Belle Plaine, Iowa

May 3, 2023

The Belle Plaine City Council met on May 3, 2023, at 6:30 p.m. in the council chambers with Mayor Dave Fish presiding. Present: Judy Schlesselman, Garrett Landuyt, Mary Pech, Mitch Malcolm, and Lyle Morrow. Also present: City Administrator Stephen Beck, City Attorney Jennifer Zahradnik, and City Clerk Sandy Walton. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.

Motion by Schlesselman, seconded by Malcolm to approve the Consent Agenda, Council Minutes of April 19, 2023, receiving and filing of minutes from the April 18, 2023 Belle Plaine Community Library Board of Trustees meeting, and bills received. On roll call vote, all voted aye, motion carried.

Resident Comments: None

At 6:35 p.m., Mayor Fish opened the public hearing to take bids for the property at 1402 2^nd Avenue, Belle Plaine, Iowa. An opening bid of $5,000 was received from Delbert and Bonnie Meeks. Upon no further bids, the public hearing was closed at 6:37 p.m.

Motion by Malcolm, seconded by Morrow to approve Resolution #23-05-01; a resolution that authorizes the final disposition of the real estate at 1402 2^nd Avenue to Delbert W. and Bonnie S. Meeks. On roll call vote, all voted aye, motion carried.

At 6:41 p.m., Mayor Fish opened the public hearing concerning Municipal Infraction of Chapter 56 of the Belle Plaine city Code that deals with Delinquent dog/cat licenses that are past due. With no one present for this, the hearing was closed at 6:42 p.m.

Motion by Schlesselman, seconded by Pech to turn over all these delinquent dog/cat licenses to the Belle Plaine Police Department for processing. On roll call vote, all voted aye, motion carried.

The following list of nuisances that have not been timely abated were addressed by the City Council:

1. 1003 6^th Avenue – Motion by Landuyt to approve a 30-day extension to the owner. Motion failed due to lack of a second. Motion by Schlesselman, seconded by Pech to turn it over to the police for processing. On roll call vote, Morrow, Schlesselman, Pech and Malcolm voted aye, Landuyt voted no. On a vote of 4-1, motion carried.
2. 1902 10^th Avenue – Motion by Malcolm, seconded by Morrow to turn it over to the police for processing. On roll call vote, all voted aye, motion carried.
3. 622 7^th Avenue – This nuisance abatement has been 99% completed so was dropped from consideration.
4. 1510 5^th Avenue – This nuisance abatement has been completed so was dropped from consideration.

Darin and Megan Rinderknecht presented their plan and timeline to rehabilitate the house at 1502 6^th Avenue. They would like to close on the property on May 19^th if the Council would drop the current nuisance filing. Motion by Morrow, seconded by Landuyt to instruct our attorney to drop the nuisance filing in support of Rinderknecht’s proposal. On roll call vote, all voted aye, motion carried.

Per a request from Belle Plaine Community Development, their request to discuss a proposal on exiting Main Street Iowa was withdrawn at this time.

Austin & Megan Beck requested an extension on their agreement to install a fence as an agreement for them to keep their dog. Motion by Morrow, seconded by Malcom to approve a June 1^st extension with the condition that the dog must be harnessed or muzzled at all times if outside. They stressed that there will be no additional extension granted. On roll call vote, all voted aye, motion carried.

Motion by Pech, seconded by Landuyt to approve a Business Incentive Grant (Commercial Exterior Grant) for Spotlight Studios at 727 12^th Street, Belle Plaine, Iowa for the maximum amount allowed for roofs by the program. On roll call vote, all voted aye, motion carried. (Upon subsequent research, the maximum amount granted is $2,000.)

Motion by Malcolm, seconded by Morrow to approve a Business Incentive Grant (Commercial Interior Grant) for The Deranged Haunted House Attraction at 102 8^th Street, Belle Plaine, Iowa for $4,500. On roll call vote, all voted aye, motion carried.

Discussion was held relating to the nuisance/dangerous building property at 1507 6^th Avenue for which we have received a Default Judgement against the property. Motion by Morrow, seconded by Malcolm to wait the mandatory 90 days (until June 24, 2023) and then file for 657A since we cannot abate the property ourselves for the amount of the original judgement ($6,500). On roll call vote, all voted aye, motion carried.

Motion by Malcolm, seconded by Landuyt approving a new Class B Retail Alcohol License with Sunday Sales for Family Dollar at 509 13^th Street, Belle Plaine, Iowa. On roll call vote, all voted aye, motion carried.

Motion by Morrow, seconded by Pech to approve the setting of a public hearing for Wednesday, May 17, 2023, at 6:30 p.m. in Council Chambers at Belle Plaine City Hall to consider the rezoning of Lots 8 & 9, Blossom’s Third Addition from M-2 to M-1 per Planning & Zoning’s recommendation. On roll call vote, all voted aye, motion carried.

Motion by Schlesselman, seconded by Pech to approve the Belle Plaine RAGBRAI Committee’s request to close 12^th Street between 7^th and 9^th Avenue as well as ½ of 10^th Avenue and those corresponding side streets off of 12^th Street on July 29^th from 5 a.m. to approximately 3:30 p.m. for the RAGBRAI Route and Festivities that day. On roll call vote, all voted aye, motion carried.

Committee of the Whole discussed options for a water project. After much discussion, we will look into setting up a tour of the Newhall filtration system and work up a potential RFP to send to engineers that we would potentially like to handle a project for filtration of water from Well #6. The City Administrator is to bring an outline and proposal to the next meeting for approval.

Steve Beck, City Administrator, reported that Rusty Wright’s house at 10^th Ave/15^th St is ready for final inspection; preferably this or next week. The Council agreed that the homeowner should pay for 100% of the final reinspection since the City paid for the initial inspection. We will bring a resolution to the next Council Meeting confirming that this is also how we will handle these types of situations going forward.

Steve and Kate Robertson went to Des Moines this week and met with IEDA. The FEMA Hearing was held Tuesday of this week for our appeal on the roads and the culvert projects. Judges will deliberate; however, no timeline was given for the return of the ruling. We have a contingency plan for repairing the 10^th Avenue culvert should we lose that one.

Joni Ernst is expected to visit the Food Pantry on Friday from 1-1:30 p.m. Iowa PBS will be at the Lincoln on Thursday regarding the Byways Tourism Promotion Vidoes.

Today our Public Works Dept. completed the tap for the new bus barn on 6^th Avenue for the water sprinkler system.

Jay Hamilton has been promoted to Public Works Manager effective immediately. He will be directing the public works staff on day-to-day operations.

The Mayor reported on the ECICOG meeting. There is a change in process for the revolving fund loans which should help get more of them out to rural, small-town applicants instead of all the funds going to large cities. The minimum loan amount has also been lowered. However, funding to all COGs has been cut by state.

Correspondence: None

Old Business: None

Resident Comments: Bonnie Meeks of 1404 2^nd Avenue asked about the city’s water supply in relation to PFAS content. Nick Viall, BP’s water/wastewater operator, reported that results for that test for Belle Plaine were just recently received. Our results showed no detection of any PFAS compounds in our raw or drinking water samples.

Motion by Landuyt, seconded by Malcolm to adjourn the meeting. On roll call vote, all voted aye. The meeting was adjourned at 8:26 p.m.

David R Fish, Mayor

Attest: Sandra Walton, City Clerk

Transcribed by the City Clerk subject to Council approval.