Council Meeting Minutes 5-17-2021

REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING

May 17, 2021

     The City Council of the City of Fayette, Iowa, met Monday, May 17, 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 in person or 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, Potratz, Tenney, Tucker and Wulfekuhle.

     Moved Potratz, seconded Wulfekuhle, to approve the consent agenda items consisting of the regular meeting minutes of 5/3/21, the claims list of 5/1/21 - 5/15/21, correspondence and the April 2021 financial reports. Roll call, all ayes, motion carried.

     Treasurer’s Balance for Fund Accounts as of April 30, 2021: Total April Receipts: $237,039.70 (General $77,340.51; Streets $36,431.46; Employee Benefits $36,469.46; Local Option Sales Tax $7,988.25; TIF $15,195.60; Revolving Loan $231.44; Bolger $4,950.15; Library Fund $7.89; Water $22,410.93; Water T&A $300; Sewer $30,778.30; Water/Sewer Capital $4,382.87; Storm Water $552.84). Total April Disbursements: $119,769.60 (General $51,862.75; 9 S. Main $101.78; Streets $8,299.18; Employee Benefits $8,470.93; TIF LMI $1,500; CDBG $1,824.38; Revolving Loan $53.59; Bolger $126.69; Water Street Project $10,620.34; Water $14,360.83; Water T&A $98.42; Sewer $22,450.71). Transfers in: FY17 Water Impr Project $25,000; Sewer Fund $9,575.50; Transfers out: Water $25,000; Sewer $9,575.50. Treasurer’s Balance: $4,859,669.97.

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

     Mayor Wenthe advised we had the first supervisor meeting on 5/10/21. McGrane and Wenthe met with Eagle Point Solar to continue to gather information to present to the city council about installing solar panels. The Discrimination, Harassment and Retaliation training was held on 5/12/21. A recording was made of the training to show other employees and volunteers who were unable to attend.

     Upon Mayor Wenthe’s request, moved Tenney, seconded Potratz, to reappoint John Winke to the Fayette Community Library Board to finish out the term of James Tenney. All ayes, motion carried.

     Upon Mayor Wenthe’s request and the recommendation of the Fayette Ambulance Service, moved Wulfekuhle, seconded Tucker, to appoint ZiYuam Li Clil and Barry Koehn to the Fayette Ambulance Service. All ayes, motion carried.

     City Administrator/Clerk McGrane included nomination paperwork for the up-coming election. McGrane placed the forms and information about the election on the city's website. McGrane advised the contractors ran into a lot of rock when digging for the new sanitary sewer line on W. Water Street. There will be additional costs as they will need to purchase more fill. McGrane assisted the Community Garden with purchasing a new recycled plastic community bulletin board for the Community Garden. Alexis, the city's marketing intern, completed his internship. He was able to design a handful of graphics/pictures for social media, designed a flyer to market 9 S. Main Street office space, designed a flyer for city incentives for new businesses and as well as other things. McGrane will soon start the process of converting to our new online payment company. City hall and the library will be closed on Monday, May 31 for Memorial Day.

     Police Chief Davis informed the council that Officer Josh Barker graduates from the Iowa Law Enforcement Academy on Friday, May 21. The new body cameras are operational now and Davis donated the old body cameras to another police department. The department started the summer ordinance sweeps around town and have placed door hangers for residents not home.

     Moved Tenney, seconded Tucker, to discuss and consider moving the watermelon sculpture or selling the sculpture to Brian Stepp for $100. McGrane had advised last year Brain Stepp inquired about purchasing the sculpture from the city however the council decided to keep it and move it to the Fayette Community Garden. After evaluating the sculpture more closely, it is made of fiber glass and has aged quite a bit. McGrane advised there is concern that if it's moved it could easily be broken if anyone would sit on it or messes with it too much. Moved Potratz, seconded Wulfekuhle, to donate the Stepp watermelon sculpture to Brian Stepp for $10. All ayes, motion carried.

     Moved Tenney, seconded Tucker, to discuss discuss Ordinance 513, second reading. Moved Potratz, seconded Post, to approve the second reading of Ordinance 513, amending Chapter 63, Speed Regulations, to the Fayette City Code by changing section 1.7, Failure to Timely Pay or Appeal. Roll call, all ayes, motion carried.

     Moved Tenney, seconded Wulfekuhle, to discuss and consider requesting that the imposition of a local sales and service tax be put on the November 2, 2021 ballot. McGrane had done a little research to provide some options of what the local option sales tax (L.O.S.T.) could be used for and recommended the council choose 100% to be used for any lawful purpose, for community betterment or for property tax relief. This would give the future councils more flexibility on how to spend the money as future projects and expenses arise. The council also recommended McGrane draft a Resolution for placing the hotel/motel tax and staggered city council terms on the November 2, 2021 ballot for the citizens to vote on. McGrane will research and draft the ordinances and present them at a future council meeting.

     Moved Post, seconded Tenney, to discuss and consider can donations. McGrane provided a list of options and schedule on where the Fayette can donations could go, including April-Main Street Matters, May-Community Garden, June-Watermelon Days, July-Fire Department, August-Ambulance and September-Police. Council members also suggested a month for holiday decorations, the food shelf, the library and recreation. McGrane will reach out to Jim Opperman with the suggestions.

     Moved Potratz, seconded Post, to discuss and approve the Fayette Community Library Board of Trustees meeting minutes from 4/14/21 and 5/12/21, the Fayette Tree Board meeting minutes from 5/12/21 and the Fayette County Economic Development and Tourism letter from May of 2021. All ayes, motion carried.

     Moved Post, seconded Tenney, to discuss and consider accepting the rental agreement between the City of Fayette and The Visual Element to lease 9 S. Main Street. Amanda Pasket was present to briefly explain her business. Pasket is hoping to move in as soon as possible. Moved Tucker, seconded Wulfekuhle, to approve accepting the rental agreement between the city of Fayette and The Visual Element to lease 9 S. Main Street. All ayes, motion carried.

     Moved Post, seconded Potratz, to go into closed session per Iowa Code 21.5(1)(c). Roll call, all ayes, motion carried.

     Moved Post, seconded Wulfekuhle, to open regular session. Roll call, all ayes, motions carried. No action was taken.

     There being no further business, moved Potratz, unanimous, to adjourn at 7:07 pm.

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