SeeFreeNews.com

Emergency Meeting of the Freeport City Council July 26, 2010

By Keith Bardell

     Local tv news crews and news organizations, including SeeFreeNews.com, attended the Emergency Freeport City Council meeting on Monday July 26.  Not in attendance, and noticeably absent, was anyone from FEMA.     Discussed were the steps toward disaster relief that had already taken place, and solidifying the steps toward the clean-up.  

“In about two weeks we should know what FEMA will do (for the flood victims.)”  said Freeport Mayor George Gaulrapp.

    Dumpsters will be placed in various locations throughout the city of Freeport over the next couple of weeks.  The locations of the dumpsters will be posted daily on the city’s website, www.cityoffreeport.org.   The locations will change daily, so residents are encouraged to check the website for current dumpster locations.  Residents are asked not to put sofas or appliances in the dumpster, but rather along side or on the curb.

     The assessment phase of the disaster Unified Command has begun and flood victims are asked to follow the following instructions to be included:

     Callers will be asked to provide:

The address affected

Type of business  (own,rent, etc.)

Depth of water in basement

Water on first floor

Living area in basement??

Insurance information

Structural damage

Contact phone number

Remember to also keep receipts, pictures or video of the damage.  Residents who need assistance but don’t know who to call may call the Fire Department non-emergency number at 815-235-8222.  Tetanus immunizations are available at the Health Dept. on 10 W. Linden, Freeport.  Residents may also go to www.nixle.com  to receive updates via phone/text messaging.

     A few residents voiced their concerns at the council meeting, with one resident whom was also in the flooding that took place in 2007.  Stacy Lien, of Freeport, says that she received assistance from FEMA the last time in about 90-120 days, but is worried about this time, since she is now a widow and has physical limitations that may hamper her ability to do much of the cleanup herself.  

     Residents may also call CONTACT of Northwestern Illinois at 815-233-4357, for questions about disaster assessment.

City of Freeport Mettings through July 27

City Council for the regular meeting to be held on July 19, 2010 at 6:00 pm in council chambers
Firefighter's Pension Fund Board of Trustees to be held on July 20, 2010 at 9:00 am in council chambers
Police Pension Fund Board of Trustees to be held on July 20, 2010 at 11:00 am in council chambers
Freeport Board of Fire and Police Commission for the meeting to be held on July 27, 2010 at 5:00 pm in the Police Department conference room

Liquor Commission regular meeting scheduled on July 8, 2010 at 4:00 pm in the Freeport, Illinois Council Chambers.

Agenda: click here......

Notice of a public hearing for

Proposed Appropriation Ordinance FY 2010-2011
for the City of Freeport, Illinois

The City of Freeport will conduct a public hearing on its Appropriation Ordinance for Fiscal Year 2010-2011.  This hearing will be held on Monday, June 7, 2010, at
6:00 p.m. in City Council Chambers, City Hall, 230 West Stephenson Street, Freeport, Illinois.

Copies of Ordinance #2010-33, Appropriation Ordinance Fiscal Year 2010-2011 for the City of Freeport, Illinois are available on the website at http://www.cityoffreeport.org/Ordinances%20&%20Resolutions/APPROPRIATION%2020102011.pdf for meeting dates of May 3, 2010 and May 17, 2010.  A copy is available for public inspection at the City Clerk’s Office during regular business hours. 

Anyone wishing to express comments or concerns should attend the public hearing or submit a written comment to the Mayor’s Office, City of Freeport, 230 West Stephenson Street, Freeport, Illinois prior to the public hearing.