Belle Plaine, Iowa
January 6, 2021

The Belle Plaine City Council met on January 6, 2021 at 6:00 p.m. at the Belle Plaine Community Center to allow for social distancing, with Mayor Dave Fish presiding. Present: Mary Pech, Judy Schlesselman, Mitch Malcolm, Garrett Landuyt and Mark Tegeler, who arrived at 6:10 p.m. Also present: City Administrator Stephen Beck, Assistant City Attorney Gage Kensler 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 December 16, 2020, with the correction to add to the dentist office’s grant information the phrase “and other improvements” and bills received, seconded by Malcolm. On roll call, all voted aye. Motion carried.

Residents Comments: None.

Dallas Dvorak was introduced by Chief Kris Hudson. The council then approved Mr. Dvorak as a new officer for the City of Belle Plaine and he was sworn in by Mayor Fish.

Greg Johnson, Nick Gallagher, Casey Neuhaus, Mindy Atkinson and Kate Robertson from Belle Plaine Community Development were present to discuss the future role of BPCDC. They are currently seeking a new director. The group shared thoughts on staying with the Main Street Iowa group as this lends structure to the organization, but also involves limits that don’t include all city businesses. There are several roles for the organization, including economic development and event planning that must be considered. Another facet is the Business Incentive Grant that is offered with city funds. The group will reconvene at a later time to discuss the input from city leaders.

The resident from 910 14th Street who had received a parking ticket during the snow emergency did not appear to plead his case.

Motion by Tegeler, seconded by Malcolm to approve a Class C Liquor License (LC) (Commercial) with Outdoor Service and Sunday sales for the Jennings-Bradshaw Post #39 located at 1008 12th Street, Belle Plaine. On roll call vote, all voted aye, motion carried.

Motion by Tegeler, seconded by Landuyt to approve a Class C Beer Permit (BC), Class B Wine Permit and Sunday sales for Dollar General Store #6648 located at 1406 Sunset Drive, Belle Plaine. On roll call vote, all voted aye, motion carried.

Motion by Tegeler, seconded by Landuyt to approve setting a public hearing for January 20, 2021 at 6:00 p.m. to amend the current city budget for FY 2021. On roll call vote, all voted aye, motion carried.

The City Administrator, Stephen Beck, notified the council that the city will receive a check from EMC Insurance for $68,000 for more damage from the derecho. FEMA wanted to send the work on Minnow Creek on to another agency, but that was rejected back to FEMA. Now FEMA wants an engineering report on that project and an engineering report on the roads and bridges that were damaged in the derecho.

He also told the council that the city phone system was hijacked on the night before the city got a new phone system. The new system is run through the Internet so this will cut down on phone bills in the future.

He told the council that removal of city trees from the parking (between the street and sidewalk) has started. He also had a discussion with a contractor about always calling Iowa One Call before digging.

Mayor Dave Fish reported that snow removal after the recent storm went well. The order of plowing will continue to be the school area, the business district, and the city streets. Following that they will remove snow piles from the business districts and all corners. Snow removal on city alleys will be last of the list. This order has been followed for decades. The plow trucks will destroy the alleys and cannot be used for this. Tegeler also mentioned that sidewalks should be scooped by the homeowner all the way to the road or street and the fire hydrants should be cleared also. .

Resident Comments: Kim Purk was present to express interest in any committee for the Herring Hotel.

Old Business: None.

Correspondence: None.

Motion by Tegeler to adjourn the meeting, seconded by Landuyt. On roll call, all voted aye. Meeting adjourned at 8:01 p.m.

Claims Approved by the City Council on January 6, 2021
$127.23	Alliant Energy (electric bill)
$120.00	Allied 100 LLC (defibrillation electrode pads)
$2,547.74	Annette Toney (business incentive grant)
$137.15	Avesis (vision insurance premium)
$4,500.00	Belle Plaine Dental (business incentive grant)
$284.00	Brian Heineman (employee physicals)
$349.68	Carquest (sewer maintenance, belts & oil)
$182.73	Casey’s (police & fire fuel)
$103.04	Chemsearch (supplies)
$918.53	Clapsaddle-Garber Associates (Professional svcs-NPDES permit)
$333.01	Clerkbooks, Inc (utility postcards & software renewal)
$45.53	Dave Fish (supplies for interviews & firemen)
$566.30	Delta Dental (insurance premium)
$4,153.00	Drahn Insurance (airport general liability premium)
$1,700.00	GFP Tree Service & construction LLC (tree take down)
$668.15	Greg Johnson (reimburse Christmas lights)
$235.02	Grieder Standard (all depts fuel)
$53.00	H&L Repair, Inc (vehicle repair-plow truck snow blade)
$150.00	Highway 30 Coalition (dues)
$877.88	Ice House (business incentive grant)
$115.00	Intoximeters (Drygas)
$507.00	Iowa Firefighters Association (membership dues)
$75.00	Iowa Library Association (membership renewal)
$2,100.00	John Carlson (city sidewalk replacement due to storm)
$1,413.09	KMDE LLC (solar charges)
$29,443.63	Municipal Pipe Tool Co LLC (televising)
$150.00	Nicole Cochran (refund of water deposit)
$95.20	NPC (credit card fees)
$321.35	Postmaster (water bill postage)
$500.00	Prairie Valley Technologies (phone programming)
$65.00	Rite Way Pest Control (pest control-library)
$4,223.22	Steve Mansfield (business incentive grant)
$298.16	Story Kenworthy (office supplies)
$385.96	Streicher’s (police equipment-forfeiture acct)
$101.65	Thys Motor Co (Tahoe repairs)
$53.50	Timber Gate Gardens (police plant)
$205.35	UNUM Life Insurance Co (life insurance premium)
$912.01	USA Communications (phone service-all depts)
$144.20	Verizon (police cell & data usage & equipment chgs)
$39.99	Whannel’s Hardware (wall charger)
$703.31	Zip Mart (police & fire dept fuel)
$59,904.61	TOTAL