Dec 15, 2025 City Council Meeting

THANK YOU MR. BARRICK.

UH, MADAM MAYOR, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL.

MY NAME IS DON CARLSON AND I'M EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF ILLINOIS PEOPLE'S ACTION.

I'D LIKE TO READ A STATEMENT BY DR. JUDY PARRISH, WHO IS UNABLE TO MAKE TONIGHT'S MEETING, BUT DID WANT ME TO PRESENT THE TESTIMONY.

UH, DR. PARRISH IS A PROFESSOR EMERITUS OF BIOLOGY AT MILLIKEN UNIVERSITY, AND SHE WAS BORN AND RAISED ON A MACON COUNTY CENTENNIAL FARM, AND SHE RAISED FOUR KIDS ON A FOURTH GENERATIONAL FARM AT MOUNT AUBURN.

UH, AND THIS IS HER STATEMENT I'M ASKING YOU TO NULLIFY THE 99 YEAR EASEMENT FOR A DM CARBON CAPTURE AND STORAGE.

A DM CONTINUES TO TOUT ITS SAFETY PUBLICLY WITHOUT INFORMING DECISION MAKERS ABOUT NEW REPORTS BY CREDIBLE SCIENTISTS WHO ARE EXPERTS IN THE FIELD OF CARBON CAPTURE AND STORAGE WHO SAY THAT ADMS ACCIDENTS ARE JUST THE TIP OF THE ICEBERG.

MIT SCIENTIST AND FOUNDING MEMBER OF THE CARBON SEQUESTRATION ROUNDTABLE, CHARLES HARVEY SAYS IN HIS MARCH 17TH, 2025 REPORT ON THE MUHAMMAD AQUIFER THAT HIS QUOTE, CONCLUSIONS PROVIDED HERE ARE APPLICABLE TO ANY JURISDICTION CONSIDERING THE REGULATION OF INJECTION OF CO2 NEAR IMPORTANT WATER SOURCES.

HE POINTS OUT THAT THE OIL AND GAS INDUSTRY HAS A 20% ERROR RATE OF CORRECTLY ASSERTING IF A CAP ROCK WILL CONTAIN THE INJECTED MATERIAL.

CCS COMPANIES ARE USING THE SAME TECHNOLOGY.

DR. HARVEY STATES THAT A 20% ERROR RATE MAY BE ACCEPTABLE IN OIL AND GAS, BUT IT IS TOO HIGH FOR CORROSIVE.

CO2 STORAGE.

HEAVY METALS DISSOLVED IN THE CO2 BRINY MIX CAN BREACH THE CONFINEMENT ZONE AND TRAVEL UP TO IMPORTANT WATER SOURCES LIKE LAKE DECATUR POLLUTING OUR MUNICIPAL DRINKING WATER SUPPLIES.

OUR BEST ENGINEERING DESIGN CANNOT GUARANTEE THAT CCS INFRASTRUCTURE WILL DURABLY CONTINUOUSLY AND INDEFINITELY PREVENT CO2 MIGRATION.

AND IT NEEDS TO DO JUST THAT FOR US AND OUR WATER SUPPLY TO REMAIN SAFE.

THE CITY COUNCIL OF DECATUR AGREED TO THE 99 YEAR EASEMENT FOR ADMS PROJECT WITHOUT BEING FULLY INFORMED OF THE PRIOR ACCIDENTS ASSOCIATED WITH ADMS CCS EFFORTS.

A DM HAD KNOWLEDGE OF THESE INCIDENTS BUT FAILED TO DISCLOSE THIS CRUCIAL INFORMATION TO CITY OFFICIALS OR TO THE EPA RAISING SERIOUS CONCERNS ABOUT THE VALIDITY OF THE EASEMENT.

IT IS LIKELY THAT THE LOCATION OF THE GOOGLE BROAD WING POWER PLANT WAS CHOSEN BECAUSE DECATUR HAS ALLOWED THE CCS PROJECT.

IF TWO IMPORTANT ACCIDENTS HAVE ALREADY OCCURRED WHILE SEQUESTERING 4.5 ME MILLION METRIC TONS IN 15 YEARS, HOW MANY EVEN MORE DANGEROUS ACCIDENTS CAN WE EXPECT WITH THE PROPOSED 60 METRIC TONS A YEAR? PLEASE NULLIFY THE AGREEMENT.

I HIGHLY DOUBT THE CITIES OF THE CITIZENS OF DECATUR ARE WILLING TO TAKE THAT RISK.

THANK YOU, SIR.

MY NAME, EXCUSE ME.

MY NAME IS LINDA VIRGIL.

I LOVE QUOTES.

AND AMONG THE SEVERAL QUOTES I RECENTLY PUT ON THE WALL OF OUR HALF BATH IN OUR HOME IS ONE THAT SAYS, IN DEFINING THE ROOT OF A PROBLEM, YOU SUGGEST THE SOLUTION.

IT SEEMS THE ROOT OF THE PROBLEM IN THIS SCENARIO IS IN THE ABILITY TO DEFINE THE LEVEL OF RISK TO THE SAFETY OF THE WATER, OF THE WATER SUPPLY AND AIR QUALITY FOR THE CITY OF DECATUR.

IF A DM IS ALLOWED TO SEQUESTER CA O2 AT THE LEVEL THEY PLAN TO SEQUESTER IT.

SO LET'S BREAK THIS DOWN A LITTLE.

WHAT DO HIGHLY QUALIFIED SCIENTISTS SAY? THERE IS DISAGREEMENT AMONG HIGHLY QUALIFIED SCIENTISTS AS TO THE LEVEL OF RISK TO WATER AND AIR.

WHEN, WHEN SEQUESTERING CO2 AT THE PLANNED LEVEL, NONE OF THEM SAY THERE IS NO RISK.

THEY ARE UNABLE TO DO SO SINCE THE PROPOSED AMOUNT OF SEQUESTRATION IS UNPRECEDENTED, THEREIN LIES THE RISK.

WHAT COULD HAPPEN IN THE WORST CASE SCENARIO IF CO2 WERE TO ESCAPE INTO THE WATER SUPPLY OR THE AIR AT ANY POINT IN TIME IF IT LEAKED INTO THE WATER, THERE IS THE RISK THAT WE COULD NOT DRINK THE WATER FOR AN EXCEEDINGLY LONG TIME AND MAY BE FOREVER.

IF IT LEAKED INTO THE AIR AT VERY HIGH LEVELS, THE PEOPLE BREATHING IT IN WOULD DIE BY SUFFOCATION.

[00:15:02]

CORPORATIONS, HOWEVER, ARE SOMETIMES WILLING TO TAKE EXTRAORDINARY RISK WHEN MAJOR PROFITS ARE INVOLVED.

IF MY HUSBAND AND I WANTED TO START A SMALL BUSINESS THAT EMPLOYED FIVE PERMANENT EMPLOYEES AS THE A DM PROPOSAL DOES, AND IT POSE THE EXACT SAME RISK, I SUSPECT WE WOULD BE TURNED DOWN BY YOU.

I IMAGINE THIS WOULD BE A NO-BRAINER FOR YOU IF THE A DM WERE NOT SO PARTICULARLY IMPORTANT TO THE CITY OF DECATUR.

WE ACKNOWLEDGE THIS IS A DIFFICULT POLITICAL DECISION.

HOWEVER, IN TERMS OF THE RESPONSIBLE MORAL DECISION, IT SHOULD NOT BE THAT DIFFICULT.

DECATUR HAS BEEN ABLE TO SUPPORT ALL THE INDUSTRIES LIKE STALEY'S, A DM, MUELLERS, CATERPILLAR, AND MANY MORE.

THANK YOU, MA'AM.

HI, MY NAME IS DORIS MCKAY, AN AREA RESIDENT.

I REALIZE THAT CONSIDERABLE IMPACT OF THE DECISIONS MADE BY THE CITY OF DECATUR COUNCIL, THEY OFTEN IMPACT PEOPLE OUTSIDE THE CITY LIMITS OF DECATUR.

I KNOW THEY DO IN FACT IMPACT ME.

I'M HOPING THAT YOU WILL CONSIDER SOME OF MY CONCERNS AS I SHARE A GEOGRAPHICAL BOUNDARY WITH THE RESIDENTS OF DECATUR.

I LIVE WITHIN ADMS A OR FOR THEIR CCS PROJECT.

NOW, THAT'S A LOT OF ACRONYMS AND I'VE SPENT A LOT OF TIME SINCE SEPTEMBER OF 2024 LEARNING JUST WHAT THOSE ACRONYM ACRONYMS MEAN.

A DM ARCHER DANIELS MIDLAND AND THE U-S-E-P-A IDENTIFIED AN A OR THAT'S AN AREA OF REVIEW, WHICH MIGHT HAVE BEEN BETTER DESCRIBED AS AN AREA OF RISK FOR THEIR CCS CARBON CAPTURE AND SEQUESTRATION PROJECT, WHICH FOR ALL INTENTS AND PURPOSES, IS THE BEARING OF THEIR HAZARDOUS WASTE.

THE AREA OF RISK IS A 2 224 SQUARE MILE AREA AROUND A DM, WHICH INCLUDES DECATUR IN DECATUR'S WATER SUPPLY LAKE DECATUR.

IN MARCH OF 2003, A DM NEGOTIATED A 99 YEAR EASEMENT WITH THE CITY OF DECATUR TO BURY WASTE CO2 CARBON DIOXIDE UNDER THE CITY AND THE LAKE AND LAKE DECATUR.

IN RETURN, THE CITY WOULD RECEIVE $1 MILLION AT THE TIME A DM DID NOT DISCLOSE THAT THEY HAD, THERE HAD BEEN A LEAK IN JANUARY OF 2022, NOR THAT THEY HAD ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS THAT AT TIMES PREVENTED THEM FROM MONITORING THE CARBON DIOXIDE.

$1 MILLION SOUNDS LIKE A LOT OF MONEY, UNLESS YOU KNOW THAT A DM STANDS TO GET SOMEWHERE AROUND $100 MILLION OF TAXPAYER MONEY FOR THE PROJECT IN ONE YEAR.

99 YEARS SOUNDS LIKE A LONG TIME, BUT IF YOU, BUT DID YOU KNOW THAT IT TAKES 10,000 YEARS FOR CARBON CARBON DIOXIDE TO BECOME 90% IN EARN A DM WITHHELD VITAL INFORMATION WHEN IT NEGOTIATED THE LEASE INFORMATION REGARDING THE POTENTIAL RISK TO WATER AND AIR QUALITY OF THE CITY AND LAKE DECATUR THEY HAD SHARED, IF THEY HAD SHARED THAT VITAL INFORMATION, IT MIGHT'VE IMPACTED YOUR VOTE.

SO I'M HERE TO ASK YOU FOR MY OWN PROTECTION AND FOR THAT OF THE RESIDENTS OF THE CITY OF DECATUR TO ASK YOU TO WITHDRAW THE LEASE.

WILL YOU DO THAT? THANK YOU, MS. MCKAY.

MY NAME IS GEORGE VIRGIL.

THE CITY NEEDS TO DO TWO THINGS.

FIRST, HAVE THE 100 AND 3-YEAR-OLD EARTH DAM REEVALUATED TO REDUCE ITS HIGH STATUS AS A POTENTIAL, UH, CLASSIFICATION.

AND SECOND TO NULLIFY THE 99 YEAR EASEMENT.

I WAS STALEY'S, UH, UTILITY MANAGER.

I MANAGED THE WATER IN AND OUTTA THE PLANT AND OPERATED THE CO-GENERATION PLANT.

SO I KNOW A LOT ABOUT WATER AND ITS SOURCE LAKE DECATUR.

IF IT WEREN'T FOR MR. STALEY, THERE WOULD BE NO LAKE DECATUR.

HE NEEDED A RELIABLE WATER SUPPLY TO OPERATE THE CORN.

WE MILLING BUSINESS.

THE LAKE WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1922, WHICH MAKES IT 103 YEARS OLD TODAY BECAUSE IT WAS BUILT,

[00:20:01]

I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THE LAKE, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THE OLD EARTH THAN DAN AM AND IT'S ENCASED IN CONCRETE.

IT HAS GOT A HIGH POTENTIAL, UH, HAZARD CLASSIFICATION, WHICH IS VERY HIGH.

IT WAS NEVER DESIGNED TO THE MODERN STANDARDS.

TO WITHSTAND AN EARTHQUAKE OF OR HIGH MAGNITUDE, DAMS MUST STAND WITHSTAND SEVERE EARTHQUAKES WITH MINIMAL DEFORMATION TO PREVENT OVER TOPPING AND PROTECT THE LIFE AND LIBERTY.

EARTH DAMS MAY SLUMP AND DEFORM AS THE EARTH SHAKES AND ANALYSIS NEEDS TO BE MADE TO DETERMINE THE BEHAVIOR OF DAMS. WHETHER THEY REQUIRE RETROFIT PROJECTS WHILE THE DAM IS IN A MODERATE TWO A EARTHQUAKE ZONE.

THE COMBINATION OF ADMS CCS OPERATION AND THE PROPOSED BROAD WING POWER PLANT WILL NO DOUBT INCREASE BOTH THE FREQUENCY AND THE MAGNITUDE OF THE EARTHQUAKES.

A HIGH MAGNITUDE EARTHQUAKE PUTS THE 100 AND 3-YEAR-OLD EARTH DAM AT RISK OF FAILURE, NO WATER, POSSIBLE LOSS OF HUMAN LIFE AND PROPERTY, AND A NEGATIVE IMPACT.

THE CITY NEEDS TO DO TWO THINGS.

FIRST, HAVE THE 100 AND 3-YEAR-OLD EARTH DAM REEVALUATED TO REDUCE ITS HIGH HAZARD POTENTIAL CLASSIFICATION, AND SECONDLY, NULLIFY THE 99 YEAR EASEMENT.

THANK YOU, MR. VIRGIL.

HI, I'M DAWN DANEN, BRING, I'M THE POLICY DIRECTOR FOR ILLINOIS PEOPLE'S ACTION, AND I TOO AM HERE TO ASK YOU TO RESCIND THE 99 YEAR EASEMENT GIVEN TO A DM IN MARCH OF 2023.

AN ENTIRE YEAR AFTER A DM KNEW IT HAD A LEAK THAT IT NEVER DISCLOSED TO YOU.

THE CITY COUNCIL.

WHEN SOMEONE DOESN'T TELL YOU SOMETHING BAD, IT'S USUALLY BECAUSE THEY'RE AFRAID OF YOUR REACTION.

THEY WERE AFRAID IF YOU KNEW THE BAD NEWS ABOUT THEIR ACCIDENT AND OTHERS THAT MAY HAPPEN IN THE FUTURE.

YOU WOULDN'T, YOU WOULDN'T APPROVE OF THEIR EASEMENT AND THAT EASEMENT IS ALLOWING THEM TO BUILD OUT.

ONE OF THE PROJECTS THAT IS NOW BEING TALKED ABOUT WITH BROADWING IS THE GOOGLE DATA CENTER.

I BET IF YOU ASK EVERYBODY IN THIS ROOM, THERE ARE VERY FEW PEOPLE THAT WANT A DATA CENTER HERE.

AND WE DID A LITTLE EXPERIMENT.

GOOGLE USES.

GOOGLE HAS AI, IT'S CALLED GEMINI.

THAT'S LIKE ALL OF THESE CHATS.

AND WE ASKED GEMINI WHAT THE WATER USE WOULD BE IN DECATUR, AND IT SAID IT WOULD BE VERY HIGH.

AND WE ASKED WHAT WOULD BE THE WORST CASE SCENARIO.

AND IT ANSWERED THAT IN THE WORST CASE SCENARIO, DECATUR WOULD NEED A WHOLE NOTHER LAKE DECATUR.

THIS IS WATER.

EVERYBODY HERE DEPENDS ON TO DRINK.

AND IT NEEDS TO BE CLEAN.

IT NEEDS TO BE SAFE, AND IT NEEDS TO BE THERE.

SO I'M HERE TO ASK YOU TO, TO BE CAUTIOUS AND TO PROCEED KNOWING THAT WE NEED WATER FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS AND IT NEEDS TO BE CLEAN AND TO NOT BUY INTO THE IDEA THAT THIS IS THE PERFECT PLACE TO STORE.

UH, CO2 BECAUSE OF THE ROCK FORMATIONS DEEP UNDERGROUND, THEY LOOK LIKE SPONGES AND IT SOUNDS LIKE THEY'RE JUST WAITING FOR CO2 TO COME AND FILL THEM.

BUT THE TRUTH OF THE MATTER IS THEY'RE ALREADY FILLED WITH SALINE, WHICH IS SALTY WATER.

AND WHEN YOU COMBINE WATER WITH CO2, IT FORMS CARBONIC ACID.

IT DOESN'T MATTER IF IT'S SALTY OR NOT.

AND THAT CARBONIC ACID DEGRADES ROCK FORMATIONS AND THE VERY CAPSTONE THAT A DM HAS PROMISED WILL KEEP THE CO2 DOWN THERE FOREVER.

WELL, IT'S ALREADY COME ABOVE ONE OF THE ROCK FORMATIONS BECAUSE CO2 UNDERGROUND IS BUOYANT AND IT SEEKS THE PATH OF LEAST RESISTANCE UPWARD.

AS YOU'VE ALREADY HEARD ABOUT THE AREA OF REVIEW BEING 224 MILES.

IT'S ON THE FRONT COVER OF YOUR FOLDER.

YOU CAN SEE IT CO COVERS ALL OF LAKE DECATUR AND ALL OF DECATUR.

THIS IS A DISASTER IN THE MAKING AND WE ASK THAT YOU PLEASE, PLEASE RESCIND THE EASEMENT AND I'D LIKE ALL CONCERNED RESIDENTS HERE ON THIS ISSUE TO PLEASE STAND.

[00:25:01]

THANK YOU MA'AM.

YOU'RE OUT OF TIME.

I'LL BE SPEAKING TO SOMEONE IN LINE.

I'M NOT EXACTLY SURE WHAT JUST HAPPENED.

OKAY.

GIVE IT A SECOND FOR EVERYONE TO EXIT SO WE CAN HEAR YOU.

'CAUSE SOMETIMES IN THE HALLWAY IT GETS PRETTY LOUD.

IT WON'T BE TAKEN OFF YOUR TIME.

THAT'S FINE.

ALEX MILLER MILLIKEN UNIVERSITY.

I'LL GO AHEAD AND BEGIN.

UH, MY NAME IS ALEX MILLER.

I'M A PROFESSOR AT MILLIKEN UNIVERSITY AND I AM THE DIRECTOR OF THE ILLINOIS HUMANITIES DECATUR HUB.

UH, ILLINOIS HUMANITIES IS SUPPORTED BY THE NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE ARTS AS WELL AS THE THE MACARTHUR FOUNDATION.

UH, ILLINOIS HUMANITIES WAS KIND ENOUGH TO CREATE A HUB HERE IN DECATUR LAST YEAR AND SAW A FIT BASED ON OUR WORK TO INCREASE OUR FUNDING BY 25%.

UH, I AM HERE AGAIN THIS YEAR TO PUT A FACE TO EMAILS THAT MAY VERY WELL COME YOUR WAY, ASKING FOR COLLABORATION AND BRIDGES TO BE BUILT WHEN IT COMES TO THE CRIPPLING, COMMUNAL AND FISCAL BLIGHT OF MASS INCARCERATION.

IT IS SOMETHING THAT I KNOW EACH AND EVERY INDIVIDUAL IN THIS ROOM HAS BEEN IMPACTED BY IN SOME WAY.

AND THAT IS SPECIFICALLY THE CHARGE THAT WE HAVE IS TO GO ABOUT DIRECTLY INTERCEDING BEFORE INDIVIDUALS BECOME PART OF THE CARCERAL SYSTEM.

THIS CAN BE WHETHER BLUE LOTUS MEDIA ENGAGES WITH SCHOOLS, BRINGING PROGRAMMING, ARTS PROGRAMMING TO SCHOOLS OR UNIVERSAL CULTURAL COLLABORATIVE ORGANIZATION, PROVIDING RESOURCES FOR THE MARGINALIZED OR ART FROM THE HEART, PROVIDING A SAFE SPACE FOR CHILDREN WHOSE PARENTS ARE CURRENTLY IN THE CARCERAL SYSTEM.

UH, I CONTINUE TO HOPE TO BUILD BRIDGES BETWEEN YOU AS A UNIT AND YOU AS INDIVIDUALS.

I AM MORE THAN HAPPY TO MEET WITH YOU WITHIN REGULAR BUSINESS HOURS OR OUTSIDE OF BUSINESS HOURS.

AGAIN, MY NAME IS ALEX MILLER.

MY EMAIL ADDRESS WILL POP UP VERY EASILY THERE.

WE ALSO HAVE MONTHLY MEETINGS AT OLD KINGS ORCHARD COMMUNITY CENTER THAT ANYONE IS ABLE TO ATTEND.

UM, ONE OF MY COLLEAGUES WILL BE HAVING A COMMUNAL DINNER.

A COMMUNAL DINNER WILL BE HELD AT MACARTHUR HIGH SCHOOL DECEMBER THE 20TH FROM FOUR TO 9:00 PM WE'RE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR VOLUNTEERS, BUT IT IS A VERY GOOD EXAMPLE OF HOW ILLINOIS HUMANITIES AND THIS DECATUR HUB IS WORKING TO STRENGTHEN COMMUNITIES AND AGAIN, THE FAMILY UNIT, THUS LOWERING THE INCIDENTS OF INCARCERATION.

MM-HMM .

WITH ALL OF OUR PROGRAMMING, WE WISH NOT JUST TO BE A RESOURCE BUT A PARTNER.

WE INTRODUCE INDIVIDUALS TO SKILLS IN DEESCALATION, IN CONFLICT RESOLUTION, AS WELL AS PRACTICAL SKILL BUILDING THAT CAN BE USED WHILE SEEKING EMPLOYMENT.

WE ARE HERE, WE ARE A RESOURCE.

WE HOPE TO WORK TOGETHER.

I'LL BE AT THE DECATUR SCHOOL BOARD MEETING TOMORROW.

IT'D BE WONDERFUL TO SEE SOME OF YOU THERE, IF NOT, UH, PERHAPS SOME OTHER TIME.

AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

APPRECIATE IT VERY MUCH.

THANK YOU, PROFESSOR.

I GUESS THEY ALL KNEW I WAS COMING UP TO SPEAK, MAYBE, I DON'T KNOW.

UH, TERRY HAMILL CONVENTION VISITORS BUREAU FOR A FEW MORE DAYS.

ONE OF THE THINGS I WANTED TO BRING UP WAS THE PACKETS THAT WE PREPARED FOR EVERYONE.

UM, UP HERE, THERE'S A LOT OF TIMES WHEN PEOPLE, UM, DON'T REALIZE IN OUR OWN COMMUNITY THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE.

SO WE LISTEN TO OUR VISITORS AND WE ALSO LISTEN TO, UM, THE PEOPLE WHO WALK INTO OUR FACILITY THAT ARE LOOKING FOR THINGS OR ASKING FOR THINGS FOR WHEN THEY HAVE VISITORS.

SO IN YOUR PACKET WE'LL SEE, UM, SOME BROCHURES AND THINGS THAT WE PUT TOGETHER THAT ARE OUTSIDE OF THE REALM OF JUST THE VISITORS GUIDE AND, UM, A PACKET OF THE POSTCARDS IN CASE SOME OF YOU AREN'T AWARE THAT WE HAVE THESE AMAZING POSTCARDS THAT WE'RE ABLE TO PROVIDE AS WELL.

SO I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE THE STAFF IF THEY WOULD STAND UP.

UM, JESSICA MILLIKEN, SHE'S BEEN WITH US FOR, UM, A LITTLE OVER FOUR YEARS.

SHE, UM, HANDLES A LOT OF THE, UM, DAY-TO-DAY BUSINESS WITH SPORTS AND MARKETING AND, AND EVERYTHING THAT, UM, AND SHE'S LIKE A, A WHIZ ON THE COMPUTER MAKING ALL THESE BROCHURES, HER AND HER AND TANYA BOTH.

SO I WANTED TO THANK THEM, UM, WITH ME GOING OUT AND WE COULDN'T

[00:30:01]

HAVE LOOKED AS GOOD AS WE DO IF IT WASN'T FOR PEOPLE LIKE THEM.

SO I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT.

AND THEN TO CONGRATULATE TANYA CULP, SHE'LL BE THE NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR STARTING JANUARY 1ST.

SO, UM, I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE NICE FOR EVERYBODY HAVE LIKE A FACE TO EVERYONE THAT SUPPORTS THE COMMUNITY WITH THE CONVENTION AND VISITORS BUREAU.

SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

THANK YOU TERRY.

AND ENJOY YOUR RETIREMENT.

HELLO, MY NAME IS DENNIS HEWORTH AND I'M NOT WITH THAT OTHER GROUP, BELIEVE IT OR NOT, BUT, UH, CITY ORIENTA IT IS 320 ACRES.

CITY OF FORSYTH IS 2004 ACRES.

OKAY? THE, UH, OIL FIELDS UP THERE, FORSYTH'S OIL FIELDS, THEY'RE 2000 ACRES, 2,218 FOOT DOWN.

AS WE ALL KNOW, OIL FIELDS HAVE A LOT OF METHANE.

YOU SEE 'EM BURN THEM ALL THE TIME BY THE OIL WELLS.

OKAY? IF WE HAVE AN ACCIDENT AND IT HITS THAT METHANE AND THEN OIL WELLS, WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN? WE'RE GONNA HAVE SOMETHING A LOT BIGGER THAN THE RAILROAD YARD BLASTS.

IT WAS JULY 19TH, UH, BACK IN THE 74.

SO WE GOT RADON COMING UP TOO, AND IT PUSHES RADON UP THROUGH THE GROUND.

AND, UH, YOU KNOW, A DM HAS BEEN IN TROUBLE.

THEY, UH, GOT IN TROUBLE A LITTLE BIT FOR THEIR HIGH FRUCTOSE COIN SYRUP.

IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE THE NEW MIRACLE THING.

AND UH, NOW IT'S BANNED IN EUROPE.

THEY SURVIVED.

THEY DIDN'T GO BROKE.

NOW WE GOT A CO2 COME ALONG.

BEST THING IN THE WORLD, WE'RE HAVING PROBLEMS WITH IT.

IF WE TAKE IT AWAY, THEY'LL SURVIVE THAT TOO.

SO THINK ABOUT IT.

MOVE ON TO APPROVAL OF THE MINUTE APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF DECEMBER 1ST, 2025.

THANK YOU, SIR.

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

SEEING NONE, WE WILL MOVE ON TO APPROVAL OF THE, OH, I'M SORRY.

UM, UH, COMMENTS FROM COUNSEL DR. HORN.

I WANNA THANK EVERYONE WHO CAME TO SPEAK IN OPPOSITION TO CO2 SEQUESTRATION UNDER LAKE DECATUR.

I BELIEVE THAT IT'S TIME FOR THE CITY OF DECATUR TO LOOK AT ITS AGREEMENT AND SEE IF TERMINATION OF THAT AGREEMENT IS WARRANTED.

UM, AS WE SHOULD NOT ALLOW CO2 SEQUESTRATION UNDER LATE DECATUR, PARTICULARLY GIVEN THAT A DM COMPANY VIOLATED THE SAFE DRINKING WATER ACT.

WHILE IT WAS NEGOTIATING THE TERMS OF THE EASEMENT AGREEMENT WITH THE CITY, THERE WERE TWO SURFACE LEAKS, ONE SURFACE SUBSURFACE LEAK, AND ONE DEEP UNDERGROUND LEAK.

UM, ALL OF WHICH A DM WAS AWARE OF BUT DID NOT DISCLOSE TO THE CITY DURING EASEMENT NEGOTIATIONS.

AND SO, FOR A COMPANY THAT HAS A GLOBAL REPUTATION FOR BUSINESS ETHICS, IT IS DIFFICULT TO SEE HOW THE FAILURE TO DISCLOSE SUBSTANTIVE MATERIAL INFORMATION DURING NEGOTIATIONS WAS ANYTHING BUT UNETHICAL AND CERTAINLY WOULD'VE IMPACTED WHETHER THE CITY COUNCIL WOULD'VE APPROVED AN EASEMENT IN THE FIRST PLACE AND INFLUENCED TERMS THAT WERE NEGOTIATED BY TWO CITY MANAGERS.

THANKFULLY, THE FOUR LEAKS AND A LATER FLUID ANOMALY AT TWO DIFFERENT WELLS IN A LESS THAN A THREE YEAR PERIOD HAVE NOT IMPACTED DRINKING WATER QUALITY.

HOWEVER, RESIDENTS OF DECATUR ARE JUSTIFIED IN ASKING WHETHER A MORE SIGNIFICANT LEAK IS SIMPLY INEVITABLE, PARTICULARLY GIVEN THAT SEQUESTRATION ACTIVITIES ARE EXPECTED TO INTENSIFY IN SCOPE.

AND SO THE CITY SHOULD TAKE ACTION TO PREVENT CO2 SEQUESTRATION ACTIVITIES FROM TAKING PLACE IN HIGHLY POPULATED AREAS.

AND UNDER THE MUNICIPALITY'S MAIN DRINKING WATER SOURCE, THERE IS SIMPLY NO COMPELLING REASON TO RISK THE CITY'S DRINKING WATER SOURCE, PUBLIC SAFETY, AND A CROWN JEWEL OF OUR CITY TO STORE CO2 FROM WHAT APPEARS TO BE AN IMMINENT AND SUBSTANTIAL THREAT.

A DM HAS VIOLATED THE SAFE DRINKING WATER ACT ONCE AND IT'S REASONABLE TO THINK THEY'RE GONNA DO IT AGAIN.

ANYONE ELSE ON COUNCIL HAVE COMMENTS SEEING THEM? WE NOW WILL

[IV. Approval of Minutes]

CITY COUNCIL MEETING.

I NEED A MOTION AND A SECOND.

SECOND.

[00:35:01]

ANY UNFINISHED BUSINESS? NONE.

MAYOR MORE WOLF? AYE.

SEVEN AYES NO NAY.

FIRST ITEM UNDER

[1. Treasurer's Financial Report]

NEW BUSINESS IS THE TREASURER'S FINANCIAL REPORT.

MS. HANH.

COUNSEL, JUST A COUPLE ITEMS HERE.

FINANCIAL REPORT.

MS. HAN, YOU MAY NEED TO USE, UM, COUNCILMAN COOPER'S MIC RIGHT NOW.

YOURS IS NOT PROJECTING.

OH, WE HAVE ANOTHER ONE.

UH, SO FOR THE UH, TREASURER'S FINANCIAL REPORT ENDING NOVEMBER OF 2025, THE CITY ENDED THE REPORTING PERIOD WITH A TOTAL CASH POSITION OF 107.2 MILLION, EXCLUDING TRUST AND AGENCY FUNDS EARMARKED FOR POLICE AND FIRE PENSIONS.

THE CITY GENERAL FUND ENDED THE REPORTING PERIOD WITH A CASH POSITION POSITION OF 26.8 MILLION OR 103 DAYS OF CASH RESERVE.

WE DID END, UM, A YEAR TO DATE AT THE END OF NOVEMBER, LOOKING AT A SURPLUS OF TWO POINT, ROUGHLY ABOUT 2.6 MILLION.

AND THAT QUESTION DID COME UP.

UM, IF WE WOULD BE ENDING THE YEAR WITH THE SURPLUS, WE DO ANTICIPATE THAT WE WILL END UP WITH SOME SURPLUS, BUT WE WON'T REALLY KNOW UNTIL WE CLOSE OUT THE YEAR, WHICH WE'LL BE DOING THROUGHOUT THE MONTH OF DECEMBER.

UH, JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT ON PAGE THREE, UM, WHICH I THINK WE'VE, WE'VE PREVIOUSLY TALKED ABOUT, BUT JUST WANTED TO NOTE IT AGAIN, THAT THE STATE, UH, DID ANNOUNCE THAT THEY WILL BE CUTTING OUR PPRT BY 13% FOR THE SECOND HALF OF THE CITY'S FY 25 BUDGET YEAR.

UM, OVERALL EXPENSES FOR THE CITY ARE RUNNING UNDER BUDGET.

THIS IS MOSTLY DUE TO VACANCIES.

AND JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT AGAIN THAT OUR MEDICAL EXPENSES FOR OUR SELF-INSURED MEDICAL, UM, PLAN HAVE BEEN COMING IN HIGHER THAN EXPECTED.

AND I KNOW THAT WE'VE REVIEWED THAT DURING THE BUDGET PROCESS, BUT JUST WANTED TO, UM, BRING THAT TO YOUR ATTENTION AS WELL.

AND WITH THAT, I WILL OPEN IT UP IF THERE'S ANY QUESTIONS.

THE TREASURE'S REPORT.

QUESTIONS FOR MS. HAN.

NICE JOB.

THERE ARE NO QUESTIONS.

SO WE WILL MOVE

[2. Resolution Authorizing the City of Decatur to Provide an Interfund Cash Advance to Certain Funds to Affect a Positive Cash Position as of the Close of Business as of December 31, 2025]

ON TO ITEM TWO.

RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY OF DECATUR TO PROVIDE INNER FUND CASH ADVANCE TO CERTAIN FUNDS TO AFFECT A POSITIVE CASH POSITION AS OF THE CLOSE OF BUSINESS AS OF DECEMBER 31ST, 2025.

MOTION TO THE RESOLUTION, DO PASS AND BE ADOPTED.

SECOND, MS. HAN, UH, NOT MANY COMMENTS HERE.

JUST, UM, THAT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE DO ANNUALLY JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE ENDING THESE ACCOUNTS IN A POSITIVE CASH POSITION.

I WILL JUST NOTE THAT, UM, SOME OF THESE WERE IMPACTED BY THE FEDERAL SHUTDOWN AND SO WE'LL BE MAKING THOSE LOANS TO THOSE ACCOUNTS, UM, UNTIL WE RECEIVE THAT FUNDING.

ANY QUESTIONS FOR MS. HAN ON THIS ITEM? SAY NONE.

MAYOR, MORE WOLF.

AYE.

SEVEN.

[3. Resolution Authorizing a Lease Agreement between the City of Decatur and Flock Safety for the Deployment of Surveillance Cameras]

AYE, NONE.

NAYS.

ITEM THREE RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING A LEASE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF DECATUR AND FLOCK SAFETY FOR THE DEPLOYMENT OF SURVEILLANCE CAMERAS.

MOTION THAT THE RESOLUTION TO PASS AND BE ADOPTED.

SECOND MS. HON.

OR STRAIGHT TO THE CHIEF? STRAIGHT TO THE CHIEF.

WELCOME CHIEF.

LEASE, JUST LIKE WE DO WITH ALL FLOCK, UM, EQUIPMENT.

UH, GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.

THE, UM, PROPOSAL BEFORE YOU IS A REQUEST FROM THE POLICE DEPARTMENT TO BUILD UPON OUR FLOCK SAFETY NETWORK THAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE IN PLACE BY ADDING 10, UH, LIVE FEED SURVEILLANCE CAMERAS, I THINK IS THE BEST WAY TO DESCRIBE THEM.

UH, THEY'RE COMMONLY REFERRED TO AS INTERSECTION CAMERAS.

THEY'RE PAN TILT ZOOM CAMERAS.

THEY'LL BE SOLAR POWERED.

UH, THEY TIE INTO OUR EXISTING FLOCK NETWORK THAT WE HAVE TO SUPPLEMENT OUR 106 LICENSE PLATE READER CAMERAS.

THESE ARE LIVE FEED CAMERAS.

THEY ARE NOT CAPTURING LICENSE PLATE DATA.

THEY ARE CAPTURING IMAGES.

THEY WILL BE STORED FOR 30 DAYS.

UM, SO IF WE NEED TO WATCH A LIVE ENVIRONMENT, WE'RE ABLE TO, IF THERE'S SOMETHING UNFOLDING OR IF THERE'S A SCENE, WE WOULD HAVE THAT ABILITY.

WE CAN ALSO GO BACK AND CAPTURE, UH, LOOK AT RECORDED DATA.

UM, USE IT FOR CRIME, UH, PREVENTION THROUGH JUST VISIBLE DETERRENCE AS WELL AS, UM, YOU KNOW, INVESTIGATIVE TOOLS AND HELP SOLVE SOME OF THE CRIMES.

UM, WE KIND OF HAVE IDENTIFIED 20 AREAS OF TOWN THAT WE THINK THEY'D BE VALUABLE.

WE'RE STILL DEBATING WHERE TO PUT THE FIRST 10.

OUR GOAL WOULD BE TO CONTINUE TO EXPAND THIS IF THIS IS A PROJECT, UH, THAT WE, THAT WE BUILD UPON.

IT IS A ONE YEAR

[00:40:01]

UM, SO WE'RE THE, THE MAINTENANCE, THE UPKEEP, EVERYTHING'S INCLUDED WITH THAT, THAT COST.

SO, UH, WHAT'S BEFORE YOU IS THE $50,000, THAT'S 5,000 PER CAMERA.

AND THAT WOULD BE FOR BASICALLY 2026.

AND THEN WE COULD EVALUATE IT GOING INTO THE 27 BUDGET.

WE DID INCLUDE FUNDS IN THE 2025 BUDGET TO BUILD OUT THE FLOCK SYSTEM TO GET TOWARDS A REAL TIME CRIME CENTER CONCEPT.

UH, THIS KIND OF GETS US THERE, UM, ADD SOME LIVE VIDEO FEED.

SO WE WILL PAY FOR IT OUT OF THIS YEAR'S BUDGET.

QUESTIONS FOR THE CHIEF COMMENTS? COUNCILMAN COOPER? UH, A COUPLE QUESTIONS.

UM, DO WE HAVE ANY, DO YOU HAVE ANY INPUT FROM OTHER COMMUNITIES THAT ALREADY HAD THIS, THIS SYSTEM AND THE PROS AND CONS THAT THEY'VE EXPERIENCED WITH IT? AND THEN THE OTHER QUESTION ALSO, UM, UM, I KNOW IT SAYS, 'CAUSE IT'S GONNA BE USED FOR BASICALLY FOR SURVEILLANCE REASONS ONLY, AND NOT PROBABLY CRIMINAL PROSECUTIONS OR WHATEVER, BUT, UM, WHERE'S THE, OUR, UM, UNIONS, WHAT'S THEIR POSITION ON THIS SYSTEM, UM, BEING INSTALLED? YOUR FIRST QUESTION ABOUT OTHER AGENCIES.

UM, I'VE, I'VE LOOKED AT SOME OF THE TESTIMONIALS THAT FLOCK PUTS OUT FROM AGENCIES THAT HAVE USED THEM.

THEY SPEAK HIGHLY OF THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THEM.

UM, THERE'S NOT A LOT OF CENTRAL ILLINOIS AGENCIES YET.

I KNOW SPRINGFIELD'S GOT A COUPLE IN THE TOWN OF NORMAL, UM, AND SPEAKING TO THEIR CHIEFS, THEY DON'T HAVE NEGATIVE, UM, CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THEM.

UH, YOUR SECOND QUESTION, UM, THE, THE UNION WOULD BE IN SUPPORT OF THIS.

YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THE POLICE UNION, UM, I ASSUME, RIGHT? YEAH.

UH, THEY USE THE FLOCK SYSTEM NOW CURRENTLY IN PLACE ALL THE TIME.

IT'S VERY VALUABLE.

UM, I I MIGHT HAVE MISSPOKE OR YOU MISUNDERSTOOD.

THEY, THEY WILL BE USED IN CRIMINAL PROSECUTIONS THOUGH.

THIS IS TO, TO NOT JUST, UM, WATCH, BUT THIS IS TO CAPTURE, UH, UH, FOOTAGE TOO.

SO, I MEAN, IF WE SEE A CRIME OR THERE'S A TRAFFIC CRASH OR, OR SOMETHING IN THE PUBLIC SPACE AROUND THE INTERSECTION THAT THESE CAMERAS CAPTURE, THEN THEY WOULD DEFINITELY, MOST DEFINITELY WOULD BE USED TO BUILD A INVESTIGATIVE CASE AS WELL.

YEAH, I UNDERSTAND THAT.

I WAS KIND OF REFERRING MORE.

SO IF THERE'S A GROUP OF PEOPLE SITTING, STANDING ON A PARTICULAR CORNER WHERE THESE ARE AT, WOULD THEY BE KIND OF MONITORED OVER A CERTAIN PERIOD OF TIME TO TRY TO CATCH THEM DOING SOMETHING ILLEGAL? UH, I THINK THAT COULD BE, IF I'M UNDERSTANDING YOU.

YES, THAT COULD BE USED.

THEY ALSO HAVE AI CAPABILITIES.

ALL CAMERAS DO.

SO LIKE IF WE, UM, PROGRAM IT A CERTAIN WAY AND WE, AND THE CAMERAS DEPICT A LARGE GROUP FORMING AT A LOCATION, IT CAN ACTUALLY ALERT US THAT SOMETHING'S, UH, HAPPENING IN THAT AREA.

SO WE COULD THEN GO VIEW THE CAMERA.

OTHER QUESTIONS FOR THE CHIEF? DR. HORN? JUST TO COMMENT, THE, THE CITY OF DECATUR WAS A LEADER IN EARLY ADOPTION OF OUR LICENSE PLATE READERS.

AND THAT WAS, UM, UH, THEY HAVE PROVEN TO BE AN EXCELLENT TOOL, UM, IN, UM, SOLVING CRIMES THAT OCCUR ON CITY STREETS.

AND I THINK THE ADDITION OF THE SURVEILLANCE CAMERAS THAT ARE STATIONARY AT THE INTERSECTIONS WILL JUST BE ANOTHER TOOL THAT WILL, UM, BETTER MAKE DECATUR A SAFE PLACE.

AND WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT ORGANIZATIONS LIKE THE COALITION OF NEIGHBORHOOD ORGANIZATIONS, WHAT IS THEIR NUMBER ONE PRIORITY? IT IS SAFETY.

AND WHAT IS ONE OF THEIR LEADING UH, INITIATIVES? IT IS PROVIDING, UH, RING DOORBELL CAMERAS.

AND SO WHAT THE CITY OF D OF DECATUR'S DOING IS SCALING UP ON THOSE, THOSE EFFORTS AT KNOWN INTERSECTIONS WHERE THERE IS CRIME.

AND SO I JUST WANNA COMMEND, UM, CHIEF ALLEN AND CITY OF DECATUR FOR PROACTIVELY CONTINUING TO FIND TOOLS, UH, THAT MAKE DECATUR A BETTER PLACE TO LIVE.

SO THANK YOU.

ANYONE ELSE? MS. CRUZ? I KNOW YOU REVIEWED THE SAFETY PLAN THAT WE JUST ADOPTED.

UM, WERE ANY OF THE AREAS THAT HAD A HIGH FREQUENCY OF DRUG AND ALCOHOL RELATED ACCIDENTS, UH, SELECTED FOR THIS? WELL, WE, WE HAVE, WE HAVE EVALUATED SOME OF THE LOCATIONS AND THEY FACTORED INTO SOME OF OUR DECISIONS.

UM, WE, I GUESS, I GUESS WE WILL CONSIDER THAT IS THE BEST WAY TO ANSWER THAT ALONG WITH SOME OF THE OTHER, UH, TECHNOLOGY YOU'RE GONNA BE ASKED TO, UH, APPROVE HERE IN THES CONSENT CALENDAR.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? SEE

[00:45:01]

NONE.

COUNCILMAN HORNE? AYE.

AND THAT BRINGS US TO THE CITY MANAGER UPDATE.

MAYOR MORE WOLF? AYE.

SEVEN AYES, NO NAYS.

THANKS CHIEF.

[4. City Manager Update]

THERE WE GO.

THANK YOU MAYOR AND COUNCIL.

UM, SO I THINK MOST OF YOU HAVE PROBABLY SEEN THIS AS WE'VE PUSHED IT OUT ON OUR SOCIAL MEDIA, BUT JUST WANTED TO BRING IT TO EVERYONE'S ATTENTION AGAIN, THAT DECATUR WAS NAMED A MOST AFFORDABLE PLACE TO LIVE IN US FOR 20 25, 26 BY US NEWS AND WORLD REPORT.

SO HOPE WE CONTINUE TO MAKE THESE TYPE OF LISTS FOR ALL THE POSITIVE REASONS THAT WE SHOULD BE.

NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.

UH, WANTED TO, UM, HIGHLIGHT THIS AS WE ARE GEARING UP OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT EFFORTS.

THIS IS A SURVEY, UH, THAT ECONOMIC AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT IS CURRENTLY, UH, HAS UNDERWAY.

THERE ARE FLYERS, UM, THROUGHOUT THE DIFFERENT CITY OFFICES.

THERE'S ALSO SOME POSTED DOWNSTAIRS, AND I KNOW THEY'VE BEEN HANDED OUT THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY, BUT THIS IS SPECIFICALLY FOR THE OAKWOOD DISTRICT LOOKING TO GET PUBLIC FEEDBACK.

UH, THIS SURVEY WILL RUN THROUGH SATURDAY, JANUARY 31ST, SO YOU CAN SCAN THE QR CODE, UM, GO ONLINE, ASK QUESTIONS ABOUT, UM, WHAT TYPES OF BUSINESSES WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE, UM, IN THE AREA.

ARE THERE OTHER TYPES OF INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS? UH, JUST SO THAT WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT AS WE ARE OUT RECRUITING AND WORKING WITH BUSINESSES, THAT WE ARE REALLY PROVIDING THE COMMUNITY WHAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO SEE IN THE AREA AS WELL.

SO IF YOU GET A CHANCE, PLEASE GO ON AND COMPLETE THAT SURVEY.

NEXT SLIDE.

AND THEN, UM, WE DON'T HAVE ONE IN HERE 'CAUSE I KNOW WE USUALLY HIDE IT HIGHLIGHTED AT THE FIRST MEETING.

BUT I DID WANT TO MENTION, UNFORTUNATELY, JIM EDWARDS WAS NOT ABLE TO BE HERE AT THIS MEETING, UM, BECAUSE HE IS HOPEFULLY HAVING A VERY WONDERFUL VACATION.

UM, BUT HE IS RETIRING AT THE END OF THIS MONTH AND WE ARE VERY SAD TO SEE HIM GO AND GREATLY APPRECIATE ALL THAT HE'S GIVEN US IN THE 10 YEARS THAT HE'S BEEN HERE.

UM, DEFINITELY BEEN AN ASSET TO THIS ORGANIZATION.

UM, SO IF YOU GET A CHANCE TO SHOOT HIM A, A HAPPY RETIREMENT, UH, MESSAGE BEFORE, UH, THE END OF THE MONTH, UM, HE HAS MADE IT VERY CLEAR, UH, THAT THAT WILL BE HIS, UH, LAST DAY.

UH, HE'S CONTINUED TO REMIND US OF THAT.

AND THEN I JUST WANTED TO SAY HAPPY HOLIDAYS SINCE THIS IS OUR LAST MEETING.

BRINGS US TO THE CONSENT CALENDAR.

AND THAT

[5. 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 FOR INDIVIDUAL ASSESSMENT? MR. COOPER, ITEM C.

ANY OTHER ITEMS? DR. HORN.

ANYBODY ELSE? OKAY, SEE THAT'S ALL ITEM A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING RENEWAL OF OPENGOV INC.

MAINTENANCE AND SUPPORT FOR PERMITTING AND LICENSING SOFTWARE.

ITEM D RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING AN INTERGOVERNMENTAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF DECATUR, ILLINOIS, AND COUNTY OF MACON REGARDING SHARING THE COST OF THE ANN L. SCHNEIDER CONSULTING AGREEMENT.

ITEM E ORDINANCE ANNEXING TERRITORY TERRITORY 30 63 LAKELAND ROAD.

ITEM F RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING AN AGREEMENT WITH NOVA'S LLC TO PROVIDE ASSET MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE AND IMPLEMENTATION SERVICES.

CITY PROJECT 20 24 32 ITEM G RESOLUTION.

ACCEPTING THE BID AND AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION OF A PURCHASE ORDER FOR FURNISHING WATER TREATMENT CHEMICAL ALUM FOR THE YEAR 2026 PURCHASE PUR 2025 DASH ZERO NINE ITEM H RESOLUTION.

ACCEPTING THE BID AND AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION OF A PURCHASE ORDER.

FURNISHING WATER TREATMENT CHEMICAL CARBON FOR THE YEAR 2026 PURCHASE PUR 2025 DASH ZERO NINE ITEM I RESOLUTION.

ACCEPTING THE BID AND AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION OF A PURCHASE ORDER FOR FURNISHING WATER TREATMENT CHEMICAL CARBON DIOXIDE FOR THE YEAR 2026 PURCHASE PUR 2025 DASH ZERO NINE ITEM J RESOLUTION.

ACCEPTING THE BID AND AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION OF A PURCHASE ORDER.

FURNISHING WATER TREATMENT CHEMICAL CHLORINE FOR THE YEAR 2026 PURCHASE PUR 2025 DASH NINE ITEM K RESOLUTION.

ACCEPTING THE BID AND AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION OF A PURCHASE ORDER.

FURNISHING WATER TREATMENT CHEMICAL HYDRO FOR CLIC ACID FOR THE YEAR 2026 PURCHASE PUR 2025 DASH ZERO NINE ITEM L RESOLUTION.

ACCEPTING THE BID AND AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION OF A PURCHASE ORDER FURNISHING WATER TREATMENT CHEMICAL LINE FOR THE YEAR 2026 PURCHASE PUR 2025 DASH ZERO NINE ITEM M RESOLUTION.

ACCEPTING THE BID AND AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION OF A PURCHASE ORDER.

FURNISHING WATER TREATMENT CHEMICAL SODIUM CHLORIDE FOR THE YEAR 2026 PURCHASE PUR 2025 DASH ZERO NINE ITEM N RESOLUTION.

ACCEPTING THE BID AND AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION OF A PURCHASE ORDER.

FURNISHING WATER TREATMENT CHEMICAL SODIUM CHLORIDE FOR THE YEAR 2026 PURCHASE PUR 2025 DASH NINE ITEM O RESOLUTION.

ACCEPTING THE BID AND AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION OF A PURCHASE ORDER.

FURNISHING WATER TREATMENT CHEMICAL SODIUM HEXAMETAPHOSPHATE FOR THE YEAR 2026 PURCHASE PUR 2025 DASH ZERO NINE.

I NEED A MOTION TO APPROVE THE ITEMS IS PRESENTED.

[00:50:03]

RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING CONSULTING SERVICES AGREEMENT ANN L. SCHNEIDER AND ASSOCIATES LLC.

COUNCILMAN COLE? AYE.

MAYOR WOLF? AYE.

SEVEN AYES KNOWN AS

[C. Resolution Authorizing Consulting Services Agreement - Ann L. Schneider and Associates LLC]

MOTION THAT THE RESOLUTION DO PASS AND BE ADOPTED.

SECOND.

MR. COOPER, UH, JUST WANTED TO MAKE A COMMENT ON THIS, UM, BECAUSE I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR THE PUBLIC TO, TO KNOW THOSE THAT MAYBE NOT GOT A CHANCE TO LOOK AT, UH, THE LANGUAGE ONLINE.

UM, BUT I THINK THIS IS A VERY, IT WAS A GOOD, UH, AGREEMENT THAT WAS REACHED BETWEEN THE COUNTY AND THE CITY WORKING TOGETHER ON SOMETHING THAT WAS, UH, THAT OBVIOUSLY IS HELPING THE, UH, THE CITY OF DECATUR AND THE COUNTY AND, UH, VARIOUS PROJECTS.

UM, UM, OVER, UM, ALMOST OVER A MILLION AND PLUS FUNDS HAD BEEN BROUGHT IN BY MS. SNYDER ON PROJECTS UNDER, UNDER HER CONSULTING FIRM, UM, WITH THIS.

AND, UM, BASED ON WHAT THE COUNTY AND THE CITY HAS PAID OUT, UM, THE BENEFITS THAT WE GOT BACK CERTAINLY WAS WELL WORTH IT, UM, CONSULTING WITH HER.

SO I JUST WANTED TO MAKE THAT KNOWN AND APPLAUD HER FOR THE WORK THAT SHE HAS DONE AND HOPE THAT IF WE APPROVE THIS, THAT IT WOULD ALSO BE BRINGING ADDITIONAL FUNDS OR JUST AS MANY FUNDS IN THE NEXT COUPLE YEARS.

AND I THINK WE'RE OVER $120 MILLION SINCE WE STARTED WITH THIS CONTRACT.

AND 37, THERE YOU GO.

1 37.

UM, ANY OTHER COMMENTS? CALL TO QUESTION.

RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE PURCHASE OF EIGHT RADAR SIGNS FROM RADAR SIGN MOTION THAT THE RESOLUTION DO PASS AND BE ADOPTED.

MAYOR MOORE WOLF.

AYE.

SEVEN AYES NO NAYS IS

[B. Resolution Authorizing the Purchase of Eight (8) Radar Signs from Radarsign]

SECOND, DR. HORNE? YEAH, I JUST WANTED TO, UM, THANK THE CITY STAFF FOR, UH, FINDING A WAY TO BRING RADAR SIGNS TO DECATUR.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THE CITY OF COUNCIL IS OFTEN APPROACHED BY RESIDENTS ABOUT IS TOO MANY PEOPLE ARE DRIVING TOO FAST AND SPEEDING IS ONE OF THE LEADING CAUSES OF ACCIDENTS.

AND WHAT THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT HAS BROUGHT BEFORE THE COUNCIL IS A SOLUTION THAT PREVIOUS STUDIES HAVE FOUND THAT IT DOUBLES THE NUMBER OF CARS IN COMPLIANCE WITH SPEED LIMITS FROM 30% TO 60%.

AND SO I WANNA THANK THE CITY STAFF FOR BRINGING FORWARD A SOLUTION THAT RESIDENTS HAVE ASKING, BEEN ASKING FOR, FOR MANY, MANY MONTHS, AND HOPEFULLY IT WILL MAKE OUR STREETS SAFER.

AND, UH, SO THANK YOU.

ANY OTHER COMMENTS? CALL A QUESTION.

COUNCILMAN CRUZ? AYE.

DAY OUT, HE WORKED FOR US, UH, PROVIDING SAFETY TO OUR FAMILIES AND NOW IS FACED WITH ANOTHER BATTLE HERE LOCALLY.

MAYOR MOR WOLF? AYE.

SEVEN AYES NO NAYS

[VII. Other Business]

UNDER OTHER BUSINESS.

I JUST WANNA THANK MATT NEWELL AND ALL OF THE FOLKS WITH PUBLIC WORKS WHO HAVE DONE A TREMENDOUS JOB WITH SEVEN AND A HALF INCHES OF SNOW NEAR RECORD, BITTER COLD TEMPERATURES AND HORRIBLE CONDITIONS.

IN ADDITION, THERE WERE NUMEROUS WATER MAIN BREAKS AND THAT LED TO HAVING TO RECOG, UM, MAKE SURE THAT NEIGHBORS KNEW THAT THEY WERE UNDER BOIL ORDERS IN CERTAIN PARTS OF TOWN, AND THEN THAT THEIR WATER IS SAFE.

SO, TREMENDOUS JOB BY ALL YOUR PEOPLE UNDER TERRIBLE CONDITIONS, AND I THINK WE'RE OFF TO, UH, QUITE THE START FOR WINTER.

BUT THANK YOU MATT.

AND THANK PLEASE EXTEND OUR THANKS TO, TO YOUR FOLKS.

MR. COLE.

I WANNA TAKE A MOMENT TO WISH EVERYBODY, MERRY CHRISTMAS, UH, CITY COUNCIL AND STAFF AND HAPPY NEW YEAR.

AS WE DEPART TODAY THOUGH, I WANT TO TALK TO YOU WI A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE WHITMER FAMILY THAT I SPOKE TO THIS WEEK.

AND, UH, WE'VE, WE'RE GONNA PASS ON SOME THINGS TO YOU.

TIM WHITMER IS A FRIEND TO ALL OF US, UH, HERE LOCALLY IN IN LAW ENFORCEMENT.

TIM JUST RECENTLY RETIRED, RETIRED FROM THE DECATUR POLICE DEPARTMENT.

YOU ALSO REMEMBER HIM FROM A COUPLE YEARS AGO BEING A PURPLE HEART RECIPIENT, UNFORTUNATELY HERE IN DECATUR.

UM, NEEDLESS TO SAY HE HAD A, UH, TOUGH ROAD, UH, RECUPERATING FROM THAT.

AND NOW, UM, HE AND HIS FAMILY, UH, HE AND BECKY ARE FACING, UH, A DIAGNOSIS OF, UM, UH, GRADE FOUR GLIOBLASTOMA.

SO AS THIS, UH, TRAIL IS, UH, VENTURED BY THEM, I, I HOPE THAT WE'LL KEEP THEM IN MIND BECAUSE, UH, NEARLY 20 YEARS, UH, DAY IN,

[00:55:01]

AND, UH, IF YOU HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY AS YOU, AS THIS ROAD IS TRAVELED BY THE FAMILY AND YOU CAN HELP OUT OR EXTEND A COURTESY OR EVEN A PRAYER OR A THOUGHT, UH, I HIGHLY ENCOURAGE IT AND I WANT US TO KEEP THAT FAMILY IN MIND AS WE GO UNDER OUR HOLIDAY SEASON.

THAT'S ALL I HAVE.

OUR THANKS.

AND OUR PRAYERS ARE CERTAINLY WITH SERGEANT WHIT MIRANDA, HIS FAMILY, AND I KNOW THERE ARE FUNDRAISERS COMING UP IN JANUARY TO HELP THE FAMILY, SO STAY TUNED.

IS THERE OTHER BUSINESS, DR. HORN? YEAH.

ACCORDING TO THE CARBON SEQUESTRATION EASEMENT, UM, TERMS, IT CAN ONLY BE REVOKED BY THE GRANTOR UPON WRITTEN NOTICE TO THE GRANTEE.

IF A PERMITTING AGENCY TERMINATES THE GRANTEE'S APPLICABLE INJECTION WELL PERMITS OR A FINDING BY A PERMITTING AGENCY THAT THERE HAS BEEN A VIOLATION THAT ADVERSELY AFFECTS SAFE LONG-TERM STORAGE OF CO2.

UM, MY QUESTION IS, IS ADMS VIOLATION OF THE SAFE WATER DRINKING ACT AND SUBSEQUENT SUSPENSION OF SEQUESTRATION ACTIVITIES, UH, REQUIRED BY THE EPA, DOES THIS CONSTITUTE A VIOLATION AS DEFINED BY THE EASEMENT AGREEMENT? I'M GONNA TURN THIS OVER TO, UH, CORPORATION COUNSEL.

YEAH, SO THE EPA DID NOT TERMINATE, UM, THEIR PERMIT SO THAT FIRST WOULD NOT APPLY.

AND THE SECOND CONDITION IS IF THERE WAS A FINDING THAT THERE HAD BEEN A VIOLATION THAT ADVERSELY AFFECTED THE SAFE LONG-TERM STORAGE, UM, OF CO2.

AND THE EPA FOUND THAT THEIR, UH, PUBLIC HEALTH WAS NOT JEOPARDIZED.

THAT THERE WAS NO IMMEDIATE THREAT TO HUMAN OR LIVESTOCK HEALTH, THAT DRINKING WATER WAS NOT THREATENED IN THE AREA, UM, BECAUSE OF THE, UH, DEPTH OF THE WELLS AND BECAUSE OF THE SEPARATION OF THE ROCK LAYERS.

SO, UM, I DON'T BELIEVE THAT THERE HAS BEEN A FINDING BY A PERMITTING AGENCY COURT, UM, OR TRIBUNAL, FEDERAL OR STATE, THAT THERE HAD BEEN A VIOLATION AT THIS POINT THAT ADVERSELY AFFECTED THE LONG TERM STORAGE.

OTHER COMMENTS, MR. COOPER? UM, EXCUSE ME.

JUST QUESTION, UH, HAN UM, I KNOW WE, UH, WITH THE RE RE FOLKS PROJECT IF, IF POSSIBLE, MAYBE BY MID-JANUARY IF WE COULD JUST KIND OF GET AN UPDATE STATUS ON, UH, WHAT THE PROJECTS ARE AS FAR AS WHAT THE CITY'S RESPONSIBLE FOR COMPLETING AS FAR AS HOW WE'RE COMING ALONG WITH THOSE PROJECTS AND WHERE WE AT WITH THE UH, TURNING IT OVER.

YES.

WE CAN GET YOU A STATUS UPDATE.

ANY OTHER COMMENTS YOU NEED A MOTION TO ADJOURN? SO MOVED.

SECOND.

COUNCILMAN GREGORY? AYE.