Belle Plaine, Iowa

February 21, 2024

The Belle Plaine City Council met on February 21, 2024, at 6:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers at Belle Plaine City Hall with Mayor Lyle Morrow presiding. Present were Councilpersons Garrett Landuyt, Judy Schlesselman, Charmaine Wickwire, and Adam Papesh. Councilperson Mitch Malcolm was absent. City Administrator Stephen Beck, City Attorney Gage Kensler, and City Clerk Sandy Walton were also present. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.

Mayor Morrow reported we would be moving discussion item #15 relating to ARPA Funds ahead of item #9 (police report). Motion by Schlesselman, seconded by Landuyt to approve the Consent Agenda, Council Minutes of February 7, and bills received. All voted aye, motion carried 4-0.

Resident Comments: None

Mayor Morrow opened the public hearing at 6:33 p.m. concerning the amendment to the current budget. The council reviewed provided documents regarding the budget amendment.

Mayor Morrow closed the public hearing at 6:34 p.m. concerning the amendment to the current budget with no comments from the public.

Motion by Papesh, seconded by Wickwire to approve resolution #24-02-01; a resolution approving budget amendment #1 for FY24. On roll call vote, all voted aye, motion carried 4-0.

Amber Hoover and Mindy Atkinson from Belle Plaine Community Development presented their report. BPCDC is in the process of reviewing applications and setting interviews for the director’s position. Heart of Main Street met with several businesses in town. It was well received. They reported on some changes to the July 3^rd activities and are awaiting approval from the Parks and Recreation Board to hold the events at Franklin Park. The biocell committee is making good progress. They have plans for new plants to go into the biocells and are working on a presentation for the City Council for a future meeting. The City Administrator will coordinate with BPCDC members on touring the lower level of the city-owned Hart building to see if that would work for their offices. It was determined that BPCDC will be present to give quarterly reports to the council with emails in between for any other pressing updates.

Jeremy and Kelly Owens were present to discuss the nuisance notice received for their property at 1512 2^nd Avenue. Their garage burned down in February of 2023. They have been fighting with insurance to get funds to repair/replace it. It will be rebuilt. The council understands the delay and would like another update on progress by the April 17, 2024, meeting.

A discussion was held regarding the selection of project(s) to obligate the balance of the ARPA funds. April Kressley, Parks and Recreation Director, presented a proposal to replace the pool heater. Other discussion was held regarding a variety of other potential projects. Council members decided to put $36,000 towards the new pool heater and the balance of the remaining ARPA funds toward the new water meter project.

Chief Hudson provided January call reports as well as 2023 summary call reports for Belle Plaine, Benton County, Vinton, and Urbana for comparison. He also provided some notes he took from a Recruitment and Retention Panel held online by the Iowa Police Chiefs Association. The council authorized him to purchase Fleet Tracker through AT&T, hard wire one of the speed feedback signs (best location is too shady for solar), put a hemi engine in the newly ordered police vehicle, and arrange for 2 house inspections. He has been working on employee evaluations and nuisance abatements. He reported that officers Bacheller and Chekal are half-way through their ILEA training and that officer Garwood will attend ILEA in Cedar Rapids starting in May. He also commented that the 4-way flashing lights at the intersection of 7^th Avenue and 13^th Street are not working properly and may need replaced. Steve Beck will reach out to the IDOT to discuss.

Motion by Landuyt, seconded by Wickwire to approve Resolution #24-02-04; a resolution requesting the addition of several streetlights (1. Middle of 400 block of 16^th Street, 2. In alley near Well #6, 3. Middle of 500 block of 4^th Avenue). On roll call vote, all voted aye, motion carried 4-0.

Motion by Landuyt, seconded by Papesh to approve Resolution #24-02-06; a resolution adopting an excess sewer forgiveness policy (with discussed changes). On roll call vote, all voted aye, motion carried 4-0.

Following discussion of a potential mosquito control contract for 2024, the council elected to table the topic until the next meeting to get more feedback from local residents.

Motion by Papesh, seconded by Wickwire to approve the renewal of a Special Class C Retail Alcohol License with ownership updates for Benton County Brewing Company, LLC, 708 12^th St., Belle Plaine, Iowa. All voted aye, motion carried 4-0.

Motion by Wickwire, seconded by Papesh to approve Resolution #24-02-07; a resolution proposing to dispose of real property and publishing a notice of public hearing (with requested changes). On roll call vote, all voted aye, motion carried 4-0.

The City Clerk presented the Treasurer’s Report and City Budget Report for January. An updated Grant Report was also given to council members for their review. Per discussion at the last meeting, regular updates of the Solar Report will be discontinued.

Committee of the Whole: Discussion was held regarding possible changes to the downtown parking ordinance. In the 700 block of 12^th Street, roughly the first 5 parking spots on the south side and 8 parking spots on the north side will remain no parking from 2-5am. Parking regulations will remain as they currently are during snow emergencies. Per the city council’s suggestions, updates to the existing ordinances will be presented at the next meeting for the 1^st reading of the ordinance revisions.

City Administrator Steve Beck reported that the wellfield is gaining slightly. He also reported on grant progress and ongoing insurance repairs at the Medical Center building. An appraiser has been contacted and will be here next week to appraise the building. Steve is working with Ashly on setting up a city Facebook page. Lastly, he pointed out the update from our engineer on the status of the Preliminary Engineering Report originally due at the end of February. It is running a few weeks late due to circumstances out of our control.

Mayor Morrow had nothing to report.

Correspondence: None.

Old Business: None.

Resident Comments: None.

Motion by Landuyt, seconded by Papesh to adjourn the meeting. All voted aye, motion carried 4-0. The meeting was adjourned at 10:00 p.m.

Lyle Morrow, Mayor

Attest: Sandra Walton, City Clerk

Transcribed by the City Clerk subject to Council approval.