Belle Plaine, Iowa

June 1, 2022

The Belle Plaine City Council met on June 1, 2022, at 6:00 p.m. in the council chambers with Mayor Dave Fish presiding. Present: Mitch Malcolm, Mary Pech, Judy Schlesselman, Lyle Morrow, and Garrett Landuyt. Also present: City Administrator Stephen Beck, Assistant City Attorney Gage Kensler, and City Clerk Sandy Walton. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.

Motion by Schlesselman, seconded by Pech to approve the Consent Agenda, Council Minutes of May 18, 2022, Council Minutes of May 25, 2022, receiving and filing of the minutes from the May 24, 2022 meeting of the Belle Plaine Community Library Board of Trustees meeting, and bills received. On roll call vote, all voted aye, motion carried.

Resident Comments: Jeri Ramirez from 15^th Street inquired on the status of the property at 1411 10^th Avenue as it remains in disrepair and should be condemned. She was told that the city has filed against this property and it is currently awaiting a court date.

Tracy Papesh of 601 11^th Street thanked the council for the time they have spent and for helping the chicken ordinance become a reality. She also mentioned that there is urban chicken training being offered on June 13^th at the Indian Creek Nature Center.

Motion by Malcolm, seconded by Landuyt to approve the third and final reading of Ordinance #58: an ordinance allowing for the raising of urban chickens in Belle Plaine. On roll call vote, all voted aye, motion carried. The ordinance will become law upon publication.

Motion by Morrow, seconded by Pech to approve the second reading of Ordinance 22-6: an ordinance amending the provision pertaining to sewer service charges (rates would go from $11.20 to $11.84 per thousand gallons. On roll call vote, all voted aye, motion carried.

Motion by Pech, seconded by Schlesselman to approve the second reading of Ordinance 22-7: an ordinance amending the provision pertaining to water rate charges (in town rates would go from $6.98 to $7.38 and out of town rates would go from $8.92 to $9.43 per thousand gallons. On roll call vote, all voted aye, motion carried.

Motion by Landuyt, seconded by Morrow to approve Resolution #22-06-01: a resolution that defines & explains the investment policy of the City of Belle Plaine, Iowa. On roll call vote, all voted aye, motion carried.

Motion by Malcolm, seconded by Pech to approve a one-time utility credit of $929.60 at 710 16^th Street due to a water heater problem. On roll call vote, all voted aye, motion carried.

Motion by Schlesselman, seconded by Landuyt to approve a one-time utility credit of $392.00 at 1109 15^th Street due to a broken water line. On roll call vote, all voted aye, motion carried.

Motion by Malcolm, seconded by Morrow to approve a new Class B Beer permit with Sunday Sales for Hydeaway, Inc. doing business as Fire Box on Main at 813 12^th Street, Belle Plaine, Iowa. On roll call vote, all voted aye, motion carried. The business is hoping to open by July 1^st.

Motion by Morrow, seconded by Landuyt to approve the Belle Plaine Community Development Corporation’s request to close 12^th Street between 7^th & 10^th Avenues and those corresponding side streets off 12^th Street from 12:00 pm on July 3^rd until 1:00 am on July 4^th for the annual car show, street dance, kid’s fun zone and bags tournament. On roll call vote, all voted aye, motion carried.

Motion by Malcolm, seconded by Morrow to approve the Belle Plaine 4^th of July Committee’s request to close 12^th Street between 7^th and 12^th Avenues from 9:00am to 11:30 am on July 4^th for the Fourth of July Parade. On roll call vote, all voted aye, motion carried.

Motion by Morrow, seconded by Landuyt to approve that Belle Plaine City Council hire security guards for the street dance on July 3^rd. Estimated cost is $25/hour x 3 guards from 8:00 pm until midnight ($300). On roll call vote, all voted aye, motion carried.

Motion by Landuyt, seconded by Morrow to approve completing the Kirkwood building deal. On roll call vote, all voted aye, motion carried. Our lawyer will need to approve the final contract.

The City Administrator, Stephen Beck, reported on the significant leak at the pool that we had to trouble shoot. It took over a week to find the 10,000+ gallon a day leak and repair it. It delayed the opening of the pool by roughly a week, but we saved a lot of expense by doing most of the work ourselves. Having Jay on board has been a great move! Municipal was also here doing sewer jetting and televising. We have had two large water leaks that did not surface and that makes them extremely hard to locate. Nick and our team have been actively searching for leaks so that we can get better control of the water system. The police and public works union contracts as well as the wage resolution for non-bargaining employees will be ready for the next meeting.

Mayor Fish attended the normal ECICOG meeting covering budget, payroll and loans. He also asked for any preferences on how to conduct the sewer plant tour during the next meeting. We will open the council meeting as normal, conduct all normal business, adjourn the regular meeting, then have the council tour the sewer plant.

Correspondence: None

Old Business: None

Resident Comments: None

Motion by Landuyt, seconded by Morrow to adjourn the meeting. On roll call vote, all voted aye. Meeting adjourned at 6:42 p.m.

_____________________________
Dave Fish, Mayor

Attest: ___________________________
Sandra Walton, City Clerk

Transcribed by the City Clerk subject to Council approval