The Waukon City Council met in regular session on October 20, 2025, at 5:30 PM in the council chambers of City Hall, 101 Allamakee Street and via Zoom technology. Mayor Arvid Hatlan presided. Council members present: Steve Wiedner (arriving late), Tim Smedsrud, Dave Blocker (via zoom due to traveling), John Lydon, and Nick Engrav. Others present: Chief Paul Wagner; Water/Sewer Superintendent Jim Cooper; Assistant Street Superintendent Pat Egan; Park, Rec & Wellness Director Jeremy Strub; Kwik Star Kacie Bonjour; Jake Huck MSA (via zoom); The Standard- Joe Moses; and citizens.
The mayor called the meeting to order.
Moved by: Engrav | Seconded by: Smedsrud
To approve the consent agenda.
- Approval of Agenda
- Minutes of October 6, 2025 and October 11, 2025 special session
- Resolution agreeing to the transfer of $98,580 from the general fund to the Library Fund for operation. The clerk assigned number 25-101 to the resolution.
- Resolution Authorizing internal advance to tax increment sub fund not to exceed $7,176.00. The clerk assigned number 25-102 to the resolution.
- Approval of Urban Revitalization Program Applications for 510 3rd St. SW and 105 9th St. NW.
- Approval of Class C Retail Alcohol License for Uptown Grill, LLC
- Approval of claims
| Payment of Claims for: | October 20, 2025 | |
| AC Skyways | Internet | 99.99 |
| AC Skyways | Internet | 99.99 |
| AC Skyways | Internet | 65.98 |
| Allamakee Clayton Electric | Electricity-September | 120.48 |
| Aztec Parlor | Cookies – City Manager Meet & Greet | 96.00 |
| Matt Benda Concrete | Street patches | 17,483.00 |
| Black Hills Energy | Services – September | 437.87 |
| Bodensteiner Implement | Repairs | 7.49 |
| Bruening Rock Products | Supplies | 208.01 |
| Century Link | Telephone | 145.09 |
| Doug Crary | Hotel – Water | 101.87 |
| Cunningham Hardware | Supplies | 77.75 |
| Dell Technologies | Computer | 1,119.01 |
| Dorsey & Whitney | Bresnahan Property – Legal Services – TIF | 7,176.00 |
| Linda Groe | ISU Open Meetings/Records | 50.00 |
| Cassie Handke | ISU Open Meetings/Records | 50.00 |
| Arvid Hatlan | Mileage — 3 events – Mayor | 609.00 |
| Hawkins | Supplies | 50.00 |
| Humane Society of Northeast Iowa | Animal Control Annual Agreement | 500.00 |
| Cory Huinker | ISU Open Meetings/Records | 50.00 |
| Iowa Assn of Municipal Utilities | NISA/ISEP – 4th Qtr 2025 | 1,497.00 |
| Iowa Dept. of Transportation | Supplies | 868.88 |
| Iowa League of Cities | Budget Workshop | 60.00 |
| Ken Kerr Electric | Repairs | 302.55 |
| Kwik Trip | Fuel | 1,364.61 |
| Michaels Truck Equipment | Equipment | 31,515.32 |
| Northeast Iowa Community College | HR Coaching | 1,018.00 |
| Quillin’s Food Ranch | Pop & Water – City Manager Meet & Greet | 22.18 |
| Quillin’s Food Ranch | Supplies-Fuel-Shipping | 660.43 |
| Lana Snitker | Plates/Ice – City Manager Meet & Greet | 13.53 |
| Sportsmen’s Unlimited | Equipment | 2,199.99 |
| US Cellular | Telephone | 134.68 |
| US Cellular | Telephone | 415.83 |
| Waukon Postmaster | 10 rolls of stamps | 780.00 |
| Waukon Postmaster | Annual First-Class Pre-Sort | 370.00 |
| West Side Lumber | Repairs | 190.94 |
| Zoro | Supplies | 188.75 |
| PAID CLAIMS: | ||
| IPERS | Withholding – September – Police | 4,915.06 |
| IPERS | Withholding – September – Regular | 16,384.29 |
| Treasurer-State of IA | State Withholding – September | 3,320.52 |
| Vantagepoint Transfer | ICMA Retirement – September | 750.00 |
| Regular Payroll | September 28 – October 11, 2025 | 49,802.28 |
| EFTPS | Federal Withholding | 5,084.31 |
| EFTPS | SS/Medicare Withholding | 10,040.24 |
| AFLAC | Insurance – October | 1,109.34 |
| EBS | SafeT Fund – September part 1 | 4,105.58 |
| Treasurer-State of IA | Sales Tax – September | 3,233.98 |
| Treasurer-State of IA | WET Tax – September | 2,183.75 |
| Veterans Memorial Hospital | Façade Grant – Exterior Sign | 10,000.00 |
| WSB-CC-Boarder’s Inn & Suites | Hotel – City Manager Interviews – Council | 189.28 |
| WSB-CC-Casey’s | Supplies – City Manager Interviews | 106.98 |
| WSB-CC-Nextiva | Telephone – October | 468.03 |
| WSB-CC-Airport Holiday Inn | Hotel – Conference – Finance | 237.44 |
| YSF FOOTBALL CLAIM: | ||
| Elan Financial Services | Supplies | 29.95 |
| WELLNESS CLAIMS: | ||
| Alliant Energy | Electricity | 4,285.72 |
| Black Hills Energy | Gas | 266.52 |
| Elan Financial Services | Supplies | 1,556.19 |
| Fastenal | Supplies | 589.36 |
| Mediacom | Services | 89.57 |
| TruBlue | Climbing Wall Re-certification | 1,102.80 |
| PARK~REC~POOL CLAIMS: | ||
| AC Skyways | Internet – Campgrounds | 111.97 |
| AgVantage FS | Fuel | 1,219.87 |
| Alliant Energy | Electricity | 1,246.33 |
| Black Hills Energy | Gas | 43.09 |
| Joey Courtney | Officiating | 240.00 |
| Beckham Delaney | Officiating | 280.00 |
| Jessie Delaney | ISU Open Meetings/Records | 50.00 |
| Elan Financial Services | Supplies | 539.41 |
| Epic Wear | Volleyball Shirts and Banner | 1,125.95 |
| Charlie Ghegan | Officiating | 180.00 |
| Frankie Ghegan | Officiating | 240.00 |
| Jacob Jones | Officiating | 240.00 |
| Dajian Mitchell | Officiating | 320.00 |
| Quillin’s Food Ranch | Fuel | 100.61 |
| Raymond Sweeney | Officiating | 120.00 |
| US Cellular | Telephone | 231.99 |
| General: | 60,978.44 | TIF: | 7,176.00 | |
| Library: | 6,588.85 | Capital Equipment: | 31,515.32 | |
| RUT: | 29,452.10 | Wellness: | 8,764.61 | |
| Employee Benefits: | 14,128.52 | YSF Football: | 29.95 | |
| T & A Insurance: | 4,105.58 | Water: | 12,851.88 | |
| Economic Development: | 10,000.00 | Sewer: | 10,699.38 | |
| FUND TOTALS: | 196,290.63 |
Yes: Lydon, Smedsrud, Blocker, Engrav | Absent: Wiedner | No: 0
The mayor declared the motion carried.
Under Public Comments: Michael Coyle thanked the council for the city façade improvement grant and noted how amazing the program is and that businesses who haven’t taken advantage of it yet should. He also noted the new EMS manager started today and gave information on other providers the hospital has employed recently.
Under Reports: Egan mentioned they started leaf pick up. Cooper noted there were two leaks recently from private lines that have been fixed, and the jetting program is suspended right now. Wagner pointed out how fortunate Waukon is to have the VMH emergency services. Wagner also noted that Officer Rostad graduated from DARE and will start the program at the schools. S. Snitker noted 222 Trained will be hosting a 5K in November and a resolution for the street closure by their building will be on the next agenda. Snitker also mentioned there is an opening on the Planning and Zoning board. Strub mentioned that the solar panel project is currently on hold and the water in the park will be shut off soon. Blocker stated he has received questions from residents regarding the streetlights being purple. Engrav wanted to remind everyone that the election is coming up so to go out and vote.
Moved by: Lydon | Seconded by: Wiedner
To approve the first ordinance reading amending the code of ordinances pertaining to public hearing requirements in Chapter 7 Operating Budget Preparation.
Yes: Lydon, Smedsrud, Blocker, Engrav, Wiedner.
The mayor declared the motion carried.
Moved by: Blocker | Seconded by: Lydon
To approve the employment agreement with Grayson Rowlet as City Manager.
Yes: Blocker, Engrav, Lydon, Wiedner, Smedsrud
The mayor declared the resolution passed and the clerk assigned it number 25-103.
Moved by: Engrav | Seconded by: Smedsrud
To accept Gary Boden’s notice of retirement and proposed transition period.
Yes: Blocker, Engrav, Lydon, Wiedner, Smedsrud
The mayor declared the resolution passed and the clerk assigned it number 25-104.
Moved by: Smedsrud | Seconded by: Lydon
To approve the Memorandum of Understanding and Interim Street Superintendent Agreement with Pat Egan.
Yes: 5 | No: 0
The mayor declared the motion carried.
Moved by: Smedsrud | Seconded by: Lydon
To rescind prior action of city council approving the ordinance “Amending Chapter 22 of the code of ordinances of the City of Waukon, Iowa, by changing the Library Trustees Members and Terms.”
Yes: 5 | No: 0
The mayor declared the motion carried.
Moved by: Wiedner | Seconded by: Lydon
To direct the City Clerk to see to the preparation for proposed ballot language for the regular election in November 2026 to put the desired changes to Chapter 22 before the voters.
Yes: 5 | No: 0
The mayor declared the motion carried.
Moved by: Lydon | Seconded by: Smedsrud
To hold a work session on December 8th at 5:30 to discuss potential priorities for the new city manager.
Yes: 5 | No: 0
The mayor declared the motion carried.
Moved by: Lydon | Seconded by: Engrav
To approve computer purchased in the Police Department of $7,833.07.
Yes: 5 | No: 0
The mayor declared the motion carried.
Jake Huck gave updates to the council on the discussions he had with the developers and contractor regarding the change orders with a recommendation to table #6 and #7 while they look into different pricing.
Moved by: Smedsrud | Seconded by: Wiedner
To approve change orders #4 and #5 and table change orders #6 and #7 for the 4th Ave. NW Addition.
Yes: 5 | No: 0
The mayor declared the motion carried.
Lana Snitker gave an overall update of the city health insurance, dental insurance, AD&D insurance and the Safe-T Fund.
Moved by: Lydon | Seconded by: Engrav
To approve the city health insurance, dental insurance AD&D insurance and the increase in the Safe-T Fund as per recommendation.
Yes: 5 | No: 0
The mayor declared the motion carried.
Kacie Bonjour discussed Kwik Star’s reasons for wanting to purchase the city parking lot, their proposals, and their need to move and replace their tanks. Members of the audience noted some of their concerns with the parking lot being sold and the council discussed wanting to continue looking into more ideas. Bonjour noted she would check into other options.
No action taken.
Under Public Comments: none
Moved by: Lydon | Seconded by: Engrav
To adjourn the meeting.
Yes: 5 | No: 0
The mayor declared the motion carried.