Sep 15, 2025 City Council Meeting

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO APPEAR BEFORE COUNSEL TONIGHT? GOOD EVENING.

I'M ANN OWENS.

SO ON SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 7TH WAS OUR ANNUAL CAR SHOW.

I APPRECIATE MR. MCDANIEL, MR. COLE COMING DOWN AND SPENDING PART OF THE TIME.

I WANT TO POINT

[00:05:01]

OUT ONE EMPLOYEE.

I KNOW THERE'S A LOT FROM THE CITY, AARON WISELY, WHO MADE SURE EVERYTHING WAS SET UP PROPERLY FOR ME, INCLUDING THE ELECTRICITY AND EVERYTHING.

AND I ALSO WANNA GIVE A SPECIAL THANKS TO THE DECATUR POLICE DEPARTMENT FOR THEIR SUPPORT.

I ALSO WANT TO GIVE KUDOS TO OUR COMMUNITY.

YESTERDAY AS WE GATHERED AT CENTRAL PARK, I WOULD ESTIMATE FOUR TO 500 PEOPLE STOOD THERE AND PRAYED IN A NON-POLITICAL PAY FOR OUR COUNTRY AND FOR OUR COMMUNITY.

I STAND FOR YOU TODAY AND REMIND YOU OUR COMMUNITY NEEDS A LOT OF PRAYER.

TODAY WE HAD ABOUT A HUNDRED PEOPLE THAT ONCE AGAIN HAVE LOST THEIR JOBS.

SO THIS AFTERNOON, MY TEXT MESSAGES HAVE BEEN HOT BECAUSE I HAD A GROUP FOR THEM BEFORE.

UM, ONE THING I AM ATTEMPTING TO DO FOR THEM IS PAIR THEM UP AS PERHAPS SOME OF THEM COULD BE TEACHERS ASSISTANTS FOR DECATUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

OBVIOUSLY THAT WOULD HELP THE SCHOOL DISTRICT AND IT WOULD HELP THEM.

BUT I ALSO WANT TO REMIND YOU, ALL SEVEN OF YOU, AT THE END OF THE DAY, THE PUBLIC HIRED ALL OF YOU TO MAKE THE DECISIONS.

MR. GLEASON WORKS FOR YOU.

THE STAFF WORKS FOR HIM.

THAT MEANS YOU ALL WORK FOR US.

BUT THE SEVEN OF YOU ARE THE PEOPLE THAT CONTINUALLY DECIDE HOW OUR MONEY IS GOING TO BE ALLEGATIONS AND WHERE IT GOES.

IT'S NOT PASSED BACK TO SOMEONE ELSE AND SAY IT'S EARPHONE BECAUSE IT'S YOUR NAME AND YOUR VOTE.

THAT'S ON THE RECORD.

ALL THE NEIGHBORHOODS AND I'D LIKE FOR ALL OF US TO HAVE A FOOT UNDERNEATH THE TABLE SO THAT WE CAN, UH, HELP EVERY NEIGHBORHOOD.

THANK YOU MS. OWENS.

DOES ANYONE ELSE WISH TO APPEAR AT THIS TIME? GOOD EVENING.

MY NAME IS NICK COX AND THERE'S TWO ITEMS ON THE NEW BUSINESS TODAY THAT I DIDN'T SIGN UP TO TALK ABOUT.

SO I JUST WANTED TO BRIEFLY, UH, CALL ATTENTION TO BOTH OF THEM.

ONE IS THERE IS AN AMENDMENT TO THE LIQUOR LICENSE THAT'S GONNA BE COMING UP LATER THIS EVENING.

UM, IT IS BECAUSE WHEN IT WAS WRITTEN, IT WAS, THERE WAS SOMETHING THAT SEEMED A LITTLE OFF.

UM, THERE WAS A LIQUOR LICENSE THAT WAS ADMITTED FOR CATERING COMPANIES, UH, SPECIFICALLY AN N TWO LIQUOR LICENSE.

HOWEVER, WHEN IT WAS WRITTEN, THERE'S A CATERING PERMIT THAT IS ALSO AVAILABLE THAT ALLOWS FOR OFFSITE SALES OF ALCOHOL IN CONJUNCTION WITH FOOD.

WHEN THE CATERING PERMIT WAS ORIGINALLY WRITTEN, IT WAS MEANT TO JOIN WITH RESTAURANTS, NOT EXACTLY WITH CATERING COMPANIES.

UM, I HAVE STARTED A CATERING COMPANY IN DOWNTOWN DECATUR AND SOMETHING THAT CAN HELP NOT ONLY MYSELF, BUT OTHER CATERERS IN THE FUTURE WOULD BE MAKING THE CATERING PERMIT AVAILABLE TO ATTACH TO, UH, AN N TWO LIQUOR LICENSE, WHICH IS SPECIFICALLY FOR EVENT SPACES AND CATERING COMPANIES.

UM, THE OTHER ITEM THAT I HAVE ON THE AGENDA THAT I'D LIKE TO BRIEFLY MENTION IS THAT, UM, I HAVE APPLIED WITH, UM, THE DECATUR AREA ARTS COUNCIL TO START, UM, AN ANNUAL EVENT IN THE FALL FAMILY FALL FESTIVAL.

UM, THIS IS A, A, AN EVENT THAT WOULD SHUT DOWN BOTH PRAIRIE STREET AND MERCER STREET THIS YEAR WITH THE HOPES THAT IT GROWS TO WHERE WE CAN KIND OF BRING A LARGER FESTIVAL BACK TO DOWNTOWN DECATUR IN THE FALL WHEN IT SEEMS LIKE PEOPLE ARE KIND OF LOOKING FOR SOMETHING THAT A LITTLE BIT EXCITING TO DO.

I MEAN, WE GOT FOOTBALL AND THEN WE GOT NOT A WHOLE LOT ELSE.

WE WOULD LOVE TO TRY AND BRING BACK A FESTIVAL OF SOME SORT, UH, TO DOWNTOWN DECATUR.

UM, THIS IS ALSO BEING USED TO RAISE FUNDS FOR HUNTINGTON'S DISEASE, UM, WHICH IS SOMETHING THAT'S HITS MY FAMILY PERSONALLY.

UM, SO WITH ALL THE SPONSORS THAT WE'VE STARTED TALKING TO, WE ARE TRYING TO MAKE THIS EVENT GROW ANNUALLY AND DO THIS YEAR OVER YEAR.

UM, THE AGENDA THAT'S ON THE DOCKET FOR THIS EVENING IS, UH, THE APPROVAL OF THE OPEN CONSUMPTION SO THAT WE WOULD BE ABLE TO PROVIDE ALCOHOL DURING THIS EVENT, UH, ON THE STREETS.

SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

THANK YOU MR. COX.

SIR, ANY THERE ANYONE ELSE WHO WISHES TO APPEAR BEFORE COUNSEL TONIGHT? GOOD EVENING.

MY NAME IS KATHY WILLIAMS. I HAVE WEAR MANY HATS.

AND FIRST I'M GONNA START OUT WITH MY HAT FOR THE COMMUNITY BECAUSE I'M PRESIDENT OF COALITION OF NEIGHBORHOOD ORGANIZATIONS AND I'VE SAID BEFORE, I'M, I JUST CAN'T SPEAK FOR MY NEIGHBORHOOD.

I REPRESENT

[00:10:01]

SO I WANNA START WITH CLOY PARK.

AND FIRST, LET ME THANK THE COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO HAVE, THAT I KNOW WHO HAVE ATTENDED THE NEIGHBORHOOD MEETINGS.

UH, CLOY PARK WILL MEET THE THIRD THURSDAY OF THE MONTH, WHICH IS SEPTEMBER THE 18TH.

THIS WEEK THEY MEET AT PERRY AVENUE BAPTIST CHURCH ON 22ND STREET.

AND THEN GAO, THEIR NEXT MEETING WILL BE IN OCTOBER, AND THEY MEET THE SECOND TO SECOND THURSDAY OF EVERY MONTH AT SIX 30.

THEY JUST MET LAST THURSDAY AND THEY HAD A REALLY GOOD TIME, JUST A SOCIAL TIME.

THEY HAD PIZZA AND SNACKS, LOTS OF KIDS AND PEOPLE FROM THE COMMUNITY.

SO IT WAS A TIME TO SOCIALIZE AND GET TO KNOW EACH OTHER.

AND I WAS INVITED.

SO WE HAD A GOOD TIME.

AND THEY WANTED TO THANK COUNCILMAN, UH, CRUZ FOR ATTENDING THEIR MEETING LAST MONTH.

SIA THEY MEET THE FIRST THURSDAY OF EVERY MONTH.

THEIR NEXT MEETING IS, UH, OCTOBER THE SECOND.

AND I'LL SAY SOMETHING ABOUT SIA, WE FINALLY GOT HER FENCE UP.

WOOHOO.

AND NOW WE'RE PAINTING IT.

WE SAVE MONEY, WE PAINT THE PARTS OF IT.

WE USE THIS OLD MATERIAL TO SAVE MONEY.

SO WE'RE PAINTING IT BLACK AND IT LOOKS SO GOOD OVER THERE.

NOT JUST THE THE FENCE UP, BUT THE CLEANING UP.

AND I'D LIKE TO THANK SOME OF OUR, UH, VOLUNTEERS THAT HELP WITH THAT.

THAT WOULD BE PASTOR LEON AND SHIRLEY YOUNG, AVON COOK, ELISE MEEKS, CHARLES AND CRYSTAL YOUNG, RUTHIE SINGLETON.

AND I HOPE I DIDN'T LEAVE ANYBODY OUT.

BUT THOSE ARE THE MAIN ONES.

OH, GIRL SCOUTS.

I WANNA THANK THE GIRL SCOUTS FOR THEIR HELP ALSO.

AND I ALSO WOULD LIKE TO THANK, UH, FROM THE GARDEN PATH OF THEY HEALTH.

IF YOU GO BY THERE, YOU'LL SEE HOW NICE THE COMPOST BIN LOOKS.

AND THEN IF YOU LOOK ALONG THE NORTH SIDE OF THE FENCE, IT'S ALL CLEANED UP.

IT LOOKS GORGEOUS OVER THERE.

AND THAT'S THANKS TO CLASSY GRASS.

KONOS MEETING IS THIS TOMORROW.

IT'S TOMORROW.

AND SO AS ALWAYS, WE INVITE ALL OF YOU HERE, AND ANY OF YOU TO COME TO OUR MEETINGS.

WE LOVE TO HAVE YOU AT OUR MEETINGS.

THIS GIVES AN OPPORTUNITY FOR PEOPLE TO GET TO KNOW EACH OTHER.

AND I'M SORRY YOU'RE OUT OF TIME MS. WILLIAMS. THANK YOU.

YOU'RE WELCOME.

ANYBODY ELSE WISH TO APPEAR BEFORE COUNSEL TONIGHT? DOES ANYONE ON COUNCIL HAVE ANY RESPONSE? MR. CULP? UH, THE YOUNG LADY, MAGGIE HAS, UH, LEFT.

I DIDN'T CATCH HER LAST NAME REGARDING WEST END DRIVING.

MAYBE, UH, COUNCILMAN HORN CAN HELP ME OUT.

I KNOW SHE'S BEEN COMMUNICATION WITH YOU.

DID SHE MENTION WHICH INTERSECTION ON FOREST WHERE THE, FOR WHERE THE STOP SIGN WAS DENIED? I JUST GOT THE EMAIL THIS AFTERNOON AND HAVE NOT REALLY HAD A CHANCE TO LOOK THROUGH IT AT THIS POINT.

BUT I WILL CERTAINLY SHARE THAT WITH MR. NEWELL AND OTHERS.

THE OPPORTUNITY TO, UH, RESPOND WHEN WE FIRST STARTED HEARING, UM, MATT PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR ALONG ALLEN PROVIDING YEAH.

ANY OTHER RESPONSE, MS. GREGORY? A COUPLE OF THINGS.

I KNOW, UM, THAT THE CHIEF WAS HERE TO HEAR WHAT WAS SAID ABOUT TRAFFIC ON THE WEST END, BUT I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I HAVE REALLY NOTICED EVERYWHERE IN TOWN IS THIS NOTION AT LARGE INTERSECTIONS WHERE THERE ARE STOPLIGHTS AND NOT STOP SIGNS, UM, THAT I HAVE OBSERVED, I WOULD SAY EASILY OVER THE LAST MONTH, A HALF DOZEN DRIVERS AT A RED LIGHT LOOKING BOTH DIRECTIONS AND GOING AHEAD AND JUST BLOWING RIGHT THROUGH THE INTERSECTION.

AND SO, UM, TRAFFIC HAS GOTTEN WORSE.

I DECATUR AND I KNOW THAT YOU'RE AWARE OF IT.

AND SO I DO HOPE THAT, UM, THE CITY MANAGER WILL TAKE ANOTHER LOOK AT WHAT IS NEEDED, PARTICULARLY IN THE WEST END.

AND THEN JUST, UM, I WANNA SAY TO KATHY, THANK YOU FOR THE WORK THAT YOU DO WITH KONO.

UM, YOU JUST SEEM TO BE THE RIGHT INDIVIDUAL AT THE RIGHT TIME AND YOU'RE PROVIDING GOOD LEADERSHIP AND YOU HAVE ENCOURAGED A LOT OF NEIGHBORHOODS WHO WERE NOT ACTIVE TO BECOME ACTIVE.

SO THANK YOU FOR THE WORK THAT YOU.

ANY OTHER COMMENTS FROM COUNSEL? OKAY, MOVING ON TO, OH, I'M SORRY.

MS. CRUZ.

UM, TIM, THE LAST MEETING, SOMEONE CAME AND MADE A REQUEST ON ABOUT MAIN STREET.

UM, IS THERE ANYTHING BEING DONE FROM THAT LAST REQUEST? THERE IS, AND, AND THANKS FOR

[00:15:01]

UM, MATT, GO AHEAD AND, UH, TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE WITH THE COMMUNITY INFORMATIONAL WHAT WE HAVE WORK, UH, MAYOR MEMBERS COUNCIL.

WE ARE CURRENTLY DOING A, A TRAFFIC AND SPEED VOLUME AND SPEED STUDY ON WEST MAINE.

WE ALSO HAVE PULLED ALL THE TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS, UH, FOR, UH, FOR WEST MAINE BETWEEN I THINK SUNNYSIDE AND FAIRVIEW UNDER REVIEWING THOSE FOR, USUALLY WHEN YOU, WHEN YOU DO A A A, AN ACCIDENT REVIEW, YOU LOOK FOR PATTERNS, WHAT, UH, THE PEOPLE COME ACROSS THINGS AT THE ROUTINELY HAVING A HARD TIME, UH, NAVIGATING WHEN THEY DRIVE.

SO WE LOOK FOR PATTERNS IN, IN, UH, TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS.

PLUS WE'RE, WE'RE ALSO LOOKING AT SPEEDS AND, UH, AND THE VOLUMES OF, OF TRAFFIC.

ONCE WE GET ALL OF THAT, THAT TAKES A LITTLE BIT OF TIME TO GATHER.

AND WHEN WE GET THAT, THEN WE, UH, WE'LL COME UP WITH RECOMMENDATIONS TO, UH, ON, ON WHAT WE CAN DO.

PAT, UH, MATT, AND OF COURSE YOU SAW MY EMAIL.

I'VE LIVED OUT IN, IN ON WEST MAINE FOR OVER 40 YEARS.

UM, THERE'S BEEN ACCIDENTS, BUT THE, UH, AGAIN, IT'S BEEN MENTIONED, THE SPEED, UH, YOU KNOW, 80 MILES AN HOUR PEOPLE PASSING AND, AND THEY'RE DOING THAT THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY.

I UNDERSTAND THAT.

SO, UH, HOPEFULLY WE CAN COME UP WITH SOMETHING THAT MAYBE, UH, WE CAN GET.

AND EVEN SEMI TRUCKS I'VE SEEN MORE OVER THE YEARS ON WEST MAIN THAN, THAN EV THAT I'VE EVER SEEN.

SO THAT DOESN'T HELP THE SITUATION EITHER.

SO IF WE CAN DO SOMETHING TO SLOW TRAFFIC DOWN, MAYBE THEY'LL GET OFF THE, OFF OF WEST MAIN AND A LOT OF TRAFFIC WILL GO BACK OVER TO, UH, 36.

AND AS I'VE PUT IN MY EMAIL, WHEN THEY WERE DOING ROUTE 36 YEARS AGO, UH, PEOPLE MOVED OVER TO WEST MAIN, FOUND IT WAS FASTER TO GO.

SO MAYBE WE CAN GET 'EM, DO SOMETHING AND DIS DISCOURAGE THEM FROM BEING ON WEST MAIN.

SO DO WHATEVER YOU CAN DO AND YOU, CAN YOU GIVE US KIND OF A BALLPARK FOR HOW LONG IT TAKES TO, UM, I'M ASK THAT THE DATA THAT YOU NEED TO WHERE YOU MIGHT BE READY FOR SOME RECOMMENDATIONS, ARE WE TALKING IT'LL BE A MONTH OR SO OR ARE WE TALKING TWO MONTHS OR JUST SO WE CAN SET SOME EXPECTATIONS.

IT'LL BE IN OCTOBER, I WOULD SAY, TOWARDS THE, UH, MID, MID TO END OF OCTOBER.

DR. HORN, UM, I COMPLIMENT CITY STAFF FOR DOING THIS TYPE OF STUDY ON WEST MAINE.

I, I WILL JUST SAY THAT AS WE'VE HEARD RESIDENTS ARE CONCERNED AND THEY'RE WORRIED.

UM, AND, UM, JUST A PERSONAL EXPERIENCE, I, UH, RUN, UH, FROM GLENCO AVENUE TO WAEL ROAD THREE TIMES A WEEK ON WEST MAIN.

AND, YOU KNOW, NOW I AM A LITTLE BIT MORE WORRIED EVEN WHEN I AM RUNNING ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ROAD ON THE SIDEWALK ABOUT THE CAR THAT'S DRIVING BEHIND ME.

AND SO WHAT WAS SOMETHING THAT WAS NOT WORRISOME TO ME IS NOW SOMETHING THAT I'M JUST NATURALLY WORRIED ABOUT.

I WILL ALSO SAY I WON'T REVEAL THE LOCATION, BUT I HAVE SEEN MULTIPLE TIMES POLICE OFFICERS THAT ARE, UH, STATIONED ALONG WEST MAIN THAT ARE MONITORING THE, THE TRAFFIC AND THE SPEED THAT IS TAKING PLACE THERE AS WELL.

UM, SO I, I DO SEE OFFICERS THERE, UM, BUT I, I THINK THERE IS JUST GENERAL RESERVATIONS ABOUT, UH, JUST NOT COMPLIANT WITH, NOT COMPLYING WITH BASIC SAFETY LAWS WHEN IT COMES TO THE STREETS THAT, THAT PEOPLE ARE WORRIED ABOUT.

AND I ENCOURAGE THE CITY TO, TO FIND A MODEL, UM, SOMEWHERE ELSE, PERHAPS IN CENTRAL ILLINOIS.

PERHAPS WE HAVE TO LOOK AT OTHER STATES OF WHERE, UM, THEY HAVE FOUND A WAY TO, UM, REDUCE THESE TRAFFIC RISKS.

PAT, UNFORTUNATELY, IT'S ALL OVER CENTRAL ILLINOIS EVERYWHERE.

I MEAN, EVER SINCE, UH, LIKE I THINK IT WAS BEEN MENTIONED BEFORE, EVER SINCE COVID, WHEN THERE WAS HARDLY ANY TRAFFIC, EVERYBODY STARTED SPEEDING.

SO IT'S A PROBLEM EVERYWHERE.

BUT, YOU KNOW, IN ILLINOIS AND MARIJUANA SMOKING, I MEAN, I, THEY THEY'RE SMOKING MARIJUANA AS THEY'RE DRIVING.

WHEN I MOW MY BOULEVARD, I GET A CHEAP HIGH JUST STANDING OUT THERE MOWING BECAUSE OF THE SMELL COMING FROM THE CAR.

SO THAT BOTHERS ME TOO.

BUT THERE'S

[00:20:01]

NOT MUCH YOU CAN DO ABOUT THAT.

YOU CAN WORK ON THAT TRAFFIC STUDY THOUGH.

IT SO IT IS A NATIONWIDE PROBLEM.

IIII UNDERSTAND YOU ALL PROBABLY DON'T READ THE SAME TRADE JOURNALS I DO, BUT, UH, IN, IN, UH, IN CIVIL ENGINEERING OR, OR TRAFFIC ENGINEERING TRADE JOURNALS, IT IS A, IT'S A NATIONWIDE PROBLEM.

I MEAN, SO THERE ARE, THERE IS NO SHORTAGE OF STUDIES ON, ON THINGS THAT YOU CAN DO TO REDUCE TRAFFIC, UM, OR, OR REDUCE TRAFFIC SPEEDS, I WOULD SAY.

AND THEN JUST ONE OTHER POINT, FROM A LAW ENFORCEMENT PERSPECTIVE, I MEAN, OBVIOUSLY THERE WAS A, A TRAGEDY ON WEST MAIN STREET AND, UM, I, I KNOW THE POLICE ARE, ARE DOING AN INVESTIGATION, BUT TO WHAT EXTENT DO WE KNOW WHERE ALCOHOL IS BEING SOLD, UM, THAT MAY BE CONTRIBUTING TO SOME OF THE ACCIDENTS THAT WE'RE SEEING.

SO FOR EXAMPLE, DO WE HAVE A WAY TO DETERMINE IF THERE'S A DIFFERENCE IN ACCIDENTS BETWEEN ALCOHOL SOLD IN A STORE VERSUS AT A DRIVE THROUGH WINDOW AS ONE EXAMPLE.

IS THERE, UH, THINGS THAT WE CAN DO IN TERMS OF, UM, HOW LONG WE KEEP A CAR THAT HAS BEEN IMPOUNDED BECAUSE A DRIVER HAD A DUI, THOSE SORTS OF THINGS.

SO THERE MAY BE SOME THINGS FROM A LAW ENFORCEMENT PERSPECTIVE THAT WE SHOULD ALSO EXPLORE.

ANY OTHER COMMENTS FROM COUNCIL? SEEING NONE.

[III. Approval of Minutes]

MOVING ON TO APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF SEPTEMBER 2ND, 2025.

CITY COUNCIL MEETING.

I NEED A MOTION AND A SECOND.

COUNCILMAN HORNE? AYE.

ANY UNFINISHED BUSINESS? NONE.

MAYOR, MORE WOLF? AYE.

SEVEN AYES, NO NAYS.

MOVING TO

[1. Resolution Authorizing Property and Liability Insurance Coverage for the City of Decatur, Illinois for the Policy Period October 1, 2025 to October 1, 2026]

NEW BUSINESS ITEM ONE RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING PROPERTY AND LIABILITY INSURANCE COVERAGE FOR THE CITY OF DECATUR, ILLINOIS FOR THE POLICY PERIOD OCTOBER 1ST, 2025 TO OCTOBER 1ST, 2026.

MOTION TO RESOLUTION, DO PASS AND BE ADOPTED.

SECOND, MR. GLEASON? THANK YOU MAYOR.

TIM, I'M NOT REALLY HEARING YOUR MIC.

I DON'T KNOW IF MAYBE IT'S ME.

ALRIGHT, THE, UM, ITEMS ONE THROUGH NINE, THIS IS INSURANCE RENEWALS.

BRIAN HASTINGS IS, UH, OUR RISK MANAGER, UH, THAT IS A POSITION WITHIN THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT.

AND I'M GONNA ASK HIM.

AND EACH ONE, AS THIS IS CALLED, AND THEY'RE ALL SEPARATE, UH, BUT AS EACH ONE IS CALLED, UH, BRIAN'S GOING TO JUST SHARE A BRIEF DESCRIPTION.

ONE THING THAT I WILL SHARE AND, AND, UH, BRIAN WILL ADD COMMENTS TO THIS.

UH, WE'VE HAD A VERY GOOD RENEWAL YEAR AND, UH, THAT SEEMS TO CONTRADICT THE, UH, THE TREND IN THE, UH, INSURANCE MARKET, UH, THAT WE'RE SEEING.

BUT WE'VE GOT, UH, AN EXCELLENT, UH, BROKER AND I'M GONNA COMPLIMENT, UH, BRIAN, UH, IS, UH, DOING A VERY GOOD JOB FOR THE CITY.

THERE IS ONE ITEM THAT, UH, I'LL JUMP BACK IN MAYOR, AND THAT'S ITEM SIX.

BUT I'M GOING TO, UH, GIVE ONE THROUGH FIVE TO, UH, BRIAN AND THEN SEVEN, EIGHT, AND NINE TO HIM.

AND HE'S GONNA WALK US THROUGH, UH, WHAT THESE ARE IN THE, UH, VERY SMALL PERCENTAGE, UH, CHANGES, IF NOT THE SAME IN THE INDIVIDUAL CATEGORIES.

BRIAN, YOU'VE GOT THE FIRST ONE, THEN WE'LL PAUSE, LET THE MAYOR CALL THE SECOND, AND THEN WE'LL DO IT THAT WAY.

APPRECIATE THIS OPPORTUNITY.

GOOD EVENING MAYOR COUNSEL AND THANK YOU.

AND TO ECHO TIM'S COMMENTS, OUR BROKERS DID A FANTASTIC JOB THIS YEAR.

UH, WE WERE ABLE TO GET 'EM SOME INFORMATION EARLY AND THEY WERE ABLE TO SHOP IT AND BRING BACK SOME PRETTY GOOD QUOTES.

THE FIRST RESOLUTION ON PROPERTY AND LIABILITY, UH, 4.26 IN INCREASE, I THINK IS A WELL WITHIN REASON OF, YOU KNOW, OF ANY INSURANCE RATES IF YOU'RE, IF YOU'RE LOOKING AROUND AT YOUR PROPERTY INSURANCE AND THAT, THAT'S PRETTY GOOD.

I WOULD SAY PAUSE AFTER EACH ONE OR CAN WE GO THROUGH EACH, GO THROUGH ALL WE NEED TO PAUSE THROUGH EACH ONE AND VOTE AND THEN MOVE TO THE NEXT ONE.

SO, ANY QUESTIONS ON THIS ITEM FROM COUNCIL? SEE NONE.

TWO RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING PROPERTY INSURANCE COVERAGE FOR

[2. Resolution Authorizing Property Insurance Coverage for the City of Decatur, Illinois for the Policy Period October 1, 2025 to October 1, 2026]

[00:25:01]

THE CITY OF DECATUR, ILLINOIS FOR THE POLICY PERIOD OCTOBER 1ST, 2025 TO OCTOBER 1ST, 2026.

MOTION THAT THE RESOLUTION TO PASS AND BE ADOPTED.

NOW WE CAN DO NUMBER TWO.

OKAY, SO PROPERTY INSURANCE INCREASE IN 9.12%.

AGAIN, IF YOU LOOK AT YOUR HOMEOWNER'S INSURANCE, THAT'S YOUR PROPERTY RIGHT THERE.

AND AT 9.12%, I BELIEVE THERE'S PROBABLY EIGHT TO 9% AVERAGE FOR YOUR RESIDENTIAL HOMEOWNER'S INSURANCE.

SO AGAIN, IT GOES TO OUR BROKERS FOR GETTING THAT.

YOU MAY NEED TO MOVE THE MIC A LITTLE BIT CLOSER TO YOU.

YEP, MATT HAD ADJUSTED IT.

ANY QUESTIONS FROM COUNSEL? SEE NONE.

MAYOR MOR WOLF.

AUTHORIZING EQUIPMENT INSURANCE COVERAGE FOR THE CITY OF DECATUR, ILLINOIS FOR THE POLICY PERIOD OCTOBER 1ST, 2025 TO OCTOBER 1ST, 2026.

SEVEN AYES NO NAYS.

ITEM THREE, RESOLUTION

[3. Resolution Authorizing Equipment Insurance Coverage for the City of Decatur, Illinois for the Policy Period October 1, 2025 to October 1, 2026]

MOTION FOR THE RESOLUTION TO PASS AND BE ADOPTED.

POINT EIGHT, 6% INCREASE ON EQUIPMENT.

I DON'T WHAT ELSE I CAN SAY TO THAT.

THAT'S MINIMAL.

QUESTIONS FROM COUNSEL.

MR. COOPER? I I DIDN'T HEAR YOUR FIGURE.

COULD YOU SAY THAT AGAIN PLEASE? ON THE EQUIPMENT IS 39 30968.86% INCREASE? YEAH.

POINT EIGHT SIX, NOT 8.86.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? SEEING NONE.

COUNCILMAN HORNE? AYE.

FOUR RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING CRIME LIABILITY INSURANCE COVERAGE FOR THE CITY OF DECATUR, ILLINOIS FOR THE POLICY PERIOD OCTOBER 1ST, 2025 TO OCTOBER 1ST, 2026.

MAYOR WOLF? AYE.

SEVEN AYES NO NAY.

ITEM

[4. Resolution Authorizing Crime Liability Insurance Coverage for the City of Decatur, Illinois for the Policy Period October 1, 2025 to October 1, 2026]

MOTION OF THE RESOLUTION DO PASS AND BE ADOPTED.

SECOND, 0% INCREASE.

I LIKE THAT.

THE ONLY THING BETTER WOULD BE NEGATIVE.

RIGHT? RIGHT.

ANY QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS? YOU READ ALL THE SMALL PRINT.

MAKE SURE IT'S THE SAME FROM LAST YEAR.

YEAH.

CALL THE QUESTION PLEASE.

COUNCILMAN COOPER.

RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING EXCESS LIABILITY INSURANCE COVERAGE FOR THE CITY OF DECATUR, ILLINOIS FOR THE POLICY PERIOD OCTOBER 1ST, 2025 TO OCTOBER 1ST, 2026.

[5. Resolution Authorizing Excess Liability Insurance Coverage for the City of Decatur, Illinois for the Policy Period October 1, 2025 to October 1, 2026]

MOTION FOR THE RESOLUTION TO PASS AND BE ADOPTED.

HOW ABOUT THIS TIME? 3.5% FOR OUR EXCESS LIABILITY.

I'D SAY THAT'S WELL WITHIN REASON.

I THINK LAST YEAR WE WERE PROBABLY CLOSER TO 12%.

ANY QUESTIONS? CALL THE QUESTION PLEASE.

MAYOR MAR WOLF.

RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING AUTO INLAND MARINE LOT INSURANCE COVERAGE FOR THE CITY OF DECATUR, ILLINOIS FOR THE POLICY PERIOD.

SEVEN AYES KNOWN AS ITEM SIX,

[6. Resolution Authorizing Auto Inland Marine Lot Insurance Coverage for the City of Decatur, Illinois for the Policy Period October 1, 2025 to October 1, 2026]

OCTOBER 1ST, 2025 TO OCTOBER 1ST, 2026.

MOTION TO RESOLUTION DO PASS AND BE ADOPTED.

MARINE IS JUST ENSURING THE VEHICLES WHEN THEY'RE ON OUR PROPERTY AND TO ENSURE THE ENTIRE FLEET, YOU'RE GONNA ENSURE EVERY FACILITY IN THE CD CATER AND IT WOULD TAKE A MAJOR CATASTROPHE TO WIPE OUT EVERY CITY VEHICLE AT THE SAME TIME, CONSIDERING, YOU KNOW, SQUAD CARS ARE PROBABLY OUT ON THE ROAD, YOU KNOW, AND NOT ON OUR PROPERTY.

SECOND, MR. GLEASON.

THANK YOU MAYOR.

AND THIS IS ONE THAT I'M GONNA JUMP BACK INTO AND, AND REAL QUICK, UH, TO COUNCILMAN, UH, MCDANIEL'S QUESTION.

THAT WAS A GOOD QUESTION BECAUSE WE ARE TALKING ABOUT APPLES TO APPLES.

THERE IS, THERE'S NOTHING CHANGING IN THESE CONTRACTS.

UH, WHICH FURTHER, UM, YOU KNOW, I I GUESS EMPHASIZES HOW FORTUNATE WE ARE TO, UH, HAVE ACCOMPLISHED, UH, THESE RATES AGAIN THROUGH OUR BROKER AND ALSO THROUGH, UH, BRIAN, UM, NUMBER SIX, STAFF FLOATED THE IDEA.

SO THE ONE CHANGE THAT WE WERE THINKING ABOUT WAS IN THIS ONE, SO THIS IS REGARDING OUR FLEET.

WE THREW OUT THE IDEA THAT, UH, WE WOULD POSSIBLY CONSIDER A FULL PURCHASE PRICE REPLACEMENT, WHICH WOULD BE SUBSTANTIALLY MORE, IS NOT TYPICALLY WHAT, UH, MUNICIPALITIES DO.

THEY JUST DO A REPLACEMENT COST, NOT THE TRUE, UH, REPLACEMENT COST, UH, OF INSURANCE.

SO WE WENT WITH THAT ONE.

THERE IS NO AMENDMENT REQUIRED TO THIS, BUT THAT'S WHY IN YOUR PACKET, YOU SEE THIS POTENTIALLY AS HIGH AS 230,000 WHEN LAST YEAR'S, UH, EXPIRING RATE IS JUST SHY OF 90,000.

THAT'S BECAUSE WE WERE CONSIDERING THIS.

WHAT YOU WILL SEE IN THIS ONE, BECAUSE WE'RE GONNA BACK OFF AND WE'RE GOING TO REPLACE AGAIN, AN APPLES TO APPLES SCENARIO WHERE WE'RE NOT GOING TO LOOK FOR THE ADDITIONAL COVERAGE FOR OUR ENTIRE FLEET, YOU'LL PROBABLY BE SOMEWHERE IN THE $130,000 RANGE.

UH, NO LESS THAN, UH, BUT POSSIBLY A LITTLE BIT MORE.

SO THIS IS ONE THAT YOU'RE SEEING A LITTLE BIT MORE OF AN INCREASE, BUT IT WAS AN INTERNAL CONVERSATION.

THAT'S WHY YOU SEE THE WIDE RANGE BETWEEN ONE 30 TO 230,000.

AND, UH, BRIAN, HELP ME OUT IF THERE'S ANYTHING ELSE, UH, THAT SHOULD BE SAID.

IT'S PROBABLY IMPORTANT TO REALIZE THAT THE INLAND

[00:30:01]

SO THAT, THAT IS PART OF THE LOGIC PLAYING INTO THAT.

UH, THE OTHER PART IS WE HAVE A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS DEDUCTIBLE.

SO MOST OF OUR VEHICLES ARE LESS THAN A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS, UNLESS IT'S A BUS OR A FIRE TRUCK.

THAT WOULD BE EXCEPTIONS.

BUT INSURANCE IS GOING TO INSURE THEM AT BASICALLY A, A GOOD SCENARIO WOULD BE LIKE A KELLEY BLUE BOOK VALUE VALUE.

SO IT'S NOT GONNA BE WHAT WE BOUGHT IT FOR TO BEGIN WITH IT.

THEY'RE GONNA LOOK AT THE CURRENT RATE COMPARABLE VEHICLE AND INSURE IT THERE.

SO I DID QUESTIONS FROM COUNSEL.

PAT, WOULD YOU CONTACT MY INSURANCE COMPANY AND LET 'EM KNOW THOSE SLOW, UH, PERCENTAGES GOING UP? 'CAUSE A LOT OF HOME AND, AND CAR OR, UH, CAR INSURANCE IS SKYROCKETING SO EVERYTHING'S SUITABLE.

I'D APPRECIATE IT IF YOU WOULD.

FURTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS? SEEING NONE, COUNCILMAN COOPER? AYE.

COUNCILMAN MC? MC.

EXCUSE ME.

MCDANIEL AYE.

RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING CYBER LIABILITY INSURANCE COVERAGE FOR THE CITY OF DECATUR, ILLINOIS FOR THE POLICY PERIOD.

[7. Resolution Authorizing Cyber Liability Insurance Coverage for the City of Decatur, Illinois for the Policy Period October 1, 2025 to October 1, 2026]

OCTOBER 1ST, 2025 TO OCTOBER 1ST, 2026.

MOTION FOR THE RESOLUTION.

DO PASS AND BE ADOPTED.

I'M, I LEAVE THAT AS IS.

WE'LL VOTE FAST.

ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS? SAY NONE.

RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING CRISIS PROTECTION INSURANCE COVERAGE FOR THE CITY OF DECATUR, ILLINOIS FOR THE POLICY PERIOD.

COUNCILMAN HORNE? AYE.

COUNCILMAN COLE? AYE.

MAYOR MORE WOLF? AYE.

SEVEN AYES, NO AYES.

ITEM EIGHT

[8. Resolution Authorizing Crisis Protection Insurance Coverage for the City of Decatur, Illinois for the Policy Period October 1, 2025 to October 1, 2026]

OCTOBER 1ST, 2025 TO OCTOBER 1ST, 2026.

MOTION THE RESOLUTION DO PASS AND BE ADOPTED.

I'M FROM ARTHUR J. GALLAGHER.

CRISIS PROTECTION, RIGHT? SORRY, I GOT, YEAH, THE CRISIS PROTECTION INSURANCE, 3.39% ON THAT.

STILL WITHIN, WOULD YOU RE WHAT KIND OF CRISIS WOULD THAT BE? COVERED? A CRISIS, PAT? WELL, I KNOW EVERYTHING'S A CRISIS ANYMORE, BUT WHAT'S IT COVER ON THIS POLICY? I'M GOING TO DEFER AND ASK FOR A PHONE A FRIEND AND CALL IN MY SUPPORT FROM GALLAGHER ON THAT ONE.

MY NAME IS TED MILLER.

AND THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR KIND COMMENTS.

WE GREATLY APPRECIATE THAT.

ACTIVE, I'M SORRY.

UM, CRISIS PROTECT.

THINK IN TERMS OF ACTIVE SHOOTER.

WE HAVE ONE IN OUR BUILDING.

THINGS HAVE GONE TERRIBLY WRONG.

WE NEED TO CONDUCT PRESS CONFERENCES, WE NEED TO PUT PEOPLE'S LIVES BACK TOGETHER AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.

THAT'S THE CO THAT'S THE COVERAGE THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HERE.

MM-HMM .

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS WHILE MR. MILLER'S DOWN HERE? NOPE.

ANY OTHER COMMENTS FROM COUNCIL? SEE NONE.

MAYOR MOORE WOLF.

AND THE FINAL ONE ON INSURANCE RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING EXCESS WORKERS' COMPENSATION INSURANCE COVERAGE FOR THE CITY OF DECATUR, ILLINOIS FOR THE POLICY PERIOD OCTOBER 1ST, 2025 TO OCTOBER 1ST, 2026.

SEVEN AYES, NO NAYS.

[9. Resolution Authorizing Excess Workers Compensation Insurance Coverage for the City of Decatur, Illinois for the Policy Period October 1, 2025 to October 1, 2026]

MOTION TO THE RESOLUTION TO PASS AND BE ADOPTED.

AND THIS IS YOUR LAST ONE.

THIS IS THE LAST ONE.

I WOULD LIKE TO COMMENT TO THE CITY STAFF ON THIS ONE.

TO GET A NEGATIVE INCREASE IN WORKERS' COMP IN THIS DAY AND AGE IS SAYS THEY'RE DOING THEIR JOB.

WE'VE ASKED A LOT OF 'EM OUT OF A LOT OUT OF THE CITY THIS YEAR ON FOLLOW UP WITH ANY INJURY OR ACCIDENT, AND THEY'VE RESPONDED, AND I THINK THIS NUMBER REFLECTS THAT.

ANY QUESTIONS FROM COUNCIL? SEE NONE.

COUNCILMAN GREGORY? AYE.

COUNCILMAN CRUZ? AYE.

RESOLUTION, ACCEPTING AND EXECUTING THE AGREEMENT BETWEEN CITY OF DECATUR, ILLINOIS AND LOVE LEARNING AND LAUGHTER.

[10. Resolution Accepting and Executing the Agreement between City of Decatur, Illinois and Love Learning and Laughter Daycare]

DAYCARE.

MOTION TO THE RESOLUTION TO PASS AND BE ADOPTED.

THE MANAGER WILL TALK, COUNSEL WILL HAVE SOME DISCUSSION, AND THEN WE WILL INVITE EACH OF THOSE, UH, PEOPLE UP FOR THEIR THREE MINUTES.

AND BEFORE I TURN IT TO MR. GLEASON, WE DO HAVE THREE PEOPLE WHO SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON THIS MATTER.

[00:35:01]

MR. GLEASON? THANK YOU, MAYOR AND COUNCIL, AND TO THE COMMUNITY.

UH, I'M GONNA HAVE A LITTLE BIT, UH, LONGER INTRODUCTION ON THIS TOPIC.

UH, I THINK IT RISES TO THAT LEVEL.

UH, THIS IS ONE THAT WHEN I STARTED, UH, MAY OF, UH, 2024, UH, I WAS PREPPED, UH, BY PREVIOUS STAFF, UH, ON THIS TOPIC.

AND, UH, HAD BEEN TOLD, UH, THAT, UH, THIS WAS SOMETHING THAT HAD BEEN CONSIDERED.

AND THE CONVERSA, UH, CONVERSATION PROBABLY STARTED ABOUT A YEAR PRIOR TO THAT.

SO I'M GONNA SAY, UH, LATE WINTER, EARLY, UH, SPRING OF, UH, 2023.

AND I'M GONNA WALK THROUGH A TIMELINE BECAUSE I WANNA MAKE IT VERY CLEAR TO, UH, THE COMMUNITY, UH, AND, UM, UH, BE ABLE TO PROVIDE, UH, SORT OF THE REST OF THE STORY FOR, UH, THE POTENTIAL BUSINESS OWNER OR PROPERTY, UH, UH, YOU KNOW, UH, OPERATOR OF THE BUSINESS, AND THEN ALSO MY COUNCIL.

UH, BECAUSE UNFORTUNATELY THIS CONVERSATION HAS TAKEN SO MANY DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS AND, UH, IT'S ALL BECAUSE OF, UH, SOME OF THE, UM, UH, INFORMATION THAT'S BEEN RECEIVED AND IT'S, UH, UNFORTUNATE.

SO HERE WE GO.

SO THIS CONVERSATION AGAIN, STARTS, UH, LATE WINTER, EARLY, UH, SPRING OF 2023.

AND, UH, COUNSEL'S APPROACHED BY, UH, FORMER LEADERSHIP AND ASKED TO, UH, CONSIDER, UH, PURCHASING THE PROPERTY.

AND IN FACT, THAT WAS DONE, UH, TO THE TUNE OF, UH, $180,000.

AT SOME POINT IN THERE, UH, PREVIOUS STAFF, UH, CONNECT WITH, UH, MS. JOHNSON, AND IT BECOMES AWARE THAT, UH, SHE'S LOOKING TO, UH, EXPAND, UH, A BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY AND IS ACTIVELY LOOKING FOR PROPERTY.

UH, WE MAKE THE CONNECTION SOME, UH, SOMEHOW, UH, THE, UH, CONVERSATION TURNS TO, UH, THE PROPERTY, UM, THAT, UH, WE'RE, WE'RE DISCUSSING THIS EVENING AND, UH, SORT OF SET IN MOTION, UH, HER BELIEF, AND RIGHTFULLY SO, THAT THE RELATIONSHIP IS GOING TO, UH, BE EXCLUSIVELY WITH HER.

SO, WE'RE BACK IN 2023, AT THE VERY LEAST.

FAST FORWARD IN DECEMBER OF, UH, 2023, THAT'S THE FIRST TIME THAT YOU HAVE A PUBLIC CONVERSATION ABOUT THE COST TO IMPROVE THIS PROPERTY AND THE POTENTIAL RELATIONSHIP WITH MS. JOHNSON.

AND I'VE SAID THIS TO COUNCIL, BUT I'M SAYING THIS TO, UH, THE COMMUNITY.

IF YOU GO BACK TO OUR CITY WEBSITE AND YOU LOOK AT THE, UH, COUNCIL MEETINGS, AND I TYPICALLY, TYPICALLY LOOK OUT, BUT I'VE GOT THE MIC, UH, OVER HERE THIS TIME.

SO I'M GONNA SLIDE A LITTLE BIT CLOSER TO YOU.

IF YOU GO BACK TO THAT DECEMBER OF 2023 COUNCIL MEETING, AND YOU LISTENED TO, UH, THE COMMENTS THAT WERE MADE, AND IT WAS DECEMBER 18TH, 2023, COUNCIL'S COMMENTS, UH, WERE SPOT ON.

YOU'VE GOT THE MAYOR THAT COMMENTED.

YOU HAD, UH, FORMER COUNCIL MEMBER CHUCK HU.

I THINK PAT COMMENTED, I THINK COUNCILMAN HORN, UH, COMMENTED.

AND THERE, THERE MIGHT'VE BEEN OTHERS, BUT THE CONCERN OUT OF THE COUNCIL AT THE TIME WAS, WHAT IS THIS GOING TO COST? AND THE ANSWER WAS, WE NEED $750,000 TOTAL.

WE HAVE A RP FUNDS, ARPA FUNDS, THE, THE FORMER COVID RELATED FUNDS THAT LOCAL GOVERNMENTS RECEIVED.

THAT'S ALL IT'S GONNA TAKE.

JUST GIVE US, UH, PERMISSION TO, UH, UH, PUT THESE, UH, THE WORK THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE OUT TO, UH, RFPS, REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS.

LET'S SEE WHAT BIDS COME BACK.

BUT AGAIN, TRULY THIS VIDEO IS WORTH WATCHING BECAUSE COUNSEL EXPRESSES REPEATEDLY THEIR CONCERNS.

THEY REALIZE THAT THERE'S A CHILDCARE NEED.

THEY ALSO REALIZE THAT THEY'VE GOT AN OPPORTUNITY IN A PARTNERSHIP WITH MS. JOHNSON, GIVEN HER BACKGROUND.

MAYBE THIS IS AT A HIGHER LEVEL OR A MAGNITUDE THAT SHE IS, UH, YOU KNOW, NOT, UH, PERFORMED AT BEFORE.

BUT IT'S A POSITIVE BECAUSE EVERYBODY UNDERSTANDS WHAT THE NEEDS ARE IN THE COMMUNITY.

AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT THE PAST LEADERSHIP TOLD THIS COUNCIL.

FAST FORWARD MAY OF 2024, I STEP IN, UH, THE, UH, PAST, UH, LEADERSHIP, UH, IS, UH, BRIEFING ME BECAUSE I KNOW THAT THIS NEEDS TO COME BACK TO COUNCIL BECAUSE THE REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS, UH, THE BIDS HAVE BEEN OPENED AND WE KNOW THAT THAT DAY IS COMING UP.

SO WE HAVE A MEETING, THE FIRST ONE, UH, WHERE I'M TALKING ABOUT THIS JULY 1ST, 2024.

AND IF YOU GO BACK AND WATCH THAT ONE AS WELL, COUNSEL'S

[00:40:01]

SHARING THE SAME CONCERNS.

I AM, UH, UH, PUBLICLY STATING THAT THIS IS NOT GOING TO COST ANY MORE THAN THE ADDITIONAL $750,000, WHICH IS OUR REMAINING ARPA FUNDS THAT WE HAVE TO SPEND THAT CITY RECEIVED.

SO IT'S DONE.

AND MY WORD THAT I'M SHARING WITH THE COMMUNITY IS BASED ON THE FACT THAT I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY TIMES I HAD THE INTERNAL CONVERSATIONS, HOW MANY DIFFERENT WAYS I ASKED THE SAME QUESTION, BUT I WAS TOLD THIS IS IT.

AND THEN I EVEN SAY, BECAUSE I HAD DOUBT THAT THAT WAS GOING TO BE IT, THAT ALL THE COMMUNITY PARTNERS THAT WERE COMING OUT AND SAYING THAT WE HAVE THIS TREMENDOUS NEED IN OUR COMMUNITY, THEY LINED UP AT THE PODIUM AND THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT IT.

THEY WERE VERY SUPPORTIVE OF MS. JOHNSON.

THEY WERE VERY SUPPORTIVE OF THIS EFFORT.

THE COUNCIL HAD BEEN ASKED TO APPROVE, AND I MADE THE COMMENT THAT IF THERE'S ANY EXTRA, YOU KNOW, WE GET TO A POINT TO WHERE THE CITY CANNOT CARRY THIS BURDEN ANYMORE BECAUSE I WOULD BE PUTTING MY COUNSEL ON UNFI GROUND, UH, TREACHEROUS GROUND, POSSIBLY, THAT WE HAVE GOT, UH, THIS KIND OF INVESTMENT AND WE ARE HANDING THIS OVER AND SOME CONTRACTUAL RELATIONSHIP.

THERE WOULD BE CLAWBACK PROVISIONS BASED ON THE SUCCESS OR THE LACK OF SUCCESS, UH, ON THIS PROJECT.

BUT IT HAD TO BE DONE AT $750,000.

I DIDN'T THINK IT WAS GONNA BE DONE.

SO THAT'S WHEN I SAY IN THAT JULY 1ST, 2024 MEETING, THAT THE OTHER PARTNERS THAT HAVE SPOKE AND SUPPORT, THEY ARE GOING TO HAVE TO COME ALONGSIDE MS. JOHNSON IN THESE EFFORTS TO MAKE THIS A SUCCESS, TO MEET THIS NEED IN OUR COMMUNITY.

COUNSEL APPROVES IT.

WE'RE DONE.

WE HAVE, UH, FORMER, UH, LEADERSHIP THAT ARE NOW MANAGING THE PROJECTS, YOU KNOW, THE DIFFERENT CONTRACTOR WORK THAT WOULD, THAT NEEDED TO BE DONE.

AND SORRY TO SAY THIS, UH, BUT IT'S THE TRUTH.

AND THIS IS THIS KIND OF TOPIC THAT WE NEED TO HAVE THIS KIND OF CONVERSATION AT A PUBLIC MEETING BECAUSE YOU DESERVE TO HEAR THE TRUTH IS THEY WERE MANAGING THE PROJECTS.

THEY KNEW THAT THE COST WAS GOING TO BE GREATER THAN WHAT COUNCIL HAD APPROVED ON JULY 1ST, AND THEY WERE PULLING BACK DIFFERENT PORTIONS OF THE CONTRACTOR WORK THAT WAS BEING COMPLETED SO THAT IT WOULD COME IN AT BUDGET.

BUT UNFORTUNATELY, THE PROBLEM IN THAT IS YOU WERE SETTING US THE CITY, AND MS. JOHNSON IS, UH, THE PERSON THAT WE WERE GOING TO ENTER THIS RELATIONSHIP WITH, UH, WITH, UH, FOR FAILURE BECAUSE DCFS, UH, WAS GONNA HAVE REQUIREMENTS IN THE CITY THEMSELVES.

WHEN WE ISSUE A CERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCY, IT WAS NEVER GONNA MEET THAT, WHETHER IT'S THE STEPS DOWN IN THE BASEMENT WHERE THE KITCHEN IS, WHETHER IT'S THE BATHROOMS, A NUMBER OF THINGS.

AND IT WAS A FAILURE ON THE PART OF, UH, OF THE CITY AND PREVIOUS STAFF THAT CAME TO LIGHT, PROBABLY, UH, LATE, UM, UH, 2024, DISCOVERED WHAT THE PROBLEMS WERE.

AND I WILL SAY FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME WE ACTUALLY HAD AN INSPECTION OF THE PROPERTY TO SEE WHAT THE NEEDS WERE, SOMEWHERE IN THAT TIMEFRAME.

I, I'M CLOSE, BUT MY POINT REALLY IS WE NEVER DID.

SO BACK IN APRIL OF 2023, UH, COUNSEL, AND WHY WOULD COUNSEL EVEN THINK TO ASK, WAS THERE AN INSPECTION, A FULL BLOWN INSPECTION, NOT JUST CITY LEADERSHIP OR PAST CITY LEADERSHIP WALKING THROUGH THE PLACE AND THINKING, THIS IS WHAT THIS NEEDS, THIS IS WHAT THIS DOESN'T NEED.

AND FOR ANYONE TO EVER THINK THAT YOU CAN SHUT THE LIGHTS OFF AND CLOSE THE DOORS AND THEY'RE NOT GOING, THAT'S NOT GOING TO TRIGGER NEW REQUIREMENTS OUT OF THE STATE AND POSSIBLY THE CITY.

THAT'S RIDICULOUS BECAUSE THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT HAS HAPPENED.

SO WE GET AN INSPECTION, WE FIND OUT THAT THIS IS GOING TO COST EVEN MORE.

WE'RE ALSO, UH, I'VE DEDICATED, I'M GONNA FAST FORWARD TO, LET'S SAY SPRING OF 25, EARLY SUMMER OF 25.

UH, YOU'VE GOT, UH, MS. JOHNSON THAT, UH, IS EAGER, UH, YOU KNOW, AND YOU CAN ACTUALLY ARGUE THAT SHE'S PUT HER LIFE ON HOLD FOR TWO YEARS WAITING FOR THE CITY TO, UH, UH, COME TO, UH, SOME SORT OF CONCLUSION ON THIS MATTER.

I'VE GOT MY DEPUTY CITY MANAGER, MELISSA HAHN.

I'VE GOT CORPORATION COUNCIL, UH, WENDY MORLAND, AND, UH, THE ECONOMIC COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR, LACEY ELSY IS THE ONE THAT'S RUNNING THE LEAD ON NOW NEGOTIATING A DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT WITH MS. JOHNSON.

AND, UH, YOU KNOW, THE, THE TEAM THAT SHE BROUGHT IN, THAT'S, THAT'S WHAT I'LL CALL 'EM.

AND

[00:45:01]

WE GET TO A POINT TO WHERE THIS IS THE AGREEMENT THAT'S COMING BEFORE COUNSEL TONIGHT.

BUT UNFORTUNATELY, $180,000 PURCHASE PRICE WHERE THE PLEDGE IS, IT'S JUST A LITTLE BIT MORE, UH, IT'S GOING TO ONLY TAKE A LITTLE BIT MORE, HAS JUMPED TO 750,000 THAT CAME UNDER MY WATCH ON JULY 1ST, 2024.

AND THEN WE'VE APPROVED OTHER, UH, EXPENSES AND WE'RE NOW UP TO A $1.2 MILLION RANGE WHERE WE HAVE USED DIFFERENT FUNDS BECAUSE WE'RE BEYOND THE A RPA FUNDS.

THEN NOW WE'RE SETTING BEFORE COUNCIL THIS EVENING WHERE WE HAVE WHAT WE BELIEVE TO BE A HIGH ESTIMATE OF $550,000 ADDITIONAL.

THAT PUTS US IN THE 1 6, 1 0.7 ALL IN RANGE FOR THIS PROJECT.

AND THAT'S WHAT'S BEFORE COUNSEL TONIGHT.

AND A COUPLE OF ADDITIONAL COMMENTS, YOU KNOW, THIS, THIS IS WHERE, THIS IS WHERE, AS A CITY MANAGER, UH, I WANNA PROTECT MY COUNSEL WITH FACTUAL INFORMATION AS MUCH AS I POSSIBLY CAN.

I WANNA PROTECT MS. JOHNSON IN, UH, IN A DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT AND AN ARRANGEMENT THAT'S COMING BEFORE COUNCIL THIS EVENING.

THIS HAS BEEN A CHALLENGE.

I KNOW THAT YOU HAVE HEARD FROM PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY, HOW WOULD YOU DO THIS IN AN INDIVIDUAL RELATIONSHIP WITH, UH, YOU KNOW, WITH A RESIDENT OF THE COMMUNITY? AND THEN ON THE OTHER SIDE? WELL, YOU'VE DONE ALL THESE OTHER DEVELOPMENT INCENTIVES FOR DIFFERENT TYPES OF PROJECTS, AND I CAN'T, UH, HELP THE NOISE THAT'S OUT THERE, AND I COMPLETELY UNDERSTAND THE NOISE THAT'S OUT THERE.

BUT UNFORTUNATELY, THIS COUNCIL HAS BEEN PUT IN THIS POSITION TONIGHT, THIS TOUGH DECISION.

MS. JOHNSON HAS BEEN PUT IN THIS POSITION BECAUSE OF THE FAILURES OF PAST LEADERSHIP REGARDING THIS CONVERSATION THAT'S FACTUAL.

AND TONIGHT, UH, COUNSEL WILL, UH, VOTE ON THIS.

UH, IT IS ONE, YOU KNOW.

NOW LET'S, LET'S SHIFT GEARS, YOU KNOW, STEP OUTSIDE OF, UH, YOU KNOW, THE, UM, YOU KNOW, THE MISSTEPS IF YOU WILL, UH, RELATED TO THIS SPECIFIC PROJECT.

THIS IS A CRITICAL AREA THAT ALL COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE UNITED STATES ARE FACING WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT CHILDCARE.

AND THEN COMPOUND IT, YOU KNOW, AND TALK ABOUT A PART OF OUR COMMUNITY THAT HAS SOCIOECONOMIC CHALLENGES.

TRANSPORTATION IS A BARRIER.

UH, JUST ALL THESE DIFFERENT THINGS THAT ARE BARRIERS.

AND THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO HELP THOSE TO BE GAINFULLY EMPLOYED.

SOME OF THE QUESTIONS THAT I THINK IT WAS COUNCILMAN MCDANIEL HAS ASKED IN THE PAST IS, YOU KNOW, WHAT'S THE PATHWAY TO BE ABLE TO, UH, HAVE YOUR CHILDREN? UH, YOU KNOW, AND THERE IS A PATHWAY, THERE ARE VERY STRONG, STRINGENT REQUIREMENTS OUT OF DCFS THAT IF YOU'VE GOT POSSIBLY SOME OF THE PEOPLE THAT MIGHT USE THIS SERVICE, LET'S SAY THEY ARE RECEIVING SOME SORT OF PUBLIC AID, UH, THERE ARE REQUIREMENTS.

AND DCFS IS GOING TO BE THAT HAMMER TO, UH, MAKE SURE THAT, UH, UH, THEY ARE, UH, MEETING THEIR END OF THE ARRANGEMENT.

WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT PROVIDING CHILDCARE, I THINK, UH, ALL MIGHT HAVE, UH, SEEN IN THE NEWS, MAYBE PAYING ATTENTION, CAUGHT IT.

BUT RECENTLY YOU'VE GOT STATE OF, UH, NEW MEXICO IS PROVIDING UNIVERSAL CHILDCARE FOR THE, UH, FOR EMPLOYEES, UH, YOU KNOW, FOR RESIDENTS IN, UH, THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO.

IT JUST CLEARLY INDICATES, UH, THE KIND OF CHALLENGES, UH, THAT, UH, COMMUNITIES HAVE WITH CHILDCARE.

SO WE HAVE GOT, UH, WHAT'S COMING BEFORE COUNCIL TONIGHT IS A PROJECT THAT IS NOW EVERY BIT OF FIVE, SIX TIMES WHAT IT WAS ORIGINALLY PROMISED TO COUNSEL BACK IN DECEMBER OF 2023.

I APOLOGIZE FOR THAT.

AND I HAD NO CONTROL OVER THAT.

COUNSEL SHOULD NOT HAVE TO DIG INTO THE INTIMATE DETAILS.

YOU OUGHT TO BE ABLE TO TRUST WHAT STAFF IS TELLING THEM.

NOW, ON THE FLIP SIDE, ORIGINALLY WHEN THIS WAS BEING DISCUSSED, YOU HAVE MS. JOHNSON THAT, UH, YOU KNOW, MAYBE, UH, YOU KNOW, IN, IN THE MOMENT, UH, AND I'M SURE SHE'S GONNA GET UP AND SPEAK TO THIS, BUT THE ORIGINAL PLEDGE TO COUNSEL WAS THIS WAS A 24 7 DAYCARE.

IT WAS GOING TO SERVE AS 750, UH, CHILDREN IN THE COMMUNITY.

IT SCALED BACK DRAMATICALLY.

I THINK WE'RE OPTIMISTIC THAT IT WILL GROW AND BECOME MORE, BUT I WANNA BE VERY CLEAR THAT WHAT IS IN THE DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT TONIGHT AND WHAT MS. JOHNSON HAS AGREED TO IS BEING ABLE TO PROVIDE A DAY SHIFT OPPORTUNITY.

SO A THIRD LESSON IN TERMS OF TIME, UH, BLESS YOU.

AND, UH, AND THEN ALSO INSTEAD OF SERVING, UH, 750

[00:50:02]

CHILDREN, THE GUARANTEE IS 170 CHILDREN, UH, WITH NO DATE, UH, OF, UH, YOU KNOW, ANY POSSIBLE EXPANSION.

BUT I WANNA BE VERY CLEAR, I AM PREPARED TO ANSWER ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS.

UH, I KNOW THAT WE HAVE OTHER PUBLIC COMMENT, AND REALLY THE BIGGEST THING THAT I WANT TO SAY IS THIS IS UNFORTUNATE THAT, UM, UH, YOU DID NOT HAVE ACCURATE INFORMATION.

AND I'M TRYING TO GUARD AGAINST THIS, TAKING DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS AND PATHWAYS IN THE CONVERSATION WHERE THE RUMORS ARE THIS OR, UH, JUST DIFFERENT THINGS.

AND, UH, I FEEL, UM, I FEEL IT'S MY OBLIGATION AND, UH, UNFORTUNATE CIRCUMSTANCE, BUT I DO IN FACT THINK THAT WE'VE GOT AN OPPORTUNITY HERE FOR COUNCIL TO AT LEAST CONSIDER THERE'S CLAWBACK PROVISIONS THAT ARE BUILT INTO THIS.

OBVIOUSLY THERE WOULD BE.

AND, UH, IN A WORST CASE SCENARIO, THAT IF THERE IS A FAILURE, YOU KNOW, WE WOULD, UH, WE WOULD APPROACH THAT, UH, IF AND WHEN AND HOPE, YOU KNOW, I CAN'T, UH, YOU KNOW, WE'RE NOT GONNA GET TO THAT POINT.

SO, MAYOR, I'M STARTING TO RAMBLE AND I APOLOGIZE FOR THAT.

BUT, UH, IT'S A RATHER CANDID, UH, COMMENT, UH, ON AN AGENDA ITEM.

BUT I FELT THAT IT NEEDED TO BE SAID.

SO HOPEFULLY IT'S, UH, WELCOMED BY THE COMMUNITY IN ADDITION TO THE CHANGES IN THE HOURS AND THE NUMBER OF CHILDREN THAT, UM, WILL, UH, BE SERVED.

BECAUSE IT IS A BARRIER.

IT'S A BARRIER TO GETTING PEOPLE BACK TO WORK.

AND THERE IS A HUGE NEED.

THERE'S A BIGGER NEED IN THAT PART OF TOWN.

THERE'S A NEED ALL OVER TOWN THOUGH, FOR, FOR DAYCARE AND AVAILABLE DAYCARE.

BUT SO MUCH OF THIS PROJECT HAS CHANGED.

UM, ONE OF THE CLAWBACKS, AND MAYBE I'M NOT UNDERSTANDING IT CORRECTLY, BUT I BELIEVE IT WAS SECTION 15, THAT IF, UM, THIS PROJECT DOESN'T SUCCEED, THAT WE WOULD BE LIKE, BASICALLY WE'D HAVE DIBS ON GETTING THE PROPERTY BACK, BUT WE'D HAVE TO PAY FOR IT AT FAIR MARKET VALUE WHEN WE'VE ALREADY PUT THIS MUCH MONEY INTO IT.

AM I MISINTERPRETING THAT? WENDY, IF YOU WOULD, UH, GO AHEAD AND JUMP IN HERE.

'CAUSE YOU, UM, NEGOTIATED THOSE DETAILS.

UH, THAT SECTION PROVIDES, IF IT'S BEEN OPEN FOR FIVE YEARS, AFTER FIVE YEARS, THEN UM, THE CITY HAS THE RIGHT OF FIRST REFUSAL, UM, AT THE FAIR MARKET VALUE.

SO WE'D HAVE TO BUY BACK WHAT WE'VE ALREADY PAID EVERYTHING FOR IF IT, UH, CEASES TO OPERATE AFTER FIVE YEARS.

UM, I'M GONNA OPEN IT UP FOR COUNCIL DISCUSSION AND, UH, THEN WE'LL GET TO SOME OF OUR, OUR PEOPLE WHO SIGNED PAT, I THINK I SAW PAT GO UP FIRST AND I'LL GET, WOULD IT BE POSSIBLE, PAT, UM, TO HEAR FROM THIS THREE PEOPLE FIRST SO WE CAN HEAR THEIR COMMENTS BEFORE WE YES.

FIRST A QUESTION FROM, UH, MS. GREGOR, UH, FOR CORPORATION COUNCIL MORLAND, I THOUGHT THAT I UNDERSTAND FIRST RIGHT OF REFUSAL, MEANING THAT IT WOULD NEED TO BE OFFERED TO THE CITY FIRST AND WE COULD REFUSE, AND THEN IT COULD BE PURCHASED BY ANOTHER PARTY.

IS THAT ACCURATE AFTER THAT FIVE YEARS? THAT IS WHAT IT MEANS, BUT IT, SO THE OFFER WOULD BE IF THEY CEASE TO OPERATE AFTER FIVE YEARS, THAT, UM, IT WOULD BE OFFERED TO THE CITY AND THE PURCHASE PRICE WOULD BE THE FAIR MARKET VALUE AS DETERMINED BY AN APPRAISER, A PROFESSIONAL APPRAISER.

WE WANNA SAVE ROOM FOR THEM TO ALLOW THE EXPANSION TO GROW.

IF IT'S ALRIGHT WITH COUNSEL, WE'LL HEAR FROM, UH, CHERRY JOHNSON.

I THINK YOU'RE THE FIRST ONE WE HAD, UH, SCHEDULED TO SPEAK, SO IF YOU COULD COME UP, WE'D APPRECIATE IT.

UM, I WANNA SAY YOU MAY NEED TO PULL THE MIC DOWN A LITTLE BIT.

HELLO, UM, CHERRY JOHNSON.

I WANNA SAY GOOD EVENING TO COUNCIL MAYOR WOLF AND CITY MANAGER GLEASON, FOR ALLOWING YOU TO SPEAK TODAY.

UM, I HAD SOME THINGS THAT I WANTED TO TALK ABOUT, BUT I WANTED TO ADDRESS SOME OF THE CONCERNS YOU GUYS HAVE.

WHEN WE MADE THOSE CONTRACTUAL AGREEMENTS, WE MADE IT TO BE IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE CITY, AS WELL AS LOVE LEARNING A LAUGHTER DAYCARE.

BY NO MEANS HAVE WE ELIMINATED THE, THE PRIORITY TO HAVE A 24 HOUR CENTER.

BY NO MEANS HAVE WE ELIMINATED THE PRIORITY TO, TO SERVICE 750 CHILDREN.

WE JUST WANT TO BE ABLE TO HAVE A CUSHION TO BE ABLE TO EXPAND.

WE PLAN TO ROLL OUT THE DAYCARE AND STAY JUST TO HAVE A SPO SMOOTH TRANSPARENCY.

WE HAVE NOT HAD A 24 HOUR CENTER IN OUR COMMUNITY BEFORE, SO WE WANNA ENSURE THAT EVERYBODY IS ADEQUATELY TRAINED, EVERYTHING IS PUT IN PLACE IN SHIFTS.

SO THE INITIAL SHIFT WOULD BE THE 170 CHILDREN WHILE WE WORK ON ROLLING OUT THE OTHER SHIFTS IN THREE MONTH INCREMENTS.

SO BY THE END OF MONTH NINE, OUR GOAL IS TO HAVE ALL THREE SHIFTS FUNCTIONING.

HOWEVER, WE WANTED TO FIND LEAVE SPACE IN THE ROOM, IN THE ROOM, IN THE CONTRACT, IN CASE THERE ARE OTHER CONTINGENCIES THAT COME ALONG WITH OTHER LICENSING BODIES SUCH AS THE STATE AND DCFS.

[00:55:01]

WE'VE BEEN WORKING ACTIVELY WITH DCFS ALONG THIS PROCESS.

THEY ARE INFORMED ABOUT EVERYTHING THAT'S GOING ON EVERY STEP OF THE WAY SO THAT THEY CAN HELP US UNVEIL A SUCCESSFUL EXPANSION TO 24 HOUR CARE.

UM, AND I JUST WANTED TO MAKE MYSELF AVAILABLE TO YOU GUYS.

IF YOU HAD ANY OTHER QUESTIONS.

I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT THIS 24 HOUR FACILITY WILL BOOST WORKFORCE IN INITIATIVES THAT WILL PROVIDE A SAFE AND LOVING ENVIRONMENT FOR FAMILIES THAT NEED SECOND AND THIRD SHIFT CARE WILL PROVIDE ADDITIONAL REVENUE IN OUR COMMUNITY THAT WILL HELP BO BOOST OUR LOCAL COMMUNITY, AND IT WILL ALSO IMPACT THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY, NOT JUST THE JASPER CORRIDOR.

EMOTIONS HAVE BEEN HIGH ABOUT THE HIGH NEED FOR HIGH QUALITY CHILDCARE IN OUR URBAN CORE, BUT THIS PROJECT HAS NOT BEEN EMOTION DRIVEN.

IT WAS CREATED ENTIRELY BASED ON THE WORKFORCE STATISTICS THAT SHOW THAT OUR COMMUNITY NEEDS HELP, LOVE LEARNING AND LAUGHTER.

DAYCARE HAS BEEN AND WILL CONTINUE TO BE A DEDICATED PARTNER, PASSIONATE ABOUT PROVIDING ADDITIONAL CHILDCARE SERVICES, HIGH QUALITY SERVICES.

OUR CHILDREN AND THE FUTURE OF OUR COMMUNITY DEPEND ON US WORKING COLLECTIVELY.

TO FINISH WHAT WE STARTED, LET'S REMEMBER THIS PROJECT DID BEGIN WITH A WORKFORCE INITIATIVE LED BY CDBG COVID-19 FUNDS.

THESE FUNDS WERE ALLOCATED TO RESTORE A CHILDCARE FACILITY THAT WAS LOST IN OUR COMMUNITY.

DUE TO THE PANDEMIC, A DAYCARE FACILITY IN THIS AREA IS NOT A NEW CONCEPT.

THE FACILITY HAS HELPED PROVIDE CHILDCARE IN OUR CITY FOR GENERATIONS, AND WE ARE COMMITTED TO PUTTING THE ADDITIONAL FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTIONS TO HELP THIS PARTNERSHIP GO WHERE IT NEEDS TO BE AND TO RESTORE THIS BEAUTIFUL ASSET TO OUR COMMUNITY.

LOVE LEARNING AND LAUGHTER, WANTS TO PROVIDE THE BEST POSSIBLE EXPERIENCE WITH THIS NEW CONCEPT OF 24 HOUR CARE IN OUR COMMUNITY.

WE ARE, WE WILL BE ROLLING OUT SHIFTS AS I STATED IN, IN STAGES TO HAVE A SMOOTH TRANSITION.

WE WANNA THANK YOU GUYS FOR YOUR TIME, AND YOU HAVE AN AMAZING NIGHT.

THANK YOU MS. JOHNSON.

UM, NEXT WE HAVE, UM, KUCHI PARSON.

I'M SORRY IF I DIDN'T SAY YOUR NAME RIGHT.

HI, MY NAME IS KHE PARSON.

UM, MY KIDS HAVE BEEN IN LOVE LEARNING LAUGHTER DAYCARE SINCE IT HAS BEEN IN OPERATION.

UM, MY FAMILY AND I AND OUR FRIENDS, WE ALL HELPED WITH THE CLEANING OF THIS FACILITY AND THE REMOVAL OF THINGS THAT NEED TO BE GOING.

OUR COMMUNITY WOULD BENEFIT GREATLY, NOT JUST OUR COMMUNITY, BUT MY FAMILY PERSONALLY.

I HAVE A 4-YEAR-OLD WHO IS NOT ABLE TO GO TO PRE-K BECAUSE WE DON'T REALLY, WE DON'T NEED ENOUGH HELP, RIGHT? I'M A NURSE, SO ALL, AND HE'S REALLY SMART DUE TO BEING WITH MS. CHERRY.

SO HE DOESN'T QUALIFY FOR THE RIGHT NOW SERVICES.

SO HE JUST HAS DAYCARE FROM EIGHT TO FOUR 30 WITH LOVE LEARNING AND LAUGHTER.

UM, THERE ARE SEVERAL FAMILIES SUCH AS MINE, SEVERAL SINGLE MOMS, SINGLE DADS WHO NEED THIS SERVICE, RIGHT? LIKE WE ALL HAVE TO TAKE SHIFTS, SECOND, THIRD SHIFT WHEN OUR CHILDREN ARE AT SCHOOL OR WHEN OUR CHILDREN ARE ASLEEP.

AND WE NEED PEOPLE THAT ARE RELIABLE AND TRUSTWORTHY TO TAKE CARE OF THESE KIDS.

PLEASE DO WHAT YOU GUYS CAN TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN.

YOU, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT'S WITH A PRIVATE CITIZEN, BECAUSE IT'S NOT FAIR FOR HER.

THANK YOU MA'AM.

UH, THE LAST PERSON THAT WE HAD SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON THIS TOPIC IS ANN OWEN.

GOOD EVENING.

SO ON MARCH 20TH, I'LL FILL IN A FEW OF THE DATES FOR MR. GLEASON.

FIRST OF ALL, I WANNA THANK KIM BECAUSE I FOYATE A LOT.

UM, AND SHE DID GOOD WORK.

SO MARCH 20TH, 2023, THERE WAS A SEVEN OH VOTE TO APPROVE THE ID AND THE CONCEPT OF HAVING THE 24 HOUR DAYCARE.

WHAT REALLY STARTLED ME WAS SEVERAL, SEVERAL MONTHS LATER, OVER A YEAR LATER WHEN NOTHING WAS HAPPENING.

I HAD TALKED TO MS. JOHNSON SEVERAL TIMES AND IT SEEMED WE WERE GOING NOWHERE ON GETTING THE DAYCARE OPEN.

WHAT APPALLED ME WAS YOUR PAST AVERAGE APPROACHED HER.

SO YOU NOW HAVE A CITIZEN THAT PUT HER LIFE ON HOLD.

THANK GOD SHE DID NOT QUIT HER JOB AT THAT TIME BECAUSE NOW TWO AND A HALF YEARS LATER, SHE'S STILL WAITING TO SEE WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.

SO I CAUTION THE COUNCIL IN THE FUTURE TO REALLY PAY ATTENTION WHEN THESE THINGS COME BEFORE

[01:00:01]

I'M PRETTY POSITIVE SHE DOESN'T HAVE A BANK ACCOUNT WITH $15 MILLION THAT SHE'S ABLE TO LIVE OFF OF, OR SHE WOULDN'T BE TRYING TO MAKE THIS AGREEMENT.

BUT I ALSO WANNA POINT OUT WHAT WAS EXTREMELY CONCERNING WAS WHEN I STARTED FOING AND ASKING FOR INSPECTION REPORTS, AND KIM WOULD RESPOND, THERE ARE NONE, OKAY? SO IT WAS NOT UNTIL LACY ON JUNE THE THIRD, 2025, SHE RECEIVED BECAUSE SHE ASKED FOR A BUILDING AS ASSESSMENT.

SO THOSE THINGS, WHILE I AGREE YOU'RE NOT EXPECTED TO DO ALL THE DETAILS, YOU ASSUME THAT YOUR STAFF HAS, BUT I CERTAINLY THINK THAT THIS HAS BEEN A LEARNING LESSON FOR EVERYONE.

I CERTAINLY HOPE IT HAS BEEN FOR THE COUNCIL.

OBVIOUSLY, WE CAN'T HOLD ACCOUNTABLE FORMER STAFF MEMBERS, BUT IT'S ALSO NOT FAIR TO THROW THE BLAME ON CURRENT STAFF MEMBERS.

SO, AS I SAID EARLIER, YOU GUYS ARE THE SEVEN THAT PUT YOUR VOTE ON.

SO I JUST PRAY FOR THE BEST FOR MS. JOHNSON AND FOR THE COMMUNITY.

HEATING, INSURANCE, EVERYTHING ELSE.

AT THIS POINT, I WILL OPEN IT UP TO DISCUSSION AMONG COUNCIL.

UM, ARE WE GOING PAT DENNIS, OR, OKAY, PAT, I, UM, I WASN'T ON THE COUNCIL WHEN THE, UH, THEY, UH, PURCHASED THE BUILDING, BUT WHEN I CAME BACK ON, I CERTAINLY VOTED ON JULY 1ST TO AUTHORIZE THE, UH, UH, THE, THE COST FOR IT, THE ORIGINAL COST THAT THEY SAID IT WAS GONNA, UM, I'M ALL FOR THIS AS FAR AS WE NEED THIS IN OUR COMMUNITY, BUT, UH, AS I'VE SAID MANY TIMES OVER THE YEARS WHEN WE'VE TAKEN OVER HOUSES, YOU DON'T PUT PEOPLE IN A HOUSE IF THEY, THEY DON'T HAVE THE INCOME.

I HAVE NEVER SEEN A BUSINESS PLAN.

WHAT'S THE PROJECTED, UH, UH, INCOME, UH, AND THAT, YOU KNOW, I DO NOW HAVE SOME COUNTS OF POSSIBLY, BUT THAT BOTHERS ME.

I WANT THIS TO BE SUCCESSFUL.

I'VE WALKED THROUGH THAT BUILDING, THAT'S GONNA BE A BUSY, A VERY EXPENSIVE BUILDING TO OPERATE.

AND, UH, I JUST DON'T WANT YOU TO FAIL.

JUST LIKE, I DON'T WANT SOMEBODY TO, WE PUT PEOPLE IN HOMES AND THEY LOSE 'EM BECAUSE THEN THEIR CREDIT'S EVEN WORSE.

SO I'VE NEVER SEEN A BUSINESS PLAN, A FULL, FULL BUSINESS PLAN, AND I WON'T VOTE ON THIS TILL I ACTUALLY SEE IT.

SO I'LL JUST GO ON AND MENTION IT.

NOW, I'D LIKE TO HAVE THIS TABLE TILL I DON'T KNOW IF ANY OTHER, OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE SEEN A A, A BUSINESS PLAN.

I HAVEN'T.

AND I'D LIKE TO SEE IT.

SO, UH, MAYBE WE CAN TABLE THIS TILL, TILL WE ACTUALLY SEE, UH, A FULL, UH, BUSINESS PLAN, DR. HORNE, IN REGARDS TO THE TABLE, I I, CAN WE, BEFORE WE VOTE ON TABLING, CAN WE HAVE SOME MORE QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS? I, I'D APPRECIATE THAT.

I, 'CAUSE THERE THERE ARE SOME OTHER THINGS I'D LIKE TO KNOW.

COULD MR. MCDANIEL, COULD WE PAUSE YOUR TABLE FOR A MOMENT AND, 'CAUSE I, I KNOW THAT OTHER PEOPLE HAVE SOME QUESTIONS AND, AND ISSUES.

UH, MR. UH, COUNCILMAN, UH, COOPER, UH, TRY TO MAKE THIS SHORT? I HOPE WE DON'T GO INTO A LONG DESTINATION NIGHT ON SUCH AN IMPORTANT ISSUE.

I THINK THERE'S NO, I UNDERSTAND THERE HAS BEEN MISTAKES MADE, THERE'S BEEN INFORMATION THAT WASN'T PROVIDED IN INAPPROPRIATE INFORMATION.

UM, SO I THINK, BUT I THINK WE NEED IT THIS TIME.

WE TALKING ABOUT OVER TWO YEARS.

I THINK IT'S TIME THAT WE KNOW IT'S A NEED.

UM, IT'S, IT'S GONNA BE POSSIBLY A FIRST TIME ANYWHERE IN CENTRAL ILLINOIS OR, AND, UH, AND PROBABLY A LOT OF STATES IF IT'S, UH, IF, IF IT, IF IT WORKS.

BUT WE KNOW WE NEED A NEED HERE IN DECATUR, ILLINOIS.

UM, OUR PEOPLE WHO ARE WORKING, THEY NEED IT.

THEY NEED CHILDCARE ON SECOND SHIFT.

THEY NEED CHILDCARE ON THIRD SHIFT AND THEY NEED CHILDCARE ON FIRST SHIFT.

UM, UM, MANY, I HAVE A WIFE WHO RETIRED AT THE 30 YEARS WITH DCFS.

SO I KNOW SOME OF THE SITUATIONS, UH, IN DECATUR WITH DCFS AND KIDS.

UM, MANY, MANY PEOPLE THEY HAVE TO GO TO WORK

[01:05:01]

AND MANY KIDS ARE LEFT AT HOME UNDERAGE BY THAT MOTHER.

THAT FATHER OR THAT MOTHER AND FATHER ARE AT WORK.

THAT'S A MAJOR TO ME, SAFETY CONCERN, SAFETY ISSUE.

I DON'T WANNA SEE ANY KID DIE ON SOMETHING THAT WE COULD HELP PREVENT.

UM, WE HAD A FIRE A FEW WEEKS AGO AND A COUPLE KIDS LOST THEIR UH, I DON'T KNOW IF THE PARENT, I STILL DON'T KNOW.

I DON'T KNOW.

I'M SURE THE POLICE KNOW WHETHER THE PARENT WAS HOME OR NOT.

IT DON'T SOUND LIKE THE PARENTS WERE HOME, KIDS LOST THEIR LIVES.

BUT WE NEED DAYCARE.

WE NEED THIS FACILITY.

UH, UNDERSTAND.

PAT, YOU'RE WORRIED ABOUT THE, UM, UM, BUSINESS REPORT.

UH, I'VE READ LITERATURE THAT THERE IS A BUSINESS REPORT THAT THERE WAS ONE SUBMITTED TO THE CITY, UH, THAT IT JUST HADN'T BEEN SHARED TO US.

SO I THINK THERE IS A BUSINESS REPORT.

UM, OKAY.

HE, BUT I THINK THAT MS. JOHNSON HAS PROVEN ON HER CURRENT JOB WITH DAYCARE AND WHAT EVERYBODY THAT WORKS WITH HER AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS THAT CAME AND TESTIFIED BEFORE US, THAT THEY FEEL SHE HAS THE QU QUALITIES, THE QUALIFICATIONS TO DO IT.

AND I THINK WE GOT ENOUGH BUILT IN THE CONTRACT.

IF SHE DON'T DO IT, THERE'S A WAY OUT OF IT.

UH, I THINK THE MONEY WITH THE FUNDS WE'VE INVESTED AT THIS POINT, I THINK IT'LL BE LUDICROUS AT THIS POINT TO TURN THAT DOWN NOW AND, AND GO OPPOSITE DIRECTION.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT ANOTHER 1.6 MILLION.

TO ME, ONE KID'S LIFE IS WORTH MORE THAN 1.6 MILLION.

WE, WE'VE TORE DOWN BUILDINGS ALMOST THAT PRICE IT INVOLVED.

NO KIDS SAVING, NO KID'S LIFE.

UM, WE GOT OTHER BUILDINGS WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO TEAR DOWN.

THAT'S GONNA COST, UH, THAT KIND OF MONEY IS LIFE NOT IMPORTANT TO US IN OUR COMMUNITY FOR OUR KIDS.

STATISTICS HAS SHOWED THAT THERE'S A NEED FOR OUR COMMUNITY.

I BELIEVE THAT, AND I THINK WE SHOULD TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY AS A COUNCIL TO GIVE IT A TRY.

UH, I ALWAYS BELIEVE YOU CAN TRY EVERYTHING, ANYTHING.

THERE'S NO HARM IN TRYING.

IF IT, IF IT DON'T WORK, YOU CAN START OVER.

SO IF IT DON'T WORK, I'M SURE WE'LL START OVER AND GET SOMETHING ELSE FOR THE BUILDING.

BUT I THINK WE'RE AT THE POINT WHERE WE NEED TO LEAST GET THIS A TRY REGARDLESS OF, WE NEED TO QUIT LOOKING AT THE, THE, THE AMOUNT, THE, THE FUND, THE AMOUNT THAT IT'S GONNA COST.

IS IT MORE IMPORTANT THAT WE HELP FAMILIES, WE HELP PARENTS, WE HELP KIDS AND WE HELP SOMETHING THAT'S NEEDED.

STUDIES HAVE SHOWN THAT OUR COMMUNITY NEEDS THE, THE EMPLOYERS NEED IT.

WE GOT A LOT OF EMPLOYERS INDICATOR WE GOT MORE COMING.

THEY'RE GONNA NEED, THEY'RE GONNA NEED CHILDCARE PLACES.

THEY'RE GONNA NEED 24 HOUR CHILDCARE PLACES.

I THINK IT'S, WE NEED TO GIVE IT A SHOT AND A TRY AT THIS TIME.

OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM COUNSEL? DR. HORN? NUMBER OF QUESTIONS FOR THE CITY MANAGER HERE.

UM, MR. GLEASON, DO YOU HAVE AN ESTIMATE FOR HOW MUCH IT'S CURRENTLY COSTING THE CITY ON A MONTHLY BASIS JUST TO MAINTAIN THE PROPERTY? YES.

UH, IT'S ABOUT $1,800 A MONTH.

THAT'S UTILITIES.

BUT THAT ALSO INCLUDES A, UH, SECURITY DOGS OR, OR I THINK IS THE NAME OF THE, UH, SECURITY THAT'S, UH, GOT THE DOORS AND THE WINDOWS BOARDED UP $1,800 A MONTH.

AND THAT INCLUDES HEATING AND COOLING OR, OKAY.

IT DOES.

SO DO WE HAVE A WAY TO ASSESS, UM, WHETHER THE CHILDCARE CENTER HAS THE FINANCES TO PAY $1,800 A MONTH BETWEEN THE TIME IT GETS THE DEED AND THE TIME DCFS GETS THE, GIVES THEM THE GREEN LIGHT? BECAUSE THAT MAY NOT HAPPEN INSTANTANEOUSLY.

CORRECT.

IF YOU WOULD, CAN YOU ASK THAT ONE MORE TIME? 'CAUSE I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT I RESPOND PROPERLY.

ALRIGHT.

SO HYPOTHETICALLY SAY THE CITY, UH, DOES THE $550,000 IN WORK AND, UM, IS THEN TRANSFERS THE DEED AFTER THAT WORK IS DONE.

WELL, THERE'S STILL SOME WORK THAT, UH, WOULD NEED TO BE DONE FOR DCFS TO APPROVE POTENTIALLY, I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S THE CASE OR NOT.

AND SO THERE'S GONNA BE A TIME LAG BETWEEN WHEN THE PROPERTY IS DEEDED, BUT THERE'S STILL GONNA BE $1,800 A MONTH IN EXPENSES THAT NEED TO BE PAID JUST TO MAINTAIN THAT BUILDING.

AND

[01:10:01]

THAT COULD GO ON.

I MEAN, IF I REMEMBER THE AGREEMENT CORRECTLY, IT'S GOT TWO YEARS FROM THE TIME WE FINISH TO THE TIME, UM, UH, YOU, YOU'VE GOTTA OPEN THE DAYCARE CENTER.

SO YOU'RE STILL PAYING 1800, SOMEBODY'S PAYING $1,800 A MONTH.

AND I, I THINK THAT'S THE CHILDCARE FACILITY.

SO DO WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO ASSESS THAT ABILITY TO PAY? I AM GONNA SAY NO.

I WOULD NOT KNOW WHAT THAT COST WOULD BE IF I UNDERSTOOD THE QUESTION PROPERLY, THE, THE, IN THAT TRANSACTION OR IN THAT TRANSFER, THE DOGS, UM, UH, SECURITY SYSTEM MIGHT GO AWAY.

I, I COULD ENVISION INCREASED COSTS NOW THAT WE DON'T JUST HAVE IT MINIMALLY, UH, USED IN TERMS OF, UH, THE UTILITY COSTS.

I COULD SEE THAT COST GOING UP, BUT I'M NOT SURE WHAT THAT AMOUNT WOULD BE.

UM, THE, THE REASON I, I WOULD JUST ASK THAT QUESTION IS IF, IF YOU THINK ABOUT THIS FROM A RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY PERSPECTIVE, PEOPLE SAY, OH MY GOSH, YOU'RE SELLING A HOUSE FOR $850 AND YOU PURCHASE THE HOUSE AND SUDDENLY YOU HAVE THIS MANY THINGS TO TAKE CARE OF PLUS REGULAR UTILITIES.

AND, UM, THEN SOMETIMES WE FIND THAT IT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO MAINTAIN THE PROPERTY, ESPECIALLY IF YOU DON'T HAVE ANY INCOME COMING IN FROM, FROM THE WHAT YOU'RE DOING IN THIS CASE.

SO I, I DO HAVE SOME RESERVATIONS ABOUT THAT, BUT THE, I I WILL MOVE ON TO THE NEXT QUESTION.

CAN I ASK YOU A QUESTION? ARE YOU SUGGESTING THAT THE CITY WOULD COVER CONTINUE? OKAY.

THAT'S OKAY.

I JUST WANTED TO BE CLEAR.

I THINK THEY'RE, HISTORICALLY, I HAVE NO KNOWLEDGE OF THIS PARTICULAR SITUATION.

I AM JUST SAYING HISTORICALLY WE HAVE PROPERTIES THAT ARE SOLD TO INDIVIDUALS AT A VERY REDUCED COST, AND THEN THEY DO NOT HAVE THE DOLLARS TO MAINTAIN THE PROPERTY.

AND IN THIS AGREEMENT, THERE'S TWO YEAR PERIOD OF TIME BETWEEN WHEN WE TRANSFER THE DEED AND WHEN YOU HAVE TO HA GET DCFS, UM, APPROVAL TO APPROVE IT.

AND SO TWO YEARS AT $1,800, I NOT GONNA BE ABLE TO DO THE MATH THAT QUICKLY, BUT THAT IS 10, YOU KNOW, 20,000 PLUS DOLLARS, UM, WITH, WITH NO POTENTIAL INCOME.

UM, BUT I DO HAVE SOME OTHER QUESTIONS.

PEOPLE ARE THINKING OF THIS IN TERMS OF, OH MY GOSH, IT'S AN ADDITIONAL $550,000, UH, TO DO THESE RENOVATIONS FOR THE CHILDCARE FACILITY.

UM, HAS ANYONE, SINCE WE, THE CITY OF DECATUR APP APPRO, UH, BOUGHT THIS BUILDING, HAS ANYONE APPROACHED THE CITY ABOUT PURCHASING THIS BUILDING FOR A DIFFERENT PURPOSE? NOT THAT I KNOW OF.

SO THIS IS NOT A HIGH DEMAND PROPERTY, UH, UH, RIGHT NOW.

AND THEN, BUT, BUT IN FAIRNESS, WHEN IT, IT WAS, WHEN WE BOUGHT IT, WE DIDN'T GO AND SEE.

WE DIDN'T, WE DIDN'T DO ANY PROCESS TO SEE WHO ELSE MIGHT BE INTERESTED.

THERE WAS JUST AN, AN ARRANGEMENT MADE.

SO WE DON'T KNOW IF, UH, KINDERCARE OR ANYBODY ELSE MIGHT HAVE BEEN INTERESTED.

IT'S NOT ON THE MARKET.

SO IT'S, YOU KNOW, WE, WE DON'T KNOW BECAUSE THERE WAS NO PROCESS IN THE BEGINNING.

YEAH, I THAT'S, IT'S A FAIR QUESTION, UH, OR A FAIR POINT.

UM, OKAY, SO I'M NOT RECOMMENDING THIS AT ALL, BUT I JUST WOULD LIKE TO GET A SENSE OF, IF WE WALKED AWAY FROM THIS PROPERTY, DIDN'T SPEND THE $550,000 TO REMODEL THE PROPERTY, UM, AND THAT PROPERTY FELL INTO DISREPAIR POTENTIALLY BECAUSE NO ONE ELSE WANTED TO BUY IT, AND THE CITY DIDN'T WANNA SPEND $1,800 PER MONTH MAINTAINING IT, AND WE HAD TO DEMOLISH THE PROPERTY, DO WE HAVE ANY SENSE OF HOW MUCH IT WOULD COST TO DEMOLISH IT? YES.

UH, YOU KNOW, I THINK WE'RE EASILY IN THAT THREE QUARTERS OF A MILLION, IF NOT A MILLION DOLLAR RANGE, YOU KNOW, FOR A DEMO OF, UH, THIS MAGNITUDE.

COULD YOU SAY THAT FIGURE AGAIN? I I MISSED IT.

I, I THINK EASILY SEVEN 50 TO A MILLION DOLLARS.

THAT'S AN IM IMPORTANT POINT.

THAT, THAT, THAT HELPS ME A LITTLE BIT BECAUSE, UM, IF, AND AGAIN, I UNDERSTAND THE MAYOR'S POINT, IT'S A FAIR POINT.

THERE'S NOT BEEN A LOT OF OUTREACH ABOUT WHAT, WHO MIGHT WANT THIS PARTICULAR BUILDING, BUT I DO THINK IT'S AN IMPORTANT POINT THAT IT WOULD CAUSE MORE TO DEMOLISH THE BUILDING TODAY, POTENTIALLY IT'S A BALLPARK ESTIMATE THAN IT WOULD ACTUALLY TO REHABILITATE THE PROPERTY.

UM, AND SO, UM, I THINK

[01:15:01]

AND THEN, UM, MR. GLEASON, DO YOU HAVE ANY REASON TO THINK THAT THE DEMAND FOR A NEW CHILDCARE FACILITY HAS CHANGED OVER THE COURSE OF THESE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS THAT WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT? AND, AND I'M JUST THE MAGNITUDE, I MEAN, IS THERE STILL THAT SAME DEMAND THAT WE TALKED ABOUT TWO YEARS AGO? I THINK DEFINITELY, YES.

UH, ON THE JULY 1ST, 2024 MEETING, YOU KNOW, IF YOU GO BACK AND WATCH THAT VIDEO, THE PROFESSIONALS FROM THIS COMMUNITY THAT CAME OUT TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF, WERE SHARING THAT EXACT SENTIMENT, YOU KNOW, WHETHER IT WAS BASED ON STUDIES, WHETHER IT WAS BASED ON THEIR PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE.

AND I GUARANTEE THAT THAT HAS NOT CHANGED IN A YEAR AND A HALF.

MR. COPE? OH, I, I, MR. COLT, I GUESS MORE MINE'S MORE COMMENTS THAN QUESTIONS.

I, I WAS ALL IN, UH, WHEN WE HAD THE ARPA FUNDS AVAILABLE AND THE 24 7 COMPONENT.

I MEAN, WE'VE GOT A LOT OF INDUSTRY PRODUCTION, DIFFERENT THINGS THAT RUN THREE SHIFTS.

I THINK COUNCILMAN COOPER HIT ON THAT AS WELL.

I WAS ALL IN.

UM, BUT READING THIS RESOLUTION, AND EVEN VERBALLY AT THE PODIUM, UH, THERE'S NO MENTION EVEN IN THE CONTRACT ANYTHING ABOUT GROWING TO THE 24 7, UH, SEVEN 50 RANGE.

HOPEFULLY THAT WOULD OCCUR.

BUT IT LOST MY SUPPORT WHEN WE LOST THAT COMPONENT, JUST BECAUSE THIS IS JUST ANOTHER DAYCARE, WHICH IS BADLY NEEDED, BUT IT DOESN'T QUITE HIT THE SHIFT WORK THAT WE REALLY WAS IN MY HEART FOCUSED ON JUST BECAUSE OF THE INDUSTRY AND WHAT WE HAVE FOR EMPLOYERS HERE.

SO IT'S HARD TO DO THAT.

AND HONESTLY, THE TOUR, THE TOUR, COUNCILMAN HORNE AND I WENT ON, I THINK IT WAS SUMMER OF THIS YEAR, I WAS WALKING IN EXCITED TO SEE THE WORK, AND I'M NOT A CONTRACTOR.

UM, I CAN TELL YOU THAT, UH, BUT I WAS MORTIFIED WHEN I WALKED IN, AND I'M NOT REALLY EVEN SURE THAT 550,000 IS GOING TO COVER EVERYTHING THAT'S NEEDED.

UH, AND THAT'S, AT WHAT POINT ARE WE GONNA STOP THIS? WE ARE GUARDIANS OF THE TAXPAYER MONEY.

WE KNOW IT, AND WE UNDERSTAND THE, THE NEED.

THERE'S DEFINITELY A NEED.

WE HAVE A WORKFORCE.

WE WANNA DEVELOP THAT WORKFORCE.

THAT'S WHY I WAS ON BOARD WITH THIS 24 7 DAYCARE, BECAUSE WE HAVE ALWAYS MADE THAT PLEDGE FOR WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT.

AND YOU HAVE TO HAVE PEOPLE AND THEIR CHILDREN HAVE TO BE SAFE.

BUT ARE WE DOING OUR DUE DILIGENCE REGARDING TAXPAYER FUNDS? AND THAT'S MY BIGGEST HOLD UP AT THIS POINT.

COUNCILWOMAN GREGORY, I SUPPORT THE TABLE, BUT I'M GONNA TELL YOU WHY.

AND I'M GONNA HAVE A REQUEST IN THAT SUPPORT FOR THE TABLE.

BUT I, I JUST WANNA SAY, UM, TO OUR CITY MANAGER, I THINK HE DID A REALLY GOOD JOB OF JUST LAYING OUT THE TIMELINE, UH, TO ANN OWENS WHO COMES AND SAYS, WE NEED TO ASK MORE QUESTIONS.

UM, SHE'S RIGHT.

AND IT'S EXTREMELY UNFORTUNATE THAT SHE IS RIGHT, UM, BECAUSE COUNSEL SHOULD NEVER HAVE TO PLAY COP AND ASK THE QUESTION THE RIGHT WAY TO GET THE TRUTH.

AND, UM, I'M GONNA FORMALLY ASK THE CORPORATION COUNSEL TO LOOK INTO, UM, ANY ACTION THAT CAN BE TAKEN, UH, AGAINST ADMINISTRATION THAT MADE THESE DECISIONS.

UM, ANYONE SITTING IN THIS COUNCIL CHAMBER, WHEN YOU BUY A HOUSE, THE FIRST THING YOU DO IS YOU BUY THAT HOUSE CONTINGENT ON THE HOME INSPECTION REPORT, AND YOU PAY MONEY FOR THAT REPORT.

AND IT'S PROBABLY THE ONE PIECE OF TECHNICAL REPORT THAT YOU READ EVERY SINGLE WORD, AND YOU THINK ABOUT IT BEFORE YOU SIGN YOUR LIFE AWAY IN BUYING THAT HOME.

AND SO FOR COUNCIL TO UNDERSTAND NOW THAT SOMETHING SO BASIC DID NOT OCCUR IS APPALLING, I REALIZE THAT WE HAVE THE DOLLARS TO DO THIS, UH, BECAUSE IT IS CHEAPER THAN TEARING IT DOWN.

I, I, I ABSOLUTELY GET THAT.

I THINK IT'S EXTREMELY IMPORTANT FOR US TO REALIZE WHOSE DOLLARS THOSE ARE.

AND QUITE FRANKLY, IN THIS LAST YEAR, IT SHOULD HAVE SMACKED EVERY SINGLE ONE OF US IN THE FACE.

THESE ARE TAXPAYER DOLLARS, AND I ABSOLUTELY GET IT.

AND

[01:20:01]

WHEN THE CITY MANAGER SAYS THERE'S A LOT OF NOISE OUT THERE ABOUT THIS COMMUNITY, MY PHONE HAS BEEN RINGING OFF THE HOOK WITH THAT NOISE AND THE REMINDER THAT THESE ARE THEIR DOLLARS.

AND I'M GONNA SET THAT ASIDE FOR A MINUTE.

IN AUGUST OF THIS YEAR, UM, I HAD SOME NUMBERS PULLED FOR THE SIX ZIP CODES THAT COMPRISE, UM, OUR MUNICIPALITY.

AND I WANTED TO KNOW HOW MANY OF OUR CITIZENS WERE ELIGIBLE FOR MEDICAID.

THIS COMMUNITY IS 42% MEDICAID.

I THINK WHEN YOU HEAR THAT NUMBER, IT EXPLAINS A LOT ABOUT WHAT THIS CITY IS DEALING WITH.

BUT AT THE SAME TIME, WE HAVE ABOUT 2200 JOBS LAST TIME I LOOKED THAT REMAIN UNFILLED.

AND WE WANT MORE BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY TO COME TO THE CITY OF DECATUR.

BUT THE FIRST THING THAT THEY NEED, ASIDE FROM INFRASTRUCTURE, WHICH WE HAVE BEEN DOING, IS THEY NEED A WORKFORCE.

AND WE DON'T HAVE IT, QUITE FRANKLY.

WE DID A WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT STUDY, AND EVERY, AND THE PRIMARY RESULT OF THAT STUDY WAS PEOPLE DOING WORKFORCE IN DECATUR DON'T COME TOGETHER AND WORK THAT.

THEY ALL WORK IN SILOS.

AND THAT IS ABSOLUTELY RIDICULOUS.

SO FOR THOSE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PEOPLE THAT CAME ALONGSIDE CHERRY AND SAID, WE NEED THIS, WE WANT THIS CHERRY, YOU NEED TO HOLD THEIR FEET TO THE FIRE, AND THEY NEED TO BE THERE TO HELP YOU DO THIS.

AND I THINK THAT THAT OUGHT TO BE A MESSAGE OUT OF THE CITY OF DECATUR, BECAUSE COUNCILMAN COOPER IS RIGHT.

WE NEED THIS DAYCARE, WE NEED OUR PEOPLE TO GO TO WORK.

AND WHEN YOU ARE A PARENT, AND I AM THE MOTHER OF THREE CHILDREN, UM, I WAS FORTUNATE THAT THEIR DAD PROVIDED A LOT OF CARE BECAUSE HE COULD, BUT I COULD NOT HAVE CREATED A CAREER WITHOUT THAT ASSISTANCE.

AND UNFORTUNATELY, MANY OF OUR FAMILIES IN DECATUR DON'T HAVE THAT SIMPLE LUXURY.

I HAVE NOT SEEN THE CONTRACT.

I AGREE WITH COUNCILMAN CULP THAT THIS WAS SOLD TO US ON 24 7 DAYCARE.

I HAVEN'T SEEN ANY LANGUAGE THAT SAYS THAT CHERRY WILL GET THERE IN NINE MONTHS.

SO WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO DO IS I WOULD LIKE TO SUPPORT COUNCILMAN MCDANIEL'S TABLE MOTION, BUT THE ASK IS ON BOTH SIDES, MAKE THIS EXPEDITED.

GET US THE DOCUMENT, THE BUSINESS PLAN THAT WE NEED TO SEE, UM, AND GET IT TO COUNCIL SO WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO REVIEW IT.

I, I AM, IT IS EXTREMELY UNFORTUNATE THAT EVERY SINGLE ONE OF OUR STAFF NOW HAS BEEN PUT IN A POSITION WHERE WE HAVE TO ASK 20 MILLION QUESTIONS.

UM, AND THAT'S UNFORTUNATE.

SO MORE THAN LIKELY, I'M GOING TO SUPPORT THIS, AND I'M SURE MY PHONE'S GONNA START RINGING AS I SIT HERE TONIGHT, BUT THIS COMMUNITY NEEDS THE OPPORTUNITY FOR MOMS AND OR DADS TO GO TO WORK AND PLACE THEIR CHILDREN IN A SAFE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT.

AND I WOULD SUGGEST THAT, AND I WILL SUPPORT THE TABLE AS WELL, AND WE'LL CALL THAT IN A MOMENT IF WE HAVE MOST OF THE QUESTIONS ANSWERED.

BUT I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO SEE A LITTLE BIT MORE NEGOTIATION HAPPEN WITH THE, THE PROJECT WE'RE PUTTING TOGETHER BECAUSE IT, IT ISN'T IN THERE THAT IT WILL GROW TO, YOU KNOW, THIS MANY KIDS OVER A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF TIME, BUT SOMEWHERE IN THERE, THERE NEEDS TO BE SOME SKIN IN THE GAME FROM THE OPERATOR.

I MEAN, I KNOW HER LIFE HAS BEEN ON HOLD FOR TWO YEARS AND, YOU KNOW, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, YOU KNOW, WE, I KNOW THERE WAS TALK AT ONE POINT THAT SHE HAD A LINE OF CREDIT, AND MAYBE THAT'S, YOU KNOW, BUT I MEAN, THERE ARE GOING TO BE ONGOING EXPENSES AND, AND THERE NEEDS TO BE A PARTNERSHIP IN THIS, NOT JUST THE TAXPAYERS FUNDING THE ENTIRE THING.

AND, BUT I MEAN, WE, WE NEED TO HAVE SOME BETTER LANGUAGE IN THERE.

SO ARE THERE OTHER COMMENTS BEFORE WE VOTE ON THE TABLE, PAT? RIGHT.

UH, AS FAR AS THE BUSINESS PLAN, THE BUSINESS PLAN WAS MADE A COUPLE YEARS AGO.

SINCE THEN, UTILITY PRICES HAVE GONE UP, INSURANCE PRICES HAVE

[01:25:01]

GONE UP.

SO IT NEEDS TO BE AN UPDATED BUSINESS PLAN.

AND THAT, SO THIS BE REALISTIC, AGAIN, AS, AS EVERYONE HAS SAID, WE NEED THIS, BUT I DON'T WANT YOU TO FAIL BECAUSE YOU DON'T HAVE THE MONEY COMING IN TO DO IT.

AND THEN YOUR CREDIT'S BAD .

WELL, AGAIN, IT GOES BACK.

YOU DON'T PUT BUSINESSES, YOU DON'T PUT, WE CAN'T DEBATE FROM THE FLOOR.

SO, SO ANYWAY, I WOULD REQUEST THAT, THAT THE BUSINESS PLAN BE UPDATED WITH CURRENT PRICES AND THAT, SO IT'S REALISTIC.

MAYOR TIM, UH, WOULD, WOULD MS. JOHNSON BE ALLOWED TO SPEAK SPECIFIC TO THE BUSINESS PLAN? UM, IT, WHAT SHE, UH, HAS PROVIDED, I DON'T THINK WE HAVE A BUSINESS PLAN, BUT ALLOW HER TO SPEAK TO THAT IN THIS MOMENT.

MUCH SMALLER THING IS WHAT WE'VE BEEN PRESENTED WITH, WHICH IS WHY I THINK FURTHER NEGOTIATIONS WOULD MAKE US A LOT MORE COMFORTABLE.

DOES THAT VIOLATE OUR POLICIES TO THE POINT THAT IT'S PROBLEMATIC? I DIDN'T THINK SO, BUT I WANTED THE BLESSING OF CORPORATION COUNSEL.

MS. JOHNSON, IF YOU WOULD, JUST SPECIFIC TO THE BUSINESS PLAN, PLEASE? SURE.

SPECIFIC TO THE BUSINESS PLAN, I HAVE PROVIDED THE BUSINESS PLAN BEFORE THE AGREEMENT WAS MADE IN MARCH OF 2023.

ONE OF THE REQUIREMENTS THAT WAS THAT I REQUIRED TO PRESENT A BUSINESS PLAN AND PRESENT MY BUSINESS MODEL, IT HAD NOT BEEN DISPLAYED PUBLICLY.

BECAUSE THIS IS A BUSINESS MODEL, THIS IS A BUSINESS THAT'S GONNA BE OPERATED, AND WE DON'T, WE WANT PROPRIETARY INFORMATION TO STAY PROPRIETARY.

THIS WILL BE A 24 HOUR FACILITY.

IT IS IN THE BUSINESS PLAN.

AND I HEARD YOUR QUESTIONS ABOUT FINANCIAL, UH, OBLIGATIONS.

I AM LINED UP WITH, UM, FUNDING FOR FINANCIAL OBLIGATIONS, BUT I AM ALSO A LITTLE FINANCIALLY SOUND TO FINISH THIS PROJECT.

UM, I UNDERSTAND WHAT I'M TRYING TO SAY.

I, I WANT YOU TO BE A SUCCESS.

YES, SIR.

AND I, AND I HEAR THAT AND I APPRECIATE YOUR CONCERN.

HOWEVER, ALTHOUGH THINGS HAVE NOT MOVED AT A SPEEDY PACE FOR THE CITY, FOR LOVE LEARNING AND LAUGHTER, EVERYTHING HAS STILL BEEN RIGHT ON TRACK.

WE HAVE A FINANCIAL DIRECTOR THAT HAS CHANGED AND TWEAKED THOSE NUMBERS FOR THE CHANGES IN ECONOMY, AND WE HAVE CHANGED OUR BUSINESS PLAN AND TWEAKED IT ALONG THE WAY ACCORDING TO THE ECONOMY.

WE'RE JUST WAITING ON YOU GUYS TO FINISH THE FACILITY SO THAT WE CAN START OUR PROCESS AND OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH ALL THOSE PARTNERS THAT YOU SEE IN THE COMMUNITY.

AND I WANTED MY, UM, MY LAWYER TO GO AHEAD AND SPEAK TO SOME OF THE THINGS THAT HE'S BEEN WORKING ON, ON THIS PROJECT WITH US AS WELL.

GOOD EVENING, COUNSEL.

MAYOR.

UH, MY NAME IS ROSS MUNSTERMAN.

I'M AN ATTORNEY WITH FEATHERSTON GOMER STOCKS, FLYNN AND NECK.

I'VE BEEN, UM, UH, LUCKY ENOUGH TO KNOW, UH, MS. JOHNSON SINCE ABOUT AUGUST OF LAST YEAR WHEN SHE FIRST APPROACHED ME TO ASSIST HER, UM, WITH PREPARING SOME DOCUMENTS FOR HER BUSINESS.

AND FROM THE FIRST TIME THAT I MET MS. JOHNSON, IT WAS CLEAR THAT SHE HAS A PASSION FOR WHAT SHE DOES.

UM, AND PASSION IS WHAT THIS COMMUNITY NEEDS IN ORDER TO, UM, BUILD ALL OF US UP.

UM, MS. JOHNSON HAS BEEN, UM, WORKING DILIGENTLY BEHIND THE SCENES AS SHE'S WAITED, UM, FOR THIS PROJECT TO BE COMPLETED SO THAT WHEN THIS PROJECT IS TURNED OVER TO HER, THAT SHE IS GONNA HIT THE GROUND RUNNING.

SHE'S NOT SITTING ON HER HANDS.

SHE'S PREPARING FOR THAT DAY SO THAT WHEN SHE IS, UH, FINALLY GIVEN THOSE KEYS, SHE WILL BE SUCCESSFUL AND MAKE YOU ALL PROUD FOR THE DECISIONS THAT YOU MAKE TONIGHT OR DOWN THE ROAD.

SO I JUST WANTED TO GIVE YOU THAT BACKGROUND ON MY, MY KNOWLEDGE OF MS. JOHNSON.

UM, JUST TO SPEAK, UH, BRIEFLY TO SOME OF THE COMMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN MADE.

UM, AS MS. JOHNSON SAID, SHE HAS BEEN WORKING WITH FIRST MID, I KNOW THAT BECAUSE SHE FIRST CAME TO ME AT THE RECOMMENDA RECOMMENDATION OF HER LENDER MORE THAN A YEAR AGO.

UM, SO SHE HAS, UH, AGAIN, BEEN WORKING BEHIND THE SCENES TO MAKE SURE THAT SHE IS SUCCESSFUL.

UM, SHE IS MORE THAN WILLING TO UPDATE HER BUSINESS PLAN IF THAT'S WHAT'S REQUIRED HERE.

SHE'S NOT, UM, YOU KNOW, GOING TO SHY AWAY FROM AN ADDITIONAL CHALLENGE.

SHE'S HERE TO MEET IT HEAD ON AND ANSWER ALL THE QUESTIONS THAT YOU HAVE.

AND IF PROVIDING THAT BUSINESS PLAN MAKES YOU MORE COMFORTABLE MOVING FORWARD, SHE'S MORE THAN WILLING TO DO THAT.

AS FAR AS THE, UM, CONTRACT AND THE TERMS THAT ARE IN THERE, UM, TO MAYOR WOLF'S POINT ABOUT, UH, WANTING FURTHER NEGOTIATION, UH, YOU KNOW, I'VE WORKED WITH SHERRY IN, UM, UH, NEGOTIATING THE TERMS WITH, UM, CHIEF CORPORATION COUNSEL, MS. MORLAND, AND I THINK MS. MORLAND COULD SPEAK TO THE FACT THAT WE'VE BEEN VERY AMENABLE.

UM, THERE WERE SOME THINGS THAT WE'VE GONE BACK AND FORTH ABOUT WHAT WE'VE ALWAYS REACHED A COMPROMISE.

AND SO, YOU KNOW, IF THERE ARE ADDITIONAL PROVISIONS THAT WOULD MAKE YOU MORE COMFORTABLE IN TERMS OF HAVING GROWTH, UM, GOALS, YOU, I THINK THAT MS. JOHNSON AND I WOULD BE HAPPY TO SPEAK ABOUT THAT YOU WITH CORPORATION COUNCIL TO COME TO AN AGREEMENT THAT YOU'RE ALL, UM, HAPPY WITH.

I DON'T THINK THAT YOU, THOSE ARE THE KINDS OF THINGS THAT ARE GONNA BE BARRIERS TO GETTING THIS DONE.

UM, WE ARE, YOU KNOW, READY TO GET THIS MOVING FORWARD.

AND SO ANYTHING THAT WE CAN DO TO EXPEDITE THAT PROCESS, WE'LL BE HAPPY TO DO.

AND, AND I FULLY SUPPORT THE GROWTH MODEL.

IT JUST WASN'T PART OF WHAT WAS PRESENTED TO US.

AND IT HAD GONE, YOU KNOW, WE, WE WENT FROM THIS BIG EXPECTATION OF 24 7, NOT, NOT DAY ONE GRANTED, BUT, YOU KNOW, TO A MUCH MORE EXPENSIVE, BUT

[01:30:01]

ABSOLUTELY.

AND YOU KNOW, THE, THE INITIAL DRAFT THAT I SAW, YOU KNOW, DID HAVE SOME 24 7, BUT FROM DAY ONE.

AND SO WE CONSERVATIVELY BACKED OFF FROM THAT JUST BECAUSE THERE IS STILL SOME LEAD TIME HERE.

YOU KNOW, WE'VE GOT, UH, AN AUGUST ONE COMPLETION DATE OF NEXT YEAR BEFORE IT'S EVEN IN OUR HANDS.

THEN WE'VE GOT A TWO YEAR RUNUP TO GET, YOU KNOW, ADDITIONAL WORK.

YOU KNOW, AS YOU SAID, WE'RE, THIS IS A PARTNERSHIP.

SO IF YOU LOOK AT EXHIBIT B, THERE'S A LAUNDRY LIST OF THINGS THAT MS. JOHNSON IS AGREEING TO DO AFTER THE PROJECT'S TURNED OVER TO HER ADDITIONAL REPAIRS, LEAD-BASED TESTING TO ENSURE THAT SHE'S IN COMPLIANCE WITH DCFS REGULATIONS AND SHE'S BEEN WORKING HAND IN HAND WITH THEM TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS BUILDING IS GOING TO BE, UM, UP TO CODE SO THAT SHE CAN GET PUT OUR CHILDREN IN THERE.

UM, AND SO, YOU KNOW, AS FAR AS, UH, NEGOTIATING THOSE TERMS, AGAIN, WE, WE WANT THIS TO SUCCEED.

WE WANT THE COUNCIL TO BE COMFORTABLE WITH WHAT THE LANGUAGE IS, AND WE'RE HAPPY TO CONTINUE THOSE NEGOTIATIONS IF THAT'S WHAT'S NEEDED.

UM, AGAIN, WITH THE GOAL OF EXPEDITING THIS AND GETTING THIS MOVING FORWARD AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

MS. GREG, THANK YOU FOR THAT EXPLANATION.

UM, THE EXPEDITED PART OF THIS IS, I'D LIKE TO SEE THIS BACK ON THE COUNCIL'S AGENDA AT OUR NEXT MEETING.

UM, I WOULD LIKE COUNSEL TO BE ABLE TO SEE THE DOCUMENTS THAT SHERRY AND HER ATTORNEY HAVE TALKED ABOUT, BUT I WANNA CAUTION THIS COUNSEL THAT WHAT SHE IS TURNING OVER TO YOU IS HER BUSINESS PLAN AND IT IS PROPRIETARY.

AND QUITE FRANKLY, IF IT LEAVES ANY ONE OF US AND IT GETS OUT INTO THE PUBLIC, I'M GOING TO SEEK A SANCTION AND RELIEF OF YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES ON THIS COUNCIL BECAUSE THAT'S HOW SERIOUS THIS IS.

IF SHE TRUSTS US, WE HAVE TO EARN THAT TRUST.

SO I WANNA KNOW IF COUNT IF, UH, STAFF UNDERSTAND EXACTLY WHAT HAS TO HAPPEN IN THE NEXT TWO WEEKS BEFORE I MAKE A SECOND TO THE TABLE.

MR. GLEASON, IT'S VERY CLEAR.

AND, UH, THE NEXT, UH, COUNCIL MEETING WILL BE OCTOBER 6TH.

UH, I WILL PERSONALLY, UH, LEAD THE, UH, FOLLOW UP CONVERSATIONS.

OBVIOUSLY, CORPORATION COUNCIL WILL BE PRESENT AND WE'LL HAVE SOMETHING BACK IN FRONT OF COUNCIL, UH, ON OCTOBER 6TH.

MR. HORN, IF MS. JOHNSON OR MR. MUSMAN CAN TALK TO THIS POINT, I MENTIONED EARLIER THAT THERE COULD BE A 24 MONTH TIME PERIOD BETWEEN TRANSFER THE DEED AND WHEN YOU HAVE TO HAVE, UM, DCFS APPROVAL.

SO ASSUMING $1,800 PER MONTH FOR MAINTENANCE ON A MONTHLY BASIS, THAT'S $43,200.

UM, COULD YOU DE DESCRIBE, UM, HOW THAT MM, THAT IS SOMETHING THAT YOU ARE PREPARED TO DO? YES, SIR.

UM, I AM PREPARED, BUT THAT IS NOT THE INTENT.

THE TWO YEARS IS TO GIVE LEEWAY FOR MY COMPANY TO MAKE SURE THE COMPLETION IS DONE.

THE NUM THE TIMEFRAME WAS RATHER TIGHT ON THE AGREEMENT.

AND LIKE WE STATED, WE WANNA MAKE SURE THE AGREEMENT IS IN FAVOR OF BOTH PARTIES.

UM, WE WOULD, WE ARE DEFINITELY GOING TO MAKE THOSE CHANGES.

AND, UM, THE, WHEN LIKE HVAC, THE ISSUE WITH HVAC, HOW WE HAD TO WAIT MONTHS UP TO A YEAR FOR A PART TO BE DONE, THERE'S, WHEN WE'RE ON OUR CONSTRUCTION SITE AND WHEN IT'S OUR TURN TO STEP IN, WE WANNA ENSURE THAT THE PEOPLE THAT ARE WORKING HAVE TIME TO COMPLETE THE PROJECT.

WE DON'T KNOW IF IT'S GONNA BE A TIME SPAN FOR THEM TO GET A PIECE IN, JUST LIKE YOU GUYS HAD THE ISSUE WITH THE HVAC EQUIPMENT.

SO BY NO MEANS DO WE EXPECT IT TO TAKE TWO YEARS, WE JUST WANNA HAVE ROOM IN CASE WE HAVE A TIME SPAN OR WAIT BEFORE THINGS MATERIALS ARE GIVEN.

YEAH, I I DON'T WANT IT TO WAIT TWO YEARS EITHER, RIGHT? I MEAN, 'CAUSE CHILDCARE IS ESSENTIAL FOR RIGHT NOW.

UH, MY, I'VE WE'VE JUST IN THE PAST, NOT NECESSARILY IN THIS PARTICULAR PROJECT IN THE PAST, UM, WE FIND OUT THAT INDIVIDUALS DO NOT HAVE THE RESOURCES TO MAINTAIN THE PROPERTY.

AND, AND I THINK, UH, TO GO BACK TO, UH, WHAT WAS MENTIONED EARLIER, UH, MS. JOHNSON HAS BEEN WORKING, UM, FOR OVER A YEAR TO SECURE FINANCING TO HAVE THAT IN PLACE SO THAT WHEN THE BUILDING IS TURNED OVER TO HER AND SHE DOES UNDERTAKE THOSE ADDITIONAL, UH, YOU KNOW, FINAL, UM, REPAIRS TO MAKE THIS, UH, IN COMPLIANCE WITH DCFS CODE, THOSE FUNDS WILL BE USED TOWARDS, UM, ANY MAINTENANCE THAT IS, UM, NEEDED.

YOU KNOW, WHETHER IT'S HEATING AND COOLING, PROPERTY TAXES, THOSE TYPES OF THINGS THAT WILL BE PART OF THE FINANCING THAT SHE RECEIVES TO ENSURE THAT THE BUILDING IS, UH, YOU KNOW, KEPT OPERATIONAL UNTIL WE DO HAVE OPENING DAY.

ARE WE READY TO VOTE ON THE TABLE? SO PAT, YOU HAD, WE'LL TAKE THE TABLE OFF PAUSE AND YES.

MOTION FOR I MOVE THAT WE TABLE THIS AGENDA ITEM TILL FOR TWO WEEKS.

NEXT MEETING.

SECOND COUNCILMAN COOPER,

[01:35:07]

I'M GONNA GO AHEAD AND VOTE FOR THIS FOR TWO WEEKS, BUT I REALLY HOPE WE COME BACK IN TWO WEEKS.

WE SETTLE THIS MATTER AND THEN WE DON'T PUT SOME ADDITIONAL RESTRICTIONS ON SOMEBODY.

AND WHEN THEY PROVIDE US THE INFORMATION, I THINK WE GOT ENOUGH INFORMATION DOWN FROM WHAT SHE SAID AND THE LAWYER SAID.

BUT, UH, WE'LL GO WITH THE TWO WEEKS, BUT I HOPE WE GET THIS RESOLVED FOR OUR COMMUNITY IN TWO WEEKS.

THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN.

SO, YES.

BRINGS US TO THE CITY MANAGER.

[11. City Manager Update]

UPDATE MR. GLEASON? THANK YOU, MAYOR.

WE MAY WANNA GIVE IT A MOMENT 'CAUSE I THINK WE HAVE A GROUP THAT, UM, ARE EXITING.

YOU READY TO GO, MAYOR? YES.

ALRIGHT.

UH, MAYOR, COUNSEL INTO THE COMMUNITY.

UH, BEFORE I GET TO THE SLIDES THAT I HAVE, UH, JUST ADDING ONE MORE COMMENT, UH, TO, UH, THE LAST ITEM.

UM, AND COUNCILWOMAN GREGORY, UH, YOU KNOW, SAID IT PER PERFECTLY.

AND, UH, MS. OWENS UNDER A PUBLIC COMMENT, YOU KNOW, THIS COUNCIL SHOULD NEVER HAVE TO TAKE A POSITION THAT YOU'RE ASKING 20 QUESTIONS.

YOU HAVE TO ASK SOMETHING PROPERLY.

AND I KNOW THAT WE'VE HAD INSTANCES OF THAT WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT CITY FINANCES, UH, UH, YOU KNOW, IN IN THE RECENT PAST.

BUT ON THIS TOPIC, SERIOUSLY, COMMUNITY, GO BACK TO THAT DECEMBER 18TH, 2023 COUNCIL MEETING THAT KICKED ALL OF THIS OFF.

THIS COUNCIL OR THE COUNCIL AT THAT TIME THAT WAS SEATED.

THEY COULD NOT HAVE ASKED MORE PERFECT QUESTIONS.

THEY DID.

AND, UH, IT WAS, UH, THE LEADERSHIP AT THE TIME THAT, UH, THAT TRULY, UH, FAILED THIS BODY.

SO I APOLOGIZE FOR THAT FIRST SLIDE, JIM.

UH, WE HAVE AN EMPLOYEE ACHIEVEMENT, AND THIS IS NO SMALL ONE.

UH, IT TRULY IS A BIG DEAL.

UH, AND THE WATER DEPARTMENT, WE HAVE JOSEPH, UH, BORN KATHLEEN DAVIS, UH, THAT HAVE ACHIEVED, UH, CLASS A WATER TREATMENT PLANT OPERATOR THAT IS THE HIGHEST LEVEL THAT'S AWARDED IN THE STATE OF ILLINOIS.

UH, THERE'S A LOT OF HOOPS TO JUMP THROUGH, AND ONE OF THOSE IS, UH, TIME.

IT TAKES, UH, 5,000 PLUS HOURS TO, UH, ACT AS A LOWER LEVEL OPERATOR.

AND TO ACHIEVE THIS, UH, IT'S QUITE THE, THE ACCOMPLISHMENT.

I MEAN, THIS IS THE HIGHEST LEVEL THAT SOMEONE, UH, UH, HAS TO BE IN ORDER TO RUN OUR PLANT, AND WE HAVE MULTIPLE PEOPLE THAT HOLD THAT POSSESSION.

UH, LACEY, IF YOU WOULD GO AHEAD AND COME UP TO THE PODIUM, WE HAVE, UH, TWO ADDITIONAL COMMUNITY REVITALIZATION SLIDES, UH, THAT I TRULY WANT HER TO TAKE THE VICTORY LAP.

IT, IT IS IN THIS MOMENT, IT IS IN THIS TRANSITION PERIOD.

I KNOW THAT I'VE SPOKE TO THAT MANY TIMES, BUT, UH, THIS IS AN UP UPDATE TO THE COMMUNITY ABOUT WHAT WE'RE DOING TODAY, UH, WORKING TOWARDS THAT EVENTUAL 26 TO 2030 PLAN THAT WILL COME, UH, BEFORE COUNCIL FOR INPUT.

BUT THIS IS WHAT WE'RE DOING IN THE HERE AND NOW.

LACEY, WE'RE ON DECATUR MOVES.

? NO, THAT ONE'S MINE.

I'M TAKING THIS ONE AS WELL.

I WAS GONNA SAY, I'LL TAKE THAT TOO.

I'M EXCITED ABOUT THAT.

WELL, I'M, I'M GONNA TALK ABOUT YOU.

THIS HAS BEEN A HUGE SUCCESS AND, UH, IT IS QUITE AMAZING, UH, WHAT COUNCIL, UH, APPROVED, UH, YOU KNOW, EARLIER THIS YEAR AND THE FACT THAT THIS THING IS UP AND RUNNING.

UH, WE HAVE COUNTERPARTS THAT HAVE, UH, YOU KNOW, OUT IN THIS, UH, DIFFERENT PARTS OF ILLINOIS AND THEY, UH, ONLY HAD LIKE A HUNDRED RIDES AND THAT WAS THE MAX OUT THERE.

AND I THINK WE WERE PUSHING 250, IF NOT 300.

THIS IS A HUGE SUCCESS AND, UH, WORTH THE VICTORY LAP ON THE PART OF COUNCIL AND UNDER, UH, LACEY'S LEADERSHIP.

SO WELL DONE.

NEXT SLIDE.

ARE KIND OF KICKED OUT FOR A LITTLE BIT OF HIGHER INCOME FROM THE CDBG PROGRAM.

SO, UM, TODAY WE ARE BRINGING FORTH THE RESIDENTIAL EXTERIOR IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM, AND THAT IS, UH, FOR 13 HOMES IDENTIFIED FOR UPGRADES.

WE FOCUSED ON THE KEY CORRIDORS, UM, AND AREAS WHERE THERE HAD BEEN DEMOLITIONS OCCURRING.

SO ROUTE 51, MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR.

IN THE MILLIKEN AREA.

AND THIS IS FOR HOMEOWNERS THAT DON'T USUALLY QUALIFY, UM, OR

[01:40:01]

SO IT'S A COMPLIMENT TO OUR OTHER GRANT FUNDED PROGRAMS. THIS FOCUSES ON EXTERIOR SIDING, UH, STRUCTURAL PORCHES, ROOFS, ET CETERA.

AND, UM, ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THOSE? THE OTHER ONE IS THE MILLIKEN CORRIDOR PERMIT WAIVER.

AND SO WE ALL KNOW THAT WE OWN A LOT OF CITY OWNED LAND IN THIS AREA.

WE OWN 28 PARCELS OF LAND AND ARE DEVELOPING A REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS TO GO OUT TO HAVE HOUSING DEVELOPED ON THAT.

AS PART OF THAT, WE ARE ASKING THAT COUNCIL TAKE A PROACTIVE APPROACH AND WAIVE THE PERMIT FEES FOR NEW CONSTRUCTION IN THAT AREA, UH, FOR THOSE 28 PARCELS, BUT ALSO WITHIN THE AREAS THAT ARE CONTIGUOUS TO IT FOR ANY HOMEOWNERS THAT WISH TO MAKE ANY IMPROVEMENTS SO THAT WE CAN HAVE A STRATEGIC IMPACT FOR THAT AREA.

MM-HMM .

UH, LACEY, JUST A QUESTION BACK TO THE PREVIOUS ONE, JUST ONE SECOND.

MM-HMM .

UM, YOU GOT, I THINK IT'S 25 HOMES UP THERE.

UM, 28, ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT THE MILLIKEN CORRIDOR? THE RE THE RESIDENTIAL EXTERIOR IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM? UM, THAT I BELIEVE IS 22 HOMES.

NO, IT'S 11.

11, YES.

HOW WERE THEY SELECTED? SO THEY WERE, UH, EVERYONE IN THE AREA WAS SENT A LETTER AND CITY STAFF DID APPROACH THEM ON THOSE MAIN CORRIDORS.

AND THEN THE ONES THAT WERE INTERESTED, UM, OR RESPONDED BACK, WERE THEN VETTED THROUGH THE PROGRAM.

DO WE KNOW HOW MANY GOT UNVETTED? UH, I DON'T HAVE THAT FIGURE FOR YOU RIGHT NOW.

YOU KNOW THAT WHEN YOU FIND THAT I CAN.

THANKS.

DR. HORNE, DID YOU HAVE A QUESTION ON THAT, MS. ELIAN IN REGARDS TO THE MILKEN CORRIDOR PERMIT WAIVER? I THINK IT'S A GOOD IDEA.

UM, WAS THERE THOUGHT GIVEN TO THIS TYPE OF PROGRAM FOR THE CENTRAL TIFF AS A WHOLE, UM, AS A WAY TO SPUR DEVELOPMENT? SO THIS IS THE FIRST TIME WE'VE DONE SOMETHING LIKE THIS AND WE'RE LOOKING AT IT MORE AS A PILOT.

AND SO WE WANNA KEEP IT SMALL AND STRATEGIC SO AS NOT TO, UM, AFFECT THE REVENUE STREAM.

UM, AND WE WILL BE BETTER ABLE TO EVALUATE ITS IMPACT IF WE PILOT IT IN A SMALLER AREA.

FIRST, I'LL SHARE THIS, I'LL PIGGYBACK OFF THAT.

THANK YOU, LACEY.

WE'RE, WE'RE GOOD.

UH, IS IN THIS TRANSITION YEAR, YOU KNOW, WE'RE TRYING TO BE VERY INTENTIONAL.

WE'RE TRYING TO, UM, UH, FOCUS, UH, VERY LIMITED RESOURCES IN, IN AN AREA THAT, UH, WE MAY HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT.

UH, AND OR, UH, IT'S AN AREA THAT THERE'S OTHER INVESTMENT THAT IS OCCURRING.

SO SOME OF THE IDEAS THAT WE ARE, UH, SORT OF SAMPLING OR TESTING, UH, IN THIS TRANSITION YEAR, YOU'LL LIKE TO LIKELY SEE THEM AS A COMPONENT OF THE LARGER FIVE YEAR PLAN THAT WILL COME BACK BEFORE COUNCIL SOME MORE TO COME.

IS THAT THE FULL REPORT? YES.

IT IS ONTO THE CONSENT CALENDAR.

AND NOW

[12. 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.]

DOES ANYONE ON COUNSEL WISH TO REMOVE ANY OF THE ITEMS ON THE CONSENT CALENDAR? MR. COOPER? WHY? OKAY.

ITEM Y.

ANY OTHERS? OKAY.

C NONE.

ITEM A ORDINANCE REZONING PROPERTY, 200 BLOCK OF, EXCUSE ME, 200 BLOCK OF WEST MOUND ROAD FROM R THREE SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENCE DISTRICT TO B TWO COMMERCIAL DISTRICT.

ITEM B ORDINANCE REZONING PROPERTY AT TWO 80 WEST NORTH FROM B TWO COMMERCIAL DISTRICT TO R SIX, MULTIPLE DWELLING DISTRICT ITEM C RESOLUTION WAIVING ALL CITY PERMIT FEES FOR DEVELOPMENT WITH MILLIKEN CORRIDOR ITEM D RESOLUTION, ACCEPTING THE BID AND AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION OF AGREEMENT WITH PRECISION PRO LLC FOR THE RESIDENTIAL EXTERIOR IMPROVEMENTS AT 9 24 WESTWOOD STREET.

ITEM E RESOLUTION, ACCEPTING THE BID AND AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION OF AGREEMENT WITH PRECISION PRO LLC FOR THE RESIDENTIAL EXTERIOR IMPROVEMENTS AT 2164 NORTH WATER STREET ITEM F RESOLUTION, ACCEPTING THE BID AND AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION OF AN AGREEMENT WITH PRECISION PRO LLC FOR THE RESIDENTIAL EXTERIOR IMPROVEMENTS AT EIGHT 17 WEST MACON STREET.

ITEM G RESOLUTION, ACCEPTING THE BID AND AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION OF AN AGREEMENT WITH PRECISION PRO LLC FOR THE RESIDENTIAL EXTERIOR IMPROVEMENTS AT 2275 NORTH MAIN STREET, ITEM H RESOLUTION, ACCEPTING THE BID AND AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION OF AN AGREEMENT WITH PRECISION PRO LLC FOR THE RESIDENTIAL EXTERIOR IMPROVEMENTS AT 5 36 EAST GRAND AVENUE.

ITEM I RESOLUTION ACCEPTING THE BID AND AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION OF AN AGREEMENT WITH PRECISION PRO LLC FOR THE RESIDENTIAL EXTERIOR IMPROVEMENTS AT 10 43 WESTWOOD

[01:45:01]

STREET, ITEM J RESOLUTION, ACCEPTING THE BID AND AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION AND AGREEMENT WITH PRECISION PRO LLC FOR THE RESIDENTIAL EXTERIOR IMPROVEMENTS AT 1946 NORTH MARTIN LUTHER KING JR.

DRIVE ITEM K RESOLUTION, ACCEPTING THE BID AND AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION AND AGREEMENT WITH PRECISION PRO LLC FOR THE RESIDENTIAL EXTERIOR IMPROVEMENTS AT 10 37 WESTWOOD STREET, ITEM L RESOLUTION, ACCEPTING THE BID AND AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION OF AN AGREEMENT WITH PRECISION PRO LLC FOR THE RESIDENTIAL EXTERIOR IMPROVEMENTS AT 4 29 SOUTH OAKLAND AVENUE.

ITEM M RESOLUTION, ACCEPTING THE BID AND AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION OF AN AGREEMENT WITH PRECISION PRO LLC FOR THE RESIDENTIAL EXTERIOR IMPROVEMENTS AT 1630 NORTH MARTIN LUTHER KING JR.

DRIVE ITEM N RESOLUTION, ACCEPTING THE BID AND AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION OF AN AGREEMENT WITH PRECISION PRO LLC FOR THE RESIDENTIAL EXTERIOR IMPROVEMENTS AT 2270 NORTH MAIN STREET.

ITEM O RESOLUTION, AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION OF AN AGREEMENT WITH STEVE'S TRUCKING FOR THE DEMOLITION OF 9 42 NORTH MAIN STREET.

ITEM P RESOLUTION, RECEIVING THE FILING OF THE 2024 OFFICIAL ZONING MAP.

ITEM Q ORDINANCE AMENDING CITY CODE CHAPTER 52, ALCOHOLIC LIQUOR ITEM R ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING CONSUMPTION OF ALCOHOLIC LIQUOR ON THE PUBLIC RIGHTS OF WAY.

100 BLOCK OF EAST PRAIRIE AVENUE AND 100 BLOCK OF NORTH MERCHANT STREET DECATUR AREA ARTS COUNCIL DOWNTOWN DECATUR FALL FAMILY FESTIVAL ITEM S ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING CONSUMPTION OF ALCOHOLIC LIQUOR ON PUBLIC RIGHTS OF WAY.

100 BLOCK OF NORTH MERCHANT STREET, NORTHEAST COMMUNITY FUND FARM TO FUND ITEM T ORDINANCE ANNEXING TERRITORY 30 61 SOUTH WHEATLAND ROAD.

ITEM U RESOLUTION.

ACCEPTING THE BID AND AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION OF A CONTRACT WITH COCHRAN'S CUSTOM HARDSCAPES FOR THE 2025 LAKE DECATUR STALEY BASIN IMPROVEMENTS DAILY BOAT PROJECT, CITY PROJECT 2025 DASH 17 ITEM THE RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING AN AGREEMENT WITH THE ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE AND ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY FOR SITE READINESS PLANNING GRANT FOR THE THE NORTHEAST WATER MAIN EXTENSION ITEM W RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING A PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH CLARK DIETZ INC.

TO PROVIDE FINAL DESIGN ENGINEERING SERVICES FOR THE NORTHEAST WATER MAIN EXTENSION CITY PROJECT 2025 DASH 13 ITEM X RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING PAYMENT TO THE MACON COUNTY LAW ENFORCEMENT TRAINING CENTER FOR NEW POLICE OFFICER RECRUIT TRAINING RECRUIT CLASS 2025 DASH 26 ITEM Z, ORDINANCE APPROVING APPOINTMENT CITY TREASURER.

I NEED A MOTION TO APPROVE THE ITEMS AS PRESENTED.

SECOND QUESTION.

UM, QUESTION? MY QUESTION IS, UM, WE HAVE TO VOTE ON THE YEAH, WEDNESDAY BEFORE QUESTION THEY HAD TO BE POLLED IF THERE WAS A QUESTION.

THIS IS ALL OF THEM.

ALL OF THEM.

YEAH, I KNOW THAT, BUT I GOT A QUESTION ON THAT.

ON THE VOTE FOR BEFORE YOU VOTE BY ROBERT RULES ORDER? NO, NO.

THE CONSENT FOR CLARITY.

FOR CLARITY THE ON THE CONSENT AGENDA THAT WAS JUST READ JUST ON A CLARITY QUESTION.

OF COURSE CLARITY ON THE THE AGENDA.

YEAH, IT'S NOT BUT IT'S NOT ON THE ONE YOU PULLED, THE ONE YOU PULLED WILL READ NEXT.

NO, I UNDERSTAND THAT.

I'M I'M TALKING ABOUT CLARITY QUESTION ON THE, THE ONES WE JUST, SHE JUST READ OFF.

AND I MEAN, YOU CAN ALWAYS DO A QUESTION BEFORE A VOTE, NOT GENERALLY NOT WITH THE CONSENT CALENDAR, BUT I MEAN WITH THE, I MEAN IF IT'S A QUESTION ABOUT WHAT YOU'RE VOTING ON YEAH, NO, MY, MY QUESTION THAT ISSUE IS, UM, I SAID WHY I MEANT Z BECAUSE IF WE DO Y YOU CAN'T DO Z.

SO THE ONE THAT WAS I ONE PULLED WAS, WAS Z, NOT Y OBJECTION.

YOU CAN'T PROVE Y WOULDN'T WITHOUT Z BEING APPROVED.

I I MEAN YEAH, YOU CAN'T PROVE Z WITHOUT Y BEING APPROVED.

I'M NOT SURE IF YOU DON'T HAVE THE CONTRACT, YOU CAN'T PROVE THE PERSON.

THAT'S MY, THAT'S, SO I WAS TRYING TO CLEAR TO CORRECT THAT THE ITEM TO BE PULLED SHOULD HAVE BEEN Z VERSUS Y.

SO YOU MISSPOKE AND WANTED YES, THAT'S UP, THAT'S UP TO COUNSEL.

IF YOU WANNA JUST SWITCH THOSE AROUND THAT, THAT'S FINE UNLESS ANYBODY HAS AN OBJECTION.

SO Z REMAINS ON THE CONSENT CALENDAR.

NO, I THINK Z IS WHAT HE WANTS.

PULLED Y IS NOW.

OKAY, GOT IT.

SO WHY RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING AN AGREEMENT WITH MGT IMPACT SOLUTIONS LLC FOR FINANCE DIRECTOR, I NEED A MOTION TO PROVE THE ITEMS IS PRESENTED.

A MOTION IS APPROVED BASED ON, UM, THE CHANGES TO THE CONSENT TO CALENDAR.

I NEED A SECOND.

APPOINTMENT CITY MANAGER.

COUNCILMAN COLE? AYE.

[Z. Ordinance Approving Appointment - City Treasurer]

MOTION TREASURER.

OH, SORRY ABOUT THAT.

CITY TREASURER MOTION THAT

[01:50:01]

THE ORDINANCE TO PASS AND BE ADOPTED.

COUNCILMAN COOPER? OKAY, THANK YOU.

SORRY FOR THAT.

UM, I, I KNOW WE'RE IN A, IN A SITUATION WHERE WE NEED, WE'RE IN DIRE NEED OF GETTING OUR CITY TREASURER OR GETTING SOMEONE IN THAT ROLE AND I KNOW THAT, UM, WE'RE PROBABLY LUCKY I, I DON'T THINK I'VE WORKED THIS GENTLEMAN BEFORE, BUT I THINK WE'RE LUCKY TO GET HIM BACK TO HELP US OUT IN THE MEANTIME.

BUT MY ONLY THING THAT I WANTED TO INDICATE IS THAT, UM, THE, THE AMOUNT OF SALARY AND FUNDS WE'RE GONNA BE PAYING THIS INDIVIDUAL UNDER THE CONTRACT IS EXTREMELY HIGHER THAN WHAT WE'D BE PAYING THEM IF THEY'RE OR CITY EMPLOYEE.

SO I'M JUST ENCOURAGING THE COUNCIL ON THE CITY AND WHOEVER'S STAFF IS GONNA BE SEARCHING FOR A BODY PERMANENT BODY THAT WE DO IT AS HOPEFULLY WE DO IT WITHIN BEFORE THE SIX MONTHS TERM OF THIS CONTRACT AND GET A BODY IN THERE IN THE CITY POSITION SO WE'RE NOT, UH, PAYING OUT EXORBITANT FUNDS, UH, FOR THAT POSITION THAT WE WOULD BE PAYING OUT IF WE WERE PAYING THE CITY EMPLOYEE.

MR. GLEASON, DID YOU HAVE A COMMENT TO THAT OR NO? NO.

YES.

I CALL A QUESTION PLEASE.

BUSINESS I WOULD JUST LIKE TO COMMEND COUNCILMAN CULP, WHO BEFORE OUR LAST MEETING, UH, WAS WITNESS TO, UM, A COUPLE OF SUSPECTS THAT WERE INVOLVED OR POTENTIALLY INVOLVED IN AN ALTERCATION DOWNTOWN THAT COULD HAVE BEEN VERY DANGEROUS AND HE DID THE SMART THING, STAYED BACK, BUT WATCHED THEM AND NOTIFIED POLICE AND THEY WERE ABLE TO APPREHEND TWO SUSPECTS AND GET A GUN OFF THE STREET.

COUNCILMAN CULP? AYE.

MAYOR MOORE WOLF? AYE.

SEVEN AYES NO NAYS.

UM, IN OTHER

[VI. Other Business]

SO YOU'RE DOING THE WORK OF THE PEOPLE ALL THE TIME.

SO THANK YOU COUNCILMAN.

OLD HABITS ARE HARD TO BREAK.

WELL I'M IMPRESSED YOU DIDN'T JUMP OUT AND TACKLE 'EM, BUT THAT'S OKAY.

WE'RE JUST PROUD OF YOU.

SO, UH, OTHER BUSINESS ON PAT? JUST A REAL QUICK, I WANNA COMPLIMENT THE CITY COUNCIL AND CITY STAFF, UH, AND BEING PROACTIVE ON FINDING ADDITIONAL WATER SUPPLIES BECAUSE WE'RE IN A DRE UH, DROUGHT RIGHT NOW, WHICH COULD LAST INTO OCTOBER.

SO IT'S GOOD TO BE PROACTIVE 'CAUSE THERE'LL BE MORE COMING DOWN THE ROAD.

OKAY, AT THIS POINT I WOULD LIKE TO, UM, ADJOURN RECESS TO CLOSED EXECUTIVE SESSION.

RECESS TO CLOSE EXECUTIVE SESSION UNDER OPEN MEETINGS ACT SECTION TWO C ONE, THE APPOINTMENT, EMPLOYMENT COMPENSATION, DISCIPLINE, PERFORMANCE OR DISMISSAL OF SPECIFIC EMPLOYEES OF THE PUBLIC BODY.

I NEED A MOTION AND A SECOND.

MAYOR MOORE WOLF.