MINUTES – MORRIS CITY
COUNCIL – REGULAR MEETING – MAY 26, 2009
The regular meeting of the
Morris City Council was called to order at 5:15 p.m. this 26th day
of May, 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 and Finance Director Krosschell. Public Works Director
Dittbenner arrived at 5:22 p.m.
CITIZEN’S COMMENTS:
Skip Hesse was present at the meeting and asked about the Ransone house at 16
East 4th Street and why the property hasn’t been cleaned up. Hill
indicated the last word the council received was it was in bankruptcy court in
Las Vegas, Nevada. Hesse pointed out that when nothing was being done to the
house on East 3rd Street, the city sent a letter and instructed that
progress be made or it would be torn down. Hill explained the difference with
that is that the city had the right to tear down the house on 3rd
Street. In this case, the city would have to go before the court in Las Vegas,
Nevada. Webster noted the council talked about sending correspondence and
photographs to the judge in Las Vegas to show them what the city is dealing
with. Hill stated he would love to see this house torn down tomorrow but the
city has to have the authority to do it. Hill stated he would look further
into this matter.
PUBLIC HEARINGS:
None
READING AND APPROVAL OF
MINUTES: 5/12/09 Regular Meeting Minutes: Council member Webster
moved, seconded by Storck, to approve the 5/12/09 regular meeting minutes.
Motion carried.
5/12/09 Condensed
Version Minutes: Council member Miller moved, seconded by Webster, to
approve the 5/12/09 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.
Approval of the city bills
dated May 26, 2009.
B. Pay
Estimate #1 – Highland Homes
C. SCMC Administrative
Report
D. Gambling Reports
E.
Revenue & Expenditure
Report
F.
Planning Commission Minutes,
4/21/09
G. Application
for Exempt Permit - Chamber
Council member Storck
asked about the item on the bill list for work comp and asked how long it would
continue. Krosschell explained the claim would continue until the medical
doctor makes a determination of maximum medical improvement. Storck expressed
concern about other staff having to pick up the slack for those that can’t
perform their job. Dittbenner noted some return to work with restrictions.
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 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: Resolution Accepting a Petition and Authorizing Additional
Work to be Assessed: Hill stated there was a customer at 4 Park Lane in the
Highland Homes project who was connected to an old line in their back yard.
Hill noted the best thing for this property would be to connect up to the new
sewer and water in the street right of way, but in order to do this the
property owner has to pay for the hook up, in addition to the other
assessments. The property owner has petitioned for the extra work within the
project. Hill indicated the contractor generally doesn’t want to do this kind
of work but felt it was the best thing for the property and gave them a
reasonable price. The old line would be capped off and abandoned.
Mayor Giese moved,
seconded by Council member Storck, to adopt Resolution #2869-5-09, Resolution
Accepting a Petition and Authorizing Additional Work to be Assessed at 4 Park
Lane. Upon a roll call vote taken and all present voting in favor, motion
carried.
Resolution Establishing
the East 2nd Street Improvement Project and Ordering Engineering and
Financing Feasibility Studies: Hill stated it is important to make sure this
project is looked at far enough in advance because it is a tremendous stretch from
Atlantic Avenue through the University on East 2nd. Kuhn indicated
this is not a state aid street and there is no additional designation available
to make it such. Hill stated this is the next project identified in the five
year capital improvement plan.
Webster
asked if UMM would consider on street parking from Circle Pines on down. Hill
stated city staff has talked about this and would be mentioning it to UMM.
Hill explained this area has been televised and there are some really bad
areas.
Council member Miller
moved, seconded by Webster, to adopt Resolution #2870-5-09, Resolution
Establishing the East 2nd Street Improvement Project and Ordering
Engineering and Financing Feasibility Studies to be Prepared. Upon a roll call
vote taken and all present voting in favor, motion carried.
Resolution Authorizing
as Asbestos Study for the Old Elementary School Property: Hill stated one of the next steps the city needs to do is determine
the costs for the removal of the asbestos at the old elementary school. Hill recommended
the city hire AES out of Minneapolis for a cost of $2,700 to conduct an
asbestos study.
Council member Webster
moved, seconded by Storck, to adopt Resolution #2871-5-09, Resolution Authorizing
an Asbestos Study for the Old Elementary School Property. Upon a roll call
vote taken and all present voting in favor, motion carried.
Resolution Accepting
Petitions and Authorizing Work to be Assessed: Hill explained originally the
Bello Cucina parking lot was included in the Oregon project because of the
change in the elevation of the road and sidewalk. City staff decided that they
would continue grading and paving the lots adjacent to Bello Cucina as long as
everyone wanted to be included in the project. All property owners have
indicated they want their lots paved, all the way up to Riverwood Bank. Hill
noted he doesn’t have all the signed petitions, but asked for authorization to
include them in the work and he would then bring a list of those property
owners to the next meeting for approval of the assessments. Hill stated
approximate costs are running about $4,500. Hill explained this is not
something the city would normally do but in this case it started with the city
changing the grade. Hill indicated he is waiting for word from the owner of the
lot next to the Pizza Ranch to see if he wants that lot paved also.
Council member Storck,
seconded by Webster, to adopt Resolution #2872-5-09, Resolution Accepting
Petitions and Authorizing Work to be Assessed. Upon a roll call vote taken and
all present voting in favor, motion carried.
First Reading of
Ordinance No. 85, An Ordinance Vacating Certain Public Right of Way and a
Portion of an Alley: Hill noted the Planning Commission has held their
hearing on this and are recommending going forward with the vacation. Hill
asked that the council consider the first reading of the ordinance tonight and
set the public hearing and second reading for the first meeting in June. Hill
explained that the county would be opening bids before the 30 day waiting
period is up after publication of the ordinance, so if for some reason the
county would not go ahead with the project the city could withdraw the
recommendation.
Mayor Giese moved,
seconded by Webster, to accept this as the first reading of Ordinance No. 85,
An Ordinance Vacating Certain Public Right of Way and a Portion of an Alley and
setting the public hearing and second reading for 5:15 p.m. on June 9th.
Upon a roll call vote taken and all present voting in favor, motion carried.
CITY MANAGER’S REPORTS
& RECOMMENDATIONS: County Landfill – Old Elementary School: Hill
suggested the city council formally request support from the county to allow
the city to put the demolition materials from the old elementary school in the county
landfill. Hill noted it may not directly be the city to dispose of the
materials, but whoever ends up taking the building down. Storck noted that if
the property is filled with new homes the county would benefit. Hill stated he
toured the building again and it is continuing to fall apart and recommended
anyone going into the building wear a mask.
Council member Miller
moved, seconded by Mayor Giese, to officially request support from the county in
the form of waiving County fees for putting the demolition materials from the
old elementary school in the County landfill. Motion carried.
City Manager Report:
Hill stated with regard to the budget, the governor still has not made a
decision and is asking legislators to submit ideas and seeking public input to
hopefully make a decision sometime in June. Hill indicated the city is supposed
to receive a state aid payment in July. Hill noted representative Ingebretson
would like to come to a council meeting.
Hill pointed out the PDT
parking lot would soon be paved.
Hill indicated the Emerald
Ash Borer is starting to show up in cities and killing ash trees. Hill stated 99.9%
of the trees in PDT Park are ash so staff is worried about the future of the
trees out there.
Hill noted the city
applied for a COPS grant to help save a possible position in the police
department from budget cuts.
Hill pointed out he would
not be at the next meeting, due to Army Reserves training.
NEW BUSINESS: None
OLD BUSINESS: None
INFORMATIONAL ITEMS:
None
ADJOURNMENT: There
being no further business, Mayor Giese adjourned the meeting at 6:14 p.m.
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