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Morton board adopts ordinance setting new right-of-way construction and maintenance standards
Summary
The Village of Morton adopted Ordinance 26-28 to set uniform standards for construction, placement and maintenance of facilities in public rights of way, including permit controls, minimum cover depths, as-built documentation and enforcement tools; trustees said the measure aims to reduce repeated contractor damage and protect infrastructure and homeowners.
The Village of Morton board on Feb. 16 adopted Ordinance 26-28, establishing uniform standards for construction, placement and maintenance of facilities in the public right of way.
The ordinance, introduced by the director of public works, requires prework plans submitted to village staff, narrows the list of permitted subcontractors for utilities, sets minimum cover depths for buried facilities (the ordinance discusses ranges the director described as being between about 18 and 42 inches), requires as-built vertical and horizontal documentation within 90 days of completion, and gives the village authority to suspend or revoke permits if contractors do not correct work.
The director of public works described the change as a response to repeated instances of contractor crews or subcontractors damaging village infrastructure and leaving sites unfinished. “We make them submit plans to Village Hall, we will review them, and once the permit is out and the work is complete they will have 10 days to finish cleanup,” the director said, adding that the village will refuse to grant a subsequent permit until prior work is corrected. He also noted requirements for homeowner notification and certification of outreach after work.
Village attorney cautioned trustees that certain franchise agreements with utilities such as Ameren limit the village’s authority; the attorney told the board the ordinance must be drafted so it is not inconsistent with franchise-language and that the contractor would be responsible if damage is caused by noncompliance with the ordinance.
Trustees and residents pressing the board raised practical enforcement questions: who will follow up on lingering flags or uncompleted work, how the village will ensure contractors perform camera work on very deep installations, and how to handle utility-owned infrastructure that later settles. The director said staff would use permit controls, follow-up assignments and a new module on the village’s permit software to track compliance and inspections.
The board voted to adopt the ordinance; trustees said the village could return in about 90 days to consider technical amendments based on early implementation experience.
The ordinance takes effect upon the board’s adoption; staff said they would begin outreach to utilities and contractors immediately and follow up with affected homeowners who report unresolved work.
