Belle Plaine, Iowa

October 1, 2025

The Belle Plaine City Council met on October 1, 2025, at 6:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers at Belle Plaine City Hall with Mayor ProTem Landuyt presiding. Present were Councilpersons Garrett Landuyt, Judy Schlesselman, Dillion McGrane, Mitch Malcolm and Charmaine Wickwire. Also present were City Administrator Steve Beck and City Clerk Sandy Walton. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.

Motion by McGrane, seconded by Wickwire to approve the Consent Agenda, Council Minutes of September 17th, and bills received. On roll call vote, all voted aye, motion carried 5-0.

Resident Comments: None

Motion by Wickwire, seconded by Malcolm to appoint Garrett Landuyt to fill the vacant mayor seat until the November election. On roll call vote, McGrane, Schlesselman, Malcolm, and Wickwire voted aye, Landuyt abstained, and the motion carried 4-0-1.

City Clerk, Sandra Walton, completed the swearing-in of Garrett Landuyt as Mayor of the City of Belle Plaine, Iowa. Congratulations Mayor Landuyt!

Shawn Arey was not present to give an update on nuisance abatement at 1506 Rainbow Drive. Several council members stated that the property is looking about 80% better and the owner has made several of the improvements they requested. They would like him to attend the next meeting in hopes of wrapping things up with this matter.

The Community Center Report was tabled as no one from the board was in attendance.

Motion by Malcolm, seconded by Schlesselman to approve the closing of the 800 block of Main Street (12^th Street) from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Sunday, October 26^th for the annual Trunk or Treat Celebration which begins at 2:00 p.m. On roll call vote, all voted aye, motion carried 4-0.

Motion by McGrane, seconded by Wickwire to approve renewal of a Special Class C Retail Alcohol License with Sunday Sales, Class A Beer Permit, and Living Quarters for Benton County Brewing Company, LLC at 708 12^th Street, Belle Plaine, Iowa. On roll call vote, all voted aye, motion carried 4-0.

Motion by Malcolm, seconded by Schlesselman to approve renewal of a Class E Retail Alcohol License with Sunday Sales for Grieder Beverage Depot, 708 13^th Street, Belle Plaine, Iowa. On roll call vote, all voted aye, motion carried 4-0.

Motion by Schlesselman, seconded by Malcolm to approve a Business Incentive Grant (Area Acquisition Assistance Grant) in the amount of $1,000.00 for Kingdom Dental Care at 804 12^th Street, Belle Plaine, Iowa. On roll call vote, all voted aye, motion carried 4-0.

City Administrator Steve Beck gave a report on electrical updates to the wellfield, completed pre-construction meetings for the North Wetland project and with Alliant for gas buildouts, tree grant bids, and the required consultation meeting with the county supervisor, auditor, and school superintendent which was completed regarding the Urban Renewal Plan Agreement. Steve is also looking at several infrastructure grants and will attend the Middle Iowa Watershed Management meeting this week.

Mayor Landuyt reminded everyone of the Kingdom Dental Care ribbon cutting at 11:30 a.m. on Friday, October 3^rd as well as the Airport Fly-in Breakfast being held in conjunction with the BP Area Ambulance on Sunday, October 5^th from 7-11 a.m. He attended the Emergency Management EMA Meeting. They are working on getting Duane Arnold back up and running. The EMA team was happy to see someone there from Belle Plaine!

Correspondence: We received notice that the developer who was going to complete upper story living above the King Theater has decided not to move forward. The city is working with Kate Robertson of Benton Development Group to see if we can find a replacement project before we withdraw from the $360,000 grant which was originally awarded.

We received notice from FEMA this week that our Fire Department has been awarded the Assistance to Firefighters Grant in the amount of $171,428.57 to cover 95% of the cost of 18 new SCBA’s

Old Business: A brief discussion of the city-owned medical building was held. Further discussion on any future plans for the building was tabled at this time.

McGrane asked the council to consider revisiting a business incentive grant for Sankot Implement. It was tabled several months ago as a different grant was being looked at. That grant was not awarded, so we should reconsider approving his original grant request. Steve will follow up with Bill to make sure the grant request is currently accurate and put on the next meeting agenda.

Resident Comments: None

Committee of the Whole: A discussion on the East and West entrances to Belle Plaine was held. Several ideas for improvement were shared and thoughts of involving FFA, Park Board, the Tree Board, and other volunteers were suggested. Steve will address this with the Tree Board and work to get a plan put together this fall for implementation by next spring.

Future topics for Committee of the Whole:

1) The Time Capsule gets opened in July 2026. Plans for a ceremony? Who is in charge of that? Would new stuff be put back in for another 50 years?

2) Creating a “Reserved” 15-minute parking space at City Hall during normal business hours.

Motion by Malcolm, seconded by McGrane to adjourn the meeting. All voted aye, motion carried 4-0. The meeting was adjourned at 7:24 p.m.

Garrett Landuyt, Mayor

Attest: ___________________________
Sandra Walton, City Clerk

Transcribed by the City Clerk subject to Council approval.