REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING
June 5, 2023
The City Council of the City of Fayette, Iowa, met Monday, June 5, 2023, at 6:00 pm in the Community Room at the Fayette Community Library pursuant to law and rules of said council, Mayor Wood presiding. The meeting began with the Pledge of Allegiance.
Roll call: Present - Council members Post, Potratz, Scott and Tucker. Later, James Lowery was sworn in.
Moved Tucker, seconded Post, to approve the consent agenda items consisting of the regular meeting minutes of 5/15/23, the claims list of 5/13/23-6/2/23, and the financial reports for January 2023 and February 2023. Roll call, all ayes, motion carried.
Treasurer's Balance for Fund Accounts as of January 31, 2023: Total January Receipts: $525,969.80 (General $434,242.59; Streets/RUT $13,429.88; Employee Benefits $7,680.39; LOST $10,459.62; Revolving Loan $243.58; Bolger $398.66; Library Fund $932.55; Debt $265.35; Water $21,555.75; Water T&A $150; Sewer $31,427.32; Water/Sewer Capital $4,552.11; Storm Water $632). Total January Disbursements: $104,265.57 (General $48,137.07; 9 S. Main $267.58; Streets/RUT $7,098.50; Employee Benefits $8,314.38; Bolger $144.75; Library Fund $999.63; Homes for Iowa $151.63; N. Main Street $14,730.50; Water $10,557.25; Water T&A $399.43; Sewer $13,464.85). Transfers in: Sewer Fund $9,575.50; Transfers out: Sewer $9,575.50. Treasurer’s Balance: $4,822,856.54.
Treasurer’s Balance for Fund Accounts as of February 28, 2023: Total February Receipts: $176,670.75 (General $60,605.03; Streets/RUT $15,357.87; Employee Benefits $2,940; LOST $11,631.19; Hotel/Motel $7,267.71; CDBG Grant LMI Housing $26,133; Revolving Loan $241.48; Bolger $118.71; Library Fund $60.99; Debt $101.68; Water $18,791.40; Water T&A $150; Sewer $28,740.61; Water/Sewer Capital $3,951.08; Storm Water $580). Total February Disbursements: $125,169.62 (General $53,645.20; 9 S. Main $460.27; Streets/RUT $8,446.11; Employee Benefits $8,514.91; Bolger $64; Library Fund $999.63; Debt $600; Homes for Iowa $328.76; N. Main Street $25,532.75; Water $11,476.68; Water T&A $603.37; Sewer $14,497.94). Transfers in: Sewer Fund $9,575.50; Transfers out: Sewer $9,575.50. Treasurer’s Balance: $4,874,266.57.
Citizen Comments: Stacey Meyer (Fayette Fire Department Volunteer) from just outside the city of Fayette questioned the council as why they did not follow the new ordinance they recently passed which provides the volunteer fire department two chances to recommend a fire chief to the city council. Council member Scott later commented that the fire department was asked to provide a recommendation at the 5/1/23 and 5/15/23 council meetings and failed to make any recommendations.
Scott Bowen from Fayette advised he feels the city council pushed the new ordinance on appointing a fire chief through and then the council ignored it. Bowen questioned on where a $500 donation from RAGBRAI to the fire department went. He also wanted to know where other checks to the fire department went. Bowen advised the city administrator is requesting a large pay increase and is far behind on his reports. Bowen feels the city council and the city administrator are not doing their jobs and the citizens are upset. Bowen stated Mayor Wood informed him that he had reviewed camera footage of council member Tucker interfering with police acts and Bowen questioned why charges have not been filed. Bowen feels Tucker should resign. Council member Tucker stated she has not been made aware of any conversations with the police department or Mayor Wood, nor has she been informed of the accusations.
Moved Potratz, seconded Post, to approve the agenda as presented. All ayes, motion carried.
Upon recommendation from the Mayor to appoint Randall Streeter as the Fayette Fire Chief for 2023, moved Scott, seconded Potratz, to appoint Randall Streeter as the Fayette Fire Chief for 2023. All ayes, motion carried.
Mayor Wood informed the council that the WMT Tractorcade will be passing through the city of Fayette on Tuesday, 6/13, which is the 2nd day of the Tractorcade. Wood also advised the city will be holding a public forum on Wednesday, 6/14, at 6PM to get citizens feedback on the city possibly accepting the Fayette Elementary School.
City Administrator/Clerk McGrane updated the council that the city's current insurance provider will no longer be servicing city's and McGrane has been working with Lisa Kelly on getting quotes to present to the council. The water tower was drained, painted, and refilled. The city will be accepting bids starting this week for the demolition of 507 W. Clark St. McGrane is still working on the cell tower agreement negotiations. McGrane completed the annual renewal for the city's SAMS/DUNS/Unique ID number that is needed to apply for grants and receive federal funds. McGrane has been working with the North Fayette Valley Superintendent gathering information about the Fayette Elementary School for the council and the public forum. McGrane attended the safety meeting on 5/17 and the bi-annual full board Fayette County Economic Development & Tourism meeting on 6/1. McGrane provided an updated on the Homes for Iowa home, solar panels, KGAN TV filmed a short video at Klock's Island to air this summer and West Union Parks & Recreation will host some youth baseball/softball games at Cardinal Park this month.
Fayette Police Chief provided an update on the new body camera system. The Fayette County Attorney is looking at the software and may assist with costs with the system because it is user friendly for his office. McGrane and Wood informed the council that the city of Oelwein has announced they will be reopening their dispatch center because it will be more cost-effective than signing a new 911 Dispatch Contract with the Fayette County Supervisors (FCS) and the Fayette County Sheriff's Office. The council was reminded that the cities of Oelwein, West Union and Fayette have been negotiating a new 911 Dispatch Contract with the FCS for the past year and half because the FCS are requesting to drastically increase the cost of the contracts.
The city council was impressed with five citizens interested in filling the vacant city council seat. Post felt it would be fair to appoint someone off the last city election. James Lowery ran and was one vote away from winning a city council seat at the last election. Potratz stated previous councils have appointed vacant seats like that in the past.
Moved Post, seconded Potratz, to approve appointing James Lowery to the Fayette city council effective immediately and to serve until the end of the term. All ayes, motion carried.
James Lowery was sworn in as a Fayette city council member at this time and voted throughout the rest of the meeting.
McGrane provided updates to the previous UIU Law Enforcement Services agreement. Moved Potratz, seconded Scott, to approve Resolution 2023-34, approving the 2023-2024 Law Enforcement Services Agreement between the City of Fayette and Upper Iowa University revised. Roll call, all ayes, motion carried.
Moved Post, seconded Potratz, to acknowledge receipt of the Fayette Parks and Recreation board meeting minutes from 4/10/23. All ayes, motion carried.
Moved Tucker, seconded Potratz, to go into closed session per Iowa Code 21.5(1)(j) to discuss the purchase or sale of particular real estate only where premature disclosure could be reasonably expected to increase the price the City would have to pay for that property or reduce the price the City would receive that property. Roll call, all ayes, motion carried.
Moved Lowery, seconded Scott, to open regular session. Roll call, all ayes, motion carried.
Moved Potratz, seconded Post, to direct the City Administrator to move forward with the proposed action discussed in closed session. All ayes, motion carried.
There being no further business, Wood declared the meeting adjourned at 7:36 pm.
