Per Senate File 634, Code of Iowa Section 384.15A, the maximum levy rate public hearing notice is posted below and has been published in the Fayette Leader. At the hearing, taxpayers and residents may present to the Council their objections to, or arguments in favor of, the tax asking per Code of Iowa Section 384.15A 5(a).

This is the first public hearing for the proposed property tax levy. The council may not increase the city tax rate* from the proposed city tax rate prior to adopting the final budget, so this is an extremely high estimate. There will be another public hearing for the taxpayers and residents to present their objections to, or arguments in favor of, in February or March that will have the actual proposed city tax rate prior to the adoption of the fiscal year 2022 budget.  

   This Saturday (November 28^th) is Small Business Saturday. Each year I send out my annual “Shop Local” email to my Fayette Community Email List (email me at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. if you would like to receive future emails) to encourage and educate everyone on the importance of shopping at and supporting our local businesses. This past year was difficult for many people, including many of our small businesses, when they were forced to shut down or make costly changes in order to keep their business open. If there is ever a year to spend your money at a small business and in Fayette, this is the year. Some people may not be aware or think about the fact that most businesses in Fayette rely on your support and business to pay their monthly household bills, put food on their table for their family and to purchase necessities for their family. Everyone was fortunate to receive some stimulus money, which helped. Some businesses received some other financial benefits during this difficult time, however, not all businesses in Fayette received these benefits and are still struggling today.

   Fayette has a variety of businesses that offer many products and services. If you are unable to find something to give as a gift, consider a gift certificate. By shopping at and supporting Fayette businesses, your money helps create local jobs and your tax dollars stay local, which get used for public services such as libraries, schools and much more.  Fayette businesses also give back to our community.  These businesses donate to our local events and fundraisers, including our town celebration, Watermelon Days.  I strongly encourage you to purchase as many things, including your day-to-day items, within the city of Fayette first.  If you cannot find the item or service within Fayette, then look at neighboring communities, preferably within Fayette County.  By shopping at and supporting businesses within Fayette County, your local option sales tax gets distributed to the city of Fayette and other Fayette County cities.  When you purchase something from a business outside Fayette County, either online or by physically traveling to them, then your local options sales tax goes to other counties.

   Each year I like to challenge everyone. I’m sure some of you are rolling your eyes because you hear this from me each year, but please humor me and take my challenge. I challenge everyone to visit a Fayette business they have never been to before, or maybe you have not visited in a while. Maybe step up the challenge this year and visit 3 Fayette businesses you have never been to before. You may be surprised at some of the things they offer. To make things easier, you can find a list of all the Fayette Businesses on the cities website here: https://fayetteiowa.com/businesses/business-directory.html.

   I personally feel we have the best, unique businesses in Fayette. Please support Fayette businesses and help promote the great activities and events we have in Fayette. 

NOTICE OF MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FAYETTE, STATE OF IOWA, ON THE MATTER OF THE PROPOSED AUTHORIZATION OF A LOAN AGREEMENT AND THE ISSUANCE OF NOT TO EXCEED $500,000 GENERAL OBLIGATION CAPITAL LOAN NOTES OF THE CITY (FOR ESSENTIAL CORPORATE PURPOSES), AND THE HEARING ON THE ISSUANCE THEREOF

PUBLIC NOTICE is hereby given that the City Council of the City of Fayette, State of Iowa, will hold a public hearing on the 7^th day of December, 2020, at 6 P.M., in the Community Room at the Fayette Community Library, 104 West State Street, Fayette, Iowa, at which meeting the Council proposes to take additional action for the authorization of a Loan Agreement and the issuance of not to exceed $500,000 General Obligation Capital Loan Notes, for essential corporate purposes, to provide funds to pay the costs of the opening, widening, extending, grading, and draining of the right-of-way of streets, highways, avenues, alleys and public grounds, the construction, reconstruction, and repairing of any street improvements, the acquisition, installation, and repair of sidewalks, storm sewers, sanitary sewers, water service lines, street lighting, and traffic control devices, and the acquisition of any real estate needed for any of the foregoing purposes.  Principal and interest on the proposed Loan Agreement will be payable from the Debt Service Fund.

At the above meeting the Council shall receive oral or written objections from any resident or property owner of the City to the above action.  After all objections have been received and considered, the Council will at the meeting or at any adjournment thereof, take additional action for the authorization of a Loan Agreement and the issuance of the Notes to evidence the obligation of the City thereunder or will abandon the proposal to issue said Notes.

This notice is given by order of the City Council of the City of Fayette, State of Iowa, as provided by Sections 384.24A and 384.25 of the Code of Iowa.

Dated this 18^th day of November, 2020.

Kris McGrane, City Administrator/Clerk, City of Fayette, State of Iowa

Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds signed a new proclamation imposing a number of public health measures to reduce the the spread of COVID-19 effective tomorrow (11/11/20) through 11/30/20. For more information, visit https://governor.iowa.gov/press-release/gov-reynolds-signs-new-proclamation-continuing-state-public-health-emergency-10

   The City of Fayette and Mayor Andrew Wenthe are pleased to announce that the recipient of the 2020 Mayor’s Award is John Winke. Mr. Winke stepped up this past summer and early fall to water and care for all the beautiful flowers in downtown Fayette. “It takes dedication to go out every day and water the twenty-three hanging flower baskets and eleven large flowerpots throughout the downtown area,” said Mayor Wenthe. “John deserves a great deal of thanks for his volunteer service to Fayette”. Wenthe also expressed thanks to all who helped with the flowers this year, which add color and beauty to downtown Fayette. The City of Fayette Mayor’s Award is normally presented at the community Watermelon Days celebration, which was not held this year due to the pandemic. Mayor Wenthe presented the Mayor’s Award to Mr. Winke on November 6^th in front of City Hall.

Released on 11/6/2020 from the Fayette County Public Health:

The number of positive COVID-19 cases in Fayette County are on the rise with over 175 new cases in the past two weeks; the number of hospitalizations is also climbing.

For the entire county, the positivity rate has increased from 6.99% on October 27 to 15.3% as of Friday, November 6.  That is an 8.31% increase in positivity, which is more than double our previous rate.

We are seeing COVID-19 spread among all ages, many businesses and schools are affected, and the cases are not related to any single event or town. At this time, in Fayette County, the disease is being actively spread throughout all communities. This is happening in our surrounding counties as well.

The number of admissions for many hospitals in northeast Iowa are at, or near capacity. There is a desperate need to slow the spread, flatten the curve, and protect our community and population.

Fayette County Public Health, in conjunction with Fayette County Board of Health, is asking our towns to put into place an expectation of its citizens to step up and protect each other.  Public Health is requesting that towns ask businesses to wear masks to ensure the health of employees and to protect customers.

For our Fayette County communities during this pandemic, we are at a crossroads. Having been lucky enough to avoid high positivity rates until now has been a blessing. But COVID-19 is here, and it is not stopping. As many local healthcare centers are urging our communities to step up and assist in mitigation efforts, please remember it is going to require more than just our medical professionals to fight this fight. It will take all residents of Fayette County and we are asking for your help!

Please know it is acceptable to hold each other accountable to slow down the spread so our health care system can handle the increased number of patients. Ask businesses to wear masks. Ask customers to wear masks. Ask each other to wear masks. Fayette County Public Health continues to ask individuals to wear masks and practice social distancing and good hand hygiene. And, most importantly, stay home when not feeling well. These things are vital to ensure the continued health of all communities.

Currently in Fayette County, the Iowa Dept of Public Health (IDPH) is conducting COVID-19 disease investigation, and due to the increased testing, we know that investigations are behind. If you are not receiving timely guidance or have questions, call 2-1-1 at any time. Or, you can call Fayette County Public Health (a dept of Gundersen Palmer Hospital & Clinics) at  (563) 422-6267, Monday-Friday.  

Here are a few Halloween events in Fayette:

• Maple Crest Campus Costume Parade (100 Bolger Drive): On Saturday, 10/31 from 2PM to 3PM, 5^th Graders and younger are able to participate in the Costume Parade by walking around the campus and getting a goodie bags. Please remember to social distance between you and other parade members.

• City of Fayette Trick or Treating: On Saturday, 10/31 from 2:30PM to 4:30PM, everyone is invited to participate in the traditional door-to-door trick or treating in Fayette. If you would like to participate in handing out treats, please turn your porch light on between 2:30 and 4:30PM. Please follow CDC guidelines. Here is some guidance from the Iowa Department of Public Health:
• Only hand-out/accept factory-wrapped treats and wipe off candy wrappers with sanitizing wipes when you arrive home. (Never wipe unpackaged food with sanitizing wipes).
• Leave individual grab bags or paper cups filled with factory-wrapped treats outside your door or in your driveway for people to take and avoid having children select treats from a bowl or common container. Watch and wave to trick or treaters through a window or from at least six feet distance.
• Only take your children trick or treating and stay in small groups. Maintain at least six feet distance.

The Fayette Public Works employees will begin leaf pick-up on Monday, Oct. 19th, 2020.  Pick up will be on Mondays (weather permitting). If they are unable to get to all the houses on Monday, then they will pick-up leaves at the houses they missed on Tuesday. Place raked leaves on the City parkway or right-of-way between the sidewalk and the back of the curb.  If you don’t have a curb, then place on the grassy area near the street.  Please do NOT place in the street!  No tree branches, sticks or garbage should be mixed with the leaves because they will puncture the vacuum hose. 

The City Yard Waste Disposal Site is open on Wednesdays from 2PM-4PM and on Saturdays from 8AM-10AM for disposing of branches, sticks, leaves and other yard waste.  A Yard Waste key may be checked-out at Fayette City Hall during office hours.  Yard waste may also be burned but burning of trash is prohibited.  City Ordinance 135.08 prohibits the burning of leaves on any curb and gutter or on any paved or surfaced street or alley.  A fire burns not only the leaves, but also the tar/oil in asphalt and cracks can crack the concrete.