MORRISTOWN CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
    Regular Meeting 
    June 7, 2010
     

    Members Present:  Mayor Kurt Wolf and Councilmember’s, Jeff Lang, Verdis Flaten, and Lisa Karsten

    Members Absent: Matt Valentyn

    Others Present:   Becky Kuball City Clerk, Dave Osborne Police, Jack Schwichtenberg, Rich Revering, Troy Dahle, Tim Minske, Jim Hilpipre, Mark Morris, Jamie Jenson

    A regular meeting of the Morristown City Council was called to order on Monday, 
    June 7, 2010 at 7:05 p.m. in the Council Chambers at 402 Division Street South by Mayor Kurt Wolf.

    The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.

    Motion by Lang seconded by Flaten and motion carries to approve the minutes of the regular meeting held on May 3, 2010 and Special Work Session held on May 17, 2010 with two corrections. 

    Financial Report: Motion by Lang seconded by Flaten motion carries to accept the financial report ending April 30, 2010 as written

    Motion by Flaten seconded by Lang and carried unanimously to approve the Police Report and schedule for June 2010.
    Wolf questioned how safe and sober went. Osborne stated “he had not gotten the final numbers in yet, he thought that they should be in shortly.”
    Flaten asked how many outside officers Osborne had hired for the weekend. Osborne said he had hired 4 or 5. 
    Osborne stated they had a search warrant in the trailer park a couple of weeks ago and that they were “pretty big players in meth”.

    Fire Department: 
    Motion by Flaten seconded by Karsten and motion carries to accept the fire department report as printed.

    Maintenance Report: Minske wanted to thank Teri Beyer for the great job she did with the flowers at the park. Minske would like to send her a thank you note. Minske would like to thank all the people that came down to help out at dam days. If it wasn’t for all the volunteers dam days wouldn’t happen. There have been comments about the “good old boys” in town and it is “becoming a joke”. If it wasn’t for all the volunteers, then the school house, water wheel and other things would not get done in this town. Lang questioned who is saying this stuff, but Minske did not want to say, but did state he had heard it right here in a council meeting. 
    Wolf would like to send out a letter to Teri Byers thanking her for the great job done in the park and would also like to see the list of volunteers so that they can be thanked as well.
    Minske said they finally got the parts in for the tanker.

    Motion by Lang seconded by Karsten motion carries to accept the Maintenance report as presented.
     

    June 7, 2010
    Page 2

    Morris stated that the zoning board would like to have the council look over the ordinance for adding a $25 permit fee for windows, roof and siding. The zoning board is not trying to deter people from doing these things, but would like it regulated. It would be so that we do not have issues in the future like we do now in town, with unfinished siding, roofs and boarded up windows.  The nuisance order in town should takes care of the ones that are not finished in town, but the zoning would like to prevent future issues.
    Karsten wanted clarification that was this the same ordinance we had the public hearing on already. Kuball stated that it was the same one. 
    Zoning Board Report: Motion by Lang seconded by Karsten motion carries to except the zoning board minutes dated April 15, 2010 as written.

    92.21 nuisance order would fall under the unfinished buildings in town and should be able to be addressed there.

    Kuball will put the window, siding and roof ordinance on the June 21st agenda for a vote.

    Comments from citizens present: In the future, if a complaint is being made and the person does not want to say a name publicly, Troy Dahle requested that the name be passed on to a council member so that the complaint can be dealt with. Without a name you have nothing and cannot validate that it was said.  Dahle questioned who the “somebody” is that is saying things. Osborne stated that if someone is making a complaint, and doesn’t sign their name how do you follow up. Minske stated that 99% of the complaints he gets, people tell him that they won’t fill out a complaint form because they are afraid of the repercussions, and that it is sad that people are afraid to make the complaints. 

    Claims and Accounts:
    Motion by Lang seconded by Karsten motion carries to accept the claims and accounts dated June 7, 2010, with two corrections on the late claims.

    Motion by Lang seconded by Karsten motion carries to accept the late claims and accounts dated June 7, 2010

    Maintenance interviews scheduled for Thursday.

    Peddlers Solicitor and Transient tabled until June 21st.

    Meschke addition: Revering proposed resolutions to put assessments on the Meschke addition for the final tar coat. 
    Motion by Lang seconded by Flaten motion carries to pass resolution. Voting by Resolution Karsten-yes, Lang-yes, Flaten- yes and Wolf- yes, ordering preparation of report on improvement.

    WHEREAS, it is proposed to improve Meschke South Haven Third Addition: Sidney and Thruen Streets from 140’ west of Fourth St. to 140’ west of Fountain Street and Fountain Street from 130’ north of Thruen Street to 130’ south of Sidney Street and to assess the benefited property for all or a portion of the cost of the improvement, pursuant to Minnesota Statutes, Chapter 429,

    NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF MORRISTOWN, MINNESOTA:

    That the proposed improvement, called Meschke South Haven 3rd Addition Street Improvements be referred to Bolton & Menk, Inc. for study and that they are instructed to report to the council with all convenient speed advising the Council in a preliminary way as to whether the proposed improvement is necessary, cost-effective, and feasible; whether it should best be made as proposed or in connection with some other improvement; the estimated cost of the improvement as recommended; and a description of the methodology used to calculate individual assessments for affected parcels.

    Adopted by the Council this 7th day of June , 2010.
     

    June 7, 2010
    Page 3

    Motion by Flaten seconded by Karsten motion carries voting by resolution Karsten-yes, Lang- yes, Flaten- yes, Wolf-yes to approve resolution receiving feasibility report and calling hearing on improvement.

    Receiving Feasibility Report and Calling Hearing on Improvement

    WHEREAS, pursuant to resolution of the council adopted June 7th, 2010, a report has been prepared by Bolton & Menk, Inc. with reference to proposed Meschke South Haven 3rd Addition Street Improvements, including: Sidney and Thruen Streets from 140’ west of Fourth St. to 140’ west of Fountain Street and Fountain Street from 130’ north of Thruen Street to 130’ south of Sidney Street and this report was received by the council on June 7th, 2010, and

    WHEREAS, the report provides information regarding whether the proposed improvement is necessary, cost-effective, and feasible; whether it should best be made as proposed or in connection with some other improvement; the estimated cost of the improvement as recommended; and a description of the methodology used to calculate individual assessments for affected parcels.

    NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF MORRISTOWN, MINNESOTA:
    1. The Council will consider the improvement of such street in accordance with the report and the assessment of abutting property for all or a portion of the cost of the improvement pursuant to Minnesota Statutes, Chapter 429 at an estimated total cost of the improvement of $67,400.

    2. A public hearing shall be held on such proposed improvement on the 6th day of July, 2010, in the council chambers of the city hall at 7:30 p.m. and the clerk shall give mailed and published notice of such hearing and improvement as required by law.
     

    Adopted by the council this 7th day of June, 2010.

    Jamie Jenson: Jenson is proposing a teen, youth or family night at the community center on Sunday nights to try and bring some income into the city and utilize the community center. Jenson is looking at a 6-10 pm time frame. Jenson is looking for input as to what night it should be and directed towards what age group. Karsten suggested a family night from 6-8 and then a teen or youth after that. Council told Jenson to get together with the commercial club and see what they could work out. The fee for the hall use will be discussed later.
    Motion by Lang seconded by Wolf motion carries to allow Jenson to go ahead and start planning a teen, youth or family night on Sundays at the community center.

    Minske’s Review: Wolf working on review, tabled until next meeting.

    Safe and Sober: Wolf read an email he had sent to Mark Holm. “Jared Taylor requested that my original email be put in the minutes, so I would like my response noted also”.

    Mark,
     I have been thinking of a polite way to respond to this e-mail so I apologize for the delay.  First, I do not believe I asked you to cancel one of the Safe and Sober activities for Morristown's festival.  I have read 

    June 7, 2010
    Page 4

     (and reread) my e-mail several times to see if I gave you any indication that I did.  That is not what the City of Morristown intended.  If I gave anyone that impression, please accept my sincerest apology.

    What we (the Morristown City Council) are looking for is an explanation.  With 3/5th's of the council being new, we are asking how it is determined when and where Safe and Sober (or Nitecap or MOD squad) activities are conducted.  Your e-mail stated, "The MOD Squad is comprised of all of the law enforcement agencies in Rice County."  Prior to this e-mail, we spoke with the Morristown Chief of Police.  He said he has no voice in these decisions, and referred us to you.
     
    I believe the goal of all the programs mentioned is to make the roads as safe as possible for everyone.  A goal that we (the Morristown City Council) want to help with.  By understanding the process, we are able to make informed decisions and speak with citizens of our community on these issues.
     
    We did not intend this to be distributed throughout the county.  A simple answer to our question would have been sufficient.
     
    Thank you for your time,
    Kurt Wolf
    Mayor
    City of Morristown

    Wolf than stated that Mark Holm did visit him at work and they had a discussion on how this is decided. He did say that Osborne is our reprehensive and any questions pertaining to this should be directed to him.
    Mod Squad is a combo of the two.
    Night Cap is State Patrol decision.
    Safe and Sober- Osborne has a say and decides what wave they participate in.
    Karsten asked about the Dam Days weekend and Osborne stated that is a Night Cap decision.
    Flaten questioned what happens if our car is smashed up in one of these patrols. Each jurisdiction is responsible for their vehicle. Safe and sober pays the wages for their program. Osborne said it is like mutual aid if a vehicle gets smashed or an officer is injured it would be their own cities responsibility. 

    Zoning board committee meeting is open to the public on June 10th at 7 pm at city hall. The meeting is to relook and listen to the community members that would like to the board to relook at the ordinance that no longer allows farm animals within the city limits. Zoning board would like two members from the city council to attend. Karsten and Lang will attend the meeting.

    Comments and Announcements: None

    Motion by Lang seconded by Flaten motion and carries to adjourn at 8:25 p.m.
     
     
     
     

    Becky Kuball
                     City Clerk/Treasurer