January 13, 2025 City Council Minutes

The Waukon City Council met in regular session on January 13, 2025, at 5:30 P.M. in the council room of City Hall, 101 Allamakee Street and via Zoom technology. Mayor Arvid Hatlan presided. Council members present: Steve Wiedner, Dave Blocker, Nick Engrav and John Lydon (arriving late). Council members absent: Kevin Johnson. Others present: City Manager Gary Boden; Police Chief Paul Wagner; Park, Rec & Wellness Director Jeremy Strub; Finance Director Lana Snitker; Street Superintendent Keith Burrett; Fehr Graham Sam Ertl; Skyline Construction Jesse Delaney; The Standard – Joe Moses; and citizens.

 

The mayor called the meeting to order. The discussion item regarding the parking lot agreement with the police department will be removed.

 

Moved by: Blocker | Seconded by: Engrav

To approve the consent agenda with that change.

  • Approval of Agenda
  • Minutes of December 16, 2024
  • Liquor license approval of ownership updates for Allamakee County Agricultural society, ownership updates for Dollar General and Class B Retail alcohol license for Dollar General.
  • Approval of Farm Lease to John Byrnes – 1 year renewal.
  • Approval of Airport Board Member – Shawn Gibbs, filling a vacancy.
  • Resolution – agreeing to change the mileage reimbursement allowance for use of private automobiles on City business from sixty-seven ($.67) cents per mile to seventy ($.70) cents, effective January 1, 2025. The city will update its rate each year, if necessary, based on the standard mileage rate issued by the Internal Revenue Service. The clerk assigned number 25-01 to the resolution.
  • Resolution – agreeing to transfer twenty-five percent of the total ($6,031.30) (Hotel/Motel money received in November and December 2024 and deposited into the General Fund) from the General Fund to the Hotel/Motel (Tourism/Economic Development) Fund in the amount of $1,507.83. The clerk assigned number 25-02 to the resolution.
  • Resolution – agreeing to the transfer of $23,750.00 from the Street Improvement/LOSST Fund to the Capital Equipment Fund-Ambulance for ambulance allocation. The clerk assigned number 25-03 to the resolution.
  • Resolution – agreeing to the transfer of $45,924.00 from the Street Improvement/LOSST Fund to the Capital Equipment Fund – Ambulance for ambulance allocation. The clerk assigned number 25-04 to the resolution.
  • Set date, time and place for regular meetings: 1st and 3rd Monday of the month at 5:30 PM.
  • Set agenda posting place as bulletin board at City Hall entrance and designate official newspaper as The Standard Newspaper, Waukon.
  • Approval of Council & Mayor Appointments: Police Chief: Paul Wagner, City Attorney: Lynch Dallas, PC, City Clerk: Sarah Snitker, Deputy City Clerk: Lana Snitker, City Manager: Gary Boden, Zoning Administrator: Gary Boden
  • Approval of City Clerk/Treasurer’s Report, December 2024
  • Approval of claims

 

Yes: Wiedner, Engrav, Blocker | Absent: Lydon, Johnson | No: 0

The mayor declared the motion carried.

 

Under Public Comments:  A resident mentioned he would like the council to amend local ordinances to allow chickens in town. He provided a signed petition and mentioned there is an online one too that he will provide a copy of to the city clerk. This item will be on the next agenda for discussion.

 

Council member Lydon arrived during department reports. Finance Director Snitker noted that the March special meeting has been moved to March 24th. Council Member Blocker mentioned he wants to schedule a work session at NICC to go over the replacement of the city manager and budget information. A meeting was tentatively scheduled for February 10th at 5:30.

 

The mayor opened the public hearing on amending the current budget for the City of Waukon fiscal year ending June 30, 2025. The clerk announced there were no oral or written comments. The mayor closed the public hearing.

 

Moved by: Lydon | Seconded by: Wiedner

To approve amending the current budget for the City of Waukon for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025.

Yes: Engrav, Blocker, Lydon, Wiedner | Absent: Johnson | No: 0

The mayor declared the motion carried and the clerk assigned number 25-05 to the resolution.

 

Moved by: Blocker | Seconded by: Lydon

To approve the contract and performance and payment bonds for the 4th Ave. NW Addition.

Yes: Engrav, Blocker, Lydon, Wiedner | Absent: Johnson | No: 0

The mayor declared the motion carried and the clerk assigned number 25-06 to the resolution.

 

Ertl discussed the working days and consequent liquid damages with Delaney asking if council could look at what was spent in addition by the city due to the extra days instead of charging the max just to charge that.

Moved by: Lydon | Seconded by: Wiedner

To approve the change order #2 for the West Street SW Improvements Project without any liquid damages. Ertl will adjust change order #2 and pay estimate #5 and bring them back to the next council meeting for approval.

Yes: 4 | Absent: 1 | No: 0

The mayor declared the motion carried.

 

Wiedner stated he would like to continue moving forward with Bieber Insurance as our sole insurance provider. A subcommittee was established of Wiedner, Engrav and Boden to discuss and bring back to the council.

No action taken.

 

Boden discussed the Thriving Communities Program and the advantages of the city applying and receiving that designation.

Moved by: Wiedner | Seconded by: Lydon

To move forward with applying for the Thriving Communities.

Yes: 4 | Absent: 1 | No: 0

The mayor declared the motion carried.

 

Strub presented the council with information on each of the park and rec vehicles while noting the truck he usually drives is in poor shape.
Moved by: Wiedner | Seconded by: Lydon

To move forward with looking for a vehicle for purchase with a cost range around $20,000.

Yes: 4 | Absent: 1 | No: 0

The mayor declared the motion carried.

 

Hatlan discussed a current vacancy on the park and rec board and thinks we need to have a procedure in place for nominating new members to city boards. The council asked the clerk to come up with a process and bring that back to the next council meeting for discussion.

No action taken.

 

Boden went over some budget items. There was a lengthy discussion regarding providing funding to the childcare coalition for the next three years. The council would like more discussion and requested Boden to prepare information for the next council meeting.

No action taken.

 

Under Public Comments: none

 

The council moved into exempt session regarding strategy on employee union contract negotiations – exempt from Iowa open meetings law by Iowa Code Chapter 20.17 (3).

 

Moved by: Engrav | Seconded by: Blocker

To adjourn the meeting.

Yes: 4 | Absent: 1 | No: 0

The mayor declared the motion carried.

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