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MINUTES-MORRIS
CITY COUNCIL–REGULAR MEETING–SEPTEMBER 11, 2007
The
regular meeting of the Morris City Council was called to order at 5:15 p.m.
this 11th day of September, 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, Webster, Miller, Storck and Mayor Giese. Also present was City Manager Hill,
Finance Director Krosschell, City Engineer/Surveyor/Inspector Fier, Public
Works Director Dittbenner, Fleet Manager Searle and City Attorney Glasrud.
READING
AND APPROVAL OF MINUTES: 8/28/07
Regular Meeting Minutes:
Council member Webster moved, seconded by Carrington, to approve the 8/28/07
regular meeting minutes. Motion
carried.
8/28/07
Condensed Version: Council
member Miller moved, seconded by Mayor Giese, to approve the 8/28/07 condensed
version minutes. Motion carried.
AUDIT
OF CITY BILLS: Council member Webster
moved, seconded by Miller, to authorize payment of the City bills dated September
11, 2007. Motion carried.
Pay
Estimate #10 – West 4th & 8th Streets: Council member Storck moved, seconded
by Council member Webster, to authorize pay estimate #10 in the amount of $49,564.96
to Riley Bros. Construction for work on West 4th and 8th
Streets and Alley Main Trunk Sewer.
Motion carried.
Pay
Estimate #4 – West 6th and Lyndale: Council member Carrington moved, seconded by Miller, to
authorize pay estimate #4 in the amount of $160,031.75 to Riley Bros.
Construction for work on West 6th Street and Lyndale Avenue. Motion
carried.
CITIZEN’S
COMMENTS: Introduction of
New Police Officer: Police
Chief Beauregard introduced the new police officer, Reginald Welle, and the
Mayor swore him in. Also present
at the meeting were Officers Reed and Koski, Secretary Herding and Administrative
Assistant Bruns. Beauregard
commended Reed, Herding and Bruns for all their hard work during the murder
trial that was just completed.
Beauregard also acknowledged all the hard work Officer Koski has done on
the Safe & Sober campaign.
Pam
Lindahl – Freedom to Breathe Act:
Lindahl was present at the meeting and reviewed the law structure and
other items with regard to the Freedom to Breathe Act, which takes effect
October 1st. This Act
prohibits smoking in public places, public meetings, places of employment and
in public transportation. Lindahl
noted this is strictly an indoor policy and all complaints should be directed
to Public Health.
PETITIONS,
REQUESTS AND COMMUNICATIONS: HRC
Meeting Minutes: Council
member Carrington moved, seconded by Webster, to accept the 8/15/07 HRC meeting
minutes. Motion carried.
MINUTES-MORRIS
CITY COUNCIL–REGULAR MEETING–SEPTEMBER 11, 2007
Application
for Exempt Permit: Council
member Miller moved, seconded by Storck, to approve the application for exempt
permit from the Morris Area Sports Boosters for a raffle to be held on
September 21, 2007. Motion
carried.
ORDINANCES
AND RESOLUTIONS: Public
Hearing and Resolution Giving Preliminary Approval to a Project by St. Francis
Health Services and Resolution Approving the Issuance and Sale of a Revenue
Note for SFHS: Mayor Giese
opened the public hearing at 5:41 p.m.
Steve Fenlon of Midwest Healthcare Capital was present at the
meeting. Fenlon stated the note
for this financing is with Bremer and it is crucial that it be issued as bank
qualified. Fenlon noted there is
$4.8 million available in Morris and the city of Buhl would be issuing the
balance of the note. Fenlon stated
there is no obligation, either moral or legal, for the city to repay a single
cent.
There
being no other comments from the public, Mayor Giese closed the public hearing
at 5:45 p.m. and brought the matter back to the council for action.
Council
member Storck moved, seconded by Miller, to adopt Resolution #2729-9-07,
Resolution Giving Preliminary Approval to a Project for St. Francis Health
Services under M.S. Sections 469.152 Through 469.165 and Referring the Proposal
to DEED for Approval. Voting was
as follows:
Council
member Carrington aye
Council
member Webster abstain
Council
member Miller aye
Council
member Storck aye
Mayor
Giese aye
With four
voting in favor and one abstaining, motion carried.
Mayor
Giese moved, seconded by Council member Carrington, to adopt Resolution
#2730-9-07, Resolution Approving the Issuance and Sale of a Health Care
Facilities Revenue Note, Series 2007, St. Francis Health Services. Voting was as follows:
Council
member Webster abstain
Council
member Carrington aye
Council
member Storck aye
Council
member Miller aye
Mayor
Giese aye
With four
voting in favor and one abstaining, motion carried.
Preliminary
Levy and Budget Transmittal: Hill
stated the preliminary levy for collection in 2008 is 20% higher at
$1,354,639. The preliminary budget
is $7,677,282 over 2007, which is an increase of 8.1%.
With
regard to the truth in taxation meeting, Hill recommended that the hearing be
held as part of the regular council meeting on December 11th. Hill also suggested the second meeting
in December be changed to the 20th instead of the 25th. If needed, a continuation of the truth
in taxation hearing could be held on this date.
MINUTES-MORRIS
CITY COUNCIL–REGULAR MEETING–SEPTEMBER 11, 2007
Preliminary
Levy and Budget Transmittal: (continued)
Council
member Storck moved, seconded by Webster, to adopt Resolution #2731-9-07,
Resolution Accepting the Proposed 2008 Budget for the City of Morris. Voting was as follows:
Council
member Miller aye
Council
member Storck aye
Council
member Carrington aye
Council
member Webster aye
Mayor
Giese aye
With all
voting in favor, motion carried.
Council
member Miller moved, seconded by Mayor Giese, to adopt Resolution #2732-9-07,
Resolution Approving Proposed 2007 Tax Levy, Collectible in 2008. Voting was as follows:
Council
member Storck aye
Council
member Miller aye
Council
member Webster aye
Council
member Carrington aye
Mayor
Giese aye
With all
voting in favor, motion carried.
Council
member Webster moved, seconded by Carrington, to adopt Resolution #2733-9-07,
Resolution Setting Time and Date for Truth in Taxation Public Hearing, setting
the hearing for Tuesday, December 11, 2007. Voting was as follows:
Council
member Carrington aye
Council
member Webster aye
Council
member Miller aye
Council
member Storck aye
Mayor
Giese aye
With all
voting in favor, motion carried.
Mayor
Giese moved, seconded by Council member Webster, to change the date for the
second meeting in December from the 25th to the 20th. Motion carried.
Resolution
Authorizing Execution of Agreement:
This resolution authorizes entering into an agreement with the MN
Department of Public Safety for a $1,500 grant the city received to purchase a
defibrillator.
Mayor
Giese moved, seconded by Council member Storck, to adopt Resolution #2734-9-07,
Resolution Authorizing Execution of Agreement. Voting was as follows:
Council
member Webster aye
Council
member Carrington aye
Council
member Storck aye
Council
member Miller aye
Mayor
Giese aye
With all
voting in favor, motion carried.
MINUTES-MORRIS
CITY COUNCIL–REGULAR MEETING–SEPTEMBER 11, 2007
Resolution
Authorizing Entering Into an Agreement: This resolution would allow the city to enter into an
agreement with the BNSF Railway Company and the Commissioner of Transportation
for railroad signals and gates at the Industrial Boulevard crossing. The total cost of the project is $221,708,
with the state paying $199,537.20 and the city share being $22,170.80.
Council
member Storck asked about the agreement from a few years back with the
railroad, that if the city participated in this project the railroad wouldn’t
close the 6th Street crossing.
Council member Miller asked about the status of the arms and lights for
the crossing on Hwy 28. Storck
also suggested something be done with the wobbly boards at the crossing in
Industrial Park. City Manager Hill
stated he would check on these questions.
Council
member Miller moved, seconded by Webster, to adopt Resolution #2736-9-07,
Resolution Authorizing Entering Into an Agreement with the BNSF Railway Company
and the Commissioner of Transportation.
Voting was as follows:
Council
member Miller aye
Council
member Storck aye
Council
member Carrington aye
Council
member Webster aye
Mayor
Giese aye
With all
voting in favor, motion carried.
CITY
MANAGER’S REPORTS & RECOMMENDATIONS: Aaron Carlson Loan Forgiveness Request: Hill recommended to the council that
the loans to Aaron Carlson and the Historical Museum remain the way they are,
which is that they are to be paid back.
Hill indicated he would draft a letter to Aaron Carlson to that
effect.
Old
Baseball Field Light: Hill
recommended to the council that he be authorized to advertise the lights and
towers for sale. Dittbenner
indicated the new lights are being put in. Hill suggested whoever gets the bid be required to haul them
away in a timely manner.
Council
member Storck moved, seconded by Miller, to authorize the City Manager to
advertise the tower and lights for sale.
Motion carried.
Update
on Order to Repair: This is
related to property owned by Dale Ritter at 404 East 7th. Hill indicated the property has been
roofed and the owner is finishing up the painting of the exterior.
Update
on Wood Burner: Hill stated
the Planning Commission has this item on their agenda and they are possibly
looking at an ordinance that would deal with wood burners. Hill noted he would keep the council
updated on this matter.
MINUTES-MORRIS
CITY COUNCIL–REGULAR MEETING–SEPTEMBER 11, 2007
Miscellaneous
City Manager: Hill informed
the council that the city would be doing smoke testing, beginning on September
17th. Dittbenner noted
Infratech is the name of the company doing the testing.
Hill
stated the beacon at the airport went out and will cost $7,200 to replace. Hill indicated there is a grant
available from the state at a 70/30 split. Hill noted that because of the emergency nature of the
project the state indicated they would expedite the paperwork.
Hill suggested
the council have a worksession with regard to the request from Paul Bankord for
the city to take a look at their special assessment policy. Miller indicated there was also a
couple that owned property on West 5th Street that wanted to be
involved in that discussion. Fier
stated the city needs to sort out the numbers and find something everyone can
live with and that the city can justify.
Hill noted the city owes Bankord an explanation no matter what they
decide.
Hill
indicated he reinstituted staff luncheons on Thursdays at 11:30. Hill noted he has also asked that all
department heads attend council meetings.
Mayor
Giese moved, seconded by Council member Webster, to start having budget
worksessions after the council meetings, beginning on October 9th. Motion carried.
INFORMATIONAL
ITEMS: August Transit
Report: This was
informational.
8/28/07
Worksession Minutes: Hill
indicated the city needs to take care of the bills from the museum for the
elevator and the bat problem. Hill
noted he would be getting together again with Voorhees to see where things are at. Hill stated he would like to see the
city deal with the museum on a contribution level and he would be discussing
this more in detail during budget time.
Mayor
Giese moved, seconded by Council member Webster, to approve the 8/28/07
worksession minutes. Motion
carried.
Building
Permit List: This was
informational.
ADJOURNMENT: There being no further business, Mayor
Giese adjourned the meeting at 6:30 p.m.
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