Belle Plaine, Iowa
December 6, 2023
The Belle Plaine City Council met on December 6, 2023, at 6:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers at Belle Plaine City Hall, with Mayor Lyle Morrow presiding. Present were Councilpersons Mary Pech, Judy Schlesselman, and Garrett Landuyt. Councilperson Mitch Malcolm and City Administrator Stephen Beck were absent. City Clerk Sandy Walton was also present. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.
Motion by Schlesselman, seconded by Pech to approve the Consent Agenda, Council Minutes of November 15, 2023 (with a typo correction), receiving and filing of the minutes from the October 25 meeting of the Belle Plaine Community Library, and bills received. All voted aye, motion carried 3-0.
Resident Comments: Dave Baburek and Mike O’Hara from Carquest at 703 12th Street were present to express deep concerns on the proposed parking ordinance changes. Allowing parking overnight would cause problems for the large delivery truck to access their business when freight usually delivers between 2-5am daily. It must back up to the sidewalk near their freight door to load/unload which is impossible if there are any cars parked on either side of the street. Per the Council’s request, Carquest will speak to the driver and provide a suggestion on how much space would be needed to prevent delivery issues.
Mayor Lyle Morrow swore in newly elected councilpersons Garrett Landuyt and Charmaine Wickwire. They will each begin their new roles on the city council starting January 1st.
Bruce Gapstur from the Airport Commission was present to review the Airport CIP and discuss the possible approval of the FY25 Airport Preapplication Package which is due December 20th. He also requested a council work session sometime in April to discuss plans for the Airport. Motion by Schlesselman, seconded by Landuyt to approve the FY25 Airport Preapplication Package and to schedule a work session in April. On roll call vote, all voted aye, motion carried 3-0.
The request from Nancy Weise to use the City Parking Lot for next year’s Farmer’s Market was tabled until more detailed information can be obtained. The council wants to make sure it will not conflict with Ice House customer parking.
The second reading of Ordinances #23-8 and #23-9 were tabled until the next meeting. Based on information presented by Carquest, the Council would like to speak with other merchants and develop an alternative to the current revision without abandoning it altogether.
Motion by Landuyt, seconded by Schlesselman to approve the Employer Agreement with Compass Memorial for the Compass Card Program. All voted aye, motion carried 3-0.
Motion by Landuyt, seconded by Schlesselman to approve the Mayor Pro Tem pay of $375 for coverage during Mayor Fish’s absence per City Code. Landuyt and Schlesselman voted aye with Pech abstaining. Motion carried.
Motion by Schlesselman, seconded by Pech to approve Resolution #23-12-01; A Resolution Approving the 2022-2023 Annual Urban Renewal Report. On roll call vote, all voted aye. Motion carried 3-0.
The City Clerk presented the solar report for Council review. She also provided some requested documentation regarding Business Incentive Grants, Housing Grants, and Housing Demolition/Nuisance costs to assist Council as they prepare for the upcoming Budget Workshops. A tentative Budget Calendar was handed out. The council will meet in 3 hour-long workshop sessions in the month of January as the FY25 budget is being prepared with the proposed final session on January 24th.
Jay Hamilton, Public Works Manager, reported on the status of the Herring Hotel demolition. Midwest Demolition Contractors did a good job. Jay is currently working on removing the foundation with hopes of being finished sometime next week if the weather holds. He also reported on several items he would like to place on GovDeals such as a 1998 Dodge Truck, Mower, and 1979 Chevy dump truck, and a used overhead door. The council all expressed their confidence in Jay’s decision to get rid of the old equipment. In an unrelated matter, the city needs to make sure that we secure the front door to a newly acquired nuisance property as a council person noticed it hanging open earlier in the day.
City Administrator, Steve Beck, provided a written update for the council as he was unable to attend tonight’s meeting. He is expecting boring samples to be done at the Wellfield next week and several test wells to confirm water quality through a sample testing routine. All is in coordination with our Engineer as well as the U of I Hydrogeologist we have been working with. Steve continues to coordinate with Fareway on getting another water delivery. He also has been speaking with BPCDC on future protocol with business incentive grant applications.
The council discussed the fact that there are a lot of water questions from residents and misinformation being shared. We need to do a better job of providing regular updates and reporting where we are in relation to the treatment plant, etc. The council would like to see regular, weekly Facebook posts as well as on our website.
Some discussion was held regarding a possible Facebook page for the City of Belle Plaine. More research will be done on pros/cons of such a site.
Mayor Morrow attended the Benton Co Landfill meeting and also the Benton Co Emergency Management meeting. They discussed Scott Hansen’s plan to retire, budgeting, ad approved an application to be used in searching for his replacement. He is planning to help train the new hire. Mayor Morrow also recently toured the airport with Bruce Gapstur.
Correspondence: None.
Old Business: None.
Resident Comments: None
Motion by Landuyt, seconded by Schlesselman to adjourn the meeting. All voted aye, motion carried. The meeting was adjourned at 8:19 p.m.
Lyle Morrow, Mayor
Attest: Sandra Walton, City Clerk
Transcribed by the City Clerk subject to Council approval.
Jim Magdefrau 