MINUTES–MORRIS CITY
COUNCIL–REGULAR MEETING– NOVEMBER 24, 2009
The regular meeting of the
Morris City Council was called to order at 5:15 p.m. this 24th
day of November, 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, Police Chief
Beauregard and City Attorney Glasrud.
CITIZEN’S COMMENTS:
None
PUBLIC HEARINGS: Public
Hearing on the East 2nd Street Improvement Project and Resolution
Ordering the Plans and Specifications for the Project: Hill stated the
purpose of the hearing is to give an initial look at the proposed project for
East 2nd Street and for residents to give their feeling about the
project. Hill explained at the conclusion of the hearing the city council will
vote on a resolution to determine whether or not they want to move forward with
the next step, which would be to prepare plans and specifications for the
project. The council will again have an opportunity to decide if they want to
move forward once the plans and specifications are received. If the council
decides to move forward after that, they would go to bids. Once bids are
received the council can again take a look and determine whether or not they
want to move forward.
Mayor Giese opened the
public hearing at 5:19 p.m.
Jeff Kuhn of WSN was
present at the meeting. Kuhn explained that the project will entail the
construction of East 2nd Street all the way from Atlantic Avenue up
through the campus. The road construction will stop at Alumni Drive with a
little bit of additional watermain to the east. There is some sidewalk along
East 2nd that will also be replaced. Included in the project are
curb & gutter, sidewalk, infrastructure and some storm sewer.
Kuhn stated the plan is to
phase the project so the whole stretch of road isn’t torn up at one time. The
first portion will begin by the University, once school lets out in the middle
of May. Once the underground work is complete it would be a gravel, drivable
street before another portion of the project would be torn up.
Kuhn stated as far as curb
width and street width it will remain the same throughout. From College Avenue
out to Alumni Drive there will be some additional curb on the north side of the
road. Also, from College Avenue to the University there would be a little bit
of sidewalk out to the parking area in front of the P.E. center. The
University is possibly looking at adding some additional sidewalk.
Hill stated Atlantic
Avenue to College Avenue is pretty straightforward. The area from College past
the RFC is a whole different setup. The project as proposed would not allow
for parking by UMM on either side, including no bus parking for safety reasons.
The width of the street
would be made big enough for two lanes of traffic with a 4 ft. bike lane. Hill
indicated the sidewalk on the south side would be extended down past the RFC to
the softball field area where it will meet up with the bike path. The bike
path between the softball fields and the heating plant will be replaced with
sidewalk.
Hill explained there are
at least two property owners that get their water from the alley, and not from
East 2nd. Hill pointed out that the city will stub in water lines to those
property owners and when it comes time that the old line is no longer usable,
they can connect up to the new one. Kuhn added that these property owners could
hook up during the project if they wanted to. Miller pointed out they would
still be assessed for the rest of the project utilities and the water whenever
they hook up to it.
Hill stated the city is
going to have somebody come in and trim the trees before the project starts.
Kuhn noted that 4” drain
tile would be put in which would take a lot of the sub grade moisture away from
the roadway and improve the longevity of the road. Kuhn stated there may be an
opportunity to hook sump pump drains into this tile.
John Luetmer asked if
there would be a way to tell what kind of shape his existing line is in. Kuhn
suggested checking with a plumber. Luetmer asked that since this was a heavily
used street if property owners were paying extra for that. Hill explained that
the city picks up 100% of the cost of the road.
Kuhn reviewed the cost
estimates but noted they could vary based on the bids received. The average
assessment for curb and gutter is estimated at $600 for an average 50 ft. lot.
Sidewalk is assessed at 100% and estimated to cost about $1,300. With regard
to both sanitary sewer and water, the city pays for 25%. Based on a per hook
up cost, sanitary sewer is estimated at $3,200 and water at $3,600. Storm
sewer is picked up 50% by the city and is based on drainage area and which
portion of people’s property drains into the area. Generally, a 50 ft. lot
would have an estimated storm sewer assessment of about $800-$900 per lot. The
total for all assessments is $9,500.
Colleen Miller, 204 East 3rd
Street, asked how her property would be impacted and the estimated cost. Kuhn
stated that anyone not adjacent to the project would probably see just a storm
sewer assessment. Jeff Miller estimated that it would be one half to one third
of an estimated storm sewer cost for a property.
Luetmer asked how the
storm sewer was determined. Kuhn stated between himself and City Engineer Fier
they determine where the water is going. Kuhn pointed out there are people
along 2nd Street that won’t get a storm sewer assessment; it just
depends on the elevation of the property and which way the water goes.
Earl Beyer, 200 Columbia
Avenue, stated he already paid for storm sewer along College Avenue. Hill
noted Beyer would not be assessed for what was already paid for.
Donna Chollett, 510 East 2nd
Street, stated she also got assessed for College Avenue and Circle Pines for
$1,066.20 and this assessment is ten times that amount. Hill pointed out the
assessment would be financed over 15 years. Chollett noted that would be plus
interest and she does not pay interest on anything. Hill explained there are
some other options, such as deferring an assessment until such time as the
property is sold.
Hill indicated if the work
isn’t done, eventually there won’t be any water or sewer because the city knows
the infrastructure is terrible. Hill stated there are going to be people that
are going to have a hard time paying. Hill stated the first payment would be
due the year after the work is substantially completed.
Chollett stated she
watched the nightmare on College Avenue/Circle Pines and was concerned about
people not being able to get into their homes. Hill pointed out this area will
be easier because there are alleys. Chollett indicated she does not have an
alley. Hill assured Chollett that Engineer Fier would work with her to make
sure she could get in and out of her property. Kuhn estimated a two block
stretch would be torn up for 2 to 4 weeks while the underground work was done.
Hill noted there are going to be inconveniences but there is just no way around
it.
Craig Schmidgall, 201 Colorado
Avenue, asked if there would be storm sewer along the whole project. Kuhn
noted there would be a catch basin at the intersection of Colorado and East 2nd.
Schmidgall is concerned about water that comes down the hill and turns the
corner and sits in his driveway. Kuhn suggested that anyone with special
concerns such as this talk with Fier before the project.
Tom Hoffman, 309 East 2nd
Street, stated they were just finishing up paying for an assessment on a
previous project. Kuhn stated if someone has property that drains to different
areas it doesn’t preclude them from being assessed multiple times. Hoffman
asked if the height of the street would change. Kuhn stated in general terms
the height would not change drastically, but there may be slight fluctuations.
Jim Storck, 207 East 2nd
Street, stated he would like to have some sewer work done. Kuhn suggested
hiring another contractor for that and Fier would communicate an approximate
time as to when that area would be dug up. Hill stated if property owners
would like additional concrete work done, it would also be a good opportunity
to do so.
Hill explained that if the
council decides to go ahead with the project all property owners would receive
a letter with additional information about the project. Weekly meetings are
also held during the construction process. Hill pointed out that Morris has
one of the lowest assessment plans he has ever seen, but it doesn’t make it any
easier to pay for it.
Hill noted that part of
the process in doing assessments is to hire an appraiser. Nagle Consulting did
a basic appraisal on the work being done and the value is between $8,000 and
$12,000. Last year for the Highland Homes project the value was between $14,000
and $16,000.
Luetmer asked if anything
could be done in conjunction with the project to help control the speed along
East 2nd Street. Hill explained it was talked about and that is why
the street is being left at the current width. From College Avenue to UMM it’s
going to be narrowed just slightly because there’s no parking on either side.
There won’t be any change in the speed limit.
Mayor Giese closed the
public hearing at 6:10 and brought the matter back to the council for action.
Council member Storck
moved, seconded by Miller, to adopt Resolution #2898-11-09, A Resolution
Ordering the Plans and Specifications for the East 2nd Street
Improvement Project. Upon a roll call vote taken and all voting in favor,
motion carried.
READING AND APPROVAL OF
MINUTES: 11/10/09 Regular Meeting Minutes: Council member Miller
moved, seconded by Webster, to approve the 11/10/09 regular meeting minutes.
Motion carried.
11/10/09 Condensed
Version Minutes: Mayor Giese moved, seconded by Storck, to approve the
11/10/09 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 November 24, 2009
B. SCMC
Administrative Report
C. Gambling
Reports
D. Application
for Exempt Permit
E. Revenue
& Expenditure Report
F. Planning
Commission Minutes, 7/21/09
G. Tourism
Board Meeting Minutes, 11/17/09
PETITIONS, REQUESTS AND
COMMUNICATIONS: Gambling Report from American Legion: Council
member Miller moved, seconded by Carrington, to accept the gambling report from
the American Legion. Upon a roll call vote taken and all voting in favor and
Mayor Giese abstaining as an officer of the Legion, motion carried.
ORDINANCES AND
RESOLUTIONS: None
CITY MANAGER’S REPORTS
& RECOMMENDATIONS: City Manager Report: This was informational
for the council.
Lodging Tax Expenses:
Council member Webster moved, seconded by Miller, to authorize reimbursing the
Chamber for these expenses. Motion carried.
Wind Turbine Update:
Hill stated the University will relocate one of its two new wind turbines near
Pomme de Terre Park. The second turbine will be placed near the existing
turbine on WCROC property.
NEW BUSINESS: Hill
stated the transit system received news that the state is going to fund
Krosschell’s grant request for the transit, which would result in an additional
full-time employee. Hill pointed out transit is funded through fees and state
and federal grants. Krosschell explained the grant includes an additional 20
hrs of driving per week, so a part-time position would be made full-time. This
will free up the transit coordinator for more administrative things.
Hill stated the county
sent out tax statements for the public meeting on the budget. Hill reemphasized
that when the levy was set it was at 22%, but that is not going to be the final
levy. The city is probably looking at 8.5%.
OLD BUSINESS: None
INFORMATIONAL ITEMS:
None
ADJOURNMENT: There
being no further business, Mayor Giese adjourned the meeting at 6:38
p.m.
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