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Freeport council adopts ordinances, resolutions and contracts; plumbing permit fee raises sparks tie vote
Summary
The council approved a package of ordinances, resolutions and bid awards including parking of liquor code changes, a zoning variance, public‑safety software and radios, an intergovernmental telecommunicator agreement and two bid awards; a contentious plumbing‑permit fee ordinance passed after a mayoral tie‑break vote.
The Freeport City Council approved multiple ordinances, resolutions and bid awards and confirmed several appointments during its meeting. Several items were routine; notable votes included a 5–4 passage of an increase to plumbing permit fees after the mayor broke a tie, and debate over whether the city’s janitorial contract should include biohazard cleanup.
Among actions the council approved:
• Second reading and adoption of Ordinance 2025‑004, amending building and housing code permit fees to raise plumbing permit fees for city water/sewer connections to $150 and private‑side work to $100. The measure passed in a 5–4 recorded vote after Mayor Miller cast the tie‑breaking aye.
• Second reading and adoption of Ordinance 2025‑007, approving a variance at 207 West Empire Street to allow a front yard setback of less than 25 feet for an accessibility ramp. The ordinance passed unanimously, 8–0.
• Second reading and adoption of Ordinance 2025‑008, amendments to Chapters 608 and 806 of the liquor code (cleanup changes such as removing a landline requirement and updating insurance/certificate language). The ordinance passed in a roll call with eight ayes.
• Adoption of Resolution 2025‑12, renewing an agreement with Locality Media, Inc. (FirstDue) for the fire department’s records‑management software and modules. The fire chief described additional modules added since 2020; the resolution passed 8–0.
• Adoption of Resolution 2025‑13 authorizing purchase of 10 portable handheld Motorola radios and accessories for the police department (total cost $64,994.82), funded in the FY2025 capital budget. The resolution passed 8–0 after discussion of brand uniformity and budget source.
• Adoption of Resolution 2025‑14 approving an intergovernmental agreement to join the Illinois Telecommunicator Emergency Response Task Force (ILTRT). The council approved the agreement 8–0; staff said membership carries no fee and training is provided by the state.
• Bid approval: janitorial services for city hall and the police department. The low bidder, a small local company, won the contract after debate about biohazard cleanup language; a motion to remove the contract’s biohazard language failed, and the bid approval as presented passed on roll call.
• Bid approval: sewer cleaning/TVing for the 2025 paving program. The low bid from National Power Rodding of $60,820 — about $23,000 below staff projection — was approved.
Other routine items: approval of the consent agenda (which included finance bills payable of $2,589,777.37 and payroll of $565,979.57), reappointments to the ethics commission, and employee‑of‑the‑year recognitions across departments.
Roll‑call details and outcomes (selected):
• Ordinance 2025‑004 (plumbing permit fee increase): Clem — Aye; Monroe — No; Simmons — No; Parker — Aye; Stacy — No; Shadle — Aye; Sanders — No; Sellers — Aye; Mayor Miller — Aye (tie broken) — Outcome: approved.
• Ordinance 2025‑007 (variance, 207 W. Empire): Unanimous approval (8–0).
• Resolution 2025‑12 (Locality Media / FirstDue renewal): Approved 8–0; prior contract in 2020 was $11,205, current renewal increase noted as $9,620.03 over five years, and staff said the item is budgeted in IT.
• Resolution 2025‑13 (Motorola radios): Approved 8–0, total $64,994.82 from FY2025 capital budget.
• Janitorial services bid: low bidder selected; a separate motion to strike biohazard language failed, and the original bid approval passed on roll call.
• Sewer cleaning bid (2025): National Power Rodding low bid approved.
What council members said: Alderman Sanders repeatedly raised questions about biohazard liability and certification for cleanup; Manager Boyer and staff said the contract is for routine cleaning (vacuuming, mopping) and that true biohazard scenes would be handled by specialized contractors. Police and fire chiefs described operational needs behind software and radio upgrades and confirmed funding sources are in capital or IT budgets.
Next steps: staff will finalize contracts and insurance certificates, execute the approved agreements, and return to council with any required implementation details (for example, insurance certificates or proof of vendor registration).
