Belle Plaine, Iowa

April 1, 2026

The Belle Plaine City Council met on April 1, 2026, at 6:45 p.m. in the Council Chambers at Belle Plaine City Hall with Mayor Garrett Landuyt presiding. Present were Councilpersons Charmaine Wickwire, Judy Schlesselman, Tim Werth, and Jacki McDermott; Councilperson Mitch Malcolm was absent. Also present was City Clerk Sandy Walton, Public Works Supervisor Jay Hamilton, and City Attorney Gage Kensler.

Motion by Werth, seconded by Wickwire to approve the Consent Agenda, Council Minutes of March 18th, Council Minutes of March 26th CIP Work Session, receiving & filing of the minutes from the February 24th meeting of the Belle Plaine Community Library Board of Trustees, and bills received. On roll call vote, all voted aye, motion carried 4-0.

Public Audience: None

At 6:47pm, Mayor Landuyt opened the public hearing on the proposed contract documents (plans, specifications and form of contract) and estimated costs for the T-hangar building, paving, grading and drainage project. Joe Roenfeldt, engineer with Bolton & Menk, was present to explain the project and bid process.

The public hearing closed at 6:50pm.

Motion by McDermott, seconded by Wickwire to approve Resolution #26-04-02; a resolution approving plans, specifications and estimated construction cost for the construction of the extend T-hangar and associated taxilanes project at the Belle Plaine Municipal Airport in Belle Plaine, Iowa. On roll call vote, all voted aye, motion carried 4-0.

Motion by Wickwire, seconded by Schlesselman to approve Resolution #26-04-03; a resolution accepting bid and authorizing the award of contract to Garling Construction in the amount of $1,017,153.63, contingent upon the receipt and execution of grant agreement with the FAA and approving an application for Federal Aviation funding assistance for the construction of the extend T-hangar and associated taxilanes project at the Belle Plaine Municipal Airport in Belle Plaine, Iowa. On roll call vote, all voted aye, motion carried 4-0.

Mary Preston gave the council an update on progress at Preston’s Station. She has applied for several state grants, and they are hoping to start work late this summer. She inquired about an internal business incentive grant for Preston’s Station and an exterior grant for the garage/mural. Council encouraged her to complete the grant application forms and turn them into City Hall.

Motion by McDermott, seconded by Werth to set a public hearing for the 2026-2027 budget for April 15, 2026, in the BP Council Chambers at 1207 8th Avenue, Belle Plaine, Iowa at 6:30pm at the regular Belle Plaine City Council meeting. On roll call vote, all voted aye, motion carried 4-0.

Motion by Werth, seconded by Wickwire to approve Change Order #2 for the North Wetland Project for the addition of permanent seeding in the amount of $14,335.20. On roll call vote, all voted aye, motion carried 4-0.

Motion by Schlesselman, seconded by McDermott to approve pay application #4 to Lodge Construction, Inc. for the North Wetland Project in the amount of $53,393.65. On roll call vote, all voted aye, motion carried 4-0.

Discussion on approval of the Water Quality Initiative Grant with IDALS for Wellfield Wetland Restoration-Phase II was tabled until the next meeting so we could get more information on matching fund options.

Motion by Wickwire, seconded by Schlesselman to approve a contract with Dixon Engineering to complete inspection/maintenance evaluation of the 750,000-gallon standpipe in Belle Plaine for $4,725. On roll call vote, all voted aye, motion carried 4-0.

Motion by Werth, seconded by McDermott to direct Fehr Graham to pursue acceptance of the $4.0 million earmark recently awarded to Belle Plaine, Iowa. On roll call vote, all voted aye, motion carried 4-0.

Motion by Schlesselman, seconded by Werth to approve the position profile provided by Midwest Municipal Consulting for the City Administrator with the changes indicated in this meeting. On roll call vote, all voted aye, motion carried 4-0.

Motion by Werth, seconded by Schlesselman to approve Resolution #26-04-04; a resolution approving the job description for City Administrator with the changes indicated in this meeting. On roll call vote, all voted aye, motion carried 4-0.

Motion by Wickwire, seconded by Schlesselman to approve the Job Announcement for the City Administrator position with the changes indicated in this meeting. On roll call vote, all voted aye, motion carried 4-0.

Motion by McDermott, seconded by Werth to approve the first reading of Ordinance #26-2; an ordinance amending the code of ordinances of the City of Belle Plaine, Iowa by amending provisions pertaining to Chapter 21-City Administrator. On roll call vote, all voted aye, motion carried 4-0.

Motion by Werth, seconded by Schlesselman to waive the second reading of Ordinance #26-2; an ordinance amending the code of ordinances of the City of Belle Plaine, Iowa by amending provisions pertaining to Chapter 21-City Administrator. On roll call vote, all voted aye, motion carried 4-0.

Motion by Wickwire, seconded by McDermott to waive and adopt the third and final reading of Ordinance #26-2; an ordinance amending the code of ordinances of the City of Belle Plaine, Iowa by amending provisions pertaining to Chapter 21-City Administrator. On roll call vote, all voted aye, motion carried 4-0. This ordinance will go into effect once published on April 15th.

The inspection report for 111 11th Street was shared with the council. Motion by McDermott, seconded by Werth for the city to send this information to the owner directing the nuisance to be abated. On roll call vote, all voted aye, motion carried 4-0.

The City Clerk provided a written update on various projects.

The mayor requested a review of the current nuisance property list. Gage gave updates on 1003-1/2 7th Ave and 909 3rd Ave. A discussion of the complete list will be scheduled for a future meeting.

Correspondence: Emma Peebles, BP Community Development Director, inquired about downtown awnings in disrepair. Council asked that she contact those businesses and see if they can at a minimum take down the tattered awning or if there is something we can do to help.

Old Business: Follow-up letters will be sent to the property owners where sidewalk repairs were not completed last fall. They will be required to complete repairs by July, or the city will make repairs and assess the property.

Also in old business, discussion on potential employee raises expected to go into effect on June 23rd will start at the May 6th council meeting.

Motion by Werth, seconded by Wickwire to adjourn the meeting. All voted aye, motion carried 4-0. The meeting was adjourned at 8:56 p.m.

_____________________________
Garrett Landuyt, Mayor

Attest: ___________________________
Sandra Walton, City Clerk

Transcribed by the City Clerk subject to Council approval.