City of Belle Plaine, Iowa

Belle Plaine, Iowa
January 4, 2012

The regular meeting of the Belle Plaine City Council was held on January 4, 2012 at 6:00 p.m. in the city council chambers with Mayor Dave Fish presiding.  Present: Marv DeRycke, James Kurovski, Mary Pech, Garrison Reekers, April Saunders. Also present City Attorney Jennifer Zahradnik and City Administrator Bill Daily.

Motion by DeRycke to approve the consent agenda consisting of council minutes from December 19^th, bills @ $327,895.65 & the receiving/filing of minutes from the November 22 Library Board & the September 28^th Community Center Board, second by Reekers. On roll call all voted aye. Motion carried.

City Administrator explained that to be eligible to receive funding for eligible projects from the Federal Aviation Administration, it is necessary to prepare and submit a Capital Improvement Program and CIP Data Sheets. (Funding for eligible projects would be Federal-95% and local-5%.)  Motion by Kurovski to approve Resolution # 12-1-1 accepting the Belle Plaine Municipal Airport Capital Improvement Program for the Federal Aviation Administration Airport Improvement Program, second by Saunders. Discussion held. On roll call all voted aye. Motion carried.

Motion by Kurovski to approve Resolution #12-2-2 accepting partial payment #10 to Garling Construction relating to the Downtown Revitalization Project issued by the Belle Plaine Community Development Corp. @ $35,313.40, second by Reekers. On roll call all voted aye. Motion carried.

Municipal Pipe Five Year Contract: Motion by DeRycke to approve a 5 year Maintenance Contract with Municipal Pipe Tool, second by Pech. Discussion: City Administrator explained this 5 year contract would help with maintaining the sewers. This would include jet/vacuum cleaning, root sawing, inspection, smoke testing, joint sealing and emergency calls for the sewers. On roll call all voted aye. Motion carried.

Nuisance Hearing – Elizabeth Parks – 1504 7^th Avenue:  No one present.  Police Chief Hudson explained a nuisance order had been mailed to Parks. The nuisance order consisted of: 2 unsafe buildings, garbage, trash, rubbish, etc.  and weeds to be cut.  A 12/12/2011 reply had been received from Parks protesting some of the nuisances mentioned in the notice.  Parks did state the garbage/refuse would be removed at the earliest opportunity. Parks requested rescission of the order. At this time discussion was held by the Council.  Motion by Kurovski to table this and instruct the City Attorney to draft a letter to Elizabeth Parks asking for a plan of action/timeframe for the abatement before the next Committee of the Whole on January 16th, second by DeRycke. On roll call all voted aye. Motion carried.

Discussion on Handicap Parking in Downtown Area – Judy Aker:  Aker was present to request a handicap parking spot by her apartment (Corn Belt building) located at 832 12^th Street. City Attorney explained that in the Iowa Code and Iowa Administrative Code Section it states, “ Provisions for parking spaces for persons with disabilities in on-street parking areas with city business districts shall be required by Iowa Code section 321L.5.”  The City is currently meeting these requirements to provide a certain allotment of spaces pursuant to the Code.  Much discussion was held on this topic.  Saunders stated she would like to hear from the landlord about this problem. Motion by DeRycke to leave as is per status quo, second by Reekers.  On roll call DeRycke, Reekers, Kurovski voted aye. Peck and Saunders voted nay. Motion carried.

Discussion on Parking along 13^th Street East of Casey’s:  In the May 16^th Committee of the Whole meeting this topic was discussed and a letter was sent to the Wiese’s about this safety issue. The letter requested that they no longer park their delivery truck or cargo van in front of their residence. It was noted that regular and economy sized vehicles should be fine. The situation has not changed. Council felt this should be discussed and felt the Wieses should be invited to the Work Session on January 16^th.     

Residents Comments:  Judy Akers spoke about the water damage to her apartment on July 26. Akers stated because the contractor’s insurance had turned down the claim, she wants the City to pay the cost.  Mayor said this would be put on the January 16^th Work Session.

City Administrator’s Reports:

• ·         The Downtown Revitalization Project is on hold for now. Research continues for a solution to the storm water problem in the downtown area. Hopefully the weather will continue to be good and work can start again in early spring.
• ·         Officer Freese is scheduled for June-July lasik surgery but at present won’t be able to work as a full time police officer because of the Iowa Police Academy minimum hiring requirements.

Correspondence:  A  confirmation letter was received from the Department of Natural Resources. Belle Plaine has been selected to receive a Derelict Building Grant for the building located at 830 12^th Street.  A contract will follow soon.

Old Business:  None

Motion by Kurovski to adjourn the meeting, second by Saunders. On roll call all voted aye. Meeting adjourned at 7:36 p.m.

                                                                                                                                __________________________

                                                                                                                                David R. Fish, Mayor

Attest:_______________________

           Kaye Buch, MMC

Category: Council Minutes