Assistant Editor Jerry Lindsey wrote this report.
The opening Morrison City Council meeting of 2025 was held on Monday, January 13, without Council members Mahaffey and Tichler in attendance.
Topics of discussion were as follows:
*Recreation Service Director Nathan Jacobs informed the Council that winter programs beginning in January have begun, with a great number of Morrison area youth signed up for several activities.
*The opening Consent Agenda given by City Administrator Brian Melton generated considerable discussion related to the interpretation of the Bills Payable. Melton offered explanations and agreed to create a clearer method of interpretation for future presentations.
*Reimbursement requests were approved for improvements to “the blue violet” of $673.94 and $2733.50, based on the guidelines of the Historic Preservation Commission Building Permit Program.
*Dave Cook, President of the Intergovernmental Personnel Benefit Cooperative (IPBC), presented details of the membership agreement being offered to Morrison for the Officers and Employees of the City. Ordinance No. 25-01, asking for the Council’s acceptance to join the membership, was unanimously approved.
*A change order on the IL Route 78 Watermain and Loops Project added $14,963.02 to the construction costs.
*A payment request of $115,720.71 on the IL Route 78 Watermain and Loops Project was approved.
*Daxon Construction of Eldridge, IA, was awarded the bid to perform interior office renovations for the public service facilities located at 15585 Lincoln Road, at a cost of $82,683.
*A payment of $92,322.68 was approved for Porter Bros. of Rock Falls, IL, for work performed on the alleys of Morrison.
*The Council was informed of a General Infrastructure Grant received and how it would be used for the construction of Pickleball courts at Waterworks Park.
*The expansion of Morrison Hospital will require the temporary closure of neighboring streets, to allow the adequate movements of the larger equipment required in the construction.
*Effective January 1, 2026, the City of Morrison will impose a Non-Home Rule Municipal Retailers Occupation Tax and a Non-Home Rule Municipal Service Occupational Tax of 1% of the gross receipts of a sale. The Ordinance 25-02 Implementing a Non-Home Rule Occupation Tax is also known as a “Grocery Tax.”
The Morrison City Council adjourned and went into Executive Session, closing the public session at 7:42 p.m.