REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING
March 18th, 2024
The City Council of the City of Fayette, Iowa, met Monday, March 18th, at 6:00 pm in the Community Room at the Fayette Community Library under the law and rules of said council, Mayor Post presiding. The meeting began with the Pledge of Allegiance.
Roll call: Present - Council members Potratz, Larson, Scott, Luchsinger Absent: Lowery.
Moved Scott, Seconded Larson to approve the consent agenda items consisting of the regular meeting minutes of 3/04/24 and the approval of the claims list 3/2/24 – 3/15/24. Roll Call. All Ayes, motion carried.
Citizen Comments: Scott Bowen of Fayette expressed concern over the recent change of the due date for city council agenda items due to the city clerk. Bowen said city departments have meetings and have items to complete after the deadline and wanted to know why that was changed. Mayor Post responded that the council decided by Resolution earlier in the year to be able to receive council packets earlier to have ample time to review them. Mayor Post learned while attending the Iowa League of Cities Municipal Leadership Academy that many cities require items due to the city clerk a week before the meeting to ensure their council receives meeting information with time to review. The mayor mentioned that critical items may be added, if needed, up to when the agenda needs to be posted, 24 hours before the council meeting by contacting him or City Administrator/Clerk Hawes.
Motion Luchsinger, Second Scott, to approve the agenda. All Ayes Motion carried.
Mayor Post stated in his report that the Monday morning OPS meetings held for city department heads have created some better communication between departments and reminded department heads to inform their employees that all city employees including volunteers must follow through the chain of command going through their respective department head with concerns or questions regarding city business. Post stated that Tiffany Johansen attended one of the OPS meetings and is working on updating policies for the city. The mayor requested a motion for the appointment of the Fayette Ambulance Service. Discussion was had about background checks on the volunteer applicants. Logan Purdy had a background check completed by Police Chief Davis. Chief Davis stated that the other applicants hadn’t had completed background checks yet although the two are members of the Fire Department. It was discussed that the Fire Department doesn’t currently require background checks for their volunteers.
A two-part motion was made by Scott and seconded by Larson to first approve Logan Purdy to the Fayette Ambulance Service, and second to approve Stacey Meyer and Elizabeth Meyer to the Fayette Ambulance Service pending background checks. All Ayes, Motion Carried.
City Administrator/Clerk Mark Hawes stated in his report that Dan Bonjour of Fayette Electronics and the Public Works Department will be working together to install cabling at 9S Main. The city is receiving an estimate for the drop box move. The clerk's desk countertop is ordered and on the way.
Police Chief Davis informed the council that will be attending a training in Oelwein with the Iowa Associations of Chiefs of Police. Along with about 49 other agencies, K9 Officer Ball attended a recertification training for the K9 Odin. Officer Ball and Odin received a perfect score of 200/200 and was the top K9 in Region 12. Officer Ball and K9 Odin now have the opportunity to compete at nationals later this year. Chief Davis held open testing for the vacant full-time officer position. Davis will be following up with 3 individuals for the written test.
Fire Chief Schulmeister gave a report that the spaghetti supper was a success with about 300 in attendance.
Motion Potratz Seconded Scott to advise WEE Investments that the person responsible for the bill should set up a payment plan with the city to pay off their unusually high utility bill waiving late fees on the February amount with the condition that they keep up current bills. All ayes. Motion Carried.
Discussion was had about the Freedom Rock improvement project. There will be a meeting Thursday at 9:00 AM with the Fayette Chamber of Commerce. Councilmember Larson recommended that the city investigate who painted it to learn what it takes to seal coat it and make sure that has been done as well. Motion Potratz, Seconded Luchsinger to table Freedom Rock Discussion until the next meeting. All Ayes, Motion Carried.
Discussion was had about tourism ideas for the city of Fayette. The Economic Development committee plans to meet in the upcoming week.
Motion Larson, Seconded Scott to table until next meeting after the committee meeting. All Ayes, Motion Carried.
Motion Scott, Seconded Larson to acknowledge receipt of minutes from Fayette Ambulance Service meeting minutes from 3/06/24 and Fayette Fire Department meeting minutes from 3/5/24. All ayes, motion carried.
Discussion was had about purchasing new bunker gear. Chief Schulmeister will gather information about prices for gear. The Fire Department have money in savings for new equipment. The chief mentioned a grant that he would like the city to apply for. Motion Scott, Seconded Luchsinger, to table purchasing new bunker gear for the Fayette Fire Department until next meeting. All ayes, motion carried.
Discussion was had about cashing in the Library CD. City Administrator Hawes informed the council that Library Director Butikofer took the agenda item to the library board and the board decided to cash it out and reinvest it into a 5-month CD at 4.93% interest. No action was taken by the council.
Motion Larson, Seconded Potratz, to pass Resolution 2024-07 – Resolution approving the agreement between the city of Fayette, Iowa, and Fehr Graham Engineering to provide professional services for the Washington St. Sanitary Sewer Improvements project. Roll Call. All Ayes, Motion Carried.
Motion Larson, Seconded Luchsinger to direct the City Administrator/Clerk to publish the proposed property tax levy and setting a Public Hearing for Monday, April 1, 2024, at 5:30 PM on the Fiscal Year 2025 proposed property tax levy. All ayes, motion carried.
Potratz moved to adjourn the meeting. There being no objections, Post declared the meeting adjourned at 6:38pm.
