[3:15] All right. Good evening everybody.

[3:16] Welcome to the Bellevier City Council

[3:18] regular meeting of September 21st, 2026.

[3:21] If the clerk will help me with the roll

[3:23] call, please.

[3:23] >> Albertini

[3:24] >> here.

[3:25] >> Breton

[3:25] >> here.

[3:26] >> Flurry

[3:27] >> here.

[3:27] >> Frank

[3:28] >> here. Gracowski

[3:29] >> here.

[3:30] >> Hoes

[3:30] >> here.

[3:31] >> McGee

[3:32] >> here.

[3:32] >> Montalbano absent. Peterson

[3:34] >> here.

[3:35] >> Stevens

[3:36] >> here.

[3:36] >> Nine present.

[3:38] >> Thank you. If you stand with me and join

[3:40] in the pledge of allegiance followed by

[3:41] the invocation.

[3:46] I pledge algiance to the flag of the

[3:49] United States of America and to the

[3:52] republic for which it stands. One nation

[3:56] under God, indivisible, with liberty and

[3:59] justice for all.

[4:05] » Dear God, we thank you for our country,

[4:07] our families, our community, our

[4:10] freedoms, and this nation's sovereignty.

[4:13] Lord, we pray for our veterans and give

[4:15] thanks to those who have served and

[4:16] sacrificed throughout our nation's

[4:18] history. And especially tonight, we pray

[4:20] for our military service men and women,

[4:22] heroes in the war against Iran in hopes

[4:26] of finally securing a safe future for

[4:28] America, the Middle East, and the entire

[4:30] world. We pray that you ble bless each

[4:33] service member in our military, keep

[4:35] them safe, and be with their loved ones

[4:37] at this time.

[4:39] We pray tonight for our police and fire

[4:41] paramedic first responders in our city

[4:43] and across this country who serve our

[4:44] citizens and bravely respond no matter

[4:47] what or when. We pray for their safety

[4:50] and ask that you be with them as they

[4:53] continue to serve our citizens.

[4:56] And with our recent 911 25-year

[4:59] remembrance, Lord, we ask that you

[5:00] continue keeping the victims and the

[5:03] heroic first responders in our American

[5:05] conscience so that we never forget them.

[5:09] Lord, we ask that you continue to bless

[5:11] America. And as we conduct our city's

[5:14] business here this evening, we pray for

[5:15] our your guidance and that you give each

[5:17] of us compassion, understanding,

[5:20] patience, wisdom, strength, and courage.

[5:23] We pray for these things in Christ's

[5:24] name. Amen. All

[5:32] » [clears throat]

[5:40] » right. Uh, under public comment, uh,

[5:45] Craig, did you have anything, uh, that

[5:46] you wanted to say this evening, uh, at

[5:49] all? Uh, tonight?

[5:51] >> No, I do, mayor.

[5:52] >> Okay.

[5:53] >> Can I come up to the podium? You can

[6:12] » one more time.

[6:14] >> There you

[6:16] >> That's how they work.

[6:17] >> It's all new.

[6:20] Good evening everybody. Um, not

[6:23] everybody gets a chance to retire once,

[6:26] but

[6:29] some of us gets to retire more than

[6:31] once, and it's it's a great feeling.

[6:35] Um, I'd like to acknowledge acknowledge

[6:38] someone that is retiring out of my

[6:40] office this Friday,

[6:43] uh, after 20 years. And then I would

[6:46] have never guessed

[6:49] she would have taken the role of a code

[6:52] enforcement officer.

[6:54] This position is so out of character for

[6:56] her. She has al also taken on the

[6:58] responsibility of our planning and

[7:00] zoning. If you look up the word

[7:03] confrontational,

[7:04] you would never associate her name with

[7:06] it. She is kind, wants to help everyone

[7:10] that she meets.

[7:13] She takes on some of Belvadier's finest

[7:16] property owners and wins them over with

[7:19] her charm. And the ones that she fails

[7:22] to win over, she just meets them in

[7:25] court.

[7:28] I just want to say enough I just can't

[7:30] say enough good about Cara and the

[7:33] 20-year commitment that she has provided

[7:35] this city. I want to wish her well in

[7:38] her next adventure. She will be missed.

[7:41] Thank you.

[7:44] Okay, thank you.

[7:47] [applause]

[7:53] You know, I think Director Wilcox, I I

[7:55] think you're exactly right. you know,

[7:57] Cara Wetzel um certainly um has probably

[8:01] the toughest job uh in the city, I would

[8:04] imagine, because um you know, there uh

[8:06] whenever she reaches out to somebody um

[8:09] they don't always see it the way that uh

[8:12] the rules that we have uh and they're

[8:14] enforceable for everybody. There's

[8:16] nobody that's exempt, but she certainly

[8:19] does has done a great job for the past

[8:21] 20 years. and I I know we are going to

[8:23] miss her and uh hopefully uh she will

[8:26] have an easier go uh than she has in the

[8:28] last 20. So I I certainly wish her well.

[8:31] I know the council does too. So thank

[8:33] you for that recognizing her. Uh with

[8:36] that being said, we have uh several here

[8:40] who have registered for public comment

[8:42] as well. Uh we have Jeff, is it Holoy?

[8:46] Jeff Holy.

[8:48] >> Yeah. Can you move me down the list a

[8:50] little bit? Pardon me.

[8:52] >> You move me down the list a little bit.

[8:55] >> You're not.

[8:56] >> Okay.

[9:03] » Oh, you were the first one here or I

[9:06] think you were here.

[9:07] >> Oh, you were the last one. Okay.

[9:09] >> Okay.

[9:09] >> Last shall be first.

[9:10] >> Right. Yeah. Um

[9:13] >> that's on Just state your name and

[9:15] address for the record, please.

[9:16] >> Jeff Hollyy, 7272 Yuber Road, Belvadier,

[9:19] Illinois.

[9:22] beautiful county of Belvadier or Aoon

[9:26] Spring Township.

[9:28] So, kind of unfamiliar being at a a city

[9:31] meeting, but apparently we got a data

[9:33] center coming in town that's going to be

[9:35] affect affecting my property. So, I'm

[9:39] just up here speaking on behalf of a lot

[9:40] of us with the data center. And uh I had

[9:45] a whole bunch of stuff I was going to

[9:46] say, but like I said, kind of got caught

[9:48] off guard by a surprise text message

[9:50] here of a a death in the family. So, I'm

[9:52] going to keep it simple, but uh

[9:54] >> I didn't have the opportunity to vote

[9:55] for you, nor did I have the opportunity

[9:57] to hear what you're campaigning on for

[9:59] your for your re-election. Uh but I'm

[10:03] sure it wasn't that you were putting a

[10:04] data center in Belvadier or Boone

[10:07] County. So I guess my first question is what's the benefits to Belvadier

[10:13] Boone County Spring Township? Obviously

[10:16] there's always a benefit and there's

[10:18] always a a repercussion. My property joins directly to the proposed

[10:24] data center that we know that's in the

[10:27] works. You know, there's 20ome buildings

[10:29] already, you know, on a map with street

[10:32] names, all that stuff that that I've

[10:34] been told. Uh, so again, just trying to

[10:38] find out me being a Boone County

[10:40] resident, obviously it's going to affect

[10:42] my property, my property value, and my

[10:44] lifestyle. So I've got concerns about it

[10:48] more so what's the city, if it all takes

[10:51] place, going to do to help us, you know,

[10:53] adjoining properties, you know, two

[10:55] within the adjacent area, one, two,

[10:58] three, four miles of it. Genoa road is

[11:00] going to be a a total disaster for five,

[11:04] seven, eight years. Uh property value is

[11:07] going to go down. Uh

[11:10] you know, is there some type of an

[11:12] escrow you guys are planning on doing?

[11:14] Or more so, is there going to is there

[11:16] time to put this on a referendum for,

[11:18] you know, the November ballot is what I

[11:20] would ask. You know, give the people a

[11:22] choice a chance to vote for it.

[11:25] >> Uh

[11:28] » [applause]

[11:31] » because a lot of what you're doing isn't

[11:33] really affecting your your soap per se

[11:36] uh Belvadier people. You're coming out

[11:39] to the country affecting all of us now.

[11:41] So that' be one request if we can get this on a ballot for referendum and

[11:46] then uh

[11:48] what else was there? Uh

[11:55] I know again you know this has been in

[11:57] the works for since 2024. You got

[11:59] reelected in 25. So again did you

[12:02] campaign on this? You know that you're

[12:04] bringing this to Belvair. Was it part of

[12:05] your slogan? You know stuff of that

[12:07] nature. So again I'm kind of baffled by

[12:10] the message I just got a little bit ago.

[12:12] But appreciate your time and my uh

[12:15] opportunity to speak and we'll see where

[12:17] it takes us. So thank you.

[12:18] >> Thank you Mr.

[12:22] Oh,

[12:24] one more thing. If you guys can go on

[12:27] the website and fill out the the foyer

[12:29] forms, every one of you fill out a foyer

[12:31] form. You know, they're obligated to

[12:33] give us as much information as as they

[12:35] can. So,

[12:38] Belvadier, Boone County, you know, all

[12:40] those things, fill out the forms, get

[12:42] the information so we all are at least

[12:44] up to speed on what's going on. So,

[12:45] thanks again.

[12:49] » [applause]

[12:55] » Next we have uh Kay Wilson. K.

[13:00] Hi K. Good evening.

[13:13] » Okay.

[13:15] >> State your name and address for the

[13:16] record, please.

[13:18] Mayor Mor Morris,

[13:19] >> state your name and address for the

[13:21] record.

[13:21] >> K. Wilson.

[13:22] >> Thank you.

[13:23] >> 525 Appleton Road there. And

[13:28] okay, I have lived in Boone County all

[13:31] my life and that's 87 years.

[13:36] I am very concerned about the effect the

[13:38] data centers will have on my family and

[13:41] our entire community.

[13:43] I don't think any more data centers

[13:46] should be built at all in the United

[13:48] States until research [clears throat] is

[13:50] done on the current ones already in

[13:52] operation.

[13:54] Research and studies should be done on those locations to see the effect on

[14:00] the animals, the wildlife, environment.

[14:04] How has it affected air and water

[14:06] quality? How has the noise which goes on

[14:09] th 247

[14:12] 365 days a year affected the

[14:15] neighborhoods?

[14:17] How has it affected the economy in those

[14:20] areas?

[14:22] I feel these big developers with their

[14:25] big bulks are pushing to hurry these

[14:28] through before we people wake up as to

[14:31] what just happened to us.

[14:34] Plus now I have heard on the news that

[14:36] AI can possibly be a danger to itself

[14:40] and to all of us. I have attended uh

[14:44] couple meetings here in Belvadier and I

[14:47] also attended the meeting last Wednesday

[14:49] night in Cherry Valley.

[14:52] The residents I talked to received

[14:54] little information regarding the

[14:56] location which is in Boone County by the

[15:00] way. Microsoft showed a map and

[15:04] announced they were going to start to

[15:06] build in 2027 over there

[15:10] uh and complete it in 28 or 29.

[15:14] My understanding Cherry Valley residents

[15:16] are going to keep fighting in the hopes

[15:18] to stop this development.

[15:20] I hope we in Belvadier are properly

[15:23] informed about Project Hawkeye. We need

[15:26] to know if the annexation has already

[15:29] taken place along the Genanoa road. Has

[15:32] the project project Hawkeye already

[15:35] purchased the land? I appreciate Mayor

[15:38] Morris telling us he is getting the

[15:41] facts, but please keep the public

[15:43] informed. This is why you and the board

[15:47] are voted by us. And thank you for

[15:50] listening to me.

[15:52] [applause]

[15:57] » [applause]

[16:01] » Thank you. Um, we have next Doug Weir.

[16:13] Good evening.

[16:15] >> How you doing?

[16:16] >> Good. How are you?

[16:18] >> Could be better.

[16:19] >> Could be worse.

[16:21] Doug Weir, 4623 Fernhole Road,

[16:24] Belvadier. [clears throat]

[16:27] Uh, my concern, one of my concerns about

[16:30] the data center is our property values.

[16:34] I'm 76 years old, worked all my life,

[16:37] all my money's in my house, everything,

[16:40] property, and everything else. And

[16:42] what's going to happen to my property

[16:43] value if this thing goes through? Nobody

[16:47] is going to want to buy my house. my

[16:49] property values are going to drop like a

[16:51] rock and it's just not fair to me. I,

[16:55] you know, if you want to put a data

[16:57] center, put it down, you know, in in an

[17:00] area like on Route 20 going towards

[17:01] Cherry Valley. I I shouldn't say that,

[17:03] but in an area where there's already big

[17:07] industry, you know, not local stuff.

[17:11] Another thing you last time I was here,

[17:13] you mentioned that, you know, they were

[17:15] going to get tax uh we were going to get

[17:18] uh possibly a tax break because of this,

[17:20] you know, and it's widely known that

[17:24] these places get huge tax breaks just

[17:27] putting these things. Well, that's

[17:29] what's in the news.

[17:30] >> Go ahead.

[17:31] >> That's what I'm saying.

[17:32] >> And these guys get big tax incentives to

[17:36] build these places. And you know, so I

[17:38] don't think we, you know, when Walmart

[17:41] went up, when the gas station went up on

[17:44] the tollway, when General Mills went up,

[17:47] uh, and all the other ones on on on Tony

[17:52] going out, my tax bill never went down.

[17:55] Well, all this new development. So, with

[17:57] this data center, I don't think it's

[17:58] going to, you know, we're not going to

[18:00] get a break, period. That's all that's

[18:03] all I can say. besides, you know, a

[18:06] total eyesore.

[18:08] It's It's just It's just unbelievable.

[18:11] If it goes through, it'll be a mess.

[18:13] That's all I got to say.

[18:20] [applause]

[18:23] » All right.

[18:24] Cheryl Buck.

[18:35] » Good evening, Sher.

[18:36] >> Hi. How are you?

[18:37] >> Good. How are you doing?

[18:38] >> I'm good.

[18:38] >> Good. Just state your name again and

[18:40] address for the record.

[18:41] >> And my address,

[18:43] >> please.

[18:44] >> My name is Cheryl Bach. I'm at 8635

[18:47] Huber Road in Belvadier Spring Township.

[18:52] Um, [clears throat] thank you for

[18:53] letting me speak. I just had a couple of

[18:56] comments to make. Number one, I'd like

[18:59] to know how this center is going to

[19:02] benefit the town of Belvadier,

[19:06] all of Boone County, and if it is going

[19:09] to benefit us, how long before we see

[19:12] what those benefits are going to be? Are

[19:15] we going to get decreases in taxes?

[19:19] How is that all going to affect us?

[19:22] Also,

[19:24] is there a local law that addresses a

[19:28] buffer zone? Because due to the large

[19:33] generators that are going to be running

[19:35] 24/7,

[19:37] there's a lot of health issues and

[19:40] there's a variety of ages. you know

[19:43] there we go from newborn to

[19:47] [snorts] 99

[19:49] and a lot of the issues not only will

[19:52] affect us but will affect you also

[19:55] because you're living in Boone County.

[19:58] There's um some of the health issues are

[20:03] hearing loss because of the 247 sounds

[20:07] of the generators with the humming and

[20:10] their heavy duty.

[20:12] um the stress alone for the people that

[20:16] live close to it or don't live close,

[20:20] but just knowing that they're there. It

[20:24] causes insomnia

[20:26] and as we get older,

[20:31] you get insomnia. You have a hard time

[20:33] sleeping. Um it decreases the value of

[20:36] our life totally because of the

[20:40] interruption.

[20:42] Um it causes high blood pressure,

[20:45] headaches,

[20:47] respiratory and heart risks and the

[20:51] electronic

[20:53] electromagnet

[20:55] waves have also been linked to childhood

[20:59] leukemia.

[21:01] And what is close to that where the data

[21:05] center wants to be built? Schools.

[21:09] How are you going to protect the

[21:11] students, the kids,

[21:14] they're outside for recess, they go on

[21:16] the bus, they go in and out of the

[21:17] school. How are you going to protect

[21:20] them from that?

[21:24] It affects farming. And as that picture

[21:26] shows right in the middle, it's farming.

[21:29] It's going to affect everything. It's

[21:32] going to affect the animals. It will

[21:35] affect the uh wildlife. It's going to

[21:39] take away their habitat. It's going to

[21:41] decrease the availability of water and

[21:44] food. How are the farmers going to

[21:48] farm if there's no water?

[21:52] Electricity demands are going to be

[21:55] through the roof. Who is going to be

[21:57] responsible for that? And if you say

[22:02] us, how long will that be? What is going

[22:05] to be

[22:09] what's the cut off?

[22:12] So that that's just my feeling. We

[22:14] retired and want to finish out our

[22:18] living out in the country. We love it

[22:22] out here. We have been east and it does

[22:26] not compare anything to living out in

[22:29] the country. Just driving down the road

[22:31] and seeing the wildlife cut in front of

[22:34] you, the deer, it it's just such a

[22:38] beautiful site and I would hate to see

[22:41] my grandkids not being exposed to that

[22:44] anymore.

[22:47] >> Thank you.

[22:50] >> [applause]

[22:56] » Uh Ruth Habstitch.

[22:58] Ruth, good evening.

[23:12] » That's all.

[23:13] >> Good evening, city um members, councils.

[23:16] Um I'm back again. I'm still nervous

[23:18] again. you're still in the same job and

[23:21] I'm still [clears throat] fighting for

[23:22] our our [laughter] lifestyle. So, here

[23:24] we go again. Um, I just Googled um AI

[23:29] this afternoon. Um, maybe a little bit

[23:31] yesterday, too. Maybe every day I Google

[23:33] it a little bit here and there. And I

[23:36] asked how many data centers in Illinois

[23:38] have problems with them and what are the

[23:40] problems? The response was systematic

[23:44] community which means something embedded

[23:48] throughout an entire system rather than

[23:51] being isolated to just one part. If it's

[23:55] just think of that if it's all through

[23:58] this whole building and not one part of

[24:01] the building why are we putting this

[24:03] building up? I go on um environmental

[24:07] and infrastructure concerns stemming

[24:10] from dozens of facilities operating or

[24:12] planned across the state. Illinois has

[24:15] hundreds of data centers statewide.

[24:17] Estimates vary from roughly 164

[24:20] operating up to over 244 total projects.

[24:25] Key problems and impacts massive energy

[24:28] consumption and high utility bills.

[24:30] Hypers scale and AR AI require immense

[24:35] continuous amount of electricity and I

[24:37] believe that's what's going up because

[24:38] we're one of the top big eating of

[24:42] electricity and building that's coming

[24:43] up. Consumer groups warned that

[24:46] upgrading the electrical grid to support

[24:48] them can shift infrastructure co cost

[24:52] onto everyday residential utility

[24:55] customers. I mentioned that last week.

[24:58] Um

[24:59] high water usage and strain is also um

[25:03] part of this. The facilities use

[25:05] millions of gallons of water daily often

[25:08] viva local municipal supplies or like

[25:11] Lake Michigan for evaporative cooling

[25:15] systems raising concerns about resource

[25:19] depletions and wastewater management.

[25:22] Noise pollution is another reason

[25:24] residents living near facilities have

[25:27] complained about persist persistent loud

[25:30] industrial noise coming from cooling

[25:32] fans and heavy equipment. This one was a

[25:35] new one for me. So every day you can get

[25:36] on that internet and learn. Diesel

[25:39] generated emissions.

[25:42] Continuous power requirements mean

[25:44] facilities rely on backup diesel

[25:47] generators for emergencies which

[25:49] neighbors report producing noticeable

[25:52] diesel odors, methane smells and

[25:55] particulate matters.

[25:59] This is this is happening in other parts

[26:02] of the world. In Thailand, they have

[26:05] stopped 166 data centers after one

[26:08] leaked oil

[26:11] into city drains. Out of these, 49 were

[26:14] under construction and 117 were planned.

[26:18] This marks the spread of an anti-I

[26:22] revolt into Asia, showing how fast the

[26:25] push back against big tech is growing

[26:28] and the problems that data centers

[26:30] carry. Never thought about that. But

[26:32] Google, who comes out ahead with putting

[26:35] data centers on? We're not the first,

[26:37] we're not the second, we're not the

[26:38] third. I think we're the fourth or the

[26:40] fifth. We pay more for electricity is

[26:42] what they tell us on there. Um, I'll

[26:47] progress. Local government push back. At

[26:49] least six countries and nine cities in

[26:52] Illinois have enacted a temporary

[26:54] mortorium moratorums,

[26:57] strict new regulations to pause

[26:59] development. why they figure out how to

[27:01] manage manage these strains. If only the

[27:05] res representatives here if only the

[27:07] repres representatives here would

[27:10] research on their own computers or

[27:12] phones, you would see even more than

[27:15] what I have been saying to you and then

[27:17] you will individually individually

[27:21] could come to your own conclusions.

[27:24] Mr. Mayor, I have heard you say over and

[27:26] over again that you do not have any

[27:28] facts about what's going on, but I see

[27:30] things through a different lens, and I

[27:32] hope one day you will, too. I will like

[27:35] to bring to light something that

[27:36] happened in last week's meeting when the

[27:39] mayor seemingly did not agree with an

[27:41] alderman's question, and the audience

[27:43] noticed this. Um, this um was

[27:46] unprofessional.

[27:48] No one should put another down when he

[27:50] or she is searching for the truth. I do

[27:53] not look I do not look for research and

[27:56] think just for myself and family but

[27:59] those who will come after us all of us.

[28:02] Thank you Mr. Mayor. Thank you council

[28:04] members.

[28:06] [applause]

[28:15] » All right. And then uh Teresa Stein.

[28:18] Teresa, good evening.

[28:19] >> Hi

[28:22] have to either make an effort to get

[28:25] there or you can listen to me here.

[28:28] >> Okay,

[28:30] >> go ahead.

[28:30] >> Um I am just reiterating everything that

[28:35] everyone said and I am just asking you,

[28:39] Mr. Mayor, why you are bringing this to

[28:43] our attention? Why are you trying to

[28:49] do anything?

[28:51] any other

[28:54] dome.

[29:06] » OKAY. [applause]

[29:12] All right. I think that's all we have

[29:14] registered for public comment here this

[29:16] evening. Uh item four, approval of

[29:20] minutes.

[29:21] Approval of the minutes of the regular

[29:23] meeting of the Bellevier City Council

[29:24] dated September 8th, 2026 as presented.

[29:28] If I could have a motion to approve

[29:29] those minutes. Motion by Alderman

[29:32] Albertini, second by Alderman Hennessy.

[29:34] Thank you both. Uh any issues, any

[29:38] corrections on the minutes uh that's in

[29:40] your packet. Uh floor is open. Feel free

[29:43] to speak.

[29:44] >> Do you even hear us out here?

[29:48] Do you hear us?

[29:49] >> Excuse me. found out there.

[29:51] >> No, I I hear you fine, ma'am. But this

[29:54] isn't a debate. We have a meeting that

[29:56] we're running, but I I'm not here to

[29:58] debate you. This was public comment and

[30:00] you you had public comment, right? Okay.

[30:03] So,

[30:04] >> question.

[30:04] >> Yeah. No, I hear you. I hear fine. Uh

[30:07] it's public comment and uh certainly

[30:10] anybody who comes here has a right to

[30:12] public comment and um certainly

[30:16] appreciate you coming. So, we have the

[30:19] approval of the minutes. A motion on the

[30:21] floor for the approval of the minutes of

[30:22] the regular meeting of the Bel City

[30:24] Council dated September 8, 2026 as

[30:27] presented. If there are

[30:31] no corrections, no comments, uh all

[30:34] those in favor, please signify by saying

[30:36] I.

[30:37] >> I.

[30:37] >> And if there's any opposed

[30:40] or any abstensions,

[30:43] that motion passed. Thank you. Item

[30:46] five, public hearing. We have none. Item

[30:48] six, special messages and proclamations.

[30:52] Uh, item A, Ida Public Library. Mindy

[30:55] Long is here this evening. Good evening,

[30:57] Mindy.

[31:00] >> Nice to see you

[31:03] here.

[31:08] » Hello.

[31:10] >> Hi, everybody. So, uh, a lot of faces I

[31:12] don't know here. I'm Minty Long. I

[31:14] director of IDA public library. I

[31:16] brought with my assistant director,

[31:17] Daisy, and she's going to talk to you

[31:19] about some programs. Daisy is going to

[31:21] be my successor one day when I retire in

[31:24] a year, hopefully. Maybe two years. It

[31:25] might end up being two years. I hope

[31:27] it's a year. [laughter]

[31:28] Um, so she was going to talk about

[31:30] programs and sometimes when I'm not

[31:31] available to be at the meeting, she

[31:33] might come here to the city council

[31:34] meetings instead on the third Monday or

[31:36] Yeah, Monday. We're Mondays today. Um,

[31:39] so I see a lot of faces here. I don't

[31:41] know. Um, probably because you're county

[31:43] people. And I want to remind you my

[31:45] sales pitch. Ida Public Library offers

[31:47] all county boom county residents no fee

[31:49] library cards for the digital services.

[31:51] You can watch Hoopla and Libby with no

[31:54] for no fee even though you don't pay

[31:55] taxes to the library. If you have

[31:57] children or grandchildren living in

[31:58] Boone County, they can get a no fee card

[32:01] ages 3 to 18 courtesy of our library

[32:03] board who exercise an option to an

[32:06] amendment that was made for the local

[32:07] library Illinois local library act. So

[32:09] if you have children or grandchildren

[32:10] living in Boone County, they can get a

[32:12] library card and check out materials.

[32:14] Our bookmobile seems like a lot of you

[32:15] are from Spring Township. Our bookmobile

[32:17] does not go to Spring Township, but if

[32:19] you have a location where you'd like us

[32:21] to be, we can certainly do that. We

[32:23] don't know that there's a parking area

[32:24] out there, a good place for us to be. So

[32:27] if you have an idea, let us know. Just

[32:29] call the library. Um you have in front

[32:32] of you today little treat bags we

[32:34] brought for you. These are sort of an

[32:35] example of the take-home kits that we

[32:37] give out every uh month. We do take-home

[32:40] kits for adults, for kids, for seniors.

[32:42] They've really they're really popular.

[32:44] You have a little beaded corn craft in

[32:46] there. And um there's a pen, American

[32:49] flag pens left over from our summer

[32:50] reading program. The friends pay for all

[32:52] of those items. And our staff graciously

[32:55] gave up some of their chocolate treats.

[32:57] I keep two chocolate drawers in the

[32:59] library for stress and it's labeled

[33:01] staff stress drawer. And one drawer is

[33:03] full of chocolate. The other one is full

[33:05] of zero sugar chocolate. So they were

[33:08] happily gave up some stress chocolate

[33:09] for you all tonight. They thought you

[33:11] could use it. So there's some chocolate

[33:12] in there for you. So um there's some uh

[33:15] flyers about the um friends of the

[33:17] library um sips and sprinkles dine and

[33:20] donate coming up. There's a flyer about

[33:22] a day of caring. Uh we're doing a repair

[33:25] cafe and we would love it if anybody

[33:27] would volunteer in repair skills. if you

[33:29] know how to sew or if you know how to

[33:31] repair a toaster or an iron, we'd love

[33:33] to have you come and just hang out and

[33:35] see if anybody has anything to be

[33:37] repaired. So, that's in there. Um, and I

[33:40] think what else do we have in there?

[33:41] >> Our book sale.

[33:42] >> Book sale. Oh, the book friends book

[33:43] sale is coming up. So, the book sale is

[33:45] coming up in October. So, you'll have a

[33:47] little flyer about that in there. So,

[33:48] come to the book sale. All the things

[33:50] you buy at the book sale support our

[33:52] programs and our summer reading um for

[33:54] the friends. So, um we thank the friends

[33:57] for all their efforts. Um, also we um

[34:00] want to thank the first responders.

[34:02] September was first responder month. We

[34:03] had some really really great programs

[34:06] from all the first responders in the

[34:07] community. So it was really great. We

[34:09] thank you very much. We still have some

[34:10] reading stories on dial a story. This is

[34:12] the last month we'll have dial dial a

[34:14] story. So dial in and listen to them

[34:16] read stories. So um it's very it was a

[34:18] very wonderful month. Um September has

[34:21] also been library card signup month. So,

[34:25] we have made an effort to to really kind

[34:27] of bring in more library cards this

[34:28] month. And we have so far have 166 new

[34:32] library cards and we give out little

[34:34] goodie bags for if you get a new card.

[34:36] So, if you don't have a card, stop by

[34:37] the library and get one and get a little

[34:39] goodie bag. I don't know if there'll be

[34:41] chocolate in it, though. I think I don't

[34:42] think they'll give up any more of their

[34:43] chocolate. Um, we have a we have an

[34:46] issue now with um Libby, Overdrive,

[34:49] whatever you want to call it. uh it's

[34:50] not really an issue, but now they're

[34:51] requiring a PIN number if you want to

[34:53] access those services on Libby or

[34:54] Overdrive. The PIN number is the last

[34:56] four digits of your library card. Um

[34:59] they were going to wait till October

[35:00] 15th, but for some reason they decided

[35:02] to do it early. So people are panicking,

[35:04] but just call us if you're having

[35:05] trouble getting into uh Libby or

[35:07] Overdrive and we can either reset your

[35:09] PIN or or give you some information how

[35:11] to how to do that. So you should only

[35:13] have to set it once and then you're all

[35:14] set forever. So um it's just kind of a

[35:17] security measure, I guess. Our

[35:19] bookmobile shelter is still um going

[35:22] strong. Um the work's all done, the

[35:24] construction work. We're just waiting on

[35:25] the electrical work. We have those

[35:26] security cameras and those motion

[35:28] detector lights that are waiting to be

[35:29] installed. Um so those will be hopefully

[35:32] going pretty soon getting those in. Our

[35:34] front sidewalk was torn up this morning.

[35:36] So our day street doors are closed for a

[35:38] while. They tore up the cement. It was

[35:40] really cracked and horrible looking. So

[35:42] I don't know how long it will be. It's

[35:44] been really difficult to get them out

[35:45] because cement work, as you all know in

[35:47] the building department, really hard to

[35:49] get contractors to do cement work over

[35:50] the summer. Everybody's busy. So, uh,

[35:52] hopefully that'll be done by the end of

[35:54] the week. So, so that's all I have for

[35:56] all of you. Daisy is going to talk to

[35:58] you about programs now. So, thanks.

[36:00] >> Thank you.

[36:02] >> All right. Good evening, everyone. Thank

[36:04] you. Um, so this week we actually have a

[36:07] comic book workshop um on Thursday for

[36:10] individuals between the ages of 12 and

[36:12] 17 um with Doart production. So if you

[36:15] know anybody that would be interested in

[36:17] that, please visit our website or our

[36:19] social media to sign up for that. Um, as

[36:21] Mindy mentioned, we've had a lot of

[36:24] really great story times and things with

[36:26] our first responders. We have a first

[36:28] responders family night coming up on

[36:30] September 28th. Um, we also have all

[36:33] October long we have Halloween

[36:34] decorating which I actually brought a

[36:37] little sample. Um, this is our little

[36:40] duck pool that is um decorated for

[36:43] Halloween in their little costume. Um,

[36:46] so that was really popular event when

[36:48] we've done it before. So, we're excited

[36:49] to bring it back. We have a tree hike um

[36:52] coming up in Spencer Park on October

[36:55] 14th um for October. So, we're joining

[36:59] forces with the um conservation

[37:01] district. So, we're excited about that.

[37:03] We're also joining um the museum for a

[37:06] haunted artifacts event. So, if you have

[37:09] any haunted artifacts or ones that you

[37:11] believe to be haunted or you know

[37:13] somebody or you would just like to come

[37:14] to the event, um that's on October 22nd.

[37:18] So, we're pretty excited about that. Um

[37:20] and on October 21st, we are doing a

[37:25] painting pumpkins with police event. Um,

[37:28] so we have joined with the police again

[37:30] as well as the sheriff's department um

[37:32] for painting pumpkins. So we're really

[37:34] excited about that. Walmart donated the

[37:36] pumpkins. Um, so it'll be a really fun

[37:39] event. Um, and then we're also joining

[37:43] there's a second one out in um, Popular

[37:46] Grove at the pumpkin patch and we're

[37:48] doing that one um, with them as well on

[37:50] October 29th. So if you would like to

[37:53] register for anything, we have so many

[37:54] events. um please feel free to visit our

[37:57] website or our social media and um

[37:59] register for those. Thank you.

[38:06] I want to point out you do not need a

[38:08] library card to attend any events. We

[38:09] offer them all free of charge. I have a

[38:11] very wonderful creative staff who works

[38:13] very hard to do these events for very

[38:15] low cost or almost free. So um you don't

[38:17] need a library card to come to event. So

[38:20] thank you. Any any questions?

[38:21] >> Any questions uh from the council?

[38:25] Alderman Burton.

[38:27] >> Thanks, your honor. Good evening. Um, I

[38:29] see the Rockford Public Library

[38:31] promoting their chess club lately.

[38:34] >> Do we have a chess club or

[38:35] >> We did have a chess night. It did not go

[38:37] over well. We tried it for six months

[38:38] and we got very low attendance. Two to

[38:40] three people. So, I'd love to have one.

[38:42] that's really

[38:43] viable and active, but we tried it for

[38:45] six months and we had very few people

[38:47] come to it. So, sadly,

[38:50] >> that's too bad. Maybe maybe it's making

[38:52] a comeback.

[38:52] >> Maybe we could try it again in the

[38:53] winter. I don't know. But a lot of

[38:55] people didn't just didn't come. So

[38:58] sadly, we didn't try it.

[39:00] >> Thank you.

[39:01] >> Okay.

[39:02] >> Anybody else?

[39:05] >> Okay. Well, thank you ladies. Have a

[39:06] good evening, rest of your evening.

[39:08] >> Good night.

[39:08] >> Thank you.

[39:15] All right. Uh item seven, approval of

[39:18] expenditures. Uh we have general and

[39:21] special funded expenditures in the

[39:23] amount of $5,972,955

[39:28] and 49 cents. Uh if I could have a

[39:31] motion for their approval, please.

[39:33] Motion by Alderman Stevens, second by

[39:35] Alderman Peterson. Thank you both. Uh

[39:39] you have had those in your packet. If

[39:41] there's any questions regarding that

[39:42] motion, the floor is open. Feel free.

[39:45] Alderman Peterson.

[39:47] >> I do. Thanks, Mayor, for Chief Shadel.

[39:49] And on page 20, there was a for legacy

[39:52] fire for engine 102 repairs, the

[39:57] [clears throat]

[39:57] 13,5055.

[39:59] Can you refresh what what that was again

[40:01] exactly?

[40:04] >> Yeah. One second. Let me just find the

[40:05] actual invoice. But it is

[40:08] it was a checklist of

[40:12] repairs. So as 101 was out for about

[40:16] four and a half months because it was in

[40:17] that in an accident and so during that

[40:20] time all the maintenance items had built

[40:23] up. So uh that wasn't one or two major

[40:28] repairs. It was a lot of little repairs

[40:29] but um I should be able to find it

[40:32] pretty quickly here.

[40:38] It wasn't necessarily a breakdown then

[40:40] it was just a return to return to

[40:42] fitness.

[40:48] » Right. So we had I actually have two

[40:50] lips but um I'll make it quick. So 1,900

[40:54] of it was for u maintenance. There was a

[40:58] pump test. So the maintenance was

[41:00] regular annual maintenance. Um it got

[41:03] its annual pump test. It needed brake

[41:05] work. Uh siren was repaired. Um there

[41:09] was a mirror that was replaced. Uh the

[41:12] cab seat, one of the cab seats had to be

[41:14] replaced. There was work done on the air

[41:17] brake and door sensors and fuel and uh

[41:21] shop supplies for a total of $13,055.

[41:25] So yeah, it was just a punch list of of

[41:28] smaller items with the

[41:32] largest two being rear rear brakes and

[41:36] the siren repair were one was 3,800 and

[41:39] one was 3494 and we go through legacy.

[41:43] They're a authorized they sell the

[41:46] Alexus fire engines and so they have

[41:49] access direct access to parts and things

[41:51] like that. So, it's a little more

[41:53] efficient, a little um

[41:56] they just it's cuts out the middleman.

[41:58] So, so that I hope that answers your

[42:00] question.

[42:01] >> Okay. Thank you. Any other questions?

[42:05] Alderwoman Frank, good evening.

[42:07] >> Thank you, Mayor. Um yeah, my um

[42:10] question came from page one.

[42:13] I don't know. Um, it's a refund for

[42:16] video gaming for 2500.

[42:22] » I can answer that. They double paid

[42:24] >> with their credit card.

[42:25] >> Thank you.

[42:25] >> Yes.

[42:28] » Thank you.

[42:29] >> Easy enough.

[42:32] » Anybody else? Any other questions? Uh,

[42:36] floor is still open.

[42:38] >> Alderman Burton.

[42:40] >> Thanks again, your honor. Um, so this

[42:43] month's general and special fund

[42:45] expenditure is pushing almost $6

[42:47] million. I don't know that I've seen it

[42:49] that high before. Um, so if somebody

[42:52] were to ask me why it's this high, uh,

[42:56] what should my reply be?

[42:59] >> I can answer that.

[43:00] >> Finance director turnup seat. We'd had

[43:01] that conversation uh, as well.

[43:03] >> Yeah. Um, so there is a payment to the

[43:07] fire pension in this month.

[43:09] There's also a payment to the police

[43:11] pension and I opened up a CD for $2

[43:15] million.

[43:19] >> Thank you.

[43:22] Any other questions?

[43:28] » Okay. Hearing none. The motion on the

[43:30] floor then is to approve general and

[43:31] special fund expenditures in the amount

[43:33] of 5,972,95549.

[43:42] » All those in favor name is called answer

[43:45] I and oppose nay. As the clerk calls the

[43:46] role, please.

[43:47] >> Albertini,

[43:48] >> I.

[43:48] >> Raritton,

[43:49] >> I.

[43:50] >> Flurry,

[43:50] >> I.

[43:51] >> Frank,

[43:52] >> I

[43:55] » McGee,

[43:56] >> I

[43:56] >> Peterson,

[43:57] >> hi. Stevens

[43:58] >> I.

[43:59] >> Nine in favor.

[44:00] >> Motion passed. Thank you. And then we

[44:02] have also water and sewer fund

[44:05] expenditures in the amount of

[44:06] 1,197,95918.

[44:13] If I could have a motion to that effect,

[44:15] please. Motion by Alderman Peterson.

[44:17] Second by Alderman Hinus. Thank you

[44:18] both. Uh any questions regarding uh any

[44:23] of those expenditures in your packet?

[44:26] Feel free to ask.

[44:34] All right. Hearing none. All those in

[44:35] favor of the motion will when their name

[44:36] is called answer I. Any opposed? Nay. As

[44:38] the clerk calls the role, please.

[44:40] >> Breton.

[44:40] >> I.

[44:41] >> Flurry.

[44:42] >> I.

[44:42] >> Frank.

[44:43] >> I.

[44:43] >> Gracowski.

[44:44] >> I.

[44:45] >> Hues.

[44:45] >> I.

[44:46] >> McGee.

[44:47] >> I.

[44:47] >> Peterson.

[44:48] >> I.

[44:49] >> Stevens.

[44:50] >> I.

[44:50] >> Albertini.

[44:51] >> I.

[44:52] >> Nine in favor.

[44:53] >> That motion passed. Thank you. And item

[44:56] eight, committee reports and minutes of

[44:59] city officers. Um, please note for the

[45:01] record that items A through I have been

[45:03] placed on file with the city clerk's

[45:06] office.

[45:08] And flipping the page, we have item 8J.

[45:12] Uh, if I could have a motion to approve

[45:14] the minutes of the committee of the

[45:15] whole building, planning, zoning, public

[45:17] works dated September 14th, 2026 as

[45:21] presented. If I could have a motion,

[45:23] please. Motion by Alderwoman Frank,

[45:25] second by Alderman Hinus. Thank you

[45:26] both. Any questions, any comments, any

[45:30] concerns, any corrections on those

[45:32] minutes? Alderman Burton.

[45:34] >> Thanks again, Mayor. Just backing up for

[45:36] a second. I just um just an obverse

[45:39] Yeah, just an obver observation.

[45:42] Uh the minutes of the planning and

[45:44] zoning commission, September 8th, 2026.

[45:48] Uh, I just noticed there were a number

[45:49] of people there in opposition of project

[45:52] Hawkeye and I wouldn't have known that

[45:56] some of those people were there unless I

[45:57] looked at the minutes. So, just wanted

[45:59] to mention that.

[46:03] » Okay.

[46:12] Um,

[46:15] we have a motion uh then regarding the

[46:18] minutes of the September 14th on the

[46:20] floor. Uh, if there's any questions

[46:24] regarding those minutes, uh, item J.

[46:28] Floor is open. Feel free to ask.

[46:33] Hearing none, all those in favor of the

[46:34] motion on the floor, please signify by

[46:36] saying I. I. I. And if there's any

[46:38] opposed,

[46:40] any abstension.

[46:42] All right, that motion passed. Thank

[46:44] you. Item nine, unfinished business. Uh,

[46:47] item A. We have ordinance 783H in front

[46:51] of you for second reading. That being an

[46:53] ordinance amending sections 110-91 stops

[46:57] streets of the city of Belvadier

[46:59] Municipal Code to change specifically

[47:01] the intersection of East Perry Street

[47:03] and Webster Street from a two-way stop

[47:06] intersection to a four-way stop

[47:08] intersection. Uh if I could have a

[47:10] motion to that effect. Motion by

[47:12] Alderman Hinus and a second by Alderman

[47:14] McGee. Thank you both. Any questions uh

[47:17] regarding that motion?

[47:19] Uh feel free to ask. The floor is open.

[47:28] All right, hearing none. All those in

[47:30] favor will when their name is called

[47:32] answer I. Any oppose? Nay. As a clerk

[47:33] calls a roll, please.

[47:34] >> Flurry.

[47:35] >> I.

[47:36] >> Frank.

[47:36] >> I.

[47:37] >> Gracowski.

[47:38] >> I.

[47:38] >> Hues.

[47:39] >> I.

[47:39] >> McGee.

[47:40] >> I.

[47:41] >> Peterson.

[47:42] >> I.

[47:43] >> Stevens.

[47:44] >> I.

[47:44] >> Albertini.

[47:45] >> I.

[47:46] >> Britain.

[47:46] >> I.

[47:47] >> Nine in favor.

[47:48] >> That motion passed. Thank you. Item 10,

[47:51] new business. We have item A, ordinance

[47:53] 784H is a first reading only this

[47:56] evening. That being an ordinance

[47:58] granting a special use for in vehicle

[48:00] sales and service within the planned

[48:02] business district,

[48:04] specifically the address located at 1862

[48:08] Crystal Parkway. That will be back in

[48:11] front of you uh for council action

[48:16] in two weeks.

[48:18] We have ordinance 10B

[48:22] in front of you. That being ordinance

[48:24] 785H for first reading as well. An

[48:28] ordinance amending chapter 151 of our

[48:30] subdivisions ordinance of the municipal

[48:33] code. And again for first reading only.

[48:37] We'll be back in two weeks. We have item

[48:38] C, ordinance 786H in front of you for a

[48:42] first reading only. that being an

[48:45] ordinance designated a landmark to the

[48:47] local historic register of P for Perry

[48:50] school located at 633 West Perry Street.

[48:54] Uh you will see them again as I had said

[48:56] in two weeks.

[48:58] And moving on with the agenda, we have

[49:00] motions forwarded from the committee of

[49:02] the whole building planning zoning

[49:05] public works dated September 14, 2026.

[49:09] Motions out of public works chairwoman

[49:11] Gracowski. Good evening. Good evening.

[49:14] Motion to approve the proposal from CES,

[49:16] Inc. in an amount not to exceed $31,000

[49:19] to complete the preliminary and design

[49:21] engineering for the 2025 safe routes to

[49:24] Belvadier schools project. This work

[49:27] will be paid for from public benefit

[49:29] funds.

[49:30] >> All right, we have that motion out of

[49:32] committee. If there's any questions,

[49:33] comments, or concerns regarding the

[49:36] motion on the floor, now would be the

[49:37] time to ask. Feel free. Floor is open.

[49:43] Hearing none. All those in favor of the

[49:44] motion on the floor will when their name

[49:46] is called answer I. Any oppose? Nay. As

[49:48] the clerk calls a role, please.

[49:50] >> Frank

[49:50] >> I.

[49:51] >> Gracowski.

[49:52] >> I.

[49:52] >> Hues.

[49:53] >> I.

[49:54] >> McGee.

[49:54] >> I.

[49:55] >> Peterson.

[49:56] >> I.

[49:57] >> Stevens.

[49:58] >> I.

[49:58] >> Albertini.

[49:59] >> I.

[50:00] >> Breton.

[50:01] >> I.

[50:01] >> Flurry.

[50:02] >> I.

[50:03] >> Nine in favor.

[50:04] >> That motion passed. Thank you. Uh, thank

[50:06] you, Chairwoman Gracowski. Moving to

[50:08] motions out of finance and personnel.

[50:10] Chairwoman Frank. Good evening.

[50:12] >> Thank you, mayor. Motion to accept and

[50:14] approve the audit as presented by Sikach

[50:16] for the fi for the fiscal year ending

[50:20] April 30th, 2026.

[50:22] >> All right, we have that motion out of

[50:23] committee. If there's any questions

[50:25] regarding the motion on the floor, uh

[50:28] feel free to ask. Floor is open. Now

[50:30] would be the time.

[50:35] Okay, hearing none. All those in favor

[50:37] of the motion on the floor will when

[50:39] their name is called answer I. Any

[50:40] oppose? Nay. As the clerk calls the

[50:42] role, please.

[50:42] >> Grimowski.

[50:43] >> I.

[50:44] >> Hues.

[50:44] >> I.

[50:45] >> McGee.

[50:46] >> I.

[50:46] >> Peterson.

[50:47] >> I.

[50:48] >> Stevens.

[50:49] >> I.

[50:50] >> Albertini.

[50:50] >> I.

[50:51] >> Breitton.

[50:52] >> I.

[50:52] >> Flurry.

[50:53] >> I.

[50:54] >> Frank.

[50:54] >> I.

[50:55] >> Nine in favor.

[50:56] >> That motion passed. And item C, please.

[51:00] >> Motion to approve the proposal from Lan

[51:02] Carpet Max in the amount of $63,845

[51:06] for interior flooring at city hall. This

[51:09] work will be paid for from impact fees.

[51:12] >> Okay, we have that motion out of

[51:13] committee. If there's any questions

[51:15] regarding the motion on the floor, um

[51:18] floor is open. Feel free to ask.

[51:22] >> Alderman Burton.

[51:23] >> Thanks again, your honor. I appreciate

[51:24] it. I know that the fire department uh

[51:28] ended up going with Stateline flooring

[51:31] uh for their previous project. And I

[51:33] didn't know why I don't think I saw any

[51:36] quote from State Line. I just didn't

[51:38] know why we didn't get anything from

[51:39] them.

[51:41] >> Uh I'm I don't know. Uh I'm trying to

[51:44] think of the other three. I know we had

[51:47] four bids come in, but Stateline

[51:49] evidently didn't uh they didn't bid

[51:51] evidently.

[51:55] » I did not reach out to Stateline. I

[51:57] reached out to the four that I reached

[51:58] out to.

[52:00] >> That's all I was just curious.

[52:02] >> Yeah.

[52:02] >> Thank you. the uh

[52:05] the bid uh for that as you can see in

[52:08] your packet is quite sizable regarding

[52:11] the other three. This is by far the low

[52:13] bid by I don't know 20ome thousand

[52:16] $30,000 I guess. So um it is a low bid.

[52:23] Good.

[52:24] >> And the fire department has used Lonnie

[52:26] in the past as well. Actually that's

[52:27] where I kind of got it from.

[52:29] >> Thank you again.

[52:30] >> Okay. Any other questions? Uh,

[52:34] feel free to ask regarding the motion on

[52:36] the floor. Alderwoman Grahamowski.

[52:38] >> Thank you. So, you reached out to these

[52:40] companies. You didn't do like a request

[52:41] for proposal from any of the local like

[52:45] CH or Jerry's.

[52:48] >> Um, I did ask for one other one. Um,

[52:50] Gary's here in town. He did not um

[52:53] submit a proposal.

[52:55] Okay.

[52:57] >> Any other questions?

[53:02] Okay, hearing none. All those in favor

[53:03] of the motion on the floor will when

[53:05] their name is called please answer I.

[53:07] Any opposed? Nay. As a clerk calls the

[53:08] role, please.

[53:09] >> Poes.

[53:10] >> I.

[53:10] >> McKe

[53:11] >> I.

[53:12] >> Peterson

[53:13] >> I.

[53:13] >> Stevens

[53:14] >> I.

[53:15] >> Albertini.

[53:16] >> I.

[53:16] >> Breton.

[53:17] >> I.

[53:18] >> Flurry.

[53:19] >> I.

[53:19] >> Frank.

[53:20] >> I.

[53:20] >> Gracowski.

[53:21] >> I. Nine in favor.

[53:23] >> That motion passed. Thank you. And

[53:26] moving to the last page. motions uh out

[53:29] of public safety. Chairman Peterson,

[53:31] good evening.

[53:32] >> Good evening. Thanks, Mayor. We have a

[53:33] motion A to authorize the closure of

[53:36] State Street from Meadow Street to the

[53:38] north side of State Street Bridge on

[53:39] Saturday, October 10th, 2026 from 10:30

[53:43] a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and to authorize the

[53:46] use of the State Street Bridge as the

[53:48] medical helicopter landing location for

[53:50] the fire department open house.

[53:53] >> All right. And we had some discussion uh

[53:56] as Alderman Peterson had brought up uh

[53:58] regarding safety, regarding public

[54:00] safety. And it seems like everything uh

[54:03] goes great until uh and it's not unheard

[54:06] of. We have a helicopter crash and we've

[54:10] had several of them uh that I can think

[54:12] of. One of them being Rockford Memorial.

[54:15] Uh one of them being Madison. I think

[54:17] the WMadison had a helicopter go down as

[54:20] well. And we certainly uh and I agree

[54:22] with you. um, Alderman Peterson that we

[54:25] wanted to make sure I did have a that it

[54:27] was safe. I did have a discussion with

[54:29] Chief Shadel and so with that being

[54:32] said, I would ask him to comment on that

[54:34] if you would.

[54:35] >> Yep. Thank you, Mayor. Uh, in regards to

[54:39] the safety, there is a number of things

[54:41] that that we do. First, I would say that

[54:44] ultimately

[54:46] uh, go or no go is made by the flight

[54:48] crew and the pilot according to their

[54:50] training. And so since this is a a

[54:52] public relations event, the threshold is

[54:55] pretty low for bad weather. Um I would

[54:58] say they only make it about a third of

[55:00] the time uh there. And so originally

[55:03] when this was set up, we did a site plan

[55:05] and had the um agency review it and see

[55:10] all the measurements of the landing zone

[55:12] and um everything that we had. And um it

[55:16] had been a little bit since we've done

[55:18] that. So, um, something I requested from

[55:22] Lieutenant Thornton, who sets up our

[55:24] open house, is to actually update the

[55:27] plan, review it with the operator, and

[55:30] have them sign off on the plan. Um,

[55:33] going back a little bit, I think it it

[55:35] uh the only way to not have any risk is

[55:39] to not do anything. So, but this is

[55:42] something that

[55:44] the FAA has guidelines on how to how to

[55:47] make landing zones safe and uh REAC

[55:50] medical helicopter has their own rules

[55:53] as well as how to how to um make it safe

[55:56] for everybody. So, following all those

[55:59] some of the other things uh we normally

[56:02] had done like a 150 foot setback um we

[56:05] realized based on this conversation that

[56:06] the uh recommendation is 200 ft. So, um,

[56:10] we were going to do that. There's also

[56:13] we we had done all the other things in

[56:15] the past where we close down the road.

[56:19] We keep the crowds back. We, the fire by

[56:21] we, the fire department lands

[56:23] helicopters um quite frequently. Anytime

[56:26] a patient is flown out of UW Belvadier,

[56:29] we have a predetermined uh landing zone

[56:31] set up and it's it's not uncommon on a

[56:35] regular basis to land the helicopter.

[56:37] So, we're all trained in how to do that.

[56:39] Um, how to flip to the radio channel to

[56:42] communicate and and some of their safety

[56:44] protocols, too. Um,

[56:47] and then what if it if it would make

[56:51] everybody more comfortable? Um,

[56:54] you know, if if you approved it

[56:56] considering all of this, uh, I have a

[56:59] due diligence checklist. I went over

[57:01] most of it here and and it would it's

[57:04] basically mirrors the requirements of

[57:06] the FAA. And so if if one of those was

[57:09] not able to be achieved, I would not

[57:12] allow it. And so um I would just have

[57:14] you guys know that for peace of mind.

[57:17] The last thing I would want to do is

[57:19] take a risk for something that is a

[57:21] family fund community event and have it

[57:23] go against our mission of saving lives

[57:25] and property. So, um, if it couldn't be

[57:28] done safely, it's something that we

[57:31] would, uh, cancel as soon as we knew

[57:33] that we wouldn't be able to to meet the

[57:36] requirements. The one largest, the last

[57:38] thing I'll say is the one that we have

[57:41] to ensure is the 200 foot setback um

[57:45] because that is further back and we'd

[57:48] have to assure we have enough personnel

[57:50] or volunteers to adequately control the

[57:52] crowd. I do believe if all those things

[57:55] are followed according to the

[57:57] recommendations that it can be done as

[58:00] reasonably expected uh to be safe.

[58:04] >> Okay.

[58:06] All right. Uh and uh so that event is

[58:09] October 10th, correct?

[58:11] >> That's correct. Saturday, October 10th,

[58:13] if you guys would like to come to the

[58:14] fire department open house.

[58:16] So, um, and we'll, uh, obviously, Chief,

[58:19] as you, uh, as you're able to determine

[58:22] that your checklist, uh, you're able to

[58:25] accomplish all of them, then, uh, and if

[58:27] you're not, as you had said, you'll come

[58:29] back, uh, and inform the council that,

[58:31] uh, they can approve it here this this

[58:33] evening based upon the fact that the

[58:35] checklist will be completed and we'll be

[58:38] uh, you'll be satisfied that uh, we've

[58:41] done the protocol that is requested with

[58:43] public safety.

[58:45] That's correct. Um

[58:48] if if it's not done, we wouldn't allow

[58:50] them to fly for sure.

[58:52] >> Okay. All right. Thank you. If there's

[58:54] any questions regarding uh that motion

[58:58] uh on the floor, feel free to follow up.

[59:01] Feel free to ask.

[59:05] All right. Hearing none. All those in

[59:07] favor of the motion on the floor will

[59:08] when their name is called answer I. Any

[59:10] opposed name as the clerk calls the

[59:11] role, please.

[59:12] >> McGee

[59:13] >> I. Peterson.

[59:14] >> Hi

[59:15] >> Stevens.

[59:16] >> Hi

[59:16] >> Albertini.

[59:17] >> Hi

[59:18] >> Breton.

[59:18] >> Hi

[59:19] >> Flurry.

[59:20] >> I

[59:20] >> Frank

[59:21] >> I

[59:22] >> Gracowski

[59:22] >> I

[59:23] >> Huenez

[59:24] >> I

[59:24] >> nine in favor.

[59:26] >> All right that motion passed and uh we

[59:28] have item 11 other uh business uh for a

[59:33] potential executive session. Um we're

[59:36] not going to have that uh this evening.

[59:38] I'm still hopeful as we go forward, but

[59:41] uh progress is slow, but uh as soon as

[59:45] we uh have some information, we'll have

[59:47] the executive session and make the

[59:49] council bring bring the council up to

[59:52] speed. So, that's all we have on our

[59:53] agenda. If I could have a motion to

[59:55] adjurnn, please. Motion by Alderman

[59:56] Albertini, second by Alderman Hinus.

[1:00:00] All right. Uh all those in favor, please

[1:00:02] say I.

[1:00:03] >> I.

[1:00:03] >> Anybody want to stay? And for the

[1:00:06] record, we adjourned at 6:57 p.m. Thank

[1:00:09] you everybody and have a good rest of

[1:00:10] your evening.

City Council September 21, 2026

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