MINUTES – MORRIS CITY
COUNCIL – REGULAR MEETING – MAY 12, 2009
The regular meeting of the
Morris City Council was called to order at 10:15 a.m. this 12th day
of May, 2009, by Mayor Giese in the auditorium of the Morris Area High School.
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 and Police Chief Beauregard.
ADDITION TO AGENDA:
Mayor Giese added the following items to the agenda: Item D under Ordinances
and Resolutions: Resolution Approving the Removal of an Assessment for a
Current Service and Item E: A Resolution Approving a License Agreement and
Granting a Temporary Construction Easement for the Water Tower Property.
CITIZEN’S COMMENTS:
None
PUBLIC HEARINGS:
None
READING AND APPROVAL OF
MINUTES: 4/28/09 Regular Meeting Minutes: Council member Webster
moved, seconded by Storck, to approve the 4/28/09 regular meeting minutes.
Motion carried.
4/28/09 Condensed
Version Minutes: Council member Carrington moved, seconded by Miller, to
approve the 4/28/09 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 May 12, 2009.
B.
Street Dance Permits – Old #1
and Eagles
C.
Temporary On Sale Liquor
License – Morris Eagles
D.
Application for Exempt Permits
E.
Arbor Day Proclamation
F.
April Transit Report
G. 4/15/09
Human Rights Commission Minutes
PETITIONS, REQUESTS AND
COMMUNICATIONS: None
ORDINANCES AND
RESOLUTIONS: Resolution Providing for the Issuance and Sale of G.O.
Improvement Bonds: Mark Ruff of Ehlers and Associates was present at the
meeting and stated the city received confirmation of an A3 rating from Moody’s
Investors Service. Ruff explained the city’s tax base, financial position and institutional
presence are taken into consideration.
Ruff indicated there were
three bidders for the $2.1 million bonds, with the low bid coming from
Northland Securities out of Minneapolis with a true interest rate of 3.8546%,
which is half a percentage point lower than what was expected.
Council member Webster asked
about item 2 (iii) about bond terms. Ruff explained this paragraph deals with the
confusion that sometimes arises as to who owns a bond. It basically says it’s
not the city’s responsibility to keep track of who’s getting paid and releases
the city from any responsibility or obligation from the participant who owns
the bond.
Council member Carrington
moved, seconded by Webster, to adopt Resolution #2864-5-09, Resolution
Providing for the Issuance and Sale of $2,100,000 G.O. Improvement Bonds,
Series 2009A, for the Highland Homes Addition Project. Upon a roll call vote
taken and all voting in favor, motion carried.
Resolution Approving an
Agreement for Transfer of Entitlement for FAA Funding to the City of Sauk
Center: Hill stated the city is allocated $150,000 each year in federal
aviation funds to be set aside for improvements at the airport. Hill further
stated the city doesn’t have a project ready to go for this year but something
needs to be done with the city’s remaining $100,000 funds from FY2006, otherwise
they go back to the federal government. Hill indicated it is customary to find
another city that needs the funds and in return they will transfer them back
when they don’t have a project. The City of Sauk Center is in need of
additional funds to finish a project they are working on this year. The
resolution would allow the transfer of federal aviation funds from the City of
Morris to the City of Sauk Center and approve an agreement for the return of
those funds in the future.
Council
member Webster moved, seconded by Miller, to adopt Resolution #2865-5-09, A
Resolution Approving an Agreement for Transfer of Entitlement for Federal
Airport Funding to the City of Sauk Center, Minnesota. Upon a roll call vote
taken and all voting in favor, motion carried.
Resolution Approving a
Professional Services Agreement with TKDA Engineering for the Morris Municipal
Airport: City Manager Hill pointed out the city needs to begin work on the
possibility of putting in a parallel taxiway at the Morris Municipal Airport. This
would require engineering services from TKDA, the city’s consulting engineer
for the airport. Hill explained TKDA will help compile a detailed study of the
area to determine if there will be an environmental impact to putting in a parallel
taxiway. The city’s agreement with TKDA for airport engineering services is
for five years.
Mayor Giese moved,
seconded by Council member Miller, to adopt Resolution #2866-5-09, Resolution
Approving a Professional Services Agreement with TKDA Engineering for the
Morris Municipal Airport. Upon a roll call vote take and all voting in favor,
motion carried.
Resolution Approving
the Removal of an Assessment for a Current Service: Hill explained that
this particular charge for services should not have been assessed because of
something worked out with the property owner. Hill indicated the charge was
due to snow removal at a property at 500 West 5th Street and needs
to be pulled off the taxes before the May 15th deadline.
Council member Miller
moved, seconded by Storck, to adopt Resolution #2867-5-09, Resolution Approving
the Removal of an Assessment for a Current Service (Snow Removal at 500 West 5th
). Upon a roll call vote taken and all voting in favor, motion carried.
Resolution Approving a
License Agreement and Granting a Temporary Construction Easement for the Water
Tower Property: Hill explained no agreement was signed at the time the
city purchased the property where the water tower sits and the property itself
is actually land-locked on the University’s property. Hill stated this resolution
would authorize a license agreement and temporary construction easement with
the University of Minnesota. The city would be given access to the water tower
property and the University would be given access to the city’s property for repair
of the retaining wall on the south end of the football field.
Council member Webster
moved, seconded by Mayor Giese, to adopt Resolution #2868-5-09, Resolution
Approving a License Agreement and Granting a Temporary Construction Easement
for the Water Tower Property. Upon a roll call vote taken and all voting in
favor, motion carried.
CITY MANAGER’S REPORTS
& RECOMMENDATIONS: Authorization for South Street Employee Crossing:
Hill explained SCMC has asked for permission to place pedestrian crossing
lights on South Street, where their employees cross the street from the parking
lot. The city was waiting to move forward with this to see if the work could
be done in conjunction with a Safe Routes to School grant, but the city
recently learned they did not receive the grant. SCMC has agreed to pay all
the costs for the crossing lights. Police Chief Beauregard stated the lights
would flash at all times, but doesn’t anticipate any problem with the
residential area.
Council member Storck
moved, seconded by Miller, to allow SCMC to put in crossing lights on South
Street near the SCMC parking lot, with all expenses being paid by SCMC. Motion
carried.
City Manager Report:
Hill stated the Highland Homes Addition project has started and an
informational letter went out to all residents in the project area. Weekly
meetings will be held on Thursday mornings so residents can come and ask
questions and keep informed. Hill pointed out the project will be phased and
working hours are from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Hill explained he has started
going around town looking for junk, unlicensed cars and unlicensed dogs. The
city will also begin sending out letters to properties who have not mowed their
lawn. Hill noted there is nothing that can be done about dandelions, as they
are no longer considered a noxious weed.
Giese noted the school
board plans to being taping their meetings and also putting them on the public
access channel.
Highland Homes: Hill
indicated he would be sending another letter to all utilities to let them know
they are not following the regulations with regard to easements.
NEW BUSINESS: None
OLD BUSINESS:
Storck asked about the Ransone house at East 4th Street. Hill
stated it is still in bankruptcy. Beauregard suggested sending a letter to the
judge with some photographs. Storck asked what could be done about garages that
are ready to fall down. Hill noted it would have to be taken to the next step and
declared inhabitable, but if they are just full of garbage he can send them a
letter.
Miller asked about the
house at East 3rd and California and if there was a time limit on
building permits. Hill indicated he would talk to the building inspector and
figure out where the property owner is at with the project.
INFORMATIONAL ITEMS:
ATV Regulations: Storck asked about the ability to buy and ride bigger
ATV’s on the streets in town. Beauregard stated the difficulty is that there
is contradictory information coming from the DNR and the State of Minnesota.
Beauregard stated the city cannot take action to override state law and state
law says Class 2 ATV’s are not allowed on city streets.
ADJOURNMENT: There
being no further business, Mayor Giese adjourned the meeting at 11:16 a.m.
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