Morton board approves tax levy, $10,000 downtown grant and boundary agreement with East Peoria

The Village of Morton board approved multiple routine governance items in a single session. Village administrator (Speaker 3) introduced ordinance 26‑19 to levy and assess taxes for the fiscal year beginning 05/01/2025; the measure revises a prior ordinance (26‑13) by moving a proposed pension line into the general fund after county review flagged the separate line as a potential new tax requiring voter approval. Trustees voted to approve the ordinance by roll call.

The board also approved a business‑district commission recommendation for a $10,000 building‑improvement grant to D to Z Properties for exterior renovations at 1900 South Main. Village administrator (Speaker 3) said the company will receive payment after the exterior work is completed; the transcript referenced a larger total project cost for the site but the precise total was not specified in the meeting record.

Zoning code enforcement (Speaker 5) introduced resolution 27‑26 to formalize the planning boundary line between the Village of Morton and the city of East Peoria. Speaker 5 said discussions began four to six months earlier with East Peoria’s mayor Kaufman and village officials, and emphasized the resolution formalizes an existing boundary used for planning rather than changing jurisdictional lines. The board adopted the resolution and then incorporated it into the village comprehensive plan per legal requirements.

All three items were moved, seconded and approved by roll call during the meeting; the board then heard additional trustee remarks and emergency‑response updates before adjourning.