Belle Plaine, Iowa
November 18, 2020
The Belle Plaine City Council met on November 18, 2020 at 6:00 p.m. in the council chambers with Mayor Dave Fish presiding. Present: Mary Pech. Judy Schlesselman, Mitch Malcolm, Garrett Landuyt and Mark Tegeler, all present by Zoom. Also, present: City Administrator Stephen Beck and City Clerk Jacki McDermott.
The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.
Motion by Landuyt to approve the consent agenda consisting of the council minutes of November 4, 2020, with the correction that the adjournment was motioned by Malcolm with a second by Landuyt, the council minutes of November 11, 2020, and bills received, seconded by Malcolm. On roll call, all voted aye. Motion carried.
Residents Comments: None.
Renae Warren from Alera Group was present to inform the council about the increases in insurance rates for the city workers. If the city stays with United Health Care, the raise will be 14.7%, if they change to Wellmark the raise will be 14.94%. Motion by Schlesselman, to switch the city insurance carrier to Wellmark starting January 1, 2021, with a second by Tegeler. On roll call, all voted aye. Motion carried.
Greg Johnson and Kate Robertson from Belle Plaine Community Development were present to discuss plans for the Home for the Holidays event for November 28, 2020. There will be a lighting of the city tree that will be live streamed so there is no need to gather down town, a lighted parade, and a house decorating contest will also be in effect. Motion by Malcolm, seconded by Schlesselman to approve the purchase of new lighting for downtown trees and bio-cells. On roll call vote, all voted aye, motion carried. The tree will be placed by the Library because it won’t fit in the space by Grand Central Station because it is too big and will be decorated tomorrow. BPCDC will notify the business people about the parade and will shut the streets off from 8th to 10th Avenue downtown as needed. The parade will use the graduation parade route and they have maps printed out. The mayor will sound the siren to mark the beginning of the parade. The Council will meet in the future to discuss the relationship between BPCDC and the City. Kate Robertson also told the council that Benton Development Group has prepared a pre-application for a state Community Catalyst grant for the building that was formerly known as Gramma Putts Fabric Garden.
The Council read the police report from Chief Hudson. He has two new candidates to offer police positions and reported that Jeff Harnish will be retiring in December. The City Administrator and Mayor will talk to Chief Hudson about coverage from the Sheriff’s Office during these transition times.
Motion by Pech, seconded by Tegeler to approve Resolution 20-11-03, a resolution approving the annual urban renewal report. On roll call vote, all voted aye, motion carried.
Motion by Malcolm, seconded by Landuyt to approve Resolution 20-11-05, a resolution adopting the 2021 Benton County Multi-Jurisdictional Local Hazard Mitigation Plan. On roll call vote, all voted aye, motion carried.
The City Treasurer’s Report for September (revised) and October and the City Budget Report through October and the Solar Report were given to council by the Clerk.
Motion by Pech, seconded by Landuyt to approve agreements with Clapsaddle Garber Associates concerning the airport for a Spill Prevention Control and Countermeasure (SPCC) Plan and Industrial Permit NPDES No. 1. On roll call vote, all voted aye, motion carried.
In the Committee of the Whole, the council discussed the role of Belle Plaine Community Development for the future. They will meet with BPCDC in December to discuss such items as the future of Main Street Iowa and Belle Plaine, the application of the business grant program, and what is the role of BPCDC and the City of Belle Plaine.
The City Administrator, Stephen Beck, notified the council that he is still working with the attorney’s office on a development agreement for Hilltop Apartments. He met with Ardent Lighting for an estimate on the sports complex. There is not as much damage to the baseball field lights as he expected and there is more damage to the pool lights. He also presented a scope of work (damages) from EMC concerning city property.
Mayor Dave Fish reported that he will have meetings by Zoom with Benton Development Group, the Benton County Landfill Board, and the East Central Iowa Council of Governments (ECICOG). He told the council phones for city hall will be purchased at a cost of $6,279 for city hall and that he will work on broadcasting the future council meeting on Facebook as soon as they can purchase some quality camera and audio equipment. Also, the council members’ Chromebooks need to be updated so they need to bring them to city hall so Steve can update them. There is a very good chance that council meetings will be zoomed for the next couple of months due to the virus. Firemen will be putting up the city Christmas decorations on Sunday November 22nd in the morning.
Resident Comments: None.
Old Business: None.
Correspondence: Insurance (EMC) Scope of damages to city property.
Motion by Landuyt to adjourn the meeting, seconded by Pech. On roll call, all voted aye. Meeting adjourned at 8:10 p.m.
____________________________
Dave Fish, Mayor
Attest: _____________________________
Jacki McDermott, City Clerk
| Claims Approved by the City Council on November 18, 2020 | |
| $34.23 | Airgas USA, LLC (cyliner lease renewal) |
| $19.73 | Alliant (school signals) |
| $16,461.00 | Benton County Solid Waste (2nd Qtr Landfill Per Capita) |
| $424.40 | Brecke Mechanical Contractors (boiler repair) |
| $425.00 | Brian Mantz Graphics (letter and stripe fire truck) |
| $5.01 | Carquest (parts) |
| $175.50 | Clerkbooks (utility postcards) |
| $49.12 | Compass Memorial Healthcare (drug tests) |
| $1,600.00 | Danny Elsbury (storm damage cleanup) |
| $28.50 | Fresh Scent of Iowa (bathroom deodorizers) |
| $1,655.27 | Grieder Standard (fuel all depts) |
| $84.60 | Group Services (insurance premiums) |
| $1,817.34 | H&L Repair (pickup and treightliner truck repairs) |
| $25,563.10 | Iowa Finance Authority (SRF Loan interest & fees) |
| $325.00 | Iowa Rural Water Assn (2021 community dues membership) |
| $1,328.80 | Keystone Laboratories (water/sewer lab fees) |
| $150.00 | Kim Hinschberger (refund of comm. Center rental money) |
| $90.50 | Leaf (copy machine lease) |
| $14,470.00 | McClenathan Excavating (storm cleanup) |
| $94.58 | NPC (credit card fees) |
| $65.99 | Office Express (office supplies) |
| $82.80 | Our Town Publications (employment ad) |
| $613.38 | Pippert Hardware (Franklin East Bathroom repairs) |
| $110.00 | Rabe Hardware (pump repairs) |
| $298.31 | Register Media (legals & employment ad) |
| $12,621.66 | Republic Services (garbage, recycling Oct & sewer plant Nov) |
| $1,119.98 | Rod Blount (city hall, comm ctr & library repair supplies) |
| $2,629.09 | Schimberg (water supplies) |
| $175.00 | Streichers (police clothing) |
| $35.59 | Town & Country Wholesale (paper hand towels) |
| $84.00 | Unity Point Clinic-Occupational Medicine (drug tests) |
| $145.84 | USA Communications (phone and internet all depts) |
| $47.27 | U.S. Cellular (police cell) |
| $1,191.86 | Visa (Call-em all, employment ads, police parts, etc.) |
| $424.89 | Wendling Quarries, Inc (rock) |
| $83,988.22 | |
| Ocotber 2020 SUMMARY OF RECEIPTS AND DISBURSEMENTS | |
| Revenues by Fund | |
| General | $235,888.91 |
| Windstorm 2020 | $761,100.00 |
| COVID-19 | $0.00 |
| Road Use | $21,914.46 |
| Special Revenue (exc Road Use & Covid and Windstorm) | $134,467.11 |
| Covid and Windstorm) | |
| Capital Projects | $0.00 |
| Debt Service (proceeds of debt) | $61,547.24 |
| Airport | $100.00 |
| Water Project 2019 | $0.00 |
| Water | $37,172.87 |
| Sewer Capital Project | $0.00 |
| Sewer | $51,011.24 |
| Landfill/Garbage | $20,196.16 |
| Storm Water | $4,924.00 |
| Yard Waste | $2,324.00 |
| $1,330,645.99 | |
| Disbursements by Fund | |
| General | $44,081.42 |
| Windstorm 2020 | $122,821.18 |
| COVID-19 Spending | $35.00 |
| Prairie Park | $0.00 |
| Partners for Beautification | $0.00 |
| Road Use | $32,022.09 |
| Donovan Spending | $0.00 |
| Equipment | $0.00 |
| Economic Development | $91.00 |
| Housing & Urban Development | $675.00 |
| Employee Benefits | $9,959.05 |
| Emergency Fund | $0.00 |
| Police Forfeiture | $900.76 |
| LOST | $94.71 |
| TIF | $0.00 |
| Medical Bldg | $0.00 |
| Community Center | $773.86 |
| Library Improvement | $672.17 |
| Capital Projects | $0.00 |
| Debt Service | $0.00 |
| Airport | $4,227.17 |
| Water Project 2019 | $0.00 |
| Water | $32,851.37 |
| Sewer Project | $0.00 |
| Sewer | $22,324.44 |
| Landfill/Garbage | $22,215.96 |
| Stormwater | $505.63 |
| Yard Waste | $4,224.73 |
| $298,475.54 |
Jim Magdefrau 