Bellechester City Council Meeting Minutes
May 21, 2025 @ 6:00 PM
Call the meeting to order at 4:00. Meeting is recorded, and the recordings belong to the City of Bellechester.
Pledge to the flag
Roll call was taken: The council in attendance: Mayor Jody Gordon, Council member Mark Gerken Jacob Gilsdorf, Nick Keller and Rich Majerus as well as City Clerk Lisa Redepenning, treasurer Kyle McKeown, City Engineer Matt Mohs Bolton Menk and Jon Huneke and Mat Jacobsen from Goodhue County Sheriff’s Department were also present.
Minutes of the April 17, 2025 board of equalization and regular 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 Mark Gerken with a second by Jake Gilsdorf to approve and pay the bills as presented. Motion carried.
Old Business:
Sanitary Sewer CIPP Project Update – some final work was done on manhole covers.
• Pay Application - there is none for last month.
• Engineering Amendment No. 1 for sewer lateral liner planning and coordination. All 3 parties came to an agreement with a individual lateral service repair plan for each properties. It has all been approved. Any additional work during this project that was needed was paid for by Bolten Menk. Now that the project is fully complete, we need to reimburse them. Rural Development has looked at these expenses and has approved them. Motion was made by Nick Keller with a second by Jacob Gilsdorf to approve $14,512 for Engineering Amendment No. 1. Motion carried.
Water Meter Project Update
• Approve Final Pay Application No. 4 contingent on RD concurrence and submittal of project closeout documentation - $2470.55. Contractor has submitted all of their paperwork to finalize this project. Motion was made by Rich Majerus with a 2nd by Nick Keller to approve Pay Application No 4 contingent on Rural Development’s final approval. Motion carried.
Lead Service Line Inventory Grant Update – We applied for additional funds to do the inventory. The state has taken some time on this process. Matt will keep us updated.
Lead Service Line Replacement Grant Update – Application was done to put us on a list for grant money to fix the unknown lines in our city. Some additional work still needs to be done. In June, we need to submit a letter to the State that we have requested these funds. City pays for planning and bidding, but we would be reimbursed for this. We currently have 6 unknown lines that we need to identify.
New business:
• Park Grant/Field Updates – Council was in agreement that we need park improvements. Motion was made by Rich Majerus with a 2nd by Jacob Gilsdorf to approve a resolution to move forward with park improvements which may include a grant writer to assist in securing a grant to assist with this project. Motion carried.
• Ordinance enforcement – ordinance procedures were discussed with GCSO. We need to document each violation with pictures and details. This will be process moving forward.
Engineer Report – See above
Clerk Report – Legion Insurance Reimbursement – We received their insurance reimbursement of $599.00 for this year – FYI. Payoff of Interim Lining Project Loan – it has been paid in full.
Treasurer Report – Past Due list was distributed.
Water/Wastewater/Facility Report – Well parts have been ordered for the well.
Mayor Concerns: Ag Partners will be blacktopping their lot in the next month to address the dust issues that we discussed with them last fall. Someone is living in a camper on a property
Council Concerns: Council is requesting Poncelet Metals put rock on the north side of the old hardware store, due to their vehicles driving on this area and mud coming onto the road. Open roof and boarded up windows also needs to be addressed. Park mowing was discussed.
Adjourn
Motion was made by Rich Majerus with a second by Nick Keller to adjourn the meeting. Motion carried. Meeting was adjourned at 7:11. Motion carried.
Submitted by Lisa Redepenning – City Clerk
