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MINUTES–MORRIS
CITY COUNCIL–REGULAR MEETING–MARCH 11, 2008
The
regular meeting of the Morris City Council was called to order at 5:15 p.m.
this 11th day of March, 2008, 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, Storck and Mayor Giese. Also present was City Manager Hill, Finance
Director Krosschell, Public Works Director Dittbenner, Assistant City Attorney Economou,
Fleet Manager Searle and Police Chief Beauregard.
READING
AND APPROVAL OF MINUTES: 2/26/08
Regular Meeting Minutes: Council
member Webster noted his motion for the Resolution Approving Plans and
Specifications and Ordering Bids should have included a stipulation that a bid
also be obtained for street lights in the downtown area. Council member Miller moved, seconded
by Storck, to approve the 2/26/08 regular city council meeting minutes with
this change. Motion carried.
2/26/08
Condensed Version: Council
member Carrington moved, seconded by Webster, to approve the 2/26/08 condensed
version minutes with the above mentioned change. Motion carried.
AUDIT
OF CITY BILLS: Council member Webster
moved, seconded by Mayor Giese, to authorize payment of the City bills dated March
11, 2008. Motion carried.
CITIZEN’S
COMMENTS: None
PETITIONS,
REQUESTS AND COMMUNICATIONS: None
ORDINANCES
AND RESOLUTIONS: Resolution
to Return Excess Tax Increments:
Hill explained these districts were formed for a single purpose and
there is no new money that can be spent in these districts. Krosschell noted the money is then
redistributed to the participating entities, which helps keep the levies down
for everybody. The districts
included in this resolution are Garden Lots ($17,000), SOS ($31,000), Super
Valu ($94,000) and Denco ($16,000).
Council
member Webster moved, seconded by Miller, to adopt Resolution #2788-3-08,
Resolution to Return Excess Tax Increments. Upon a roll call vote taken and all voting in favor, motion
carried.
Public
Hearing and 2nd Reading of Ordinance No. 78, An Ordinance Conveying
Real Property: Mayor Giese
opened the public hearing at 5:26 p.m.
City Manager Hill stated the city conveyed some land to Timothy and
Darla Loher but the description on the deed needed to be redone in order to
meet current standards. Economou
noted the publication costs should be paid by the buyer.
There
being no comments from the public, Mayor Giese closed the public hearing at
5:27 p.m. and brought the matter back to the council for action.
Council
member Miller moved, seconded by Storck, to accept this as the second reading
and adopt Ordinance No. 78, An Ordinance Conveying Real Property to Timothy and
Darla Loher. Upon a roll call vote
taken and all voting in favor, motion carried.
Resolution
Approving Premises Permit Application: Mayor Giese moved, seconded by Council member Carrington, to
adopt Resolution #2789-3-08, Resolution Approving Premises Permit Application
for the West Central Trailblazers.
Upon a roll call vote taken and all voting in favor, motion carried.
CITY
MANAGER’S REPORTS & RECOMMENDATIONS: Appraisal Value Opinion Letter: Hill recommended the city enter into an
agreement with Nagell Appraisal & Consulting for the Oregon/College Avenue
and Highland Homes area projects.
Hill explained the appraiser would give their opinion as to the value
increase of the project and its affect on property values. The costs would be included in the
costs to be assessed for the project.
Council
member Miller moved, seconded by Webster, to enter into an agreement with
Nagell Appraisal & Consulting for the Oregon/College Avenue and Highland
Homes area projects. Motion
carried.
Board
of Review Information: This
was a reminder to the council that there needs to be a quorum present at the
local Board of Review and that one of the board members present must have
attended the Local Board of Appeal & Equalization training sessions.
Assignment
of Lease: Hill noted this is
for the fuel storage tank at the airport.
The lease is being transferred from Midwest Equipment of Morris to SI
Air, LLC.
Council
member Webster moved, seconded by Storck, to accept and approve this assignment
of lease. Motion carried.
Intergovernmental
Building Official Service Agreement:
Hill indicated this agreement allows for the City of Benson to provide a
building official to the City of Morris two times a week. There is a provision that allows for a
90 day notice if either party wants to cancel the agreement. There was some discussion as
to how long the term of the agreement would be.
Council
member Webster moved, seconded by Miller, to approve the Intergovernmental
Building Official Service Agreement, setting the term from January to December
of 2008, renewable thereafter on a yearly basis. Motion carried.
Council
member Miller asked about an agreement with the City of Benson for fire
protection. Hill indicated they
are working on an agreement for utilities but noted something could be worked
out for fire protection as well.
Sale of
Transit Bus: Hill stated the
city received authorization from the state to go ahead and sell one of the old
transit buses. The next step is
for the council to authorize the sale as well.
Council
member Storck moved, seconded by Mayor Giese, to authorize the city to sell the
1997 Ford Eldorado Aerotech.
Motion carried.
City
Manager Report: The council
discussed the portion of the report with regard to the policy for late fees on
water bills. Hill indicated he
brought this to the attention of the council because he had a customer in his
office who wanted the late fee waived on her water bill because she was sick
and couldn’t make it in on time to pay.
Hill stated the ordinance sets the penalty, but it may give some leeway
to the city manager or staff to make adjustments. Hill noted it is very complicated to set up a method as to
who does or doesn’t get the late fee waived. Hill stated being sick probably isn’t a very valid
reason. Finance Director
Krosschell stated it wouldn’t be unreasonable for administration to have some
discretionary enforcement of the late fee.
Mayor
Giese asked if the elimination of the delinquent water bill list has helped or
hindered the process. Hill
indicated he hasn’t received any complaints about that process. Hill noted it poses somewhat of a problem
in the wintertime trying to locate curb stops but city staff is not going back
and forth posting notices; customers either pay the bill or the service is shut
off.
Hill asked
if the penalty is waived if it would be a one time thing or a once a year
thing. Giese indicated this would
open the door and it would be nice to stand fast to what the ordinance
says. Giese noted customers always
have the opportunity to come before the council if they want to dispute the
late fee.
Council
member Storck moved, seconded by Mayor Giese, to leave the late fee policy in
place as it stands. Motion carried.
Hill noted
the downtown parking lot issues need to get taken care of to make downtown a
better place for parking.
Appointment
to HRA Board: Mayor Giese
moved, seconded by Council member Storck, to appoint Marion Anderson to the HRA
Board as the resident representative on the HRA Board. Motion carried.
Update
on Downtown Lighting: Hill
indicated a meeting was held to look at lighting for the downtown area. The meeting focused on lighting on East
5th, 6th and in front of the mall at the library. Hill stated WSN has been assigned to
look at the costs and bring something back to the city. Hill noted this would be a separate bid
item and cost would probably be the overriding issue.
NEW
BUSINESS: None
OLD
BUSINESS: None
INFORMATIONAL
ITEMS: February Transit
Report: This was informational
for the council.
MN
Transportation Funding Bill Information: This was informational for the council.
ADJOURNMENT: There being no further business, Mayor
Giese adjourned the meeting at 6:00 p.m.
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