Council Meeting Minutes 2-20-2023

REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING

February 20, 2023

     The City Council of the City of Fayette, Iowa, met Monday, February 20, 2023, 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 Post, Potratz, Scott, Tenney, and Tucker.

     Moved Tucker, seconded Potratz, approve the regular meeting minutes of 2/6/23 with the amendment of correcting the date in the first paragraph to Monday, February 6, 2023. All ayes, motion carried.

     Moved Potratz, seconded Tenney, to approve the claims list of 2/4/23-2/17/23. All ayes, motion carried.

     Citizen Comments: Jason Rohde (Fayette Fire Chief) of Randalia, inquired why the recommendation by the Fayette Fire Department for the appointment of the Fayette Fire Chief was not on the current city council agenda. McGrane advised the Fayette Fire Department meeting minutes with the recommendation were dropped off at city hall past the deadline for the city council agenda. McGrane explained sometimes he is able to get meeting minutes added to the council agendas if they come in late.

     Scott Bowen of Fayette advised the council the recommendation for the Fayette Fire Chief should be automatically placed under old business on the city council agenda.

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

     Mayor Wood informed the council he spoke with Jeff Bradley about his vacant commercial building in downtown Fayette and the possibility of getting a dentist in there. Wood has researched some incentives for dentists and would like to work on getting a possible incentive drafted for Fayette.

     City Administrator/Clerk McGrane updated the council on the budget and that SF 181 passed the House and the Governor should be signing it soon. This legislation will alter the residential rollback for the budget we are working on, fiscal year 2024. This will also extend the city budget certification date to 4/30/23 because we will need to wait for updated property valuations from the county auditor. McGrane recommended postponing the Finance Committee meeting scheduled for 2/21/23 until a later date due to this delay. McGrane advised he has not had any recent interest in the new Homes for Iowa home and explained the process for awarding the sidewalk and marketing incentives.

     Public Works Director Hildebrand explained that one of the city wells has been down and he made repairs on the other well. Hildebrand advised he is moving forward with transitioning over to liquid chlorine versus gas sooner than planned because of the repairs that are needed.

     This being the time and place posted for a public hearing on the proposed contract documents and estimated costs for improvement of reconstruction of a portion of the North Main Street (Old Highway 150 North) and grading of shoulders, Mayor Wood opened the hearing and asked for comments. Jon Biederman, Senior Project Manager with Fehr Graham Engineering and Environmental, advised on February 16, 2023, five (5) bids were opened and read and prices for both alternatives were excellent. The opinion of probable cost and bid totals were as follows (Base Bid = BB; Alternate 1 is for PCC = Alt1; Alternate 2 is for Asphalt = Alt2): Engineer's Estimate $941,002 (BB+Alt1), $1,020,608 (BB+Alt2); Wicks Construction, Inc. $710,035.75 (BB+Alt1), no bid for BB+Alt2; Rock N Load/Upper Iowa Erosion Control $733,445.75 (BB+Alt1), $722,273.75 (BB+Alt2); Bacon Concrete LLC $767,655 (BB+Alt1), $835,021.75 (BB+Alt2); Skyline Construction, Inc. $909,075.81 (BB+Alt1), $855,329.26 (BB+Alt2); Tschiggfrie Exc. Co. $960,413.86 (BB+Alt1), $898,243.86 (BB+Alt2). Fehr Graham recommended the city award the Base Bid and Alternate 1 (PCC) to the low bid, Wick's Construction Inc. of Decorah, Iowa. There being no further comments, Wood closed the hearing.

     Moved Post, seconded Potratz, to approve Resolution 2023-10, making award of contract for the North Main Street (Old Highway 150 North) improvements project to Wick's Construction of Decorah, Iowa. Roll call, all ayes, motion carried.

     This being the time and place posted for a public hearing on the fiscal year 2024 proposed property tax levy, Mayor Wood opened the hearing and asked for comments. McGrane explained the purpose for the proposed tax levy. There being no further comments, Wood closed the hearing.

     Moved Scott, seconded Tenney, to approve Resolution 2023-11, adopting the proposed property tax levy for fiscal year 2024. Roll call, all ayes, motion carried.

     Moved Tucker, seconded Potratz, to approve the receipt of the Finance Committee meeting minutes from 2/7/23 and 2/13/23. All ayes, motion carried.

     Moved Tenney, seconded Post, to accept the receipt of the Fayette Community Library Board of Trustees meeting minutes from 12/14/22 and 1/11/23, the Fayette Fire Department meeting minutes from 2/14/23 and the Fayette Safety Committee meeting minutes from 2/15/23. All ayes, motion carried.

     Jon Biederman provided a spreadsheet with a list of signs needing replaced or added to the recreation trails throughout the city of Fayette and out to the Volga State Recreation park. Tucker advised she may have some Upper Iowa University (UIU) students interested in assisting with installing the signs in April. The council discussed if the city should move forward with completing the paved portion of the trail or not. McGrane provided a few financial options to fund the project using local option sales tax and hotel/motel tax revenue. The engineer's preliminary opinion of costs to complete the trail range between approximately $245,652.72 and $371,649.53, depending on the width of the trail and by using asphalt instead of concrete. Tucker also applied for a grant to help fund the project and we will find out in March if we are awarded funds. The council would like to wait until UIU confirms they are able to transfer the land over to the city before moving forward. Moved Tenney, seconded Tucker, to approve purchasing the suggested trail signs in the amount not to exceed $2500 plus shipping and handling. All ayes, motion carried.

     Moved Potratz, seconded Tenney, to approve the first reading of Ordinance 517, amending Chapter 35, Fire Department, Section 6. Roll call, all ayes, motion carried.

     Moved Tucker, seconded Scott, to approve the first reading of Ordinance 518, amending Chapter 36, Ambulance Service, Section 3. Roll call, all ayes, motion carried.

     McGrane advised even though the cost of the N. Main Street improvements project came in less than originally estimated, he left the not to exceed loan amount at $500,000. McGrane explained that means the council may borrow any amount up to $500,000. Hildebrand recommended the council only finance about half of the total project, as originally planned, to keep some funds available for future expenses and projects. Moved Tucker, seconded Post, to approve Resolution 2023-12, fixing date for a meeting on the proposition to authorize a Loan Agreement and the issuance of Notes to evidence the obligations of the City thereunder. Roll call, all ayes, motion carried.

     Moved Tenney, seconded Tucker, to approve Resolution 2023-13, accepting the cell tower lease review and consulting services agreement between the city of Fayette, Iowa, and Tower Genius LLC. Roll call, all ayes, motion carried.

     McGrane advised he was anticipating on presenting the third amendment to the real estate lease agreement to the council but the contract is still being reviewed. Moved Post, seconded Scott, to table Resolution 2023-14, accepting the third amendment to real estate lease agreement between the city of Fayette, Iowa, and Alltel Corporation D/B/A Verizon Wireless, until the contract is completely reviewed. Roll call, all ayes, motion carried.

    There being no further business, Wood declared the meeting adjourned at 7:40 pm.

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