The Monday, January 8, 2018, the City of Morrison Council Meeting convened at 7:00 p.m. in the Whiteside County Board Room, 400 N. Cherry Street, Morrison, IL. Present were Mayor Everett Pannier; City Clerk Melanie Schroeder; City Administrator Barry Dykhuizen; Treasurer Evan Haag; Police Chief Brian Melton; Aldermen Arlyn Deets, Dale Eizenga, David Helms, Kenneth Mahaffey, Vernon Tervelt, Mick Welding, Josh West, and Harvey Zuidema.
Consent Agenda, for Action–All items were accepted.
1. December 11, 2017, Regular Session Minutes
2. Bills Payable of $173,042.30–Zuidema noted “It costs $28 a day to heat the Community Room[, based on] $870 for the last bill–if it is a monthly bill. Something has to be done down there. I bring this up every year.” CA Dykhuizen believes there is only one gas meter for both Odell Public Library and the City Community Room. He said, “Nicor offers free energy assessments” and this could be done for City Hall, the Community Room, and the Library. Ideas to improve efficiency were offered. Dykhuizen wondered, “What is the payback for [making] those efficiencies? It costs $500 to heat the old garage, because Gary [Tresenriter] can’t find a water shut-off there. We need to keep some heat there[, so pipes do not freeze and burst.] This cost is more egregious” than the Community Room and Library.
3. Waterworks Park Pump Station, Genesee Avenue Pump Station, and Sanitary Sewer Improvements Request for Loan Disbursement #10/Application for Payment #10
Other Items for Consideration, Discussion, and Information–No action was taken.
- EPA Loan Restructuring (Water, Sewer I and II)–CA Dykhuizen applied to restructure all thee EPA loan payments; the City qualified to restructure them “in different ways.” On the Water loan, we qualified for a time extension, but not a lower rate. On the two Sewer loans, we were granted a “1% ‘hardship’ interest rate and can extend them up to 30 years. Discussion suggested it might not be necessary to have a 2018 fee increase, as the monthly service charges pay for the debt in the sewer accounts.
- Noise Ordinance–Chief Melton receives noise complaints regularly; his officers recently asked, “What if a person does not comply with the Police request?” There are no specifics in place now. His proposal, to add Nuisance Ordinance language that outlines morning and evening quiet hours, was borrowed from Clinton, IA. CA Dykhuizen asked, “Can you operate snow equipment before 6:00 a.m.?” which would be outside the quiet hours. Melton replied, “You can certainly change the hours” from those used in Clinton.
- Changes to Liquor Code Regulations–The Chief proposed language changes to the Liquor Code to allow Police to enforce the Ordinance. Mayor Pannier wanted bar owners to reside within the City. Melton offered using required residence to those using a 61270 Zipcode. This would allow a wider residential area for owners to live. The Mayor requested that Special Use Permits–for groups or non-profits–can be obtained through him, rather than the Council; patterned after the Sterling, IL, Ordinance. A fee would still be charged. Melton asked for verbage changes regarding hearings, patterned after the Sterling, IL, Ordinance. Melton‘s goal regarding bar hours of operation is “to be specific: 1:45 a.m. Last Call for drinks; 2:00 a.m. every patron is out of the building; 2:45 a.m. all people/workers must leave the building (unless they are remodeling, etc.)” He offered a Police-imposed fine up to $250 to any person violating the Ordinance. The fine goes to the bartender, not the owner; “This is our biggest problem,” said Melton. He suggested a local Ordinance for underage drinking with a fine of $250.
- Allowing Overnight Parking on Main Street–CA Dykhuizen stated violations “on Main and Market Streets are most affected.” The current law “is a snow [removal] Ordinance, but it is enforced all year long.” West suggested charging residents for an overnight parking pass.
Alderman Zuidema began a conversation not on the agenda. “Vern [Tervelt] and I went through the Sports Complex buildings after the season.” He listed complaints: “We need to clean the mower after each use.” He said he “looked; it was never done.” A storage building door was open to the cold, and the heat was on. Zuidema said the men “went inside [the concession stand and saw] 10-to-12 cases of pop, Gatoraid, and water. The freezer had several inches of ice[, and there were] bags of freezer-burned taco meat.” He cited another freezer held “way overdue dated hot dogs and brats; pop was dated 2016….We need to get a hold of how this place is being run.” CA Dykhuizen stated he was uncomfortable discussing an employee who was not present.
At 8:30 a motion was proposed to move into Executive Session, to discuss Setting a Price for Sale or Lease of Property Owned by the Public Body 5 ILCS 120/2 (c)(6). After returning to Open Session, it was reported, no action was taken. The meeting was adjourned.