Council approves street and trail task orders, airport leases and local plans; residents urge budget transparency

Morris City Council members approved several resolutions and administrative actions covering public‑works projects, airport leases, local planning and community events.

Infrastructure: City staff and consultant presentations led to approval of two task orders. Ryan, a city staff member, described task order No. 4 as ‘‘the full reconstruction of 5th, 4th, And 3rd Street between Columbia and College,’’ and said the work will include pre‑televising sanitary lines to locate service connections ahead of excavation. The council approved the resolution authorizing task order 4; the project would proceed through the city’s local assessment process and coordinate timing with planned HRA apartment construction.

Task order No. 5 covers trail rehabilitation funded through Transportation Alternatives (state/grant) and a state aid project number. Ryan told the council the work will reclaim roughly "4 some miles" of trail, add root inhibitor in places and address slope and clear‑zone issues, and noted coordination with neighboring county projects to avoid rework. Council members asked about construction timing; Ryan recommended bidding in late January and indicated realistic paving and restoration would likely be late May or June to avoid disrupting spring events. One council member suggested liquidated damages or contractor time limits, and staff said typical contract provisions addressing timelines and damages are available.

Airport leases and agriculture: The council approved an airport land lease with Bradley Feigenberger for a landlocked parcel at the end of the runway, continuing a prior arrangement where the lessee pays taxes and no rent is charged. The council also awarded farmland leases to Matthew Hewitt for tillable and hay/alfalfa land; Becca reported the tillable lease escalates from about $2.15 per acre in 2026 to $2.25 in 2028 and the hay lease carries multi‑year rates (per transcript figures).

Environment and planning: The council unanimously accepted the Emerald Ash Borer response plan after recognition of the tree board and staff work; council members said acting earlier can protect the city canopy.

Community items: The tourism board’s marketing recommendations — a tier‑2 campaign of social, digital and print advertising and a pocket brochure with Click Content estimated at $2,400 — were approved. Council also accepted $3,550 in donations from roughly 40 local businesses for kids’ fire‑prevention activities and approved a park‑board recommendation to allow Eric and volunteers to paint the band shell (park board favored gold with a white base).

Public comment and transparency concerns: During public comment, Annette Watson urged the council to use emailed materials more effectively to avoid last‑minute information dumps and suggested offering two public‑comment slots so people who cannot arrive early can still be heard. She asked that task orders list grant names and whether projects are fully grant‑funded or require city contributions. Mary Elizabeth raised transparency concerns about an estimated $5 million city‑shop replacement (as discussed at the park board) and asked for a separate line for legal expenses, referencing $37,000 in city legal fees. Attorney and resident Joe Glassrude thanked staff and the attorney who drafted an updated nuisance ordinance and urged drivers to slow in residential areas for safety.

What happens next: Staff will proceed with contracting and scheduling for the approved projects, prepare lease documents and follow up on grant and timing details; the council agreed to schedule a work session on the Fresha water/sewer user agreement after the next regular meeting so a full council and staff can participate.