On Monday, April 8, 2013, the City of Morrison Council Meeting met at 7:00 p.m. in the Whiteside County Board Room, 400 N. Cherry Street, Morrison, IL. Mayor pro tem Dave Rose was appointed to stand in for Mayor Roger Drey, who was on duty at the Whiteside County Sheriff’s Department. Aldermen attending were Michael Blean, Gus Hayenga, Leo Sullivan, Sarah Thorndike, Marti Wood, and Pat Zuidema.
Two groups were interested in making Public Comment: Friends of the Parks and Roger and Diane Martin, owners of Da’ Bar, 109 E. Main Street, Morrison. Rose asked if the FOP wished to speak later in the meeting; they did. D. Martin explained their request for a one-day liquor license was to hold a benefit for Don Gray, on Sunday, May 19, from noon to 10:00 p.m.
Prior to acceptance of the following Board and Commission Reports, Alderman Wood challenged the Thursday, February 7, minutes of the MBAG. She found discrepancies with her recorded transcript. City Attorney Tim Zollinger stated the minutes are MBAG’s, not the Council’s. If someone has questions about their minutes, he/she should contact the MBAG committee.
- Planning/Zoning Commission
- Morrison Business Advisory Group (MBAG)
- Historic Presevation Commission (HPC)
Director of Public Services Gary Tresenriter offered an update on Well #5 during Reports of Department Heads. During the last week and a half, his crew had been running the well, adjusting the chemical feeds, and making sure alarms work. “Everything went well.” He noted a couple complaints of chlorine/bleach odor and asked citizens to call his department about this. “You can’t control it, all you can do is make it an equal residual.” He needs to see a pattern of where the high chlorine is and may have to flush a hydrant.
The Consent Agenda called for approval of seven items. Alderman Wood asked that minutes of Monday, March 25, be removed for discussion. Alderman Blean stated the March 27 event was a Committee of the Whole, not a Special Session; the title was corrected. The remaining six agenda items were approved.
- March 11, 2013, Regular Session Minutes
- March 25, 2013, Regular Session Minutes (removed for discussion)
- March 27, 2013, Special Session Minutes
- Bills Payable
- Approval of Request for Change Order, Well #5 Well House
- Approval of Request for Special Use, Theraputic Equestrian Center within 1.5 miles of City of Morrison City limits
- Approval of Resignation, David Jindrich, Planning/Zoning Commission
The March 25, 2013, Regular Session Minutes were discussed by Alderman Wood, under Items Removed From Consent Agenda. She cited two omissions: the Council had discussed [electrical] energy use at the Morrison Sports Complex and wanted a representative to speak on the issue; the March 27 meeting was announced that night. She added that she had moved for adjournment, with a second from Alderman Rose. City Clerk Melanie Schroeder, who had been absent that evening, will make corrections and put those minutes on the next agenda.
Items for Consideration and Possible Action included six items. After some lengthy discussion, all but item five were approved.
- Aldermen unanimously approved a one-day Special and Limited Use Permit Liquor License for Da’ Bar.
- “Here’s the big one,” Mayor pro tem Rose stated, regarding the request to change the scope of work for the Illinois Department of Natural Resources grant 10-78, ie., the Morrison-Rockwood Trail. Later a typographical error would be corrected to read grant 10-79. Marc Adami stated, the FOP wanted “to fulfill the grant as it was originally written….We have the money.” He read a letter from Renae Rickels suggesting the City “could charge a fee” to use the trail, as others do, “for maintenance.” Bob Brandon said the trail project began in 1996, and “It’s hard to say your’re being fiscally responsible if you’re throwing away $400,000….It’s your choice.” Stan Mitick listed the funds FOP has secured, including their group’s donation of $69,500. He said the oil and chip surface on part of the trail will address the easement concerns of the Zuidemas. Ann Slavin reported the design engineering costs have been reduced by about half of the original $61,000 bid. Mitick clarified a question by saying the funding will not go over the estimated costs, because it cannot–there will be no additional State monies to apply. “We will have to quit” work if such would occur. Harvey Zuidema had concerns “regarding hiring an engineer to do this project” and that the Public Hearing was a “problem.” Resolution 08-03 of February 11, 2008, was acted upon by Council and then approved/signed on February 12. The Public Hearing on the issue was held February 14, “after certified statements were made.” He added the City has spent money [on the trail project] with the engineer, former and current City Administrators Tim Long and Jim Wise, respectively, and with legal counsel. “There are questions here that might not be real legal,” he concluded. The Honorable Bill McNeal was permitted to speak after being delayed in court earlier in the afternoon. He cited the 1996 community survey, which indicated people wanted more outdoor activities like bike and walking paths, and the 370,000 yearly visitors to Morrison-Rockwood State Park. “Grants are the return of taxpayer dollars to a community.” He believes “$300,000 will come back into this community from building this trail.” He concluded by stating “everything has been complied with” in the process and to look to the credible City Attorney and engineer as proof. City Attorney Tim Zollinger agreed by declaring, “There are no current impediments that would…be a problem moving forward.” Alderman Blean added the trail is an opportunity for the Council to reach a compromise…and benefit the citizens. Mayor pro tem Rose explained away Zuidema’s argument by stating “Resolution 08-03 only gave the go-ahead to go after the grant, not to build the project.” He added the engineer suggested using oil and chip on portions of the trail and discussed other surfaces that would not be as functional. Rose thanked the FPO and citizens who have donated for something “the majority of citizens want.” Alderman Wood was the lone dissenting vote.
- Ordinance #13-09 would authorize the Mayor to enter into agreement for preliminary engineering services on the trail project with Fehr Graham. Alderman Wood asked, “Does this engineering come out of the grant money?” The answer was it did. Hers was the lone dissenting vote.
- The Council members discussed whether to authorize the City Administrator to enter into an electrical energy supply agreement for the Morrison Sports Complex. Mike Mudge of Rock River Energy Services Company addressed them about a plan to take effect in April; four options were presented. He suggested contracting for around-the-clock service, because night times are “Peak” times and cost more. Currently we pay $0.083, but the new rate would be $0.06. Mudge estimated a savings of $1200. The Council unanimously approved contracting with Exelon/Constellation for 24 months at the rate of $0.05076 per kWh. (Our current rate is $0.04349 with ComEd.) CA Wise signed the agreement.
- CA Wise shared immediate concerns about deteriorating buildings, with graphic photos of crumbling bricks and fallen stucco on a Market Street building. Alderman Wood asked, “Isn’t this the responsibility of the property owners? Why should the City pay for this?” Ken Crane gave a lengthy presentation about building inspection services his company could offer. His services are reimbursible expenses, paid by applicants who file for permits to build or improve their property. There was no concensus on authorizing the City Administrator to enter into agreement with Crane Project Management for these services. The topic will be on the Monday, April 22, agenda.
- The approval of a tentative Fiscal Year 2013-2014 Budget was necessary, because the budget needs to be available for ten days’ viewing. The budget can be changed at any time after its approval stated CA Wise, but “this is the one we want to put on public view.” Alderman Wood was the lone dissenting vote.
Other Items for Consideration, Discussion, and Information
- People were reminded of the Fiscal 2013-2014 Budget Public Hearing, April 22, 2013, at 6:50 p.m. This is before the regularly-scheduled Council Meeting at the Whiteside County Board Room.
- Alderman Wood stated people were confused when recent water bills were “cut in half,” after the Council gave breaks to people whose bills were unusually high. She aded there were problems with the circuit breakers in the Odell Public Library Community Room on Saturday, April 6. We “need to get something fixed in the future.”
- Alderman Sullivan encouraged people to “go vote” on Tuesday, April 9.
- Mayor pro tem Rose commented that it was “somebody’s birthday today.” Attorney Zollinger said there was no other place he would have liked to celebrate his birthday.