Council Meeting Minutes 8-19-19

REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING

August 19, 2019

     The City Council of the City of Fayette, Iowa, met Monday, August 19, 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, Potratz (formerly known as Nefzger), Tucker and Wulfekuhle (arrived right after roll call).

     Moved Cowley, seconded Larson, to approve the consent agenda items consisting of the regular meeting minutes of 8/5/19, the claims list of 8/6/19 – 8/19/19, and the updated Outstanding Obligations Disclosure Statement for 2019.  Roll call, all ayes, motion carried.

     Louise Scott was present and addressed the council about a letter that was sent to the Mayor and council in regard to the solar panel array that is currently being installed at the North Fayette Valley (NFV), Fayette Elementary School (FES) located at 200 Volga Street.  NFV Superintendent Duane Willhite and NFV Board of Education member Julie Ahrens were both in attendance to answer questions that were addressed to the school.  Willhite advised the NFV Board of Education approved the solar panel project in May and panels will be placed at all the NFV school locations.  Willhite advised the school district should save over $50,000 for the first year for electricity by installing the panels.  The panels were originally planned to go on the roof of the FES, however it is more economical and safer for maintenance to place the panels on the ground.  A fence will be put up around the panels and Willhite advised the school could probably have some landscaping around the fence to help make it more visually appealing.  He may have the plans presented to the city council.  Willhite said the panels are designed to absorb the sunlight, so there should be no reflection onto the neighboring houses.  It was questioned about why the building permit was not completed sooner and Willhite said he would take the responsibility for that.  The project moved faster than he anticipated because part of the project is being purchased by an investor.  The building permit was completed before construction began and there were no violations to the City Code of Fayette.  Willhite also mentioned there are no current plans on adding any more panels than what is already started.  Willhite expects the project to be completed in Fayette by the end of September.  Tucker expressed that communication needs to be better from the school.  Ahrens apologized for the lack of communication to the neighbors and community about the project.  Willhite understands the neighbors’ concerns and will try and be good neighbors.  Willhite advised that NFV enrollment has increased and as long as enrollment doesn’t significantly decrease, there will be no plans on closing the FES.  Scott requested the construction to stop until further communication is done with the neighbors and that the council look into adopting an Ordinance about solar panels so similar situations like this do not occur in the future.  Mayor Wenthe advised the city cannot authorize the construction to stop because there is no violation to the City Code and that they would discuss a solar panel Ordinance at the next council meeting.

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

     This being the time and place published for a public hearing for the conveyance of an utility easement allowing Hawkeye Interconnect Company a perpetual right-of-way easement for the purpose of constructing, reconstructing, operating, maintaining and removing lines for the transmission and distribution of fiber optic service and for communication facilities including the necessary other appurtenances, and to permit the attachment thereto of facilities owned by others, together with the right of ingress and egress and the right to trim, cut down and remove such trees, brush, saplings, and bushes as may interfere with the proper construction at the following locations: the East 15 feet of the North 18 feet of Lot 12 and the South 14 2/3 feet of Lot 13, Block 7, Fayette, Fayette County, Iowa; the West 15 feet of the West 20 feet of the South 26 feet of Lot1, Block 12, Fayette, Fayette County, Iowa; and the West 15 feet of the South 3 feet of Lot 3, Block 13, Fayette, Fayette County, Iowa.  Moved Larson, seconded Potratz, to open the hearing.  All ayes, carried.  Mayor Wenthe opened the hearing and asked for comments.  There being no comments, Mayor Wenthe closed the hearing.  Moved Larson, seconded Potratz, to close the hearing.  All ayes, carried.  Moved Potratz, seconded Larson, to approve Resolution 2019-18: Approval of the conveyance of a utility easement allowing Hawkeye Interconnect Company (Hawkeye Telephone) to use the perpetual right-of-way for fiber optic service.  Roll call, all ayes, carried.

     Mayor Wenthe updated the council on the CDBG Rehab Housing Projects.  There are currently five projects and funding is available for one additional project.  No bids were presented for the bid opening on 8/12/19 for two of the projects.  Upper Explorerland is going to reach out to a few contractors for feedback and we will set another bid opening date for the future. 

     Administrator/Clerk McGrane informed the council that he is finishing up the SRF loan and Sewer Spot Repair and Lining project.  The maximum amount the city needed to borrow for the SRF Supplemental loan is $82,000, down from $130,000.  McGrane also updated the Outstanding Obligation Debt Report to reflect this change.  

     Fayette Police Chief Davis advised the council that National Night Out was a great success and they are estimating between 350 and 400 people attended.  Davis also advised sTEP (special traffic enforcement program) is currently going on right now and the Fayette Police Department will be partnering up with the West Union Police Department for a joint project in the near future.  The joint project is mandated for the GTSB grant program. 

     Moved Larson, seconded Potratz, to discuss raising water rates for irrigation systems or non-consumption water accounts.  McGrane provided the council with the information from the previous council meeting.  Larson suggested doubling the water rates, which would be a minimum bill of $30 for the first 150 cubic feet and $0.11 per cubic foot for anything over the minimum.  Moved Larson, seconded Potratz, to move forward with a draft Ordinance for the next council meeting.  All ayes, carried.

     Moved Cowley, seconded Larson, to discuss purchasing a new radio tower south of town.  The budget committee has budgeted to replace the tower over the last few years because it is getting to be at the end of its life.  The estimated quotes are a few years old and this project needs to be researched again.  Wenthe recommends referring this to the Safety Committee to research.  Moved Potratz, seconded Cowley, to refer purchasing a new radio tower to the Safety Committee.  All ayes, carried.

     Moved Larson, seconded Tucker, to approve the Fayette Tree Board meeting minutes from 7/2/19.  All ayes, carried.

     Moved Larson, seconded Cowley, to approve the Fayette Tree Board meeting minutes from 8/7/19.  All ayes, carried.

     Moved Cowley, seconded Wulfekuhle, to discuss Resolution 2019-17.  Moved Cowley, seconded Larson, to adopt Resolution 2019-17, approving and authorizing a form of Loan and Disbursement Agreement by and between the City of Fayette, Iowa, and the Iowa Finance Authority, and authorizing and providing for the issuance and securing the payment of $82,000 Sewer Revenue Capital Loan Notes, Series 2019, of the City of Fayette, Iowa, under the provisions of the City Code of Iowa, and providing for a method of payment of said Notes, and Approving form of Tax Exemption Certificate.  Roll call, all ayes, motion carried.

     Moved Larson, seconded Cowley, to discuss approving the rental lease for 9 S. Main Street to Driftless Area Guide Company.  McGrane researched and updated our current rental lease as the council requested to make it more cost-effective for start-up businesses.  McGrane had the City Attorney review the updated lease and make suggestions.  Wulfekuhle recommended a $200 deposit.  The council agreed to $50 per month rent for the first 6 months, then an increase of $50 per month every 6 months up to 3 years.  Driftless Area Guide Company is only planning on renting the space for 3 months.  Moved Wulfekuhle, seconded Cowley, to accept the lease and to approve the City Administrator to take the necessary steps to lease out the space at 9 S. Main Street to Driftless Area Guide Company.  All ayes, carried.

     Moved Larson, seconded Wulfekuhle, to discuss IMLA Dangerous Dog Ordinance.  Chief Davis advised we received information from our City Attorney and he is reviewing it with our current City Code.  No action was taken.

     Moved Larson, seconded Potratz, to discuss approving the Fayette Community Church’s Downtown & Neighborhood Revitalization Program application.  Moved Cowley, seconded Larson, to approve the demolition incentive for the Fayette Community Church and reimburse 50% of the demolition costs out of the Bolger fund for $4,746.25.  All ayes, approved.

     Moved Larson, seconded Cowley, to discuss approving the Butikofer’s Downtown & Neighborhood Revitalization Program application.  Moved Larson, seconded Cowley, to approve the demolition incentive for the Butikofer’s and reimburse 50% of the demolition costs out of the Bolger fund for $3,750.  All ayes, approved.

     Potratz left the meeting at 7:05pm. 

     Moved Cowley, seconded Larson, to discuss increasing the hours of the Deputy Clerks.  Deputy Clerk Anne Sellers provided her retirement notice and her last day will be Friday, August 30th.  McGrane provided the council with information he had presented at a previous council meeting.  Larson had contacted neighboring cities to find out staffing hours and job duties.  Larson was not in favor of increasing the hours because it would increase the expenses out of the water and sewer funds.  Wulfekuhle suggested cutting back the hours that City Hall is open to the public, giving more uninterrupted time for administration to complete their job duties.  Moved Wulfekuhle, seconded Larson, to change Fayette City Hall’s public office hours to 8am to 12:30pm and 3pm to 4pm, Monday through Friday, starting Monday, August 26th, 2019.  All ayes, carried.

     Moved Tucker, seconded Cowley, to discuss granting permission for the city to submit a video in the SRF Water Tower contest.  McGrane advised the State of Iowa is holding a contest to show-off their hometown pride by submitting a short video for a chance to win a one-of-a-kind water tower.  McGrane would work on this project on his own time and not during company time.  Moved Tucker, seconded Cowley, to approve the City Administrator to submit a video for the SRF Water Tower contest on his own time.  All ayes, carried.

     There being no further business, moved Larson, unanimous, to adjourn at 7:32pm.

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