Belle Plaine, Iowa
December 20, 2023
The Belle Plaine City Council met on December 20, 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, Mitch Malcolm, and Garrett Landuyt. City Administrator Stephen Beck and City Clerk Sandy Walton were also present. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.
Motion by Pech, seconded by Malcolm to approve the Consent Agenda, Council Minutes of December 6, 2023, and bills received. All voted aye, motion carried 4-0.
Resident Comments: None
Belle Plaine Community Development provided a written report. The Holiday Homecoming event went well. They are working on a new job description for a part-time director position. Final touches are being made to the BPCDC budget financials for the year which will be given to the Mayor and City Council once completed. The annual investor meeting will take place on Thursday, January 18th at 6:30pm at the BP Museum.
Chief Hudson provided a written report as well as a Dispatch Activity report for November. Seven kids participated in the Holiday with a Cop event on 12/19. We plan to make this an annual event. The BPPD was awarded a $14,218 Benton County Community Foundation Grant for new radar equipment and some speed feedback signs to be placed near the school crossing and along 13th Street. The new 2023 Chevy Tahoe is in service. Officers Batcheller and Chekal will both attend ILEA at Camp Dodge starting in January. Officer Garwood is slated to attend ILEA in Cedar Rapids starting in late May.
Motion by Malcolm, seconded by Landuyt to approve Resolution #23-12-02; a resolution approving Pay Application #1 for the Herring Hotel Demolition. On roll call vote, all voted aye, motion carried 4-0.
Motion by Landuyt, seconded by Schlesselman to approve Resolution #23-12-03; a resolution to accept the Herring Hotel Demolition Project as complete and to approve the release of retainage in 30 days. On roll call vote, all voted aye, motion carried 4-0.
The second reading of Ordinances #23-8 and #23-9 were again tabled. These ordinances will be re-written once sufficient feedback has been received from downtown merchants and then brought back to the City Council to restart the approval process.
Motion by Schlesselman, seconded by Malcolm to approve Resolution #23-12-04; a resolution adopting required policies for CDBG funding. On roll call vote, all voted aye, motion carried 4-0.
Motion by Landuyt, seconded by Pech to approve Resolution #23-12-05; a resolution adopting a policy on the use of excessive force for the Community Development Block Grant program. On roll call vote, all voted aye, motion carried 4-0.
Motion by Malcolm, seconded by Pech to approve Resolution #23-12-06; a resolution authorizing execution of a contract with ECICOG for CDBG-DR Grant Administration & Project Delivery Services for the Tree Canopy Grant. On roll call vote, all voted aye, motion carried 4-0.
Motion by Landuyt, seconded by Schlesselman to approve Resolution #23-12-07; a resolution authorizing execution of a contract with ECICOG for CDBG-DR Grant Administration & Project Delivery Services for the Fire Department Generator. On roll call vote, all voted aye, motion carried 4-0.
Motion by Malcolm, seconded by Landuyt to approve Resolution #23-12-08; a resolution authorizing signators for CDBG-DR programs and alternate signatories for Section 106 compliance forms. On roll call vote, all voted aye, motion carried 4-0.
Motion by Schlesselman, seconded by Landuyt to approve the request from Nancy Weise to use the City Parking Lot for next year’s Farmer’s Market every Friday from 4pm-6pm this coming June thru September 2024. All voted aye, motion carried 4-0.
Motion by Malcolm, seconded by Schlesselman to approve utilizing Wilford Stone of Lynch Dallas for labor negotiations involving Teamsters Local 238 and authorizing the mayor to sign the Attorney Fee Agreement. On roll call vote, all voted aye. Motion carried 4-0.
Motion by Malcolm, seconded by Schlesselman to approve a tax abatement under the Belle Plaine Revitalization Plan for Garrett Landuyt/Kasey Marek at 1410 4th Avenue, Belle Plaine, Iowa (parcel #03028400). On roll call vote, Malcolm, Pech, and Schlesselman voted aye, Landuyt abstained. Motion carried.
The City Treasurer’s report and Budget report for November and the Solar Report were presented to the City Council for their review. There was also a brief recap on the Budget Process and dates that working sessions with the City Council are planned (Jan 3, Jan 17, and Jan 24).
City Administrator, Steve Beck, reported on activity he has been working on the last few weeks involving grants and water projects. The Council directed Steve to get a timeline of how long before we can see some water improvements and a fact sheet of what we know regarding the Well 6 treatment plant. They also reiterated the fact that they want weekly updates communicated to the public. He also reported on the Herring Hotel property and Community Center equipment that he has been helping to procure. He asked permission to delay employee reviews until after his review is received from the City Council.
Mayor Morrow reported that we have 5 people who have come forward thus far expressing interest in filling the Ward 1 vacancy. Residents of Ward 1 can contact City Hall through 4pm on 12/27 if they are interested in filling this vacancy. With approval from the Tree Board, Mike Beck will be pruning the cypress trees on Main Street. The cost is being covered by the Donovan Fund. The Mayor extended a Thank You to Mary Pech for her 12 years of service on the City Council.
Correspondence: A memo regarding a invite to the City Council for a BDG meeting in January was distributed from Kate Robertson, BDG Executive Director. Also distributed were results from a recent utility rate study received from CGA.
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 8:26 p.m.
Lyle Morrow, Mayor
Attest: Sandra Walton, City Clerk
Transcribed by the City Clerk subject to Council approval.
Jim Magdefrau 