REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING
March 1, 2021
The City Council of the City of Fayette, Iowa, met Monday, March 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, Tenney, Tucker and Wulfekuhle. Absent - Potratz.
Moved Tucker, seconded Wulfekuhle, to approve the consent agenda items consisting of the regular meeting minutes of 2/16/21, the claims list of 2/13/21 - 2/26/21 and the January 2021 financial reports. Roll call, all ayes, motion carried.
Treasurer’s Balance for Fund Accounts as of January 31, 2021: Total January Receipts: $121,742.53 (General $33,862.42; Streets $15,940.46; Employee Benefits $8,137.39; Local Option Sales Tax $9,494.53; TIF $210.47; CDBG $5,145; Revolving Loan $231.25; Bolger $1,101.58; Library Fund $0.21; Water $17,257.61; Water T&A $900; Sewer $25,269.73; Water/Sewer Capital $3,610.88; Storm Water $581). Total January Disbursements: $94,847.14 (General $46,356.32; 9 S. Main $349.74; Streets $6,866.02; Employee Benefits $3,980.40; TIF LMI $2,000; CDBG $79.69; Revolving Loan $31.11; Bolger $68.29; Water St $12,452.25; Water $10,266.34; Water T&A $600; Sewer $11,796.98). Transfers in: Sewer Fund $9,575.50; TIF LMI $49,535; Transfers out: Sewer $9,575.50; TIF $49,535. Treasurer’s Balance: $4,178,275.63.
Moved Wulfekuhle, seconded Post, to approve the agenda as presented. All ayes, motion carried.
City Administrator/Clerk McGrane informed the council that the NE Iowa Business Network is working with Upper Explorerland Regional Planning Commission (UERPC) to host two Housing Summits. If anyone is interested in attending, let McGrane know and he can get them registered. McGrane is continuing to research online payment vendors to switch over due to our current vendor no longer working with the utility billing software. McGrane attended the Homes for Iowa open house in Oelwein on 2/25. McGrane has spent quite a bit of time researching and setting up the new employee health insurance plan changes. Police Chief Davis and McGrane have been working together to keep the speed camera process moving forward. McGrane has also been working with Mallory Hanson on applying for an Alliant Energy grant to assist with the Freedom Rock interactive sign and other additions.
Police Chief Davis advised the council he filed a recommendation letter to have Officer Ball attend the Iowa Law Enforcement Academy in the fall of 2021. Officers are required to complete the academy within one year of employment but due to Ball's pregnancy, Davis filed the extension request giving Ball more time. Officer Barker will start the academy this month. Davis advised he found a company that offers video and lights for weapons. He had budgeted to purchase lights for the officers weapons in FY22's budget; however, he may have a better deal with the video and lights. He will continue to research the product.
This being the time and place published for a public hearing on the Water Street Improvements Project #20-897, Mayor Wenthe opened the hearing and asked for comments. There being no other comments, Mayor Wenthe closed the hearing.
Council member Potratz arrived at the meeting (via telephone) at approximately 6:10 pm.
Moved Tenney, seconded Wulfekuhle, to discuss and consider closing off the 100 block of S. Main Street for the Fayette Show and Shine Car Shows. Concern about parking for some businesses in the block was discussed. It was decided that communication should go out to the businesses with concerns and Lloyd Carnicle to try and find a good solution. Moved Tenney, seconded Post, to approve closing the 100 block of S. Main Street from 5:30PM to 9PM on the 3rd Thursday of the month starting in May until September 2021 for the Fayette Show and Shine Car Shows. All ayes, motion carried.
Moved Tenney, seconded Wulfekhle, to discuss applying for a Homes for Iowa house. McGrane provided information including the city of Oelwein's current costs for their Homes for Iowa home and the applications/required paperwork to reserve a home. McGrane advised the city is estimated to receive between $100,000 and $160,500 of Tax Increment Financing (TIF) funds that must be spent on low to moderate income (LMI) projects. This would qualify for those funds. McGrane contacted the city's TIF attorney and received approval that the city could use funds from another fund and "pay-back" that fund each year from the TIF LMI funds we receive each year. There were concerns about the location of where the home would be placed and costs. It was discussed that the city could move forward to get on the waiting list for a home and worst case scenario is we back out and lose our $1500 deposit. Moved Tucker, seconded Tenney, to approve having the City Administrator work with Upper Explorerland to complete and submit an application for a Homes for Iowa home. All ayes, motion carried.
Moved Tenney, seconded Wulfekuhle, to discuss Resolution 2021-10. Moved Post, seconded Wulfekuhle, to adopt Resolution 2021-10, approving Advantage Administrators Business Associate Contract and HIPPA privacy policy. Roll call, all ayes, motion carried.
Moved Tenney, seconded Tucker, to discuss Resolution 2021-11. Moved Tucker, seconded Wulfekuhle, to adopt Resolution 2021-11, approving the transferring of funds for Fiscal Year 2020-2021. Roll call, all ayes, motion carried.
Moved Post, seconded Wulfekuhle, to discuss Resolution 2021-12. Jon Biederman with Fehr Graham was present to go through the bids and answer questions. On February 26, 2021, five bids were opened and read for construction of the W. Water Street improvements project. The opinion of probable cost and bid totals were as follows: Heartland Asphalt, Inc. $738,039.45 (Base Bid), $11,385.85 (Alternate 1), $11,476.90 (Alternate 2); Baker Enterprise, Inc. $811,151.75 (Base Bid), $17,731 (Alternate 1), $18,919 (Alternate 2); JB Holland Construction $855,970.90 (Base Bid), $15,231 (Alternate 1), $15,054 (Alternate 2); Tschiggfrie Excavating, Co. $1,045,692.10 (Base Bid), $16,378.40 (Alternate 1), $16,665.60 (Alternate 2); Pirc-Tobin Construction, Inc. $1,043,151.25 (Base Bid), $25,310.50 (Alternate 1), $28,977 (Alternate 2). Fehr Graham Engineering recommended the City award the base bid construction contract for the project to Heartland Asphalt, Inc. per their proposal. Moved Tucker, seconded Post, to adopt Resolution 2021-12 awarding of contract for the 2021 W. Water Street improvements project to Heartland Asphalt, Inc. of Mason City, Iowa, in the amount of $738,039.45 base bid and $11,385.85 alternate 1. Roll call, all ayes, motion carried.
Moved Tenney, seconded Post, to discuss Ordinance 512. McGrane advised Ken Bouma with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources reached out to the city to advise of changes that must be implemented to the Flood Plain Management section of the City Code by May 18, 2021. Bouma reviewed Fayette's current code and made the suggested updates. The consensus of the council was to review the changes and discuss them at the next city council meeting. No action was taken.
There being no further business, moved Post, unanimous, to adjourn at 6:57 pm.
