Belle Plaine, Iowa
June 19, 2024
The Belle Plaine City Council met on June 19, 2024, at 6:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers at Belle Plaine City Hall with Mayor Lyle Morrow presiding. Present were Councilpersons Mitch Malcolm, Charmaine Wickwire, and Dillion McGrane. Councilperson Judy Schlesselman attended by phone. Councilperson Garrett Landuyt was absent. City Administrator Stephen Beck, City Attorney Gage Kensler, and City Clerk Sandy Walton were also present. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.
Motion by Malcolm, seconded by McGrane to approve the Consent Agenda, Council Minutes of June 5th Meeting (with liquor license correction for July 4th Committee), and bills received. On roll call vote, all voted aye, motion carried 4-0.
Resident Comments: None
Mayor Morrow opened the public hearing at 6:34 p.m. concerning a proposal to enter into a General Obligation Loan Agreement not to exceed $625,000 for the purchase of a Fire Truck. Heidi Kuhl of Northland Securities was present to answer any questions.
Mayor Morrow closed the public hearing at 6:37 p.m. with no comments from the public.
Motion by McGrane, seconded by Wickwire to approve resolution #24-06-04; a resolution taking additional action on proposal to enter into a Loan Agreement, authorizing the use of a Term Sheet, and setting date for the private placement of a General Obligation Fire Truck Acquisition Note, Series 2024 including pursuing a loan agreement with a 7-year payback. On roll call vote, all voted aye, motion carried 4-0.
Mindy Atkinson and Brian Baumgardner gave a report from the Belle Plaine Community Development Corporation. BPCDC has extended an offer to a new Director with hopes that it will be accepted soon. The partnership with the Lions Club for the July 3rd/4th Activities is going well. A report on Biocell progress was given. Things are moving along nicely with the help from Remington Seeds and many other volunteers. Some changes to the Sound Park are being discussed.
Lon Weber from the Park Board and April Kressley, Parks & Recreation Director presented a plan to take over ownership/responsibility for the Sound Park. Motion by McGrane, seconded by Schlesselman to accept the ownership of Sound Park on 12th Street from Belle Plaine Community Development based on the recommendation from the Park Board. On roll call vote, all voted aye, motion carried 4-0.
Val Coffman from Belle Plaine Community Schools presented their plans for the property at the corner of 9th Avenue and 16th Street (old Jr High; parcel #03050875). Our attorney confirmed that since the request was to subdivide into 2 parcels, it did not require approval. However, it will have to have a public hearing and go through P&Z to change the zoning from P-1 to R-2. Attorney Kensler will start this process since property owners within 200 feet need to be notified. The tentative hearing date will be July 17th. We will confirm this date at the next council meeting on July 1st.
Motion by Malcolm, seconded by McGrane to NOT allow a nuisance abatement extension as requested by Virginia Smalley at 1407 7th Avenue since no improvements have been made since the abatement was issued and nuisances at this property seem to be a regular thing. On roll call vote, all voted aye, motion carried 4-0.
Motion by Wickwire, seconded by McGrane to have Chief Hudson proceed with action on the failed nuisance abatement at 1405 7th Avenue. Attorney Kensler informed us that notice needs to be sent to the Art Thompson Estate lawyer in Independence. On roll call vote, all voted aye, motion carried 4-0.
Motion by Malcolm, seconded by McGrane to have failed nuisance abatement at 1310 10th Avenue abated by the city and assessed to the property (property was cited and fined last year, but nuisance still not abated). On roll call vote, all voted aye, motion carried 4-0.
Motion by McGrane, seconded by Wickwire to approve a Business Incentive Grant (Commercial Exterior Grant) for Spotlight Studios at 727 12th Street, Belle Plaine, Iowa. On roll call vote, all voted aye, motion carried 4-0.
Chief Hudson provided a police report to the Council. Inspections at 909 3rd Avenue and 1003 ½ 7th Avenue are taking place on Thursday, 6/20. Graffiti was popping up around town on various signs and in other areas. Most have been cleaned up. New radios have been issued to all officers. New radios for the patrol vehicles are to be installed later this week and a new control station will be installed in the office. All of this is paid for by the county 911 commission. Michael Campbell resigned from the department effective immediately. Sead Sabanagic will not attend the academy until Spring 2025.
Motion by Malcolm, seconded by McGrane to approve the 2024-2025 cigarette licenses for Ghotra Inc. (Country Foods), Caseys General Store, Zip Mart, Grieder Standard, Grieder Beverage Depot, Dollar General, and Family Dollar. On roll call vote, all voted aye, motion carried 4-0.
Motion by McGrane, seconded by Wickwire to approve the passage of the third and final 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 4-0. The Council would like signs posted at this intersection on 9th Avenue stating that Cross Traffic Does Not Stop. This ordinance will go into effect once published on July 10, 2024.
Motion by Wickwire, seconded by McGrane to approve Resolution #24-06-03; a resolution approving the transfer of funds. On roll call vote, all voted aye, motion carried 4-0.
Motion by Wickwire, seconded by Schlesselman to approve the City of Belle Plaine becoming a beta test site for newly developed ClerkBooks Accounting Software. On roll call vote, all voted aye, motion carried 4-0.
The May Treasurer’s Report and City Budget Report was given to the Council for their review.
City Administrator Steve Beck reported that some progress is being made on the fire generator and tree grants. He is working on submitting applications for some USDA grants for emergency wells and electrical upgrades that would hopefully dovetail into our existing project needs. He is also looking into a trail grant through the Iowa DOT. Our water table/aquifer level came up after the good spring rains that we received. It has dropped some recently due to the flushing that is being done and the decrease in recent rain but is still doing pretty good. Jay fixed a hydrant that has been out of service, saving the city a significant amount of money over what it would have cost to replace it. Steve is pleased with the flushing progress. We are getting close to being halfway done. Myron Parizek, Benton County Engineer, met with Steve earlier today. The emergency sirens were not able to be set off from County; this has been remedied. During this process, we discovered one of our sirens near Anderson Park is damaged. We will determine whether it is covered by insurance and whether it needs to be replaced. The new trees that have been planted in recent years look good thanks to the residents taking good care of them.
Mayor Morrow has not attended any recent meetings. The Landfill meeting is June 20th. Mayor Morrow and Jay Hamilton will be attending a meeting on Highway 21 resurfacing through Belle Plaine which is being held at Kirkwood. They are running ahead of schedule and are hoping to have the project completed by the start of school in late August. There will be no Benton Development Group meeting in June. The mayor reminded everyone that the next meeting will be held on Monday, July 1st.
Correspondence: None
Old Business: The mayor will work with the City Clerk on a schedule for various boards to report to the City Council during fiscal year 2025. We will also be putting up a For Sale sign at the Medical Center building.
Resident Comments: None
Committee of the Whole: None
Motion by McGrane, seconded by Wickwire to adjourn the meeting. All voted aye, motion carried 4-0. The meeting was adjourned at 8:49 p.m.
Lyle Morrow, Mayor
Attest: Sandra Walton, City Clerk
Transcribed by the City Clerk subject to Council approval.
Jim Magdefrau 