REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING
September 5, 2023
The City Council of the City of Fayette, Iowa, met Tuesday, September 5, 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 Lowery, Post, and Scott; Absent - Potratz, Tucker.
Moved Post, seconded Scott, to approve the consent agenda items consisting of the regular meeting minutes of 8/21/23, the claims list of 8/19/23-9/1/23 and receiving of the Outstanding Obligations Disclosure Statement for fiscal year (FY) 2023. Roll call, all ayes, motion carried.
Citizen Comments: Scott Bowen of Fayette, stated that closing State Street to Washington during Watermelon Days is potentially a hazard; in the event of a fire, the Fayette Fire Department would need immediate access to this area.
Moved Lowery, seconded Post, to approve the agenda as presented. All ayes, motion carried.
Mayor Wood advised the council that the public safety committee is looking into the fire and the response from local departments. Wood read and signed a proclamation for National Clean Energy Week, September 25-29, 2023.
Moved Lowery, seconded Post, to approve the proclamation to declare September 25-29, 2023 National Clean Energy Week.
Former City Administrator/Clerk McGrane provided a written report to the council stating he has worked with Markus and Nancy over the last few weeks. McGrane completed the Outstanding Obligations Disclosure Statement and trained Markus on it, completed the RFP for the city exam/posted it/emailed it out to some firms/later reviewed them and rated them for the council, worked on Homes for Iowa fund, pipeline requests and permits, claims/bills, employee health insurance payments, new property/auto/liability insurance breakdown and payment, the FY2023 fund transfers and trained Markus on a variety of things.
Fayette Police Chief Davis informed the council of a security breach of email accounts. Davis is working with the Department of Justice on this issue. It appears 23 counties have been targeted and the DOJ is providing ransomware to the cities involved at no cost to the city. Davis commented that it appears the city of Fayette was not the target, but a way to gain communication and access to larger organizations.
Public Works Director Hildebrand advised the council that he met with Jon Biederman with Fehr Graham regarding the lift station. Biederman gave an update on the HWY 150/Water Street project. The updated plan is to finish the project over the following week.
Moved Scott, seconded Lowery, to approve Resolution #2023-42, approval of transfers for fiscal year 2023. Roll call, all ayes, motion carried.
Moved Scott, seconded Post, to approve awarding Rachelle Thompson to perform the fiscal year 2023 city exam in the amount of $4,220. All ayes, motion carried.
Moved Scott, seconded Lowery, to approve moving forward with advertising that we are accepting bids for cleanup of the property located at 101 King Street. All ayes, motion carried.
Moved Post, seconded Scott, to approve partial pay estimate number 2 to Wicks Construction for North Main Street project in the amount of $170,396.78. All ayes, motion carried.
Moved Post, seconded Lowery to approve the Change Order #1 for the North Main Street Improvements project in the amount of -$7,444.05. All ayes, motion carried.
Moved Post, seconded Lowery, to approve payment to Granger Construction for the demolition and cleanup of the buildings at 309 E. Water Street in the amount of $34,975.00 All ayes, motion carried.
Moved Post, seconded Scott, to approve closing S. Main Street from Water St. to Clark St. and State St. from Mechanic St. to Washington St. from Friday, September 8th to Sunday, September 10th, for Watermelon Days and granting permission for live music outside until 11:59 PM on Friday and Saturday, September 8th and 9th. All ayes, motion carried.
Moved Post, seconded Lowery, to approve taking the steps to move Fayette City Hall to 9 South Main Street. All ayes, motion carried.
Moved Lowery, seconded Scott, to approve hiring Basepoint Building Automations in the amount of $11,000 to remodel a portion of 9 S. Main Street. All ayes, motion carried.
There being no further business, Wood declared the meeting adjourned at 6:58 pm.
