Council Meeting Minutes 9-20-2021

REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING

September 20, 2021

     The City Council of the City of Fayette, Iowa, met Monday, September 20, 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, Potratz, Tenney, Tucker (arrived 6:01) and Wulfekuhle (arrived 6:01).

     Moved Potratz, seconded Post, to approve the consent agenda items consisting of the regular meeting minutes of 9/7/21 and the claims list of 9/4/21 - 9/17/21. Roll call, all ayes, motion carried.

     Moved Tenney, seconded Potratz, to amend the agenda to remove agenda item 8B, discussion and consideration in purchasing fire rings from North Fayette Valley. All ayes, motion carried.

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

     Mayor Wenthe shared with the council that he wanted to thank everyone who had a part in Watermelon Days.

     City Administrator/Clerk McGrane advised the council on 9/8 was the CDBG Rehab Grant bid opening and only 1 bid came in to complete one house but another contractor was informed about the other house. On 9/14 McGrane completed all the reports and documents for the IMWCA workers compensation audit.

     Fayette Police Chief Ben Davis informed the council that he applied for two grants for around $10,000 to help with K9 expenses. Davis believes he should hear back about the grants in December. Davis received the title to the motorcycle that was confiscated and he will start advertising to accept closed bids in the near future. Fayette Sgt. Barker has accepted a position at the Fayette County Sheriff's Office and will be leaving our department in November. The city is now accepting applications for the open full-time position.

     Moved Post, seconded Tenney, to discuss and consider removing a tree in the city right of way in the 600 block of S. Main Street. McGrane provided information from the 2020 tree inventory that the State DNR conducted. The type of tree that Pat Whelan, the adjacent property owner, wants removed is a Red Maple. The information also included how many Red Maple trees are located throughout the city of Fayette in parks and city right of ways, which was around 21. Whelan reminded the council that his concern is the roots were growing into his private sewer line and close to his water shutoff valve. Whelan advised he is concerned about his sidewalks being disturbed by the roots, also. Tenney did research which confirmed what Assistant Public Works Director Adam Hildebrand mentioned at a prior meeting, that tree roots usually enter sewer lines where holes or cracks exist. Tenney also believed that Whelan has the right to trim tree branches and roots that are on his property, as long as it doesn't impact the health of the tree. No formal action was made.

     Moved Tucker, seconded Wulfekuhle, to discuss and consider taking action on a nuisance tree in the 100 block of State Road/300 block of Old HWY 150 North. McGrane provided information from the city attorney stating that the city council may use "diseased and/or dying" as a nuisance to have the property owner remove the tree. McGrane and Chief Davis explained the nuisance abatement process if the council decided to take that route. Dave and Connie Collins were present to remind the council of their concerns of the dying tree and to answer questions. Moved Tucker, seconded Wulfekuhle, to start the nuisance abatement process for the Cottonwood tree to be removed by the property owner at 101 Station Road. All ayes, motion carried.

     Moved Tenney, seconded Potratz, to discuss, consider and action on the W. Water Street Project. Jon Biederman, an Engineer at Fehr Graham, was present and the council was provided an updated letter from Heartland Asphalt, Inc. The letter indicated that the curb and gutter should be completed by the end of the week of 9/20/21. The week of 9/27/21 they will complete the final grading of rock and pave the road. Once the road is paved, they will reopen the road but will still have a few other items left to finish which should only take about a week to complete. No formal action was taken.

     Moved Tenney, seconded Post, to discuss and consider allowing chickens at 409 W. Water Street. McGrane informed the council that he was notified the residents had chickens, so he contacted and informed them of the city code and that the chickens needed to be removed as soon as possible. McGrane also explained to them the process they needed to complete in order to have chickens on their property. The residents requested to be on the agenda but were not at the meeting. Brenda Stahl, a neighbor of 409 W. Water St., was present and shared her concerns. Stahl advised when the residents had the chickens, the small fenced in area they were kept in was not cleaned and gave off an unpleasant odor. No action was taken.

     There being no further business, moved Potratz, unanimous, to adjourn at 6:55 pm.

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