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MINUTES–MORRIS
CITY COUNCIL–REGULAR MEETING–DECEMBER 11, 2007
The
regular meeting of the Morris City Council was called to order at 5:15 p.m.
this 11th day of December, 2007, by Mayor Giese in the Council
Chambers of the Morris Senior Citizens/Community Center.
PLEDGE
OF ALLEGIANCE: The Pledge of
Allegiance was recited.
CALL OF
THE ROLL: Roll call was taken
with the following members present:
Council member Carrington, Webster, Miller and Mayor Giese. Council member Storck was absent. Also present was City Manager Hill,
Finance Director Krosschell, Public Works Director Dittbenner, City Attorney
Glasrud, City Engineer/Surveyor/Inspector Fier and Fleet Manager Searle.
READING
AND APPROVAL OF MINUTES: 11/27/07
Regular Meeting Minutes:
Council member Carrington moved, seconded by Webster, to approve the
11/27/07 regular city council meeting minutes. Motion carried.
11/27/07
Condensed Version: Council
member Webster moved, seconded by Council member Miller, to approve the
11/27/07 condensed version minutes.
Motion carried.
AUDIT
OF CITY BILLS: Council member
Miller moved, seconded by Carrington, to authorize payment of the City bills
dated December 11, 2007. Motion
carried.
CITIZEN’S
COMMENTS: None
PETITIONS,
REQUESTS AND COMMUNICATIONS: HRC
Minutes, 11/14/07: Council
member Carrington moved, seconded by Webster, to accept the 11/14/07 HRC
minutes. Motion carried.
Raffle
License Report: Mayor Giese
moved, seconded by Council member Miller, to accept the raffle license report
from Habitat for Humanity. Motion
carried.
ORDINANCES
AND RESOLUTIONS: Resolution
Approving a Lease Agreement with the Stevens County Historical Society: Hill indicated he originally
recommended the lease be redone to establish a funding amount for the
Historical Society, but in the end determined it would be difficult to split
out costs and come up with a standard amount. The lease with the Historical Society would be for five
years.
Council
member Webster moved, seconded by Carrington, to adopt Resolution #2755-12-07,
Resolution Approving a Lease Agreement with the Stevens County Historical
Society for the Museum. Motion
carried unanimously by all present.
Resolution
Approving a Dispatching Services Agreement with Stevens County: City Manager Hill explained the new
agreement with the county reduces the city’s share from 50% to 25% over a five
year period in 5% increments starting in 2008. This results in a savings of $15,000 for next year.
Resolution
Approving a Dispatching Services Agreement with Stevens County: (continued)
Council
member Miller moved, seconded by Webster, to adopt Resolution #2756-12-07,
Resolution Approving a Dispatching Services Agreement with Stevens County. Motion carried unanimously by all
present.
Resolution
Authorizing Application to the Community Roadside Landscaping Partnership
Program: City Engineer Fier
stated this is the second phase of the project which will provide $15,000 to
continue planting trees from the Armory to the bypass. Fier indicated the group plans to plant
in the fall of next year.
Council
member Webster moved, seconded by Mayor Giese, to adopt Resolution #2757-12-07,
Resolution Authorizing Application to the Community Roadside Landscaping
Partnership Program. Motion
carried unanimously by all present.
TRUTH
IN TAXATION HEARING: Mayor
Giese called to order the truth in taxation hearing at 5:27 p.m. City Manager Hill reviewed the
following items as part of the hearing:
a 2007 levy comparison, revenue and expense considerations, 2008 budget
comparison, general fund detail, capital outlay and improvements, TIF district
funds and debt service funds.
There were three citizens present for the hearing.
Jerry
Heltemes stated since they have been annexed to the city they receive no
services to speak of. Heltemes
asked if the money they pay in city taxes could be set side in an escrow
account and reserved to apply to the costs of sewer and water when the city
makes that available. Hill
explained that it would go into the pool of city money and there would not be
enough generated to do anything with the sewer and water. Hill noted newly annexed areas
receive services of the Fire Department, the Police Department, a maintenance
department and a utility system that will eventually provide water and sanitary
sewer. Hill stated many of the
newer subdivisions have private roads so the city doesn’t maintain those.
There
being no further comments, the truth in taxation hearing was concluded.
ORDINANCES
AND RESOLUTIONS:
(continued) Resolution
Authorizing Entering Into a Master Partnership Contract with MN DOT: Jeff Kuhn of WSN was present at the
meeting and stated this contract makes sure money spent in the district get
back to the district, rather than going to the central office.
Mayor
Giese moved, seconded by Council member Miller, to adopt Resolution
#2758-12-07, Resolution Authorizing Entering Into a Master Partnership Contract
with MN DOT. Motion carried
unanimously by all present.
Resolution
Approving a Policy for Delinquent Water Bills: Hill explained this resolution would change the policy to
give delinquent customers five days from when the delinquent notice is sent to
pay the delinquent bill and penalty.
If it is not paid, the service will be suspended and a $30 reconnection
fee charged.
Council
member Miller moved, seconded by Carrington, to adopt Resolution #2759-12-07,
Resolution Approving a Policy for Delinquent Water Bills. Motion carried unanimously by all
present.
Resolution
Receiving Report and Calling for Assessment Hearing – Oregon & College
Avenue: Fier indicated the
council needs to decide if they want to proceed with this project based on the
preliminary estimate and if the assessment hearing would be held at the
beginning or the end of the project.
Fier stated the city would go to bids this winter. Fier noted one thing that is different
with this project is a storm sewer district.
Miller
asked about the status of the problems on West 4th and 5th
and the project for Highland Homes Addition. Hill noted that has been bumped up to 2009. Dittbenner indicated they have a SCADA
system and a policy for callouts and pumps in place that should help to
eliminate those problems.
Webster
indicated he would like the opportunity to participate in the discussions about
the downtown area. Jeff Kuhn
pointed out there is no state aid available for this project.
Council
member Webster moved, seconded by Miller, to adopt Resolution #2760-12-07,
Resolution Receiving Report and Calling for Public Assessment Hearing on
Improvements for Oregon Avenue and College Avenue Area. Motion carried unanimously by all
present.
Labor
Agreements and Resolution Adding to & Amending Employee Handbook: Hill noted all unions agreed to a three
year contract. Hill stated the
health insurance contribution was increased to $740 for the coming year, along
with a 3% increase in wages. The
handbook was amended to reflect the same changes for the non union employees.
Council
member Miller moved, seconded by Webster, to adopt Resolution #2761-12-07,
Resolution Adding To & Amending Employee Handbook. Motion carried unanimously by all
present.
Mayor
Giese moved, seconded by Council member Carrington, to adopt Resolution
#2762-12-07, Resolution Accepting an Agreement Between the City of Morris and
Law Enforcement Labor Services.
Motion carried unanimously by all present.
Council
member Carrington moved, seconded by Webster, to adopt Resolution #2763-12-07,
Resolution Accepting an Agreement Between the City of Morris and AFSCME, Local
2022 (Public Works/Utilities).
Motion carried unanimously by all present.
Council
member Webster moved, seconded by Miller, to adopt Resolution #2764-12-07,
Resolution Accepting an Agreement Between the City of Morris and AFSCME, Local
2022 (General Unit). Motion
carried unanimously by all present.
Resolution Approving Renewal of Gambling License
– Morris Eagles: Council
member Miller moved, seconded by Carrington, to adopt Resolution #2765-12-07,
Resolution Approving Renewal of Gambling License for Morris Eagles. Motion carried unanimously by all
present.
CITY
MANAGER’S REPORTS & RECOMMENDATIONS: City Manager Report: Hill recommended the council have a worksession after the
first meeting in January to discuss the condition of the roads and the capital
improvement plan. This was
informational for the council.
2008
Licenses: Mayor Giese moved,
seconded by Council member Miller, to approve the 2008 licenses submitted for
renewal, except for the American Legion. Motion carried unanimously by all present.
Council
member Webster moved, seconded by Carrington, to approve the 2008 licenses for
the American Legion. With three
voting in favor, one absent and Mayor Giese abstaining as an officer of the
Legion, motion carried.
Authorization
to Close Early on Christmas Eve:
Council member Miller moved, seconded by Webster, to allow city offices
to close at noon on Christmas Eve.
Motion carried unanimously.
NEW
BUSINESS: None
OLD
BUSINESS: None
INFORMATIONAL
ITEMS: November Transit
Report: This was informational
for the council.
Building
Permit List: This was
informational for the council.
ADJOURNMENT: There being no further business, Mayor
Giese adjourned the meeting at 6:40 p.m.
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