REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING
June 17, 2019
The City Council of the City of Fayette, Iowa, met on Tuesday, June 11, 2019, at 7pm for a work session to discuss water rates, sewer rates, the water/sewer capital improvements fees and housing incentives. The work session adjourned at 8:22pm.
The City Council of the City of Fayette, Iowa, met Monday, June 17, 2019, at 6pm in 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 Nefzger, seconded Cowley, to approve the consent agenda items consisting of the regular meeting minutes of 6/3/19, the claims list of 6/4/19 – 6/17/19 and the financial reports for March, April and May of 2019. Roll call, all ayes, motion carried.
Treasurer’s Balance for Fund Accounts as of March 31, 2019: Total March Receipts: $91,788.91 (General $21,556.07; Streets $11,783.51; Employee Benefits $2,714.52; Local Option Sales Tax [LOST] $8,228.10; TIF $107.61; Revolving Loan $1,084.94; Bolger $4,066.46; Library Fund $4.81; Water $15,666.27; Water T&A $150; Sewer $25,352.11; Water/Sewer Capital $248.61; Storm Water $825.90). Total March Disbursements: $86,080.40 (General $33,338.58; Streets $5,309.03; Employee Benefits $10,054.77; Library Fund $20; Water $7,816.30; Water T&A $625; Sewer $9,315.37; Sewer Project $19,510.34; 9 S. Main St $91.01). Transfers in: Sewer Fund $9,575.50; Transfers out: Sewer $9,575.50. Treasurer’s Balance: $3,220,735.14.
Treasurer’s Balance for Fund Accounts as of April 30, 2019: Total April Receipts: $364,096.51 (General $135,264.25; Streets $7,281.98; Employee Benefits $37,700.63; Local Option Sales Tax [LOST] $8,228.10; TIF $27,811.35; Revolving Loan $1,084.76; Bolger $23,330.36; Library Fund $4.65; Water $45,032.72; Water T&A $600; Sewer $72,132.34; Water/Sewer Capital $4,165.38; Storm Water $1,459.99). Total April Disbursements: $102,494.41 (General $41,005.34; Streets $11,144.30; Employee Benefits $9,199.23; CDBG LMI Housing $297.65; Revolving Loan $123.24; Water $15,637.43; Water T&A $532.41; Sewer $17,026.42; Sewer Project $7,375.96; 9 S. Main St $152.43). Transfers in: Sewer Fund $9,575.50; Transfers out: Sewer $9,575.50. Treasurer’s Balance: $3,482,545.04.
Treasurer’s Balance for Fund Accounts as of May 31, 2019: Total May Receipts: $151,312.38 (General $55,469.21; Streets $16,130.56; Employee Benefits $15,064.29; Local Option Sales Tax [LOST] $8,378.53; TIF $582.87; CDBG LMI Housing $1,103; Revolving Loan $1,085.19; Bolger $561.55; Library Fund $4.81; Water $17,368.79; Water T&A $1,050; Sewer $29,207.06; Water/Sewer Capital $4,649.78; Storm Water $656.74). Total May Disbursements: $153,644.96 (General $40,452.09; Streets $8,677.79; Employee Benefits $9,224.01; CDBG LMI Housing $306.94; Water $9,221.51; Water T&A $3,687.76; Sewer $15,745.19; Sewer Project $66,244.42; 9 S. Main St $85.25). Transfers in: Sewer Fund $9,575.50; Transfers out: Sewer $9,575.50. Treasurer’s Balance: $3,479,793.02.
Moved Cowley, seconded Wulfekuhle, to approve the agenda as presented. All ayes, carried.
Mayor Wenthe explained that he had received Tim Wulfekuhle’s resignation from the Board of Adjustment because it was confirmed by our city attorney that the same person cannot serve on the Board of Adjustment and the Planning and Zoning Commission at the same time. Tim Wulfekuhle was present and informed the council that he would like to resign from the Planning and Zoning Commission and stay on the Board of Adjustment. Upon Mayor Wenthe’s recommendation, moved Nefzger, seconded Tucker, to appoint Brock Wissmiller to the Board of Adjustments. Cowley, Nefzger and Tucker – ayes, Larson and Wulfekuhle – nays. Motion carried.
Tim Wulfekuhle advised the council he would like to resign from the Planning and Zoning Commission effective immediately.
Administrator/Clerk McGrane informed the council that city hall has been extremely busy with monthly utility billing. McGrane has also started working with Access Systems preparing for the new server.
Fayette Police Chief Davis updated the council on the National Night Out event scheduled for August.
Moved Tucker, seconded Cowley, to approve the Fayette Community Library Board of Trustees meeting minutes from 5/8/19. All ayes, carried.
Moved Cowley, seconded Wulfekuhle, to discuss and request a public hearing for the conveyance of an easement allowing Jared Hildebrand, 409 Jones Street, to build a deck upon city right of way. Jared Hildebrand was present and explained he would like to take down the old deck (8’6”x16”) because it is old and falling apart and construct a new larger deck (12”x16”). After discussion, moved Wulfekuhle, seconded Cowley, to schedule a public hearing at the next council meeting, Monday, July 1, 2019 at 6PM at Fayette City Hall for the conveyance at the cost of preparation of an easement allowing Jared Hildebrand to build a deck at the dimensions as the old deck (8’6”x16”) upon city right of way at the intersection of E. Madison St. and Jones St. All ayes, carried.
Moved Tucker, seconded Nefzger, to discuss Resolution 2019-9. McGrane explained Chief Davis had requested adding a Patrol Sergeant during the FY2020 budget discussions and the council agreed at that time to move forward. Davis drafted the job description based on the Police Chief’s job description. Moved Nefzger, seconded Tucker, to adopt Resolution 2019-9: Adding the job description for the Police Patrol Sergeant. Roll call, all ayes, motion carried.
Moved Cowley, seconded Nefzger, to discuss Resolution 2019-10. McGrane explained he added the Patrol Sergeant on the organizational chart, showing the proper chain of command. Moved Tucker, seconded Cowley, to adopt Resolution 2019-10: Amending the City of Fayette Personnel Policy changing section 1 Organization by adding the Police Sergeant. Roll call, all ayes, motion carried.
Moved Nefzger, seconded Tucker to discuss the appointment of Fayette Officer Brian Waid to Patrol Sergeant. Upon Chief Davis’ recommendation, moved Nefzger, seconded Cowley, to appoint Brian Waid as Patrol Sergeant. All ayes, motion carried.
Moved Nefzger, seconded Cowley, to discuss Ordinance 504. The ordinance amends a portion of section 92.02 of water rates and section 99.02 of sewer service charges under Chapters 92 and 99 to increase the rates and fees. In section 92.02, the monthly water rates will change from $12 (minimum bill) to $15 (minimum bill) for the first 150 cubic feet used per month and all over 151 cubic feet will change from $0.046 per cubic foot to $0.055 per cubic foot. In section 99.02, the monthly sewer service charges will change from $18.45 (minimum bill) to $23 (minimum bill) for the first 150 cubic feet used per month and all over 151 cubic feet will change from $0.086 per cubic foot to $0.092 per cubic foot. Moved Nefzger, seconded Cowley, to approve the first reading of Ordinance 504, an ordinance amending the code of ordinances of the city of Fayette, Iowa, by repealing and amending a portion of sections 92.02 of water rates and 99.02 of sewer service charges under chapters 92 and 99 to increase the rates and fees. Roll call, all ayes, motion carried.
Moved Cowley, seconded Larson, to discuss Ordinance 505. The ordinance amends a portion of section 92.02 of water rates and section 99.02 of sewer service charges to adjust the water and sewer infrastructure/administration fee. The council would like McGrane to provide more information if the fee was changed from a flat monthly fee to a percentage of usage, capping the total amount to 3500 cubic feet, 4500 cubic feet, 5000 cubic feet and a few other examples. Moved Wulfekuhle, second Cowley, to table the discussion on Ordinance 505. All ayes, motion carried.
Moved Cowley, seconded Nefzger, to discuss and consider adding a hotel and motel tax to the ballot at the next city election. McGrane provided information from the Iowa League of Cities and the Iowa Dept. of Revenue about the hotel and motel tax, the other cities and unincorporated areas in Iowa who currently have the hotel and motel tax, as well as their current rates and a history of the revenue they brought in. John Kelley, Doug McReynolds, Clarissa Videgar and Tim Wulfekuhle advised the council they were not in favor of adding the hotel and motel tax to the ballot. A few reasons they presented to the council included: it could deter people from staying at the hotel in Fayette which decreases the chances of the guests visiting other local businesses, there are only two or three places in town that would have to add the tax which is singling them out, and the city doesn’t have enough tourist attractions bringing people into town. Nefzger thought the hotel and motel tax could be another revenue for the city to help repair the streets or the storm water drainage issues we have in town. After discussion, no action was taken.
Moved Tucker, seconded Cowley, to discuss the Fayette County Economic Development. McGrane and Wenthe updated the council that the Fayette County Supervisors are planning on contracting with RC&D to handle Fayette County’s Economic Development and ending the contract with Upper Explorerland. No action was taken.
Moved Larson, seconded Nefzger, to discuss the American Tower Company’s contract renewal. McGrane had provided the council with the recent communication between an account manager with American Tower Corporation and himself. American Tower Corporation asked the council to provide a counter offer if the council didn’t like the proposal. The council would not like to discuss renewing the contract until there is 5 years left on the lease. No action was taken.
Moved Tucker, seconded Cowley, to discuss adjusting the new commercial and residential construction incentives. McGrane presented some of the incentives that were discussed at the last work session. The council provided additional suggestions for McGrane to put together to present at the next council meeting. No action was taken.
Moved Nefzger, unanimous, to adjourn at 7:35pm.
