The Belle Plaine City Council gave the airport commission and Glenn Speas an ultimatum last week: provide step-by-step clean-up procedures for the spill pad by July 8 or Speas will not be allowed to use the pad for his crop spraying business.
The mandate came after City Attorney Jennifer Zahradnik gave an update on the longstanding matter during the July 5 City Council meeting.
The airport commission and Speas had previously submitted a plan for cleaning up potential chemical spills, but Zahradnik felt a more detailed procedure was in the city’s best interest.
Seeking guidance from the Department of Natural Resources, Zahradnik was told the agency only reacts to spills and cannot require a clean-up procedure. DNR officials said a city policy would be a good idea due to the airport’s location. Zahradnik noted that under home rule, the city could require a policy that is more restrictive than state law. Speas operated last year without a spill pad lease.
City Administrator Bill Daily said Monday that the commission submitted adequate procedures by the deadline, but Speas had yet to sign the agreement.
Speas is under a separate lease with the city as the airport’s fixed base operator.
Downtown project
A public hearing was held on the status of Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding for the downtown revitalization project. Belle Plaine received $500,000 in CDBG grants for façade improvements and $300,000 for the streetscape. Gary Hughes of the East Central Iowa Council of Governments, which administers the grants, reported $244,722 in expenses have been processed from CDBG proceeds through June 20. I-JOBS grants and local sources fund the remaining cost. Hughes said an estimated 30.5 percent of the project was complete by June 20.
The council approved a $35,932 change order for the downtown project for work including coal chute infill, masonry changes and electrical removal. The council also approved a partial payment of $460,647 to Garling Construction.
City Administrator Bill Daily reported the 700 block of 12th Street opened to traffic July 5 with several minor issues yet to be corrected. The 800 block was closed the same day in preparation for the start of streetscape work this week. Façade work is ongoing, with a large portion now shifting to the 700 block, Daily said.
The city will address a request from Timalee Clark for wheelchair accommodations at 817 12th Street and 817-½ 12th St. to Ninth Avenue during upcoming sidewalk removal and streetscape work. Timalee and her husband, Matthew, operate Clark’s Soda Shoppe and enter their apartment through a door next to their business. Timalee noted in her request that a wheelchair will not operate on a temporary sidewalk made of packed rock. Daily said the contractor, community development group and city have worked with everybody to accommodate whatever their needs may be as the downtown project progresses. “I’m sure we can count on that being addressed,” he said of Clark’s request.
Other business
Belle Plaine Mayor Jim Daily, right, congratulates Public Works employee Al Dvorak for 25 years of service to Belle Plaine.
The council recognized Al Dvorak for 25 years with the Public Works Department. Mayor James Daily presented Dvorak a plaque and $50 in Belle Plaine Bucks for his service to the city.
Ten property owners will see an increase in their property tax bill after the council passed a resolution of necessity for unpaid mowing or utility bills.
Bill Menner, USDA Rural Development State Director in Iowa, will hold a rural issues listening post in the City Council Chambers Monday, July 11 from 1 to 2:30 p.m. The public was invited to discuss issues and opportunities they encounter in their efforts to keep rural Iowa vibrant and prosperous.
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