Morton board appoints village clerk, approves $231,000 in mobile barriers and several engineering and equipment contracts

The Morton Village Board appointed Sam Rick Taylor as village clerk and approved a series of procurement and engineering contracts, including a $231,000 purchase of mobile vehicle barriers and a main-street engineering agreement, during a meeting that also cleared several vehicle purchases and subdivision easement actions.

Sam Rick Taylor was sworn in after the board voted to confirm the appointment for a term expiring April 30, 2025. Taylor recited the oath of office, saying, “I do solemnly swear or affirm that I will support the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of Illinois, and that I will faithfully discharge the duties of the office of village clerk to the best of my ability.”

The board approved a request to waive formal bidding and accept a proposal from Meridian Rapid Defense Group for 27 Archer 1,200 mobile barriers and one beam gate for $231,000. Trevor (last name not specified), Morton’s chief of police, told trustees the additional barriers respond to security needs identified after the village deployed barriers during the Pumpkin Festival and a subsequent safety committee debrief. He cited a municipal liability insurance bulletin noting that, in the bulletin’s tracking since 2014, 70% of recorded vehicle-ramming attacks have occurred since 2014 and urged additional protective measures. The motion passed on a roll call vote.

The board also approved a professional services agreement with Hanson Professional Services Inc. for phase 1 engineering on the Main Street…