Secret Contract, Cancelled Meetings, and $7 Million on the Line
FREEPORT, IL – August 16, 2025
The Freeport City Council will meet Monday, August 18, for its only voting meeting this month. On paper, the agenda looks ordinary: votes on contracts, property issues, and infrastructure purchases. In reality, it marks a flashpoint in growing concerns over government secrecy, mismanagement, and unchecked spending under the administration of Mayor Jodi Miller and City Manager Rob Boyer.
The stakes are high: more than $7 million in taxpayer dollars are set to be authorized, with little or no discussion expected.
But it’s what happened before this meeting that has alarmed residents most.
August 4 Meeting Canceled — But Not for the Reason You Were Told
Earlier this month, the City of Freeport abruptly canceled its August 4th council meeting, claiming a “lack of quorum.” However, a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request obtained by the Fighting4Freeport team tells a different story: only one of the nine elected officials gave notice of absence.
Residents are now accusing the Miller administration of orchestrating a manufactured cancellation to dodge public scrutiny.
“The public was misled,” one resident said. “They didn’t want to face questions—so they shut the meeting down.”
New Contract Raises Eyebrows — Duckmann’s Quiet Return at $90/Hour
Adding fuel to the fire is Resolution R-2025-99, set to appear before the council Monday. The resolution seeks retroactive approval for a contract City Manager Rob Boyer signed without council input—a contract hiring former city employee Wayne Duckmann as a paid consultant.
Duckmann, who officially ended his tenure as Director of Community and Economic Development on July 31, 2025, now stands to profit from a new consulting agreement through his private company, Ultimate Surveying Application Corp.
According to documents reviewed by Fighting4Freeport:
The contract pays $65/hour for up to 16 hours per week, then increases to $90/hour thereafter.
The agreement was signed in secret by Boyer and never presented to the council before execution.
The work Duckmann will perform is nearly identical to the duties he was just paid a full city salary to complete.
"This isn’t a promotion—it’s a payoff," said one former alderperson.
Community Outrage Tied to Duckmann’s Troubled Track Record
The decision to rehire Duckmann—this time at luxury consultant rates—has shocked many residents, particularly given his record.
Under Duckmann’s leadership, a taxpayer-funded grant intended to revitalize blighted neighborhoods was instead used to install central air conditioning and other high-end upgrades in the personal property of a multi-home landlord.
Worse, Duckmann outsourced much of the grant administration to a private company in Iowa, bypassing local contractors entirely.
“That money was meant to improve struggling neighborhoods,” said a neighborhood organizer. “Instead, it went to a landlord’s investment property—and now he’s being rewarded?”
What Else Is on Monday’s Agenda?
In addition to the Duckmann resolution, the council will vote on:
$5.6 million in finance bills
$1.36 million in payroll and fringe benefits
Demolition contracts for 17 properties
Equipment purchases for the fire department
Sidewalk repairs following an ADA grievance
Zoning amendments including a solar use permit
Acceptance of downtown property without clear explanation
A closed-door executive session to discuss personnel, litigation, and public appointments
All of this, unless pulled for separate debate, is expected to pass with a single bundled vote under the consent agenda.
Public Trust on the Line
With only one meeting in August and growing public dissatisfaction, community leaders are calling on residents to attend and speak up.
“This city is not for sale,” said one resident. “If your alderperson won’t ask the hard questions, you need to.”
If You Go:
🗓️ Monday, August 18, 2025
🕕 6:00 PM
📍 City Council Chambers
314 W. Stephenson St., Freeport, IL
