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MINUTES
– MORRIS CITY COUNCIL – REGULAR MEETING – JUNE 26, 2007
The
regular meeting of the Morris City Council was called to order at 5:15 p.m.
this 26th day of June, 2007, by 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, Miller, Storck and Mayor Giese. Council member Webster was absent. Also present was City Manager Larson,
Finance Director Krosschell and Public Works Director Dittbenner. City Engineer Fier arrived at 5:25 p.m.
READING
AND APPROVAL OF MINUTES: 6/12/07
Regular Meeting Minutes: City
Manager Larson stated information was received from Tom Quam with regard to the
no fault sewer back up coverage.
Larson indicated according to the application form the city would not
qualify for this coverage. Council
member Miller moved, seconded by Carrington, to approve the 6/12/07 regular
meeting minutes. Motion carried.
6/12/07
Condensed Version Minutes:
Council member Carrington moved, seconded by Mayor Giese, to approve the
6/12/07 condensed version minutes.
Motion carried.
AUDIT
OF CITY BILLS: Council member Miller
moved, seconded by Storck, to authorize payment of the City bills dated June
26, 2007. Motion carried.
Final
Pay Estimate – Mudpumpers Mudpumping:
Council member Storck moved, seconded by Miller, to authorize a final
payment of $7,811.25 to Mudpumpers Mudjacking. Motion carried.
CITIZEN’S
COMMENTS: None
PETITIONS,
REQUESTS AND COMMUNICATIONS: State
Gambling Reports: Council
member Miller moved, seconded by Carrington, to accept the gambling report from
the American Legion. With three
voting in favor, one absent and Mayor Giese abstaining, motion carried.
Mayor
Giese moved, seconded by Council member Carrington, to accept the gambling
reports from the Met Lounge, West Central Trailblazers and Morris Eagles. Motion carried.
Application
for Exempt Permit: Council
member Storck moved, seconded by Miller, to approve the application for exempt
permit from Stevens County Pheasants Forever for a raffle to be held on August
12, 2007. Motion carried.
Community
Education Information: Mayor
Giese moved, seconded by Council member Carrington, to accept the information
from community ed. Motion carried.
SCMC
Administrative Report: Council
member Miller moved, seconded by Storck, to accept the May administrative
report from SCMC. Motion carried.
HRA
Meeting Minutes: Council
member Carrington moved, seconded by Mayor Giese, to accept the 5/22/07 HRA
meeting minutes. Motion carried.
ORDINANCES
AND RESOLUTIONS: Ordinance
Repealing Ordinance No. 60, 3rd Series: Larson stated this ordinance was
adopted in May of 2005 for the purpose of conveying real property in the
Industrial Park to John Case-Minners.
A down payment of $100 was made to secure the option. Larson explained the transaction was
never completed and in order to clear up any confusion on a future sale, the
ordinance should be repealed.
Larson
noted this land is accessible off highway 59 but does not have sewer or
water. Miller questioned who owned
the lot East of Paul’s Paint & Repair. Michael Haynes stated it was the Morris Community Industrial
Development Corporation.
Council
member Miller moved, seconded by Storck, to accept this as the first reading of
Ordinance No. 76, An Ordinance Repealing Ordinance No. 60, An Ordinance
Conveying Real Property, and set the public hearing and second reading for 5:25
p.m. on July 10, 2007. Voting was
as follows:
Council
member Webster absent
Council
member Carrington aye
Council
member Storck aye
Council
member Miller aye
Mayor
Giese aye
With all present
voting in favor, motion carried.
Resolution
in Support of a 2007 Special Legislative Session to Consider the Omnibus Tax
Bill: Larson stated this
resolution includes items that would affect the city such as local government
aid, homestead property tax refunds and tuition deductions. Giese stated he felt it was timely and
that the council should act in favor of it.
Council
member Miller moved, seconded by Mayor Giese, to adopt Resolution #2727-6-07,
Resolution in Support of a 2007 Special Legislative Session to Consider the
Omnibus Tax Bill. Voting was as
follows:
Council
member Miller aye
Council
member Storck aye
Council
member Carrington aye
Council
member Webster absent
Mayor
Giese aye
With all
present voting in favor, motion carried.
Resolution
Adopting the MN General Records Retention Schedule: Larson indicated this is part of the
Data Practices Act. Larson noted
there is a large set of paper that goes with this and is available for review at
City Hall.
Council
member Storck moved, seconded by Carrington, to adopt Resolution #2728-6-07,
Resolution Adopting the Minnesota General Records Retention Schedule for
Cities. Voting was as follows:
Council
member Storck aye
Council
member Miller aye
Council
member Webster absent
Council
member Carrington aye
Mayor
Giese aye
With all
present voting in favor, motion carried.
CITY
MANAGER’S REPORTS & RECOMMENDATIONS: 5/15/07 Planning Commission Minutes: Mayor Giese moved, seconded by Council
member Miller, to accept the 5/15/07 planning commission minutes. Motion carried.
Delinquent
Water Bill List: The following
list of delinquent water bills was presented to the council:
Richard
Gimberlin 411
Pacific Avenue $84.94
Brian
Moser 101
West 4th Street 118.02
Janette
Brown 310
West 4th Street 85.98
Paul
Pederson 511
Wyoming Avenue 101.21
Mariam
Frenier 510
Nevada Avenue 90.42
Mariam
Frenier 115
West 6th Street 107.17
The
Body Shop 107
West 6th Street 122.06
Scott
Heins 208
West 6th Street 184.25
LeAnn
Love 400
West 6th Street 125.03
Brian
Werth 508
West 6th Street 109.54
Ferolyn
Angell 705
Lyndale Avenue 287.85
Tim
Bartram 708
Lyndale Avenue 134.97
Eric
Bungarden 707
Pacific Avenue 88.69
Jamie
Swenson 400
West 7th Street 114.30
Marty
Pelkey 311
West 9th Street 126.57
Anna
Crummie 817
Pacific Avenue 161.55
Mark
Foss 310
West 9th Street 94.10
Christopher
Butler 1007
Idaho Avenue 117.69
Nathan/Ray
Suess 506
West 8th Street 101.48
Christian
Fromm 11
Westwood Acres 106.88
Kelly
Ramthun 1131
Park Avenue 223.38
Melberg
Morris Floral 116
Atlantic Avenue 27.73
Helen’s
Fabric 1001
Atlantic Avenue 30.81
Council member Miller moved,
seconded by Storck, to follow the usual procedure of turning off the water at
the above locations until the bill has been paid. Motion carried.
Joint Powers Meeting with School
Board on Community Education:
Mayor Giese moved, seconded by Council member Miller, to schedule a
joint powers meeting with the school board for 4:45 p.m. on Tuesday, July 24th
in the council chambers. Motion
carried.
Appointment to Human Rights
Commission: Mayor Giese moved,
seconded by Council member Carrington, to appoint Ida Stewart to the Human
Rights Commission. Motion carried.
NEW BUSINESS: Schedule Worksession: Mayor Giese moved, seconded by Council
member Miller, to schedule worksessions for the city manager search committee
for July 5th and July 12th at 5:00 p.m. at City Hall. Motion carried.
OLD
BUSINESS: Aaron Carlson
Woodworking: City Manager
Larson indicated this item was tabled at the last meeting and brought back
tonight for a decision to bring the matter to closure.
Council
member Storck stated he wasn’t at the last meeting but asked why they couldn’t
go to the bank and get a loan to pay this back. Storck asked how the council would explain this to people on
the street if they didn’t pay it back.
Council
member Miller stated he feels the loan is due, as there was a commitment on
their part to pay it back after not meeting the conditions of the loan. Miller suggested the council send
notice to Aaron Carlson that they haven’t fulfilled their obligation. Miller stated he has no problem with
the tax abatement and suggested that continue for the remainder of the
term.
Council
member Carrington stated he would like to see the city discontinue with the
abatements and not require repayment of the remainder of the loan, for a loss
to the city of $12,000 odd dollars.
Carrington indicated he feels they are trying and doesn’t want to make
them mad. Carrington noted it may
be that they could easily move this business to the cities.
Mayor
Giese stated the council does not want to come across as anti-business. Giese noted the grant money brought
$100,000 to the city that was able to be lent out again and again to help other
businesses, which was certainly a benefit to the city. Giese stated he can see both sides of
the issue.
City
Manager Larson indicated he talked with Diane Horner after the last council
meeting and she is concerned with the 30 day requirement to cure the
default. Larson indicated Finance
Director Krosschell would be calling Diane Horner in the morning with the
council’s decision.
Council
member Storck stated he would have to agree with Miller’s suggestion.
Council
member Miller moved, seconded by Storck, to proceed with collecting the money
due on the loan and to continue the tax abatements for the remainder of the
agreement. Furthermore,
installments of the loan are to be paid in full by the end of the year. Voting was as follows:
Council
member Carrington nay
Council
member Webster absent
Council
member Miller aye
Council
member Storck aye
Mayor
Giese aye
With three
voting in favor, one voting against and one absent, motion carried.
Update
on Equipment Recommendation for Broadcast of City Council Meetings: Larson recommended the council include
the costs for this equipment in the proposed budget for next year and see where
it falls on the list of priorities.
Mayor
Giese moved, seconded by Council member Miller, to figure $3,500 into the Mayor
and City Council budget for 2008 for broadcasting equipment. Motion carried.
INFORMATIONAL
ITEMS: Revenue &
Expenditure Report: This was
informational for the council.
Worksession
Minutes: Council member Miller
moved, seconded by Carrington, to approve the 6/14/07 worksession minutes. Motion carried.
Words
of Thanks: Mayor Giese thanked
City Manager Larson for his years of service to the city.
ADJOURNMENT: There being no further business, Mayor
Giese adjourned the meeting at 5:50 p.m.
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