REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING
June 15, 2020
The City Council of the City of Fayette, Iowa, met Monday, June 15, 2020, at 6:00 pm at the Fayette Community Library and 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 Potratz, Tenney, Tucker and Wulfekuhle; Absent - Post.
Moved Tucker, seconded Wulfekuhle, to approve the consent agenda items consisting of the regular meeting minutes of 6/1/20, the claims list of 6/2/20 - 6/15/20, the May 2020 financial reports and correspondence from the Iowa League of Cities. Roll call, all ayes, motion carried.
Treasurer’s Balance for Fund Accounts as of May 31, 2020: Total May Receipts: $168,181.85 (General $80,005.71; Streets $12,630.08; Employee Benefits $17,529.13; Local Option Sales Tax $8,650.79; TIF $778.96; Revolving Loan $44.19; Bolger $144.52; Library Fund $.45; Water $17,991; Water T&A $600; Sewer $25,151.78; Water/Sewer Capital $4,087.26; Storm Water $567.98). Total May Disbursements: $159,794.18 (General $28,889.18; 9 S. Main $119.68; Streets $6,853.66; Employee Benefits $8,530.24; CDBG LMI Housing $6,413; Water $8,837.39; Water T&A $1,326.44; Sewer $12,250.49; Sewer Fund $86,574.10). Transfers in: Sewer Fund $9,575.50; Transfers out: Sewer $9,575.50. Treasurer’s Balance: $3,988,634.99.
Moved Tenney, seconded Wulfekuhle, to approve the agenda as presented. All ayes, motion carried.
Upon the Fayette EMS/Ambulance Service and Mayor Wenthe’s recommendation, moved Wulfekuhle, seconded Tenney, to appoint Sean Chopard to the Fayette EMS/Ambulance Service. All ayes, motion carried.
Mayor Wenthe informed the council he looked at the damage that was done to Station Road from the heavy rains with Public Works Director Jerry Hildebrand. Hildebrand will consult with Fayette County to work on repairs.
City Administrator/Clerk McGrane advised the council the Freedom Rock is tentatively scheduled to be painted between 9/2 - 9/13/2020. Sharon Orr is still accepting donations for the Rock and they can be dropped off at City Hall. Upper Iowa University (UIU) announced they are having students return to the classrooms on 8/31/2020.
Moved Tucker, seconded Wulfekuhle, to discuss and consider awarding a CPA firm to perform the City's required annual examination for the year ending June 30, 2020. McGrane advised he followed up and contacted Rachelle Thompson. Thompson has worked on other city exams by herself including the cities of Sumner, Denver, Grundy Center and others. Thompson advised she hires an outside firm to review her exams when she's finished. McGrane spoke with a few cities who had previously hired Thompson and they were pleased with her work. McGrane updated his Recommendation Evaluation Criteria based on the information. Moved Potratz, seconded Wulfekuhle, to award Rachelle K. Thompson, CPA, PLLC, to perform the City's annual examination for the year ending June 30, 2020. All ayes, motion carried.
Moved Tenney, seconded Tucker, to discuss continual preparations for the city during coronavirus/COVID-19. Wenthe and McGrane provided an update on the developments, proclamations and changes since the last council meeting. McGrane advised there are no more delinquent utility accounts from the last few months during COVID-19. No action was taken.
Moved Tucker, seconded Wulfekuhle, to discuss the Fayette Ambulance Service/EMS meeting minutes from 3/4/20, the Fayette Public Safety meeting minutes from 3/24/20, the Fayette Community Library Board of Trustees meeting minutes and Directors report from 5/13/20, the Fayette Tree Board meeting minutes from 6/3/20 and the Fayette Recreation Board meeting minutes from 6/4/20. Moved Wulfekuhle, seconded Tenney, to approve the Fayette Ambulance Service/EMS meeting minutes from 3/4/20, the Fayette Public Safety meeting minutes from 3/24/20, the Fayette Community Library Board of Trustees meeting minutes and Directors report from 5/13/20, the Fayette Tree Board meeting minutes from 6/3/20 and the Fayette Recreation Board meeting minutes from 6/4/20. All ayes, motion carried.
Moved Tucker, seconded Wulfekuhle, to discuss and consider the notice to abate nuisance with Glen Smith. Smith was present and advised he has three properties (203 E. State St., 309 E. Water St. and 400 E. Water St.) that he received notices on and he is helping a family member with their notice for 305 Jones St. He has made some progress cleaning up the properties, but requests more time from the council because 10 days was not enough time. Chief Ben Davis confirmed that Smith has made progress on the properties. Moved Potratz, seconded Wulfekuhle, to grant Glen Smith 21 days, until July 6th, to clean up all the properties. All ayes, motion carried.
Moved Tucker, seconded Wulfekuhle, to discuss scheduling a public hearing for the conveyance at the cost of perparation of an easement allowing UIU to install solar panels upon the city property located at 615 Wadena Road. Jesse Pleggenkuhle was present representing UIU and briefly walked through plans that were presented to the council. Council members discussed if they let UIU use the city land for solar panels, then the city wouldn't be able to use the land for any future city structures or projects. Moved Tenney, seconded Tucker, to table. All ayes, motion carried.
Moved Potratz, seconded Tucker, to discuss adding to the existing trail to connect to Lovers Lane. Jon Biederman had suggested an idea of having a trail or sidewalk connecting the recreation trail at the bridge near Klock's Island Park to Lover's Lane because people must walk on HWY 93 in that area. Jerry Hildebrand believed there was sidewalk in that section years ago. Hildebrand also advised the city should look into moving the water main in that area. The council requested reaching out to the community to find out if there was interest and if community members would use a trail/sidewalk in that area. The council requested gathering cost estimates for placing a sidewalk, a bike trail, and just a gravel path in that area so they could compare costs. The council requested to obtain a cost estimate on moving the water main in that area as well. No action was taken.
Moved Wulfekuhle, seconded Tucker, to discuss the property at 606 W. Water Street. McGrane advised he met with the Fayette County Tourism Board on 6/5 to finish the paperwork for turning the property over to the city. McGrane delivered the deed to the Fayette County Recorder's Office on 6/9. McGrane advised Dan Boberg advised the American Legion may be interested in the flag pole on the property. Sharon Orr also advised she would be interested in the flag pole to be placed by the Freedom Rock. McGrane wanted the council to start thinking on what they want to do with the property and to advise him on any direction to take. The council would like to start investigating what it would take to move the cabin to another location. The council would also like to schedule a time for the council to tour the house and cabin. No action was taken.
Moved Tenney, seconded Potratz, to discuss hiring Nicole Ball as a Fayette police officer. Councilman Post provided a written statement to the council recommending Nicole Ball for the position because he sat in on all the interviews. Moved Tucker, seconded Potratz, to hire Nicole Ball as a full-time Fayette police officer and placing Ball on the current wage scale #10, which is an hourly wage of $17.88. All ayes, motion carried.
Moved Tucker, seconded Wulfekuhle, to discuss granting the Fayette Cardinal Alumni permission to have live music outside during the All Cardinal Reunion. Wulfekuhle advised the music would be at the Open Air Market Park from 7PM to 10PM. Moved Tenney, seconded Wulfekuhle, to approve the Fayette Cardinal Alumni to have live music outdoors during their reunion on July 18, 2020, but not to exceed past 10 pm. All ayes, motion carried.
Moved Tenney, seconded Tucker, to discuss approving Tim and Nancy Wulfekuhle's demolition incentive. Wulfekuhle's had provided all the necessary information to qualify for the incentive for the property located at 405 E. Water Street. Moved Tucker, seconded Tenney, to approve the demolition incentive for the Wulfekuhle's as presented, reimbursing $5,000. All ayes, Wulfekuhle abstained, motion carried.
Moved Tenney, seconded Wulfekuhle, to discuss choosing an insurance company. McGrane explained that he has been working with Kelly & Miller Insurance to obtain insurance quotes for the cities insurance. The insurance estimates were as follows: Continental Western (CW) $27,520/year; ICAP $27,870/year; and Employers Mutual (EMC) $28,663/year. Lyle Miller with Kelly & Miller Insurance provided information and his recommendation of staying with CW since the city has been with them for over 20 years and we've been satisfied. Moved Tenney, seconded Wulfekuhle, to award Continental Western with the city's insurance. All ayes, motion carried.
Moved Tenney, seconded Potratz, to discuss approving annual partnership dues for the Fayette County Economic Development and Tourism. McGrane provided the council with the May 2020 letter and update from Mallory Hanson, the Fayette County Economic Development & Tourism Director. Moved Potratz, seconded Tucker, to approve the annual partnership dues for the Fayette County Economic Development and Tourism for FY2021 in the amount of $1,514.55. All ayes, motion carried.
There being no further business, moved Potratz, unanimous, to adjourn at 7:14 pm.
