RECAP OF LAST NIGHT'S COUNCIL MEETING

* Bicycle race – Ripon College (June 13th)- Unanimously approved
* Running races – Noon Kiwanis (July 11th & August 15th) - Unanimously approved
* Ordinance – Annexation of land on Highway 44 (Robert Grasee) - Approved 7-0.
Mr. Grasse has requested annexation of approximately 9.5 acres of land on the south side of Highway 44, across from the City’s new business park.
* Resolution – sale of 301 Watson Street (former senior center) to Boca Grande - Approved 7-0
The original sale price of $110,000.00 has been lowered to $109,537.50, with the adjustment based on which party covered which testing and remediation costs.
* Agreement for services and funding allocation – study of the dam - Approved 5-2 (Schuler and Luskey in opposition) - The City will spend up to $17,200. The first $9,000 for a failure analysis would come from unused 2007 budget funds initially targeted for a rail study, and the balance would then be included in the 2010 budget.
* Authorization to enter contract for 2009 street resurfacing projects - Approved 7-0
The bids came in well below the budget amount of $125,000 ($87,720.00). The Council directed staff to take the remaining money and resurface Ardmore.
* Possible reconstruction of the second phase of Newbury Street in 2009 - Motion to reconsider failed 5-2
Based on a formal request, Mayor Kramer has asked that Council revisit Newbury Street, to determine if moving this project to 2010 makes sense, given the eagerness of local firms to find work.
* Public restrooms for downtown – Blackburn Street parking lot - Motion to send to Ripon Main Street for feedback approved 7-0
* Mayoral Appointments - At my request, the following appointments were approved - Peter Hintz and Bill Hoch to the Plan Commission, Vicki Pape re-appointed to the Library Board, Dennis Cotton to the Police Commission.

REMINDER: The May 12th Council meeting has been moved to May 11th when the City Council and Ripon Area School Board will hold a joint meeting (one of our city goals for 2009) to discuss issues of common interest, including but not limited to the future roads needed for a proposed school north of Murray Park. The second Council meeting remains unscheduled due to Memorial Day.

UPDATES, NEWS AND NOTES: The City continues to work with the property owners involved in the Blackburn Street parking lot project on quit claim deeds and property transfers. All signs continue to point toward the work commencing this fall. The level of cooperation between the city and the property owners has been encouraging, and we are working TOGETHER...We will appoint the Silver Creek Development Committee and the City Website Committee at our next council meeting. There is still time if you are interested in taking part...April 25th has been designated Arbor Day in the city of Ripon...A presentation on the proposed Cornerstone Project was cancelled last night when the presenter had a family emergency...The transfer of the Plaza Bowl liquor license to a new ownership group was approved...Annette Klein was honored last night for her 20 years of service to the city as Public Works secretary.

Any questions, email me - arkramer@charter.net - or you can post them on the blog under comments.