On May 30, 2025, Fighting4Freeport and Mayor Jodi Miller received an official response from the Illinois Attorney General’s Office confirming that the May 19th Freeport City Council meeting did not violate the Open Meetings Act. While this legal clarification settles one question, it raises many more about the judgment, honesty, and competence of Freeport’s city leadership.

When it comes to Freeport’s city government, most residents know little about the legal machinery powering our everyday ordinances. But buried in the city’s legal code is Chapter 202, the often-ignored framework that quietly controls how every law is created, interpreted, updated—and in some cases, abused.

Whether it’s how much you can be fined for tall grass, or who defines what a “public way” means—it all starts here.

At Monday night’s Freeport City Council meeting, Resolution R-2025-49 was passed—handing Fehr Graham a $255,000 construction engineering contract for the 2025 Streets Program. The contract was approved without a single question, comment, or concern from the voting majority: Sellers, Klemm, Shadle, Johnson, and Parker.

On May 19, 2025, the Freeport City Council passed Resolution #2025-50, approving a renewal agreement with Opportunity Space, Inc., doing business as Tolemi, for the continuation of the rental registry platform. This decision came after a presentation by Director Duckmann, who extolled the successes of the program, yet failed to address some of the challenges and shortcomings that have also marked its implementation.

On May 19, 2025, the Freeport City Council passed Resolution #2025-51, authorizing an agreement with Thayer Energy Solutions to install Electric Vehicle (EV) charging stations in two locations across the city. While the project has been funded in part by a $320,000 grant from the Illinois EPA’s Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA) program, the decision to allocate an additional $180,000 in taxpayer funds for installation has drawn sharp criticism from residents.

In any healthy democracy, election integrity is not optional—it is essential. In Illinois, as across the nation, that principle is enshrined in the laws and procedures that govern how votes are cast, processed, and counted. One of the most important of these laws pertains to the timing of mail-in ballot tabulation, a safeguard designed to protect public trust, prevent manipulation, and ensure a level playing field for all candidates.

In what legal observers and residents are calling an egregious abuse of power, Freeport Mayor Jodi Miller convened and conducted the May 19, 2025, City Council meeting without the legal quorum required under both Freeport Municipal Ordinance 216.02 and the Illinois Open Meetings Act (OMA) — pushing through more than $11.4 million in city spending in the process.

At the May 19, 2025 City Council meeting, Freeport’s elected officials voted to approve Resolution #2025-48, awarding $337,500 to Fehr Graham for construction engineering services—without a single question, concern, or moment of discussion.

In a move that stunned many observers and residents alike, Freeport Mayor Jodi Miller wasted no time flexing her new MAGA-aligned majority at the May 19 City Council meeting, bringing back a controversial ordinance that had previously failed—and getting it approved on its first reading within minutes of seating new Alderwoman Linda Johnson.

According to Freeport ordinance 220.02, newly elected alderpersons are to be inaugurated during the second regular City Council meeting of May. That meeting cannot begin unless a quorum—five of the eight elected alderpersons—is present. On Monday night, only four alderpeople were in council chambers. Absent were Alderman James Monroe, Alderwoman Cecelia Stacy, Alderman Larry Sanders, and Alderwoman Rachel Simmons.

In a rare and disgraceful pivot, Dan Stevens — known in some circles as Freeport’s very own “trailer park Rush Limbaugh” — has taken the front page of Village Voices this week not to stir his usual pot of veiled racism and political gossip, but to launch a direct and unapologetic attack on a disabled American veteran.

Nestled in the heart of Freeport, Illinois, Krape Park stands as a testament to the city's commitment to preserving natural beauty while fostering community spirit. Spanning 120 acres, this award-winning park offers a harmonious blend of scenic landscapes, recreational facilities, and cultural events that cater to visitors of all ages.

It’s mid-May in Freeport, Illinois—and while the weather signals the height of construction season, the streets remain silent. No cones. No crews. No progress. After a year of bold promises and a tax hike that hit every resident’s wallet, residents are left asking a simple question: Where is the work?

One name that keeps surfacing is Brian Stewart, former state senator and owner of the Stewart Centre downtown. Stewart, through a network of LLCs, owns numerous properties in Freeport—and public records reveal he’s benefited from millions in property tax reductions, exemptions, and valuation appeals over the past decade. As his tax liability has gone down, the overall levy hasn’t—it’s just been shifted to regular homeowners.

This cancellation follows Mayor Miller’s failed attempt to cancel the April COW meeting, which ultimately moved forward after pushback from council members and community voices. According to City Hall sources, the May 12 meeting was scrapped before any agenda items could be submitted, effectively silencing potential discussions and blocking action on any outstanding city business.

In a town where transparency matters more than ever, Freeport’s own Officials and Employees Ethics Act — better known as Chapter 218 — is quietly laying the groundwork for cleaner, more accountable local government. But how many residents actually know what’s in it?

Fighting4Freeport believes the people of Freeport deserve to know exactly what safeguards exist to prevent corruption, favoritism, and abuse of power in City Hall. Here's what Chapter 218 lays out, in plain language:

Born in Kentucky on April 2, 1793, Baker first traveled to northern Illinois in 1827. Drawn to a Native American village called Winneshiek—home to the Winnebago tribe—he recognized the area's promise. On December 24, 1835, Baker returned to claim 640 acres of land, establish a trading post, and begin laying the foundation for a new settlement.

Monday, May 5, 2025, marked the final City Council meeting of Mayor Jodi Miller’s second term. What unfolded in Council Chambers was anything but ceremonial. From a failed attempt to spark financial transparency to explosive accusations about political retaliation and personal entanglements, the evening delivered a stark reminder of the mounting tensions between City Hall and the people it serves.

While many residents may not be familiar with Chapter 216, it quietly plays a powerful role in how decisions are made in Freeport. From city council sessions to advisory boards and public commissions, this ordinance sets the standards for transparency—and gives residents the legal right to observe, participate, and review what their government does.

In 2024, the Miller administration declared war on unregistered rental properties in Freeport, promising to hold landlords accountable and enforce the city's registration ordinance with fines. Yet despite this tough talk, only one fine has been issued as of April 23, 2025—and that fine has not been collected.