Monday’s Belle Plaine City Council meeting was filled with news on current and pending projects throughout the city, as well as council approval on some of those projects.
One major piece of action was council approval on three phases of a proposed renovation to the Belle Plaine Family Medical Center building at 1010 Eighth Avenue. The Belle Plaine Medical Board, which manages the center, had recommended approval of a three-phase construction contract with Garling Construction, Belle Plaine, for extensive remodeling to the facility at a total cost of just under $90,000, which will include repositioning several rooms in the center, along with plumbing and electrical work.
The center is currently leased to Iowa Health Systems at a monthly charge of $1,000. But the board has negotiated a new lease, with a $100 per month increase beginning in 2010 until March 31, 2012, when the rent will increase to $1,250 per month until March 1, 2015.
Funds for the remodeling project will come from the medical board’s building fund.
Councilman Marv DeRycke said he didn’t think the rent was enough, that some apartments in other areas rent for that much. City Administrator Bill Daily was asked if it was wise for the board to nearly totally deplete its building fund for this project. While he said it is generally not a good idea, the board has shown good management of the facility over the years and if something were to happen to the facility in the future, the city might be able to loan it some money with payback from lease proceeds.
Councilman Harold Ealy added that the medical center board has successfully run the facility for a number of years. The council unanimously approved the medical center board’s recommendation.
Sheila Tumilty, office manager at the clinic, said that only half of the building is currently being fully used. The remodeling will allow for the opening of the other half for visiting specialists and possibly another provider in the future. She said the clinic will remain open during the remodeling process. Although there has been no firm date for start or completion for the project, she said it should now begin soon and she estimated it could take three months to complete.
On another project in the planning stages, the council approved easements with Chester Fredericks and with Craig and Julie Mantz for the planned construction of the 13th Avenue sanitary sewer project.
The council approved a change order for the storm sewer project in the Williams Park area, as well as the third payment of $9,203.13 to Dave Schmitt Construction for the project.
Bev Winkie, representing the Belle Plaine Area Museum, asked the council if it might be able to assist in the cost of lighting the recently installed mural, “Legacy,” on the west side of the museum. She said a preliminary estimate at the cost of the project is $5,000. A lighting expert is expected in town in the coming days to take a closer look at what might be the most effective way to light the mural.
Winkie asked if perhaps the lights could be triggered to go on when the city’s street lights go on each evening, as well as possible financial assistance for the project. The council referred the request to its next committee of the whole session on Nov. 16.
Action was tabled on the future of the alley on the west side of the Longfellow School property until Councilman Craig Van Scoyoc can attend. He had asked that the council consider reopening the alley over the winter months, but he was absent from Monday’s meeting.
Bob Spading, who lives along the alley, told the council that he would prefer that it remain closed to traffic. It had been blocked to reduce construction and other traffic during the construction period at the school.
In his report to the council, Daily said that work on the city’s new aquatics center is progressing at a good rate. Weather permitting, all concrete on the pool area should be completed by the end of November.
He also reported on a meeting held last week regarding the city’s proposed downtown streetscape and building façade renovation project. He said the proposal to get temporary easements on downtown buildings met with “mixed reviews.” The easements are needed to allow the city to seek federal funds for the façade portion of the project. Façade repair and renovation will be needed on several buildings when the overhangs that are supported by posts now in the city right-of-way are removed when the sidewalks are replaced.
He told the council that it appears that at least 10 property owners are prepared to grant the easements. He’s hoping more will join the project and added that another meeting will probably be scheduled in the next week.