The Freeport City Council will meet at 6:00 p.m. Monday, March 5, 2018, in the City Council Chambers at 314 West Stephenson Street, Freeport, Illinois.   At the last council meeting on February 20, 2018, the Council approved spending $32,250 for pothole software this year, and then $19,250 each year thereafter to maintain the software.   It is rumored that Alderperson Tom Klemm and the City Manager will soon be proposing the establishment of a new city department to manage the pothole repair program.  The budget for the new pothole department without the software would be in the neighborhood of $200,000.  The new department head would cost in excess of $80,000 per year with benefits, and two assistants would cost in excess of $100,000.  Some might say that is excessive, but not the citizens of Freeport.  The citizens of Freeport tolerated $32,250 for pothole software, so why would they complain about another $200,000 for the new pothole department.  Where will the money come from?  No problem, Freeport is a home rule city.   I am sure our creative bureaucrats will come up with a new tax to cover it.