MINUTES - MORRIS CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING - OCTOBER 24, 2017
The
regular meeting of the Morris City Council was called to order at 5:15 p.m.
this 24th day of October, 2017, 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
Wohlers, Solvie, Gullickson, Miller and Mayor Giese. Also present was City
Manager Hill, Finance Director Raasch, Police Chief Tiegs and City Attorney
Jordan.
CITIZEN 'S
COMMENTS:
None
READING
AND APPROVAL OF MINUTES: 10/10/17 Regular Meeting Minutes: Council
member Wohlers moved, seconded by Solvie, to approve the 10/10/17 regular
meeting minutes. Motion carried.
10/10/17
Condensed Minutes:
Council member Gullickson moved, seconded by Mayor Giese, to approve the
10/10/17 condensed version minutes. Motion carried.
CONSENT
AGENDA:
Mayor Giese moved, seconded by Council member Miller, to approve the consent
agenda which included the following items:
A. Audit
of City Bills
B. 9/20/17
Tourism Meeting Minutes
C. Gambling
Reports
D. Community
Education Report
E. Application
for Exempt Permit - MN Deer Hunters Association
Motion
carried.
PETITIONS,
REQUESTS AND COMMUNICATIONS: Gambling Report - American Legion:
Council
member Miller moved, seconded by Solvie, 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.
ORDINANCES
AND RESOLUTIONS:
None
CITY
MANAGER'S REPORTS & RECOMMENDATIONS: City Manager Newsletter: This was
informational for the council.
PUBLIC
HEARING:
Public Hearing and Resolution Adopting Assessments in Conjunction with the
North, South and East Court, Brook Street and Eleanor Avenue Project:
Mayor Giese opened the public hearing at 5:20 p.m.
City
Manager Hill stated this public hearing is being held to take input from anyone
that's affected by this assessment. Hill explained the assessment process and
informed those present that, if adopted, another notice would be sent out to
let people know what happened and what the next step is. Hill noted that those
assessed have the ability to dispute the assessments and in
order to do that written notice must be given before the end of the public
hearing.
Jeff
Kuhn of WSN was present at the meeting. Kuhn noted there would be another lift
on the road this coming spring and seeding of the boulevards has yet to be
determined. Kuhn stated in either case it is going to be the contractor 's
responsibility to maintain that for about 30 days afterwards. Kuhn explained
with any lawn it takes a long time to establish long, lush grass with routine
maintenance.
Kuhn
pointed out the whole project was just over $2 million, and of that $917,000
was assessed to affected property owners. The city picked up a little over $1
million. Sanitary sewer assessments were $2,700 per hook up and water was
$3,700. Kuhn explained this falls in line with some past projects in the city.
The storm sewer assessment is a little higher at $.15 a square foot, which
is broken out over the contributing areas of property to the project. The curb
and gutter is just under $17 a foot with 100% being assessed. The streets were
roughly $23 a lineal foot. Kuhn noted with regard to sewer, water and storm
sewer, 75% is assessed back to the property owners and 25% is the city's
responsibility. Curb and gutter is assessed at 100%.
Cory
Evink, 386 State Highway 9, stated he has no frontage on this road and the back
of his property butts up to the apartments and the Apostolic Church. Kuhn
explained the drainage area behind his property is a contributing area to the
land that drains towards the storm sewer system that was installed. Kuhn
indicated this is based on the contours that contribute to the overall storm
sewer. Shelly Evink stated that is what they are disputing because they
received an almost $9,000 bill while their two neighbors each got a $19 and $20
bill. Kuhn noted just a very small portion of those properties drain into the
new system. Shelly Evink indicated she feels everything slopes towards the
highway. Kuhn noted they could come out and take some elevation shots and
verify where the water drains. Evinks presented a letter to the council
disputing their assessment.
Pat
Fiest, 9 South Court, asked how the percentage over the 15 years is
determined. Fiest also urged that soil preparation and planting of the
boulevards be done this fall instead of next spring because everything ends up
being pushed back into June. Hill stated the company that did the boulevards
on Oregon Avenue is not the same company that will do this area. Hill noted
there are some guidelines as to when you can seed.
Hill
explained the interest rate is set at 2% higher than what the bond rate is. In
order for the city to pay back the bonds the city has to take whatever money
comes in from special assessments and pay the bond rate. The assessment will be
spread over 15 years.
Kuhn
reiterated that it is not the same seeding contractor as Oregon Avenue, but
it's not so much the contractor as the time of the year, the weather conditions,
and an individual 's ability to try and help nurture that seed along.
Considerable discussion was held on care of the boulevards.
Katie
Erdman, 21 Thomas Street, stated she would like some clarification on the
charges when Thomas Street didn't get any new lines and they are being assessed
nearly as much as the other streets. Kuhn explained that for Thomas Street it
comes down to an overall drainage area and it 's divided up on an even basis
cost per square foot. Kuhn noted the reason Thomas is in the project is
because they ended up extending the storm sewer and sized it for the future if
Thomas has to be reconstructed. This storm sewer makes the over land drainage
a little bit better.
Erdman
asked if someone is assessed now if they could potentially be assessed again in
10 years. Kuhn affirmed that yes, there are people in town that have been
assessed for storm sewer 3 or 4 times. Kuhn stated it's not just a one-time
thing and you're done forever. Hill confirmed that Thomas Street drains into
Eleanor Avenue. Shelly Evink asked if all of Columbia Avenue drains into
Eleanor Avenue. Kuhn noted that area drains into Green River. Kuhn stated the
box culverts were replaced but that wasn 't a part of the overall storm sewer
assessment. Kuhn indicated in a heavy rain event or over frozen ground it will
use that storm sewer. Council member Solvie pointed out that Erdman is not
getting charged for the road.
Leonard
Hanson, 12 Thomas Street, asked about West Central Christian Homes. Hanson
stated he feels that area is heaped up so water comes down and stays on his
side of the street. Kuhn pointed out that property is pro-rated and received
more than a normal assessment.
Hill
stated a follow up letter will be sent out and property owners have 30 days to
pay their assessment without interest. With the Thanksgiving holiday the last
day to pay without interest was pushed back to the 27th of
November. Hill noted after that the assessments are turned over to the County
Auditor to be put on the taxes for next year.
Mayor
Giese closed the public hearing at 5:51 p.m. and brought the matter back to the
council for action.
Council
member Gullickson asked if those properties along Thomas and Birch and Highway
9 were given notice that they would be part of the assessment area. Hill
stated yes, everyone got an initial notice.
Cary
Bergo stated he was assured that his water problem would be taken care after
the project and it's worse than ever. Kuhn noted that issue is not totally
resolved and will be addressed in the spring.
Council
member Miller moved, seconded by Wohlers, to adopt Resolution #3522-10-17,
Resolution Adopting Assessments in Conjunction with the North, South and East
Court, Brook Street and Eleanor Avenue Project. Upon a roll call vote and all
present voting in favor, motion carried.
OTHER
BUSINESS:
Mayor Giese reminded the council of the budget worksession at 5:00 on Thursday,
October 26th.
INFORMATIONAL
ITEMS:
Construction Progress Report - Water Treatment Facility: This was
informational for the council.
ADJOURNMENT: There being no
further business, Mayor Giese adjourned the meeting at 6:00 p.m.
