Belle Plaine, Iowa
June 4, 2025
The Belle Plaine City Council met on June 4, 2025, at 6:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers at Belle Plaine City Hall with Mayor Lyle Morrow presiding. Present were Councilpersons Judy Schlesselman, Mitch Malcolm, Dillion McGrane, Garrett Landuyt and Charmaine Wickwire. Also present were City Attorney Gage Kensler, City Administrator Steve Beck and City Clerk Sandy Walton. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.
Motion by Wickwire, seconded by Malcolm to approve the Consent Agenda, Council Minutes of May 21, receiving & filing of the minutes from the April 22nd 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
Shawn Arey was present to discuss the nuisance notice received at 1506 Rainbow Drive. The request was tabled so that the council can consider options including a possible revision to existing ordinances.
Fire Chief Jason Kaplan presented the fire department report.
Motion by Malcolm, seconded by McGrane to approve the renewal of a Special Class C Retail Alcohol License with Sunday Sales, Catering Privilege, and 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.
Todd Hyde from Fire Box on Main was present to ask permission to hold a street dance on July 3rd. He presented the status of his plans, answering any questions the council asked. Motion by McGrane, seconded by Wickwire to approve the closure of 12th Street between 8th & 9th Avenues from 7:00 pm on July 3rd until 12:30 am on July 4th for a street dance (dance will be from 8pm to midnight). On roll call vote, all voted aye, motion carried 5-0.
Motion by McGrane, seconded by Landuyt to allow outdoor sales/consumption of alcohol (kept within the barricaded 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.
Motion by Malcolm, 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. On roll call vote, all voted aye, motion carried 5-0.
Motion by Schlesselman, seconded by Malcolm to approve a 5-day (July 1-5) Special Class C Retail Alcohol License 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 Malcolm, seconded by Landuyt 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 Landuyt, seconded by McGrane to approve the second reading of Ordinance #25-2 which would amend the Code of Ordinances of the City of Belle Plaine by amending the provisions pertaining to water rates. (Water rates would go from $7.82 per thousand to $8.60 per thousand and out-of-town rates would go from $9.99 to $10.99 per thousand.) On roll call vote, all voted aye, motion carried 5-0.
Motion by Landuyt, seconded by Schlesselman to approve the second reading of Ordinance #25-3 which would amend the Code of Ordinances of the City of Belle Plaine by amending the provisions pertaining to sewer service charges. (Sewer rates would go from $12.94 per thousand to $13.59 per thousand.) On roll call vote, all voted aye, motion carried 5-0.
Motion by Malcolm, seconded by Landuyt to approve the first reading of Ordinance #25-4 which would amend the Code of Ordinances of the City of Belle Plaine by amending the provisions pertaining to Chapter 41.14 Fireworks. (Required because of recent state legislation going into effect July 1.) On roll call vote, all voted aye, motion carried 5-0.
Motion by Schlesselman, seconded by Wickwire to waive the second reading of Ordinance #25-4 which would amend the Code of Ordinances of the City of Belle Plaine by amending the provisions pertaining to Chapter 41.14 Fireworks. On roll call vote, all voted aye, motion carried 5-0.
Motion by Malcolm, seconded by Wickwire to approve Resolution #25-06-01; a resolution approving payment application #1 to Nelson Electric Co. for the Fire Department Generator. On roll call vote, all voted aye, motion carried 5-0.
Motion by Schlesselman, seconded by McGrane to approve Resolution #25-06-02; a resolution approving FY26 wages for city employees. On roll call vote, all voted aye, motion carried 5-0.
Motion by Schlesselman, seconded by Wickwire to approve Resolution #25-06-04; a resolution proposing to dispose of real property at 902 13th Street and to publish notice of public hearing to be held on July 2nd. On roll call vote, all voted aye, motion carried 5-0.
City Administrator Steve Beck reported that the well fields are holding steady. Public works is prioritizing projects and planning to flush more hydrants in June. Interviews have started for a new public works employee. Steve also gave updates on a recent grant he submitted and gave updates on Frontier progress. The council suggested he continue to elicit help from Kate Robertson on trying to sell the medical building.
Mayor Morrow reported on the recent landfill meeting attended. He also reported on some ECICOG opportunities for the Food Pantry and Library.
Correspondence: None
Old Business: Further discussion on an Unpaid Leave Policy was again tabled. It was determined that the council needs a lengthier discussion and scheduled a work session for 6:30pm on July 30th to discuss only this policy.
Resident Comments: None
Committee of the Whole: The topic of Building Permit Fees and whether the council should set a cap for large projects was held. The council requested the city clerk reach out to nearby communities of comparable size and see what their programs look like.
Emma Peebles from Belle Plaine Community Development gave a quarterly report on the many things the group is working on. Plans for July 3rd and 4th are going great. The group does still need a few more volunteers for midway games.
Motion by Landuyt, seconded by McGrane to adjourn the meeting. All voted aye, motion carried 5-0. The meeting was adjourned at 8:04 p.m.
_____________________________
Lyle Morrow, Mayor
Attest: ___________________________
Sandra Walton, City Clerk
Transcribed by the City Clerk subject to Council approval.
Jim Magdefrau 