MINUTES– MORRIS CITY
COUNCIL–REGULAR MEETING– APRIL 14, 2009
The regular meeting of the
Morris City Council was called to order at 5:15 p.m. this 14th day
of April, 2009, 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 and City Attorney Glasrud.
CITIZEN’S COMMENTS: None
PUBLIC HEARINGS: None
READING AND APPROVAL OF
MINUTES: 3/24/09 Regular
Meeting Minutes: Council
member Miller moved, seconded by Storck, to approve the 3/24/09 regular meeting
minutes. Motion carried.
3/24/09 Condensed
Version Minutes: Council
member Carrington moved, seconded by Mayor Giese, to approve the 3/24/09
condensed version minutes. Motion
carried.
CONSENT AGENDA: Mayor Giese moved, seconded by Council
member Webster, to approve the consent agenda, which included the following
items:
A.
Gambling Reports
B.
March Transit Report
C.
Human Rights
Commission Minutes
D.
Raffle License Report
Mayor Giese removed the
bill list from the consent agenda.
Council member Webster moved, seconded by Miller, to approve the city
bills dated April 14, 2009. Upon a
roll call vote taken and all voting in favor and Council member Storck
abstaining, motion carried.
PETITIONS, REQUESTS AND
COMMUNICATIONS: Mayor Giese
added an Application for Exempt Permit from the AmVets Post #290 to the
agenda. Council member Carrington
moved, seconded by Mayor Giese, to approve the application for exempt permit
from the AmVets Post #290 for a raffle to be held July 10-12, 2009. Motion carried.
ORDINANCES AND
RESOLUTIONS: Resolution
Accepting and Approving the 2008 Annual Financial Statements for the City of
Morris: Brian Stavenger of EideBailly, was present at the meeting to review
the city’s annual audit report.
Stavenger stated the city received a clean, unqualified opinion.
Stavenger reviewed the
revenues and expenditures of the general fund and the enterprise funds of the
city.
Stavenger stated the
general fund had revenues of $3.2 million, which was about 2% under
budget. Stavenger pointed out
anything within 5% means the city is doing a good job. The general fund saw expenditures of
$3.2 million, which is 1% under budget.
Stavenger noted all three of the city’s enterprise funds operate in a
positive manner, which is what the city wants.
Stavenger
stated the general fund balance was at 58% and the State Auditor says anything
over 50% is a healthy fund balance.
Stavenger noted city staff was very accommodating and easy to work
with.
City
Manager Hill thanked Finance Director Krosschell and stated he does an
outstanding job of keeping track of the city’s money. Hill stated these reports are a real good indication of how
the city’s financial system is doing.
Hill noted utility rates were raised this year at a minimal 3% increase
to be able to make it into the future to stay in the red. Hill explained revenues were down a
little but reminded the council to keep in mind that the state took a chunk of
revenue from the city.
Glasrud
asked about the 50% benchmark from the state auditor’s office and if the city
would be forced to spend down these revenues. Stavenger indicated the range of cities across the state is
anywhere from 3% to 250% but the city needs about 50% to make it to June when
the property tax and LGA are received from the state. Glasrud pointed out one thing the county has run into is too
much reserves and wondered if the city should be considering allocating this
money for something else.
Krosschell
explained that City Manager Hill has been transferring money into the capital
outlay fund. Stavenger stated this
is a very good way to build up a cash balance in a forward thinking manner
without having to borrow money.
Hill indicated the city may have money in reserves but it is needed for
other things such as equipment and maintenance.
Council
member Miller moved, seconded by Webster, to adopt Resolution #2859-4-09,
Resolution Accepting and Approving the 2008 Annual Financial Statements for the
City of Morris. Upon a roll call
vote taken and all voting in favor, motion carried.
Resolution
Authorizing the Purchase of Land from Donald Gieselman for Storm Water Drainage: Hill stated as part of the Highland
Homes project the city needed to acquire some land for the storm water
retention pond. Hill indicated Don
Gieselman is the adjoining property owner and has agreed to sell to the city
1.687 acres at a cost of $6,749.
In addition, Gieselman will deed over an additional .723 acres to
provide a swale large enough to service the drainage needs of his property to
the north of Highland Homes. Hill
explained if and when there is a decision made to develop that land; it would
be built and sized to a level where he could connect into the system.
Council
member Storck moved, seconded by Mayor Giese, to adopt Resolution #2860-4-09,
Resolution Authorizing the Purchase of Land from Donald Gieselman for Storm
Water Drainage. Upon a roll call
vote taken and all voting in favor and Council member Webster abstaining,
motion carried.
Resolution
Approving a Tolling Agreement with the University of Minnesota: Hill explained the University of
Minnesota Morris, through the main campus, is asking that the City enter into a
tolling agreement with regards to the damage that took place at the football
stadium. City Attorney Glasrud
explained the agreement would stop the running of the statute of limitations
and advised that it was a good idea to agree to this while they continue to
have discussions. Hill indicated
the League has basically ruled on the claim that the city isn’t responsible but
there is a meeting to be held in May to talk about it. Hill noted the University is soliciting
quotes to fix the retaining wall and as soon as City Engineer Fier gets back he
will be putting together a project to redirect the water coming off the water
tower.
Council
member Webster moved, seconded by Miller, to adopt Resolution #2861-4-09,
Resolution Approving a Tolling Agreement with the University of Minnesota. Upon a roll call vote taken and all
voting in favor, motion carried.
Mayor
Giese recessed the council meeting at 6:00 p.m. to conduct the Board of Appeals
and Equalization. Mayor Giese
reconvened the council meeting at 6:11 p.m.
Resolution Premises
Permit Application – Mayor Giese moved, seconded by Council member Miller,
to adopt Resolution #2862-4-09, Resolution Approving a Premises Permit
Application for the Morris Hockey Association to Conduct Gambling at the
Prairie Inn. Upon a roll call vote
taken and all voting in favor, motion carried.
CITY MANAGER’S REPORTS
& RECOMMENDATIONS: MPCA
– Engineering Plan for Sewer Pond:
Hill asked that the council approve additional engineering support from WSN
as part of the compliance plan for the sewer ponds. Tim Bayerl, representing WSN, stated they would be doing some
research and determining the sludge depth in the ponds. Bayerl indicated the city has been
looking at the pond operation and evaluating better operational procedures that
will keep the city in compliance with MPCA. Hill stated the city has had good results on the spring
discharge so far.
Storck asked if staff from
the utility department was licensed to take care of this kind of thing. Dittbenner stated WSN is helping the
city better understand the elevations and the ponds, since they are built on a
level basis and have gravity feed. Hill noted the city is currently leasing a pump to see how it
works. Bayerl noted there is a
final report due in September to MPCA, which they would be helping to complete.
Council member Storck
moved, seconded by Webster, to authorize these additional activities by WSN. Motion carried.
Spring Clean Up: Hill stated in the past the process has
been to sell tags but the number of tags sold has been decreasing each year. Hill explained that people can go out
to the junkyard or have the refuse people come and pick up items for a charge,
so the system is already in place to get rid of stuff.
Milller suggested having
some type of advertisement in conjunction with Engebretson’s, to make people aware
of how they can get rid of their junk.
Hill stated city staff is
going to start looking around for places that have a lot of junk, unregistered
cars, etc. Hill also noted there
are a lot of tree branches hanging and damaged trees that need to be cleaned
up.
The consensus of the
council was that there would be no official spring clean up and if anyone has
anything to get rid of they should call Engebretson’s. Hill stated he would put something
together to make people aware of that fact.
City Manager Report: Hill reminded everyone that the guard
unit would be leaving on Sunday. Hill
asked everyone to think of them and pray for them and their families. Hill
noted that the families need to be taken care of, whether it’s a friend or a
neighbor. Hill asked that if
anyone sees something that a family needs the community step in and try to help
them.
Hill stated the city
received two requests for variances from the county, one has to do with lot
coverage and the other with building height. Hill also noted the council would ultimately have to pass a
resolution to vacate Colorado Avenue.
As for right now, the county is not going forward with any project but
there are some other ideas being talked about, including a law enforcement
center and/or a sally port.
NEW BUSINESS: Storck asked about seal coat plans and
if the areas by Ron Cline’s and the Armory were on the list. Hill indicated they are both scheduled
to be done. Hill explained he met
with Chris Riley to go over the schedule to finish up the paving. This spring the alleys, downtown area
and PDT park would be done.
OLD BUSINESS: INFORMATIONAL
ITEMS: None
ADJOURNMENT: There being no further business, Mayor
Giese adjourned the meeting at 6:47 p.m.
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