Morrice council raises transfer station prices, fills council posts after resignation

The Morrice Village Council approved a set of transfer station price increases on 4-0 roll call votes at its June 9 regular meeting, according to minutes approved July 14 and posted by the village.

The Budget Committee recommended the increases because of rising Granger costs, the minutes state. Effective July 12, a pickup load rose from $75 to $85, a shingles or drywall load from $85 to $95, a sofa from $45 to $50, a mattress or dresser from $35 to $40, and bags larger than 32 gallons from $4 to $6. A recliner chair stays at $30, appliances, sinks and tubs stay at $40, and 32-gallon bags stay at $3. Tires without rims will be updated to the current price. The minutes note the village will need new signs and a photo of the sign for its website.

The motion, made by Maggie Saint Amour and seconded by Philip Hruska, passed with ayes from Jahryn Howard, Hruska, Saint Amour and President Todd Scott. Trustee Robert Peterson was absent from the meeting.

Resignation and appointments

The council voted to accept the resignation of Phyllis Dickerson, who submitted a letter after the previous council meeting. According to the minutes, Dickerson served as president pro-tem, as a trustee on the SSESA Board, and on the Personnel Committee, and cleaned the hall. The minutes state there are currently no prospective candidates for the open council seats.

Council members then appointed Hruska as president pro-tem and to the Personnel Committee, with Hruska abstaining on both votes, and appointed Scott as trustee on the SSESA Board, with Scott abstaining. All three motions carried on voice votes.

Spending approved

The council approved $350 for a special title search on the tax-foreclosed property at 131 Main Street, which the minutes say the title company requested to confirm the foreclosure was done correctly. Members also approved a second ordinance listing the buyers of the property, identified in the minutes as the Munros, at the title company's request. Both passed 4-0.

Members approved an additional $4,921 for installation and freight on a salter the village had previously approved buying. Scott reported that Shults Equipment did not recommend powder coating the salter. The minutes also report the East Lagoon sprayer repair came in at $14,469.57, which is $1,719.57 more than estimated; the village will pay the invoice and be reimbursed by the farmer's insurance company.

On a 4-0 roll call, the council approved sending 8,355 mailers in August, contingent on the Downtown Development Authority agreeing to pay half. Peterson provided the estimate: $2,040 in printing and $2,195 in postage, for a total of $4,235. Members discussed waiting until early August so Saint Amour could firm up the 150 Year Celebration schedule and redesign the card.

The council also approved a hall cleaning position with weekly duties including wiping tables, cleaning bathrooms, vacuuming carpet and mopping linoleum, with windows cleaned quarterly. The minutes say pay may be increased to $100 monthly and that Brooke Wilbert submitted an application. Fund transfers and payment of the bills were each approved 4-0.

What happens next

Bids on the South Street sidewalk project were set to be opened at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, June 17, at Village Hall, according to the minutes. Scott was to interview Wilbert for the cleaning position and report back to the board. The school board was scheduled to vote June 24 on a revised Morrice Senior Center purchase agreement, which the minutes say the school is not opposed to changing from five to seven years. The transfer station expansion project, the Britton Road project amendment tied to a 2027 RTF grant, and the Diamond Way repair were all tabled. The council said it would hold its June 23 meeting as scheduled.