Belle Plaine, Iowa
July 1, 2019
The Belle Plaine City Council met on July 1, 2019, at 6:00 p.m. in the City Council Chambers with Mayor Dave Fish presiding. Present: Mary Pech, Judy Schlesselman, Mitch Malcolm and Andy Neuhaus. Mark Tegeler was absent. Also present City Administrator Jeff Horne, City Clerk Jacki McDermott, and City Attorney Jennifer Zahradnik.
The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.
Motion by Pech to approve the consent agenda consisting of council minutes from
June 17, 2019, and bills received, second was by Schlesselman. On roll call, all voted aye. Motion carried.
Residents Comments: None.
The Mayor signed a City Proclamation celebrating the 100th anniversary of the founding of Rotary International. Several local members of Rotary were present to hear the proclamation along with state representatives from Rotary.
The Mayor opened an animal hearing dealing with a Municipal Infraction of Chapter 57 of the Belle Plaine City Code. Mrs. Scott Papesh appeared and said that she has taken several steps so the dog does not get loose again, including putting up railing so the dog cannot jump it, and getting a shock collar for the dog and an appointment for the dog to be spayed. Schlesselman, as a witness, said that the dog came out of a pen not off the porch but that is not important now. Schlesselman did not participate in deliberations because of a conflict of interest. The Mayor stated that if there is another incident of the dog attacking, then the dog will have to leave the city. Motion by Pech, seconded by Malcolm that the dog be allowed to stay in Belle Plaine. On roll call, Neuhaus, Malcolm, and Pech all voted aye. Motion carried. (Schlesselman also could not vote on this issue.)
Lyle Morrow was present to ask for the elimination of a city tax assessment of $1,679.42 for unpaid water, sewer and garbage utilities on the property at 702 15th Street. The matter was tabled until the next meeting so that administration can investigate this matter further.
The Committee of the Whole discussed a handicapped parking spot for a handicapped person at an apartment on 12th Street & 9th Avenue. A parking spot cannot be dedicated to one person and would also be subject to snow emergency rules. The person in question is not present at tonight’s meeting and the matter will be tabled until he calls back.
The Committee of the Whole also discussed a proposed neighborhood block party to be held in the south end of town in August. The Mayor has researched that there is no ordinance about this subject and the city has no definition of a block party. The City Administrator will research this topic. There is no time to pass an ordinance but a special resolution could be passed to allow it. The council will review this at the next meeting and will request the applicant to be present or provide more information.
Motion by Malcolm, seconded by Pech to approve Dan Foley to serve on the Planning and Zoning Board. On roll call, all voted Aye. Motion carried.
The City Clerk gave the Council the City Treasurer’s Report for May and the May City Budget report.
Motion by Pech, seconded by Schlesselman to approve the third reading of Ordinance #87: raising the water rate to $6.58 for the first thousand gallons and $6.58 per additional thousand gallons in town and $8.42 for the first thousand gallons and $8.42 per additional thousand gallons outside the city. (A $.60 per thousand gallon raise in water rates.) On roll call vote, all voted Aye, motion carried. The ordinance will become law upon publication and rates will be raised on the August bill.
Motion by Pech, seconded by Malcolm to approve the third reading of Ordinance #99: raising the sewer rate to $10.56 for the first thousand gallons of water used and $10.56 per additional thousand gallons of water used. (A $.31 per thousand gallon raise.) On roll call vote, all voted Aye, motion carried. The ordinance will become law upon publication and rates will be raised on the August bill.
Motion by Schlesselman, seconded by Pech, to approve the 2019-2020 cigarette licenses. On roll call vote, all voted Aye, motion carried.
Motion by Schlesselman, seconded by Malcolm, to approve Resolution #19-07-01-a resolution correcting the C.O.L.A. raise for Chief of Police Kris Hudson. On roll call vote, all voted Aye, motion carried.
Motion by Neuhaus, seconded by Malcolm, to approve Change Order #2 for the Ultraviolet Disinfection and Flow Equalization Basin Additions to the Water Pollution Control Facility for the City of Belle Plaine. On roll call vote, all voted Aye, motion carried
City Administrator, Jeff Horne, showed the Council a Business Incentive Grant Tracker that he has developed to show how the grants are being spent. They encouraged him to verify if there is notification to new businesses about this program from Belle Plaine Community Development Corporation.
Mayor Dave Fish reported that the new director of ECICOG has been chosen. She is from Wisconsin and there was a reception for the outgoing director. There is no meeting of Benton Development Group this month. The Benton County Landfill Commission is thinking of lowering the per capita fee, which could possibly lower rates for city customers. He told the council that a special council meeting will be planned to discuss replacing the City Administrator, as Jeff Horne is moving on to a new job. The council will be faced with the decision to hire a search team or do the search procedures themselves. City Administrator will get the Mayor a new list of research firms.
Resident comments: None.
Correspondence: None.
Old Business: The Mayor informed the Council about the results of two court cases. In Belle Plaine vs. Robert Brown/Valerie Brown they were informed of the results. In Belle Plaine vs. Gary Wayne Yeakle, they were shown the order. The City nuisance complaints were upheld in both cases.
Motion by Malcolm to adjourn the meeting, seconded by Schlesselman. On roll call vote, all voted Aye, motion carried. Meeting adjourned at 7:17 p.m.
Jim Magdefrau 