Tension Runs High at City Council: Residents Fill the Chamber
Freeport, IL – April 8, 2025
The April 7th city council meeting marked a pivotal moment in Freeport’s political landscape, as tensions ran high with the first meeting following the projected reelection of Mayor Jodi Miller. The night was marked by impassioned debates, prolonged arguments, and a city hall chamber filled with concerned residents determined to continue their fight for Freeport’s future. Even moments marked by applause.
The three-and-a-half-hour meeting covered 39 items, ranging from proclamations to heated policy discussions, illustrating the challenges that have characterized Miller’s administration. The meeting kicked off with Mayor Miller declaring April as Child Abuse Prevention Month and the week of April 5-11 as the Week of the Young Child. In a moving statement, Stephenson County Board Member Lou Ann Hayes urged local leaders to take a more active role in protecting young children, stating, “We need more”.
As the agenda progressed, the mayor also took time to recognize National Library Week, introducing Library Director Ashley Huffines, who delivered a passionate plea to the council. Huffines expressed deep concern over President Donald Trump's executive order targeting the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), which would cut vital funding to local libraries. “Stand up for your libraries,” Huffines urged, fighting back tears. Her heartfelt appeal resonated with many residents in attendance, further deepening the sense of urgency surrounding the meeting.
As the meeting continued, Mayor Miller made six appointments and reappointments to various city commissions. The process was anything but smooth, as a divide emerged among the aldermen. Only 7th Ward Alderman Sanders and 2nd Ward Alderman Monroe voted “nay,” with Sanders questioning why the mayor repeatedly appointed the same individuals to key positions when Freeport is home to over 23,000 people. 5th Ward Alderman Stacy dismissed these concerns, reiterating that it was the mayor’s prerogative to choose her appointees.
A notable moment in the meeting came when Freeport residents learned that rather than disposing of police-seized bicycles, the local Salvation Army might be able to salvage some of them. This information was met with approval, providing a rare moment of agreement among the otherwise divided council.
However, the most contentious discussion revolved around a proposed change to the residency requirement for senior staff in the city’s police, fire, and administrative departments. In 2017, Miller’s administration passed an ordinance requiring that senior staff live within city limits. However, it was revealed that multiple senior staff members, including those in leadership roles, have been living outside Freeport, in places such as Monroe, WI.
Despite the contentious nature of the discussion, Alderman Parker and Alderman Shadle initially attempted to sidestep the issue by “suspending the rules,” but this proposal was swiftly rejected. The debate on the matter grew heated, with City Manager Boyer admitting that he wasn’t sure who among his senior team lived within city limits. Boyer argued that changing the residency requirement would allow him to attract “higher quality” candidates for senior positions.
Opponents of the change voiced concerns about the city administration’s selective enforcement of its own rules. The debate grew increasingly tense, with Stacy and Monroe criticizing the administration for ignoring its own policies, a point echoed by several residents who felt that the rules were being flouted for political convenience.
One resident pointed out the irony of Mayor Miller, who had previously discredited her opponent in the mayoral race for not being from Freeport, now fighting to allow senior staff to live outside the city. The question on everyone’s mind: Should the mayor listen to supporters who believe that only people from Freeport should be in charge, or should she listen to the city manager’s request to find “qualified” candidates?
This issue is set to come to a head at the April 21 meeting, when a final vote on the ordinance change will be held.
Another heated discussion centered on the regulation of wells and septic systems. Alderman Sanders clashed with Public Works Director Darin Stykel (of Fehr Graham) after Sanders requested to see supporting documents and studies. Meanwhile, a proposal regarding airport hangar leases was approved, but not without resistance. Alderman Stacy and Alderman Klemm support discussion on giving the Airport Manager the authority to handle leases without council oversight. Sanders voiced concerns that this could lead to corruption and lack of accountability.
One of the more contentious moments occurred during the discussion on the Gladewood Subdivision’s proposed Special Service Area (SSA). Many residents were in attendance to express their concerns about the SSA and its potential costs. After a tense back-and-forth between council members, Stykel confirmed that State’s Attorney Carl Larson supported the proposal. However, Larson’s endorsement sparked a passionate response from a resident, who shouted, “No, he doesn’t. He doesn’t speak for me!” Larson, who had publicly supported Mayor Miller’s reelection campaign, left shortly after.
The irony of Larson’s involvement wasn’t lost on residents, who noted that he lived on a private street now being prioritized for repairs—potentially jumping ahead of the city’s five-year street plan. This raised the question of whether Mayor Miller’s administration was putting the needs of an influential supporter ahead of the broader public interest.
Alderman Monroe also spoke out against proposed fee increases for electronic gaming devices, calling on Mayor Miller to “Stop raising taxes on the people of Freeport.” Monroe has consistently criticized the mayor for passing tax hikes and fee increases, and he reiterated his call for a more financially responsible administration.
In a surprise move, the council unanimously approved an agreement with Fehr Graham to provide services for the installation of Electric Vehicle (EV) charging stations in the municipal and Lindo lots. The proposal was met with little discussion, with Monroe simply stating that the Lindo lot was a better location for the stations. However, the lack of a broader conversation about the upcoming truck stop near Lena Brewery left some residents wondering whether the administration was fully considering the competition that would arise if that location also offered charging stations.
The meeting wrapped up with a report from Deputy Fire Chief Stykel on the recent fire on Stephenson Street. Stykel confirmed that the fire was caused by a nearby bonfire or firepit. Community members exercised their right to speak during public comment, with Windy Pearson raising concerns about the condition of fire hydrants on the east side of town.
In another tense moment, a resident expressed frustration over Mayor Miller’s recent campaign literature, which she claimed unfairly labeled Freeport landlords who supported the mayor’s opponent as “slumlords.” This woman, waving the campaign flyer, reminded the council of the dilapidated state of city-owned properties, particularly the Rawleigh Building, which she claimed was neglected and posed a public danger.
As the meeting concluded, a younger resident urged the council to show basic respect for the public by refraining from using their phones during public comment, a sentiment that seemed to capture the growing frustration among Freeport’s residents.
For many, this meeting served as a stark reminder of the ongoing tension at Freeport City Hall, with residents left questioning whether the next four years will be more of the same: lengthy meetings, unresolved issues, and a government that seems out of touch with the people it serves.