Council suspends comprehensive‑plan contract, approves budget corrections and routine resolutions

Morris City — At its meeting the Morris City Council suspended work on a proposed comprehensive‑plan contract with VRDC and approved several routine resolutions and a budget correction.

On a motion supported by council members, the council voted to suspend implementation of the VRDC contract for the comprehensive plan and to bring the item back after a new city manager is on board. City staff and planning‑commission representatives had recommended delaying the contractor’s start because the update requires substantial coordination from city staff and the new manager would be responsible for leadership of the project.

Finance staff reported an Excel/text error affecting fund 340 when preparing state budget filings; the council approved an amended 2026 budget to correct the error, which the materials described as lowering the overall budget by roughly $110,000–$112,000 and affecting a debt‑service fund rather than the general fund.

Other motions and resolutions approved by roll call included: an update to the city transit drug and alcohol testing policy to reflect federal requirements for certain transit positions; a resolution authorizing the finance director to designate depositories; approval of the 2026 pay equity report for submission to the state (staff reported the city is at 98% on the state comparison); approval of an HR attorney consulting contract; approval of a MnDOT airport grant agreement for runway clear‑zone work; and a short‑term refuse rate adjustment with Inger Britson Sanitary Disposal Service for Jan. 1–July 31, 2026. The transcript records the refuse change described as both a ‘‘10‑cent’’ increase and elsewhere contains inconsistent numeric phrasing; the council approved the adjustment by roll call.