The City of Morrison held a Special Council Meeting on Thursday, July 6, 2017, at 7:00 p.m., in the City of Morrison Community Room, 307 S. Madison Street, Morrison, IL. One topic was on the agenda, opening a public dialogue to preliminary discussion of a “Potential Main Street Construction Project.” The Council has begun fact-finding; reviewed towns who have gone through renovations; viewed a PowerPoint discussion from Fehr Graham Engineering & Environmental on streetscape improvements. Two members of the company were present at the hearing.
A large gathering of interested business owners and citizens attended. City Administrator Barry Dykhuizen introduced the topic by stating, “We’re in the very early stages of planning and thinking about Main Street. [We need you to] help the Council evaluate [fixing] Main Street as a priority, opposed to other needs.” When the meeting concluded an hour later, there had been no comments suggesting the project was of low civic priority, too costly, or unnecessary.
Dykhuizen digressed to give an update on U. S. Route 30. He spoke with the Department of Transportation, Dixon, IL, office. “Now that the reroute is off the table, there is an opportunity to put [other] things on the table. Plans are being made for IL Route 78; a Public Hearing was held. 2019 is an optimistic date” for work to begin, he opined. “Call your elected officials!” he urged. “It helps.”
He began the meeting with a PowerPoint presentation, listing six reasons to fix Main Street:
- repair infrastructure
- spur economic development
- address public safety
- extend community pride
- develop a gathering place
- improve public morale.
The discussion noted many other streets need repair, and two have been redone. Fixing them has been easier due to new revenues. Annual Sales Tax receipts–since the recent increase–generate $215,000. The cost to repair E. Wall Street in 2014 was $145,225. It is estimated, Dykhuizen noted, that in order to repair and maintain all City streets would cost $400,000 annually for 20 years! “We’re nowhere near that [amount]!” said Dykhuizen.
A Main Street Project has a multitude of options. As a starter, the Council is considering repair from Orange to Clinton Street, five blocks. Should the work stop at Cherry Street? or Madison Street? Should the ancient 4″ water mains servicing the buildings be replaced? Refurbishing sidewalks must include ADA compliance, increasing the costs. How long before work could begin? “Not before 2019,” Dykhuizen said.
Repairing the Main Street from Orange to Clinton, replacing water mains, and fixing sidewalks would cost $1.9 million.
Dykhuizen noted the City could create a Business Development District, and the Council could impose an additional sales tax to be used within that district. He noted there is a slim possibility to secure Federal grant monies. “We use a grant writer” already.
Public commentary elicited largely positive opinions, as well as concerns about rain water in Main Street buildings and Paint the Town street problems for painters.
JOHN MARTIN: I am co-chair of Paint the Town/CAPA and a business owner downtown. The largest event for Morrison is Paint the Town, with 7000 people annually. The last couple years we considered [not holding the event], due to the condition of the street. People complain about the holes in the squares they have been assigned. We have to move them, sometimes away from their family members. I own the Skatetime building, where I do custom cabinetry. I will resurface the building. The front sidewalk has dropped 3″ toward the curb. A section sank between my building and the Legion Hall. Over a 5′ by 2′ area of street has up to two inches of blacktop missing. It will be an asset if we do [the project]. Maquoketa, and Le Claire, IA, did repairs. It looks nice.
SHELLI ENG: I am not a building owner; I rent two buildings. The step up into my business is a problem for older customers or those [with physical issues]. I looked online at cities. In Le Claire, IA, they raised the sidewalk to meet the on-street level. I have read about towns, traffic, and parking studies. One-way driving is detrimental to having people stop. Have you considered this?
DON AND JACKIE JEVNE: I own 126 [E. Main] and the Old Hotel building. 124 E. Main was getting water that went under the sidewalk and entered; there was two-to-three feet of water in the basement. You must take out the sidewalk and fill spaces to fix it. Due to those leaks, [Dr. John] Tomasino and I can’t sell our buildings. [Jackie added,] Main Street will always be the focal point of Morrison.
ROBERT FULTON: ADA compliance has become important. Wheelchair/Van access to parking spaces needs more space on the passenger side, for entrance and exit by wheelchair. Pick a spot near a corner, put a van-accessible space there.
SUSAN SCHULER: Lincoln Highway water enters the basement [in one of my buildings] with each rain. I have complained for 11 years, and nothing has been looked at or done. The sidewalk has dropped. I am trying to sell my buildings, but I can’t with [constant water in the basement].
PASTOR MIKE SELBURG: We get flooded all the time [at First Presbyterian Church]. The town needs to understand the financial situation. How do we do it?
MIKE BLEAN: My partner and I own a building on Main Street. It is not viable to skip [repairing] sidewalks and mains. Regarding economic growth [in the Main Street area], allow main floor residences to users.
KATIE SELBURG: I am President of the Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors. We are in support of this project. It is going to be painful for businesses. We will work with creative ways to help the City.
KATHY SCHMIDT on behalf of GAUMER CHIROPRACTIC: We have a lot of concern for our Senior patients, and we support this project. Consider how to get them into the Doctor when roads are closed.
RAY EMERSON: Storm drains on Park [Street] do not work. There is a 10′ wide by 6″ deep river of water, when it rains. You could float a canoe down that street. Concrete and blacktop [about] 6′ by 6′ has been taken off my driveway.
MAYOR EVERETT PANNIER: We know people don’t want other streets to be ignored. We’ve lived up to our promise to address some of the worst streets. We have two full years of street repairs that can be funded [before the Main Street project would start]. High and Genesee Streets, the High Street curve, possibly, could be done for a lot less money than Winfield and E. Wall cost. It’s important that we listen and visit other towns. It’s impressive [what they have done]. Main is not wide enough for a two-way street. If you did that, you would have to practice parallel parking.
ALDERMAN JOSH WEST: Could we ask people to raise their hand if they are not in support? [No hands were raised.] This will be an expensive project. Main Street is worthy of that investment.
ALDERMAN HARVEY ZUIDEMA: I am in favor of fixing the streets, but I think we do not need to replace the water mains. I don’t know if we can afford to fix it door-to-door and fix other streets [in town].
ALDERMAN MICK WELDING: I am glad to see businesses here. [A problem is] there won’t be any traffic coming in your front door. Maquoketa said business all came back. I like aesthetics. We want to address these flooding issues; we’ll be taking to businesses about the basements. I am certainly in favor. I hope we could move forward with this project.
ENG: I am not a building owner; I rent 101 and 103 W. Main. Water has never gone away in the bottom of those two buildings in two years. Do we know the capability of the water mains?
FIREMAN JOE BIELEMA: There’s not enough water to save Main Street [from a fire. You need] 500 gallons per minute, plus hand lines. [We can bring] 2000-to-3000 gallon of water from surrounding trucks. [Regarding the water mains,] it has to be done. There’s no question about that.
CITY ADMINISTRATOR BARRY DYKHUIZEN: There are small options for grants available. Timing is important, to get on the cycle [of grant awards]. We could put out a bond referendum and bring in more property tax.
MARTIN: Did Maquoketa tap into Federal money?
MAYOR PANNIER: They experienced ‘a perfect storm’ of an influx of money. Maquoketa did their project from March to November in one year. They let the contractors move at their own speed; not going block-by-block saves money. It was more expansive that ours. They put in a solid concrete street.
KEVIN SCHLISLER: Main Street problems have to be fixed. It’s got to be done.
Although the informative meeting adjourned at 8:00, several people lingered to continue the discussion. Over the next couple years there will be more opportunities to share thoughts, concerns, and suggestions for improvements to Morrison Main Street–at and below street level.