Morrison, IL, Chamber of Commerce initiated a Fall Clean Up Day on Saturday, September 10, 2017. One component of the beautification project was to enlist volunteers to repaint City fire hydrants red.
Rebecca Green, Chamber Marketing and Customer Service Manager, noted, “We expected this [task] would go into fall 2017, with about a third of the hydrants being painted this fall.” Little did Beautification Committee Chair Brandi Renkes know how her idea would “catch fire!”
Many painters picked up supplies and freshened hydrants on or near their property. Others painted hydrants round the town. They included
- Advantage One Credit Union
- Morrison Jr. High teachers Lori Kennedy, Susie Ottens, Connie Royer, Sara Tenboer, Chris Tichler, and Jackie Wiersema
- Pleasant View Rehabilitation & Health Care Center staff and residents
- Cottonwood 4-H Club
- Lisa James
- John and Deb Hauptman
- Sharon Moore
- Ken Mahaffey and family
- Harvey Zuidema
- Jan Stuart
- Steve and Dar Hook
- Brandi Renkes
- Katie Selburg
- Rebecca and Faith Green
- Kim Ewoldsen
- Jim Workman.
Others who helped with the Beautification Kick-Off Day include Ellen Smith; Tara Dykhuizen; Josh West; volunteers from Morrison Brethren in Christ Church, including Pastor and Kathy Sipes.
Jim Workman, shown at left with First Assistant Fire Chief Joe Bielema, really was taken with this idea. On his own volition in 2014, Workman had repainted six hydrants on his street. He began the Chamber repainting campaign at the office with 15 others, on September 10. On Wednesday, November 16, he painted what is believed to be the last fire hydrant. What is remarkable is that Workman painted 173 hydrants and brought the hydrant painting project to a close!
He repeatedly stated he did this, because he enjoyed it. After painting his first nine or ten hydrants, in a short time, Workman asked to do more. He traversed the town, going back and forth, looking for silver hydrants to transform–five at the Junior High, five at the High School, five at Morrison Institute of Technology; seven on Sawyer Road, six at the Industrial Park, five near the Waste Water Treatment Plant–to name more than a few.
People would notice and tell him about obscure hydrant locations, or those covered by plantings and other material. The last one he was directed to was on the hill above the tennis court in Waterworks Park.
The beautification goal has an important safety element.
Bielema told Workman, “I’m really glad you [painted the hydrants]. They are much easier to see. In the snow, we [could] hardly find them.”
If anyone knows of a fire hydrant that has not been painted red, Jim Workman wants to hear from you. Call him at 815-772-4984 or notify Morrison Chamber of Commerce at 815-772-3757.
Editor’s note: On Friday, November 18, Nancy Riggen indicated a hydrant behing her house had been missed. Jim Workman was notified and will paint it. His tally is soon to be 174.