MORRISON – After a heated discussion by residents, Mayor Roger Drey broke the City Council’s tie Monday by voting to allow three building owners to opt out of the city’s controversial historic preservation district.

Steve Deckro, Judy Zuidema and the Masonic Lodge own 101, 112 and 227-228 E. Main St. The council was split 4-4 on allowing them to opt out of the downtown district, a move the Historic Preservation Commission did not approve of.

Councilwoman Marti Wood sided with the property owners, in part because she said the preservation district ordinance was not set up properly. Many notices about the ordinance were sent to water bill recipients, some of whom did not own the property where they receive their bills, she said.