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Call the meeting to order. Please call the roll. Councilman horn. Present.

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councilman kuhl. Present. Councilman cole? Here. Councilman cooper? Here. Councilman

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mcdaniel. Present. Councilwoman gregory present. Mayor mark wolf. Present, seven. Present

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and absent. Please stand and join in the pledge of allegiance regions,

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the united states of america, and god for which stands,

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one nation and under god, indivisible, liberty and

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justice. For

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we do have a proclamation tonight if I could ask mr. Gleason to go to the podium.

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thank you, mayor and council. And for the community, uh, this is

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one that I actually, uh, requested. So I very much appreciate this.

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uh, this one is, uh, near and dear to me. Uh, what I'm about to

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read, uh, affects, uh, our family. Uh, it's a,

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uh, proclamation for, uh, pitt hopkins, uh, awareness

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day, which is actually the 18th, and I'm gonna read the proclamation.

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whereas, uh, pit hopkins syndrome is a rare and severe neurological

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disorder caused by spontaneous mutation or deletion

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on the 18th chromosome. And whereas pit hopkins

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syndrome is characterized by developmental delays, moderate to severe

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intellectual disability, breathing problems, epilepsy

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or recurrent, uh, seizures, gastrointestinal issues,

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and distinctive facial features. And whereas approximately

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1800 people, uh, worldwide have been diagnosed with pitt hopkins

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syndrome. However, given the fact that the discovery of the gene

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occurred in 2007, there are likely many other cases that remain

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undiagnosed. And whereas given its rarity, online support

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groups play a pivotal role for individuals, families, and their loved ones

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in order to connect and increase awareness. And whereas pit

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hopkins research foundation annually celebrates september 18th

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as international pit hopkins syndrome awareness day to raise awareness

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and funding for pit hopkins research. And this date was chosen to

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bring attention to the fact that it is a disorder caused by spontaneous

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mutation or deletion on the 18th chromosome. And whereas

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pit hopkins research foundation is a volunteer organization

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of families professionals dedicated to finding a cure

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for pit hopkins syndrome through the funding of research, education

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and, and advocacy. And whereas the foundation's

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goal is to bring practical treatment and a current medical practice.

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now, therefore, I you wanna read this?

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you go ahead and then I'll sign it. All right. And therefore, I, um, mayor

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moore wolf, mayor of the city of decatur, illinois, do here hereby

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proclaim september 18th, 2024 as pit hopkins syndrome awareness

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day and recognition of the needs of individuals with pit

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hopkins syndrome, and urge all citizens to support the awareness

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and education regarding, uh, pit hopkins syndrome in order to assist

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those individuals and their families and grandpa, uh,

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who live with this condition every day of their lives. Uh, down at city

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hall on the 16th day of, uh, september, 2024,

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and if you would bring it up, I'd be happy to sign. I'm gonna do it. And I do, uh, wanna say thank

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you. Uh, my daughter, son-in-law, um, my

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grandson, caden, uh, has pitt hopkins, and, uh, his, uh,

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younger brother, uh, corbin, who's six is, uh, quite support and

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love 'em all. So thank you.

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thanks.

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thank you.

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all right. Now moving on to appearance of citizens. The policy

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relative to appearance of citizens is as follows, a 30 minute time period is provided for

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citizens to appear and express their views before the city council. Each citizen speaking will

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be limited to one appearance of up to three minutes. No immediate response will be given by city

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council or city staff members. Citizens are to give their documents, if any, to the police officer

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for distribution to the council. When the mayor determines all persons wishing to speak in

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accordance with this policy have done so. Members of the city council and key staff may

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make comments. Uh, would anyone like to appear before the council time? Sure.

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and we just need your name. We don't need an address. Okay.

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my name is verlin rosenberger. Um,

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so honorable mayor, uh, decatur city council.

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despite many voices and many years of concern,

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warnings and protests from environmental

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advocacy groups, we kept hearing in

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response, no worry. It's safe, nothing

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bad will happen. Well, it did happen, didn't it?

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the carbon dioxide injection into the ground

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seeped into unauthorized zones at a dm.

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the epas violation, um,

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found that they cited a dm for injection

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activity not allowed under its permit, failing

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to follow an emergency response plan in accordance with the

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permit and failure to monitor the well.

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um, and it was not discovered until

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late 2023 and another incident

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in march of 2024. What's more, we

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are just now finding out about these infractions. So what else

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do we not know about all this?

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then in 2023, the decatur

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city council authorized, and earlier this summer, city

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staff approved an easement allowing a

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dm to pump liquid carbon dioxide into poor space

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more than a mile underneath city owned land.

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this will essentially allow the plume of co2

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to grow beyond adms property

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and onto city property. So what were

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you thinking when you allowed that? Both

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the muhammad aquifer and the lake decatur must

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be protected from irresponsible, dangerous,

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experimental co2 sequestration.

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the new clean energy equitable act signed by governor

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pritzker does not put a ban on drilling through

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the muhammad aquifer, nor does it allow for setbacks

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from personal property, people's lives

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and property are at risk. If our water supplies are

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contaminated beyond use, we will be forced to move

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and we will be unable to sell our property. I have

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for each of you a flyer from a meeting from the,

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uh, illinois people's action this summer, 10 things

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you should know about carbon sequestration in illinois.

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and I'm sorry you're out of time, but the police officer will distribute those to the

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council. Thank,

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good evening. My name is brett robertson. I did request some additional time later

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to speak on the topic regarding the, uh, macon

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county, uh, hazard, uh, uh, plan my

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comments tonight, um, follow ms. Rosenberger's

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comments, and I applaud her for raising this issue. It's a very serious problem.

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um, and, uh, I wanna remind you again that

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march 20th, 2023, this is now almost exactly 18 months

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ago, you met to hear from concerned citizens

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who were against rushing into the carbon sequestration project

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that was presented by a dm and their allies at that meeting,

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their concerns related to safety and environmental contamination.

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you did invite three speakers, one from the university of illinois, one from

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richland, and one from a dm who testified in support of the project.

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but all three of these organizations have substantial financial

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interests in the project going forward.

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remarkably, not a single expert was invited,

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who was an expert on the risks of liquid co2

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pipeline technology, nor any expert on the health risks

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of, of or implications. If there was a significant co2

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leak, you took at face value the words of city manager scott

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wrighton, who stated, quote, it was almost impossible

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for a leak to occur. And yet, here we are less than

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18 months later, and we've already had a serious breach. In fact, I, I believe

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what mrs. Rosenberger stated was that even at the time that

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a dm was here testifying there had already been a leak.

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and they weren't, we weren't told that they knew it, they testified,

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and yet they didn't mention it. Now, I'm, I'm

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sorry to say this because a dm is important to our local economy,

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but here's a company that has a track record, a public track record

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that is the worst safety record in the state of illinois as

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measured by the number of osha recordables impacting individuals

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at their company. Okay? They have a, they have a, unfortunately,

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a culture that is not geared to safety first. And so you

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need to take that into account. You should have taken it into account when you made that decision.

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okay, I got 30 seconds from the shot clock here, but I'll be

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back later. Uh,

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according to the ep, a carbon dioxide injected in the ground flowed

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into unauthorized zones, and the company failed to follow an emergency

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response remediation plan or to monitor the well,

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uh, so there's serious implications here. I think what you guys ought to do now

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is suspend the agreement immediately invite experts on these risks

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to come testify. I'm I sorry, mr. Robertson, you're out of time. Thank you. And lastly, no, you

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are out of to incorporate. I, so mr. Robertson, this we have to, mr. Robertson,

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we have to have into mr. Robertson, we have rules about the

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amount of time I'll take and I kindly ask you to thank you. Stay with the rules.

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good evening, counsel. So I'm here with some

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calendar of events, things. There's a lot going on in this community

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and a lot of things that we would like for you to know. Uh,

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and I would like to just give some praise to some different people.

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so this friday night, I will be spending the evening with

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five living legends from the decatur high school, 63 64

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basketball team, which had the best record ever

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in decatur high school basketball. So we will

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be inducting them into the athletic hall of fame, history

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of the heartland nominated them. They were part of our living legend

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series, and it's really a wonderful thing that

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we have some that are still here to be honored.

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then on saturday, the 21st ,

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and I know I've emailed all of you, we're hosting an

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elms neighborhood program that will be at the library.

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so it's a two o'clock on saturday. We encourage

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anybody that wants to get involved in the neighborhood organization to

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come september 29th, two to fourth

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governor oglesby mansion will be having an open house

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on friday, october 4th. And on

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earth, decatur probably didn't realize that we would ever

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have. We have a pulitzer prize finalist

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at acorn, which is a lincoln, an author. He

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will be appearing as history comes alive at the

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oaks b mansion on october the fifth,

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history of heartland. We will have a tablescape

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at the garden clubs tablescape event. And our scene

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is history happens in decatur, illinois. So we invite you

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to come and see that. Then on october 19,

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something that should catch the eye of mr. Cope.

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um, we will be authorities for law enforcement,

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living legends of and, and so, um,

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capacity manager and also chief of police,

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jim williams is coming back from florida to moderate.

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uh, chief todd walker will be there, which

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ed served with, and we're hoping that chief mark

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al will be there, sheriff jerry dawson

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and jim root will both be there and several other

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law enforcement. So we just record this for our youtube

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channel, and you can hear a lot of cool stories. So

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I would much rather city funds be used to support these projects

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than demo. Thank you, ms. Owen.

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I need these. My name's linda little, I'm the dementia friendly decatur

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coordinator, and I'm here for two reasons. One, to give you an update and

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two, an invitation, which I think has been distributed to already. The mission of

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dementia friendly decatur is to reduce social isolation for people in our community,

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living with dementia and their caregivers. We're committed to raising community

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members awareness of the symptoms and progression of dementia, regardless of the cause

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to provide education programs, training and skill building to enable our community

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to respond appropriately to the needs of people living with dementia and their caregivers.

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and to advocate for beneficial community programs and services

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to address the unique needs of people living with dementia, for them to not just

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live in our community, but to thrive in our community with the best quality of

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life for as long as possible. In the fall of 2022, decatur

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was recognized by dementia friendly america as a dementia friendly community,

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and a kickoff summit was held to explore tangible needs in our community and how

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best to address them. Speakers included paula basta, who

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was the director of the illinois department on aging, and susan reel, who's the executive

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director of the east central illinois area agency on aging.

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um, also in the fall of 2022, this council presented a proclamation

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and celebration of this designation. There was a celebration of our commitment

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to intentionally becoming more dementia friendly as a community. Since

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then, we've been working on training businesses. We've trained over 250

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individuals, um, businesses that are now considered dementia friendly

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businesses, which means that a minimum of 75% of their staff has been trained

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and that they have incorporated the dementia friends training into their onboarding process for all

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new employees, the land of lincoln credit union, all of their branches,

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not just in macon county, empowerment opportunity center, the

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executive staff, the senior center, the energy services, all

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at the empowerment opportunity center. And we're continuing to work with the staff in the

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early childhood services area of that organization as well in the macon

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county office building, the auditor's office, the circuit clerk's office, the county

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board office, the recorder's office, the supervisor of assessment,

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the treasurer's office, and the veteran's office. And we'll soon beginning, beginning

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to work with the offices in the courthouse, paul prince's ministry

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and the executive staff at the decatur park district. We also sponsor

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zoo days, which is the first monday of the month from april to october. Oh, I need to talk faster.

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um, it's free admission. We have games in the education building, and they bring

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in a couple of animals every, every month and introduce 'em to our guests.

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and it's been very popular. Um, we did a dementia

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friendly movie at the lincoln theater, which is wide aisles well lit. We encourage

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'em to sing along. We had snacks and a photo booth. We're looking forward to do that again this spring.

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my second reason I'm here is the invitation that's been passed out to you where we

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will be updating, educating, and highlighting. And I'm very thrilled to say that one of our

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keynote speakers will be mary eck, who is the director of dementia friendly america.

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thank you, ms. Little. You're doing a great job. Would anybody else like to

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approach, uh, appear before council tonight? Please approach manam mond down.

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00:18:31,865 --> 00:18:35,845
hi, I'm kerry peters. I'll just be real quick. I just wanna compliment the police for the

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remarkable job they did the other night with the, uh, when the, uh, schools were threatened.

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it was, uh, phenomenal. I just wanted to pass that on. Thank you, mr. Peters.

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would anybody else like to appear before council?

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okay. Seeing none, we will move on to approval. Oh, I'm sorry. I'm, um, I actually wrote

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it down to ask to see if anybody on council had comments. Dr. Horn.

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00:19:01,775 --> 00:19:05,115
thank you, mayor. I'd like to thank ms. Rosenberger

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00:19:05,985 --> 00:19:09,465
and mr. Robertson for bringing up, um,

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the co2 leak that was reported. The

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leak that was associated with a dm sequestration operations

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00:19:19,995 --> 00:19:23,355
illustrates the potential health risks that

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00:19:24,035 --> 00:19:27,645
sequestration poses and the lack of safeguards

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00:19:28,225 --> 00:19:31,845
in place for notifying the public. When a problem

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is identified. At its march 20th, 2023

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meeting, the decatur city council authorized the

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city manager to negotiate the terms and conditions for a carbon

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sequestration easement. At the meeting, city council

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members were repeatedly assured

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that carbon sequestration was safe and there would not

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be leaks. 18 months

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00:20:01,975 --> 00:20:05,335
later, the city learns through the media

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not a dm, not u-s-e-p-a, that

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00:20:11,205 --> 00:20:15,075
there was a co2 leak through a corroded well

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that had not even been in place 10 years.

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it is also concerning that a dm allegedly

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did not follow its own emergency response

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and remediation plan wouldn't. One of the first

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calls regarding a co2 leak b to the

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city of over 68,000 residents

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home of the north american headquarters of a dm,

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given the co2 leak, and that the us department of labor

270
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found that a lack of preventative maintenance played a major

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role in an explosion that injured three workers at

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adms west plant on decatur. On april 20th, 2023,

273
00:21:06,355 --> 00:21:10,095
city leaders would be right to ask questions about

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whether some of the activities that a dm is engaged in

275
00:21:14,865 --> 00:21:18,195
are safe for workers and residents of the city.

276
00:21:19,465 --> 00:21:23,375
it is reassuring that the macon county multi

277
00:21:24,015 --> 00:21:27,775
hazar mitigation plan that we're going to vote on later

278
00:21:28,195 --> 00:21:31,315
tonight mentions carbon sequestration

279
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and explosions as hazardous materials threats

280
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indicator. But it is unclear

281
00:21:41,035 --> 00:21:44,895
what the specific plans are. In the event

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of a leak or an event of an explosion.

283
00:21:50,045 --> 00:21:53,905
residents should unequivocally expect a dm to

284
00:21:54,375 --> 00:21:57,955
cease injection of co2 into

285
00:21:58,605 --> 00:22:02,365
unauthorized zones. It should expect a dm

286
00:22:02,665 --> 00:22:06,275
to follow its emergency response and remediation plan,

287
00:22:06,865 --> 00:22:10,245
and it should in expect a dm to monitor

288
00:22:11,005 --> 00:22:14,725
co2 injection wells in accordance with its u-s-e-p-a

289
00:22:15,675 --> 00:22:19,465
permits. Thankfully, this incident did not impact

290
00:22:19,935 --> 00:22:23,765
water quality, but given that the city of decatur recently

291
00:22:24,365 --> 00:22:26,925
approved an easement with a dm to significantly

292
00:22:28,805 --> 00:22:32,215
increase its carbon sequestration activities under

293
00:22:32,875 --> 00:22:36,495
lake decatur, these alleged violations are concerning

294
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and must not happen again.

295
00:22:41,645 --> 00:22:45,605
I will have specific questions to city staff when we get to other

296
00:22:46,205 --> 00:22:50,115
business. Thank you. Anyone on council? Mr. Culp?

297
00:22:51,925 --> 00:22:55,675
I wanna take a moment to thank linda whittle for coming night and, uh, her dedicated

298
00:22:56,315 --> 00:23:00,085
work for dementia friendly decatur. Not only this, but the, uh,

299
00:23:00,465 --> 00:23:04,165
the awareness you're giving our community as well, and we appreciate that. I've been a friend of,

300
00:23:04,585 --> 00:23:08,445
or a fan of linda for many years and what she's done for our community. So wanna pass

301
00:23:08,645 --> 00:23:11,275
on? I, my thank you, mr. Keel.

302
00:23:12,805 --> 00:23:16,485
I don't have a prepared statement, but I'm gonna make a comment about the a dm

303
00:23:17,125 --> 00:23:20,605
incident. Um, mayor, I wanted to just ask you, do they have 4,000

304
00:23:21,405 --> 00:23:24,985
employees out there? Approximately? Okay, so

305
00:23:28,065 --> 00:23:31,945
do I like what I hear about a dm and what happened? No, I'm

306
00:23:32,165 --> 00:23:36,085
not ready to throw 'em under the bus yet. Everybody else is ready to

307
00:23:36,285 --> 00:23:40,285
jump on and throw 'em under the bus. Let's, let's hear what they have to say. They've got

308
00:23:40,405 --> 00:23:44,305
4,000 employees. If you've ever run a business, even with 10,

309
00:23:44,525 --> 00:23:48,345
it's tough to manage 10, let alone 4,000 mistakes are

310
00:23:48,565 --> 00:23:52,445
gonna be made. How about boeing? You know, they had that

311
00:23:52,605 --> 00:23:56,565
7 37 max airplane. You think they built that plane so it would crash?

312
00:23:57,245 --> 00:24:01,105
I don't think so. How about firestone? We had that plant here in

313
00:24:01,325 --> 00:24:05,165
decatur, and our plant was targeted to close because they made

314
00:24:05,385 --> 00:24:09,135
bad tires. Do you think they did that on purpose? No. So let's

315
00:24:09,485 --> 00:24:13,165
wait and see what happens. And I'm sure there's gonna be

316
00:24:13,605 --> 00:24:16,205
investigations. Let's find out. Maybe a dm did something wrong.

317
00:24:17,765 --> 00:24:21,525
I don't know. Let's just wait and see. Instead we're just throwing our biggest

318
00:24:22,045 --> 00:24:25,965
employer under the bus. I get tired of it. And I do wanna

319
00:24:26,125 --> 00:24:29,955
clarify. I was contacted by the epa, uh, with notice that

320
00:24:30,245 --> 00:24:34,005
there would, there had been, uh, an incident and they were

321
00:24:34,405 --> 00:24:38,345
investigating, but not with any details. And I did have conversations with a dm and

322
00:24:38,565 --> 00:24:42,545
the public was not in danger when the leak occurred, so I'm

323
00:24:42,765 --> 00:24:46,325
sure there will be more to come. Um, moving on now to approval of the minutes.

324
00:24:47,685 --> 00:24:51,445
approval of minutes of september 3rd, 2024. City council meeting. I need a motion and a second.

325
00:24:51,945 --> 00:24:55,605
so moved. Second. Councilman horne? Aye. Councilman kuhl?

326
00:24:57,515 --> 00:25:00,855
present? Councilman colt? Aye. Councilman

327
00:25:01,525 --> 00:25:05,225
cooper? Aye. Councilman mcdaniel? Aye. Councilwoman gregory? Aye.

328
00:25:05,575 --> 00:25:09,205
mayor moore wolf. Aye. Six ayes. One. Present. Any unfinished

329
00:25:09,885 --> 00:25:13,885
business? None. Moving into new business item one. The treasurer's financial report.

330
00:25:14,125 --> 00:25:18,045
mr. Gleason. Thank you. Mayor is the, uh,

331
00:25:18,605 --> 00:25:22,585
treasurer, uh, makes her way to the podium. Uh, just a reminder to

332
00:25:22,805 --> 00:25:26,525
the community, our, our fiscal year lines up with a

333
00:25:26,965 --> 00:25:30,405
calendar year, so we're nearing the completion of our third quarter

334
00:25:31,445 --> 00:25:34,155
entering, uh, the fourth quarter down the home stretch. October 1st,

335
00:25:35,865 --> 00:25:39,665
uh, what was adopted, uh, last year? Uh, we find that the

336
00:25:39,885 --> 00:25:43,665
expenditure and revenue trends, uh, we are pretty close, uh,

337
00:25:43,945 --> 00:25:47,875
and trending well on revenues, uh, to, uh, what was projected last

338
00:25:48,165 --> 00:25:50,915
year. Ruby. Thank you, counsel

339
00:25:52,225 --> 00:25:56,085
and mayor. Um, so we are sitting at, uh, for august. We are sitting

340
00:25:56,245 --> 00:26:00,045
at 91 days cash, uh, which is where we expect it to be and where we expect to end

341
00:26:00,295 --> 00:26:03,985
close to the 90 days that is required by the council. And,

342
00:26:04,425 --> 00:26:08,385
uh, as a city manager said, we are very close, um, to

343
00:26:08,735 --> 00:26:12,685
where we were budgeted to be right now. So that is a much better place than we were during

344
00:26:13,205 --> 00:26:16,565
first quarter. So we're feeling better about, uh, where we're headed.

345
00:26:17,625 --> 00:26:21,265
and, uh, therefore, um, the concerns that we had about, uh,

346
00:26:21,885 --> 00:26:25,785
possibly not meeting budget or needing some money, um, are, uh,

347
00:26:26,005 --> 00:26:29,525
lessening. And so we feel much better where we're gonna end, end the year at. And we still have,

348
00:26:30,345 --> 00:26:33,865
um, expected, uh, personnel savings of

349
00:26:34,445 --> 00:26:38,145
anywhere from a million to a million and a half. So we are sitting in a good place. Any

350
00:26:38,565 --> 00:26:39,745
questions from counsel for ms. James?

351
00:26:42,645 --> 00:26:44,765
anything else you wanted to add further? Thank you. Thank you, ms. James.

352
00:26:48,115 --> 00:26:51,685
okay, moving on to item two. Resolution authorizing property and liability insurance

353
00:26:52,485 --> 00:26:54,965
coverage for the city of decatur, illinois for the policy period october 1st, 2024

354
00:26:56,685 --> 00:27:00,285
to october 1st, 2025. Motions to resolution to pass and be adopted.

355
00:27:00,745 --> 00:27:04,545
so moved. Sec, mr. Gleason. Mayor, if you don't mind, I'm

356
00:27:04,765 --> 00:27:08,685
going to have, uh, our city treasurer, uh, stand at the podium.

357
00:27:09,095 --> 00:27:13,025
items two through 10. They're all hers, they're all related to,

358
00:27:13,385 --> 00:27:17,285
uh, insurance. Uh, there's no concerns, but I don't wanna rush through 'em either,

359
00:27:18,145 --> 00:27:21,885
you know, this is, uh, this is our portfolio of, uh, insurance

360
00:27:22,545 --> 00:27:26,335
for the city and, uh, she'll go through each one of these. Thank

361
00:27:26,685 --> 00:27:30,385
you. Thank you very much. Um,

362
00:27:30,785 --> 00:27:34,485
so with that, uh, we also have from representation from aj gallagher,

363
00:27:34,885 --> 00:27:38,885
if anyone has questions of them. Um, and also I

364
00:27:39,005 --> 00:27:42,885
want to, uh, kind of as an overview, one of the things we did this

365
00:27:43,085 --> 00:27:46,985
year is a complete reconciliation. And, uh, when we went through the

366
00:27:47,645 --> 00:27:51,585
property and vehicles, uh, we noted that there were some items, uh,

367
00:27:51,805 --> 00:27:55,585
missing from the inventory between what the insurance had and we had,

368
00:27:56,305 --> 00:28:00,245
and all walk through that and, and note where that has made a difference in

369
00:28:00,505 --> 00:28:04,205
the insurance. And in the letter that is included,

370
00:28:04,945 --> 00:28:08,185
uh, within the first item, which is item number

371
00:28:09,465 --> 00:28:13,105
two, um, the letter is there and there's a summary of each of the, the

372
00:28:13,565 --> 00:28:17,305
property items there. So I don't know if we wanna go ahead and walk through each one is

373
00:28:17,585 --> 00:28:21,565
and then vote on 'em at the end, if that would be all right. We actually need to vote on them one at

374
00:28:21,685 --> 00:28:25,085
a time. Un understood. May I talk about them? Absolutely. Yeah. Okay. Very good.

375
00:28:25,905 --> 00:28:29,525
um, so with, uh, property and liability, uh, part of that,

376
00:28:29,985 --> 00:28:33,825
uh, where it contains essentially, um, auto and,

377
00:28:34,505 --> 00:28:37,805
um, auto was included in that, and that's one of the items where there was a reconciliation

378
00:28:38,705 --> 00:28:42,245
for additional vehicles, uh, that the inventory was different. And so

379
00:28:42,875 --> 00:28:46,845
that had an impact on the valuation, uh, that was there between last year

380
00:28:47,045 --> 00:28:50,845
and this year. So that had an impact on the 14% increase. It was not just a rate

381
00:28:51,245 --> 00:28:54,925
increase. I wanna point that out. Um, however, as we all know,

382
00:28:55,625 --> 00:28:59,525
uh, rates have increased, uh, across for everyone with, with home and vehicles

383
00:29:00,145 --> 00:29:03,865
and so forth, had an impact as well, um, with the municipalities.

384
00:29:04,945 --> 00:29:08,885
and in the first paragraph I talk about that auto went up by 9%, um, and general

385
00:29:09,355 --> 00:29:12,885
liability and property by 5.5%. So rates did increase overall.

386
00:29:13,825 --> 00:29:17,485
um, I did wanna point that out as well. And then, uh, property,

387
00:29:18,025 --> 00:29:21,765
uh, more in line with the 5.5%, uh, as quoted in the first,

388
00:29:22,545 --> 00:29:25,675
um, paragraph in there. And then equipment,

389
00:29:26,945 --> 00:29:30,925
um, essentially we talked about last year, uh, as well that this was a

390
00:29:31,045 --> 00:29:34,925
new item where we pulled out, uh, that mobile equipment is essentially something that

391
00:29:35,465 --> 00:29:39,285
we would pull behind. So it would be, um, things that, that would be pulled

392
00:29:39,485 --> 00:29:43,445
behind in the truck. And that was pulled out by the industry. And that became a new item where

393
00:29:43,685 --> 00:29:47,265
we had equipment as a separate insurance last year. And

394
00:29:47,935 --> 00:29:51,165
crime, um, uh, was basically remained stable.

395
00:29:52,585 --> 00:29:56,485
excess liability, you can see there had a, a fairly, um, a larger

396
00:29:57,205 --> 00:30:01,205
increase. And then auto in inland marine. I wanna explain that that is

397
00:30:01,325 --> 00:30:05,195
where vehicles are in the lot not moving. Essentially no one's driving the vehicle, it's

398
00:30:05,485 --> 00:30:09,445
sitting in a lot. So should there be a storm that impacted it or someone came by

399
00:30:09,645 --> 00:30:13,345
and did damage to the vehicle sitting in the lot and that's where we had,

400
00:30:13,745 --> 00:30:16,925
um, a difference in inventory so that that caused the significant

401
00:30:17,845 --> 00:30:21,725
increase you there see in the table of 60%. So that is

402
00:30:21,925 --> 00:30:25,685
the largest, uh, difference there. Cyber, uh, interesting enough,

403
00:30:25,945 --> 00:30:29,285
did not go up that much this year. Cyber has been a problem in the past and cyber

404
00:30:30,205 --> 00:30:33,685
remained at a pretty good, uh, rate there. Crisis was 17%

405
00:30:34,245 --> 00:30:37,925
workers' compensation, uh, due to aj gallagher actually negotiated

406
00:30:38,525 --> 00:30:42,445
that, uh, at the, at the last, uh, minute and was able to bring that down. That's good.

407
00:30:43,265 --> 00:30:46,865
and then, um, aj gallagher has, has, uh, kept their fee,

408
00:30:47,345 --> 00:30:51,225
uh, flat for us next year. Overall, uh, the

409
00:30:51,725 --> 00:30:55,145
increase was 13.6%. Again, the industry has seen, uh,

410
00:30:55,765 --> 00:30:59,765
increases. And then we did the reconciliation, uh, for property and vehicle.

411
00:31:02,175 --> 00:31:05,375
thank you for that overview. Anyone on council have a question? Chuck

412
00:31:07,435 --> 00:31:11,285
just had a question about deductibles. Have you on any of these? Have you

413
00:31:11,445 --> 00:31:15,125
raised the deductible on any of these over the last few years? Just because

414
00:31:16,165 --> 00:31:20,065
a thousand dollars today isn't what it was five years ago, so

415
00:31:20,325 --> 00:31:24,325
I don't, you know, I don't know the math on all this, but I was just wondering if you look at the

416
00:31:24,445 --> 00:31:28,155
deductibles to see if there's a way to save and increase our deductibles just

417
00:31:28,465 --> 00:31:32,465
for the fact that a dollar today isn't worth as much as it was five years ago.

418
00:31:33,075 --> 00:31:37,005
true on the auto. So some of the, um, auto, uh, insurance

419
00:31:37,705 --> 00:31:41,285
for instance is at $250,000. Am I quoting that right? Ted?

420
00:31:42,025 --> 00:31:45,885
why don't you come on down to the podium? Um, for the auto

421
00:31:46,045 --> 00:31:49,605
insurance for instance, we have a fairly high deductible. And so when our vehicles,

422
00:31:50,945 --> 00:31:54,805
um, would hit something like a tree or our own vehicles and so forth, they aren't

423
00:31:55,005 --> 00:31:58,865
covered and we can repair them ourselves. So that was a deductible we raised a while ago

424
00:31:59,085 --> 00:32:02,905
to save money. So we did that. And then last year, the

425
00:32:03,365 --> 00:32:07,165
property insurance, we lowered actually to $50,000 so that we would include

426
00:32:07,605 --> 00:32:11,245
more claims just in the sense that property is something that does get damaged

427
00:32:11,715 --> 00:32:15,475
more often. So we actually lowered that and the cost was not significantly more

428
00:32:15,945 --> 00:32:19,825
at that time. So that's something that we, that we did, um,

429
00:32:20,265 --> 00:32:24,165
to try and, um, we were able to get the same, uh, insurance coverage with a

430
00:32:24,285 --> 00:32:28,165
lower deductible at that time. It was just a, a math

431
00:32:28,645 --> 00:32:32,285
question basically. Sure. You know, and I just wanted to make sure that our deductibles were

432
00:32:33,055 --> 00:32:36,725
equal to what they used to be five, 10 years ago. And do you feel like they're comparable

433
00:32:37,285 --> 00:32:40,565
ted to what you see at other, um, institutions? Oh yeah,

434
00:32:41,445 --> 00:32:45,045
absolutely. And the city has pursued a strategy of self-insurance

435
00:32:45,705 --> 00:32:49,645
for the last 20 years where it's applicable. And this is a

436
00:32:49,765 --> 00:32:53,145
good example of that. Councilman.

437
00:32:54,405 --> 00:32:58,315
well, there's pat. Each of us, whether it's cars or or

438
00:32:58,535 --> 00:33:02,255
home insurance, it's gonna be an annual in pretty good size

439
00:33:02,775 --> 00:33:05,135
increases, wouldn't you say that years to come?

440
00:33:07,115 --> 00:33:10,665
I don't see it changing dramatically back to a buyer's

441
00:33:11,155 --> 00:33:14,805
market in the short run, let's put it that way. Okay. There's too much going

442
00:33:15,175 --> 00:33:18,955
on in the world from a climate standpoint, whether

443
00:33:19,295 --> 00:33:23,235
you believe in it or not, but I think the science is there to back it up,

444
00:33:23,355 --> 00:33:27,325
that it has severely impacted the insurance industry. Thank

445
00:33:27,675 --> 00:33:31,405
you. Anyone else on council with a question or comment?

446
00:33:32,955 --> 00:33:36,835
okay. Call the question on the, uh, item two, councilman horn.

447
00:33:37,865 --> 00:33:41,565
aye. Councilman kuhl? Aye. Councilman cole? Thank you. Aye. Councilman cooper?

448
00:33:42,145 --> 00:33:46,025
aye. Councilman mcdaniel? Aye. Councilwoman gregory? Aye. Mayor more wolf? Aye.

449
00:33:46,245 --> 00:33:50,065
seven ayes no nays. Item three, resolution authorizing auto inland marine lot

450
00:33:50,285 --> 00:33:53,685
insurance coverage for the city of dec gator, illinois for the policy period october 1st, 2024

451
00:33:55,445 --> 00:33:59,345
to october 1st, 2025. Motion at the resolution to pass and be adopted. So

452
00:33:59,565 --> 00:34:03,495
moved. Second. Any questions counsel? Seeing none. Councilman

453
00:34:04,325 --> 00:34:08,085
horne? Aye. Councilman kuhl? Aye. Councilman cole? Aye. Councilman cooper?

454
00:34:08,545 --> 00:34:12,265
aye. Councilman mcdaniel? Aye. Councilwoman gregory? Aye. Mayor more wolf? Aye.

455
00:34:12,645 --> 00:34:16,205
seven ayes no nays. Item four, resolution authorizing ex excess liability

456
00:34:16,765 --> 00:34:19,875
insurance coverage for the city of decatur, illinois for the policy period october 1st, 2024

457
00:34:21,385 --> 00:34:25,265
to october 1st, 2025. Motion that the resolution do pass and be adopted. So

458
00:34:25,485 --> 00:34:29,245
moved. Second comments or questions? Seen none. Councilman horne?

459
00:34:29,585 --> 00:34:33,325
aye. Councilman kuhl? Aye. Councilman colt? Aye. Councilman cooper? Aye. Councilman

460
00:34:33,845 --> 00:34:37,595
mcdaniel? Aye. Councilwoman gregory? Aye. Mayor more wolf? Aye. Seven ayes

461
00:34:37,885 --> 00:34:41,525
no nays. Item five has a typo. It should read resolution authorizing

462
00:34:42,085 --> 00:34:45,445
property insurance coverage for the city of decatur, illinois for the policy period of october 1st, 2024

463
00:34:47,065 --> 00:34:50,845
to october 1st, 2025. Motion to resolution to pass and be adopted.

464
00:34:51,345 --> 00:34:55,165
so moved. Second. Any questions or comments? Counsel? Seeing none,

465
00:34:55,535 --> 00:34:58,965
councilman horn? Aye. Councilman kuhl? Aye. Councilman

466
00:34:59,595 --> 00:35:03,405
colt? Aye. Councilman cooper? Aye. Councilman mcdaniel? Aye. Councilwoman gregory

467
00:35:03,905 --> 00:35:07,805
aye. Mayor more wolf? Aye. Seven ayes known ayes. Item six resolution authorizing

468
00:35:08,285 --> 00:35:12,285
excess workers' compensation coverage, compensation, insurance coverage for the city of

469
00:35:12,445 --> 00:35:15,685
decatur, illinois for the policy period october 1st, 2024 to october 1st, 2025.

470
00:35:17,025 --> 00:35:20,845
motion is the resolution do pass and be adopted. So moved. Second. Any questions or

471
00:35:21,205 --> 00:35:24,685
comments? See none. Councilman horne? Aye. Councilman kuhl? Aye. Councilman

472
00:35:25,245 --> 00:35:29,205
cole? Aye. Councilman cooper? Aye. Councilman mcdaniel? Aye. Councilwoman gregory

473
00:35:29,625 --> 00:35:33,525
aye. Mayor moore wolf. Aye. Seven ayes no nays. Item seven resolution authorizing

474
00:35:33,805 --> 00:35:36,965
equipment insurance coverage for the city of decatur, illinois for the policy period october 1st, 2024

475
00:35:38,585 --> 00:35:42,425
to october 1st, 2025. Motion to the resolution, do pass and be adopted. So

476
00:35:42,645 --> 00:35:46,465
moved. Second. Any comments or questions? See none. Councilman horne? Aye.

477
00:35:46,685 --> 00:35:50,685
councilman kuhl? Aye. Councilman cole? Aye. Councilman cooper? Aye. Councilman

478
00:35:51,245 --> 00:35:55,045
mcdaniel? Aye. Councilwoman gregory? Aye. Mayor more wolf? Aye. Seven ayes no

479
00:35:55,325 --> 00:35:59,325
nays. Item eight, resolution officer authorizing cyber liability insurance coverage for

480
00:35:59,485 --> 00:36:03,045
the city of decatur, illinois for the policy period october 1st, 2024 to october 1st, 2025.

481
00:36:04,505 --> 00:36:08,385
motion that the resolution do pass and be adopted. So moved. Second. Any

482
00:36:08,765 --> 00:36:12,705
comments, questions? Seen none. Councilman horne? Aye. Councilman kuhl? Aye.

483
00:36:12,925 --> 00:36:16,925
councilman cole? Aye. Councilman cooper? Aye. Councilman mcdaniel? Aye. Councilwoman

484
00:36:17,525 --> 00:36:21,045
gregory aye. Mayor moore wolf. Aye. Seven ayes no nays. Item nine, resolution

485
00:36:21,605 --> 00:36:25,525
authorizing crisis protection insurance coverage for the city of decatur, illinois for the policy period october 1st, 2024

486
00:36:26,985 --> 00:36:30,845
to october 1st, 2025. Motion that the resolution do pass and be adopted. So moved.

487
00:36:31,145 --> 00:36:35,125
second questions, comments? Seeing none. Councilman horne? Aye. Councilman

488
00:36:35,845 --> 00:36:39,405
kuhl? Aye. Councilman colt? Aye. Councilman cooper? Aye. Councilman mcdaniel?

489
00:36:40,065 --> 00:36:43,745
aye. Councilman gregory? Aye. Mayor moore wolf. Aye. Seven ayes no nays. Item 10

490
00:36:44,165 --> 00:36:47,885
resolution authorizing amendment number four to the management and professional services agreement between

491
00:36:48,205 --> 00:36:52,085
the city of decatur, illinois, and ever side health llc motion is

492
00:36:52,285 --> 00:36:55,555
the resolution to pass and be adopted. So moved. Second mr. Gleason

493
00:36:56,625 --> 00:37:00,625
or ms. James? Is are, are

494
00:37:00,845 --> 00:37:04,765
we on other side? We are, uh, items two through

495
00:37:05,065 --> 00:37:09,045
10. Uh, we're gonna be, uh, the treasures. Okay. That's ms. James, I

496
00:37:09,385 --> 00:37:13,205
you didn't cover ever side, did you? No, I did not. Okay. I thought I was getting, I was just making sure

497
00:37:13,475 --> 00:37:17,345
loss in the twilight, so making pre comments there. All right, very good. So, uh,

498
00:37:17,805 --> 00:37:21,705
I wanted to, uh, give an overview of what the ever side health clinic is. Not

499
00:37:22,045 --> 00:37:26,045
everyone may know that for the public as well. Um, that is the city's health clinic where the

500
00:37:26,445 --> 00:37:30,405
employees can go and actually, uh, get free services there.

501
00:37:30,745 --> 00:37:34,545
and the idea behind it is that we can manage that better, uh,

502
00:37:34,765 --> 00:37:38,405
because when they go there, then we're not getting charged for, uh, services

503
00:37:38,915 --> 00:37:42,825
from, uh, a doctor elsewhere. And so we pay flat amount for,

504
00:37:43,145 --> 00:37:47,065
to provide that service to our employees. And the employees also are getting, uh,

505
00:37:47,285 --> 00:37:51,205
generic prescriptions there prescribed by the doctor at the clinic. And so it's

506
00:37:51,445 --> 00:37:55,285
a way that we can control costs and have, uh, been able to control costs. In

507
00:37:55,485 --> 00:37:59,445
the first year of the clinic, we saved $1.5 million. And in the second year of

508
00:37:59,565 --> 00:38:03,265
the clinic, we didn't save as much because, uh, employees had, um,

509
00:38:03,825 --> 00:38:07,525
health concerns that, uh, this is a regular doctor's office and the health concerns

510
00:38:07,965 --> 00:38:11,765
they had, uh, several of 'em that need to be treated by a specialist. And so we cannot do specialist

511
00:38:12,205 --> 00:38:15,645
work there. And this year, uh, we have not had as many

512
00:38:16,285 --> 00:38:20,285
employees with specialists, uh, health, uh, issues. And so we feel that

513
00:38:20,405 --> 00:38:24,365
in 2024, we will again save, uh, a lot of money by being

514
00:38:24,645 --> 00:38:28,525
able to go to the clinic and provide those services. Now, we have been

515
00:38:28,685 --> 00:38:32,565
so successful that in the first year of the clinic in 2020, uh, two,

516
00:38:32,765 --> 00:38:36,735
when it opened, there were, um, 79 visits in the first month.

517
00:38:37,585 --> 00:38:41,445
and when we go to, um, now this year in the highest month, there was 250

518
00:38:42,085 --> 00:38:45,765
visits. That's a very large increase. And on average in 2022,

519
00:38:46,685 --> 00:38:50,245
there were 109 visits. And, um, and this year there's 180

520
00:38:50,805 --> 00:38:54,115
visits. That's a, that's a large increase. So to provide this good quality care,

521
00:38:54,985 --> 00:38:58,805
uh, we are asking to add a medical assistant. The cost of that

522
00:38:59,005 --> 00:39:03,005
annually is, uh, 84, approximately $84,000. And so that

523
00:39:03,285 --> 00:39:07,045
is the request, um, on this resolution. A quick question.

524
00:39:07,325 --> 00:39:10,685
I know that initially, um, when this was first proposed to counsel,

525
00:39:11,745 --> 00:39:15,175
um, the hope was that other governmental bodies would

526
00:39:15,755 --> 00:39:19,395
also sign on, which would take away some of the overhead costs that

527
00:39:20,185 --> 00:39:23,645
we were being charged. Ha have we been successful in bringing on others?

528
00:39:24,345 --> 00:39:28,165
so far, only the pipefitters union, uh, has been included in that. So, and there aren't many,

529
00:39:28,585 --> 00:39:32,525
uh, individuals in that. We are still contacting others, uh, to do that. And with

530
00:39:32,765 --> 00:39:36,325
the new city manager, we are looking into that to see, uh, if we can do that successfully.

531
00:39:36,905 --> 00:39:40,885
yes. So we have, uh, continued to be in conversation, uh, to try and do that

532
00:39:41,025 --> 00:39:44,825
and, and we'll see where we can get on that. Yes. Other comments or

533
00:39:45,205 --> 00:39:49,125
questions from counsel? Mr. Colp? Just a comment, uh, since

534
00:39:49,495 --> 00:39:53,485
we've opened this, we've had great success. I've heard of a lot of positive things about it from

535
00:39:53,645 --> 00:39:57,565
city staff and retirees. So I, I think it's a wonderful program, but I

536
00:39:57,685 --> 00:40:01,505
do hope we get some partners for it though. Other comments? Dr. Horn?

537
00:40:03,965 --> 00:40:07,855
I just wanted to once again, thank city staff for their

538
00:40:08,205 --> 00:40:11,705
vision and launching this clinic. Access

539
00:40:12,345 --> 00:40:16,145
to healthcare is a critical benefit for

540
00:40:16,625 --> 00:40:19,835
our staff, and it helps make the city of decatur

541
00:40:20,785 --> 00:40:23,185
an employer of choice. $1.65 million

542
00:40:25,615 --> 00:40:29,425
saved in healthcare costs over a two year period is

543
00:40:30,285 --> 00:40:34,205
excellent. And hopefully our employees and their families

544
00:40:34,545 --> 00:40:38,505
are healthier because of it. So again, thank you to city staff for

545
00:40:38,725 --> 00:40:42,205
your leadership. Any other comments? Seeing none.

546
00:40:43,255 --> 00:40:47,005
councilman horne? Aye. Councilman khl? Aye. Councilman

547
00:40:47,595 --> 00:40:51,005
colt? Aye. Councilman cooper? Aye. Councilman mcdaniel? Aye. Councilwoman

548
00:40:51,645 --> 00:40:55,565
gregory? Aye. Mayor, more wolf? Aye. Seven ayes. No nays. Thank you, ms. James.

549
00:40:55,965 --> 00:40:59,925
appreciate you staying at the podium. Item 11, resolution authorizing the adoption of

550
00:41:00,045 --> 00:41:04,045
the macon county multi hazar mitigation plan. Motion of the resolution

551
00:41:04,285 --> 00:41:07,075
to pass and be adopted. So moved. Second, mr. Gleason.

552
00:41:08,415 --> 00:41:12,325
thank you, mayor. Uh, I think, uh, most communities are familiar

553
00:41:12,465 --> 00:41:16,005
in the state of illinois counties, uh, run the lead with the relationship

554
00:41:17,195 --> 00:41:20,715
with, uh, the state emergency management and the federal emergency

555
00:41:21,525 --> 00:41:25,485
management agency. This mitigation plan is something that has to be,

556
00:41:25,625 --> 00:41:29,035
uh, adopted by all the local communities, uh, townships

557
00:41:29,665 --> 00:41:33,195
within, uh, macon county. And then, uh, will be adopted

558
00:41:33,825 --> 00:41:37,515
at the, uh, county level. Uh, it's a 300 plus page,

559
00:41:37,865 --> 00:41:41,485
uh, document. A lot of it's standard. I don't want to assume that it's

560
00:41:41,885 --> 00:41:45,755
standard, uh, to the council that might have questions. And, uh, the deputy city

561
00:41:46,045 --> 00:41:50,025
manager and I will do our best to, uh, answer if there are any

562
00:41:50,445 --> 00:41:54,205
questions or comments. Thank you. And I will note that mr. Robertson has requested

563
00:41:54,645 --> 00:41:58,485
to speak, and we'll have counsel discussion, and then I'll call you to the podium. Any comments

564
00:41:58,715 --> 00:42:02,555
from counsel? Dr. Horn? Just

565
00:42:03,075 --> 00:42:06,895
some questions. Um, question number one. The multi

566
00:42:07,375 --> 00:42:11,185
hazar mitigation plan focuses on natural hazards and

567
00:42:11,435 --> 00:42:15,205
hazardous material incidents, as well as nuclear accidents

568
00:42:16,345 --> 00:42:19,995
as it pertains to hazmat incidents. Does the city

569
00:42:20,435 --> 00:42:24,125
have any plans for what to do in the event of co2

570
00:42:24,775 --> 00:42:28,545
leaks and plant explosions? Um,

571
00:42:28,805 --> 00:42:32,365
given the regularity of these events in decatur, it may be inevitable

572
00:42:33,035 --> 00:42:36,525
that an incident will do harm to residents and their property.

573
00:42:37,425 --> 00:42:41,425
the multi hazar mitigation plan appears to have limited information on

574
00:42:41,645 --> 00:42:45,565
the specific steps the city will take. So my question

575
00:42:46,025 --> 00:42:49,945
as it pertains to this is, how is the city going to use the

576
00:42:50,165 --> 00:42:53,685
mitigation plan to make changes to its policies?

577
00:42:55,985 --> 00:42:59,805
and I think, not to avoid the question, uh, because I will get a

578
00:43:00,125 --> 00:43:04,085
response, but I'm going to assume, uh, related to the specific question, the

579
00:43:04,285 --> 00:43:08,165
relationship with a dmi know public safety, our decatur

580
00:43:08,645 --> 00:43:11,205
fire department, uh, they have a strong relationship.

581
00:43:12,725 --> 00:43:16,585
I would imagine that there is a plan, but I want to confirm that, and I will report

582
00:43:17,035 --> 00:43:20,905
back and then also how this connects to the, uh, macon county, uh,

583
00:43:21,135 --> 00:43:25,015
mitigation, hazard mitigation plan. I'll also, uh, check

584
00:43:25,395 --> 00:43:29,025
into that as well and see what the direct connection would be, uh,

585
00:43:29,425 --> 00:43:31,285
god forbid, uh, an incident.

586
00:43:34,385 --> 00:43:38,385
so one of the natural hazards that the mitigation plan focuses on

587
00:43:38,705 --> 00:43:42,085
is extreme heat. As per page 73

588
00:43:42,845 --> 00:43:46,245
of the plan, the national weather service has identified excessive

589
00:43:46,915 --> 00:43:50,085
heat as the leading weather related killer in the united states.

590
00:43:51,705 --> 00:43:55,585
and as per page 74, the plan extreme heat can disproportionately

591
00:43:56,665 --> 00:44:00,595
impact disadvantaged and challenge communities in ways such

592
00:44:01,205 --> 00:44:05,025
as financial constraints and limited mobility. How is

593
00:44:05,305 --> 00:44:09,265
the city of decatur going to use the mitigation plan to make changes in

594
00:44:09,625 --> 00:44:13,395
its policies? For example, the plan states that quote, some

595
00:44:13,965 --> 00:44:17,585
residents of disadvantaged communities may have limited mobility, making

596
00:44:18,005 --> 00:44:21,525
it difficult for them to leave their homes or access transportation

597
00:44:22,545 --> 00:44:25,605
to cooler areas during extreme heat events.

598
00:44:26,785 --> 00:44:30,485
so if residents lack air conditioning or as an example,

599
00:44:31,385 --> 00:44:34,755
or running water as an example, is there concern

600
00:44:35,795 --> 00:44:38,045
that they won't be able to get to cooling centers?

601
00:44:42,065 --> 00:44:46,045
I'm gonna bounce around maybe a little bit on, uh, this response, but I think it

602
00:44:46,165 --> 00:44:50,085
all, uh, ties together. Uh, in, in fact, I, I'll share with

603
00:44:50,285 --> 00:44:53,805
the community. I know council's aware, um, but I serve

604
00:44:54,305 --> 00:44:58,285
on, uh, fema's national advisory council, uh, finishing up a three

605
00:44:58,445 --> 00:45:02,405
year appointment. In fact, I'll be in dc next week. And when we

606
00:45:02,565 --> 00:45:06,265
talk about, uh, heat related, uh, incidents, it's one that the, uh,

607
00:45:06,595 --> 00:45:10,325
administrator, uh, deanne criswell, uh, is actually talking

608
00:45:10,735 --> 00:45:14,345
about naming, uh, heat, uh, related, uh,

609
00:45:15,265 --> 00:45:19,105
um, I, I, I guess weather issues not

610
00:45:19,325 --> 00:45:23,075
dissimilar to how we name, uh, hurricanes and tropical storms because

611
00:45:23,565 --> 00:45:26,635
they have that kind of impact on communities and regions.

612
00:45:28,005 --> 00:45:31,965
specific to, uh, your question, councilman horne, you know, I know that there are

613
00:45:32,125 --> 00:45:35,905
partners, uh, in this community that when we have a forecast for,

614
00:45:36,225 --> 00:45:40,065
uh, heat related, uh, problems in the community, that there are,

615
00:45:40,545 --> 00:45:44,075
uh, different, uh, programs, assistance cooling centers available

616
00:45:44,705 --> 00:45:48,165
in the community. I don't know how closely we worked together.

617
00:45:48,765 --> 00:45:52,565
I think we were fortunate this past summer that, uh, we did not have,

618
00:45:52,945 --> 00:45:56,925
uh, those challenges, I believe like we did in, uh, 2022 and 23,

619
00:45:58,105 --> 00:46:01,885
uh, that I'm going to ask if I have a chance follow up on that one as well.

620
00:46:05,065 --> 00:46:08,975
and then one final question. Uh, page 2 0 6 of the multi hazar

621
00:46:09,335 --> 00:46:13,005
mitigation plan is to remove trees and increase green spaces.

622
00:46:14,145 --> 00:46:17,625
uh, this involves removing trees from setbacks of roadways and

623
00:46:18,245 --> 00:46:22,145
increase in green spaces and reduce elevated vegetation. Um,

624
00:46:22,775 --> 00:46:26,775
could someone from the city explain what is envisioned for increasing

625
00:46:27,695 --> 00:46:31,295
green spaces and reducing elevated vegetation?

626
00:46:33,205 --> 00:46:37,005
I understand, um, what is meant by removing trees from setbacks,

627
00:46:37,565 --> 00:46:41,485
but from roadways, but what about green spaces and reducing elevated

628
00:46:41,725 --> 00:46:45,565
vegetation? And on this one, I'm going to,

629
00:46:46,265 --> 00:46:50,165
and real quick, I I appreciate that you give us a prep on the questions

630
00:46:50,365 --> 00:46:54,145
that you're gonna ask deputy city manager, uh, eth if, uh,

631
00:46:54,565 --> 00:46:57,885
I know that you ran the lead on, uh, that response earlier in the day,

632
00:46:58,705 --> 00:47:02,605
and if you would, uh, share that. And also as he's walking to the podium,

633
00:47:03,185 --> 00:47:07,125
uh, our community development director, uh, cordero patrick,

634
00:47:07,785 --> 00:47:11,445
uh, shared with me, um, a question or, or a

635
00:47:11,845 --> 00:47:15,685
response or part of a response to, uh, your last question. We do have

636
00:47:16,005 --> 00:47:19,905
a standing grant program, and I was actually familiar with that from, uh,

637
00:47:20,185 --> 00:47:23,845
my time here before, uh, to, uh, provide, uh, those

638
00:47:24,195 --> 00:47:28,045
without air conditioning units, uh, that program. And I do

639
00:47:28,205 --> 00:47:31,275
in fact, think it's a partnership, uh, with, uh, amin.

640
00:47:32,835 --> 00:47:36,745
more to come though. Thank you. And

641
00:47:36,965 --> 00:47:40,845
the last part I would add is, is that the city also runs the public transportation. And so when that's

642
00:47:41,165 --> 00:47:44,505
transportation is needed to the cooling centers, that's certainly something that's within the city's,

643
00:47:45,265 --> 00:47:49,035
uh, ability to provide. Uh, but to the question councilman horn

644
00:47:49,815 --> 00:47:53,645
about the, uh, removal of trees and vege, uh, elevated vegetation,

645
00:47:54,285 --> 00:47:58,125
essentially, I think the storm last year, uh, the dre show that came through decatur

646
00:47:58,565 --> 00:48:02,325
and macon county, uh, is a good example of that. Uh, essentially a lot of the,

647
00:48:02,905 --> 00:48:06,125
uh, the damage that was done was caused by trees in the, in the parkways.

648
00:48:06,985 --> 00:48:10,805
uh, and that took a couple of days to essentially reopen some of the streets

649
00:48:11,145 --> 00:48:14,825
and to ultimately get the power restored to the community as a whole. Um,

650
00:48:15,325 --> 00:48:18,925
I think the best indication that the city has already started to move towards that direction

651
00:48:19,625 --> 00:48:23,605
is the tree replacement program that the city adopted. Uh, within the last couple of years,

652
00:48:23,815 --> 00:48:27,645
there was a recognition that the city did not wanna par plant trees between

653
00:48:28,185 --> 00:48:32,125
the sidewalk and the curb. And ultimately the city, uh, council adopted a

654
00:48:32,245 --> 00:48:36,005
policy that said, put the pop put the tree on private property 10 feet

655
00:48:36,285 --> 00:48:40,205
behind the, the right of way line. That way, as the tree grows and matures, it's not

656
00:48:40,405 --> 00:48:44,225
growing into the overhead utility lines, uh, that, uh, can

657
00:48:44,445 --> 00:48:48,405
easily be damaged in, in high winds and storm events, as well as if the,

658
00:48:48,625 --> 00:48:52,165
the tree tips over, uh, it likely doesn't block streets, uh, that impacts,

659
00:48:52,785 --> 00:48:56,725
uh, first responders, uh, response time. And so I think those are indications that this

660
00:48:56,965 --> 00:49:00,875
is the direction the city has already been moving. Uh, but this plan does call

661
00:49:01,165 --> 00:49:05,045
for the city to continue to, to move towards those efforts all the way through 2030.

662
00:49:08,345 --> 00:49:11,965
mr. Mcdaniel, on that note about the trees I brought up to the former

663
00:49:12,355 --> 00:49:16,225
city manager after we had the, uh, uh, last shutdown of,

664
00:49:16,465 --> 00:49:19,565
uh, of power because a lot of trees falling

665
00:49:20,625 --> 00:49:24,505
as I drive around the, uh, uh, the city on

666
00:49:24,725 --> 00:49:28,485
private property, I see so many dead trees and they're right near

667
00:49:28,935 --> 00:49:32,585
major power lines now, uh, mr.

668
00:49:33,065 --> 00:49:36,645
uh, uh, former city manager said, of course, that's a, uh, it's private

669
00:49:37,445 --> 00:49:41,405
property and he was gonna look into it. I had never heard back, but that

670
00:49:41,645 --> 00:49:45,165
is a major, major problem in this community is I'm constantly

671
00:49:45,745 --> 00:49:49,325
seeing major, uh, uh, dead trees

672
00:49:50,505 --> 00:49:54,445
and, you know, they're gonna topple over in major storms in

673
00:49:54,645 --> 00:49:58,445
that. Is there anything, you know, would you staff look into that?

674
00:49:58,675 --> 00:50:02,345
what, what we can, I know it's cost costly for

675
00:50:02,695 --> 00:50:06,165
trees to be cut down, but when you lose power for quite a few days,

676
00:50:06,905 --> 00:50:10,665
that's, that hurts families and, uh, the population. So,

677
00:50:11,425 --> 00:50:15,015
and the, the cost of taking down a large tree, I've got a lot of large trees.

678
00:50:15,545 --> 00:50:19,525
it, it can be three or $4,000 for one tree. So it's out of the rate

679
00:50:20,265 --> 00:50:24,075
of a lot of our citizens. And, you know, unfortunately, unfortunately,

680
00:50:24,925 --> 00:50:28,765
then until something really bad happens. So other comments,

681
00:50:29,055 --> 00:50:32,685
chuck, I just had two trees cut down in my house,

682
00:50:33,065 --> 00:50:36,805
2200 for two trees. So these trees must have been bigger, but they're,

683
00:50:37,125 --> 00:50:40,045
it's not cheap. That is a problem,

684
00:50:41,145 --> 00:50:44,405
you know, then because everybody gripes then about I've lose my power,

685
00:50:45,185 --> 00:50:48,985
you know, and the problem is, is stuff it's on private property and

686
00:50:49,205 --> 00:50:53,195
homeowners aren't doing anything about it. 'cause I know it's cost, but it's

687
00:50:53,485 --> 00:50:57,475
also a cost for the community on the long run. Other comments from

688
00:50:57,765 --> 00:51:01,255
counsel? See none. Councilman

689
00:51:02,085 --> 00:51:06,045
horne. Aye, wait, stop. I forgot to have mr. Robertson and I wrote it

690
00:51:06,205 --> 00:51:10,165
in really big letters. Mr. Robertson, I apologize if you'd come to the podium. Thank you.

691
00:51:15,335 --> 00:51:16,135
you have something to,

692
00:51:36,805 --> 00:51:40,665
so the, uh, the documents that I'm, I'm passing out to you, one is a copy

693
00:51:40,885 --> 00:51:44,385
of the letter from, uh, the environmental protection agency to,

694
00:51:45,125 --> 00:51:49,085
um, archer daniels binland that I thought you all should have a copy of. The

695
00:51:49,305 --> 00:51:53,305
second is something called a material safety data sheet. Um, those of you

696
00:51:53,425 --> 00:51:57,425
that are familiar with hazardous uh, materials know that every hazardous type

697
00:51:57,865 --> 00:52:00,735
material has to have an, uh, msds and there's one for liquified.

698
00:52:02,285 --> 00:52:06,105
um, uh, co2, uh, this, this one is

699
00:52:06,305 --> 00:52:10,185
a copy from helo liquid. Any, um, commercial provider has to have

700
00:52:10,385 --> 00:52:14,285
it. And the reason I include that is 'cause there's some special hazards that go

701
00:52:14,505 --> 00:52:18,385
with, uh, this particular, uh, material. And if

702
00:52:18,545 --> 00:52:22,465
there was ever a large scale accident, it would take a, a

703
00:52:22,695 --> 00:52:26,505
combination of circumstances to create kind of the nightmare scenario.

704
00:52:27,405 --> 00:52:31,105
um, right now, you know, a dm isn't fully ramped up. If they were fully ramped up with that

705
00:52:31,585 --> 00:52:35,585
pipeline pumping the liquid co2 through at the volumes

706
00:52:36,025 --> 00:52:39,965
that they anticipated, we would've had a much more serious accident than we

707
00:52:40,205 --> 00:52:43,905
had. And if we ever have that, if anything, breaches that

708
00:52:44,465 --> 00:52:48,345
pipeline, uh, then, then, um, you're all familiar with

709
00:52:48,565 --> 00:52:52,545
dry ice, right? You know that co2 is strange, right? It's not like water. Like

710
00:52:52,825 --> 00:52:56,475
most li like most materials, they go from solid

711
00:52:58,275 --> 00:53:02,185
and then water melts and becomes a liquid and then becomes a gas, right?

712
00:53:02,555 --> 00:53:06,395
if we, if we boil it. But co2 goes directly from a solid to

713
00:53:06,975 --> 00:53:10,975
a, to a gas. That's why we have, uh, dry ice. But so how is

714
00:53:11,135 --> 00:53:14,875
it that a dm is able to liquefy it? Well, you can only liquefy it

715
00:53:15,355 --> 00:53:19,085
by putting it under tremendous pressure. So this pipeline is highly pressurized.

716
00:53:19,805 --> 00:53:23,635
it's like at least 70 times atmospheric pressure, and

717
00:53:23,875 --> 00:53:27,825
it has to be cooled as well in order to keep it liquified. So

718
00:53:28,045 --> 00:53:31,745
why do I bring this up? Well, if anything happens that would cause the

719
00:53:32,205 --> 00:53:35,995
pressure to drop or the temperature to go up, then

720
00:53:36,285 --> 00:53:40,195
what's that liquified co2 gonna turn into? It's

721
00:53:40,485 --> 00:53:44,405
gonna, it's gonna snow, it's gonna turn into dry ice. And then

722
00:53:44,565 --> 00:53:48,555
we know what happens with dry ice, it quickly evaporates and you get a huge

723
00:53:48,845 --> 00:53:52,765
volume of gas for a relatively small volume of liquid. That's

724
00:53:53,045 --> 00:53:56,755
why it's so efficient to move it that way, right? But it also means you, you gotta have a tightly

725
00:53:57,245 --> 00:54:01,245
controlled process. And if anything goes wrong, then you're gonna have a rupture

726
00:54:01,725 --> 00:54:05,645
in that pipeline and you're gonna have a cloud of co2 grow around that

727
00:54:05,805 --> 00:54:09,265
rupture. And unfortunately, co2 is heavier than air.

728
00:54:10,145 --> 00:54:14,045
and so if you have a day like we often have where we smell the, what we used

729
00:54:14,205 --> 00:54:18,005
to call staley, right? That's, that's the kind of day where there's not much air movement,

730
00:54:18,515 --> 00:54:22,285
then you could have an accumulation of co2 on the ground and that's

731
00:54:22,565 --> 00:54:26,365
what potentially could cause asphyxiation of people. They can't breathe, they

732
00:54:26,645 --> 00:54:30,325
vomit, they pass out. And then the problem for first responders

733
00:54:30,965 --> 00:54:34,785
is they can't just rush in there, they gotta have special equipment. So I'm

734
00:54:35,005 --> 00:54:38,855
out of time. Thank you. And I hope you take action. Thank

735
00:54:39,205 --> 00:54:43,045
you for your comments. Any response from counsel before we move on

736
00:54:43,245 --> 00:54:47,125
to the question? Dr. Horn? Um, I just wanna say

737
00:54:47,325 --> 00:54:51,305
to mr. Robertson, uh, thank you for, for bringing back that back up.

738
00:54:51,585 --> 00:54:55,325
and the one leak that we're aware of. A dm was

739
00:54:55,845 --> 00:54:59,805
apparently aware of the corrosion and leakage in one of

740
00:54:59,985 --> 00:55:02,695
its two deep monitoring wells in march.

741
00:55:04,185 --> 00:55:08,045
uh, the corrosion of the well resulted in 8,000 metric tons

742
00:55:08,285 --> 00:55:11,975
of co2 and formation fluid entering underground areas

743
00:55:12,545 --> 00:55:15,185
for which a dm did not have a permit.

744
00:55:16,745 --> 00:55:20,635
and a dm was already subject to a class action lawsuit that

745
00:55:20,925 --> 00:55:24,915
was filed last year alleging that the company did not obtain pore

746
00:55:25,205 --> 00:55:29,125
space rights from landowners. And so combined

747
00:55:29,295 --> 00:55:33,165
these events could call into question the reliability and predictability

748
00:55:33,845 --> 00:55:37,355
of carbon sequestration operations being performed

749
00:55:38,065 --> 00:55:41,825
in decatur. And I appreciated city manager's res um,

750
00:55:42,705 --> 00:55:46,465
um, city manager gleason's response here and

751
00:55:46,905 --> 00:55:50,195
the importance of dfd being involved in these discussions

752
00:55:51,625 --> 00:55:54,915
by, I think it's important to note, we've had carbon sequestration

753
00:55:55,985 --> 00:55:59,625
in decatur for 10 years and so there should

754
00:56:00,045 --> 00:56:03,915
be a plan already, and one only has to look at what

755
00:56:04,485 --> 00:56:08,285
happened in rural mississippi where dozens of individuals were

756
00:56:08,595 --> 00:56:12,405
exposed to co2 when a pipe ruptured

757
00:56:13,505 --> 00:56:17,485
to understand, uh, what the consequences are of a

758
00:56:17,605 --> 00:56:21,415
leak of a pipe rupture. And so we've,

759
00:56:21,775 --> 00:56:25,685
we've had a decade to have a plan in place. Um, and so

760
00:56:25,885 --> 00:56:29,645
I think it's important that we have one. Any further comments?

761
00:56:31,225 --> 00:56:35,035
seeing none. Councilman horne? Aye. Council

762
00:56:35,575 --> 00:56:39,045
councilman kuhl? Aye. Councilman colt? Aye. Councilman cooper?

763
00:56:39,625 --> 00:56:43,485
aye. Councilman mcdaniel? Aye. Councilwoman gregory? Aye. Mayor more wolf?

764
00:56:43,825 --> 00:56:47,755
aye. Seven ayes no nays. Item 12 is our city manager. Update. Mr. Gleason?

765
00:56:48,815 --> 00:56:52,525
thank you mayor and council. Uh, no slides this evening. Uh, the only thing,

766
00:56:52,905 --> 00:56:56,565
uh, is just a preview for the october 7th council meeting.

767
00:56:57,145 --> 00:57:01,145
uh, there will be agenda item on video gaming. Uh,

768
00:57:01,545 --> 00:57:04,725
so a menu of options, uh, where I think we've got, uh, support,

769
00:57:05,785 --> 00:57:09,605
uh, tho that will come back for, uh, council consideration. Thank you.

770
00:57:11,225 --> 00:57:15,085
moving now to the consent calendar. Does anyone on council wish to remove any of those

771
00:57:15,255 --> 00:57:19,045
items that are listed? See none.

772
00:57:20,555 --> 00:57:24,425
item a ordinances authorizing consumption of alcoholic liquor on public rights of way. 100

773
00:57:24,805 --> 00:57:28,805
block of merchant street northeast community fund farm to fund item b, receiving and

774
00:57:28,885 --> 00:57:32,685
filing of minutes of boards and commissions. Item c resolution approving reappointment city plan

775
00:57:32,925 --> 00:57:36,915
commission item d, resolution approving reappointment zoning, board of appeals item

776
00:57:37,485 --> 00:57:41,435
e resolution approving reappointment, fireman's pension fund, board of trustees, item

777
00:57:41,965 --> 00:57:45,595
f ordinance annexing territory 29 43 south wheatland road, item

778
00:57:46,165 --> 00:57:49,875
g ordinance, annexing territory 29 41 turin road item

779
00:57:50,325 --> 00:57:54,125
h resolution authorizing a local public agency agreement with the state of illinois to improve

780
00:57:54,445 --> 00:57:58,405
27th street city project 20 24 11 item I resolution

781
00:57:58,685 --> 00:58:02,645
accepting the bid and authorizing the execution of a contract with dun company, a division of tyrell

782
00:58:02,945 --> 00:58:06,845
inc. For 2024 local motor fuel tax street improvement project city project 20 24 25

783
00:58:08,675 --> 00:58:12,525
item j resolution authorizing a professional services agreement with clark dietz inc. To provide

784
00:58:12,765 --> 00:58:16,605
design engineering services for the south taylorville road water main

785
00:58:16,885 --> 00:58:20,885
replacement project. City project 20 24 16 item k ordinance

786
00:58:21,565 --> 00:58:25,525
vacating public rights of way 1300 block of north 23rd street alley, south of

787
00:58:25,645 --> 00:58:29,565
east locust street between 22nd street and 23rd street and the south half of the 1300 block

788
00:58:29,845 --> 00:58:33,765
of north 24th street. Item l ordinance rezoning property from r three single

789
00:58:34,005 --> 00:58:37,885
family residence district to b two commercial district 2192 eastwood

790
00:58:38,325 --> 00:58:41,925
street. Item m resolution authorizing the execution of an agreement with

791
00:58:42,435 --> 00:58:46,205
schafer excavate excavating for the demolition of one 30 north edward street.

792
00:58:46,795 --> 00:58:50,765
item n resolution authorizing the execution of an agreement with steve's trucking for the

793
00:58:50,845 --> 00:58:54,745
demolition of 1255 east prairie street. Item o ordinance and

794
00:58:55,005 --> 00:58:58,915
amending city code chapter seven officers and employees generally. Item

795
00:58:59,405 --> 00:59:02,915
p ordinance amending city code chapter 6 56, refuge and recyclables

796
00:59:03,605 --> 00:59:07,125
removal. Item o ordinance amending city code chapter 70.2,

797
00:59:08,165 --> 00:59:12,005
registration of a of at risk properties item r resolution

798
00:59:12,685 --> 00:59:16,605
authorizing purchase of tyler technology, software and reallocating funds budgeted for time

799
00:59:16,825 --> 00:59:20,525
and attendance system purchase. I need a motion to approve the items as presented.

800
00:59:21,225 --> 00:59:25,085
so moved. Second. Councilman horn? Aye. Councilman kuhl? Aye. Councilman

801
00:59:25,675 --> 00:59:29,245
culp? Aye. Councilman cooper? Aye. Councilman mcdaniel? Aye. Councilwoman

802
00:59:30,045 --> 00:59:34,045
gregory? Aye. Mayor more wolf? Aye. Seven ayes, no nays. Anyone on council

803
00:59:34,285 --> 00:59:37,835
have other business? Mr. Culp, I just want to thank decatur

804
00:59:38,325 --> 00:59:42,245
police department for their, uh, swift reaction to the school threats without going too

805
00:59:42,445 --> 00:59:46,285
deep in the case. Uh, I just want to appreciate their, what they've done

806
00:59:46,545 --> 00:59:50,445
for us and putting everybody at ease over this recent threat. And again,

807
00:59:50,765 --> 00:59:54,605
thank you. Agree. Other comments? Mr. Ko?

808
00:59:57,105 --> 01:00:00,965
I'd like to go back to carbon sequestration and now that we're other,

809
01:00:01,175 --> 01:00:04,335
we're in another business, I can ask questions of city staff.

810
01:00:05,745 --> 01:00:09,365
um, there are many unanswered questions

811
01:00:10,095 --> 01:00:13,985
about the co2 leak that, uh, took place. For

812
01:00:14,315 --> 01:00:17,675
example, could the corrosion of a well take

813
01:00:18,455 --> 01:00:21,945
place closer to the surface thereby posing

814
01:00:22,645 --> 01:00:26,445
a health threat to the public? And second, does the amount

815
01:00:26,725 --> 01:00:30,325
of sequestration activity influence the rate of corrosion?

816
01:00:31,585 --> 01:00:35,135
the amount of co2 predicted to be sequestered under

817
01:00:35,675 --> 01:00:39,605
lake decatur is substantially greater than what was done in the past.

818
01:00:40,505 --> 01:00:43,595
and that well corroded after 10 years of operation.

819
01:00:44,835 --> 01:00:48,825
frankly, I don't want the vi violator of the safe water drinking act

820
01:00:49,065 --> 01:00:52,515
to answer those questions. I'd rather have an independent

821
01:00:53,445 --> 01:00:56,805
assessment from city staff to answer those questions.

822
01:00:57,985 --> 01:01:01,205
to my knowledge only the mayor was notified of the leak,

823
01:01:02,025 --> 01:01:05,265
uh, prior to the u-s-e-p-a action in august,

824
01:01:06,345 --> 01:01:09,515
the leak took place months prior to the city

825
01:01:10,485 --> 01:01:14,445
reaching and final agreement with a dm that permitted the

826
01:01:14,645 --> 01:01:18,545
company to sequester carbon under lake decatur. It

827
01:01:18,785 --> 01:01:22,285
is very fair to say that the knowledge of a co2

828
01:01:22,915 --> 01:01:26,555
leak when it happened could have influenced the city council's

829
01:01:27,485 --> 01:01:31,305
decision on whether co2 sequestration was

830
01:01:31,525 --> 01:01:35,465
in the best interest of the city and its residents and

831
01:01:35,855 --> 01:01:39,685
could have influenced the terms of the easement agreement.

832
01:01:40,785 --> 01:01:44,245
and so the question is why weren't the city employees

833
01:01:45,325 --> 01:01:48,875
notified and why wasn't the city council notified? Because

834
01:01:49,795 --> 01:01:53,165
keep in mind, passage of our laws requires

835
01:01:53,915 --> 01:01:57,635
more four members of the elected body.

836
01:01:58,825 --> 01:02:02,725
why didn't adms emergency response

837
01:02:02,985 --> 01:02:06,885
and remediation plan include calling the city of

838
01:02:07,195 --> 01:02:10,935
decatur and its water department? And again,

839
01:02:11,605 --> 01:02:15,425
I don't want the violators of the safe drinking water act

840
01:02:15,905 --> 01:02:19,325
to answer these questions. These questions should be done

841
01:02:20,185 --> 01:02:23,965
by the city. Now, the city should also be asking

842
01:02:24,465 --> 01:02:28,285
why it took the u-s-e-p-a months to issue a notice

843
01:02:28,625 --> 01:02:32,385
of violation of the safe drinking act while the city's

844
01:02:32,805 --> 01:02:36,805
water supply thankfully was not impacted in this incident.

845
01:02:37,945 --> 01:02:41,585
it was not even notified until months

846
01:02:42,215 --> 01:02:46,005
afterwards. Can we expect the same lack of transparency

847
01:02:47,075 --> 01:02:50,885
from a dm and the u-s-e-p-a if the leak took place

848
01:02:51,465 --> 01:02:55,275
10 feet underground again, the incident took

849
01:02:55,805 --> 01:02:59,245
place in march. The u-s-e-p-a issued its violation

850
01:02:59,945 --> 01:03:03,745
on october, on august 14th, and the

851
01:03:03,965 --> 01:03:07,565
public was not even made aware until september 13th.

852
01:03:09,065 --> 01:03:12,795
thanks to an article in the national media politicos

853
01:03:13,905 --> 01:03:17,765
ee news. And I also wanna thank, uh, brendan moore of the

854
01:03:17,925 --> 01:03:21,785
herald and review for the work that he did. Um, in

855
01:03:22,005 --> 01:03:25,865
following up a dm and u-s-e-p-a simply

856
01:03:26,435 --> 01:03:30,225
have failed the city of its decatur, city of decatur and its

857
01:03:30,805 --> 01:03:34,595
residents and their lack of timely incident reporting

858
01:03:35,705 --> 01:03:39,665
may have ensured that decatur residents live with the threat

859
01:03:40,145 --> 01:03:43,925
of carbon storage permanently. And this

860
01:03:44,165 --> 01:03:46,665
is all for a one time payment of $1.2 million,

861
01:03:48,495 --> 01:03:52,045
which represents about 1% of our general

862
01:03:52,675 --> 01:03:56,565
fund revenue we receive each year. But now I do have some

863
01:03:57,005 --> 01:04:00,955
questions for city staff and for the mayor. Mayor, you said you were aware what

864
01:04:01,245 --> 01:04:04,965
month were you aware of the leak? Late august, I received

865
01:04:05,285 --> 01:04:09,125
a very minimal correspondence from the

866
01:04:09,365 --> 01:04:13,245
epa. Okay. And then, uh, this question I guess would be city

867
01:04:13,445 --> 01:04:16,745
manager wrighton. Was any city employee aware of

868
01:04:17,475 --> 01:04:21,325
adms violations of the c mr. Wrighton isn't here. Oh, I'm sorry.

869
01:04:21,665 --> 01:04:25,465
I'm sorry. Tim. Mr. Gleason apologize. Um, was

870
01:04:25,905 --> 01:04:29,765
any city employee aware of adms violations of

871
01:04:29,965 --> 01:04:32,125
the safe drinking water act? And if so, when?

872
01:04:34,855 --> 01:04:38,755
and I say this with all due respect, uh, because a number of your,

873
01:04:39,135 --> 01:04:43,135
uh, questions, comments, concerns are things that I'm

874
01:04:43,475 --> 01:04:47,355
standing up a team. We've had internal discussions, uh, from what I learned

875
01:04:47,555 --> 01:04:51,475
about this, uh, last week. But at this point for an ongoing

876
01:04:52,755 --> 01:04:56,715
investigation that we are just learning about, les is best

877
01:04:57,375 --> 01:05:01,035
at this point from a city standpoint and for the community.

878
01:05:01,655 --> 01:05:05,635
that's not for a lack of transparency. It's we do not

879
01:05:05,835 --> 01:05:09,455
know what, uh, what the investigation is going to,

880
01:05:09,935 --> 01:05:13,795
uh, determine, but rest assured that many of the

881
01:05:14,115 --> 01:05:17,925
questions that councilman horne is raising, those are

882
01:05:18,125 --> 01:05:22,065
the very same questions that we've had internal discussions about and

883
01:05:22,285 --> 01:05:26,265
seeing how we stand up the appropriate team to address that and

884
01:05:26,665 --> 01:05:30,185
or get answers to those questions. So I would, uh,

885
01:05:30,755 --> 01:05:34,605
very much ask, uh, that we, uh, uh, take some time.

886
01:05:35,585 --> 01:05:38,905
uh, but those questions will be answered at some point, I promise you.

887
01:05:40,825 --> 01:05:44,715
thank you for that. So I will just put this question on the record, but

888
01:05:45,175 --> 01:05:49,035
I, I will give the city staff the time that it needs. But

889
01:05:49,505 --> 01:05:53,055
would adms failure to disclose

890
01:05:54,605 --> 01:05:58,475
pertinent information, um, negate the

891
01:05:58,795 --> 01:06:02,565
city's easement agreement? That is to say, is it negotiation

892
01:06:03,475 --> 01:06:07,435
in bad faith? I can personally speak, uh,

893
01:06:07,655 --> 01:06:11,655
to this issue and say, if I knew that a

894
01:06:11,775 --> 01:06:14,415
monitoring well was going to leak co2,

895
01:06:16,715 --> 01:06:19,775
uh, less than 10 years after it was installed

896
01:06:20,795 --> 01:06:24,045
and after being insured that co2 sequestration

897
01:06:25,075 --> 01:06:28,975
was safe, I would have changed my vote. And I

898
01:06:29,095 --> 01:06:33,055
think dr. Horne, if I can interrupt you, a lot of that kind of discussion really needs to happen

899
01:06:33,215 --> 01:06:36,995
with legal in, um, a more contained environment before

900
01:06:37,435 --> 01:06:41,195
we start talking about negotiating and, and changing, uh,

901
01:06:41,465 --> 01:06:45,315
where we are. 'cause I don't want us to get into a path that we don't want to be in. And

902
01:06:45,575 --> 01:06:48,935
I would defer to city legal that it should probably be in an executive

903
01:06:49,735 --> 01:06:52,495
session or, um, they may need time to look into it.

904
01:06:55,485 --> 01:06:59,295
yeah, I, when we are asked or

905
01:06:59,855 --> 01:07:03,775
directed to look into something, um, such as this,

906
01:07:03,995 --> 01:07:07,315
we would do that. Mr. Cooper,

907
01:07:09,565 --> 01:07:12,895
just one follow up question with, uh, dr. Horn's concerns there.

908
01:07:13,755 --> 01:07:17,635
um, and I, and I know that it's being looked into and

909
01:07:17,895 --> 01:07:21,655
I have confidence that it's being looked into. Um, but do we have any type of timeframe?

910
01:07:22,215 --> 01:07:26,095
'cause I wouldn't wanna be sitting here 3, 4, 5, 6 months down the road waiting before we make

911
01:07:26,375 --> 01:07:29,295
a decision if we need to make a change on what we've already done in the past,

912
01:07:35,735 --> 01:07:39,305
a blended response here. And one, the completion

913
01:07:39,975 --> 01:07:43,895
of the investigation is going to drive, you know, the next

914
01:07:44,055 --> 01:07:47,015
steps, you know, based on whatever the findings might be.

915
01:07:48,195 --> 01:07:51,955
but maybe to answer your question, um, is we,

916
01:07:53,475 --> 01:07:57,195
we had this discussion earlier and it's an internal one and,

917
01:07:57,595 --> 01:08:01,355
uh, we are standing up the appropriate team to, uh,

918
01:08:01,755 --> 01:08:05,515
ask or prepare for the obvious questions that have been, uh,

919
01:08:05,795 --> 01:08:09,515
you know, circulated in the community and many of which, uh,

920
01:08:10,025 --> 01:08:12,055
councilman horne has, uh, raised tonight.

921
01:08:14,565 --> 01:08:17,425
further comment, mr. Keel. I'm sorry. No.

922
01:08:18,625 --> 01:08:22,605
um, for me again, I'm just, it's a wait and

923
01:08:22,805 --> 01:08:26,565
see. I have confidence that the people that are investigating this will do the right thing.

924
01:08:27,465 --> 01:08:31,275
um, councilman horn, you're against carbon sequestration, so your

925
01:08:31,965 --> 01:08:35,645
comments are slightly biased in my opinion. And it's an easy thing to attack.

926
01:08:36,465 --> 01:08:40,325
you could be a hundred percent right? I don't know, but I just wanna wait and see before

927
01:08:40,725 --> 01:08:44,365
we throw a dm under the bus, like I said earlier,

928
01:08:44,735 --> 01:08:48,665
let's hear from both sides. Well, and it's fair. And these kinds of investigations do

929
01:08:48,885 --> 01:08:52,565
take a long time, especially on the federal level. They tend to be extremely thorough.

930
01:08:52,945 --> 01:08:56,885
and so it is a very slow process. So it's kinda like when

931
01:08:57,125 --> 01:09:01,045
we have, um, a crime or an incident that's happening, everybody wants to know

932
01:09:01,165 --> 01:09:04,625
right now what's the answer, what is the investigation? And as,

933
01:09:05,505 --> 01:09:09,445
uh, councilman could easily tell us. Investigations take a lot of time to get

934
01:09:09,605 --> 01:09:13,205
all the facts. Do I have a motion to adjourn? So moved.

935
01:09:13,665 --> 01:09:16,975
second. Councilman horn? Aye. Councilman

936
01:09:17,765 --> 01:09:21,725
kuhl? Aye. Councilman colt? Aye. Councilman cooper? Aye. Councilman

937
01:09:22,205 --> 01:09:25,995
mcdaniel? Aye. Councilwoman gregory? Aye. Mayor more wolfe. Aye. Seven ayes,

938
01:09:26,285 --> 01:09:27,005
no nays. We are adjourned.