By Jerry Lindsey, Assistant Editor.
The Morrison City Council convened on Monday, April 28, 2025, with all members present and a short Agenda, that took only 21 minutes to complete.
The Consent Agenda was approved after challenges by Councilman Zuidema, questioning the quality of work on the painting of the Public Works Building.
A) Bills Payable ($83,356.41)
B) Contractor painting of Public Works Building ($8,598)
C) Contractor on Wall and Larch Street water main project ($199,868.65.)
The Council unanimously approved the 2026 Proposed Budget, which opens with the following paragraph. “The City of Morrison’s Budget Plan for Fiscal Year 2026 represents expenditures of nearly $ 9 million, of which 67% is personnel and operating costs, 30% is capital projects, and 3% is interdepartmental transfers. Revenues are estimated at $ 7.7 million.Morrison continues to experience increased revenue in areas such as State Sales Tax, State Income Tax, Replacement Tax, and Local Sales Tax. For the purposes of preparing the FY2026 Budget, these revenue increases are being considered anomalous yet conservative. In several of the special funds, the budget plan reflects deficit spending. This spending is due to specific projects utilizing fund balances as planned. There is no deficit spending for annual operational expenses in any funds.”
Additional Action Items approved included:
•Balayti Painting $8598 (Public Works Exterior Painting Project)
•Miller Excavating $199,868.85 (Wall and Larch Streets Watermain Project)
•Purchase Replacement of Police Vehicle, 2025 Ford Interceptor SUV, Sutton Ford $48,957
•Police Weapon Replacement Proposal $7760.
In closing, the Council approved a resolution to adopt–and allocate funds for–an outdoor fitness court, as part of the 2025 National Fitness Campaign, within the City of Morrison, Whiteside County, Illinois.
The Council thanked the services of departing members Harvey Zuidema, Gregory Kruse, and Josh West and noted that they would be recognized at the next City Council meeting.
Morrison City Council meets monthly on the second and fourth Monday beginning at 6:30 p.m., and citizens are encouraged to attend.