Good evening, everybody.

This is the June 16th meeting of the Joe City Council held in the council chambers.

With Mary Terry Darcy residing, and I'm Jan Quilmanus Pro Temp.

And would you call a roll and then we'll call invocation?

Or you want to do the other way?

Okay, invocate.

Okay.

The invocation night will be said by the founder of prayer of Mr.

Jeff De Breeze with Pray Joliet 1741 S and 10.

And with that, we call the role after the Pledge of Allegiance in the prayer.

Pledge first.

Well, I represent more than the 50 churches in this area that have uh come to pray for our city and pray for you all.

And so with that, let's pray.

Lord, thank you for the stay.

Thank you for all that you've given us.

Lord, we thank you for all the blessings that you have bestowed upon our city.

Lord, we pray for uh a smooth uh meeting here tonight.

We pray for efficiency and we pray for clear minds and pray for wisdom, Lord.

We pray for each uh person on the city council here.

We pray for the mayor that uh they would uh be blessed by you, Lord, and I just pray that uh the city would prosper further into the future and give them wisdom in order to help that happen.

We ask this all in Jesus' name, amen.

Amen.

Pledge allegiance to the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands one nation under God, an individual with liberty and justice for all okay.

We'll begin with roll call.

Mayor Darcy, Councilman Cardinals, Councilmanclement?

Here, Councilman Hugo.

Councilwoman Abarra here, Councilman Moreno here, Councilman Mudron.

Here, Councilwoman Quoman.

Here, Councilwoman Rurden here.

Before we begin, I'd like to have uh Krista Desiderio approach and say a few words.

Tonight is her last city council meeting after 26 years serving the city of Joliet and um we'll be sad to miss her, but uh excited for her future endeavors.

Thank you.

Mayor, members of the council, Beth, colleagues, thanks for giving me a few minutes tonight to say a few words.

I wrote it down because I knew it's gonna be a little hard for me.

So after 26 years with the City of Joliet, it's hard to believe that this chapter is coming to a close.

When I first walked through the doors of City Hall, I could never have imagined the journey that lay ahead.

I realize looking back that the most rewarding part has never been the accomplishments, it's been the people.

To the city managers I've worked for over the years.

Thank you for your leadership and support.

Each one challenged me to grow, and there were many, and taught me valuable lessons.

To my colleagues and fellow employees, thank you for your commitment to improving the lives of the residents of Joliet.

We've celebrated successes together, worked through challenges together, and occasionally persevered through crises.

The relationships built over these years are what of what will be what I will miss the most.

I also want to thank the residents.

Serving this community has been both a responsibility and a privilege.

Every decision we made, every project we undertook, and every challenge we faced was ultimately about improving the quality of life for the people who call this place home.

Most importantly, I want to thank my family and friends.

Through it all, their support and understanding made it possible for me to do the work I loved.

As I reflect on everyone who has been part of this journey, I'm reminded that strong communities are built on this foundation.

Encouragement, respect, and kindness.

As leaders of the community, each of us has a unique opportunity to set the tone for the entire city, choosing understanding over division and collaboration over conflict.

Resulting in a culture which can foster trust, strengthen community relationships, and create an environment where collaboration can thrive.

As I retire, I leave with a tremendous sense of gratitude.

Gratitude for the opportunities I was given and the people who made every day meaningful.

It truly has been an honor to serve.

So thank you all.

I'd just like to take the opportunity to say a couple words and we'll invite the council to do the same.

Krista, I can't believe you've been here for 26 years.

I feel like it's been 26 years for me too, but really two and a half or three.

But I'm just I'm joking.

But you've been, you know, such a partner in this.

I knew immediately when I met you that your heart was in the right place, and that's what's most important, I think, in public service is really caring about the residents and caring about your co-workers, wanting to do what's right for the city.

So I um I really thank you for all the time that you've spent doing this.

You will be missed, but very excited about your future endeavors.

Yeah.

May I mayor?

No, I get to go first.

Okay, go ahead.

Krista.

Um I came in here 38 months ago, and you were the first person to really give me some knowledge and help of the city.

And um we had a great time working together.

And I really appreciate the love you have for the city, the dedication you have for the city, the institutional knowledge that you helped us uh absorbed, help us to grow the city together.

And I know you're gonna do a lot of great things in the world when you leave here.

I I know that you do mission work all over the world, and God bless you.

Thank you.

Okay.

I can go now that you stole all my thunder.

Krista.

Um I remember the day I got my first walk through City Hall.

I mean, you you took me everywhere and showed me everything with such kindness and um you could have made me feel really you know inept, but you know, you you didn't.

You always made me feel like any question is a good question, and that's how you make people always feel your your kindness and integrity, and when you talk about collaboration, we had some really tough times in this building in my first term, and you were always such an even keel.

Let's try to work this out in a collaborative way so that we all benefit.

And um it was an honor to be working with you over these years.

You've helped me tremendously through every turn.

So thank you.

I wish you good luck, and we will have to get together.

Thank you.

My turn.

Well, Krista, it's been a long 21 years.

Who would have thought when you when we first came on?

Um, you are uh I don't know when you weren't a city clerk yet, but eventually you became the city clerk, and also I would say we had three interim, I I call them interim because they weren't here long, city managers.

But Krista was really the city manager because those three had no clue what they were doing.

And I'm not including um Marty uh Shanahan in that.

He did very well, but she did help him as well.

I'm talking about before he came on board.

It was a disaster.

So she kept the glue together.

She was the glue that kept everything together, and she was then went on to be the city clerk and always very helpful as always been said by my colleagues.

And um, she's the go-to person, and there's a lot of people in the city that go to her.

They call her on a personal um, they call her on her personal phone and at the office because they know she will call them back and help them with her issues.

Sometimes she'll call City Hall and she won't get a be or get a nice.

The people that call don't always get an answer, and she knows she can call Krista and always get an answer if she can't get her council person or someone else at City Hall.

And they rave about her, and they're already um very upset, especially when in person in particular, which you're gonna have to show the new person to come, handle her with kindness.

That's what you have to do with that young lady.

But anyway, it's been a long journey, ups and downs, and we got through it all, and here we are today.

And um I wish you nothing but the best of luck, and I know you've had some hard times as long as and we've had a lot of good times here, so good luck to you, and I'm sure we'll see each other again.

Thank you.

So, Krista, you were there from my first uh orientation meeting when I was first elected.

Uh gave me lots of information, understanding of what's happening here at the city and what is supposed to happen.

And over these last ten years for me, any question I had that I didn't know who to go to, you were always the go-to person.

So in that respect.

I'll definitely miss you because I don't have that person, but thank you for everything, and I agree with uh what was already said from everybody else.

gave me lots of information understanding of what's happening here at the city and what is supposed to happen and over these last ten years for me any question I had that I didn't know who to go to you were always the go-to person so in that respect I'll definitely miss you because I don't have that person but thank you for everything and I agree with uh what was already said from everybody else good luck uh in your future you still have time to rescind your I was waiting for that one I had to steal it before somebody else used it um no I just want to say thank you for all the help that you've given me um we've worked together for about a year and some months maybe it's not many many years but the time that you worked together it was profound and the next person will definitely have some big shoes to fill uh you're very you were always very responsive very helpful to me and all the residents that needed something Chris it was was the go to um you definitely you're a hustler great communicator I love it and I appreciate everything you did thank you so much you already made me cry Krista so I'm gonna try and get through this um I think it's my turn right do you have something in your office that says living sunshine you literally are living sunshine no matter what kind of experience our residents have had here you know at council in the halls if they had an experience with you you made it amazing you care so much about these residents and God has bigger plans for you God has global plans worldwide plans for you I just want to thank you for everything all of your time here I felt like I had a godmother although you're younger than me I did feel like I had a godmother that helped me through so many times so thank you so much for caring about the people in the city of Joliet the residents and all of us thank you so much for everything this is not the end I might join you on one of those worldwide missions.

Thank you Christian when I first met you when I first got elected you were on the police and fire board as our executive assistant and you were a constituent of mine.

You live in district one so since then you've gone through the clerk's office and uh what I found initially is you're a fast learner.

You really did get up to speed on on on the city clerk um at the time you've always been professional responsive as city clerk kind of a go-to person for me and as the deputy city manager so I do thank you for that and for the service and I wish you all the luck and whatever it is you're doing moving forward.

Congratulations on your retirement everybody stole the thunder but I just crisp up you know I met you many many years ago I'm very happy to have met you um like Larry said we go back in the police and fire days uh the liquor commissioner's office you helped us numerous numerous times for issues that we had there you always follow through whenever we would call your office out of that office um I just remember um you always follow through and you did so much community service work just here in Joliet I know you do things in other countries and and whatnot but I one thing that sticks out is the IHSA baseball you were there every single year pretty much every like you ran it so it was it was just uh that sticks out but um we had a lot of good times you're gonna be missed and um big shoes to fill and and I we will uh take care of that but I just want to tell you how much I appreciate everything you've ever done for me and the citizens of Joliet and and and you just did a great job so you're gonna be missed.

So Krista you ducked me in the dunk tank that one time I still remember that.

You didn't have to but you did and you took a lot of joy in it so I'm I was wondering why.

But no like everyone else says you're gonna be missed I think so when we first met and I first came into City Hall I mean I it could be a little overwhelming coming into this row uh this part-time job of city councilman um but you always gave me that sense of pain of just how can I help you know I think every time uh I had a question or had an issue like everyone else mentioned you were there and it never felt like anyone was bothering you it was always just well how can I help right so I I thank you for that I thank you for all the knowledge and like you said the the passion that you had for the city of Joliet and uh the years that that you've been here you know you could truly it truly showed your your passion and why you did what you did it was more than just a job for you so um I just want to say thank you and and uh maybe we'll get you in a dunk tank for the next uh fundraiser thank you congratulations yeah you should get up here with us get up here in the middle of this oh sorry no no what are you saying here next

Oh, sorry.

No, no, what do you say here?

Thank you.

Next is the approval of the agenda.

Is there a motion to approve the agenda as written?

So move.

Thank you.

It's been motion and seconded to approve.

Councilman Cardinals.

All right.

Councilman Clement?

Aye.

Councilman Hug?

Aye.

Councilwoman Abara?

Councilman Moreno?

All right.

Councilman Mudron?

All right.

Councilwoman Quoman.

Aye.

Councilwoman Reardon?

Aye.

Mayor Darcy.

Aye.

Motion carried.

Next is citizens to be heard on agenda items.

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

Kathy.

I have been doing nothing but bad luck with all this thing.

You know, I have a list of things I would like to counsel to see if it's all right if I can hand these around.

I want to assist.

On these lists are things that I have lost because of this whimsy trucking.

Vehicles I even lost, even though I had vehicles in my name, but whimsy trucking would not never let me back on the property to get my stuff.

After they evicted me and yet the attorney they hired to evict me, kept the money, and they wouldn't let me have my money, so I could go be another place and get all my stuff out and get it moved to.

With that, they even took all my ma's valuable stuff that she had.

So what little did I have to get away from this of taken out of that house that my mother owned to cherish my mom, remember my mom by.

I only had my ma's ashes to which it was hell going through that just trying to get my ma's ashes.

Todd, you went over there and a couple of our detectives.

You guys had to set this thing up about getting a hole of Whimsy because Whimsey would not let me back on the property.

And I didn't even get to go with you guys to go get my ma's ashes out of that house.

Who was the head of the legal department?

And Chris said that yeah, whimsy told them that quote, we ain't never letting her back on her property because she feared she's never gonna leave again.

Or like what Susan told me when he she talked to the to the whimsy attorney and says whimsy attorney told me we had no intentions of ever letting Kathleen back on the property to go get her stuff.

So I had no chance to ever get my stuff.

And I lost it all.

I even lost all my ma's stuff.

My ma's jewelries, my ma's collections, all my collections.

My two pickup trucks, which wasn't much.

And with that, I suffered and I continue to suffer.

After I got evicted, I got brutally attacked by my my old neighbor, my best friend went up attacking me when I went to live with him after I got evicted, which I'm still suffering the pains and still fighting.

For things that have happened to me.

I've had my car stolen even when I was still living in a pro on my ma's property.

Things my cars were taken because Whimsy made my brother go steal my cars and go send my cars, my love of cars I treasure off to the crusher.

I didn't even get the money for that money.

And they even do extortion on me of threatening me to have give up the titles to the vehicles on the property in exchange for my propane that what I had left in my propane tank.

Now, when you move somewhere, you're supposed to be able to take your propane with you or your new residence to go to.

Or you get your money back from the propane company.

I've had four like almost $400 coming back from me from Hicks gas for the propane.

But whimsy decided they're gonna take the tank and try to do extortion and threaten me.

Give up the titles to these vehicles, even though like I had that Jeep in my name, Grand Cherokee in my name, me and my ma's name.

I had a trailer both in me and my ma's name, but I got threatened.

If I try to take them off the property, I'll be arrested.

And this is just the unfairness of all this stuff.

And I don't know how you could let this happen to where I continue to suffer, and I can't even get police action done, even when my attacker violates the whole protection against me.

I can't get Joey at the do anything for me because before in 2021, that they uh had affairs with Whimsey.

You know, like bribe, let them do police training 2021 on houses they built in in 2022.

I was never told when that city council meeting went for when the first bought their property out there.

Nobody from the city would tell me when that thing was going before the city council, yet no matter how many people I asked.

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

Okay, seeing none under appointments.

The mayor is recommending Ralph Bias be appointed to the zoning board of appeals.

Is there a motion to approve?

So moved.

Second.

It's been motioned and seconded to approve.

Councilman Clement?

Aye.

Councilman Hug?

Aye.

Councilman Barrow?

Aye.

Councilman Moreno.

Aye.

Councilman Mudrin.

Aye.

Councilwoman Quillman.

Aye.

Councilwoman Verden.

Aye.

Councilman Cardinals.

Aye.

Mayor Darcy.

Aye.

Motion carried.

Next is Mayor Pro Tem.

Is there a motion to appoint Councilwoman Rudin to serve as Mayor Pro Tem for the term July 1st, 2026 through September 30th, 2026?

So moved.

Second.

It's been motioned and seconded to approve.

Councilman Hug?

Aye.

Councilwoman of Barra.

Aye.

Councilman Moreno.

Aye.

Councilman Mudrin.

Aye.

Councilman McWoman.

Absolutely.

Aye, and I want to give this to her.

Just so she'll get used to looking and using it.

I don't want any mark to do with it.

Aye.

Councilwoman Rudin.

Councilman Cardinals.

Councilman Clement.

Aye.

Mayor Darcy.

Aye.

Motion carried.

Next, our council committee reports.

We'll start with finance.

Finance committee met here in chambers at 5 30 this evening.

And the committee is Councilwoman Reardon and Councilman Hugg and myself.

We had a number of items to review.

We approved the resolution accepting a $20,000, $26,000 grant for the firefighters, uh, turn out gear valve resolution designating financial institutions for the city's fund, which we added uh wind trust to that list at this time.

Uh resolution resolution for new grants previously granted to the Rialto 24 and 226 of 475,000 dollars.

We also approved a $2 million loan for the Rialto going forward.

Uh an ordinance amending the 2026 budget in regards to litigation litigation of overweight vehicles, and then the monthly financial statements, the general fund revenues are coming in as expected with the budget.

Uh that would be my report.

Unless you want to you do want anything.

Thank you.

Okay, public service.

All right.

The public service committee met yesterday.

Uh Monday, June 15, 2026, here in the council chambers at 4.30 in the afternoon, as usual.

And there were two contracts that we looked at, nothing major.

One is required, a required yearly permit fee for what wastewater discharge by the uh to the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency in the amount of 152,500.

That fee's uh calculated by the IEPA based on the volume of wastewater you discharge.

And then uh we also looked at a uh contract for the fresh uh professional services agreement um for land acquisition services for the South End Neighborhood Shared Use Path, the Santa Cruz land acquisition and amount not to meet exceed uh not to exceed 70,500.

Um we had three change orders and pay estimates.

Um the biggest one was for 181,000, and that was for the 2027 water main rehabilitation program to for uh detailed design services, and we had uh four items under ordinance and resolutions, which under ordinance resolutions they're typically housekeeping to do with uh two of them approving motor the the the expenditure of motor uh fuel tax on projects we've already approved, but you have to go through the motions.

So we looked at those items under ordinance and resolutions, follow them to be in order.

The entire agenda was unanimously approved to be moved forward to the city council with the committee recommendation to approve, and you will find all the items on the uh tonight's agenda.

That's all I have.

Did I miss anything?

Oh, mayor, that's my report.

Thank you.

I show no other reports under consent agenda, approval of minutes.

It is recommended the minutes of the pre-council meeting June 1st, 2026, and the city council meeting held on June 2nd, 2026, stand approved as recorded.

Invoices to be paid.

It is recommended this report be approved.

Council Memo number 306-26.

Approval of change order number one for the advanced traffic management system phase B project MFT section number 21-00546-03-TL to H and H Electric Company in the amount of 11,226 and 75 cents and payment request number two and final in the amount of 250,569 eleven cents.

Council Memo number 307-26, approval of change order number two for the 2024 electrical maintenance assistance contract to meet electric company in the amount of $35,229 and 94 cents and payment request number seven in the amount of $35,229 and 94 cents.

Council Memo number 308-26 award of professional services agreement for land acquisition services for South End Neighborhood Shared Use Path to Santa Cruz land acquisitions in an amount not to exceed $70,500.

Council Memo number 309-26 approve payment of the 2026 wastewater discharge permit fees to the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency in the amount of 152,500.

Council Memo number 310-26 approval of amendment number two to the professional services agreement for the 2027 water main rehabilitation program for detailed design services to Baxter and Woodman Incorporated in the amount of 181,200.

Councilmember number 311-26 authorization to fund draw 16 for tax increment finance in district number seven in the amount of three million four hundred two thousand nine hundred and twenty-three dollars and fifty cents.

It is recommended councilmemos three zero six-26 through three eleven dash twenty six be approved.

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

So moved.

Second.

It's been motion and seconded to approve.

Councilwoman of Barra?

Aye.

Councilman Moreno?

Aye.

Councilman Mudrin.

Aye.

Councilwoman Quillman.

Aye.

Councilman Rudin.

Aye.

Council McCartanus.

Aye.

Council McClement.

Aye.

Councilman Hug?

Aye.

Mayor Darcy.

Aye.

Motion carried.

Under licenses and permit applications.

Council Memo number three thirteen-26.

Issuance of Class C liquor license at 1501 New Lennox Road.

Loves Travel Stop Number 777.

It is recommended Council Memo number 313-26 be approved.

So moved.

Second.

It's been motion and seconded to approve.

Councilman Moreno?

Aye.

Councilman Mudron.

Aye.

Councilwoman Quillman?

Aye.

Councilwoman Rudin.

Aye.

Councilman Cardinus.

Aye.

Councilman McClement.

Aye.

Councilman Hug?

Aye.

Councilman of Barra?

No.

Mayor Darcy.

Aye.

Motion carried.

Council Memo number three fourteen-26.

Issance of Class B liquor license at 753 and 753 and a half.

Ruby Street, Six Corners Tavern.

It is recommended Council Memo number 314-26 be approved.

So move.

Second.

Any comments or questions?

Thank you.

It's been motion and seconded to approve.

Councilman Mudron.

Aye.

Councilwoman McQuiman.

Aye.

Councilwoman Burden.

Aye.

Councilman Cardinals.

Aye.

Councilman Clement.

Aye.

Councilman Hug?

Aye.

Councilman of Barra.

Aye.

Councilman Moreno.

Aye.

Mayor Darcy.

Aye.

Motion carried.

Council Memo number three fifteen-26.

Issuance of Class D liquor license at 2356 Essington Road El Swar Latino.

It is recommended Council Memo number 315-26 be approved.

So move.

Second.

Any comments or questions?

Thank you.

It's been motion and seconded to approve.

Councilwoman McQuiman.

Aye.

Councilman Burden.

Aye.

Council McCartanus.

Aye.

Councilman McClement.

Aye.

Councilman Hug?

Aye.

Councilman Barra?

Aye.

Councilman Moreno?

Aye.

Councilman Mudron?

Aye.

Mayor Darcy.

Aye.

Motion carried.

Council Memo number three sixteen-26.

Issuance of Class B liquor license at 2302 Essington Road Cork Lounge and Kitchen.

It is recommended Council Memo number 316-26 be approved.

So moved.

Second.

Any comments or questions?

Thank you.

It's been motion and seconded to approve.

Councilwoman Rudin.

Aye.

Councilman McCartanus.

Council McClement.

Aye.

Councilman Hug?

Aye.

Councilwoman of Ara?

Aye.

Councilman Moreno?

Aye.

Councilman Mudron?

Aye.

Councilwoman McQuillman.

Aye.

Mayor Darcy.

Aye.

Motion carried.

Council Memo number three seventeen-26.

Resolution to deny issuance of Class E liquor license at 3109 Theodore Street.

Lago Skrill and Lounge.

It is recommended Council Memo number 317-26 be approved.

So moved.

Second.

Any comments or questions?

Thank you.

It's a motion and seconded to approve.

Council McCartanas?

Aye.

Councilmanc Clement?

Aye.

Councilman Hug?

Aye.

Councilwoman of Barra?

Aye.

Councilman Marino?

Aye.

Councilman Mudron.

Aye.

Councilwoman Quillman?

Aye.

Councilman Burden.

Aye.

Mayor Darcy.

Aye.

Motion carried.

Under public hearings.

Councilmember number 319-26.

Public hearing for a resolution approving an annexation agreement for 23656 South Hobolt Road A-1-26.

This is a public hearing, so comments would be in order at this time.

Is there anyone who would like to speak under this public hearing?

Okay.

Seeing none.

John already also on behalf of the petitioner.

I am available for questions.

I know we had a discussion yesterday, so if there are any further questions, I've been available for that.

Yes.

I guess I have to be able to speak again on this since I spoke earlier.

This is the time to speak during public hearing.

Okay.

You know, just even just finishing reading what I was saying before and everything.

How no matter what it is, I've been the way I've been treated by this whimsy trucking.

Even when I was still living at my ma's house, things were being taken.

You know, I had my spare tire was taken right off my pickup truck because they cut the cable that holds my spare tire up on my diesel pickup truck.

Why I was in the driveway, well, I was still, of course, resident of my ma's place.

And my other pickup truck, my other Dodge, they got the cable on that too, so it's spare tire there.

So I can't even go and get a new spare tire and put it back up there because the whole unit that holds the spare tire on has been damaged and everything.

You know, have to literally take the bed off the truck and put it, get a new unit to put in, which will cost me a lot of money.

I've just been, even when I was living there, I've had peacing toms looking in my window from the whimsy trucking facility next door.

Well, I was sleeping.

I have my window open in the summertime and my fan the window.

I look out, and right next to me is their whimsy trucking facility, and having these people with pickup trucks in that sitting there staring right at my my window.

I get my binoculars, I look, I can see they're looking with their binoculars right in at me with my top was body or my bed is right even with the window.

I had that happened numerous times because of these whimsy people.

And you know, not to mention going around the property and snooping around the property with their gator mobile and seeing what it could steal from me.

You know, they cut open even the storage vinyl storage shed, fine holes cut, full-length cuts in the vinyl outdoor storage buildings because they were getting snoopy and wanted to find out what else they could steal.

I've had to where the barn was even the barn was even broken into, the doors open, my neighbor out back told me, can call me and say, Hey, did you leave a barn door open?

I said, No, I closed it and locked it.

They tell me the barn door is wide open.

Who got in there?

I didn't have to where I go out and go out and I come back later on.

I find doors in the house were open.

And I'm like, I know I shut the doors.

So they've been snooping in and out, and my friend who worked at the warehouse at DHL warehouse up the road.

He even one of the co-workers from Whimsy from that whimsy trucking yard was a co-worker up here, and what what co-worked with him up his spotter truck, and he even told them they bitched about me, bad mouth me, called me a bitch and everything.

Oh, she would never leave and everything, and that and oh, I went in the house.

I went in the house.

Like, yeah.

And they did.

They robbed me of everything, and I don't think you should reward them for such rude attitude.

You let them have this thing, it'd be like the biggest corruption of the century.

It's like I said, they had doings with the Pope Joe Yet Poeis before they got their trucking facility in 2022.

And no matter how many times, like I said, I asked City Council after the planning committee meeting, when does it go before the city council where they get their truck and f facility next door?

I wanted to know when that city council meeting was in 2022, and no matter how many people I called the city of Joeyet, yo was end up being Krista, end up calling me in June of 2020 of 25th uh 2022, told me that it was already voted on March 15th of 2022, and I was mad because nobody in the city would tell me when what city council because I would have been here at that city council meeting.

I didn't talk to Terry Morris about it.

Why'd you vote this in?

Oh well, Betty felt sorry as nobody was there to contest it.

Well, I didn't know about it.

I told Betty.

Now you talk to you, Joe.

You said because nobody was there.

Well, nobody knew about what this thing was about because nobody would tell us.

And you know, the reading was oh, on to uh approve two 20.5 acres on the west side of Vera Road.

Who knows what that is?

Is there anyone else who would like to speak under this public hearing?

Okay, seeing none, let the record show the public hearing is now closed.

Is there a motion to approve council memo number 319-26 resolution approving an annexation agreement for 23656 South Hobold Road A-1-26?

Any comments or questions?

It's been motion and seconded to approve.

Councilman Clement?

Aye.

Councilman Hug?

Aye.

Councilman of Barra?

No.

Councilman Moreno?

Aye.

Councilman Mudrin.

Aye.

Councilman McQuillman?

No.

Councilman Rudin.

Aye.

Councilman Cardinus?

Aye.

Mayor Darcy.

Aye.

Motion carried.

Under ordinances.

Council Memo number three twenty-one-26.

Ordinances associated with 23656 South Hobold Road.

Ordinance approving the annexation of 23656 South Hobold Road A-1-26.

Ordinance approving the classification of 23656 South Hobold Road to the I-1 Light Industrial Zoning District A-1-26.

It is recommended said ordinance be adopted.

So questions?

Thank you.

It's been motion and seconded to approve.

Councilman Hug?

Aye.

Councilwoman Barra?

No.

Councilman Marino?

Aye.

Councilman Mudrin.

Aye.

Councilwoman Quillman?

No.

Councilwoman Rudin.

Aye.

Councilman Cardinus?

Aye.

Councilman Clement?

Aye.

Mayor Darcy.

Aye.

Motion carried.

Councilmember number 322-26.

Ordinances associated with 23656 South Hobold Road.

Ordinance approving a special use permit to allow a truck parking facility with mobile compressed natural gas CNG fueling as an accessory component.

ZBA 2026-24.

Ordinance approving a variation of use to allow above ground fuel tanks for compressed natural gas fueling in the I-1 light industrial district, ZBA 2026-25.

It is recommended that ordinance be adopted.

Motion approved.

Sag it.

Any comments or questions?

Thank you.

It's a motion and second and to approve.

Councilwinnabar.

No.

Councilman Marino.

Aye.

Councilman Mudrin.

Aye.

Councilwoman Quillman.

No.

Councilwoman Rudin.

Aye.

Councilman Cardinus?

Aye.

Councilman Clement?

Aye.

Councilman Hug?

Aye.

Mayor Darcy.

Aye.

Motion carried.

Council Memo number 323-26.

Ordinances associated with 23656 South Hobold Road.

Ordinance approving a special use permit to allow container storage and stacking up to three high ZBA 2026-26.

Ordinance approving a variation of use to allow container storage and stacking up to three high in the I-1 light industrial district ZBA 2026-27.

It is recommended said ordinance be adopted.

I would like to move to deny that.

I second that motion.

Okay.

It has been motioned and seconded to deny.

So and just to be clear, a yes vote is to deny.

Okay, correct.

Thanks.

I just want to make sure everybody understands.

Okay.

Councilman Marino.

I'll just say real quick.

Um, I think uh I'll keep the door open for the future.

Uh I know yesterday we spoke a little bit about it.

Um there's some residents there, a residents, some houses there, and I think at the time it's we'll leave it as is.

Well, I think like everyone said yesterday, maybe the doors open for the night.

Uh once everybody's gone, we can move forward on something else.

Uh yes.

Councilman Mudrin.

Aye.

Councilwoman Quillman.

Anything more than two is too high, and people have been ignoring that, and we need to get on top of that.

I have to vote no.

I don't want any more three, five, four or five staffings anymore.

I knew that was gonna happen.

I vote aye for that, just to be clear.

Councilwoman Rudin.

Aye.

Councilman Cardinals?

Aye.

Councilman Clement?

Aye.

Councilman Hug?

Aye.

Councilman of our Mayor Darcy.

Aye.

Okay.

Motion carried to deny.

Council memo number 324-26 ordinance repealing a previously approved a variation of use to allow the reduction of a five-unit to a four-unit residence and R4 multifamily use in an R3, one and two family residential zoning district.

It is recommended said ordinance be adopted.

So moved.

Second.

Any comments or questions?

Thank you.

It's a motion and seconded to approve.

Councilman Mudron.

Aye.

Councilwoman Quillman.

Aye.

Councilmember Rudin.

Aye.

Councilman Cardinals.

Councilman Clement?

Aye.

Councilman Hug?

Aye.

Councilwoman of Barra.

Aye.

Councilman Moreno?

Aye.

Mayor Darcy.

Aye.

Motion carried.

Council Memo number 325-26 ordinance amending the 2026 annual budget for the city of Joliet.

It is recommended said ordinance be adopted.

So moved.

Second.

Mayor.

Todd, could you give a summary of what this is?

Yes, it's uh essentially it's a budget amendment for more settlements.

Um there's one case in particular that's uh we've had mediation on it's the overweight truck case.

Um I can't the the ink's not dry on the settlement, so I can't speak too much about the exact facts of the case.

Um, but it's the ballpark of what we're talking about settling for.

It's um essentially the complaint says that we took it to administrative adjudication and we did not have authority to do that.

That was the the gist of the complaint.

Um it's a class action that went on for about five years.

Um there was approximately 5500 tickets that were issued at 750 dollars a pop.

Okay, thank you.

All right.

What year is Ruby's time?

Um November of 18 through 23 is a five-year period.

The ordinances um predate that.

Um statute of limitations is the general five years, so that's why it limited it in 18.

Mayor.

And and and we can get more of a narrative on that what it was attempting, but I think we should wait until we finalize sure.

Am I right?

Yes.

You know, we because it's still in litigation, it's still technically in litigation.

It is pending litigation.

And I do not want to say anything that's gonna disrupt that.

Okay, thank you.

Thank you.

It's been motion and seconded to approve.

Councilwoman.

Aye.

Councilwoman Rudon.

Aye.

Councilman Cardenas.

Aye.

Councilman Clement?

Aye.

Councilman Hug?

Aye.

Councilwoman of Barra?

Aye.

Councilman Marino.

Aye.

Councilman Mudron.

Aye.

Mayor Darcy.

Aye.

Motion carried.

Council Memo number 326-26.

Ordinance authorizing the execution of an intergovernmental loan agreement with the Will County Exposition and Auditorium Authority, Rayalto Square Theater.

It is recommended that ordinance be adopted.

So moved.

Second.

Any comments or questions?

Mayor.

Um we we we did grow, and I appreciate the representatives from the reality who showed up at our public service committee meeting.

It was approved with a recommendation to approve to the city council on two to one vote.

I voted no.

I'm not gonna rehash the questions, guys.

You know, um, you know, unless I say something, raise your hand.

You know, um for to my satisfaction in making my decision was kind of like uh basically the part of the collateral for the two million loan is a guarantee a unguaranteed uh future grants from year to year.

475,000.

Yes, they've been approved for a number of years, but that bothers me because future councils in another two years, three or four years would almost be obligated to approve it even if they didn't want to for some reason because it would be the city paying themselves back.

Um it's also litigation, which again they can't talk about, so we don't have an exact number, and we don't know exactly how that litigation will come out for sure.

There's some confidence, I think, on their behalf, but that could cover some or all uh of a loan again.

That that's that's a hope, that's an if.

And during these hard times, with taxpayer dollars, there's taxpayers struggling.

There's businesses that have struggled, not just downtown, up and down the Route 30 corridor, and even up in the 59 corridor.

There are individuals that have struggling, and we're not giving loans to them.

They have to find a way to make it on their own.

So that's why I would oppose it.

And uh thank you, Mayor.

Mayor.

Yeah, could we get an explanation?

How did we get here so everybody at home and here understands what we're doing here?

Sure.

Wade, can you address that?

Absolutely.

Good evening.

So my name's Wade Welsh.

I'm the executive director at the Rialto.

It's Bob Falato, our authority board president.

So we'll have a presentation here on the screens that will pop up just to answer your question, Councilman Clement, exactly how we got here.

So maybe if it works.

How did you hit the forward arrow maybe?

There we go.

Sorry.

So if you remember, uh we were up here in front of you about a year ago, just giving updates at the Rialto, what's going on.

And obviously, one of the major issues that has happened at the Rialto was back in in 2024, we began our HVAC renovation project.

So the HVAC systems at the Rialto date back to the 1950s and 1960s, well, well, well beyond their useful life.

I've been at the Rialto now for four plus years.

That is the biggest problem that keeps me up at night is no HVAC means no shows, means we put a closed sign out front.

Our reputation within the industry is gone, no shows come, all that kind of stuff.

So getting this project off the ground has been a huge, huge uh need for us for for many many years.

In July of 2024, we started that project.

First phase was getting in and doing some asbestos mediation.

Um went through the bid process, uh hired a company, a licensed Illinois uh EPA approved asbestos mediation company with a construction manager on top of it.

Uh about a week, two weeks into the project, uh, we got a visit from the Illinois EPA that they had a complaint filed by a uh person that worked for the asbestos mediation company, and they did find a violation that that company was not properly removing asbestos.

So if everyone remembers the headlines, the Rialto closed um in late July 2024 and did not reopen until uh about mid-late October 2024, and that cleaning actually continued in the basement through the end of 2024 on that side of things.

So that is the the need.

So, in order to open up the Rialto, the Rialto spent over 1.7 million dollars of our own money to clean based on the mandate from the Illinois EPA on that.

That was the only way the Rialto would back open back up was if we cleaned the entire facility from top to bottom.

So, some some brighter news and things are headed in the right direction.

Again, I've shared some of these numbers, these include 2026 as far as where the Rialto is going.

Uh, if you see, we've had over a hundred thousand people at the Rialto over the past four years.

Uh, the number that stands out fiscal year 2024, 140,000 people we brought to downtown Juliet.

That was the last year the Rialto was open all 12 months.

Obviously, in 2025, we were closed because of the asbestos, fiscal year 25, excuse me, and then fiscal year 26, we closed this June to start the HVAC renovations again that were started back in 2024.

So we haven't had a full calendar year of momentum since 2024.

With that being said, we've still driven over 100,000 people to downtown Juliet.

The really good news is dating back to 2020 2024, excuse me, is the Rialto has had a net positive operating income for the past three years.

That hadn't happened in the history of the Rialto ever.

Not the last 10, not the last 20, back to 1926.

Had never had a net operating income until 2024.

So obviously, one year people could call it a fluke, two years you kind of have some momentum.

Now three years is a trend.

So obviously, we are heading in the right direction.

We understand we are the economic engine for downtown Joliet.

We drive business well beyond just the Rialto.

We drive business for the restaurants, the bars, all those sorts of things in downtown Juliet.

So here's just a few of the projects we've done to date.

Floor restoration, 66,000 with our Tarazo floors.

So we we renovated the first floor restrooms.

So increase pretty much tripled the number of women's stalls from four to fourteen, increase the number of men's stalls in urinals, so making it a much more pleasurable experience when you come to a show.

The big one for me was the roof project, a four million dollar renovation project, putting 13 brand new roofs on across every roof on the Rialto on that side of things.

And now the HVAC.

So as I mentioned, this is the one that could put a close sign out front if we don't get this HVAC taken care of.

So uh when we started this in 2024, the estimated cost for the project was about eight to eight and a half million dollar project, obviously being delayed two years due to the EPA and timing and long lead times and all that kind of stuff.

Uh the closing bids on the project ended up at the $9 million standpoint.

So three million of that was from uh county grants, three million from state grants.

Obviously, a million of it was from the fiscal year 24 and fiscal year 25 City of Joliet grants that we get.

Well, the funds that we expended to pay for the asbestos cleanup were those funds that we were gonna use for this HVAC project.

So that's the issue at hand.

We've put that out there, and we don't have the litigation finalized yet to to know what that number is going to be to make sure that we could pay that on that side of things.

So that's why we're in front of you here today, is to ask for a loan to get us through till that litigation takes place.

Soon as that litigation takes place and we get awarded our judgment, whatever that number is comes back to the city.

Also, as part of this agreement, it's it's not coming to us up front.

So we have to turn in construction invoices and be reimbursed on that side.

So if things come in, there's contingency built in that nine million, and if we get this mitigation or excuse me, litigation done in the coming months, there might not be an ask on that side of things, but we we can't stop construction.

That's the concern is the timing.

Is if this construction project doesn't finish up in its current time frame in mid-September, we're once again just like we were in 2024, canceling events, canceling shows, which at that point our reputation in the industry is gone, and it'll be impossible to bring additional shows to the Rialto in the future.

So that's why we're here today.

Obviously, here to answer any questions, but Councilman Clement, hopefully that shows you why we're here, why we need it, and uh here to answer any questions.

So just a word um, you know, Larry talks about guarantees, and I agree with Larry, there is no guarantee.

What I can't tell you is the litigation is very close to being resolved, and I would say in the next 60 days it will be.

Uh the other point is the city any money that the city would reimburse us for cost will be the last dollar that we use.

It's to our benefit to keep our our interest cost down, and so we will do that.

There's a very good chance here that we won't need any of the city money, so this is really like an insurance policy, if you will, uh moving forward.

But as Larry said, no guarantee, and I I agree with Larry, no guarantee.

But I also uh believe strongly obviously I believe strongly in the rail to but I believe that who's ever sitting in these seats in front of me in the future, whether I'm here or not, will support the Rialto because it is so critical to the City of Joliet.

So I appreciate your support and your questions.

Thank you for your explanation.

Thank you.

Thanks, Mayor.

Just as a positive comment, Mayor, if I may.

I know right offhand, three people that'd be very happy.

Unfortunately, they've all gone on to a higher ground, which would be Dorothy Mavericks who saved the theater years ago, Lynn Lichtenauer, and Jim Smith.

And fortunately, he passed from COVID.

But when I served on the board back in those days, it was dire straight.

So I remember all those terrible, terrible days.

And such a turnaround, it took such a long time, but I want to thank all you guys for doing that.

And um, as long as I'm here, I will be a proprietor, and we have to we have to save the Rialto.

It's a hundred years old.

May 24th, 1924, May 24th, 1924.

My anniversary.

So I have a special feeling for that.

Thanks, guys.

I know it's been tough, and I thank you for your hard work.

Appreciate that.

Sure.

There's not a bigger economic driver in downtown Joliet at all, and you're pulling people from very far away with top-notch shows.

There's no other venue that has the kind of big names entertainment that you guys have.

So I can't imagine what it would be like to have a beautiful city square and without the Rialto.

So I'm definitely in support of this.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Anyone else?

Thanks for the great job you and your board have done to uh ramp that back up into the black.

Thank you.

Appreciate that.

Thank you.

Okay.

Okay.

It's been motion and seconded to approve.

Councilwoman Ridden.

Aye.

Councilman Cardinals.

Aye.

Councilman McClellan.

Aye.

Councilman Hug?

No.

Councilman Abarrow?

Aye.

Councilman Moreno?

Aye.

Councilman Mudrin.

Aye.

Councilman McQuillman.

Aye.

Mayor Darcy.

Aye.

Motion carried.

Under resolutions.

Council Memor number 328-26.

Resolution approving a new grant and previous grant extension to the Will County Metropolitan Exposition and Auditorium Authority, Rayalto Square Theater.

It is recommended said resolution be adopted.

So moved.

Any comments or questions?

Thank you.

It's a motion and second and two approval.

Councilman Cardinals.

All right.

Council McClement?

Aye.

Councilman Hug?

Aye.

Councilman of Barra.

Aye.

Councilman Moreno.

Aye.

Councilman Mudrin.

Aye.

Councilwoman Quillman?

Aye.

Councilman Rudin.

Aye.

Mayor Darcy.

Aye.

Motion carried.

Before we move on, Mayor.

I'd like somebody.

Oh, I can do it too.

You know, we have those two things back to back from Rails don't I might confuse people watching what we're actually doing.

The first one, they did a tremendous job explaining why they are asking for the money, the loan.

The second one.

The 2026 that you see in there for twenty uh uh for the uh previous grant extension the grant extension is for the twenty-four.

In other words, we had the money, they didn't use the money in 24.

Um our ordinance allows the city man, any city manager to extend it by one year.

They still haven't used it because I think they're gonna use it for this project.

So we have to dot our eyes and cross our T.

The money's there.

We're not it's not new money in the budget, but we have to approve moving it forward to this year, letting them spend it this year.

That's for the 2024 money.

The 2026 money was approved in the budget process as available, but we have to go through the formal step of approving the disbursement of the 2020.

We do that every year with any grant that we give for the Realto, the 475,000.

I just thought we should take a moment, Mayor, to let people know there's they're not directly related, those two items.

Thank you.

Councilmember number three twenty-nine-26 resolution designating financial institutions to be used as depositories for city funds.

It is recommended said resolution be adopted.

So moved second.

Any comments or questions?

Thank you.

It's been motion and seconded to approve.

Council McClement?

Aye.

Councilman Hug?

Aye.

Councilwoman of Barrow?

Aye.

Councilman Moreno?

Aye.

Councilman Mudron.

Aye.

Councilman McCullman?

Aye.

Councilman Rudin.

Aye.

Councilman Cardinus.

Aye.

Mayor Darcy.

Aye.

Motion carried.

Council Member No.

330-26.

Resolution appropriating motor fuel tax funds for the advanced traffic management system phase A project MFT section number 21-00546-01-TL in the amount of $98,848.77 cents.

It is recommended said resolution be adopted.

So moved.

Second.

Okay.

It's been motion seconded to approve.

Councilman Hug?

Aye.

Councilwoman of Barra?

Aye.

Councilman Marino?

Aye.

Councilman Mudrin.

Aye.

Councilwoman Quoman?

Aye.

Councilman Rudin.

Aye.

Councilman Cardinus?

Aye.

Councilman Clement?

Aye.

Mayor Darcy.

Aye.

Motion carried.

Councilmember number three thirty-one-26.

Resolution appropriating motor fuel tax funds for the advanced traffic management system phase B project.

MFT section number 21-00546-03-TL in the amount of eleven thousand two hundred twenty-six dollars and seventy-five cents.

It is recommended said resolution be adopted.

So moved.

Second.

Comments or questions?

Thank you.

It's been motion and seconded to approve.

Councilman of Barra?

Aye.

Councilman Marino?

Aye.

Councilman Mudron?

Aye.

Councilwoman McComan?

Aye.

Councilman Rudin.

Aye.

Councilman McCartanus.

Aye.

Council McClint?

Aye.

Councilman Hug?

Aye.

Mayor Darcy.

Aye.

Motion carried.

Councilmember number 332-26.

Resolution accepting $26,000 in grant funds from the FY 2026 small equipment grant from the state of Illinois office of the State Fire Marshal for the purchase of turnout gear.

It is recommended said resolution be adopted.

So moved.

Second.

Comments or questions?

Yeah, Mayor, I just want to uh thank Chief Carey and his his team for finding these types of grants.

This is a grant that has no matching funds.

This is money from the state directly to our fire department, and we can use that right, Chief.

No.

Thank you.

Thank you.

It's my motion and seconded to approve.

Councilman Marino?

Aye.

Councilman Mudrin.

Aye.

Councilman McCloman?

Aye.

Councilman Rudin.

Aye.

Councilman McCartanus.

Aye.

Council McClint?

Aye.

Councilman Hug?

Aye.

Councilman of Barrow?

Aye.

Mayor Darcy.

Aye.

Motion carried.

Councilmember number three thirty-three-26.

Resolution authorizing execution of an intergovernmental agreement and easement agreement between the Juliet Township High School District 204 in the city of Joliet for installation of a water service connection.

It is recommended said the resolution be adopted.

So moved.

Second.

Any comments or questions?

Thank you.

It's been motioned and seconded to approve.

Councilman Mudrin.

Aye.

Councilman McQuillman?

Aye.

Councilman Rudin.

Aye.

Councilman Cardenas.

Aye.

Councilman Clement?

Aye.

Councilman Hug?

Aye.

Councilman Abarra.

Aye.

Councilman Marino?

Aye.

Mayor Darcy.

Aye.

Motion carried.

Council Member number 334-26.

Resolution authorizing execution of a subrecipient agreement between the county of Will and the City of Joliet for community development block grant funding for water and sewer system improvements in the Southeast Joliet Sanitary District.

It is recommended that resolution be adopted.

Move.

Second.

Comments of questions.

Thank you.

It's my motion and seconded to approve.

Councilwoman McCullman.

Aye.

Councilman Verdon.

Aye.

Councilman Cardinals.

Council McClement.

Aye.

Councilman Hug?

Aye.

Councilman Abarra.

Aye.

Councilman Marino.

Aye.

Councilman Mudron.

Aye.

Mayor Darcy.

Aye.

Motion carried.

Council Member No.

335-26 resolution approving and authorizing the execution of the collective bargaining agreement between the city of Joliet and the Fraternal Order of Police, Labor Council, Juliet Police Supervisors Association.

It is recommended said resolution be adopted.

So vote.

Sorry.

Second.

Any comments or questions?

Thank you.

It's a motion and second to approve.

Councilwoman Verden.

Aye.

Councilman Cardinals.

Hi.

Councilman McClement?

Hi.

Councilman Hug?

Aye.

Councilman Barrow.

Aye.

Councilman Moreno.

Aye.

Councilman Mudron.

Aye.

Councilman McCluman.

Aye.

Mayor Darcy.

Aye.

Motion carried.

Next is the city manager's report.

Okay, last week's storms obviously had quite an impact on our area.

And we're in the path of more severe weather for tomorrow.

The roadways division is working extended hours to complete storm pickup, and outside contractors have been called in to assist with those efforts.

The past few days were spent on addressing public safety issues like trees on houses or in the street.

Most, if not all of these issues have been addressed, and crews are shifting to a street by street cleanup effort.

This work is expected to continue through the next week, but clean up timing may be affected if more severe weather hits.

We will continue to update the public via a social media pages and website.

Reminder that tomorrow, weather permitting, um June 17th, the city is hosting two public presentations led by Joe Minikazi of Urban Three on how community growth development and finances are interconnected.

A luncheon learned with the chamber will be held from 11:30 to 1 p.m.

at Harris Joliet.

Registration is required.

A free presentation will follow that evening at 7 p.m.

at Bicentennial Park tomorrow night, including a QA with Joe.

We're excited to welcome a new Route 66 landmark to Joliet.

McDonald's is bringing a 35-foot fried apple pie statue to Route 66 Park on Broadway.

The official kickoff event is on June 23rd from 3 30 to the 6 with live music, Coca-Cola, and giveaways.

The statue will stay up through July 4th, adding something fun and new unique to our summer in Joliet.

And Joliet Freedom Weekend.

Joliet will celebrate America's 250th anniversary with three days of free community events from July 2nd through the 4th.

The weekend includes race fan rally on July 2nd.

The America's 250 Black Party and Fireworks at Bicentennial Park on July 3rd.

And the 250th anniversary fireworks spectacular at Joliet Memorial Stadium on July 4th.

The city also has some other fund initiatives planned to celebrate America's 250th, including community-wide decorating initiative and press release and social media posts will be going out next week on those, so keep your eyes peeled.

That's all I have for this evening.

Okay.

Next, we have public comments.

Is there anyone who would like to address the council this evening on a non-agenda item?

I do have a few people that have signed up.

Umor and council members.

Come to the microphone, please, so we can all hear you.

Thank you.

My address is 1607 Autumn Drive and Joliet Leary was my council member, but I believe it's Mr.

Reardon now and I'm district two.

Mr.

Mudrin.

Mudrin.

Sorry, my people get us confused all the time.

I don't have my glasses on.

Sure, you know what it is.

The hair.

So I'm here just to talk about my neighbor.

1609 on the drive.

It's an abandoned.

I see the um come over once a week to take the garbage out.

Uh they're not living there, and they don't take care of the property.

And I've taken care of the property that their jungle that comes over into my yard for several years now.

And also pay for trees that are coming over into my yard.

I think I've paid over $3,000 over the years.

I've lived there 28 years, so it's not been that bad until the last five years.

So but it's still my time.

I would like someone to come out and look at it.

I know it all the neighbors have talked to people about that address.

It's on the website.

You know, you talk the website for community affairs.

I know people have put pictures up.

I would love someone to maybe come out and take a look at that property and figure out what's going on there.

Um I would hate for a fire to happen there.

It's if a firemen had to go in there, it would be disastrous for them, I feel, because it's so stacked with stuff I've seen.

Um it's a hoarding situation, I believe.

That's why they had to move out.

Is that my opinion?

Right.

Thank you very much.

Um, can you talk with this uh resident before she leaves?

He's he's the big huncho in and the whole planning department, which includes inspections and so forth.

Thank you, Dustin.

Thank you, ma'am.

Thank you, Mayor.

Yep.

Brian.

Uh Mr.

Mayor and then count city council.

Uh yeah, my as you as you know my name is Brian Free.

I happen to be married to Sabrina, the one that just spoke.

I am here tonight just to uh voice a displeasure or a concern regarding the city of Joliet's uh building ordinances uh specifically regarding driveways.

Uh back this last March uh we decided to uh replace our entire driveway as well as the sidewalks around our house and sections of the front sidewalk by the street that were uh heaving.

Uh I took care of that.

Uh my contractor told me uh asked me what I wanted, and basically I was uh widening my 19 approximately foot wide um concrete driveway to 29 feet based on his I'll say opinion because he said he does a lot of work in Joliet and that the apron allotment at the street level was in his opinion or his his latest uh ex uh experience was 29 feet, which would be a perfect uh uh it would be perfectly straight, it would look nice, it would actually improve the uh looks of my uh property very much.

So I went through the permitting process and he uh came back and said the city would only approve 23 feet.

So I was disappointed in that, but I went ahead with the plans anyway, and with your permission, may I put bring this up front?

This is what it looks like now as you can see uh it's not very attractive.

Um I'm not really happy with it.

The main reason why I I wanted to do this was my grown daughter lives with us, she's gonna be living with us for a while, and I don't like moving cars, especially uh in the winter and things like that when I have to get out of the garage.

That's so I got an extra spot for her and and other guests, of course, if I have people come over.

But if if I did the 29, if I was allowed to do the 29 in the front there, it would be a nice clean line right up even with the uh rest of the driveway as well as a sidewalk that goes around the uh back of the garage.

Excuse me.

Anyway, um I know this is not a question and answer period, and I'm not trying to, but I'm just wondering if there's some sort of a procedure or someone I can get a hold of for maybe a variance.

Uh in addition, the side lot I own a double lot.

My house is on the middle of this lot from the edge of my new driveway to the house she was talking about is easily 25 or 30 feet.

So it's not like I'd be encroaching on anybody else's property.

Anyway, thank you for uh allowing me to voice that mayor.

Again, you know, you you guys can talk uh that that can be addressed too by by Dustin.

You you you wanted to talk to somebody right like about it, variance.

That would be dusty.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Okay.

Mindy and David Bigley Good evening, Mayor and Councilman.

Um for the last ten years we've been trying to get a hold of the city.

We cannot enjoy our backyard.

We flood constantly.

We've had a nasty flood at 20.

We've contacted people, we've had people out from the city.

We don't get returned phone calls.

We finally get people to return our phone calls for a month or two, disappear.

We've seen pictures that show a drain in our backyard.

There is no drain in our backyard.

There's a drain in our street.

There is no curtain in our street that they disappear anymore.

All we want is the answers in our backyard.

That's it.

I've sent new pictures today.

I think essentially.

Right, right.

That was the reset.

And now we're expecting more rain.

I'm not getting the cut my grass because of the plunge that had back there.

Now, this one.

It will be uh Greg Roddy.

Have you talked to Greg?

No.

You will tonight.

How's that?

Okay.

Michael was out and he did respond to you this week.

Okay, yeah, Greg is looking at the pictures.

Our neighbor very song.

They flood out the back of the police station because we're literally, we look out a back window of the police station over there on Cape Farm.

They flood out the back of the police station.

So there is a massive water issue through that whole neighborhood.

Greg, can we address this?

He's an engineer.

Yeah, we'll get their information and go out and take a look.

Keep me in the move.

Yes.

Thank you.

Jeremy Jones.

Sorry.

If I may pass this out.

Okay, we can we can pass it down.

And you can just go our standard house.

Go ahead.

Good evening, members of the city council.

My name is Jeremy Michael Jones.

Thank you.

I'm a local resident, an inventor, and I'm standing here tonight to continue a century-long legacy of American infrastructure innovation.

In 1923, Garrett Morgan revolutionized public safety by inventing the three-position traffic signal to bring order to chaotic intersections.

Today, I am here to build directly upon his vision to solve a modern crisis on our local roads.

The dangerous intersection dilemma zone.

We all know the high stress corridor I'm talking about.

The major intersection complex by the Joliet Mall near the Interstate 55 expressway entrance.

It is a high volume bottleneck where drivers are constantly forced to make split-second guesses when the light transitions.

Just recently, I witnessed a real world cost of that guesswork.

I came upon a wreck at that exact location.

A young man early in the morning, clearly headed to school, was sitting on the side of the road.

He looked absolutely terrified.

His SEV was completely flipped over on the side, and the truck that had caused the collision was pulled over nearby.

That young man's terrifying mourning is the direct result of an engineering flaw.

The split-second confusion where drivers slam on their brakes and or accelerate blindly.

To eliminate this guesswork and protect our community, I have developed the Apex traffic light system.

I am proud to announce to this council that as of this week this technology is officially patent pending with the United States patent and trademark office under application number 64 slash 090, 330.

If you look at the display board in front of you and the color copies that I provided, you will see a revolutionary four-phase traffic light system.

Apex introduces the proprietary intuitive visual transition sequence featuring a district, a distinct driver-facing neon blue kinetic stop indicator.

It gives oncoming motorists an unmistakable proactive visual buffer to safely decelerate before a full stop is ever required.

It is the 21st century update to Gary A.

Morgan's core concept, built specifically to handle high-speed corridors so that no more students have to sit on the side of the road next to a flipped vehicle.

Now I want to be incredibly clear with the Department of Public Works.

Apex requires zero new hardware layout.

We're not here to sell the city expensive steel brackets, heavy housing units, or multimillion dollar construction overhauls.

The beauty of the Apex system is that it's pure software and lighting logic upgrade.

It is a proprietary firmware module designed to be retrofitted directly onto Joliet's existing solid state LED fixtures and standard traffic controller cabinets.

It represents maximum municipal safety with near zero taxpayer friction.

Because this is the public comment period for non-agenda items.

I'm not asking for a vote tonight.

I'm asking for an administrative partner.

I am formally requesting that the mayor and the city manager refer the Apex technical prospectus to the Department of Public Works for a standard feasibility and compliance review.

Let Juliet be the innovative smart city hub that pilots the technology at a single trouble intersection.

Thank you for your time, your leadership, and your commitment to keeping the street safe.

I look forward to coordinating with the public works director's office later this week.

Thank you.

Okay.

That's everyone I have signed up.

Is there anyone else who would like to address the council this evening on a non-agenda item?

Here I go again.

Christy.

I hate seeing you go.

You have been there for me so many times.

And just give me the love and everything.

And you don't know how much I appreciate it.

You know, you are in this with this city as long as you know longer than anybody I've known.

You know, all the meetings I've been going to through the years.

It's always been you.

You know, when I needed help and everything, especially when I got attacked.

You would have wanna help me when I got attacked.

And I thank you so much for that.

So much for your kindness and your love.

I've always even just wondered if I'm all right and everything.

Even you know, you give me calls and make sure to check on me.

You don't know what that means to me.

You know, you care more for me than my family cares about me.

And I love you for that.

And I just hate seeing you go.

You know, but you're well deserved.

Well deserved, and hopefully your next chapter will be just as good as Bill Evans's, you know.

Man, we had lose two big city city people that are harder than the city of Joe yet within a month of each other.

I don't know how this city's gonna go on with the without you too.

You know, very hard shoes to fill right there.

And I hope that you can always get us somebody as good as she is then.

You know, like you said, like everybody up here has said that she has been the staple of the city of Joeyet for all these years, for all the changes and everything.

And she has been the one person has been there and held the city together, as they say, and more deserving person than you.

Your kindness and love was always gonna be remembered and everything, and I never forget you.

I love you for that.

And another thing I want to say, you know, we all know about Robert Hernandez.

You know, and I'm sorry I have to bring his name up, but Robert, don't get on me if you're watching this.

But we all know what happened with Robert Hernandez to where he's so hopefully violated his stalking order.

And how fast the police act, Joliet Police acted to get him.

I have my same incident with my attacker with my order of protection.

Well, my attacker drove up to the back of my pickup truck.

Well, I was at the pilot gas station on June 1st.

And I'm hearing from Joey police investigations that you know it's not gonna go on with it.

They're not gonna go out and press charges.

You know, don't think state's attorney is even I even heard anything from the state's attorney on it, but they don't think the state's attorney is gonna go in press charges on my attacker violating the order protection.

You know he's not supposed to come within 50 feet of me.

Anywhere I'm at.

I can't get action, but then you go ahead and get Robert Hernandez, though.

And Robert Hernandez didn't talk and didn't say anything to the lady, but you get Joliet, please give me a hard time.

Well, he didn't come up to you and he didn't say anything to you.

Well, nearly Robert Hernandez and Robert Hernandez got arrested, and he got prosecuted for his violation of his stalking order.

I mean, this is so important to me because they all don't understand that my attacker has guns, my attacker is stun guns, he's even got a crossbow, you got dark guns.

Oh, dart guns.

He is so dangerous here, and I don't think you guys realize it.

And this is not just the first time I've had with him.

He's come up to me at a park in Wilmington, did a burnout through gravel at my truck with his tires, and I had rocks fly right past my face, and state's attorney didn't want to do anything about it.

I had my incident, you know, after I got my order, but four months after I got my order protection, and Well County State's attorney, you know, Well County Sheriff didn't even attempt to serve the order of protection, and then he violated and come up to me, but I found out that he didn't serve yet.

But even with the police Wilmington police by my side, my attacker is brave enough to come back up to me, come back to the bar and come right up and harass me.

And I'm asking for the city and everything to get this guy because he's so dangerous to me.

And he won't stop.

Is there anyone else who would like to address the council this evening on a non-agenda item?

Okay, seeing none, we'll move on to mayor and council comments.

And we won't be back till after Fourth of July.

Have a safe and happy Fourth of July.

And once again, Krista, thank you for everything and congratulations to your retirement.

Did you did you read my paper?

I did.

Chris, again, uh congratulations.

Uh best of luck to you.

Happy uh Fourth of July.

Um I know one thing, I will not hit the the next one the next uh hundred years, 250 years.

Um, and then happy Father's Day to all the dad's fathers out there.

Uh sometimes they don't get all the credit or any credit, but uh they're very influential in uh their kids' lives, and again, just uh happy Father's Day to all the dads out there.

So to all the dads and the moms who have to do the job of dads.

Happy Father's Day.

Thank you, Krista, for everything you've done for me, the city, a district five, especially.

I really am gonna miss you, and I just I can't say that enough.

Thank you.

Also want to wish happy Father's Day to all the dads.

And if you don't mind know my dad, you don't understand.

I have the most supportive, the most loving, fantastic local 75 union retired his entire life, including Luana, broke his body down to provide for our family.

So I want to say happy Father's Day, Dad.

I love you so much.

He watches every meeting.

He always wants me to let the mayor know he's doing a great job.

Uh called Juan Moreno on his birthday.

Like I just have the most fantastic dad, and I want to thank you for being who you are, Dad.

I love you, and happy Father's Day to all the fathers here, including Mayor Terry Darcy, who's kind of like the dad of this council to me.

To me, anyway.

So thank you.

Hi, Daddy.

Um happy Father's Day to all the dads out there.

Um Krista, once again, congratulations on your retirement.

And throughout the storm, thank you, city staff, city manager, uh public works, public utilities, uh Jolia Fire Department, and police department for handling it uh very uh professionally and very well.

So thank you guys.

Uh like Juan, I'd like to thank all everybody that's been out there removing the trees, uh picking up the debris that they've done an excellent job.

All of us um have encountered issues with the water mains coming here, and we're gonna continue for a few more years.

But on a better note, I have a couple that live on Mason Avenue that sent me a letter.

The city was out needing to locate their buffalo box.

It was buried under a very large tree root.

Initially, they thought they'd have to bring in an end loader, which would do quite a bit of damage to the yard.

Uh they re-examined the job and decided they would do it by hand.

So they brought in a sawzall, an axe to finally get underneath the tree root to remove this.

Uh she feels that they very well went way beyond any call of duty.

They were very professional and courtesy.

Courtesy, courteous manner.

Sorry about that.

The four employees are James Foster, Matt Cocklin, Corey Clachin, and Greg Craig.

Greg Craig.

Thank you, men, for doing a great job for the city joy.

Yeah.

All I got.

Well, on June 5th, we went to the ballpark and we celebrated my nephew's first birthday.

And it happened to be the Windy City Thunderbolts against the Slammers.

Four hour game.

And the final score was 1918.

And unfortunately, the slammers lost.

But I gotta tell you, all the one-year-olds and the three-year-olds that were with us, they stayed for the whole game and they loved it, and especially the fireworks.

So I want to thank the slammers for a wonderful evening, and thank goodness the weather cooperated that day.

Let's see.

The next day was Star Wars on June 6th, and it was an amazing thing downtown.

Was it back again?

There was, I don't know how many people were down there, but it looked like hundreds and hundreds of folks were there.

Mayor was there and Councilman Moreno were there.

And we were at the beginning of the parade, but I didn't see a thing on any Facebook or anything, but we were there.

And then I want to congratulations to our city works and again, first responders, and a job well done over these past few days.

I know it's been very trying, but uh they've been right there cleaning up on the branches on the parkways and helping anybody that they possibly can.

I didn't get any complaints with that as well.

Um excuse me.

I um also have had another home at 521 North from Brainerd that is owned by a mom and dad that don't live there, and I believe a son lives there, so it's considered owner occupied.

And that's another problem we have that our neighborhood services are working on for quite some time because this son lives there, but it's overgrown.

I have so many pictures from the neighbors that have complaining about it, and we've tried so hard, and um the guys have been doing everything they can, but because it's under owner occupied, they can't even go there and inspect it.

So, this is something that we need to look at as a city and maybe look at uh making uh another lot because we are home rule, but this has become a problem more than one time, and this is a single family home, it's right on Rayner, it's overgrown, place is a mess, there's rubbish, just like that other lady explained to us.

It's the same problem, it's the same problem.

So, this is something else I want to bring to our attention.

Uh, and I know that our uh inspectors are working on it, and they're just they can just go so far within the within the law.

So I just want to bring that to everybody's attention so maybe we can do something else.

Other than that, um I have another thing here.

I would like to hats off to Deanna Opsall.

She has been in charge of the bicentennial park for many, many years.

She's going to retire, and there's a party for her on Thursday at Bicentennial Park.

Deanna was the glue, everything.

She was everything.

She sewed costumes, she made posters, she carried on complied par um help people with their scripts when the drama club was there.

Uh, you name it, Deanna did it.

And sorry to see her go, but she was a wonderful person and is a wonderful person, a well-deserved retirement.

So if you know her and um would like to come by Thursday night.

What time is that, Ann?

6 30 p.m.

Concerts on the Hill.

Yeah, concerts on the Hill, and she will be there.

This will be her last one.

She's a tiny little blonde with cute blue eyes and dimples, and she's the sweetest little person you'd ever want to meet.

So uh we will totally miss her.

I don't know how we can say bye park anymore without Deanna, but unfortunately for us, but I'm happy for her.

And other than that, all I want to do is say happy Father's Day to all the uncles that are stepping in as dads these days as well.

So happy Father's Day to everybody and be well and stay safe, everybody.

That's all I have.

Thank you.

Okay.

Um, I don't know if I wasn't paying attention.

Did you mention our dedication Thursday?

No, I forgot that one.

So good bring it up.

Got some new.

Good.

So uh just so everyone knows this Thursday at noon.

We are going to be doing our dedication of City Square and for the Unity Dome.

So come on out with us and you know, get in the pictures and have some fun.

Um moving on to Krista.

I want to just say one more time, one more time.

You'll never know how much you have met to this city.

We'll miss you so dearly.

Um happy Father's Day to all the fathers.

And um again, thank you to the city workers.

You've done a miraculous job cleaning up after these storms.

I hope tomorrow's not Groundhog's Day for you and starting all over again.

But um, thank you for what you've done.

And then lastly, um, I don't know how many of you were alive for the bicentennial in 1976.

I was, and I'm sure at that age I thought I was never gonna see 250 years.

Oh my god, that'd be 64 by then.

I gotta be dead.

And here we are.

So I don't care.

So I just want to say go out and celebrate the greatest country in the world, the the United States of America on our 250th anniversary.

I applaud that absolutely.

Absolutely.

So happy 4th of July.

I don't think I can sing after all that.

Well, I gotta pause.

Let's see what you got.

Just a couple things, and I'll let us get out of here on Thursday, June 4th.

Councilman Moreno and Economic Development Director Paulina Martinez attended the RE Journal's annual awards where Juliette was named City of the Year.

From major infrastructure improvements underway and completed to our downtown revitalization efforts and everything in between.

Last week, Joliette was honored to host and remember our fallen memorial exhibit in City Square.

The exhibit paid tribute to service members who lost their lives during the global war on terror.

Despite some weather-related schedule changes, many residents and visitors took the opportunity to visit the memorial and reflect on the sacrifices made by these heroes.

Thank you to our city staff, our veteran organizations, volunteers, and community partners who helped make this possible.

We know we've had some weather events, and I know we've got a few more coming we hear, but you know we got a 50-50 chance.

The weathermen are half right most of the time.

But I do want to thank the city de uh every city department and employee who's involved in the preparation for and cleanup from last week's storms.

My office received several calls complimenting city crews on their responsiveness and professionalism in helping our residents.

And we know they've still got a lot to tackle, so really want to take our hat off to all of our city employees.

Upcoming events, we're already halfway through June, but our events calendar is still full.

This week we have line dancing on Wednesday night.

Concerts on the Hill Thursday night, Chicago Street Farmers Market on Friday.

And sounds on 66 Friday night.

So looking a little further out, mark your calendars for our official City Square celebration weekend, June 26th and 27th.

A press release will with all the events detailing all these weekends will be coming out later this week.

Want to wish everyone a happy Father's Day, a very safe and happy 4th of July.

God bless you all, and thank you.

Is there a motion to adjourn?

So moved.

Second.

All in favor?

Aye.

Aye.

Opposed?

Meeting adjourned.