Support for Morrison Mayor Candidate,
Ms. Marti Wood

In a few weeks on April 9th, the citizens of Morrison will have an opportunity to elect four alderman and a new mayor. Officials that will be making the City policies and programs that will affect each of us. We also will be selecting a mayor with many responsibilities. One of the most significant of these duties is setting the agenda for the City Council’s meetings. It is the agenda that outlines the issues and topics for discussion by members of the Council for each meeting. A very important duty that directs Council discussion and review of issues that will eventually create new programs, policies, and laws for every citizen of Morrison.

The April 9th election is of great importance to Morrison and its’ future. And it is for this reason, I am supporting Marti Wood for Mayor of Morrison. She is an individual that has attended City Council meetings for several years as a citizen to better understand what was going on in her community. Marti is someone that questions and then seeks answers by doing “her homework” to find-out information to facts left unanswered. She listened and questioned and then researched facts to better understand City finances; new projects with big price tags; programs that cost more money than our city budget can afford. She was a concerned citizen. And then she took the next step in following her concerns, she became a member of City Council for Ward Three in 2011. Marti has served her constituents very well. If you have a questions or want to follow-up on any matter of importance to you in Morrison, individuals will call Marti because they know she will “look into it and try to find out the correct answer.” She is committed to representing the concerns and questions of individuals and respects their right to know. She is what we elect city officials to do and be: to be representatives for each of us. That is why she now wants to serve as Mayor. It is her priority goal to help make Morrison financially responsible to support our immediate needs as well as respecting the individual tax payer. Marti is ready to use her honest perseverance and efforts to serve and lead as Mayor.

There is no room for personal agendas in this election for any of the candidates. There is a great need for integrity to address the issues and problems of Morrison honestly and with the best unified team of officials possible. Elect Marti Wood for Mayor.

Nance Anderson
Morrison

Sarah Thorndike for Mayor

Morrison voters will be confronted by a very unusual ballot come election day. There will be four choices in the mayoral contest. One of the four has distinguished herself in a number of ways and, as a result, will make an outstanding mayor.

Sarah Thorndike is a communicator. She believes in returning calls in a timely fashion. Citizens calling City Hall may rest assured they will be heard and their concerns addressed.

Sarah is not a single-issue candidate. She has the welfare of the entire city at heart.

Sarah is approachable and will have an open door as mayor. She will welcome those who wish to discuss issues, lodge complaints, or offer suggestions.

Sarah is knowledgeable. She was a reporter for many years and wrote about city government, asked questions, and tried to make sense of what she observed.

Sarah is experienced. She has served on the city council so has well-founded ideas of what makes city government effective.

Sarah cares. She is a life-long resident of Morrison and wants the best for her hometown.

A vote for Sarah Thorndike is a vote for Morrison.

Jim Blakemore
Morrison

Wood’s Morrison City Council Notes

March 11, 2013 the Morrison City Council met at the County board room. Alderman present were: Wood, Rose, Hayenga, Blean, Thorndike, and Sullivan. (Connelly-absent, Zuidema-excused) There was another full house with many of the candidates for office included.

Public Comment: Ken Reinhart-He believes it would be okay to walk dogs in Grove Hill Cemetery as long as they are leashed. He said if he is not allowed to do this, why do so many others?

Public Comment: Sue Britt-She does not want dog walking allowed in Grove Hill Cemetery because some people let their dogs lift their legs on tombstones or run loose. She noted the sign is too small at the entrance to be readable-would like to see information in large readable letters.

Public Comment-Letter from Nancy Anderson (read by Mayor Drey)-She would like the Legion to be allowed to opt out of the Historic district. The Historic Preservation District was set up-letters were to be sent to property owners—but some were not notified (letters went to the renters)…but the Historic District was formed. Ironically-a letter to opt out of the Historic District from the Legion was lost in the mail---It was sent to the City Dec. 17, 2012 which was before the cutoff date….but it never arrived at City Hall.

Items removed from the agenda were #6-Request to Change Scope of Work for IDNR Grant, Morrison-Rockwood Trail and #7-Ordinance #13-09—Authorize Mayor to Enter into Agreement for Engineering Services. Mayor Drey stated this was because there were no representatives from Friends of the Park. I thought that was odd.

We approved paying off Well #3 Loan to the US Bank at around $117,270 saving the city about $5,300 of interest.

Ordinance #13-08 – It authorized Mayor Drey to enter into a storage license agreement with GE for building 14 to use for storage for specific items for Public Works (trucks, snow plows, etc.) We will be paying GE $1.00 per month for 4 years for the use of the building.

Certified Local Government Acceptance for Historic Registry Grant was passed- 5 ayes, 1 nay. I voted no because I felt the original Ordinances (laws) were not followed so far with Historic Preservation District as Nancy Anderson stated. We need to get things straightened out and “do it right the first time”…which was not done to date. There has been a lot of dissention between residents over this issue. #5-Authorize the Mayor to enter into a Grant Agreement for Historic Registry was put off due to lack of motion. Legal council needs to explain agreement indemnification clause—needs to change.

Dog walking in Grove Hill Cemetery is still not allowed-due to lack of motion-it will stay the same.

I made a motion to have the Historic Preservation Commission address the request to opt out of the Historic District for the Legion at their May meeting. Then it will come back to City Council for the final decision. 4 ayes, 2 nays (Hayenga, Thorndike)

There is a tentative meeting set for discussion on the Wastewater Treatment Plant for March 28, 2013-watch for details. If you want to “Meet the Candidates” for Morrison, come to Odell Community Room March 21, 2013 at 6:00 pm. The next Morrison City Council meeting is March 25, 2013 at 7:00 pm at the County Board Room.

A Morrison Taxpayer
Marti Wood

Politicians’ Football Mentality

Politicians occupy a position where nothing is played out, sitting on the bench with no touchdowns. They nor the voters are on a winning course.

Defense is a “political sport,” defending against attack, preventing the other “team” from scoring with attempts to justify in an effort to save its seats - a bummer.

Deferring, putting off until another time and/or give in and agree to accept deficiencies.

Deficit, the main objective. Deficit is treating people with disrespect, a slippery slope, deflating confidence.

Deception, people are tired of politicians trying to inflate themselves by deflating/degrading others. Deteriorating circumstances call for a degree of caution in order to win this game.

Dehumanize is to deprive. It dehydrates as people lose precious life-saving elements. No water, cannot float, air is diminished - the ability to breath freely.

The task/responsibility is to have representatives with attitudes that were ONCE evident: deliberate, unhurried, thoughtful and compassionate. Legislators lacking have failed in their efforts and, at best, for effort, deserve a grade of D.

Julie Kilpatrick
Hanover, IL

Capitol Report

By Jim Sacia, State Representative, 89th District

You can’t make this stuff up – I have no idea who first coined the phrase but it often hits me between the eyes as a bill appears on the electronic board in the House and I can’t believe my eyes.

On Friday last, my good friend Dan Beiser, D-Alton, presented HB1581 that was brought to him by the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA). You know of my disgust for this agency and the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) who take your money and do very little to help or fund your local animal care centers.

Dan’s bill would have prevented you from driving with your pet in your lap.

Yes, I can almost hear your reaction, “What, a state in crisis and you are debating whether we can legally carry a pet on our lap while driving!?” Like I said you can’t make it up. Perhaps we needed a break in the intensity. Perhaps we needed a little humor. More and more representatives turned on their speak lights and more and more it became apparent that this bill was “trophy bound.” The House has a revolving trophy for a bill which receives 100 plus no votes. Dan apparently saw the hand writing on the wall and pulled the bill from the record, denying himself the less than coveted trophy and the rest of us the opportunity to keep razzing him. He’s a great representative and a good friend. He certainly did the right thing.

Speaking of pets and animals, this is our Agriculture recognition week and Thursday morning, March 14th, at 7:30 a.m. I’ll have an opportunity to address our young FFA members.

Agriculture has always been nearest and dearest to my heart and I welcome that opportunity. I read early each morning while riding my stationary bike. I am currently reading a great book by that well known voice of agriculture and a man I’ve come to know and proudly call friend, Orion “Big O” Samuelson and his latest book, “You Can’t Dream Big Enough”.

In it, among his many tributes, he credits a young lady from Redwood Falls, Minnesota, Kelly Kohler, explaining in an essay how urban dwellers fail to grasp the meaning of agriculture. “How are urban dwellers to know that, as they walk down the street, their life is impacted repeatedly by agriculture? The leather briefcase in hand, the burger for lunch and even the shirt on their back are all products of the agricultural industry. The leather and beef came from a cow, the fibers in the shirt from plants that grew on a farmer’s property.” She concludes her essay with “A world without agriculture is a world without life.” No pun intended but surely that is “food for thought.” Well said, Kelly.

As always, you can reach me, Sally or Barb at 815-232-0774 or e-mail us at jimsacia@aeroinc.net. You can also visit my website at www.jimsacia.com. It’s always a pleasure to hear from you.