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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

  
 
2    WHEREAS, The members of The Illinois House of 
3Representatives would like to congratulate Richard Kopczick on 
4the occasion of his retirement from the office of  Mayor of the 
5City of Morris; and
  
 
6    WHEREAS, Mayor Kopczick has served as Morris' mayor for 
7over 21 years after first being elected in 2001; and
  
 
8    WHEREAS, Mayor Kopczick was born and raised in Morris and 
9attended Morris schools, graduating from Morris Community High 
10School; and
  
 
11    WHEREAS, Mayor Kopczick was the meat department manager  at 
12D&S Foods; he served as  the 4th Ward Alderman from 1995 to 
132001, sitting on the Finance Committee and the Parks and 
14Annexation Committee; and
 
15    WHEREAS, Mayor Kopczick spearheaded the expansion of the 
16original sewage treatment plant and implemented the city's 
17first water and sewer impact fee policy; and
 
18    WHEREAS, Mayor Kopczick helped to complete the greatest 
19amount of  annexation in mayoral history in Morris, consisting 
20of several thousand acres, which were annexed into the 
 
 
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1corporate city limits for future development, including the 
2Brisbin Road interchange and the east side sewage treatment 
3plant; and
 
4    WHEREAS, Mayor Kopczick was instrumental in providing 
5affordable housing lots to Habitat for Humanity, cleaning up 
6over 400,000 square feet of demolished buildings for future 
7residential development, replacing the Morris swimming pool 
8with a new, state-of-the-art facility, and spearheading 
9several commercial and industrial developments for companies 
10such as Proctor & Gamble, Prologis, and several other 
11retailers; and
 
12    WHEREAS, In addition, Mayor Kopczick assisted in the 
13fundraising and construction of a historical replica of the 
14I&M Canal Boat and Port Plaza Park, the construction of a 
15September 11 memorial, and the Lower Goold Park band shell; 
16and
 
17    WHEREAS, Mayor Kopczick prides himself on preserving the 
18Morris historical downtown retail district, supporting 
19community events such as Cruise Nights, and allowing for 
20on-street dining in an effort to allow for easier downtown 
21dining; and
  
 
22    WHEREAS, Mayor Kopczick enjoys spending his free time with 
 
 
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1his wife of 40 years, Jill, his three children, and two 
2grandchildren, which he will continue to do in his retirement; 
3and
  
 
4    WHEREAS, In his retirement, Mayor Kopczick will continue 
5being active in the community by participating in various 
6organizations, including the Knights of Columbus, the 
7Fraternal Order of Eagles, the Sons of the American Legion, 
8and the VFW Men's Auxiliary; therefore, be it
  
 
9    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE 
10HUNDRED SECOND GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that 
11we congratulate Richard Kopczick on his retirement from 
12serving as   mayor of the City of Morris and commend him for his 
13devoted service to his community; and be it further
  
 
14    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
15presented to Mayor Kopczick as a symbol of our respect and 
16esteem.