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MINUTES
– MORRIS CITY COUNCIL– REGULAR MEETING –
APRIL 8, 2008
The
regular meeting of the Morris City Council was called to order at 5:15 p.m.
this 8th day of April, 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, Fleet Manager Searle and
City Attorney Glasrud.
ADDITION
TO AGENDA: Mayor Giese added
to the agenda a Resolution Approving a Grant Agreement for the Safe & Sober
Campaign.
READING
AND APPROVAL OF MINUTES: 3/25/08
Regular Meeting Minutes:
Council member Storck moved, seconded by Webster, to approve the 3/25/08
regular city council meeting minutes with this change. Motion carried.
3/25/08
Condensed Version: Council
member Webster moved, seconded by Carrington, to approve the 3/25/08 condensed
version minutes. Motion carried.
AUDIT
OF CITY BILLS: Council member Storck
moved, seconded by Miller, to authorize payment of the City bills dated April 8,
2008. Motion carried.
CITIZEN’S
COMMENTS: Michael Haynes of
the SCEIC presented his quarterly report to the council.
PETITIONS,
REQUESTS AND COMMUNICATIONS: Raffle
License Reports: Mayor Giese
moved, seconded by Council member Webster, to accept the raffle license report
from the Federated Women’s Fellowship.
Motion carried.
Council
member Webster moved, seconded by Storck, to accept the raffle license report
from the MAHS 9th Grade.
Motion carried.
Application
for Exempt Permit – Morris Chamber:
Council member Storck moved, seconded by Webster, to approve the
application for exempt permit from the Morris Area Chamber of Commerce for a
raffle. Motion carried.
ORDINANCES
AND RESOLUTIONS: Resolution
Authorizing Entering Into a Mutual Aid Agreement with the City of Benson: City Manager Hill indicated this
resolution would allow for the cities of Morris and Benson to work together to
clean the sewers and use utility personnel and equipment from each City. This would be in place of the city
buying its own new sewer jetting truck.
Carrington asked if a new jetting truck was in the budget. Dittbenner noted it was in the budget
for around $80,000.
Council
member Webster moved, seconded by Miller, to adopt Resolution #2790-4-08,
Resolution Authorizing Entering Into a Mutual Aid Agreement with the City of
Benson. Upon a roll call vote
taken and all voting in favor, motion carried.
Public
Hearing and Second Reading of Ordinance No. 79, An Ordinance Conveying Land in Industrial
Park: Mayor Giese opened the
public hearing at 5:30 p.m. This
ordinance would convey land in the Industrial park to Bonanza Bean, LLC. Dan Schaefer, representing Bonanza
Bean, was present at the meeting.
Schaefer stated they plan to create three jobs in the first year. Schaefer indicated there will be some
silos, a single large building and a separate office building on the land in
question.
There
being no comments from the public, Mayor Giese closed the public hearing at
5:34 p.m.
Council
member Storck moved, seconded by Webster, to accept this as the second reading
and adopt Ordinance No. 79, An Ordinance Conveying Real Property in the
Industrial Park. Upon a roll call
vote taken, motion carried.
Resolution
Authorizing Modification of JOBZ Sub Zones: Michael Haynes of the SCEIC stated the necessary acreage to
apply for the JOBZ zone is not designated exactly where Bonanza Bean needs it. Haynes explained 4.06 acres needs to
taken from Lot 4 and moved into the land that Bonanza Bean is purchasing from
the MCIDC. The property that
Bonanza Bean is purchasing from the city is currently designated as JOBZ.
Michael
Haynes of the SCEIC, explained that during this current legislative session
there are attempts to get rid of or substantially change the JOBZ benefit. Haynes noted as of May 1st
things may be different, so they are going to try and get the development
agreement done prior to this date.
Council
member Storck moved, seconded by Mayor Giese, to adopt Resolution #2791-4-08,
Resolution Approving Modification of JOBZ Sub Zones. Upon a roll call vote taken and all voting in favor, motion
carried.
Resolution
Accepting Bid and Authorizing Contract: Hill stated six bids were received with the low bid coming
from Riley Brothers Construction at $1,689,896.95. The engineer’s estimate for the project was
$2,191,410.00.
Council
member Storck moved, seconded by Miller, to adopt Resolution #2792-4-08, Resolution
Accepting Bid and Authorizing Contract for the Oregon Avenue, College Avenue
and Circle Pines project. Upon a
roll call vote taken and all voting in favor, motion carried.
Resolution
Approving a Grant Agreement for the Safe & Sober May Mobilization: Council member Miller moved, seconded
by Webster, to adopt Resolution #2793-4-08, Resolution Approving a Grant
Agreement with the Minnesota Commissioner of Public Safety for the Safe &
Sober May Mobilization. Upon a
roll call vote taken and all voting in favor, motion carried.
CITY
MANAGER’S REPORTS & RECOMMENDATIONS: Grant Application – CERT’s: Hill indicated the School Property Redevelopment Committee
has identified a planning grant that will tie into the MPCA Planning
Grant. Council member Storck
moved, seconded by Webster, to allow City Manager Hill to put together a grant
application for the Minnesota Clean Energy Resource Team. Motion carried.
City
Manager Report: Hill stated he
met with representatives from Otter Tail Power about the lighting project. They were given a map of the city and
would be meeting with Hill again in the next couple of weeks to see what they
have come up with for a dollar amount.
NEW
BUSINESS: Arbor Day Proclamation: Mayor Giese proclaimed April 25th
as Arbor Day for the City of Morris.
Parking
Lots: Mayor Giese asked about
the parking lot issue. Hill
indicated he hadn’t heard anything on either of them.
Theater: Council member Storck asked if the city
was going to be doing anything for the theater, such as borrowing them money or
tax increment financing. Hill
noted at some point the theater will be making a decision as to the direction
their remodel is going to go.
Katie McKenzie indicated at this point they are talking about making
minimal improvements such as improving the sound and making the picture
brighter. As far as adding more
theaters, McKenzie indicated that would be a separate phase and if or when has
not been decided yet.
Televising
of Council Meetings: Hill
stated he met with Roger Boleman from the University to nail down what
equipment is needed.
Morris
Community Church: Carrington
informed the council he received a call concerning the church taking over the UBC
building. Their concern was that the
property would be taken off the tax rolls and not used for other development. Hill pointed out the owner of the
property has the right to sell the property to whoever they want, that is not
the city’s decision. The council
has a choice of whether or not they want to allow a church as a permitted
use.
Nuisance
Buildings: Council member Storck
expressed concern about the condition of some of the houses in town, especially
the house at 16 East 4th Street. Hill noted he has talked with Nora from the HRA about buying
the property and tearing it down.
Glasrud noted the owner did not reply to an offer to purchase the home
and the matter has been in and out of bankruptcy. Hill indicated he would take a look at the condition of the
property and determine whether or not it can be fixed or if it should be
condemned.
Hill also
noted he has been working in conjunction with Public Health to get the outside
and inside of another property cleaned up. Once the snow is gone, a tour of the town can be taken and a
determination made of who needs to clean up their property.
It was the
consensus of the council that a tour of the town and all city facilities would
be a good idea. Council member
Miller moved, seconded by Storck, to schedule a worksession for 9:00 a.m. on
Saturday, April 26th to take a tour.
INFORMATIONAL
ITEMS: March Transit Report: This was informational for the council.
ADJOURNMENT: There being no further business, Mayor
Giese adjourned the meeting at 6:20 p.m.
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