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MINUTES–MORRIS
CITY COUNCIL–REGULAR MEETING–MARCH 25, 2008
The
regular meeting of the Morris City Council was called to order at 5:15 p.m.
this 25th 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, City Attorney Glasrud
and Fleet Manager Searle.
ADDITIONS
TO AGENDA: Mayor Giese added
an Eco Friendly Grant and Sale of Property to the agenda under City Manager’s
Reports.
READING
AND APPROVAL OF MINUTES: 3/11/08 Regular Meeting Minutes: Council member Webster moved, seconded
by Storck, to approve the 3/11/08 regular city council meeting minutes. Motion carried.
3/11/08
Condensed Version: Council
member Carrington moved, seconded by Miller, to approve the 3/11/08 condensed
version minutes. Motion carried.
AUDIT
OF CITY BILLS: Council member Storck
moved, seconded by Mayor Giese, to authorize payment of the City bills dated March
25, 2008. Motion carried.
CITIZEN’S
COMMENTS: None
PETITIONS,
REQUESTS AND COMMUNICATIONS: SCMC
Administrative Report: Mayor
Giese moved, seconded by Council member Webster, to accept the February
administrative report from SCMC.
Motion carried.
Gambling
Reports: Council member Miller
moved, seconded by Carrington, to accept the gambling reports from the Met
Lounge, Morris Eagles and West Central Trailblazers. Motion carried.
Council
member Storck moved, seconded by Carrington, to accept the gambling report from
the American Legion. With four
voting in favor and Mayor Giese abstaining, motion carried.
HRC
Minutes: Mayor Giese moved,
seconded by Council member Webster, to accept the 3/5/08 HRC meeting
minutes. Motion carried.
ORDINANCES
AND RESOLUTIONS: None
CITY
MANAGER’S REPORTS & RECOMMENDATIONS: Recommendation to Increase Camping Fees: The Park Board has discussed a camping
fee increase for Pomme de Terre Park.
Webster noted the Park Board felt that with the improvements such as the
spray park and the Frisbee golf course the increase would be justified.
The
proposed fees are $12.00 per day for non hook-up, $18.00 per day with
electrical hook-up, weekly rates would be $65.00 for non hook-up and $90.00 for
hook-up.
Council
member Webster moved, seconded by Storck, to accept the recommended fee increase
from the Park Board for camping at PDT Park. Motion carried.
Morris
Community Church Request: Hill
explained the Morris Community Church is interested in buying the old UBC
lumber yard property. This area is
currently zoned Heavy Industrial, and a church is not allowed, nor is it
permitted as a conditional use.
Hill stated if this use were to be allowed the zoning for heavy
industrial would need to be adjusted.
The process can be started either by a petition from the property owner,
a petition by the Planning Commission or by the City Council.
The Morris
Community Church plans to use the main building for a church and the parking
lot across the street could be used for other downtown parking when church is
not being held. They also plan to
tear down the old run down accessory buildings.
City
Attorney Glasrud stated putting a heavy industrial zone in a residential
neighborhood may annoy or disturb residents, but to put a church in a heavy
industrial zone is not going to disturb industry. Glasrud noted just because a church is missing from the allowed
uses, doesn’t mean it isn’t a good use for the property.
Council
member Miller stated if there is industry coming in they would probably be
interested in a bigger area, such as the Industrial Park. It was the consensus of the council
that if someone was willing to purchase the property and try and clean up the
area it would be good for the city.
Hill
explained the process to make this change is quite lengthy. The matter would have to go before the
Planning Commission and then back to the City Council for a first and second
reading of an ordinance. Once that
has been done, the church would then have to apply back to the Planning
Commission for a conditional use permit.
Council
member Storck moved, seconded by Webster, to begin the process to allow for
churches as a conditional use in a Heavy Industrial zone. Upon a roll call vote taken and all
voting in favor, motion carried.
Downtown
Lighting: Jeff Kuhn of WSN was
present at the meeting and showed the council a graphical layout of the
proposed lighting for the downtown area.
Kuhn stated there are roughly 40 additional lights in the plan at an
estimate of $2,500 per pole. The
estimated cost is $200,000 for 40 lights.
Kuhn noted the wiring is a substantial part of the cost. Kuhn indicated the lights would be dark
sky compliant.
City
Manager Hill indicated it is an expensive project, but if the council ever
wanted to do it, now is the time because it is a lot cheaper when things are
already torn up. Hill noted the
city may be tight with the numbers in meeting the criteria for the special
assessment bond. Hill noted, at
the same time, there would probably never be a better interest rate. Kuhn suggested just doing lights along
6th Street, or putting the wiring in and having pavers to cover them
up for now until there is money to complete the project. Hill stated he is not in favor of doing
it halfway, and he is also not in favor of asking for donations for what
typically is a city project. Hill
pointed out it is a tough time for city finances, but if it could be part of
the money borrowed that is the way to do it. Property owners would not be assessed for the lights.
Council
member Webster stated he would hate to see the city be fiscally irresponsible,
but the timing is right and this is one way the city can compete. Hill noted in front of the library
would be a good place for lights.
Giese suggested just concentrating on East 6th Street. Council member Carrington stated he
would like to see the whole project done, but at least lights along 6th
Street. Council members Storck and
Miller indicated they felt it was too much money to be spent on lighting.
Fleet
Manager Searle reminded the council that there would be maintenance costs down
the road as well with light bulbs, painting of poles, etc. Carrington suggested going forward with
the whole project, but trying to pare down the spacing of the lights. Miller suggested checking with Otter
Tail Power to see if there is something more decorative that they could
offer.
Considerable
discussion was held on the lighting issue. The consensus of the council was that the back side of some
of the buildings wasn’t worth decorating with lights.
Council
member Carrington moved, seconded by Webster, to order plans and specifications
to be drawn up for the downtown lighting project, as economically as
possible. Upon a roll call vote
taken and all voting in favor, motion carried.
Hill
stated the city would hopefully see a very good bid on the Oregon & College
Avenue project because contractors are hungry and interest rates are low. If the project comes in under the
estimated bid there would be more room to add to this project.
City
Manager Report: Hill informed
the council that a meeting was held with UMM regarding the retaining wall at
the football field. The insurance
companies will be determining who was at fault. The city and UMM were in agreement that the wall needs to be
replaced.
Eco
Friendly Grant: The city has
been awarded funding in the amount of $23,750 for the Morris Eco-Friendly
Affordable Housing Demonstration Project.
Sale of
Property: Hill explained the
city has been contacted by Dan Schaefer about purchasing land in the Industrial
Park. Schaefer plans to start a
company dealing with the packaging and shipping of edible beans. Hill noted there is an additional
parcel of land in this area that Schaefer would like to purchase from the
Morris Industrial Development Corporation. The business in question is an allowable use in this area,
which is zoned Heavy Industrial.
Hill
indicated the parcel of land from the city is 15.62 acres and would be sold for
$2,750 per acre for a total of $42,955.
Hill stated part of the area is in a JOBZ zone and Michael Haynes is
working on JOBZ credits. Hill
noted that originally the land in question was given to the city by Otter Tail
Power, so proceeds from the sale of the land would be returned to them.
Mayor
Giese moved, seconded by Council member Miller, to accept this as the first
reading of Ordinance No. 79, An Ordinance Conveying Land in the Industrial Park,
and set the public hearing and second reading for 5:30 p.m. on April 8th. Motion carried.
INFORMATIONAL
ITEMS: Revenue & Expenditure
Report: 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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