Aug 17, 2026 City Council Meeting

THANK YOU, MA'AM.

GOOD EVENING.

I'M TIM O'CONNOR FROM EAST JOHNS HILL NEIGHBORHOOD, A TAXPAYER.

MS. GREGORY, SO REGARDING YOUR INVITATION TO GO TO DANVILLE TO SEE THE RESULT OF INDUSTRY LEAVING, WE ARE NOT LACKING IN EXAMPLES OF, PARDON ME, EXAMPLES OF INDUSTRIES THAT HAVE LEFT TOWN.

YOUR EXAMPLE OF GENERAL MOTORS LEAVING DANVILLE IS EXACTLY WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT AND IS A LESSON THAT YOU STUBBORNLY REFUSE TO SEE.

INDUSTRY DOES NOT CARE ABOUT THE COMMUNITIES.

IT LOCATES ITSELF IN HERE.

FIRESTONE BUILT RECALL INDUCING SHADY SHODDY TIRES NOT ONCE, BUT TWICE, AND THEN LEFT US A HUNDRED YEARS AGO.

THE WABASH WAS THE LARGEST EMPLOYER IN TOWN WITH ABOUT 3000 EMPLOYEES BOUGHT BY NORFOLK AND WESTERN.

THEY WHITTLED DECATUR SHOPS DOWNS TO NOTHING SENDING THOSE THAT WORK ELSEWHERE.

STALEY ONCE HAD 1400 EMPLOYEES HERE AFTER TATE AND LYLE, THEN PRIMATE, NOW THAT'S AROUND 500 A DM MOVED THEIR GLOBAL HQ TO CHICAGO.

WERE ANY OF COUNCIL CONSULTED ON THAT? WHAT MAKES YOU THINK THAT IF CARGILL AND A DM DECIDE TO MERGE, THAT THEY WILL DO ANYTHING IN DECATUR'S INTEREST AND NOT WHAT'S IN A DM SHAREHOLDER INTERESTS? YOUR JOB IS TO LOOK AFTER OUR INTERESTS, NOT ADMS. I INVITE YOU, MS. GREGORY, MR. MCDANIEL, MAYOR, TO GO AND VISIT SOME OF THE TAXPAYERS THAT LIVE IN A DM SHADOW OVER ON EAST HARRISON, WALLACE, AND GARFIELD.

THERE YOU MIGHT GET A SENSE THAT A LOT OF FOLKS EXPECT THE CITY TO FAIL THEM, THAT WHATEVER A DM WANTS THEY GET AND THAT THEY'RE NOT HURT.

IT'S A LOT CLOSER THAN DANVILLE REGARDING SOCIALISM.

MS. GREGORY, I DON'T RECALL ANYONE SUGGESTING WORKERS SEIZING THE MEANS OF PRODUCTION.

IT'S A RED SCARE.

FEAR-MONGERING AND MANY DIFFERENT GOVERNMENT IDEOLOGIES LOOK AFTER THEIR CONSTITUENTS, SOCIAL SECURITY, THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, PUBLIC EDUCATION, AND YET YOU VOTED IN FAVOR OF REBUILDING THE BOAT LAUNCHES AT NELSON, WHICH ONLY DIRECTLY AFFECTS WHAT ABOUT 2,500 BOAT OWNERS.

SO YOU'RE AGAINST THE SOCIALISM OF THE COMMUNITY GRANT PROGRAM, BUT IT'S OKAY FOR MINE.

NON BOAT OWNING NEIGHBORHOOD TO HELP FUND A BOAT LAUNCH.

GOT IT.

MAYOR MORE WOLF, YOU SAID THAT WITHOUT STALEY FORCING THE ISSUE THAT THERE WOULD BE NO LAKE.

I'LL TELL YOU THAT IF INDUSTRY THREATENS TO LEAVE DECATUR TO EXTRACT WHATEVER IT WANTS FROM US MIGHT NOT BE THE AWESOME PRECEDENT THAT YOU THINK IT IS.

THAT'S NOT A NEGOTIATION POSITION THAT'S LETTING US BE HELD HOSTAGE TO INDUSTRY.

MR. MCDANIEL A DM DESERVES THE PUBLIC CRITICISM.

AN EMPLOYEE WAS KILLED BY A LOCOMOTIVE IN 2023.

AN EMPLOYEE WAS KILLED IN 2016 WHEN STRUCK WITH A CHAIN TWO WERE ASPHYXIATED IN 2008.

THESE ARE OUR NEIGHBORS.

THEY'VE GOT $2 MILLION IN OSHA FINES.

364 MILLION IN EPA FINES.

THAT'S A PATTERN.

IT SEEMS THAT A LOT OF FOLKS COMING HERE HAVE BEEN ABOUT PEOPLE BLOWING RED LIGHTS.

HOW MANY RED LIGHTS DOES A DM GET TO BLOW PAST? I WORKED FOR A DM FOR SIX DAYS AS A TEMPO EMPLOYEE IS THE ONLY TIME I ASKED THE TEMP AGENCY TO GET ME OUT OF A PLACE BECAUSE OF SAFETY CONCERNS I HAD.

I HAD COME FROM CPS CLINTON POWER STATION THAT HAD AN ACTUAL REAL SAFETY HISTORY AND CULTURE.

AS EXPERIENCE COUNCIL MEMBERS SHOULD CHALLENGE ONE ANOTHER, BUT ANSWER FACTS WITH FACTS.

THANK YOU, MR. IT'S CHAD BOLAND, UM, MAYOR CITY COUNCIL.

UM, THESE AREN'T GONNA, THESE AREN'T VERBATIM QUOTES.

I'M ADDRESSING SOMETHING THAT HAPPENED LAST MEETING AND THAT IS UNMISTAKABLE CONDUCT.

LAST MEETING, COUNCILMAN HO RAISED THE WATER SUPPLY A DM AND DATA CENTER'S ISSUE.

THE RESPONSE WAS NOT SUBSTANTIVE.

IT WAS RESUME AS REBUTTAL DECADES OF OPERATIONAL EXPERIENCE WERE USED AGAIN, USED TO SUGGEST THAT HE SIMPLY DIDN'T UNDERSTAND.

EXPERIENCE DOESN'T COME FROM, IT DOESN'T EQUAL INFALLIBILITY.

A RESUME IS NOT EVIDENCE.

YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IN A ROOM DOES NOT CANCEL A LEGITIMATE QUESTION FROM THE CENTER.

AND THE SEATS BESIDE CAME SNIDE COMMENTS AND PILE ON THAT SPOKE DOWN TO ANOTHER ELECTED MEMBER INSTEAD OF DIRECTLY ANSWERING HIM.

THAT IS CONTEMPT DRESSED

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DO NOT USE SENIORITY AS A SHIELD.

SARCASM AS A SUBTLE OR THREE VOICES TO BELITTLE ONE ANOTHER.

THEN THERE'S THE GATEKEEPING.

ONE, MAYOR OR CITY MANAGER CAN PLACE AN ITEM ALONE.

AN ELECTED COUNCIL MEMBER NEEDS FOUR TO SIX.

A MAJORITY MUST APPROVE DISCUSSION BEFORE THE PUBLIC HEARS IT BY A FOUR TO 2, 4, 2, 3 VOTE.

MAYOR MOORE WOLF AND COUNCIL MEMBERS CULP, GREGORY AND MCDANIEL KEPT THAT BARRIER.

COUNCIL MEMBER'S HORN, COOPER AND CRUZ OPPOSED IT.

THAT'S NOT EFFICIENCY.

THAT'S GATEKEEPING FROM THE PUBLIC SIDE OF THIS RAIL.

THE PATTERN IS PLAIN.

AS INDEPENDENT VOICES WERE ELECTED HORN THAN COOPER, THAN CRUZ, THE PROCESS BECAME MORE PROTECTED AND HARDER TO CHALLENGE.

CALLED IT PROCEDURE CITIZENS RECOGNIZE MOVING GOALPOSTS WHEN THEY SEE THEM THOUGH.

NOW LOOK AT NEIGHBORHOOD REVITALIZATION.

THE WEBSITE STILL POINTS TO A 20 23, 20 25 STRATEGIC PLAN WHERE THE CITY HAS ROLLED OUT A 26 THROUGH 29 REVITALIZATION PLAN BEFORE ANOTHER PLAN.

WHERE IS THE PUBLIC CLOSEOUT OF THAT PLAN? WHAT WAS COMPLETE, FAILED, AND NEVER IMPLEMENTED? WHERE ARE THE MEASURABLE RESULTS? YOUR OWN 2025 SURVEY EXAMINED 14,628 PARCELS ACROSS 19 NEIGHBORHOODS.

THE PROBLEM IS NOT INVISIBLE.

RESIDENCY, VACANT, BURNED, AND DETERIORATING PROPERTIES.

THEY NEED EXECUTION.

SORRY, MR. BOLEN, YOU'RE OUTTA TIME, BUT YOU ARE WELCOME BACK AT THE UM, GOTCHA AGENDA ITEM.

MY NAME IS LEN ROSENBERGER, A MEMBER OF ILLINOIS.

PEOPLE'S ACTION.

THE NUMBER ONE JOB OF GOVERNMENT, UH, BODIES AT ANY LEVEL IS STILL THE HEALTH, SAFETY AND WELLBEING OF ITS MEMBERS.

THE GOVERNMENT, OR EXCUSE ME, THE GOVERNOR ABBOTT OF TEXAS HAS JUST RECENTLY ISSUED A MORATORIUM ON DATA CENTERS IN TEXAS OF ALL PLACES.

HE SAYS, PEOPLE FIRST.

WE, THE PEOPLE OF NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE HAVE STOPPED A DATA CENTER FROM BEING BUILT NEXT TO THE, UH, NASHVILLE ZOO FOR CONCERN ABOUT AIR POLLUTION, AUDIBLE NOISE POLLUTION, AND INFRASOUND POLLUTION, UH, AND ALL THESE EFFECTS THEY WOULD HAVE ON THE ANIMALS IN DECATUR, YOU CANNOT TALK ABOUT A DATA CENTER WITHOUT TALKING ABOUT BROAD WING ENERGY AND A-D-M-C-O TWO SEQUESTRATION.

THEY ALL WORK TOGETHER.

UNLESS A DATA CENTER BUILDS ITS OWN CLEAN RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCE, IT WILL RELY ON BROAD WING.

AND BROAD WING WILL RELY ON A DM TO SEQUESTER THE HUGE AMOUNT OF CO2 THAT IT WILL PRODUCE TO SUPPLY THAT FOSSIL FUEL.

ENERGY DATA CENTERS ARE NOT WANTED BY 71% OF THE POPULATION BECAUSE GRASSROOTS PEOPLE HAVE LEARNED ABOUT THE MANY HARMFUL EFFECTS TO PEOPLE, ANIMALS, AND PLANET.

I IMAGINE THE 7% WHO ARE TOTALLY IN FAVOR OF DATA CENTERS ARE HAVE HEAVILY INVOLVED MONETARILY IN THEM AND DON'T WANNA LOSE THEIR MONEY.

OR THEY ARE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PERSONNEL WHO BELIEVE THAT ANY AMOUNT OF MONEY THEIR COMMUNITY MIGHT RECEIVE IS WORTH, WORTH THE RISK TO HUMAN LIVES.

WE, THE PEOPLE WILL NOT SIT IDLY BY AND BE SACRIFICED WHEN OUR RESEARCH FROM INDEPENDENT INDIVIDUALS AND ORGANIZATIONS NOT PAID BY THE INDUSTRY TELLS US TO SAY NO.

EXCEPT FOR THE BINDERS OF INFORMATION GIVEN TO YOU BY ILLINOIS PEOPLE'S ACTION POLICY DIRECTOR.

WHERE ARE YOU GETTING YOUR INFORMATION? ARE YOU TALKING TO THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE NEAR A DATA CENTER? DO YOU ANY OF YOU WANT TO LIVE NEXT TO A DATA CENTER? THINK ABOUT IT.

THANK YOU, MS. GOBERG.

MY NAME IS STEPHANIE BROWN AND I'M A MACON COUNTY RESIDENT.

TONIGHT I WANNA ADDRESS THE SO-CALLED CITIZENS VOLUNTEER

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ADVISORY COMMITTEE, INVITATION TO PRESENTATION ON DATA CENTERS WITHIN MACON COUNTY.

THE CVAC IS COMPOSED OF AT LEAST FIVE INDIVIDUALS WHO REPRESENT ENTITIES WITH A FINANCIAL INTEREST IN EMBRACING DATA CENTERS IN MACON COUNTY.

IT IS CLEAR FROM THE FIRST PARAGRAPH OF THE INVITATION THAT THE CVAC IS CONSIDERING STAKEHOLDERS TO BE THOSE SPECIAL INTERESTS AND NOT GRASSROOTS CITIZENS.

THERE EVIDENTLY IS AN EXPECTATION OF HAVING A LARGER PUBLIC ATTENDANCE AT THIS MEETING, BUT IF THE CVAC, THE CITY COUNCIL AND THE COUNTY BOARD WERE TRULY INTERESTED IN HAVING AS MANY PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE ATTEND THIS MEETING, IT WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN SCHEDULED AT FIVE O'CLOCK ON A WEEKNIGHT.

PEOPLE HAVE TROUBLE ENOUGH COMING TO THIS MEETING AT FIVE 30 WORKING PEOPLE EARLIER TODAY.

THIS CVAC C MEETING WAS NOT ON THE CITY OR COUNTY PUBLIC EVENT CALENDARS, NOR IS IT ON THE FACEBOOK PAGE OF DECATUR, ILLINOIS CITY GOVERNMENT.

I DON'T KNOW IF MACON COUNTY HAS A GOVERNMENT PAGE.

I COULDN'T FIND IT.

ASSUMING MULTIPLE GOVERNMENT ELECTEDS WILL BE PRESENT, I WOULD THINK THIS SHOULD BE AN OFFICIAL MEETING.

THE CVAC PRESS RELEASE STATED, IT IS OUR PLAN TO DISTRIBUTE A WRITTEN REPORT BEFORE THE MEETING TO BETTER ENABLE MEANINGFUL DISCUSSION.

HOW AND WHEN WILL THIS REPORT BE DISTRIBUTED? PASSING OUT A MULTI-PAGE REPORT AS PEOPLE WALK IN THE ROOM, WOULD BE INSUFFICIENT FOR ANALYSIS.

AND HOW WILL MEETING AND HOW WILL MEANINGFUL DISCUSSION BE FACILITATED? THIS MEETING IS BILLED AS A PRESENTATION.

DISCUSSION IMPLIES BACK AND FORTH COMMUNICATION AND NOT SIMPLY GIVING CITIZENS THREE MINUTES WITHOUT EXPECTATION OF RESPONSE.

THE CVAC PRESS RELEASE ALSO STATES, WE LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR ATTENDANCE AS ADDITIONAL PERSPECTIVES ARE ADDED TO THE CONSIDERATION OF THESE ISSUES.

IF THE GOAL OF THIS MEETING IS A PRESENTATION OF THE CVA, ADVICE TO THE GOVERNING BODIES, HOW WILL ADDITIONAL PERSPECTIVES BE DOCUMENTED AND CONSIDERED? FINALLY, I WANNA REMIND EVERYONE OF TWO THINGS.

NUMBER ONE, 71% OF AMERICANS OPPOSE DATA CENTERS IN THEIR COMMUNITY.

71% MEANS THIS IS A BIPARTISAN ISSUE, WHICH SHOULD CONCERN PEOPLE WHO CARE ABOUT ELECTION RESULTS.

AND NUMBER TWO, CITIZENS ARE STAKEHOLDERS.

THANK YOU, MS. BROWN.

GOOD EVENING, MAYOR COUNCIL.

MY NAME IS JAQUA OWENS AND I'M GONNA SPEAK BRIEFLY ABOUT WHETHER SHOULD THE MAYOR HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO APPOINT NEW COUNCIL MEMBERS.

I BELIEVE THE RESIDENTS OF DECATUR SHOULD HAVE THE RIGHT TO CHOOSE WHO REPRESENT THEM IN OUR CITY COUNCIL.

THE MAYOR SHOULD NOT HAVE THE SOLE AUTHORITY TO APPOINT INDIVIDUALS TO FILL VACANT COUNCIL SEATS.

OUR COUNCIL MEMBERS MAKE DECISIONS THAT DIRECTLY IMPACT DECATUR FAMILIES, NEIGHBORHOOD BUSINESSES, AND THE FUTURE OF OUR CITY.

THERE IS ALSO CONCERN ABOUT CONFLICTS OF INTEREST.

WHEN ONE ELECTED OFFICIAL HAS THE POWER TO SELECT ANOTHER PERSON WHO WILL SERVE ALONGSIDE THEM AND MAKE IMPORTANT DECISIONS, IT CAN CREATE QUESTIONS ABOUT ACCOUNTABILITY AND DEPENDENCE AND WHETHER OF WHETHER, UM, SORRY, THE INTEREST OF RESIDENTS ARE TRULY BEING PLACED.

FIRST, WHEN THE COUNCIL SEATS BECOMES VACANT, THE RESIDENTS OF DECATUR SHOULD HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO ELECT THEIR NEXT REPRESENTATIVE.

THE PEOPLE SHOULD HAVE A DIRECT VOICE IN DECIDING WHO REPRESENTS THEM.

THIS IS NOT ABOUT ONE MAYOR OR ONE POLITICAL PARTY.

IT'S ABOUT DEMOCRACY, TRANSPARENCY, ACCOUNTABILITY, AND GIVING DECATUR RESIDENTS A DIRECT VOICE IN THEIR GOVERNMENT.

DECATUR DESERVES A CITY COUNCIL CHOOSING BY DECATUR, RESIDENTS NOT APPOINTED BY ONE PERSON.

THANK YOU ALL.

OR AT THE SCHOOL DISTRICT OR THE COUNTY BOARD OR THE PARK BOARD IS NOT A LUXURY.

GOOD EVENING COUNSEL.

I'M STILL ANN OWENS.

SO TONIGHT, FIRST OF ALL, I'D LIKE TO START OFF BY THANKING THE STAFF, THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, THE SCHOOL DISTRICT, PARK DISTRICT, AND ALL OF OUR PEOPLE THAT CAME TO NATIONAL NIGHT OUT.

I THINK IT WAS ONE OF THE MOST WELL ATTENDED AND WELL PLANNED EVER.

AND WE HAD A LOT OF HAPPY CITIZENS THAT ATTENDED AND REALLY ENJOYED THEMSELVES.

SO THERE'S A LOT OF GOOD THINGS AT THIS COMMUNITY.

SOMETIMES WE ALL NEED A REMINDER ABOUT THAT.

SO THE PAST WEEK I'VE SPENT CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OF TIME ANSWERING EITHER CALLS, TALKING TO PEOPLE OR MESSAGING, AND SOMEHOW THE MESSAGE HAS GOTTEN LOST.

THAT SPEAKING AT THIS ORGANIZATION

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IT'S A RIGHT.

SO EVERY CITIZEN HAS THAT, RIGHT? I SIT HERE EVERY MONDAY THAT YOU HAVE A MEETING UNLESS IT'S ON A CONONE MEETING NIGHT AND WATCH THAT HAPPEN AND PARTICIPATE.

BUT TONIGHT I'M REALLY CONCERNED THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF MISINFORMATION GIVEN A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T UNDERSTAND SOME OF THE ISSUES THAT ARE COMING UP.

SO TODAY I DID SOMETHING THAT I RARELY TAKE TIME TO DO.

I MADE SOME CORRECTIONS ON A COUPLE OF POSTS ON SOCIAL MEDIA.

SOMEHOW PEOPLE THINK WE CAN JUST HAVE THE CITIZENS BE INVOLVED IN VOTING ON EVERY CONTRACT, EVERY DECISION, AND THAT'S JUST NOT FEASIBLE.

I'M ALSO GOING TO POINT OUT THAT IF YOU DECIDE TO HAVE A SPECIAL ELECTION, FIRST OF ALL, THAT'S NOT FEASIBLE FOR WHAT'S COMING UP TONIGHT.

THAT COSTS A LOT OF MONEY.

AS FAR AS I KNOW, THE CITY DOES NOT HAVE THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS JUST LAYING AROUND.

ESPECIALLY, WE WANNA SUPPORT INSTITUTIONS LIKE GOOD SAMARITAN IN, IN THOSE PEOPLE WITH EXTRA MONEY THAT WE HAVE.

SO I REALLY HOPE TONIGHT THAT ALL OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS TAKE THE TIME TO UNDERSTAND.

I WOULD LIKE TO THINK, OR ALL ADULTS, I KNOW YOU ALL ARE.

YOU COULD SIT IN A ROOM MUCH LIKE THEY DID WHEN JULIE WAS APPOINTED OR WHEN DENNIS COOPER WAS APPOINTED AND MAKE A DECISION FAIRLY ON WHO WOULD REPLACE SHOULD SOMETHING HAPPEN TO ANYONE.

I CERTAINLY HOPE THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN.

THANK YOU, MR. OWEN OWENS.

HELLO.

UM, MY NAME IS, UH, MICHAEL LEONE, AND I AM JUST, UM, SPEAKING, THIS IS, UM, JUST NOTHING.

THIS IS, UM, NOT MEANT TO, UM, UH, DISPARAGE OR ANYTHING.

IT'S JUST, UM, TALKING ABOUT, UM, GOING FORWARD.

UM, FIRST I DO WANT TO, UM, COMPLETELY ACKNOWLEDGE THAT IT IS A, UM, AT LEAST, AT LEAST AS IT CURRENTLY GOES, IT'S, IT'S, UM, IF WE WERE TO DO THE SPECIAL ELECTION DAY, IT WOULD BE A MANDATE UPON THE CITY.

BUT WE SHOULD BE, UM, PUSHING SPRINGFIELD, UM, TO, UH, ALLOW LIKE BASICALLY, UH, ALLOW THE PEOPLE TO, UM, UH, WHEN THERE'S A VACANCY IN A TAXPAYER FUNDED POSITION THAT ELECTED, UH, ELECT SOMEONE ELSE LIKE THAT, THAT IT MAKES SENSE.

IT'S NOT CURRENTLY DONE THAT WAY IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

AND IT IS ABSOLUTELY DISGRACEFUL.

UH, IT, WITH ALL THE WAITING LIKE IT'S, IT'S, IT'S IT.

HOWEVER, HOWEVER EVERYONE FEELS ABOUT THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE, UM, THE SYSTEM CURRENTLY HOW IT IS IN SPRINGFIELD IS, IS FAR, IS IS WORSE.

UM, IT'S IT, AND IF WE, UH, WE COULD, UH, PUSH SPRINGFIELD TO DO BETTER, WE COULD, UH, LEAD BY EXAMPLE BY PUSHING FOR THEM TO FUND, UH, LOCAL SPECIAL ELECTIONS.

WHEN, WHEN, UM, WHEN THERE'S VACANCIES.

UH, THAT'S, THAT'S SAID.

I'M NOT, I KIND OF DO, I CAN KIND OF SEE SOME ARGUMENTS AGAIN, BECAUSE THE VACANCY WILL BE OPEN FOR A LONGER PERIOD OF TIME.

HOWEVER, IT IS ALSO, UM, WORTH NOTING THAT, UH, SOMEONE WHO GETS APPOINTED HAS A SIGNIFICANT ADVANTAGE.

IT IS, UM, THEY BECOME, THAT'S HOW SOMEONE, UH, CAN BECOME ENTRENCHED.

AND SO WE JUST NEED, WE BASICALLY JUST, I THINK, I THINK THAT, UM, TALKING WITH, UM, LEGISLATORS ABOUT, UM, MAKING IT SO THAT THE SPECIAL ELECTIONS ARE NOT A MANDATE UPON, UM, OR ANY, BASICALLY JUST ANY ELECT.

IT'S LIKE UNBELIEVABLE THAT WE HAVE TO RELY ON IT AT ALL.

LIKE, I, I UNDERSTAND THAT WE'RE INDEPENDENT FROM THE STATE, BUT WE SHOULD, UM, WE SHOULD BE GETTING THE MONEY IN WITHOUT MUCH AS LIKE WE SHOULD.

WE SHOULD NOT HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT, UH, FINANCIAL CONSTRAINTS FOR CONDUCTING ELECTIONS.

AND YEAH.

THANK YOU, MR. LEONI.

GOOD EVENING.

MY NAME IS DIANE SPANIEL.

I'M HERE TONIGHT TO, UM, REMIND YOU THAT, UM, THE RESOLUTION TO BE CONSIDERED TONIGHT, UM, TO ADOPT RESOLUTIONS TO PRO, SORRY, CAN'T PRONOUNCE THAT WORD.

RULES AND REGULATIONS THAT PERTAIN TO THE GOVERNMENT AND AFFAIRS THAT PROTECT THE PUBLIC HEALTH, SAFETY, AND WELFARE OF ITS RESIDENTS AND THE CORPORATION

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AND OPERATES UNDER THE DIRECTION OF AND THROUGH THE CITY COUNCIL AS DIRECTED BY ITS ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS, IT REQUIRES AFFIRMATIVE ACTION BY THE CITY COUNCIL.

AND WHEREAS IT TAKES FOUR, THE VOTES OF FOUR MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL TO ADOPT A RESOLUTION OR TO EVEN GET IT ON THE AGENDA LIKE THIS ONE TONIGHT, WE KNOW THAT THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE APPARENTLY, UM, IN FAVOR OF THIS IDEA THAT THE MAYOR SHOULD BE ABLE TO APPOINT WHEN THE COUNCIL CANNOT MAKE A DECISION FOR A NEW MEMBER.

AND WE KNOW THAT THE CITY COUNCIL MUST ENSURE THAT THE CITY CAN OPERATE AND MANAGE ITS AFFAIRS IN AN ORDERLY AND EFFICIENT MANNER.

AND WHEN IT TAKES FOUR PEOPLE TO EVEN GET SOMETHING ON THE AGENDA, THAT IS, YOU KNOW, PRETTY MUCH ALWAYS A DONE DEAL NO MATTER WHAT IT IS.

SO NOW TO CONSIDER THAT THE MAYOR SHOULD BE THE PERSON TO APPOINT SOMEONE TO SERVE IN THE COUNCIL.

WHEN THE COUNCIL CANNOT MAKE A DECISION TOGETHER, MAYBE WE SHOULD BE LOOKING TO OTHER GROUPS SUCH AS KONO TO BRING SUGGESTIONS OR CONSIDERATION OF CANDIDATES, OR TO HAVE THE FULL COUNSEL TO HAVE A VOTE ON THAT.

YOU KNOW, AS WE, AS WE REMEMBER TONIGHT WITH OUR FLAG, WE LIVE IN A REPUBLIC AND DECATUR IS PART OF THE REPUBLIC.

THERE IS NO KING OR NO QUEEN IN CHARGE OF OUR CITY.

GOOD EVENING, COUNCIL MEMBERS.

THANK YOU, MS. SPANIEL.

MY NAME'S JASON STAIR.

UH, MY FAMILY AND I HAVE CALLED DECATUR OUR HOME, UH, FOR APPROXIMATELY THE LAST 10 YEARS.

I'M CURRENTLY GAINFULLY EMPLOYED BY ARCHER DANIELS MIDLAND COMPANY.

I AM THE DIRECTOR OF TECHNICAL SERVICES AND SUPPORT FOR OUR OIL SEEDS AND CORN PROCESSING OPERATIONS AROUND NORTH AMERICA.

UM, MY, I'M HERE TODAY.

MY COLLEAGUE JIM HOYT, UM, SHARED SOME COMMENTS AND SOME THOUGHTS.

I KNOW WATER IS A VERY PREVALENT CONVERSATION IN THIS, THIS VENUE.

I'D LIKE TO SHARE JUST SOME DETAILS ABOUT SOME OF THE THINGS THAT, UH, WE HAVE DONE COOPERATIVELY WITH THE CITY, AND OF COURSE, WE'VE DONE INDEPENDENTLY.

THAT MAY NOT BE ON THE RECORD.

SO, FIRSTLY, I'LL, I'LL START BY GOING BACK AND, AND SAYING, AND I THINK IT'S WELL UNDERSTOOD THAT THE A DM COMPLEX THAT'S HERE IN DECATUR IS ARGUABLY, I WOULD TELL YOU, THE LARGEST MULTIFACETED CORN PROCESSING AND OILSEED PROCESSING CAMPUS IN THE WORLD, RIGHT? VERY UNIQUE TO DECATUR.

YOU COMBINE THAT WITH OUR NEIGHBORS DOWN THE STREET, AND THAT MAKES DECATUR A SIGNIFICANT PART OF THE SUPPLY CHAIN THAT, UH, FEEDS THE WORLD AND FUELS THE WORLD, IF YOU WILL.

SO, UM, IN ADDITION TO THAT, WE OBVIOUSLY, BECAUSE OF OUR SCALE, UM, USE A LOT OF THE GRAIN THAT THE FARMERS IN THE AREA, UM, PRODUCE AND GROW.

WE ALSO HAVE A WATER DEMAND THAT'S COMMENSURATE AND ACTUALLY CRITICAL LIFEBLOOD TO OUR PROCESSES.

SO WATER SCARCITY AND WATER MANAGEMENT IS NUMBER ONE PRIORITY FOR US.

I CAN PROMISE YOU THAT, UH, COLLABORATIVELY WITH THE CITY.

SO SOME EXAMPLES OF OUR COLLABORATION WITH THE CITY.

IF YOU GO BACK TO 1999, WE ACTUALLY, UM, ENTERED INTO AN AGREEMENT TO PURCHASE THE NORTH WATER TREATMENT PLANT THAT WAS MUTUALLY BENEFICIAL TO A DM AND THE CITY.

THAT'S WELL DOCUMENTED ON THE RECORD.

I WON'T TALK ABOUT THAT MUCH LONGER.

BUT, UM, IN ADDITION TO THAT, WE DRILLED WELLS, UM, ANYTHING THAT COMES FROM THE TREATMENT PLANT IN THE NORTH AND THE WELLS WE PAY FOR TO THE CITY.

UM, IN ADDITION TO, WE ALSO CONTRIBUTE ABOUT A MILLION DOLLARS A YEAR TO THE UPKEEP OF THE DREDGING THAT WAS DONE SEVERAL YEARS AGO AND COMPLETED.

SO, FAST FORWARD A LITTLE BIT TO WHAT WE DO INTERNALLY.

UM, THAT'S PROBABLY NOT ON THE RECORD.

WE HAVE CONTRIBUTED MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO WATER REUSE.

WE ACTUALLY REUSE SOMEWHERE IN THE, SOMEWHERE IN THE REALM, DEPENDING ON THE TIME OF YEAR, BETWEEN 20 AND 30% OF THE WATER THAT WE CONSUME.

UM, SHOULD WE NOT BE DOING THAT? THE ONCE USED WOULD INCREASE OUR, OUR USAGE BY THAT SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT.

UM, AND WE CONTINUE TO FIND WAYS TO IMPROVE AND GET TO BE MORE EFFICIENT AS WE GO FORWARD.

RIGHT? SO I GUESS WHAT I'LL CLOSE WITH TODAY IS JUST MAKING SURE THAT THE COUNCIL AND OF COURSE CONSTITUENTS UNDERSTAND THAT WATER IS IMPORTANT TO OUR BUSINESS.

WATER IS IMPORTANT TO THE COMMUNITY, AND WE RECOGNIZE THAT WE'VE CONTRIBUTED MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO TRY TO HELP ENSURE THAT SAFETY LEVEL.

AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH THE COUNCIL VERY CLOSELY IN ORDER

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TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO IMPROVE UPON OUR USAGES AND OUR INTENSITIES AS WELL.

THANK YOU, MR. STA.

GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE.

MY NAME IS ABIR MOTIAN AND I AM A CANDIDATE FOR MAYOR.

THIS MESSAGE IS FOR EVERYBODY OF DECATUR, THE COMMUNITY.

IT IS FOR ALL THE LEADERS.

IT IS FOR THE ROYAL FAMILIES.

IT IS FOR EVERYBODY.

OKAY? I AM REPRESENTING, WE THE PEOPLE.

I AM THE PEOPLE.

AND I AM ALSO KNOWN RIGHT NOW AS THE LIONS OF LIBERTY, BUT NOT ONLY LIBERTY.

IT'S FOR HAPPINESS AND ALSO LIFE.

BUT I AM ALSO A GODDESS OF THE MORNING.

M-O-U-R-N-I-N-G.

I WANNA MAKE THAT CLEAR, NOT LIKE ANGEL IN THE MORNING, THE SONG, IF YOU HEAR THE WORD ANGEL AND MOURNING, JUST REMEMBER M-O-U-R-N-I-N-G.

I WANT TO REPRESENT THE SAINTS, AND I WANT TO REPRESENT THE SINNERS AND TO PROOF FOR THE SINNERS.

I DARE.

OKAY? I WAS BORN IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

I LIVED MOST OF MY LIFE IN AMERICA.

AND I UNDERSTAND THROUGHOUT THE WORLD WHAT EVERYONE'S GOING THROUGH.

I WANT TO BE YOUR REPRESENTATIVE.

I WANT TO BE YOUR ADVOCATE.

I WANT TO HELP PEOPLE LIVE LONGER.

I WANT TO HEAL THE SICK OR THE WOUNDED.

I WANT PEOPLE'S LIVES EXTENDED, THE HEALTHIEST AND THE HAPPIEST AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE TO WHERE PEOPLE DON'T WANNA DIE OR BE DE DEPRESSED FROM WHAT THEY SEE AND WHAT'S GOING ON OR BEING MISLED.

I WANNA END OPPRESSION IN DECATUR, ILLINOIS.

I WANT TO REPRESENT EVERYBODY ON AS MANY PEOPLE AS I CAN INSIDE OUR COMMUNITY AND OUTSIDE, THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE WORLD.

I AM BRAVE, OKAY? I UNDERSTAND THE TRICKS OF THIS WORLD.

AND SO I WANNA LET YOU KNOW I ALSO HAVE A PLAN OF OPENING GLOBAL BRIDGE FOR THE FUTURE FOR LIFE FOUNDATION SHELTER IN DECATUR AND MACON COUNTY, ILLINOIS, FOR THE ENTIRE WORLD, FOR THE NEEDY OF THE ENTIRE WORLD.

I WANNA BRING FUEL COSTS DOWN.

I WANNA BRING FOOD COSTS DOWN, BUT IN HEALTHY WAYS, KEY WORD, HEALTHY AND NATURAL.

OKAY? AND SO I WANT YOU TO GIVE ME AN, A, A CHANCE AND NOT OPPRESS ME FROM RUNNING FAIR FAIRLY WITH EQUALITY TO BEING A CANDIDATE FOR MAYOR, OKAY? AND I'M ASKING YOU TO SUPPORT ME AND FOR ALL THE PEOPLE I'VE LOVED AND LOVE, I LOVE YOU ALL FOR ALL THE PEOPLE WHO WORK WITH ME.

I LOVE YOU ALL.

AND FOR ALL THE PEOPLE WHO MISS ME, I MISS YOU ALL TOO.

AND I WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW, AND THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME HERE.

AND I WILL SEE YOU NEXT TIME.

TAKE CARE AND HAVE A GREAT EVENING.

GOODBYE.

THANK YOU, MS. MONTANA.

YOU'RE WELCOME.

WE CAN DO TO MAKE SURE THAT, UH, BIG EMPLOYERS LIKE, UH, A DM OR, UH, PREMIUM THAT THEY INVEST HERE AND NOT ELSEWHERE.

DOES ANYONE ELSE WISH TO APPEAR BEFORE COUNCIL TONIGHT? GOOD EVENING, MAYOR.

COUNCIL, CITY MANAGER.

MY NAME IS BRETT ROBERTSON.

UM, I WANNA SPEAK OUT FOR ALL THE PEOPLE THAT AREN'T HERE TONIGHT THAT SPEND ALL DAY AT THEIR JOBS WORKING AND THE SCHOOLS OR THE FACTORIES OR THE, THE BUSINESSES HERE.

UM, AND THEY'RE PROBABLY TIRED.

THEY'VE BEEN AT, BEEN AT WORK ALL DAY, AND THEY'RE GRATEFUL FOR THEIR JOBS WITHIN ILLINOIS.

UNFORTUNATELY, WE'RE THE 48TH IN POPULATION GROWTH OUTTA THE 50 STATES, 46TH IN JOB GROWTH, 46TH IN WAGE GROWTH.

AND NEAR THE BOTTOM IN ALMOST EVERY ECONOMIC MEASURE YOU COULD FIND, THE ONLY THING WE'RE LEADING IN, WE'RE NUMBER ONE.

AND THAT'S IN THE TOTAL TAX AND FEE BURDEN ON THE CITIZENS.

AND SO TONIGHT, I WANNA TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT COMMON SENSE.

IF WE WANNA CHANGE THE TRAJECTORY THAT WE'RE ON IN THE COMMUNITY AND IN THE STATE, WE GOTTA START THINKING ABOUT THINGS FROM A BUSINESS PERSPECTIVE, BECAUSE IT'S FROM A BUSINESS PERSPECTIVE THAT INVESTMENT WILL BE MADE IN OUR COMMUNITIES THAT WILL RETURN JOB GROWTH AND WAGE GROWTH.

WE NEED TO DIVERSIFY OUR INDUSTRIES.

WE NEED TO ENCOURAGE INVESTMENTS AND NEW JOBS.

AND WE NEED TO TAKE THE PERSPECTIVE OF ALL THOSE PEOPLE THAT AREN'T HERE TONIGHT WHO ARE GRATEFUL FOR THEIR JOBS, AND WE NEED TO THINK ABOUT NOT PUTTING THEIR JOBS IN JEOPARDY.

AND THAT MEANS, THAT MEANS WORKING WITH BOTH THE LARGE INDUSTRIES AND THE SMALL COMPANIES WHEN IN THE COMMUNITY, WHAT ARE THE THINGS

[00:35:01]

UH, WE CAN'T BE CONSTANTLY LOOKING AT HOW CAN WE EXTRACT ANOTHER, YOU KNOW, MILLION PLUS DOLLARS OUTTA A DM BECAUSE YOU THINK THEY'RE GONNA NOTICE THAT MILLION DOLLARS.

I CAN GUARANTEE YOU THEY DO.

AND THAT'S NOT GONNA ENCOURAGE THEM TO INVEST IN DECATUR.

WE NEED TO ENCOURAGE 'EM.

WE ALSO NEED TO ENCOURAGE SMALL BUSINESS.

AND THE WAY WE ENCOURAGE SMALL BUSINESS AND A LARGE BUSINESS IS BY BEING SENSITIVE TO THE REGULATORY BURDENS THAT WE CAN CREATE, UM, INADVERTENTLY BY JUST PUTTING MORE AND MORE REGULATION ON THOSE BUSINESSES, WE SHOULD BE DOING THE OPPOSITE.

WE SHOULD BE LOOKING AT WAYS TO TAKE AWAY THE BURDENS FROM SMALL BUSINESSES AND LARGE BUSINESSES TO ENCOURAGE THEM TO MAKE INVESTMENTS IN OUR COMMUNITY.

THANK YOU, MR. ROBERTSON.

ARE THERE OTHERS THAT WISH TO SPEAK BEFORE COUNCIL TONIGHT? SEEING NONE.

ANY RESPONSE FROM COUNCIL? WELL, MAYOR, UNDER THE ILLINOIS CONSTITUTION, UH, COUNTIES ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY SPECIAL ELECTIONS WITHIN THE COMMUNITY, WHETHER IT'S A CITY, UH, THE PARK DISTRICT, OR, UH, ANY OTHER, UH, ELECTED BODY.

ANY OTHER COMMENTS? OKAY, MR. HORN? THANK YOU, MAYOR.

THERE WERE SEVERAL THEMES, UH, DISCUSSED.

UM, FIRST OF ALL, LET'S TALK ABOUT WATER, RIGHT? THE ISSUE IS NOT WHETHER, UM, THE CITY OF DECATUR SHOULD BE ABLE TO PROVIDE WATER TO ALL OF ITS USERS, INCLUDING RESIDENTS, SMALL BUSINESSES, AND LARGER INDUSTRIES.

THE ISSUE HERE IS WHETHER WE SHOULD BE CHARGING EQUITABLE RATES FOR THOSE USERS, AND SHOULD A CITY WHOSE RESIDENTS HAVE A LOWER MEDIAN HOUSEHOLD INCOME THAN THE STATE AND THE NATIONAL AVERAGES, RESIDENTS WHO COLLECTIVELY HAVE A POVERTY RATE OF 20% RESIDENTS, FOR WHICH ABOUT 50% STRUGGLE TO MAKE ENDS MEET, SHOULD BE SUBSIDIZING ONE OF THE LARGEST AGRICULTURAL COMPANIES ON PLANET EARTH.

THAT'S THE QUESTION.

AND WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE CONNECTION BETWEEN INDUSTRY AND JOBS, IS CRITICALLY IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT SINCE 2010, THE LABOR FORCE IN THE CITY OF DECATUR HAS DECLINED 20%.

SO THIS IS NOT AN ISSUE OF, UM, WHETHER THE CITY OF DECATUR SHOULD PROVIDE WATER.

THIS IS AN ISSUE OF EQUITABILITY.

UM, AS IT PERTAINS TO DATA CENTERS, I JUST WANNA THANK THE RESIDENTS WHO CONTINUE TO COME TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS AND EXPRESS THEIR CONCERNS.

YOU LOOK AT ELECTRICITY RATES AND HOW THEY'RE GOING UP, AND THE CONNECTION BETWEEN ELECTRICITY RATES AND DATA CENTERS.

AND WHAT YOU SEE, UH, AT SOME POINT IN TIME IS YOU HAVE TO ASK THE QUESTION IS, WILL THE BENEFITS OF A DATA CENTER EVEN OFFSET THE RISING ELECTRICITY COSTS THAT OUR CURRENT RESIDENTS ARE FACING? AND I, I WOULD SAY THAT MUCH OF THIS IS A, A STATE ISSUE THAT REALLY NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED, BUT IT'S ALSO A LOCAL ISSUE.

YOU KNOW, WE TALK ABOUT TRANSPARENCY.

IF YOU THINK ABOUT THE MEETING WE HAD A MONTH AGO, ONE OF THE SPEAKERS INDICATED THAT THEY HAD A DOCUMENT BETWEEN THE EDC PRESIDENT AND THE MACON COUNTY EEHW COMMITTEE, IN WHICH THE PRESIDENT INDICATED THEIR VIEWS ON A MORATORIUM.

BUT WHEN RESIDENTS OF DECATUR ASKED FOR CORRESPONDENCE BETWEEN THE EDC AND CITY LEADERS, THE CITY OF DECATUR HAS DENIED A FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT REQUEST.

AND SO RESIDENTS ARE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT TO BE JUSTIFIED IN THEIR CONCERN THAT THE CITY IS HIDING INFORMATION THAT IS NOT PRIVILEGED, BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY, THEY COULD REDACT THAT CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION AND HAVE CHOSEN NOT TO, AS IT PERTAINS TO THE IMPORTANCE OF SPECIAL ELECTIONS, YOU KNOW, AS WHATEVER THE

[00:40:01]

STATE STATUTE IS.

THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE TO FOLLOW.

BUT I WILL SAY THIS, WHATEVER THE COST, SOME OF THE DECISIONS THAT THE CITY COUNCIL MAKES ON A REGULAR BASIS, FAR MATTER FAR MORE THAN THE COST OF A SPECIAL ELECTION.

THERE ARE FOUR INDIVIDUALS HERE THAT FOR MANY YEARS, HAVE STOPPED THE PRESENCE OF A CANNABIS DISPENSARY IN THE CITY OF DECATUR, AND WE ARE NOW SURROUNDED BY THEM.

AND THOSE DISPENSARIES ARE IN PLACES WHERE THE POPULATION HAS A HIGHER, UH, INCOME AND A LOWER UNEMPLOYMENT RATE.

AND EFFECTIVELY, WE'VE GIVEN THAT MONEY TO THOSE OTHER MUNICIPALITIES.

SO WHILE IT MAY CAUSE MONEY FOR A SPECIAL ELECTION, THE DECISIONS THAT ARE MADE HERE HAVE A FAR GREATER MONETARY IMPACT.

OTHER COMMENTS, PAT, MR. ROBINSON, I APPRECIATE THE, THE DATA YOU SHOWED ON ILLINOIS.

I LOVE ILLINOIS.

IT'S STILL HERE, BUT I RECENTLY, UM, UH, WROTE A LETTER TO THE EDITOR WHERE I POINTED OUT THAT THE, THE, YOU KNOW, THE ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF UH, DEVELOPMENT WORKS HARD TO FIND NEW INDUSTRY AND TO GIVE THEM GRANTS.

BUT THEN ON THE OTHER HAND, THE, UM, GENERAL ASSEMBLY RAISES TAXES ON THE SAME BUSINESSES TO BALANCE THE BUDGET.

SO THERE'S SOME, SOME ISSUES OVER THERE IN, IN ILLINOIS, AS THEY SAY THAT WE DON'T HAVE A, UH, UH, A REVENUE PROBLEM.

WE HAVE A SPENDING PROBLEM.

AND THE, THE STATE CONTINUES TO TAKE MONEY AWAY FROM MUNICIPALITIES, UH, CONSTANTLY.

AND THAT DOESN'T HELP IT, WHETHER IT'S THE CITY OR THE, UH, UH, ANY OTHER, UH, UH, GOVERNMENT BODY WITHIN, UH, INDICATOR WITH MORE UNFUNDED MANDATES.

SO, UM, AGAIN, I WILL STAY IN ILLINOIS.

I LIKE ILLINOIS.

I LIKE MY CITY.

BUT, UH, THERE, THERE'S SOME ISSUES THAT NEED TO BE CORRECTED OVER THERE SO WE CAN ALL BENEFIT.

ANY OTHER COMMENTS? SEEING NONE, WE WILL MOVE ON

[III. Approval of Minutes]

TO APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF AUGUST 3RD, 2026.

CITY COUNCIL MEETING.

I NEED A MOTION AND A SECOND.

COUNCILMAN MCDANIEL? AYE.

SECOND.

COUNCILMAN CRUZ? AYE.

COUNCILMAN HORN? AYE.

COUNCILMAN COLT? AYE.

COUNCILMAN COOPER? AYE.

COUNCILMAN GREGORY? AYE.

MAYOR MOR WOLF.

BUSINESS, WE BEGIN WITH THE TREASURER'S FINANCIAL REPORT.

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

MOVING TO NEW

[1. Treasurer's Financial Report]

MS. HAN? THANK YOU, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.

UH, THE OVERALL FINANCIAL POSITION REMAINS STRONG FOR THE CITY.

THE, UH, GENERAL FUND AT THE END OF JULY DID REMAIN IN A SURPLUS POSITION OF 2.8 MILLION.

THIS WAS DOWN FROM THE, UM, GENERAL FUND SURPLUS POSITION OF 4 MILLION AT THE END OF JUNE.

THE DECLINE IN JULY WAS KNOWN AND EXPECTED AS WE'RE GETTING FURTHER INTO THE YEAR AND GETTING CONTRACTS APPROVED AND OUR, UM, SPENDING THAT DOWN GENERAL FUND CASH RESERVE POSITION AT THE END OF JULY, ENDED WITH TWO POINT 23.3 MILLION VERSUS OUR 75 DAY CASH TARGET OF 20.4 MILLION.

UM, THE FINANCIAL MATTERS, UH, ONCE AGAIN MOVING FAVORABLY FOR THE GENERAL FUND OP OPERATIONS.

WE ARE, UM, OUR MAJOR REVENUES ARE STRONG, SUCH AS OUR SALES TAX, UM, STATE AND LOCAL INCOME TAX, UTILITY TAX, AREAS OF CONCERN THAT WE ARE KEEPING AN EYE ON.

OUR FOOD AND BEVERAGE, VIDEO, GAMING, HOTEL MOTEL, CABLE TV, AND LOCAL GROCERY, WHICH ARE ALL AT THIS POINT KIND OF PERFORMING BELOW EXPECTATIONS.

SO WE'RE KEEPING AN EYE ON THAT, BUT, BUT OVERALL, UM, DOING WELL.

ANY QUESTIONS FROM COUNCIL ON THE FINANCIALS? OKAY, SEEING NONE, WE WILL MOVE ON

[2. Resolution Establishing Process for Appointment of Mayor and Council Members in Event of Vacancy in Office]

TO ITEM TWO RESOLUTION, ESTABLISHING PROCESS FOR APPOINTMENT OF MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS IN EVENT OF VACANCY IN OFFICE MOTION, THE RESOLUTION TO PASS AND BE ADOPTED.

A SOLUTION IF WE COULDN'T COME TO A A, A CONSENSUS ON THAT.

SECOND.

MS. HAN? NO OPENING COMMENTS FOR ME.

I'LL TURN IT OVER TO YOU, MAYOR.

SURE.

AND JUST TO CLARIFY, WE HAVE, UM, UNDER STATE STATUTE, IF THERE IS A VACANCY, WHETHER IT'S THE MAYOR OR CITY COUNCIL PERSON, THE COUNCIL, WE DON'T HOLD SPECIAL ELECTIONS COUNCIL HAS 60 DAYS TO APPOINT SOMEONE TO FILL THOSE VA A VACANCY IN THE EVENT THAT WE COULD NOT COME TO TERMS. AND WE'VE BEEN VERY SUCCESSFUL IN RECENT YEARS IN FINDING PEOPLE WHO ARE INTERESTED IN SERVING.

AND OUR PROCESS HAS BEEN PRIMARILY TO, UM, INTERVIEW PEOPLE WHO HAVE PEOPLE APPLY TO BECOME A COUNCIL PERSON.

THEN WE, UH, NARROW THAT LIST DOWN AND TAKE APPLICANTS AND WE INTERVIEW THEM.

AND THAT'S HOW COUNCILMAN COOPER CAME TO BE A PART OF THE COUNCIL.

UH, BUT WE'VE ALWAYS MANAGED TO COME TO AGREEMENT.

THAT IS STILL THE PROCESS WE WOULD, WE WOULD USE IF WE WERE TO LOSE A MEMBER OF THIS BODY.

HOWEVER, WE DON'T HAVE

[00:45:01]

SO THIS IS TO DISCUSS ANY OTHER IDEAS THAT PEOPLE HAVE.

UM, I KNOW THAT THERE ARE SOME OUT THERE, BUT THAT IS THE PROCESS.

IT WOULD ONLY TRIGGER IF AFTER 60 DAYS WE COULDN'T COME TO TERMS AND SAY, A MAJORITY OF US THINK THIS PERSON SHOULD BE THE NEXT COUNCIL PERSON.

SO, BUT SPECIAL ELECTIONS, IT'S NOT ALLOWED BY STATUTE.

SO WE'LL OPEN IT TO DISCUSSION.

ED, YOU HAD YOUR FINGER UP, SO I THOUGHT, OKAY, MR. COOPER, THANK YOU, MAYOR.

UM, I DON'T WANNA PROLONG THIS, BUT, UM, THE RESOLUTION THAT'S BEEN PUT BEFORE US TO DISCUSS, I DON'T THINK THAT IS A, A, A GREAT OPTION, UM, TO HOW WE WOULD END UP SELECTING A PERSON IF THE COUNCIL DID NOT COME TO AN AGREEMENT OF A MAJORITY.

WHAT I THINK WE OPTION THAT I WOULD LIKE TO PROPOSE AND US TO CONSIDER THAT I THINK WOULD BE A GREAT OPTION AND A FAIR OPTION.

UM, I THINK IT'LL BE A VERY NEUTRAL, I THINK IT'D BE VERY UNBIASED, AND I THINK IT'LL BE A VERY FAIR SYSTEM FOR US TO CONSIDER SELECTING.

IF WE GOT TO THAT POINT, OBVIOUSLY, I WOULD HOPE THAT WE WOULD BE ABLE TO, JUST AS IN MY CASE, WHEN I WAS APPOINTED TO THE COUNCIL, THAT, UM, THE MAJORITY OF THE, OF THE COUNCIL COULD AGREE TO A, UH, A CANDIDATE AND THAT'S HOW IT WOULD BE SELECTED.

BUT IN THE EVENT, UH, THAT WAS NOT, IF THAT DID NOT BE PO WAS NOT POSSIBLE, UM, I'M NOT FOR SURE WHEN I WAS SELECTED, HOW MANY CANDIDATES YOU MAKE THE FINAL INTERVIEW PROCESS.

BUT JUST FOR UH, SAKE OF TIME, SAY WE, UM, YOU NARROW IT DOWN TO THREE CANDIDATES.

IT MAY BE MORE THAN THAT, BUT JUST SAY YOU USE, USE THREE FOR TONIGHT, UM, AS FINALIST CANDIDATES THAT THEY WOULD BE INTERVIEWED.

UM, AND THEN IF AT THE END OF THE DAY, UH, NO AFFIRMATIVE DECISION COULD BE MADE BY THE BOARD AND MAJORITY, THEN WHAT I WOULD SUGGEST BE DONE IS LIKE WE KIND OF DO WHEN WE ARE, UH, PLACING NAMES ON THE BALLOT.

UM, THOSE THAT WANT TO BE IN ORDER ON THE BALLOT, THEY WOULD SHOW UP AT A CERTAIN TIME PERIOD AND NAMES WOULD GO INTO THE HAT AND THEN YOU WOULD DRAW OUT, DRAW OUT, UH, WHO GOES ON THE BALLOT FIRST.

IF THEY'RE THE FINALIST CANDIDATES AND YOU HAD THE, THE CLERK, CITY CLERK, UM, DRAW OUT THOSE NA DRAW OUT THE NAME AND WHOEVER'S DRAWN OUTTA THAT BO AT THAT BALLOT OUT OUTTA THAT BOX OR HAT, THAT'S WHO WILL BE FILLING THE SEAT UNTIL THE NEXT ELECTION.

I THINK THAT'S A SYSTEM THAT WOULD BE VERY FAIR.

UH, IT WOULD TAKE AWAY ANY, UM, MISCONCEPTIONS OF SOMEBODY HAVING A, A HEAD OVER SOMEBODY ELSE OR THE MAYOR OR WHO, WHOMEVER SELECTING SOMEBODY THAT, THAT THEY WANTED, BUT EVERYBODY ELSE DIDN'T WANT.

IT WOULD TAKE AWAY A LOT OF CONFUSION IN MY OPINION.

SO I WOULD LIKE FOR THE COUNCIL TO CONSIDER THAT AS A POSSIBLE OPTION THAT I THINK WOULD BE A VERY FAIR OPTION.

THAT'S ONE.

UH, OTHER SOLUTIONS OR IDEAS.

MR. HORN? I'VE GOT A COUPLE QUESTIONS FIRST.

UH, AND THIS ONE'S PROBABLY TO CITY MANAGER HAN OR CORPORATION COUNCIL, BUT, UM, WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT SPECIAL ELECTIONS.

UH, IS THERE EVEN THE OPPORTUNITY FOR A SPECIAL ELECTION IF SOMEONE, UM, RESIGNS THEIR SEAT EARLY? I DON'T, UNDER STATE STATUTE, ELECTIONS ARE, AND ELECTIONS AND THE TIME PERIOD ARE SET FORTH IN STATE STATUTE.

SO IT'S CONSIDERED A MATTER OF STATEWIDE CONCERN THAT, AND THERE ARE SOME SUBJECTS THAT ARE CONSIDERED MATTERS OF STATEWIDE CONCERN THAT EVEN AS A HOME RULE MUNICIPALITY, UM, LOCAL GOVERNMENTS CANNOT, UM, VOTE TO CHANGE.

AND THAT, IN MY OPINION WOULD BE ONE, BECAUSE IT SETS FORTH THE ELECTIONS AND THE TIME PERIODS ON WHEN THOSE ELECTIONS WOULD TAKE PLACE.

UM, SO IF YOU SAY SPECIAL ELECTION BY AS PER STATE STATUTE, THE STATE STATUTE SAYS THERE CANNOT BE ANY ELECTIONS OUTSIDE OF WHAT THE, I'M ASSUMING THAT IT'S THE ILLINOIS STATE BOARD OF ELECTIONS DECIDES.

YEAH, NO, STATE STATUTE DOESN'T SAY YOU CAN'T HAVE THEM.

STATE STATUTE PRESCRIBES HOW YOU WILL HAVE THEM.

AND SO THAT IS, ELECTIONS ARE CONSIDERED MATTERS OF STATEWIDE CONCERN.

AND SO WE ARE LIMITED IN OUR ABILITIES TO

[00:50:01]

HAVE ELECTIONS OUTSIDE OF WHAT IS PRESCRIBED IN THAT MANNER.

I DON'T WANNA PROLONG THIS TOO LONG, BUT COULD YOU HAVE A MUNICIPAL ELECTION WITHIN A, A STATE, A NATIONAL PRIMARY DATE? CAN, COULD WE NO.

'CAUSE STATE STATUTE SETS FORTH WHEN MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS ARE.

UM, MY NEXT QUESTION IS TO PUT SOMETHING ON THE AGENDA, EITHER THE CITY MANAGER, THE MAYOR, OR FOUR OF SIX REMAINING COUNCIL MEMBERS PUT IT ON THE AGENDA.

HOW DID THIS ITEM GET ON THE AGENDA? I REQUESTED IT.

SO THE MAYOR HAS BASICALLY REQUESTED THAT THE MAYOR BE ALLOWED TO APPOINT SOMEONE IN THE EVENT THAT THE COUNCIL AS A WHOLE CANNOT AGREE ON WHO A CITY COUNCIL MEMBER SHOULD BE.

AND I WANNA BE CLEAR ON THIS POINT BECAUSE AS HAS BEEN MENTIONED IN MULTIPLE OCCASIONS, IN FACT, AS FAR AS I KNOW, IN ALL OF DECATUR HISTORY, WHENEVER WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO, UH, HAD TO APPOINT SOMEBODY, THE COUNCIL HAS HAD TO APPOINT SOMEBODY, WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO APPOINT SOMEBODY.

I, I MEAN DENNIS COOPER IS GREAT COLLEAGUE.

WE WENT THROUGH A PROCESS AND WE APPOINTED HIM ANOTHER PERSON LEFT EARLY.

WE APPOINTED DR.

DANA RAY, WHO IS WIDELY CONSIDERED TO BE THE ONE OF THE BEST COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT WE'VE EVER HAD.

AND SO THIS IS A SOLUTION TO A PROBLEM THAT WE DON'T HAVE.

AND SO I JUST WANT FOLKS TO UNDERSTAND WHAT'S HAPPENING.

THE MAYOR HAS ASKED THIS TO BE ON THE AGENDA SO THAT THE MAYOR CAN ULTIMATELY APPOINT A CITY COUNCIL MEMBER.

AND IF YOU LOOK AT THE HISTORY OF THE CITY COUNCIL, WE HAVE ALWAYS BEEN ABLE TO COME UP WITH SOMEBODY TO FILL A VACANT SEAT AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO DO THAT.

SO THIS RESOLUTION IS COMPLETELY UNNECESSARY.

AT THE END OF THE DAY, RESIDENTS DESERVE A VOICE ON WHO THEIR COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE.

RESIDENTS SHOULD HAVE THE RIGHT TO PUT FORTH THEIR APPLICATIONS TO BECOME THE NEXT CITY COUNCIL MEMBER.

THE COUNCIL HAS ALWAYS, THROUGHOUT THE HISTORY OF DECATUR, MET ITS LEGAL RESPONSIBILITIES TO APPOINT A COUNCIL MEMBER.

AND THIS RESOLUTION, WHICH WAS BROUGHT FORWARD BY THE MAYOR, WILL ALLOW ONE PERSON, THE MAYOR, TO DICTATE THE COMPOSITION OF AN ELECTED BODY.

BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY, ALL THAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN IS THE MAYOR TO GET THE SUPPORT OF TWO OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS TO SAY, LET'S WAIT 60 DAYS AND WE WILL BE ABLE TO APPOINT WHOEVER WE WANT.

SO I AM ADAMANTLY OPPOSED TO THIS RESOLUTION.

IT IS 100% THE WRONG CHOICE FOR THE RESIDENTS OF DECATUR, MR. HORN.

UM, IN ALL FAIRNESS, MAYBE THAT'S HOW YOU WOULD CONDUCT THIS IF YOU WERE IN THE MAYOR'S SEAT, BUT I WOULD NOT, AND THE WHOLE PROCESS, FIRST OF ALL, I HOPE WE DON'T HAVE TO DO THIS AND THAT WE DON'T HAVE A VACANCY AND THAT SEATS ARE FILLED WHEN WE GET TO AN ELECTION BECAUSE THAT'S HOW IT SHOULD BE, IS BY THE PEOPLE.

HOWEVER, I THINK IT IS THE BEST PROCESS TO HAVE A PROCESS IN PLACE SHOULD SOMETHING HAPPEN, BECAUSE I DO HAVE GREAT CONCERN THAT THIS COUNCIL IS VERY DIVIDED.

AND IF YOU HAVE A THREE, THREE SPLIT CONSTANTLY, WE CAN'T GET CITY BUSINESS DONE.

NOR WOULD WE PROBABLY, I WOULD HOPE THAT WE WOULD BE SUCCESSFUL AGAIN IN FINDING PEOPLE WHO WOULD WANT TO SERVE ON THE COUNCIL, THAT WE COULD COME TO CONSENSUS AND SAY, YES, THIS IS, YOU KNOW, THE, THE RIGHT PERSON TO HELP GUIDE US AND BE A PART OF THIS COUNCIL MOVING

[00:55:01]

FORWARD.

BUT WE NEED TO HAVE SOMETHING IN CASE WE CAN'T MANAGE TO COME UP WITH AN ANSWER.

OTHER COMMENTS? MR. COOPER? I JUST WANNA MAKE A COMMENT TO ONE, ONE COMMENT YOU JUST SAID THAT I THINK IS, IS TOTALLY INAPPROPRIATE.

I DON'T THINK OUR CURRENT COUNCIL IS THAT FAR OFF.

I'VE, I'VE GONE BACK, I'VE, I'VE HEARD THIS FOR WEEKS AND WEEKS AND WEEKS FROM TIME TO TIME.

SO I'VE, I'VE GONE BACK AND LOOKED AT THE, OUR VOTING RECORD OF THIS COUNCIL.

AND IF ANYBODY, OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS, IF YOU GO BACK AND LOOK AT THE RECORDS, WE HAVE MAJORITY VOTES ON ISSUES AFFECTING DECATUR.

MAJOR ISSUES AFFECTING I DECATUR THAT ARE 4, 3 5, UH, 2 6 1.

WELL, IN THE MAJORITY OF THOSE, WHEN THIS, IT'S FOUR THREE.

SO I THINK IT IS A BIT UNFAIR TO SAY THAT WHERE THAT MUCH OF THE DIVIDED COUNSEL, BECAUSE IN ACTUALITY WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE RECORDS, WE ARE NOT, WE MAY BE ON CERTAIN ITEMS, BUT THAT DOESN'T MAKE YOU A, A DIVIDED COUNCIL THAT JUST SAYS PEOPLE GOT DIFFERENCE OF OPINIONS AS WE SHOULD.

DEBATE IS GOOD.

ANY OTHER COMMENTS? MS. CRUZ? I, I JUST WANTED TO READ ONE OF THE RESPONSES FROM THE CITY MANAGER AND SHE SAID, UM, THE CITY MAY ADOPT WHATEVER INTERNAL PROCESS THEY DETERMINE IS BEST, AS LONG AS IT IS NOT PREEMPTED BY STATUTE.

UM, JUST THE REALITY THAT WE CAN ADOPT WHATEVER INTERNAL PROCESS THAT, UM, THAT WE WANT.

I THINK THAT SHOULD HAVE, UH, INITIATED A MEETING TO DISCUSS THOSE PROCESSES.

ANY OTHER COMMENTS? CALL THE QUESTION PLEASE.

COUNCILMAN CRUZ? NAY.

COUNCILMAN MCDANIEL? AYE.

COUNCILMAN HORN? NAY.

COUNCILMAN COLT? NO.

COUNCILMAN COOPER? NO.

COUNCILWOMAN GREGORY.

MAYOR MORE WOLF? AYE.

[3. City Manager Update]

THE CITY MANAGER UPDATE.

AND COUNCIL.

UH, FIRST WE WANNA HIGHLIGHT AND THANK OUR CURRENT AND RETIRED DECATUR POLICE OFFICER.

FIRST OFFICERS FOR SUPPORTING LOCAL FAMILIES AND STUDENTS.

UM, FUNDS WERE RAISED BY THE POLICE BENEVOLENT AND PROTECTIVE ASSOCIATION UNIT NUMBER 39, AND THEY SHOP WITH 50 LOCAL STUDENTS FOR BACK TO SCHOOL.

SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

UM, ALSO WANNA HIGHLIGHT FLIX BUS HAS LAUNCHED I DECATUR SERVICE STARTED ON AUGUST 12TH, DAILY TRAVEL TO CHICAGO AND ST.

LOUIS.

YOU CAN GET TICKETS@FLIXBUS.COM OR YOU CAN PURCHASE THEM IN OUR DOWNTOWN TRANSIT CENTER.

AND THEN THE FINAL ONE I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT, IT WAS A VERY EXCITING RIBBON CUTTING, UH, THAT WE HAD LAST WEEK.

UH, TWO OF THE RENOVATED APARTMENTS THAT ARE ABOVE THE GIGGLES BUILDING DOWNTOWN, UM, TWO, TWO BEDROOM UNIT APARTMENTS, UM, WERE RENOVATED AND THEY'VE ALREADY BEEN RENTED OUT.

THIS WAS THROUGH A, A DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT THAT WAS DONE, UM, THROUGH THE DOWNTOWN CENTRAL TIFF AND WE'RE VERY EXCITED THAT THE SAME GROUP IS STILL WORKING ON YET ANOTHER APARTMENT REMODEL IN THE FLORA GEMS BUILDING.

AND THAT WILL BE EITHER PLANNING FOR, UH, 10 APARTMENTS IN THAT BUILDING AS WELL.

SO GETTING SOME MORE, UM, HOUSING UNITS AND MORE DOWNTOWN LIVING.

IT'S VERY EXCITING.

AND I APOLOGIZE MR. BOLAND, I DID NOT CALL YOU BACK TO THE PODIUM.

WOULD YOU LIKE TO I WOULD YOU LIKE TO COME AND MAKE YOUR COMMENTS? IT'S OKAY.

I APOLOGIZE.

WE'LL JUST NOTE THAT I'M AGAINST WHAT FAILED.

SO NOTED.

THANK YOU SIR.

AND THAT BRINGS US TO THE CONSENT

[4. 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.]

CALENDAR.

DOES ANYONE WISH TO PULL ANY ITEM OFF OF THE CONSENT CALENDAR FOR INDIVIDUAL CONSIDERATION? NONE.

ITEM A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE PURCHASE OF RAPID INTERVENTION TEAM RIT PACS USING ILLINOIS OFFICE OF THE STATE FIRE MARSHAL SMALL EQUIPMENT GRANT FUNDS ITEM B, RESOLUTION APPROVING REAPPOINTMENTS HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION ITEM C, RESOLUTION APPROVING REAPPOINTMENT CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION ITEM D ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING CONSUMPTION OF ALCOHOLIC LIQUOR ON PUBLIC RIGHTS OF WAY.

100 BLOCK OF NORTH MERCHANT STREET, NORTHEAST COMMUNITY FUND FARM TO FUND ITEM E ORDINANCES AUTHORIZING CONSUMPTION OF ALCOHOLIC LIQUOR IN CENTRAL PARK, UNITED WAY OF DECATUR AND MID ILLINOIS MUSIC IN THE PARK.

ITEM F RESOLUTION, ACCEPTING SERVICE PRICING PROPOSAL FROM QUICKSILVER MAILING SERVICES TO PROVIDE MAILING SERVICES TO THE CITY OF DECATUR.

I NEED A MOTION TO APPROVE THE ITEMS AS PRESENTED.

SECOND.

COUNCILMAN CRUZ? AYE.

COUNCILMAN MCDANIEL?

[01:00:01]

COUNCIL HAVE OTHER BUSINESS TO BRING BEFORE THE BODY TONIGHT? AYE.

COUNCILMAN HORN? AYE.

COUNCILMAN COLE? AYE.

COUNCILMAN COOPER? AYE.

COUNCILMAN GREGORY? AYE.

[VI. Other Business]

MS. CRUZ, A RESIDENT ASKED, UM, THE ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION PASSED LEGISLATION RELATED TO EDUCATION OF A DAYCARE DIRECTOR AND OTHER GUIDELINES EFFECTIVE JULY 1ST, 2027.

WILL ANY OF THIS DELAY THE 24 HOUR DAYCARE OPENING AND WHAT IS THE STATUS AND OPEN DATE OF THE DAYCARE? SO I WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO COMMENT TO WHETHER OR NOT THAT WOULD IMPACT THEM.

THAT WOULD BE A, A QUESTION FOR, UM, THE INDIVIDUAL RUNNING THE DAYCARE IF, IF THE TRAINING WAS, OR THE NEW STATE LEGISLATION ABOUT THAT TRAINING WAS GONNA IMPACT THEM.

UM, THE CITY IS STILL WORKING ON COMPLETING OUR PORTION OF THE REQUIREMENTS.

I BELIEVE WE HAVE UNTIL OCTOBER, UM, TO COMPLETE THAT.

UM, AT THAT POINT THEN, UH, THE NEW OWNER WILL TAKE OVER AND COMPLETE THEIR PORTION OF THAT AGREEMENT.

AND SO I BELIEVE IN THAT TIMELINE THEY'VE GOT APPROXIMATELY ABOUT A YEAR IN ORDER TO COMPLETE THOSE ITEMS BEFORE THE CENTER WOULD OPEN.

COULD WE HAVE A, A UPDATE AT THE OCTOBER DATE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE WERE ON TIME WITH OUR PORTION? YES.

LAST TIME I CHECKED WE ARE ON TIME AND THEN HOPEFULLY COMPLETING EARLY, BUT I WILL GET THAT FOR YOU.

DID YOU HAVE ANYTHING FURTHER, MS. CRUZ? NO.

ANYONE ELSE? MR. HORN? YEAH.

MAYOR.

CITY OF DECATUR, I BELIEVE HAS OVER A HUNDRED FLOCK LICENSE PLATE READER CAMERAS THROUGHOUT THE CITY.

AND THE CITY ALSO HAS AN AGREEMENT FOR ADDITIONAL CAMERAS, UH, TO BE INSTALLED AT CERTAIN INTERSECTIONS.

AND RECENTLY NUMEROUS MUNICIPALITIES HAVE REPORTEDLY BEEN CANCELING THEIR AGREEMENTS WITH FLOCK DUE TO UNLAWFUL USE OF CAMERA DATA.

AND I THINK IT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE FOR THE DECATUR CITY COUNCIL TO HOST A STUDY SESSION OR A DISCUSSION ITEM ON FLOCK CAMERAS IN THE CITY.

WE CAN ASK QUESTIONS LIKE, HOW MANY CAMERAS ARE THERE? HOW MUCH IS IT COSTING US ANNUALLY? WHAT TYPES OF CRIMES HAVE BEEN SOLVED USING THE CAMERAS? WOULD THESE CAMERAS CRIMES HAVE BEEN SOLVED IF CAMERAS WERE NOT INSTALLED? AND HAS CRIMINAL ACTIVITY DECREASED IN LOCATIONS WHERE THE CAMERAS ARE LOCATED, BUT ALSO WHAT SAFEGUARDS ARE IN PLACE TO ENSURE THAT CAMERA DATA IS NOT BEING USED FOR ILLEGAL PURPOSES? YOU KNOW, I KNOW ONE OF THE PLACES THAT WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT HAVING A STATIONARY CAMERA, UM, OF THE NEWEST TYPE IS THE OAKWOOD BUSINESS DISTRICT.

AND I THINK ABOUT MILLIKEN UNIVERSITY STUDENTS WHO WILL BE RETURNING TO SCHOOL ON MONDAY.

AND I WOULD REALLY LIKE IT IF THE CITY OF DECATUR CAN PROVIDE ASSURANCES THAT THE FLOCK DATA THAT IS BEING COLLECTED IS NOT BEING USED IN AN ILLEGAL MANNER, AND THAT THE CITY OF DECATUR ABSOLUTELY HAS THE SAFEGUARDS THAT IT NEEDS.

NOW I WILL SAY I'M SUPPORTIVE OF FLOCK CAMERAS.

IT WAS ABOUT A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO I WAS INVOLVED IN A HIT AND RUN ACCIDENT, UH, BASED ON A VERY, UM, UH, ABSTRACT DESCRIPTION, DARK VEHICLE .

UH, THEY WERE ABLE TO TRACE, UM, THE VEHICLE AND CATCH THE PERPETRATOR.

AND SO FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, THEY ARE HELPFUL IN SOLVING CRIME.

BUT WHAT I AM CONCERNED ABOUT IS SAFEGUARDS AGAINST ILLEGAL USAGES.

AND I THINK THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE DECATUR POLICE DEPARTMENT TO REALLY, UM, UH, BE PROACTIVE IN PROVIDING CITIZENS WITH SOME ASSURANCES THAT THERE ARE SAFEGUARDS.

I'VE TALKED WITH THE CHIEF ABOUT THIS, UM, COUNCILMAN HORNE AND I FELT PRETTY GOOD AFTER HEARING THE SAFEGUARDS THAT THEY HAVE IN PLACE AT DPD.

BUT I AGREE WITH YOU, I THINK TO, UM, GIVE THE PUBLIC AN UNDERSTANDING OF THE SAFEGUARDS DPD HAS IN PLACE AND HOW THEY'RE USED.

I THINK THAT'S FAIR AND WE'LL, UH, MS. HAM WILL FIGURE OUT WHEN IT'S A GOOD TIME TO HAVE THE CHIEF COME IN AND PERHAPS MAKE A PRESENTATION AND COUNCIL CAN ASK QUESTIONS OTHER BUSINESS FROM OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS.

SEE NONE.

I NEED A MOTION TO ADJOURN.

SECOND COUNCILWOMAN CRUZ.

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