Council Meeting Minutes 9-19-22

REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING

September 19, 2022

     The City Council of the City of Fayette, Iowa, met Monday, September 19, 2022, at 6:00 pm in the Community Room at the Fayette Community Library pursuant to law and rules of said council, Mayor Wood presiding. The meeting began with the Pledge of Allegiance.

     Roll call: Present - Council members Scott, Tenney, Tucker, Post (via telephone due to his employment), and Potratz.

     Moved Tucker, seconded Potratz, to approve the consent agenda items consisting of the regular meeting minutes of 9/6/22, claims list of 9/3/22-9/16/22 and approval to renew the Class C Beer Permit with a Class B Wine Permit and Sunday Sales for Dollar General Store #20268. Roll call, all ayes, motion carried.

     Daniel Rosario Cushion, Upper Iowa University (UIU) Assistant Vice President for Student Life, and Katy O'Brien, president of the UIU Student Government Association, addressed the council with concerns they received from UIU students regarding the Fayette Police Department. Two other UIU students also shared a recent experience they had with Fayette Police Officers. Mayor Wood advised he is currently investigating some complaints he received and would like to meet with anyone who has any other concerns.

     Darwin Vandersee, 509 Mechanic Street, provided pictures of college parties occurring across the street from his house and expressed his frustration of having to constantly contact the police with issues from the parties. Wood advised he would like to meet with Vandersee to discuss the concerns.

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

     Mayor Wood advised he has been investigating complaints from UIU students about the Fayette Police Department. Wood has also been investigating the lack of response from Fayette Fire Chief Jason Rohde on providing reports to the Assistant Fayette County Attorney in a timely manner. The Visual Element is moving out of the rental located at 9 S. Main Street and Wood would like the council to start considering moving city hall into the space. The move would provide more space for city hall and the Fayette Police Department. Wood thanked everyone who participated and helped with Fayette Watermelon Days.

     Upon recommendation from Mayor Wood, moved Tucker, seconded Tenney, to appoint Pat Whelan to the Fayette County Waste Management Board to complete the 2-year term ending 10/31/2023. All ayes, motion carried.

     Upon recommendation from Mayor Wood, moved Potratz, seconded Tucker, to reappoint Jon Biederman to the Turkey River Watershed Management Authority for a 4-year term ending 12/31/2026. All ayes, motion carried.

     Upon recommendation from Mayor Wood and the Fayette Fire Department, moved Potratz, seconded Tenney, to appoint Sarah Niles to the Fayette Fire Department. All ayes, motion carried.

     City Administrator/Clerk McGrane advised the council that Maggie Burger, the city's Financial Advisor with Speer Financial, Inc., will attend the next council meeting to discuss city finances for the proposed North Main Street project. Insurance was placed on the new Homes for Iowa home. Deputy Clerk Creery and McGrane submitted the reports and information for the annual IMWCA audit. Eagle Point Solar had a pre-construction meeting and site visit in Fayette on 9/15. They are tentatively planning on starting the project on 9/21 and are estimating the project to take about 3 to 6 weeks to complete.

     Police Chief Davis updated the council on abatements. The department turned over all the video evidence and reports to the mayor in reference to the UIU student's complaints and investigation.

     Moved Potratz, seconded Tucker, to approve committing $1,200 to the Northeast Iowa Regional Housing Trust Fund for residents of the city of Fayette for 2023 out of the Hotel Motel Tax Fund. All ayes, motion carried.

     Moved Tucker, seconded Scott, to accept the Fayette Ambulance meeting minutes from 7/6/2022. All ayes, motion carried.

     The Fayette Chamber would like to let the council know they may start fundraising for new holiday decorations to be placed on the downtown light poles. They are aware they need to work with the Public Works department to make sure they assist with the decorations. Moved Tucker, seconded Tenney, to approve having the Fayette Chamber decorate the Open Air Market with holiday decorations. All ayes, motion carried.

     Moved Potratz, seconded Post, to approve closing the 100 block of S. Main Street from 6AM to 6PM on Saturday, October 8, 2022, for Fayette's Main Street Fall Market. All ayes, motion carried.

     Mayor Wood signed a proclamation recognizing the week of September 26-30, 2022, as National Clean Energy Week.

     Paul Cutting, an Energy Planner for the Winneshiek Energy District, presented a letter and information about electric vehicle (EV) charging stations. Wood and McGrane met with Cutting and shared what they had learned and some options. The council recommended having Cutting attend the next council meeting to continue to learn more about EV charging stations. No formal action was taken.

     The hiring committee recommended to the council to hire Adam Hildebrand as the Public Works Director. Moved Tucker, seconded Post, to approve hiring Adam Hildebrand as the Public Works Director at a salary of $62,723.61 starting on October 2, 2022. All ayes, motion carried.

     Moved Tenney, seconded Scott, to adopt Resolution 2022-35, approving the Water Utility Vendor Agreement Low-Income Household Water Assistance Program. Roll call, all ayes, motion carried.

    There being no further business, Wood declared the meeting adjourned at 8:01 pm.

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