The City of Morrison Council Meeting was held on Monday, January 14, 2012, beginning at 7:00 p.m., in the Whiteside County Board Room, 400 N. Cherry Street, Morrison, IL.
Mayor Roger Drey called the meeting to order; when Scott Connelly arrived a bit late, all were in attendance.
Public Comment began with Allen Boseneiles who was “here to commend the efforts of Mr. Rose and Ms. Wood. I’ll just be taking notes,” he added. Mayor Drey asked that comments on the opt-out recommendations be held until later in the agenda.
Thee were no Board and Commission Reports or Reports of City Officers.
During Reports of Department Heads Chief of Police Brian Melton stated he would prepare his Annual Report for the Monday, January 28, meeting. In early February he will meet with school administrators for informal talks about safety. Superintendent of Public Services Gary Tresenriter reported the water bacterial test “came up good; [he] will retest Tuesday. The well start-up date is next week, if all people are contacted.”
Alderman Marti Wood said she heard the Clinton[, IA,] Humane Society might close and wondered if this “will affect our [pet boarding] agreement with them.” Chief Melton answered, “This is a back-up plan if Sterling can’t help us.” The nine Consent Agenda items were approved.
Items for Consideration and Possible Action
- Authorization for application to the DCEO Public Facilities Construction Grant Fund program
- Authorization of Public Facilities Construction Grant Design and Bid documents
- Ordinance #13-05, authorizing the City Administrator to amend the previously-adopted budget for Fiscal Year May 1, 2012, to April 30, 2013
- Ordinance #13-01, authorizing execution of an agreement providing for the operation and maintenance of the Odell Public Library and Morrison Community Center facility
- Ordinance #13-02, removal of 117 W. Wall Street from Local Historic Preservation Historic Landmark Registry
- Ordinance #13-03, designation of five properties as Local Historic Landmarks
- Historic District opt-out properties, Historic Preservation Commission recommendation to deny opt-out requests at 101 E. Main Street, 112 E. Main Street, and 227-229 E. Main Street
Lonnie Rice and Bob Vaughn, Historic Preservation Commission members, spoke in support of the commission’s denial of Historic District opt-outs for three Main Street business properties. Catherine O’Connor, Local Government Services Manager from the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency in Springfield, IL,
At the request of Mayor Drey, these Other Items for Consideration, Discussion, and Information were tabled for the next Council meeting, January 28: FEMA French Creek floodplain study and a request for relief of a utility bill by Stephanie Becker.
The Council adjourned to Executive Session to discuss threatened prior litigation from Illinois Environmental Protection Agency.
The Council resumed and passed Ordinance #13-04, approving the signing of a Compliance Commitment Agreement with the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, with regards to the overflow of sanitary sewers.