One year ended, Morris begins another

The Morris City Council's first meeting of the fiscal year opened about 10:20 a.m. Friday, with an invocation by Rev. Roy Backus of the First Presbyterian Church in Morris.
Associate Circuit Judge Lance Peterson gave the oath of office to the five aldermen elected in the April election, Mayor Richard Kopczick, City Clerk John Enger and Treasurer MaryBeth O'Brien.
Among them was First Ward Alderman Randy Larson, a second-generation city council member.
Larson is the son of Keith Larson, who served on the council for 10 years, starting in 1981. He represented the old First Ward, which covered the southernmost two blocks of Morris, to the I & M Canal. When the ward boundaries were redrawn, he was placed in the Third Ward.
He is currently Morris Township supervisor and was re-elected without opposition in April.
Randy Larson was unopposed for a two-year term on the council from the First Ward. He replaces Donna Matteson, who did not seek re-election.
Other aldermen sworn in Friday morning were Drew Muffler, who replaces Brian Feeney representing the Third Ward, and incumbents Donald Hansen of the First Ward, Ken Sereno of the Second Ward, and Bill Martin of the Fourth Ward.
The mayor then made committee appointments.
Bill Martin was named chairman of the Finance Committee, replacing Alderman Feeney. Don Barkley and Duane Wolfe are also on the committee.
Larson is chairman of the Judiciary and License committee, serving with Muffler and Don Matteson.
Muffler is chairman of the Health and Sanitation Committee, serving with Larson and Hansen.
Matteson remains chairman of the Airport Committee, serving with Hansen and Larson.
Hansen remains chairman of the Building and Grounds Committee, serving with Matteson and Martin.
Ken Sereno is chairman of the Parks and Annexation Committee, which also includes Wolfe and Muffler.
Don Barkley takes over as chairman of the Street and Alley Committee, which also includes Martin and Sereno.
Wolfe remains chairman of the Water and Sewer Committee, serving with with Sereno and Barkley.
Wolfe remains council liaison to the Morris Planning Commission and Matteson liaison to the Zoning Board of Appeals
Mayor Kopczick also announced the re-appointments of several officials, including Brent Dite as police chief.
Also reappointed were Bill Cheshareck, building and zoning officer; Scott Belt, city attorney; Jim Gretencord, Public Works director; Kevin Schultz, superintendent of streets; Robert Coleman, fire marshal and liaison to the Emergency Management Agency; Beth Walker, deputy city clerk; Daria Lynes, deputy city treasurer; William Crawford, auditor; Chamlin and Associates, city engineer; Ayers Electric, city electrician; Teska and Associates, planning consultants; Randy White, plumbing inspector; and Chuck Enger, building inspector.
City Clerk John Enger will also continue as budget director.
Re-appointed to the Morris Planning Commission for three-year terms were Randy Werden and John Wilkinson.
Re-appointed to the Zoning Board of Appeals for two-year terms were Thomas Dzuryak, Don Farmer, Swede Kjellesvik and William Stangland.
Liquor licenses
Class A (tavern) liquor licenses, at $1,300 each, approved were for Bogie's Sports Bar, Mulligan Sports Bar Inc.; Bottomz Up Bar and Grill, Pub on 6; Brandt's Tavern; Chapin's, Bottom-Line Development Corp.; Clayton's Tap; Ebbey George's, S. H. 32 Inc.; Griffin's Pint, B & D Investments of Illinois; Lagoon Saloon, Connally Inc.; K. J. McKeon's, Spike and Larry Inc.; Red Cent, Katiebear Inc.; Tully Monster.
Class D (restaurant) licenses approved were for Chicago Pizza Department, Thomas Hosek; Chili's Grill and Bar, ERJ Dining IV; Echo Bowling Lanes, Mary Jane Butterfield; LaMex Restaurant, Rodolfo Carlos; Maria's Pizza Ristorante; Rockwell Inn; Sandlot Inc., Ruptured Duck LLC; Tobby's Mexi-Mart, Abel Valdivia; Travel Centers of America, TA Operating LLC; Turtle's Tap II;
Class B (package sales) licenses, at $800 each, were approved for Feeney's Package Liquors, Michael Feeney; Four Seasons, Param Shakti; and Morris Liquors, Eugene Funk.

Class E (beer and wine only) licenses, at $800 each, were approved for Lindy-Gerties Restaurant, MP1977 Inc.; Morris Diner and Pancake House; Pizza Hut; and Habanero Grill, Fidencio Castro.
Class K licenses (wine), at $325, were approved for the Front Porch, Cathy and Randy Fleetwood; and Montage, Weekend in Paris Inc.
Class C (fraternal organizations) licenses, at $650 each, were issued to American Legion Post 294; Fraternal Order of Eagles 1024; and John Martin Steele VFW Post 6049.
The Class J license for a convention center and banquet hall, at $2,500, was issued to Jennifer's Garden, Debrae Howard-Chow.
Echo Lanes received a bowling license for $420, based on 28 lanes.
Theater licenses, based on $1 per seat, were issued to GKC Theaters, $1,549, and My Father's House of Prayer, $192.
Licenses were also approved for various vending and amusement machines in city businesses.
Mayor Kopczick concluded the meeting by thanking the aldermen, city officials and employees for their hard work during the year.