Good evening.

Welcome to the City of Joliet pre-council meeting for Monday, November 17, 2025, at 5 30 in City Hall.

Councilman Chambers with our mayor Terry Darcy presiding.

We'll begin with roll call.

Mayor Darcy.

Here.

Councilman McCartanas.

Here.

Councilman McClement?

Here.

Councilman Hug.

Here.

Councilman of our own.

Here.

Councilman Marino.

Here.

Councilman Mudron.

Councilwoman Queman.

Here.

Councilman Verden.

Here.

Mayor, real quick.

I would ask Mayor Pro Cam to move forward the motion to sanction me for holding up this meeting for Matt.

Todd, will you make note of that, please?

I'll make the motion.

There you go.

So just say an extra minute after class.

There you go.

I think you want to occasion.

I think we're at all in favor.

Look at this.

I voted for it.

I'll just deal with it.

Sorry about that.

Okay, we'll move forward with our presentation.

Budget presentation by Kevin Singh, Director of Finance.

It's coming up.

There we go.

Good evening.

So this is the first official council presentation for the budget.

It'll be on the operating budget.

Tomorrow morning I'll email the budget out to the to the council.

But I just wanted to take a few moments just to recap a few things on that.

So just wanted to go through the budget process.

So first thing that's big for this year's budget is we use our accounting system for the budget.

So in the past, of those that didn't know, behind the scenes, we were using Excel spreadsheets for everything, kind of putting things together.

So move towards the use of our financial software.

Some impacts, obviously, it's less labor-intensive.

Departments are actually entered that budget in themselves.

So it's more collaborative, they're easier to share information.

And then another thing that you'll see as you'll go through the budget is revenues that are generated by specific departments are actually being recognized in those departments.

Perfect example is things like police fines are in the police department, uh, ambulance building in the fire department, and so on.

Uh so with that, obviously the the sheets will look a little different than you may have seen in the past, but all the information should still be there.

And then another benefit of this change was uh widespread use of our accounting system.

So the process so far to date, we did a formal kickoff on June 3rd.

Um, where we then we trained all the departments on how to enter their budgets into our financial system.

We finished that at the end of June.

Um the budget requests were due July 21st, and then we went into one-on-one meetings with the departments and the city manager and finance staff.

We finished that at the end of October.

Uh early in November, uh budget director and I finished the revenue projections for the general fund in sewer and water.

And then just a recap, we talked about tax levy on October 21st at finance committee and November 4th at Council.

And what we discussed was that we would try to keep the rate the same.

This is just a snapshot of the major operating funds, which is the general fund and the sewer and water fund I highlighted.

Uh the column on the far right, which is where the draft is at so far.

Um general fund, obviously is small, small surplus.

You'll see to the left when everyone's requested their budgets.

We had a 5.3 million dollar deficit that we're able to work through to put it together as a surplus budget.

On sewer and water, the reason that surplus is so large, they don't they don't have separate capital funding.

So the 11.7 million or almost 11.8 million is what's used to fund their general capital improvements, things like sewer mains, lift station repairs, sewer plant uh vehicles, so on and so forth.

Uh some highlights in the general operating fund or the governmental fund revenues are up seven million, which is roughly a little over three and a quarter percent increase.

Uh breakdown there is sales taxes are up uh about estimated to be up about three million dollars.

Those are roughly due to just your general inflation, um internet sales, and then just additional retailers and change in retailers.

Income tax, which is our share of the state's income tax that we get from the state of Illinois on a per capita basis.

That's expected to be up 1.2 million based on the Illinois Department of Revenues estimate.

And then an extra half million for ambulance fees, 750,000 in building permits.

Both of those are related to trends that we're seeing both in the 25-year and then going forward.

Grants of two and a half, full disclosure that includes a 1.9 million dollar mental health grant that the council accepted not too long ago.

And then you know we are seeing some decreases.

The one is use tax, which is a self-reported basically sales tax.

That's going down one and a half.

Reason for that is some of that is already migrated into sales tax.

So retailers would self-report, they're now required to directly report to us.

The budget's going down a half million, repairs and maintenance going down about 1.3 million.

That one I would attribute to just the conscious effort from our facilities and buildings and ground staff of actually going and fixing some of our facilities that would have repairs that were needed, ropes and so on and so forth.

And then health insurance, you know, going up about five million the general fund and then liability, health work comp, I should say going up about five million in the general fund, and then liability insurance going up about six hundred thousand.

Reason we have liability going up that amount is looking to do a building appraisal and working with our new broker to make sure that values of our buildings are adequately set.

Um they saw some things that thought we should look at.

Last thing we want is a building undervalued if we have a loss.

For sewer and water, uh revenues going up 8.5%.

I'm sorry, eight and a half million.

Uh you have to split there between water and sewer.

Those are uh based on the rates that were set by council.

Then expenses, really, the main thing on the expenses for sewer and water is our share of Grand Curry now that Grand Prairie is up and running, we're getting ready to start construction.

Our contributions are based on uh estimated debt service for a commission, so that's going up about 2.8 million, and then debt service is going up about 9.6 million.

That debt service is for city infrastructure, water mains, and then once again if the council just to refresh everyone's memory, we fund a certain percent of Grand Prairie ourselves, so we have that debt service as well.

So we pay Grant Prairie two different ways directly, and then some debt service.

Um, you know, this slide is uh health insurance.

Reason is you know, the last couple years we've talked about making sure that health insurance is forefront just because it's been climbing as a percent of the general fund revenues or expenses.

And so this slide basically projects out our revenues in the general fund using uh historical average of about four and a quarter percent, and then insurance costs at about 12 and a half percent.

And what you're seeing is you know, in 26, it's uh insurance overall is roughly just below 17% of our total general fund.

Uh the retirees of that 17 make up about 8%.

And so the reason for this is just making sure that it's forefront in everyone's mind.

Um we have had some good discussions with the unions and will continue to do so.

You know, we need to do something so that this doesn't run away from us.

Um, you see by 2030, it's expected to be over 20 percent.

Um, and so we just want to make sure that all of our resources aren't going to this uh as opposed to other services, and so uh I think it's doing a good job of kind of raising awareness if you get everyone to the table to come up with a solution before it becomes a problem.

And then I also get asked about reserves, uh, so then the general fund at the end of the 24th fiscal year, uh we ended the year with 5.5 months of expenses and reserves.

Target is six.

Uh once we hit the target, basically then everything would flow into the capital improvement fund.

One thing to note, you know, as our expenses go up, you know, reserves need to go with them.

So for the 26 fiscal year, uh I'm sorry, the 25 fiscal year, we're projecting to end the year with about two and a half or 2.6 million dollar surplus.

Uh, we need 5 million to maintain 5.5 months.

So that's why you're seeing the drop in the number of months.

It's got nothing to do with spending of reserves, it's just got to do with those aren't keeping up with the total expenditures.

Uh, reserves are good, you know.

What are they?

They're things that are are these reserves are unrestricted reserves.

And so we do have an additional seven million that we received in a development fee for public safety facility.

Those are not in here because that money is one-time use or restricted uh based on the mechanism in which we collected.

And then you know, reserves, why do we have them?

They're made there to make sure that we are uh financially healthy, you know.

In case of uh it's also called the rainy day fund, in case of emergencies, unknowns, uh could be a you know a number of things from a loss of a large retailer to a major loss uh on the insurance side of things, and then also you know the pressures related to retire health, uh economic downturns.

And then they also then one of the benefits of reserves that they provide uh cash flow.

So we're able to earn interest on reserves, and so based on your current interest rates, we generate about five million dollars annually that goes back into the budget just from having reserves.

So the budget does have an additional personnel.

Uh those are broken in, you know, broken out in the general fund in sewer and water.

Uh general fund uh for firefighter paramedics.

Uh reason for that is to maintain uh NFPA standard uh in our response time.

So making sure that we're they're responding to emergencies in appropriate amount of time.

Got a financial account accountant in the police department.

This is something that's currently being handled by sworn personnel.

So by adding this, it would put sworn personnel back on the street.

Deputy director of HR, recruitment and retention coordinator in HR, and then a cultural affordable coordinator.

On sewer and water, uh, we've got a clerk typist.

Basically, this is a customer service person to handle the walk-in traffic or the additional walk-in traffic we've experienced, uh account clerk and service worker and sewer and water as well.

Budget also include includes grants to others, uh, those are the Realto in the Joy Area of Historical Museum.

Uh same level as we had in the 25 budget, 250 for the museum, 475 for the Royalto.

Remember, these are restricted grants set for specific purposes.

It's not that they can go spend.

Um Rialto's little more or museums has multiple tiers.

Realto is 100% capital improvements.

Once again, while this funding is included in the budget, the adoption of the budget does not award the grant.

There will be separate agreements that come to council before those grants are made by property tax levy.

We talked about this.

I think last meeting is roughly 12% of the bill.

Uh it's about 22% of our general fund revenues, looking to maintain the same tax rate and be the second year without an increase.

The budget process, so what's to come?

Uh so starting tomorrow, looking to schedule one-on-one meetings with council members to go through the budget, uh, make any final tweaks.

Uh so once again, it is possible that the budget I send out could be different from what's the final version.

Uh, we will then have a December 2nd look to adopt a tax levy and hold a budget public hearing.

Obviously, you'll probably see me back again doing another presentation.

Uh, and then December 16th, budget adoption, and then also the bond abatement ordinances for those that aren't familiar.

We have two general obligation bonds that when we issue those bonds, there's a tax levy against all property in the city.

Since we have other revenues to fund those, we must abate those so that there's no they're not charged to the property office.

So the 26th fiscal year.

Sorry, I'm trying to catch up on my slide.

Um, you know, I think overall message that our you know our finances are structured to uh to ensure long-term financial stability.

We've got a good diversified revenue stream.

Um, we've got you know things for specific uh costs, such as our fuel tax for vehicle replacements, casino or casino gaming is for our capital, so we've got dedicated streams of revenue for some of our larger expenses or things that are putting pressure on us.

Another thing we do is we try to be realistic and conservative in our revenue projections.

We don't get out in front of our schemes, you know, hoping that we're gonna collect more.

We we look at based on outside factors and historical averages, and then you know, we continue to increase awareness for things that put pressure on our budget, such as health insurance.

Um, I think that pressure has led us to make changes, which roughly has saved us.

You know, the council has done things to save a million dollars a year on our insurance, uh, just from some of the changes we've made already.

And then, you know, we do have minimal new positions, uh, mainly their public safety, quality of life, and service to the community.

And then I think my final slide, um, you know, just some more snippets.

Um, you know, we're spending within our means, uh, you know, we're not we don't have a deficit uh budget, and then you know the remainder of the budget's status quo.

There's no new taxes or increases in taxes or fees, continuing our core services.

Uh we do have things in there for things like the Route 66th anniversary and programming for the new uh city square and various cultural affairs and events.

So with that, uh I'll be sending the budget out uh next couple of days, and then reach out to me to schedule a meeting to go through it one-on-one and make sure everything's accounted for.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Kevin, just real quick.

Um, you know, we've had a lot of calls, and people have called us about the water bills.

They're going up five percent a year.

Is that pre-acurate four and a half percent?

Well, these water goes up 17 and have sewer, I think is five.

Okay, but uh I gotta check the sewer.

Did remember that.

Maybe tomorrow we can touch base.

And then how's Hollywood doing out there, Hollywood Casino?

Um, so I actually looked today.

Revenues uh combined.

I looked at both casinos combined, and so we are a couple hundred thousand more than we historically have been, but it's I've already seen in the last two months.

From month to month it's peaked and then starting to come down.

Thank you.

So but overall we're doing good, and we are historically casino revenues have slowly declined as the states opened more and more votes in video gaming.

Um, but I am based on the numbers keeping it at status quo for next year.

So thank you.

Next to citizens to be heard on agenda items.

Is there anyone who would like to speak on an agenda item this evening?

If if you'd like to speak on your item.

Uh my name is Biffin Sharma.

Thank you for having uh at the meeting tonight.

I have a property, 616 Williamson uh located in Joliet, and I was looking to get that uh rezoned, I guess.

It used to be a church, and prior to that when I purchased it, it was zoned as an R3.

So when I bought it, I bought it under the attention of uh residential.

And then the city of Joliet came and kind of said that's not the case.

Apparently, it was zoned for a special use permit, and I just basically wanted the special use to be removed so I could keep it in R3.

So that's hopefully something we can get done.

If you have any questions about the property or anything like that, it'd be more than happy to answer it.

Good.

Oh, mayor.

To do that, you would have to go through zoning.

Someone could from um staff could help and go through that process.

There's a process you'd have to go through and uh you are.

The whole process you went to zoning as well.

Yeah.

Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't catch that part.

I know the city said that you what was a special use, but I didn't realize that you came to the meeting to do that.

I didn't know, you know, because sometimes they just talked to you on the side.

Oh, it was on the uh it was on the agenda for zoning board.

Okay.

And they denied it.

Is that what they said?

I I don't know if it was denied.

Oh no.

Okay.

Because that's what I was wondering.

I thought maybe they told you right away, but I didn't know that you went through the process already.

Um, yeah.

So the first hearing was I but uh it was back in September, right?

It was approved by zoning uh four to zero.

Oh, okay.

So you went through the whole process, right?

I didn't I misunderstood.

I'm sorry, yeah.

Sorry for that.

I'm sorry, too.

Yeah, okay.

Is there anyone else who would like to speak under citizens to be heard on an agenda item?

Okay, seeing none.

Next, we will have the city manager review tomorrow night's actionable items.

Okay.

Um we'll start with the consent agenda.

Uh award of contract for the 2025-2026 tree removal and stump grinding project to Arbor Tech Landscape Services and the amount of ninety-nine thousand nine hundred and eighty-one dollars and fifty-six cents.

This was budgeted for and um includes the removal of parkway trees as well as grounding the stumps out.

Council Memo 60125, award of contract for the 2025-2026 tree trimming east project to Arbor Tech Landscape Services and the amount of 92,530.

This is our also been budgeted for, and it will be for parkway tree trimming on the east side.

Council Memo 6025 is the exact same thing, just on the west side for an amount $58,606.

Um Council Memo 603 25 has been requested that we move it out of the consent on to the regular agenda.

This uh is an award of professional services agreement for citywide service level and staffing study to rough tell us in the amount of 156,500.

We do have it budgeted in 2025.

Um so this is just uh approving the expenditure.

Uh so tomorrow at the city council meeting, Lauren will remove it from consent to um you know, so we'll have a full vote on it.

Council Memo 60425 approval of purchase of four heavy-duty dump plow bodies from Henderson products in the amount of five hundred and sixty-five thousand four hundred and twenty-four dollars and twenty cents.

Um, due to extended construction lead times in order to receive completed vehicles in 2026, the order for the dump bodies needs to be placed now.

Placing the order now will lock in the price, avoid future price increases, and ensure a 2026 build, slot, and delivery.

Council Memo 60525, approval of amendment number one to the phase three professional engineering services for the whole boat road, U.S.

Route 6 to I 80 Roadway Reconstruction Project Project to Civil Tech Engineering and the amount of 296,695 and 86 cents and payment request number 27 and final and the amount of $392.892,850.96 cents.

This is the diverging diamond work that was done, and IDOT will be reimbursing us for all of this work.

Council Memo 60625, approval of change order number two for the 2023 sidewalk curb replacement project contract B to Davis Concrete Construction Company in the amount of $15,352.92 and payment request number four and final in the amount of $29,902 and 37 cents.

This is uh due to some additional work that we did at ADA ramp uh locations and some sidewalk repair.

So uh that's why we have the change order.

Council memo 60725, award of contract for the purchase and installation of the HVAC replacement of five rooftop units at Slammer Stadium to anchor mechanical in the amount of 242,041 dollars and eighty cents.

Um Juliet Slammer Stadium has five rooftop units, and these units are over 23 years old and began failing in the summer.

They're beyond their life expectancy.

So this will be to replace those.

Council Memo 60825, award a contract for the former Stadium Club asbestos led abatement project to nationwide environmental and demo LLC in the amount of 227,700.

The former stadium club is located at 141 East Jefferson Street and is adjacent to the Slammer Stadium behind Wright Field.

Due to the age of the building, it contains asbestos and lead throughout.

To continue our efforts to maintain, update, and redevelop it, city-owned facilities is recommended to abate the asbestos and lead.

Council Memo 60925, award a payment for the Juliet Area Historical Museum Gallery Ceiling Repair and Painting Project to Cosgrove Construction in the amount of $69,275.

The museum was built in 1909.

Last year we were able to replace the roof and eliminate the continued leaks that were occurring in the gallery.

And the next step is to repair the water damage on the ceiling.

It will require scaffolding to access the ceiling because the lift is too heavy for the subfloor.

Council Memo 61025, award of professional services agreement for the Southeast Joliet Sanitary District Water System Improvement Project to Baxter and Woodman in the amount of 1816.

So this will be reimbursed by ARPA funding from the county.

Council Memo 61125, award of professional services agreement for the professional engineering support services to Baxter and Woodman in the amount of $100,000.

This is our annual contract.

We use them for water modeling development review GIS, IAD reconstruction, review, and design and general municipal engineering.

It will combine the scope of services from multiple previous smaller contracts into one single contract.

Council Memo 6125, approval of amendment number one to the professional services agreement for the 2025 water and sewer financial planning services to Burns and McDonald Engineering in the amount of $20,000.

This will provide funding to complete additional on-call utility financial planning and rate-related services.

Council Memo 61325, approval of change order number one for the Guarnsley Park Sanitary Sewer Rehabilitation Program to hair construction in the amount of 299,346.40.

This is $3 million in additional work for sewer lining and other changes that we've added.

Council Memo 61425, award of contract to Dreft RuPra Engineering Services for auto audio visual services in the amount of $73,500.

Council Memo 61525 approval of amendment number one for the phase three engineering services for Chicago Street Streetscape, Jefferson Street to Cash Street, City Square, and Watermane Improvements to V3 companies and an amount not to exceed $150,000.

This amendment is for an extension of engineering services into the spring of 2026 for final project completion and oversight of expanded construction contract work.

Moving on to agenda items, Council Memo 61625, approval of change order number two for Chicago Street Streetscape, Jefferson Street to Cast Street City Square and Water Main Improvements to Austin Tyler construction and the amount of 579,861 dollars and two cents.

If anyone was listening earlier to the public service committee, this was um just sorry.

Yeah, thank you.

That was discussed in at length.

Um council memo six seventeen twenty five approval of change order number four for the Hobolt Road Roadway Reconstruction Project to deconstruction inc, a deduction in the amount of two million two hundred and forty-two thousand seven hundred and thirty-nine dollars and seventy-one cents and payment request number twenty-five and final and the amount of one million eight hundred and twelve thousand six hundred and four dollars and twenty-five cents.

This is a balancing of quantities.

Um IDOT will be reimbursing us for all of this as well.

Moving on to ordinances, council memo six nineteen twenty-five ordinance approving a variation of use to allow a mixed-use structure located at 616 Williamson Avenue.

Uh this is the one we just talked about that was passed at the zoning board of appeals.

However, our staff does not concur with the recommendation of the zoning board of appeals because a mixed use proposal for the existing church structure is a prohibited use and recommends that the mayor and city council deny the ordinance approving a variation of use to allow a mixed-use structure with the dwelling unit and non-residential storage at 616 Williamson Avenue.

Since the building will contain two principal uses, one of which is not a residential use, the owner needs approval of a variation of use in the R31 and two family residential zoning district.

Council memo six twenty-twenty-five ordinance approving a special use permit to allow a truck and trailer parking and storage lot located west of Vera Court, south of Oak Leaf Street.

Uh the purpose is to allow trailer parking and passenger vehicle parking on three lots in the center of the Oak Leaf Center Industrial Subdivision.

The property is zoned I-1, light industrial, and the industrial uses are happening in that area already.

Council Memo 62125 ordinance approving a special exception to allow a roof-mounted solar installation located at 3300 Shanahan Road, which is the target distribution center.

The purpose is to allow roof-mounted solar for community supply on an existing warehouse.

The property is zoned I-2, General Industrial.

Your resolutions, Council Memo 62325, resolution accepting the 2025 Powering the Holidays grant from the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus in partnership with COMED for the 2025 grant fiscal year.

It's a $2,500 grant.

We match with $500 from the city, and it will provide energy efficient lights for the city square for the holidays.

Council Memo 62425 resolution authorizing the execution of an intergovernmental agreement between Central Will Dial a ride and the county of will and the acceptance of grant funds under Title 20 of the Social Security Act.

Council Memo 62525, resolution approving an intergovernmental agreement with Illinois Department of Transportation for the I-80 at Illinois Route 53, Chicago Street Interchange Improvement Project.

The total project is $165 million, which the city has to pay for only $24,150, and that's due to our emergency vehicle preemption, also known as EVP, emergency vehicles going through lights when there is an emergency.

That's the only portion that the city has to pay for.

City minimal 62625 resolution approving an intergovernmental agreement with the Illinois Department of Transportation for the I-80 at Des Plains River Improvement Project.

The total cost of this project is $183,417,58.

The city is responsible for the costs of the water maintenance sewer relocations on McDonough Street with a set separate reimbursement reimbursable agreement to recover 423,500 of the costs.

Um resolutions required to approve the IGA.

Council Memo 62725 resolution authorizing approval and execution of a project labor agreement with the will and Grundy County's Building Trades Council and the Three Rivers Construction Alliance for Joliet Projects in the Alternative Water Source Program.

Council Memo 62825 resolution approving an intergovernmental agreement with the Illinois Department of Transportation for the I80 at Chicago Street Interchange.

Here we're relocating water, sewer, etc.

And as you heard from Tony during public service, IDOT will pay because the city had a right to the property prior to I-80 being installed.

Council Memo 62925 resolution approving an intergovernmental agreement with the Illinois Department of Transportation for the I-80 at Des Plains River Bridge Project.

Is reimbursing us for engineering costs.

Beth, I just uh want to take a moment here to thank uh you, the mayor, Alice and Greg.

Um, you know, I bring up things that I believe need to be fixed, and along with other you know, citizens of this community.

Uh the Black Road, Six Corners Corridor, you guys fix the manhole covers, and I just want to thank you.

Like we don't we don't get to say that a lot of times, right?

But uh the people that live there are happy, I'm sure everybody driving in in the morning or at night, you know, they're not hitting these big uh manhole covers, so I want to take the opportunity to thank you for for you know taking care of that.

There is one on uh in front of MCO building on Jefferson Street, it's an electrical box cover.

That thing's been there for years, and I it's probably the state issue.

You hit it.

Anybody going uh going eastbound hits it probably if you're in that northbound north side of the road, you hit it every day.

It's been there for years.

Where did you say it was it's right in front of the MCO building there in uh Jim Glasgow's office?

Oh, it's it's it's it's uh in a lot, it's a square box, steel box there.

Okay, and if we can get somebody to work on that, it's been crushed there for many years.

Okay, and then let's see here.

There was a um article today in the paper about one of our uh city workers, water department, and I I'm just here to to say publicly that guy works his tail off, and just like the police fire, water department, these guys are out here in the holes in the middle of the night in the winter, and he's the guy that answers the phone and comes out.

He is right, and he I just want to publicly say I support him, and you know, it just uh it's a shame that that he gets uh it's his turn today, right?

Tag we're it right, and it'll be the next guy the next day.

But I just want to tell him I stand behind him, I know everybody up here does.

He works his tail off just like the men and women of this whole city, right?

And I just that's basically what I have to say.

So yeah, and overtime, you know, like it's approved by directors, and it's because we've got the work, and it just so happens that this um gentleman is the only one that wants to take that much overtime and come out in the middle of the night and everything else.

So he does, and you know, when you do that, you're you're taking time away from your wife, husband, uh kids.

So, but I hats off to him, and I stand behind him and all the city workers are so thank you.

I appreciate that on behalf of all the city workers.

Yep.

I agree.

Thanks.

Okay, next we have public comment.

Is there anyone who would like to address the accounts this evening?

Good evening.

Uh, my name is Tristan Brown.

And I tell you, right, today it's very hard for me.

I really had to got my mother here with me who's passed away with me.

An incident happened to me.

Downtown Joliet, and I'm here about safety and protection.

And first of all, the reason why I have this strong hysteria, because I've been through some things, okay.

And when I called the chief and I called deputy, I'm still I stand up here for the protection of our community.

But if I can't stand for protection of myself, and all they did was trigger everything that I've been through that I came from.

I'm always at the Joliet Library, and at the Joliet Library, I'm there at 9 o'clock a.m.

to teach a class that Saturday morning.

I wasn't paying attention because I'm always there bringing stuff.

Give me that.

And some man came, tried to dug me, put his hands off.

And it triggered me back when I was in third grade at that same library when someone tried to rape me.

Everything that I forgot about.

He triggered.

And I called my to find out right before that.

That man had been at the Joliet Library on the second floor.

Try to talk with saying sexual things to a young kid.

Now I know that Chief Evans don't care about me and don't care.

And I've been always trying to, but I can't stand anymore because I'm tired.

I'm here because you have to understand we are downtown, Joliet.

There is a lot of homes.

There is a lot of things going down there.

I see it every day.

But when until it happens to you, when somebody is not paying attention, somebody could take you in any day.

That woman and that man feels hopeless.

Because I'm always thinking what I could have did differently.

I thought about that in sixth grade when I got raped.

I thought about it when I got raped from a doctor.

So everything that happened to me came back to me.

And all I asked.

Well, somebody just hear me.

So I go to your police department, and all I do is ask, can I get a copy of my report?

And they tell me I have to fill out a foyer.

At the end of the day, I just want to be able to trust and believe in my police department.

I have been talking to that chief Evans for I don't know how often he's been in office.

That man has ignored me.

And then I called that deputy Melllock because I guess if they figured if they get a black man to talk to me, it'd be different, and all he could do is say, I see that you're angry, and he hung up the phone.

And all I was really concerned with, even if it was just about that little boy.

That little kid who was on the second floor.

And if you guys remember years ago, somebody got raped out at that library.

I know you don't want to hear it, but you need to hear it.

You need to hear it because these things are happening.

You just you just arrested a pedophyte.

We gotta pay attention.

The chief gotta do a better job.

And listen, you guys all can't do it.

That could have been different for me.

But I stand strong here today because that's who I am.

But I'm gonna tell you, I am broken.

I am totally don't pray for me.

So that I don't have to continue putting this in my head, and I asked Chief Evans, quit ignoring me and people and do a better job.

He should know he was attacked right now in that same place.

That's all I gotta say to you all.

Is there anyone else who would like to address the council this evening?

I just want to say something really quick.

Um, I'm here for her also, but she is right.

There's a lot of things that go on there, not just the east side.

I live on the west side.

I have two kids who were teens back in maybe three years ago, who a many of you may know, his name is Robert Hernandez.

He actually did a lot of things to my teens.

One is a boy, and yeah, he is gay.

And I'm here with her because things do need to get done around this town.

I grew up here, this is my town.

I don't want to move, but me and my husband, we want to take the kids, and we just run away because this town sucks.

It's horrible, there's bad people out there, and if we don't address it, these kids that are gonna be the future, they are not.

They are not because there's bad people out here, and we do need to address it.

And hopefully the police department can maybe open their eyes a little bit more and maybe do a better job.

But we do need to open our eyes, please.

Please.

She took words around my mouth what she was saying, what I was gonna say tonight.

A lot of it's just gotta do with just when is Joe yet gonna start caring about our feelings or how we are.

We have our own lives.

We're trying to live in that one.

We keep getting ignored and ignored, and we keep getting abused.

And we voted in the property departments, police departments, authorities, and we don't seem to be getting anywhere.

I mean, I understand what she says about the cops not wanting to listen.

Oh, I've had it to where it happened to me and everything.

Oh, I'm going through whatever ever since I've lost my mother, and tomorrow secure anniversary of my mother dying.

So it's even more emotional for me not to even have her place anymore.

To go buy her place and just see her place for own weeds.

And I'm gonna have a home and still can't find home.

And I can't believe Jerry's not gonna my butt trying to get me out of the hotel, and I don't know where I'm supposed to go.

And it's just frustrating.

Late at night and more pain, so much pain.

I got more abuse from authorities and everything, and they just put more pain on my body to where I lay there at night, and it's like the other night I felt like I was sure I was gonna die.

I hurt everywhere, I was about to puke.

I couldn't breathe.

My heart was racing and everything.

I just couldn't even feel anything.

My whole body was numb, I've got his tingling.

The other day I tried driving to go on my physical therapy glass.

I couldn't even go there because I was all lightheaded and dizzy that day.

So I couldn't even go in my physical therapy, but which I suffered from a tap at her being evicted from my mother's place.

All the things I've suffered.

And she's took in the words right out of my mouth and the feelings.

I just express how much it hurts.

You all just think it's so easy to pack up and just go somewhere else and live.

You don't understand what I gotta face.

I gotta find a place not only for me but my for my brother when he gets out sexual offender.

You know, you can't go find a place in some divisions.

Can't go find places by churches and by schools and by parks.

So I'm having a fits just trying to find a new place for not only me, but for my pro brother when he gets out of prison.

Which is why my ma's place was so important to me.

And it's what she wanted.

But now, of course, it's gone.

And another thing.

Update here on Brandon Road Bridge.

I talked to Ida, I asked them about when the Brandon Road Bridge is gonna be open, because we all know Brandon Road Bridge has been closed for over two years now, and IDOT said it was gonna be open late summer or early fall.

And of course that's passed.

I call IDO and find out now, they're telling me June of 2026 it might be open.

Like that's almost three years of this bridge being closed, and all because of container trucks that went over it and kept kept breaking it.

Going to the stupid center going to remotes.

And I don't like that.

And another thing is this last thing is this property that was legacy trucking had bought, and they wanted to put their truck stop, gas station, truck terminal thing there.

When I guess this thing got approved, you know, by change of address, you know, hobo road and everything, and they snuck it in it.

They somehow got sold it to somebody else, and they're approved it, and now they're gonna have a warehouse built right across the street from you know, I got neighbors that still live out there.

Now I'm gonna put this ugly warehouse across the street from my next neighbor, my old neighbor's nice beautiful property he's got.

Like why are you guys gonna stop with the development and start getting back to people's lives and validators' lives?

Like Joe, like you said, about Charlie Cork.

Everybody's life is valuable.

Start taking value in our lives, please.

I'd just like to say um very quickly, and I'm sorry that Trissa's gone because I'd like to um just say I'm so sorry for the trauma that she experienced.

But I would like everyone to know that the men and women of our police department do defend all of our residents on a daily basis.

And Chief Evans cares just as much as everybody else.

This stuff keeps him up at night just like it keeps me up at night.

So he doesn't get to defend himself, but he's a wonderful chief who does a great job.

And I would like to announce that we arrested the um person who allegedly assaulted Trissa today.

And then I'd also uh to address the woman that was here from the west side.

Um, the person she's talking about, we've arrested three times, but the judge keeps letting him go.

So our police department is doing the work.

Um, and we need to continue to do to do the work and be really sensitive to these ha things happening.

They happen, you know, bad people are are all over the place.

It's not just Joliet, but we do um have an amazing staff that does a wonderful job, and I just want to stick up for our chief in that sense.

So that's all I have to say.

Okay.

Is there a motion to adjourn?

So moved.

Second.

All in favor?

Aye.

Meeting adjourned.