Council adopts overweight permit fee schedule amid debate over fairness and enforcement

Freeport — The City Council adopted an ordinance amending Chapter 460 of the code to formalize permits for overweight and oversized vehicles within city limits, including a $150 single‑use fee, a $1,200 annual fee and a $500 penalty for noncompliance.

The council’s second reading of Ordinance 2025‑44 sparked lengthy discussion about whether the $1,200 annual fee is fair and whether the city should instead adopt graduated fees based on route, axle weight or frequency. Alderman Schadl raised concerns that a local crane operator compared the city proposal to the state annual fee of $1,400 and had asked for a $500 annual fee; several council members and staff said they would prefer a more graduated, mapped approach but that staff lacks automated permitting systems common in larger cities.

Public works staff and Director Darren Stegall explained the ordinance is intended to give the city control over where heavy loads travel so newly upgraded streets are not damaged; the permit process will require route mapping and will allow staff to deny use of streets that have recently been repaired. Alderman Sanders and others asked for a written route‑mapping chart and more comparative data before setting fees; Sanders sought a visual map and a scaling chart to be available to the public. Alderman Stacy initially moved to delay the ordinance until September but later withdrew the motion when the council returned to the ordinance as presented.

City Attorney Zito clarified that the draft ordinance being voted on included the $1,200 figure and that no formal motion was made earlier to change that amount. The ordinance passed 8‑0 as presented. Staff said the fee schedule can be revisited by the council later and that annual permit fees collected will go to the general fund.