Jun 01, 2026 City Council Meeting

ANY OF YOU GUYS WANNA LOOK, SEE WHAT A, A RESIDENTIAL LAWN SHOULD LOOK LIKE, UH, PLEASE CALL ME AND I'LL BE GLAD TO GIVE YOU A PRIVATE TOUR OF MY THANK YOU MR. CARMICHAEL.

MY NAME'S JAMES TAYLOR.

I'M UP HERE IN WITH THE, AND I DID, I MEAN, IF YOU EVER DROVE DOWN MARTHA LUTHER KING.

MARTHA LUTHER KING IS MARTHA LUTHER KING, BECAUSE MYSELF AND BILL OLIVER, WE WORKED WITH THE HUMAN HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION OUT AT CATERPILLAR FOR YEARS, AND WE TRAVELED EVERYWHERE TOGETHER.

I ALWAYS HAD TO DO ALL THE DRIVING.

IF WE WERE FLYING, I ALWAYS HAD TO GET ON THE PLANE FIRST, BUT IT TOOK US FOUR AND A HALF YEARS TO GET THAT STREAK CHANGED, BUT WE NEVER DID GIVE UP.

SO AS PEOPLE IN THIS CITY RIGHT NOW STILL WANNA CALL MARTIN LUTHER KING BROADWAY, AND JUST, JUST LAST WEEK I HAD TO CORRECT THE GUY AT OUT AT MCDONALD'S, HE SAID, TALKING ABOUT BROADWAY, ON BROADWAY ON BROADWAY.

I SAID, WHERE'S BROADWAY AT? WHICH CITY IS IT IN? I SAID, OH, OH, OH.

HE SAID, OH, OH, I IN MS. MARTIN LUTHER KING.

BUT THERE ARE PEOPLE STILL DON'T WANT TO DO THAT.

BUT BILL OLIVER, MYSELF WAS RIDING IN ON MARTIN LUTHER KING IN CHICAGO, AND HE, HE MENTIONED, WHY DON'T WE HAVE A MARTIN LUTHER KING IN DECATUR? I SAID, BECAUSE NOBODY NEVER FOUGHT FOR IT.

SO WE CAME BACK AND STARTED A PROCESS.

THERE WAS A LOT OF PEOPLES DIDN'T WANT TO CHANGE IT BECAUSE OF THEY HAD TO CHANGE ALL THE MAILING ADDRESS AND THIS, THAT DA THE ESPECIALLY BUSINESS.

BUT I, WE LOST BILL OLIVER, AND I'M REALLY SAD ABOUT THAT.

AND I HOPE THE CITY GONNA DO SOMETHING, HONOR HIM, BECAUSE I, FAR AS I KNOW, HE WAS THE FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN CITY COUNCILMAN, THE CITY DECATUR.

AND THEN HE LEFT HERE AND HE WENT TO THE COUNTY BOARD, AND I THINK HE'S STILL ON THE COUNTY BOARD.

SO I HOPE WE CAN RECOGNIZE HIM SOME KIND OF WAY THROUGH THE CITY.

COUNCILMAN, THANK YOU.

THANK YOU MR. TAYLOR.

DOES ANYONE ELSE WISH TO APPEAR? YEAH, MY NAME'S DON CARMICHAEL.

I LIVE HERE IN DECATUR.

SOME OF YOU GUYS I KNOW FROM WAY BACK, I'VE BEEN USED TO COME HERE MORE FREQUENTLY THAN I DO NOW.

BUT ANYWAY, I JUST WANTED TO STOP BY AND LET YOU KNOW THAT, UH, I APPRECIATE THE WORK YOU GUYS DO IN TERMS OF RUNNING DECATUR.

UH, YOU DO A GREAT JOB AS FAR AS I CAN TELL.

BUT AT ANY RATE, THERE'S ONE, THERE'S ONE AREA WHERE YOU'VE REALLY FALLEN SHORT, BIG TIME, AND IT'S A VERY SERIOUS THING.

I LEFT THIS PAPER A PAGE FOR YOU, AND I'LL PLEASE READ IT AND PLEASE READ IT SERIOUSLY.

UH, BECAUSE WE IN, UH, IN THE WORLD ACTUALLY.

BUT YOU KNOW, I LIVE HERE IN THE DECATUR, SO THIS IS WHERE I'M CONCERNED.

UH, OUR ECOSYSTEMS ARE SERIOUSLY COLLAPSING RIGHT IN FRONT OF HER EYES.

AND ONE CAN EASILY SEE THIS IF THEY PAY ATTENTION, SIMPLY WALK OUTSIDE LIKE TODAY, NICE DAY OUTSIDE SHOULD BE INSECTS OUT THERE.

YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO SEARCH THESE INSECTS OUT BECAUSE THEY'RE FAR AND FEW BETWEEN.

AND I'M TALKING ALL TYPES OF INSECTS.

INSECT BIOMASS, WHICH BASICALLY FEEDS THE WHOLE, UH, FOOD CHAIN.

IT DOESN'T EXIST ANYMORE.

I, I DARE YOU TO GO OUT AND FIND WHEN I WAS IN MY YOUNGER DAYS, I'M AN OLD MAN, I'LL BE 80 IN NOVEMBER, SO I'VE BEEN AROUND FOR A LONG TIME.

BUT IN MY YOUTH, YOU COULDN'T GO OUT ON A DAY LIKE THIS WITHOUT SEEING SWARMS OF INSECT BIOMASS.

THEY WERE ALL OVER THE PLACE.

PEOPLE WOULD SWAT 'EM OUTTA THEIR FACE.

IT DOESN'T EXIST ANYMORE.

WHICH MEANS THAT THE GROCERY STORE, WHICH SUPPLIES THE FOOD FOR THE WHOLE, UM, ECOLOGY AND ECOSYSTEMS FOR THE DIFFERENT SPECIES HAS DISAPPEARED.

WHICH MEANS IT'S VERY SIMPLE.

IF WE DON'T HAVE GROCERY STORES WHERE WE CAN GO BUY FOOD, WE'RE GONNA STARVE.

WELL, THE SAME WITH ECOSYSTEMS AND IT'S STARVING.

AND, UH, ALL THE EVIDENCE SHOWS THAT IT'S FALLING APART.

SO WHAT I'M ASKING YOU GUYS TO DO, AND I KNOW I'VE ASKED YOU BEFORE, IT HASN'T BEEN DONE AND YOU HAVEN'T EVEN TRIED, BUT ONE OF THE BIG REASONS OUR ECOSYSTEMS ARE FALLING APART IS BECAUSE HERE I DECATUR, WE HAVE COUNTLESS ACRES OF MONOCULTURE GRASS.

AND THAT MONOCULTURE GRASS IS KEPT ALIVE BY TOXIC LAWN CHEMICALS.

THE COMBINATION OF MONOCULTURE GRASS AND LAWN CHEMICALS IS DESTROYING WHAT INSECTS ARE LEFT.

AND IT'S A VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM, WHICH EVERYBODY, ESPECIALLY US ADULTS ARE IGNORING.

AND WE CAN'T DO THIS TO THE YOUNGER GENERATION.

THEY WANT TO HAVE A LIFE TOO.

I'VE BEEN BLESSED BY THE LORD, I'VE HAD A GOOD LIFE AND I WANNA SEE THESE KIDS BEING BORN TODAY.

I WANNA SEE THEM HAVE SOME KIND OF FUTURE, BUT WE'RE TAKING IT FROM THEM BECAUSE WE'RE TOO STUPID.

AND I SAY, I USE THE WORD STUPID INTENTIONALLY, AND I'M INCLUDING MYSELF.

MATTER OF FACT, I GOT MY NAME AND PHONE NUMBER DOWN HERE IN THE BOTTOM.

[00:10:01]

BUT I'M SORRY YOU'RE OUT OF TIME OF MY YARD.

OKAY, THANK YOU.

WELL, PLEASE CALL ME I'D, I'D LOVE TO SHOW YOU.

FOR COOLING, NOT IN WATER, BUT IN DIELECTRIC FLUID.

GOOD EVENING, COUNSEL.

SO FIRST OF ALL, I WENT TO SAY, UH, CONDOLENCES TO MR. TAYLOR AS WELL AS OBVIOUSLY MR. OLIVER'S FRIENDS AND FAMILY.

SOME OF MY FONDEST MEMORIES IN THIS CHAMBER WERE WHEN BILL SAT ON THIS COUNCIL WITH MY MENTOR, MAYOR ANDERSON, WHO COINCIDENTALLY WAS THE MAYOR WHO HELPED JIM AND BILL GET MARTIN LUTHER KING NAMED MARTIN LUTHER KING.

BUT BILL HAD A WAY ABOUT HIM.

IF WE HAD, BACK THEN, PROBLEMS WERE NOT AS SERIOUS AS YOURS OFTEN.

SO PEOPLE WOULD COME AND THEY'D SAY, MY NEIGHBOR'S GARAGE IS TWO INCHES OVER THE PROPERTY LINE.

I WANT HIM TO MOVE IT.

BILL WOULD SAY TO GARY, BOSS, I GOT IT.

I'LL GO MEASURE AND I'LL CHECK IT OUT.

SO AT ONE POINT, GARY BOUGHT HIM A MEASURING WHEEL.

SO THAT WAS A KIND OF A JOKE, G GIFT.

BUT COINCIDENTALLY, BILL USED IT A LOT.

SO HE WAS A GOOD NEGOTIATOR THAT MAYBE THAT TWO INCHES WAS OKAY, SO YOU DIDN'T HAVE TO MOVE YOUR GARAGE.

SO I DO HOPE THAT WE DO HAVE A MOMENT OF SILENCE IN HIS MEMORIES THIS EVENING.

HE WAS A WONDERFUL MAN.

WHENEVER HE WOULD SEE ME, HE WOULD SAY, KIDDO, ARE WE DOING ANYTHING WRONG TODAY? AND I'D SAY, I DON'T KNOW.

I HAVEN'T TALKED TO YOU LONG ENOUGH TO FIND OUT.

SO WE HAD A LOT OF FUN.

BUT THEN I ALSO WANNA LET YOU KNOW THAT I HAVE A HOME AWAY FROM HOME, WHICH SOME OF YOU HAVE BEEN AT RECENTLY.

THAT'S WORK AND FIELD FOR OUR NEW BEAN BALLERS BASEBALL TEAM.

SO I'VE ATTENDED EVERY HOME GAME, BEEN HAPPY TO SEE SOME OF YOUTH THERE.

WE'VE HAD A LOT OF FUN.

WE LOOK FORWARD TO ANOTHER 21 HOME GAMES, I BELIEVE, AND WE INVITE YOU TO COME AND ENJOY IT WITH YOUR FRIENDS AND YOUR FAMILY AND JUST HAVE A GOOD TIME.

BUT THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS BE GRATEFUL FOR MILLIKEN UNIVERSITY, MAKING THAT INVESTMENT AND ALLOWING THE BEAN DOLLARS TO USE THE WORKMAN FEEL.

SETH, THANK YOU.

THANK YOU MS. OWEN.

GOOD EVENING, MAYOR COUNCIL, I WANTED TO SPEAK WITH YOU TONIGHT ABOUT AN IMPORTANT OPPORTUNITY FOR DECATUR.

ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT ADVANCEMENTS IN TECHNOLOGY OF OUR LIFETIME IS ON OUR DOORSTEP NOW, AND THAT'S THE DEPLOYMENT OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE POWERED BY DATA CENTERS.

THE IMPACT WILL BE SIMILAR TO THE IMPACT OF THE INTERNET.

EVERY BUSINESS IN EVERY INDIVIDUAL WILL IN JUST A FEW YEARS USE ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE ROUTINELY.

IT WILL BRING ABOUT LEAPS IN AFFORDABILITY OF DAILY LIVING THAT ARE AS HARD FOR US TO COMPREHEND TODAY AS IT WAS FOR US TO COMPREHEND THE IMPACT OF THE SMARTPHONE 20 YEARS AGO, OR THE INTERNET 30 YEARS AGO, WHERE THE PERSONAL COMPUTER 50 YEARS AGO, PERHAPS MORE THAN ANY OTHER COMMUNITY IN THE NATION, DECATUR NEEDS NEW INDUSTRY AND GROWTH DATA CENTERS ARE A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR DECATUR BECAUSE THEY NEED TO BE BUILT OUT IN EVERY REGION OF THE NATION IN ORDER TO PROVIDE GOOD LATENCY.

DATA CENTERS WOULD CREATE CONSTRUCTION JOBS, SERVICE JOBS, AND A ROBUST TAX BASE FOR THE CITY.

DECATUR COULD BECOME THE DATA CENTER HUB FOR CENTRAL ILLINOIS IF WE PLAY OUR CARDS RIGHT.

BUT THERE'S A LIMITED WINDOW OF OPPORTUNITY WHEN THIS INFRASTRUCTURE IS GOING TO BE BUILT OUT.

PLACES THAT HESITATE WILL BE PASSED OVER FOR PLACES THAT SEE THE OPPORTUNITY.

UNFORTUNATELY, THERE'S A LOT OF DISINFORMATION BEING SPREAD BY GOOD PEOPLE WHO'VE BEEN FRIGHTENED BY FALSE NARRATIVES, DON'T BELIEVE IT.

I'VE PERSONALLY TOURED DATA CENTERS AND I'VE SEEN THEM BEING BUILT.

A GOOD FRIEND OF MINE AT DECATUR NATIVE OWNS A CONSTRUCTION COMPANY THAT FOCUSES ON DATA CENTERS AND WAS GOOD ENOUGH TO LET ME SEE THEM WITH MY OWN EYES.

ONE OF THE LIES THAT'S BEING SPREAD IS THAT DATA CENTERS ARE WATER HOGS.

THIS IS SIMPLY FALSE.

THE CURRENT GENERATION OF DATA CENTERS DON'T USE WATER FOR COOLING.

INSTEAD, THE SERVERS ARE IMMERSED IN LIQUID

[00:15:01]

THESE CLOSED LOOP SYSTEMS CIRCULATE THE DIELECTRIC FLUID THROUGH THE SERVERS, MUCH THE SAME WAY THAT OIL C CIRCULATES THROUGH YOUR CAR ENGINE.

I ENCOURAGE YOU TO LEARN THE TRUTH ABOUT DATA CENTERS AND EMBRACE SUCH INVESTMENTS.

WHILE WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR THIS, UH, FOR THE SAKE OF THE CITY'S FUTURE AND ESPECIALLY FOR THE FUTURE OF OUR YOUTH, LET'S NOT LET THIS OPPORTUNITY PASSES BY.

THANK YOU, MR. ROBERTSON.

GOOD EVENING.

UH, MY NAME'S TIM MCCANN.

I'M AN EXECUTIVE WITH MV TRANSPORTATION, YOUR CURRENT OPERATOR OF THE TRANSIT SYSTEM IN DECATUR AND, AND DECATUR MOVES AS WELL.

AND YOU'VE, YOU'VE GOT A RESOLUTION IN FRONT OF YOU TODAY TO EXTEND OUR OPERATING CONTRACT, WHICH ALIGNS IT WITH OUR DECATUR MOVES CONTRACT.

UM, I'D LIKE TO SAY IT ALSO BRINGS SOME GREAT ENHANCEMENTS, INCLUDING A, A SOFTWARE PLATFORM THAT'S THE SAME SOFTWARE THAT WE HAVE FOR DECATUR MOVES.

IT'LL NOW BE OVER THE BIG BUS, UM, THE FIXED ROUTE BUSES.

SO PASSENGER EXPERIENCE ALL UNDER ONE PLATFORM.

VERY EXCITED ABOUT IT.

BUT, UH, JUST APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY AND, AND THE CONSIDERATION.

AND, UH, THANK YOU FOR YOUR PARTNERSHIP.

THAT'S ALL.

THANK YOU MUCH.

THANK YOU, SIR.

DOES ANYONE ELSE WISH TO APPEAR BEFORE COUNSEL TONIGHT? OKAY, THEN MOVING ON.

WE WILL GO TO, OH, I'M SORRY WE TO RESPOND.

I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO, UH, SHARE MY CONDOLENCES, UH, WITH MR. TAYLOR ABOUT THE PASSING OF BILL OLIVER.

HE WAS SUCH A GREAT MAN AND AN INCREDIBLE PUBLIC SERVANT FOR DECADES IN THIS COMMUNITY AND, AND DID SO MUCH SO, YOU KNOW, OUR THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS ARE WITH YOU AND WITH HIS FAMILY.

UM, DAVID, THIS IS, EXCUSE ME, THIS IS A RESPONSE TO MR. ROBERTSON ABOUT, UM, DATA CENTERS.

SO BEFORE I WAS ON THE DECATUR CITY COUNCIL, I WAS APPOINTED TO THE MACON COUNTY REGIONAL PLANNING COMMISSION.

AND ONE OF THE MAJOR THINGS THAT WE WORKED ON WAS WE WORKED ON AN ORDINANCE, UH, REGULATING WIND TURBINES IN THE COUNTY.

AND I THOUGHT IT WAS IMPORTANT THAT WE DID THAT BEFORE ANY WIND FARMS CAME TO THE COUNTY BECAUSE IT GAVE THE COUNTY THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO, UH, CREATE GUIDELINES FOR PLACEMENT FOR USE AND, UH, PROVIDE PROTECTIONS TO RESIDENTS.

AND SO THE COUNTY ULTIMATELY PASSED THAT, UM, SET OF REGULATIONS AND THEN WIND FARMS CAME TO THE COUNTY.

AND SO, FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, AS IT PERTAINS TO DATA CENTERS, I, I, I, I BELIEVE, AND I FEEL THAT THE CITY COUNCIL SHOULD PASS A MORATORIUM ON DATA CENTERS SO THAT WE GIVE OUR STAFF THE OPPORTUNITY TO DEVELOP GUIDELINES FOR DATA CENTER DEVELOPMENT IN THE CITY.

THERE'S ALREADY ANNOUNCED IN JANUARY A PROPERTY OWNER I DECATUR, WHO HAS A PROPERTY THAT IS DATA CENTER READY.

AND SO I THINK IT'S INCUMBENT UPON CITY STAFF TO DEVELOP THOSE GUIDELINES FOR DATA CENTERS BEFORE SUCH A PROPOSAL COMES BEFORE THE CITY.

AND I'D LIKE TO THANK MY COLLEAGUE DENNIS COOPER, WHO ABOUT TWO WEEKS AGO ASKED FOR A MORATORIUM TO CITY STAFF SO THAT THESE, UM, GUIDELINES COULD BE DEVELOPED.

AND COUNCILMAN, AS YOU KNOW, I SENT OUT A MESSAGE TO COUNCIL EXPLAINING THAT WE ARE PUTTING TOGETHER INFORMATION AND WE WILL BE BRINGING THIS BEFORE COUNCIL PROBABLY IN THE NEXT MONTH AND A HALF OR SO WHEN WE HAVE A THOROUGH, UH, PACKET TO DELIVER SO THAT WE CAN ALL BE BETTER EDUCATED AND WE CAN HAVE SOME DISCUSSION BEFORE WE GO ANYWHERE.

BUT YEAH, THAT, THAT'S BEEN IN THE WORKS FOR A WHILE.

WE JUST DON'T BRING IT BEFORE COUNCIL TILL WE'RE, YOU KNOW, READY AND PREPARED.

PAT, MR. ROBINSON, I APPRECIATE YOUR PRESENTATION.

UNFORTUNATELY, FACEBOOK PEOPLE PUT THINGS ON FACEBOOK AND THEY DON'T HAVE ALL THE INFORMATION AND THAT THAT DOES CREATE SOME PROBLEMS. BUT I THANK YOU FOR THE, UH, INFORMATIVE, UH, INFORMATION YOU GAVE.

TO, UH, MAYBE WHAT WE'VE DONE IN THE PAST, WE CAN'T DO IN THE CIVIC CENTER PARKING LOT.

AND TO MR. BIRCH, UM, I'M GONNA HAVE TO ASK THE CITY MANAGER.

WE HAVE, UM, ON YOUR QUESTION ABOUT A DUMPSTER DAY.

WE'VE CHANGED IT IN RECENT YEARS WHERE WE'VE GONE TO SPECIFIC PARTS OF THE COMMUNITY AND HAD DUMPSTERS AVAILABLE FOR NEIGHBORHOODS BECAUSE A LOT OF PEOPLE DIDN'T HAVE TRUCKS TO GET THINGS TO THE CIVIC CENTER WHERE WE'VE HAD IT IN THE PAST.

UM, DO WE HAVE ANY OF THOSE DAYS PLANNED FOR THIS YEAR? WE DO NOT CURRENTLY.

UH, WE HAVE BEEN LOOKING AT POSSIBLE FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES.

IT IS A, A FAIRLY LARGE EXPENSE AND MY UNDERSTANDING IS NOW DUE

[00:20:01]

SO STAFF, WE STILL ARE LOOKING AT POTENTIAL ALTERNATIVES, BUT WE DON'T CURRENTLY HAVE ANYTHING SCHEDULED YET.

UM, BUT I DO KNOW THAT THE HAULERS DO PROVIDE FOR SOME BULK PICKUP.

SO I WOULD ALSO RECOMMEND FOR ANYBODY THAT HAVE BULK ITEMS THAT THEY NEED TO GET RID OF, THAT THEY DO REACH OUT TO THEIR HAULER TO FIND OUT HOW TO GET THOSE BULK ITEMS COLLECTED.

AND GENERALLY YOU HAVE TO SCHEDULE THAT WITH YOUR HAULER.

AND SOMETIMES IT'S A COUPLE OF WEEKS WAIT, SO DON'T TAKE EVERYTHING OUT TO YOUR, YOU KNOW, THE END OF YOUR DRIVEWAY AND EXPECT THEM TO BE THERE THE NEXT DAY.

MR. COOPER, DID YOU HAVE A COMMENT? THANK YOU, MAYOR.

YES.

UH, MY COMMENT WAS JUST AGAIN, TO THE FAMILY OF, UM, MR. OLIVER.

UM, MR. OLIVER WAS A LIVING LEGEND HERE IN THE CITY OF DECATUR AND FOR THE STATE OF ILLINOIS.

AND MY CONDOLENCES TO THE FAMILY AS WELL AS TO YOU MR. TAYLOR.

'CAUSE I KNOW YOU WORKED VERY CLOSELY WITH BILL, UM, THROUGHOUT, THROUGH, ALL THROUGH THE YEARS AND I KNOW THAT IT'S A GREAT LOSS TO YOU AS WELL, BUT WE JUST WANT TO GIVE OUR CONDOLENCES TO HIM AND TO HIS FAMILY ON THE WORK THAT HE'D DONE FOR THE CITY AND ALSO FOR OUR COUNTY IN ALL THE YEARS.

AND I BELIEVE HE WAS TURNING 90 THIS MONTH.

SO IT IS, UM, IT SAID HE DIDN'T MAKE IT TO 90.

YEAH, I THINK HE'S 88 AND TURNING 89.

THAT I'LL ADD TO WHAT THE CITY MANAGER, IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN, UNDER A NEW CONTRACT OF THE HAULERS.

THEY HAVE FIVE PICKUPS A YEAR.

SO, AND, AND THAT MAY BE A SINGLE ITEM, LIKE A CHAIR OR A RIGHT.

YEAH.

OKAY.

ANY OTHER COMMENTS FROM COUNSEL? IT'S, YEAH, WE NEED TO CHECK IT.

THINK IT'S FIVE LARGE ITEMS, FIVE TIMES A YEAR.

ALRIGHT.

ANY FURTHER COMMENT FROM COUNSEL? SEEING NONE, WE WILL MOVE ON TO APPROVAL OF MINUTES,

[IV. Approval of Minutes]

APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF MAY 18TH, 2026.

CITY COUNCIL MEETING.

I NEED A MOTION AND A SECOND.

ONE RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING FOURTH AMENDMENT TO THE TRANS TRANSIT MANAGEMENT AND OPERATIONS AGREEMENT WITH MV TRANSPORTATION INC.

MAYOR MORE WOLF? AYE.

SIX AYES, NO NAYS, ANY UNFINISHED BUSINESS? NONE.

MOVING TO NEW BUSINESS ITEM

[1. Resolution Authorizing Fourth Amendment to the Transit Management and Operations Agreement with MV Transportation, Inc.]

MOTION THAT THE RESOLUTION TO PASS AND BE ADOPTED.

TIMES WHERE ROUTES HAVE HAD TO BE PULLED DUE TO THE DRIVER SHORTAGE.

SECOND, MS. HANH.

UH, NO OPENING COMMENTS FOR ME, UH, MAYOR AND COUNCIL, I'LL GO AHEAD AND TURN IT OVER TO LACEY ELZ, ECONOMIC AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR.

HI, GOOD EVENING MAYOR COUNCIL.

UM, THIS IS THE FOURTH AMENDMENT TO THE CONTRACT WITH MV TRANSPORTATION.

AS OUR PARTNER, TIM MCCANN SAID, UM, THIS WOULD EXTEND OUR CURRENT CONTRACT, WHICH COVERS THE FIXED ROUTE SYSTEM AND THE PARATRANSIT SYSTEM TO ALIGN WITH THE CONTRACT THAT WE HAVE WITH DECATUR MOVES.

UM, THIS SETS US UP FOR GOOD PROCUREMENT PRACTICES IN THE FUTURE BECAUSE THEN IN THE FUTURE, WHEN IT'S TIME TO ISSUE AN RFP FOR OPERATIONS, WE'LL BE ABLE TO PUT ALL THREE OF THEM OUT TOGETHER.

UM, IT DOES HAVE THE ADDED BENEFIT OF UPGRADING THE CURRENT TECHNOLOGY THAT WE USE, UM, TO THE SAME SYSTEM AS THE DECATUR MOVE SYSTEM, WHICH HAS GONE OVER VERY WELL.

SO WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT THAT.

AND, UM, I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING ELSE TO ADD.

I'LL TAKE ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU GUYS MAY HAVE.

QUESTIONS FROM COUNSEL MR. HORN? UM, MS. ZELIE, I BELIEVE WHEN WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THE THIRD AMENDMENT FOR MV TRANSPORTATION, WE TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT, UM, DRIVERS AND THE NEED FOR MORE DRIVERS.

COULD YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHETHER WE HAVE THE REQUISITE NUMBER OF DRIVERS FOR BUSES FOR PARATRANSIT AND FOR OUR DECATUR MOVE SYSTEM? SO WE ARE STILL HAVING A SHORTAGE OF CDL DRIVERS.

UM, THAT'S NOT UNIQUE TO THE CITY OF DECATUR.

THAT HAS BEEN A CONSTANT, IT SEEMS ACROSS MOST BUS SYSTEMS IN THE UNITED STATES SINCE COVID.

HOWEVER, MV HAS BEEN A GOOD PARTNER AND HAS BEEN DOING AN AGGRESSIVE, UH, RECRUITMENT CAMPAIGN.

UM, MV TRANSPORTATION ALSO DOES PAID CDL TRAINING, WHICH IS A NICE ADDED BONUS.

SO IF YOU KNOW ANYONE LOOKING TO GET THEIR CDL, UM, WE ARE HIRING OR THEY ARE HIRING AND UM, UH, I BELIEVE THAT STAFFING LEVELS ON BOTH PARATRANSIT AND DECATUR MOVES ARE A LITTLE BIT BETTER.

THEY HAVE LESS REQUIREMENTS BECAUSE NEITHER ONE OF THOSE VEHICLES, UM, ARE CDL REQUIRED.

AND SO IT SOUNDS LIKE THERE'S A LOT OF STRUGGLE NATIONWIDE TO GET DRIVERS.

HAS MV TRANSPORTATION BEEN ABLE TO MANAGE THE DRIVER SHORTAGE IN TERMS OF MAKING SURE THAT OUR ROUTES ARE BEING COVERED, PARTICULARLY FOR THE BUSES, THERE HAVE BEEN

[00:25:01]

SO MR. COOPER, UH, YOU MAY BE AT OR MAY NOT, BUT UM, I KNOW, UM, RICHLAND COMMUNITY COLLEGE HAS A DRIVING SCHOOL OR CLASS OR THEY USED TO, UM, IS MTV CO UM, COLLABORATING WITH THEM AS FAR AS TRYING TO WORK OUT SOMETHING TO, UH, WORK WITH THEM AND GETTING, UH, INCREASE IN, IN UH, CDL DRIVERS? YES.

MV HAS BEEN IN CONTACT WITH RICHLAND COMMUNITY COLLEGE.

THE ONLY PROBLEM IS ALSO A DM PRIMATE AND CATERPILLAR ALSO LEVERAGE THE COLLEGE TOO.

SO WE JUST ARE IN A VERY SATURATED CDL MARKET, WHICH DOES NOT HELP WITH OUR CDL UM, SHORTAGE.

ARE THE DRIVERS OF DECATUR MOVES REQUIRED TO HAVE CDLS OR ONLY THE LARGE BUSES? ONLY THE LARGE BUSES.

PAT, I WAS JUST GONNA SAY, EVERY INDUSTRY IN THE COUNTRY HAS A PROBLEM FINDING WORKERS, YOU KNOW, EVEN POLICE DEPARTMENTS, SCHOOL TEACHERS, INDUSTRY RIGHT HERE IN DECATUR.

SO THERE'S JOBS OUT THERE, BUT PEOPLE JUST AREN'T INTERESTED IN ANYTHING.

SOME OF 'EM DON'T WANNA WORK.

SO IT IS A PROBLEM ACROSS THE COUNTRY, NOT JUST DRIVERS.

MR. HORN, DID YOU HAVE ANOTHER COMMENT? UM, MS. ELSIE, AS I UNDERSTAND IT, MV TRANSPORTATION ESSENTIALLY RUNS THE DAY-TO-DAY OPERATIONS OF OUR TRANSIT SYSTEM.

UM, WOULD YOU SAY THAT, UM, MV TRANSPORTATION HAS BEEN A GOOD STEWARD OF OUR ASSETS THAT WE HAVE? WE'VE GOT NEW BUSES, NEW VANS, NEW DECATUR MOVES VEHICLES IN TERMS OF THE DAY-TO-DAY OPERATIONS, UM, HAVE THEY BEEN GOOD STEWARDS OF OUR ASSETS? YES.

I WOULD SAY THAT MV TRANSPORTATION HAS BEEN GOOD STEWARDS OF OUR, UM, EQUIPMENT.

UM, IT, OUR CITY STAFF MAINTAINS THE EQUIPMENT AND THEY DO A GOOD JOB IN WORKING TOGETHER TO ENSURE THAT ANYTHING THAT IS NOT, UM, UP TO OPERATING STANDARDS GETS THERE QUICKLY.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? SAY NONE.

COUNCILWOMAN CRUZ? AYE.

COUNCILMAN HORNE? AYE.

I SKIPPED RIGHT OVER HER.

MAYOR MORE WOLF? AYE.

SIX A'S NO NAYS.

UH, DOES ANYONE ON COUNCIL HAVE ANY ITEM FROM THE CONSENT CALENDAR THEY WOULD LIKE TO RE OH, YOU SKIPPED THIS ONE.

SKIPPED THIS CITY MANAGER UPDATE.

[2. City Manager Update]

UPDATE.

MADAM MAYOR, MADAM CITY MANAGER.

THANK YOU MAYOR AND COUNCIL.

JUST A FEW STAFFING UPDATES I WANTED TO SHARE.

UH, WE DO HAVE A NEW GRANT SPECIALIST FOR REPORTING AND FINANCIAL COMPLIANCE IN THE ECONOMIC AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT.

HE STARTED TODAY AND HIS NAME IS VIC, UH, CHULO.

AND THEN WILLIAM HO IS OUR NEW ENTERPRISE, GIS COORDINATOR AND THE IT DEPARTMENT.

HE STARTED MAY 18TH.

WE'VE HAD THE APPOINTMENT OF CECILIA SCHAFER IS OUR NEW ACCOUNTING ANALYST IN THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT, AND SHE WAS APPOINTED TO THAT POSITION ON MAY 4TH.

AND THEN WE'VE HAD SOME PROMOTIONS, UH, DEREK PFEIFFER, CREW CHIEF AND WATER SERVICES AND THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT, PROMOTED MAY 11TH.

NICHOLAS ETT, POLICE SERGEANT AND THE POLICE DEPARTMENT PROMOTED MAY 11TH.

TINA WEEKLY WATER PLANT OPERATOR, THREE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT, PROMOTED MAY 11TH, AND THEN MICHAEL ELLIS TO ENGINEERING TECHNICIAN THREE IN THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT ON MAY 11TH AS WELL.

AND THEN WE'VE HAD ONE RETIREMENT AND CONGRATULATIONS TO SERGEANT ERIC MATTHEWS, WHO WAS, UM, WORKED FOR THE DECATUR POLICE DEPARTMENT FOR 20 YEARS.

SO WE THANK HIM FOR HIS SERVICE.

AND THAT'S ALL I HAVE AND BEST OF LUCK IN RETIREMENT, SO THANK YOU FOR THAT UPDATE.

NOW DOES ANYONE ON COUNSEL

[3. Consent Calendar: Items on the Consent Agenda/Calendar are matters requiring City Council approval or acceptance, but which are routine and recurring in nature, are not controversial, are matters of limited discretion, and about which little or no discussion is anticipated. However, staff’s assessment of what should be included on the Consent Agenda/Calendar can be in error. For this reason, any Consent Agenda/Calendar item can be removed from the Consent Agenda/Calendar by any member of the governing body, for any reason, without the need for concurrence by any other governing body member. Items removed from the Consent Agenda/Calendar will be discussed and voted on separately from the remainder of the Consent Agenda/Calendar.]

WISH TO REMOVE ANY ITEM FROM THE CONSENT CALENDAR, MR. HORN F AND J? ANY OTHERS? C NONE.

ITEM A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING A PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH PAUL'S MACHINE AND WELDING CORP TO PROVIDE ENGINEERING LABOR AND MATERIAL TO REBUILD THE SLU GATE HOIST HOIST MACHINERY FRAME FOR THE LAKE DECATUR DAM, SOUTH SLUICE GATE ITEM B RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING EXECUTION OF A GRAND AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, ILLINOIS ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY AND THE CITY OF DECATUR.

ITEM C RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING A SIX YEAR MAINTENANCE AGREEMENT WITH ALTORFER INC.

FOR SOUTH WATER TREATMENT PLANT EMERGENCY STANDBY GENERATORS.

ITEM D RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING LAKE DECATUR WATERSHED FARMLAND CONSERVATION PROGRAM AGREEMENT FOR WATERWAY AND GRADE CONTROL STRUCTURE, IMPROVEMENTS WITH FOLK FAMILY FARM LLC ITEM E RESOLUTION, ACCEPTING THE BID AND AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION OF A CONTRACT WITH LER EXCAVATING CO CO INC.

FOR 2026.

MISCELLANEOUS SANITARY AND STORM

[00:30:01]

SEWER IMPROVEMENT PROJECT CITY PROJECT 2026 DASH ZERO NINE ITEM G RESOLUTION, ACCEPTING THE BID AND AUTHORIZING EXECUTION OF A CONTRACT WITH DUNN COMPANY, A DIVISION OF TYRELL INC.

FOR CITY PROJECT 20 26 0 8 ANNUAL STREET RESTORATION SECTION 26 DASH SIX EIGHT DASH ZERO FP ITEM H RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING A STANDARD NORTH AMERICAN CELLULAR A MI SOLUTION AGREEMENT WITH ITRON INC.

ITEM I RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE EXPENDITURE OF FUNDS WITH UNITED SYSTEM SOFTWARE INC.

FOR AN ITRON TO METRO UPGRADE.

I NEED A MOTION TO APPROVE THE ITEMS AS PRESENTED.

SECOND.

COUNCILMAN CRUZ? AYE.

ADDITIONAL MOTOR FUEL TAX FUNDS FOR RESTORATION OF STREETS AND HIGHWAYS BY MUNICIPALITY UNDER THE ILLINOIS HIGHWAY CODE CITY PROJECT 20 26 0 8 ANNUAL STREET RESTORATION SECTION 26 DASH 0 0 6 0 8 DASH ZERO ZERO FP.

MAYOR MOORE WOLF AYE.

SIX AYES NO NAYS RESOLUTION TO APPROPRIATE

[F. Resolution to Appropriate Additional Motor Fuel Tax Funds for Restoration of Streets and Highways by Municipality Under the Illinois Highway Code, City Project 2026-08, Annual Street Restoration, Section 26-00608-00-FP]

MOTION THAT THE RESOLUTION NEW PASS AND BE ADOPTED.

PUSH TAX HAS FINALLY, UH, GONE THROUGH AND, UH, BEGINNING, UH, AS LATE AS JULY, 2027, WE'LL BE ABLE TO COLLECT PUSH TAX REVENUE, WHICH THE LAST TIME I CHECKED WAS ESTIMATED AT $4 MILLION A YEAR.

SECOND, MR. HORN, THESE QUESTIONS ARE MOST LIKELY FOR MR. NEWELL, BUT MS. HANH CERTAINLY CAN ANSWER THEM IF, IF SHE WANTS TO.

UH, WE CAN GO AHEAD AND ASK, UH, PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR MATT NEWELL TO COME UP.

UH, MR. NOEL, JUST, UM, A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS FOR YOU.

SO IN THE APPROVED 2026 BUDGET, PUBLIC WORKS PROVIDED A FIGURE AND THAT FIGURE SHOWS, UM, ROAD CONDITION INDEX OVER TIME.

AND IN LOOKING AT THE DATA PROVIDED BY THE CITY, IT APPEARS THAT OUR ROADS ARE IN THE WORST CONDITION THAT THEY'VE BEEN IN SINCE AT LEAST 2004, BASED ON THAT PASSER RATING THAT, UM, IS GIVEN TO THE ROADS.

MY MY FIRST QUESTION TO YOU IS, DO YOU HAVE AN ESTIMATE FOR HOW MUCH IT WOULD COST TO MAINTAIN THE PASS RATING AT LET'S SAY 4.0 ON AN ANNUAL BASIS? IN OTHER WORDS, HOW MUCH MONEY DO WE HAVE TO ALLOCATE, UM, FOR JUST TO MAKE SURE WE STAY AT ABOUT FOUR? OUR ESTIMATION WAS, UH, THAT IT WOULD, IT WOULD BE AROUND $3 MILLION TO JUST KEEP US ADDITIONAL.

TO KEEP US.

SO EVERY YEAR WE NEED $3 MILLION NO MATTER WHAT TO KEEP OUR PASSER RATING THE SAME AS LONG AS PRICES DON'T INCREASE.

RIGHT.

YOU HAVE THE MAGIC FOR THAT.

UM, AND THAT'S FAIR.

YOU KNOW, IF, IF YOU LOOK AT ASPHALT PRICES OVER THE PAST 10 YEARS, SOME YEARS THEY'VE BEEN HIGH, SOME YEARS THEY'VE BEEN LOW.

I, I APPRECIATE THAT POINT.

UM, SO DO YOU HAVE AN ESTIMATE FOR HOW MUCH IT WOULD COST TO, LET'S SAY INCREASE THAT PASSER RATING? LET'S GO 0.05 ABOUT HOW MUCH IT WOULD COST TO GO FROM A FOUR TO 4.05 IN ADDITION TO THE $3 MILLION WE NEED JUST TO KEEP STEADY.

WELL, I'M TRYING TO REMEMBER THE, UH, WHAT I, WHAT I WROTE DOWN FOR YOU, BUT I, I BELIEVE, UH, WE WERE, WE WOULD BE LOOKING AT ANOTHER THREE, 3 MILLION ADDITIONAL AND THAT WOULD BE SIX.

YEAH.

SO THE, I THINK THE REASON I ASK THESE QUESTIONS IS JUST BECAUSE, UM, OUR RESIDENTS COMPLAIN REGULARLY ABOUT THE QUALITY OF THE ROADS IN THE CITY OF DECATUR, AND WE'RE AT THE LOWEST ROAD CONDITION INDEX SCORE WE HAVE BEEN IN 20 PLUS YEARS JUST TO MAINTAIN THAT SCORE, IT'S $3 MILLION AND JUST TO INCREASE IT BY 0.05, IT'S AN ADDITIONAL $3 MILLION.

AND SO IF YOU THINK ABOUT IT FROM THAT PERSPECTIVE, JUST TO GET BACK TO WHERE WE WERE ABOUT 10 YEARS AGO WHEN WE WERE ABOUT 4.2, UM, WE'RE GONNA NEED $15 MILLION.

AND SO I THINK THAT'S THE STRUGGLE, UH, FOR THIS COUNCIL.

AND, UM, WE DID RECEIVE SOME POSITIVE NEWS AND LOOKING AT THE IMLS MOST RECENT UPDATE, THE

[00:35:01]

UM, MY, SO THANK YOU FOR THAT INFORMATION.

NOW, SOME SPECIFIC QUESTIONS, UM, FOR NORTH MONROE STREET, I READ IT AS IT IS GOING UP TO SAWYER ROAD, BUT THERE IS A RAILROAD CROSSING JUST NORTH OF SAWYER ROAD, WHICH I WOULD ARGUE IS ONE OF THE WORST ROW RAILROAD CROSSINGS IN THE CITY OF DECATUR.

IS THAT ROAD WORK GONNA GO PAST THAT RAILROAD CROSSING? THAT'S, THAT'S MY UNDERSTANDING.

YES.

THE, UH, UH, WILL PROBABLY NOT WORK ON THE CROSSING ITSELF.

THAT'S, THAT WOULD BE THE RAILROAD ADDRESSING THAT.

AND DO WE HAVE A WAY TO COMMUNICATE WITH THE RAILROAD TO SAY THIS IS THE WORST RAILROAD CROSSING IN THE CITY OF DECATUR? WELL, IF YOU'VE GOT SOMEBODY THAT CAN COMMUNICATE WELL WITH THE RAILROAD, I, I WOULD APPRECIATE THEIR PHONE NUMBER.

BUT, UH, WE, WE HAVE A, WE, WE STRUGGLE WITH THE RAILROAD.

I MEAN, FRANKLY, BUT, UH, AND, AND THEY ALMOST HAVE TO BE FORCED TO, TO WORK ON THEIR CROSSINGS.

AND MR. NEIL, ISN'T THAT A, IT'S BEEN A PROBLEM FOR YEARS WITH THE RAILROAD IN THAT, UH, TWO QUESTIONS.

UM, THIS WOULD YOU SAY THIS LAST WINTER, WHICH WAS PROBABLY ONE OF THE WORST WINTERS WE'VE HAD WITH SNOW AND COLD, UH, REALLY DID A, A NUMBER ON OUR STREETS AND, AND THE, UH, UH, STATE HIGHWAYS THAT GO THROUGH DECATUR? IN MY, IN MY UH, VIEW, IT IS, I MEAN THERE WAS NO MORE POTHOLES IN THAT 'CAUSE WE DID HAVE A LOT OF SNOW IN THAT.

WOULD YOU AGREE WITH THAT? WINTERS ARE ALWAYS HARD ON, ON THE STREETS.

I MEAN, IT'S, UH, THE POTHOLES BLOOM IN THE, IN THE SPRING AND, UH, WITH, WITH FREEZE THAW, I MEAN, WHEN YOU, WHEN YOU'RE, YOU'RE COLD, YOU'RE, YOU'RE, YOU'RE, YOU FREEZE, YOU THAW, YOU FREEZE, YOU THAW IT.

UH, IT JUST, IT TEARS THE ROADS UP.

SO ALL, ALL THE WINTERS ARE, ARE VERY BAD ON THE ROADS.

OKAY, THANK YOU.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? CALL THE QUESTION PLEASE.

COUNCILWOMAN CRUZ.

AYE.

RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING PUBLIC MURAL AT ONE 30 NORTH FRANKLIN STREET, DECATUR PUBLIC LIBRARY MOTION THAT THE RESOLUTION DO PASS AND BE ADOPTED.

MAYOR MOORE WOLF AYE.

SIX I'S NO NAYS

[J. Resolution Authorizing Public Mural at 130 N. Franklin Street - Decatur Public Library]

SECOND, MR. HORN, JUST WANNA SAY CONGRATULATION TO THE DECATUR PUBLIC LIBRARY FOR RECEIVING A GRANT FOR A PUBLIC MURAL INSIDE THEIR, UH, FACILITY, WHICH IS ALSO THE CITY OF DECATUR'S FACILITY.

YOU KNOW, DECATUR'S RAPIDLY BECOMING KNOWN FOR ITS OUTDOOR ARTWORK, BUT WE'VE ALSO GOT SOME PROMINENT ARTWORK INSIDE THE DOWNTOWN POST OFFICE AND I HOPE THAT, UH, THIS MURAL THAT, UH, THE LIBRARY GOT FUNDING FOR WILL BECOME A PART OF THAT LEGACY.

ALL THE QUESTION PLEASE.

COUNCILWOMAN CRUZ.

AYE.

I WOULD ASK THAT WE PAUSE FOR A MOMENT OF SILENCE IN HONOR OF THE FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN COUNCILMAN ELECTED TO THE DECATUR CITY COUNCIL.

MAYOR MORE WOLF? AYE.

SIX I'S NO NAYS MOVING TO OTHER BUSINESS.

[VII. Other Business]

MR. WILLIAM BILL OLIVER, A GREAT, GREAT DECATUR.

I THANK YOU.

DOES ANYONE HAVE OTHER BUSINESS THEY WOULD LIKE TO BRING FROM THE COUNCIL? MS. CRUZ? I ATTENDED THE, UM, BROAD WING EPA HEARING PERMIT HEARING AND THERE WAS A LOT OF DISCUSSION ABOUT, UM, THE STATE OF DECATUR, UH, COMMUNITY JUSTICE, UM, ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE, COMMUNITY STATUS.

UM, DOES THE CITY OF DECATUR HAVE A PLAN TO REMEDIATE? WHAT IS THE PLAN TO ADDRESS THAT STATUS GIVEN BY THE EPA, THE STATUS GIVEN BY THE EPA ENVIR, UM, ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE COMMUNITY.

DECATUR WAS GIVEN THAT STATUS BY THE EPA.

ARE YOU NOT AWARE OF THAT? UM, NO, I, I'M NOT.

MS. HAN, DO YOU HAVE FURTHER INFORMATION? I DO NOT.

I'M, I'M NOT AWARE.

SO IF YOU COULD EMAIL WHATEVER INFORMATION YOU HAVE, WE CAN LOOK INTO IT.

OKAY.

UM, ALSO, UM, ARE THERE ANY PLANS TO DO A 250 YEAR CELEBRATION

[00:40:02]

WITHIN THE CITY? NOT AN OVERALL CELEBRATION, BUT I THINK IT'S PART OF THE FIREWORKS, UH, DISPLAY THAT WE ARE PARTNERING WITH THE PARK DISTRICT ON FOR THE 4TH OF JULY CELEBRATION.

SECOND COUNCILWOMAN CRUZ.

WE DID JUST RECENTLY HAVE OUR HUNDREDTH OR THE HUNDREDTH ANNIVERSARY OF LAKE AND WE HAVE OF THE LAKE AND THEN THE HUNDREDTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE PARK DISTRICT TWO SUB SUBSEQUENT YEARS.

SO WE CELEBRATED AND IT'S UM, GONNA BE GOOD.

4TH OF JULY.

DOES ANYONE ELSE ON COUNCIL HAVE COMMENTS ABOUT A MOTION TO ADJOURN? SO MOVED.

AYE.