLE CAME AND TOLD US THAT THEY WERE GOING TO TAKE MY HOUSE FROM ME.

THEN THEY TOLD ME THEY WERE MOVING OUT.

THEN THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY HAD A BUDDY COME AND RIG THE ELECTRICAL.

THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY HAD CALLED THE CITY TO MAKE SURE THE HOUSE GOT CONDEMNED.

I TOLD THEM IT WAS FINE.

I WOULD FIX THE HOUSE AFTER THEY MOVED OUT, THE HOUSE WAS CONDEMNED ON FEBRUARY 8TH AND ON MARCH 8TH, THEY STILL WEREN'T OUT.

IT WASN'T UNTIL MARCH 15TH THAT WE WERE CONFIRMED THAT THEY HAD MOVED OUT AND HAD INDEED VACATED THE PROPERTY.

WE BEGAN CLEANING OUT THE PLACE AND TRYING TO GET THE PLACE CLEANED UP.

WE QUITE LITERALLY EVEN HAD THE RECYCLE BINS FULL OF DIRTY DIAPERS AND FILLED WITH RAINWATER.

WE HAVE SERVICE THERE FOR TWO TRASH CONTAINERS, AND THEY COULD NOT BE BOTHERED TO TAKE THE TRASH CANS OUT TO THE ROAD TO BE PICKED UP AFTER THEY HAD VACATED THE PROPERTY.

OUR HVAC CONTRACTOR AND ELECTRICAL CONTRACTORS WERE BOTH ON STANDBY TO BEGIN THE WORK.

THE HVAC CONTRACTOR CANNOT DO THE WORK UNTIL THE ELECTRICAL IS DONE.

BUT OUR ELECTRICIAN NEVER SHOWED UP.

WE LATER LEARNED THAT HE HAD SOME PERSONAL SETBACKS IN HIS LIFE AND WAS COMPLETELY UNABLE TO DO THE WORK.

SO AFTER FINDING OUT THAT HE WAS UNABLE TO DO THE WORK, WE CONTACTED SEVERAL OTHER ELECTRICAL COMPANIES.

WE FINALLY SECURED AN ELECTRICIAN THAT WILL BE DOING THE WORK.

BUT IN THE MEANTIME, THE CITY HAS APPARENTLY NOW CHANGED THEIR POLICIES AND NOW WITHOUT ISSUING TICKETS, THEY ARE APOLOGIES.

NOW THEY ARE ISSUING TICKETS WITHOUT GIVING US WARNINGS BECAUSE BACK IN DECEMBER WE HAD A CITY INSPECTOR THAT SAID, WE UNDERSTAND THAT YOU COULD NOT GET INTO THIS HOUSE, DO THE WORK.

AND NOW THE CITY HAS SWITCHED AROUND, WHICH INSPECTORS ARE STATIONED WHERE.

SO IT WAS SAID BACK IN DECEMBER THAT THAT WAS OUR WARNING.

SO NOW MY MOTHER IS FACING PENALTIES TO ON THE CLEANUP, BUT THAT DOES NOT MAKE THE FACT THAT THE, THE EYES AUTOMATICALLY ISSUED A TICKET.

NEXT THING WE KNOW, MY MOTHER IS BEING SERVED WITH A COURT CASE.

SHE IS FACING CHARGES FOR OUR HOME BEING VANDALIZED BECAUSE OF CITY POLICY.

NEXT WEEK, NEXT TIME, WE WILL BE DISCUSSING THE POLICE DEPARTMENT WITH YOU.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, MS. GILLUM.

DOES ANYONE ELSE WISH TO ADDRESS COUNSEL THIS EVENING? PLEASE COME FORWARD THEN.

OH, IT WAS MARCH.

MY APOLOGIES.

I GOT MY DATES WRONG ON MARCH.

HI, MY NAME IS CATHERINE JOHNSON.

I'M CHERRY JOHNSON'S MOTHER.

I WANNA FINISH UP WHERE SHE LEFT OFF.

VERY SMALL PORTION.

AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR YOUR DECISIONS TO RESTORE A BEAUTIFUL FACILITY THAT HAS SUCH RICH HISTORY WITHIN THE URBAN CORE.

THANK YOU FOR INVESTIGATE INVESTING IN A SMALL BUSINESS SUCH AS, UH, LOVE LEARNING AND LAUGHTER DAYCARE.

AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, THANK YOU FOR YOUR UNWAVERING COMMITMENT TO INVEST IN THE CHILDREN IN OUR COMMUNITY.

HAVE AMAZING EVENING.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, MA'AM.

GOOD EVENING.

MY NAME IS ABIR MOTIAN.

IT'S WONDERFUL TO SEE YOU ALL.

[00:20:01]

IT WAS HARD WORK.

THEY DID A GOOD JOB.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR CLEANING UP DECATUR.

UM, DECATUR NEEDS IT.

.

I WANTED TO ALSO ASK YOU ALL IF YOU CAN STAND WITH ME AND PLEASE STOP ANYMORE DISPENSARIES OF CANNABIS OPEN IN DECATUR, ILLINOIS AND SURROUNDING AREAS.

WE DON'T NEED IT.

WE DON'T NEED ADDICTION.

WE DON'T NEED PEOPLE TO BE MANIC EXPLOSIVE, YOU KNOW, STANDING AND GETTING THE DRUGS.

AND WE, THERE'S, YOU KNOW, WE NEED TO CATCH UP.

WE NEED DECATUR TO CATCH UP ON CLEANLINESS.

AND, UM, WE NEED THE EPA TO COME IN FOR, YOU KNOW, EEPA EMISSION TESTING FOR VEHICLES.

WE, WE LIKE TO ASK YOU ALSO TO COMMUNICATE WITH THE EPA TO WORK WITH THE FIRE DEPARTMENT TO JOIN CODE ENFORCEMENT AND NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICES IN DOING IN DISTRESSED AREAS.

HOUSE INSPECTIONS.

IT CAN BE YEARLY, IT CAN BE BIYEARLY.

I MEAN, I MEAN TWICE A YEAR, NOT BIYEARLY.

TWICE.

TWICE, LIKE EVERY TWO YEARS, YOU KNOW, AND THAT'S TO HELP, TO TEACH AND TO MAKE SURE THAT THE BUILDINGS ARE STRONG AND FIRM.

AND, YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES THE FIRE DEPARTMENT CAN GIVE PEOPLE POINTERS AND HELPING THEIR HOUSE BE SAFE.

AND THEN IT'S GONNA GET THE FIRE DEPARTMENT MORE AFFILIATED WITH THE HOUSES AND BUSINESSES AND THAT WAY THEY WON'T BE HURT.

AND SO IF WE CAN MAKE THE COMMUNITY AND WORK WITH THE COMMUNITY JOIN INTO SAFETY AND CLEANLINESS, AND WE HAVE TO GET THE EPA HERE, WE'RE NOT GONNA LISTEN TO THESE CRAZY DRIVERS GOING, YOU KNOW, MAKING SOUNDS AND PUTTING FUMES OUT THERE.

YOU KNOW, WE NEED TO TAKE CARE OF THE STREETS, THE ENVIRONMENT, THE, THE, THE, THE SOIL.

EVERYTHING NEEDS TO BE TAKEN CARE OF.

AND I ASK YOU ALL, IF WE CAN WORK TOGETHER, INCLUDE THE EPA IN EVERYTHING, THAT WOULD BE GREAT.

AND THEN ALSO, IF IT CAN HELP TO FUND THE, THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WHERE THEY DON'T HAVE THE FUNDS SO THAT THEY CAN JOIN IN ON EVERY SINGLE CODE ENFORCEMENT AND HOUSING INSPECTION, THAT WILL BE GOOD.

IT'S NOT FOR NEGATIVE, IT'S A POSITIVE.

IT'S GONNA BE LIKE A WIN-WIN FOR THE, THE BUSINESS OWNERS AND HOUSE HOUSING OWNERS.

AND, YOU KNOW, WE CAN HELP EACH OTHER THAT WAY AND WE CAN MAKE DECATUR GREAT.

SO I THANK YOU ALL FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU HAVE DONE, AND YOU HAVE A GREAT EVENING.

THANK YOU.

YOU ARE WELCOME.

IS THERE ANYONE ELSE WHO WISHES TO APPEAR BEFORE? COUNSEL? GOOD EVENING.

I'M ANN OWENS.

SO IF THERE'S ANY DOUBT THAT PEOPLE ARE INTERESTED IN HISTORIC PRESERVATION, YOU SHOULD HAVE BEEN WITH ME WEDNESDAY NIGHT AND YOU COULD HAVE TALKED TO MY NOW 1500 NEAREST AND DEAREST FRIENDS.

I WAS VERY APPRECIATIVE AT THE POWERS MANSION.

THE PEOPLE WERE VERY PATIENT.

THE MANSION GETS TO DARK IN A HURRY.

SO WE DID GET A THOUSAND PEOPLE THROUGH.

UM, SHE HAS A ROOFER STARTING SOON.

BUT EVERYBODY WAS VERY KIND.

THE CITY WAS KIND.

UM, I HAD A LITTLE BIT OF INTUITION ON TUESDAY, MADE THE REQUEST TO MR. NEWELL TO PUT SOME BARRICADES FOR US TO PROTECT US ON THE CIRCLE DRIVE CITY DID THAT.

SO EVERYTHING WENT WELL.

BUT HISTORY OF THE HEARTLAND IN THE LAST 17 DAYS, WE HAVE HAD 19 EVENTS OR ANNOUNCEMENTS.

I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT YESTERDAY I WENT TO ALL FIVE CHURCHES ON THE STAINED GLASS TOURS.

THE VERY FIRST LADY THAT I MET HAD TRAVELED HERE FROM BLOOMINGTON JUST TO COME AND SEE THE FIVE CHURCHES.

I'VE HAD PHONE CALLS FROM LA GRANGE, ILLINOIS, FROM INDIANA.

SOME OF THESE WERE PEOPLE COMING TO THE POWER EXPANSION, BUT OTHERS WERE COMING TO THE OGLESBY HOUSE AND OTHER PLACES.

SO I JUST WANNA REMIND YOU THAT HISTORIC PRESERVATION IS DEFINITELY A LIVE INDICATOR.

WE HAVE A LOT OF INTEREST.

WE WERE VERY THRILLED WITH THE TURNOUT AT THE POWERS MANSION AND WITH ALL OF THE OTHER EVENTS AND THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE ANNOUNCED.

SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THANK YOU FOR ALL THE WORK ON THAT.

DOES ANYONE ELSE WISH TO ADDRESS COUNSEL? UH, WE WILL GO TO A COUPLE OF COMMENTS ON

[00:25:01]

UM, OUR DEPUTY MANAGER WILL BE ADDRESSING SOME OF THE QUESTIONS AND CONCERNS PEOPLE HAVE.

UM, MR. GLEASON, DID YOU HAVE ANYTHING ELSE? THANK YOU, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.

UH, MORE SO TO, UH, BOTH OF THE, UH, MS. JOHNSON'S, UH, REGARDING THE, UH, DAYCARE OPPORTUNITY.

JUST WANT TO SHARE THAT.

UH, AT THIS POINT I'M COLLECTING INFORMATION, UH, TRYING TO, UH, GET CAUGHT UP TO SPEED ON WHAT THE OPPORTUNITY IS HERE.

UH, WHAT CONVERSATIONS MAY BE WITH OTHER, UH, CHILDCARE FACILITIES HAVE OCCURRED OR MAYBE HAVE NOT OCCURRED.

UH, I KNOW THAT THE BIDS, UH, ON THIS PROJECT, UH, ARE DUE ON JULY 1ST.

SO WE HAVE JUNE MEETINGS, UH, OR THE MEETING ON JULY 1ST, HAVE A MORE COMPLETE CONVERSATION, BUT REALLY WANT TO, UH, UNDERSTAND WHAT THE OPPORTUNITY BEING THE NEW GUY BACK.

AS CITY MANAGER, I WANNA UNDERSTAND WHAT THE UH, OPPORTUNITIES ARE.

SO WE KNOW THAT CHILDCARE IS A NEED.

WE KNOW THAT, UH, IN THIS PART OF THE COMMUNITY, IT'S PROBABLY AN EVEN GREATER NEED.

BUT I DON'T WANNA STOP SHORT IF, UH, IF WE HAVE A CONNECTION TYPE OF OPPORTUNITY TO A RICHLAND CER CERTIFICATE, LET'S SAY, OR A JOB.

SO YOU HAVE A PARENT THAT DROPS OFF CHILDREN, UH, AT THIS LOCATION, WHAT HAPPENS AFTER THAT? AND IT SEEMS LIKE AN OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE A FULLER UNDERSTANDING AND, UH, GATHERING THAT INFORMATION.

SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT'S GONNA BE COMING, UH, VERY SOON.

AND MS. JOHNSON, UH, APPRECIATE HER PATIENCE.

THANKS.

OTHER COMMENTS FROM COUNSEL? MR. MCDANIEL? I JUST WANNA THANK, UH, UH, MS. SHEETS FOR HER PRESENTATION.

PEOPLE SEEM TO FORGET AND ALSO HAVE AS MENTIONED SEVERAL TIMES OVER THE YEARS, WHEN YOU LOOK AT YOUR PROPERTY TAX BILL, IT LOOK AT ALL OF IT, ALL THE DIFFERENT TAXING BODIES.

DON'T LOOK AT THE BOTTOM NUMBER AND BLAME THE CITY FOR IT.

'CAUSE WE GET BLAMED ALL THE TIME.

SO, MR. KEEL, UM, I JUST HAD A COMMENT FOR, UH, MRS. JOHNSON ABOUT THE DAYCARE.

UM, I'M NOT SURE HOW YOU CAN GET THIS INFORMATION TO US BECAUSE IT MIGHT BE PRO PROPRIETARY INFORMATION AND, UM, BUT I WOULD LIKE PROOF THAT THERE'S 250 PEOPLE ON A WAITING LIST.

I'D LIKE TO SEE THAT IN SOME WAY, SHAPE, OR FORM.

I'M NOT ASKING YOU TO GIMME EVERY NAME, BUT, UH, THAT'S IMPORTANT TO ME TO KNOW BECAUSE I ASKED FOR A BUSINESS PLAN FOR THIS PROJECT.

AND, UH, THAT'S IMPORTANT INFORMATION TO ME.

SO, ANYONE ELSE ON COUNSEL? MR. COOPER? UH, YES, I WANT, I ALSO THANK, UM, MISS SHEETS FOR THE PRESENTATION ON THE TOWN OF TAXES AND, UH, DO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT PEOPLE, 'CAUSE THEY, THEY WILL MOVE QUICKLY ON THINGS IF YOU GO DOWN THERE.

UM, THEY WILL MOVE QUICKLY AND, AND HELP YOU OUT WITH IF YOU QUALIFY.

UM, I ALSO WANNA THANK, UM, MS. JOHNSON FOR THE PRESENTATION ON THE WE FOLKS PROGRAM.

UM, HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO VISIT IT, UM, WAS VERY IMPRESSED WITH THE PLACE AND I'M HOPING THAT WE'LL, UH, HAVE MORE FEEDBACK THAT WILL COME BACK, UH, REGARDING THE, THE NEED FOR THAT FACILITY.

ANY OTHER COMMENTS? SEEING THEM? WE MOVE ON TO

[III.  Approval of Minutes]

CITY COUNCIL MEETING.

I NEED A MOTION AND A SECOND.

SO MOVED.

SECOND.

COUNCILMAN COLE? AYE.

COUNCILMAN COOPER? AYE.

COUNCILMAN MCDANIEL? AYE.

COUNCILWOMAN GREGORY? AYE.

COUNCILMAN HORN? AYE.

COUNCILMAN KUHL? AYE.

MAYOR MOORE WOLFE.

AYE.

SEVEN AYES, NO NAYS, ANY UNFINISHED BUSINESS? NONE MOVING INTO NEW

[1.  Treasurer's Financial Report]

UM, THE FIRST ITEM IS THE TREASURER'S FINANCIAL REPORT.

MR. GLEASON.

THANK YOU, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.

UH, AND TO THE COMMUNITY, UH, DO THIS EVERY MONTH.

UH, FINANCE CITY TREASURER, UH, JAMES, UH, WILL PRESENT.

BUT TO KICK THIS OFF, UH, AND THIS WAS INFORMATION THAT WAS SHARED WITH COUNCIL, BUT FOR THE COMMUNITY, UH, WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO HEAR IS, UH, YEAR TO DATE AND YEAR OVER YEAR, UH, TRENDS ON OUR REVENUES RECEIVED ARE TRENDING DOWNWARD.

SO WHAT ARE WE DOING INTERNALLY AS FAR AS, UH, ANYTHING OPERATIONALLY? UH, NO CHANGES AT ALL.

UH, WE ARE NOT, UH, PUSHING THE PANIC BUTTON OR ASKING OUR DIRECTORS TO DO ANYTHING REGARDING THIS, UH, CURRENT BUDGET, EXCEPT FOR ASKING THEM TO, UH, TAKE A WHAT IF APPROACH.

IF THESE TRENDS, UH, CONTINUE.

NOW, LET'S TAKE THIS THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION.

YOU KNOW, LET'S SAY REVENUES WERE SWINGING UPWARDS, UH, AND WE'VE HAD A COUPLE OF YEARS, UH, OF THAT, UH, WE WOULD ALSO TAKE A WHAT IF TYPE OF, UH, APPROACH WITH THE DIRECTORS.

WHAT ARE EXPENDITURES THAT WE KNOW THAT ARE COMING MAYBE IN FUTURE FISCAL YEARS, THAT BECAUSE OF AN INCREASE IN REVENUES THAT WAS SOMEWHAT OVER PREDICTION OR UNEXPECTED, THAT WE COULD POSSIBLY MAKE THOSE EXPENDITURES, UH, IN ADVANCE, UH, YOU KNOW, IN THE CURRENT FISCAL YEAR IN THAT EXAMPLE.

SO, AGAIN, NO CONCERNS.

UH, THIS IS ANOTHER AREA THAT EVEN ABSENT

[00:30:01]

AND I WANNA UNDERSTAND WHAT ARE THE REVENUE CONVERSATIONS THAT HAVE OCCURRED WITH COUNCIL? WHAT ARE THE OTHER REVENUE OR EXPENSE CONSIDERATIONS THAT I NEED TO KNOW ABOUT BEING THE, UH, RETURNING CITY MANAGER? SO WITH THAT, I WILL TURN THE FLOOR OVER TO, UH, MS. JAMES.

THANK YOU, CITY MANAGER.

AND, UH, GOOD EVENING TO THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL.

UM, AS WE TALKED ABOUT THE GENERAL FUND REVENUES ARE TRENDING BELOW, UH, THE BUDGET AND, UM, LAST YEAR AT THIS TIME FOR FOUR MONTHS NOW.

AND, UH, IF YOU MIGHT REMEMBER, FORMER CITY, UH, MANAGER WRIGHTON TALKED ABOUT THIS, THAT, UH, YOU KNOW, WE, WE NEED TO BE WATCHFUL AND THAT, UH, REVENUES, UH, ARE EXPECTED TO DECLINE AT SOME TIME.

UH, WE'RE LOOKING TOWARDS 2025 THAT WE KNEW THAT, BUT IT COULD HAPPEN AT ANY TIME WITH ECONOMIC, UH, PRESSURES THAT WE HAVE.

THE LARGEST REVENUES, UM, THAT ARE DECLINING ARE THE PERSONAL PROPERTY REPLACEMENT TAX, UM, UTILITIES AND LOCAL USE TAXES.

AND SO WITH THAT, SOME OF THOSE ARE VARIABLE.

AND SO WE NEED TO PAY ATTENTION TO THAT AND, AND KEEP AN EYE ON ALL THAT.

UM, FIRST QUARTER, UH, BASICALLY INTEREST RATES WERE EXPECTED TO DECLINE.

UH, INFLATION HAD DECLINE AND FEDERAL RESERVE FOR THE YEAR WAS SUPPOSED TO DE DECREASE RATES, UM, FOUR TIMES.

AND THEN WE COME TO APRIL.

AND IF YOU'RE PAYING ATTENTION TO ECONOMIC FORECASTS IN APRIL, THEN WHEN THE RATES DID NOT GO DOWN, INFLATION DID NOT GO DOWN.

THE FEDERAL RESERVE TALKED ABOUT NOT DECREASING RATES AT ALL, OR MAYBE ONE TIME LATER IN THE FALL.

SO REALLY, UH, THE ECONOMIC FORECAST HAS CHANGED FOR THE REST OF THE YEAR.

AND SO WITH THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, PERHAPS PEOPLE ARE HOLDING BACK ON SPENDING AND, AND, UH, WATCHING WHAT'S HAPPENING AS WELL.

SO I BELIEVE THAT WE'RE IN A DIFFERENT PLACE IN THE ECONOMY AND, AND APPARENTLY FOLKS ARE THINKING THAT AS WELL, BECAUSE THEY'RE HOLDING BACK ON SPENDING WITH SOME OF THEIR USE TAXES.

SO WITH THAT, UM, AS A CITY MANAGER TALKED ABOUT, WE WANNA TAKE A PROACTIVE POSITION.

WE WANT TO, UM, TAKE A A MONTH TO DEVELOP SOME OPTIONS AND ALTERNATIVES, WATCH REVENUES, AND PAY ATTENTION, UH, TO WHAT'S HAPPENING.

WE TO ANALYZE, UM, WHAT IT MEANS FOR SOME OF THOSE OPTIONS, YOU KNOW, IF WE DECREASE, UH, SOMETHING AND ALSO TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT REVENUES WE CAN INCREASE.

AND WE NEED TO KNOW WHAT ALL THAT MEANS.

AND ESPECIALLY WITH THE, UH, NEW CITY MANAGER, WE WANNA TALK THROUGH ALL THAT.

SO, UM, WE ARE LOOKING AT, UH, A COUPLE OF SCENARIOS, 5%, UM, NON-SALARY, EXPENDABLE EXPENDITURE, UH, POSSIBILITIES, WHAT WOULD THAT MEAN? AND THEN ALSO, UM, A 5% NON-SALARY EXPENDITURE BACKUP.

AND I WANNA STRESS NON-SALARY, UH, TO LOOK AT, YOU KNOW, WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? AND, AND IF YOU STOP AND THINK ABOUT IT, THERE'S CONTRACTS THAT WE ARE OBLIGATED TO, THERE'S DEBT AND THERE'S A LOT OF OBLIGATIONS THAT, UM, ARE PART OF THAT THAT WE CAN'T REDUCE.

AND ALSO SALARY AND BENEFITS ARE A LARGE PORTION OF OUR BUDGET.

AND SO WE NEED TO LOOK AT ALL THIS AND, UM, AND LOOK AT, YOU KNOW, WHAT POSSIBLE OTHER REVENUE, UH, THAT WE MIGHT BRING TO YOU TO, TO TALK ABOUT.

SO WITH THAT, UH, THE OTHER REASON THAT WE FEEL, YOU KNOW, COMFORTABLE AT THIS TIME TO NOT DO ANYTHING AT THIS MOMENT, WE DO HAVE CURRENT SAVINGS OF 1.3 MILLION IN THE, UH, PUBLIC SAFETY SALARIES AND BENEFITS THAT ARE ANTICIPATED OPEN POSITIONS.

AND ALSO WE'RE SITTING AT 93 DAYS CASH.

AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, AT DECEMBER 31ST, WE WERE SITTING AT 93 DAYS, UM, CASH.

SO ESSENTIALLY WE HAVE THREE DAYS OVER THE 90 DAYS, UM, THAT WE, UH, TRY TO HOLD AND THAT EQUALS $750,000.

SO WITH THOSE TWO, WE ARE AT SITTING AT $2 MILLION, UM, THAT WE HAVE THAT, UH, OR POSSIBILITY TOWARDS THIS ISSUE THAT COULD BE ONGOING FOR THE REST OF THE YEAR OR IT MIGHT NOT.

AND SO WE, WE FEEL PRETTY COMFORTABLE WITH THAT, UM, AT THIS TIME TO HAVE TAKE TIME AND STUDY THE SITUATION.

SO IN OUR NEXT TREASURER'S REPORT, WE'LL BE ABLE TO PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE ALTERNATIVES.

AND WITH THAT, UH, WHAT QUESTIONS DO YOU HAVE? COUNCILWOMAN GREGORY, IN THIS BUDGET, THERE IS, UH, A LINE ITEM CALLED A SPECIAL RESERVE FUND.

IN THE CASH ON HAND THAT YOU JUST DESCRIBED, WAS ANY OF THAT INCLUDED? I KNOW THAT, UM, SEVERAL COUNCIL MEETINGS AGO WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO TAKE SOME OF THAT TO TEAR DOWN SOME SCHOOL BUILDINGS, BUT THERE SH IT SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ALL OF IT.

CORRECT.

AND SO, UM, UH, YES, THERE, THERE WOULD BE SOME OF THAT.

UM, SO WE COULD DO THAT.

UM, AND ALSO AS WE MOVE FORWARD IN TIME, UM, PART OF THAT, UH, WE WOULD NOT BE TAKING ALL OF THAT 2 MILLION.

WE TALKED ABOUT TAKING SOME, UH, PORTION OF THE BUDGET.

AND, UM, WITH THIS INFORMATION, THAT'S, UH, SOMETHING WE'LL HAVE TO STUDY IN THE NEXT 30 DAYS, HOW MUCH WE CAN USE, UH, TO NOT USE ALL OF THAT, UH, SPECIAL PROJECTS MONEY AND SEE IF WE CAN FIND ADDITIONAL FUNDS, UH, TO TOWARDS TAKING DOWN THIS, THE SCHOOL BUILDINGS FOR THAT AS WELL.

THERE WAS SOME DISCUSSION OF THAT.

IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT, UM, IF THE LEGISLATURE MOVES FORWARD WITH PLANS AS THEY'RE EXPECTED TO, TO ELIMINATE THE GROCERY TAX, IT'LL COST US ABOUT $2 MILLION, UH, WHICH THE ILLINOIS

[00:35:01]

SO IT WOULD GIVE US TIME TO, UM, CONSIDER WHETHER WE WANTED A LOCAL GROCERY TAX HERE, BUT THAT WOULD ALSO BE A PRETTY SIGNIFICANT HIT TO OUR BUDGET.

AND THAT THAT IS CORRECT.

SO JUST ALSO KEEPING THAT IN MIND.

OTHER QUESTIONS FROM COUNSEL? YES, COMMENTS? JUST THAT, UM, THE LOCAL UTILITY TAX, I NOTICED IN APRIL, UM, THEY, IT DOUBLED COMPARED TO THE MONTHS BEFORE.

SO, UM, IN JANUARY WE DID NOT RECEIVE, UH, FUNDS FROM AMARIN AND THAT IS COMMON.

AND SO WE ACTUALLY CONTACTED THEM AND IN APRIL WE RECEIVED TWO MONTHS.

OKAY.

I FIGURED, BUT IT WAS LOWER AND SO, UM, IT WAS LOWER THAN IT WAS THE PREVIOUS YEAR.

AND SO, UM, AGAIN, THAT, UM, PERHAPS, YOU KNOW, THAT WAS A, A WARMER WINTER AND WE WILL LOOK INTO THAT AS WELL.

AND LOOK AT, UH, THE AMOUNT OF USAGE.

WELL, I FIGURED THERE WAS SOMETHING MAYBE THEY WERE HOLDING BACK.

AND THEN THE, UH, PERSONAL PROPERTY TAX, THEY DID GIVE US A, A LITTLE TINY INCREASE, DIDN'T THEY? I THINK YOU'RE THINKING OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT DISTRIBUTED TAX? YEAH, THE P WAS IT PPRT? THAT'S A DIFFERENT ONE.

OH, THAT'S A DIFFERENT, AND PPRT ACTUALLY IS COMING DOWN.

SO IT WAS, UH, A HIGHER AMOUNT, UH, A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, AND THEN THEY HAVE DECREASED THAT AMOUNT AND TOLD US IT WOULD BE 3.2 MILLION FOR THIS YEAR.

AND IN DECEMBER, AFTER WE HAD PRETTY MUCH ALREADY APPROVED THE BUDGET, THEY DECREASED IT AGAIN.

AND SO BY MY CALCULATION, IF THE TREND CONTINUES FOR THIS YEAR, THAT'S GOING TO BE 1.2 MILLION LESS THAN THEY TOLD US IT WOULD BE.

SO THAT IS A LARGE CONTRIBUTOR TO WHY WE SEE REVENUES ARE GOING DOWN.

OH, I DON'T THINK THE STATE WOULD DO THAT.

AND LGDF IS ALSO NOT SAFE YET EITHER.

WE WON'T KNOW UNTIL THE LEGISLATURE'S DONE.

OKAY, THANK YOU.

ANYONE ELSE? DR. HORN? I WOULD JUST SAY THAT, UM, ONE, THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS TO EVERYONE'S ATTENTION.

IT'S ALWAYS GOOD TO PREPARE, UM, IN, IN CHALLENGE FINANCIAL CHALLENGES THAT MAY BE AHEAD.

BUT, BUT I WOULD ALSO POINT OUT THAT THERE ARE SUBSTANTIAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR REVENUE.

UH, CLOSING THE UTILITY TAX LOOPHOLE AS IT APPLIES TO NATURAL GAS IS A GREAT WAY TO START.

UM, THE LARGEST USERS OF, UM, NATURAL GAS ARE TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THAT LOOPHOLE AND SAVING ABOUT 5%.

AND, UH, THEY'VE, THEY'VE ENJOYED THAT LOOPHOLE FOR MANY YEARS, BUT IT'S TIME TO CLOSE THAT LOOPHOLE.

AND MY GUESS IS THAT, UH, WHEN THAT LOOPHOLE IS CLOSED, UH, WE WILL FIND THAT MUCH OF THIS GAP THAT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT, UM, WILL BE CLOSED BECAUSE THE REALITY IS THAT OUR CITIZENS HAVE BEEN TAXED ENOUGH.

THERE IS, THERE'S NO WAY WE CAN JUSTIFY INCREASES IN WATER RATES AND SEWER RATES AND SANITARY STORM WATER RATES AND LOCAL ROAD RATES.

UH, THERE IS JUST NO MORE JUSTIFICATION WHEN YOU HAVE A CITY WHOSE POPULATION HAS A MEDIAN HOUSEHOLD INCOME OF LESS THAN $50,000.

AND SO WE NEED TO FIND WAYS TO BE, HAVE GREATER TAX EQUITY AND THE UTILITY TAX LOOPHOLE IS ONE OF THEM.

AND IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT WE HAVE TO CLOSE THAT LOOPHOLE BY JUNE 30TH IF WE ARE GOING TO HAVE THAT ENACTED BY JANUARY 1ST.

AND SO I WOULD URGE OUR CITY MANAGER TO GET THAT ON THE AGENDA.

THANKS.

ANY OTHER COMMENTS? SEEING NONE.

THANK YOU MS. JAMES.

MM-HMM, .

MOVING NOW TO ITEM NUMBER TWO, RESOLUTION,

[2.  Resolution Accepting the Bid and Authorizing the Execution of a Contract with Entler Excavating Co. Inc., for 2024 Miscellaneous Sanitary & Storm Sewer Improvement Project, City Project 2024-09]

FOR 2024.

MISCELLANEOUS SANITARY AND STORM SEWER IMPROVEMENT PROJECT CITY PROJECT 2024 DASH OH NINE.

MOTION TO RESOLUTION TO PASS AND BE ADOPTED.

SO MOVED.

SECOND, MR. GLEASON, MAYOR, IF THERE'S ANY ADDITIONAL, UH, COMMENTS, UH, ON TWO THROUGH FIVE, I'M GONNA HAVE, UH, PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR MATT NEWELL, STEP FORWARD ON THIS ITEM.

DOES ANYONE ON COUNCIL NEED TO HEAR FROM MR. NEWELL? SEEING NONE, COUNCILMAN COLT? AYE.

COUNCILMAN COOPER? AYE.

COUNCILMAN MCDANIEL? AYE.

COUNCILWOMAN GREGORY? AYE.

COUNCILMAN HORNE? AYE.

COUNCILMAN KUHL? AYE.

MAYOR MORE WOLF? AYE.

SEVEN AYES NO NAYS.

ITEM

[3.  Resolution to Appropriate Motor Tax Funds for Restoration of Streets and Highways by Municipality under the Illinois Highway Code, City Project 2024-08, Annual Street Restoration, Section 24-00408-00-FP]

MOTION THAT THE RESOLUTION DO PASS AND BE ADOPTED.

SO MOVED.

SECOND.

DOES ANYONE ON COUNSEL NEED? HAVE A QUESTION FOR MR. NEWELL ON THIS ITEM OF MR. NEWELL? IF YOU WOULD COME TO THE PODIUM, DR. HORN, GO AHEAD WITH YOUR QUESTION AND HE CAN FORMULATE AN ANSWER ON HIS WAY.

UM, MR. NOLL, COULD YOU JUST BRIEFLY TALK ABOUT HOW, UH, LOCAL ROADS ARE SELECTED

[00:40:01]

SO, UH, WE DO HALF, HALF A YEAR, UH, EV EVERY YEAR.

THE, UH, THE STREETS, WE GENERALLY LOOK AT A COUPLE OF CATEGORIES.

ONE, WE CAN DO A, A SIMPLE SEAL COAT SURFACE TREATMENT OR, OR MILL AND OVERLAY TREATMENT OR A TOTAL RECONSTRUCTION.

AND THE, UH, THE COSTS OF THOSE ARE, ARE DRASTICALLY DIFFERENT.

SO FOR A MILL AND OVERLAY COSTS ABOUT TWICE AS MUCH AS A SEAL COAT TREATMENT WOULD COST, THEN A RECONSTRUCTION WOULD COST ABOUT FIVE TIMES WHAT A MILL AND OVERLAY WOULD COST.

WE TRY TO KEEP THEM IN THE UPPERMOST CATEGORY THAT THEY ARE IN BEFORE THEY DROP INTO A RECONSTRUCTION.

AND THEN ONCE THEY FALL INTO A RECONSTRUCTION CATEGORY, WE GENERALLY WILL LEAVE THEM THERE AS LONG AS CITY STAFF CAN MAINTAIN THAT STREET IN THE CONDITION IN, IN ITS CURRENT CONDITION BECAUSE, UH, IT, UH, THE RECONSTRUCTIVE STREETS WILL REALLY SAP THE, THE MONEY VERY FAST BECAUSE THEY, THEY, THEY ARE SO EXPENSIVE TO DO.

SO ESSENTIALLY WHEN WE RATE THE STREETS, WE TRY TO BREAK THEM INTO THOSE CATEGORIES.

GO AHEAD.

AND, AND SO ONE COULD CREATE PERHAPS A MAP THAT SHOWS ROAD CONDITION INDEX SCORES AND, AND SHOW THROUGHOUT THE CITY, UM, WHICH, UH, STREETS HAVE THE HIGHEST SCORES, WHICH HAVE THE LOWEST SCORES.

AND WOULD YOU SAY THAT, UM, THE $1.5 MILLION THAT'S GONNA BE ALLOCATED TO LOCAL ROADS, UH, THIS COMING YEAR, IS THAT GOING TO BE ENOUGH MONEY TO REALLY, UM, BRING UP OUR ROAD CONDITION INDEX? OR ARE WE JUST REALLY, UH, SCRATCHING THE SURFACE OF THE NEED? THE, THE CURRENT MONEY WE DEVOTE TO, UH, BETWEEN THE, WE HAVE THE STATE MOTOR FUEL TAX AND THEN WE HAVE THE LOCAL MOTOR FUEL TAX, UH, FUNDS THAT WE DEVOTE TO THE CITY STREETS.

THEY ARE, THEY, THE FUNDING WE HAVE NOW WILL KEEP US CLOSE, BUT WE STILL DROP MAYBE A, A 10TH OR SO EVERY YEAR.

O OKAY.

SO WE ARE, OUR $1.5 MILLION MIGHT GET US TO A CONDITION INDEX VALUE THAT IS SIMILAR TO WHAT WE ARE NOW.

AND SO IT'S, IT'S FAIR TO SAY THAT WE WOULD NEED MORE THAN $1.5 MILLION TO REALLY IMPROVE, UH, SOME OF THE LOCAL ROADS THAT ARE, ARE VERY CHALLENGE.

AND SO I WOULD JUST, UM, SUGGEST THAT IT, IT MIGHT BE HELPFUL TO THE CITY COUNCIL AS A WHOLE THAT IN MANY WAYS, UM, WE HAVE A VISUALIZATION LIKE WE DO WITH SEWER, SANITARY SEWERS AND STORM WATER SEWERS OF WHAT THE TOTAL COST WOULD BE FOR US TO REALLY IMPROVE OUR LOCAL ROADS IN ITS ENTIRETY.

WE HAVE A FIVE YEAR PLAN, UH, THAT THE PLAN LOOKS FINE TO ME, BUT ROADS ARE DETERIORATING EVERY YEAR AS WELL.

AND I DON'T THINK WE'RE EVER GOING TO, UH, CATCH UP.

AND, UM, AND SO WHEN I LOOK AT A STREET, FOR EXAMPLE, UH, LIKE MARTIN LUTHER KING JUNIOR, IT'S NOT EVEN ON THE FIVE YEAR PLAN.

IT HAS A ROGUE CONDITION INDEX OF 30 OUT OF A HUNDRED AND IT HAS ONE OF THE HIGHEST DAILY TRAFFIC COUNTS OF ANY LOCAL ROAD THAT'S 7,650, UH, VEHICLES PER DAY.

AND SO IT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO ME IF WE COULD GET SOME SORT OF COST OF WHAT IT WOULD TAKE TO GET OUR LOCAL ROADS IMPROVED.

'CAUSE IT JUST SEEMS TO ME LIKE A 1.5 MILLION IS A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT FOR THE TAXPAYERS, BUT IS NOT A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT IN TERMS OF IMPROVING OUR LOCAL ROADS.

MR. MCDANIEL.

WELL, MY QUESTION AND, AND, UH, YOU'VE, IN THE PAST YOU'VE SAID HOW MUCH IT COSTS TO, UH, DO A WHOLE STREET OR SO PER MILE.

WHAT DO YOU THINK? JUST ESTIMATE THE COST INCREASE OF MATERIALS IN THAT, UH, SAY COMPARED TO FIVE YEARS AGO OR FOUR YEARS AGO? WE INCLUDE, UH, WE INCLUDE SOME OF THAT IN THE BUDGET.

I MEAN, I I WOULD SAY, UH, FOR FIVE YEARS AGO, IT'S, IT'S GONE UP 10 OR OR 20% IN SOME CASES.

OKAY.

THAT, THAT'S LESS THAN I THOUGHT, BUT IT'S STILL A LOT.

OKAY.

THANK YOU MR. Q.

MATT.

I APOLOGIZE IF IT'S IN HERE AND I DIDN'T SEE IT, BUT I THOUGHT EVERY YEAR YOU