REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING
August 15, 2022
The City Council of the City of Fayette, Iowa, met Monday, August 15, 2022, at 6:00 pm in the Community Room at the Fayette Community Library pursuant to law and rules of said council, Mayor Wood presiding. The meeting began with the Pledge of Allegiance.
Roll call: Present - Council members Scott, Tenney, Tucker, Post, and Potratz.
Moved Potratz, seconded Tucker, to approve the consent agenda items consisting of the regular meeting minutes of 8/1/22 and the claims list of 7/30/22-8/12/22. Roll call, all ayes, motion carried.
Moved Tenney, seconded Post, to approve the agenda as presented. All ayes, motion carried.
Mayor Wood advised he spoke with Fayette County Sheriff Marty Fisher in reference to an incident that took place in late June, and it was forwarded to the Public Safety Committee chair. Wood will be having a meeting to learn more about a possible grant for placing electric charging stations within our city. The city employees will be starting safety meetings this month by request of the city's workers compensation company.
City Administrator/Clerk McGrane updated the council on city hall expanding their hours to 8AM to 12:30PM and 1:30PM to 4PM, Monday through Friday, starting on Tuesday, 9/6/22. McGrane also completed and submitted the required paperwork for the USDA Rural Development grant for the new radios. McGrane reminded the council the next council meeting will be on Tuesday, 9/6/22.
Police Chief Davis advised he is out of the office this week because he is training the Delaware County Sheriffs Office and Manchester Police Department staff in active shooter response. The department will be picking up the new K9 squad vehicle this Friday. Police K9 Odin and Officer Ball have completed their training and are now working the streets.
Moved Tucker, seconded Tenney, to move forward on having an open house for the Homes for Iowa home once it is completed. All ayes, motion carried.
Moved Post, seconded Tenney, to accept the Fayette Community Library Board of Trustees meeting minutes from 6/8/22 and 7/13/22. All ayes, motion carried.
Members of the Fayette American Legion Post 339 were present to ask the council if they could purchase and install playground equipment to be placed at Klocks Island Park. The members have found a family in Minnesota that are selling a commercial playground set that is approximately 7 years old and is in great shape for $4,000. The members would pick up the equipment and install it at Klocks Island park with the assistance of the Fayette Public Works employees. The family would like some sort of plaque to go up near the equipment for their donation. The city council may also help pay for part the purchase of the equipment if they would like. The members believe they would have the new playground equipment installed at Klocks Island park before the end of this season. Mayor Wood thanked the members for the project. Moved Potratz, seconded Scott, to approve the donation of the new playground equipment from the American Legion Post 339 to be placed at Klock's Island park. All ayes, motion carried.
Police Chief Davis recommended the city to hire Joshua McCraney for the full-time police officer position. McCraney currently works in the Nuclear Security Field and is a Navy veteran. McCraney is uncertified and will probably attend the police academy in January of 2023. McCraney can start working on Monday, 8/22/22. Moved Tenney, seconded Post, to approve hiring Joshua McCraney as a full-time Fayette Police Officer at an hourly wage of $20.50. All ayes, motion carried.
Moved Tucker, seconded Scott, to approve awarding the CDBG Rehabilitation contract for 300 Alexander Street to Dave's Home Improvement in the amount of $17,000 contingent on finalization of review of some various items. All ayes, motion carried.
Public Works Director Jerry Hildebrand provided a quote from K&W Coatings LLC in the amount of $36,500 for cleaning and painting the exterior of the water tower. It would be an additional $800 for them to clean the interior of the water tower at the same time. Upper Iowa University does not have extra funds at this time to help cover the costs of painting "Upper Iowa University" on the tower. The council discussed other options including artwork or slogans that could be painted on the tower. Hildebrand recommended that it should be cleaned and repainted within the next few years. No formal action was taken.
McGrane explained in 2006, $25,000 of Sewer funds were invested in a CD to cover the pay-out of Jerry Hildebrand's vacation and sick time when he retires. McGrane advised we currently have enough in the Sewer fund to cover the expenses and the council could keep the CD invested for a future sewer project. Moved Tenney, seconded Potratz, to approve keeping the Sewer CD in the amount of $25,000 invested and to be used for a future sewer project. All ayes, motion carried.
A few options for the future of the Public Works Department were presented to the council after Public Works Director Hildebrand retires. The first option was to post the job advertisement to replace the position. The second option was to contract the water/wastewater duties out to a neighboring city. The third option was to contract the water/wastewater duties out to PeopleService Inc. The city of Oelwein would we open to discuss a contract, but the city of West Union would not be interested. PeopleService Inc. provided information and a proposal of $13,076 per month for them to manage all the water/wastewater systems and duties. Moved Potratz, seconded Post, to continue to go with the option to hire a new Public Works Director. Ayes - Scott, Tucker, Post and Potratz; Nay - Tenney; motion carried.
There being no further business, Wood declared the meeting adjourned at 7:45 pm.
