CITY OF FULTON
REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
JUNE 2, 2008
5:30 PM

Mayor Van Zuiden called the meeting to order and directed the clerk to call the roll.  On roll call, Mayor Howard Van Zuiden, Aldermen Charles Dykstra, Gene Field, Merle Sterenberg, Charlie Letcher, Warren Juist, Wes Letcher and Ron Roels answered present.  Ald. Bill Loerop was absent.  Also in attendance were Randy Balk - City Administrator, Garry Medema - Treasurer, Clink Kettler - Zoning Officer and Jeremy Leitzen - Sergeant at Arms.

The invocation was given by Pastor Mathews, from the Fulton Assembly of God Church.

Ald. Field moved, seconded by Ald. C. Letcher to approve the minutes of the May 19, 2008 regular meeting.   Roll call vote/all yes/motion carried.

Ald. Sterenberg moved, seconded by Ald. C. Letcher to approve the pre-audit April Treasurer's Report.  Roll call vote/all yes/motion carried.

Ald. C. Letcher moved, seconded by Ald. Field to pass Resolution 205, 206 and 207 to borrow money from Central Bank (205) and Community State Bank (206 and 207).   All 3 loans were already approved in an ordinance previously. (No. 1372)  These resolutions are bookkeeping requirements for the banks.  Roll call vote/all yes/motion carried.

Ald. Dykstra moved, seconded by Ald. Juist to waive the Cattail Park rent fee for the Schmaling Memorial Library.  The library will use the park for the children's summer reading program final party on June 30, 2008.   Roll call vote/all yes/motion carried.

Ald. C. Letcher moved, seconded by Ald. Roels to pass Ordinance No. 1373 Amending CHAPTER 53 ENTITLED SOLID WASTE AND MONTHLY FEE FOR COLLECTION OF BULK YARD WASTE and approve the new schedule of fees. The increase to customers with a yard waste fee is $.11per month.  Roll call vote/all yes/motion carried.

There was a lot of discussion between the council and the Sikkema Trailer Court - represented by owner Art Sikkema, manager Judy, and Windmill Realty agents Barb and Len Janis.  Mrs. Janis addressed the council regarding the prospective buyer of the trailer court who owns several other trailer courts which are all nice.  She passed around some pictures of his courts. 

The appraisal amount of $29,000 for the streets (just shy of 3 acres) in the trailer park was told to the council by Randy Balk.   Mrs. Janis said charging Art Sikkema $29,000 is inconceivable and she beseeched the council to charge a minimal fee, stating the land is of no use to anyone. 

Many of the aldermen wanted assurance that the new owner would remove the decrepit and unused trailers.   Mrs. Janis stated that she could not reveal the amount of the down payment, but indicated it was sizable and didn't think someone would put out that much money and then not keep the park nice.  

Another council concern was that giving away almost 3 acres would be a bad precedent and hard to explain to others who have been or will be charged fair market value for vacated property. 

City Attorney Bill Shirk explained that in order to pass a vacation ordinance, ¾  (6) of the council vote is necessary.   The council would like to meet with the prospective buyer to discuss his plans and to ask him for an agreement that the vacant trailers would be removed in a timely manner.

Ald. Dykstra moved, seconded by Ald. Sterenberg to enter executive session to discuss the purchase or lease of property.  Roll call vote/all yes/ motion carried.

The council entered executive session at 6:30PM.  Executive session minutes are recorded elsewhere.

The council returned to regular session at 6:47PM.

Ald. Roels moved, seconded by Ald. Juist to authorize the preparation of an ordinance to vacate the city streets in the trailer court based upon terms to be determined.   Roll call vote/Ald. Field, Juist, C. Letcher, W. Letcher, and Roels voted yes/Ald. Dykstra and Sterenberg voted no/motion carried.  Shirk stated that if there are not 6 yes votes for the ordinance when it is voted upon, that it will not pass.   He will have an ordinance prepared for the June 16, 2008 meeting.

Ald Roels moved, seconded by Ald. Sterenberg to adjourn.  Voice vote/all yes/motion carried.  The meeting adjourned at 6:55PM.

Minutes recorded by,

Linda Hollis

City Clerk