MINUTES – MORRIS CITY
COUNCIL–REGULAR MEETING – OCTOBER 27, 2009
The regular meeting of the
Morris City Council was called to order at 5:15 p.m. this 27th
day of October, 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, Fleet Manager Searle, Police Chief Beauregard,
City Engineer/Surveyor/Inspector Fier and City Attorney Glasrud.
CITIZEN’S COMMENTS:
None
PUBLIC HEARINGS: Public
Hearing on a Project to be Undertaken in the City of Morris by the Stevens
County HRA: Mayor Giese opened the public hearing at 5:16 p.m. City
Manager Hill stated he received no comments on this public hearing. Hill
explained the only thing this has to do with the city is that the project
itself is located in city limits. This resolution would approve the project to
be undertaken by the Stevens County HRA, which is the courthouse improvement
project. The Stevens County HRA would issue revenue bonds to finance the
project.
There being no comments
from the public, Mayor Giese closed the public hearing at 5:17 p.m. and brought
the matter back to the council for action.
Council member Miller
moved, seconded by Storck, to adopt Resolution #2892-10-09, A Resolution
Relating to a Project to be Undertaken in the City of Morris by the Stevens
County HRA. Upon a roll call vote taken and all present voting in favor,
motion carried.
Jim Thoreen updated the
council on the status of the courthouse project.
Public Hearing and 2nd
Reading of Ordinance No. 86, An Ordinance Granting Permission to Otter Tail
Power Company to Conduct Business in the City of Morris: Mayor Giese
opened the public hearing at 5:24 p.m.
Hill stated he did not
receive any calls with regard to this issue. Bill Klyve of Otter Tail Power
was present at the meeting to answer any questions from the council.
There being no questions
or comments, Mayor Giese closed the public hearing at 5:25 p.m. and brought the
matter back to the council for action.
Council member Carrington
moved, seconded by Webster, to accept this as the second reading and adopt
Ordinance No. 86, An Ordinance Granting Permission to Otter Tail Power Company
to Conduct Business in the City of Morris. Upon a roll call vote taken and all
present voting in favor, motion carried.
READING AND APPROVAL OF
MINUTES: 10/13/09 Regular Meeting Minutes: Mayor Giese moved,
seconded by Council member Storck, to approve the 10/13/09 regular meeting
minutes. Motion carried.
10/13/09 Condensed
Version Minutes: Council member Webster moved, seconded by Carrington, to
approve the 10/13/09 condensed version minutes. Motion carried.
CONSENT AGENDA:
Mayor Giese moved, seconded by Council member Storck, to approve the consent
agenda, which included the following items:
A.
Approval of the city bills
dated October 27, 2009
B. Pay
Estimate #6 – Highland Homes
C. SCMC
Administrative Report
D. Gambling
Reports
PETITIONS, REQUESTS AND
COMMUNICATIONS: Gambling Report from American Legion: Council member
Carrington moved, seconded by Miller, 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: Resolution Calling for a Preliminary Assessment Hearing for
the East 2nd Street Improvement Project: City Manager Hill
stated staff is asking that the hearing be set for November 24th at
5:20 p.m. All the property owners have been identified and will be given
mailed notice of the hearing.
Giese asked about property
owners who were assessed on College Avenue for storm sewer. Fier stated they
will be paying for the part they were not assessed for before. Giese asked if
the University was receptive to sidewalk and curb & gutter and Fier stated
they are. Fier has been meeting with UMM on various issues. The project will
begin the day after commencement in May.
Council member Miller
moved, seconded by Storck, to adopt Resolution #2893-10-09, Resolution Calling
for a Preliminary Assessment Hearing for the East 2nd Street
Improvement Project and set the hearing for 5:20 p.m. on November 24th.
Upon a roll call vote taken and all present voting in favor, motion carried.
Resolution Authorizing
Execution of MN DOT Agreement for Airport Maintenance and Operation: This agreement
covers 2010 and 2011 and is an ongoing thing that helps with maintenance at the
airport.
Mayor Giese moved,
seconded by Council member Webster, to adopt Resolution #2894-10-09, Resolution
Authorizing Execution of MN DOT Grant Agreement for Airport Maintenance and
Operation. Upon a roll call vote taken and all present voting in favor, motion
carried.
Resolution Approving an
Assessment for Tree Removal: Hill explained the city directed that the
tree at 400 West 6th Street be removed because of dutch elm disease.
Hill indicated the property owner had the tree removed but once they got the
bill realized they were unable to pay it. Hill noted this is the fairest way
to do it and suggested the bill for $908.44 for tree removal at 400 West 6th
Street be placed on the tax rolls for a term of five years at an interest rate
of 5.85%.
Council member Webster
moved, seconded by Carrington, to adopt Resolution #2895-10-09, Resolution
Approving an Assessment for Tree Removal. Upon a roll call vote taken and all
present voting in favor, motion carried.
CITY MANAGER’S REPORTS
& RECOMMENDATIONS: City Manager Report: Hill pointed out the
new manager of the liquor store is Dean Mithun. Hill believes it will be a
good fit for the liquor store.
Carrington asked about the
house on East 2nd Street. Hill stated the interesting thing about
this is that the house that was brought in is the only house of the first three
on the block that meets the code requirements. Hill noted the owner did get a
building permit to put in the basement. Hill indicated there is no code that
relates to moving a house into town and maybe that’s something the council
wants to look at.
With regard to the Ransone
property, in December the bankruptcy trustee is going before the bankruptcy
court so the HRA will be able to purchase the house.
Miller noted the house on
3rd & California is now for sale. There was discussion on what
to do with houses that people don’t fix up.
Hill pointed out with
regard to snow fall on sidewalks, the city is going to try and deal with it quicker
than in the past. Storck expressed his frustration at the city going back to
clear snow from business owners along main street that have pushed it into the
street after the plows have already gone by. Hill stated he feels city staff
has to come back a second day anyway depending on when the snowfall stops. Fleet
Manager Searle stated the businesses that hire people to remove snow work well
with city staff.
NEW BUSINESS: None
OLD BUSINESS: None
INFORMATIONAL ITEMS:
None
ADJOURNMENT: There
being no further business, Mayor Giese adjourned the meeting at 5:55 p.m.
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