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MINUTES
-MORRIS CITY COUNCIL–REGULAR MEETING – OCTOBER 14, 2008
The
regular meeting of the Morris City Council was called to order at 5:15 p.m.
this 14th day of October, 2008, 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 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.
READING
AND APPROVAL OF MINUTES: 9/23/08
Regular Meeting Minutes:
Council member Storck moved, seconded by Miller, to approve the 9/23/08
regular meeting minutes. Motion
carried.
9/23/08
Condensed Version: Council
member Webster moved, seconded by Mayor Giese, to approve the 9/23/08 condensed
version minutes. Motion carried.
AUDIT
OF CITY BILLS: Council member Carrington
moved, seconded by Webster, to authorize payment of the City bills dated October
14, 2008. Motion carried.
Pay
Estimate #7 – West 6th Street and Lyndale Avenue: The council discussed the difference
between warranty work and contract work and the need to make sure everything
gets done on schedule. Council
member Storck moved, seconded by Miller, to authorize pay estimate #7 for
$21,027.16 to Riley Brothers Construction for work on the West 6th
Street and Lyndale Avenue project.
Pay
Estimate #5 – Oregon Avenue/College Avenue & Circle Pines: City Manager Hill stated the first lift
of pavement is to be done by November 1st with the second lift being
put on by June 6th of next year. Council member Miller moved, seconded by Council member Webster,
to authorize pay estimate #5 for $293,609.85 to Riley Brothers Construction for
work on the Oregon Avenue/College Avenue & Circle Pines project. Motion carried.
CITIZEN’S
COMMENTS: None
PETITIONS,
REQUESTS AND COMMUNICATIONS: Manufacturing
Week Proclamation:
Mayor
Giese read the proclamation which stated the week of October 20th
through the 24th shall be observed as manufacturing week.
Update
from Morris Community Church:
The Morris Community Church informed the city that they have stepped
away from negotiations with the owners of the UBC building for the purchase of
that property. The council felt
that the rezoning of that area was still a positive thing and a worthwhile
effort.
ORDINANCES
AND RESOLUTIONS: Resolution
Approving an Identity Theft Policy:
Hill
stated the city doesn’t ask for a lot of personal information now that the
utility bills remain in the owner’s name.
Krosschell indicated keeping the bills in owner’s names has been a
positive thing from an administrative and bill collection standpoint. Hill noted this is a government mandate
so the city does have to adopt a policy.
Mayor
Giese moved, seconded by Council member Carrington, to adopt Resolution
#2831-10-08, Resolution Approving an Identity Theft Policy. Upon a roll call vote taken and all
present voting in favor, motion carried.
CITY
MANAGER’S REPORTS & RECOMMENDATIONS: Airport Engineering: Hill explained that the federal aviation administration
requires that a statement of qualifications be requested every five years from
airport engineering firms. The
city has not done this in the past five years and is in need of a consulting
firm for the next improvement for the airport which is a parallel taxiway. Hill noted once the city has received
the qualifications, a firm will be selected and then a request made for a
proposal for engineering services.
Council
member Webster moved, seconded by Storck, to give City Manager Hill the
authorization to advertise for a Statement of Qualifications from airport
engineering firms. Motion
carried.
City
Manager Report: Hill noted Joe
Basel has begun working on his house to meet the requirements set by the City
Attorney. Miller stated when
building permits are issued the time frame for completion should be
specified. Hill questioned whether
or not financing should be included as part of the permit process.
Hill
stated there are some businesses that are interested in having their parking
lots paved as part of the downtown project. Hill asked the council if they wanted to authorize inclusion
of these parking lots in the project.
There was
some question as to whether or not there would be time to do this before the
November 1st cut off date for having the first lift of pavement on. Hill stated he has talked with Riley
Brothers and their tarring crew is ready to start their work in Morris. Mayor Giese felt the lots should be
redone if the owners are willing to pay for it and time allows. Miller agreed, to go ahead if it works
and it is 100% assessable. Hill
noted anyone wanting the paving to be done would first have to petition the
city.
Carrington
asked how this would affect the Pizza Ranch lot. Hill noted a meeting was held but there was no agreement on
acquisition of the property.
Glasrud suggested passing an ordinance as to how long a semi trailer
could be left in the downtown area.
NEW
BUSINESS: None
OLD
BUSINESS: Storck stated the
lawn at California and East 7th Street needs to be mowed before
winter.
The
council asked City Attorney Glasrud to check on the status of the Ransone
bankruptcy.
Miller
asked about the status of acquiring land in the Industrial Park for future
development. Hill noted Michael
Haynes has been talking with the property owners in that area.
Carrington
asked if there was any talk about the new Coborn’s store being built. Hill stated he hadn’t heard anything
and speculated it was a competition issue.
INFORMATIONAL
ITEMS: Revenue &
Expenditure Report: This was
informational for the council.
September
Transit Report: This was
informational for the council.
ADJOURNMENT: There being no further business, Mayor
Giese adjourned the meeting at 6:10 p.m.
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