Jul 01, 2024 City Council Meeting

SHE HELLO EVERYONE.

MY NAME IS TISHA.

UM, I'M ALSO SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF CHERRY JOHNSON.

AND IF YOU COULD GIVE YOUR LAST NAME TOO, PLEASE.

COOPER SMITH.

I'M SORRY.

UM, CHERRY WAS A CHILDCARE PROVIDER FOR ME.

I'M NOW 27 YEARS OLD AND SHE HAS MADE A FANTASTIC IMPACT ON MY LIFE.

THAT IS MY 5-YEAR-OLD BACK THERE.

MY 5-YEAR-OLD CAN SPEAK SPANISH.

SHE CAN DO SOME MULTIPLICATION, SHE CAN DO ADDITION HER SPEECH FOR HER AGE.

SHE'S BEEN WITH CHERRY SINCE SHE'S THREE.

YOU WOULDN'T THINK YOU'RE SPEAKING TO A

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5-YEAR-OLD.

I AM A MOM THAT HAS A VERY HECTIC WORK AND SCHOOL SCHEDULE.

IF IT WAS NOT FOR CHERRY AND THE DAYCARE AND THE THINGS THAT SHE PROVIDE, I WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO DO.

SO THE THINGS THAT SHE'S GONNA PROVIDE AT THAT DAYCARE WILL HELP A LOT OF MOMS. AND I KNOW THAT FIRSTHAND SOME OF THESE KIDS DO NOT HAVE THE ATTENTION AND SOME OF THEIR PARENTS ARE TOO BUSY OR, YOU KNOW, THEY SIMPLY DON'T HAVE THAT FOUNDATION IN THEIR HOUSEHOLD.

CHERRY PROVIDES THAT.

I NEVER HAVE TO WORRY IF MY KID IS SAFE OR IS SHE ACTUALLY LEARNING.

YOU KNOW, EVERYTHING IS ALWAYS PROVIDED.

THERE'S THINGS THAT I COULDN'T TEACH MY OWN KID THAT CH CHERRY WAS ABLE TO TEACH HER.

AGAIN, SPEAKING ON SPANISH, THE MULTIPLICATION.

WHAT 5-YEAR-OLD, YOU KNOW, IS DOING MULTIPLICATION, SHE'S DOING GREAT.

SHE'S READING ABOVE HER LEVELS.

EVERYTHING IS ON A POSITIVE NOTE WITH HER.

THIS DAYCARE WOULD DEFINITELY HELP MORE MOMS LIKE ME, ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO DON'T REALLY HAVE, YOU KNOW, THAT MUCH HELP STANDING BEHIND THEM.

EVERYTHING THAT SHE'S PUT FORTH THUS FAR, I'VE BEEN SUPPORTING IT BEHIND IT.

EVEN OUTSIDE OF THE DAYCARE.

SHE'S BEEN STANDING ON ME TO DO BETTER.

SHE'S PUSHING ME.

SHE'S NOT JUST PROVIDING HELP FOR MY DAUGHTER, SHE'S ALSO THERE FOR ME.

OTHER MOMS AS WELL.

SHE'S ALWAYS OUT IN THE COMMUNITY BEING ACTIVE THINGS.

SHE'S A PERSON THAT I LOOK UP TO.

THE STUFF THAT SHE DOES PUSHES ME TO DO BETTER.

MY HEAD WASN'T ALWAYS ON MY SHOULDERS CORRECTLY, BUT SHE HELPED ME GET TO THAT POINT.

SHE DOES NOT LET UP.

SHE'S LIKE THAT WITH EVERY MOM.

THERE'S NO, OH, I PICKED THIS PERSON, I PICKED THAT PERSON.

NO, SHE'S GONNA PUT FORTH THAT SAME EFFORT FOR EVERYBODY AND SHE'S GONNA CONTINUE TO PUSH.

THAT IS SOMETHING WE NEED IN THIS COMMUNITY.

THAT DAYCARE WILL PROVIDE THAT STABILITY FOR EVERYBODY.

PLEASE CONSIDER HER BECAUSE WITHOUT HER, AGAIN, I WOULDN'T BE WHERE I AM TODAY.

I REALLY APPRECIATE THE HELP FROM HER.

EVERYTHING SHE'S DONE FOR ME THUS FAR, SHE'S LITERALLY A SAVER TO ME AND I CANNOT LITERALLY EXPRESS THAT ENOUGH.

AGAIN, I'M 27.

SHE HAD ME AS A KID.

SHE'S GONNA MAKE THAT IMPACT.

YOU GUYS WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED.

THE FORMER WE FOLKS FACILITY.

HELLO EVERYBODY.

MY NAME IS JAMES MCFARLAND AND I'M THE COMMUNICATE COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR FOR THE NAACP N NAACP.

PLEASE STAND.

THEY'RE ALL HERE TODAY.

MAYOR WOLF CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

WE ARE HERE IN SUPPORT OF THIS LOVELY DAYCARE THAT EVERYBODY SEES TO BE SPEAKING TO.

UH, AS YOU KNOW, CITY COUNCIL, WE BELIEVE THAT THIS COUNCIL HAS THE HEART OF DECATUR IN IT.

BEST INTEREST.

AND WE BELIEVE THAT SHERRY JOHNSON IS THE PERSON YOU NEED TO PARTNER WITH IN THIS BIG ENDEAVOR.

PEOPLE HAVE SPOKEN TO OUR HEART AS SHE SIT HERE AND SHEDS TEARS.

NOW.

HER CARE FOR OUR CHILDREN AND OUR COMMUNITY IS IMPORTANT.

THERE ARE THINGS THAT MY FRIENDS THAT WORK IN EDUCATION TALK ABOUT.

KIDS NEED TO KNOW HOW TO BE POTTY TRAINED BEFORE THEY COME TO SCHOOL.

COLORS, SHAPES, COMMUNICATION SKILLS AND HOW TO GET ALONG WITH OTHERS.

THE ONLY PLACE THEY LEARN THAT ACT, FIRST OF ALL AT HOME, BUT WHEN HOME DOESN'T PROVIDE IT, IT'S REINFORCED OUR TAUGHT IN A WONDERFUL FACILITY THAT MS. CHERRY JOHNSON WILL PROVIDE.

WE BELIEVE THAT ONLY WILL HELP OUR KIDS GET A BETTER HEAD START IN EDUCATION, CLOSING THE GAP, ELIMINATE EDUCATIONAL PROBLEMS IN THE FUTURE, AND MAYBE TURN THIS COMMUNITY AROUND THE WAY WE ALL WANT IT TO BE.

SHE HAS OVER 19 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE, A PROVEN TRACK RECORD, A GREAT BUSINESS ACUMEN, A LOVE FOR COMMUNITY, AND MOST OF ALL, A LOVE FOR KIDS.

ZERO TO FIVE IS A PARTICULAR GROUP BECAUSE THEY, WE LEARNED THE MOST AT THAT AGE.

WHAT BETTER PERSON TO PUT OUR CHILDREN IN THE HANDS OF THAN HER? I KNOW BID PROBABLY CAME IN HIGH FOR THE REMODEL, THE REVAMPING AND THE WORK THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE INCREDIBLY HIGH.

BUT COUNCIL MEMBERS, EVERYTHING IS HIGH RIGHT NOW.

IT'S EXPENSIVE FOR US ALL AND INCLUDING THE CITY OF DECATUR, AND WE'RE NOT NAIVE TO TODAY.

WHAT WE'RE ASKING IS TO MAKE AN INVESTMENT IN THE CHILDREN THAT WILL BE MULTIPLIED A HUNDRED FOLD.

THIS GETS ME TO THE BIG ISSUE RIGHT HERE.

SECOND AND THIRD SHIFT DAYCARE.

MY MOM WAS A WORKING SINGLE MOM.

SHE ALWAYS WANTED, NEEDED SOMEONE TO WATCH HER CHILDREN.

AND IT'S HARD TO DO WITH THIS TURNAROUND AND WHAT THIS WILL PROVIDE.

IT PUTS THE EMPLOYERS IN A GOOD SPOT.

THEY CAN SAY, WE CAN HIRE YOU BECAUSE WE KNOW YOU HAVE SUBSTANTIAL DAYCARE.

IT RELAXES THE PARENTS BECAUSE THEY KNOW THEIR CHILDREN ARE BEING WELL TAKEN CARE OF.

IT PUTS THE CITY OF DECATUR ECONOMY MAY BE BACK IN THE RIGHT WAY, THE RIGHT MOTION, AND TURN THIS THING AROUND ONE STEP AT A TIME.

INVEST IN HER IS AN INVESTMENT IN DECATUR'S FUTURE.

WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

APPRECIATE IT.

THANK YOU, SIR.

HELLO.

NATALIE BECK, CEO OF THE HEART OF ILLINOIS COMMUNITY FOUNDATION.

I'M HERE ALSO TO VOICE SUPPORT FOR UTILIZING FEDERAL COVID FUNDING TO SUPPORT SHERRY JOHNSON'S DAYCARE CENTER AND SUB SUBSIDIZED IMPROVEMENTS AT

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AS A GRANT FUNDER SERVING THIS COMMUNITY, I UNDERSTAND IT TAKES A LOT OF COURAGE TO DIRECT RESOURCES IN EQUITABLE WAYS THAT YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR.

ADMINISTRATION OF GRANT FUNDING IS DIFFICULT AND DIRECTING FUNDS TO NEIGHBORHOODS AND BUSINESSES MOST AFFECTED BY SYSTEMIC OPPRESSION REQUIRES A DETERMINATION TO MAKE THINGS RIGHT.

FUNDERS AND GRANTORS IN THIS COMMUNITY ON THE ARE ON THE SAME PAGE.

WE ARE ALL WORKING TOGETHER TO ADDRESS THE SAME ISSUES.

WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT IS ONE OF THOSE MAJOR ISSUES.

I WANNA ASSURE YOU THAT THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION SUPPORTS THIS PROJECT.

WE WILL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH ALL DAYCARE PROVIDERS, BUT PROVIDING GRANT FUNDING THROUGH ROCKY WILKERSON AND WORKFORCE INVESTMENT SOLUTIONS AND OUR ADULT SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM, WE ARE IN IT FOR THE LONG HAUL.

AND WE WANT TO FUND ALL INDIVIDUALS THAT WANT TO WORK IN SHERRY'S TYPE OF FACILITY AND THAT WANT TO BE PART OF THE EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION STAFFING PIPELINE.

AS SAID BEFORE, AND I, I KNOW YOU'RE GONNA HEAR IT A LOT, THE SHIFT WORK IS A BIG BURDEN FINDING DAYCARE.

WE'VE NEVER HAD THIS OPPORTUNITY TO BRING THIS TYPE OF DAYCARE FACILITY FOR OUR WORKFORCE HERE IN MACON COUNTY.

THE COVID FUNDING CAME FROM AN UNPRECEDENTED CHALLENGE AND WE FACED IT.

I ENCOURAGE YOU TO UTILIZE FUNDING TO BENEFIT THE UNPRECEDENTED CHALLENGES THAT HAVE BEEN FACED BY SHERRY, HER ANTICIPATED STAFF, AND THOSE FAMILIES SHE WILL SERVE IN THE JASPER CORRIDOR BY FUNDING THIS PROJECT.

I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF WORKFORCE INVESTMENT SOLUTIONS AND I'M HAPPY TO BE HERE TONIGHT.

WORKFORCE INVESTMENT SOLUTIONS IS A FEDERAL EMPLOYMENT TRAINING AGENCY.

WE WORK WITH EMPLOYERS AND JOB SEEKERS.

WE ALSO SUPPORT AND PARTNER WITH SEVERAL LOCAL AGENCIES.

WORKFORCE INVESTMENT SOLUTIONS HAS PARTNERED WITH THE HEART OF ILLINOIS COMMUNITY FOUNDATION TO DEVELOP CHILDCARE TRAINING PROGRAMS THAT WILL ASSIST INDIVIDUALS WHO LIKE TO WORK WITH CHILDREN AND WHO WANT TO WORK IN CHILDCARE CENTERS.

LARRY PETERSON IS A WORKFORCE INVESTMENT SOLUTIONS EMPLOYMENT SPECIALIST.

HE HAS WORKED WITH SEVERAL RELATIONSHIPS WITH DECATUR DAYCARE CENTERS IN THIS COMMUNITY.

TERRY JOHNSON REACHED OUT TO HIM FOR SEVERAL RESOURCES, SUCH AS, CAN YOU HELP ME HIRE AND SCHEDULE SOME HIRING EVENTS? AND CAN YOU HELP ME GET EMPLOYEES RECERTIFIED OR CERTIFIED FOR SPECIFIC POSITIONS WITHIN A DAYCARE CENTER? WORKFORCE INVESTMENT SOLUTIONS IS HAPPY TO ASSIST DUE TO THE NEED IN OUR COMMUNITY FOR CHILDCARE CENTERS AND CHILDCARE WORKERS.

WE UNDERSTAND HOW DIFFICULT IT IS FOR PARENTS TO FIND QUALITY DAYCARE FOR CHILDREN WHEN THE HOURS ARE OFTEN SHIFT WORK SUCH AS HOSPITALS, NURSING HOMES, AND MANUFACTURING PLANTS.

CHILDREN ARE OUR MOST PRECIOUS RESOURCE.

AND IN ORDER FOR OUR PARENTS TO WORK, THEY NEED QUALITY DAYCARE CENTERS FOR PEOPLE TO USE, ESPECIALLY FOR CHILDCARE WORK SHIFT.

PLEASE CONSIDER WORKFORCE INVESTMENT SOLUTIONS AS A SUPPORT SYSTEM TO THIS REQUEST.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

NUMEROUS ENRICHED STAFF MEMBERS AND PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS WITH CHILDREN STAND TO BENEFIT SIGNIFICANTLY FROM THIS ENDEAVOR.

HELLO, MY NAME IS TAMIKA THOMAS AND I'M COMING ON BEHALF OF ENRICH AT RICHLAND COMMUNITY COLLEGE'S STAFF PARTICIPANTS AND REVEREND COURTNEY CARSON.

I'M GOING TO READ A LETTER WRITTEN BY THE ASSISTANT VICE PRESIDENT, REVEREND COURTNEY CARSON.

AND IT STATES DEAR MAYOR JULIE MOORE WOLF, AN ESTEEMED CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS AND RICH HAS ALWAYS BEEN DEEPLY INVESTED IN OUR COMMUNITY.

AND WE HAVE A FEW IMPORTANT STATEMENTS TO MAKE.

WE ARE THRILLED TO HEAR THAT THE COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE CONSIDERING AND HOPEFULLY SUPPORTING THE REVITAL REVITALIZATION OF 1170 ORCHARD STREET LOCATION, FORMERLY KNOWN AS WE FOLKS DAYCARE CENTER.

WE STRONGLY URGE THE COUNCIL TO CAREFULLY REVIEW CHERRY JOHNSON'S PROPOSAL TO ESTABLISH A 24 HOUR CHILDCARE CENTER AT THIS SITE, CHERRY HAS METICULOUSLY PREPARED PLANS, COMPLETED ALL NECESSARY PAPERWORK, COLLABORATED WITH THE RELEVANT AUTHORITIES, AND POSSESSES THE EXPERTISE AND QUALIFICATIONS TO EFFECTIVELY MANAGE A 24 HOUR CHILDCARE FACILITY.

THIS INITIATIVE HOLDS A GREAT POTENTIAL FOR ASSISTING AND PROVIDING ESSENTIAL SERVICES TO OUR STUDENT PARENTS WHO WORK LATE SHIFTS AT LOCAL BUSINESSES OR ATTEND CLINICALS BEFORE WORKING HOURS.

THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A 24 HOUR CHILDCARE CENTER WILL ALLOW OUR ROUND THE CLOCK EMPLOYERS TO TAP INTO A LARGER TALENT POOL, THEREBY ENRICHING THE OVERALL PROSPERITY OF OUR COMMUNITY.

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AS YOU ARE AWARE, ENRICH HAS CATERED TO OVER 3000 PARTICIPANTS WITH 86 PARTICIPANTS, PARTICIPANTS BEING ADULTS, AND 98% OF THOSE HAVING CHILDREN.

WE ARE CONFIDENT THAT YOU UNDERSTAND THE MULTITUDE AND POSITIVE OUTCOME WITH THIS VENTURE.

THE ENRICH TEAM AT RICHLAND COMMUNITY COLLEGE HOLD HEARTEDLY SUPPORTS AND EXPRESSES OUR GRATITUDE TO THE COUNCIL FOR CHAMPIONING THIS INITIATIVE.

STAY BLESSED AND PRODUCTIVE.

IT'S ASTRONOMICAL, IT'S INSANE.

HI, MY NAME IS BLAINE SMITH.

I AM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF MACON COUNTY CASA.

I, UM, AM HERE AGAIN TO REPRESENT CHERRY JOHNSON AND DISCUSS THE IMPORTANCE OF A 24 HOUR, UH, DAYCARE CENTER.

WE AT CASA WE WORK WITH CHILDREN WHO HAVE BEEN ABUSED AND NEGLECTED IN OUR COMMUNITY.

AND CURRENTLY AS THEY OF TODAY, THERE ARE 493 CHILDREN IN OUR COMMUNITY THAT ARE IN DCFS CARE.

UM, THE NUMBER OF CHILDREN THAT WE SEE WHO HAVE BEEN NEGLECTED BECAUSE THEY DO NOT HAVE PROPER SUPPORT IN CHILDCARE, IS A ASTRO.

UM, WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO GIVE SUPPORT TO BIRTH FAMILIES, BIOLOGICAL FAMILIES WHO, WHO NEED THE ABILITY TO WORK AND SUPPORT THEIR FAMILIES.

AND IF THEY CAN'T DO THAT AND THEY HAVE TO LEAVE A CHILD AT HOME, THEN WE HAVE TO GET INVOLVED.

DCFS IS INVOLVED AND IT JUST IMPACTS EVERYTHING, INCLUDING THE ECONOMY.

IT CHANGES HAVING TO GIVE MONEY TO CHILDREN IN CARE, EVERY ASPECT OF WHAT HAPPENS TO A CHILD.

THE TRAUMA, EVERY PIECE OF IT CAN BE CHANGED BY HELPING SUPPORT A 24 HOUR CHILDCARE CENTER.

AND AS A RESULT, HAS MET HER GOAL OF SECURING THE FINANCING NECESSARY TO SUPPORT OPERATIONS AT HER.

MY NAME IS MATTHEW HOLT.

I'M HERE FOR HIGH SOCIETY OFF ROAD.

THAT'S MY BUSINESS.

UM, MY QUESTIONS ARE ABOUT K AND L ON NEW BUSINESS, PROPOSED CLOSERS OF, UH, 800 BLOCK OF SANGAMON, AND THEN THE 600 TO 700 BLOCK OF EAST SANON, AS WELL AS THE 700 TO 800 BLOCK OF NORTH MACON, I'M SORRY, MORGAN STREET.

UM, I'M JUST PROPOSING IT'D BE TABLED FOR A MONTH SO I CAN TALK TO TILLAMOOK.

BECAUSE MY BUSINESS IS LOCATED AT THE END OF THOSE STREETS, ENTRANCE TO MY BUSINESS IS LOCATED IN THE STREETS.

COUNSEL CAN'T ADDRESS UNTIL THE END OF ALL OF THE PUBLIC COMMENT.

MY NAME IS JANELLE KECK.

I AM ONE OF, UH, I AM A LIFELONG RESIDENT OF DECATUR, ILLINOIS, AND I'M ONE OF THE FORMER ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COORDINATORS OF THE CITY OF DECATUR.

I AM HERE TODAY TO SHARE MY SUPPORT AND EXCITEMENT FOR THE LOVE LEARNING AND LAUGHTER DAYCARE EXPANSION PROJECT.

UNDER THE OWNERSHIP AND DIRECTORSHIP OF CHERRY JOHNSON, THE FORMER, WE FOLKS, DAYCARE WAS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WAS LOST TO COVD.

IN AN EFFORT TO RESTORE SOME OF WHAT WAS LOST, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT RELEASED ADDITIONAL CDBG BLOCK GRANT FUNDS TO FUND PROJECTS LINKED TO COVID.

I WANNA SPEAK TO MY FELLOW CITIZENS AND TAXPAYERS TO DO SPEC TO SPECIFICALLY HIGHLIGHT SEVERAL BENEFITS.

THIS PROJECT WITHOUT WILL ENRICH OUR COMMUNITY.

WE WILL NOW HAVE SECOND AND THIRD SHIFT DAYCARE, AS EVERYONE HAS ALLUDED TO.

THIS WILL NOT ONLY FILL IN CHILDCARE GAPS, BUT IT WILL INCREASE THE SAFETY OF OUR CHILDREN.

IN ADDITION TO FRIENDS AND FAMILY, WE WILL NOW HAVE A SAFE AND LOVING CHILDCARE OFFERING.

CHERRY'S BRINGING OVER A HUNDRED JOBS TO OUR CITY.

WE ALREADY HAVE QUALIFIED APPLICANTS IN THE PIPELINE.

THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT IS IMAGINARY, IT IS REAL.

THIS IS A WHOLE FAMILY CENTER WITH CHERRY HAVING ESTABLISHED COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS.

WE HAVE SEEN SO MANY OF THEM WITH LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS, CAREER CENTERS, COLLEGES, AND SHE'S GONNA WRAP AROUND THE ENTIRE FAMILY.

AGAIN, SOMETHING THAT IS NEEDED FOR THE COMMUNITY.

THIS CONTINUES THE EFFORT TO REVITALIZE OUR URBAN CORE, WHICH HAS BEEN A PRIORITY AND A STRATEGY FOR DECADES NOW, BECAUSE THAT'S HOW LONG IT'S BEEN SINCE I'VE BEEN GONE.

LASTLY, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, WE RECEIVE THESE FUNDS WITHOUT HAVING TO UTILIZE ANY OF OUR TAXPAYER DOLLARS.

HUGE RETURN, LITTLE TO NO RISK.

AND EVEN THE EXPANDED, UM, PROJECT, EVEN THE MORE, UM, EXPENSIVE BIDS THAT CAME IN WAS ABLE TO REALLOCATE FUNDS FOR THAT.

SO AGAIN, THIS IS COMING AT NO COST TO US.

WHEN CHERRY AND I FIRST DISCUSSED THIS PROJECT, WHAT STRUCK ME WAS HER EXTENSIVE KNOWLEDGE OF DAYCARE OPERATIONS AS A DIRECTOR.

HER BUSINESS PLAN IS THOROUGH AND HER RELATIONSHIP WITH LICENSING BODIES HAVE ACCELERATED THE PROCESS.

AS WE WORKED ON HER OPERATING BUDGET AND ASSESSED VIABILITY, SHE HAD A COMMAND OF THE VARIABLES AND MADE MY WORK EASY.

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AS HER BUSINESS RAMPS UP.

SHE HAS OVER 18 YEARS OF CHILDCARE EXPERIENCE, BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY, SHE HAS A HEART FOR THE CHILDREN OF THIS COMMUNITY.

THIS PROJECT IS A SLAM DUNK FOR OUR CITY, AND I'M EXCITED TO SEE THE COUNCIL SUPPORTING DIVERSITY NOT ONLY IN IDEAS AND SERVICES IT BRINGS TO US CITIZENS, BUT BY PARTNERING WITH AN ENTREPRENEUR WHO IS A WOMAN AND WHO IS ALSO A WOMAN OF COLOR.

I KNOW THAT LAST TIME, UM, I WAS LISTENING TO A COUNCIL MEMBER, UM, COUNCIL MEETING, ONE OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS, I THINK IT WAS MC, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER MCDANIEL, EXPRESSED A CONCERN THAT I HOPE THIS DOESN'T TURN INTO A PLACE WHERE PEOPLE CAN JUST DROP THEIR KIDS OFF.

AS A YOUNG PARENT, I WISH I HAD SOMEWHERE I COULD JUST DROP MY KIDS OFF AND MY HUSBAND AND I COULD JUST GO ON A DATE.

SO I'M GLAD THAT THIS IS A RESOURCE THAT WE WILL HAVE FOR ALL OF OUR FAMILIES.

GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR.

UM, TO OUR NEW, UM, CITY MANAGER AND WE NEED YOUR NAME, PLEASE GO BACK.

OH, ANGEL LAWRENCE AND I AM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE NORTHEAST COMMUNITY FUND.

SO AGAIN, UH, GOOD, GOOD EVENING, MAYOR WOLF AND, UH, CITY MANAGER GLEASON TO THE, UM, ESTEEM COUNCILMEN AND WOMEN.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR YOUR TIME ON THIS EVENING.

I COME HERE TO, UM, EXPRESS MY SUPPORT AND SOLIDARITY FOR MS. CHERRY JOHNSON.

UM, I HAVE A LETTER HERE THAT I COULD READ, BUT I WANT TO LEAVE THAT FOR YOU TO READ LATER.

I REALLY WANNA SPEAK FROM MY HEART.

TAKE THIS TIME TO SPEAK FROM MY HEART AND GIVE YOU GUYS AN OPPORTUNITY TO HEAR FROM MY HEART.

AND MOST OF YOU MAY NOT EVEN HAVE HEARD ME SPEAK A WHOLE, WHOLE LOT AS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE NORTHEAST COMMUNITY FUND.

SO I WANNA TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO DO SO ON HER BEHALF.

I PERSONALLY GREW UP IN THE JASPER CORRIDOR AREA.

MY GRANDMOTHER WAS A LONG LIFELONG RESIDENT FOR 60 YEARS WITHIN THAT TORRANCE PARK NEIGHBORHOOD, HAVING SUCH A WONDERFUL DAYCARE CENTER IN THAT JASPER CORRIDOR AREA WOULD MEAN SO MUCH TO THE PEOPLE THAT LABORED, THAT PUT THEIR TIME AND COMMITMENT INTO BUILDING BEAUTIFUL, UM, COMMUNITIES AND NEIGHBORHOODS.

AND TO RAISE YOUNG PEOPLE INTO WONDERFUL PEOPLE LIKE MS. JOHNSON, LIKE MYSELF, TO LEAD ORGANIZATIONS.

AND THEN NOT ONLY THAT, TO TAKE THOSE LIFELONG EXPERIENCES THAT I HAD ELSEWHERE AND THEN BRING IT BACK TO DECATUR SAYS A LOT ABOUT HOW I BELIEVE IN THE CITY OF DECATUR AND HOW I BELIEVE THAT YOU GUYS BELIEVE NOT ONLY IN ME, BUT EVEN IN NORTHEAST COMMUNITY FUND.

I RECALL A TIME, UM, I'M A NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR.

BEEN IN THE POSITION SINCE 2020 AND I STARTED OUT IN APPEAL TO THE CITY OF DECATUR FOR FUNDING FOR A PROJECT I WANTED TO DO.

AND YOU GUYS BELIEVED IN ME AS A NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR.

AND I I APPEALED TO YOU TO DO THE SAME FOR MY SISTER HERE WHO'S DOING GREAT WORK FOR OUR COMMUNITY.

WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THE KIDS AND OUR, OUR COMMUNITY AND WE TALK ABOUT THE DIFFERENCES THAT WE WANNA SEE MADE IN DECATUR, THIS IS WHERE IT BEGINS.

THIS IS TRULY WHERE IT BEGINS.

AND I SEE IT EVERY DAY.

I SEE IT WITH THEIR PARENTS WHO STRUGGLE TO COME IN TO GET FOOD BOXES.

I SEE IT EVERY DAY WITH THEIR PARENTS WHO STRUGGLE JUST TO GET, MAKE ENDS MEET, TO PAY POWER BILLS, TO MAKE THE NECESSARY REPAIRS TO THEIR HOMES.

AND SO WE ARE ALL PARTNERING TOGETHER TO MAKE SURE, UM, THAT THIS WILL BE A SUCCESS.

AND I STAND IN COMPLETE SOLIDARITY WITH HER TO MAKE SURE NORTHEAST COMMUNITY FUND, AS WELL AS MYSELF, WILL DO EVERYTHING THAT WE CAN TO MAKE SURE THAT SHE HAS EVERYTHING SHE NEEDS.

SO, AGAIN, I'LL LEAVE THIS WITH YOU FOR YOUR READING, AND I THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

ALSO WORKING DILIGENTLY TO SERVE AND ALSO PROTECT THE CHILDREN, UM, THAT HAVE BEEN IN HER DAYCARE, UM, ENROLLED IN HER DAYCARE ALSO, THOSE THAT SHE JUST ENCOUNTERS ON A DAILY BASIS.

THANK YOU, MS. LAWRENCE.

GOOD EVENING.

MY NAME IS SHAQUILA SMITH.

I AM STANDING HERE BEFORE YOU ALL TODAY.

VERY HAPPY TO BE HERE.

VERY PLEASED TO COME AFTER ALL OF THE SPEAKERS AND, UM, WANNA LET YOU KNOW THAT I'M HERE AS A PUBLIC ADMINISTRATOR.

I AM A, UH, PRINCIPAL CONSULTANT FOR THE ILLINOIS STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION.

I SERVICE THE, UH, CHILD AND ADULT CARE FOOD PROGRAM GRANTS THAT ARE, ARE PART OF THE USDA'S CHILD NUTRITION PROGRAMS THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES.

AND AS A, ALSO AS A PERSON WHO HAS GROWN UP WITHIN THE JASPER CORRIDOR.

ALSO AS A PERSON WHO HAS GONE THROUGH, UM, DPS AND PROGRESSED THROUGHOUT, UM, EDUCATION HERE AND, AND MOVE FORWARD.

AND TO GET TO RECONNECT WITH A WOMAN LIKE CHERRY JOHNSON.

I'M JUST, I'M SPEAKING OF WITH NO NOTES.

AND JUST PURELY FROM THE HEART TO RECONNECT WITH HER WHILE IN THIS POSITION FOR THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION, WORKING WITH CHILD NUTRITION PROGRAMS TO SEE A PEER OF MINE

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I CAN SPEAK TO HER CHARACTER, BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY, I WANNA SPEAK TO, UM, THE FACT THAT IF THIS PROG, IF THIS PROGRAM, THIS, THIS PROJECT GOES FORWARD.

AND SHE'S CURRENTLY A, A PERSON IN GOOD STANDING AS A DAYCARE HOME PROVIDER, UNDER THE OVERSIGHT OF THE STATE AGENCIES AND THE SPONSORING ORGANIZATIONS THAT DIRECTLY OVERSEE DAYCARE HOME PROVIDERS AS WELL AS, UM, PROVIDERS OF DAYCARE CENTERS THROUGHOUT THE STATE OF ILLINOIS.

THIS IS, UM, CERTAINLY AN ASSURANCE TO KNOW THAT THE PROGRAM IS WITHIN INTEGRITY.

SHE HAS REMAINED IN GOOD STANDING.

AND WITH WHAT I MEAN BY THIS IS THAT THIS REIMBURSEMENT WITHIN THE CHILD AND ADULT CARE FOOD PROGRAM, IT IS REIMBURSING THE FACILITY FOR THE, THE FOOD THAT IS SERVED TO THE CHILDREN THAT FALL WITHIN THE NUTRITIONAL STANDARDS AND GUIDELINES THAT ARE SET FORTH BY THE USDA.

AND SO WITH THAT IN ITSELF, IT IS ANOTHER LAYER OF OVERSIGHT AND ALSO ANOTHER LE LEVEL OF INTEGRITY TO ENSURE THAT THIS PROJECT WILL ALSO REMAIN IN INTEGRITY, BEING OVERSEEN BY, YOU KNOW, UH, THESE VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS.

AND ALSO KNOWING THAT SHE HAS BEEN ON A GREAT TRACK.

AND I TRUST THAT SHE WILL CONTINUE TO BE ON A GREAT TRACK JUST BECAUSE I KNOW HER PERSONALLY.

AND SO I'M PLEASED TO BRING THAT ADDITIONAL BIT OF INFORMATION TO YOU.

AND I, I HOPE THAT YOU FAREWELL THIS EVENING.

THANK YOU, MA'AM.

HI, I'M HEATHER SE I'M WITH BIRTH TO FIVE ILLINOIS.

I, UNLIKE EVERYBODY HERE, I'M NOT HERE TO SPEAK ABOUT CHERRY PERSONALLY 'CAUSE I THINK THE CITY COMMUNITY HAS DONE THAT.

I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE FUN DATA BEHIND WHY WE SHOULD SUPPORT HER INITIATIVE.

UM, YOU GUYS SHOULD HAVE ALL SEEN THIS.

I'VE MAILED THIS TO YOU PROBABLY MULTIPLE TIMES.

IT'S LONG, IT'S BORING.

I'M SORRY.

SO I'LL SUMMARIZE IT REAL QUICK.

UH, SO MY JOB AT BIRTH TO FIVE, IT'S A NEW INFRASTRUCTURE SET FORTH BY THE STATE OF ILLINOIS TO LOOK SPECIFICALLY AT EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION.

WE LOOK AT MACON AND PI COUNTY, IT'S BASED ON THE ROE.

UM, AND WHAT WE HAVE HERE IS WE HAVE 9,000 CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF FIVE IN MACON AND PI COUNTY.

UM, AND WE ONLY HAVE 3,600 EARLY CHILDHOOD SLOTS.

SO THAT'S INCLUDING YOUR SCHOOL, PRE-KS, YOUR PRIVATE CHILDCARE CENTERS, YOUR HOME CHILDCARE CENTERS.

UH, THAT'S ALSO INCLUDING, UM, HOME VISITING INFORMATION.

RIGHT? SO, AND THAT INCLUDES SPECIFICALLY, YOU KNOW, THE MOST OF IT IS HERE IN DECATUR, BUT PEOPLE FROM PI COUNTY ARE COMING HERE.

PEOPLE FROM MOUNT ZION ARE COMING INTO DECATUR AND TAKING UP THESE SLOTS.

SO EVERY ONE OUT OF EVERY THREE CHILDREN EVEN HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO GET ONE OF THESE SLOTS.

AND ONLY 280 OF THOSE SLOTS ARE SECOND TO THIRD SHIFT.

AND THAT'S FROM ZERO TO 12.

BUT THE TOP 10 EMPLOYERS FIF TOP 10 OUTTA 15 EMPLOYERS IN THE CITY OF DECATUR, HAVE SECOND AND THIRD SHIFT WORK.

THAT'S LIKE 15,000 JOBS THAT ARE SECOND TO THIRD SHIFT.

AND ONLY 281 CHILDREN HAVE DCFS LICENSED SLOTS.

SO I'M HERE JUST TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT THAT AND SAY, IF ANYTHING WE NEED TO PROMOTE, WE NEED TO SPONSOR, WE NEED TO BACK ANYTHING THAT WE CAN DO TO SUPPORT OUR CHILDREN.

BECAUSE AS ARM MAYOR KNOWS, 90% OF BRAIN GROWTH IS BY AGE FIVE.

AND IF WE'RE NOT SUPPORTING OUR CHILDREN AT ZERO TO FIVE, THEN WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO BE SPENDING OUR MONEY TO SUPPORT THEM WAY AFTER.

ALL RIGHT.

SAFE TO GO TO, WHETHER IT IS TO DEAL WITH THEIR CRISIS SITUATION, TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE ABLE TO MAINTAIN THEIR EMPLOYMENT WHEN THEY COME THROUGH OUR DOORS.

MS. SITES DAR SONYA SCHWEITZER WITH DOVE INC.

UM, I CAN'T SAY ANY MORE THAN WHAT HAS ALREADY BEEN SAID TODAY.

THEY'VE TAKEN EVERYTHING THAT, UM, I WANTED TO COME UP AND, AND TALK ABOUT.

BUT, UM, AS, UH, FROM TWO STANDPOINTS, ONE AS A PROVIDER OF SERVICES TO PEOPLE WHO ARE IN CRISIS IN THIS SITUATION, I CAN JUST TELL YOU THAT, UM, ONE OF THE CRISIS SITUATIONS THAT PEOPLE WHO ARE FLEEING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE WHO HAVE LOST THEIR HOMES DUE TO A VARIETY OF REASONS, UM, THE, THE THING THAT FALLS SO FAR DOWN ON THE TOTEM POLE IS A DECENT, SAFE, AFFORDABLE CHILDCARE.

AND IF WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THE NECESSITY OF IT, UM, IT IS VERY, UH, UH, NECESSARY.

WE HAVE PEOPLE WHO ARE LOOKING TO GET THEIR LIVES BACK ON TRACK, LOOKING TO BE ABLE TO, UH, UM, BECOME STABLE IN WHATEVER THE SITUATION WAS THAT LED THEM TO OUR DOORS AT DOVE.

AND IN ORDER TO DO THAT, THEY HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT THEIR CHILDREN ARE SAFE.

AND THEY CAN'T DO THAT IF THEY DON'T HAVE, UH, A AFFORDABLE CHILDCARE, IF THEY DON'T HAVE A PLACE TO MAKE SURE THEIR CHILDREN ARE

[00:35:01]

SO THAT'S ONE THING THROUGH OUR CRISIS SITUATIONS, UM, THAT WE SEE ON A REGULAR BASIS THAT I THINK, UH, CHERRY AND HER INITIATIVE TO BRING US, UH, DECENT, SAFE, AFFORDABLE CHILDCARE TO THE LOCATION ON, UM, ORCHARD, UM, IS VERY IMPORTANT.

THE OTHER THING IS, AS AN EMPLOYER, I SEE IT ON A REGULAR BASIS THAT, UM, WE HAVE EMPLOYEES WHO CANNOT, UH, COME TO WORK BECAUSE, OR WHO CANNOT ACCEPT A JOB WITH OUR ORGANIZATION BECAUSE THEY CANNOT FIND DECENT, SAFE, UM, UH, CHILDCARE.

SO THIS, UM, UH, AND WE HAVE ONE OF THOSE SITUATIONS WHERE WE HAVE FIRST SHIFT WORK.

WE HAVE SECOND SHIFT WORK, AND WE HAVE THIRD SHIFT WORK.

AND THE PEOPLE THAT COME TO OUR DOORS, UH, LOOKING FOR AN EMPLOYMENT, THEY DON'T HAVE APPROPRIATE CHILDCARE.

SO THEY START THE JOB THINKING THAT THEY DO.

BUT THEIR AUNT, THEIR COUSIN, THEIR FRIEND THAT THEY THOUGHT WAS GOING TO BE, UH, AVAILABLE, THERE IS A SITUATION THAT OCCURS AND THEN THEY HAVE TO END UP, UM, UH, LEAVING THE JOB, LEAVING SOMETHING THAT THEY REALLY HAVE A PASSION FOR, UH, BECAUSE THEY WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THEIR CHILDREN ARE SAFE AND THEY CAN'T DO THAT WITHOUT, UM, UH, CHILDCARE.

SO SHIFT CHILDCARE IS VERY IMPORTANT IN THIS COMMUNITY.

IT NOT ONLY HELPS, UH, TO ENHANCE THE LIVES OF THE PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY, BUT, UH, AS AN EMPLOYER, IT WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT I THINK WOULD BE VERY BENEFICIAL TO ME, UM, TO BE ABLE TO ENSURE THAT OUR STAFF HAS DECENT, SAFE, AFFORDABLE CHILDCARE FOR THEIR CHILDREN AS WELL.

HI, UM, DAUGHTER.

I'M SHAMIA MCCLENNAN, DAUGHTER OF CHERRY JOHNSON.

I AIN'T WRITE NOTHING DOWN, BUT I JUST FEEL LIKE Y'ALL SHOULD REALLY, LIKE, REALLY TRY TO GET HER TO, UM, DO THIS ESTABLISHMENT.

I HAVEN'T SEEN NOBODY WORK AS HARD AS MY MOM, UH, FIRSTHAND.

I, I'VE WATCHED IT, I'VE SEEN HER CRY AND TRY, TRY VERY HARD TO DO THIS.

BUT NOT ONLY FOR HERSELF, BUT THE KIDS OF THE CITY OF DECATUR.

I HAVEN'T, I DON'T KNOW, I HAVEN'T SEEN NOBODY WORK AS HARD TO GET WHERE SHE IS.

I FEEL LIKE A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THIS ROOM WOULD NOT BE WHERE THEY ARE IF IT WASN'T FOR MY MOM.

AND I JUST REALLY THINK THAT YOU GUYS SHOULD AT LEAST THINK ON IT.

I MEAN, I DON'T KNOW.

I FEEL LIKE YOU GUYS SHOULD REALLY CHECK IT.

THAT'S A LITTLE HARD TO FOLLOW.

I KNOW, RIGHT? , HELLO, COUNCILMAN MAYOR WOLF.

THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK.

UM, I WAS UP ALL NIGHT TRYING TO PREPARE SOMEONE.

CAN YOU PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD? I'M SORRY.

MY NAME IS CHERRY JOHNSON.

BOND, BACK CHAIR IN THE BACK.

UM, I WAS UP ALL NIGHT, UH, PREPARING WHAT I WANTED TO SAY TODAY.

UM, AND AT THE END OF IT ALL, I DECIDED TO GO WITH MY GUT.

SO INITIALLY I PLANNED TO COME UP HERE AND SPEAK ABOUT THE 200 PLUS HOURS I SPENT DOING LICENSING PAPERWORK OR THE 600 PLUS HOURS COMMITTED TO CLEANING OUT THE BUILDING AND THE THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS I SPENT.

BUT THAT'S NOT WHERE MY HEART IS.

MY HEART IS, UM, LED TO TELL YOU WHY I FEEL I'M STANDING HERE TODAY ALL THROUGHOUT MY CHILDHOOD.

AND I AM A JASPER CHILD TOO.

I'M FROM THE JASPER CORRIDOR.

UM, MY DAD WOULD SAY ONE DAY, THE CITY OF DECATUR IS GONNA COME DOWN AND THEY'RE GONNA REDO EVERYTHING AND YOU BETTER BE READY FOR SERVICE.

WHEN THAT TIME COMES.

SO , I WANNA STEP UP AND SAY THAT IT'S TIME AND I'M READY.

I KNOW MY DAD'S STANDING OVER ME SAYING, I TOLD YOU THEY WERE COMING AND BE PREPARED.

UM, I WAS BORN ON JASPER AND JASPER STREET PLAYS A BIG ROLE IN WHO I AM TODAY.

UM, IT'S MORE THAN JUST AN INVESTMENT FOR ME.

I WAS BORN THERE.

THAT STREET FOR MANY YEARS WAS THE PLACE THAT I CALLED HOME.

I ATTENDED DURPHY MAGNET SCHOOL, PRESCHOOL THROUGH SIXTH GRADE, AND THE ENTIRE JASPER CORPS, NOT JUST THE FACILITY, IS NEAR AND DEAR TO MY HEART.

I'M CURRENTLY ON THE IMPLEMENTATION COMMITTEE FOR THE JASPER STREET PROJECT, AND I PLAN TO ASSIST IN EVERY WAY I CAN TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS PROJECT AS A WHOLE IS A SUCCESS.

UM, I OWN TWO PROPERTIES OVER THERE, AND I JUST, I'M, I'M AMENDED FOR THE LONG HAUL IS THIS IS NOT JUST A FLY BY NIGHT SITUATION.

ALSO, I WAS RAISED IN THE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB.

UH, MY UNCLE JOHN JOHNSON, HE RAISED ME THERE.

AND BY THE AGE OF 13, HE WAS CALLING ME TO SERVICE.

HE TOLD ME THAT I HAD A JOB AND I STARTED TUTORING, VOLUNTEERING, VOLUNTEER TUTORING, UM, YOUNG CHILDREN AT THE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB AT THAT AGE.

THAT WAS MY FIRST EXPERIENCE WITH BEING OF SERVICE.

BUT I BECAME HOOKED.

I STILL DIDN'T QUITE KNOW WHAT I WANTED TO DO WITH MY LIFE, BUT I KNEW WHATEVER IT WAS, I HAD TO BE OF SERVICE TO OTHERS.

SO FAST FORWARD, AS I ENTERED MIDDLE SCHOOL, I MET MS. MILDRED

[00:40:01]

MS. BOND, WE RAISE YOUR HAND AS, UM, AND I CAN SAY THAT SHE CHANGED MY LIFE FOR ME AS I KNEW IT.

SHE WAS MY MIDDLE SCHOOL TEACHER.

SHE WAS A MIDDLE SCHOOL TEACHER, NOT EVEN MINE, BUT SHE GRAVITATED TO ME.

WE BEGAN TO TALK AND I WAS SO IMPRESSED ABOUT THE WAY SHE CARRIED HERSELF, ALWAYS SO FULL OF KNOWLEDGE, HUMILITY, HUMBLENESS, AND GRACE.

AND I KNEW AT THAT MOMENT THAT'S WHAT I WANTED TO DO WITH MY LIFE.

I WANTED TO BE JUST LIKE HER.

I WANTED TO BE THERE FOR CHILDREN, TO TEACH THEM THEIR VALUE.

I WANTED TO WORK WITH CHILDREN WHILE THEY WERE KNOWING THAT THEY WOULD KNOW THAT THEY WERE LOVED, RESPECTED, AND HEARD.

THE WAY SHE DEDICATED HER TIME, EVEN AFTER HOURS, LET ME KNOW.

IT WAS MORE THAN JUST THE JOB.

SHE TOOK US AROUND THE WORLD VISITING COLLEGE CAMPUSES AND ATTENDING NAACP CONVENTIONS.

AND I MAY NOT BE THE PERSON I WAS.

HAS SHE NOT TAKEN ME OUT IN THE WORLD TO EXPERIENCE THESE THINGS? AND YOU WILL HAVE THREE MINUTES ON THE AGENDA ITEM.

MS. JOHNSON? YES, MA'AM.

SO I'M HERE TO REMIND YOU THAT HISTORY HAS HAPPENED IN DECATUR.

AND THIS MONTH THE GOVERNOR OGLESBY MANCHIN IS MARKING THE 200TH BIRTHDAY OF GOVERNOR RICHARD JAMES OGLESBY.

NOW YOU SHOULD KNOW THAT HE WAS THE 14TH, THE 16TH, AND THE 20TH GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, ALSO HIS FIRST WIFE, AS WELL AS TWO CHILDREN, ARE BURIED IN GREENWOOD CEMETERY.

SO IN HONOR OF HIS 200TH BIRTHDAY, WE'RE HAVING AN OPEN HOUSE EVERY WEDNESDAY, EVERY SATURDAY FROM TWO TO FOUR IN THE LAST SUNDAY OF THE MONTH.

SO I CERTAINLY ENCOURAGE THE COUNCIL TO COME SEE THE MANSION.

WE HAVE A LOT OF ORIGINAL OGLESBY ITEMS THAT WERE DONATED BY THE FAMILY, AND WE HAVE A LOT OF REALLY COOL STORIES TO TELL.

AND MOST OF YOU MAY NOT KNOW.

GOVERNOR OGLESBY ACTUALLY WAS WHO NAMED SARAH GORDO STREET AFTER ONE OF HIS CIVIL WAR BATTLES, AND HE ALSO NAMED EL DORADO.

SO HE'S DONE A LOT OF THINGS THAT YOU MAY NOT KNOW ABOUT.

AND IF YOU GET A CHANCE, CHECK OUT THE GOVERNOR OGLESBY FACEBOOK PAGE FROM TODAY.

YOU'LL SEE OUR OWN GOVERNOR OGLESBY, MR. BILL HORTON, TELL YOU IN REMINISCE ABOUT BEING 200 YEARS OLD.

SO BILL IS A FORMER TEACHER INDICATOR FORMER BOARD MEMBER FOR US, AND HE ALSO PRODUCES A PLAY WHERE EVERY MAY WE HOST AROUND 505TH GRADERS AT THE MANSION TO TALK ABOUT THE DAY THAT PRESIDENT GRANT CAME TO VISIT GOVERNOR OGLESBY IN THE MANSION.

THANK YOU, ANNE.

AND NOW WE KNOW HOW IT BECAME EL DORADO AND NOT EL DORADO.

DOES ANYONE ELSE WISH TO APPEAR BEFORE COUNSEL TONIGHT? SURE.

COME ON DOWN.

HELLO, MY NAME IS LAUREN WEATHERFORD.

AND, UM, I'VE BEEN KNOWING JERRY JOHNSON SINCE I'VE BEEN 13 YEARS OLD, SO I CAN SPEAK TO HER.

I CAN SPEAK ABOUT HER AS A PERSON, BUT I CAN ALSO SPEAK AS A MOTHER, A WORKING MOTHER.

I LIVE IN DECATUR, MY OFFICE.

I WORK FOR THE STATE OF ILLINOIS IN SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS.

UM, DURING COVID HAD A COVID BABY.

GUESS WHAT? I HAD TO GO TO WORK.

HUSBAND WORKED SWING SHIFT AT A DM.

GUESS WHO BABYSAT THE HUSBAND ON SWING SHIFT SOME OF THE SCARIEST THINGS IN THE WORLD.

AND THE REASON WHY IS BECAUSE I DIDN'T HAVE ADEQUATE CHILDCARE.

MY SON WAS ON SEVERAL CHILDCARE LISTS FROM THE TIME HE WAS BORN.

HE GOT A CALL BACK FROM ONE IN THE LAST FOUR YEARS LAST YEAR.

BY THAT TIME MY SON WAS IN PRE-K GUESS WHAT, HAD ANOTHER COVID BABY.

SHE'S AT HOME WITH ME NOW FULL TIME.

NO BIG DEAL OPENING UP AN ESTABLISHMENT LIKE THIS.

NOT ONLY ONE WILL I OPEN UP JOBS, BUT FROM A MOTHER WHO SUFFERS FROM POSTPARTUM DEPRESSION TWICE IN FOUR YEARS.

AND IF YOU SEEN MY SON NOW, YOU KNOW HOW CRAZY I WAS.

BUT IT WOULD BE SUCH A HELP, BUT WILL MAKE IT EVEN BETTER.

IT'S HER, THAT WOMAN.

SHE COMES FROM A STOCK THAT NOT EVERYBODY COMES FROM.

SHE COMES FROM A MOTHER AND A FATHER.

SHE'S GOOD TO HER CHILDREN.

SHE'S GOOD TO MY KIDS.

WHO SHE SEES EVERY BLUE MOON.

SHE'S GOOD TO

[00:45:01]

THE KIDS IN HER DAYCARE.

SHE DOES NOT HAVE A HIGH TURNOVER RATE.

SO, AND MY KID, AS SOON AS SHE OPEN THAT DOOR, I GUARANTEE YOU MY KIDS WILL BE ONE OF THE FIRST ONES THROUGH THAT DOOR.

I DO NOT GET CHILDCARE.

I GOTTA PAY OUT OF POCKET.

IT'S EXPENSIVE AND IT'S CHEAPER TO KEEP MY KIDS AT HOME, BUT IT'S MORE MENTALLY FOR ME TO SEND THEM TO SOMEBODY THAT I KNOW, NOT ONLY CARES, BUT WILL LOVE MY CHILD AS IF I DO.

CHERRY DOES NOT WALK ON WATER.

BUT IF IT WAS SOMETHING CLOSE TO IT, IT DEFINITELY WOULD BE HER.

AND I'M NOT JUST SAYING THIS JUST TO BLOW SMOKE UP OUTTA WHATEVER.

I'M SAYING THIS FROM SOMEBODY WHO HAS KNOWN THAT HUMAN BEING FROM THE TIME I WAS 13 YEARS OLD.

WE HAVE BEEN THROUGH A LOT TOGETHER AND I'VE SEEN HER GROW.

I HAVE SEEN HER BLOSSOM.

SHE'S AN AMAZING WOMAN.

SHE HAS AN AMAZING SPIRIT.

AND IF YOU DO NOT CHOOSE HER, THE ONLY PERSON THAT YOU'LL BE HURTING AND PUTTING DOWN IS A CITY OF DECATUR, BECAUSE THAT, THAT'S THE GOLDEN CHAMP RIGHT THERE.

THAT'S THE PRIZE WINNER.

THAT'S THE HARDWARE.

SO IF YOU HEARD FROM EVERYBODY ELSE, LET ME LEAVE A STAPLE IN YOUR HEART, VOTE CHERRY JOHNSON.

YOU WOULD NOT REGRET IT.

DOES ANYONE ELSE WISH TO APPEAR BEFORE COUNCIL AT THIS TIME? SEE NONE.

ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS FROM COUNCIL? MS. GREGORY? THANK YOU, MAYOR.

WELL, WE'VE JUST EXPERIENCED FOR THE LAST 45 MINUTE, UH, IS AN, UM, EXHIBITION OF HOW IT'S EASY TO COME TO THE COUNCIL, UM, AND SHARE YOUR SUPPORT FOR SOMETHING THAT YOU'RE EXCITED ABOUT.

BUT WHAT ISN'T EASY TO DO, GREG, IS TO COME TO THE COUNCIL AND PUBLICLY OWN MISTAKES.

UM, AND SO I THINK IN THE 10 YEARS THAT I HAVE BEEN HERE, THAT'S ONLY HAPPENED TWICE.

AND I WANT TELL YOU THAT I APPRECIATE IT.

AND I THANK YOU FOR OWNING THAT AND FOR SHARING WITH US THE CHANGES THAT YOU HAVE MADE.

TO THE APPROVAL OF MINUTES.

APPRECIATE IT AS WELL.

MR. KEEL, I JUST WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY FOR COMING OUT.

NOW, IS SHE RUNNING FOR CITY COUNCIL OR IS SHE OPENING A DAYCARE? THAT'S WHAT I WANNA KNOW.

, UH, SERIOUSLY, I WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY FOR COMING OUT AND EX SHOWING YOUR PASSION, UH, FOR HOPEFULLY HER FUTURE BUSINESS.

UM, OPENING A BUSINESS WON'T BE EASY, AND I'M SURE SHE'S GONNA NEED YOUR PASSION, NOT ONLY TONIGHT, BUT A YEAR FROM NOW, THREE YEARS FROM NOW, AND SEVEN YEARS FROM NOW.

UH, WHEN YOU HAVE A BUSINESS LIKE THAT, I'M SURE THERE'S GONNA BE SOME CHALLENGES.

SO, UM, I JUST APPRECIATE YOUR PASSION AND I HOPE YOU'LL SUPPORT HER.

AND ALSO, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE GENTLEMAN FROM GGFL FOR COMING OUT.

WE'VE HAD SOME COMPLAINTS OBVIOUSLY, AND, UH, HOPEFULLY THOSE WILL BE BEHIND US.

THANK YOU, MR. COOPER.

UH, JUST BRIEFLY, JUST WANT TO, AGAIN, I WANT TO THANK DE LODGE FOR COMING.

UM, WE SUPPORT YOU FOR YEARS AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO SUPPORT YOU.

YOU HAVE A GREAT ORGANIZATION AND GLAD THAT YOU WERE ABLE TO COME AND GET A PROCLAMATION.

UM, TO ALL THOSE WHO CAME AND SPOKE ON BEHALF OF, UH, SHERRY AND THE DAYCARE CENTER, UH, THANK YOU FOR COMING.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS.

UM, SOME, SOME DECISIONS ARE HARD TO MAKE ON THIS COUNCIL, AND THERE ARE SOME DECISIONS THAT ARE EASY TO MAKE ON THE COUNCIL, BUT IT'S ALL BECAUSE OF THE PEOPLE WHO MAKE IT EITHER HARD OR MAKE IT EASY.

SO THANK YOU FOR COMING.

ANY OTHER COMMENTS FROM COUNCIL OR STAFF? OKAY, SEEING NONE, WE WILL MOVE ON

[IV. Approval of Minutes]

APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF JUNE 17TH, 2024.

CITY COUNCIL MEETING.

I NEED A MOTION AND A SECOND.

SECOND COUNCILWOMAN GREGORY AYE.

COUNCILMAN COLE? AYE.

BUSINESS ITEM ONE, RESOLUTION APPROVING BID WITH HENSON ROBINSON FOR HVAC AT 1170 ORCHARD STREET.

MAYOR, MORE WOLF? AYE.

SEVEN AYES, NO NAY, ANY UNFINISHED BUSINESS? NONE.

MOVING TO NEW

[1. Resolution Approving Bid with Henson Robinson for HVAC at 1170 Orchard Street]

MOTION THAT THE RESOLUTION TO PASS AND BE ADOPTED.

OF THIS ORGANIZATION TO PUT MY BOARD OF DIRECTORS COUNSEL, UH, YOU KNOW, UH, IN THIS CASE, UH, ON FIRM GROUND TO, UH, POTENTIALLY SUPPORT.

SECOND.

AND WE DO HAVE TWO PEOPLE WHO SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON THIS TOPIC, AND THOSE COMMENTS WILL COME AFTER THE MANAGER HAS DISCUSSED.

AND WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM COUNCIL? MR. GLEASON? THANK YOU, MAYOR AND COUNCIL, UH, AND TO THE COMMUNITY, UH, HERE IN THIS ROOM.

AND THEN, UH, YOU KNOW, OUT, UH, WATCHING ON VIDEO OR IF YOU'RE REPLAYING THIS ON YOUTUBE, UH, AT SOME POINT IN THE FUTURE, UH, MAYOR, IF YOU WOULD ALLOW ME IN, IN COUNCIL THE NEXT FIVE ITEMS ON, UH, NEW BUSINESS.

UH, THEY'RE ACTUALLY BIDS REGARDING THE, UH, PROJECT, THE WE FOLKS, UH, PROJECT, UH, THAT'S LOCATED AT 1170, UH, ORCHARD STREET.

AND I KNOW THAT THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF COMMENTS, UH, BUT I, IT'S, MY RESPONSIBILITY IS, UH, YOU KNOW, BASICALLY CEO

[00:50:01]

YOU KNOW, I KNOW THAT, UH, UH, YOU KNOW, THIS, THIS FEELS GOOD.

THERE'S A, THERE'S A PASSION, UH, THERE'S A PROVEN TRACK RECORD.

BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, I'VE GOTTA MAKE SURE, SINCE WE ARE STEWARDS OF TAXPAYER DOLLARS, EVEN IF THEY ARE COVID DOLLARS, THAT WE'VE GOT A RESPONSIBILITY THAT, UH, WE PLACE THESE FUNDS, UH, YOU KNOW, IN A, IN A PROPER PLACE.

AND, UH, LOOK TO, UH, THE POSSIBILITY THAT THIS IS GONNA BE A SUCCESS.

AND I THINK IT WILL BE.

UH, WHAT WILL OCCUR TONIGHT ARE THE, UH, APPROVAL OF, UH, FIVE BIDS.

AND THEN THE, UH, THE TITLE, UH, THE TRANSFER OF THE TITLE WILL BE A FUTURE CONVERSATION IN A POTENTIAL, UH, DIRECT RELATIONSHIP WITH, UH, MS, UH, CHERRY JOHNSON.

SO PLEASE ALLOW ME JUST TO ALL WALK THROUGH SOME OF THE THINGS THAT, UH, UH, HAVE BEEN DISCUSSED, BUT SOME HAVEN'T.

BUT I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT THE COMMUNITY HERE, HOW WE GOT HERE.

SO I'M GONNA WALK THROUGH, UH, A BRIEF HISTORY.

UH, THIS ACTUALLY STARTED, UH, PROBABLY, YOU KNOW, THE CONVERSATION OF CHILDCARE IS SOMETHING THAT, UH, EVERY COMMUNITY IS SUFFERING FROM.

IT'S BEEN A VERY CONSCIOUS AND INTENTIONAL CONVERSATION, UH, IN THIS COMMUNITY, UH, FOR QUITE SOME TIME.

BUT IN JANUARY OF 2023, SO ABOUT A YEAR AND A HALF AGO, UH, YOU HAD, UH, DR.

JUANITA MORRIS, UH, ACTUALLY REACHED OUT, UH, AND ENGAGED, UH, MS. JOHNSON IN THIS CONVERSATION ABOUT THIS VERY SPECIFIC SITE.

AND THEN MARCH OF, UH, 2023, UH, COUNCIL ADOPTED OR APPROVED AN ARRANGEMENT WITH, UH, LOVE LEARNING AND LAUGHTER.

IN DECEMBER OF 2023.

UH, THAT'S WHEN, UH, COUNCIL PLEDGED, UH, TWO BUCKETS OF COVID MONEY.

BUT NONETHELESS, IT IS, UH, COVID MONEY TO, UH, UPWARDS OF, I BELIEVE, $750,000.

SO THAT ACTION OCCURRED DECEMBER OF 2023.

DURING THIS TIME, STAFF HAD, UH, YOU KNOW, WE OBVIOUSLY PURCHASED THAT PROPERTY, 1170, UH, ORCHARD, ALONG WITH ADDITIONAL SITES IN THAT IMMEDIATE AREA.

BUT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT SPECIFIC, UH, SITE THAT WAS THE FORMER DAYCARE CENTER.

UH, STAFF LEARNED, UH, WHAT THE, UH, TRUE COST WOULD BE TO REOPEN.

SO WHEN STAFF FIRST WALKED INTO THIS BUILDING AND, AND OTHERS, IT WAS, IT, IT APPEARED TO BE READY TO GO, BUT BECAUSE THIS CHILDCARE CENTER HAD CLOSED, IT DID, IT THEN TRIGGERED, UH, DCFS AND OTHER STATE AGENCY, UH, REQUIREMENTS TO IMPROVE CERTAIN THINGS, COSTLY THINGS, AND TO THE POINT THAT WAS MADE UNDER PUBLIC COMMENT ABOUT, UH, YOU KNOW, JUST PRICE, UH, SUPPLY CHAIN, UH, LABOR COSTS.

UH, YOU KNOW, IT IS MORE COSTLY THAN WHAT, UH, COUNCIL, UH, HAD BEEN ADVISED, UH, LAST YEAR IN 2023.

UH, SOMETHING ELSE.

UH, THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY, UH, IN OUR COMMUNITY'S CORE.

AND I THINK THIS COUNCIL, UH, KNOWS PAINFULLY AT TIMES, UH, THAT IT TAKES, UH, THE INVESTMENT OF TAXPAYER DOLLARS AND, UH, YOU KNOW, THE, THE HOPE, UH, BASED ON, UH, FIRM FOOTING, UH, THAT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT'S GOING TO TAKE ROOT AND IS GOING TO PROSPER IN OUR COMMUNITY.

SO THIS IS ABOUT SOCIOECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY IN THE, UH, CORE OF, UH, THE COMMUNITY ALSO DOES ALIGN, AS WE HEARD MANY TIMES OVER ABOUT THE, UH, JASPER STREET, UH, CORD CORRIDOR REVITALIZATION.

AND THEN ACTUALLY THE GENTLEMAN FROM, UH, THE SPOKESPERSON FROM THE, UH, NCAA, UH, NCAAP, UH, TALKED ABOUT THIS AS AN INVESTMENT, UH, IN OUR FUTURE THROUGH OUR CHILDREN, UH, COULD NOT AGREE MORE PARTNERS.

THIS IS CRITICAL, UH, BECAUSE THE ACTION THAT COUNCIL POTENTIALLY TAKES TONIGHT AND THEN THE EVENTUAL TRANSFER OF THE PROPERTY TITLE, UH, IN AUGUST OR SEPTEMBER IS WHERE I'M TARGETING.

UH, IT'S GONNA TAKE MORE THAN WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TONIGHT.

SO THESE PARTNERS THAT ARE COMING FORWARD AND NOT JUST SAYING WE NEED MORE CHILDCARE IN THIS COMMUNITY, UH, BEING ABLE TO STAND UP AND PARTNER AND STAND ALONGSIDE AND HELP, UH, MS. JOHNSON GET ACROSS THE FINISH LINE TO PROVIDE THIS CRITICAL NEED IN OUR CORE OF THE COMMUNITY, IT'S CRITICAL BECAUSE IT DOESN'T END TONIGHT.

SO WE'VE GOT THE EDC THAT SUPPORTS.

WE'VE GOT COMMUNITY FOUNDATION THAT WAS PRESENT.

RICHLAND COMMUNITY COLLEGE WAS PRESENT.

CASA THE NORTHEAST COMMUNITY FUND, DOVE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AND OTHERS, BECAUSE AGAIN, THIS IS ONE OF THOSE, UH, TYPE OF INVESTMENTS THAT IT'S GONNA TAKE A VILLAGE, AND IT'S NOT JUST THE CITY.

UH, MS. JOHNSON, UH, I'M GONNA SPEAK TO HER REAL QUICK AND, UH, THIS WON'T BRING YOU TO TEARS, BUT I FEEL LIKE SAYING THIS TO MY COUNCIL AND TO THE COMMUNITY, I'M GONNA SAY THE

[00:55:01]

FIRST THING THAT, UH, I THOUGHT WHEN WE MET, UH, ON SITE AT 1170 ORCHARD, I WAS VERY IMPRESSED BECAUSE I WALKED IN THERE AND, UH, I, UH, HAD TO, I, I FELT, UH, IT APPROPRIATE TO TAKE A VERY CRITICAL POSITION BECAUSE I'VE, UH, I'M ASKING COUNSEL TO, UH, SUPPORT SOMETHING.

EVERY SINGLE QUESTION THAT I ASKED HER, SHE WAS READY.

UH, SHE HAD, UH, A BUSINESS PLAN, UH, THAT SHE KNEW, YOU KNOW, AND IT'S THICK, AND SHE KNEW EXACTLY THE PAGE TO GO TO, THE DIFFERENT QUESTIONS THAT WERE ASKED OF HER.

SO I WAS VERY IMPRESSED.

SHE HAS A BUSINESS PLAN, SHE HAS A RELATIONSHIP WITH BANKS, AND I THINK THAT SHE'S ALREADY ESTABLISHED A LINE OF CREDIT.

UH, YOU KNOW, IF, UH, THIS VENTURE GOES FORWARD, UH, SHE HAS 19 YEARS IN THE FIELD.

SHE'S A SUCCESSFUL, UH, PRIVATE BUSINESS OWNER.

UH, I BELIEVE IT'S A GOVERNOR'S TASK FORCE, BUT WE TALK ABOUT BIRTH TO FIVE, SHE SETS ON THAT AS WELL.

NEXT STEPS, UH, AUGUST, SEPTEMBER, UH, TITLE TRANSFER.

UH, BUT WORKING THROUGH THE DETAILS, UH, MAKING SURE THAT THERE ARE PROVISIONS TO, UH, PROTECT THE CITY'S INVESTMENT.

AND ALSO TO, UH, RESPECT, UH, MS. JOHNSON, UH, BECAUSE SHE'S VERY MUCH A PART OF THIS TRANSACTION AS WELL.

AND THEN ALSO, UH, OTHER DAYCARES IN THE COMMUNITY.

YOU KNOW, EVEN WITH THIS BEING SUCCESSFUL, IT DOESN'T END THERE.

SO STAFF IS, UH, VERY, UH, ACTIVELY, UH, CONSIDERING WHAT ARE THE OTHER POSSIBILITIES AND OPPORTUNITIES, UH, WITH THE OTHER CHILDCARE FACILITIES, UH, IN THE COMMUNITY.

AND THEN ALSO, UH, A CRITICAL NEXT STEP IS, UH, A RIBBON CUTTING, UH, IF APPROVED, UH, TO BE DETERMINED IN 2025.

SO EXCITED, UH, WE STAND READY TO, UH, ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS, BUT IF YOU DON'T MIND, MAYOR AND COUNCIL, DEPUTY CITY MANAGER, ETH, UH, HE'S WAVING ME OFF, BUT I WANTED TO MAKE SURE HE IS BEEN A PART OF THIS FOR LONGER THAN I HAVE.

UH, AND I WANTED TO ASK IF HE HAD ANYTHING ADDITIONAL.

MAYOR, WE STAND READY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.

WE'LL OPEN IT UP TO COUNCIL BEFORE WE HEAR FROM THE PEOPLE WHO SIGNED UP TO SPEAK.

QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM COUNCIL? DR. HORN? THANK YOU, MAYOR.

JUST COMMENT.

I JUST WANTED TO THANK MS. JOHNSON, UH, FOR YOUR VISION AND YOUR LEADERSHIP, UH, TO BRING A 24 HOUR C CHILDCARE AND EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION FACILITY TO THE CITY OF DECATUR.

UM, IT IS, IT IS HARD TO, UM, REALLY VISUALIZE WHAT IT'S LIKE WHEN EVERYTHING SHUTS DOWN DURING C AND HUNDREDS OF FAMILIES NO LONGER HAVE CHILDCARE.

AND FOUR YEARS PLUS AFTER THAT EVENT, WE ARE VERY CLOSE TO ONCE AGAIN RESTORING, UH, CHILDCARE AND EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION BACK TO THE URBAN CORE OF DECATUR.

AND THAT WOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED WITHOUT YOUR LEADERSHIP, YOUR COMMITMENT, AND YOUR DEDICATION.

AND I KNOW OF VERY FEW PEOPLE WHO WOULD SPEND HUNDREDS OF HOURS OF THEIR TIME WITHOUT EVEN A COMMITMENT FROM THE CITY COUNCIL.

SO I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU FOR YOUR EFFORTS, UH, TO MAKE THIS A REALITY.

BECAUSE WHEN WE THINK ABOUT HOW WE'RE GOING TO ACHIEVE OUR AMERICAN DREAM, WHATEVER IT HAPPENS TO BE, WE HAVE TO REMOVE BARRIERS.

AND ONE OF THE CRITICAL BARRIERS THAT WE HAVE TO REMOVE IS, UH, ACCESS TO CHILDCARE.

AND WHEN WE HAVE ACCESS TO CHILDCARE, UH, PEOPLE CAN, UM, UH, HAVE JOBS, UM, AND, UM, REALLY CREATE, UM, LONG-TERM SUSTAINABILITY WITHIN THEIR, UM, UH, FOR THEIR FAMILIES.

AND SO THAT IS, UH, GOING TO HAPPEN IN THE URBAN CORE, AND IT'S THANKS TO YOU ANYTHING FURTHER FROM COUNCIL? OKAY.

AT THIS TIME, IF IT'S OKAY, I'D LIKE TO BRING UP, UM, CHERRY JOHNSON BACK TO THE PODIUM FOR THREE MINUTES.

I DON'T INTEND TO TAKE THE FULL THREE MINUTES, BUT I WANNA GO AHEAD AND FINISH UP, UM, WHAT I STARTED, CAN YOU BRING THE MIC DOWN A LITTLE BIT CLOSER? YES.

OKAY.

TWO YEARS AGO, I WAS IN AN ENTREPRENEUR CLASS WITH DR. MORRIS, AND WE WERE GIVEN THE TASK TO USE OUR FIVE SENSES TO DESCRIBE OUR DREAM FACILITY.

SO THIS WAS A LITTLE BIT BEFORE OUR CONVERSATION EVER OCCURRED.

WHILE MOST OF MY COUNTERPARTS DESCRIBED A NEW STATE-OF-THE-ART FACILITY FOR THEIR FUTURE BUSINESSES, I DESCRIBED THE WE FOLKS FACILITY BECAUSE YOU SEE, I TOLD THEM I COULD RESONATE WITH THE BUILDING BECAUSE ALTHOUGH SOME THINGS, IT HAS BEEN THROUGH SOME THINGS, IT STILL HAS VALUE IN OUR COMMUNITY, IT STILL HOLDS A RICH HISTORY FOR OUR COMMUNITY.

AND WITH A

[01:00:01]

LITTLE LOVE, IT CAN BE MADE ANEW.

I'M SAYING ALL THIS TO SAY, I FEEL LIKE ALL THESE DIFFERENT POSITIVE COMPONENTS AND POSITIVE INFLUENCES BUILT ME UP AND PREPARED ME TO STAND HERE TODAY.

MY FAMILY AND COMMUNITY HAS POURED SO MUCH LOVE, BUSINESS KNOWLEDGE, HUMILITY, AND FORTITUDE FOR SERVICE INTO ME FOR THIS VERY MOMENT.

I KNOW WHERE I'M SUPPOSED TO BE AND I KNOW WHAT I WAS CREATED TO DO.

I'M FULLY COMMITTED TO THIS PROJECT.

IT HOLDS A SPECIAL PLACE IN MY HEART.

AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY AND THANK YOU TO ALL THE PARTNERS THAT CAME OUT TO HELP THUS FAR OUR PLAN FOR PARTNERSHIPS IN THE FUTURE, UM, WHAT WE'VE COME TOGETHER TO ACCOMPLISH MAY SOMEDAY BE SEEN AS A MONUMENT MOMENT FOR THE CHILDCARE IN OUR COMMUNITY.

SO THANK YOU ALL.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

THANK YOU, MS. JOHNSON.

AND WE ALSO HAVE A, I THINK IT'S SANAYA CLARK WHO SIGNED UP TO SPEAK.

I'M NOT SURE IF I GOT YOUR NAME RIGHT OR NOT.

GOOD EVENING, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN OF CITY COUNCIL.

MY NAME IS NIA CLARK.

I AM 19 YEARS OLD.

I AM ALSO IN THE CDA PROGRAM FOR CHILDCARE.

WITH THE HELP FROM MS. CHERRY, I AM ALSO ONE OF MS. CHERRY DAYCARE KIDS THAT SHE LIKES TO CALL US.

SHE WAS MY TEACHER AT WE FOLKS DAYCARE.

EVERY DAY SHE WILL WALK ACROSS THE STREET TO HOPE ACADEMY AND COME GET US COMING IN FROM SCHOOL.

MS. CHERRY HAD A NEW ACTIVITY WAITING FOR US EVERY DAY.

WE DID DIFFERENT ACTIVITIES.

WE HAD A GARDEN WE WORKED ON, WE DID WALKS AROUND THE NEIGHBORHOOD, SO PLACE TO MAKE MONEY TO THROW US LITTLE PIZZA PARTIES HERE AND THERE.

WE ALSO DID MONEY MANAGEMENT.

SHE WOULD MAKE UP BILLS FOR US TO PAY AND AT THE, AND SEE HOW MUCH MONEY WE HAD LEFT.

SHE TAUGHT US HOW TO READ ON A CLOCK AND WORKED WITH ME PERSONALLY ON COUNTING MONEY.

WHEN I MET MS. CHERRY, I WAS VERY UNEASY WITH COUNTING MONEY.

SHE WORKED WITH ME EVERY DAY TEACHING ME HOW TO COUNT MONEY.

I'LL FOREVER BE GRATEFUL FOR EVERYTHING SHE TAUGHT ME.

MS. CHERRY IS THE REASON WHY I WANT TO DO CHILDCARE.

THE WAY SHE CARED AND HAD PASSION FOR US IS AMAZING.

I WANT KIDS TO FEEL LIKE I'M THEIR SAFE SPACE, JUST LIKE HOW SHE MADE US FEEL.

AND FOR THAT REASON, I'M FALLING IN HER FOOTSTEPS AND HOPE TO HAVE MY CLASSES FINISHED BY LATE JULY, EARLY AUGUST AND BECOME A TEACHER AND HAVE MY OWN DAYCARE KIDS.

THANK YOU MS. CLARK.

ARE THERE ANY FURTHER COMMENTS FROM ANYONE ON COUNCIL? COUNCILMAN COOPER MAYOR, JUST ONE COMMENT.

UM, AND JUST TO THE, TO THE COMMUNITY AND TO OUR, TO MY FELLOW COUNCIL MEMBERS, UM, WE HAVE SPENT, WE, WE HAVE SPENT MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN TEARING DOWN BUILDINGS AND HOUSES AND HOMES, UH, MILLIONS OF DOLLARS AND WE HAVE MORE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO SPEND IN THE FUTURE ON THE SAME THINGS.

SO THOSE THAT, THAT, THAT HAVE A ISSUE WITH THE COST OF THESE, THIS PROJECT, UM, THE, THE COST OF AROUND A MILLION DOLLARS IS PROBABLY GONNA BE MAYBE A LITTLE MORE, MAYBE A MILLION AND A HALF.

YOU CAN'T PUT A PRICE ON WHAT THAT'S GONNA DO FOR KIDS.

ONE CHILD SAVING ONE CHILD IS WORTH A MILLION DOLLARS.

AND WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THOUSANDS FROM WHAT I'M HEARING FROM THE PEOPLE THAT KNOW, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HUNDREDS AND MAYBE THOUSANDS OF KIDS IN OUR CITY WHO NEED THE CARE.

SO THE MONEY TO ME IS NOT A ISSUE ON THIS PARTICULAR SUBJECT BECAUSE WE KNOW IT'S SOMETHING THAT IS NEEDED.

IT'S SOMETHING THAT'S GOING TO HELP EVERYBODY.

AND THEN WE'RE GONNA BE A, UH, A LIGHT TO THE REST OF THE STATE, TO THE, TO OTHER STATES IF WE, IF THIS IS PULLED OFF, UM, THEY'RE GONNA BE LOOKING FOR DEC CATER TO SEE HOW'D YOU DO IT.

AND, AND WE WANT TO DO IT.

COUNCILWOMAN GREGORY AYE.

ARE THERE ANY OTHER COMMENTS FROM COUNCIL? SEEING NONE, I CALL THE QUESTION PLEASE.

COUNCILMAN CO.

AYE.

BID WITH SUPERIOR FIRE PROTECTION SYSTEMS FOR SPRINKLER INSTALLATION AT 1170 ORCHARD STREET.

MAYOR MOORE WOLF AYE.

SEVEN AYES NO NAYS.

ITEM TWO.

RESOLUTION APPROVING

[2. Resolution Approving Bid with Superior Fire Protection Systems for Sprinkler Installation at 1170 Orchard Street]

MOTION THAT THE RESOLUTION TO PASS AND BE ADOPTED.

SECOND, MR. MAN, IS THERE ANYTHING YOU WANNA ADD? ANY QUESTIONS FROM COUNCIL? SEEING NONE, COUNCILWOMAN GREGORY AYE.

COUNCILMAN CULP? AYE.

RESOLUTION APPROVING BID WITH CARPET WEAVERS FOR FLOORING REMOVED WITH ASBESTOS AT 1170 ORCHARD STREET.

MAYOR MOORE WOLF AYE.

SEVEN.

AYE, NO NAYS.

ITEM THREE.

[3. Resolution Approving Bid with Carpet Weaver's for Flooring Removed with Asbestos at 1170 Orchard Street]

MOTION THAT THE RESOLUTION DO PASS AND BE ADOPTED.

SECOND.

ANYTHING MR. MANAGER? ANY QUESTIONS? SEEING NONE, COUNCILWOMAN GREGORY AYE.

COUNCILMAN CULP? AYE.

RESOLUTION APPROVING BID WITH PARKLAND ENVIRONMENTAL FOR ASBESTOS REMOVAL AT 1170 ORCHARD STREET.

[4. Resolution Approving Bid with Parkland Environmental for Asbestos Removal at 1170 Orchard Street]

MOTION THAT THE RESOLUTION TO PASS AND BE ADOPTED.

SECOND COMMENTS, QUESTIONS.

SEEN NONE.

COUNCILWOMAN GREGORY AYE.

COUNCILMAN COLT? AYE.

RESOLUTION APPROVING BID WITH JONES AND SULLIVAN ENTERPRISES INC.

[01:05:01]

[5. Resolution Approving Bid with Jones and Sullivan Enterprises, Inc. for Painting Tile, Handrails, Doors and Window Frames for Asbestos Abatement at 1170 Orchard Street]

FOR PAINTING, TILE, HANDRAILS, DOORS AND WINDOW FRAMES FOR ASBESTOS ABATEMENT AT 1170 ORCHARD STREET.

MOTIONS TO RESOLUTION TO PASS AND BE ADOPTED.

COUNCILWOMAN GREGORY AYE.

SECOND COMMENTS.

SEEING NONE.

COUNCILMAN COLT? AYE.

SIX, CITY MANAGER UPDATE.

[6. City Manager Update]

MR. GLEASON, YOU ARE ON.

THANK YOU MAYOR.

COUNSEL, UH, VERY BRIEF COMMENTS.

UH, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT, UH, ON OCCASION YOU'LL SEE IN THE AGENDA THAT I'LL PROVIDE.

UH, AGAIN, UH, VERY BRIEF, UH, UPDATES ON CERTAIN ITEMS. JIM, I BELIEVE YOU'VE GOT THE, UH, CLICKER AND WHAT WE'VE GOT HERE, UH, WHEN WE'RE TAKING STEPS AND THEY'RE INTENTIONAL STEPS TO BE, UH, YOU KNOW, AS, UH, THE MUNICIPAL ORGANIZATION TO BE, UH, AN EMPLOYER OF CHOICE.

UH, EVERY SINGLE MONTH.

IT'S GONNA BE THE FIRST MEETING.

UH, I'M GOING TO, UH, SHARE, UH, SLIDES ON, UH, THOSE THAT ARE NEW HIRES, UH, THOSE THAT HAVE BEEN PROMOTED, UH, AND IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO, UH, SHARE THIS.

UH, VERY PROUD WITH THE COUNCIL AND, UH, WITH THE COMMUNITY.

DANIEL CONNOR WAS, UH, UH, HIRED AS A SERVICE WORKER FOR PUBLIC WORKS.

NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE, JIM.

AND THEN WELCOME BACK, UH, AVERY, UH, DELO, UH, DELOS.

UH, SHE WAS A POLICE OFFICER WITH CITY LEFT FOR, UH, A LITTLE BIT OF TIME.

AND THEN AS A LATERAL TRANSFER BACK TO THE, UH, POLICE DEPARTMENT.

UH, WISH HER ALL THE BEST AND, UH, SAFE, UH, BE SAFE.

NEXT SLIDE.

PROMOTED, UH, INTERNAL PROMOTION.

UH, ROBERT WEILL, UH, VERY INTERESTING PERSON BY THE WAY, UH, YOU KNOW, IN THE QUICK MONTH AND A HALF, TWO MONTHS.

BUT HE, UH, UH, REPLACED, UH, KEITH ALEXANDER INTO THIS POSITION.

IT WAS A PROMOTION, UH, INTERNALLY AND EXCITED ABOUT, UH, WHAT HE WILL BRING, UH, HIS VAST EXPERIENCE, UH, TO THIS POSITION.

ADDITIONALLY, UH, THAT'S IT FOR THOSE SLIDES.

AGAIN, YOU'LL SEE THOSE EVERY SINGLE MONTH.

FIRST COUNCIL MEETING AGAIN, TRYING TO, UH, TAKE THESE LITTLE STEPS TO, UH, BE THAT EMPLOYER OF CHOICE.

AND RECOGNIZING OUR EMPLOYEES, I THINK IS A, UH, CRITICAL PIECE.

UH, WANTED TO PRI PROVIDE AN UPDATE TO THE COMMUNITY.

UH, WE'RE TARGETING AUGUST TO HAVE A, UH, PUBLIC CONVERSATION ABOUT VIDEO GAMING.

UH, DEFINITELY THERE IS WORK TO, UH, PREP COUNCIL, UH, THAT'S, UH, ALREADY, UH, UNDERWAY.

AND, UH, ALSO STAFF HAS SOME RECOMMENDATIONS AND POTENTIALLY A MENU OF, UH, OPTIONS OR CONSIDERATIONS FOR COUNCIL TO, UH, CONSIDER AND POTENTIALLY ADOPT, UH, SOMETIME IN THAT AUGUST SEPTEMBER TIMEFRAME.

BUT JUST WANTED TO MAKE, UH, THE COMMUNITY AWARE OF THAT.

ALSO, UH, THE CITY CLERK INFORMED ME THAT, UH, JUNE 30TH WAS THE, UH, LICENSE RENEWAL.

AND, UH, GIVEN THE TOPIC, UH, WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT COUNCIL AND THE COMMUNITY WERE AWARE THAT THERE ARE FOUR VIDEO GAMING LICENSES.

WE ARE FOUR VIDEO GAMING LICENSES LESS THIS YEAR THAN WE WERE LAST.

UH, SO FOR A VARIETY OF REASONS, UH, THOSE DID NOT RENEW EFFECTIVE TODAY.

AND THEN LASTLY, UH, I THINK, UH, ACTUALLY THAT WAS IT.

UH, THANK YOU MAYOR FOR ALLOWING ME TO DO THIS.

ABSOLUTELY.

WE APPRECIATE IT AND WELCOME TO OUR NEW HIRES AND REHIRES AND PROMOTIONS.

UM, NEXT

[7. 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.]

ON OUR AGENDA IS THE CONSENT CALENDAR.

UM, WE DID HAVE A REQUEST FOR ITEMS K AND L TO BE TABLED OR REMOVED AT THIS TIME.

IF THERE IS A MOTION, ANYONE ON COUNSEL THAT WANTS TO MAKE THAT MOTION, MS. MR. CULP, ASK A QUESTION ABOUT THAT.

PUT YOUR MIC ON MR. GLEASON.

THIS OBJECTION BE BEFORE I MAKE A MOTION TO, UH, PULL THESE OFF, HAS THIS BEEN EXPLORED OR DISCUSSED OR IS THERE ANYTHING WE CAN PROMOTE ON THIS? AND ACTUALLY, UH, THIS ITEM, AND I'M GONNA TURN THE FLOOR OVER TO, UH, DEPUTY CITY MANAGER, UH, KENZA, BUT, UH, VERY MUCH PART AND A CRITICAL PIECE TO THE, UH, TILLAMOOK, UH, CONVERSATION AND DEVELOPMENT.

AND I THINK THAT THIS IS GROUND THAT WAS COVERED, SO I FEEL IT APPROPRIATE TO, UH, TURN THIS OVER TO THE DEPUTY CITY MANAGER, JOHN.

PUT A CURB CUT TO CUT THE CURB LOWER SO THAT HE CAN DRIVE OVER THE CURB, UH, TO ACCESS THE PROPERTY.

GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNSEL.

UH, SO, UH, MATT HOLT HAS, UH, HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH THE CITY.

HE HAS A PIECE OF PROPERTY, EXCUSE ME, THREE SEPARATE PARCELS REAL REALISTICALLY, BUT ALL FENCED IN, UH, COLLECTIVELY ON THE END OF SAMAN STREET.

UM, AND THEN BEYOND, BEYOND SAG, UH, BEYOND MATT'S PROPERTY, MR. HOLT'S PROPERTY, UH, THE DECATUR HOUSING AUTHORITY HAS ONE MORE VACANT PARCEL, WHICH IS LARGELY ALL WOODED.

UH, YOU CAN SEE IT IN THE PICTURES, UH, IN THE, IN THE COUNCIL PACKET.

UM, THE CITY HAS HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH MR. HOLT ABOUT PROVIDING ACCESS OFF OF MARIETTA, QUITE FRANKLY.

UH, THERE IS A GATE ALREADY ON THE NORTH SIDE OF HIS PROPERTY.

UH, AND THE CITY HAS OFFERED TO

[01:10:01]

AND MARIETTA IS A BETTER ACCESS REALISTICALLY FOR THOSE PROPERTIES.

UH, THE PARCELS THAT MR. HOLT OWNS HAS BENEFITED FROM, UH, SIMILAR VACATIONS IN THE PAST.

UH, THE CITY VACATED CLINTON STREET, WHICH USED TO RUN THROUGH THOSE PROPERTIES, UH, TO THE BENEFIT OF, OF THE PRIVATE PROPERTY OWNERS AT THAT TIME SO THAT THEY COULD FULLY UTILIZE THAT PROPERTY.

AND REALISTICALLY, THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE AT BEING ASKED TO CONSIDER TONIGHT FOR, UH, FOR TILLAMOOK.

UM, AND SO HE HAS THE ABILITY TO, UH, TO GET ACCESS FROM ANOTHER ROADWAY THE SAME WAY THAT THE DHA PROPERTY WOULD AS WELL.

ANY QUESTIONS FOR MR. SETH ABOUT THAT? DOES ANYONE ON COUNCIL WANT TO MAKE A MOTION ON THAT, ON THOSE ITEMS OR ANY OTHER ITEMS TO REMOVE THEM FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA? OKAY.

SEEING NONE.

ITEM A RESOLUTION REGARDING TEMPORARY CLOSING OF STATE RIGHT OF WAY.

COMMUNITY EVENTS SHORTLINE CLASSIC ITEM B, ORDINANCE ANNEXING TERRITORY 2316 HIGHLAND ROAD, ITEM C, ORDINANCE ANNEX AND TERRITORY 2330 HIGHLAND ROAD, ITEM D ORDINANCE ANNEXING TERRITORY 29 70 LAKELAND ROAD ITEM E ORDINANCE, ANNEXING TERRITORY 30 20 LAKELAND ROAD, ITEM F ORDINANCE ANNEXING TERRITORY 29 51 TURIN ROAD ITEM G RESOLUTION.

ACCEPTING THE BID AND AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION OF A CONTRACT WITH INSTITUTE FORM AT TECHNOLOGIES U-S-A-L-L-C FOR 2024 TRENCHLESS LONG LINING REPAIRS.

PROJECT CITY PROJECT 2024 DASH 28 ITEM A H RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING CHANGE ORDER NUMBER ONE WITH SEA HILL CIVIL CONTRACTORS INC.

AND APPROVING MOTOR FUEL TAX.

REBUILD ILLINOIS RBI FUNDS FOR THE GROVE ROAD BRIDGE OVER SAND CREEK ARM OF LAKE DECATUR.

SECTION NUMBER 19 DASH 0 0 9 3 4 DASH ZERO ZERO DASH B CITY PROJECT 2019 DASH 34 ITEM I RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING LAKE DECATUR WATCH WATERSHED FARMLAND CONSERVATION PROGRAM AGREEMENT FOR POND IMPROVEMENTS WITH MICHAEL D SWITZER.

ITEM J ORDINANCE REZONING PROPERTY FROM R THREE SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENCE DISTRICT AND B TWO COMMERCIAL DISTRICT TO M1 AND TENS.

COMMERCIAL LIGHT INDUSTRIAL DISTRICT 2025 TO 2389 EAST LOCUST STREET.

ITEM K ORDINANCE VACATING PUBLIC RIGHT OF WAY.

800 BLOCK OF EAST SANGAMON STREET.

ITEM L ORDINANCE VACATING PUBLIC RIGHT OF WAY 600 AND 700 BLOCKS OF EAST SANGAMON STREET AND A PORTION OF THE 700 AND 800 BLOCKS OF NORTH MORGAN STREET.

ITEM M RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION OF AN AGREEMENT WITH STEVE'S TRUCKING FOR THE DEMOLITION OF 9 0 5 EASTWOOD STREET ITEM N RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING EXECUTION AND AGREEMENT FFY 2023 SAFE STREETS AND ROSE FOR A GRANT AGREEMENT WITH THE FEDERAL HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION AND ITEM O RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING EXECUTION AND AGREEMENT OF FY 2025 DOWNSTATE OPERATING ASSISTANCE PROGRAM GRANT WITH ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION.

I NEED A MOTION TO APPROVE THE ITEMS IS PRESENTED.

SECOND COUNCILWOMAN GREGORY AYE.

COUNCILMAN COLE? AYE.

OTHER BUSINESS? MR. MCDANIEL? I'M GONNA BRING THIS UP AGAIN.

MAYOR MOORE WOLF.

AYE.

SEVEN AYES, NO NAYS.

DOES ANYONE ON COUNCIL HAVE

[VII. Other Business]

AGAIN, I COMPLIMENT THE UH, DECATUR POLICE DEPARTMENT.

THEY'RE REALLY CRACKING DOWN ON SPEEDERS.

I SEE MORE CARS BEING PULLED OVER AND IT'S NOT FOR ACCIDENTS.

SO I GUESS THE MESSAGE TO THE PUBLIC.

GET YOUR FOOT OFF THE GAS PEDAL BECAUSE THE POLICE ARE WATCHING.

ANY OTHER COMMENTS FROM COUNSEL? MR. HORN? JUST WANNA REMIND THE PUBLIC THAT IT'S ILLEGAL TO SHOOT OFF FIREWORKS AND UM, ESPECIALLY IN THIS HEAT DRY AREA.

IT'S DANGEROUS.

YES.

AND YOU CAN CALL THE NON-EMERGENCY LINE OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT TO REPORT, UH, FIREWORKS THAT ARE BEING SET OFF.

THAT PHONE NUMBER IS (217) 424-1078.

SO IF YOU SEE FIREWORKS BEING SHOT OFF, 2 1 7 4 2 4 1 0 7 8 UH, FIREWORKS CAN CAUSE STRUCTURE FIRES AS WELL AS INJURIES.

SO, UH, PLEASE ENJOY THE LARGE SCALE FIREWORKS SHOWS THAT ARE PUT OFF BY COMMUNITIES BUT DO NOT CREATE YOUR OWN FIREWORKS SHOW IN YOUR BACKYARD.

AND KEEP IN MIND ANY FIREWORKS, UH, WOULD NEED A PERMIT AND IT IS NOT LIKELY THAT POLICE WILL ARRIVE FOR FIREWORKS CALLS BECAUSE BY THE TIME THEY GET THERE THE SHOW IS OVER.

SO IT IS UNLIKELY THAT, YOU KNOW, I WOULDN'T FOLLOW UP WITH TOO MANY CALLS 'CAUSE THEY'RE PROBABLY NOT GONNA MAKE IT.

I NEED A MOTION TO ADJOURN.

SECOND COUNCILWOMAN GREGORY AYE.

COUNCILMAN COLE? AYE.