REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING
June 19, 2023
The City Council of the City of Fayette, Iowa, met Monday, June 19, 2023, at 6:00 pm in the Community Room at the Fayette Community Library pursuant to law and rules of said council, Mayor Pro-tem Post presiding. The meeting began with the Pledge of Allegiance.
Roll call: Present - Council members Lowery, Post, Potratz, Scott (via telephone because on vacation) and Tucker.
Moved Potratz, seconded Tucker, to approve the consent agenda items consisting of the regular meeting minutes of 6/5/23, the claims list of 6/3/23-6/16/23, the renewal of the Iowa Retail Permit Application for Cigarette/Tobacco/Nicotine/Vapor for Dollar General Store #20268 and the acceptance of the resignation of Kris McGrane. Roll call, all ayes, motion carried.
Citizen Comments: Randall Streeter, Fayette Fire Chief, from Fayette, inquired why the city council has not approved the appointment of James Hanson to the Fayette Fire Department. Post advised he will look into it and get back with Streeter.
Jean Karlson, from Fayette, thanked the city council for giving the public an opportunity to voice their opinions on the gifting of the Fayette elementary school to the city. Karlson also thanked the council for doing a great job.
Moved Potratz, seconded Lowery, to approve the agenda as presented. All ayes, motion carried.
Upon recommendation from the Fayette Ambulance Service, moved Tucker, seconded Scott, to appoint Jessica Hummel, Samantha Jones and Taylor Nydegger to the Fayette Ambulance Service. All ayes, motion carried.
City Administrator/Clerk McGrane advised the council that he has continued researching and gathering information in reference to the Fayette Elementary School and assisted with the tour and public forum. McGrane assisted coaches and the West Union Parks & Rec director on baseball games/tournament at Cardinal Park for this summer. He has continued work on the N. Main Street project, the demolition of 2 residential homes and the Homes of Iowa sale. McGrane has also been working with human resource duties, financial reports, assisting people with permits and the cell tower agreement. Kelly & Miller Insurance has received two insurance quotes so far. One for approximately $45,699 and the other for approximately $50,000. They are waiting for one more and we will present them at the next meeting.
Fayette Public Works Director (PWD) Hildebrand informed the council that the transition to liquid chlorine has been completed. Hildebrand also hired Fayette County to reshape Station Road this past week.
James Mitchell, a Fayette American Legion Post #339 member, advised the new playground equipment at Klock's Island Park has been installed and is completed. The only thing left is placing a plaque recognizing all who helped with the donation of the equipment. Mitchell will provide the spare parts of the equipment to Hildebrand for the city to store. PWD Hildebrand looked over the equipment and is OK with everything. Moved Scott, seconded Potratz, to accept the playground equipment at Klock's Island Park and make a donation to the American Legion Post #339 in the amount of $4,000 out of Fayette Recreation Budget for the playground equipment. All ayes, motion carried.
Moved Tucker, seconded Lowery, to accept and acknowledge the Parks and Recreation Board meeting minutes from 5/25/23 and 6/15/23. All ayes, motion carried.
Moved Tucker, seconded Potratz, to approve Resolution 2023-35, authorizing the Mayor, City Administrator/Clerk and Deputy Clerk to sign all documents relating to the selling of the 207 Alexander Street/Homes for Iowa home. Roll call, all ayes, motion carried.
Moved Potratz, seconded Tucker, to approve Resolution 2023-36, accepting the contract for legal services between the city of Fayette and Lynch Dallas, P.C., to provide services for reviewing the North Fayette Valley School District agreement to gift the Fayette elementary school and property to the city of Fayette. Roll call, all ayes, motion carried.
Moved Tucker, seconded Potratz, to approve Resolution 2023-37, making award of contract for the demolition, cleanup and debris removal for 507 West Clark Street, Fayette, Iowa, to Granger Construction, Inc. out of West Union, Iowa. Roll call, all ayes, motion carried.
Moved Tucker, seconded Potratz, to begin the process of accept bids for demolition, cleanup and debris removal of 309 East Water Street. All ayes, motion carried.
The council discussed how to advertise for the City Administrator/Clerk position, including ads in the Union Echo Leader, Oelwein Daily Register, West Union Shopper, and Oelwein Shopper, as well as online (Indeed, Iowa League of Cities, website, social media, etc.). The deadline for the first round of resumes and applications will be Friday, July 7, 2023. Tucker, Potratz and the Mayor will be the hiring committee for this position. McGrane offered to stay on as a part-time employee to assist with duties during the transition and training the new City Administrator/Clerk. The council agreed to let McGrane take his vacation time at the end of his two weeks, so he may stay employed with the city and the city will only contact him if absolutely necessary. Moved Post, seconded Lowery, to move forward in hiring a new City Administrator/Clerk and approve McGrane's vacation and status as discussed. All ayes, motion carried.
Moved Potratz, seconded Lowery, to approve Resolution 2023-38, establishing city employee salaries. Roll call, all ayes, motion carried.
Moved Post, seconded Scott, to accept a written RFP to engage a CPA firm to perform the City's required annual audit for the year ending June 30, 2023. All ayes, motion carried.
The job description for the City Administrator/Clerk was briefly discussed and McGrane advised he will continue to update it for the council to take future action on. No formal action was taken.
Moved Tucker, seconded Scott, to go into closed session per Iowa Code 21.5(1)(j) to discuss the purchase or sale of particular real estate only where premature disclosure could be reasonably expected to increase the price the City would have to pay for that property or reduce the price the City would receive that property. Roll call, all ayes, motion carried.
Moved Potratz, seconded Tucker, to open regular session. Roll call, all ayes, motion carried.
There being no further business, Potratz declared the meeting adjourned at 8:00 pm.
