The above picture is not a tire that was illegally dumped, but is my tire which was destroyed by a pot hole on Hance Drive in the City of Freeport.   The Street Department has time to take down houses and to clean up illegal dumps on the East side of Freeport, but cannot do its basic function – the maintenance of the streets in this community.   Unfortunately, the terrible condition of Hance Drive is not atypical of the streets in this community.  Years of total neglect have taken a toll, and many are beyond repair.    The residents of this community do not seem to care, or have just given up.   Let’s get a street department that will at least attempt to do its job and today – not tomorrow.  Action should be taken immediately to correct the situation, but of course, that is wishful thinking.   The do-nothing policy of the street department and this City has been going on for years, so why would we expect action now!

The Freeport City Council will meet tonight at 6:00 p.m. in its new palatial chambers at 314 W. Stephenson Street.  Some items of interest on the agenda:

Letter from the City Engineer, Shaun M. Gallagher, notifying the City that water and sewer rates will increase 4.1% on May 1.   The increase is based on the Consumer Price Index for Urban Consumers using the “Water and Sewerage Maintenance” index, and the rate will automatically increase each year based on this index.  Wow, over four per cent for one year.  Social Security recipients received a .1% increase in January.  I guess that means water and sewer expenses increased at a rate 41 times the rate of inflation for individuals in the City of Freeport!   Those bureaucrats really know how to spend our money.  By the way the Council does not need to approve this increase – it is automatic.   This reminds me of what is going on in Springfield!

Resolution authorizing the leasing of the old West Avenue fire station on a monthly basis for $800.00 per month.  Also, the City gives the lessee an option to purchase to the property.   Lease not worth commenting on!

Resolution to Ratify Collective Bargaining Agreement with The International Association of Firefighters.

 At the council meeting on May 18, Street Superintendent, Tom Dole, said the City will repair the alleys in the 5th Ward. Without saying it he essentially said, to Hell with those people living on Woodside Drive, Woodside Kort, and Woodside Circle. The City is more concerned about alleys in the City than dangerous and disintegrating streets. Must someone die on Woodside Drive before the City repairs this street? I guess the City does not place much value on the lives of its citizens using Woodside Drive. One thing for sure, when someone is killed or injured on Woodside Drive, the City cannot deny knowledge of the dangerous condition of this street. Tort immunity will not protect the city from liability for the intentional disregard of this dangerous condition.

To make matters even worse the City plans to spend $517,714 on new streets and a new parking lot for a fire station. Not one dime for the Woodside Drive area. WHEN WILL THE TAXPAYERS OF FREEPORT WAKE UP? They are living in a city that places a higher priority on parking lots that the safety of its citizens.  

The Freeport City Council will be meeting on Monday, June 1 at 6:00 pm at 524 W. Stephenson Street, 3rd Floor. You can watch it live on Comcast Channel 17. The agenda for the meeting is available at http://www.ci.freeport.il.us/citygovernment/Agendas/A20150601.pdf 

Of interest is the fact that the City of Freeport will be spending $15,000 for fireworks for the 4th of July, and it cannot repair the streets in this City. I might add that I like fireworks, but perhaps it should not be paid for with public funds when the City cannot afford to provide basic services to its citizens.