MINUTES – MORRIS CITY
COUNCIL – REGULAR MEETING – AUGUST 25, 2009
The regular meeting of the
Morris City Council was called to order at 5:15 p.m. this 25th
day of August, 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, Police Chief Beauregard and City Attorney Glasrud.
CITIZEN’S COMMENTS:
James Henricks was present at the meeting and suggested a tree on a boulevard in
the 400 block of West 6th Street has many dead branches towards the
top and should be looked at.
PUBLIC HEARINGS:
None
READING AND APPROVAL OF
MINUTES: 8/11/09 Regular Meeting Minutes: Council member Webster
moved, seconded by Miller, to approve the 8/11/09 regular meeting minutes.
Motion carried.
8/11/09 Condensed
Version Minutes: Council member Miller moved, seconded by Webster, to
approve the 8/11/09 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.
Approval of the city bills
dated August 25, 2009
B. Pay
Estimate #4 – Highland Homes
C. SCMC
Administrative Report
D. Application
for On Sale Liquor License
E. Gambling
Reports
F.
Revenue & Expenditure
Report
G.
Raffle License Report
PETITIONS, REQUESTS AND
COMMUNICATIONS: Morales House Fire: City Attorney Glasrud received
a call from Mrs. Morales who was disappointed to learn that after their house
fire the house was not considered a total loss from her insurance company
because they felt a portion of the foundation was sound. Glasrud wrote a
letter on her behalf, thinking it was the city’s position that the house be
taken down. Glasrud indicated the house is now scheduled to be taken down sometime
next week after the insurance company made an additional accommodation.
Police Civil Service
Correspondence: Police Chief Beauregard stated the police civil service
commission recommended the Police Department move ahead with the hiring of
Jared Dittbenner. Beauregard indicated they applied for two separate grants
and did not receive any funding from the COPS grant but still have one more out
there and won’t hear anything until the end of October or first of November. This
officer would replace the vacancy left by Officer Dan Koski. Beauregard stated
this officer is currently in the budget. Hill noted the budget for 2010 also
includes a full complement of officers. Hill pointed out he is going to try to
meet with all the unions to negotiate a wage freeze for 2010.
Council member Storck
asked if the Public Works employee would be replaced. Hill stated the plan is
to convert those monies to part time employees.
Council member Storck
moved, seconded by Webster, to accept the recommendation from the Police Civil
Service Commission to hire Jared Dittbenner as the new police officer.
ORDINANCES AND
RESOLUTIONS: None
CITY MANAGER’S REPORTS
& RECOMMENDATIONS: City Manager Report: Hill noted the budget
would be taken up at the next meeting, with adjustments for 2009 and the preliminary
budget for 2010. Hill indicated in the next month the liquor store manager
position would be advertised, with the current manager helping in the hiring
process.
Hill stated the city is
also hearing a lot of discussion about Coborn’s. Hill believes Coborn’s is leaving
because they made a corporate decision not to be here, not because of the city.
Hill indicated the SCEIC is working to try and find somebody to come into that
building and there is some interest. Hill pointed out part of the lease
Coborn’s had with Holiday is that the underground tanks would need to be taken
out if they ever left. The tanks are scheduled to be taken out and the area paved
over.
Glasrud stated he spoke
with Nora Jost of the Stevens County HRA and she has been negotiating with the
bankruptcy trustee for the Ransone house. The trustee feels he will be able to
obtain good title to the property and they have come to a price that is
acceptable to both sides. Glasrud noted this is the first progress that has
been made on this house in years.
NEW BUSINESS:
Webster requested a street sign for Court Drive. Beauregard stated he would
take a look at it and let Dittbenner know to get one ordered.
Storck asked about horses
on the bike path. Dittbenner stated additional signs are ordered letting
people know that horses are not allowed on the bike path. Hill also suggested talking
to the horse club at UMM.
OLD BUSINESS:
Giese talked to John Rau at SCMC about the noise handler and Rau indicated he
would have the maintenance department check on it.
Miller asked about signs
when entering the city that indicate the city’s noise ordinance is enforced.
Beauregard stated he thought there were signs to that effect on N Hwy 9.
INFORMATIONAL ITEMS:
None
ADJOURNMENT: There
being no further business, Mayor Giese adjourned the meeting at 5:43 p.m.
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