Morton board approves five-year firefighter contract, raises fines for unpermitted digging and OKs festival transfers

The Village of Morton Board of Trustees approved a five-year collective bargaining agreement with the Morton Fire and EMS Local 4952 union and adopted an ordinance increasing penalties for excavations done without a permit, while also approving several fund transfers for 2025 festival expenses and authorizing motor fuel tax purchases.

The agreement with Local 4952 includes a five-year wage and terms package that, as presented to the board, sets paramedic wage increases at 3.5 percent for years two through five and 3.75 percent for year three. Trustees voted to adopt the contract as Resolution 18-26 after staff said tentative agreements had been reached and the parties would return with additional promotional language to establish rank structure in a side letter.

The contract matters and the excavation-penalty ordinance led the board's action items of the evening because both change ongoing costs and enforcement practice. The board also approved two transfers from the tourism fund to the general fund to cover 2025 festival expenses, authorized up to $102,000 in Motor Fuel Tax (MFT) funds for salt purchases for calendar year 2026, appointed a resident to a municipal commission and approved a closed session under the Illinois Open Meetings Act.

Collective bargaining agreement

Trustees approved Resolution 18-26, the proposed collective bargaining agreement with Morton Fire and EMS Local 4952. Village staff described the package as a five-year agreement with negotiated wage adjustments for paramedics (3.5 percent in years two through five; 3.75 percent in year three, as described by staff) and other language updates needed after the village added full-time firefighters. Staff said promotional rank structure language was not finalized and would be returned as a side letter in the coming months. The motion passed on a roll call vote.

Excavation penalties (Ordinance 26-10)

The board passed Ordinance 26-10 amending section 8-17 of the Morton Municipal Code to increase penalties related to excavations. Under the changes explained by the director of public works, the fine for excavating on or under a public sidewalk will increase to $50; starting work before obtaining a permit would be a $500 fine for a first offense and $1,250 for each subsequent offense. Staff said the existing code doubled the permit fee and that the new fines were intended to make enforcement clearer and more effective.

Festival costs and police camera trailers

The board approved a transfer of $16,572.41 from the tourism fund to the general fund to cover 2025 policing-related festival expenses. The chief of police told trustees the village was about $1,100 ahead compared with last year, noting salary increases and the use of five county deputies for parade duty. He also said a local sales representative for King Security of Rantoul provided two mobile camera trailers without charge for the pumpkin festival; the trailers included multiple high-definition cameras (pan-tilt-zoom units, a fisheye camera, 15-foot masts) and app-based remote monitoring. Staff said the trailers were used primarily as a deterrent and required minimal review during the festival.

Fire department festival stipend and transfer

Trustees approved a second transfer—$4,819.36 from the tourism fund to the general fund—to cover pumpkin festival expenses, including stipends for paid-on-call firefighters. The fire chief explained the $1,500 total stipend covered more than 200 hours of paid-on-call firefighter time at the event.

MFT salt purchase authorization (Resolution 17-26)

The board adopted Resolution 17-26 to authorize maintenance expenditures under the Illinois Highway Code, specifically permitting the village to use up to $102,000 in MFT funds toward salt purchases for calendar year 2026. Staff said the salt barn is full and that the appropriation errs on the high side to ensure funds are available when ordering through IDOT procedures.

Appointment to Business District Commission

Trustees approved the appointment of Mike Kaluza to the Business District Commission with a term ending 04/30/2027. Board members noted Kaluza owns a local business and graduated from Morton High School; he will replace Amanda Pyle, who the board thanked for her service.

Closed session

The board voted to enter closed session under 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(2) to discuss collective negotiating matters between the village and its employees or their representatives. The motion to go into closed session carried on a roll call vote.

Votes at a glance

- Consent agenda (approval of minutes from the regular meeting of 09/15/2025 and approval of bills): approved (motion passed on roll call). - Appointment: Mike Kaluza to Business District Commission (term to 04/30/2027): approved. - Transfer of $16,572.41 from tourism fund to general fund (police/festival expenses): approved. - Transfer of $4,819.36 from tourism fund to general fund (pumpkin festival/fire stipend): approved. - Resolution 18-26 (collective bargaining agreement with Morton Fire & EMS Local 4952): approved. - Ordinance 26-10 (amend Sec. 8-17 — excavation penalties): approved. - Resolution 17-26 (authorize up to $102,000 MFT for salt purchases for calendar year 2026): approved. - Motion to enter closed session under 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(2): approved.

What happened next

Board members directed staff to return with any required side letters and promotional language related to the fire contract and with implementation steps for the ordinance amendments. The board also expressed appreciation to community partners who supported festival safety, including King Security for providing mobile camera trailers and the county sheriff's office for deputy support during parade operations.

(Notes: the board's roll-call confirmations were recorded in the meeting minutes and are reflected above as recorded votes. Where a speaker or roll-call name was not presented with a full title in the transcript, the article uses the role given in the meeting packet or the title stated during the meeting.)