REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING
April 17, 2017
The City Council of the city of Fayette, Iowa, met Monday, April 17, 2017 at 7:30pm in the Fayette City Hall pursuant to law and rules of said council, Mayor Wenthe presiding.
Roll call: Present - Council members Kragnes, Larson, Nefzger, Tucker and Wulfekuhle.
Moved Nefzger, seconded Kragnes, to approve the consent agenda consisting of the regular meeting minutes of 4/3/17, claims list of 4/4/17 – 4/17/17, and the March 2017 Treasurer’s/Clerk’s Report & Budget Report. Roll call, all ayes, carried.
Treasurer's Balance for Fund Accounts as of March 31, 2017: General $209,135.39; Streets $213,049.98; Debt Service $1,801.78; Water Utility $321,687.25; Water T&A $25,390.64; Sewer Utility $260,035.85; Landfill/Recycling $1,716.63; Yard Waste $14,493.20; Bolger Fund $185,566.71; TIF $42,806.82; Local Option Tax $72,686.50; Storm Water $9,217.66; Downtown Project ($28,985.99); Franchise Fees $43,844.87. March Receipts by Fund: General $9,214.85; Streets $13,477.57; Debt Service $94.89; Water Utility $3,034.16; Water T&A $110; Sewer Utility $4,648.24; LF/Recycling $877.14; Yard Waste $184; Bolger $2,512; TIF $65.43; Local Option $6,915.65; Storm Water $132. Total Receipts $41,265.93. March Disbursements by Fund: General $32,567.37; Streets $3,300.02; Water Utility $20,684.85; Water T&A $225; Sewer Utility $9,461.14; Downtown Project $500. Total Disbursements: $66,738.38. Investments: $1,285,525.58. Bank Balance $2,657,560.29. Balance with Library Funds $2,749,522.84.
Moved Nefzger, seconded Wulfekuhle, to approve the agenda as presented. All ayes to approve, carried.
Mayor Wenthe advised the council that he had spoken with the possible new owners of Boike’s Trailside Inn about the plans. Wenthe also reminded the council they were invited to the meeting tomorrow night with Zach Mannheimer with Iowa Business Growth. Other Fayette business owners and active members of some organizations and boards were also invited to attend this meeting. There will be a future meeting that the public will be invited to attend and we will announce that when the date is determined.
Administrator/Clerk McGrane reported to the council that the City of Fayette’s application for a Clean Water SRF Water Resource Restoration Sponsored Project was recommended for funding. The city may be able to utilize this money if the city is awarded the CDBG grant. Public Works Director Hildebrand turned on the water and opened the restrooms at Cardinal Park and Klock’s Island Park/Campground last week. Roger Post provided the following Fayette Ambulance Numbers for the first quarter of 2017 (January-March): There were 52 total calls which included 14 transfers, 7 no transports, 5 cancelled and 3 mutual aid calls.
Police Chief Pisanti told the council they are still working on the unpaid, over-due tickets project and are down to approximately 30 outstanding tickets. Pisanti escorted the Pony Express riders through downtown last week. Officer Davis is back from the LEIN school.
Moved Larson, seconded Kragnes, to discuss Deb Boike’s December 2016 Water Bill. Boike had attended the February 6th, 2017 council meeting to inform the council that she believed someone had broken into one of her apartments and left a toilet running consistently which led to a water bill that was $4,400 over their average water bill. At that meeting, the council had advised her to contact her insurance company and they waived the late charges. Boike advised the council that her insurance company would not cover the bill and she read a portion of the letter she received from the insurance company. Boike mentioned when she sells the restaurant, she intends to pay off the high water bill. After discussion, moved Nefzger, seconded Kragnes, that due to the extenuating circumstance, starting in May of 2017, Boike may make $200 monthly payments to the city until the $5,321.09 is paid off; no late charges will be applied to this amount as she is making payments; if Boike sells the business she will pay the balance in full; and Boike will need to continue to pay the quarterly water bills under normal circumstances, including the current March 2017 bill. All ayes, carried.
Moved Kragnes, seconded Larson, to discuss the Fayette Community Library Board minutes from March 8, 2017. Nefzger wanted to thank the Library Board for the thorough reports information they provide to the council. Moved Larson, seconded Wulfekuhle, to approve. All ayes, carried.
Moved Larson, seconded Tucker, to discuss a possible new project presented by John and Sharon Orr. John and Sharon Orr would like to discuss trying to get a Freedom Rock for Fayette. The Freedom Rock was started about 18 years ago by a guy that painted a veteran’s mural on a large rock in Adair County. The painters goal is to promote Iowa tourism by painting an original Freedom Rock in every county in Iowa. Fayette County currently does not have a Freedom Rock. There is more information at thefreedomrock.com. The Orr’s thought a Freedom Rock would be nice in the Open Air Market along the recreation trail near the James Marvin Lee memorial bench. The Orr’s would be willing to submit the application and help raise money, but they would need permission from the city council that there is a designated spot to place the rock. There may also be an option to get a second or third rock that could be placed at another location along the trail or at the UIU campus. The cost would be somewhere around $6,000 to $8,000 and doesn’t include the cost of the rock. The Orr’s hope to start a fundraiser to help cover the costs. The council agreed to give the Orr’s permission to submit the application and will place this item on the next city council agenda.
Moved Kragnes, seconded Larson, to discuss Kluesner Construction, Inc. crack sealing of city streets proposal. Moved Larson, seconded Kragnes to approve the Kluesner Construction, Inc. crack sealing proposal. All ayes, carried.
Moved Larson, seconded Kragnes, to introduce the second reading of Ordinance 492 – Amending Fayette City Code Chapters 62.12 General Traffic Regulations, Penalties, and 63.12 Speed Regulations, Penalties, by increasing the penalties and fines. The ordinance increases the $75 and $50 fees in Chapter 62.12 to $100. These fines would include stop sign violations, expired insurance, not wearing a seat belt and other violations in Chapter 62. In Chapter 63, Speeding Regulations, the fees would increase from $75 to $100 for 1-10 miles per hour (mph) over the posted speed limit; $85 to $110 for 11-15 mph over the posted speed limit; and $95 to $125 for 16-20 mph over the posted speed limit. Moved Kragnes, seconded Wulfekuhle, to adopt and approve the second reading of Ordinance 492. On roll call, all ayes, carried.
There being no further business, moved Nefzger, unanimous, to adjourn at 8:00pm.
