I wish we had the fridge.

Thank you so much.

I appreciate your welcome to the City of Joliet Council meeting for Tuesday, November 18, 2025 at 6 30 in City Hall Council Chambers with our Mayor Terry Darcy presiding.

We will have the invocation from Pastor DeAndre Robinson from New Beginnings Christchurch, after which he will lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance.

Good evening.

Gracious and loving God.

Bless them and their families.

Grant them clarity of mind, unity of purpose, and integrity in every decision made on behalf of this city and this community.

Lord, we pray for the safety of every resident in Juliet and the surrounding areas.

Cover our streets, our schools, our workplaces, our homes, and may your divine protection be with us all.

Let violence decrease and peace increase.

Not only because of policy, but because your presence is with us all, because your people stand in the gap for this community.

Father, we lift up families who are suffering.

We pray for those experiencing hunger, financial hardship, and emotional strain.

Strengthen those who are struggling silently, unsure of how they will make it through another day.

Surround them with resources, support and people who can help them and their families through these tough times.

Let every resident know they are seen, valued, and cared for.

We also remember the families grieving the loss of loved ones, whether through sickness, tragedy, or violence, bring comfort that only you can provide, heal broken hearts, restore weary spirits, and let peace settle us where pain once lived.

Lord, we ask that you make our city safer through this wise leadership, compassionate service, community collaboration, and the power of prayer.

Raise up organizations, churches, educators, mentors, and neighbors who will stand together to bring hope, equity, and resources and love to our city.

Help us to embody compassion and unity.

Let the Joliet area and community be where residents feel safe and protected, supported and treated with dignity.

Unite us across every line that could divide us.

No matter what our income, our neighborhood, or our background, God be with us all.

God empower us to be difference makers, use our hands and our voices, that we would serve you with our whole heart.

We thank you now for blessing this city, blessing all of the workers, our police and our firefighters, and all city workers.

We thank you for all, God, and we pray your hand be with us all in Jesus' name.

Amen.

Pledge allegiance to the head of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands.

One nation under God, indivisible with liberty, and justice for all.

Mayor Darcy.

Councilman Cardinals?

Here.

Council McClement?

Here.

Councilman Hug?

Here.

Councilwoman of Barrow?

Here.

Councilman Moreno?

Here.

Councilman Mudron.

Here.

Councilwoman Queman?

Here.

Councilman Rudon.

Here.

Next is the approval of the agenda.

Is there a motion to approve the agenda as written with the following change?

Remove council memo number 603-25 award of professional services agreement for a citywide service level and staffing study.

So moved.

Second.

It's been motion and seconded to approve.

Council McCartaness.

Councilman McClement.

Councilman Hug.

Aye.

Councilman of our councilman Moreno.

Aye.

Councilman Mudron.

Aye.

Councilman Quillman?

Aye.

Councilman Rudin.

Aye.

Mayor Darcy.

Aye.

Motion carried.

Next is citizens to be heard on agenda items.

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

Okay, seeing none.

Next, we'll move on to council committee reports.

We'll start with finance.

Thank you.

Uh is Councilwoman Sherry Rudon, Councilman Larry Hugg, and myself.

On the agenda, the first item which will be voted on tonight would be the staffing evaluation and the service level to go to the studies and ensure that we are allocating our resources, resources to the most efficient in the most efficient manner.

We also voted on it also on the agenda tonight would be a resolution accepting a $2,500 grant from the Metropolitan Mayor's caucus.

The October financial statement with 83% of the year behind us.

As the year progresses, this surplus will depre in paying the expenses out of it.

We do expect to see a surplus as sales tax, income tax, and permits are trending slightly above utility replacement, hotel motel, video gaming, and cannabis taxes are trending slightly below budget.

The sewer and water fund revenues are trending slightly above budget, and expenses are slightly below budget.

New to this meeting tonight is the parking overall is trending slightly better than budget, and the deficit is still trending lower than expected.

I'm not sure what Mr.

Singh is doing with this, but we accept it.

Museum quarterly reports.

Museum hosted over 10,000 visitors at their site.

That's my report.

Thank you.

Public service.

Public service met here at City Hall in the council chambers yesterday, Monday, the 16th, October, 2025, at 4 30 in the afternoon.

At the on the committee is Councilwoman Rudon, Councilman Mudrin, and myself.

And those contracts range between $59,000 and for the for the year and a hundred, roughly a hundred thousand.

All three went to the low bidder, which happened to be a company called Arbitech Landscape Services Incorporated.

The chassis will be bought at a later time or ordered at a later time.

The reason this was done is if we didn't do this now, we wouldn't get them next year.

Now by buying them this far in advance, we should get them by early fall next year at about the same time we get the chassis, and we can put them together and be ready for our snow removal for the winter next year.

And uh well, I believe if I remember correctly, correct me if I'm wrong, Greg.

Uh, we're using some monies.

Um what was uh the the uh monies we were using shifting monies, yeah.

Uh the money that is set aside for the pace building project that we're not gonna expect later.

Which won't be happening before then, so we'll use that money as already in the budget so that we can do that this year, and then next year that will be paid back to that fund.

Um but it's it's a smart move to get these uh trucks ahead of time, otherwise it could be another year and a half before we get the bodies.

Then we had a couple of uh engineering agreements for uh we looked at uh uh one with the Southeast Juliet Sanitary District water system improvements that new one incorporated area that we'll be bringing on as uh to our water system as customers for 181,600 and another one for the uh support services and generic support services, which is open-ended as we need them.

For instance, uh, if a company comes here and wants to uh put a development here, the expertise we need to get for Baxter Woodman to see what the impact would be on the water, for instance, on our current water supply, and also how it will impact the water after 2030, you know.

And there's experts uh on these in these private companies that nail these things right down.

So we looked at both the uh the service contracts with Baxter and Woodman.

All of the items under contracts were unanimously approved to be moved forward to the full council with committee recommendation for we had again a handful of uh change orders pay as the final payments.

We move forward to the full council with committee recommendation for we had again a handful of uh change orders pay as well as the final payments.

I'm not gonna go through each one.

Um I will point out that we are closing up a project, which is the uh part of the whole boat road project.

Um change order number four, which was a net deduction from the original estimate of construction of two point two million, so the final payment uh was lower, and we paid out uh the final payment of one or approved final payment of one point eight million.

So we looked at all of change orders and pay estimates any final payments, and we found them all to be in order.

Um and again, unanimously approved that they all be sent forward to the council or committee recommendation to approve.

Then we had several ordinance and resolutions.

Um two have to do with uh I-80, the state's I-80 project.

One is if I remember correctly, about one point six million dollar project, and uh the in the agreement we're responsible for twenty-four thousand dollars.

The state's paying the rest.

The other is a four hundred and sixty thousand dollar uh bridge repair, or part of the bridge repair if I remember correctly.

But what it is is we have utilities, city utilities that run under the uh the highway, but they've been they were there prior to the I-80 being built, so the state's got to pay that amount.

We have to have an intergovernmental agreement to get it accomplished and move it, but they're gonna pay that amount uh during negotiations now to finalize that.

Um we looked at a uh project labor agreement for our alternative water source program because we are now entering a phase of actively of getting and construction, and we got to make sure all the I's are dotted and all the T's are crossed with those uh people that will be working on the project if we can't afford any dislabor disagreements or strikes on a tight schedule.

We have to hit it by 2030.

So we're just getting ahead of the curve by having this agreement.

Um that's all I can really see that are worth mentioning.

Again, the ordinance and resolutions, we reviewed them, found them to be in order, and unanimously approved them to be sent forward to the full council committee recommendation to approve.

Um Sherry, Pat, did I miss anything?

No.

No, that's great.

Mayor, that would be my report.

Thank you.

I show no other reports.

Under consent agenda, approval of minutes.

It is recommended the minutes of the pre-council meetings on October 20th, 2025, and November 3rd, 2025, and the city council meetings on October 21st, 2025, and November 4th, 2025 stand approved is recorded.

Invoices to be paid.

It is recommended this report be approved.

Council memo number six hundred-25, award of contract for the twenty twenty-five-2026 tree removal and stump grinding project to ArborTech Landscape Services Incorporated, and the amount of ninety-nine thousand nine hundred and eighty-one dollars and fifty-six cents.

Councilmember number six zero one-25 award of contract for the twenty twenty-five-2026, tree trimming east project to ArborTech Landscape Services Incorporated in the amount of ninety-two thousand five hundred and thirty dollars.

Council Member number six zero two-25, award of contract for the twenty twenty-five-2026, tree trimming west project to ArborTech Landscape Services Incorporated, in the amount of fifty-eight thousand six hundred and six dollars.

Council Member number six zero four-25 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.

Councilmember number six zero five-25, approval of amendment number one to the phase three professional engineering services for the Holboat Road US Route 6 to I eighty Roadway Reconstruction Project, MFT section number sixteen-zero zero five zero three-zero zero-pv to civil tech engineering incorporated in the amount of two hundred ninety-six thousand six hundred ninety-five dollars and eighty-six cents, and payment request number twenty-seven and final, and the amount of three hundred ninety-two thousand eight hundred fifty dollars and ninety-six cents.

Councilmember number six zero six-25, approval of change order number two for the twenty twenty-three sidewalk curb replacement project contract B to Davis Concrete Construction Company in the amount of fifteen thousand three hundred and fifty-two dollars and ninety-two cents, and payment request number four and final, and the amount of twenty-nine thousand nine hundred two dollars and thirty-seven cents.

Councilmember number six zero seven-25, award of contract for the purchase and installation of the HVAC replacement of five rooftop units at Slammer Stadium to anchor mechanical incorporated in the amount of two hundred and forty-two thousand forty-one dollars and eighty cents.

Councilmember number six zero eight-25 award of contract for the former Stadium Club, asbestos-led abatement project to nationwide environmental and demo LLC in the amount of two hundred and twenty-seven thousand seven hundred dollars.

Council Member number six zero nine-25 award of payment for the Juliet Area Historical Museum Gallery Ceiling Repair and Painting Project to Cosgrove Construction Incorporated in the amount of sixty-nine thousand two hundred and seventy-five dollars.

Council Member number six ten-25 award of professional services agreement for the Southeast Juliet Sanitary District Water System Improvements Project to Baxter and Woodman Incorporated in the amount of one hundred and eighty-one thousand six hundred dollars.

Councilmember number 611-25 award of professional services agreement for professional engineering support services to Baxter and Woodman Incorporated in the amount of 100,000 dollars.

Council Member number 612-25 approval of amendment number one to the professional services agreement for the 2025 water and sewer financial planning services to Burns and McDonald's Engineering Company Incorporated in the amount of 20,000.

Councilmember number 613-25 approval of change order number one for the Guernsey Park Sanitary Sewer Rehabilitation Program to Hair Construction Incorporated in the amount of 299,346 and 40 cents.

Council Memo number 614-25 award of contract at Jeffrey Pra Engineering Services for Audiovisual Engineering Services in the amount of seven seventy-three thousand five hundred dollars.

Council Member number six fifteen-25 approval of amendment number one for the phase three engineering services for Chicago Street Streetscape Jefferson Street to Cast Street City Square and Water Main Improvements to V3 Companies in an amount not to exceed 150,000 dollars.

It is recommended Council Memos 600-25 through 602-25 and Council Memo 604-25 through 615-25 be approved.

Is there a motion to approve all said consent agenda items?

Motion approval.

Second it's a motion seconded to approve.

Councilman Clement.

Hi.

Councilman Hug?

Councilman Abarra?

Aye.

Councilman Marino.

All right.

Councilman Mudrin.

Aye.

Councilman Quomen.

Aye.

Councilwoman Reardon.

Aye.

Councilman Cardinals.

Mayor Darcy.

Hi.

Motion carried.

Now we have Council Memo number six zero three-25 award of professional services agreement for a citywide service level and staffing study to RAFTELS in the amount of 156,500.

So move.

Second.

Any comments or questions?

We did something similar several years ago, uh, six, seven years ago, eight years ago for police, fire, public service.

I don't think we ever got around to doing I'm sorry, public uh utilities.

We didn't get around to public service.

And the scope that was established by the council at the time was to find efficiencies at current, you know, employment levels, you know, get the most out of what you currently have.

This one, um, to make it short, I don't want to belabor this, I won't support it because we need to go look at those old reports or consulting reports and see that if we've accomplished what they said to do, we've already increased the staff in the last three or four years since 2022 by over 11%.

And this is a uh consultant with a bunch of retired public uh public sector um white collars in it, going to tell us that we need to hire them for me to support this would make me a hypocrite when I vote no when they come back and say we need to hire another 11%.

I voted no on the budget a couple of times in the last several years because way too many new jobs are being added.

So I don't think this is something we should do.

And for that reason, I'm sure it won't it will fail, but because I'd like to see us as a council and staff can go through it at the original um consultant reports we got for police fire and public utilities.

Um I would make a motion to table.

Oh, I I would second the table because um for what you said, just to review, and if after we reviewed it, we still need something, then we can always bring it back right away.

It just makes sense to me, especially when um we still have some contracts out there that are still not finished.

But it just makes sense.

Let's take a look at it, and um, we can always come back to that.

What contracts are not finished?

Oh, that's what you mean.

Okay.

Can I ask a question?

Mayor.

I want to know from Beth.

So if you have knowledge, the last time this study was done, the one that council.

It was passed on the seventh day of June 2016.

So since then we have exponentially grown, especially some of the departments.

The single family rental inspection was passed several years ago without the infrastructure to support that, and by infrastructure, I mean the staff to actually support that.

Um, and I think this is very important because our staff needs to catch up with the legislation that is passed up here.

So I think this is extremely important.

Thank you.

I would say that um we had 895 authorized positions in 2015.

We now have a little over a thousand in 2024.

Our workforce is growing, and with that we need to study it.

This is like a data-based study, so it's not.

I mean, I know it was brought up like could we have one of us do it, but none of us are experts in that.

That's why we need to hire the experts to kind of analyze the data and tell us how to best serve our community.

Like, I think you'll all agree with me that um city services are our number one priority for our residents, and we need to make sure that we are serving the public to the best of our ability.

And we can argue about you know specific positions, but I will tell you that all of these directors that are sitting here, they're not getting time and a half to sit here.

They work their rear, they work their tails off with like less staff than they probably should have.

So who knows?

Maybe this will come back and say, you know, we need maybe you know, we need more plow drivers or something, and so we get public utilities involved in that.

I don't know.

I mean, these are things that we just need to identify what the issues are, and then we can all get together and say what are the city's priorities.

You as elected officials, I I mean, I ref I respect being an elected official so much because your communities chose you to do what's best for the city, and um you'll always be a part of those conversations.

But first, we need a baseline.

We have not done a study like this citywide.

There's a lot of things that have been done in the city over time piecemeal, and my goal is to make sure that all of our departments are operating that the way that they should be, and we're not doing something in one department, we're not doing in another.

Like we need to make sure we have the efficiencies, and this this is really the way to do it.

Maybe um Beth or Greg ready?

Excuse me for one minute, okay.

Pat's got the floor, Jen.

I'm sorry.

But it's that we had a table on there, and this table was seconded.

That's why I'm going there.

Once it's table, can we talk during a study start speaking?

So then okay.

That you you caught me off a four for doing something like that.

That's why I just wanted to bring it to everyone's attention.

So is that you understand what voting on here is the study?

We're not voting on approving this the outcome of the study.

We don't know what that is.

We have a chance to look at it, understand where we're at for the entire city, and then we would have that discussion and move on it accordingly, or move on parts of it accordingly.

And I'm completely for voting on the study.

I have a question.

So I think it's a great idea doing a study, right?

But I did have concerns like is it an opinion-based?

Um, is somebody just asking everyone, like, hey, like all the department has do you do you guys think you need more employees or more staffs?

So that's why I shared before it's data-based.

Uh-huh.

So they will have conversations with directors about you know what our current operations are and things like that, but it's all database.

They will not be, I know there's a rumor that they're gonna be following everyone around to make sure they're doing their jobs, and that is just not true.

This is data bas a data-based effort.

It is not something that we can do.

Well, our staff can't do as department.

No, none of us are experts in this.

And if you have us do it, we're all gonna say we need more people.

Thank you.

Right?

Because we I mean, like I said, everybody works their tails off.

Um, I don't know why exempt should be any different than unions.

We all work our tails off.

Police, fire, all of us.

We all do, and we're all important to what we give to the city.

This would be data-based.

Thank you.

Anybody else?

I I just want to throw a few uh numbers out there since I'm sort of a math guy.

So our payroll, not including RMRF, FICA insurance of 37 million dollars, is 97 million dollars a year in payroll, flat payroll.

Our overtime is 12 million dollars a year.

Now two million of the twelve is paid by someone else.

It's when uh police officers on a union job or fire something else.

So, in hard numbers, this city invests 27,397 per day in overtime.

So to come up with a plan that maybe maybe we're gonna burn some people out, we're working them too hard, and that's just the union employees.

That's not the exempt because they don't get overtime.

So at 27,397 a day, do we need more help?

Maybe we do, maybe we don't.

But for 156,000, maybe we can figure out if we need more people to trim the overtime to take some of the burden off those employees that will absorb the overtime.

They don't all want to do it.

Um there's a lot of employees won't take overtime.

There's people that have four hours overtime, there's people with 300 hours over time.

So, how do we balance this 10 million 27,397 a day?

Do we just keep doing it?

It sounds like the definition of uh whatever insanity, keep doing the same thing every day and think something's gonna change.

Myself as a business person and a taxpayer and the mayor, think that we do need to take a look at this and decide.

Is that the best investment every day for the city of Joliet to pay overtime?

That's my opinion.

That's those are the numbers that I came up with, and I verified with Kevin that those are the numbers we're at.

So it's uh factual data.

Thank you.

So now we need to dispose of motions.

So there's a motion and a second.

Um made to vote on this first.

So we have to if we the first vote would be to vote on the item itself, um but since we the second motion was to table.

We can entertain that if you guys would like, we can so the the motion would be to table.

So if you want to table it, it's a yes vote.

If you don't want to table it, it's a no vote.

So is the first vote to table?

Right.

Yeah, yes.

We we we've screwed up a little bit in some of our motions and what should happen and shouldn't happen, but I'm not gonna get into the details.

So I think the will of uh councilman hugg and councilman quillman, they would like to vote on tabling this, and so we can we can have that vote first.

Okay, councilman hugg.

Aye.

Councilwoman of Barra?

No, Councilman Moreno.

We're voting on whether we're gonna table it or we're not, right?

Right, correct once we start a vote too, it's not appropriate to keep talking about it.

So I didn't want to.

Yeah, that's what I said before.

So we're entertaining the motion to table.

Okay, uh you'd like to table.

That's thank you.

That's what it means.

Thank you.

Councilman Mudrin.

No.

Councilwoman Quillman?

Aye.

Councilwoman Rudin, no.

Councilman Cardinals?

No.

Councilman Clement?

No.

Mayor Darcy.

No.

Motion failed.

So now we move on to the motion and second to approve.

So now you're voting on whether or not you would like to pass this.

Right.

It's been motion and seconded to approve.

I think we've all had enough comments, so I think we can go ahead with the vote.

Councilwoman Ibarra?

Aye.

Councilman Moreno?

No.

Councilman Mudrin?

Yes.

Councilman Quillman?

No.

Councilman Rurdin.

Aye.

Councilman Cardinals?

Aye.

Councilman Clement?

Aye.

Councilman Hugg?

No.

Mayor Darcy.

Aye.

Motion carried.

Next is agenda items.

Councilmember number six sixteen-25, approval of change order number two for Chicago Street, Streetscape, Jefferson Street to Cash Street, City Square, and Water Main Improvements to Austin Tyler Construction Incorporated in the amount of 579, 861 dollars and two cents.

It is recommended, Councilmember number 616-25 be approved.

So moved.

Second.

Any comments or questions?

Councilman Marino.

Councilman Mudron.

Aye.

Councilwoman Quillman.

Aye.

Councilwoman Rudin.

Aye.

Councilman Cardinals.

All right.

Councilman Clement?

Aye.

Councilman Hug?

Aye.

Councilwoman Navarra?

Aye.

Mayor Darcy.

Aye.

Motion carried.

Councilman number six seventeen dash twenty-five, approval of change order number four for the Holbold Road, U.S.

Route 6, I 80 Roadway Reconstruction Project, MFT section number 4, 16-00503-00-PV to deconstruction incorporated, a deduction in the amount of $2,242,739 and payment request number 25 and final and the amount of $1,812,604 and 25 cents.

It is recommended Councilmember number 617-25 be approved.

So motion.

Second.

Any comments or questions?

Thank you.

It's been motioned and seconded to approve.

Councilman Mudrin.

Aye.

Councilwoman Quillman?

Aye.

Councilwoman Rurdin?

Aye.

Councilman Cardinus?

Aye.

Councilman Clement?

Aye.

Councilman Hug?

Aye.

Councilwoman Abarra?

Aye.

Councilman Moreno?

Aye.

Mayor Darcy.

Aye.

Motion carried.

Under ordinances.

Councilmember number 619-25.

Ordinance approving a variation of use to allow a mixed-use structure located at 616 Williamson Avenue, ZBA 2025-35.

The zoning board of appeals recommends this item for approval with a 4-0 vote.

Staff does not concur with this recommendation.

Thank you, Ms.

O'Hara.

So staff does not concur with the suggestion of the zoning board of appeals.

And specifically, that variation of use would mean you are going to allow potentially two primary uses in one structure.

One would be storage and one would be residential.

In a neighborhood that is predominantly our residential.

So when we look at uh our recommendation to you as professionals, we look at that variation through the lens of three criteria.

And sometimes it does make sense to depart from the rules that you as policymakers have adopted in the past.

So when we make a recommendation, we look at three things.

Whether or not the property in question cannot yield a reasonable return by permitted uh use and uh is subject to conditions allowed by the regulations in the particular district or zone.

Basically, you you can't do anything with it, like if something was zoned uh residential in the middle of an industrial park, right?

That would be you you can't return you get a return on your investment, right?

Uh the other criteria is the plight of the owner is due to unique circumstances.

And the third, uh the variation if granted uh will not alter the essential character of the locality, right?

So when we evaluate these applications as we write these staff reports for you to review, uh specifically for a variation of use, we look to see if uh all three of those criteria are met.

And if they are, we do recommend uh that you grant that variation of use.

And we have done that in the past.

In this case this evening, we do not recommend that you uh grant this variation of use because in our opinion as uh staff professionals uh this application does not meet all three of those criteria any other comments, questions you want a motion on the table?

No motion to want one.

I mean, are you calling for a motion?

It is recommended said ordinance be denied.

Okay, I will make a motion to deny the um six nineteen twenty-five second based on the recommendation of staff.

Oh second okay.

It's been motioned and seconded to deny.

Councilman Mudron.

Aye.

Councilwoman Quillman.

Aye.

Councilwoman Rudin.

Aye.

Councilman Cardinals?

Aye.

Councilman Clement?

Aye.

Councilman Hug?

Aye.

Aye.

Councilwoman Navarra.

Aye.

Councilman Moreno?

Aye.

Councilman Mudrin.

Councilman Darcy, I think.

Mayor Darcy.

Aye.

Motion carried.

Motion.

Right.

Councilmember number six twenty-twenty-five.

Ordinance approving a special use permit to allow a truck and trailer parking and storage lot located west of Varera Court, south of Oakleaf Street, ZBA 2025-46.

It is recommended said ordinance be adopted.

So moved.

Second.

Any comments or questions?

Thank you.

It's been motion and seconded to approve.

Councilwoman Quillman?

Aye.

Councilwoman Rudin.

Aye.

Councilman Cardinus?

Aye.

Councilmanc Clement?

Aye.

Councilman Hug?

Aye.

Councilwoman Ibarra?

Aye.

Councilman Moreno?

Aye.

Councilman Mudrin.

Aye.

Mayor Darcy.

Aye.

Motion carried.

Councilmember number six twenty-one-25.

Ordinance approving a special exception to allow a roof-mounted solar installation located at 3300 Shanahan Road, ZBA 2025-49.

It is recommended said ordinance be adopted.

Mayor have a question.

Sure.

Beth.

Why do we need a special use for now?

Do we do the same thing for homes that want to put solar panels?

I don't actually know, so I don't think so, but I'd be happy to ask that question.

So I think this is a really interesting uh triptish of petitions before you of variation of special use in an exemption.

Uh so each one of those three different things are they sound similar but they're very different.

A variation is a deviation from the rules you've adopted.

A special use, uh I'm saying this mostly for the public because you know all this, Councillor Hugg.

Uh a special use is something that's allowed, but because of what it is, requires uh special permission, right?

So uh a use uh around trucks or gas stations and things like that.

They're permitted, but they have to check in and ask permission.

Now, an exemption is something that is not really contemplated within the zoning code.

So to your question, would this have to be permitted?

Would it would a residential structure need to get uh an exemption?

It would not, uh it would just require a building permit.

And indeed, if this project was for uh in front of the meter, if this electricity was being used by the owner of the structure rather than leased and sold back to commed, it would uh just require a uh building permit uh to be inspected and uh you know built with the proper structural so because it is a uh uh a for-profit de minimis to the actual primary use, uh it requires a special exception.

And you keep referring to exemptions, right?

Special exemption?

This is an exemption tank, right?

Yes, okay, yeah, and if I misspoke, please forgive me.

Yeah, I'd say so.

Okay, yeah.

All right, thank you.

We do have a representative from the location as well.

If you have any questions for him, and and I didn't, I just was curious.

Yeah, it's a good question.

Yeah, you know, they were if they were doing this for their own building and then selling excess back, it would be just like the homes.

You need a building permit, but they're not doing it for their own building in their own use.

Got it.

Now I understand.

Thank you, Mayor.

Thank you.

Anything else?

It just uh can I point out something really quickly, Mayor?

It does say in the staff report that they do not expect this to have any negative impact on the neighborhood that surrounds it.

Thank you.

Okay, I just recommended said ordinance be adopted.

So moved.

Second, it's been motioned and seconded to approve.

Councilman Rudin.

Aye.

Councilman McCartanus, aye.

Councilman Clement?

Aye.

Councilman Hug?

Aye.

Councilwoman Barra?

Aye.

Councilman Moreno?

Aye.

Councilman Mudrin.

Aye.

Councilwoman Quillman?

Aye.

Mayor Darcy.

Aye.

Motion carried under resolutions, councilmember number six twenty-three-25, resolution accepting the 2025 powering the holidays grant from the Metropolitan Mayor's Caucus in partnership with Comed for the 2025 grant fiscal year.

It is recommended said resolution be adopted.

So moved.

Okay.

Any questions, comments?

Thank you.

It's been motion and seconded to approve.

Council McCartanus?

Aye.

Councilman McClement?

Aye.

Councilman Hug?

Aye.

Councilwoman Abarra.

Aye.

Councilman Moreno?

Aye.

Councilman Mudrin.

Aye.

Councilwoman Quillman?

Aye.

Councilwoman Rudin.

Aye.

Mayor Darcy.

Aye.

Motion carried.

Councilmember number six twenty-four-twenty-five.

Resolution authorizing the execution of an intergovernmental agreement between Central Will Dilaride and the County of Will and the acceptance of grant funds under Title 20 of the Social Security Act.

It is recommended said resolution be adopted.

So moved.

Second.

Any comments, questions?

Thank you.

It's been motion and seconded to approve.

Councilman Clement?

Aye.

Councilman Hug?

Aye.

Councilwoman of Barra?

Aye.

Councilman Moreno?

Aye.

Councilman Mudrin?

Aye.

Councilman Quillman?

Aye.

Councilwoman Rudin.

Aye.

Council McCartanus?

Aye.

Mayor Darcy.

Aye.

Motion carried.

Councilmember number six twenty-five-25.

Resolution approving intergovernmental agreement with the Illinois Department of Transportation for the I-80 at Illinois Route 53 Chicago Street Interchange approvement project.

It is recommended said resolution be adopted.

So moved.

Second.

Any comments or questions?

Thank you.

It's been motioned and seconded to approve.

Councilman Hug?

Aye.

Councilwoman of Barra?

Aye.

Councilman Moreno?

Aye.

Councilman Mudrin.

Aye.

Councilwoman Quillman.

Aye.

Councilman Rudin.

Aye.

Council McCartanus?

Aye.

Councilman Clement?

Aye.

Mayor Darcy.

Aye.

Motion carried.

Councilmember number 626-25.

Resolution approving an intergovernmental agreement with the Illinois Department of Transportation for the I-80 at Displains River Improvement Project.

It is recommended said resolution be adopted.

So move.

Second.

Any comments or questions?

Thank you.

It's been motion and second and to approve.

Councilman Abarra.

Aye.

Councilman Moreno.

Aye.

Councilman Mudrin.

Aye.

Councilman Quoman.

Aye.

Councilman Rudin.

Aye.

Councilman Cardinus.

Aye.

Councilmanclemmement.

Aye.

Councilman Hug?

Aye.

Mayor Darcy.

Aye.

Motion carried.

Councilmember number six twenty-seven dash twenty-five resolution authorizing approval and execution of a project labor agreement with the Willem Grundy County's Building Trades Council and Three Rivers Construction Alliance for Joliet projects and the alternative water source program.

It is recommended said resolution be adopted.

So moved.

Second.

Any comments or questions?

Thank you.

It's been motion and seconded to approve.

Councilman Moreno.

Aye.

Councilman Mudron.

Aye.

Councilwoman McQuillman.

Aye.

Councilman Rudin.

Aye.

Councilman Cardinals.

Councilman McClement?

Aye.

Councilman Hug?

Aye.

Councilwoman Abarra.

Aye.

Mayor Darcy.

Aye.

Motion carried.

Councilmember number 628-25.

Resolution approving intergovernmental agreement with the Illinois Department of Transportation for the I-80 at Chicago Street Interchange.

I dot contract number 62 F94-JN-126-010.

It is recommended said resolution be adopted.

So moved.

Second.

Any comments or questions?

Thank you.

It's been motion and second and two approved.

Councilman Mudron.

Aye.

Councilwoman Quillman.

Aye.

Councilman Rudin.

Aye.

Councilman McCartanus.

Aye.

Councilman Clement.

Aye.

Councilman Hug?

Aye.

Councilman Abarra.

Aye.

Councilman Moreno?

Aye.

Mayor Darcy.

Aye.

Motion carried.

Councilmember number six twenty-nine-25.

Resolution approving an intergovernmental agreement with the Illinois Department of Transport Transportation for the I-80 at Displains River Bridge Project.

I dot contract number 62R23, JN-126-005.

It is recommended said resolution be adopted.

Still moved.

Second.

Any comments or questions?

Thank you.

It's been motion and seconded to approve.

Councilwoman Quillman.

Aye.

Councilwoman Burden.

Aye.

Councilman Cardenas.

Aye.

Councilman Clement.

Aye.

Councilman Hugg.

Aye.

Councilwoman Abarra.

Aye.

Councilman Moreno?

Aye.

Councilman Mudron.

Aye.

Mayor Darcy.

Aye.

Motion carried.

Next is the city manager's report.

Good evening.

Last Wednesday, Officer Michael Pauley was promoted to the rank of sergeant.

He's a 21-year veteran of the Joliet Police Department.

Please join me in congratulating Sergeant Bolly on his well-earned achievement, and we wish him continued success as he steps into this next chapter.

Tree arrival.

On Friday, our holiday tree was installed in preparation for the upcoming tree lighting ceremony in our new city square.

I want to thank our public works department, particularly Joe Nordman of the Roadways Division, and our director of cultural affairs, Ann Sylvester, for court coordinating all the logistics.

This is a family that uh has been in Joliet.

Um, all of them born and raised as an 86-year-old woman who had her family with her, her grandchildren, um, everyone there, and we'll see them at the lighting ceremony.

They'll help us light it, and uh we'll participate in the parade with us.

So it's a really good story.

Best question.

Did you what company moved it?

Usually they donate.

Did they donate the jury guy?

The movement is the right.

Yeah, it's donated.

Um I forget off the top of my head, but do you know, Greg?

Yeah, the tree was donated, but we did pay for the move this year.

It was home or tree service.

Home or tree service moved it for us.

Yeah.

Holiday um map.

Joliet residents are invited to participate in the 2025 holiday lights program by decorating the exterior of their homes.

Only addresses within Joliet City Limits are eligible to participate.

Residents can submit their address using the short form available at www.joliet.gov backslash holiday lights.

Submissions will be accepted from Tuesday to December 1st through Thursday, December 31st, and the link will be live on our website beginning December 1st.

Submitted addresses will be viewable online through Friday, January 4th.

Okay.

And um Thanksgiving.

A reminder to residents that City Hall will be closed on Thursday, November 27th and Friday, November 28th, in observance of the Thanksgiving holiday.

I want to wish all our families a safe and happy Thanksgiving holiday.

That concludes my report.

Thank you.

Next is public comments.

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

Hi, uh Dr.

Sharma.

I uh am the one that owned that property on 616 Williamson.

Um I wasn't made aware of the issues the gentleman brought up.

Um can you repeat those?

The three things you said that would have warranted.

I I'm sorry, I didn't remember exactly what it was.

Yeah, I can pull that up for you, Dr.

Sherman.

Thank you so much.

Um so while that's happening, a little backstory on this property.

You know, when I bought this property, it was actually zoned R3 through Joliet, which I verified with Joliet City before I purchased it.

Um it was never my intention to run a church through it, which it used to be.

It's located in a residential area with houses to its left, right, all around.

There are multiple churches up and down the street.

Um so it was made pretty clear to me that it was an R3 um zoning, is why I bought it for that intention.

Um the mixed use, I think you had stated that you know there's gonna be a storage of it upstairs.

It's technically like a oh, that's where the church used to be.

The apartment is downstairs.

So I'm not running a church, and when I bought it, it was with the intention of fixing the apartment downstairs and renting it out.

Um I came to downstairs and explained this to them.

They said, Well, yeah, that makes sense because you're not a church organization, and you don't have any need for that special use.

And I said, Okay.

So I went ahead and filled out all the paperwork that was needed, paid the fees, went through the zoning process, and sitting here in front of you now.

I'm kind of like at a standstill at what am I supposed to do with this place?

I replaced the roof on it, made sure it was beautified, secured the property, had been sitting vacant empty for almost uh I think four or five years while the commission had it moved across the street.

Um it's an apartment unit.

That's all it is.

It met the requirements because the city inspectors came out and looked at it, and they said, Yeah, it's got entrance, exits on both sides of the property.

Simple, straightforward, one bedroom unit with a bathroom and a kitchen and a living room, and that's all that it is.

So I mean, I I really didn't get an opportunity to speak on it before you guys voted, and you know, I didn't get the chance to actually explain my position.

So, did you have that?

Those three things that you said would have warranted a to recap.

The property in question cannot yield a reasonable return by use permitted and subject to the conditions allowed by the regulations in the particular district or zone.

One.

So if the plight of the odor is due to unique circumstances, can we point by point the variation if granted will not alter the essential character of the locality?

And uh to your question, if we can go back to point by point.

I work for the city manager who works for the city council.

And it's not my intention to litigate or adjudicate this in front of you.

I wanted to explain point by point what you said.

Very well.

I'm not asking you to litigate it.

It's just you know, I just want to make sure that I'm clarifying on my physics.

And I and I should clarify to the council that the application that you or your designee filled out is reflected in the staff report.

I I mean you can say what you're gonna say here, and that's totally fine, and I'm not gonna argue with you.

No, no, no.

But also what was submitted as a matter of public record, is a variation of use, asking for two primary uses in one structure.

So it's uh those are those that that is what you or your designees submitted.

I'm not making it up.

So please continue.

I I I submitted it, but that's what the intention was when I went to the people downstairs.

I had explained to them what the issue was, and they had told me that this is what was required.

Sorry, the four minutes we're not gonna be able to resolve this tonight with your questions if you want to come back and meet tomorrow to discuss the application had two uses.

Living and storage.

It's an R3 zoning, which is living.

No, that's fine.

They had asked me what I was gonna use for it, and I had said nothing.

It's just gonna be a storage.

I'm not paying anyone for it.

It's like my written it was like my mystery not tonight.

Yeah, we'll we'll get with you tomorrow.

Okay.

All right, well, thank you for your time.

Thank you.

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

Hi back.

Good evening, council and mayor.

My name is Diane Matter, and I read as I I reside in Joliet.

I'm here again tonight to discuss Love's Chuck Stot Development and New Linux Road.

Since our last meeting, I haven't heard any progress on the proposed call to SAC at New Linux Road and Oakview Avenue.

Traffic has increased tremendously, and trucks are using this road again since it reopened for through traffic.

I also have not received any information on the concrete barrier.

I'd appreciate an update on these matters, please.

The meeting with Love's representatives has not taken place yet, and I'm concerned about the rush to meet the April deadline.

Mistakes are happening.

Like the lack of a silt fence, which was a big concern.

Love started digging without a silt fence on a zoned R1 property, which is unacceptable.

A silt fence is required before any construction can be started on a development site.

They failed to put one up until I called the city clerk and spoke with Lauren.

I also reached out to Sean to see what could be done.

A silk fence was finally installed.

Thank you, Lauren and Sean, for making Joliet safe.

Also, a truck pulled down cables for the internet service and had to be fixed.

This happened last Thursday and it just got fixed today.

I'm worried about potential shortcuts being taken and mistakes being made since there is such a big rush to get this development built.

I have just proven to you that mistakes are happening.

When they finish construction, they leave behind a mess with muddy roads posing a real hazard.

Trucks weighing over 12 tons are using non-designed roads for hauling dirt and rocks.

I'm concerned about the plan Joliet is doing to monitor and enforce the 12-ton weight limit.

Did Loves pay the fee for every semi-driving on our five and twelve ton roads?

These fees help pay for road destruction caused by overweight trucks.

They are going down five and twelve ton roads.

This is taxpayers' money being saved by charging them to use city and township roads.

We as taxpay taxpayers should not have to pay for roads that are being destroyed by trucks utilizing them.

Building a truck stop in a residentially zoned property is ruining our roads.

The dust and dirt is overwhelming.

Our cars need washing every day, and it's hard to keep homes dust free.

They're supposed to use water to keep dust and dirt contained, but they're not.

Love's again not being a good neighbor.

I would like answers about the call-de-sac and concrete barrier plans.

What's being done to protect our neighborhood from the truck stops impact?

Who's working on these issues, issues, and when can I expect action?

A truck stop in a residential area just 30 feet from homes raises safety concerns.

I urge you to address these issues proactively rather than waiting for problems to arise.

Is there not ordinances that protect people's quality of life?

Please provide updates on the plans and actions being taken to ensure our neighborhood safety is being addressed.

You can call me any time to keep me informed on this progress of these issues.

Thank you.

Is there one else?

Anyone else would like to address the council this evening?

Hi, my name is Dennis Carr.

Uh I also wanted to um just make a statement on the 616 Williamson.

Um I was the first one here for the original meeting.

Um and the question again was also asked about what we were gonna do with the upstairs unit.

Um like he said, all that was said was that it would be for used for personal use, like storage, just like a garage or any other building where you could put your Christmas decorations for your bicycle.

Um was not aware we needed permission to do that.

But uh my main concern is after hearing the heartbreaking story yesterday from the lady that came up here.

Um I'm just confused why we one didn't get a say or even a chance to speak before you guys made a decision on this building that again has been sitting vacant for vagrants, you know, people to squat, criminals to use.

So we're trying to do something positive with this building instead of letting it sit here vacant for things like what happened to her yesterday happened.

So I would just ask that you guys take that into consideration before just shutting a building down that could have a positive use in the community out of it.

Thank you.

Good evening, Mayor, City Council.

I'm Jim Rolfe, a resident of the community and part of the comprehensive plan advisory committee.

And I just wanted to make a couple of comments.

All the comments you heard from people tonight can be addressed for future by residents of the community.

We have held our first community workshop.

And the results of that are being tabulated and will be communicated shortly.

But we have a number of work groups that will take place from December 8th, December 9th, January 8th, January 14th, January 21st, January 26th, and 27th.

These workshops will take place at 6 30 p.m.

in this chamber.

They will be on the subjects of housing and neighborhoods, transportation, and mobility, utilities, and infrastructure, open space, and the environment, arts, culture, and heritage, as well as economic development, land use, and future development.

As we put together the logo that defines our comprehensive plan efforts, it's many routes.

One future.

In our collective community.

So I just wanted to make sure, because I know a lot of people watch Channel 6, that those are on there, and those dates and the subject matter are listed on the comprehensive plan page within the city's website.

And I would encourage all of you to pick one or two to participate in.

One of the things that we talked about in this committee was if it's not good for everybody, it's not good for us.

And we need to really get the input.

So I would encourage everyone that's in the room, all of you, and those that are listening at home to please take a look at that schedule of meetings and the subject matter and participate because we want it, we need it, and it's your future and all of our futures collectively.

So thank you for your time.

I'm done.

Today, you guys wouldn't, I told you last night marks the six-year anniversary of my mother's death.

Six years ago, my mother died on this date.

I have a little note here that she wrote me.

The last card my mother ever gave me with a note that she wrote inside.

She wrote for what you've done, are doing, are about to do.

And have thought of doing it, and would like to do for me.

Thanks.

I will remember my mother.

And I love that we've kept my mother's place, which she didn't want me to keep.

It just also my mother's house just as we take in my thoughts of my mom, wait for me, my last images of my mom wait for me.

But everything that my mother had, as well as everything that I had in that place.

All my childhood memories.

All my things I work so hard, and I have my flower gardens to where I always wouldn't remember my ma's words of how beautiful my follower gardens were, and how proud she was of me, and how she wanted me to put my flower gardens or whatever I wanted on the place because she wanted me to have their voice.

Even her vehicle, even her pickup truck, her last pickup truck she had, to which Whimsy ruefully took it away.

I can't have nothing I remember my mom about.

All her Indian archives or Indian artifacts and sculptures or collections that she had.

And it's just been impossible to replace.

The few ones that I have is just beyond.

It's more depression, it's more than just mental torture and everything.

And I'll be able to have a voice anymore.

I've been attacked, of course, ever since I have been evicted by my mom's place, but nothing but suffering abuse and mental destroying verminal.

Trying to find a new place to get to get to where me and my brother can have.

But of course, with my brother's restrictions, it's been hard to find a new place to where my mom's place was approved from to be released to wake out of prison.

We just cannot find a new place.

There ain't places around anymore.

So it's not just one life that was taken from this place.

Honest day of my mother's life being taken away six years ago, but it was also my life and my brother's life.

That we were lost.

When I talk to my brother almost every other day on the phone, and we just sit here cry because we know we can never get back what we lost, and we're never gonna be able to get a place to where we could afford and we can go.

So it's like my mom always agreed in you know, verbal agreements are just as enforceable as a written agreements are, and my mother, of course, was not expecting to die so soon.

She wanted to have a will made out, but of course, her health didn't hold up.

So I am just struggling so much in life just to go on and live, and every day it's just more and more pain, more and more metal strain, and I just cannot handle it anymore.

And I just don't feel like being on this planet any longer because I would never get back what I had lost and what my mother wanted me to have.

And I'm sorry, there's no way.

But like hearing that and like knowing that you guys own 51%.

I heard of the riverwalk.

Isn't there a place where you could put her and help her get in?

Could somebody like orchestrate that?

The city owns 51% of river walk.

And she kind of just sat here.

I'm not I'm not being say this out loud or like call her out, but like she wants to end her life.

It's pretty serious.

So I hope what you guys like pay attention to that and help her.

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

Okay, seeing none, mayor and council comments.

Um just wanted to say happy Thanksgiving to everyone.

Um make sure to come out on light of the holidays parade and festival, support a small business Saturday, and just enjoy your time with your family.

Just happy Thanksgiving, everyone.

I'll get to that in a second.

I just wanted to clarify about the item that was approved tonight for the consulting on staffing.

Um to be clear that it's not strictly an efficiency study, an efficiency study for efficiency only.

The scope would include no consideration to bloat your staff from where it's at now.

You would say, well, okay, this is the staff we have to work with.

And uh is there any way we can make it even more efficient for them for the for the workday and for for the in this case the taxpayer.

So, you know, this is a consulting firm with uh as it was explained in the public service committee that is pretty much uh retired public service uh or public sector bureaucrats management.

So anybody wanted a dollar?

The outcome of this report is gonna be add more jobs.

That's part of the reason why I couldn't support doing this study because I'm not gonna spend 156,000 knowing 99% sure is gonna be like you know the 11% you've already added in the last three or four years, add another 11%.

This is tax dollars.

I know the mayor had mentioned, and other folks have mentioned that payroll and staffing expenses are a concern.

And you're right, it's a concern.

I don't get how adding more staffing, brand new positions solve the current staffing concerns.

Actually, it exacerbates staffing concerns.

How are we gonna pay for them?

We're gonna raise taxes.

If if the um increased revenues from year over year don't keep up with it, what's the final answer in public sector?

Raise taxes to pay.

So certainly we can look at the efficiency as we did you know six or seven years ago of all departments with current staffing, but we should not be considering adding more.

We've already added over 11%.

How much more do you want?

22%, 44%.

You want to double the staffing?

That means doubling the taxes.

So that's why I thought I don't support it and didn't support it.

I'm all for looking for more efficiencies, and I I would hope that would come from the management staff observing their own staff at work.

But if they need an outside consultant, certainly not for 156,000, maybe for 26,000, 28,000 to do a true solely an efficiency study.

I think it's support that.

Well, let's do that once every and once in a while and see what where efficiencies are deficient.

That's not what this is.

Again, anybody wants to step forward, I'll bet you a dollar.

The outcome of this report is gonna be more new positions because that's how bureaucracy works.

With that said, happy Thanksgiving to everyone.

Okay, um, uh we're gonna just jump right into this because I want everybody to know for me at District 5, deficits in employment translate to poor customer service.

I've been here for two years and I've done over 350 citizens' view.

Let me tell you how many of them have been answered in a timely fashion.

And it's not because staff isn't working their butts off, because they are, it's because legislation that was approved for those single family rental inspections went from having like a hundred or two hundred, I I don't know the exact number, to a couple of thousand.

So, who's gonna do those couple of thousand rental inspections?

The inspectors.

And maybe a few were added, not nearly as much.

So when we do legislation up here and we're thinking about this, we're also having to think, or we should be how that translate to what's going to happen as far as employment.

Because if you are worried about that, that's probably something we should not have voted for.

Um, but it's not because the staff we have is not working their butt off, because they have.

So all complaints related to ordinance violations, all of that takes a lot of extra time because it's been poured on them.

Everything else additional they have to do.

So that's what I'll say about that.

That's why I supported that.

Because it at the bottom line, at the end of the day, it translate to customer service for residents in my district and probably the whole city combined.

Um, I want to praise East Side Road crew, um, the street sweeping, removing road debris, grass cutting, resilling manholes.

I cannot tell you how many times I've called on a Saturday after hours, Sundays.

They go above and beyond amazing response in the help from the East Side Road Crew.

Is that your division, Greg Ruddy?

Yes, roadway.

Great job.

Let me just tell you above and beyond, no matter what time I call, day, night, weekends, does not matter.

Great job.

They do a great job for the east side.

So I wanted to give credit where credit is due and going above and beyond.

Also, I wanted to let everybody know we had turkeys donated to us, and um those turkeys were well over the amount we're allowed to accept.

So my turkey is getting donated to the um Salvation Army.

I is going through Morningstar mission, donating to Salvation Army because on Thanksgiving, the people that really need that certified organic turkey, and it's about 30 pounds, like this big, are going to be able to enjoy that certified organic turkey.

And I want to let the person who donated it to all of us know how much I really appreciate that sentiment because there is no greater God's work than feeding the community.

So with that, happy Thanksgiving.

And then if if any of you want to donate your turkey, I can help you with that too.

Thank you.

Yeah, where is my turkey at?

Actually.

I'll get back to you on that one.

Um I just want to say happy Thanksgiving to everyone.

Take care and be safe and uh enjoy the family time.

Thank you.

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone.

Happy Thanksgiving and prayers to those that um are missing a loved one at the table this year.

And um just a side thought.

I received many phone calls while I was out of town, and I was not able to return all of them because I didn't get all the phone numbers right away.

So if you could please call me back, I will absolutely call you back because you know me, I like to return my phone calls.

Be well and stay safe, everyone.

Okay, uh, I just want to say happy Thanksgiving, enjoy your friends and family together.

Just a relaxing day.

I hope you all enjoy it very much.

And I do want to say happy anniversary to my husband.

We've been married 26 or 36 years today.

We got married when I was 10.

36 years, so happy anniversary, honey.

Happy anniversary anniversary.

Thank you.

Hey Mike, good job.

That's it.

Just a couple comments.

On February 7th, Beth and I attended the 13th annual veteran ceremony at Joliet Central High School.

It was put on by the uh ROTC cadets and the symphonic band and the music uh musical tribute representing each branch of the service.

The choir sang and read veteran service biographies.

There are several veterans there that were Joliet Central grads, including one that was 104 years old, served in World War II, walked in and stood up and took recognition.

But there were several vets there.

It was really, really touching to thank them for their service.

They had a uh reception afterwards, and everybody kind of got together and had a good time.

On Veterans Day, also I was able, I had the privilege to speak at uh T Zak Funeral Home.

They do a program every year for the folks that uh they have uh put to rest through their funeral home that were veterans.

There were several people there, and again, it's it's always an honor to pay tribute to those that gave their all.

On uh Friday the 28th will be the uh first tree lighting ceremony in the new City Center Square.

We thank Dara Glavin for donating her tree, and she will be on site to help light that.

As Beth said she's 86 years old.

Kind of a cool story.

I know that Bob Ocon had it out there that uh her husband moved that tree, it was too close to the house, moved it, and 40 years later it's the center of the city for us.

So the tree lighting will begin at 5.15, and it will feature the Joliet Central High School choir.

Uh immediately immediately following will be the 27th annual Light Up the Holidays Festival and Parade organized by the Joliet City Center Partnership.

That will step off at 5 30.

So we hope to see everyone there.

I too want to extend my wish for everyone to have a happy and safe Thanksgiving, enjoy your family.

We all have much to be thankful for.

I wish you all much peace and many blessings.

Thank you.

Is there a motion to adjourn?

So moved.

Second.

All in favor?

Aye.

All right.

Meeting adjourned.

Thank you.