Belle Plaine, Iowa
June 21, 2023
The Belle Plaine City Council met on June 21, 2023, at 6:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers at Belle Plaine City Hall, with Mayor Fish presiding. Present: Mary Pech, Mitch Malcolm, Lyle Morrow, and Judy Schlesselman. Garrett Landuyt was absent. Also present: City Administrator Steve Beck and City Clerk Sandra Walton. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.
Motion by Pech, seconded by Schlesselman to approve the Consent Agenda, Council Minutes of June 7th, 2023, and bills received. On roll call vote, all voted aye, motion carried.
Resident Comments: Holly Shultz of Valhalla Hatchets at 815 12th Street was present to express her concerns with the proposed approval of a liquor license for Main Street Bakery & Café for RAGBRAI and the location being requested. After much discussion and additional comments from Todd Hyde of Fire Box on Main and Patsy Sutphin of 102 13th Street, the council wants to support our local vendors. The council will instruct the RAGBRAI Committee to relocate the Main Street Bakery & Café truck in the west section of Main Street but will still approve the liquor license.
In additional resident comments, Patsy Sutphin inquired who was responsible to look at yards for mowing, etc. Police Chief Hudson commented that he is. She gave him an address to look at.
Ashley Drahn of Belle Plaine Community Development gave a BPCDC report. The bio cells have all been adopted! She has been in contact with Amy Bouska of Main Street Iowa who is a bio cell expert on landscaping. She is helping with a plan and has recommended soil tests of each bio cell with Ag Source Labs of Ellsworth. The estimated cost will be $460.25 in total. Ashley is also working on a grant that is available for landscaping. Submission is due in September and will be awarded to selected candidates next April. BPCDC has been working on the Sound Park and is working on getting the student council to maintain it. Still need a few volunteers for July 3rd (car show parkers, judges, & a raffle counter). We currently have 9 food vendors with 6 more possible applications outstanding. Signs are being ordered and T-shirts are coming.
Chief Hudson handed out the May calls-for-service list to city council members. He is filing for two grants: one with the Mansfield Foundation and one with Wal-Mart. He is looking to replace both in-car video units and both radars. He has been working with the mayor and city administrator on trying to fill the current police officer opening. We currently have no applications and will be dealing with a staffing shortage. He has inquired about possible leasing of police vehicles, but it has been determined that it is not a financially sound decision for us at this time.
Motion by Malcolm, seconded by Morrow to approve the third and final reading of Ordinance #23-3 to amend the Code of Ordinances of the City of Belle Plaine by amending the provisions pertaining to water rate charges. (Water rates would go from $7.38 per thousand to $7.82 per thousand and out of town rates would go from $9.43 per thousand to $9.99 per thousand.) On roll call vote, all voted aye, motion carried. The ordinance will become law upon publication.
Motion by Pech, seconded by Schlesselman to approve the third and final reading of Ordinance #23-4 which would amend the Code of Ordinances of the City of Belle Plaine by amending the provisions pertaining to sewer service charges. (Sewer rates would go from $11.84 per thousand to $12.54 per thousand.) On roll call vote, all voted aye, motion carried. The ordinance will become law upon publication.
Motion by Schlesselman, seconded by Morrow to approve the 2023-2024 cigarette licenses for Dollar General, Country Foods, Zip Mart, Grieder Standard Service, Grieder Beverage Depot, and Caseys. On roll call vote, all voted aye, motion carried.
Motion by Morrow, seconded by Malcolm approving the renewal of a Class C Retail Alcohol License including Sunday Sales with Outdoor Service for Fire Box on Main, 813 12th St., Belle Plaine, Iowa. On roll call vote, all voted aye, motion carried.
Motion by Schlesselman, seconded by Pech to approve the following businesses (Fire Box on Main, Valhalla Hatchets, Grand Central Station, The Office, July 4th Committee, El Catrin) to use their outdoor service on their liquor licenses on July 3 & 4, 2023 during the car show, street dance, bags tournament & Kids Fun Zone. Outdoor service and sales are to end at midnight with no consumption outdoors on main street after 12:15 am. On roll call vote, all voted aye, motion carried.
Motion by Malcolm, seconded by Morrow to approve the following businesses (Fire Box on Main, Valhalla Hatchets, Grand Central Station, The Office, Benton County Brewery, El Catrin) to use their outdoor service on their liquor licenses on July 28th for RAGBRAI. Outdoor service and sales and consumption are to end at 12:30 pm. On roll call vote, all voted aye, motion carried.
Motion by Schlesselman, seconded by Malcolm to approve a new 5-day Class C Retail Alcohol License with Outdoor Service for Main Street Bakery and Café, 12th Street, Belle Plaine, Iowa (for RAGBRAI) with expected placement in the 700 block of Main Street. On roll call vote, all voted aye, motion carried.
Motion by Pech, seconded by Morrow to approve a new 5-day Class C Retail Alcohol License with Outdoor Service for the Belle Plaine Fire Department, 1107 11th St., Belle Plaine, Iowa (Franklin Park) for the Belle Plaine Fire Department Dance (event is 8/4/23). On roll call vote, all voted aye, motion carried.
Motion by Schlesselman, seconded by Malcolm to approve resolution #23-06-10; a resolution approving final Pay Application #3 relating to the Airport Rehabilitate Runway 18/36, Taxiway and Apron Project. On roll call vote, all voted aye, motion carried.
Motion by Morrow, seconded by Pech to approve resolution #23-06-02, a resolution approving transfer of funds. On roll call vote, all voted aye, motion carried.
City Treasurer’s report for May, budget report for May, and solar report were reviewed. The City Clerk reported that the last SRF drawdown was received in mid-June (yeah!).
City Administrator Steve Beck reported meeting with Amy Bouska regarding the Moore Building Grant. He also participated in interviews for a new parks and recreation director. He has been working closely with Alliant Energy on gas buildouts in the NE part of town and power options on possible treatment plant sites. The engineering RFQ has been sent out and is due back June 28th. A game plan for culvert repair has been worked on with Jay Hamilton. The wells are holding steady, but we need to continue to receive rain. If water restrictions become necessary, the mayor would like to see us give 1-2 weeks’ notice to the public.
Mayor Fish reminded everyone that new garbage/recycling bins started to deliver on the south side today and will continue throughout town this week. Mosquito spraying was postponed until next Wednesday evening. The only meeting attended recently was the Benton County Landfill meeting where raises were approved. Dave announced that the first meeting in July will be his last for at least six weeks due to his scheduled surgery.
Correspondence: None
Old Business: None
Resident Comments: Patsy Sutphin inquired if a person had to have a license with the city to sell homemade food at the farmer’s market. The “city” has no such license, but you may have to have something with the county. Check with Erica Dickerson with Belle Plaine Farmer’s Market or the Black Hawk Public Health Department (they cover Benton County).
Motion by Morrow, seconded by Malcolm to adjourn the meeting. On roll call vote, all voted aye, motion carried. The meeting was adjourned at 7:44 p.m.
Dave Fish, Mayor
Attest: Sandra Walton, City Clerk
Transcribed by the City Clerk subject to Council approval.
Jim Magdefrau 