Kirk Morris: Candidate Profile

Note: Answers provided have not been edited for grammar, misspellings or typos. In some instances, candidate claims that could not be immediately verified have been omitted. Jump to:BioKey IssuesQA Bio City: GurneeWebsite: http://www.KirkForGurnee.comOffice sought: Gurnee Mayor (4-year Term)Age: 55Family: Married six childrenOccupation: Filtration SpecialistEducation: BA - Political Science and Economics; University of Illinois ChgoCivic involvement: Life Member Marine Corps League Life Member of the NRA Life Member Ducks Unlimited, Treasurer for Lake Zurich Chapter Member Salmon Unlimited, Illinois Candidate for United States Congress 8th District - 2008 Gurnee Village Trustee (Apr 2009 Present) Warren Township Precinct Committeeman (2006 Present) Exec Director: PFC Geoffrey Morris Memorial Foundation National Veterans Museum,Heroes of Freedom Memorial, Hoffman Estates, IL President Gold Star Dads of Northern IL - advocate for Illinois Gold Star Families with the offices of the Governor Pat Quinn; Assistance to Families of Fallen, Wounded Soldiers and Active Duty Founder of Annual Memorial Fishing Tournament in Winthrop Harbor, IL Donating more than 3,000lbs of fresh Salmon and trout to local food pantry's every year USS Freedom Commissioning Committee Nature Guide/Educator, Lake County Forest Preserve Gurnee Park District Coach Warren Township Football / Former Board Member Gurnee Youth Baseball Coach / Former Board Member Cub Scouts Den Leader / Pack Leader (Serving from 1992 - Present )Elected offices held: Village Trustee, (2009 - Present) Warren Township Precinct Committeeman (2006 Present)Have you ever been arrested for or convicted of a crime? If yes, please explain: NoCandidate's Key Issues Key Issue 1 Term Limits should be in place at all levels of Government for Elected Offices. Two terms at any single elected position or post should be the limit.Key Issue 2 Finding a just and long-term solution to the fiscal health of our community structured on a diverse base of retail and amusement taxes not raising fees and taxes on local residents. Gurnee is more than 90% built out, and is an established destination for entertainment and shopping for tens of millions every year. A solid base for consumption based funding of Gurnee's basic services is available. Growing the local economy by expanding diverse offerings to the established base is beneficial. Cross over and duplication of products and offerings the action becomes unconscionable. Buying businesses at the expense of the residents is irresponsible.Key Issue 3 Beautification Program. Good schools to educate our children, beautiful parks and healthy recreational opportunities for families and adults to enjoy; creating an environment where the visitors will flock to your community to enjoy those amenities. Gurnee does not have a Property Tax; we depend almost entirely on sales and amusement tax revenues to fund our Village services. What is crucial to the survival of those revenue streams is a Village that even more visitors wish to enjoy. Investments in our byways and highways into greenways would be a start. Add up lighting to specimen trees, bury overhead wires (which would also reduce power and service outages), replace concrete medians with native landscaping, increase street sweeping on main thoroughfares, decrease the time between highway right of way clean-ups, and many other low cost high impact activities can be creatively achieved.Questions Answers Macy's recently was induced to build at Gurnee Mills through a financial incentive package offered by the village. Is this a good idea for future use with other companies? Please explain.Macy's is coming to town but has nothing invested in our town to stay here. While we are blessed with the addition of an respected anchor store to the Gurnee Mall, an extremely small few know the residents paid for it. Macy's received a $10million gift from the Village Treasury without a commitment from Macy's to stay longer than a few years. This was not a Tax Rebate or Profit Sharing venture, which would have been acceptable. This was a gift from the residents of Gurnee where a 10 year mortgage in form of municipa bonds; residents will pay off over 10 years. The payback on this investment is more than 40 years. That equates to a thirty year run of red ink for the Village of Gurnee and a negative impact on the PL statement for years to come.The village has used public money to pump up businesses in town through the Gurnee's Got It! marketing campaign. Is this something that should continue? Why or why not?Gurnee's Got It should never have been a government run or financed program. As stewards of the public treasury the residents have entrusted the Board to utilize the minimal revenue to the best value to spend ratios available. The initial outlay was $80k, the following year was slightly less at $60k. For a break even return on that spend over a two year rollout the Village would have had to increase sales in the Village by $1.6 million and $1.2 million respectively. There has been no data presented or available that Gurnee's Got it! increased sales revenue in the Village by anything closely resembling these returns. Therefore the program should never have been initiated and unless wholly funded by the private sector should be eliminated.In these tight economic times, municipal budgets have to be prioritized. Where, if anywhere, could the current budget be trimmed? Conversely, is there something that should be reinstated or have resources directed toward?Gurnee's Budget system is backwards. Instead of Village Departments proposing their wish lists and then adjusting the revenues to satisfy those requests, the Village needs to set a budgetary dollar amount for each Department and direct the qualified Department heads to determine how best to allocate those limited resources. This is one reason we have had over 28 tax and fee increases over the last four years alone. While property values and the average household income declined across Gurnee, the Village has increased its budget every year by 7-15% 2012-2013 Gurnee will spend close to $50million. Village budget needs to be rolled back to pre-recession levels. The excuse ofthings just get more expensive? isn't good enough. We should be better than that, and the residents of Gurnee expect that we will be. Adjustments in maintenance vs. replacement costs need to be made in areas of capital equipment and vehicles, along with cuts of 15% across the board, hiring and wage freezes also need to be implemented. What are off the table are cuts to Police and Fire or public safety departments. Our first responders perform their critical duties in an ever more challenging environment. I believe the safety and wellbeing of the Public is Governments primary responsibility, and as such this is an area I would direct more resources.What's one good idea you have to better the community that no one is talking about yet?Cleaning up the woodlands around Town (Grand Ave., riverine along the Des Plaines, etc.) removal of invasive understory and garbage entrapping underbrush. Cooperative engagements with Lake County Forest Preserves, Boy Scout Troops (Gurnee has 6 that serves its community), garden Clubs, Wild Ones, there are many that would pitch in to make our Community a more beautiful and attractive place from the inside out.Talking with your friends and neighbors, what seems to be their biggest public safety concern? Explain the concern as you see it, and discuss how you think it should be addressed.Residents, friends and neighbors continue to be concerned about the increase in personal crime; home break-ins, gangs, availability of illegal drugs for our children, and vandalism. The criminal elements in our society will continue to perpetrate their trade until caught and removed from our commonality. As individuals we can do our part by discouraging these criminals from choosing us as targets. Better lighting around the home, locking doors, windows and vehicles. Installing burglar alarms, cameras with recording devices, venturing out in pairs, are some of the ways we can discourage becoming a victim. As a Village we can better illuminate our streets and parks, increase police patrols, and increase attendance at Neighborhood watch meetings.