Morrison Recognizes Mark McDonell

Ron Kallemeyn For The Prairie Advocate News

The mayor and city council recognized Mark McDonnell to kick off the work session held by the council on Monday, March 22, 2010. McDonnell won second place in the individual Illinois state wrestling tournament. He was given a certificate of recognition signed by the mayor and city council members.

Bob Vaughn, Chairman of the newly created Morrison Business Advisory Group, gave the group’s first ever official quarterly report to the council. The Morrison Business Advisory Group was created in the fall of 2009 by ordinance. The group’s purpose is to advise the council on matters of business and as they affect the Morrison community. The group holds monthly meetings on the first Thursday of each month. The meetings are held at City Hall where the meeting times and agendas can be viewed as well.

Two members of this group also sit on the Land Use and Zoning Review Committee which is currently reviewing the controversial Historic Preservation Ordinance. The Morrison Business Advisory Group was not afraid to express their opinion on the Historic Preservation Ordinance. The group said the following in their report:

“The enactment of the current Historic Preservation Ordinance has created confusion and potential harm to Morrison business by its lack of specificity and clarity. Immediate action is required to remedy this situation. Morrison jeopardizes its opportunities in the economic recovery with ordinances that are restrictive by their lack of clear intent.”

The group also recommended that as soon as the recommendations from the Land Use and Zoning Review Committee are received, the city council should take “immediate and corrective action.”

Other accomplishments and matters mentioned in the group’s report include the following:

- They held a public forum for business owners to develop a database of concerns.

- The group identified and implemented a plan to resolve the downtown snow removal problem.

- A subcommittee was formed to follow matters concerning the Highway 30 rerouting project and its impact on Morrison businesses.

- The group communicates with the Chamber of Commerce regarding the impact the Federal prison in Thomson, Illinois might have.

- They recommend that the city council request the service or seek the opinions of the advisory group in all matters concerning businesses.

The council next discussed and reviewed the request for proposals for refuse service in the city. The city has been working on a month-to-month contract with Moring Disposal since the last contract expired in 2006. The council recommended that the request for proposal includes rollout carts for the refuse as an alternative. Administrator Long will make the changes for the council’s approval at the next council meeting. They also discussed the possibility to include a small business package with the request for proposals.

Corrine Bender of the Morrison Chamber of Commerce gave a presentation on the possibility of a Lincoln Highway Mural. The Illinois Lincoln Highway Coalition would pay for the mural and its installation. The city would be responsible for its maintenance afterward. The mural will not be painted directly on the wall but will be painted on Dibond, an aluminum-composite sheet attached to the wall. The mural will be ten feet by twenty feet in size and must be located on a building in view of the Lincoln Highway. The theme of the mural must be related to the history of the Lincoln Highway in Morrison or how it helped the city in the past. Mrs. Bender is looking into various options for themes and locations for the mural.

The council then went into executive session. The next Morrison City Council meeting will be April 12, 2010 at 7:00 P.M. at the City Hall.