Council Meeting Minutes 10-7-19

REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING

October 7, 2019

     The City Council of the City of Fayette, Iowa, met Monday, October 7, 2019, at 6pm in Fayette City Hall pursuant to law and rules of said council, Mayor Wenthe presiding.

     Roll call: Present - Council members Cowley (arrived at 6:09pm), Larson, Potratz, Tucker and Wulfekuhle.

     Moved Larson, seconded Potratz, to approve the consent agenda items consisting of the regular meeting minutes of 9/16/19, the claims list of 9/17/19 – 10/7/19, the financial reports for August 2019 and renewal of the Class C liquor license with outdoor service and Sunday sales for Shrubb’s Street Eatery LLC.  Roll call, all ayes, motion carried.

     Treasurer’s Balance for Fund Accounts as of August 31, 2019: Total August Receipts: $213,648.10 (General $24,010.55; Streets $19,334.47; Local Option Sales Tax [LOST] $8,517.88; Revolving Loan $1,085.27; Bolger $174.87; Library Fund $.02; Water $17,299.17; Water T&A $3,000; Sewer $19,971.17; Sewer Project $114,936.69; Water/Sewer Capital $4,472.01; Storm Water $596; 9 S. Main St $250). Total August Disbursements: $125,456.28 (General $51,996.86; Streets $7,546.91; Employee Benefits $10,699.13; CDBG LMI Housing $1,109.84; Revolving Loan $112.20; Bolger $4,353.75; FEMA $2,092.57; Water $10,847.15; Water T&A $4,122.74; Sewer $15,646.10; Sewer Project $15,234.27; Storm Water $1,104; 9 S. Main St $590.76). Transfers in: Sewer Fund $9,575.50; Transfers out: Sewer $9,575.50. Treasurer’s Balance: $3,353,848.75.

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

     Upon recommendation of the Fayette Fire Department and Mayor Wenthe, moved Larson, seconded Tucker, to appoint Haydn Martin to the Fayette Fire Department.  All ayes, carried. 

     Upon recommendation of the Fayette Fire Department and Mayor Wenthe, moved Larson, seconded Wulfekuhle, to appoint Myron Crawford to the Fayette Fire Department.  All ayes, carried.

     Upon recommendation from Mayor Wenthe, moved Potratz, seconded Larson, to reappoint Pat Whelan to the Fayette County Waste Management Board for another two-year term, until 10/19/2021.

     Administrator/Clerk McGrane updated the council on the progress of the new server.  McGrane also advised he had attended the Iowa League of Cities Annual Conference for the first time and encouraged the council to budget next year for the Mayor and a council member or two to attend.  The City of Fayette’s trick-or-treating will be on Thursday, Oct. 31st from 5PM to 7PM.  Residents who are interested in participating may leave their porch light on.

     Police Chief Davis advised the council that he recently returned from attending the LEIN conference.  On Oct. 9th, there will be around 21 Law Enforcement agencies at the Fayette Community Library attending the Governor Traffic Safety Bureau meeting.  Officer Allen received a salvage junk title certification, so he is able to do inspections.  The next E911 meeting is in December and we are on the agenda to have the board discuss if they are still interested in paying for half of a new tower in Fayette for radio communication.

     Moved Wulfekuhle, seconded Larson, to discuss and review a solar panel ordinance.  Tucker and Cowley had previously met to research and draft an ordinance for the council to review.  The ordinance would require property owners to complete a building permit prior to installing ground-mounted or roof-mounted solar energy systems on the property.  Ground-mounted solar energy systems require the approval of the Planning and Zoning Commission and the City Council.  The council will review the draft ordinance and the first reading will be at a future council meeting.  No action was taken.

     Moved Wulfekuhle, seconded Cowley, to discuss purchasing an additional Jayhawk Utility Software (JUS) billing user license.  McGrane did get confirmation that it is only a one-time fee of $650 for the additional license.  The additional license will help the clerks to work simultaneously on utility accounts and billing.  Moved Wulfekuhle, seconded Tucker, to purchase the additional JUS billing user license for $650.  All ayes, carried.

     Moved Potratz, seconded Larson, to discuss the Fayette Personnel Committee meeting minutes from 9/24/19.  Moved Larson, seconded Cowley, to approve the Fayette Personnel Committee meeting minutes from 9/24/19.  All ayes, carried.

     Moved Larson, seconded Tucker, to approve the Fayette Community Library Board of Trustees meeting minutes from 6/12/19.  All ayes, carried. 

     Moved Larson, seconded Potratz, to approve the Fayette Community Library Board of Trustees meeting minutes from 7/10/19.  All ayes, carried. 

     Moved Wulfekuhle, seconded Cowley, to approve the Fayette Community Library Board of Trustees meeting minutes from 8/7/19.  All ayes, carried. 

     Moved Cowley, seconded Larson, to approve the Fayette Community Library Board of Trustees meeting minutes from 9/11/19 and the Library Director’s report.  All ayes, carried. 

     Moved Tucker, seconded Cowley, to approve the Fayette Ambulance Service meeting minutes from 10/2/19.  All ayes, carried.

     Moved Cowley, seconded Wulfekuhle, to discuss and consider hiring Jacob Palmer as a City Maintenance Worker and a starting salary.  Palmer was present and answered questions from the council.  After discussion, moved Potratz, seconded Wulfekuhle, to hire Jacob Palmer as the City Maintenance Worker and placing Palmer on the current wage scale at #8, which is an hourly wage of $18.80.  Palmer plans to start on October 21, 2019.  All ayes, carried.

     Moved Tucker, seconded Cowley, to discuss Resolution 2019-19.  McGrane highlighted a few things in the Street Finance Report for FY2019.  Moved Tucker, seconded Wulfekuhle, to adopt Resolution 2019-19, adopting the Street Finance Report for FY2019.  Roll call, all ayes, motion carried.

     Moved Cowley, seconded Wulfekuhle, to discuss Resolution 2019-20.  The Fayette Ambulance Service recommended increasing the rates for the Fayette Ambulance Service by approximately 10%.  After discussion, moved Wulfekuhle, seconded Cowley, to adopt Resolution 2019-20, increasing the current Fayette Ambulance Service rates by approximately 10%.  Roll call, all ayes, motion carried.

     Moved Potratz, seconded Larson, to discuss Resolution 2019-21.  The Fayette Personnel Committee recommends the city offer a continuation of health coverage to employees who retire prior to age 65 at the employee’s expense.  After discussion, moved Wulfekuhle, seconded Potratz, to adopt Resolution 2019-21, amending the Personnel Policy by adding continuation of health coverage in Section 5.1.  Roll call, all ayes, motion carried.

     Moved Larson, seconded Cowley, to discuss accepting the five-year sewer maintenance contract with Municipal Pipe and Tool Co. LLC.  The city has contracted with Municipal Pipe and Tool Co. for many years now.  Public Works Director Jerry Hildebrand did get another estimate which was comparable in costs.  Moved Larson, seconded Wulfekuhle, to accept the five-year sewer maintenance contract with Municipal Pipe and Tool Co. LLC.  All ayes, carried.

     Moved Potratz, seconded Cowley, to discuss approving the proposal from Kluesner Construction, Inc. for asphalt repair.  After discussion, moved Tucker, seconded Larson, to approve and accept the proposal from Kluesner Construction, Inc. for asphalt repair.  All ayes, carried.

     Moved Cowley, seconded Tucker, to discuss a new community outreach project for the Fayette Police Department.  Chief Davis proposed the idea of giving parking violators in the month of November the option to either pay the $30 parking ticket or donate a toy valued at $10 to $15.  The toys collected would be donated to various local services such as Family Services of NE Iowa, Helping Services for Youth and Families, Riverview Sexual Assault Center, Friends of the Family and the NE Iowa Mentoring Program to assist children of broken homes, domestic violence or other misfortunes during the holiday season.  Davis does want to check with the City Attorney before moving forward but wanted to present the idea to the council to start considering before the next council meeting.  No action was taken.

     Moved Tucker, seconded Cowley, to discuss Resolution 2019-22.  McGrane had drafted an ordinance with a new business incentive that would reimburse marketing and advertising costs, up to $1,000 if funds are available, for new businesses in Fayette that was discussed at a previous council meeting.  New businesses opening to the public after October 1, 2019, would be reimbursed up to $1,000 after 12 months of business by completing an application, providing copies of all receipts, providing proof of advertising and council approval.  Moved Wulfekuhle, seconded Potratz, to adopt Resolution 2019-22, adopting a new commercial business marketing incentive from October 1, 2019 through December 31, 2020.  Roll call, all ayes, motion carried.

     Moved Cowley, seconded Potratz, to discuss purchasing ceiling tiles for the back of 9 S. Main Street.  McGrane advised that about 50 of the ceiling tiles in the back room of 9 S. Main Street need replaced.  They are curling and discoloring.  A quote provided by the Fayette Lumber Company showed 2x4 ceiling tiles are $5.80 each.  Moved Potratz, seconded Tucker, to have someone look to make sure there are no leaks that are causing the issue and to purchase 50 ceiling tiles from the Fayette Lumber Company.  All ayes, carried.

    There being no further business, moved Potratz, unanimous, to adjourn at 6:48pm.

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