CITY OF FULTON
REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
JULY 21, 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, Bill Loerop and Ron Roels answered present.  Also in attendance were Bill Shirk - City Attorney, Donnie Pridemore - Sergeant at arms, Heather Bennett - Tourism Director, Dan Clark - Public Works Director and Garry Medema - Treasurer.

The pledge of allegiance was recited.  There was no invocation.

Ald. Sterenberg moved, seconded by Ald. Field to approve the July 7, 2008 regular council meeting minutes.  Roll call vote/all yes/motion carried.

Ald. C. Letcher moved, seconded by Ald. Sterenberg to approve the bill list as presented.  Roll call vote/all yes/motion carried.

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

Ald. C. Letcher moved, seconded by Ald. Roels to approve a façade grant in the amount of $2,500 for a permanent awning at the Golden Wok Chinese Restaurant as recommended by the façade grant review committee.  Roll call vote/all yes/motion carried.   The total cost of the project is $6,157.50.

Ald. Sterenberg moved, seconded by Ald. Roels to pass Ordinance No. 1375 Authorizing the sale of city owned property to Palm Properties of the River Cities, LLC. (Lot #1 in the City's Industrial Development No. 2) for $10,700.  Roll call vote/all yes/motion carried.

Ald. Roels moved, seconded by Ald. Dykstra to prepare an ordinance to borrow $140,000 from Community State Bank of Fulton with a five year fixed interest rate of 3.37% for a term of eight years, with loan payments to be made from

hotel/motel tax revenue.   Roll call vote/all yes/motion carried.  This money is part of the local match required for the museum grant awarded to the city.  The recommendation to the council was to borrow $100,000 and finance the other $40,000 from the general fund reserve.

Ald. C. Letcher moved, seconded by Ald. Sterenberg to approve the Museum Committee as follows:  Neal Luker - Friends of the Windmill, Rick Daehler - Fulton Millers, Nancy Kolk - Community/Downtown, Bill Loerop - City Council, Heather Bennett- City Staff/Tourism and Henk Hielema  - Honorary member.  Roll call vote/all yes/motion carried.   Henk Hielema is the donor of the model windmill collection for the museum.

Ald. Roels moved, seconded by Ald. Field to approve a city staff/council dinner at a cost of up to $1,200 to be held on August 6, 2008 at Buck's Barn after a golf outing for staff and council.   Roll call vote/all yes/motion carried.

Ald. C. Letcher moved, seconded by Ald. Roels to approve the Fulton Miller's purchase of a portable winch to use to turn the cap on the windmill.   Roll call vote/all yes/motion carried.

Ald. Field asked that we send a thank you note to Exelon for the donation of the defibrillator.

Ald. Loerop stated he still has parking safety concerns downtown and was wondering if the streetscape committee was planning to meet again.  Committee member Dan Clark stated that they were no longer meeting as there was no money for the committee's projects.

Ald. Dykstra reported that the trailer court had been sold despite the fact that the city did not vacate the streets in the court.  He stated that eight of the trailers have been sold for scrap, the new owners will allow 2 persons per bedroom occupancy, 1 animal per trailer and will charge $170 per month rent for owner occupied trailers. 

Ald. Roels said he has received complaints about deer destroying gardens and vegetation on properties in the north end.   Ald. Roels asked Dan Clark to contact the DNR for advice on the deer population.

Ald. Sterenberg moved, seconded by Ald. Field to adjourn the meeting.  Voice vote/all yes/motion carried.   The meeting adjourned at 6:15PM.

Minutes recorded by,

Linda Hollis

City Clerk