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MINUTES
– MORRIS CITY COUNCIL – REGULAR MEETING – AUGUST 14, 2007
The
regular meeting of the Morris City Council was called to order at 5:15 p.m.
this 14th day of August, 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 members Carrington, Miller, Storck and Mayor Giese. Council member Webster was absent. Also present was Interim City Manager Krosschell and Incoming
City Manager Blaine Hill.
READING
AND APPROVAL OF MINUTES: 7/24/07
Regular Meeting Minutes:
Council member Storck moved, seconded by Miller, to approve the 7/24/07
regular meeting minutes. Motion
carried.
7/24/07
Condensed Version: Council
member Carrington moved, seconded by Mayor Giese, to approve the 7/24/07
condensed version minutes. Motion
carried.
AUDIT
OF CITY BILLS: Council member Miller
moved, seconded by Carrington, to authorize payment of the City bills dated
August 14, 2007. With Carrington,
Miller and Mayor Giese voting in favor and Council member Storck abstaining,
motion carried.
Pay
Estimate #9 – West 4th & 8th Streets: Mayor Giese moved, seconded by Council
member Miller, to authorize pay estimate #9 in the amount of $105,542.39 to
Riley Bros. Construction for work on West 4th and 8th
Streets and Alley Main Trunk Sewer.
Motion carried.
Pay
Estimate #3 – West 6th and Lyndale: Council member Storck moved, seconded by Miller, to authorize
pay estimate #3 in the amount of $241,366.50 to Riley Bros. Construction for
work on West 6th Street and Lyndale Avenue. Motion carried.
CITIZEN’S
COMMENTS: Pat Hein – West 4th
Street Bike Path: Pat Hein was
present at the meeting to remind the council that residents of West 4th
Street would like to have the bike path extended. Hein passed out a copy of the petition from residents that
was first presented to the council in June of 2005. Hein noted she was at a council meeting in June and there
was some talk that something would get done yet this summer, possibly gravel if
nothing else. Hein stated they are
tired of paying taxes and having nothing done on the west side. Hein indicated her grandson was almost
hit by a car while riding bike near her home. Hein requested that the item be put in the budget so it is
done by next spring. Hein stated
she does not know how to get through to the council that something needs to be
done.
Krosschell
stated after the July 10th council meeting he took the initiative
and contacted MN DOT regarding the bike path request. Krosschell reviewed MN DOT’s response which was that at this
time they see no need for an extension to the existing trail and they do not
see any likely connection to or for future expansion in this area.
Mayor
Giese noted that direct access to this path by residents would require them to
go through people’s yards. Giese
indicated this response from MN DOT may or may not make the issue die. Giese asked if part of West 4th
Street could be painted as a bike lane.
Hein stated the parking on the street is not what concerns her. Hein stated she feels someone is going
to get hurt or killed and then she will come back to the council to say I told you
so. Hein stated their neighborhood
is so friendly that there wouldn’t be any problems going through other people’s
lawns.
Storck
suggested the new city manager look into the cost and maybe put some gravel
down if nothing else. Storck
pointed out there are a lot of items that need money such as holes in the
streets and sewer back up issues.
Hein also
stated there are many cracks in the existing bike path. Hein stated she couldn’t say what the
people of West 4th Street would do if the council doesn’t do something
about this request.
Krosschell
noted he isn’t even sure if gravel would be allowed because there are MN DOT
standards that have to be met, including grades and handicap accessibility
issues. Storck asked about
obtaining the standards from MN DOT and Krosschell suggested that may be the
next step. Blaine Hill, the
incoming city manager, indicated he would talk with Hein next month.
HRC
Minutes, 7/18/07: Council
member Miller moved, seconded by Storck, to accept the 7/18/07 HRC
minutes. Motion carried.
Temporary
Liquor Application – Assumption Parish: Council member Carrington moved, seconded by Miller, to
approve the temporary liquor application for Assumption Parish for an event to
be held September 16, 2007. Motion
carried.
School
Reuse Committee Request: Sue
Dieter, chairperson of the elementary school reuse committee, was present at
the meeting. Dieter indicated the
committee has completed their planning phase and feels it is time to start
implementing their plans. Dieter
noted the committee is looking for a blessing from the council to continue
meeting with Dovetail Partners.
Dieter stated Dovetail is interested is helping with niche housing,
building green and working with local contractors.
Mayor
Giese asked if at some point in time Dovetail would no longer be doing this for
free. Sue Granger stated it is her
understanding that these kinds of services are provided to cities at no
charge. Granger noted they would
be watching for any costs associated with this and would not ring up a bill for
the city.
Council member
Miller moved, seconded by Storck, to authorize the elementary school reuse
committee to continue working with Dovetail Partners and explore opportunities
for the school reuse. Motion
carried.
ORDINANCES
AND RESOLUTIONS: Resolution
Calling for a Public Hearing on a Project by St. Francis Health Services: Steve Fenlon of Midwest Healthcare
Capital was present at the meeting to discuss conduit financing for St. Francis
Health Services. Fenlon stated St.
Francis is in the process of refinancing approximately $10 million of
outstanding indebtedness for properties in Morris and Duluth. Fenlon indicated the City of Morris has
$4.8 million in bank qualified funds left for 2007. Fenlon explained this is the only way for a non profit to
borrow at a tax exempt status and the city is not obligated in any way to repay
even one cent of the debt. Council
member Storck asked if this would affect the city’s bond rating. Krosschell stated it would not.
Mayor
Giese moved, seconded by Council member Storck, to adopt Resolution #2726-8-07,
Resolution Calling for a Public Hearing on a Project by St. Francis Health
Services, setting the public hearing for 5:15 p.m. on September 11, 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
Identifying “Slum and Blighting” Conditions: Krosschell noted this is something Nora Jost asked that the
council adopt for her grant records.
The property indicated in the resolution has been acquired, demolished
and will be donated to Habitat for Humanity.
Council
member Miller moved, seconded by Carrington, to adopt Resolution #2727-8-07,
Resolution Identifying “Slum and Blighting” Conditions. 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.
CITY
MANAGER’S REPORTS & RECOMMENDATIONS: Statement of Position: This was informational for the council.
NEW
BUSINESS: None
OLD
BUSINESS: Lease with
Historical Society: Krosschell
stated some clarification needs to be made with regard to utility costs. Krosschell noted the lease would also
be submitted to the Historical Society for their review.
Mayor
Giese moved, seconded by Council member Storck, to schedule a worksession with
the Historical Society at 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday, August 28th to go
through some points they have questions on.
Bike
Path Request: This item was
discussed earlier in the meeting.
Fire
Relief Association: Krosschell
stated there are two informational items from the relief association, one is an
excerpt from the 2006 audited financial statements and the second is the report
that calculates the required municipal contribution. Krosschell pointed out the state is saying the pension fund
is healthy enough that there is no required municipal contribution. Krosschell stated the city has been
making a contribution, but it is not mandatory. Miller noted after 9/11 they had a negative balance but
things have caught up and now they are sitting good.
Dissolution
of City Manager Search Committee:
Mayor Giese moved, seconded by Council member Storck, to dissolve the
city manager search committee and send a thank you letter to the committee
members. Motion carried.
Update
on West 5th Street Sanitary Sewer: Krosschell stated with regard to some questions that have
come up about West 5th Street, the utility department successfully
cleared a partial obstruction.
Krosschell indicated the obstruction was related to a manhole
replacement/removal and the use of cast iron pipe. Krosschell noted the Public Works Director and Utility
Department should be commended for resolving this problem. Council member Carrington asked if this
was part of the flooding problems.
Krosschell noted it was probably not a contributing factor, but more
work is continuing to be done on that issue. Council member Storck asked Krosschell to thank the guys for
doing a good job.
INFORMATIONAL
ITEMS: July Transit Report: This was informational for the council.
7/24/07
Worksession Minutes: Mayor
Giese moved, seconded by Council member Storck, to approve the 7/24/07
worksession minutes. Motion
carried.
State
Demographer Information: The
state demographer’s 2006 population estimate is 5,184.
Revenue
& Expenditure Report: This
was informational for the council.
Discussion: The council briefly discussed holding a
worksession with the new city manager and taking a tour of city
facilities.
ADJOURNMENT: There being no further business, Mayor
Giese adjourned the meeting at 6:20 p.m.
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