Freeport Finally Begins 2025 Street Program — But Where’s the Rest?
June 12, 2025
After months of silence and growing public concern, the City of Freeport has officially announced the long-delayed start of its 2025 Street Program. According to a public statement released by the Miller administration on June 11, the long-awaited work will finally begin—specifically on Carroll Avenue from Galena to Empire Street.
But while the announcement was meant to assure residents that progress is coming, it has instead sparked even more questions: Where’s the rest of the project? What’s the timeline? And why the vague rollout?
City officials stated that construction would begin on the segment of Carroll between Galena and Empire, then proceed southward in “sections,” with each section expected to take approximately four weeks to complete before a final paving phase begins. Based on this limited information, the public is left to guess what the actual schedule looks like.
If we assume the project will be completed in three sections—Galena to Empire, Empire to Pershing, and Pershing to South Street—that puts the timeline at roughly 12 weeks, plus an additional week for final paving. That sets an optimistic target date for completion around September 15, 2025.
However, that estimate brings up a critical issue: the original 2025 Street Program promised that all of Carroll Avenue—from Adams to South Street—would be completed. Now, it appears the project has been cut in half, with the Adams-to-Galena portion scrapped from this year’s plans entirely. Why?
The full project, including Mill & Overlay and water main upgrades, was originally budgeted at $1,478,500. So if only half of the project is being done, should taxpayers expect to pay half—around $739,250? Or are we still on the hook for the full price tag despite only receiving half the work?
Even more concerning: this was supposed to be one of six projects promised for 2025. With the year nearly half over and only this single project starting, residents are left to wonder—is this it? Is this scaled-down rollout the result of a financial shortfall? And if so, why hasn’t the Mayor said so?
This development renews scrutiny of Mayor Jodi Miller’s 1% sales tax increase, approved in 2023 and justified with the promise that it would generate $3–3.5 million annually to fund street improvements starting in 2025. Residents began paying the tax a full year ago. So why is the city only now beginning a single project in June? And where is the money?
Even worse, persistent rumors—and growing evidence—suggest that the money collected for the 2025 Street Program may have already been spent on 2024 expenses. If true, this would be a direct violation of the public trust and a betrayal of the commitment made to Freeport residents who were told their sacrifices would lead to real infrastructure progress.
And what of the grants that Mayor Miller claimed would bring millions to the city and reduce the burden on taxpayers? Will she ever publicly admit that those grants are either delayed, denied, or nonexistent?
These are the questions the community is asking. And these are the answers they deserve.
Freeport residents are tired of being misled. Tired of promises made and broken. Tired of a city government that won’t tell them the truth.
It’s time for Mayor Miller to face the public—not with another carefully worded press release, but with honesty, accountability, and transparency.
Streets can be repaved, but trust—once broken—is a much tougher road.
— Fighting4Freeport
