History repeated itself Saturday, October 24, 2015, with Morrison, IL, hosting a nine-member delegation from “The City of Pride and Progress.” Participants met at Happy Joe’s, 109 W. Main Street, Morrison, IL, from 9:00 to 10:30 a.m. to “hear a bit of Morrison’s story” and exchange information. After a question and answer period, the group caravaned to the Covered Bridge; Morrison-Rockwood Recreational Trail; former General Electric site; Morrison Industrial Park; Morrison Sports Complex. They returned to the downtown for walking on their own.
Missing from the photo are Kim Ewoldsen, Officer Gabe Gomez, and MADC President Jerry Lindsey.
“We were asked by officials from Aledo, IL, if we would be willing to take part in a joint meeting, to discuss economic development, historic preservation, downtown revitalization, and…other pertinent matters impacting our respective communities,” explained Morrison City Administrator Barry Dykhuizen. “The Aledo group consists of their Mayor, [Chris Haglock]; Chamber Board members; Main Street [members]; City Administrator, [Robert Mahrt]; other members of their economic development board.”
Twenty-five years ago Lynn Kenady, owner of Happy Joe’s, was part of similar joint meetings. They took place in 1990 with Aledo and local representatives meeting in both northwestern Illinois towns.
A dozen Morrison attendees included
- Mayor Everett Pannier; City Administrator Barry Dykhuizen; Aldermen Arlyn Deets, Dale Eizenga, David Helms, and Vernon Tervelt
- Morrison Police Officer Gabe Gomez
- Morrison Historic Preservation Commission: Tim Slavin
- Morrison Chamber of Commerce: Director Kim Ewoldsen; Assistant Rebecca Green; Board President Scott Stocker
- Morrison Area Development Corporation: Director Kim Ewoldsen and Board President Jerry Lindsey.
Slavin discussed the justification for historic preservation; economic and tax benefits; recognition, rehabilitation, and protection of historic structures; the ability of structural assets to draw people to our community. He outlined the process of our downtown Historic District receiving National Register of Historic Places designation and the local Ordinance that supported it. In November, MHPC will submit 95 applications for recognition of residential properties.
Ewoldsen said the mission of Morrison Chamber of Commerce is to “promote downtown and area businesses.” She cited the “Fast Pitch” Entrepreneur contest for new or young businesses (under two years.) A list of monthly community events was distributed. She noted MADC receives $25,000 from the City to spur development by investors in and out of Morrison. “We offer an Enterprise Zone [which equates to] property tax abatement. MADC has no funds itself. Business retention is becoming a push” for her.
CA Mahrt noted “$650,000 in sales tax revenue blesses the town.” Their tax increment financing (TIF) district, begun in 1987, comes to an end in six years. It “has been used heavily for [economic development with] property owners, not business owners, and brings in $800,000 a year. We need to shift this. Where will the money come from?” he wondered. Aledo addresses gap financing through a Revolving Loan Fund. The Main Street Program receives $25,000 from the City. A Chamber of Commerce Committee for Economic Development is in place.
Aledo member Jay Doherty is a former Morrison resident. He noted when approaching town how attractive Morrison is. “It has not gone downhill” since he left. “It is a nice place to live and raise a family.”