Duckmann’s Quiet Exit Raises Red Flags Ahead of August 4th City Council Meeting

FREEPORT, IL – August 02, 2025

As the Freeport City Council prepares for its next regular meeting on Monday, August 4, questions are emerging about the status of Director of Community and Economic Development Wayne Duckmann—and whether Freeport taxpayers are about to foot the bill for yet another behind-the-scenes consulting deal.

Multiple sources have indicated that Duckmann’s final day as a City of Freeport employee was July 31, 2025. However, several items on the upcoming agenda still list Duckmann as the presenting director, raising concerns that he may now be operating as an outside consultant, continuing to influence city decisions without the accountability or oversight of a public employee.

If true, this would mirror a troubling pattern in Mayor Jodi Miller’s administration: offloading city power to outside actors while dodging public scrutiny. Residents have seen this play out for years through Fehr Graham’s Darin Stykel—who has received millions in contracts, attended city meetings, and functioned as a de facto city official—all while being shielded from accountability with the excuse, “He doesn’t work for us.”

An Alarming Pattern of Outsourcing Power

Stykel’s history with the City of Freeport is riddled with controversy: multiple reports of harassment, racist remarks, and even impersonating a hospital employee meeting have gone unanswered. When residents raised concerns, city officials deflected responsibility, claiming he was a representative of Fehr Graham—not the city.

Now, with Duckmann’s reported departure from city payroll and an alleged transition to private consulting, Freeport may once again be stepping into dangerous territory—especially given Duckmann’s involvement in several lawsuits tied to alleged unethical behavior while serving in his director role.

If Mayor Miller’s intent is to keep Duckmann in a leadership capacity under a private contract, residents and the City Council deserve immediate answers:

  • Where is the contract?

  • Who authorized the arrangement?

  • Why has it not come before Council for approval?

Monday’s Agenda: Duckmann Still Listed

Despite the reported end of his official employment, Duckmann’s name appears multiple times on Monday’s agenda, including as the presenter for:

  • Two zoning ordinance amendments

  • Three demolition project bids

  • A resolution involving a Downstate Operating Assistance Program grant

  • An asbestos abatement bid for Albertus Airport

This raises a fundamental question: if Duckmann is no longer employed by the city, why is he still acting in an official capacity?

Freeport residents deserve more than vague job titles and secret contracts. They deserve transparency and clear lines of accountability in their government.

The Agenda in Brief

The August 4 City Council meeting will be held at 6:00 PM at Freeport City Hall. Key agenda items include:

  • A combined $1.15 million in finance bills and payroll spending

  • A new Fehr Graham contract for engineering services at the Walnut Avenue Lift Station

  • Demolition contracts for 17 properties and asbestos abatement work

  • First and second readings of ordinances involving zoning, parking for disabled residents and veterans, and abandoned property disposal

The council is also scheduled to enter Executive Session to discuss:

  • Personnel matters

  • Collective bargaining

  • Pending or probable litigation

But what’s missing from the agenda may be the most important issue: the public has received no notice of Duckmann’s exit, nor any details about a potential consulting contract.

A Call for Action

Fighting4Freeport is urging all city leaders—especially members of the City Council—to take immediate action to restore public trust:

  • Strip director titles from anyone not currently employed by the City of Freeport

  • End the practice of allowing private consultants or contractors to present and speak as officials during public meetings

  • Require public disclosure and council approval for any outside contracts involving consultants or firms wielding influence in city business

  • Limit private consultants to public comment—just like every other citizen

This moment is a test of leadership. If the council fails to act, Freeport risks continuing down a path where public decisions are made behind closed doors, titles are handed out without authority, and millions in taxpayer dollars are spent without meaningful oversight.

The Bottom Line

Mayor Miller’s administration has become increasingly reliant on privatized leadership and unaccountable partnerships. Whether it’s Duckmann or Stykel, the pattern is clear: power without transparency, influence without accountability.

Freeport residents deserve a city government that works for the people—not one that hides behind consultants and excuses.

🟧 Fighting4Freeport is a nonpartisan watchdog and political action committee committed to transparency, accountability, and integrity in local government. Stay informed. Get involved. Contact us at Fighting4Freeport@gmail.com

—Brought to you and paid for by Fighting4Freeport