The Morton village board approved an ordinance Monday to remove about 20 parking spots on East Jackson Street — a backtrack from an October vote to keep the spots.
The measure to erase the parking came about as a result of two issues — safety and cost. The Illinois Department of Transportation will repave the street, but IDOT does not allow for new parking on state-owned roads. The village would have to pay for the repaving of the parking spots, which are designated near Morton High School on both sides of East Jefferson Street.
In October, Mayor Norm Durflinger recommended the board vote against removing those spots to avoid placing pressure on Morton District 709 as school officials continue the district’s facility planning process. However, amidst the village's $2.7 million general fund budget deficit, trustees and village officials reconsidered the decision, which would have cost the village more than $80,000.
Trustees Stephen Newhouse and Darrell Vierling voted for the removal of the spots in October. Vierling cited safety concerns. A committee-of-whole met March 1 in Freedom Hall to discuss budget cuts when it was decided an ordinance to remove the spots would be created.
Morton Police Chief Nick Graff and public works director Bob Wraight both favored removing the spots due to the volume of traffic and narrowness of the street that create dangerous conditions for both drivers and those exiting their cars.
School district officials maintained the parking spots offered additional space to the community for events, such as football games and graduation ceremonies. Additionally, some spots were used for residential parking.
The ordinance takes effect June 1.
