City Council Meeting - Regular Meeting

Welcome everyone to the City of Joliet City Council meeting this evening, March 3, here in the City Hall Chambers at 06:30. Preciding over the meeting is our mayor, Terry Darcy. We will have the invocation from Pastor Lanny Posley of the New Canaan Land Christian Church at 225 East Clinton Street.

Before we pray, we want to also lift up Brian Lewis. He was one of the first officers that we worked with. And I just got the news, so we wanna keep him in prayer as well. And we thank god for this great opportunity, and then I wanna acknowledge the mayor for his great support during our Super Solo Bowl celebration. The community came out in big numbers, and we wanna tell you thank we thank you publicly. Let us pray all heads bowed, eyes closed. Eternal what you are in god our father from everlasting to everlasting. We come to tell you thank you. Thank you, god, for your goodness, your mercy, and your grace. God, our prayer is those that stands in the leadership role, god, that they would do justice and righteousness, god.

Mindful of their decision making. Everyone, god, that sits on this on the roster tonight, god. I pray you bless them individually and collectively. God, I pray that your will be done, the same will that's being performed in heaven that will be performed down here on earth. And, god, we pray that we'd be mindful to do all things in decent and order For it is in Jesus' name we pray. And all God's people said together, amen. Amen. Amen and amen.

Pledge allegiance. To the flag of

The United States Of America

Good to see you.

Good to see you. Okay.

We'll begin with roll call. Mayor Darcy? Here.

Councilman Cardenas? Here. Councilman Clement? Here. Councilman Hug? Here. Councilman Navarro? Here. Councilman Moreno?

Here.

Councilman Mudrin. Here. Councilwoman Quillman. Here. Councilwoman Riordan.

Here. Under mayor is a proclamation recognizing colorectal cancer presented by councilwoman Quillman.

Okay, proclamation. Whereas colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in The United States among men and women combined, colorectal cancer is one of the few cancers that can

be prevented with timely screening. But one

in three eligible Americans are not up to date on screening. Colorectal cancer is increasing at an alarming rate among young people and is the leading cause of cancer death for men, second leading cause of cancer death for women 50. In 2025, there were approximately one hundred and fifty four thousand two hundred and seventy new cases and fifty two thousand nine hundred deaths from colorectal cancer in The

United

States. When colon cancer is found at an early age, one or two, the five year survival rate is ninety one percent cure, and it's sixteen percent when found at stage four. The national goal established by the National Colorectal Cancer Roundtable is to strive to increase timely colorectal cancer screening rates to eighty percent in every community for all Americans eligible for screening. Observing Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month during the month of March provides a special opportunity to increase awareness and offer education on the importance of early detection and screening of colorectal cancer. Americans in rural areas are more likely to be diagnosed with and die from colorectal cancer than Americans in urban areas.

American Indian, Alaska Natives, Black Americans are more likely to be diagnosed with colorectal cancer and more likely to die from the disease than other groups. And colorectal cancer is expected to account for twelve percent of cancer deaths among Hispanic men and nine percent of cancer deaths for Hispanic women. Now therefore, Terry Darcy, mayor of the city of Joliet, Illinois, on behalf of the Joliet Council, do hereby proclaim March 2026 as Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, dated March 2026, and signed by Terry Darcy, mayor of Joliet. And I might add, I know people I'm a nurse. Just work in the department.

People are afraid of colonoscopies. But there's another test that you can take before that. It's called Cologuard. So ask your doctor. You say you want the test. You take it at your home, and then you mail your sample in. And a lot of times, that's early detection as well. Now a colonoscopy, very simple procedure. You go in. They give you some nice, happy drugs to put you to sleep after you do the little prep.

Not a big deal. And if there's something there, they'll take biopsies, and they can take it out right away. I, for one, have a family history of colorectal cancer. So I have to go every three years for a colonoscopy because the Cologuard won't help me because I am a polyp breeder. And the polyps are the ones that grow and end up cancer, and it's once it's too late, good luck. So this could be prevented. So people, why not? It's just the save it for yourself. Save your family from all the terrible things that happen when it gets to stage four. So I will relinquish.

Oh my goodness. Was way more than

I could see. And you should know. I should know.

I should know. Know. What I love to do is just take three minutes of your time to really bring home that message. Good to see.

This son of used to work for us too. He did. It's all yours, my dear.

Thank you. So good evening, mayor, members of the city council, city staff, community partners, and residents of Joliet. My name is Lenore Johnson, and I'm deeply honored to stand before you today to say thank you. On behalf of patients, survivors, caregivers, advocates, and families whose lives have been touched by colorectal cancer, thank you to the city of Joliet for issuing this proclamation recognizing March as Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month for the third year in a row. You see, consistency matters.

It tells this community that awareness is not a one time gesture. It tells people who are quietly worried about symptoms, people delaying screenings, and families navigating a diagnosis that their city sees them, supports them, and stands with them. As a three time cancer survivor, patient, and research advocate, I know firsthand that proclamations like this are more than words on paper. They are a call to action. And sometimes, they are the push someone needs to make a life saving appointment.

Colorectal cancer is one of the most preventable and treatable cancers when caught early. Yet, it remains one of the deadliest. And what makes this moment especially urgent is this. Colon cancer is killing more young people in The United States more than ever. This year, it was declared that individuals 50, it is the number one cause of death. And if that isn't a wake up call,

we all should be

sending out that message. In fact, colorectal cancer, because it is the leading cause of death among men 50 and a second leading cause of women 50. That's why I'm standing before you. I was under the age 50 when I was diagnosed myself. This is no longer a disease that is affecting older adults.

It is impacting people in their 20s, 30s, 40s, parents, professionals, caregivers, and community leaders, many who never thought screening applied to them. And too often, their symptoms are dismissed, delayed, or overlooked. That is why screening matters. That is why education matters. And that is why leadership from cities like Joliet matters.

Tonight, I want to acknowledge the role local governments play in shaping public health conversations. When a city takes a stand like this, it sends a powerful message that prevention is a priority, that saving lives starts at the community level. So thank you, City of Joliet, for your continued commitment. And thank you again for recognizing that colorectal cancer awareness is not just a month, but it's a mission. So thank you again.

And I'll be back again next year bugging you. And my children and grandchildren here who are always supporting me are also holding a proclamation from the state of Illinois that Governor JB Priskar also put into play. So I'm thanking both, and I appreciate the recognition.

I'd like to call a friend of ours up to the

podium,

Jojo. Tell us a little bit about what you've been up to. I know you've been traveling to Europe and doing a great job for Joliet and for your family, and appreciate everything you're doing.

Yep. So My gosh.

Good evening for everybody today. And I'm very, very happy to come here today after we came back from Bulgaria. When when I was going to Bulgaria, I don't know what to expect. Everybody in the country, even the outside, the whole world, everybody wanna sign Joseph. Everybody's throwing money into me. They wanna give millions to send to their professional. But when I was going to Bulgaria, I don't know what to expect. I don't know because now he's a adult. He's 18 years old. He's gonna be fighting men, thirty six years old, 35, coming down to from 20 going up.

So I was asking myself, the people that who have a belief on Joseph gonna go to Olympics, should I go back and tell them that maybe we're gonna tend to go to professional? And when I get there and the fight started, he fought the first guy from Cuba. He beat him. The second guy, he fought from Carcassonne. He used to be number one in the world. He's he came back. He came up to heavyweight. Joseph did good against him. Then I start asking myself a question. I said, I think we're gonna go to Olympics.

I said, I know Joliet the spirit of Joliet, there's a couple people here who went to Olympics. So we're gonna see that, and we're gonna take that spirit from Joliet to get to Olympus. And I wanna say thank you for everybody who is supporting the mayor, everybody over here. Roy always in the gym with me, forcing me to get to where I have to get. And Joseph is doing really great.

I mean, I think now I know for sure we're gonna be in Olympus in in California 2028, and I believe that 100%. We're gonna the same people that we fought them, we're gonna be fighting them again. We're gonna meet them in Bulgaria. We're gonna meet them in China, and the last tournament is gonna be in Mexico. So we're gonna find a way to prepare him. He's supposed to go to camp on the eighth. I told him that he can't come to on the sixteenth. I have something that I have to work on it. So he gonna go back to camp on the sixteenth. And then from there, he's going to so he's going to everywhere around the world to go and fight. And I know the spirit of Juliet gonna take him to the Olympics. So thank you guys a lot.

So, basically, as he just said, we have our next tournament coming up, I believe, April 4. And that's gonna be the next one in Brazil, where I'll be facing against the same opponents I just went against. So this past February 18, we left off to Sofia, Bulgaria, where we went against about 40 different countries. I was able to place top three within the weight division, went against some of the best in the world. And it's just a whole new space where I'm able to go ahead and see what I'm able to do as a a grown adult now.

So we have multiple different opponents all being ranked from the top one to whatever it may be. But I was able to go ahead and come out with top three and then being able to showcase in my first international tournament that I'm able to accomplish something great. So now going into the next one aiming for gold in Brazil, and then from there, going ahead and winning the Pan Ams and doing well in, what is it, China. So it's just it's going to be a great venture this year. And I just wanna have to say thank you to all of you guys for the continuing support and knowing that I do have Julian behind me. So thank you. Thank you.

Can you see the mayor?

I can ask you.

Can you

see the mayor

now? Yes. Okay.

You're not right. You're not that tall. Right?

Next is the approval of the agenda. Is there a motion to approve the agenda as written?

So moved. Second.

It's been motioned and seconded to approve. Councilman Cardenas?

Aye.

Councilman Clement? Aye. Councilman Hug?

Aye.

Councilman Navarro aye Councilman Moreno

aye

Councilman Mudrin aye Councilman Quillman

aye Councilman Meriden 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 this is on an agenda item okay seeing none under appointments the mayor is recommending Kenneth Spiegel and Aaron Makotis to be reappointed to the historic preservation commission is there a motion to approve

so moved second

it's been motioned and seconded to approve Councilman Clement.

Aye.

Councilman Hug.

Aye.

Councilman Navarro. Aye. Councilman Moreno.

Aye.

Councilman Mudrin. Aye. Councilman Quillman. Aye. Councilman Verden. Aye. Councilman Cardenas.

Aye.

Mayor Darcy. Aye. Motion carried. The mayor is recommending Rita Renwick, Mary Schoenheider and Betsy Satcher be reappointed to the tree advisory board is there a motion to approve so moved second it's been motioned seconded to approve councilman hug

aye

councilwoman abara aye councilman Moreno aye Councilman Mudrin?

Aye.

Councilman Quillman? Aye. Councilman Merudin? Aye. Councilman Cardenas?

Aye.

Councilman Clement?

Aye.

Mayor Darcy?

Aye.

Motion carried. Next, our council committee reports. Land use and economic development will start.

Land use and economic development committee met Wednesday, 02/18/2026 here at 03:30 in City Hall Council Chambers. In attendance was councilwoman Navarro and myself. Councilman Mudra was unable to attend. We had the approval of the minutes, and then we reviewed agenda item TMP ninety five one zero, honorary street name designation for Michael Austin Clark Way, whereas Glenwood Avenue between Hames Avenue and Martin Avenue. We have public comments where public comments were made by family members and friends and and still in support of it. After following a review and discussion, the committee recommended advancing this item to the full council for approval for approval with our support, which is on today's agenda item. Do you wanna add anything else, councilor Riviere?

No. I think that's it.

And that's my report, ma'am. Thank you.

Okay. Public assets?

So the public assets committee met on Wednesday, February 25 at 5PM in the Executive Conference Room. In attendance were councilman Clement, councilman Marino, and myself, along with Blake Klein, facilities director, Night Train Beck, Joliet Slammers, and Greg Prevault, Joliet Area Historical Museum. We approved the minutes from 12/15/2025. There were no citizens to be heard on agenda items, and there were two agenda items. The first was an approval of the Jellious Slammer structural steel painting project as a part of the four year capital improvement plan.

This is a three this is year three and the largest phase of the plan. This year's painting will be for all of the concourse level and the front of the suite level. This is done to protect the durability and longevity of the structural steel. The second item was an amendment to Allied Universal Security Services, and that term sorry. That item I'm struggling.

I forgot my glasses today. That item warrants more discussion, and no action was taken. Night Train Vag provided an update on Slammer's operations. Many exciting things are happening. And before this season gets going in May, most importantly, is the special exhibition game held at the old Joliet Prison on April 30.

Tickets go on sale March 11. Interest is very high for this game, and people are very excited about this game. It has been featured on podcasts all over the country, mlb.com and Yahoo Sports, including, I'm sure, many, many more since last week. Greg Priehrbolt gave an update on the Joliet area historical museum. The museum projects have been completed, including the gallery ceiling repair project and new flooring on the 2nd Floor.

A new exhibit is being featured called rebel music, women women of color who changed the beat. Stop by to check this out. The museum staff is working closely with the slammers on the big house ballgame and Route sixty six centennial celebration. So many great things happening in the city of Joliet. Do you have anything to add, councilman Clement or councilor Marino?

Good you. To

Okay. That is my report, mayor.

Thank you. And public service.

Public service met yesterday, March 2026 here in the council chambers at 04:30 in the afternoon on the committee and in attendance with councilwoman Meriden, councilman Mudrin, and myself, councilman Hug. We had six contracts and three change orders passed and there's a final payments to review. Half of the contracts were no surprise related to the ongoing alternative water project. We looked at one contract. There was a well, 23 d, that needed to be removed and then had to be replaced and repaired for 02/18300.

We looked at a professional services agreement for the district metering. Meaning, right now, we have we've divided the city into six district meters so that we can locate leaks more easily, but we're actually expanding that to 26, kind of subdividing it. There'll be 26 meters. So the company that we looked at the contract with is McKinnon Creed. They specialize in this type of stuff, and that was for a contract of 160,000.

We also looked at an agreement for Cavanaugh and Associates, specializes in water loss control, to continue on as our consultant moving forward in '26 2026, and that was a professional services agreement contract worth 668,000. We looked at, you know, the extending into 2026, our sanitary sewer investigation and rehabilitation program. The RJM Group has been working on that for quite some while some time for about 410,000. There was nothing we did close out the Marquette Park water main improvements, and the change order was a subtraction of $360 and so that lowered the final payment to close that out to 515,000. We looked at all six contracts.

We looked at three of the items on the change order. We found them all to be routine and in order and unanimously voted to send them forward to the full council with committee recommendation to approve. Under ordinance and resolutions, we had some housekeeping. Whenever you spend motor fuel tax, you have to actually go through the exercise of approving that expenditure. So again, we looked at four items on the ordinance resolutions that you'll find all of these items on the agenda for the council meeting. And those two were unanimously approved for recommendation to be approved by the full council. And I think that's all I have, unless I missed something, folks.

No. That's cool.

Go ahead.

That's my report then,

ma'am. Thank you.

I show no other reports. Under consent agenda, approval of minutes. It is recommended the minutes of the pre council meeting 02/02/2026, council meeting 02/03/2026, and the combined council meeting 02/17/2026 stand approved as recorded. Invoices to be paid. It is recommended this report be approved.

Council memo number 140Dash26 award of contract number 2962Dash0226 for the well 23 d rehabilitation to Great Lakes Water Resources Group in the amount of $218,300 Council memo number 140One-twenty6 award a professional services agreement for the district metered area management to McKimon Creed Incorporated in the amount of $168,000 council memo number 142Dash26 awarded professional services agreement for the 2026 water loss control technical assistance program to kavanaugh and associates p a in the amount of $668,355 Council memo number 143Dash26, award of professional services agreement for the 2026 sanitary sewer investigation and rehabilitation program to r j n group incorporated in the amount of $409,595. Councilmember number 144Dash26 award of 2026 public utilities department leak detection and meter testing services agreement to m e Simpson Simpson company incorporated in the amount of $595,440 councilmember number 140Five-twenty6 approval of amendment number one to the professional services agreement for the geotechnical services for the West Side wastewater treatment expansion project to CECO consultants incorporated in the amount of $6,110 councilmember number 140Six-twenty6 approval of change order number one for the Marquette Park water main improvements project to construction by CAMCO incorporated for deduction in the amount of $359,193.74 and pay estimate number six and final in the amount of $515,575.25 councilmember number 147Dash26 approval of payment to Julie illinois one call system services to Julie incorporated in the amount of $30,591.25 councilmember number 148Dash26 award of payment for the Joliet Slammer Stadium structural steel painting to Cosgrove construction incorporated in the amount of $409,660 councilmember number 149Dash26 approve a contract amendment with borderless studios for work associated with the choice neighborhood initiative grant it is recommended council memos 140Dash26 through 149Dash26 be approved is there a motion to approve all said consent agenda items

move to approve

second mayor yeah Just a question clarification on item one forty nine. The grant amendment was voted with. Is that entire project, Beth, that is the being paid for by, the federal housing and urban development department grant?

Yes, sir.

Okay. Thank you. Mhmm.

It's been motioned and seconded to approve. Councilwoman Navarro?

Aye. Councilman Moreno? Aye. Councilman Mudrin?

Aye.

Councilwoman Quillman? Aye. Councilwoman Meriden? Aye. Council McCartiness? Aye. Council McClement? Aye. Councilman Hug?

Aye.

Mayor Darcy aye motion carried agenda items council memo number 151Dash26 award of contract number 2938Dash0126 for the JolDash08Dash04 distribution system upgrades project to PT Farrell construction company in the amount of $15,196,257.72 it is recommended council member number 151Dash26 be approved

so moved Second. Any comments or questions? It's all part of the Grand Prairie Water Project, so these are big numbers, but it's all accounted for.

And mayor, if you noticed, I'm sure you did, came way under the estimate. Way over. The estimate was like $28,000,000 and we came

in at a very

competitive $15,000,000 Yeah, we're doing a

lot of it. I know. It's really good.

Let's not jinx it up.

I'm not

jinx it

up, Ron. Nope. Alright, thank you.

It's a motion and seconded to approve councilman Moreno

aye councilman mudrin aye councilman wakuman aye councilman verdan aye councilman cardinus aye councilman clement aye councilman hug aye councilman abara

aye

mayor Darcy aye motion carried Licenses and permit applications. Council memo number 153Dash26 issuance of class k liquor license at one mayor art schultz drive Joliet Baseball Concessions LLC. Is there a motion to approve the issuance of said liquor license?

So moved. Second.

Any comments or questions?

Question, Mayor Beth. Just some clarification on this one too. Anybody watching, we're not giving another liquor license. It's because they've subdivided and they have a new company, so a different name on the on liquor license just for concessions. But they've always had the same license. Okay. Thank you. Thank you, mayor.

Thank you.

It's been motion and seconded to approve. Councilman Mudrin?

Aye.

Councilman Quillman? Aye. Councilman Verudin? Aye. Councilman Cardenas?

Aye.

Councilman Clement?

Aye.

Councilman Hug? Aye. Councilman Navarro? Aye. Councilman Moreno?

Aye.

Mayor Darcy?

Aye.

Motion carried. Council memo number 154Dash26 issuance of class b liquor license at 113 North Ottawa Street The Matisse. Is there a motion to approve the issuance of said liquor license?

So moved. Second. Any comments or questions?

I have a comment, mayor. I'm very excited about this venue. That's all I

have to say. Thank you.

It's a motion and seconded to approve. Councilwoman?

Aye. Councilwoman Reardon? Aye. Council McCartney. Aye. Council McClement.

Aye.

Councilman Hug.

Aye.

Councilwoman Navarro. Aye. Councilman Moreno. Aye. Councilman Mudrin.

Aye.

Mayor Darcy. Aye. Motion carried. Under resolutions councilmember number 156Dash26 resolution appropriating supplemental motor fuel tax funds for the Bridge Street Nicholson Street to Center Street roadway improvement project mft section number 24Dash00562Dash0 zero dash FP. It is recommended that resolution be adopted.

So moved.

Second. Sorry.

Any comments, questions?

Been motioned and seconded to approve. Councilwoman Roodin. Aye. Councilman Cardenas.

Aye.

Councilman Clement. Aye. Councilman Hug.

Aye.

Councilwoman Navarro. Aye. Councilman Moreno. Aye. Councilman Mudrin. Aye. Councilman McCullen. Aye.

Mayor Darcy. Aye. Motion carried. Councilmember number 157Dash26. Resolution accepting a grant of public utility easement from Larkin Village apartment. DBA Larkin Village LP for the Larkin Avenue water main improvements project. It is recommended said resolution be adopted.

Motion approved second

any comments questions thank you

it's been motion and seconded to approve council McCartney's

aye

council McClelland aye councilman hug aye councilwoman abaro aye councilman Moreno

aye

councilman mudran aye councilman Coleman aye councilman verdan

aye mayor Darcy

aye

motion carried councilmember number 158Dash26 resolution approving easement agreement for water transmission main with Plainfield community consolidated school district number two zero two Plainfield South high school 7800 Caton Farm Road it is recommended said resolution be adopted

so moved

second

any comments questions? Thank you.

It's been motioned and seconded to approve. Councilman Clement.

Aye. Councilman Hug. Aye. Councilman Navarro. Aye. Councilman Moreno. Aye. Councilman Mudrin. Aye. Councilman Quillman. Aye. Councilman Verdun.

Aye.

Councilwoman Cardenas? Aye.

Mayor Darcy?

Aye.

Motion carried. Council memo number 159Dash26. Resolution approving an honorary street name designation for Michael Austin Clark Way. It is recommended that resolution be adopted.

So moved.

Second. Any comments or questions? We're very glad to do this. Thank you.

It's been motion and seconded to approve. Councilman Hug?

Aye. Councilwoman Navarro? Aye. Councilman Moreno?

Aye.

Councilman Mudrin. Aye. Councilwoman Coleman.

Aye.

Councilwoman Reardon. Aye. Councilman Cardenas. Aye. Councilman Clement.

Aye. Mayor Darcy. Aye. Motion carried. Council memo number 160Dash26 resolution accepting a grant of permanent easement for 652 Collins Street parking lot on the 652 Collins Street Alley Improvements project. It is recommended that resolution be adopted.

So moved.

Second. Any comments or questions? Thank you.

It's been motion and seconded to approve.

Councilwoman Navarro? Aye. Councilman Marino?

Aye.

Councilman Mudrin? Aye. Councilman McCorman? Aye. Councilman Marudin? Aye. Councilman Cardenas? Aye. Councilman Clement? Aye. Councilman Hug?

Aye.

Mayor Darcy?

Aye.

Motion carried. Next is the city manager's report

good evening everyone this past Thursday I attended our second community workshop at Joliet Public Library where we gathered input from residents on the direction of our comprehensive plan we'd like to thank everyone who participated we really want to hear from as many people as possible at these workshops. And we've been satisfied with the turnout we've seen thus far. For anyone curious about what we've learned from the public so far and how this feedback is being used to craft the comprehensive plan, we have a vision, goals, and objectives report available on joliet.gov that outlines the backbone of the comprehensive plan providing direction on land use, housing, mobility, infrastructure, economic development, and more. I'd encourage everyone to take a look at that document. I also want to highlight some upcoming programming at Billy Lehmecker Bicentennial Park and Theater for the months of March and April.

In addition to a variety of local theater, poetry, and youth arts opportunities, we're particularly excited about the theater performance being staged by Providence Catholic High School and Joliet Catholic Academy. Providence Catholic High School will be performing Little Shop of Horrors, but they're calling it Small Store of Terror right now because Little Shop of Horrors is on Broadway. And apparently, if they're playing on Broadway, you can't use the real name. So it's called Small Store of Terror. That will play on March 1415.

And Joliet Catholic Academy drama will be performing the musical comedy Anything Goes on 03/26/2728. We'd like to wish our young performers good luck as they prepare for their opening nights and encourage anyone who's interested in attending. Lastly, would like to recognize this week that is employee appreciation week. I want to take a moment to sincerely thank each and every City of Joliet employee for the dedication, professionalism, and hard work they demonstrate every day in service to our community. I am also proud to share that the city of Joliet was recognized in the 2025 Will and Grundy Counties Top Workplaces Awards as the number one top municipality to work for by the Herald News media.

This distinction is a direct reflection of the commitment of our employees and the strong culture they help create across our organization. That's all I have for tonight.

Next we have public comments. I do have some names signed up so we'll start with those Andrea Baumhardt.

Good evening. I'm here to talk about the proposed data center. And I want you to know that I did go to the open house that was in town which had all the consultants there. And they did speak with as many people as that I could at all of the tables. One of the tables I went to specifically was on air quality.

So you know, generators. And I was talking to the gentleman at the table who seemed very nice and I thought I could have a reasonable conversation with him and we were looking at a map together that he had and I had him I indicated to him like where I lived in proximity and I asked him, be honest with me. Like what do I have to worry about here? Okay? And we talked for a little bit and then he said, you need to push for tier four generators not tier two.

And you know what? I had not started researching the difference between the two yet. So I was kinda concerned. Okay? And I'm not the only person that lives around there.

I don't know which of you has your district that's around there, but maybe you should start talking to those people. Okay? I was looking online at your website and at both websites actually because, you know, there's this plea out there that everybody's being transparent for public protection. Well, we are forty eight hours out now from the plan votes on Thursday and all of the documents are supposed to be posted within forty eight hours. Okay?

On your FAQ, which was on there, I can't find any evidence that talks about what types of generators generators are are going going to to be be used. Used. It's It's not not listed. It doesn't talk about if they're tier two or tier four. It doesn't talk about how many there will be.

My understanding with an 1,800 megawatt facility, that's could be anywhere between five hundred fifty and six hundred. It doesn't talk about how often we will run, which could be weekly, monthly. We don't know they're gonna be tested or like for what duration. If it would be fifteen minutes or an hour. So knowing that air quality greatly affects mostly like small that question.

I think are considering

voting do for this you really need to be having those conversations about your quality and generators and how it's gonna affect your community. Thank you.

Rick Norman.

We can live without data centers. What we can't live without is fresh, clean, unpolluted water and air, farmers, agriculture, and land. It's time to build communities, not data centers. I already have cancer. I can't risk or afford another cancer diagnosis. When I was diagnosed with a brain tumor in 2017, I had saved almost $30 to put towards a down payment on a house. Nothing out of reach, something modest to begin with. By the end of the following year, the entirety of my savings were gone because of medical bills. I'm disabled. I have seizures.

And since my brain surgery, a left field vision cut, blind on my left peripheral. I'll never be able to drive again. Though they removed over fifty percent of my brain tumor, finished radiation and chemo, they couldn't remove the remaining in the areas of my brain where it's inoperable. Jen Coleman, earlier you spoke of advising for cancer screenings. Why would you vote to approve of this data center with its cancer causing pollution?

I'm currently looking to be a homeowner again, but I'm not going to move forward with it until data centers have advanced Joliet. Approving to this, I would have to leave Joliet, likely Illinois, altogether. A great majority of area residents would. This town would become a ghost town like happened in Wood Dale, Illinois and countless other towns. Were y'all planning to gain only revenue for the city from the data center and compounds and factories and turn this town into, like, a factory town?

Why? I don't know where I'd go to get away from data centers. I surely don't want to go anywhere less black than Joliet. And these data centers do target poor black and brown communities. I possibly have to hit the road and become a nomad.

Moving out of state or becoming a vagabond, either of which is feasible. Y'all were voted in office to protect the best interests of Joliet residents. What are y'all doing to uphold that duty to represent the Joliet area community residents in talks with these despicable data center pimps? Approvement of this data center proposal shows that this council not only doesn't care but hates the very residents of the community y'all are beholden for voting you all into office. Susana Ibarra informed me she's voting no on the proposed data center. The rest of this council needs to follow her lead and vote no on this proposed data center.

Marjorie McNichols.

Hi, Thank you all for giving us this chance to express ourselves. So I have questions, primarily questions. Why such a big data center? Why are you moving so fast? Is this the best developer?

Is this the best data center? Is any other company under consideration? How is the development of this deva data center going to weather the inevitable changes in AI and data technology in general? You make a decision now that has a footprint footprint for forty or fifty years, none of us will be here. Some of us some of us may live alone.

None of us may be here, but the decision truly, truly matters. I looked at an article in Data Center Magazine today that listed 10 sustainable developers of data centers. Arcadis was listed. Interestingly enough, not every data center has to use diesel fuel in their generators. Some use HVO, which is the food product, biofuel, that eliminates the issue of nitrous oxide.

I've gotta give you my asthmatic cough. Okay? And I've gotta remind you that we may not just affect Joliet. The wind blows from the West, typically. So you could expect the asthma rate to raise rise in New Lenox. Right? There are data centers that use the waste heat. They put a greenhouse on the top, and this is not just once. There are several. And they're not all located in exotic locations like Finland or Denmark, you know, where they have natural in cooling.

So they put greenhouses on the top floor because the heat rises. Then they raise vegetables. Okay? I'm enchanted by the idea that you could link Joliet Junior College Tech students to a facility where they could get hands on true tech experience. But I'd be even more enchanted if the horticulture guys could come over, and then the culinary arts people could cook with the vegetables. Joliet. I love Joliet. I came to Joliet forty five years ago, and I never loved. I love Joliet. Joliet is a world class city.

Joliet has location. Joliet has people with heart, fabulous people. Why go for a mediocre product that's really obsolete before it's built? They want power lines. They wanna use grid. Many of these sustainable developers raise create their own energy for this. Water is a concern. We have aquifers that we need to cherish and protect. And so I simply want to ask you, why rush and why commit such a huge development when you could try something smaller, like what Minooka's doing? Minooka is working with one of these sustainable developers.

I wish I could arouse the curiosity and creativity that I think this council possesses to truly give us a data center that would make Joliet even better than this current plan. And so I do that. And thank you so very much. Mhmm.

Joe Jenkins.

So the reason why I came here today is because they finally cleared they finally closed Middletesdale Road. And I just wanna say thank you for, you know, making that possible because it has made a big difference out there with the traffic and stuff. You know, they're they're finishing up the construction part of it, but that's mainly why I wanted to come here is just say thanks for getting that done because before that, it was a total disaster with all those trucks and cars and all the madness out there. And now the way it is, it's almost like a ghost town out there. But that's mainly why I wanna come here to say thanks for making that happen.

Thank you.

Loretta Vargas.

We're the owners at 337 3rd Avenue. We rent that place. And the family behind me, you know, it's the couple and then the baby, They've been living there for nine months, I'm sorry. And it's been three shootings to the house. So we're losing our they're no longer going to live there anymore. And we put police reports. And we want to come here to see if there's something you can do to help us. As you can see, have a baby. It's the third time that they shoot the house. And it's the house.

It's not like the street. It's the house. So we're really concerned. And we're just here to see if there's something you can do to help us. Thank you.

Okay. That is everybody that I have signed up. Is there anyone else who would like to address the council this evening?

Good evening. Good afternoon. Good morning. Depending on your time zone and state of mind. As far as the data centers go, I've been studying with data centers for quite some time all over the world, not just The United States. They're not what you think they are at all. I went to the JJC Expo. Nobody there from Hillwood or anybody else had a business card. Nobody could answer one question about the technical specification. They couldn't even tell me who the occupants were gonna be and who actually was gonna run it.

And as far as she mentioned, the diesels, the generators, when I went by the guy with the air quality sign,

and I

looked at his air quality sign. And I said, you know what? I'm not even gonna address that lie. I said, I worked at a six oil column station. Burn six oil. Next nastiest thing you can burn, the coal. And on their side, they said, oh, it emits less pollution than your car. And I said, I'm not even gonna address that. As far as the switchyard substation, I talked to the comedian guys. I told them what I did for forty eight years.

And I said, now you know the residents are gonna pick up the tab for this, the switchyard, the substation. I looked at the plans. There's quite a few substations. Who's going to do the maintenance? I talked to the Hillwood guys, and they used to be ex utility guys, and they just smiled. Yeah. And I said, I know what that means. I looked on here, and it said Joliet Technology Center sub subdivisions, fees, engineering review, fee $9,775. What? There's no technical details. When I was talking to the guy with the water, I asked him, how many gallons per hour

are we

running through

this thing?

He looks at me. What? I'm like, yeah. Gallons per hour. So you're gonna have glycol chillers. You're gonna have some kind of chillers. Where's the where's the water recycle? What do you do for water for glycol leaks? Nobody could answer anything. Who's going to do the testing of the substation in the switchyard? No answers. Mhmm. You need to press them for some questions in that 9775, you need to demand a refund.

You guys know me. I'm at the office. One of the things I wanna say is I did try to go to that comprehensive plan meeting over there at the library last week. And what I ran into trying to find and even just calling trying to call the library and trying to find out where am I supposed to park. You know? Because I don't go down there very much.

They took

away the parking, the free parking lot they

had to do that improvement,

do that beautician, stuff up Joey at, but they took away the parking for the library. And I'm handicapped and disabled, and I was trying to call the library. Now how many times do you think you should have to call the library to get somebody to answer a phone? I called the library. I ended up calling the library 16 times while I'm driving to the to the trying to get that comprehensive meeting.

My phone's on my dash. I'm driving my two hands on a wheel. I'm trying to get these people at the library to pick the phone up and tell me where am I supposed to be able to park to get in their library for this meeting, and nobody would tell me. We had one guy that called me back after the ninth call from the library. I'm trying to find out where do I go.

He ends up hanging the phone up. He hung the phone up. So I'm trying another another seven times to try to get somebody to answer that phone. And when I finally got to the got there, I end up finding my own parking spot in the in the garage, parking garage just south of the library there. I've seen Sherri when I was come coming in. Sherri was walking out. Sherri says, hey. Get up there. Share your ideas. I tried to do that.

I tried to, you know, ask questions at the library of who is responsible for answering the phones, or how many times I got a call to get somebody to answer a phone. I don't know what it was that I did wrong just by doing that. I end up calling the library and showing them, look, I'm calling the library, and you got all these people at these desks at the library. And not one phone is ringing when I'm calling the library. You got all these workers. You got these phones right at their desks, these phones are not ringing. And nobody's bothering you. Of course, the phone's not ringing. Nobody's gonna pick the phone up and answer it. So we got all these phones just sitting there lighting up on people's desks just for pretty lights, decoration, where nobody will answer the phone for you.

Not to you know, all I went through that night, the stress level and everything, I felt like I having a heart attack. Then I get trapped in the parking garage trying to leave because I don't have debit card or credit card to get out of it. It was just the sole politeness of a citizen using her debit card to pay to get me out of that garage. So this parking garages and the parking issues are still a big thing and need to be addressed. We need more parking for people with handicap.

And if you're going to have this comprehensive plan community meeting, have it somewhere else where it's more accessible to people, where you've got plenty of parking for it. And lastly, I wanna say about these data centers. I am trying to find a home. Homes I've been looking at a couple homes that are right over there in that area. Like to buy a home and get out of this motel that I'm living in.

Well, if you guys are gonna vote that data center in, the homes I wanna I wanna buy over one of the homes I wanna buy over there, which is right by it, What's gonna be use of me buying a home if you're gonna let this data center come in? You know, I'm trying to live my life. I'm trying to go out with my life. But if you guys bought this data center in, how do you let people go out their lives? You know, what more do you want to have happen to me to I'm trying to find reasons to live, and you guys are keep taking it away. So don't vote for this data center for my my sake and anybody else's sake. We don't want anybody else to suffer. Please don't vote for it.

Is there anyone else who would like to address the council this evening? Okay. Seeing none, we will move on to mayor and council comments.

I just have one comment I just want to bring up the fact that yesterday morning we had a swearing in at the Bicentennial Park for nine new firemen. So congratulations to all them. Welcome, and good luck. And that's all I have.

On Sunday, I attended the UCP tasting chef's tasting. It was their twenty ninth anniversary to raise money for an aortic cerebral palsy. Councilman Cardenas was there as well. And as always, it was very well attended, and they raised a lot of money. I'm not sure what the final count was just yet, but as always, a very good time and very enjoyable and a lot of exposure for some new residents and restaurants as well. So that's all I have. Thank you.

I'd like to congratulate Mike Hanson, who last week was being inducted into the Joy Catholic Academy Business Hall of Champions with eight other people, one of which is our former judge, Diana R. Archambault. Congratulations.

No problem.

During this employee appreciation week, I wanna take a moment to thank every single person who works for the city of Joliet. From our incredible East Side Road crew who do a fantastic job and are all always responsive to District 5, to our traffic enforcement officers who work closely with me to address traffic concerns, and our neighbor neighborhood oriented officers who are constantly striving to strengthen and protect our communities. Your dedication does not go unnoticed. To all of our police officers who put uniforms on each day and risk your lives to keep this city safe, please know that we see your sacrifice, and we deeply appreciate your service and commitment to our residents. To our fire department and especially the community cares program, thank you for transforming the relationship between residents and the fire department through compassion, care, and genuine human connection.

You have truly made a difference in people's lives. To our IT department, thank you for your patience, kindness, and steady support whenever I need technical help, which is a lot. To our city managers, thank you for being responsive and attentive to the needs of our residents. Corporation counsel, Todd Lindsey, thank you for always giving me the information I need whether I like it or not. I appreciate you.

Dustin Anderson, thank you for patiently walking me through ordinances time and time again. Thank you. Lauren O'Hara, you're super responsive, positivity, bright ray of sunshine, kindness, and willingness to accommodate my demanding schedule, and ensure I am always informed and supported. Thank you. Krista Desiderio, you were the first person at the city of Joliet who is both knowledgeable and incredibly kind.

Thank you. City manager Beth Beatty, when I asked you for transparency and information for residents, you made it happen within two days. Thank you so much. I don't have my glasses on, so I lost my spot. But to all my colleagues on this council, each and every one of you is so unique, knowledgeable, and deeply caring about your districts or the city as a whole.

And to the mayor, you are the glue that holds this council together. The steady and patient presence, always ready with wisdom, a story, or even a prayer. Really, really appreciate you. You are all the heart and soul of what keeps this city of Joliet running strong. Happy employee appreciation to every one of you. Thank you. Thank you.

I just wanna say what she said. No, just wanna say thank you to all the residents that did show up, that were able to attend the comprehensive plan workshop, It's very important. I know sometimes it may seem like when we sit up here we're not listening but we really are and we're trying to do the best we can to do the research and to really get informed on all the important decisions that we have to make. We focus on four key areas during this comprehensive plan workshop, there was a lot of great feedback and a lot of participation. There's been a lot of online participation, so I just want to encourage everyone to continue to participate. Again, sometimes it may feel like it's falling on deaf ears, but believe me, I'm telling you it's not. We are listening, so I just want to say thank you. And thank you to the team for everything that you do.

Thank you.

After Suzanne, I'm going to be completely boring. I'm sorry. The only thing I've got, last week I traveled to Washington DC with a few mayors, mayor DeBold from Sherwood, mayor Schumacher from Shanahan, Allison Swisher was with us, Hugh O'Hara from the Wilkonic governmental league. We went there to meet with our congressional delegates to emphasize the importance of our regional water project and the need for federal support. Every dollar they give us brings down the cost of this project.

Last year, we got a million dollars out of congresswoman Underwood. This year, we met with senators Durbin and Duckworth, congresswoman congressman Darren LaHood, congressman Jonathan Jackson, and congresswoman Lauren Underwood. And we we have offered ideas on projects anywhere from $10.05 to $10,000,000 on different needs of this project to to make this thing happen. So they're very receptive receptive. And I I really think that we're gonna see more help from our federal friends. So that's all I got. God bless you, and have a great night. Okay.

Is there a motion to adjourn?

So move. Second.

All

in favor? Aye. Meeting adjourned.