Council Meeting Minutes 2-1-2021

REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING

February 1, 2021

     The City Council of the City of Fayette, Iowa, met Monday, February 1, 2021, at 6:00 pm in the Community Room at the Fayette Community Library and via conference call/online using www.freeconferencecall.com due to COVID-19, per Iowa Code 21.8, pursuant to law and rules of said council, Mayor Wenthe presiding. The public was able to attend the meeting via conference call/online with basic directions posted on the council agenda and on the city of Fayette’s website, www.fayetteiowa.com.

     Roll call: Present - Council members Post (via telephone), Potratz, Tenney, Tucker and Wulfekuhle.

     Moved Potratz, seconded Tucker, to approve the consent agenda items consisting of the regular meeting minutes of 1/19/21, the claims list of 1/16/21 - 1/29/21 and the December 2020 Financial Reports. Roll call, all ayes, motion carried.

     Treasurer’s Balance for Fund Accounts as of December 31, 2020: Total December Receipts: $116,502.42 (General $29,720.06; Streets $16,866.72; Employee Benefits $1,382.36; Local Option Sales Tax $9,494.53; TIF $14.08; Revolving Loan $231.58; Bolger $636.11; Library Fund $41.35; Water $19,087.97; Water T&A $600; Sewer $28,821.61; FY17 Sewer Lining $5,000; Water/Sewer Capital $4,047.05; Storm Water $559). Total December Disbursements: $146,622.95 (General $61,113.44; 9 S. Main $96.10; Streets $11,422.34; Employee Benefits $10,555.49; CDBG $13,651.10; Revolving Loan $118.19; Bolger $725.68; Water St $4,689.47; Water $13,256.77; Water T&A $150; Sewer $16,298.61; Sewer Fund $14,545.76). Transfers in: Sewer Fund $9,575.50; Transfers out: Sewer $9,575.50. Treasurer’s Balance: $4,150,625.80.

     Moved Tucker, seconded Wulfekuhle, to approve the agenda as presented. All ayes, motion carried.

     Upon Mayor Wenthe’s recommendation, moved Potratz, seconded Wulfekuhle, to appoint Jordan Franken to the Fayette Recreation Board for a 2 year term, expiring 2/1/23. All ayes, motion carried.

     City Administrator/Clerk McGrane updated the council on the remodeling progress at the 9 S. Main Street office space. McGrane had Dennis Vandersee remove two electric floor heaters that were no longer working. Diversity Coatings started leveling the floor on 1/28. Kane Magnuson started painting/removing wallpaper on 2/1. McGrane and Public Works Director Hildebrand attended an informational meeting for the construction/designing of the Freedom Rock kiosk on 1/25. Eric Willis, the cities Employee Benefits Consultant, attended an employee health insurance meeting on 1/26 to explain one of the new health insurance plan options and answer questions. On 1/28 was a public information meeting for those living on/near W. Water Street that will be impacted by the reconstruction project. McGrane finished the W2's and 1099's. McGrane reminded the council the next meeting will be on Tuesday, 2/16 because city offices will be closed on 2/15 for President's Day.

     Police Chief Davis advised the council the Fayette Police Department's (FPD) policies have been approved and we have received certification with the Department of Justice for 3 years to receive federal grants. The FPD assisted the Fayette County Public Health (FCPH) on 1/28 when they held its first COVID-19 vaccination clinic at Upper Iowa University (UIU) to complete Phase 1A. The next vaccination clinic at UIU is scheduled for 2/12 and is for Phase 1B. The FCPH will reach out to those eligible for the vaccination at the clinic. The FPD and UIU were approved to host an Active Shooter Response Training (A.L.I.C.E.) Instructor Course. The course will take place on 12/1/21 and 12/2/21. The Iowa Alcoholic Beverages Division Tobacco compliance checks were completed, and we had 100% compliance. Davis is working on his end-of-year report. Friday, Feb. 12th is the next scheduled vaccination distribution at the same location at UIU.

     This being the time and place published for a public hearing on the proposed property tax levy for fiscal year July 1, 2021 – June 30, 2022, Mayor Wenthe opened the hearing and asked for comments. There being no other comments, Mayor Wenthe closed the hearing.

     Moved Tucker, seconded Tenney, to discuss Resolution 2021-4. Moved Tenney, seconded Potratz, to approve and adopt Resolution 2021-4, adopting the proposed property tax levy for FY 2022. Roll call, all ayes, motion carried.

     Moved Potratz, seconded Tucker, to approve the Fayette Finance Committee meeting minutes from 1/21/21. All ayes, motion carried.

     Moved Wulfekuhle, seconded Tenney, to discuss granting Nicole Ball an unpaid leave of absence. Ball presented a letter to the council requesting an unpaid leave of absence while she is on maternity leave and asked if the council would consider continuing to pay her single health insurance premium for her 30 days of unpaid leave. Ball was hired in July 2021 and has accrued 32 hours of sick time and 39.6 hours of vacation time and has not used any of the time since she started employment. Ball plans on using all of the time she has accrued but will need an unpaid leave of absence for the remainder of her 6-week maternity leave. City employee Adam Hildebrand advised in 2014 he went on personal medical leave for an injury and was not granted the opportunity or was told he could make a request to the council to have the city continue to pay for his health insurance premium. He advised other city employees were able to donate their sick/vacation time to him. It seemed to be the consensus of the council to research other cities maternity policies to be presented at a future meeting. Moved Tucker, seconded Post, to grant Nicole Ball family leave, an unpaid leave of absence and for the city to continue to pay for Ball's single health insurance premium until March 15th, or until she is released to return to work by her medical provider. Post, Tucker and Tenney - ayes; Potratz and Wulfekuhle - nays, motion carried.

     Post left the meeting at 18:43 due to a dropped telephone call.

     Moved Tenney, seconded Post, to discuss moving forward with a Wellmark Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS) Health Insurance plan for city employees. Eric Willis, the Employee Benefits Consultant for the city of Fayette, answered questions about the options provided to the council. Moved Potratz, seconded Wulfekuhle, to change the city employees insurance plan to the Wellmark myBlue HDHP Bronze (partially self-funded) plan and to have the city contribute a total of $1,000 to single and $2,000 to family city employee's health savings accounts with half the amount paid every six months. All ayes, motion carried.

     Moved Tenney, seconded Potratz, to discuss Resolution 2021-5. Eric Willis explained that payments for the new health insurance plan work best when cities have a separate bank account specifically for employee benefits. Moved Tucker, seconded Potratz, to approve and adopt Resolution 2021-5, opening a separate checking account for City of Fayette Employees Health Insurance. Roll call, all ayes, motion carried.

     Moved Tenney, seconded Wulfekuhle, to discuss Resolution 2021-6. Moved Wulfekuhle, seconded Potratz, to approve and adopt Resolution 2021-6, appointing Paying Agent, Note Registrar, and Transfer Agent, approving the Paying Agent and Note Registrar and Transfer Agent Agreement and authorizing the execution of the Agreement in reference to the $500,000 General Obligation Capital Loan Notes, Series 2021. Roll call, all ayes, motion carried.

     Moved Potratz, seconded Tucker, to discuss Resolution 2021-7. Moved Potratz, seconded Wulfekuhle, to approve and adopt Resolution 2021-7, approving and authorizing a form of Loan Agreement and authorizing and providing for the issuance, and levying a tax to pay the Notes; approval of the Tax Exemption Certificate in reference to the $500,000 General Obligation Capital Loan Notes, Series 2021. Roll call, all ayes, motion carried.

     Moved Tenney, seconded Wulfekuhle, to discuss Resolution 2021-8. This resolution was recommended by our City Attorney due to recent situations where citizens in area communities are trying to cause problems and create reactions from city employees regarding public spaces. Moved Potratz, seconded Wulfekuhle, to approve and adopt Resolution 2021-8, approving public areas and restricted areas for all city buildings and facilities. Roll call, all ayes, motion carried.

     Moved Tenney, seconded Wulfekuhle, to discuss starting the process in applying for a Homes for Iowa House. McGrane explained this program helps Iowa's housing shortage and trains offenders in skilled trades. Iowa Prison Industries builds the homes near Newton, Iowa. The cities total cost would be $75,000 and includes a new home and delivery. We would work with Upper Explorerland who would receive $2500 administrative fee which is taken out of the $75,000 cost to help find a low to moderate income (LMI) family to move into the home. McGrane feels this would be a great program to put a house at 207 Alexander Street which is owned by the city. The city would have additional costs in preparing the lot for the house, however, the city could use the Tax Increment Financing (TIF) LMI funds for this project. If we apply now, we may be able to get on the list for 2022. Moved Wulfekuhle, seconded Tucker, to authorize the City Administrator/Clerk to work with Upper Explorerland and submit an application and $1500 deposit to reserve a Homes for Iowa home. All ayes, motion carried.

     Moved Wulfekuhle, seconded Tucker, to discuss setting and letting and holding a public hearing for March 1, 2021 for the W. Water St. Reconstruction Project. Moved Wulfekuhle, seconded Tenney, to set and letting and holding a public hearing for March 1, 2021 for the W. water St. Reconstruction Project. All ayes, motion carried.

     There being no further business, moved Potratz, unanimous, to adjourn at 17:07 pm.

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