On Monday, June 23, 2014, the City of Morrison Council Meeting was called to order by Mayor Everett Pannier at 7:00 p.m.in the Whiteside County Board Room, 400 N. Cherry Street, Morrison, IL. The meeting was adjourned 31 minutes later.
In attendance were City Administrator Barry Dykhuizen; Aldermen Curt Bender, Michael Blean, Scott Connelley, Dale Eizenga, Dave Helms, Leo Sullivan, and Harvey Zuidema; Treasurer Evan Haag; Director of Public Services Gary Tresenriter; Sports Complex Director Jim DuBois.
Representing the Chamber of Commerce, Stephanie Vavra spoke during Public Comment of a community informational meeting, on Monday, October 20, 2014. The discussion will be the 1% Sales Tax increases on two referenda of the November 4 ballot. The Chamber supports approval of both penny increases to fund street repairs and school building updates. The meeting is from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. at the Community Room in the Odell Public Library, 307 S. Madison Street, Morrison. Mayor Pannier, CA Dykhuizen, and Superintendent Scott Vance will address the issues. The CA encouraged Aldermen to attend or ask questions ahead of time if they could not.
During Report of Department Heads CA Dykhuizen stated Friends of the Parks Foundation submitted application for a Governor’s Hometown Award, and it advanced to the next level. They will resubmit it Wednesday, October 15; if the organization “makes the cut” they will be back for consideration in November or December. The Mayor stated he, Tresenriter, and City employee Shane Osborn recently conferred with Baxter & Woodman engineers, reviewing 20 items to save costs on the waste water treatment plant. They will apply EPA suggestions received at a meeting in Springfield, IL. Mayor Pannier added Baxter & Woodman will “put together [cost] numbers and [likely] take a sizable amount off the costs” of the original estimate.
Tresenriter mentioned fewer water leaks, which continue to slow, during Reports of Department Heads. “There are some issues with air [in the pipes], which shows up as milky, cloudy water.” There are also a few issues with iron and odors. He encouraged people to call City Hall, so they can flush the hydrants to “get it cleared up.” He will have a contractor meeting regarding concrete work.
The Consent Agenda was approved without discussion.
- September 22, 2014, Regular Session Minutes
- Bills Payable of $142,317.70
- Trick-or-Treat, Friday, October 31, from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m.
- Request for street closure, Emmanuel Reformed Church car show
Items for Consideration and Possible Action included passing Resolution #14-21, Creation of a Parks & Recreation Advisory Board. Attorney Tim Zollinger had inspected the document, the Mayor reported. “Our intent is to look for people who are interested over the next couple weeks…so they can start meeting by the first of the year,” he added, to get things ready for spring.
Other Items for Consideration, Discussion, and Information
- Water and Sewer rates–CA Dykhuizen will bring an Ordinance at the next meeting to increase sewer, and possibly, water, rates. Because of expected revised costs of the waste water treatment plant, “we will use our best judgement.” The Council discussed entering a line on utility bills of customers serviced by the waste water treatment plant, that states the cost to pay off the loan. A zero-percent interest rate possibility “looks pretty good,” stated the Mayor, as does securing a 30-year loan. Tresenriter stated the City must begin repaying the bonds “six months after the project is completed, so we need to get to the point where we can make [bond] payments.” The CA noted a “modest increase” of over 3% in the past few years.
- Sales tax review/questions–Mayor Pannier explained that no City money will be spent on the informational meeting of October 20 or to promote the vote to approve the 1% Sales Tax increase. An Ad hoc committee will promote it, however. He encouraged Aldermen to speak to people about funding the bonds that will be used to fix streets if the Sales Tax passes.