Congresswoman Cheri Bustos, second from left, took a stroll along W. Main Street, Morrison, IL, for an hour and 20 minutes, on Tuesday, June 8, 2021. Her escorts were Chamber of Commerce Director LeAnn Schaefer, left, and City Administrator Barry Dykhuizen.
Bustos brought her Department Chief of Staff, Kate Jennings, far right. She oversees “all activities in the [17th Congressional] District, which includes Rock Island, Rockford, and Peoria, IL.”
Rep. Bustos had two goals:
- ask constituents how the COVID-19 pandemic affected them
- see the Main Street Renovation Project up close.
The tour began outside City Hall at the intersection of W. Main and Base Streets. “What is the cost of the project?” Bustos asked. Dykhuizen replied, “$4.8 million.” They discussed funding sources utilized. They looked at layers of street strata exposed by excavators. “What are you going to do with the bricks?” the Congresswoman asked the Administrator. “Someone should chronicle this,” she added.
They contrasted an ancient, 4″ water main–still connected, even though exposed–with a new, huge sewer water drain (foreground.) It cannot be connected until the old water main is replaced. “Is that [rusty] pipe clogged?” wondered the visitor.
Some of the men making these changes came to meet Congresswoman Bustos in the street. She asked them, “How’s the project going? “What is the timeline?” “The contract end date is October 15,” stated Dykuizen; “a more realistic date is December.” At left is Kyle Lorenz, from the engineering firm of Willett Hofmann Associates, Inc. At center is Supervisor John Dalzot from Joe Gensini Excavating, of Hennepin, IL. He stated, “It’s ready for concrete [at 200 block of W. Main.] We’re going to pour curbs and gutters tomorrow, from Orange to Base [Streets].” Owner Gensini, right, remarked, “We are super excited about this project!” He noted iFiber is often not included in [street remodel] projects, but this high speed network transport is critical for internet use and cell phone service, especially in rural areas. He further praised the City for including Wireless Fidelity, local area network (WiFi), in its plans from the beginning. It is preferable to do the installation while streets are laid bare. Joe Gensini Excavating is “trying to include WiFi” [in other towns’ projects.] Dykhuizen verified that all Main Street buildings will be connected to WiFi, even if no business is currently in place. Bustos praised the Council, “You’ve taken a look at what’s out there and put a lot of [factors] together. Congratulations on being creative enough” to do this.
Schaefer told the Legislator, “The pandemic prepared the businesses to be closed and to do business alternatively.” She teaches tap, ballet, jazz, pointe, and cheerleading at LeAnn’s Dance Connection. Before the pandemic, “I had 180 dancers; now I have 60,” she reported. Schaefer took lessons from Ann Petersen for 16 years and now has built “over 40 recitals.” COVID-19 health guidelines caused her to adapt the Sunday, May 23, recital. “There was only one show. It was held outdoors, in Mt. Carroll, IL, at The Rhythm Section Amphitheater. Because students couldn’t change costumes, I had them all wear the same uniform,” with different accessories. This was a gratifying and novel modification. “Jennifer’s Dance Studio [in Morrison] followed [audience] social distancing inside the High School Auditorium. But it took three recitals to [showcase] all Jennifer Bielema’s dancers.”
As to the latter goal, Bustos noted, “I should have worn my boots,” while crunching on newly-laid gravel and climbing a hill of it, to enter Tegeler Accounting Services. Owner Joy Tegeler expalained how the business functioned with she and her staff socially distanced in the building. The women discussed at length the issue of a permanent Morrison Community Preschool location. Bustos told Jennings, “We should help [with funding.]” She told Tegeler, “There’s new funding [available.] Give us the contact. There is a 50% tax credit being developed, for businesses that develop child care.”
Left-to-right are TAS Office Assistants Sheila Trent and Jenny Heun; Rep. Cheri Bustos; owner Joy Tegeler.
Joe Mills started more than 11 years ago working at First Wealth Financial Group, in Clinton, IA. A few years ago, he opened a local office and has been on the corner of W. Main and Base Streets for two years. Mills was asked where his clients live. He replied, “Sixty-to-70 % of my clients are from Morrison, but I have clients from New York [City] to San Francisco.” The pandemic affected his clients; he “struggled with finding new ways to confer with clients, when I could not hold face-to-face meetings” about investing. The market plummeted, and that was difficult until it rebounded. “What do you think about the roadwork?” asked Rep. Bustos. Mills answered, “We’ve learned to adapt.”
The former K J’s Bar & Grill was the next business; owners are Shane and Wendy Gallentine. They also own Hero’s Bar & Grill, on E. Main Street. The Congresswoman asked about their experience during the pandemic. The couple has been remodeling the new building, working “on it pretty hard until March [2020]; then we stopped. We closed Hero’s for five months.” “What’s the plan here?” Bustos asked. Shane said it will be “a family restaurant called Double G Saloon. The larger dining room will be separated from the bar.” Bustos admired the lacquered bar top and asked about Shane’s technique for getting the glassy finish. “Are you doing the work yourselves?” “Yes.” She asked, “Will you keep the other place?” “Yes.” “When will you open?” “We’ll open when the street gets open,” stated Shane. Bustos asked Wendy, “What is your specialty?” She quickly replied, “Fried Chicken,” and Shane added, “bone-in Fried Chicken.” Bustos said she would try that, during a future visit. She asked Wendy where she was from–Amboy, IL. Bustos told her of a college classmate from that town, who everyone simply called “Amboy.” After a few minutes of brainstorming, the women remembered the man’s full name.
Kevin and Lynn Kenady were the final business owners to receive a visit from their Congresswoman. They own Happy Joe’s Pizza and the adjoining Brick Block Pub. They discussed a specific Quad-Cities Happy Joe’s Pizza and Ice Cream Parlor within walking distance for Bustos. She asked, “Didn’t Happy Joe’s invent the Taco Pizza?” Lynn concurred. “How’s business [been]?” the couple was asked. Lynn explained, “The carry out and delivery are going strong. We never took a break during the pandemic. We closed seating in the Happy Joe’s part and the Brick Block Pub.” Bustos asked about construction and design of the Brick Block Pub and financing it. “A Revolving Loan from the City, with low interest, helped with the remodel,” answered Lynn. It was built in 2017.
