City Council
Sep 8, 2026
The lede
- City Council held first reading on ordinance to convert East Perry Street & Webster Street to 4-way stop after multiple residents requested it at previous meetings
- Approved special use permit for 7-Eleven at 707 Logan Avenue to add video gaming area with alcohol consumption (6-0 with 2 abstentions)
- Mayor addressed large crowd concerned about proposed data center project, clarifying no formal application has been submitted and no action is planned
- Waived building permit fees for Phase I of YMCA renovations
Decisions & votes
Ordinance #781H (Liquor License Catering Provisions) – Second Reading
Motion to pass: Approved 8-0
(Albertini, Breton, Frank, Gramkowski, Hoiness, McGee, Peterson, Stevens voting aye)
Ordinance #782H (Special Use for 7-Eleven Video Gaming) – Second Reading
Motion to pass: Approved 6-0 with 2 abstentions
(Albertini, Frank, Hoiness, McGee, Peterson, Stevens voting aye; Breton and Gramkowski abstaining)
Waive Building Permit Fees for YMCA Phase I Renovations
Motion from Committee of the Whole: Approved 8-0
(All present voting aye)
Ordinance #783H (4-Way Stop at Perry & Webster) – First Reading
First reading only; no action taken
Minutes Approvals
- August 17, 2026 Council minutes: Approved by voice vote
- August 24, 2026 Committee of the Whole minutes: Approved by voice vote
Discussion items
7-Eleven Video Gaming Special Use (707 Logan Avenue):
- Alderman Gramkowski expressed concern about shared restroom facilities between gaming area and general store patrons, especially children
- Applicant’s representative (Matt Jones, Exel Entertainment) explained the gaming area will have 8-foot frosted aluminum walls, buzzer entry system requiring ID verification, and limited alcohol consumption (typically charging $8/beer to discourage consumption)
- City Attorney clarified that state law requires alcohol availability for video gaming but doesn’t mandate consumption levels
Data Center Concerns:
Mayor Morris delivered extensive statement clarifying the city’s position on a proposed data center project, emphasizing:
- Only preliminary discussions have occurred; no formal applications received
- City has not begun negotiations on annexation or development agreements
- Developer agreed to reimburse city costs for any studies (engineering, environmental, legal) so taxpayers bear no burden
- Any future action would require public notice, hearings, and council approval
- Mayor stated he has taken no campaign contributions, no pension, and no benefits to maintain independence in decision-making
Public Comments on Data Center (21+ speakers):
Residents raised concerns about:
- Water consumption (250-500 million gallons/day cited)
- Power grid stress (3 gigawatts vs. 0.039 gigawatts current city usage)
- Noise pollution affecting livestock and wildlife
- Property devaluation and forced annexation of Genoa Road properties
- Temporary construction jobs vs. minimal long-term employment
- Agricultural land loss and impact on Boone County Fair
- Companies abandoning facilities after tax incentives expire
Infrastructure Concerns:
- Carolyn Baski raised issues about deteriorating sidewalks, overgrown grass on walkways, and speeding/stop sign violations, particularly near schools
- Chief Woody mentioned possibility of speed trailer deployment
Financial / operational notes
- General & Special Fund Expenditures: Not listed for this meeting
- Water & Sewer Fund Expenditures: Not listed for this meeting
- YMCA building permit fee waiver approved for Phase I renovations (amount not specified)
- Mayor noted city faces $87.5 million wastewater treatment plant infrastructure project with 84% being unfunded mandates
- Developer reimbursement agreement in place for any data center-related study costs (no taxpayer funds committed)
- Mayor emphasized Chrysler/Stellantis is second-largest water user, helping keep Belvidere water rates lowest in northern Illinois
Public comment
Constitution Week Proclamation:
Kathy Hughes, Regent of the Asa Cattrell Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution, accepted proclamation designating September 17-23 as Constitution Week
Infrastructure:
- Carolyn Baski (resident, 4 months) requested focus on sidewalk/street repairs, noting inability to safely run or bike on current infrastructure
Data Center Opposition (multiple speakers):
- Michael Novak: Lives on property potentially subject to forced annexation; expressed concern about loss of farm and wedding venue
- Rhonda Settle (733 W. Locust): Cited concerns about water depletion, heat, noise, water pollution
- Carter Huff (23 years old, lifelong resident): Warned of “irreversible damage” to agricultural ecosystem, mass exodus if built
- Teresa Stein: Wheelchair user concerned about water consumption and noise
- John Ratcliffe: Farmer concerned about agricultural land loss and impact on Boone County Fair; requested committee to work with Monday family dairy farm
- Lloyd Roberts: Calculated data center would use 100+ times the power of entire city (26,000 people)
- Multiple speakers emphasized bipartisan opposition to project
Perry Street/Webster Street Intersection:
Four speakers at previous meeting (August 24) supported 4-way stop installation
Notable moments
- Meeting drew standing-room-only crowd with overflow into hallway, many believing data center was on agenda despite it not being listed
- Mayor clarified year-old letter (May 22, 2025) recently circulated on Facebook created confusion about timeline
- Fire code capacity prevented additional people from entering council chambers
- Mayor disclosed he has never accepted campaign contributions, waived mayoral pension, and declined all benefits (medical, dental, insurance) to maintain independence
- Mayor stated: “I ran as an independent so that I wasn’t caught up as a partisan politician”
- Speakers included 23-year-old representing “future generation” and longtime residents spanning multiple decades
- Multiple residents cited specific water consumption data (250-500M gallons/day) and power usage figures (3 gigawatts)
- Meeting adjourned at 7:29 p.m.