CITY OF FULTON
REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
JULY 6, 2009
5:30 PM

Mayor Russell called the meeting to order and directed the clerk to call the roll.  On roll call, Mayor Larry Russell, 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, Heather Bennett - Tourism Director, Clink Kettler - Zoning Officer and Jim Rhoades - Chief of Police.

The pledge of allegiance was recited.   The invocation was given by Pastor Tom Merchant from Trinity Reformed Church.

Mayor Russell introduced Sid Dykstra, plan development coordinator for the Fulton Emergency Operations Plan.   The rest of the planning committee consists of Larry Russell, Randy Balk, Joe Michaelsen and Jim Rhoades.  Sid informed the council that they have met with Jim Wetzell, director of the Whiteside County Emergency Services Disaster Agency (ESDA) who suggested the Prophetstown plan as a good model.  After reviewing the Prophetstown model, the Fulton group concluded they would not use the entire Prophetstown model, but would scale it down to fit Fulton's needs.  They would like to have a 20-25 page plan for tornado and flooding disasters to be reviewed in July and also conduct a trial run.   

Joe Michaelsen, Chief of the Fulton Fire Protection District, said there will be a test of Fulton's existing emergency siren at 10:15am on Tuesday, July 7, 2009.  They need to find out where the siren can and cannot be heard and to determine if the siren needs to be relocated or if an additional siren is needed.    The siren is on the former fire station building. 

Jim Rhoades told the council the new fire station would be the primary command center in the event of a disaster, but a secondary command center would be necessary.  The former fire station is the suggestion for the secondary center.  After a review of the current communications system they determined the radios are all up to speed. 

Randy Balk said they hope to conduct a drill annually.  An updated inventory of equipment and contact numbers will be included in the document.

Mayor Russell referred the council to a letter he wrote September 22, 2008 regarding the conditions at the marina.  While some issues have been dealt with, it is still an eyesore.  The staff has done a good job getting the abandoned boats cleaned up.  Ald. Loerop said he believes the marina appearance has improved 75%.

There was no communication from visitors. 

Ald. Sterenberg moved, seconded by Ald. Juist to approve the June 15, 2009 regular council meeting minutes.   Roll call vote/all yes/motion carried.

Ald. W. Letcher moved, seconded by Ald. Roels to allow Denny O's tavern a 60 day trial period for his beer garden to stay open until midnight.  Roll call vote/Ald. Roels, W. Letcher, Juist, C. Letcher, and Field voted yes/Ald. Loerop, Sterenberg and Dykstra voted no/motion carried.  Denny Ottens current beer garden closing time is 10:00pm and he wanted to keep it open until 1:00am.  This is not the first time he has requested an extension of the beer garden hours.  Ottens said he has a petition signed by approximately 300 patrons requesting the extension, has not had any trouble with patrons in the beer garden and there will be no music.  Some of the aldermen are concerned that neighbors in the vicinity of the tavern will be disturbed by noise, other aldermen said residents living in or near a business district should expect a business to be able operate.  If there are any problems the trial period will not be extended.

Ald. Dykstra moved, seconded by Ald. C. Letcher to approve the construction of a wardrobe room at Heritage Canyon in the amount of $1,650 from the council special projects line item.  Roll call vote/all yes/motion carried.  This project request was approved last year, but due to weather conditions, it was not completed.  The cost of supplies went up considerably from last year.

Ald. Roels moved, seconded by Ald. W. Letcher to require a performance bond in the amount of $2,000 from Beirne Builders to be held for 90 days for the Windmill Cultural Center construction project.   Roll call vote/all yes/motion carried.

Ald. W. Letcher moved, seconded by Ald. C. Letcher to accept a geothermal system for the Windmill Cultural Center.  Roll call vote/Ald. Dykstra, Field, C. Letcher, W. Letcher, Loerop, Roels and Sterenberg voted yes/Ald. Juist voted no/motion carried.

Ald. Dykstra moved, seconded by Ald. W. Letcher to approve line item 23-00-394 for USDA grant proceeds and line item 23-00-894 for Geothermal system expenses at the Windmill Cultural Center.  Roll call vote/all yes/motion carried.

Ald. C. Letcher moved, seconded by Ald. W. Letcher to approve the Operating Budget and Plan for Operation and Maintenance as presented for the Windmill Cultural Center.  Roll call vote/Ald. Sterenberg, Loerop, W. Letcher, C. Letcher, Juist, Field and Dykstra voted yes/Ald. Roels voted no/motion carried.

Ald. Field moved, seconded by Ald. Juist to pass Resolution No. 217 for re-platting the area at the corner of Rt. 84 and Rt. 136 near the Community State Bank location.  Roll call vote/all yes/motion carried.   This will make the area more marketable.

Mayor's Report.   Mayor Russell said he is working on a TIF report and continuing work on the Emergency Operations Plan which will need a permanent director eventually. He would also like to contact Sauk Valley Community College regarding the need for a facility here. 

Old Business.  Meetings have taken place with the Fulton Historical Society representatives and 2 aldermen regarding a Martin House agreement.  They are working on a 5 year agreement with a goal of completion by September 1st.

Street closure requests will remain under old business as we review other cities' policies and regulations.

Marina:  Auction of 5 remaining unclaimed boats to be held on July 17th.  A DNR boat access grant application is due by September 1, 2009.

New Business.  Bennett told the council that the Hielema windmill collection arrived safely.

Balk asked the council if they wanted to move the September 7, 2009 meeting to Tuesday, September 8, 2009 due to the Labor Day holiday on Monday.   As it gets closer to the date it may be that the meeting is cancelled if there are no agenda items.

Ald. Roels said he had been asked what is going on with the School Park restroom building since we have portable toilets next to the building.   Balk explained that the building needs to be completely rehabbed but he hasn't yet sat down with Dan Clark to discuss the plan.

Ald. Dykstra moved, seconded by Ald. Roels to publicly commend Randy Balk on his completion of the Certified Public Manager course.   Roll call vote/all yes/motion carried.   Balk took the 302 hour course over a two year period.  Dykstra said the city should be grateful that Balk was willing to spend the time to accomplish this.   Balk thanked the council for supporting him in this endeavor.

Ald. Roels moved, seconded by Ald. W. Letcher to adjourn.  Voice vote/all yes/motion carried.  The meeting adjourned at 6:20PM.

Minutes recorded by,

Linda Hollis

City Clerk