Council Meeting Minutes 7-19-2021

REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING

July 19, 2021

     The City Council of the City of Fayette, Iowa, met Monday, July 19, 2021, at 6:00 pm in the Community Room at the Fayette Community Library pursuant to law and rules of said council, Mayor Wenthe presiding.

     Roll call: Present - Council members Post, Tucker and Wulfekuhle. Absent - Potratz and Tenney.

     Moved Wulfekuhle, seconded Post, to approve the consent agenda items consisting of the regular meeting minutes of 7/6/21 and the claims list of 7/3/21 - 7/16/21. Roll call, all ayes, motion carried.

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

     Upon Mayor Wenthe’s request, moved Tucker, seconded Wulfekuhle, to appoint Brenda Hildebrand to the Fayette Tree Board to finish the term ending 12/31/2023. All ayes, motion carried.

     City Administrator/Clerk McGrane advised the council Roy & Jean Karlson will donate $500 for the five metal military emblems that will be placed around the Fayette County Freedom Rock. McGrane has been working with the USDA Rural Development to close out the Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) grant. The city will be paying back the $28,221.05 that we used to start the RLF. On 7/8 McGrane attended the Iowa League of Cities online meeting on how to apply for the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) finances. McGrane completed all the documents and online application. McGrane attended part 1 of the online Fayette County Focus Group Economic Resiliency meeting on 7/7 to discuss the economic impacts from the COVID-19 pandemic.

     Fayette Police Chief Ben Davis informed the council a Governor Traffic Safety Bureau traffic STEP wave will be happening in August. Davis is researching drones for the department as well as grants help fund the purchase of a drone. There have been two river rescues this summer, including one last weekend.

     Moved Wulfekuhle, seconded Tucker, to discuss and consider appointing a Parks Board, combining the Parks Board with the Recreation Board, or removing the Parks Board from the City Code. Susan Scott with the Fayette Recreation Board was present to have the city council clarify duties/expectations if the boards combined. Scott also inquired if more members would be appointed and how the budget would work. Assistant Public Works Director Adam Hildebrand recommended having a Public Works employee be a member of the Parks and Recreation Board if that was the direction the council takes. Wenthe recommended the Recreation Board look over the Parks City Code and draft some responsibilities and duties they feel would work for them. No formal action was taken.

     Moved Post, seconded Wulfekuhle, to discuss and consider awarding a CPA firm to perform the city's required annual examination for the year ending June 30, 2021, and June 30, 2022. McGrane provided the council with the two bids received: Hogan & Hansen, PC (Waterloo) $5,250 for both years and Rachelle K. Thompson, CPA, PLLC (Hampton) $3,700 for FY2021 and $3,800 for FY2022. Moved Tucker, seconded Post, to award Rachelle K. Thompson, CPA, PLLC to perform the City's annual examination for the years ending June 30, 2021, and June 30, 2022. All ayes, motion carried.

     Moved Post, seconded Wulfekuhle, to discuss and approve the Fayette Recreation Board meeting minutes from 3/8/2021, 3/22/2021, 4/5/2021 and 4/19/2021. All ayes, motion carried.

     Moved Tucker, seconded Post, to discuss and approve the Fayette Tree Board meeting minutes from 7/14/2021. All ayes, motion carried.

     Moved Post, seconded Wulfekuhle, to discuss and approve the Fayette County Economic Development and Tourism quarterly report for April through June of 2021. All ayes, motion carried.

     Moved Wulfekuhle, seconded Tucker, to discuss and consider allowing Jeff Scott to pay for the repaving of the city alley between E. Madison Street and E. Jay Street. McGrane advised Scott had received a quote for approximately $9,000 from Heartland Asphalt and would be willing to reimburse the city for the costs of repaving the alley. Moved Tucker, seconded Wulfekuhle, to allow Jeff Scott to reimburse the city for repaving the city alley between E. Madison Street and E. Jay Street for approximately $9,000. All ayes, motion carried.

     Moved Wulfekuhle, seconded Post, to discuss and consider developing an ordinance to provide guidance on a course of action when a tree planted by the city is found to be damaging a sewer line. Pat Whelan was present with concerns about a tree that is adjacent to his property in the city right of way that has roots growing into his private sewer line and he would like the tree removed. Whelan advised he has used chemicals that were recommended by the Public Works Director and that seems to be helping at this time but he is worried future damage. Assistant Public Works Director Adam Hildebrand advised that tree roots usually do not cause damage to sewer lines. The tree roots grow where holes or cracks are in a sewer line. It could be costly if the city removed all the trees throughout the city that grow into damaged sewer lines or cause sidewalk damage. Moved Post, seconded Wulfekuhle, to identify the type of tree Pat Whelan is concerned about and get more information about the tree to better determine if the tree should be removed. All ayes, motion carried.

     Moved Wulfekuhle, seconded Post, to discuss and consider acknowledging and approving a petition and proposal to request submitting the question of changing the Fayette city council member terms from a two year term to a four year term and shall be staggered terms and placed on the November 2, 2021, ballot. Moved Wulfekuhle, seconded Post, to acknowledge and approve the petition and proposal to authorize the Mayor and City Administrator to deliver to the Fayette County Commissioner of elections a request to submit the question of changing the Fayette city council member terms from a two (2) year term to a four (4) year term and shall be staggered terms and placed on the November, 2, 2021, ballot. All ayes, motion carried.

     Moved Post, seconded Wulfekuhle, to discuss and adopt Resolution 2021-21 authorizing the Mayor and City Administrator to deliver to the Fayette County Commissioner of elections a request to submit the question of changing the Fayette city council member terms from a two (2) year term to a four (4) year term and shall be staggered terms and placed on the November, 2, 2021, ballot. Roll call, all ayes, motion carried.

     Moved Wulfekuhle, seconded Post, to discuss and consider making the Fayette Community Library's Community Room the permanent home to council meetings. McGrane recommended making the Community Room the permanent place for city council meetings since the room is bigger and has worked out well for meetings. Moved Wulfekuhle, seconded Post, to move forward with the necessary process to make the Community Room at the Fayette Community Library the permanent location for city council meetings. All ayes, motion carried.

     There being no further business, moved Wulfekuhle, unanimous, to adjourn at 6:52 pm.

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