What to look out for in Grundy County in 2025

As Grundy County settles into the new year, there are a few threads to keep track of. Here’s what residents should be looking out for.

A rendering from the architect at Green and Associates for what the school's front entrance will look like after the renovation and addition, though this is a very early rendering and could change. (Photo provided by Morris Community High School)

Morris Community High School’s $67 million building addition referendum

An election just happened, and there will be at least a couple more of them between now and April 1, when voters will decide the fate of a $67 million referendum that would add a two-story addition to the building, adding new classrooms, air conditioning, and connecting the entire school into one building to avoid having kids going in and out all day as they currently do.

Superintendent Craig Ortiz said the district calculated the referendum would have a $240 impact on property taxes for a home worth $280,000.

For more information on the referendum, visit https://tinyurl.com/447uu3tb.

Mayor, Alderman, and City Council races

For the City of Morris, this race runs in the Tuesday, Feb. 25 primary since everyone involved is a Republican. It involves current Mayor Chris Brown and current Alderman Alex Clubb, a Republican challenger.

The rest of the elections take place Tuesday, April 1. The only contested race in Morris will be for the third ward alderman between Republican Ken Willis and Democrat Carrie Hall. Hall was appointed to the seat after Derrick Wren resigned in July, as he had moved out of the district.

Canadian National’s Chicago Logistics Hub in Channahon

Channahon and the surrounding area will learn more about Canadian National’s plan for a logistics hub from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 14 during its open house at Minooka High School South Campus, 26655 W. Eames St.

The meeting will be held as an open forum without a formal presentation or action taken, and it’s certain to compel discussion. Local municipalities like Minooka have expressed concern about the heavy truck traffic the hub would bring. While the hub is located in Channahon, it borders Minooka and Minooka is concerned that truck traffic will be directed to Ridge Road to get to Interstate 80.

West Side Park reopens

The construction at West Side Park is finished, but it’s still a bit cold for kids to get much use out of the ball fields, playground equipment and skate park.

Stan Knudson, Morris Community Affairs Director, said there will hopefully be an opening of sorts once the weather warms up.

The City of Morris received a $600,000 Open Space Land Acquisition and Development grant in March 2023 to update the park, which also features pickleball courts, bags courts and a picnic pavilion.

It also has another feature, one that ties directly into the next item Morris residents should be looking forward to.

The weight room inside the new Morris Hospital YMCA. (Photo provided by the Morris Hospital YMCA)

Morris Hospital YMCA runs its first year in its new home

The Morris Hospital YMCA at 2200 Dupont Ave. officially opened in December, but it’s in January that it gets its true debut as a community space: Morris Hospital cardiologist Dr. Mary Menz is speaking from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Monday, Jan. 13.

The 60,000 square-foot building features an eight-lane lap pool, health and wellness center, gymnasium, indoor walking track surrounding the basketball courts, group exercise studios, a cycling room, a healthy eating kitchen, youth play spaces and meeting rooms.

It also features places for people to hang out, many sitting spaces, and spaces for kids. How does it tie in to West Side Park?

Outside there’s a paved walking path that covers much of the grounds of the Morris Hospital YMCA and West Side Park.

Grundy County’s $10 million plan for new health department building

The Grundy County Board under then Chairman Chris Balkema approved a $10 million plan for an 18,000 square-foot health department building next to the Grundy County Administration Building on School Street in Morris.

Balkema said the plan was to keep the cost of the building at around $8.1 or $8.2 million.

The plan includes parking lots on the west and east side of the building, two new entrances and a private staff entrance. This layout allows for the Health Department, Veterans Assistance Commission and tax department to have their own separate entrances. There also will be an outdoor break area for staff, and an IT department and server area that’s further away from everyone else.

Construction on the new building is expected to be ready by the fourth quarter of 2025.