REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING
October 2, 2023
The City Council of the City of Fayette, Iowa, met Monday, October 2, 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, Lowery, Potratz, Scott. One council seat vacant.
Moved Potratz, seconded Lowery, to approve the consent agenda items consisting of the regular meeting minutes of 9/18/23, Approval of Claims List 9/16 - 9/29/23. Receiving June 2023 Financial Reports, and Accepting resignation of council member Amy Tucker. Roll call, all ayes, motion carried.
Moved Post, seconded Potratz to approve the agenda as presented. All ayes, motion carried.
Mayor Wood informed the council that during the September meeting with IMWCA, Wood and Administrator Hawes were told that the Fayette Fire Department were not all current with required physicals and fit testing (for oxygen face masks). The IMWCA personnel highly recommended Med Compass, which is a mobile service that comes on-site, making it more convenient and cost effective for firefighters. Wood met a rep from Med Compass when he attended the Iowa League of Cities conference in Cedar Rapids from 9/20-9/22 and forwarded contact information to Fayette Fire Chief Niles, copying Public Safety Committee Chair Lowery, also informing the Fire Chief that the FFD must get current with needed physicals.
City Administrator/Clerk Hawes informed the council that he worked with previous city administrator/clerk, Kris McGrane, on 9/17, 9/21, 9/28 and 9/30. Hawes and McGrane worked on FY23 transfers/bank transfers, closed out June 2023 financials, prepared for City Treasurer to work on June 2023 reconciliation, Treasurer/Cash reports, journal entries, sewer fund transfers, monthly council reports, Personnel/Human Resources, claims/bills, and council agenda/packet. On 9/20 Hawes met with the city’s insurance broker who assists with health/dental/vision insurance for city employees. Hawes is continuing to research costs for the move of City Hall to 9 S. Main Street as well as working to complete paperwork for the Old HWY 150/N. Main Street project. Hawes attended the Personnel Meeting on 9/25. Hawes has started submitting paperwork to the IMWCA Auditor for their FY23 annual review.
Police Chief Davis informed the council that mental health cases have been on the rise in the county and the police department have been assisting with many callouts over the past week.
Moved Scott, seconded Lowery, to approve and acknowledge receipt of the amended Personnel Committee meeting minutes from 9/25/23. All ayes, motion carried.
Moved Post, seconded Potratz, to approve and acknowledge receipt the Fayette County Economic Development & Tourism quarterly report from July to September 2023. All ayes, motion carried.
Roy Karlson addressed the council with ideas to improve the Freedom Rock area in Fayette such as covering the tribute rock and adding flags to honor service men and women from Fayette. Through his research, as well as visiting 35 locations himself, Karlson found that 80% of the freedom rocks around Iowa had a structure to cover the rock and help preserve its condition throughout various weather. Many of the Freedom Rock areas that Karlson visited included flags. Karlson is also requesting the MIA flag, the Iowa flag and the USA flag be flown at the Fayette Freedom Rock site. The hope is to establish local donations as well as use of city funds to complete the project. The Fayette Chamber of Commerce has agreed to apply for a development grant in which funding from the grant must be matched. Mayor Wood suggested that the Economic Development Committee of the city council work with the Chamber on completing the grant.
Moved Lowery, seconded Scott, to approve looking into funding for improvements to the Freedom Rock area. All ayes, motion carried.
Jaime Hackley addressed the council with increasing costs of his new development in Fayette. There are many tree roots where the sewer lines are going in and he needed to hire a company with a roto-rooter to clear areas. He is requesting additional funds from the city as his lines will be connected to the city utilities. The city has an existing agreement with Hackley Homes & Communities, LLC for this development with a cap on the amount of funds received.
Moved Scott, seconded Potratz, to table the discussion on an agreement with regarding funding for running water and sewer infrastructure on new residential area that will tie into city utilities. All ayes, motion carried.
Moved Potratz, seconded Scott, in approval for the police department to use savings funds to purchase from Access Systems new workstations in the amount of $9,766.16. All ayes, motion carried.
Moved Lowery, seconded Potratz, to move forward with the purchase of a new police vehicle with Specialty Vehicle Source in the amount of $55,618. All ayes, motion carried.
Moved Potratz, seconded Scott, to hire Heartland Asphalt, Inc. for work on S Main St from Jay St to 7th St at the amount of $47,690.90. All ayes, motion carried.
Moved Post, seconded Scott, in approval of Partial Pay Estimate Number 3 to Wicks Construction, Inc. for N. Main Street Improvements project in the amount of $387,575.09.All ayes, motion carried.
Moved Post, seconded Lowery, to approve Change Order #2 for the N. Main Street Improvements project in the amount of -$720.00.All ayes, motion carried.
There being no further business, Wood declared the meeting adjourned at 7:32 pm.
