MINUTES
– MORRIS CITY COUNCIL – REGULAR MEETING – MARCH 13, 2007
The
regular meeting of the Morris City Council was called to order at 5:15 p.m.
this 13th day of March, 2007, Mayor Giese in the Council Chambers of
the Morris Senior Citizens/Community Center.
PLEDGE
OF ALLEGIANCE: The Pledge of
Allegiance was recited.
ROLL
CALL: Roll call was taken with
the following members present:
Council member Carrington, Webster, Storck and Mayor Giese. Council member Miller was absent. Also present was City Manager Larson,
Finance Director Krosschell and City Attorney Glasrud.
READING
AND APPROVAL OF MINUTES: 2/27/07
Regular Meeting Minutes:
Council member Webster moved, seconded by Carrington, to approve the
2/27/07 regular meeting minutes.
Motion carried.
2/27/07
Condensed Version: Council
member Storck moved, seconded by Giese, to approve the 2/27/07 condensed
version minutes. Motion carried.
AUDIT
OF CITY BILLS: Council member Storck
moved, seconded by Webster, to authorize payment of the City bills dated March
13, 2007. Motion carried.
Final
Pay Estimate – East 10th Street: Council member Carrington moved, seconded by Webster, to
authorize payment of $16,282.01 to Riley Brothers Construction for the final
payment on East 10th Street.
Motion carried.
CITIZEN’S
COMMENTS: None
PETITIONS,
REQUESTS AND COMMUNICATIONS: Community
Education Information: Council
member Giese moved, seconded by Storck, to accept the information from
Community Ed. Motion carried.
HRC
Meeting Minutes, 2/21/07: It
was the consensus of the council that they would like to see any applications
that are received for the Human Rights Commission. After their review they will then pass it on to the
commission. Council member Webster
moved, seconded by Carrington, to accept the 2/21/07 HRC meeting minutes. Motion carried.
HRA
Meeting Minutes, 2/20/07:
Council member Giese moved, seconded by Storck, to approve the 2/20/07
HRA meeting minutes. Motion
carried.
2007
Board of Review Information:
This was informational for the council.
Set Up
License for Crystal Lanes:
Council member Storck moved, seconded by Webster, to approve the set up
license for Crystal Lanes
Entertainment Center.
Motion carried.
Correspondence
on Snow Plowing:
Correspondence was received from Lyle Christiansen who suggested the
city use a rotary snow plow so snow could be thrown off the street and not in
driveways, sidewalks and in front of mail boxes. Mayor Giese indicated it would be nice but very time
consuming. It was also discussed
that this way of removing
snow would
throw rocks, salt and other debris onto people’s lawns. Larson indicated he would send a letter
to Christiansen informing him the council took the suggestion under
consideration.
ORDINANCES
AND RESOLUTIONS: None
CITY
MANAGER’S REPORTS & RECOMMENDATIONS: Bid Opening for West 6th Street Project: Larson explained the city will open
bids next Tuesday, March 20th, for the West 6th Street
project. Larson indicated there
was some discussion with property owners during the public hearing about how
the assessments would be approached.
Larson
noted if the city changed the cost sharing from a 75/25 to a 60/40 split the
city would pick up more of the cost, which would come out of the utility
fund.
Larson
indicated at the public hearing the council talked briefly about waiting until
the project is complete to do the assessment hearing, which is typical, or to
hold the hearing beforehand.
Larson noted the disadvantage with holding the assessment hearing before
the start of the project is that any cost overruns become the city’s
responsibility. Mayor Giese stated
by having the hearing beforehand any unforeseen hookups aren’t included
either.
Mayor
Giese pointed out he thinks it is important that the city take a look at the
formula used for apartment buildings.
Giese asked if the city would be setting a precedent by using the 60/40
split. Larson explained the city
has used all kinds of different approaches over the years. Larson used an example of when the city
did West 7th Street and Oregon Avenue. Because there weren’t as many properties along Oregon Avenue
and costs were higher, the city assessed those along Oregon Avenue the same as
those along West 7th Street.
Council
member Webster asked about spreading the assessment amounts over the whole
town. Storck asked what would be
done about those that had already been assessed for projects. Larson noted there would have to be an
increase in utility costs in order to absorb costs. City Attorney Glasrud indicated one advantage to that is
that there would be no appeals.
Larson indicated as costs get higher he expects to see more
appeals.
Council
member Carrington asked if it would be a problem for the capital improvement
fund if it was changed to a 60/40 split.
Larson indicated it would not, and it still keeps the city in the 80/20
split to be able to assess costs.
Larson
stated council members are welcome to attend the bid opening. Larson noted the city has never had the
assessment hearing before the project but a lot of communities do it that way. Giese indicated when all is said and
done, even if someone appeals, West 6th Street still has to be
done.
Past
Due Account for Fire Service: Larson
presented the council with a copy of a past due invoice for service provided by
the Fire Department. Larson
explained the person who called indicated she was not directly involved in the
situation, but rather had observed a grass fire after some other people had
dumped a barbeque.
Council
member Webster indicated the city doesn’t want to scare people from calling in
a fire because they don’t want to get charged. It was the consensus of the council that this was not this
person’s responsibility since they were trying to do the right thing.
Council
member Webster moved, seconded by Carrington, to waive the service charge and
communicate the city’s sincere gratitude to her for reporting it. Motion carried.
NEW
BUSINESS: Get Broadband
Grant: Giese suggested the
city look into applying for the Get Broadband Grant to be used to do some work
on the city’s website.
Parking
Lots: Storck indicated he
received a complaint about the Willie’s parking lot not being able to get
plowed because people park there when there is a snow alert. Storck noted the city cleans the school
lot so people can park there.
Larson indicated the city owns that building and lot.
OLD
BUSINESS: Sax Appeal: City
Attorney Glasrud gave an update on the Sax appeal. Glasrud indicated they presented an oral argument in appeals
court via I-TV. Glasrud stated
there were three judges from the Court of Appeals and felt it worked pretty
well. Glasrud indicated the
feeling he got from the judges is that the city isn’t doing anything much
different than what is required in the State Building Code. Glasrud stated the court has 90 days in
which to give their decision.
Meeting
on March 19th:
Larson reminded the council of the meeting to be held on Monday, March
19th regarding the report on the housing study and the school reuse
plans.
Annexation: Mayor Giese mentioned that the
annexation was accepted by the state on February 15th. Larson noted since that date snow
plowing and police patrol in those areas has begun.
INFORMATIONAL
ITEMS: February Transit
Report: This was informational
for the council.
ADJOURNMENT: There being no further business, Mayor
Giese adjourned the meeting at 5:56 p.m.