Morris City Council approves library appointment, liquor-store change orders and insurance pact; moves 2022 storm funds to capital outlay

The Morris City Council approved a series of routine actions Tuesday night, including a library board appointment, three change orders for the municipal liquor-store project, a MnDOT sign-permit renewal, a joint-powers agreement to access a regional health-insurance pool and a resolution to close the 2022 storm fund and transfer any remaining balance to the capital outlay fund.

At the start of business, the council added Annette Watson to the citizen-comments list and then moved through the agenda. The council voted to appoint Bob Delliger to the Morris Public Library Board after brief discussion about the board appointment process and potential additional vacancies. The motion to appoint was moved and seconded and carried by voice vote.

Council members approved three change orders for the Morris Municipal Liquor Store project in a single motion. City staff described the changes as covering interior doors and metal frames, soffits and ductwork, and removing a window work item from the contract. The council approved the bundled change orders without further conditions.

The council also adopted a resolution to approve Limited Use Permit 7504-0010 with the Minnesota Department of Transportation, extending a permit for a “Welcome to Morris” highway sign; the staff presentation noted the permit runs through Feb. 8, 2036. Acting city manager Blaine characterized the permit as routine maintenance of an existing sign and the council approved the resolution by roll call.

Council members approved a joint-powers agreement to join the Minnesota Healthcare Consortium administered by Lakes Country Service Cooperative. City staff said the consortium offered more favorable group rates than other local options and that the joint-powers agreement was required to finalize participation.

In finance business, the council approved a resolution authorizing the transfer and closing of the 2022 storm fund and moving remaining balances into the capital outlay fund after FEMA reimbursements are processed. Staff explained that FEMA allowed regular time and other eligible costs to be reimbursed for the 2022 storm, and that closing the fund followed normal accounting practice.

Acting city manager Blaine used his newsletter update to flag an error in the city’s truth-and-taxation notice, saying, “it says December 14, which is a Sunday, not December 9, which is the day of the actual budget hearing,” and described outreach steps to notify the public of the correct hearing date. Blaine also previewed the budget presentation planned for Dec. 9 and said the nuisance-ordinance process would be rescheduled to January to allow proper public hearings.

During board updates, council members and staff discussed progress at Wells Park and the liquor-store redevelopment; staff noted interest from potential buyers for the old liquor-store property and that land and building sales must be publicly posted to allow bids. In citizen comments, Annette Watson asked how the public would learn of canceled meetings or snow-day closures; the council said notices are posted and quorum rules determine meeting cancellations.

The meeting closed after routine approvals and public comment. Where the transcript records voice votes without numerical tallies, the article reports the outcomes as approved by the council; roll-call votes were recorded when taken.