Assistant Editor Jerry Lindsey wrote the report.
The Morrison City Council met on Monday, March 28, 2022, before a small crowd of citizens owning concerns that required Council definition. An opening comment came from a neighbor of the General Electric facilities, who wanted to know where to go for more information. Amanda D. voiced dissatisfaction with the lack of communication related to the current demolition activities. City Administrator Barry Dykhuizen Alderman stated he can get contacts for her. He does not know the timeline for finishing the demo. To the woman’s questions about carcinogens in the air, he said “asbestos abatement is in the hands of the demolition crew. Alderman Harvey Zuidema suggested that an explanation of the activities would be helpful for the community. Alderman Vern Tervelt stated, “They’re tearing up the road. What is the City’s reimbursement for that?”
Consent Agenda approval authorized the following: a) March 8, 2022, Minutes; b) monthly Bills Payable; c) purchase of a Vactor street cleaner for $470,731.50; d) Saturday, April 9, street lighting Ceremony and Parade; e) Memorial Day Block Party; f) Memorial Day Parade; g) Ordinance 22-03, disposal of surplus property (tasers) from Morrison Police Department.
Three items submitted to the Council for Consideration and Possible Action met resistance and failed to move to Action activation.
1) Sports Complex Storage Building: The purchase of a new 14’x28’ storage building on the Complex grounds met with concerns about the price ($16,359), vendor, and lack of plan in place for expenditures at the Complex. The challenging discussion ended with the project tabled and a request to seek bids for future consideration.
2) HVAC Unit: A proposal to upgrade the HVAC unit in the Complex Concession Building was met with silence, which ended the proposed action.
3) Amend Fees for Video Gaming Terminals: An Amendment proposed adoption of a new annual fee schedule on each video gaming terminal operated within the City limits. The suggestion was to raise the $25 fee to $250 over time. Fees imposed by neighboring communities are Sterling ($250), Moline ($250), and Rock Falls ($125.) The Ordinance failed, thus not increasing the fee from the current $25 per year.
Additional items for discussion before the Council included the potential of featuring a sculpture display within the Main Street area. Editor’s note: Stephanie Vavra presented some of the details involved and the [reduction of] associated expenses for the City to contract six artists. Artist stipends have shrunk from $20,000 to $12,000, since the original proposal request. Local concerns from Bill and Mariann Biagi questioned the expenditure by the City when the Council is constantly challenging expenditures that benefit the City more.
Discussion returned to the Sports Complex and the interest the Morrison School District has expressed, in signing a long-term lease for Baseball and Softball diamonds at the Sports Complex. Conversation was filled with challenges related to the maintenance and costs related to the Complex, plus the future of High School sports and their participation within the smaller communities.
Following specific clarification of the 2022-2023 budget proposal, by City Administrator Barry Dykhuizen, Alderwoman Sidonna Mahaffey summed the evening’s action by stating, that the City has failed to produce a total plan for the Morrison Sports Complex. She owned the feeling that most of the evening’s uncertainty in project approval is due to the fact, that a plan does not exist.
The Morrison City Council will meet in the City of Morrison Community Room, at Odell Public Library, 307 S. Madison Street, at 7:00 p.m., on Monday, April 11. The public is welcome to attend.