Belle Plaine, Iowa
June 5, 2024
The Belle Plaine City Council met on June 5, 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, Mitch Malcolm, Charmaine Wickwire, and Dillion McGrane. City Administrator Stephen Beck, City Attorney Gage Kensler, and City Clerk Sandy Walton were also present. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.
Motion by Schlesselman, seconded by Malcolm to approve the Consent Agenda, Council Minutes of May 15 Meeting, Council Minutes of Special Session Council Meeting of May 29 (with name correction), the receiving and filing of the minutes from the April 30 meeting of the Belle Plaine Community Library Board of Trustees, and bills received. On roll call vote, all voted aye, motion carried 5-0.
Resident Comments: None
Holly Shultz from Valhalla Hatchets was present to ask permission to hold a street dance on July 3rd. She presented the status of her plans, answering any questions the council asked. Motion by Malcolm, seconded by Landuyt to approve the closure of 12th Street between 8th & 9th Avenues from 6:00 pm on July 3rd until 12:30 am for a street dance. On roll call vote, all voted aye, motion carried 5-0.
Motion by Wickwire, seconded by McGrane to allow outdoor sales of alcohol & food (kept within the 800 block of 12th street with no outdoor consumption after midnight and persons off the street by 12:15 am. On roll call vote, all voted aye, motion carried 5-0.
Several members of the BP Fire Department were in attendance to present the final request for the City Council’s support of the purchase and funding of a new fire truck costing $711,347.30 before discounts. Possible impact to taxpayers based on a 5-,7-, & 10-year payback was also presented. The council wants to make sure we look for all available alternative funding sources to help alleviate the burden to our residents. Motion by Malcolm, seconded by McGrane to approve the purchase of a new fire truck from Toyne. On roll call vote, Schlesselman, Malcolm, Wickwire, & McGrane voted aye; Landuyt abstained, motion carried.
Motion by Wickwire, seconded by McGrane to approve resolution #24-06-01; a resolution setting the date of July 19th for a public hearing on proposal to enter into a General Obligation Fire Truck Acquisition Loan Agreement and to borrow money thereunder in a principal amount not to exceed $625,000. On roll call vote, Schlesselman, Malcolm, Wickwire, & McGrane voted aye; Landuyt abstained, motion carried.
Motion by McGrane, seconded by Schlesselman to approve pay application #1 to Garling Construction, Inc. for the Franklin Park Restroom Project in the amount of $41,879.47. On roll call vote, all voted aye, motion carried 5-0.
Motion by Malcolm, seconded by Schlesselman to approve Resolution #24-06-02; a resolution approving the cost-of-living adjustments (COLA) for all Non-Bargaining city workers. On roll call vote, all voted aye, motion carried 5-0.
Motion by Schlesselman, seconded by Wickwire to approve the use of Franklin Park for the Belle Plaine July 4th Committee for the July 3rd car show and the 4th of July Celebration events at the park per recommendation from the Park Board. On roll call vote, all voted aye, motion carried 5-0.
Motion by McGrane, seconded by Malcolm to approve a 5-day (July 1-5) Class B Beer Permit with Outdoor Service for the Belle Plaine July 4th Committee, Belle Plaine, Iowa for car show (7/3) and park events (7/4). On roll call vote, all voted aye, motion carried 5-0.
Motion by Wickwire, seconded by Schlesselman to approve the Belle Plaine 4th of July Committee annual fireworks show at Franklin Park (under the direction of the Director of Pyrotechnic Displays, Joel Hanzelka, for the City of Belle Plaine). On roll call vote, all voted aye, motion carried 5-0.
Motion by McGrane, seconded by Malcolm to approve the passage of the third and final reading of Ordinance #24-4 which would amend the Code of Ordinances of the City of Belle Plaine by amending the provisions pertaining to sewer rate charges (sewer rates would go from $12.54 per thousand to $12.94 per thousand.). On roll call vote, all voted aye, motion carried 5-0. The ordinance will become law upon publication with new rates going into effect on the July 1 bills.
Motion by Wickwire, seconded by McGrane to approve the passage of the second reading of Ordinance #24-5 which would amend the Code of Ordinances of the City of Belle Plaine by amending the provisions pertaining to stop required (removing 4-way stop at corner of 9th Avenue & 13th Street). On roll call vote, all voted aye, motion carried 5-0.
Motion by Malcolm, seconded by Landuyt to approve the setting of a public hearing for July 17 in consideration of a franchise agreement with ITC which will not cause rates to change with residents. On roll call vote, all voted aye, motion carried 5-0.
Motion by Schlesselman, seconded by Wickwire to approve renewal of a Special Class C Retail Alcohol License with Sunday Sales & Outdoor Service for HYDEAWAY, INC. dba: Fire Box on Main, 813 12th Street, Belle Plaine, Iowa. On roll call vote, all voted aye, motion carried 5-0.
Updates were given on three nuisance extensions that were granted until June 1. Abatement is complete at 1006 9th Avenue with no additional extension needed. Abatements at 310 11th Street and 1512 2nd Avenue are not yet complete but moving forward. The council asks that they receive regular updates from these property owners. Another discussion was held regarding abandoned/problematic properties. Chief Hudson & Attorney Kensler will proceed with appropriate action.
City Administrator Steve Beck reported that hydrant flushing is going pretty well. He has placed some photos on our Facebook page. The wellfield is holding steady at this time. Well 2 is being rehabilitated. With one well down, we are taking the flushing process more slowly. As soon as the rehab of Well 2 is complete, we will look at Well 4 next as it is also not pumping quite right. The Preliminary Engineering Report has been sent to both SRF and the DNR. HACAP is delivering the balance of the water that they are donating this week. There was a ribbon cutting at the Regal Fritillary last Saturday which went well. Steve has completed two news interviews and has had a request for one more. A few fire hydrants are out-of-order. We will prioritize getting them back into working order by this summer.
Mayor Morrow asked that we move the first meeting in July to a different day. It will now be held on Monday, July 1st at 6:30pm.
Correspondence: None
Old Business: None.
Resident Comments: Holly Shultz returned with a question regarding donations. The City Council could not officially comment at it is a private/civil matter.
A list of departments and the frequency of reports to the council as per our code of ordinances was given to council during Committee of the Whole. The council will consider it and determine if they would like to change any of them. Then an annual schedule will be created and distributed to all department heads.
Also, during the Committee of the Whole, the hours that City Hall is open late on Thursday night was discussed. Instead of staying open until 8pm, we will start to close at 7pm. There have been no customers after 7pm in at least the past three months.
Final discussion of the meeting revolved around the current Chicken Ordinance and its enforcement. We will draft letters to anyone that we feel is not in compliance and spell out penalties for not complying in a timely manner.
Motion by Landuyt, seconded by Wickwire to adjourn the meeting. All voted aye, motion carried 5-0. The meeting was adjourned at 9:35 p.m.
Lyle Morrow, Mayor
Attest: Sandra Walton, City Clerk
Transcribed by the City Clerk subject to Council approval.
Jim Magdefrau 