City almost ready to fill up the pool
Survey favors 35 mph speed limit along Old Stage Road
The Morris pool project is not yet complete, but officials are talking about filling it with water soon.
The Morris City Council approved three change orders for the pool at its regular meeting Monday. Two of the changes were at no cost to the city, but the one for a new vinyl coated fence around the pool is an extra $45,452.60.
The no-cost changes are for an upgrade to the diving boards and a change to the roof on the pump house. The original diving boards ordered could not come in, said Alderman Ken Sereno, Parks and Annexation Committee chairman, so the city is getting better boards for no extra money.
Alderman Drew Muffler wanted to know how much the fence puts the project's cost up to. Mayor Richard Kopczick said it's at $2,017,045.80. The fence change order was approved 7-1, with Muffler voting no.
Once the fence is installed, the pool can be filled with water.
"We have to be able to lock it up," said Alderman Julian Houston.
Once the pool is filled with water, the Illinois Department of Public Health will check if the water is clean and the chemicals balanced. It has to stay balanced for five days, said the mayor.
An opening date for the pool has still not been set.
It was hoped the revamped pool would be open to the public by now, but with initial delays in the state getting the city its permit and then the weather being so hot, it just wasn't possible. The delay at the state level was due to the state being unable to keep up as numerous municipalities applied for permits after a statewide issue with pool drains.
Several updates are planned for the pool, which was originally built in the 1920s. Renovations include a new liner, returning diving boards to the pool, removing the baby pool and expanding the pool to the south for a zero-depth entry, installing a new filtration system, and adding a splash park for young children, as well as water slides.
OLD STAGE ROAD
In other business, Muffler announced that the survey results have come in on whether to change the speed limit on Old Stage Road back to 35 mph from 25 mph.
Muffler said 155 surveys were sent out to Hatcher's Woods and Old State Road residents. Seventeen came back wanting the speed limit to stay 25 mph, 79 came back wanting it back to 35 mph, and 59 were not sent back.
There will be an upcoming Street and Alley Committee meeting to discuss the subject again, Muffler said.
The city council voted to change the speed limit from 35 to 25 at its June 4 meeting. The request was initiated by Hatcher's Woods resident Harry Benner.
But during an ensuing Street and Alley Committee meeting, Hatcher's Woods resident Dave Hextell told the committee he felt the majority of the neighborhood did not want the reduction in the speed limit. He submitted a petition with 39 signatures wanting the speed at 35 mph.
The action for the speed limit change had already taken effect, so it is currently 25 mph, but the city could change this.
POWER AGREEMENT
The council also approved, on a 7-1 vote, a one-year service agreement at a cost of $1,377 with Eaton Corporation for the uninterrupted power system for the Municipal Services Building. Alderman Randy Larson voted against it.
Alderman Don Hansen, Building and Grounds Committee chairman, said when the electricity goes out in the building, there is a 15-second window where there is no electricity until the generators turn on. Because the police department is in the building, however, it cannot have the delay and, therefore, has to have a battery back-up.