[0:00] And we're as clean diapers are essential to the health and well-being of infants and young children, yet nearly one in two U.S. families struggles to afford an adequate supply.

[0:12] So national diaper need awareness week raises awareness of this need and recognizes the organizations, volunteers, and community partners working to support families.

[0:24] and I would ask Anita Hanky to come forward and tell us a little bit more. So if Anita

[0:33] Anita's out in the lobby,

[0:37] Anita Hanky,

[0:41] Anita Hanky, can you come forward please?

[0:52] Yeah, congratulations and I give you this and I'll let you tell just a little bit about what's going on this week.

[1:01] Thank you for having us tonight.

[1:04] I'm the executive director for covered bottom striper bank.

[1:08] Marla Willard and I, we actually birthed this back in 2020, and we have kept it alive.

[1:15] So that is good.

[1:16] We want to first of all, thank you for having us tonight.

[1:20] And we just want to give you two or three facts about the diaper bank.

[1:24] I did leave a flyer at your station.

[1:27] We have distributed over 50,000 diapers this year, and the partners that we do have are

[1:35] advocacy network, Bella E's, the Blaze Fuel Station, which is at John Wood.

[1:41] Child and Family Connections Community for Christ Assistance Center, DCFS, Open Hands, Food

[1:49] Pantry, Pact, Salvation Army, Transitions,

[1:54] Parenthesis teachers, West Central Child Care Connection,

[1:59] and we are just finalizing some paperwork

[2:01] for Beards Town, their early childhood.

[2:05] We received money from Tracy Foundation,

[2:09] and they are really helping us support Cascounty,

[2:13] which you know, Cascounty will appreciate it very much.

[2:16] So, we also want to let you know that we have serviced about 540 kittos this year and our biggest thank you is to Quincy University because they allow a space over at the University at on the North Campus and they don't charge us anything so all the money that we would have to be using for rent and those kinds of things we can actually use for children in our community.

[2:48] This is Kara, she's from Child and Family Connections, and this is Marla from West

[2:54] Central Child Care Connection, who has retired.

[2:59] Any questions,

[3:03] please come see us Wednesday at Hyvey on Broadway.

[3:07] We will be accepting diapers.

[3:10] We will also be accepting monetary donations.

[3:17] And if you can't please visit our website, it's very easy to go in there and donate.

[3:24] And also you'll see there is a QR code that you can donate that way.

[3:29] Your dollar, we can make it spend twice as much.

[3:33] So we do appreciate anything that you can help us with.

[3:36] And again, thank you for having us.

[3:54] Thank you.

[3:55] Thank you.

[3:56] Thank you.

[3:58] And our next proclamation is for Pride in the Park, which is this Sunday, September 20th.

[4:06] Pride in the Park celebrates community, acceptance, and belonging, while remind us of the importance of respect, kindness, and ensuring Quincy remains a welcoming community for all.

[4:18] So to receive this is Chris Taylor.

[4:27] Yes, thank you so much.

[4:29] Thank you, Mayor, for recognizing us here today.

[4:34] Tricy diversity coalition has been around for seven years, and this is our sixth annual

[4:38] Pride in the Park.

[4:39] Our first one was a Pride Drive because, well, COVID changed some rules.

[4:43] But our mission is to celebrate diversity, love, and fellowship throughout the Tricy community.

[4:48] We're bringing people together from South Eastern Iowa, northwest,

[4:52] Arebs are north-east Missouri and right here in the Tri-Cet area, organizations and vendors for a great day filled with fun

[5:00] Good morning, joy and people having the freedom to be fully embraced living their authentic selves in the moment.

[5:08] And I'm with most of my board today, we're missing three people, yes, three people, four people.

[5:15] But as many of us can make it did, and so we can do what we do without our board and all of the work that they do.

[5:22] And the support of the city allowing us in this great state to be exactly who we are.

[5:35] And

[5:38] now I'd like to turn it over to Chief Steve Salron, who has some very special announcements.

[6:08] Mayor, thank you.

[6:10] City Council.

[6:11] Citizens Quincy and the City Council appreciate the opportunity to be here.

[6:18] It's a good day for the fire department.

[6:21] It's a good day for City Quincy.

[6:24] I've got some not-so-good news and some good news based on that not-so-good news, so I'm

[6:32] going to start out with asking Recruit firefighter Brian, what career to come join me

[6:40] up front, please.

[6:47] Brian comes to us from the Hannibal Missouri Fire Department with about

[6:50] 18 months of experience as he was hired there in March of 2025. He's currently a national

[6:56] Registry EMT and Resizing Quincy.

[7:00] He graduated from the University of Missouri, Columbia,

[7:02] with the Bachelor's Degree in Psychology.

[7:05] Brian is married and they have one child.

[7:07] It is my pleasure to administer the oath

[7:09] of firefighter tonight to Brian Oaker.

[7:22] Please raise your right hand and repeat after me.

[7:25] I state your name.

[7:27] I have Brian Oaker.

[7:28] Do solemnly swear.

[7:29] Do solemnly swear.

[7:30] To uphold the Constitution of the United States,

[7:35] and the State of Illinois, and to obey the laws of the City of Quincy,

[7:43] I will hold

[7:43] devotion to duty, a personal comfort, I will selflessly serve the citizens of Quincy with respect

[7:55] and dignity, and I will faithfully discharge the duties of the Office of Firefighter to the best

[8:06] my ability. So help me God. Congratulations.

[8:20] Thank you all, Second.

[8:21] It's a surprise. It's a badge number 178.

[8:24] Do you have anybody you'd like to introduce or a few words to say?

[8:27] I'd just like to say four.

[8:30] I'd just like to thank my friends and family near and far for their support.

[8:34] I'd like to thank the Quincy Fire Department for this opportunity.

[8:37] And I look forward to giving it my all.

[8:39] Thank you.

[8:51] I'm going to ask Stephen Peters to join me up here please.

[9:00] Steven joined the fire department on September 24th, 2007 on December 1st, 2024, he accepted

[9:09] the position of apparatus engineer and has held that position on engine 2 since that date.

[9:15] Steven is an EMT and has earned multiple office of the state fire marshal certifications such

[9:21] as advanced tech firefighter, fire service vehicle operator, fire apparatus engineer, has

[9:29] attack B, airport firefighter, and fire officer one. For the past several years, he has been

[9:36] the organizer, production team, editor, videographer, and every other role in the Christmas

[9:45] bedtime stories. He is also the guy behind the scenes of most of the departments, Facebook

[9:50] post, related to work and groceries, promotions, retirements, etc. Outside of QFD, he is also

[9:58] active duty.

[10:00] Army Reserve's drill sergeant first class. And lastly, Stephen is our very own local Ninja Warrior

[10:07] contestant. Stephen's promotion to Lieutenant is effective September 16, 2026. Is my pleasure to

[10:17] administer the oath of fire officer tonight to Stephen Peters.

[10:23] Stephen, please raise your right hand.

[10:25] I state your name. I Stephen Peters. Do you hear by declare? Do you hear by declare?

[10:30] that as an officer of the Quincy Fire Department, as an officer of the Quincy Fire Department,

[10:35] I will uphold the standards of my position, I will uphold the standards of my position,

[10:40] and continually search for new and improved methods, to protect my community, to protect

[10:47] my community, and its citizens, and its citizens.

[10:50] I will lead my fire company with fairness, and without prejudice, and respect the property,

[10:58] and respect the property and rights of all persons.

[11:03] I recognize this badge as a symbol.

[11:05] I recognize this badge as a symbol.

[11:07] Of the public faith and trust.

[11:08] Of the public faith and trust.

[11:10] And I dedicate myself and dedicate myself to saving life and protecting property.

[11:16] And protecting property.

[11:17] Congratulations.

[11:26] Steven's a man a few words.

[11:30] Since he just walked away.

[11:31] There you go.

[11:33] You don't have enough time for me to talk all day, but just a quick thank you to everyone.

[11:37] I really do appreciate this role, and I'm going to take every reasonable step I can to protect

[11:42] the citizens to do this job as great as I can for not only my friends, my family, the department,

[11:49] but as the citizens of Quincy as well.

[11:51] So thank you, thank you very much for this opportunity.

[12:03] Okay, at this time I'd like to ask Nate Poole to come join me.

[12:13] Nate joined the fire department August 1st, 2005, on February 2nd, 2018, he was promoted to Lieutenant.

[12:22] Nate is an EMT and is an multiple office of the state fire marshal certifications,

[12:27] such as firefighter 3, fire apparatus engineer, fire service vehicle operator,

[12:33] hazmat tech B, airport firefighter, instructor 2, fire investigator, and fire officer 1.

[12:41] Nate is a field staff instructor for the Illinois Fire Service Institute in Champaign and is one of the lead instructors for the annual Western Illinois University University firefighter certification practicum.

[12:55] Nate's promotion to deputy chief of administration is effective September 16th, 2026.

[13:00] This is my pleasure to administer the oath of Deputy Fire Chief tonight to Naipul.

[13:09] I state your name.

[13:10] I, Naipul.

[13:12] Do hereby declare.

[13:13] Do hereby declare.

[13:14] That I will faithfully, honestly, and impartially.

[13:18] That I will faithfully, honestly, and impartially.

[13:21] This charge the duties of Deputy Fire Chief.

[13:23] This charge the duties of Deputy Fire Chief.

[13:26] I will uphold the standards of my position.

[13:28] I will uphold the standards of my position.

[13:30] And I pledge to carry out.

[13:32] And I pledge to carry out the duties of deputy fire chief, the duties of deputy fire chief to the best of my ability and I will honor and respect and I will honor and respect the mission goals purpose and policies of the Quincy fire department and policies of the Quincy fire I recognize this badge as a symbol of the public faith and trust of the public faith and trust and I accept so long and I accept so long.

[14:02] as I hold the rank of deputy fire chief.

[14:04] As I hold the rank of deputy fire chief.

[14:07] Congratulations.

[14:17] I've had the honor of working with and for some really

[14:20] incredible firefighters, many of which

[14:23] are in this room right now.

[14:27] Unfortunately, we're going to be losing one of my mentors

[14:30] and friends sometimes adversary in Chief Dade.

[14:36] It's a big hole that I'm going to do my best to fill

[14:38] and with the help of the rest of the administrative crew,

[14:42] I hope to do that as well as I can.

[14:44] I'd be remiss.

[14:46] My wedding anniversary is coming up.

[14:50] We don't talk about enough how this job effects our own lives.

[14:56] And my wife has been my rock.

[14:59] She's been...

[15:00] Every thing she could for me to be in this position now. So I levered early. I thank her for everything she's ever done for me, and I appreciate the opportunity to see.

[15:21] The promotions of Nate Pool and Stephen Peters are the result of the departure of Deputy Chief Michael Vade. Michael? I'm doing me?

[15:32] I don't have a badge or anything for you. But I'm going to take that one back.

[15:40] As many of you may have heard, Deputy Chief David has accepted the position of Bureau of Operations, Chief Operating Officer with the Illinois Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal.

[15:54] His final day with the Department will be tomorrow and he will begin his new role with the Office of the State Fire Marshal on Wednesday.

[16:01] Deputy Chief Dave began his career with the Department of October 6th, 2003. He was appointed

[16:06] to the position of apparatus engineer on February 1st, 2008, and was promoted to Deputy

[16:14] Chief Administration April 8th, 2021. Throughout his career, Deputy Chief Dave deserved

[16:20] and maintained numerous personal certifications, or I'm sorry, professional certifications,

[16:25] including paramedic advanced technician firefighter, fire apparatus engineer, advanced fire officer, fire department,

[16:33] incident safety officer, and fires instructor 3 among others. I think Mike is the only one on the

[16:40] department that holds instructor 3. Correct. Yeah. Deputy Chief Days Departure will

[16:51] be

[17:19] felt

[17:20] to know that he will remain an active member of the Illinois Fire Service.

[17:26] In his new capacity, he will be well positioned to continue making a positive and meaningful

[17:31] impact on the fire service throughout the save of Illinois.

[17:35] We congratulate Deputy Chief Dade on the significant professional opportunity and thank you

[17:44] for his many years of dedicated service to the Department and the community.

[18:08] I'll try to make this as quick as possible because Dan Brings got a timer on me.

[18:16] I want to first thank my family for being here.

[18:20] My dad, my step mom, Ken Dave, Pam Dave.

[18:24] My girlfriend Michelle here, my older brother.

[18:28] Retired, fire chief, demand date.

[18:31] And my lovely sister-in-law, Danielle Dave.

[18:35] But more than anything, I want to thank all the uniform in and the back.

[18:40] This appointment is really a reflection of the tremendous talent and leadership that is at the

[18:46] Quincy Fire Department and has been way before my time and I'm sure will be way after

[18:51] I'm gone.

[18:51] I just want everybody to know that.

[18:53] I can't say good enough things about this department and the support that we've got from

[18:58] the community.

[18:59] We've got our rehab team here as well and full force, you know, even support and us now.

[19:05] So again, this is a team effort and you know, the emotion is a sincere thing.

[19:12] Chief Sauer and then I go back, you know, to, you know, when we first started our careers together.

[19:18] And again, I don't, I don't, I don't, I don't plan on, you know, stopping to call on him.

[19:22] When I need to bounce something off or vent something that happens at the state level.

[19:26] But I just want everybody here to, you know, to be as proud of the Quincy Fire Department as I am.

[19:30] And as I have been again they've done nothing but produce leaders that have had an impact in the fire service around the state for years.

[19:39] So again I couldn't be more proud to be affiliated with this department and the men that you see in uniform here that are filling up this room.

[19:46] So again it's truly my family. So thank you for the opportunity.

[20:00] Okay.

[20:03] I may not know where he lives in Springfield, but I know where he works. So I know exactly where that office is. All right. Thank you, everyone.

[20:13] Thank you, Chief. And next up, Kyle Moore is here to tell us a little bit more about a gratitude initiative that we'll see on our agenda tonight.

[20:33] support and press that mic on. Thank you, Mayor Moore, City Council members. Clerk,

[20:41] open, it's great to be here. My name is Kyle Moore and I'm President of the Great

[20:45] River Economic Development Foundation and I'm here to walk you through where, where

[20:49] thanks stand as gratitude for approaches. Our first, our final quarter in 2026, share what

[20:56] we're learning from our investors as we head into 2027 and then talk about the one initiative

[21:00] in particular, that we believe deserves council support, the new residential construction property

[21:06] tax refund program. As most of you saw in our September report that I sent out Friday,

[21:11] it's been a strong year for the partnership between the City of Quincy and the Great River

[21:15] Economic Development Foundation. On housing, our board has set aside funds to help the city's work

[21:21] on a new neighborhood use and rezoning plan, and we're hopeful that it will come before you soon

[21:26] and with our full support. On the indoor sports complex, gratitude was there from day one,

[21:32] helping to fund the feasibility study, and helping to select the site, design team,

[21:37] and management company. And we were glad to see the council move forward with the project last

[21:41] month. That project, coupled with the Trapshooting Facility, is a strategy that brings in visitors

[21:48] and investors from outside the area and will have a significant economic impact for years to come

[21:54] and on workforce. Last month we teamed with John Wick Community College and the Tracy Family Foundation

[22:00] to announce Illinois's first Root Ed Alliance, placing career navigators in our area high schools.

[22:08] The program is already paying off. This spring's pilot reached 88 seniors across four area high schools

[22:15] and every one of them completed their fast-va and had a plan for their career and education after high school.

[22:22] I also want to update you on the valuable programs that Gretaff offers you around.

[22:28] Our business concierge program and business quick start guide are how our team stays connected

[22:33] to the business community day in and day out.

[22:37] And this year already Gretaff has worked directly with more than 60 businesses across Adams

[22:42] County, helping identify workforce needs and connect owners to the resources and opportunities

[22:48] they need to grow.

[22:49] Our Adams County Care Program is doing the same for the Child Care Workforce specifically, assisting more than 50 individuals over the past two years through tuition assistance, a paid internship track, and sign on bonuses for new workers.

[23:05] Scale up and secure was a new program this year, connecting local entrepreneurs with regional investors.

[23:12] Our first investor night helped a local business owner who just graduated from the CEO program close a deal to purchase a vehicle so he can help grow his business.

[23:23] That kind of hands-on work is a big part of why members keep telling us that we are delivering value, which brings me to our membership survey.

[23:32] Every year, we survey our members to take the pulse of the business climate and to get valuable insight to where

[23:38] Greta's focus should be in the upcoming year. Our members were surveyed this month, and the results back up what we've been seeing on the ground.

[23:47] Talent remains the dominant constraint on our growth in this community, named by 60% of our responders as their top barrier, and at top the list again when we ask what challenges we need to address in the upcoming year.

[24:00] housing and child care access aren't far behind and they're part of the same problem.

[24:07] Both were named as conditions that make it harder for our members to recruit and keep the

[24:12] town and workforce they need. The news is encouraging otherwise. Two thirds of our members

[24:17] told us their business is growing or hiring and not a single responded reporting that they

[24:23] would be downsizing or leaving a region. Which brings me why I'm here tonight. Housing is one

[24:29] the biggest reasons talent is hard to recruit and to keep in this community.

[24:33] And that's exactly what the new residential construction property tax refund program is built

[24:38] to address.

[24:40] Developed jointly with the city, the county, Quincy Public Schools, the Park District, Johnwood

[24:44] Community College, and Quincy Township.

[24:46] The program refunds only the incremental property tax increase from new residential

[24:52] construction for three years, starting only after a home is built, occupied, and enrolled.

[25:00] Every taxing body keeps collecting what they already get, starting on day one. We're only giving back the new tax money this construction creates money that wouldn't exist without it.

[25:12] After three years, that new money stays to becoming permanent revenue for all of our taxing bodies. This matters, because Quincy's housing inventory has been historically tight, and that scarcity is a real constraint on attracting the workforce our members say they need.

[25:29] This program reduces the cost to build news homes and it opens and it's open to rental and to multi-family housing, not just single family homes.

[25:39] This isn't an incentive that is for one neighborhood and not the other.

[25:44] It's for every neighborhood and every ward of the city.

[25:48] This program is fiscally disciplined by design, incremental only,

[25:53] CAFed multi-family unit counts, TIF, and enterprise zone exclusions, and there's a hard

[25:59] three-year sunset to keep the exposure small and predictable for every partner that came to

[26:04] the table. We're asking our six taxing bodies, including this council, to adopt the

[26:09] intergovernmental agreement so we can launch this program next year. Every taxing body has a

[26:15] stake in the outcome. More rooftops means more residents, more retail activity, more workforce talent,

[26:22] and ultimately a larger, more durable tax base for all of us.

[26:27] I'd ask for the council support in moving this forward,

[26:30] and I'm happy to answer any questions tonight,

[26:33] or in the weeks ahead as we finalize this agreement.

[26:36] Thank you, and thank you for your dedication to this community.

[26:39] Thank you, Mayor.

[26:40] Thank you.

[26:41] Does anybody have any questions about the program?

[26:45] It's on our agenda to invite at 6b and 12c.

[26:49] It's the same intergovernment agreement.

[26:53] So, as far as where this is applied, is it countywide?

[26:59] No, which city of Quincy-wide?

[27:01] Is it the mile and a half?

[27:02] No, it's Quincy Township.

[27:05] Yep.

[27:06] Yep.

[27:07] I was just curious if you've gotten by and from the other agencies or the other.

[27:12] Yeah, so every agency was first approached to see if they would accept the concept and what they thought of it.

[27:20] They all said they were happy to participate and then each agency was given the intergovernmental agreement a head of time to weigh in

[27:28] Because there's no perfect draft of any

[27:30] Intergovernmental agreement so each one was given the back and forth and then sent the finalized agreement for

[27:36] Ultimate board approval and I would remind this board that every taxing body needs to adopt it for this to be in place

[27:43] And so if you adopt it today and another taxing body doesn't do it then this program is no-lin-boi

[27:50] So, Kyle, yes, all taxes are froze for, or you don't pay them for three years.

[27:56] Well, the individual homeowner pays the full property taxes, but let's say that they had a vacant lot that they were paying $200 a year on.

[28:06] And then they built a new home and that home then had a property tax of $2,000.

[28:11] That $2,000 would be paid in full and the property tax owner would have to pay that in full.

[28:16] And then at the end of the program, then they would get or at the end of that year they would get $1,800 back.

[28:21] And so it's on the owner, one to sign up for the program.

[28:25] So this isn't one that's an automatic.

[28:27] But two, we wanted to make sure that this didn't take away from essential services,

[28:32] whether it be for you guys or our school district.

[28:34] So every taxing body is made whole.

[28:36] And again, the individuals have to sign up for the program.

[28:39] And they have to pay their taxes on time and in full.

[28:42] Gotcha. Thank you.

[28:43] Yes.

[28:43] I just wanted to say congratulations on this incentive and it's exactly what we need to move the housing issue forward.

[28:51] And we all know that as we try to take steps at this council level to really pull in more business

[28:57] and more visitors to this community, our demand for workforce is going to continue to increase

[29:04] and unless we're ready to have places for those people to live, we're not going to be ready.

[29:09] So, this is an excellent opportunity for us as a community to really take a first step.

[29:16] Thank you.

[29:17] And if I didn't fail, if I failed to mention, I think that the mayor and county board chairman

[29:22] deserve a lot of credit, they've put a lot of time and effort, Jason Parrot as well.

[29:26] These end-regovernmental agreements can be tricky, especially coming from somebody like me who's

[29:31] not a lawyer.

[29:32] And so they really really comb through the teeth of the proposal and did a lot to bring

[29:37] you the product that's in your packet.

[29:41] any additional questions?

[29:45] Well, I always know to get out while they get as good. So thank you

[29:49] for inviting us for being here. Thank you. I'll take you around if you have additional questions.

[29:52] Great. Thank you, bye-bye.

[29:58] And now is the time for prayer or...

[30:00] Self-reflection, whichever you so choose, to lead us tonight is Reverend Booth, and then

[30:04] will ask Alderman Reese to lead us in the pledge afterwards.

[30:11] If you would press the Center button so the red light comes on.

[30:14] Thank you.

[30:14] Let me take a moment of personal privilege.

[30:16] I cannot tell you how deeply the firefighters' recognitions touch me.

[30:22] My life was touched as a child and as a teen.

[30:26] My fire chiefs grew up in the area of town where I did, I live in the Southway way, you know,

[30:31] know where it is.

[30:33] But I know the character it takes for a man to be a firefighter and to lead other firefighters.

[30:39] That touched me at a very deep level, and I thank you for acknowledging them.

[30:42] Let's pray.

[30:45] We praise you, O God, we acknowledge you to be the Lord, all creation worships you,

[30:49] to you, all angels, and all the powers of heaven.

[30:51] You've been in seraphim, saying in endless praise, holy, holy, holy,

[30:56] Lord God of power and might, heaven and earth are full of your glory.

[31:01] We ask you to be with our city and our leaders.

[31:04] Please protect and guide them to make decisions that are fair and just, reflecting what

[31:10] you want.

[31:11] We pray that those who are in need and for those who have that which can be shared to relieve

[31:18] hunger and suffering.

[31:19] Put within our people a spirit of drive and initiative that will make them productive citizens

[31:24] who can then help others in need.

[31:28] Help us to seek that perfect balance of your love and justice in how we relate to one another.

[31:35] Make us instruments of your peace.

[31:37] We ask all of this in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, amen.

[32:01] I

[32:10] now call this meeting to order. Madam Clerk, please call the roll.

[32:14] Call them in Fletcher.

[32:15] Fair.

[32:15] Interent.

[32:16] Bergman.

[32:17] Here.

[32:18] Maize.

[32:19] Here.

[32:20] Edkins.

[32:21] Here.

[32:26] Reade.

[32:27] Here.

[32:27] Use Lack.

[32:28] Here.

[32:30] 13 present.

[32:31] And one absent.

[32:33] Motion to excuse the absent Alderman.

[32:35] Please.

[32:36] It's been moved in seconded.

[32:38] Any discussion?

[32:39] If not, all in favor, aye.

[32:41] Aye.

[32:41] Opposed, aye.

[32:42] Motion carries.

[32:43] Thank you.

[32:44] Your Honor.

[32:45] Make a motion to approve the passports of September 8, 2026 in town, business August 10th of

[32:51] 2026.

[32:53] It's been moved in seconded.

[32:55] Any discussion?

[32:56] If not, all in favor, aye.

[32:59] Opposed, aye.

[32:59] Motion carries.

[33:00] Thank you.

[33:03] Your Honor.

[33:03] Yes.

[33:03] I move that way.

[33:04] He said it the town board.

[33:07] It's been moved in seconded.

[33:09] All in favor, aye.

[33:10] Opposed, nay.

[33:12] Motion carries.

[33:12] We are now sitting as a town board.

[33:15] Are there any requests to speak in front of the town ship?

[33:22] And just like City Council, you have three minutes.

[33:26] Good evening.

[33:27] I want to address something uncomfortable because town meetings are exactly where uncomfortable

[33:32] conversation should happen.

[33:33] What has been attributed to Alderman Mike Atkins regarding Muslim communities and other communities,

[33:40] it simply is not a disagreement over politics.

[33:44] When an elected official uses or promotes behavior that targets an entire religious group,

[33:49] it becomes a question of whether that official can fairly represent every citizen.

[33:55] Religious freedom does not mean freedom for only Christians, or only for people who's

[34:01] believes we understand or agree with. It means Muslims too. That principle is not partisan.

[34:09] It is American. We built from the melting pot. And freedom of speech does also have consequences.

[34:19] And Mike Atkins does not represent only the people who voted for him as an alderman,

[34:26] his words carry the weight of the soul city of Quincy. So when rhetoric like this one comes from

[34:31] someone sitting in a public office.

[34:33] The damning does not stop with that individual.

[34:36] It reflects the council, our government,

[34:38] and our community.

[34:39] And frankly, Quincy deserves better than having to explain

[34:41] their behavior and that it's not tolerated.

[34:44] Freedom is speech protects someone's right to say,

[34:46] if it does not protect the right to say if it's of things,

[34:49] it does not guarantee them freedom from accountability,

[34:53] from saying them while holding a person,

[34:57] while holding a position of public trust.

[34:58] you cannot affect it.

[35:03] So I believe Mac Mike at can should resign, because not because everyone in Quincy must agree with one another, but because every person in Quincy should be able to expect equal dignity from the people elected to represent it of.

[35:18] And that should be the bare minimum. Thank you.

[35:21] Thank you. Are there any other requests to speak?

[35:27] Yes.

[35:34] And if you would please do I have to touch?

[35:41] Good evening everybody. My name is Margarita Ogolvi and I am a resident of War 3 and I have learned

[35:48] through media and multiple conversations about something that was said that affects the

[35:55] monthly community, which I'm not a member, but as the person before said, we

[36:02] is my understanding that we all are equal, and that we deserve respect from

[36:08] everyone, and I wanted to start by saying, what if what was written said,

[36:18] Catholicism is not a religion. Every Catholic church is a paramilitary command post.

[36:29] His goal is to overthrow this nation and his laws. How is which change the religion name for another one that we're familiar in?

[36:39] accept. How is that? How does that sound to all of you that heard it? It's serious, right?

[36:46] You would like to, to probably act with violence if you hear me say something about your religion,

[36:53] like that. That's a feeling that that community is having right now.

[36:59] I wanted to say also that

[37:02] when I was a student at the University of Missouri in Colombia, I took the opportunity to visit

[37:08] mosque. The mosque that is in campus there, and as a student I learned to appreciate the value

[37:17] of the rituals and respect what they do, and of course they always have really good food. So that was

[37:24] a treat. So I feel like we just need to get out and know each other and we need to respect each other.

[37:34] I also volunteer one Sunday a month in Villa Catarina, and as you know, that is a more

[37:41] Mauritius style building, which is common in Arabic countries and Muslim culture.

[37:48] And that is one of the things that make us proud to be in Quincy.

[37:52] So did you know that we have some sort of Muslim symbol as well here?

[38:02] I have a question to ask, and Eddies, also Dr. Ali used to do the Masley in the dinner for the community, and he was attended, and people were fighting to get in there because the food was so delicious and so abandoned that it would be a shame not to be there.

[38:20] The last thing I want to say is, are you the people that are opposed to the Muslim and talk about the Muslims?

[38:28] I'd ready to say that if you were in the moment of death or your family member in an emergency,

[38:34] if a physician that is a Muslim is committed to your help, you're going to say no.

[38:39] I'd rather die that have somebody that is mostly taken on me and saved my life or my child or my daughter or my spouse.

[38:47] Are we ready to say something like that?

[38:48] or we just conveniently choose what to, what to say about people.

[38:54] So thank you so much.

[38:55] Thank you.

[38:59] Would anyone else like to speak before the township?

[39:04] If not, okay, we will move on to resolutions.

[39:09] Intergovernmental agreement on property tax refunds for new residential construction

[39:13] between and among the city of Quincy, Illinois.

[39:16] Adam's County Illinois, Quincy Community Unit School District Number 172, Quincy Park District, John Wood Community College, and Quincy Township.

[39:27] You're on her. Yes.

[39:28] I moved to adopt this resolution.

[39:31] It's been moved and seconded any discussion.

[39:36] If not, Madam Clerk, please call the roll.

[39:38] All in power.

[39:39] Aye.

[39:39] Mays.

[39:40] Atkins.

[39:41] Aye.

[39:41] Eman.

[39:42] Aye.

[39:42] Sassin, McGrannells, Ebing,

[39:46] Eye, Reeze,

[39:47] Reid,

[39:48] Eye,

[39:48] Yuselak,

[39:49] Hullshaw,

[39:50] Eye,

[39:50] Fletcher,

[39:51] Eye,

[39:52] Antred,

[39:52] Emburgman,

[39:53] Eye,

[39:54] 13 Eyes One Absent,

[39:55] Motion carries, thank you.

[39:58] Report the Quincy Township Super.

[40:00] divisor for general assistance for the month of all gifts, 2026,

[40:05] GA checking, 16,677 dollars and 27 cents, GA money

[40:10] market, 136,432 dollars and 30 cents, pay e fee, 2,415 dollars and 60 cents, county tax distribution, 7,792 dollars and 23 cents, interest, 97 dollars and 43 cents.

[40:25] obligations paid during the month, 15,247 dollars, less a greyhunter stain, and you'll

[40:32] jade audit, 3,225 dollars, and the balance of August 31st, $144 dollars and $872.83, senior

[40:46] image emergency assistance issued, 1,639 dollars and 32 cents, Maggie Hoyt, supervisor Quince

[40:53] down ship. You're on her. Yes. I moved this may received and filed. Second. It's been moved

[40:59] and seconded any discussion. If not, Madam Clerk, please call the law. All of them

[41:04] bower. Aye. Mays. Aye. Edkins. Aye. Eman. Aye. Sassin. McGrannells. Aye. Ebbing. Aye.

[41:11] Breast. Aye. Breed. Aye. Use the lack. Aye. Hulshlaw. Aye. Fletcher. Aye. Interim. Aye. Invertments. Aye. 13.

[41:17] nice one, absent. Motion carries. Thank you.

[41:23] Report the town on it. Total $9,700 and $3.89,

[41:28] Bauer Birdman used lackpoint. It's committee. Your honor. Yes. I moved us to be received in file.

[41:35] Second. It's been moved and seconded any discussion. Not madam clerk. Please call the

[41:39] All-embower.

[41:41] Aye.

[41:42] Mays.

[41:43] Aye.

[41:43] Edken.

[41:43] Aye.

[41:44] Eman.

[41:44] Aye.

[41:45] Sassin.

[41:46] McGrannells.

[41:46] Aye.

[41:47] Ebing.

[41:48] Aye.

[41:48] Rees.

[41:49] Reed.

[41:50] Usalak.

[41:51] Pleshala.

[41:52] Interpreter.

[41:53] Aye.

[41:56] Motion carries.

[41:57] Thank you very much.

[41:58] Are there any town trusty comments?

[42:03] Seeing none.

[42:05] Yes.

[42:05] I move that we resume sitting at City Council.

[42:10] It's been moved in second.

[42:11] Any discussion?

[42:13] Not all in favor.

[42:14] Aye.

[42:15] Opposite.

[42:15] Motion carries.

[42:16] We are now sitting again as a City Council.

[42:19] And we will move to the public comment.

[42:23] Tonight we have 13 speakers signed up.

[42:26] I will call you in the order in which you signed up.

[42:29] And I'll remind you when you come up to the microphone.

[42:31] The red light should be on.

[42:33] And I'll ask you to state your name and then you'll see the clock and you'll have three minutes.

[42:38] Our first speaker is Margarita Ogolfi.

[42:43] And I believe she has left.

[42:48] Our next speaker is Alexis Allen.

[43:00] Mayor Council member, tonight.

[43:01] Item 12 CE answers a question I've been asking for months.

[43:04] Can local governments actually work together?

[43:07] Apparently yes.

[43:08] Six governmental entities can coordinate an intergovernmental agreement when the goal is

[43:13] incentivizing new residential construction great, then coordinating city and county property

[43:18] information shouldn't suddenly become an impossible administrative puzzle, ownership,

[43:23] taxing, zoning, vacancy, code violation, infrastructure. We have already paid the government

[43:29] to collect this information. Maybe the government should be able to find it too. And since we're

[43:34] discussing priorities, let's apply some logic. Oh, elsewhere. Last week, Chief Tyler defended

[43:42] block an unsafe guard. I remain opposed. A safe guard that can be bypassed is not a

[43:46] substitution for a constitutional right. If the government builds the accountability

[43:51] to track innocent people's movements, we shouldn't have to wait for that power to be abused

[43:56] again before asking why the government needed that power to begin within the first place.

[44:01] And now there is something talking about. Now we're going to talk about data centers and

[44:06] was simply even more so or as economic development,

[44:10] fine, show us the math, how much water,

[44:12] how much electricity, how many permanent jobs,

[44:16] what's the tax incentive, who pays for the infrastructure?

[44:19] And after all that, what does Quincy would actually

[44:21] gain? Because a building, because a giant building

[44:25] consuming enormous resources, it doesn't

[44:27] automatically an economic development simply

[44:30] because somebody puts economic development in front of it.

[44:33] Here's what I find interesting.

[44:35] We can connect sophisticated systems to track license plates.

[44:39] We can coordinate six government entities to refund taxes and you are all willing to discuss massive

[44:47] infrastructure for data centers.

[44:49] But connecting property information with governments already possessing somehow becomes complicated

[44:54] idea.

[44:55] Come on.

[44:56] Before choosing the next Chinese technology, you're expanding surveillance.

[45:00] Let's maximize what Quincy already has. Connect the data. Identify bank properties, rehabilitate housing, remove

[45:07] developmental barriers. Return property to tax rules. That's not flashy. This is fiscally responsible.

[45:14] Item 12C proves government can cooperate. So the issue isn't whether or not we can. It is what?

[45:20] and who and we decide, is it worth cooperating for? Thank you.

[45:27] Thank you. Our next speaker is Charlotte Turner.

[45:43] I think it's on, is that true? Okay. My name is Charlotte Turner.

[45:49] I am here and simply signed up to speak tonight

[45:52] to show support for the reward all of my icons

[45:56] who in this country has a right to speak his thoughts

[46:00] concerns as a Councilman and a citizen. Thank you. Thank you. Our next speaker, Conland Caravine.

[46:20] Good evening. I'm rising tonight just to discuss, I guess, a potential

[46:27] rental registration ordinance that's been thrown out a little bit into the public and discussed

[46:32] here on the council and potentially again in the city. I guess my question is what would the

[46:39] purpose of a rental registration really be the way I see it there's three potential

[46:45] purposes one is just to do something because there is a lot of frustration that's

[46:50] built that we just wanted to get something done we need to do something so I guess

[46:55] that would accomplish that issue it would do something I just question whether that's

[47:00] actually what we need to do step the second potential answer would be it would be

[47:06] that one that would lead to step two or step three, you know, step one being a registration

[47:12] step two being an inspection program, taxes, et cetera, that go along with that. Certain

[47:18] people openly admit that that is really kind of the purpose and the drive for this initiative.

[47:24] Other folks are not saying that's what's really on the table. It's hard to believe in my opinion

[47:30] that that is not really what's being kind of discussed based on watching what's happening

[47:34] on the public news on it.

[47:37] The option three, I guess, is if a registration would solve a legitimate issue and I know there

[47:43] have been issues have been tossed out on what it would potentially solve, the fire department

[47:48] coming up to a multi-family property and not knowing how many rental units are in it and

[47:55] then somehow consulting a rental registration and identifying that it's got five apartments

[48:01] and said, a four or something like that, I just, for me, it's difficult to get to that.

[48:06] As far as finding landlords, I want to get into details, but I was hunted down last week,

[48:15] I guess, by the inspection department, and it took them, I think probably about five minutes

[48:19] to find me, maybe I'm just that visible, et cetera, and that happened two days in a row,

[48:25] so they were, they were able to find me without too much difficulty. I know there are some

[48:29] limitations potentially as far as sharing information, but I don't know if that's legitimate or not.

[48:35] I think those can be solved in one way or another way, if that's if that is the legitimate issue.

[48:40] I would say that we do have some issues with property here in Quincy.

[48:47] It's been discussed openly, it's obvious when you drive through the streets.

[48:50] We do have a lot of issues with housing here in Quincy whether it's a shortage or issues with housing in Quincy.

[48:58] Um, there's a handful of reasons for that. A lot of our housing is aging. Significantly. We're an old city.

[49:05] You've got a lot of old houses that have not been invested in. I would argue that the vast vast majority of those were owned properties prior.

[49:14] I guess my time is running out. So we'll call it that.

[49:17] Um, anyway, just throw that out there as continued discussion. I know it will be continued to discuss. Thanks.

[49:22] Thank you. Our next speaker, Tim Jacobs.

[49:25] you

[49:38] have to press it against a little bit of life on. Thank you. Good evening. That's better.

[49:43] Madam Mayor, members of the city council, I'd hear tonight to weigh in on the issue of Mr.

[49:51] adkins your colleague,

[49:57] his posts, or rep-

[50:00] Post or comments are free speech. And I think that's the basis of this whole thing. We still have to respect his right for free speech. Just because we disagree, it is no reason to censor or to cancel.

[50:26] That being said, I think that I probably have disagreements with many people in this room.

[50:31] room or even on this council, but I think civil discourse and debate are the way to go and

[50:39] not to play this out in the court of public opinion and in the media.

[50:46] That being said, in terms of resignation or recall, resignation is certainly Mr. Adkins, his

[50:56] decision in his decision alone, and I would say, please do not do that.

[51:02] Your constituents voted for you and they deserve what they voted for.

[51:10] In terms of recall, I don't know if the city has a way of doing that, but certainly in

[51:16] representative Republic, we do have a way of doing that in its called an election.

[51:21] So I would say anyone in the third ward who feels strongly about this, run against him, or find someone that feels like you to run against him.

[51:35] But certainly, I appreciate you indulge me tonight in my own free speech.

[51:43] Thank you.

[51:44] Thank you, our next speaker, and for giving me if I get your last name, Mark Bray.

[51:53] Did I get that last name correct?

[51:56] Brian.

[51:57] Thank you.

[51:59] Yeah, my name is Mark Brian.

[52:03] So last week I came here and listened to all this and it's pretty emotional.

[52:11] And so I was an optometrist to OD in this community for 25 years or so and leave it to me to follow

[52:20] at the old. Anyway, so I've listened to things, I've read things, and I know there's a lot

[52:29] of emotion with all this stuff. Well, it bothers me the most about this, is it is and

[52:34] attack on free speech. Now, the hormones have a right to come up and speak, and they

[52:39] are very articulate. Okay? But I just don't think this leads to the pound of flesh that

[52:46] they want from this guy. It just doesn't add up to me. And I think I'm speaking for a lot

[52:51] of people in this community. Okay. So, I would say don't resign. All right. I would

[52:58] stay stick it out. Community elected you to do the job you should do. So, the Human Rights

[53:07] Commission is going to vote on a resolution I believe to censure this guy. Whatever you

[53:14] do, I don't know. But I don't think it's worth it. And I think that whatever they come up with

[53:21] really doesn't hold water here, what holds water here is what you guys have to say about all that.

[53:28] So, as a citizen of Quincy I say, there should be no admonishment. I don't think there should be any

[53:35] censorship. I think that you guys really need to get back to work and do the job well.

[53:44] Thank you, our next speaker is Nisi Gibson,

[53:53] Nisi Gibson, Niki, okay, thank you.

[53:57] Sorry about that.

[54:04] I am here tonight to speak out on the anti-Muslim post that Alderman Akins may.

[54:09] Days before the 25th anniversary of September 11th attacks, you reposted memes aligned with the exact same rhetoric,

[54:15] you posted in March of 2026.

[54:17] You were confronted at a town hall and defended your bigotry by claiming this is what the United States military taught you

[54:23] Let's be a hundred percent clear. There is no unit in the United States armed forces that teaches American soldiers and an entire

[54:30] To hate an entire religion. They do not teach bigotry. My husband is a veteran of Afghanistan

[54:37] He deployed in 2008 in 2009. He is a combat vet

[54:42] He had clear doctor and taught to him and it was to win the hearts and minds.

[54:47] He helped build wells.

[54:48] He built a children's school.

[54:50] He helped protect the elections during that time.

[54:54] And you were serving at a time before the war on their post, not post 9-11.

[55:00] You were taught a completely different doctrine, and so you do not know the doctrine that was taught to the generation of soldiers that were post 9-11.

[55:10] You say you were a conservative, so I would like to direct you to this actual Comber conservative standard set by President George W. Bush, who stood inside a mosque just six days after the attacks and stayed it as I quote.

[55:22] These attacks of violence against innocent, violate the fundamental tendance of Islamic faith.

[55:28] It is important for my fellow Americans to understand that.

[55:31] The English translation is not as adequate as the original Arabic, but let me quote from the Quran itself.

[55:37] In the long run, evil is an extreme that will be the end of those who do evil.

[55:42] And for those that reject the signs of Allah and held them up to ridicule,

[55:47] the face of terror is not true faith of Islam.

[55:49] That is not what Islam is about. Islam is peace.

[55:53] These terrorists don't represent peace.

[55:55] They represent evil in war.

[55:57] And America counts millions of Muslims among our citizens.

[56:01] And Muslims make an incredible value contribution to our country.

[56:05] Muslims are doctors, lawyers, law professors, members of the military,

[56:10] entrepreneurs, shopkeepers, and moms and dads.

[56:12] And they need to be treated with respect.

[56:15] In our anger, in emotion, our fellow Americans must treat each other with respect, those who feel they can intimidate our fellow citizens and take our anger out, don't represent the best of America.

[56:27] They represent the worst of humankind. They should be ashamed of that kind of behavior. He said that six days after the attack.

[56:36] He went into that mosque and said that in front of us.

[56:39] You need to be in a better American and respect them for the religion as they would respect your faith.

[56:48] I was raised Catholic and I do not disrespect their faith. You should not disrespect theirs.

[56:54] Peaceful Muslims do not deserve to be harassed and have pictures of 9-11 posts on their Facebook page by your wife.

[57:04] Thank you. Our next speaker, Dave King.

[57:20] Mr. Adkins, I'm of the opinion that where you do survey the entirety of the city of Quincy,

[57:28] you would not find a single person who's had an instant of any kind with a person who practices

[57:33] Islam.

[57:35] If it is your intent to create that incident, I would hope that you would seek professional

[57:41] assistance to guide you to a more productive and helpful path during your service to

[57:49] the city. Thank you. Thank you. Our next speaker, Sharon Geise.

[58:07] I guess it's all right. My name is Sharon and I thank you for allowing me to have my say.

[58:15] I want to say I support Mike because he stands for truth.

[58:21] I'm a truth believer,

[58:25] and I would like to also say that to this body, to this assembly,

[58:36] to the city,

[58:40] you have to recognize who your true enemy is.

[58:45] It's not people, it's not flesh and blood,

[58:51] it's spiritual forces.

[58:54] The enemy comes to steal, to kill and destroy.

[59:00] That's what's been happening to our country.

[59:05] He steals our freedom, he kills our people,

[59:10] and he's destroying our nation.

[59:12] Not a happy note, but I have to say that, and I thank you.

[59:19] Thank you. Our next speaker, Chris Taylor.

[59:21] Hey,

[59:29] all right.

[59:30] Chris Taylor, not representing a tries to diversify

[59:32] coalition simply myself.

[59:34] I just wanted to take a moment.

[59:35] I didn't plan on speaking tonight, but I have heard a lot

[59:38] of things.

[59:39] I've seen a lot of things as many of you all have from friends,

[59:42] from neighbors, from the people you work with, you know,

[59:46] whatever that might be.

[59:48] I can tell you in the last week and a half,

[59:50] the number of people who have talked with me casually

[59:52] about what is going on here is disturbing.

[59:57] I like to think, and I have one.

[1:00:00] All boards, all organizations are simply as strong as their weakest link. And when you work for a company, when you work for a city, when you volunteer with an organization,

[1:00:13] you have the responsibility to hold your weakest link either accountable, help them get the education they need to grow, but it is not to ignore and move forward.

[1:00:24] This older person is known for on his public profile page, which, for my understanding, is the way he connects with

[1:00:31] constituents on social media, for sharing bigoted homophobic, almost a famineatory statements about people, places and organizations.

[1:00:41] And if that is happening in your chain, you should consider who your weakest link might be and what training they may need in order to successfully move forward.

[1:00:51] because this is not who Quincy is, this is not how we pitch our city to people who want to come and invest here for ball parks and sports teams and all of those kind of things, those are in other areas are incredibly diverse.

[1:01:07] Those teams are filled with people of all different nationalities, faiths, types of families, and if we're projecting an image that this type of speech is okay.

[1:01:18] What are we really telling the people that are going to come here?

[1:01:20] Do we think they'll come?

[1:01:21] Do they think they will second-guess themselves?

[1:01:24] Like, I do second-guessing which establishment I might step into whether or not the business

[1:01:29] owner is going to be, you know, negative to where it's me because I show up with my partner.

[1:01:33] I think about those kind of things and then I think about another minority like our

[1:01:37] Muslim brothers and sisters who want to be able to participate in a community once

[1:01:42] come and visit a place like Quincy, regardless of what their faith is, or their background,

[1:01:47] but what they don't need is to have one of the top Googleable things about our older

[1:01:51] persons that chain to be about the weakest link and his behavior.

[1:01:56] That's all I have to say.

[1:01:57] Thank you.

[1:01:58] Thank you.

[1:01:59] Our next speaker, Chelsea Ormond.

[1:02:08] All right.

[1:02:10] Mike, when we asked you at the town hall about your disgusting Islamophobic post, you confirmed

[1:02:16] what we feared. You really believe the horrible things that you have said about Muslims, attempting to get a restraining order against both myself and my husband to silence us is not accountability. Having your friends approach us after city council meetings and to ask us to lay off of you is not accountability. It's not an apology. You could have started this meeting with an apology. You didn't. Nothing. If somebody that sat on this council with you posted the same thing.

[1:02:46] about Christians that you posted, how would you feel about that?

[1:02:52] You would be calling for the resignation.

[1:02:54] You would have everybody in arms calling for them to be out of there.

[1:02:58] I mean, you don't care about freedom of speech,

[1:03:01] and you prove that already by spearheading getting someone in town,

[1:03:06] a mother-in-town fired from her position.

[1:03:10] She's at a job.

[1:03:12] Do you look confused from Fridays?

[1:03:14] you got her, you participated. I have screen shot at post. Don't shake your head. You participated in getting a mother fired from a job in her community because of her religious beliefs and because of a post on Facebook that you found offensive.

[1:03:31] So, in any other community, you would not have this position anymore and she would be getting money for getting wrongly fired from her position.

[1:03:41] you and your supporters here are disgusting. This is absolutely disgusting.

[1:03:51] Back in April

[1:03:52] you issued a fake forced apology for your social media activity stating that you would do better going forward.

[1:03:59] Is this going this is doing better? Because this is like worse than the stuff that you were posting then.

[1:04:05] So, what about you guys, any of you guys, none of you came out and said anything, none of you.

[1:04:15] How will you guys explain this to our Muslim neighbors?

[1:04:20] You're going to go to the doctor, you're going to see them.

[1:04:24] How will you explain that you're not standing up for them?

[1:04:28] This is incredibly disappointing.

[1:04:30] and the Council's lack of response to this situation is a response in itself.

[1:04:35] The public is watching outside of Quincy.

[1:04:38] The public is watching, and many of us look at all of you guys completely differently now.

[1:04:43] Like people that we thought would speak out have didn't say anything.

[1:04:46] Like this is huge. This is huge. This is more than just people complaining about something.

[1:04:51] This is a really big deal to say that we are disappointed is an understatement.

[1:04:57] I said this last week and I'm going to say it again. We all have

[1:05:00] We have a responsibility to unlearn our bigoted teachings, our racist upbringings, and our taught hatred. Just because

[1:05:05] others around your racist, transphobic, whatever it doesn't matter. You need to think for yourself. And truly think about the world and the people around you that can share it.

[1:05:14] Our next speaker is Tyler Ormond.

[1:05:25] Wow. I am truly embarrassed to be, almost to be a citizen of Quincy tonight and to be a citizen of ward 3.

[1:05:35] I cannot believe the amount of racism is homophobia, xenophobia, just absolute hatred being

[1:05:42] spewed by your supporters, Mike.

[1:05:45] And I'm going to move on to a few of the other things your supporters have done.

[1:05:50] And I want to know because you haven't come out against any of your supporters.

[1:05:54] So your supporters harassed and threatened and were outside harassing a member of the Human Rights

[1:05:59] Commission at their home.

[1:06:00] I want to also state that your family has threatened us multiple times.

[1:06:05] And I also want to use a quote here.

[1:06:07] I believe this is from your son Andrew.

[1:06:09] It's someone Andrew Adkins.

[1:06:11] And I apologize for the language here.

[1:06:13] This is what he said to my wife.

[1:06:15] I see you're still running your cock sucker.

[1:06:19] And quote.

[1:06:20] And we have some people laugh at that.

[1:06:21] That is absolutely disgusting.

[1:06:24] This is the Alderman's family to my wife.

[1:06:28] And none of you are saying anything.

[1:06:30] We had people up here who I was sure was going to stand up to this man for his hatred

[1:06:35] and bigotry.

[1:06:36] And we've heard zip.

[1:06:38] And instead, what we're hearing more is that the people support him.

[1:06:44] I am absolutely ashamed to be a citizen of Quincy tonight.

[1:06:49] Kyle Moore talked on Talon.

[1:06:51] Talon is one of the biggest things that our employers need here.

[1:06:53] I went to QU. I played baseball there. I had a lot of black teammates. I had a lot of Hispanic teammates and I had classmates from other face.

[1:07:03] And let me tell you something. The QU students stay in a bubble because they don't feel safe in this community.

[1:07:13] They don't get, can I get my time back?

[1:07:17] So they don't feel safe in this community.

[1:07:19] Do you remember the Steve Homan incident?

[1:07:21] Why would they feel safe if you're not standing up for people

[1:07:25] that don't look like us?

[1:07:29] People that practice different face, people that look different.

[1:07:32] These friends of mine, these teammates of mine,

[1:07:35] just go back to Chicago, St. Louis, wherever they're from,

[1:07:39] because they have no interest in staying in this community.

[1:07:41] there are so many well qualified people that would be such a, such a benefit to our community.

[1:07:48] And you wonder why the population stayed at 40,000 for 100 years.

[1:07:55] What I want to say is that siding with this man, for the rest of you on this council, at least

[1:08:00] just not making a public comment stating that his comments are false, which we know they are.

[1:08:06] It's not an opinion.

[1:08:07] And two plus two does not equal five, okay?

[1:08:11] Muslims are not dangerous like this man has said.

[1:08:14] That is not an opinion.

[1:08:17] I encourage all of you on this council if you have a conscience

[1:08:20] and a brain for yourself stand up against this type of hate.

[1:08:24] This is embarrassing tonight.

[1:08:26] Thank you and our last speaker tonight is Terry Craig.

[1:08:39] Because evening, everyone, I apologize for my timing.

[1:08:44] I know there's a lot of emotions in the room,

[1:08:48] and I truly hope that we can all find a way to work together

[1:08:56] with grace and kindness for everyone.

[1:09:00] So that is side.

[1:09:02] I really just wanted to invite you all

[1:09:04] to the Makers Market this weekend.

[1:09:06] There's a lot of great events happening, not just hours, but our specifically is Friday night from 5 to 8 and Saturday from 11am to 6pm.

[1:09:18] We have tons of vendors, you're going to see a lot of the shops, also downtown open and we have live music on two blocks.

[1:09:26] We have quite the showing of food trucks, kids activities on Saturday, and just it's kind of, you know, kind of our fun, kind of our Super Bowl for the year if you are to say so we love to show off sixth street and invite everybody to come down.

[1:09:43] It's so nice to have that pedestrian friendly welcoming environment for all. So just wanted to extend the invite. I hope to see you guys there.

[1:09:54] Thank you and we'll now continue on with the consent agenda and I'll ask the

[1:09:59] government.

[1:10:00] Are there any items on the consent agenda that you would like to see removed?

[1:10:05] Going once? Going twice? Three times? Madam Clerk, please read the consent agenda. Special

[1:10:11] of an application from Quincy University requesting permission to hold Quincy University's

[1:10:15] Homecoming Parade in Belung, Glow. On Thursday, September 17, the parade will begin at

[1:10:23] at 18th and Lynn Street proceeds south on 8th

[1:10:26] to Oak Street and turn east on Oak Street to 20th

[1:10:30] Street. They request the closure of 20th

[1:10:33] Street. College Avenue to Elm Street from

[1:10:36] 8 am to 9 pm. 18th Street Oak to Lynn Street

[1:10:41] 530 pm to 6 pm. Oak Street, 18th to 20th street

[1:10:45] 530 pm to 6 pm on the day of the event with

[1:10:48] Barricades. The applicant has submitted all

[1:10:50] Acquired documentation and approval is recommended by the Department of Utilities and Engineering.

[1:10:55] Special event application from Horizon Soup Kitchen and Food Pantry

[1:10:59] requesting permission to hold the Bands in Barbecue Event,

[1:11:03] Saturday September 19th in Washington Park from 3pm to 730pm.

[1:11:08] The applicant has submitted all required documentation,

[1:11:11] and approval is recommended by the Department of Utilities and Engineering.

[1:11:14] Sales Tax Report for June 26, 1,139,777 dollars and 98 cents.

[1:11:23] Home Rule Sales Tax Report, June 26,126,129,447 dollars and 52 cents, mayor's appointments

[1:11:31] to the Aeronautics Committee, Jack Hulschlag, to replace Greg Fletcher, Quincy Plank

[1:11:36] Commission, Tom Mason, Carol Schaefer Tutor, and Tom P. Piorita, close enough. Madison Blackwell

[1:11:45] and Madison Mason as auxiliary police officers for the City of Quincy.

[1:11:52] Fire chief and joint fire and automatic committee, automatic committee, recommending approval

[1:11:56] to purchase a 2003 Pierce 100 feet aerial platform apparatus from the Troy fire protection district

[1:12:04] located in Shorewood, Illinois for the purchase price of $225,000.

[1:12:09] Fire automatic committee and Fire Chief recommending approval to purchase the Bravo Door,

[1:12:14] Force Entry, Training Prop from AEC, Fire Safety and Security for the total of $12,600.

[1:12:23] Intergovernmental agreement on property tax refunds for new residential construction between

[1:12:27] the and among the city of Quincy, Illinois, and of Scallion, Illinois, Quincy Community

[1:12:32] unit school district number 172, Quincy Park District, John Witt Community College, and Quincy

[1:12:39] Township.

[1:12:39] You're on her?

[1:12:40] I move to approve the consent agenda.

[1:12:42] A second.

[1:12:43] It's been moved in Seconded, Madam Clerk.

[1:12:45] Please call the roll.

[1:12:46] I'm going to use that.

[1:12:47] Aye.

[1:12:47] Pollish law.

[1:12:48] Fletcher.

[1:12:49] Interim.

[1:12:50] Birdman.

[1:12:51] Bower.

[1:12:53] Mays.

[1:12:53] Aye.

[1:12:54] Edkins.

[1:12:54] Eman.

[1:12:55] Aye.

[1:12:56] Sessin McGrannells.

[1:12:57] Aye.

[1:12:57] Ebing.

[1:12:58] Aye.

[1:12:59] Breeze.

[1:12:59] And Reid.

[1:13:00] 13.

[1:13:01] Nice.

[1:13:01] Motion carries.

[1:13:03] Thank you.

[1:13:06] Second presentation.

[1:13:07] Authorizing and directing the issuance sale and delivery of general obligation bond ordinance

[1:13:12] for the $10 million loan for the construction of the Clay Target Sports Park.

[1:13:18] Second presentation of an ordinance and many in the 2026-2027 fiscal year budget.

[1:13:25] First, presentation of an ordinance entitled, an ordinance granting a special permit for planned

[1:13:30] development, 281 Broadway, operation of a private coaching service, first presentation of an ordinance

[1:13:37] entitled, an ordinance vacating easements at 4129 Hampton Lane, first presentation of an ordinance

[1:13:43] entitled, an ordinance emending the district map, which is made a part of section 162.002 of the

[1:13:50] of the City of Quincy of 2015, C1A to C2 for 161610, 1612, 1622 and 1624 Broadway, R2 to C2 to 1626, 1630, 1632 and 1700 Broadway.

[1:14:07] First, presentation of an ordinance entitled, an ordinance vacating an

[1:14:11] apportion of Cedar Street, North 27th to North 28th, an apportion of

[1:14:15] North 28th Street, Cedar to Cherry, which is around Titan Wheel, and finance

[1:14:21] report transfers $196,800, expenditures $1,027,665, and 34th, cents, payroll $1,137,799,

[1:14:34] McRannell's Antrip May's Hochschlag Resfinance Committee.

[1:14:38] I moved the report.

[1:14:39] He received an voucher's issue for the various amounts.

[1:14:42] Second.

[1:14:43] It's been moved and seconded any discussion.

[1:14:46] If not, Madam Clerk, please call the roll.

[1:14:48] On the Hochschlag.

[1:14:49] Aye.

[1:14:49] Fletcher.

[1:14:51] Antrip.

[1:14:52] Aye.

[1:14:52] Bergman.

[1:14:53] Aye.

[1:14:54] Bauer.

[1:14:55] Aye.

[1:14:56] Aye.

[1:15:00] Aye, aye, abstain, aye, abstain, aye, abstain, aye.

[1:15:03] And you select, aye, abstain, aye.

[1:15:05] The 13, nine is one absent. Motion carries. Thank you very much. Madam clerk, can you new business?

[1:15:10] Thank you. I have a number of announcements. We will have a public hearing at 4 p.m. here in Council

[1:15:19] chambers on Wednesday to discuss the streetscape for

[1:15:24] Hampshire between fourth and ace.

[1:15:28] If you can make it, we are hoping we will have a lot of public input on that.

[1:15:33] Then this is a big week of activities.

[1:15:37] QU's homecoming begins Thursday with the balloon glow,

[1:15:41] both QU and Q&D homecoming is this week.

[1:15:44] So Q&D has a parade, I believe, on Thursday night,

[1:15:48] And the game on Friday night, QU's game is Saturday.

[1:15:53] Also Saturday, there is an electronic recycling event

[1:15:57] at the Oakley Lindsey Center, sponsored by Representative Kyomor

[1:16:01] from 9 to 12. Also on Saturday, there's a hazardous waste pickup

[1:16:06] or a cleanup from 8 to 3 at the Adams County Highway Department.

[1:16:10] You do need an appointment for that event.

[1:16:13] So you can go to the Adams County website to make an appointment.

[1:16:16] Then of course, the citywide cleanup is September 23rd through the 25th.

[1:16:21] The hours will be 7 to 1 and 4 to 8 on Wednesday and Thursday and then 7 to 1 on Friday.

[1:16:29] You need to be in line at least a half hour before the end of the session.

[1:16:34] Also Saturday from 3 to 7, 30 in Washington Park is the Bands in Barbecue and then of course

[1:16:40] because market is this week on Friday night from 5 to 8 and Saturday 11 to 6 on the 6th

[1:16:45] street promenade. So plenty to do and lots to choose from for the weekend.

[1:16:51] Alderman Fletcher, any new business?

[1:16:54] Yeah, one thing, but first, Alderman Fletcher was the back up a little bit.

[1:16:59] And I'm sorry, I wasn't paying attention, but I would like to go back to the ordinance

[1:17:06] 13B for the second presentation of the

[1:17:09] ordinance for men in the fiscal year budget.

[1:17:13] And I would like to move the requirements of Section 32.31 of the

[1:17:17] Code of City of Quincy be waived in the ordinance.

[1:17:19] Be adopted please.

[1:17:21] It has been moved in seconded.

[1:17:24] Is there any discussion?

[1:17:26] And the reason for this please is we are hoping to have the

[1:17:29] funding intact for the new fire apparatus with the idea

[1:17:35] that we're going to send the chief and the mechanic and a couple other sets of eyes up there

[1:17:40] to look at this piece of equipment, hopefully by the end of this week, and we would like to

[1:17:45] have the ability to have the funding available if they want to move on it at that time please.

[1:17:49] So thank you. Any questions? Any discussion? If not, Madam Clerk, please call the roll.

[1:17:57] Okay,

[1:18:00] we have a motion, first we have a motion to weigh 3231, so all in favor, aye.

[1:18:08] Opposed, nay.

[1:18:10] Motion carries, now let entertain a motion to adopt.

[1:18:13] You're on our move for adoption of the ordinance, please.

[1:18:16] Second.

[1:18:17] It's been moved in seconded any discussion.

[1:18:20] Not Madam Clerk, please call the roll.

[1:18:21] Alden Bergman.

[1:18:23] Howard.

[1:18:24] Maize.

[1:18:25] Adkins.

[1:18:26] Aye.

[1:18:26] Eman.

[1:18:27] Aye.

[1:18:27] Sassin.

[1:18:28] McGrannels.

[1:18:29] Ebing.

[1:18:30] Aye.

[1:18:30] Breed.

[1:18:32] Aye.

[1:18:32] Hoshlon.

[1:18:35] Fletcher.

[1:18:36] And enter it.

[1:18:37] 13.

[1:18:38] Motion carries.

[1:18:40] Thank you very much.

[1:18:41] We'll go back then to new business.

[1:18:44] Alderman Fletcher.

[1:18:46] Just to address one speaker that's not here now, I can promise you that if I'm laying

[1:18:54] on a hospital bed and I've got a Muslim doctor looking over me, I don't care.

[1:19:00] I'm baking on the fact that he's talented in what he's doing, and is there to say my life.

[1:19:05] Thank you.

[1:19:15] Thank you, Alderman Bergman.

[1:19:18] Yes, just a few minutes here, please.

[1:19:22] I'd like to speak on the topic of

[1:19:24] nuisance abatement and fixed or flattened for a little bit, please.

[1:19:29] As far as the administration goes, I would like to commend

[1:19:32] the administration and the leadership, since you've taken over here on her.

[1:19:37] You've been very supportive and the administration has been very supportive in the effort to help tackle new sense of

[1:19:44] abatement and to fix a flat program.

[1:19:47] You have made a priority in the budget and to allocate resources to try to help with the problem,

[1:19:54] which is a real problem in the city.

[1:19:56] And it seems to be growing bigger and more towards the east end of town.

[1:20:00] Every year. We've allocated more funding to take legal action against the court system to take it to the court system to help

[1:20:11] abate some of the major nuisance cleanups and the properties and fixer flatten. We've increased the fee charged per

[1:20:18] an hour when a central service crew has to go out and clean up a nuisance property, which

[1:20:24] helps recoup some of the cost to clean this mess up for the taxpayer.

[1:20:34] But it is a cost and

[1:20:35] it comes out of cost to the taxpayers. We spend more money every year to help clean up nuisance

[1:20:41] problems to do fixed or flatten. But at the end of the day it's a necessary cost. Is it a cost,

[1:20:48] And it is at a problem in some of the parts of town or in some of the wards, no.

[1:20:53] The majority of the problems for fixed or flattening for nuisance are going to be the river wards,

[1:20:58] wards 1, 2, and 7.

[1:21:02] And years ago, I think, probably government in general.

[1:21:09] It really hasn't worried too much about the west end of town, but unfortunately, the wards on the west end of town,

[1:21:16] as far as nuisance and blight is bleeding to the east every year.

[1:21:21] So I am very pleased that we are trying to work on it from a financial standpoint.

[1:21:26] Religious standpoint to try to help alleviate the problem or try to minimize it going

[1:21:31] forward.

[1:21:33] It is a necessary cost to use the tax dollars, which unfortunately could be used for other

[1:21:37] services and Quincy to help cleaning up some of these properties, but it is the city's

[1:21:44] responsibility to protect and to help the neighbors out there that have to live around

[1:21:49] these properties and are doing the right thing and taking care of their properties and

[1:21:52] taking pride in their properties.

[1:21:56] I said from day one, when I ran for this office in the city 11 years ago when I was

[1:22:03] out talking to people, I don't care if you like a neighbor, if you talk to your neighbor

[1:22:08] but you'd better be a good neighbor and cut your grass and take care of your garbage otherwise

[1:22:12] we're coming after you. And that hasn't changed today. A couple of things we do need to work on

[1:22:19] that we do need to try to detour and decrease the amount of times that the city has to

[1:22:24] clean up the same property because the repeat offenders is a legitimate problem. So we have to

[1:22:31] try to figure out how to tackle that better. And we need to establish better and faster methods to

[1:22:37] recoup the cost of the nuisance cleanups and fixer flattened because it is tax dollars

[1:22:43] that we're using that we need to try to figure out better ways to recoup some of that money

[1:22:47] for the rest of the taxpayers that are doing the right thing and provide them better services

[1:22:52] in the city. Currently right now we have 124 properties on the list for central services to

[1:23:00] clean up and that's grass and garbage issues.

[1:23:05] We do a good job as far as the inspection

[1:23:07] department with the old amount turning in properties to the inspection department,

[1:23:11] the problem properties, the inspection department sends on a notice and then after seven days

[1:23:16] of it's not cleaned up we send it to central services for them to clean it up. The problem

[1:23:21] is we have such a backlog on the back end, it's not on the front end of reporting problems,

[1:23:25] it's figuring out how to clean up these problems in a timely manner so that the neighbors

[1:23:30] don't have to deal with it any more than they have to or any longer than they have to.

[1:23:34] We're about six months out from next year's budget and that's not a good thought for

[1:23:39] a lot of people because the budget has always a challenge.

[1:23:44] But going forward next year's budget again is going to have to have a real discussion about

[1:23:48] how much money can we allocate towards fixed or flatten and for nuisance to help protect

[1:23:54] the neighbors out there that are doing the right thing and deserve to be protected from

[1:23:58] bad neighbors.

[1:24:01] With that being said, I would like to refer to the legal department and the

[1:24:07] inspection department and the city's treasure to review current city ordinances pertaining to

[1:24:13] nuisance abatement. I'd like to look at options authorized by the state of Illinois to impose

[1:24:21] escalating fees for chronic nuisance properties and to collect on outstanding nuisance abatement

[1:24:27] charges. Some other areas to look at possibly please would be administering administrative

[1:24:36] fines,

[1:24:40] special assessments on property tax bill, placing leans on personal property for

[1:24:47] the clean up of nuisance properties,

[1:24:52] putting assessments on the city utility bills for

[1:24:56] closure of abatement leans.

[1:25:00] At the end of the day we need to see what is legally available as available to the city of Quincy from the State of Illinois to a better job to do a better job to collect money faster and more often than what we're doing right now to help offset the cost to the taxpayers because it is a huge cost to taxpayers keeping the city clean and making sure people are following the ordinances.

[1:25:26] I'm not going to put a timeline on this, but it would be a piece of the puzzle in conjunction

[1:25:33] with the budget going in the next year, as far as how we tackle new sense of payment

[1:25:38] and fixer flattened.

[1:25:39] But I would like a report back to the council with ordinance changes or some new ordinances

[1:25:46] possibly.

[1:25:47] Thank you very much.

[1:25:49] We actually hope to have a new ordinance, a revision of an ordinance to you within the next

[1:25:55] couple of weeks.

[1:25:57] We may want to take a little bit of extra time though now and look at some of these other options to see what our options are.

[1:26:05] It's difficult to get,

[1:26:10] there's some repeat offenders that have been repeat offenders for 10 years.

[1:26:18] But that doesn't mean we have to stop trying, so we'll keep going at it.

[1:26:23] And I do understand what some of these issues and some of the methods that we might try to use are utilized.

[1:26:31] Some people might sit there and look at the bottom line as far as the amount of money we get back and return for the amount of money and effort we put into it.

[1:26:38] But also at the end of the day, if it's the right thing to do, it's the right thing to do.

[1:26:42] we need to stand unprincipal, and even if it does not make sense in some situations financially,

[1:26:50] it's the right thing to do to hold people accountable and to send a message that if you're

[1:26:55] a property owner and Quincy, you need to carry a property, you need to be a good neighbor

[1:26:58] for your neighbors.

[1:26:59] And if not, it's our responsibility to protect the good neighbors.

[1:27:02] So I appreciate it.

[1:27:04] I agree.

[1:27:05] Thank you very much.

[1:27:06] Alderman Bauer.

[1:27:07] Go ahead and I respond.

[1:27:09] Yeah.

[1:27:12] I came here a little bit more than a year ago and the mayor asked me what I wanted to do

[1:27:19] for the city and I said I wanted to work on nuisance. We formed a nuisance team with me,

[1:27:27] Michael Severs and Kevin Angel and his crew. We've already implemented new procedures that you will see

[1:27:36] reflected in our new, our new, new, since ordinance.

[1:27:40] So, your request is timely, but you know what?

[1:27:44] I always love it when people ask me to do something

[1:27:47] that I'm already doing, okay?

[1:27:50] And we've been doing it for months.

[1:27:52] Even the mayor has helped.

[1:27:53] Michael Seaver has helped.

[1:27:56] Bruce Alford and myself are interns.

[1:28:00] It has taken all of us to come through that new sense.

[1:28:03] to identify things I saw when I first came here.

[1:28:08] I was appalled at what I saw here.

[1:28:12] And the four accumulated properties that we have worked on,

[1:28:17] only one did not cooperate with us.

[1:28:21] Because that's one of our new procedures that we're using.

[1:28:25] We're asking people to cooperate with us

[1:28:29] and to keep control of their property

[1:28:31] and decide what they want to do with their accumulation.

[1:28:35] You would be surprised how people really want some help and they want the city to help

[1:28:42] them and acknowledge them and not, you know, act like they're a criminal.

[1:28:49] They know they have a problem with their accumulations.

[1:28:54] And we all know lots of times what that comes from.

[1:28:58] And I think the people that I have met doing this work are just so happy that someone has listened to them and helped them.

[1:29:09] And when they stand in front of the judge, and Michael Severs will tell you this is the same thing.

[1:29:14] When the judge comments and compliments them on how well they have done their whole demeanor changes, and they have some pride.

[1:29:24] And our new nuisance is going to reflect that new kind of procedure where we put our hand out and ask for the cooperation, that will save us money, that will save us having to make excuses to neighbors over and over and over why these things aren't being cleaned up.

[1:29:46] So I hope you see these new things in the news and statute, we're going to send you.

[1:29:56] In the 11 years that I've been sitting here, it's been incredibly frustrating.

[1:30:00] But from 11 years ago to now, a lot of the neighbors might not think so out there, but the city has moved forward so much better.

[1:30:09] And the biggest hurdle over the years, especially on the fixed or flat and side, has been the court system and the legal side of it.

[1:30:15] And since you've come on board, there's been great improvements, and I appreciate the help you've done the second award, because we've had a couple of major cleanups in the second award.

[1:30:24] a couple properties on a fixed or flat and that are going to be going on on a fixed or flat and that normally in the past.

[1:30:30] It's been a little bit of a challenge to get us moving forward.

[1:30:33] Again, everything that's been done and is happening currently is an improvement.

[1:30:38] And we are moving in the right direction.

[1:30:41] But at the end of the day, there are some opportunities out there on our side and to work with some other government agencies to try to do a little bit better to help recruit some of the tax dollars.

[1:30:49] So at the end of the day we need to do what's best for the neighbors to keep their neighbors clean and to protect tax dollars, so I appreciate everything. Thank you.

[1:30:59] And I agree and thank you very much and I'm not saying I've got all the answers. I just have some of them.

[1:31:07] We also have a proposal we're working with the county that will help us do some things that we haven't been able to do in the past in terms of some of these properties.

[1:31:19] If some of those come through to fruition, that would be an amazing benefit and a huge help.

[1:31:25] Going forward.

[1:31:26] So thank you.

[1:31:27] That's been a piece that's missing.

[1:31:29] Alderman Bauer.

[1:31:30] Just to see Kevin McClain afterwards.

[1:31:33] Alderman Nace.

[1:31:34] If I could see Chief Tyler really fast at the end.

[1:31:37] Thank you.

[1:31:38] Alderman Atkins.

[1:31:39] No, thank you, Your Honor.

[1:31:40] Alderman Eman.

[1:31:41] Yes.

[1:31:41] If I could see Jason Paret after a piece.

[1:31:44] Thank you.

[1:31:44] You're welcome.

[1:31:45] Alderman McRennels.

[1:31:46] Yes.

[1:31:46] Glenn and I let 13D go by and if we could, if I could make a motion to wave 3231 and go ahead and vote on that tonight.

[1:31:57] I'd appreciate it.

[1:31:59] So I'm, I so move.

[1:32:02] I second.

[1:32:03] Okay.

[1:32:04] It's been moved and seconded that 13D, the first presentation of an ordinance entitled an ordinance,

[1:32:10] vacating easements in Ward 5 that we 32 31 this all in favor of 32 31 say I oppose

[1:32:20] nay motion carries I'll now entertain a motion to approve 13 D.

[1:32:29] It's been moved and seconded any discussion yes the reason we're doing this is that the

[1:32:35] the petitioner wants to be the construction on the vacated

[1:32:39] easement and because of the due weather time of this time of

[1:32:44] the year, he wants to get started immediately.

[1:32:46] So that's the reason we are asking for a 32 31 easement.

[1:32:52] Any questions or other discussion?

[1:32:55] If not, Madam Clerk, please call the roll.

[1:32:57] Audeminer, McGrennel.

[1:32:59] Ebing.

[1:33:00] I.

[1:33:00] Reade.

[1:33:02] I.

[1:33:02] You select?

[1:33:03] Hulshlone?

[1:33:04] Fletcher?

[1:33:05] Hulshlone?

[1:33:06] Interim?

[1:33:07] Bergman?

[1:33:08] Bower?

[1:33:09] Maize?

[1:33:10] Edkins?

[1:33:11] Hulshlone?

[1:33:12] Cessent?

[1:33:13] 13 Eyes?

[1:33:14] Motion carries.

[1:33:15] Thank you very much.

[1:33:17] We will go back to new business then.

[1:33:20] Alderman Reynolds?

[1:33:21] Anything else?

[1:33:22] Yes.

[1:33:22] I also need to see Kevin tonight if I could please.

[1:33:25] And then.

[1:33:28] Just real quick.

[1:33:34] I love my muscle and I have friends of everything, you know, and this thing is, it's just

[1:33:43] gross what was said, but it's also gross that there's not free speech on both sides.

[1:33:53] And so you all can come at me for saying one thing and you all can come at me for saying

[1:33:56] the other, but I just felt like I needed to say something in support of my friends of office,

[1:34:03] including my, my own friends, thank you.

[1:34:06] Thank you.

[1:34:08] Alderman Ebbie.

[1:34:09] Not in your honor.

[1:34:10] Thank you, Alderman Reese.

[1:34:12] Just see Jeffrey County after the meeting of Vex.

[1:34:14] Thank you, Alderman Reed.

[1:34:16] Yeah, it's great to hear about the advancements in the way we deal with news.

[1:34:19] I think for all Alderman, it's a constant issue that pops up, especially in seventh, first

[1:34:25] second pops up in the 642 it's just not as dense as there but it does make a big difference

[1:34:34] when you have a otherwise nice block and then one yard that hasn't mode for a while I got one

[1:34:40] house near my property that looks like you could film a Vietnam War movie in the backyard right now but

[1:34:48] so good to hear that and it was good to see Brian Oaker, one of my friends from high school graduated

[1:34:54] with him, get on the fire department, his, both of our parents were fired.

[1:35:00] So that's probably how we became friends in grade school. And I'll tell you this every new year's Eve. I couldn't wait to go to his house and for his new year's party and play video games all night. So it is good to see that.

[1:35:13] Great. Thank you. All of them to use the lack.

[1:35:15] Yeah.

[1:35:18] This is a small list of instances where the Muslim community showed up to help their neighbors. After Hurricane Katrina.

[1:35:28] They sent four, somebody over here just said Jesus Christ, what, really?

[1:35:33] You're sitting all the room, shut the hell up.

[1:35:36] I'm sorry.

[1:35:37] They're referring to me, I said Jesus Christ because I don't have as many candies in my drawer.

[1:35:41] Somebody's been in my drawer.

[1:35:42] You can candy, so I don't know what you're assuming, so what you don't have is when you're

[1:35:45] soon.

[1:35:46] And nothing to do with your statement, all right?

[1:35:47] So you shut the hell up.

[1:35:49] All right, you got it.

[1:35:50] We both have our right free speech.

[1:35:52] You'll forgive me if I say the word Muslim and I hear the word Jesus Christ.

[1:35:55] It is a piece of advice.

[1:35:57] All of her men use the lack has the floor right now.

[1:35:59] No, no, I continue.

[1:36:01] No, I, I, I started it.

[1:36:03] All of them are going to just defend themselves.

[1:36:05] That's fair.

[1:36:06] After Hurricane Katrina, the Muslim community sent four consecutive trucks.

[1:36:11] Similarly, trucks loaded with donated water, closed, perishable items and canned goods, along with

[1:36:15] debris removal crews to help with the cleanup from Hurricane Katrina.

[1:36:20] Hurricane Harvey, Muslim families across the country donated to the Houston Food Bank in

[1:36:25] American Red Cross, Charleston Church Massacre, Muslim

[1:36:29] organizers launched a campaign to help rebuild black churches

[1:36:32] that had burned in the aftermath. And after the Tree of Life,

[1:36:36] synagogue shooting in Pittsburgh, the Muslim community

[1:36:39] stepped up to donate and help them rebuild. We've had

[1:36:43] Nizlamic Center in town for 25 years, and I guarantee most

[1:36:46] of Quincy didn't even know about it until your

[1:36:48] comments, Mike. We've not had a single issue with our

[1:36:52] nameless neighbors, never. And we have to hold ourselves and each other to the absolute highest

[1:37:00] standard possible. If I ever flood it, I'd expect you all to tell me. I did at 30 seconds

[1:37:04] to go with Alderman Bergman and he called me out right there. And you know what? Alderman Bergman

[1:37:08] and I could go get a beer after this meeting and things would be just fine. We have to hold each

[1:37:12] other to a high standard and Mike, you've loved it. Your comments were bigoted and they were

[1:37:22] not mean that you should exercise that right.

[1:37:25] If you actually feel bad about your comments,

[1:37:27] you should issue a legitimate apology.

[1:37:30] Personally, I think that you should ask for censorship

[1:37:33] if you feel bad, because that would be an opportunity

[1:37:36] for you to learn.

[1:37:37] At minimum, I think you need to tell your supporters

[1:37:40] to stop spewing this absolute hate that they are spewing.

[1:37:44] I think that you should meet with these long extended leaders

[1:37:46] because I think it would be eye-opening.

[1:37:49] And I hope that you can learn from this.

[1:37:51] If an apology comes though, it's not the end of the conversation, because a half-assed comment is not good enough.

[1:37:56] We are here to represent this entire city, and we have to mean the words that we say.

[1:38:02] And I sincerely hope that you did not mean the words that you said about our Muslim neighbors.

[1:38:07] The right to free speech has meaning and I'll exercise mine.

[1:38:10] If you're a Muslim resident reading this and you're wondering whether you're welcome in Quincy Illinois, you are.

[1:38:15] And finally, if we truly don't have any influence over the words that our spouses say, then

[1:38:20] buddy, my wife has a few choice words for you.

[1:38:25] Oliver Minhoch Slub.

[1:38:26] I'm moved with adjourned.

[1:38:28] It's been moved in seconded, all in favor, I oppose name, motion carries.

[1:38:33] We are adjourned.

[1:38:34] Thank you very much.

City Council

Agenda

Transcript