| City Council Minutes: December 20, 2010 |
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CITY OF FULTON
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, Randy Boonstra and Ron Roels answered present. Also in attendance were Bill Shirk - City Attorney, Randy Balk - City Administrator, Dan Clark - Public Works Director, Garry Medema - Treasurer and Jim Rhoades - Chief of Police.
The pledge of allegiance was recited. There was no invocation and no communication from visitors.
Ald. Field moved, seconded by Ald. C. Letcher to approve the December 6, 2010 regular council meeting minutes. Roll call vote/all yes/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. Roels moved seconded by Ald. Boonstra to approve the Treasurer's Report as presented. Roll call vote/all yes/motion carried.
Bill Holt of Norwest Surveying Services presented a request regarding the Bunge Corporation property located at the southwest corner of Fulton just outside the city limits. When Bunge Corporation recently purchased the AGRI Grain Terminal it was discovered that a portion of the property is still zoned A-1 (Agriculture). The remainder is zoned I-2 (Industrial) which is the correct zoning for the current use of the property. Whiteside County requires a letter from the city stating the council has no objection to the re-zoning.
Ald. W. Letcher moved, seconded by Ald. Roels to issue a letter to Whiteside County stating the City has no objection to the re-zoning of the portion of the Bunge Corporation property that is still zoned A-1 to I-2. Roll call vote/all yes/motion carried.
Pat and Lisa Pollard, residents of 415 Deerview Lane in Fulton were present with a request for the city to plow the two streets in their condominium development. Mr. Pollard told the council that he was not aware when he purchased his condominium unit that Milnes Drive and Deerview Lane were not city streets, but privately owned by their condominium association. Before the condominiums were built a development agreement between Gary Milnes (developer) and the city was signed which designated the roads as private. There are other privately owned streets in the city and public works does not plow them. The council was unable to grant the request due to the fact that the city does not legally own the streets.
Ald. C. Letcher moved, seconded by Ald. Roels to deny Nave, Inc another extension to operate an industry in a residential zoned area. Roll call vote/Ald. Boonstra, Crosthwaite, Dykstra, Field, C. Letcher, W. Letcher and Roels voted yes/Ald. Juist voted no/motion carried. Matt Van Kampen, owner of Nave, Inc will be notified that he must cease operation when his current extension expires on January 1, 2011.
Ald. Dykstra said he represented the City in Washington, D.C. two years ago and would be willing to again this year unless someone else wanted to go. Local business owners and representatives make the trip each year to meet with a lobbyist and legislative staff members regarding the Highway 30 four lane project and other area concerns. There was no motion to approve the trip which would cost the city about $1,000.
Ald. Boonstra moved, seconded by Ald. C. Letcher to formally approve the city's audit report for the fiscal year ending April 30, 2011. Roll call vote/all yes/motion carried. Randy Balk, Larry Russell, Randy Boonstra and Garry Medema will meet to review the audit.
Ald. Boonstra moved, seconded by Ald. Roels to support the city staff Christmas holiday schedule. Randy Balk said he applauds the staff for the decision to close only one day instead of two, by splitting up between themselves the two days off they receive. City Hall will be closed on Friday, December 24th only. Roll call vote/all yes/motion carried.
Mayor Russell said he has been busy with the downtown clean up effort and working with business owners who were displaced by the fire in their building.
Dan Clark reported that the well #3 problem has been diagnosed and repairs will be approximately $56,000 to be paid from the depreciation account. The work crew discovered a hole in the pipe which caused a short in the wiring.
Old Business. Chief Rhoades gave the council a handout with additional information on his recommendation for an administrative fee ordinance. The handout addressed why an administrative fee is being explored, the number of traffic violation arrests in 2010, the amount of fines issued, the amount of fine money actually received, and a list of other law enforcement agencies that have adopted an administration fee ordinance. The main reason for the fee is to deter crime and repeat offenders.
Ald. Roels moved, seconded by Ald. Field to adjourn. Voice vote/all yes/motion carried. The meeting adjourned at 7:04pm.
Minutes recorded by,
Linda Hollis City Clerk
No meeting was held on January 3, 2011 due to limited discussion and action items.
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