CITY OF FULTON
REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
JUNE 16, 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, Warren Juist, Wes Letcher and Ron Roels answered present.   Aldermen Charlie Letcher and Bill Loerop were absent.  Also in attendance were Bill Shirk - City Attorney, Jim Rhoades - Chief of Police, Dan Clark - Public Works Director, Heather Bennett - Tourism Director and Clink Kettler - Zoning Officer.

The pledge of allegiance was recited.

Kevin Soenksen, new police officer was sworn in by the clerk.  Soenksen comes to the city of Fulton with 7 years experience in law enforcement.

Communication from visitors.  Myra Houzenga addressed the council with a complaint regarding water in a ditch near her house.  She said the problem started when someone filled in the ditch across from her. She is concerned about mosquitoes breeding in the water and the bad odor of the water.  Dan Clark, Public Works Director has checked into the situation and said his department has done the best they can do given the extremely wet conditions.  He said that mosquitoes do not breed in water that moves.  They will not be able to do anything further until the area dries out.

Connie Koehn, FACE (Fulton Association for Community Enrichment) board member updated the council on the Green Expo to be held on Saturday, September 13, 2008 at the former fire station.  The expo is co-sponsored by the Fulton Chamber of Commerce and FACE.  They are now looking for sponsors to underwrite the cost of a household hazardous waste collection.   They estimate the cost for the disposal of household waste, including computers, to be between $2500 and $5000.  They will ask for free will donations on the day of the event which will be applied to the total bill.  She asked the city to be a 2/10s underwriter.  They also requested the use of a city pick up truck or two to load the computers into and that the collected items secured until Monday when they could be driven to the dismantling site.   

Ald. Dykstra moved, seconded by Ald. W. Letcher to commit to (up to) 2/10 of the waste disposal cost and to using city trucks to load and deliver the waste.   Roll call vote/all yes/motion carried.

Ald. Sterenberg moved, seconded by Ald. Roels to approve the June 2, 2008 regular council meeting minutes.  Roll call vote/all yes/motion carried.

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

Ald. Roels moved, seconded by Ald. W. Letcher to authorize the preparation of an ordinance for 1 no parking space on the 12th Avenue side of Ben Eshelman's business located on the corner of 4th Street and 12th Avenue.    Eshelman requested this so that he can get in and out of his business.  At times there are vehicles parked on both the east and north sides of his business and he is unable to gain vehicle access to his property.   Roll call vote/all yes/motion carried.

Ald. Roels moved, seconded by Ald. Dykstra to postpone voting on an ordinance to vacate streets in the Sikkema Trailer Court.  Roll call vote/all yes/motion carried.  This request was made by Windmill Realty on behalf of Mr. Sikkema due to the prospective buyer planning to attend the July 7, 2008 council meeting to answer any questions the council might have regarding his intentions for the trailer court.

Ald. Roels moved, seconded by Ald. Sterenberg to pass No. 1374 Prevailing Wage Ordinance.   Roll call vote/all yes/motion carried.  This is required each year to adopt the current Whiteside County prevailing wages.

Chief of Police, Jim Rhoades reported that May was a very busy month.  The Blessing of the Bikes was held on 4th Street in front of Large 1s Pub/Paddlewheel.  No one asked permission to close the block and no one informed the other businesses that it was going to happen. 

Ald. Roels asked about the 40 assists to the sheriff's department, stating that it was more than one per day.  Ald. Field said he thinks mutual aid is a good thing and you can't set a limit on the number of assists.

Ald. Sterenberg moved, seconded by Ald. Field 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 6:00PM.   Executive session minutes are recorded elsewhere.

The council returned to regular session at 6:20PM.  Ald. Field moved, seconded by Ald. Roels to adjourn.  Voice vote/all yes/motion carried.  Meeting adjourned immediately with no further action.

Minutes recorded by,

Linda Hollis

City Clerk