CITY OF FULTON
REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
JUNE 21, 2010
5:30PM

Mayor Russell called the meeting to order and directed the clerk to call the roll.  On roll call, Mayor Larry Russell, Alderpersons Charles Dykstra, Gene Field, Margaret Crosthwaite, Charlie Letcher, Warren Juist, Wes Letcher, Bill Loerop and Ron Roels answered present.  Also in attendance were Bill Shirk - City Attorney, Randy Balk - City Administrator, Garry Medema - Treasurer, Dan Clark - Public Works Director, Heather Bennett - Tourism Director and Jim Rhoades - Chief of Police.

The pledge of allegiance to the flag was recited.  The invocation was given by Terry Merchant from Trinity Reformed Church.

Barbara Mask, representing the Fulton Historical Society, gave a report on the $10,000 given by the city to the society to operate the Martin House Museum.  Year to date $1,800 has been spent on routine items.  She handed out a written report showing those items and also explained things as she went over the report.

Bill Blecha and Harold Smith are in charge of maintenance and grounds and have recently hired Norris Hurlbut to do some repairs and maintenance.  Mask included a list of items that need to be done. 

The program list was attached.  They complete one research project per year.  This year was the flood of 1965.  A poster with information and pictures was on display in the council chambers and will be on display in the city hall lobby for a while.  Other projects include cemetery restoration, genealogy database and a student intern program.

Ald. Field moved, seconded by Ald. C. Letcher to approve the June 7, 2010 regular council meeting minutes and the June 12, 2010 economic development workshop meeting minutes.   Roll call vote/Ald. Dykstra, Field, Juist, C. Letcher, W. Letcher, Loerop and Roels voted yes/Ald. Crosthwaite abstained/motion carried.

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

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

Ald. Field moved, seconded by Ald. Loerop to prepare an ordinance to accept the Drives Office building located on the corner of 1st Street and 10th Avenue.  Roll call vote/all yes/motion carried. 

Dave Vogel, Chairman of Drives, LLC read a prepared public announcement confirming that the City of Fulton officials have accepted, subject to the

completion of formal documents, Drives' offer to donate at no cost to the city complete ownership of their former office building.  Vogel stated that Drives views this gift to the city in the same way as their recent gifts of the Den Besten Park and Drives Park, in redirecting no longer essential company properties to uses benefiting the entire community. 

The ordinance will be prepared, as well as a post occupancy agreement since Drives would like to retain some space for archived files for approximately 90 days.  The city officials thanked Vogel wholeheartedly for the generous donation.

Ald. Juist moved, seconded by Ald. Crosthwaite to approve the temporary location of the American Legion cannon in the city ROW at the southwest corner of 4th Street and 11th Avenue.  Roll call vote/all yes/motion carried.  The Legion will be responsible for the preparation of a concrete slab on which to place the cannon and will be responsible for any costs for removal when the cannon is relocated.

Ald. C. Letcher moved, seconded by Ald. W. Letcher to Pass Resolution No. 221 for Support and Commitment of Funds for a CDAP grant application.  Ald. Loerop, W. Letcher, Juist, C. Letcher, Crosthwaite, Field and Dykstra voted yes/Ald. Roels voted no/motion carried.  This grant would be used to rehabilitate the Robert Fulton Commons..

Ald. Dykstra moved, seconded by Ald. C. Letcher to authorize negotiations with the Fulton Mobile Home Park management and owners to create a timeline for scheduled changes to the park.   Roll call vote/all yes/motion carried.  Ald. Roels and Ald. Juist agreed to be on the negotiating committee.

New Business.  Ald. Juist asked if the council wanted to consider permanent committees rather than appointed ad hoc committees.  No action was taken.

At 7:00pm the council began the economic development portion of the meeting.  Dan Clark explained that he has been meeting with Fulton High School and Unity Christian School athletic directors, the Rec board and coaches regarding city ball fields.  The group has discussed the possibility of moving some of the ball fields.  Three options to consider are: relocating the south field at Kiwanis Park to Drives Park, relocating the Drives Park existing soccer field and eliminating Heritage baseball field.   The council was most interested in eliminating the Heritage ball field in order to sell 6 housing lots.  The pocket park would remain. 

Ald. Roels moved, seconded by Ald. C. Letcher to eliminate Heritage ball field, create 6 housing lots and put them up for sale.  Roll call vote/all yes/motion carried. 

Ald. Roels moved, seconded by Ald. C. Letcher to adjourn.  The meeting adjourned at 7:20 pm.

Minutes recorded by,

Linda Hollis

City Clerk