Just as sure as the leaves fall from the trees in autumn, the late afternoon skyline will soon be filled with smoke from residents burning yard waste. But Monday, a resident asked the Belle Plaine City Council to consider modifying the current burning ordinance to limit the burning hours.

George Burrows told the council that he and his wife are affected by the smoke caused by burning leaves and yard waste. He said people in his neighborhood have been burning before and after the hours prescribed in the ordinance. He added that one of his neighbors was burning garbage in his yard. He said that situation was fixed when he spoke with his neighbor.

Currently, residents are allowed to burn leaves and similar yard waste material seven days a week from 4-9 p.m. The practice is limited to Saturdays from noon to 4 p.m. in June, July and August.

Burrows suggested that the city might limit the open burning to two weeks in the spring and two weeks in the fall. He also asked if the city could inquire about alternate means of disposal of the material, such as collection by Waste Management Company or the creation of a community compost area.

He said he had contacted the city of Carlisle which has limited burning hours. He also contacted representatives of Waste Management, who said their firm can provide the yard waste collection service for an additional fee.

Councilmen Marv DeRycke and Harold Ealy both sympathized with the plight of those who are affected by the smoke, but they both said they are reluctant to add any more fees on the backs of the residents. Burrows said he enjoyed researching this topic and urged the council to consider alternatives to the current burning ordinance. He pointed out that city officials are always interested in attracting new residents and a cleaner environment might be a good step.

In another move toward community improvement, the council approved a scope of services agreement with Stanley Consultants to prepare an Iowa Brownfield Redevelopment Program Application. Melissa Tiedemann of Stanley Consultants met with the council during its work session preceding the regular meeting. She said the program, funded by the federal Environmental Protection Agency and administered through the Iowa Department of Economic Development, currently has $500,000 available. The program targets smaller communities and would provide up to 25 percent of the total cost of property acquisition, remediation and redevelopment.

It appears that funds would be available to pay for 25 percent of the estimated cost of the project, with little or no local committed funds upfront. Several unused, abandoned and dilapidated buildings in the downtown area could be targeted projects, city officials indicated.

Tiedemann said five or six applications could be approved during the current fiscal year. The cost of the scope of services agreement will be $2,500. She added that if the city’s initial application is rejected, her firm will submit a reapplication at no cost.

During the work session, the council agreed to consider an amendment to the animal control ordinance to allow for a foster dog program. Janice Zumbrunnen had earlier asked the council to allow her to temporarily house one additional dog as a part of a golden retriever rescue program. She owns three dogs, which is the limit in the current ordinance. She asked to be allowed to keep one additional dog on a short-term basis as needed to prevent the animal from being euthanized. The program has very strict qualification rules and the host residence must be inspected and certified by the national organization.

DeRycke complimented Zumbrunnen and her husband for wanting to take on this responsibility.

“It’s a heck of a program and I have no problem with it, except we spent a lot of time on the animal ordinance a few years ago and I am reluctant to change it,” he said. He also said that he knows the couple will care for the animal in a responsible manner and that their yard is fenced.

Zumbrunnen said she and her husband agree with the ordinance, but just want a chance to help rescue golden retrievers, one at a time and not necessarily all the time.

After more discussion, the council agreed to consider an amendment to the ordinance to allow for foster dogs at the first council meeting in October.

In a fiscal matter, the council directed staff to place funds from two mature certificates of deposit  from the water and sewer fund in the city’s checking account. The two local banks had quoted interest rates of 1.59 and 1.60 percent for one-year certificates of deposit. But the checking account earns three percent interest. So the fund shift was approved.

During his report to the council, Belle Plaine Commnity Development Director Jon Dayton thanked all the volunteers that helped make the city’s Weekend of Living History a success. He said the Civil War battle re-enactments were well attended and most people seemed to enjoy the activities. He said some of the activities were more popular than others and organizers will take a look at how future celebrations can be improved.

In his report, City Administrator Bill Daily said in his 27 years of public service, he has never been a part of anything like the hosting of the Walldog artists.

“The people (artists) were even greater than the artwork,” he said. He said lifelong friendships were established and the artists seemed to enjoy their time in the city. But he also said that the murals are just a part of the downtown streetscape puzzle and much more must be done.

Police Chief Kris Hudson introduced Amy Baldus, the city’s new part-time officer. Mayor Jim Daily administered the oath of office.

Hudson also reported that a transmission must be replaced on one of the city’s two patrol cars, which will take it out of service for a few days.