Regular Council Meeting
March 7, 2016
The City Council of the City of Fayette, Iowa, met Monday, March 7, 2016, at 7:30 pm in the Fayette City Hall pursuant to law and rules of said council, Mayor Wenthe presiding.
Roll call: Present - Council members McGrane, Nefzger and Sorensen. Absent: Kragnes.
Moved Sorensen, seconded Nefzger, to approve the consent agenda consisting of the regular meeting minutes of 02/16/16 letter of appreciation from citizens for the work of our Public Works employees, Claims List of 02/17/16 – 03/07/16 with the addition of Shieldware software in the amount of $9,000 for the Police Dept. (that will link our PD with other agencies) and utility billing software for city hall in the amount of $4,335 which is $900 more than first quote to add a NACHA file for customer auto-withdrawal from bank accounts (both had been previously approved by the Finance Committee during their budget meetings), renewal of liquor license for Cabo Blue, Native Wine Permit for Touch of Elegance and Beer License for Boarders Inn. On roll call, all ayes, carried.
Moved Nefzger, seconded McGrane, to approve the agenda as presented. All ayes, carried.
This being the time and place published for a public hearing on the FY 2017 Estimated Budget, Mayor Wenthe opened the hearing and asked for any comments. Admin/Clerk Dennis said the Fayette Leader cut off most of the category descriptions on the left side of the public hearing notice but fortunately our notice lined up perfectly with Maynard’s notice so people could know what the numbers related to. Dennis said she called Ted Nellesen, IDOM, and told him about the notice. Nellesen said the notice was acceptable, but to republish the full notice and mail both proofs of publication with the budget to the Fayette County Auditor. The second publication had the whole notice. The tax asking for FY 17 will be $14.43 per $1,000 of taxable valuation. There being no further comment, the mayor closed the hearing. Moved McGrane, seconded Nefzger, to approve Resolution #2016-04: Fayette’s FY 2017 Budget. On roll call, all ayes.
Upon Mayor Wenthe’s request, moved Nefzger, seconded McGrane, to appoint Megan Kohr as Fayette’s representative to the UERPC Housing Authority Board for three years. Her term will expire 01/01/2019. All ayes, carried. ~ Mayor Wenthe also noted that Sam Whitehead is the new Fayette County Economic Development Director, replacing the vacancy from Karla Organist. Sam also works for UERPC, like Karla did, and will be in the West Union Ec. Development office part-time.
Administrator/Clerk Dennis reported the GIS mapping has been completed, except for a few corrections after Jerry reviews everything. The full cost of $12,500 has been paid and James Krivachek, Midwest Geographical Services, was very good to work with.
Police Chief Pisanti said the ads for a police officer were sent out to 12 different places with a deadline of March 28th. He added that he had received four applications already. ~ Pisanti also mentioned that Reserve Officer Chuck Rodas had knee surgery and that went well. He added that he would be starting a list of repeat parking offenders and tow vehicles when several tickets haven’t been paid.
Moved Nefzger, seconded McGrane, to introduce the third and final reading of Ordinance 490 – Lowering the speed limit on Big Rock Road from 35 mph to 25 mph, since it’s a shared road with pedestrians, bicycles and vehicles. Moved McGrane, seconded Sorensen to approve the final reading. On roll call, all ayes, carried.
Moved McGrane, seconded Sorensen, to introduce for discussion the audit proposals from Ridihalgh, Fuelling, Snitker, Weber & Co., $9,000, Oelwein; and Hacker, Nelson & Co., $8,900, Decorah. McGrane recommended Ridihalgh’s firm since they are closer and because they have done Fayette’s audits and annual reviews for the past several years so they would have our background and the audit should go quicker. Moved McGrane, seconded Nefzger, to approve the bid from Ridihalgh and company to perform Fayette’s full audit for FY 2016 in August 2016 for the amount of $9,000. All ayes, carried.
Moved Nefzger, seconded McGrane, to introduce the matter to change the name of Lima Road, in the city limits, to Jade Road, which is the name in the county for the same road. Dennis explained that Jerry Kleppe, resident living on Jade Road in the county, made this request to the city after talking to the county supervisors and they told him that would be up to the city. Kleppe said it would be less confusing giving people directions to his house if the name was the same all the way. Dennis said there are several roads that have one name in town then turn into a different name out of the city limits, as in all towns. Dennis said there isn’t anyone living on that section of Lima Road so there wouldn’t be any address changes needed. Public Works Director Hildebrand would have to order two new signs and Dennis said she would need to make a couple of map changes and let the county know if the name is changed. Moved Sorensen, seconded Nefzger, to change the name of Lima Road in the city limits to Jade Road. All ayes, carried.
Moved McGrane, seconded Nefzger, to consider the bids for two warning sirens and their installation for the IHSEMD/FEMA grant. The four bids received were from these four companies: RCSystems Radio Communications Co., Waterloo, $33,600; Electronic Engineering Co., Waterloo, $39,045; Feld Fire, Carroll, $40,180; and Graybill Communications, Hiawatha, $50,639. The bid opening was held at 9:30 a.m. on March 3rd with Fire Chief Rohde, Public Works Director Hildebrand and Admin/Clerk Dennis present. Moved Sorensen, seconded Nefzger, to approve the low bid from RCSystems Radio Communications Company for $33,600. All ayes, carried.
Moved Nefzger, seconded Sorensen, to go into closed session at 7:57 p.m. per Iowa Code 21.5(1)(c.), possible real estate litigation with Attorney John Hofmeyer present. All ayes to go into closed session, carried.
The council came out of closed session at 8:43 p.m.
There being no further business, moved Nefzger, unanimous, to adjourn at 8:43 pm.
