Bellechester City Council Meeting Minutes
January 15, 2025 @ 6:00 PM
Call the meeting to order. Meeting is recorded, and the recordings belong to the City of Bellechester.
Oath of Office
Pledge to the flag
Roll call was taken: The council in attendance: Mayor Jody Gordon, Council people Mark Gerken, Kyle Blattner, Jacob Gilsdorf, Nick Keller and Rich Majerus as well as City Clerk Lisa Redepenning, Treasurer Kyle McKeown, and City Engineer Matt Mohs as well as were also present as well as representatives from AG Partners - Dale Johnson and Chris Buck.
Minutes of the December 18, 2024 meeting were reviewed and motion was made by Mark Gerken with a second by Rich Majerus to approve the minutes. Motion carried.
Bills were reviewed with a motion by Rich Majerus with a second by Jake Gilsdorf to approve and pay the bills as presented. Motion carried.
Old Business:
• Update – Sewer Lining Project – Main line work is done. A few service linings remain. Temperature has stopped project.
o Pay Application No. 5 - $49,747.70. Motion was made by Rich Majerus with a 2nd by Nick Keller to approve pay application #5. Motion carried.
o Update on ADA Walkthrough – RD required this review and it was conducted. A few items were identified and will be addressed. A report will be forthcoming.
• Update – Water Meter Project – training was done on the new system. Pay application will be coming on this payment and we will close out the project. Radios are reading and working with the software. A few places in town will not be able to have a meter installed due to needing temperature-controlled area.
• Update – Water meter billing set-up – all accounts are setup and previous balances were entered. Payments will be entered more when we become live. Agreement includes 16 hours of training and assistance in working with new software.
• Dust Control Issue – Dust control is starting to get more into downtown. Ag Partners was asked about how to control this. There is more traffic coming thru town. Ag Partners indicated they have put down chloride down in the spring and fall. Discussion on applying this coverage more often was done. May – June applications will occur more to test out issue. AG Partners will discuss this plan and get back to us.
• Junk Ordinance – We will get a copy of the ordinance to new council members to get them up to speed on this issue and we will discuss at next meeting.
New business:
• Approve Ordinance #36 - Pool Spa – Motion was made by Rich Majerus with a 2nd by Mark Gerken to approve Ordinance #36 as stated. Motion carried.
• Committee Appointments for 2025 – set and approve
Acting Mayor: Mark Gerken, Ambulance: Rich Majerus, Fire Association: Rich Majerus/Nick Keller, Bank: First Farmers & Merchants, Attorney: Gorman
Prosecution Attorney – Goodhue County, Paper: News Record, City Engineer: Matt Mohs ~ Bolton & Menk, Inc.
Motion was made by Mark Gerken with a 2nd by Jake Gilsdorf to approve the 2025 appointments as stated. Motion carried.
• Set Board of Equalization Date and Change April Meeting – approve Motion was made by Mark Gerken with a 2nd by Jake Gilsdorf to approve the moving of the April meeting to Thursday, April 17 to coincide with the Board of Equalization meeting with the County. Motion carried.
• 2024 Cash Reporting Final Report – Motion was made by Rich Majerus with a 2nd by Jake Gilsdorf to approve the 2024 Cash Reporting final report as presented with noted change. Motion carried.
Engineer Report – see above.
Clerk Report – 2nd Half LGA Received – $15,265.00 and $825.50 in Small Cities Assist. 2nd Half of Property Tax Received – Wabasha County $7,874, Goodhue County $24,264. Edward Jones Investment Funds – we currently have $114,693 in this account. They will be coming due for renewal. Board of Equalization Meeting – we need to change the April date to coincide with this. The date we have been given is: Thursday, April 17, 2025 at 4:00 pm at the Bellechester Community Center. Messenger – would you like to make a donation to them for letting us put minutes in their paper at no cost? Year End Reporting – all reports are done except for the 2024 Final Cash report to the state, which will be done after it is approved at meeting.
Treasurer Report –.letters were sent and a few payments were made. Certified letters will be sent.
Water/Wastewater/Facility Report – pump work at both well houses will be done. Water piping at south pump house will also be done.
Mayor Concerns: Donation to Messenger – Motion was made by Mark Gerken with a 2nd by Rich Majerus to donate $275 to the Messenger. Motion carried.
Council Concerns: County was called about them taking down signs. Trailer parking issue was addressed. Trailer parking/equipment needs to be moved immediately. Come to meeting
Adjourn
Motion was made by Rich Majerus with a second by Nick Keller to adjourn the meeting. Motion carried. Meeting was adjourned at 7:44. Motion carried.
Submitted by Lisa Redepenning – City Clerk
Board of Equalization meeting for Goodhue County will be held April 17th @ 4:00 at the Bellechester Community Center . The regular City Council Meeting for April will move to that day, immediately following the Board of Equalization Meeting.
