Committee of the Whole Meets August 11 — But the Real Issues Are Still Being Ignored

FREEPORT, IL – August 09, 2025

On Monday, August 11, 2025, at 6:00 p.m., the Freeport City Council will hold its next Committee of the Whole meeting in the Council Chambers at 314 W. Stephenson Street.

As wonderful as it is that Mayor Jodi Miller has refrained from cancelling yet another meeting, one has to ask: Why isn’t crime on the agenda? Why are the most urgent problems in our city being ignored—again?

While the official agenda covers electrical aggregation, solar incentives, ADA ramp construction, and transportation agreements, Freeport is in the middle of what many are calling peak crime season—and our leaders seem content to bury their heads in the sand. This isn’t new. It’s part of a disturbing pattern: spending time on side projects while avoiding the hard conversations that actually impact residents.

What’s NOT on the Agenda:

  • Outsourcing our Community and Economic Development Department — City Manager Rob Boyer quietly signed a contract with Wayne Duckmann’s new side business, paying him to take over a department that should be managed in-house.

  • Fehr Graham’s Unchecked Role — Our long-time partnership with Fehr Graham has allowed Darin Stykel to operate without real oversight, even as residents continue to report harassment.

  • AFSCME Union Negotiations — City workers are still waiting for a fair contract months after negotiations stalled.

  • Retaliation Against Police Dispatchers — Concerns remain about targeted actions against our own first responders.

  • Watered-Down Road Program — The much-hyped street improvement plan is falling far short of promises.

  • Misuse of the Miller 1% Sales Tax Increase — Money the mayor promised would fund future road work has been diverted elsewhere.

  • A $180,000 Lobbyist with No Results — Taxpayer money is being spent without accountability or measurable return.

Freeport residents deserve better than selective leadership that chooses photo ops and pet projects over transparency, accountability, and action.

This is your city. Show up. Ask the hard questions. Make your voices heard.

The full agenda and related documents are available at www.cityoffreeport.org.