Belle Plaine, Iowa
September 4, 2024

The Belle Plaine City Council met on September 4, 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 and City Clerk Sandy Walton were also present. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.

Motion by Schlesselman, seconded by Landuyt to approve the Consent Agenda, Council Minutes of August 21st, receiving & filing of the minutes from the July 23rd 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

Laurie Breja was present to request an extension on nuisance notices received for 601 and 603 8th Street. Motion by Schlesselman, seconded by Wickwire to grant a one-time 2-month extension until November 1st, 2024. On roll call vote, all voted aye, motion carried 5-0.

Mindy Atkinson and Amber Hoover were present from BPCDC to give their quarterly update. Sarah Smith was also in attendance and reported on the upcoming Cider Stroll. There are currently 22 local merchants and 30 outside vendors participating. Trunk or Treat will be held on Sunday, October 27th with time TBD. BPCDC is still in search of a part-time director. Plans for Holiday Homecoming will soon begin. The Golf Outing is being held September 28th. Progress on the bio-cells is moving forward with a lot of partnering from other organizations and individuals. The transition of Sound Park from BPCDC to the City Parks & Rec Department is underway.

Motion by Malcolm, seconded by Landuyt to approve the closure of 12th Street from 7th Avenue to 9th Avenue for the Cider Stroll on September 21st from 7am to 5:30pm to allow for vendor set-up and tear-down (event is from 9am to 4pm). On roll call vote, all voted aye, motion carried 5-0.

Motion by Wickwire, seconded by McGrane to approve Resolution #24-09-01; a resolution authorizing execution of a contract with ECICOG for CDBG-DR Grant Administration & Project Delivery Services. On roll call vote, all voted aye, motion carried 5-0.

Motion by McGrane, seconded by Wickwire to approve having Mayor Morrow sign the IEDA CDBG-DR Program Contract for the King Building Housing. On roll call vote, all voted aye, motion carried 5-0.

Nate Kass of Fehr Graham gave an engineering update on the status of our water projects. The wetlands project plans are 60% complete and expected to be 90% complete by October. The area has moved from South of E66 to North of the solar field. IDALS is excited to participate with the project. Plans are for the project to go to bid this winter with Spring construction. We are continuing to work on a USDA-RD emergency well grant which would be located South of E66 based on an area tagged by the Iowa Geological Survey. Grant is for up to $1 million and could cover the whole project. The water treatment plant has been put on the Intended Use Plan which qualifies us for an SRF Loan. The design phase is roughly 1 year. It is being set up to treat Well #6 water but with piping, etc. to enable expansion of the plant for future needs. Steve Beck will be posting an updated timeline and communicating progress.

Jay from the Public Works Department reported that the DOT project is going well. They are patching the bad spots on the concrete portion of Highway 21 through town. Work on the manhole and 4-way stop intersection is being delayed until Highway 63 opens back up (roughly 30 days) to help alleviate some traffic before fixing the intersection.

A discussion of the city-owned property at 1507 6th Avenue was held. Motion by Landuyt, seconded by Wickwire to proceed with demolition of the house on this property. On roll call vote, all voted aye, motion carried 5-0.

Discussion was held regarding the Police truck. Jay recommended selling it to the Parks & Recreation Department. Motion by McGrane, seconded by Schlesselman to approve Resolution #24-09-02; a resolution authorizing the transfer of funds from the Parks & Rec LOST fund to the Police Car/Equipment Accrual fund for this purchase.

A discussion on stray animal control was held by the city council. Several people in the audience also offered comments, ideas, and suggestions. As a first step, reminders will be posted on our website and Facebook page concerning pet owner responsibility, licensing, and resources available in a Community Outreach approach.

Motion by Malcolm, seconded by Landuyt to approve the renewal of a Class C Retail Alcohol License with Sunday Sales and Outdoor Service for Valhalla Hatchets, LLC, 805 12th Street, Belle Plaine, Iowa. On roll call vote, all voted aye, motion carried 5-0.

Motion by McGrane, seconded by Wickwire to approve the renewal of a Class E Retail Alcohol License with Sunday Sales for Caseys General Store #3513, 606 13th Street, Belle Plaine, Iowa. On roll call vote, all voted aye, motioned carried 5-0.

Motion by Wickwire, seconded by Malcolm to approve a tax abatement under the Belle Plaine Revitalization Plan for Iowa Main Street Investments (Moore Bldg.) at 712 12th Street, Belle Plaine, Iowa (parcel #03050025). On roll call vote, all voted aye, motion carried 5-0.

Motion by McGrane, seconded by Schlesselman to approve a Business Incentive Grant (Commercial Exterior Grant) for the Wave Station (Rick & Vicki Mumm) at 1208 8th Avenue, Belle Plaine, Iowa. On roll call vote, all voted aye, motion carried 5-0.

Motion by Wickwire, seconded by Malcolm to approve Change Order #1 (per fire department’s request) for the new fire truck from Toyne which will reduce the final payment. On roll call vote, McGrane, Schlesselman, Malcolm, and Wickwire voted aye. Landuyt abstained due to being a member of the fire department. Motion carried.

Motion by Malcolm, seconded by Landuyt to approve Resolution #24-09-03; a resolution to approve request for payment under CDBG Contract #20-DRH-14 to Iowa Main Street Investments LLC for GAX 11 in the amount of $87,345.62. On roll call vote, all voted aye, motion carried 5-0.

City Administrator Steve Beck reported on the status of IT regarding cameras for council meetings, property reports regarding the medical clinic and other city-owned properties, and ongoing grant progress. He reminded everyone that the Big Boy Train would be here midday on Thursday and to expect a lot of people in town to see it. He will be at the Water Conference in Coralville 9-9 thru 9-11 and has been asked to attend the meeting of the Iowa Groundwater Association on 11-13. In the future he would like to work with our engineer on updating our water/sewer mapping as well as our zoning map which is roughly 25 years old.

The mayor asked for dates that work for council members to tour the airport. September 22nd at 2pm was selected. The council will meet at the airport on that day/time to tour the facilities. The Airport Commission will also be invited to attend. Mayor Morrow attended the Benton Co Landfill Meeting last week. He also met with Benton Development Director Kate Robertson and a potential investor on ideas for investment in our community. He also reported that we continue to work on grants and look at all that we are potentially eligible to obtain.

Correspondence: Two letters from Jim Byers, owner of 710 17th Street, were given to the Council.

Old Business: It has been determined that we cannot put the request to reduce the number of members for the Library Board on this upcoming election cycle. It can only occur during a “City” Election. This will be re-addressed next year.

Resident Comments: Mary Helen Preston gave a brief update on Preston’s Station activity. PBS was in town this week for their Road Trip Iowa show. It is a 4-segment series that will air next spring. She also reported that they have raised $80,000 in a year. They are getting close to being able to apply for a grant with matching funds for the first phase of renovation which will be the Station.

Committee of the Whole: None

Motion by Landuyt, seconded by Schlesselman to adjourn the meeting. All voted aye, motion carried 5-0. The meeting was adjourned at 9:21 p.m.

 Lyle Morrow, Mayor

Attest: _______________
Sandra Walton, City Clerk

Transcribed by the City Clerk subject to Council approval.