Belle Plaine, Iowa
September 20, 2023
The Belle Plaine City Council met on September 20, 2023, at 6:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers at Belle Plaine City Hall, with Mayor Pro Tem Mary Pech presiding. Present were Councilpersons Mary Pech, Mitch Malcolm, Lyle Morrow, Judy Schlesselman, and Garrett Landuyt. Also present: City Administrator Stephen Beck and City Clerk Sandra Walton. Mayor Dave Fish was present via phone. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.
Motion by Schlesselman, seconded by Morrow to approve the Consent Agenda, Council Minutes of September 6, 2023, and bills received. All voted aye, motion carried.
Resident Comments: None
Kristi Sorensen from the Belle Plaine Library presented the annual library report.
Casey Neuhaus was in attendance representing Belle Plaine Community Development. She reported that Ashley Drahn has stepped away from the Director position. BPCDC is very appreciative of her efforts for the July 3rd activities as well as Ragbrai. BPCDC has decided to step away from Main Street Iowa (MSI) and has started the exit process. BPCDC’s role in the community is not expected to change and they are planning to continue with existing events. MSI has changed to Main Street America which appears to focus on larger communities and has offered support and assistance to smaller cities exiting the state organization, with many resources currently offered by MSI remaining available to those cities leaving. The next event that BPCDC is working on is Trunk or Treat in late October.
Motion by Morrow, seconded by Malcolm to approve closing Main Street (12th Street) for the 800 block and part of the 900 block as needed from 2:00pm to 5:00pm on Sunday, October 29th for the annual Trunk or Treat Celebration. All voted aye, motion carried.
Motion by Malcolm, seconded by Landuyt to set the City’s 2023 Trick or Treat hours for 5:00pm to 8:00pm on Tuesday, October 31st. All voted aye, motion carried.
Chief Hudson gave an update and Robert Brown addressed questions regarding progress on the nuisance notices he received for his properties at 205 11th St and 204 10th St. It was determined that there has been significant improvement and the council asked that he remain diligent, do the right thing, respect his neighbors, and keep the properties organized. No further action will be taken at this time.
Chief Hudson reported that he expects to have an officer hired by the next meeting. BPPD is planning their first-ever Holiday-With-a-Cop event for December 19. He is hand-delivering letters to BP businesses asking them to donate to the cause. Citizens can contribute also, if they would like. A winter clothing drive will take place this fall, with further information coming soon. A flu shot clinic in cooperation with Cornerstone Apothecary will take place at City Hall on October 9th from 8:30am – 11:00am. The Chief will be attending a Small Agency Chief’s conference in Ankeny next week. We are still expecting the new SUV to be delivered to us in October/November.
Motion by Morrow, seconded by Landuyt to approve the Parks & Recreation Department moving forward with Specifications and the Competitive Quote process for the Franklin Park Restroom Project with Martin Gardner. All voted aye, motion carried.
Motion by Malcolm, seconded by Schlesselman, to approve Resolution #23-09-03; a resolution approving and hereby directing Alliant Energy Inc. to add one light pole and remove another near the 7th Avenue and 7th Street intersection in preparation for the new HAWK system. All voted aye, motion carried.
Motion by Malcolm, seconded by Schlesselman to approve a contract with the Iowa DNR for the recently awarded ($250,000) wetland grant. All voted aye, motion carried.
Motion by Landuyt, seconded by Morrow to approve using TIF cash on hand to pay a portion of the 2016A bonds off early saving approximately $14,000 in interest expense. All voted aye, motion carried.
The City Treasurer’s report for August, budget report for August, and solar report were presented to the City Council for their review.
We received an update that the properties at 1005 9th Avenue and 715 12th Street have been awarded to the City pending a 30-day appeal period. We are still awaiting the court’s decision on the property at 1507 6th Avenue.
City Administrator Steve Beck gave updates on the rental of the City’s Annex Building and possible tenants interested in the City’s Medical Clinic. The wells are holding steady. Steve has spent a lot of time in the last week answering water related questions and addressing specific water concerns on a case-by-case basis. The survey of land for the new water treatment facility has been completed, OK’d by both our lawyer and engineer, and has been submitted to Benton County. Steve took a trip to Newton looking into Homes 4 Iowa at the prison. He also toured the Poweshiek Water Association and Grinnell Waterworks treatment facilities. The radio tower on top of City Hall which was damaged in a storm will be repaired/replaced on Thursday of this week.
Via phone, Mayor Fish reported that he will be having a stent procedure on Thursday of this week. Then he will undergo his major surgery on October 2nd. He is expecting a 4-7 day stay in the hospital post-surgery and is hoping to be back in City Hall in early November.
Steve Beck will be attending the Benton Landfill Meeting this week.
Correspondence: None.
Old Business: None.
Resident Comments: None
Motion by Morrow, seconded by Landuyt to adjourn the meeting. All voted aye, motion carried. The meeting was adjourned at 8:01 p.m.
Mary Pech, Mayor Pro Tem
Attest: _______________
Sandra Walton, City Clerk
Transcribed by the City Clerk subject to Council approval.
Jim Magdefrau 