June 01, 2025

The Freeport City Council will convene on Monday, June 2, 2025, at 6:00 p.m. in City Hall Chambers for what is expected to be one of the most contentious and closely watched meetings of the year.

Among the 35 items listed on the agenda are nearly $3 million in spending approvals, several major infrastructure contract bids, a proposal to formally censure alderpersons, and a long-anticipated public discussion on the legality of the May 19 council meeting—a meeting that moved forward despite only four alderpersons being present.

Quorum Controversy Takes Center Stage

Item #28, titled “Discussion on How a Quorum Was Established at the May 19, 2025 Council Meeting,” is expected to draw the most scrutiny. The item was added by Alderpersons Larry Sanders and Cecelia Stacy, following a controversial meeting where Mayor Jodi Miller called the session to order and oversaw the approval of over $11 million in spending, despite the absence of a fifth alderperson needed for quorum under local ordinance.

In a response letter sent May 30, Assistant Attorney General Katie Goldsmith stated that under general Illinois municipal law, the mayor may be counted as part of a quorum in certain situations.

However, Freeport’s own municipal code (Section 220.10, Subsection 8) clearly states:

“At all meetings, a majority of all Alderpersons elected shall constitute a quorum.”

Freeport has eight alderpersons, meaning that five must be present to legally conduct city business. The ordinance makes no mention of the mayor counting toward quorum and does not delegate the mayor such authority.

Legal experts and local transparency advocates argue that municipal ordinances take precedence when they are more specific than state law, especially on matters of internal governance. If this standard holds, the May 19 meeting could be ruled invalid, potentially undoing every vote taken that evening.

Council Majority Pushes for Censure

Further intensifying the debate, Item #20 introduces Resolution #2025-66, co-sponsored by Alderpersons Tom Klemm and Greg Shadle, which seeks to formally censure three alderpersons—Sanders, Stacy, and Simmons—for their absence from the May 19 meeting. Critics have called the move retaliatory and politically motivated, particularly in light of the legal uncertainty surrounding that session.

Over $3 Million in Public Funds on the Line

The consent agenda alone includes:

• $2.52 million in bills payable for the period of May 15–30

• $665,616.82 in payroll and fringe benefit payments

In addition, council will vote on awarding millions more in contracts tied to the construction of Well House #12, including well drilling, water main and sewer main extensions, and facility construction. Companies such as Peerless Well & Pump, Stenstrom Construction, and Kelsey Excavating are all recommended for approval.

The engineering oversight for these projects is proposed under Resolution #2025-67, awarding the contract to Fehr Graham, a firm that has frequently been the recipient of major contracts from the city.

Other Items of Note

• Proclamations declaring Fellowship of Christian Athletes Day and American Freedom Days

• Swearing in of Firefighter John Kelly

• Appointments to the Housing Authority Board

• A new redevelopment agreement with Sandra L. Smith for a Culver’s parking lot expansion

• Resolutions related to community policing, street renaming, and a strategic planning services proposal

Residents Urged to Attend

The meeting will be held at 314 West Stephenson Street and is open to the public. Public comment will be accepted before and after the regular session. Residents may also view the proceedings online via the city’s YouTube page.

What’s at Stake?

Monday’s meeting raises fundamental questions about governance, accountability, and the rule of law in Freeport. At its core is a simple question with major implications:
Should Freeport follow its own ordinances—or bend them to fit political convenience?

The outcome of this meeting may set the tone for the remainder of Mayor Miller’s term and shape the city's approach to transparency and power for years to come.

View the full agenda