Council accepts $12,500 park donation and approves state transit and airport equipment grants

The Morris City Council on a single night approved three items that city staff described as supporting local services and infrastructure.

Council members accepted an anonymous $12,500 donation to build a basketball court at Riverside Park. “$12,500 is what we're talking about here and I think it's going to be a great addition to the neighborhood,” a councilmember said during the motion to accept the gift; the motion passed by voice vote.

Council also approved a resolution to enter into a yearly transit grant agreement with the state. Staff said the state awarded a 3% increase to the transit allotment and that the program requires a 5% local share (staff estimated that equals “right over $30,000” but said fare revenues should more than cover the local share and that currently there is “$0 of city money that have to go into the transit program”). The transit resolution was approved by roll-call vote.

Finally, the council approved a MnDOT grant agreement to purchase snow-removal equipment at the airport — including a skid steer loader, plow attachment and snow blower — with a city share that staff identified as $17,004.26 (the transcript prints some figures with formatting errors; the $17,004.26 figure was stated by staff). Council moved, seconded and approved the resolution by roll call.

Councilors and staff emphasized the immediate operational benefits: improved park amenities, continued transit service without a new city subsidy this year, and upgraded airport equipment to support snow removal. No additional appropriations were made on the floor; staff indicated local matching obligations will be covered by existing revenue sources or returned to council with specifics if costs change.