The Public Works Department is responsible for the operation and maintenance of the streets, water, sanitary, storm systems, cemetery, sports complex and parks.

In case of an emergency which requires the attention of the public works department, please contact any one of the following:

For emergencies during business hours, contact City Hall at (815) 772-7657.  City Hall is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM.  Workers will be dispatched immediately to the problem location.

For emergencies occurring after business hours, contact the Whiteside County Sheriff’s Office at (815) 772-4044.  Inform the dispatcher of the nature and location of the problem.  They will then contact Public Works staff.

Please DO NOT call 911 for Public Works emergencies!

Streets

The City of Morrison Department of Public Works is responsible for the maintenance and repair of streets, storm, water, and sewer systems, as well as snow removal, street sweeping, and tree trimming in city parkways.

TREE SERVICES OVERVIEW

Each year, the City of Morrison Department of Public Works contracts for the trimming and or removal of trees located on the parkway (the grassy area between the sidewalk and curb). The City of Morrison hires a tree removal service, who performs the trimming and removal. Trees to be removed must be unsafe of dying.  Residents who wish to have a tree inspected for trimming or removal are asked to contact City Hall to be placed on the inspection list.

Residents wishing to plant a tree in the park way need to review the list of approved/unapproved trees.  Click here for more information: Approved and Restricted Parkway Trees.  For more information, please view the City of Morrison Code on Vegetation.  Contact City Hall at 815-772-7657 for more information.

SNOW REMOVAL

Snow Emergencies may be declared by the Chief of Police or Superintendent of Streets & Parks, during the months of November 1 through March 31. Snow Emergencies will be shared with local media, social media and this website. As soon as a snow emergency is declared, motorists and residents are asked to observe the following parking restrictions:

Snow Routes: Parking on snow routes is prohibited during snow emergencies. Parking on snow routes may resume after the street has been plowed clear of snow. Vehicles in violation are subject to being towed at the owner’s expense. Snow Routes are clearly marked by blue and white signs.

Central Business District (CBD): The CBD includes Main Street, Market Street and other streets within the boundaries of Knox Street, Orange Street, Clinton Street, and the Union Pacific Railroad right-of-way. Parking is always prohibited on these streets until all snow is removed.

All Other Streets: During snow emergencies, streets that are not Snow Routes or within the CBD are subject to odd-even parking. This means that on odd days (1st, 3rd, 5th, etc…), vehicles must be parked on the side of the street with odd street numbers (101, 103, 503, 505, etc…). On even numbered days (2nd, 4th, 6th, etc…), vehicles must be parked on the side of the street with even numbers (102, 104, 504, 506, etc…). The change-over time for odd-even parking is between the hours of 6:00 AM and 8:00 AM. THIS PARKING RESTRICTION ONLY APPLIES DURING SNOW EMERGENCIES. Motorists may park on either side of the street if the street has been plowed clear of snow.

End of Snow Emergency: When the Chief of Police and/or Superintendent of Streets & Parks feels that conditions have improved on our streets, he will declare an end to the Snow Emergency. At that time, such parking restrictions are no longer in effect.

Water Distribution

Morrison is served by two wells with a combined capacity of 3.16 million gallons per day. Well 5 was drilled in 2012 to a depth of 1,585’ deep and is operated by a 200 hp submersible Byron Jackson pump capable of delivering 9000 gpm. Well 4 was drilled in 1968 to a depth of 1769’ deep and is currently operated by a 200 hp submersible pump that will deliver 1,300 gpm. Treated water is stored in a 500,000 gallon elevated tank located in Kelly Park. The average daily demand is 509,640 gallons per day. Water is distributed through lines 4”, 6”, 8”, 10” and 12” PVC, ductile iron, and cast iron mains. The system is flushed twice a year. All 1,796 users in the city are metered. 

US Environmental Protection Agency - Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR5)

In accordance with 35 Ill. Adm. Code 611.907(a) and (b), the City of Morrison's community water supply is required to monitor for unregulated contaminants in such water supply within a three-year period. The current period is 2023-2025. Under 40 CFR 141.40, public notification is required to the availability of those monitoring reports. Such report is provided below. To request any additional information regarding this requirement and other community water supply reports publicly available, contact the Superintendent of Utilities Shane Osborn.

To ensure the health and safety of residents and visitors, Public Works shall issue boil orders as necessary. Boil orders may be issued when the water system pressure drops below 20 psi in our distribution system, water main breaks, installation of new water lines, etc. Under almost all circumstances, boil orders are localized to a specific area and may be a precautionary measure. However, in rare cases, a condition may arise which requires a larger-scale boil order. Below are some frequently asked questions regarding these boil orders for those who may be impacted: