CITY OF FULTON

REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES

APRIL 6, 2009

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, Bill Loerop and Ron Roels answered present.  Also in attendance were Randy Balk - City Administrator, Bill Shirk - City Attorney, Heather Bennett - Tourism Director, Clink Kettler - Zoning Officer and Jim Rhoades - Chief of Police were also in attendance. 

The pledge of allegiance was recited.  The invocation was given by Pastor R.A. Mathews from the Fulton Assembly of God Church.

Ald. Field moved, seconded by Ald. Sterenberg to approve the March 16, 2009 regular council meeting minutes.  Roll call vote/all yes/motion carried.
 
Ald. Dykstra moved, seconded by Ald. Roels to approve the closing of 3rd Street from 12th Avenue to 11th Avenue including the city parking lot at the Riverbend District Office on Sunday afternoon, June 7, 2009 beginning at noon for the blessing of the bikes event with electricity supplied by either Ald. Dykstra or Ald. Field.  Roll call vote/all yes/motion carried.  Larry Leonard and Tim Richardson had asked the council to allow them to close the same block but on 4th Street.  Leonard, who owns a bar and restaurant on 4th Street, and Richardson of A.B.A.T.E., said they had spoken to two other business owners on 4th Street and both said they did not object to 4th Street being closed for the afternoon on that day, as long as they were notified in advance.
 
Ald. Sterenberg moved, seconded by Ald. C. Letcher to close 11th Avenue between 5th Street and 4th Street for summer community night events on June 11th and 25th, July 9th and 23rd and August 13th and 27th from 4:30pm to 8:00pm, as requested by Heather Bennett.  Roll call vote/all yes/motion carried.
 
Heather Bennett unveiled the name selected by the museum committee from 199 entries submitted.  The name they chose is Windmill Cultural Center, which was submitted anonymously.   Ald. W. Letcher moved, seconded by Ald. C. Letcher to approve the naming of the museum to Windmill Cultural Center.  Roll call vote/all yes/motion carried.
 
Ald. C. Letcher moved, seconded by Ald. Sterenberg to pass Ordinance No. 1387 Amending the rates, charges and fees for waste water treatment service in Section 50.04 (A) and water service in Section 51.065. Roll call vote/all yes/motion carried.  Ald. Roels stated he wanted it to be known that he was voting yes for the increase due to the need for well maintenance and filtration systems.
 
Steve Bull of the American Legion and Boyd Van Dellen of the Fulton Fire Department asked about the possibility of storing items in the old fire station. The Legion has an antique fire truck and flags they would like to store.   Van Dellen said their fire truck is currently being stored in a building which may be sold and they would need another location.  It was decided that since the future of the old fire department building is unknown at this time it may not be a long term solution for the Legion and the Fire Department storage needs.  Randy will meet with them to view the old garbage garage to see if it might be suitable for their needs and then will make a recommendation to the council.
 
Ald. Roels moved, seconded by Ald. W. Letcher to approve the request to close the office at 3:00pm on the 20th or the Monday the water bills are due if the 20th falls on a Saturday or Sunday.  Roll call vote/all yes/motion carried.   The staff needs the hour from 3pm to 4pm on that day to enter the payments received, process the second notices and get them to the post office.

The business day cut off is 3pm every day, so any payment received after 3pm on any given day is posted to the next day's business.  On the due date, this is important because payments received after 3 are late payments and a penalty is added to the late accounts.

Ald. Juist moved, seconded by Ald. C. Letcher to approve the amendment to Section 3.2 (A) of the City of Fulton Personnel Policy Manual.  Roll call vote/all yes/motion carried.  All general personnel employees shall be required to reside within a thirty mile radius of the Fulton City limits within 3 months after completing their probationary period.

Ald. Loerop moved, seconded by Ald. Roels to schedule a budget public hearing for April 20, 2009 at 5:30pm.  Roll call vote/all yes/motion carried.

Ald. C. Letcher moved, seconded by Ald. W. Letcher to pass Resolution No. 211 adopting Identity theft and red flag rules regarding municipal utilities.  Roll call vote/all yes/motion carried.

Balk suggested we prepare a resolution or proclamation to give special recognition to our community volunteers at the next meeting because April 19-25th is national volunteer week.

Old Business.  Jo-Carroll Energy agreement.  It was recently discovered that no other cities have an agreement with Jo-Carroll.  We are not sure that we need to have one.

School Park restroom infrastructure problems are being looked at to see if the building is even suitable for painting.

The millers will discuss the future of the bricks at their meeting on April 14, 2009.

New Business.  Ald. Roels told the council that he and Ald. C. Letcher are on the Fulton Historical Society's meeting on Monday, April 20, 2009 at 7:00pm.  He asked the press to publish this information in the paper and to urge all members to attend.

Ald. Roels moved, seconded by Ald. to adjourn.  Voice vote/all yes/motion carried.  The meeting adjourned at 6:15pm.

Minutes recorded by,

Linda Hollis

City Clerk