Council Minutes

April 14, 2008
STATE OF ILLINOIS
COUNTY OF WHITESIDE
CITY OF MORRISON
OFFICIAL PROCEEDINGS

 The Morrison City Council met in regular session on April 14, 2008 at 7:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers at City Hall, 200 West Main Street.  Mayor Roger Drey called the meeting to order.  City Clerk Melanie T. Schroeder recorded the minutes.

 Aldermen present on roll call were Scott Connelly, Gus Hayenga, Patricia Zuidema, Dave Rose, Ann Slavin, James Blakemore, and Barbara Bees.  Alderman Bob Snodgrass was absent on roll call.  

 Other City Officials present included City Administrator Tim Long, City Attorney Lester Weinstine, Chief Ernie Huling, Superintendent of Public Services Gary Tresenriter and Code Inspector Pete Whiting.

                         Mayor Drey led the recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance.

                         Alderman Hayenga moved to approve the minutes of the Regular City Council Meeting held on March 24, 2008, seconded by Alderman Rose.  On a voice vote, the motion carried.

                         Alderman Blakemore moved to approve the minutes of the Special City Council Meeting held on March 28, 2008, seconded by Alderman Connelly.  On a voice vote, the motion carried. 

                        Alderman Zuidema moved to authorize payment of the bills payable as published in the amount of $98,747.39, seconded by Alderman Bees. On a roll call vote of 7 ayes (Hayenga, Zuidema, Rose, Slavin, Blakemore, Bees, Connelly) and 0 nays, the motion carried.

                         Mayor Drey opened the meeting to public comment.  There was none.

                         Chief of Police Ernie Huling presented his report:

1)      Chief Huling stated that bicycle patrol training will be taking place soon for two police officers.

2)      A rough draft description for a School Resource Officer is in process.

3)      Mayor Drey, Chief Huling and Officer Soenksen have attended a training session on a Citizens Police Academy.  Officer Soenksen has done much work with offering an Academy to Morrison citizens.  The Academy is scheduled to begin on September 3, 2008 and will be a 12-week session. 

                        The March 26, 2008 Planning and Zoning Board of Approval minutes were included in the packet.  Chairman Bob Gale commented with regard to placing the Auto Sales in a C-3 Zoned District.

 The April 8, 2008 Historic Preservation Commission minutes were included in the packet.

Mayor Drey congratulated City Clerk Schroeder on her completion of the Municipal Clerks of Illinois Spring Seminar.  Council members echoed his sentiments.

 City Clerk Schroeder presented a brief report on her attendance at the Municipal Clerks of Illinois Spring Seminar.  Topics of discussion included: Dealing with Technology – Website Update and Paperless Agendas; Successful Lobbying; the State of Illinois Constitutional Convention – on the ballot for November 2008; and a motivational presentation on the “Fish Philosophy”.  City Clerk Schroeder thanked the Council for allowing her to attend.

Administrator Long and City Attorney Weinstine requested an Executive Session to be held later in the meeting.

Agenda Action Items:

1)      Alderman Bees moved to approve the Request for Parade Permit as submitted by Morrison Little League, seconded by Alderman Hayenga.  On a roll call vote of 7 ayes (Zuidema, Rose, Slavin, Blakemore, Bees, Connelly, Hayenga) and 0 nays, the motion carried.  The parade will be on May 3, 2008 beginning at 10:30 a.m.

2)      Alderman Bees moved to approve the Tree Planting Request as presented by Eugene Jansma of 103 East Morris Street, provided that the JULIE locates are satisfactory and the trees stay trimmed, seconded by Alderman Zuidema.  On a roll call vote of 7 ayes (Rose, Slavin, Blakemore, Bees, Connelly, Hayenga, Zuidema) and 0 nays, the motion carried.

3)      Alderman Rose moved to adopt Ordinance #08-05 – An Ordinance Amending the City Code of the City of Morrison, County of Whiteside, State of Illinois by Amending Title 10, “Vehicles and Traffic” by Adding Parking Restrictions to High Street for the Purpose of Establishing a Bicycle Trail as part of the Comprehensive Bicycle Route Plan for the City, as corrected (adding “s” at the end of Friends of the Parks), seconded by Alderman Blakemore.  On a roll call vote of 7 ayes (Slavin, Blakemore, Bees, Connelly, Hayenga, Zuidema, Rose,) and 0 nays, the motion carried.

4)      Alderman Blakemore moved to adopt Ordinance #08-06 – An Ordinance Providing for a Map Amendment to the Zoning Ordinance of the City of Morrison, County of Whiteside, State of Illinois by Identifying Parcels Presently in use as Automobile, Motorcycle, or Camper Sales and Changing These Parcels From C-2 General Business District to C-3 Automobile-Oriented Commercial District as Defined by Section Seven of said Zoning Ordinance, as corrected by attaching legal descriptions for the two parcels in question, seconded by Alderman Connelly.  On a roll call vote of 7 ayes (Blakemore, Bees, Connelly, Hayenga, Zuidema, Rose, Slavin) and 0 nays, the motion carried.

5)      Alderman Bees moved to approve pay request #2 from Fischer Excavation in the amount of $9,180.93 for work performed on the Klimstra Court/French Creek Road sewer extension, seconded by Alderman Hayenga.  On a roll call vote of 7 ayes (Bees, Connelly, Hayenga, Zuidema, Rose, Slavin, Blakemore) and 0 nays, the motion carried. 

6)      Alderman Slavin moved to approve pay request #2 from Willett Hofmann & Associates in the amount of $1,774.15 for engineering services for the Klimstra Court/French Creek Road sewer extension, seconded by Alderman Zuidema.  On a roll call vote of 7 ayes (Connelly, Hayenga, Zuidema, Rose, Slavin, Blakemore, Bees) and 0 nays, the motion carried.

7)      Alderman Bob Snodgrass arrived at 7:27 p.m.

 8)      Alderman Hayenga moved to approve the Farmer’s Market, organized by the MAPPING Events and Festivals Action Committee, seconded by Alderman Zuidema.  On a roll call vote of 8 ayes (Hayenga, Zuidema, Rose, Slavin, Blakemore, Bees, Snodgrass) and 0 nays, the motion carried.  The Farmer’s Market will be partially held on city property, located at the NE corner of US Route 30 and Cherry Street.

9)      Alderman Bees moved to enter into executive session to discuss property acquisition and pending litigation, seconded by Alderman Snodgrass.   On a roll call vote of 8 ayes (Zuidema, Rose, Slavin, Blakemore, Bees, Snodgrass, Connelly) and 0 nays, the motion carried.  Executive session began at 7:30 p.m.

10)  Regular session resumed at 8:06 p.m.  There was no action as a result of executive session.

There being no further business, Alderman Rose moved to adjourn the meeting, seconded by Alderman Blakemore.  On a voice vote, the motion carried.

Mayor Drey adjourned the meeting at 8:08 p.m.

Approved: 

Roger K. Drey, Mayor

Melanie T. Schroeder, City Clerk