Town Council - Regular Meeting

Call to order meeting for the normal local liquor commission. Please call the role. Mayor Cous here. Mr. Preston here. Mrs. Loren here. Mr. Buyers here. Mr. Rober. Miss Smith here. Mr. McCarthy here. Our first item of business is approval of the minutes of the special meeting of February 16th, 2026. Move approval. Second. Any changes or corrections? Please call the role. Mr. Preston, I. Mrs. Loren, I. Mr. Buyers, I. Miss Smith. I. Mr. McCarthy. I. Mayor Cous.

I. The minutes are approved. Uh, we have a liquor license application. um for Deuja Hospitality uh doing business as a courtyard in at 310A Greenbryer Drive for a class E hotel on premises consumption license. Approval. Second. Discussion on this. Please call. Mrs. Loren, I. Mr. Buyers, I Miss Smith, I. Mr. McCarthy, I. Mr. Preston. Hi, Mayor Cous.

Hi. That license is approved. Other business tonight is the annual approval of uh all the liquor licenses currently existing within the town. There's 80ome 82 licenses that were considered for approval. Move approval. Second. Second. Discussion on this. Please call the Mr. Buyers. I. Miss Smith. I Mr. McCarthy I Mr. Preston I M excuse me Mrs. Lawren I mayor Cous I those licenses are approved motion forjourn so moved second

please call the Miss Smith I Mr. McCarthy I Mr. Preston I Mrs. Loren Hi Mr. Hi, Mayor Cous.

All right, we are ajourned. We will have a public hearing in just a moment while I get a glass of water. Call to order a public hearing uh pertaining to the proposed annual budget for fiscal year 2026 2027. Please call the role.

Mayor Cous here. Mr. Preston here. Mrs. Loren here. Mr. Buyers here. Mr. Mr. Roers, Miss Smith here, Mr. McCarthy here. Is there anyone here wishing to speak pertaining to the proposed annual budget for fiscal year 2026 2027? Is there anyone here wishing to uh speak pertaining to the proposed annual budget for fiscal year 2026 2027? And third and final time, is there anyone here wishing to speak pertaining to the proposed annual budget for fiscal year 2026 2027?

Motion for a German, please. So moved. And please call a roll. Mr. Preston, I. Mrs. Loren, Mr. Buyers, I. Miss Smith, I. Mr. McCarthy, I. Mayor Cous,

I. We are adjourned and we'll start our regular meeting in about two minutes. Call the order meeting for the Normal Town Council for Monday, March 16th, 2026. Please call the RO.

Mayor Cous here. Mr. Preston here. Mrs. Lauren, here. Mr. Buyers here. Mr. Robers. Miss Smith here. Mr. McCarthy

here. We'll begin with a pledge of allegiance. I als prior to the meeting. We do have some public commenters at the end of the meeting. U so we move to the omnibus agenda items be taken with one vote unless a council member would like to pull an item for discussion. Move approval. Second.

Items considered under omnibus tonight or approval of the minutes of the regular council meeting of March 2nd, 2026. A report to receive and file town of normal expenditures for payment as of March 11th, 2026. A resolution authorizing execution of an intergovernmental agreement for storm water education services provided by the ecology action center for a period of three years. A resolution to appropriate $1.5 million of motor fuel tax funds for the resurfacing resurfacing of various streets for the 2026 motor fuel tax street resurfacing project and authorize the director of public works and engineering to sign the IDOT general maintenance form. a resolution authorizing the filing of the town's community development block grant annual action plan for program year 2026 and a resolution authorizing the purchase of a 2025 Ford Transit 250 van from Heler Ford in the amount of $33,79063. Please call the RO.

Mr. Preston I la. Mr. Buyers. Hi. Miss Smith I Mr. McCarthy I Mayor Cous I the agenda is approved we have three items of general orders tonight the first is an ordinance amending various sections of the town of normal zoning code move approval second uh discussion on this item these are just housekeeping changes that we're making to uh town of normal zoning code uh covers quite a bit of ground It's available online uh if you want to take a deeper dive into that. Miss Smith,

I I just wanted to highlight if I'm correct, it seemed like they're um going through it systematically and I think it's on chapter 15 at this point before they move on. So that that's the approach they're taking. Well, chapter 15 is zoning code which covers all sorts of development related issues. And then I believe once we're through much of the zoning code, then we'll be looking at the subdivision code, which would be chapter 16 of the of the municipal code. So I'm trying to do a little bit. It's a it's a big bite. So we're taking small bites as you know and moving forward.

Well, I was trying to find a commonality and once I started seeing 15 in front of the things, something click. Thank you. Please call the roll. Mrs. Loren, I. Mr. Buyers, I. Miss Smith. I, Mr. McCarthy. I, Mr. Preston. I, Mayor Cous, I. That item is approved. The ordinance is approved. Item eight is a resolution approving an agreement between the county of MLAN, the city of Bloomington, and the town of Normal temporarily amending intergovernor intergovernmental revenue sharing agreement of 2016. Approval. Second.

Discussion on this item. Miss Lurren, how will this be reinstated and will it be through a vote or what is the process going forward after the 90 days is pass? My understanding it's a defined three-month pause. So the dates are I'm sorry the dates are April, May, and June. So from April 1. So that's the next payment due. Correct. When we receive the department of revenue money of our shared sales tax for the month of April, that month will be the first month we do not distribute any portion of that to mine county.

Okay. So, April, May, and June. Correct. And then how will that be reinstated? It'll just start up again on its own. So, it's only for this three-month period and then the IG kicks in again. Okay. Unless there's some further action. Correct. They're currently um all three parties are currently in process of negotiating language changes to the IG. Okay. And what is going to be will that money be put in like an escrow or what happens to that money that's not spent?

It will remain the cities and towns general fund to be determined by the administration and council on what we want to do with it. So it it'll it'll go into the giant checkbook as I like to talk to talk about it with Mr. Hume and could be spent. It it could be on reserves and not on mental health, right? We'd have to just if we had a plan for that money, we would talk to council about that. How do we feel about that? But it's not going to mental health. I think the vote will tell us how we feel about that.

I think it's we have talked about with the county. The countyy's in agreement, the city's in agreement to do that while we renegotiate the agreement. Nothing further. Mr. President, just for uh clarity, there will not be an additional under the scrim, there will not be an additional three months tacked on to the end of the term after 20 years, right? This is just a net three-month savings to the town at this point. Correct. That is correct. Further on this item, please call the RO. Mr. Buyers, I. Miss Smith, I. Mr. McCarthy, I. Mr. Preston, I. Mrs. Lauren, I.

Mayor Cous. I. That resolution is approved. Item nine is an ordinance adopting the operating and capital investment budget for the town of Normal. Move for approval. 2026 27. And we have a motion for approval. Do we have a second? No second.

Oh, okay. Is there discussion comments on this item? Um I just wanted to highlight that in reviewing the budget um it is noted that although our planned ongoing rate increases for sewer and water at 2% um are dead are suns setting further on in the year in the forecast um the budget projections continue with that 2% um because Uh the current analysis is that both water and sewer are facing some challenges and we will be looking at both um funds at a future date this year to to look at all the possibilities. But um so it is more common practice in budgeting only to go with known quantities. But for the purpose of the water and sewer department in the last two years of the forecast um the 2% is continued. Further discussion on this Mr. uh thanks mayor. Uh just a brief comment. One I I think it's a very good budget. Appreciate the staff uh for all the work they did. U my my brief comments just on uh one item that I've I've shared thoughts about before. I understand that there's an $100,000 aotment for economic development in the budget. U my hope in in supporting the budget. what we'll do going forward is is we will a lot that full 100,000 um it's the economic development council. Um I understand there's been a lot of conversation in the community about the EDC recently. I've talked with it about some of my colleagues. I continue to believe that a strong EDC is very valuable for the community and so I'm hopeful that um will contribute that full $100,000 to the EDC. Thanks.

I I think that's a fair comment to make. uh there's changes of foot in EDC and and what that's going to look like going forward. So, keeping that do keeping those dollars in an economic development budget. I mean, there there are things we can do uh going forward where, you know, there had been talk about giving them 50 now, 50 later. I think I think it would be prudent of us to just sit with that $100,000 until we see what uh the executive committee and the board of economic development council come forward for the plan to hire a new director and the direction that they want to go. But I'm in agreement with you. a strong EDC is is is vital to the community and if I think what I'm saying is let's just see what that looks like as we go forward. I didn't explain myself very well, did I? I'm getting puzzled looks.

We have $100,000 in the budget development that's in the I'm sorry. I just made a comment. I thought you were responding. If if there was a question, I'm happy to answer it. I'm I've lost the train of thought here. Okay. Maybe I did, too. Yeah, I'm Yeah, I'm supportive of $100,000 going to the EDC. Uh I hope that we'll make that commitment to the EDC. I'm sorry. EDC. Yeah, that's how I interpret it. Okay. Well, then I would like a clarification. M

I'd like a clarification. Are we talking about the EDC as an agency or ED or economic development? Well, I think uh the discussion started as talking about EDC Mr. Buyer's comment the agency. Maybe my question is for Mr. Buyers to clarify what is he talking about? Yes, he's talking about the EDC. the agency. And are you concurring that that 100,000 should go property for those dollars? I'm not willing to say today that that's what we're going to do

because I want to know what and I think the council as a whole needs to understand the direction of the going forward. But that those dollars are parked in my mind they're parked for consideration economic development. They are parked for the economic development council and not to be used for anything else. Um, that's a decision. This is a budget we're talking about tonight. This is not a decision on how that's allocated. Um, I've got further questions later, but I'll let others go.

Go right ahead. Nobody else is ready to speak. I'm not prepared. Somebody else could go. Uh I for one um so I shared the sentiment a couple meetings ago when we discussed this budget originally and uh expressed um my concern if our funding to the EDC is cut from 100 down to uh 50 which is what was um floated then um I'm glad to see that the uh line item though it is within the professional services um line on the budget. I'm glad to see that that 100,000 is in the budget um prepared for the EDC and um if things change uh down the line based on how the EDC evolves um then the town has opportunity, but that the 100,000 remains um you know first and foremost for the EDC is something that I'm uh I'm glad about because I don't think we should be cutting that. So glad to see it's not

okay. Um, so in this I've got just a few questions about what's in or not in the budget. Um, in this budget, is there still allocations for the underpass? Uh, yes, there is because we have an executed grant agreement and obligations. So, the budget continues to reflect that. Um if circumstances change when we have information about a new um contract with the contractor, then we would come to council and determine at that point if the project's moving forward or not.

And if the project doesn't move forward, what happens to those funds? We would we would talk to council about what that means. Um we obviously wouldn't receive the federal grant dollars. We wouldn't uh issue debt. We wouldn't we would have an obligation likely to repay some of those build grant dollars that have already been spent. So we would have uh monies to spend and you know to repay the federal government if we just decided not to do the project. And how much have we spent? Oh gosh. I I don't know. I don't know off the top of my head. I don't want to just throw out a number.

All right. Maybe you can get back to me on that. Um, do we have baked into this budget, um, I know at the work session there was a dialing back of capital investment that was probably for the capital budget, but a dialing back for um, water and sewer infrastructure pending um, a re-evaluation of the rate structure. So, what is baked into this budget for a rate structure or rate increasing?

Uh, we included the 2% rate increase that I think has already been adopted. It was a multi-year 2% rate increase and I think that reflects in is it all years of the budget, Mr. Hume, or is it the first three year 2% in all years? Um and then so we can plan long-term capital needs and capital investments. Um we intended to come back to council in June of this year. That's our target to talk about what changes in our rate structures would support our continued capital investment. So that could go higher than 2%.

It could if council decided to do that. And if council decides not to, then we would pull back on our capital investment plans. And we are operating under a vote that we took, I think it was a year or two ago for a fiveyear 2%. So we're in year a couple years ago. So, are we going beyond our five years of what we authorized? I believe we incorporated 2% for budget planning purposes in the fourth and fifth year, which are not part of the ordinance, but we will change that. Council's only adopting fiscal year 2627. This is the only year that you're adopting. So, by the time we get to 2029, 2030, 2031, we will have a new plan.

Okay. Um, and is there anything in the budget for um, there's been a lot of discussion about fire and EMS. Is there anything in the budget for new technology, a new study, any anything additional beyond the additional um, assistant chief

in that department only? Boy, I'm gonna have to ask Chief Humor or Miss Garaju to come forward to talk about specific technology needs in in fire and what's been planned. Maybe both of them coming forward. Good evening, council. Um, we at this point in the budget, we do not have anything specific for uh emergency vehicle preeemption technology that we are currently researching in the budget. Uh, but as we look at our uh upcoming year with um funding sources and stuff, we would probably bring something as we get more research into it. But in the current budget, there is nothing that is specifically called out for emergency vehicle preeemption. So would would that mean that anything we would do along those lines would not happen in 2627 but in a later year?

No, I don't think that's safe to draw that conclusion. If we come to council, we would have dollar amounts to go with the technology and either a budget amendment or we would change our our um spending plan to cover it for 2627. Um the other are we only talking technology because I know that there's other investments in the in the fire department. the the we talked about the your clothes.

Sure. And and there's technology included in all new equipment that we get. I mean, everything moves forward as we buy new and more updated equipment. There's more technology with it. Obviously, you know, we've, you know, had discussions and talked about um traffic light preeemption and different things like that, but it's not in this budget and we're still in the beginning stages of all that. So, okay. And, uh, as long as you're here, Chief Huer, um, was there a particular reason why you posted the position for the assistant chief before the budget was approved?

I just work with the human resources department to uh, pull all the job description and everything together. And, um, it wasn't my decision on when to post the job as it ever is really.

You know, I wondered if it was you or for human resources. So, I'll redirect that question to human resources. or you can direct it to me. Um it was with my approval that the position was posted just like Miss Garaju has a position that's budgeted in fiscal year 26 27 that um it it never hurts to get a position posted and hopefully in over time because it takes time to recruit we can get a good candidate pool and for both the positions and um you know for professional positions it does take time. So, we have regularly posted positions and they're not filled until some point later in the fiscal year. And, you know, if we chose not to fill that position moving forward or any of our positions, then no harm, no foul. We wouldn't we wouldn't spend any money and we wouldn't fill it. But, you know, this it takes time to recruit. So, we post prior to the fiscal year.

I guess in my experience of posting positions, we wait for the budget to be approved. So that's why I thought it seemed a little presumptuous, but maybe the town doesn't operate on that. Is that what you're saying?

That hasn't been the case. No, we tend to post positions and when when they are needed to be posted. We generally for most of our professional positions, we post in numerous professional associations to get the notices out. Um and and then it'll be at least generally posted for probably about a month. Um then you go through the probably two months or so of scheduling interviews particularly with professional professional um positions and potentially relocations that might be required. We expect for um that we'd be happy to have these positions filled by midsummer. We've also moved forward with seven new firefighter positions as well um because of the upcoming retirements in uh the spring and the fall. So, we've we've started to move on that as well to make offers on seven seven new people.

Great. Thanks, Chief. Thank you. Um you know, since the mayor thinks I'm really funny up here, I guess I'll just wrap up. Um the snickering is noticed. Um, you know, I want to start by acknowledging that there are a lot of positives in this several page budget. Um, investments in road maintenance, park up housing development, CDBG doing great work, um, public safety over doing great things with your technology. clearly got a strategic plan. We're working on and working through it. The library, children's discovery museum, I'm even in support of public art that do a nice job. And when those items come forward individually, I will continue to vote in favor of them. I will vote in favor of bills on most occasions against bills. Um, however, I do have significant fundamental differences whether you think it's funny or not with this budget because I think budgets are ultimately a statement of priorities and there are simply just too many fundamental priorities in this budget that I have serious concerns with. Top of the list, the underpass. Second, this very vague discussion around economic development and the funding for it. We don't have any plan, an alternative plan. I learn about things in WGT articles about how you really feel about the EDC as an agency. Mr. Mayor,

obviously I'm concerned about fire and EMS. We don't even have any progress forward to help the boots on the ground. And nowhere in this budget do I find any relief for taxpayers. Quite the opposite. Just planned. Miss Lorenzo, I'm going to ask you to hold you hit your 10 minutes. I don't think anybody else wants to speak by pattern. I I need that. Can I wrap up? U we'll come back to you to wrap.

I I just wanted to ask Mr. to speak to. Um there's actually a difference of 21.19 million of underfunded expenses. Um and you provided me an extensive um report about how we're um spending down some reserves. Would you care to if you don't have a copy of that? I'll read mine, but I just thought it was enlightening that we're dipping into reserves and to cover some of our expenditures to the tune of 21.19 million instead of looking solely for revenues coming in.

Okay. So, you you were highlighting that um the general fund is spending down its excess reserves. The sewer water capital funds are spending down accumulated reserves. vehicle and equipment replacement fund is spending down accumulated reserves. Um the Uptown TIFF fund is paying down debt and the motor fuel tax fund um is spending down and um accumulated reserves for capital and the underpass fund as well as other capital related funds CIP roadway storm water um also are contributing to that 21 point 21 million plus spendown. So are you comfortable with this spendown given our current economic uncertainty with global matters?

Uh certainly um the I want to I don't want to alarm the council that that that spend down $21 million is across several funds. Most all of them are capital related. So as you're well aware we build capital funds up over time and the project comes online in that fiscal year. So we see a deficit spend because we have capital coming. We have money coming forward to spend that dollars. So we're not it's not I would not characterize it as a a structural deficit or an operational problem. It's simply spending cash we put aside for a capital uh or excess reserves to bring our reserves down to our targets and we spend on additional capital there. So I I have no concerns about that spending. I know it looks a little odd to see that kind of deficit spending but you have to remember that's all coming from capital related funds we've built up over years. Thank you.

Thank you. So, as I was saying, there are many good elements in this budget and I don't want that to be lost at all. But given the fundamental differences I was outlining prior my previous comment um and I'm not even clear of what our strategic priorities are because we don't have an updated strategic plan that's still in the making. Um, I can't support this budget and I can't support it in content and I can't support it in process because once again we went through a very very cursory review back in January. Maybe it was two hours of a 200 plus page document. And to me, it just feels like I've seen enough of these budgets that it's like we're on rinse and repeat. And I don't know that we've really taken into consideration um all the things and all the priorities and the sentiments of our community by creating a solid budget for the times. Instead, we just go on autopilot. We look at it for two two hours. It's probably the most important decision that we make. And yet, as a body, I suspect that while I may be the only dissenting vote, so the rest will vote for continuation of the underpass despite an outcry against it, no tax relief or any kind of um attempt at tax relief be relief to our citizens. um and

really no progress whatsoever, at least in the next year, to address a community issue that's been raised over the last several months concerning um fire response. And so, for those reasons, in good conscience, I cannot vote for this budget. There are a lot of good things in it and as individual votes come up, I will be supportive of elements that I think are worthy of supporting, but as a as a package, I cannot support this budget. Thank you, Mr. McCarthy.

Thanks, Mayor. Um, I guess I want to start out saying, um, I appreciate all the work and I think it's a good budget and, um, a conservative budget as usual. Um, I appreciate all the work of uh, department heads and the finance team uh, that went into the making. I know there's lots of hours and uh, sweat put into this and um, I think it's assembled in a very accessible way. um talking with a few community members over the last few weeks since the proposed budget was given to us. Reminding people that capital budget is out online and all of this will be out online for the community to see and examine and dive in as deep and as much and as often as you want. And uh I think um uh that is a great thing the transparency that uh normal has undertaken to um store and make easily accessible um every dollar that gets spent and where it is and when. Um so uh I'm grateful for all of those excuse me efforts. Um I was also uh happy to see that uh with whatever we feel about uh the economy local and national uh that we're seeing some uh uh better than expected um local uh and sales tax experiences that allowed us to forecast a little additional revenue. Not much but a little and every little bit helps. Um, again, uh, to the the comment, uh, greater sales tax, uh, helps us to get more things done without raising taxes, uh, any place else. So, I think that that's a, that's a good thing. Um, I, uh, um, want to make comment just

really, um, I appreciate also that we're leaving $100,000 in the ED in the ED budget line. Um, I also do want to see what plays out with uh change of leadership and and a vacant position right now. I do think common economic development in our community is worth investing in. So, I'm happy that we're leaving it there. Uh, but I do appreciate the conservative approach of let's see what the agency decides. Um, so we know in fact what we're investing in when we decide to to write a check to invest in that. And and so I'm comfortable with what we're doing uh today. Okay. But I just want to also say publicly that I believe that there's a place for an agency like the economic development council um for shared communitywide focus on economic development uh in addition to whatever we or other agencies want to do about economic development. Um that's it. Thanks, Mayor.

Mr. Mr. Preston, I'm sorry.

Yeah. Thanks, Mayor. I uh have a department specific question. Um and then a unrelated comment uh to this first one. Um for fire administration under uh the budget, it's in the budget page 158. Uh there are um performance metrics um for the department. And um the top one uh says quote maintain or reduce the time from station dispatch to arrival on scene including dress time. And um the performance measure there is the response time which has been a topic of conversation around this table and around the community uh in recent months. And so I am just wanting a little more clarification on the FY2627 goal of that response time being 5 minutes and 37 seconds. uh how was that decision arrived at and how does that correlate with other aspects to the larger conversation without veering away from the budget but it is in the budget and so hence where my question comes from.

Sure. Um I'll ask Chief Humor to come back forward and while he's in route to the table um this was a topic I think that we touched on during the budget work session about six weeks ago. Um, this this timeline includes the the dress time for the firefighters to get ready to go on the call and then the drive time as well. So,

right, it includes uh turnout time and drive time. And this is the uh this is the first time I believe it's the first time that we've put anything in the budget as far as um matric matrixes. Um each department was asked to come up with a goal um for a matrix to put into the budget which was a first year that was it was asked for by um the finance department. And so obviously this is the forefront issue that we've been dealing with talking about. So I felt like we needed to you know use that and and take that on head on. So, okay. Okay. Um, just an anecdote on this. I, um, it seems to me that there are different specific response times, goals in different documentation from the town and, um, whether it's the NFDA 1710 standard, whether it's stuff relating back to certain strategic plans. this uh goal in the budget. Um having some kind of clarity on what the objective is I think makes analyzing data clearer which then makes you know decisions that we make um based off of you know the most consistent data that exists. So for what that's worth um just an observation but I appreciate it. Thanks M. And then um unrelated to uh fire, I have um I'm glad that the underpass came up because it gives me an opportunity to reinforce a strongly held feeling that I have had on that issue uh for many years, which is that um I mean I did not support the underpass um enthusiastically did not support the underpass before um especially not uh with the increase in budget and now um I I mean, even the general contractor that we approved said that

it's not viable. You know, personally, I don't know what else is needed for that project to die a slow death, but I will um be glad to vote against um against it if it comes up in another iteration uh to us with another contractor like I have in the past. I'm noting that because while I do plan to vote in favor of the budget um tonight, uh that vote on the budget for me is not a reflection of the fact that underpass dollars are within that um that underpass something that I don't think makes any sense and continues to make less sense as time goes on. Thanks.

I I won't mince words with you, Mr. Preston. I certainly understand your point, but uh the contractor did not say the project was not viable. It was not doable for them. I think they didn't comment on the project itself. They commented on their participation in the project. Just splitting hairs. I think that's the only time in my too many years on this council that we've been in this kind of situation. It's not a common occurrence. I would agree with that. On this budget, please call the Miss Smith. I Mr. McCarthy. Hi, Mr. Preston.

I Mrs. Lauren. No, Mr. Buyers. Hi, Mayor Cous. I The ordinance is approved and the uh budget is adopted. Under new business, we have a motion to approve reappoints to various boards, commissions, and committees. Move approval. Second. There are quite a few reappoints. I don't know that you need to read them all. maybe the new appointments unless you want to. I'm perfectly willing not to read all of these now. Thank you.

Thank you. Um we do have a new um for the the listening public. These are reappoint the long list of names are reappointments to those that are already on uh multiple boards. But we do have a new uh appointment um to the building board of appeals, Mr. Jerry Shrek to a term that expires on March 31st of 2030. A little bit of background. Uh Mr. Shrek grew up in uh north of Carlock uh on a Eureka High School graduate. Uh he studied um engineering at the U of I down in Champagne. Uh after graduating uh he moved to Normal and uh started a campus ministry at ISU and started a engineering career uh in Bloomington and uh uh stayed with that firm when it was acquired and became landers in 2005. uh continued his professional development uh becoming a Illinois licensed professional engineering and land surveyor uh becoming a partner with the firm and serving as the director of civil engineering and surveying services for land engineers uh from 2012 through 2022. Um he established the um LDIA engineering plus surveying in February of 2023 building on his 20 plus years of engineering and survey experience in Bloomington, Normal and Mlan County and surrounding areas. Uh in addition to building his business, uh he's devoted to raising his three children together with his wife Melissa and they are proud to call the town of Normal home. Mr. Shrek is filling uh vacancy uh by from Mr. Rick Bozer's uh seat with the term expiring in March 31st of 2030.

Oh, we do have two public commenters tonight. Oh, I'm sorry. U please call the role. Mr. McCarthy, I. Mr. Preston, hi. Mrs. Loren, I. Mr. Buyers, hi. Miss Smith, I. Mayor Cous,

I. Those uh appointments and reappointments are approved. Uh we do have two public commenters tonight. If I can find my list. The first is of Rose Marcalia. Oh, I'm sorry. The first is David Bol. David Bol. I'm making you get up and sit down, Miss Mar. So, you're up next. The I think you uh you've spoken before and where are the rules? You have three minutes to speak and we just ask you to stay

somewhere.

Uh thank you, Mayor and Council, for allowing me to come and speak tonight. Um, I I've been to a lot of these meetings and I've never asked to speak, but I was so excited when I heard that uh the contractor had pulled out of the underpass project um the tunnel to South Normal. And so I had to come and tell you that I'm excited. Um, I want to thank the contractor, Milestone Davis, for being honest and realizing ahead of time that he could not meet the requirements and the construction timelines. And I say ahead of time because I'm sure we've all seen or heard of projects that have overruns once they begin working. And then what choices do you have at that time? Um, I'll admit I've never been a fan of that uh bulldozing and disruption to uptown normal, but I trusted our elected officials to make the right decisions. Um, but as federal funds became less and less of a percentage of the cost and council started levying taxes for a bond issue, I realize we're talking about considerable money coming out of my pocket. So, um, are there better ways to spend that money? I'll bet each of you has a wish list of things you'd like to see done for the people in the town of Normal. Um, I can think of a few things like um improving staff and pay for our public safety people, lowering property taxes, lowering sales taxes, and one of my pet peeves is how much money we charge parents for uh our parks and wreck programs. I just looked at the catalog the other day and it was uh $300 for two weeks of just day camp for kids. And I had four kids when I was here and

and I I think when I was raising my children it seemed like a bargain and now it seems like um a burden. Um so anyway, pay down our 60 million in debt. I'm sure most of you don't run your households the way you're running the town of Normal. Um so anyway, um I feel like we've been given a gift really. We don't have to make a decision anymore. We can rethink our passion for the tunnel. Whoever had it, I have never in any of my associations with any of my neighbors, uh, co-workers have heard anyone excited about that underpass. And I know this. Oh, is my time almost up? Oh, blab on. Okay. Um, I just want to say no longer do we need to de debate the pros and cons. As far as I'm concerned, we might as well just admit we cannot afford this tunnel. Whether it's good or bad, it's just not in the budget. Thank you so much.

Next speaker is Jeff Lord.

Yes. Good evening. Jeff Lord live at 11:05 Pine Meadows Court in Normal. That's up north close to the Prairie Land Grade School. Um, one of the reasons I'm coming tonight is because I've been for precinct committeemen going going around several subdivisions talking with quite a few people and asking their concerns and it's more from a county or state perspective, but yet and I mean everyone and not not not just a few, virtually everyone talks about the town of Normal. Number one, the underpass. I have yet to talk and I probably talked to over a hundred people. There isn't one single person. They asked me what in the world's going on with that. I don't know. And also the increase constant increase in our sales tax and property taxes from a town of normal standpoint. Those are the top two issues. And I'm going around asking things about the county and what happens comes back to town and normal. Now that I pull in my other uh I just recently retired. I spent 40 years in the banking industry. Looked at many many construction projects over my years. Okay, most of them well planned work out fine. But the ones that have trouble, you have delays in making decisions on construction. You have changes in contractors. You're constantly changing plans. What's happening here? You know, the original bids you estimated going to be 28 million to come in at 40 million. That's 42% over. In our world, 5% over was a was the yellow. 10% it becomes a red flag. And at times, that's when we start calling those projects substandard. All right, you're at 42% over. So, what

do you do? Change plans? Try and make those contractors come down. That's a red flag in construction. Then the town of Normal's part originally 2.9 million. Now it's 14.9 12 million. You're already in debt. One way to get out of it, you got to stop digging. You know, I've seen it with people with credit cards and loans. They were up around 85 million. You come down to 58 or so million. Now you want to go back up. That is not prudent financial management. Okay? So this project is a big problem waiting to happen and you really need to think strong about that prudent type of management and your fiduciary responsibility to the taxpayers of normal. I'm done. Before taking a motion for adjournment, com council comments, concerns, Miss Smith, I've got um some more or less public service announcements. Um first, the Harmon Arts Grant applications are opening up and they will be due April 24th. application is available on the Town of Normal website and there's a number of organizations and programs in town that are quality programs that have benefited from these in the past and I'm hoping they all get the word. Um, next tomorrow night, the League of Women Voters is revisiting justice assessing the impact of recent criminal law reforms. That's tomorrow night at 6:30 to 8 at the Hartland Community College Commons building and they have that posted on their website. Um, and the

town of Normal number three is soliciting input about Rosa Parks at the Normal Community Activity Center next Wednesday, I'm sorry, um, on this Wednesday on the 18th from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. And I do hope people get involved. And I want to um make a personal note about duties as a council member as regards the budget. Um we are given access an opportunity to speak and ask questions uh as the budget is presented to us, but we also have access to the same tools that the public has available to it. And that capital investment plan u dashboard that's on the town of Normal website is an an invaluable tool for you to dig down and see where dollars are going, what year it's going to be a project is going to be undertaken, how it's being funded, and the timeline for it. So, it's very possible to educate yourself on your own time about the capital expenditures. And then um we also had this weightlifting tool um delivered to us uh Thursday night and um as I would tell my accounting students, you may not have an accounting background, but there's so much in the narrative and each of the departments were highlighting some of their achievements and some of their uh ongoing goals and that's where I was able to find the information about the 2% as as an assumption that's carried through and I I feel strongly that we have to make either work with each other to come to a compromise or or make a yes vote on the budget because I was working at ISU when

Governor RER for two years held up supporting the budget and for those two years none no expenditures could be made because as a governmental body, the budget is what allows departments to operate and without an approved budget, they are not able to carry forward their mission. And the state of Illinois was paralyzed for two years under that stubborn resistance to negotiating on the budget. And so I just wanted to say that I I believe strongly in in either working to get a budget you can vote on or just supporting the budget that's presented. That's that's a primary job we have as an elected body. Thank you.

Sure. wasn't planning to have any comments, but I think those last remarks might have been u might have struck a chord with me and I would like to address them. Um I too, Miss Smith, agree that we should be working together. Um I think the tone is set from the top and we have some serious communication issues here. When we don't take but more than mere a mere two hours to talk about something as important as our budget, it's hard to come to consensus. So, we have we have some some serious problems. That's all I'd like to say.

Motion for second. Please call the Mr. Preston. Hi, Mrs. Loren. Hi, Mr. Buyers. Hi, Miss Smith. I Mr. McCarthy. Hi, Mayor Cous. Hi. We are ajourned.