Assistant Editor Jerry Lindsey wrote the report.
Mayor Scott Vandermyde convened the Morrison City Council on Monday, January 9, 2023, with a full Council in attendance.
Aldermen welcomed opening comments from a representative of the company seeking permission to build a 33-acre solar farm, at the intersection of Sawyer Road and Bunker Hill Road. The solar energy would be hacked into the Sawyer Line via a sub-station, with anticipation of reduced rates to follow. The Zoning Committee had referred the proposal to the County Board, prior to the Council’s unanimous vote of acceptance.
Action items included the following.
A) Chamber of Commerce Annual meeting: A $500 contribution toward the Morrison Chamber of Commerce was approved, to assist the production of the Chamber Annual Meeting Dinner, to be held in February.
B) Payment of $182,466.50 on the Water Meter Project currently is in progress.
C) Approval of a Change Order ($290) for the Water Meter Project.
D) Approved a pay request to Martin and Company (contractor on West End Water Main Loop Project) of $162,839.88.
E) Approved a Change Order reduction (-$3,352.80) on the on West End Water Main Loop Project.
A proposal to approve a $9200 Preliminary Engineering Report on design of a new Public Works Building by Fehr-Graham was tabled for additional discussion. Brian Melton, City Administrator, discussed the potential water rate changes that will follow the completion of the water meter exchange currently in action. Noting that the average residential usage within Morrison is 3700 gallons per month, the adjusted rate would increase $1.39 per month per residence. Melton added that the new meters will allow the City to monitor the actual usage of each metered residence.
The City Council of Morrison meets twice monthly on the second and fourth Mondays. Meetings are at 6:30 p.m. in the Community Room, located in Odell Public Library, at 307 S. Madison Street, Morrison, IL.