* This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting. [I.  Call to Order] [00:00:04] CALL THE MEETING TO ORDER. PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. COUNCILMAN HORN. PRESENT. COUNCILMAN KUHL? PRESENT? COUNCILMAN COLT? HERE. COUNCILMAN COOPER? HERE. COUNCILMAN MCDANIEL. PRESENT. COUNCILWOMAN GREGORY. PRESENT, MAYOR, MORE WOLF PRESENT. SEVEN. PRESENT AND ABSENT. PLEASE STAND AND JOIN IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE LIGHT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. [II.  Appearance of Citizens] WE BEGIN OUR MEETINGS WITH APPEARANCE OF CITIZENS. THE POLICY RELATIVE TO APPEARANCE OF CITIZENS IS AS FOLLOWS. A 30 MINUTE TIME PERIOD IS PROVIDED FOR CITIZENS TO APPEAR AND 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 APPROACH THE PODIUM. I DO. COME ON DOWN. WE'LL JUST NEED YOUR NAME. WE DON'T NEED YOUR ADDRESS. OKAY, GWEN PAGE UNTIL YOU GET TO THE, UH, MICROPHONE PLEASE. MY NAME IS GWEN PAGE AND I LIVE ON LAWRENCE STREET. AND ON THE, WHEN YOU WALK ALL THE WAY DOWN THE STREET, SAME SITE. ONE END IS A FENCED IN YARD. THAT TREES HAVE JUST GROWN UP. THE GRASS HAS GROWN UP. AT THE OTHER END OF THE BLOCK IS A BURNT UP HOUSE. I'VE GOT SOME PICTURES HERE OF BOTH, IF YOU OKAY. ON THE ONES, ON THE RIGHT BACK IS THE HOUSE, AND IT'S BEEN THERE FOR OVER A YEAR. AND THE REST OF THE BLOCK IT LOOKS GOOD. WE'VE GOT THE GARDEN ON ONE SIDE. THERE'S A SCHOOL UP IN THE PARK, WHICH IS REALLY BEAUTIFUL. BUT THEN WHEN YOU WALK DOWN THAT STREET, IT'S HORRIBLE BECAUSE ON EACH CORNER IT'S A DISASTER. SO I WAS UNDER THE, UNDER STANDING, THE UNDERSTANDING THAT YOU COULDN'T HAVE A FENCE UP UNLESS YOU HAD SOMETHING GROWING IN IT WHERE THERE'S NOTHING GROWING IN THAT FENCE. IT'S JUST A PLACE FOR RODENTS TO LIVE. SO THERE'S TREES THAT ARE REALLY, REALLY TALL. THE FENCE IS NOT ALL THE WAY UP. SOME, SOME OF IT'S DOWN, BUT IT'S HORRIBLE LOOKING. I MEAN, YOU WOULDN'T WANT IT IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD OR, OR THE HOUSE. UM, I DID TALK TO A GENTLEMAN THAT WAS UP THERE CUTTING DOWN SOME LIMBS AND HE, HE SAID THAT IT, HE DIDN'T KNOW WHO OWNED THE PROPERTY, BUT THERE WAS A LADY THAT WAS TAKING CARE OF THE PROPERTY. OKAY. BUT I DON'T SEE WHY THE FENCE CAN'T COME DOWN AND THE TREES BE TAKEN DOWN. AND THAT AREA LOOK A LOT BETTER THAN WHAT IT LOOKED, 'CAUSE IT'S ON THE END OF THE STREET RIGHT THERE BETWEEN LAWRENCE AND WEBSTER. AND THE OTHER ONE IS MATT AND LAWRENCE, WHERE THE HOUSE IS. AND THE GENTLEMAN, SOMEONE TALKED TO HIM AND SAID, HE SAID IT WAS GONNA HAVE THE HOUSE REBUILT, BUT THERE'S NO WAY YOU COULD REBUILD THAT HOUSE. IT IS JUST TOO HORRIBLE. IT, I GOT A PICTURE OF MY DOG IN THERE. OH NO, I DON'T . BUT ANYWAY, I JUST THOUGHT MAYBE IT SHOULD BE BROUGHT TO THE CITY'S ATTENTION THAT SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE WITH IT. OKAY. THANK YOU MA'AM. DOES ANYONE ELSE WISH TO APPEAR BEFORE COUNSEL TONIGHT? GOOD AFTERNOON. MICHAEL HARTWIG. I LIVE IN THE WEST END. UM, TODAY WAS ONE OF THOSE DAYS THAT I KIND OF DREAD MAKE MY FIRST INSTALLMENT ON MY PROPERTY TAXES. UH, EARLY THIS SPRING, CITY OF DECATUR TO THE ASSESSOR'S OFFICE DECIDED MAGICALLY MY 86-YEAR-OLD HOUSE THAT THAT'S 35 YEARS INTO A 40 YEAR ROOF NEEDS, PAINTED NEEDS, PLUMBING, NEEDS, AIR CONDITIONING AND HEATING. IT'S NOW WORTH 18% MORE THAN IT WAS A YEAR AGO. SO I GET THIS, THIS BILL FOR MY TAXES. WELL, THEY THOUGHT IT WAS EVEN WORTH A LITTLE BIT MORE. 'CAUSE NOW I PAID 20 CENT, UH, 20% MORE IN TAXES. UH, SOME OF YOU'LL RECALL I BEEN MENTIONED BEFORE THAT MY DAUGHTER, SON-IN-LAW, THEIR BOYS, MY DAUGHTER'S MOTHER AND HIS, MY SON-IN-LAW'S PARENTS ALL MOVED TO DOTHAN, ALABAMA, TOTALLY FED UP WITH EVERYTHING ILLINOIS. AND, UH, DOWN THERE, I DID A COMPARISON, ASKED THEM WHAT THEY WERE PAYING FOR TAXES. FOUND OUT THAT A HOUSE THAT'S WORTH A LITTLE BIT MORE THAN MINE IS HERE IN DECATUR. UH, THEIR TAXES DOWN THERE FOR THAT WOULD BE $507 A YEAR TOTAL FOR WHAT I PAY IN TAXES IN DECATUR. THE HOUSE THAT I WOULD HAVE TO OWN WOULD HAVE A MARKET VALUE OF $910,000. [00:05:03] YOU KNOW, DOTHAN DOES THINGS. WE, WE, ME, I MENTIONED BEFORE WHEN I WAS HERE ABOUT THE, THE WASTE SERVICE. GARBAGE AND WASTE SERVICE. THEY PROVIDE MORE SERVICE FOR 14 BUCKS A MONTH. YOU KNOW, UP, UP UP. ILLINOIS HAS GOT THIS. THEY'RE LIKE DRUNKEN SAILORS ON SHORE LEAVE, SPEND, SPEND, SPEND, SPEND, SPEND. EVEN IF WE DON'T HAVE IT, OH, WE DON'T HAVE IT. SO LET'S TAX SOME MORE. YOU KNOW, OUR GOVERNOR THIS YEAR PROPOSED A RECORD BUDGET, BUT HE WAS DELIVERING AN ADDRESS ABOUT THE BUDGET. HE FORGOT TO MENTION THAT HE WAS ALSO GONNA RAISE THE TAXES. $1.1 BILLION. YOU KNOW, THE STATE'S GOTTA WAKE UP. 300 AND SOME THOUSAND PEOPLE, INCLUDING THE SEVEN THAT I'M RELATED TO, HAVE MOVED OUTTA THE STATE IN THE LAST THREE YEARS FOR THAT REASON. YOU SAY, WELL, PEOPLE ARE MOVING IN. THOSE PEOPLE ON AVERAGE ARE MAKING $30,000 OR LESS PER YEAR. SO YOU ASK WHY I'M STILL HERE. ONE, I GOT TOO MUCH STUFF TO 'EM INVOLVED IN MY CHURCH AT THREE. SOMEBODY'S GOTTA BE A CUCK BIRD UNDER SOME POLITICIAN SADDLE. SO THAT'LL BE MY, YOU'LL GET TO KNOW ME, SIR. SO THAT'S WHAT I HAVE TO SAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. HARTWICK. GOOD EVENING, VICKY SHEETS. UM, TONIGHT I JUST WANTED TO, UM, LET EVERYBODY KNOW THAT, AS YOU ALL KNOW, DURING THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS, THERE WERE A LOT OF EVENTS HAPPENING IN DECATUR. AND THAT'S A GREAT THING, THE BOAT RACES, WHICH MY FAMILY HAS ENJOYED SINCE I WAS A KID. SO I WAS GLAD TO SEE THOSE BACK. THE COUNTY FAIR JUNETEENTH, THE CONCERTS AT THE DEVON, AND OF COURSE THE WORLD POOL QUALIFIERS AT STICKS. SO THERE WAS SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE. AND I THINK THAT'S TO DECATUR'S CREDIT, BECAUSE SO MUCH WAS GOING ON. WE MAY NOT REALIZE THE ECONOMIC IMPACT OF EACH EVENT SEPARATELY. BUT WHAT IS IMPORTANT IS THAT DECATUR BENEFITED FROM ALL OF THESE EVENTS. SO THERE WAS JUST SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE TO ENJOY MOST, NO MATTER WHAT YOU WERE, UM, WHAT YOUR LIKINGS ARE. LAST NOVEMBER, TOM SHEETS CAME BEFORE, UH, IT WAS A COUPLE MONTHS BEFORE STICKS OPENED, BUT TOM CAME BEFORE THE COUNCIL AND TOLD YOU THAT HE WAS CONFIDENT THAT HE WOULD HOST A WORLD QUALIFIER AT SIX ON 36. AND HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE WOULD COME TO DECATUR. AND HE ASKED FOR THE COUNCIL SUPPORT. WELL, IF YOU THINK I'M TENACIOUS, YOU SHOULD REALLY GET TO KNOW TOM. BUT I'M NOT SURE HOW MANY OF YOU BELIEVED HIM, HOW MANY BLEW HIM OFF. BUT FOR THE LAST TWO WEEKENDS, JUST FIVE MONTHS AFTER OPENING, HE HOSTED THE A PA WORLD QUALIFYING POOL TOURNAMENTS. THE A PA IS THE WORLD'S LARGEST POOL LEAGUE. SO THAT IS SOMETHING THAT DECATUR SHOULD REALLY BE PROUD OF. I'M PROUD OF HIM, AND I KNOW HE'S REALLY PROUD OF STICKS AND HIS STAFF. IT WAS, IT WAS INCREDIBLE. BUT TIC STILL NEEDS THE SUPPORT OF THE CITY. AND I SEE A LITTLE LATER ON THE AGENDA THAT THE COUNCIL MAY BE AMENDING CITY CODE CHAPTER 52 UPON A REQUEST FROM GK NINE, WHICH IS GREAT, THAT'S GREAT FOR JACK AND SARAH, BUT IT GIVES US HOPE THAT THE COUNCIL WILL ALSO STILL CONSIDER THE REQUEST THAT STICKS IS TURNED IN. IT'S VERY IMPORTANT, UH, TO US. SO I KNOW IT TAKES TIME, BUT I JUST WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW, WE'RE, WE'RE STILL HOPEFUL THAT SOMETHING'S GONNA MOVE WITH THAT STICKS IS EVERYTHING THAT THE HERALD AND REVIEW SET IT IS. IT'S A FAMILY, UM, FRIENDLY RESTAURANT. IT'S A BAR, IT'S A POOL HALL, IT'S A SPORTS VENUE. IT, ANY AGE, ANY BODY IS WELCOME THERE STICKS. WELL. RAY DURBIN, WHO WAS JUST VOTED DECATUR'S BEST CHEF, IS NOW AT STICKS. SO IF YOU HAVEN'T BEEN OUT THERE YET, PLEASE COME OUT AND GIVE STICKS A TRY. YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE IN THE POOL. THEY HAVE A TOTALLY SEPARATE RESTAURANT AREA. SO WE REALLY WOULD LIKE TO SEE YOU ALL COME OUT AND ENJOY WHAT THEY HAVE TO OFFER. SEE WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU MS. SHEATH. DOES ANYONE ELSE WISH TO APPEAR BEFORE? COUNSEL TONIGHT? HELLO, MY NAME IS ABIR MOTIAN. LIFE AND PROPERTY MATTERS. AND THAT'S WHAT I WANNA TALK ABOUT TODAY. I'M SURE YOU ALL KNOW VERNA [00:10:01] VERNA PETERS. SHE WORKED IN DECATUR, ILLINOIS OVER 40 YEARS WITH OASIS AND HERITAGE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND OTHER DEPARTMENTS IN DECATUR, ILLINOIS. I DO KNOW FOR A FACT THAT VERNA WAS SABOTAGED, HER CAR WAS SABOTAGED, AND ALSO HER LIFE WAS ENDED. NOW VERNA WAS ELDERLY AND SHE WORKED ALL THESE YEARS AND SHE WAS CAPABLE. SHE DIDN'T HAVE ANY FOUL SMELL TO HER. SHE WAS CLEANER THAN ANY EMPLOYEE AT OASIS. SHE WAS VERY POLITE. SHE WAS VERY, SHE PUT A LOT OF EFFORT. SHE WAS VERY NICE. SHE WAS A HARD WORKER. ON MOTHER'S DAY, I CALLED, YOU KNOW, TO GO TO VISIT HER. THEY, YOU KNOW, SOME PEOPLE THAT AWAY SAID, DON'T GO HONOR ME, DON'T GO. 'CAUSE THEY DIDN'T WANT ME TO KNOW THAT THEY SABOTAGED HER CAR. NOW I AM HER ADVOCATE. I ADVOCATED FOR HER TO KEEP HER POSITION THE MANY YEARS THAT SHE WAS ABLE TO KEEP HER POSITION. I HATE IT WHEN THEY TERMINATE PEOPLE'S LIVES, WHEN THEY SABOTAGE PEOPLE'S CARS AND WHEN THEY SABOTAGE PEOPLE'S FOODS AND THE PERSON DOESN'T KNOW WHAT THE HELL THEY'RE GOING THROUGH. WE CANNOT, LIKE, FOR, FOR MR. JOE BIDEN AND MR. DONALD TRUMP, AND EVEN MR. ROBERT KENNEDY JR. THEY'RE CALLING THEM OLD. YOU KNOW, SO THEY'RE OLD AND CRAZY. WHY DO THEY USE THIS TACTIC TO BRING DOWN A PERSON WHO IS VERY INTELLIGENT? JOE BIDEN'S NOT CRAZY. DONALD TRUMP IS NOT CRAZY. MR. KENNEDY JR. IS NOT CRAZY. AND VERNA PETERS IS NOT AND WAS NOT CRAZY. AND I'M HERE TO TELL YOU THAT THERE WAS FOUL PLAY, THERE WAS INFORMATION WITHHELD ABOUT THE CAR ACCIDENT. SAME THING THEY DID TO MIKE MACKELROY. THEY SABOTAGED HIS CAR. THEY GOT HIM OUTTA THE WAY. THAT'S NOT RIGHT. WE NEED TO STOP THESE CRIMINALS. HOW THEY, HOW THEY PLAN FROM POINT A TO POINT B, HOW THEY SABOTAGE AND DO THE WHOLE THING. THEY ARRANGE CAR ACCIDENTS. THEY DEFAME PEOPLE. THEY DEFAME ELDERLY JUST TO BRING THEM OUT. WE CANNOT HAVE THIS ANY LONGER INDICATOR. AND I WANT YOU GUYS TO STAND BY ME AND MAKE A GOOD CHANGE AND STOP HERITAGE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND KILLING PEOPLE AND PUTTING FALSE INFORMATION AND HIDING PEOPLE. OKAY? HIDING PEOPLE. AND THEN WHEN THEY FOUND OUT, I'M GONNA GO TO HER, THEY ENDED HER LIFE. THAT'S NOT FAIR. LIFE MATTERS. EVERYBODY'S LIFE MATTERS EXCEPT THE ONES WHO KILL PEOPLE. THANK YOU ALL. TAKE CARE AND STAND BY ME AND STOP THESE DIRECT AND INDIRECT MURDERS. HAVE A GREAT EVENING. DOES ANYONE ELSE WISH TO APPEAR BEFORE COUNCIL TONIGHT? ANY RESPONSE FROM COUNCIL MEMBERS? MR. MCDANIEL? YEAH. MR. HARTWICK, I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, BUT THE CITY HAS NO, WE DON'T ASSESS YOUR PROPERTY. I'D GET WITH YOUR, UH, UH, IF YOU'RE IN THE DECATUR TOWNSHIP, YOU CAN TALK TO THIS YOUNG LADY UP HERE OR GO TO YOUR COUNTY BOARD. WE'RE JUST LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE. WE HAVE, THEY DO THIS. IT'S DOWN THAT ROAD ONE, ONE TIME BEFORE. YEAH, WELL, IT'S, IT IS JUST KIND OF AGGRAVATING. WE, WE CAN'T HAVE CONVERSATIONS GOING BACK AND FORTH, SIR. IT'S, IT'S OUR POLICY. AND SO COUNSEL CAN RESPOND TO YOU AT THIS TIME. MR. MCDANIEL, DID YOU HAVE ANYTHING ELSE TO SAY? UH, JUST, UH, DO YOU HAVE ENOUGH INFORMATION TO HELP? UH, OKAY. THANK YOU MR. KEHL. ONE OTHER EXEMPTION THAT I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW ABOUT, THAT THERE'S A 65 AND OVER SENIOR EXEMPTION TOO FOR YOUR TAXES ON YOUR PROPERTY TAXES, BILL. SO IF YOU DON'T HAVE THAT, I HAVE A FEELING YOU MIGHT BE 65. A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T KNOW ABOUT THAT. AND THERE IS A, THERE IS AN ADDITIONAL EXEMPTION FOR 65 AND OVER DR. HORN. JUST WANNA MAKE A CLARIFICATION. HERITAGE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CENTER DOES NOT KILL PEOPLE. UH, THEY ASSIST PEOPLE IN NEED ANYONE, ANYTIME, ANYWHERE THEY CAN PROVIDE SERVICES TO OUR CITIZENS. UM, UH, YOU'RE TALKING TO THE RIGHT GROUP REGARDING THE HOUSE ON LAWRENCE, AND, UH, I ASSUME THAT WILL GET TAKEN CARE OF VERY QUICKLY IN TERMS OF AN INSPECTION. AND TO MS. SHEET'S POINT, I WOULD JUST SAY THAT, UM, I AGREE WITH YOUR VIEWPOINT THAT AS WE BEGIN TO MAKE MORE AND MORE EXCEPTIONS AND CHANGES IN THE ORDINANCE TO SOME GROUPS, UH, WE HAVE TO BEGIN TO ASK THE QUESTION WHY ARE WE NOT, UH, LOOKING AT REQUESTS FROM OTHER GROUPS? SO THAT WAS A VERY GOOD POINT. AND THEN, UM, UH, IN REGARDS TO THE PROPERTY TAXES, MR. HARTWIG, I, EVERYONE AROUND THIS, UH, TABLE IS, UH, CONCERNED ABOUT HIGHER PROPERTY TAXES. I WOULD JUST SAY THAT THE CITY OF DECATUR'S PROPORTION OF [00:15:01] PROPERTY TAXES, WHILE IT DID GO UP, IT WENT UP LESS THAN THE INFLATION RATE AND SIGNIFICANTLY LESS THAN MOST OF THE TAXING BODIES. SO, UH, WE ARE AWARE OF THE INCREASING TAXES. ANY OTHER COMMENTS FROM COUNCIL? OKAY, SEEING I MOVING [III.  Approval of Minutes] ON TO APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES, APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF JUNE 3RD, 2024. CITY COUNCIL MEETING. I NEED A MOTION AND A SECOND. SO MOVED. SECOND. COUNCILMAN HORN? AYE. COUNCILMAN KUHL? AYE. COUNCILMAN COLT? AYE. COUNCILMAN COOPER? AYE. COUNCILMAN MCDANIEL? AYE. COUNCILWOMAN GREGORY? AYE. MAYOR, MORE WOLF? AYE. SEVEN AYES, NO NAYS. ANY UNFINISHED BUSINESS? NONE. MOVING [1.  Treasurer's Financial Report] INTO NEW BUSINESS, UH, WE START WITH THE TREASURER'S FINANCIAL REPORT. MR. GLEASON? THANK YOU, MAYOR. UH, BEFORE I CALL, UH, CITY TREASURER DOWN, UH, MS. JAMES, UM, THIS IS OUR, UH, MONTHLY REPORT, HIGH LEVEL, UH, WALKTHROUGH OF WHERE WE'RE TRENDING WITH THE REVENUES AND EXPENSES. LAST MONTH'S REPORT, UH, WHILE IT WAS NOT, UH, YOU KNOW, UH, CAUTIONARY, UH, OR, UH, ONE WHERE WE WERE ACTUALLY GOING TO, UH, CHANGE, UH, THE APPROACH WITHIN THE CITY, WE WERE, UH, NOTICING THAT, UH, REVENUE TRENDS, UH, WERE SLIGHTLY DECREASING. UH, SO IT'S AN EXERCISE THAT WE WALK THROUGH. IT'S, UH, PRUDENT ON OUR PART TO DO THAT. UH, WE'RE QUICKLY APPROACHING, UH, NOT THIS MONTH, BUT NEXT, UH, HALFWAY THROUGH THE FISCAL YEAR. AND, UH, I KNOW THAT MS. JAMES IS GOING TO, UH, WALK US THROUGH THIS. BUT, UH, THIS MONTH WE SEE A SLIGHT INCREASE IN REVENUES. SO IT'S JUST ONE THAT EVERY SINGLE MONTH WE'RE GOING TO RE BE REPORTING AT A HIGH LEVEL, UH, WHERE WE'RE TRENDING, UH, WITH REVENUES AND SOME OF THE EXPENSES. SO, RUBY, THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. UM, SO ESSENTIALLY, UH, THE CHANGE BETWEEN LAST MONTH AND THIS MONTH IS THAT THE STATE INCOME TAXES, UH, WHEN ARE HIGHER THAN BUDGETED, AND THEN THE USE TAXES ARE STILL, UH, TRENDING LESS THAN BUDGETED. AND SO WE JUST NEED TO KEEP AN EYE ON THAT. AND ESSENTIALLY, WE'RE STILL SITTING IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, UH, OF AROUND 2 MILLION, UH, AT THIS POINT. AND IF YOU'LL REMEMBER, WE HAVE, UH, MONEY IN THE BUDGET TO COVER THAT FROM PUBLIC SAFETY AND ALSO FROM, UH, AT THE END OF THE YEAR, WE ENDED THREE DAYS, UH, BETTER THAN THE CASH ON GENERAL, ON THE GENERAL FUND DAILY CASH. SO WE CAN STILL COVER THAT. AND ALSO, I WANTED TO CORRECT SOMETHING, UH, MAYOR, THAT YOU ASKED ME LAST TIME. YOU ASKED WHERE THE 2 MILLION IN THE, UM, SPECIAL FUNDS ARE IN THE SPECIAL PROJECTS AND THAT IS ACTUALLY SITTING IN THE CAPITAL FUND. SO IT IS NOT PART OF THE, UH, 90 DAYS IN THE GENERAL FUND. SO THAT IS AN ADDITIONAL AMOUNT THAT IS SITTING IN A SEPARATE FUND. SO THAT WILL BE HELPFUL. UM, AND, UH, OTHER THAN THAT, I'LL, I'LL TAKE QUESTIONS THAT YOU HAVE ABOUT THE TREASURER'S REPORT, QUESTIONS FROM COUNSEL GETTING OFF LIGHT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH MS. JAMES. MOVING ON. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? OKAY. WELL, WE [2.  Resolution Authorizing Professional Service Agreement with Arthur J Gallagher Risk Management Services, LLP for Insurance Brokerage and Risk Management Services] WILL MOVE ON TO ITEM TWO, RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING PROFESSIONAL SERVICE AGREEMENT WITH ARTHUR J. GALLAGHER, RISK MANAGEMENT SERVICES, LLP FOR INSURANCE, BROKERAGE AND RISK MANAGEMENT SERVICES. MOTION TO RESOLUTION TO PASS AND BE ADOPTED. SO MOVED. SECOND MR. GLEASON, OR BACK TO MS. JAMES. VERY BRIEF. UH, BEFORE I TURN IT OVER TO, UH, CITY TREASURER. UH, WE HAVE A LONGSTANDING, UH, RELATIONSHIP WITH GALLAGHER. AND IT'S NOT ONE THAT, UH, WE DON'T BUILD IN CHECKS AND BALANCES. UH, YOU KNOW, EVEN IN THIS VERY SUCCESSFUL LONGSTANDING, UH, AGREEMENT, UH, AND RELATIONSHIP THAT WE HAVE WITH THEM, UH, THEY PROVIDE A, UH, CRITICAL, UM, UH, MEET A CRITICAL NEED FOR THE, UH, CITY. AND, UH, THIS ITEM THAT, UH, THE TREASURER WILL, UH, GO INTO A LITTLE BIT DEEPER IS, UH, AN ANNUAL, IT'S A FIVE YEAR AGREEMENT WITH AN AUTOMATIC, UM, UH, ANNUAL RENEWAL, UH, EACH YEAR. RUBY, ANYTHING TO ADD? AND WITH THAT, WE ARE ACTUALLY GETTING A $5,000 PER YEAR REDUCTION FROM THEM BECAUSE WE HAVE BEEN A LONGSTANDING CLIENT AND WE CAN CANCEL THE AGREEMENT WITHIN 30 DAYS. SO EVEN THOUGH IT'S A FIVE YEAR AGREEMENT, SO TO SPEAK, THEY'VE AGREED TO THIS, UH, UH, SAME AMOUNT, 65,000 PER YEAR FOR THE NEXT FIVE YEARS. BUT WE CAN CANCEL, UH, THE AGREEMENT. SO WE COULD, WE COULD, UH, IF WE DON'T GET THE SAME SERVICE, WHICH IS OUTSTANDING SERVICE THAT WE GET FROM THEM, UM, IN A TIME OF TRANSITION, OR RISK MANAGER IS NO LONGER WITH THE CITY. AND THEY'VE BEEN JUST INVALUABLE TO ME, UH, TO HELP. AND AS I'M FILLING IN FOR THE POSITION THEY'VE BEEN, UH, OF GREAT SERVICE TO US. ANY QUESTIONS FOR THE TREASURER? SEEING NONE, COUNCILMAN HORNE? AYE. COUNCILMAN KUHL? AYE. COUNCILMAN CULP? AYE. COUNCILMAN COOPER? AYE. COUNCILMAN MCDANIEL? AYE. COUNCILWOMAN GREGORY? AYE. MAYOR MORE WOLF? AYE. SEVEN AYES NO NAYS. ITEM THREE [3.  Consent Calendar: Items on the Consent Agenda/Calendar are matters requiring City Council approval or acceptance, but which are routine and recurring in nature, are not controversial, are matters of limited discretion, and about which little or no discussion is anticipated. However, staff’s assessment of what should be included on the Consent Agenda/Calendar can be in error. For this reason, any Consent Agenda/Calendar item can be removed from the Consent Agenda/Calendar by any member of the governing body, for any reason, without the need for concurrence by any other governing body member. Items removed from the Consent Agenda/Calendar will be discussed and voted on separately from the remainder of the Consent Agenda/Calendar.] IS OUR CONSENT CALENDAR. DOES ANYONE ON COUNCIL WISH TO REMOVE ANY OF THE ITEMS ON THE CONSENT CALENDAR? DR. HORN [00:20:02] C AND I, PLEASE. OKAY. ANY OTHERS? ITEM A ORDINANCES, ANNEXING, TERRITORY 30 73 TURPON ROAD ITEM B, RECEIVING AND FILING OF MINUTES OF BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS. ITEM D RESOLUTION, APPROVING EXPENDITURE OF CITY FUNDS TO RENEW MICROSOFT ENTERPRISE 365 LICENSING FULFILLMENT FOR THE NEXT THREE YEARS WITH CDWG ITEM E RESOLUTION, AUTHORIZING AMENDMENT NUMBER THREE TO THE LOCAL PUBLIC AGENCY AGREEMENT FOR FEDERAL PARTICIPATION FOR UTILITY ADJUSTMENTS FOR THE IMPROVEMENT OF BRUSH COLLEGE ROAD OVER FERRIES PARKWAY, AND THE NORTH SOUTHERN RAILROAD TRACKS. ITEM F RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING AMENDMENT NUMBER ONE TO THE LOCAL PUBLIC AGENCY AGREEMENT FOR FEDERAL PARTICIPATION FOR CONSTRUCTION FOR THE IMPROVEMENT OF BRUSH COLLEGE ROAD OVER FERRIES PARKWAY, AND THE NORFOLK SOUTHERN RAILROAD TRACKS. ITEM G RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING AMENDMENT NUMBER THREE TO THE LOCAL PUBLIC AGENCY AGREEMENT FOR FEDERAL PARTICIPATION FOR DESIGN SERVICES FOR THE IMPROVEMENT OF BRUSH COLLEGE ROAD OVER FERRIES PARKWAY, AND THE NORTHFOLK SOUTHERN RAILROAD TRACKS. ITEM H ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING ACCEPTANCE OF CERTAIN PROPERTY OF DECATUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS DISTRICT 61 FOR PUBLIC PURPOSE MOTION THAT THE ITEMS DO PASS AND BE ADOPTED. SO MOVED. SECOND. COUNCILMAN HORNE? AYE. COUNCILMAN KUHL? AYE. COUNCILMAN CULP? AYE. COUNCILMAN COOPER? AYE. COUNCILMAN MCDANIEL? AYE. COUNCILMAN GREGORY? AYE. MAYOR MOORE WOLF. AYE. SEVEN AYES, NO NAYS. UM, ORDINANCE [C.  Ordinance Amending City Code Chapter 52, Alcoholic Liquor] AMENDING CITY CODE CHAPTER 52. ALCOHOLIC LIQUOR MOTION THAT THE ORDINANCE DO PASS AND BE ADOPTED. SO MOVED. SECOND. DR. HORN? SO I, I GUESS I HAVE A QUESTION, NOT SO MUCH ABOUT WHETHER WE SHOULD EXTEND THE HOURS OF GK NINE FROM 10 TO MIDNIGHT. UM, BUT WHY, UH, THIS LICENSE IS RESTRICTED JUST TO THE CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT? YOU KNOW, IF WE LOOK AT PRIORITY GOAL NUMBER THREE OF THE CITY COUNCIL, IT'S TAKING DOWNTOWN, UH, TO THE NEXT LEVEL. AND IT TALKS ABOUT, UM, OTHER COMMERCIAL DISTRICTS ALSO BEING TAKEN TO THE NEXT LEVEL. AND SO IT SEEMS, UM, REASONABLE THAT WHEN YOU HAVE A WONDERFUL ESTABLISHMENT LIKE GK NINE, THAT THAT TYPE OF ESTABLISHMENT SHOULD BE ABLE TO POTENTIALLY BE LOCATED AT, UM, OTHER LOCATIONS WITHIN THE CITY. UM, SO I WAS WONDERING IF SOMEONE FROM CITY STAFF COULD TALK ABOUT, UM, WHY WE CAN'T HAVE A GK NINE IN THE OAKWOOD BUSINESS DISTRICT OR IN NELSON PARK. YEAH, THEY POTENTIALLY COULD. IT WAS A COUNCIL DECISION. I DON'T RECALL. WITHOUT LOOKING AT NOTES, I DIDN'T KNOW YOU WERE GONNA ASK THAT. IT COULD HAVE PERHAPS SEEN WHAT THE HISTORY OF THAT PARTICULAR LICENSE WAS. UM, IF IT WAS, UM, A RESULT OF THE PREVIOUS WINE OPERATION THAT WAS ON 51 THAT OPENED, UM, THAT COULD HAVE BEEN THE REASON. AND COUNCIL, UH, DURING THAT DISCUSSION WAS, UM, HESITANT TO ALLOW ALL OF THOSE STORES TO OPEN UP WITHOUT SOME CONTROL. AND SO THEY LIMITED THE LICENSES. UM, I BELIEVE IT USED TO BE THREE. UM, AND AS ONE WENT OUTTA BUSINESS, IT'S NOW LIMITED TO TWO. THERE ARE LOTS OF OTHER LIQUOR CLASSIFICATIONS THAT A GK NINE FOR INSTANCE, COULD LOCATE ELSEWHERE, BUT THAT SPECIFIC LICENSE IS AVAILABLE ONLY FOR THE DOWNTOWN CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT. ALRIGHT. UH, THANK YOU MS. MORLAND. IT SOUNDS LIKE IF SOME ENTITY THAT WAS A WINE BAR AS AN EXAMPLE, UH, WAS THINKING ABOUT RELOCATING, THEY COULD POTENTIALLY ASK THE CITY ABOUT THAT POSSIBILITY. OKAY. THANKS PAT. I'M JUST A SIDE REMARK CONCERNING THIS AND COMMENTS. THIS HAS TO DO WITH THE LIQUOR LICENSE THAT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH, UH, VIDEO GAMING, UH, WHICH OTHER BUSINESSES ARE ASKING FOR. AGAIN, THERE'S, WE HAVE FIVE OR SIX DIFFERENT BUSINESSES THAT HAVE BEEN IN BUSINESS, UH, LONGER THAN YOU KNOW, SO, YOU KNOW, THEY DESERVE EVERYTHING TOO. BUT WE'RE IN THE PROCESS OF COMING UP WITH SOME IDEAS AND HOW TO HANDLE CERTAIN THINGS, BUT THIS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH VIDEO GAMING. IT ONLY HAS TO CHANGING THE HOURS OF THIS PARTICULAR, UH, LIQUOR LICENSE. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? PLEASE CALL THE QUESTION. COUNCILMAN HORNE. AYE. COUNCILMAN KUHL? AYE. COUNCILMAN COLE? AYE. COUNCILMAN COOPER? AYE. COUNCILMAN MCDANIEL? AYE. COUNCILWOMAN GREGORY AYE. MAYOR [00:25:01] MOORE WOLF. AYE. SEVEN AYES, NO NAYS [I.  Resolution Supporting Temporary Closure of Lost Bridge Road, a Macon County Roadway for 217 Wiffle Ball Classic] RESOLUTION SUPPORTING TEMPORARY CLOSURE OF LAS BRIDGE ROAD AND MACON COUNTY ROADWAY FOR 2 1 7 WIFFLE BALL CLASSIC MOTION THAT THE RESOLUTION DO PASS AND BE ADOPTED. SO MOVED. SECOND, DR. HORN? WELL, FIRST OF ALL, I JUST WANTED TO THANK THE ORGANIZERS OF THE, UH, 2 2 1 7 WHIFFLE BALL CLASSIC. IT'S AN AMAZING EVENT. IT RAISES A LARGE AMOUNT OF MONEY, UH, FOR A, A CRITICAL CAUSE, THE ALZHEIMER'S ASSOCIATION. SO THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR EFFORTS. I I CONTINUE TO HAVE AT LEAST SOME RESERVATIONS ABOUT CLOSING A LARGE POPULAR THOROUGHFARE FOR ESSENTIALLY PARTS OF, AND MOST OF SIX DAYS, UM, FOR THIS PARTICULAR EVENT. AND, UM, I KNOW THAT CONCERNS HAVE GONE DOWN SINCE THE HEIGHT OF THE PANDEMIC, BUT THERE ARE STILL SOME NEIGHBORHOOD CONCERNS THAT, UM, HAVE BEEN RAISED. AND SO I DO WONDER, AND PERHAPS THIS IS A QUESTION FOR MR. NEWELL, UM, WHETHER IT IS FEASIBLE FOR CARS TO PARK, UH, ON THE SIDE OF LOST BRIDGE ROADS SINCE IT IS CLOSED ALREADY, UM, AND THEREFORE ALLEVIATE THE NEIGHBORHOOD CONGESTION, THE FOOT TRAFFIC THAT IS THE, UM, SOURCE OF MANY OF THE COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE TOURNAMENT. UH, MAYOR, MEMBERS OF COUNCIL? I, I HAVE NOT, I GUESS LOOKED AT IT FOR THAT SPECIFIC REASON, BUT, UH, I, I BELIEVE WE HAVE DONE THAT IN THE PAST IN OTHER LOCATIONS. I THOUGHT THAT MAY HAVE BEEN DONE HERE LAST YEAR. BUT I'M, I, I'M TRYING TO RECALL AS WELL. THEY CAME, THE ORGANIZERS OF THE EVENT CAME UP WITH A PLAN FOR REALLY TO HAVE BETTER SAFETY IN THE AREA AND TO TRY AND MAKE SURE THAT NO PEDESTRIANS GOT HIT BY CARS. I THINK THEY MANAGED IT ALL PRETTY WELL. I DON'T REMEMBER THERE BEING ANY SIGNIFICANT PROBLEMS, BUT THIS WOULD BE FOR ROADWAYS THAT ARE UNDER THE CITY'S JURISDICTION, THE PARKING, AND THAT'S NOT, THIS ONE IS NOT, THAT'S RIGHT. SINCE THIS WOULD BE A COUNTY, THIS IS A COUNTY HIGHWAY, IT WOULD REALLY BE UP TO THEM WHAT, WHAT THEY WOULD ALLOW TO BE DONE THERE. AND IF I RECALL CORRECTLY, THE COUNTY BASICALLY KIND OF HANDED THAT OVER TO US TO SAY WHETHER IT WAS GONNA WORK AND THEY LAST YEAR, UM, THEY MAY HAVE TRIED, BUT IT'S . OKAY, FAIR ENOUGH. YEAH, I'M NOT SURE WE ACCEPTED THAT. I MEAN, IT'S UP TO THEM WHAT THEY DO WITH THEIR ROADWAY AND HOW THEY CLOSE IT, AND THEN WE ASSIST WITH, UM, NAVIGATING THE TRAFFIC THROUGH OUR, THE STREETS THAT ARE UNDER OUR JURISDICTION. OKAY. THANK YOU FOR THAT, WENDY, CHUCK. AND SO, UH, THIS IS JUST DURING THE HOURS OF THEIR OPERATION, THEN WHEN THEY'RE DONE FOR THE NIGHT, THEN THE ROADS ARE REOPENED, IS THAT CORRECT? I DON'T KNOW MUCH ABOUT HOW IT'S OPERATED. I'M TRYING TO REMEMBER FROM LAST YEAR THAT WHAT SAYS, IT SAYS IN HERE THAT THEY'VE AT REQUESTED DURING HOURS OF OPERATION. SO IT'S NOT 24 7. IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE THAT. THAT'S MY QUESTION. ARE THEY OPEN WHEN THE, WHEN THE WHIFFLE BALL TOURNAMENT'S NOT GOING ON? UH, NOT BEING A CITY STREET, I GUESS I'M NOT ENTIRELY SURE. I WE DO HAVE A, A REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE EVENT. CORRECT. WOULD YOU MIND COMING TO THE PODIUM FOR US AND FOR THE CLERK, WOULD YOU GIVE YOUR NAME PLEASE? UH, MY NAME'S RUSTY JOHNSON. I WAS THE ONE THAT SPOKE TO YOU GUYS LAST YEAR. AND WHEN WE PUT THIS WHOLE, UH, REQUEST IN, UH, MAP'S GONNA STAY THE SAME AS IT WAS LAST YEAR, WE USED, UH, SPORTSMAN'S PARK AND A PRIVATE LOT ACROSS FROM THE EVENT THAT WE USE AS PREPAID PARKING. SPORTSMAN'S, ANOTHER PUBLIC PARKING AREA. WE DO HAVE, UM, LOU ELLEN, WHICH IS THE STREET THAT THE HOUSE THAT WE, THAT WE OPERATE OUT OF IS ON. WE DON'T ALLOW ANYBODY TO PARK AROUND THAT NEIGHBORHOOD. UM, THE BARRICADES ARE SET UP ABOUT AN EIGHTH OF A MILE DOWN. WHAT IS THAT? 30, 34TH, 34TH STREET NEXT TO THE, THE LOT, UH, SO THAT THEY CAN'T PARK RIGHT THERE IN FRONT. UM, OBVIOUSLY IT'S A RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD AND UNLESS WE'RE WATCHING EVERY SINGLE STREET, WE CAN'T STOP EVERYBODY FROM PARKING. BUT ONE OF THE UPGRADES THAT WE'RE WORK THAT WE'RE GOING TO, UH, DO THIS YEAR IS WE WILL, ON OUR BUSY NIGHTS THURSDAY THROUGH SUNDAY, HAVE OFF-DUTY OFFICERS THAT WE'RE PAYING TO BE THERE TO HELP NOT ONLY ARE INSIDE THE FENCE EVENT, [00:30:01] BUT THOSE ISSUES THAT MAY OCCUR WITH KIDS AND CRAZY COMPETITIVE PEOPLE OUTSIDE OF THE OUTSIDE OF THE GATE. UM, I, BASED ON LAST YEAR'S RESULTS, I FEEL LIKE IT WORKED OUT MAGNIFICENTLY. UM, IT'S BY FAR THE SAFEST THAT EVENT HAS EVER BEEN. AND THIS YEAR WE REQ WE ALSO REQUIRED EVERY PARTICIPATING TEAM, WHICH IS FOUR OR MORE PLAYERS TO VOLUNTEER TWO HOURS OF THEIR TIME. SO AS OF TWO DAY, EVERY ONE OF THOSE GATE SHIFTS IS COVERED. UM, SO WE HAVE AT IVY HILL AND, UH, BALTIMORE AND LOST BRIDGE, THE BARRICADES THAT ARE MANNED SO THAT IN THE EVENT OF AN EMERGENCY VEHICLE OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT, WE HAVE PEOPLE THERE TO REMOVE THE BARRICADES AND ALLOW ACCESS. UH, WE WILL, AGAIN, THIS YEAR PROVIDE THE NEIGHBORHOOD, UH, RESIDENCE WITH A PASS THAT SO THEY CHOOSE, THEY CAN PUT IN THEIR WINDOW AND NOT HAVE TO SPEAK TO A SOUL AT THOSE BARRICADES. UM, AS FAR AS PLANNING GOES, I FEEL LIKE WE'RE AHEAD OF THE SCHEDULE. LAST YEAR, UH, WE USED LAST YEAR'S EVENT AND OUR, UM, UH, BASICALLY WE LEARNED FROM IT AND WE LEARNED THE, THE EASY, THE EASIEST WAY IS TO, TO KEEP EVERYBODY HAPPY. EVERY EVENT THAT DECATUR HAS MAKES SOMEBODY ANGRY AT SOME POINT IN TIME. THAT'S NEVER GONNA CHANGE, BUT DONE EVERYTHING IN OUR POWER AS FAR AS ACCOMMODATING THE NEIGHBORS. AGAIN, WE GO OUT BEFORE THE EVENT WITH A LETTER LETTING THEM KNOW THE DATES. WE'VE OFFERED MULTIPLE PEOPLE THAT IF THEY SO CHOOSE TO NOT BE THERE DURING THE EVENT, THAT WE WOULD HELP THEM OUT WITH HOTELS OR, OR WHATEVER THAT MAY BE. I MEAN, WE'RE DOING EVERYTHING THAT WE CAN TO HELP ACCOMMODATE. I KNOW THE QUESTION COMES UP EVERY YEAR, WHY DON'T WE MOVE THE EVENT? BUT THAT'S LIKE ASKING THE CUBS TO GO PLAY SOMEWHERE OTHER THAN WRIGLEY. AND I WILL, I WILL SECOND WHAT DR. HORN SAID AND THANKING YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU ARE DOING. AND IT IS A, IT'S REALLY A COOL LITTLE EVENT FOR, YOU KNOW, A A NICE WEEK IN THE SUMMER. WE APPRECIATE IT AND WE APPRECIATE ALL THE HELP, CHUCK. SO I'M NOT SURE I HEARD THE ANSWER TO MY QUESTION. SO WHEN, WHEN YOU'RE DONE FOR THE NIGHT, WE'VE NEVER, WE'VE NEVER PARKED ON LOST BRIDGE PART OF THAT QUESTION, BUT YES, THE BARRICADES ARE REMOVED. SO THERE'S, YOU CAN DRIVE RIGHT DOWN LOST BRIDGE AT YES. SO AT NIGHT, AND THEN IN THE MORNING WHEN YOU'RE READY TO START, YOU PUT THE BARRICADES BACK UP AND THEN WHEN THE BARRICADES ARE UP, IF AN EMERGENCY VEHICLE COMES THROUGH, THEY CAN GET THROUGH. ABSOLUTELY. OKAY. THANK YOU TUESDAY. AND WE THANK YOU FOR DOING IT. ABSOLUTELY. TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY NIGHT, WE'RE NOT LOOKING TO SHUT DOWN THE ROAD. IT'S JUST FROM SIX TO 10. IT'S A SMALLER SCALE OF INDIVIDUALS THERE. SO IT'S NOT THE FULL SIX DAYS, BUT IT'S FROM THURSDAY TO SUNDAY AT MR. JOHNSON. AND I SPOKE SEVERAL TIMES, AND I CAN UNDERSTAND, UH, COUNCILMAN HORNE'S CONCERNS. WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THAT, UH, NOT SPEAK ON BEHALF OF THE COUNTY HIGHWAY LOST BRIDGE'S SHOULDER IS NOT THAT WE, ONE SHOULDER GOES IN THE LAKE AND THE OTHER ONE'S GOT A ROCK DITCH, SO THAT WOULD PUT HIM BACK ON THE ROADWAY FOR PARKING BECAUSE THAT WAS, THAT WAS LOOKED AT AS WELL. AND IF SOMEBODY LEFT THEIR CAR OVERNIGHT WHEN THE BARRICADES DID OPEN, YOU'D HAVE A CAR IN THE ROADWAY. UM, SO WHAT I LIKE ABOUT THEIR BARRICADES AT EITHER BALTIMORE OR NEAR IVY PARK IS THEIR MOBILE BARRICADES. EMERGENCY VEHICLES CAN COME AND GO AS THEY WISH. NO RESPONSE TIME IS EVER IN THE WAY THEY ACTUALLY GET OUTTA THE WAY. UH, I HAVEN'T HEARD ANY OPPOSITION FROM ANYBODY. AND THE WHAT THEY'RE BRINGING TO THE COMMUNITY IS WONDERFUL. AND EVERY YEAR THIS GETS TO BE A BETTER, BETTER PLANNED EVENT. AND I, AND I ENCOURAGE, UH, US TO STAND BEHIND THEM AS MUCH AS WE CAN. ANY FURTHER COMMENTS? SEEING NONE. COUNCILMAN HORN? AYE. COUNCILMAN KUHL? AYE. COUNCILMAN COLT? AYE. COUNCILMAN COOPER? AYE. COUNCILMAN MCDANIEL? PRESENT? COUNCILMAN GREGORY? AYE. MAYOR MORE WOLF? AYE. SEVEN AYES, NO NAYS. DOES [VI.  Other Business] ANYONE ON COUNCIL HAVE FURTHER BUSINESS TO BRING BEFORE THE COUNCIL TONIGHT? THANK YOU. AYE. THANK YOU DR. HORN. TWO ITEMS OF OTHER BUSINESS. UM, CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS CONTINUE TO RECEIVE COMPLAINTS ABOUT GARBAGE SERVICE. UM, EVEN THOUGH THIS CONTRACT WAS SETTLED WEEKS AGO, PROBLEMS WITH, UH, GARBAGE REMAIN. I RECEIVED A PHONE CALL FROM A 90-YEAR-OLD, UH, LADY WHO SAID SHE HAS LIVED IN DECATUR FOR OVER 70 YEARS, AND THE GARBAGE SERVICE IS THE WORST THAT IT HAS EVER BEEN. I'VE ALSO BEEN, UH, BECOME AWARE THAT SOME HAULERS ARE CHARGING MORE THAN THE 26 75 PER MONTH FOR BASIC SERVICE. UM, AND SO MY CONCERN THAT I'D LIKE CITY STAFF TO BEGIN THINKING [00:35:01] ABOUT IS HOW ARE WE GONNA HOLD THE HAULERS TO, UM, EXCELLENT SERVICE? AND HOW IS THE CITY GONNA MAKE SURE THAT THE HAULERS ARE NOT OVERCHARGING RESIDENTS FOR BASIC SERVICE? SO THOSE ARE TWO THINGS. UM, THE, THE SECOND THING THAT I'D, I'D LIKE TO MENTION IS ROUTINELY CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE RECEIVING CORRESPONDENCE, EXPRESSING CONCERN ABOUT SPEEDING ON NEIGHBORHOOD STREETS, RIGHT? AND WE JUST AGREED THAT WE ARE GONNA, UH, UH, BASICALLY CLOSE FOR PORTIONS OF SIX DAYS, UH, PARTI A POPULAR ROAD BECAUSE THERE'S HIGH PEDESTRIAN ACTIVITY. BUT I WOULD VENTURE TO SAY ALMOST EVERY WEEK COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE GETTING, UH, PHONE CALLS, EMAILS, ET CETERA, ASKING HOW CAN WE MAKE SURE THAT THE CHILDREN ON RESIDENTIAL STREETS ARE SAFE? PEOPLE ARE NOT FOLLOWING TRAFFIC LAWS. AND SO IF WE CAN FIND A WAY, UH, TO, UM, UH, BASICALLY MAKE SURE PEDESTRIANS ARE SAFE IN A, A VERY, UH, FREQUENTED ROAD FOR SIX DAYS, HOW CAN WE MAKE SURE THAT OUR CHILDREN ARE SAFE ON LOCAL ROADS, UH, YEAR ROUND? AND I THINK THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT WE, WE, UH, CITY STAFF HAS GOT TO START THINKING ABOUT MORE. WELL, IT WOULD BE NICE IF PEOPLE WOULD JUST DRIVE THE WAY THEY SHOULD AND NOT BE IDIOTS. MR. COOPER, UH, I GOT A QUESTION, MAYBE MATT OR WHOEVER CAN ANSWER. UM, NEIGHBORHOOD CITIZENS ARE GOT A QUESTION ABOUT THE, UM, CLOSURE OF THE BRUSH COLLEGE UNDERPASS, YOU KNOW, THE WORK'S GOING ON. UM, BUT THEY'RE INDICATING THAT FOR SEVERAL DAYS OR WHATEVER NOW, THERE'S BEEN NO WORK AT ALL ON ANY DAY OR AT NIGHT. IT, UM, SO I'M JUST WONDERING, IS THE PROJECT ON HALT? ON HALT? UM, AND WHEN DID WE ANTICIPATE THAT? WOULD IT BE OPEN BACK UP THAT PARTICULAR UNDERPASS FOR THEIR CITIZENS THAT LIVE OUT THERE? UH, THEY'VE BEEN WORKING EVERY DAY. UH, I'M NOT SURE THAT THEY HAVE NOT THE, UH, UH, OF COURSE THEY, THEY DO GET RAINED OUT OCCASIONALLY AND, UH, BUT, UH, THE, IT IS INTENDED THAT THE SOUTH PORTION, THEY'RE, THEY'RE RIGHT NOW THEY'RE WORKING ON, IF YOU, IF YOU'VE GOT IN YOUR HEAD THE, UH, THE WAY THE PROJECT WILL LOOK, THEY'RE WORKING ON THE JUG HANDLE PIECE THAT WILL, UH, ESSENTIALLY BRUSH COLLEGE WILL COME UP. YOU'LL TURN ONTO THE JUG HANDLE, YOU CAN GET ONTO FERRIES PARKWAY THAT IS SCHEDULED TO BE OPEN IN NOVEMBER 1ST. THEY HOPE A LITTLE BIT EARLIER THAN THAT. BUT, UH, THAT IS THE SCHEDULE THAT THAT, THAT THE SOUTH PORTION OF BRUSH COLLEGE WILL BE OPEN AT THAT POINT IN TIME. THEY'LL MOVE THEIR CLOSURE TO THE NORTH SIDE OF FERRIES PARKWAY TO CLOSE BRUSH COLLEGE ON THE NORTH SIDE AND TO, TO BEGIN ACTUALLY WORKING ON THE BRIDGE STRUCTURE ITSELF. AND THEN THAT, AND THAT WILL STAY CLOSED THROUGH NEXT YEAR, UH, UNTIL THE BRIDGE IS, IS COMPLETED, IF THAT. BUT THEY ARE, BUT THEY ARE WORKING, UH, DILIGENTLY. UH, UH, I I, I GUESS I CAN'T THINK OF A DAY THIS PAST WEEK THAT THEY'VE BEEN SHUT DOWN. UM, ANY OTHER COMMENTS FROM COUNSEL? PAT? UH, I WAS JUST GONNA SAY BEFORE, UH, COUNCILMAN HORNE, I COMPLIMENT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. I'M SEEING MORE AND MORE RED LIGHTS AND THEY'RE STOPPING PEOPLE. MM-HMM. IT WARMS MY HEART. NOW IF THE, THE RED LIGHTS ARE BEHIND ME, I MAY NOT WARM MY HEART. BUT ANYWAY, I'VE SEEN THAT IN THE LAST MONTH. I'VE SEEN MORE CARS BEING PULLED OVER BY THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. SO THEY ARE DOING A GOOD JOB. IT'S ALWAYS ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT, BUT THEY ARE DOING A GOOD JOB, INCLUDING MY FATHER-IN-LAW, , MR. CULP, WITH THE BUSY WEEKEND WE JUST HAD, I JUST WANTED TO COMPLIMENT CITY STAFF AND THE PARTNERSHIPS WITH THE CARE PARK DISTRICT VISITORS BUREAU AND MANY MORE AND OUR WONDERFUL SPONSORS THERE LOCALLY. UM, THE BOAT RACES ARE BACK AND WE ENJOY HAVING THEM BACK IN OUR HOTELS FULL AND GAS STATIONS BEING USED. BUT I WANT TO, UH, AND I HOPE I DON'T SCREW THIS QUOTE UP, BUT, UH, ONE OF THE STAFF WAS TALKING TO A BOAT RACER WHO RUNS THE ENTIRE CIRCUIT AND HE MADE A POINT TO LET THEM KNOW THAT THEY HAVE NEVER HAD THIS WARM OF A WELCOME ANYWHERE IN THEIR CIRCUIT AND WAS VERY HAPPY AND WAS VERY MUCH LOOKING FORWARD TO ENLISTING OTHER RACERS AND THEY'RE IN THEIR OFF SEASON. SO I HOPE I DIDN'T BUTCHER THAT TOO MUCH, BUT THE, THE END RESULT WAS EVERYBODY'S EFFORTS WERE NOTICED AND WE APPRECIATE 'EM. CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL MR. COOPER. ONE FINAL THING. I DO WANNA, UH, THANK ALL THOSE IN THE CITY OR THAT WERE INVOLVED WITH THE JUNETEENTH ACTIVITIES THAT HAPPENED THROUGHOUT THE WEEKEND. UM, AND UH, I WOULD JUST LIKE TO ASK IF THERE'S ANYBODY ON, EVEN ON OUR COUNCIL THAT DID NOT [00:40:01] ATTEND ONE EVENT THAT I WOULD LIKE TO HOPEFULLY SEE YOU AT AT ONE OF THE EVENTS NEXT YEAR. I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE REPRESENT OURSELVES, THAT WE'RE OUT, WE'RE HERE FOR THE WHOLE CITY AND I WOULD LIKE TO SEE MORE OF US OUT AT THE JUNETEENTH EVEN RELEASE ONE EVENT. THANK YOU. I ALWAYS TRY TO MAKE IT, I WAS OUT OF THE COUNTRY, BUT I WILL BE THERE NEXT YEAR. ANYTHING FURTHER? THEN I NEED A MOTION TO ADJOURN. SO MOVED. SECOND. COUNCILMAN HORNE? AYE. COUNCILMAN KUHL? AYE. COUNCILMAN COLT? AYE. COUNCILMAN COOPER? AYE. COUNCILMAN MCDANIEL? AYE. COUNCILMAN GREGORY? AYE MAYOR MORE WOLF? AYE. SEVEN AYES, NO NAYS. WE ARE ADJOURNED. * This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting.