March 24, 2025 – City Council Minutes

The Waukon City Council met in regular session on March 24, 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. Council members absent: None. Others present: City Manager Gary Boden; Police Chief Paul Wagner; Water/Sewer Superintendent Jim Cooper; Parks, Rec and Wellness Director Jeremy Strub; Finance Director Lana Snitker; Street Superintendent Keith Burrett; Standard – Joe Moses; and citizens.

The mayor called the meeting to order. The consent agenda item regarding approving the public hearing on the FY budget was pulled for discussion.

 

Moved by: Blocker | Seconded by: Lydon

To approve the consent agenda with that change.

  • Approval of Agenda
  • Minutes of March 3, 2025
  • Liquor license approval of Class C Retail Alcohol License for the Waukon Golf & Country Club, Inc.
  • Approval of FY 2024 Audit Report
  • Approval of Mayor appointment Board Appointments: Hattie Frana for Library Board seat vacancy and Emma Hatlan for Park, Rec and Wellness Center Board seat vacancy.
  • Approval of City Clerk/Treasurer’s Reports February 2025
  • Approval of claims

 

 

Yes: Wiedner, Lydon, Blocker, Engrav | Vacancy: 1 | No: 0

The mayor declared the motion carried.

 

Under Public Comments: Val Reinke gave an update on a few upcoming events such as the Career Fair, R.E.S.E.T. and the STEM Festival.

 

Strub stated that music in the park acts are set and start the Thursday after Memorial Day. Cooper discussed hangers being put up when there are leaks detected with the Council asking if a process could be brought forward for review. Burrett noted they have been running the street sweeper. Wagner mentioned they are hosting an annual open house on April 17th and that there will be a mock accident near the school on April 22nd. Clerk Snitker provided information on the farmers’ market dates and said she will be speaking at an upcoming Chamber event in town. Boden mentioned the Assessor’s office will be mailing out a letter to homeowners regarding upcoming property value changes. Hatlan wanted to remind everyone that interest forms for the open council seat are due this Friday.

 

Boden provided information for the upcoming budget.

Moved by: Blocker | Seconded by: Lydon

To approve the public hearing on proposed budget for fiscal year July 1, 2025 – June 30, 2026; April 21, 2025, at 5:30PM.

Yes: 4 | Vacancy: 1 | No: 0

The mayor declared the motion carried.

 

Blocker made comments about the current comprehensive plan from 2015 and mentioned the council needs to keep in mind that it needs to be updated along with the capital improvements plan.

No action taken.

 

There was discussion on moving forward with requests for qualifications for city engineering services. The council requested Boden to send out RFQ’s right away with the intention of reviewing them at the 2nd meeting in April.

No action taken.

 

Boden noted he did not think RFQ’s were needed for a consultation firm regarding the city manager hiring process. He provided information from the Iowa League of Cities website for three companies to contact regarding interest, Hinson Consulting, HR Excellence Consulting and Midwest Municipal Consulting. Engrav and Hatlan requested that Boden also contact Jet Engineering Inc. on interest since we have worked with their firm and are currently working with them on job descriptions and a salary survey. The council agreed on a 4-week timeframe.

No action taken.

 

Under Public Comments: A resident asked for clarification on the property tax levy percent change.

 

Moved by: Wiedner | Seconded by: Engrav

To enter Closed Session: Per Iowa Code Chapter 21.5 (1)(j) to discuss the purchase or sale of particular real estate only where premature disclosure could be reasonably expected to increase the price the governmental body would have to pay for that property or reduce the price the governmental body would receive for that property.

Yes: Lydon, Blocker, Engrav, Wiedner | Vacancy: 1 | No: 0

The mayor declared the motion carried.

 

Moved by: Blocker | Seconded by: Engrav

To exit closed session.

Yes: Lydon, Blocker, Engrav, Wiedner | Vacancy: 1 | No: 0

The mayor declared the motion carried.

 

Moved by: Blocker | Seconded by: Lydon

To enter open session.

Yes: Lydon, Blocker, Engrav, Wiedner | Vacancy: 1 | No: 0

The mayor declared the motion carried.

 

 

Moved by: Blocker | Seconded by: Wiedner

To approve Boden to move forward with the site request per closed session discussion.

Yes: 4 | Vacancy: 1 | No: 0

The mayor declared the motion carried.

 

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 | Vacancy: 1 | No: 0

The mayor declared the motion carried.

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