MINUTES – MORRIS CITY
COUNCIL – REGULAR MEETING – JULY 28, 2009
The regular meeting of the
Morris City Council was called to order at 5:15 p.m. this 28TH day
of July, 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 Webster,
Miller, Storck and Mayor Giese. Council member Carrington was absent. Also
present was City Manager Hill, Finance Director Krosschell, Public Works
Director Dittbenner and City Attorney Glasrud.
CITIZEN’S COMMENTS:
Annual Community Education Presentation – Cindy Perkins: Cindy Perkins,
Community Education Director, highlighted some of the things that happened over
the last year and reviewed the budget for the coming year. Perkins stated the
community ed program has been in existence since 1972 and continues with a
grass roots involvement to meet the needs of the community. The goal of
Community Ed is to help children be successful in school and in life.
Cheryl Higgins and Jana
Koehler from the community ed advisory board were present, along with school
board members Lory Lemke, Mark McNally, Jamie Solvie and Kurt Gartland.
PUBLIC HEARINGS: None
READING AND APPROVAL OF
MINUTES: 7/14/09 Regular Meeting Minutes: Council member Storck
moved, seconded by Miller, to approve the 7/14/09 regular meeting minutes.
Motion carried.
7/14/09 Condensed
Version Minutes: Council member Miller moved, seconded by Webster, to
approve the 7/14/09 condensed version minutes. Motion carried.
CONSENT AGENDA:
Mayor Giese removed the Audit of City bills from the consent agenda. Mayor
Giese moved, seconded by Council member Webster, to approve the audit of the City
bills dated July 28, 2009. Upon a roll call vote taken and all present voting
in favor and Council member Storck abstaining, motion carried.
Council member Webster
moved, seconded by Council member Miller, to approve the consent agenda, which
included the following items:
A. Pay
Estimate #3 – Highland Homes
B. Gambling
Reports
C.
Revenue & Expenditure Report
D. Population
Estimate Information
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 vote taken and all present voting in favor and Mayor
Giese abstaining as an officer of the Legion, motion carried.
ORDINANCES AND
RESOLUTIONS: Resolution to Enter Into an Agreement with School District
No. 769: City Manager Hill noted if the City negotiates a freeze for
salaries the amount in the contract may have to be adjusted.
Mayor Giese moved,
seconded by Council member Storck, to adopt Resolution #2878-7-09, Resolution
to Enter Into an Agreement with School District No. 769. Upon a roll call vote
taken and all present voting in favor, motion carried.
Resolution to Enter
Into an Agreement for Transit Services: Council member Miller moved,
seconded by Webster, to adopt Resolution #2879-7-09, Resolution to Enter Into
an Agreement for Transit Services. Upon a roll call vote taken and all present
voting in favor, motion carried.
Council
member Storck indicated a wash bay for washing all city vehicles would be a
nice addition.
CITY MANAGER’S REPORTS
& RECOMMENDATIONS: City Manager Report: Hill pointed out he would
be gone for the next three weeks. Also, the preliminary budget information
would be presented at the first meeting in September. Hill updated the council
on the status of the Ransone house.
Hill noted council members
may be getting a call from a resident in Highland Homes Addition about his
dissatisfaction with the seeding done on the project.
With regard to the lodging
tax, it was originally proposed to help eliminate the city’s $7,000
contribution to the chamber. The first taxes received were about $8,500. Hill
stated the chamber would be making a recommendation to the council for the
Tourism Board. Hill pointed out this money would help the chamber with the
promotion of Morris.
Webster stated the bike
path looked great and asked how it was paid for. Hill explained franchise fees
were used. Storck stated he felt there were a lot of streets in worse shape
than the bike path.
NEW BUSINESS: None
OLD BUSINESS:
Miller asked about the retaining wall at UMM. Hill stated all agreements are
taken care of and the retaining wall is being rebuilt. A swale is being built
as well to take the water down the southeast side of the hill.
The council asked about
the trailers near Pizza Ranch. Webster stated the area is a corridor into the
city and it is an eyesore. Giese stated now that the downtown project is complete
it is time to get something done. Webster suggested the council find out where
the owner is at and find an ordinance that he can be cited on. Storck
suggested sending a letter to the property owner and asking him to come to a
council meeting.
Storck also suggested that
if the council is going to work on cleaning up, there are many places in town
that are unsightly such as the tires at R & B. Mayor Giese directed that a
letter be sent to the owner of the parking lot, inviting him to the next
council meeting.
INFORMATIONAL ITEMS:
None
ADJOURNMENT: There
being no further business, Mayor Giese adjourned the meeting at 6:30 p.m.
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