CITY OF FULTON
REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
May 5, 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, and Bill Loerop answered present. Ald. Ron Roels was absent.  Also in attendance was Randy Balk - City Administrator and Clink Kettler - Zoning Officer.

The pledge of allegiance was recited.   Pastor Mathew of First Assembly of God church gave the invocation.  There was no communication from visitors.

Ald. Field moved, seconded by Ald. Sterenberg to approve the minutes of the April 21, 2008 public hearing and council meeting.   Roll call vote/all yes/motion carried.

Ald. Sterenberg moved, seconded by Ald. C. Letcher to approve the temporary liquor license with the fee waived for the Clinton YWCA for a fundraiser "Art Under the Stars" to be held July 12, 2008 on the properties located at 150 and 200 North 4th Street.   Parking will be at Fulton Corporation and a shuttle will be used to take people back and forth.  The funds raised will be used for the Domestic Violence/Sexual Assault Resource Center, the Transitional Housing Program for homeless women and their children and the Children's Center.  Roll call vote/all yes/motion carried. 

Ald. Field moved, seconded by Ald. Sterenberg to approve the MFT audit report as presented.  Roll call vote/all yes/motion carried.   The audit covers the years 2005, 2006 and 2007.

Ald. Loerop moved, seconded by Ald. W. Letcher to pass Ordinance No. 1369 Amending the Charge for Installation of Water Meters.  The charge for a meter is increased from $90 to $200.00 for water meters installed within the corporate limits and the charge is increased from $180.00 to $400.00 for water meters installed outside the corporate limits.  Roll call vote/all yes/motion carried.

The next item on the agenda was the variance request of Roger and Terri Merema of 1018 1st Avenue.   The Meremas went before the zoning board requesting a variance allowing them to build a garage 192 square feet larger than the 960 square feel permitted.  The zoning board vote was as follows: 3 yes, 2 no, 1 abstain and 1 absent.  The abstention vote becomes a yes, so the motion was carried by a 4-2 vote. 

Ald. Loerop questioned what the hardship to the owners would be.  Mr. Merema replied that he needed the extra square footage to fit his boat and antique tractors into the garage and that none of his neighbors had objections.  Ald. Dykstra stated he was not inclined to approve the variance and wanted to send it back to the zoning board.  Ald. Field said he thinks the variance should be granted.

Ald. C. Letcher moved, seconded by Ald. Field to pass Ordinance No. 1370 Authorizing a Variance to construct a garage 192 square feet over the 960 square foot limit.

Roll call vote/Ald. Field, Juist, C. letcher, W. Letcher, Loerop and Sterenberg voted yes/Ald. Dykstra voted no/motion carried.   

Ald. Field moved, seconded by Ald. Sterenberg to give Randy Balk, Bill Loerop and Garry Medema power to act on securing interest rates for bank loans.   Roll call vote/all yes/motion carried. 

Balk and Shirk told the council the state has appraised four parcels of surplus property in the area of Rt. 84 and 16th Avenue.  The parcel on the northeast corner of the intersection is adjacent to the property currently for sale (west of the Red Dog Saloon) and appraised at $3,029.00.   The parcel on the southeast corner of the intersection adjacent to the Fulton Fire Protection District property is appraised at $2100.00.   The 3rd parcel is on the southwest corner of the intersection and adjacent to City owned property (formerly owned by Red Band Coffee but sold back to the City) and is appraised at $300.00.  The 4th parcel is southwest of the $2100.00 parcel and appraised at $300.00 also.  Shirk explained that a jurisdictional transfer would mean the city could maintain the state owned property without buying it.  If the City chose to sell the property at some point in time, the proceeds would go to the state.  A jurisdictional transfer would be practical only in the case of the $2100.00 parcel near the fire station.  It may be possible to transfer ownership from the state to the city then to the Fire Protection District.

Ald. Loerop moved, seconded by Ald. C. Letcher to pursue a jurisdictional transfer of the parcel adjacent to the fire station.  Roll call vote/all yes/motion carried.

Ald. Loerop moved, seconded by Ald. W. Letcher to purchase the $300.00 parcel adjacent to the former Red Band Coffee on the southwest corner of the Rt. 84 and 16th Avenue intersection.  Roll call vote/all yes/motion carried.

Resurfacing of old Rt. 136 (16th Avenue in front of the new fire station) was briefly discussed but until a title search is completed to determine who owns it, no decision can be made.  If the City owns it we may want to pay for the resurfacing (estimated cost $25,000) from the revolving loan fund.

Balk received a call from the Sikkema Trailer Park manager regarding the city roads within the park.   The owners of the park may have a buyer and asked if the city would vacate the streets in the park.  The city would not be inclined to give the roads to the owner, but could have them appraised and offer them for sale.   Ald. Loerop said he did not think we should offer the roads for sale since some day the area could be single family residences.   The council agreed more information would be needed before considering what to do with the streets.

Balk told the council he would like the council to email him ideas and concerns for the CCI (Competitive Communities Initiative) program.   We should be hearing soon if we have been chosen to participate.

Ald. Field moved, seconded by Ald. Juist to adjourn.   Voice vote/all yes/motion carried.  Meeting adjourned at 6:17 PM.

Minutes recorded by,
Linda Hollis
City Clerk