Council Meeting Minutes 7-1-19

REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING

July 1, 2019

     The City Council of the City of Fayette, Iowa, met Monday, July 1, 2019, at 6pm in Fayette City Hall pursuant to law and rules of said council, Mayor Wenthe presiding.

     Roll call: Present - Council members Larson, Tucker and Wulfekuhle. Absent – Cowley and Nefzger.

     Moved Larson, seconded Wulfekuhle, to approve the consent agenda items consisting of the regular meeting minutes of 6/17/19 and the claims list of 6/18/19 – 7/1/19.  Roll call, all ayes, motion carried.

     Larry Kuecker with The Cahoy Group out of Sumner, Iowa, was present to inform the council about The Cahoy Group.  They specialize in pump installation and repair, well cleaning and surveys, test hole drilling and other services.  They are local and would like to be considered for any future projects or emergency situations.

     Moved Tucker, seconded Larson, to approve the agenda as presented. All ayes, carried.

     Moved Wulfekuhle, seconded Larson to publish and schedule a public hearing for July 15, 2019, at 6PM, for the conveyance of an easement allowing Jared Hildebrand to build a deck upon city right of way at the intersection of E. Madison Street and Jones Street.  All ayes, carried.

     Mayor Wenthe informed the council that he had received a resignation letter from Tylar Spece earlier today.  The city will start taking steps to advertise for the open City Maintenance Worker position.  Upon Mayor Wenthe’s recommendation, moved Larson, seconded Tucker, to reappoint Nick Serra to the Planning and Zoning Commission for another 5-year term and to appoint Mark Danker to the Planning and Zoning Commission for the remainder of Tim Wulfekuhle’s term, ending 5/31/2021.  All ayes, carried.

     Administrator/Clerk McGrane informed the council that monthly utility billing is going well but consuming a lot of his time at City Hall, as he predicted.  McGrane recommends the council discuss some options in the near future.  McGrane is continuing to take steps in getting the new server installed and will be working on this throughout the month of July.  McGrane also advised the council that July and August will be busy finishing the books for the FY2019, preparing for the annual exam and the workers compensation audit.  The Fayette Community Library and City Hall will be closed on Thursday, July 4th for the holiday.

     Fayette Police Chief Davis updated the council on the National Night Out event scheduled for August. 

     Moved Larson, seconded Tucker, to discuss Ordinance 504.  The ordinance amends a portion of section 92.02 of water rates and section 99.02 of sewer service charges under Chapters 92 and 99 to increase the rates and fees.  In section 92.02, the monthly water rates will change from $12 (minimum bill) to $15 (minimum bill) for the first 150 cubic feet used per month and all over 151 cubic feet will change from $0.046 per cubic foot to $0.055 per cubic foot.  In section 99.02, the monthly sewer service charges will change from $18.45 (minimum bill) to $23 (minimum bill) for the first 150 cubic feet used per month and all over 151 cubic feet will change from $0.086 per cubic foot to $0.092 per cubic foot.  Moved Tucker, seconded Wulfekuhle, to approve the second reading of Ordinance 504, an ordinance amending the code of ordinances of the city of Fayette, Iowa, by repealing and amending a portion of sections 92.02 of water rates and 99.02 of sewer service charges under chapters 92 and 99 to increase the rates and fees.  Roll call, all ayes, motion carried.

     Moved Larson, seconded Wulfekuhle, to approve the Fayette Recreation Board annual update.  All ayes, carried.

     Moved Larson, seconded Tucker, to discuss and consider approving Lyle & Valerie Buehler’s demolition incentive.  The Buehler’s had provided all the necessary documentation, except one invoice from Brewer Construction, LLC, needed updated because there were additional costs in the demolition.  The Buehler’s had provided their proof of payments to Brewer Construction that showed they paid the additional costs.  The total reimbursement, which would be 50% of the demolition costs, would be $4,353.75.  Moved Wulfekuhle, seconded Tucker, to approve the demolition incentive for the Buehler’s at a cost of $4,353.75, once all proper documentation and an updated invoice is provided to Fayette City Hall.  All ayes, carried.

     Moved Larson, seconded Tucker, to discuss Resolution 2019-11.  Moved Tucker, seconded Wulfekuhle, to adopt Resolution 2019-11: Accepting the project and approving payment of partial payment Number 8-Final to Tschiggfrie Excavating for the Sanitary Sewer Repair and CIPP Lining Improvements project 16-137, Division 1.  Roll call, all ayes, motion carried. 

     Moved Larson, seconded Tucker, to discuss Resolution 2019-12.  Fayette Fire Chief Jason Rohde was present to advise the council that the Fayette Fire Department’s Constitution and By-Laws had not been updated for over 20 years.  Rohde advised nothing serious was changed, just clarifying some wording.  Moved Wulfekuhle, seconded Larson, to adopt Resolution 2019-12: Accepting and adopting the Fayette Fire Department’s Constitution and By-Laws.  Roll call, all ayes, motion carried.

     Moved Larson, seconded Tucker, to discuss and consider purchasing a new mobile car radio for the 2017 Ford Explorer.  Chief Davis explained the importance of the radio and that it was budgeted.  Moved Tucker, seconded Wulfekuhle, to approve the purchase of a new mobile radio for the 2017 Ford Explorer at the cost of $728 from the police account, as budgeted.  All ayes, carried.

     Moved Wulfekuhle, seconded Larson, to discuss and consider purchasing three body armor vests.  Chief Davis explained the importance of the vests and that he has applied for a grant where the Department of Justice will reimburse the city for 50% of the costs of the vests.  Moved Larson, seconded Tucker, to approve the purchase of three new body armor vests for the police department, out of the police account, as budgeted.  All ayes, carried.

     Moved Larson, seconded Wulfekuhle, to discuss Ordinance 505.  The ordinance changes the water and sewer capital fund fee.  McGrane shared spreadsheets that the council had requested he put together at the last council meeting.  The spreadsheets showed some examples of amounts if the city switched to a 1% or 2% fee per cubic foot, with a minimum of $3 and a maximum of $100, $75 and $50 fee.  Currently the city is charging a $10 flat fee on every bill.  The council discussed about switching from a flat fee to a percentage, would make it fairer to the consumers.  Some council members felt the few businesses in town that use a significant amount of water shouldn’t have to spend thousands of dollars each month towards the capital fund because it could hurt their business with such a significant increase.  Those council members felt the city should put a maximum amount on it.  After further discussion, moved Tucker, seconded Wulfekuhle, to approve the first reading of Ordinance 505, an ordinance that would amend a portion of Chapters 92 and 99 to adjust the water and sewer infrastructure/administration fee from a flat $10 fee per month, per account, to a 2% of total cubic feet used per month, per account, with a minimum charge of $3 per month and a maximum charge of $100 per month.  Roll call, Tucker and Wulfekuhle – ayes, Larson – nay.  Motion failed.

     Moved Wulfekuhle, unanimous, to adjourn at 6:44pm.

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