REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING
April 6, 2020
The City Council of the City of Fayette, Iowa, met Monday, April 6, 2020, at 6:00 pm via conference call/online meeting using www.freeconferencecall.com due to COVID-19, per Iowa Code 21.8, pursuant to law and rules of said council, Mayor Wenthe presiding. The public was also able to access the meeting with basic directions posted on the council agenda and on the city of Fayette’s website, www.fayetteiowa.com.
Roll call: Present - Council members Post, Potratz, Tenney, Tucker and Wulfekuhle.
Moved Tucker, seconded Post, to approve the consent agenda items consisting of the regular meeting minutes of 3/16/20, the claims list of 3/17/20 - 4/6/20 and the January and February 2020 financial reports. Roll call, all ayes, motion carried.
Treasurer’s Balance for Fund Accounts as of January 31, 2020: Total January Receipts: $193,011.96 (General $69,798.28; Streets $18,191.62; Employee Benefits $6,244.34; Local Option Sales Tax $8,713.22; TIF $238.79; Revolving Loan $37,330.80; Bolger $270.42; Library Fund $136.10; Water $19,474.48; Water T&A $300; Sewer $27,414.73; Water/Sewer Capital $4,289.18; Storm Water $610). Total January Disbursements: $111,056.61 (General $49,200.25; 9 S. Main $146.85; Streets $9,067.53; Employee Benefits $11,121.14; CDBG LMI Housing $8,757.24; Revolving Loan $123.92; Water $15,753.57; Water T&A $640; Sewer $16,246.11). Transfers in: Sewer Fund $9,575.50; Transfers out: Sewer $9,575.50. Treasurer’s Balance: $3,736,390.03.
Treasurer’s Balance for Fund Accounts as of February 29, 2020: Total February Receipts: $105,696.65 (General $23,527.48; Streets $16,507.06; Employee Benefits $1,156.12; Local Option Sales Tax $7,364.33; TIF $13.09; Revolving Loan $240.22; Bolger $344.96; Library Fund $.40; Water $22,215.46; Sewer $29,459.37; Water/Sewer Capital $4,308.05; Storm Water $560.11). Total February Disbursements: $80,642.43 (General $30,626.33; 9 S. Main $169.08; Streets $9,142.21; Employee Benefits $10,089.35; CDBG LMI Housing $3,018.86; Revolving Loan $177.50; Water $14,560.63; Sewer $12,858.47). Transfers in: Sewer Fund $9,575.50; Transfers out: Sewer $9,575.50. Treasurer’s Balance: $3,761,525.58.
Moved Wulfekuhle, seconded Tucker, to approve the agenda as presented. All ayes, motion carried.
Mayor Wenthe informed the council that Scott Luchsinger will retire from the Fayette Fire Department after 39 and a half years on April 6, 2020.
Upon Mayor Wenthe's recommendation, moved Tucker, seconded Post, to appoint James Tenney to the Fayette Revolving Loan Review Committee. All ayes, motion carried.
City Administrator/Clerk McGrane informed the council that he had completed the budget and it has been submitted to the state and to the Fayette County Auditor. McGrane has been assisting with the 2020 Census representatives in making sure everyone gets counted and has been working with the Revolving Loan Fund grant.
Police Chief Davis advised the council that Officer Stone Allen has submitted his letter of resignation as he has accepted a position with a larger police department. Allen will be reimbursing the city for the academy costs.
Moved Tenney, seconded Post, to approve the Fayette Public Safety meeting minutes from 3/24/2020. All ayes, motion carried.
Moved Post, seconded Tucker, to approve the Fayette Community Library Board of Trustees meeting minutes from 2/12/2020. All ayes, motion carried.
Moved Wulfekuhle, seconded Post, to discuss and consider providing written consent to Josh Formanek, 501 Bolger Drive, allowing him to have chickens on his property. Formanek participated in the meeting and provided information to the council about his request. He would like to house 5 hens on the southeast side of his property. Formanek did receive permission from his neighbors located on the southeast side of his residence to have hens. Moved Tucker, seconded Wulfekuhle, to approve the Formanek's to have no more than 5 hens at their residence located at 501 Bolger Drive, the hens must be kept in their back yard and any coops or structures must meet the zoning regulations in the City Code. All ayes, motion carried.
Moved Wulfekuhle, seconded Post, to discuss hiring Joshua B. Barker as a Fayette Police Officer at an annual wage of $39,117. Chief Davis advised Barker is a 13 year veteran of the United States Army and was trained in the field until joining the army specials force, Green Berets. Barker started his career in the mental health career field and is currently an Upper Iowa University student. Through Barker's veteran's assistance program, the city would not have to pay for Barker's law enforcement academy costs, the city would only be his sponsor. Mayor Wenthe advised he would be able to swear-in Barker after the meeting and he could start on Wednesday, April 8, 2020, if hired. Moved Potratz, seconded Post, to hire Joshua Barker as a full-time Fayette police officer and placing Barker on the current wage scale #8, which is an hourly wage of $18.80. All ayes, motion carried.
Moved Wulfekuhle, seconded Tucker, to discuss adding equipment and washing the water tower at an estimated cost of $4,500. Public Works Director Hildebrand provided McGrane with further information to pass along to the council. A trough would be built around the bottom of the vent on the water tower to catch moisture and tie into the overflow that runs to the ground at a cost of approximately $2,500. This is an inexpensive way to try eliminating the rusting problem on the tower, however, it may not work. The other option would be to hire an engineer to research fixing the issue. There is an estimate of $2,000 to wash the stain off the water tower. Moved Tenney, seconded Post, to approve the purchase of the necessary equipment and installation for the water tower to prevent future staining and to clean the current stains at a cost no more than $5,000. All ayes, motion carried.
Moved Tucker, seconded Tenney, to discuss Resolution 2020-06. This Resolution increases the city camping fees from $10 per night to $12 per night to help cover rising costs, such as electricity. Moved Post, seconded Tenney, to adopt Resolution 2020-06: increasing camping fees to $12 per night. Roll call, all ayes, motion carried.
Moved Tucker, seconded Post, to discuss continual preparation with the city for the coronavirus/COVID-19. McGrane had provided a timeline of decisions Mayor Wenthe and Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds had made and how the city implemented them. McGrane also provided information on how he and the other city supervisors are taking action on protecting city employees while keeping city business operational. Wenthe updated the most recent proclamation from Governor Reynolds that would close campgrounds and libraries. McGrane and Annette Butikofer, the Fayette Community Library Director, worked with the State to determine if curb-side pickup is still applicable at the library. The Governor's office and the State Library Board advised the library may still offer curb-side pickup of library materials. Mayor Wenthe asked the council to provide guidance to city employees as far as water/utility bills and shutting water service off. The state advised the city can still turn-off water, if they choose. The utility board is recommending utility companies to not turn off utilities at this time. McGrane asked a couple of the surrounding cities in Fayette County and they are currently not turning water off. After further discussion, moved Tenney, seconded Post, to temporarily suspend water shut-offs and future utility late fees from now until after the May 4, 2020, council meeting when the council will re-evaluate. All ayes, motion carried.
There being no further business, moved Wulfekuhle, unanimous, to adjourn at 7:02 pm.
