Council Meeting Minutes 10-1-18

REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING

October 1, 2018

     The City Council of the city of Fayette, Iowa, met Monday, October 1, 2018 at 6pm in the Fayette City Hall pursuant to law and rules of said council, Mayor Wenthe presiding.

     Roll call: Present - Council members Cowley, Larson, Nefzger, Tucker and Wulfekuhle.

     Moved Larson, seconded Cowley to approve the consent agenda items consisting of the regular meeting minutes of 9/17/18 and the claims list of 9/18/18 – 10/1/18. Roll call, all ayes, motion carried.

     Moved Cowley, seconded Larson, to approve the agenda as presented. All ayes, carried.

     Mayor Wenthe informed the Council the Fayette Police Dept. was notified they were awarded $1,000 from the Hometown Safety Grant through Alliant Energy for the X2 Taser Upgrade Program.  Wenthe also thanked Jerry Hildebrand for his dedication as the last few weeks have been extra busy.  Wenthe advised Hildebrand has been unable to take any of his time off due to being short-handed in his department and working extra hours due to the excessive rain and the sewer project.  Wenthe will have the council discuss some options at the next council meeting as far as assisting Hildebrand with the vacation hours he is losing.

     City Administrator/Clerk McGrane updated the council on the sanitary sewer repair & lining project.  McGrane and Hildebrand had a meeting this morning with the Engineer and Tschiggfrie Excavating.  Due to the excessive rainfall and issues they ran into on Union Street, project costs have increased by about $16,200.  Tschiggfrie believes they will run into the same issues for the 2 repairs on Wadena Road and believe an additional $50,000 would be needed to repair both of them.  McGrane contacted Speer Financial to find out if the City could afford increasing the SRF Loan to cover these additional costs without having to raise sewer rates.  Speer Financial believes the City can afford increasing the SRF Loan by $70,000.  The council agreed to continue with the current project with the additional costs and to start taking the formal steps necessary to increase the SRF Loan.  McGrane also informed the council that a storm water intake collapsed on King Street and Tschiggfrie provided a bid of $2,623 to repair it.  The City would be able to use money from the Storm Water fund to pay for the repair.  The council agreed to move forward with the repair.  McGrane attended an IPERS training on 9/20 to learn the changes coming to submit benefit information and payments.  The Street Finance Report was submitted and approved by the Iowa DOT on 9/23.  Trick-or-treating will be on 10/31 from 5PM to 7PM in Fayette.  Leave your porch light on if you want to participate.

     Moved Tucker, seconded Wulfekuhle, to approve the Fayette Streets and Sidewalks Committee meeting minutes from 8/6/18.  All ayes, carried.

     Moved Cowley, seconded Larson, to approve the Fayette Board of Adjustments meeting minutes from 9/19/18.  All ayes, carried.

     Moved Cowley, seconded Larson, to discuss the rental complaint form and proposed rental property housing code.  After discussion, the council would like some detailed directions with time lines on how the procedure would work.  No action was taken.

     Moved Larson, seconded Cowley, to discuss applying for the Fayette County Community Foundation grant.  Tucker advised that we can apply for up to $10,000 and we could collaborate with other Fayette organizations for multiple projects.  A few ideas were raised beds for the Community Garden and the American Legion Memorial.  The council will continue to think of ideas.  No action was taken. 

     Moved Larson, seconded Cowley, to discuss changing the days and hours of the Fayette Yard Waste Site.  Larson suggested citizens being able to sign a key out from City Hall during business hours.  Wulfekuhle suggested citizens could have to pay a deposit to sign out the key.  Jerry Hildebrand advised people try and leave other garbage at the Yard Waste Site and it is easier for the Public Works Department to have someone up there to help monitor.  It was suggested on changing the hours.  Nefzger advised no matter what the hours are, it will be inconvenient for somebody.  Moved Larson, seconded Wulfekuhle, to table the discussion until the next council meeting.  All ayes, carried.

     Moved Larson, seconded Wulfekuhle, to discuss a tree incentive.  Wulfekuhle suggested the city offer an incentive to property owners to take down dead trees on private property.  Wenthe advised the Tree Board disbanded because not enough people in Fayette volunteered to serve on the Board.  It was discussed to update the Tree Board Code so all the members do not have to live in Fayette and have Jeff Butikofer review it.  Then, the Tree Board could work with incentives.  No action was taken.

     Moved Tucker, seconded Larson, to go into closed session per Iowa Code 21.5(1)(j) to discuss the purchase or sale of particular real estate only where premature disclosure could be reasonably expected to increase the price the City would have to pay for that property or reduce the price the City would receive for that property.  All ayes, carried.

     Moved Tucker, seconded Nefzger, to go out of closed session.  All ayes, carried.

     There being no further business, moved Nefzger, unanimous, to adjourn at 7:08pm.

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