BELLE — Belle aldermen on Oct. 15 approved the city’s annual health insurance renewal, Halloween event funding and a proposal to sell unused city materials.

Charro Reasor, treasurer and office manager, reported a 6.92 percent increase in the city’s Anthem health insurance rate, increasing costs by $5,268.48 annually. However, a rebate from the provider offset the increase entirely.

“We received one of those two rebate checks, $10,669.74,” Reasor said. “Our rebate is offset by $5,401.26 to the good. So we received $5,400 more than what our increase is going up.”

She added that in previous years, the city sent the rebate back to Anthem to maintain coverage consistency.

“Last year we sent them right back, about $11,000 again, and it didn’t lower it. It increased by six percent,” she said.

Alderman Steve Vogt made a motion to approve the cost increase and send the rebate back, which was seconded by Alderman Jeanette Struemph and passed with a 4-0 vote.

The board also discussed funding goodies for the upcoming Trunk or Treat on Oct. 31 at the Belle Community Center, hosted by Owens Towing.

Mayor James (Pudd) Mitchell proposed using proceeds from selling ‘s the cityunused or scrap materials to cover community expenses in the future.

“If we could sell some of our junk things that we don’t use — scrap, used motors, things that are just basically in our way — to clean that up and use the money obtained for that for funds such as this,” Mitchell said. “When something like candy comes up to purchase.”

The board agreed the plan could help fund future community events, though not in time for this year’s Halloween celebration. The mayor’s scrap-sale idea will be developed later.

Struemph said the event typically costs about $300 for candy, but prices have increased significantly.

The board approved $400 for candy and cupcakes for the event.

*The board approved the FY-2022 audit, presented during the September meeting, with a 4-0 vote following a motion from Struemph and seconded by Vogt.