MINUTES – MORRIS CITY
COUNCIL – REGULAR MEETING – APRIL 28, 2009
The regular meeting of the
Morris City Council was called to order at 5:15 p.m. this 28th 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,
Miller, Storck and Mayor Giese. Council member Webster arrived at 5:16 p.m.
Also present was City Manager Hill, Finance Director Krosschell, Fleet Manager
Searle, Police Chief Beauregard, City Engineer/Surveyor/Inspector Fier, Public
Works Director Dittbenner and City Attorney Glasrud.
CITIZEN’S COMMENTS:
SCEIC Quarterly Report: Michael Haynes of the SCEIC was present at the
meeting and reviewed the activities report from the first quarter of 2009.
PUBLIC HEARINGS:
None
READING AND APPROVAL OF
MINUTES: 4/14/09 Regular Meeting Minutes: Council member Storck
moved, seconded by Webster, to approve the 4/14/09 regular meeting minutes.
Motion carried.
4/14/09 Condensed
Version Minutes: Council member Webster moved, seconded by Miller, to
approve the 4/14/09 condensed version minutes. Motion carried.
4/14/09 Board of Review
Minutes: Council member Carrington moved, seconded by Webster, to approve
the 4/14/09 board of review minutes. Motion carried.
CONSENT AGENDA:
Mayor Giese removed the Audit of the City bills from the consent agenda due to
Morris Fire Control having an item on the list. Council member Webster moved,
seconded by Miller, to authorize payment of the city bills dated April 28,
2009. Upon a roll call vote taken and all voting in favor and Council member
Storck abstaining, motion carried.
Mayor Giese moved,
seconded by Council member Miller, to approve the consent agenda, which
included the following items:
A.
SCMC Administrative Report
B.
Gambling Reports
C.
Application for Exempt Permit
D.
Revenue & Expenditure
Report
E.
Planning Commission Minutes,
2/17/09
With all present voting in
favor, motion carried.
PETITIONS, REQUESTS AND
COMMUNICATIONS: Gambling Report – American Legion: Council member
Miller moved, seconded by Storck, to accept the gambling report from the
American Legion. Upon a roll call vote taken and all present voting in favor
and Mayor Giese abstaining as an officer of the Legion, motion carried.
Street Dance Permit
from Morris Eagles: Council member Carrington moved, seconded by Storck,
to approve the request for a street dance permit from the Morris Eagles for
Friday, July 10, 2009.
ORDINANCES AND
RESOLUTIONS: Resolution Providing for the Sale of G.O. Improvement
Bonds, Series 2009A: Mark Ruff of Ehlers and Associates was present at the
meeting. Ruff explained that the bonds in question are for the Highland Homes
Addition improvement project for $2.1 million. The bonds would be for a term
of fifteen years. Ruff noted that 30% of the bonds would be paid by special
assessments, with the remainder coming from utility revenues and property taxes.
Ruff stated because the city is assessing at least 20% of the project costs,
the bonds can be issued without being put to a vote and will not count against
the city’s debt limit.
Ruff stated there would be
a conference call with the rating agency the morning of the meeting on May 12th
and then a written report presented to the council for approval. Ruff
indicated short term interest rates have gone down since last year but the long
term has stayed about the same because there are more individual investors,
rather than corporate investors. Giese asked what has been the biggest change
in the market in the last year. Ruff indicated there are fewer bidders because
there are fewer banks around.
Council member Miller
moved, seconded by Storck, to adopt Resolution #2863-4-09, Resolution Providing
for the Sale of G.O. Improvement Bonds, Series 2009A for the Highland Homes
Addition Improvement Project. Upon a roll call vote taken and all
voting in favor, motion
carried.
CITY MANAGER’S REPORTS
& RECOMMENDATIONS: Recommendation from Police Civil Service
Commission: City Manager Hill explained that the Police Civil Service
Commission has requested the appointment of a provisional officer, due to the resignation
of Officer Dan Koski. This provisional officer position would take effective
June 1, 2009, for a period not to exceed 90 days, at which time a permanent
replacement officer would be hired.
Mayor Giese moved,
seconded by Council member Webster, to accept the recommendation from the
Police Civil Service Commission for the appointment of a provisional officer,
effective June 1, 2009, for a period not to exceed 90 days thereafter. Motion
carried.
Arbor Day Foundation
Correspondence: City Manager Hill noted the city has achieved Tree City
USA status and noted the reason for the designation is because of the hard work
of the local Tree Board and other people that love trees. Hill pointed out City
Engineer Fier is spearheading a great effort to take care of trees in the city.
Fier indicated the boulevards and downtown areas are what is planned for 2009.
Liability Coverage
Waiver Form: Mayor Giese moved, seconded by Council member Webster, to not
waive the monetary limits on municipal tort liability established by M.S.
466.04. Motion carried.
Stevens County 2009
Firefights Grant Program: Hill stated one of the things coming up in the
next couple of years is the upgrade of the current radio system in Stevens
County to the digital 800 MHz equipment. Hill noted the change over will be
very expensive and the city has the opportunity to apply for a grant to help in
the replacement of the radios for the Morris Fire Department. Hill explained
the grant would provide 95% of the cost of replacement, with a 5% local match.
The grant would also allow the city to act as a funding agency for departments
in Donnelly, Hancock and Chokio Alberta. The city’s 5% match would be $6,687.
The other departments in the county would be responsible for their own 5%
match.
Council member Storck
moved, seconded by Webster, to authorize the submission of a grant application for
the replacement of the radio system for the City of Morris Fire Department.
Motion carried.
City Manager Report:
Hill informed the council that the Planning Commission did meet and approve
two variances for Stevens County. The commission also passed a motion
recommending that Colorado Avenue be vacated, along with another motion suggesting
that the police look at traffic control in that area and possibly take public
input. Hill indicated there is no action before the council at this time; the
city will wait and see what the county decides.
Hill informed the council
that after the council meeting there would be a meeting with residents of
Highland Homes that the city needs to obtain easements from for the drainage
issue. Hill stated the city’s intentions are to send a letter to all homeowner’s
after the pre-construction meeting to let them know where the city is at with
the project.
Hill noted as far as the legislative
update, the tax bills have been passed, which is good news in the sense that
they did their work. The bad news is that in their current format Hill feels the
governor will veto both of them. Hill stated both the house and senate bills are
favorable towards cities and staff has looked at budget cuts for both
scenarios.
Hill noted he talked with the
9th graders at the High School for their Civics class.
NEW BUSINESS:
Storck asked about a request from a citizen about a four way stop on West 7th
Street and Pacific Avenue. Police Chief Beauregard stated this intersection had
the stop signs the other way and then at one point was a four way stop. The
way it is now has created the fewest collisions per year after a 20 year study.
Beauregard suggested putting more patrol at that intersection to try and slow
the traffic down.
OLD BUSINESS: None
INFORMATIONAL ITEMS:
Building Permits: This was informational for the council.
ADJOURNMENT: There
being no further business, Mayor Giese adjourned the meeting at 6:11 p.m.
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