December 5, 2022 City Council Minutes

The Waukon City Council met in regular session on December 5, 2022 at 7:00 P.M. in the council room of City Hall, 101 Allamakee Street and via Zoom technology. Mayor Pat Stone presided. Council members present: Kevin Johnson, John Lydon, Arvid Hatlan, Steve Wiedner and Andy Sires.  Council members absent: None. Others present: City Manager Gary Boden; Police Chief Paul Wagner; Water & Sewer Superintendent Jim Cooper; Assistant City Attorney Kevin Stinn; Park, Rec & Wellness Director Jeremy Strub; Standard- Joe Moses; Fehr Graham –Sam Ertl; UERPC – Michelle Barness; Allamakee Emergency Management Coordinator- Corey Snitker; and citizens.

The Mayor called the meeting to order. He noted that under consent agenda the public hearing on January 9, 2023 should be listed for 6PM instead of 7PM.

Moved by: Lydon | Seconded by: Hatlan

To approve the consent agenda with that change.

  • Agenda
  • Minutes of November 21, 2022 regular session
  • Resolution – Setting the date for public hearing amending the current budget for the City of Waukon for the Fiscal year ending June 30, 2023 for December 19, 2022 at 7PM.  The Clerk assigned number 22-187 to the resolution.
  • Resolution – Agreeing to the transfer of $12,028.86 from the Wellness Center Operating Fund to the General Fund for the Wellness Center employee share-reimbursement for the November, 2022 payroll salaries. The Clerk assigned number 22-188 to the resolution.
  • Resolution – Agreeing to the transfer of $1,276 from the Sewer Fund to the Water Resource Restoration Fund for engineering costs for the Water Resource Restoration Sponsored Project. The Clerk assigned number 22-189 to the resolution.
  • Resolution – Agreeing to the transfer of $56,825.45 from the Sewer Revenue Fund to the Sewer Revenue Bond Sinking Fund for the principal/interest payment on the Sewer Revenue Bond, Series 2019 ($47,966.08) and Series 2021-$1M ($5,144.16) and Series 2021-$750K ($3,715.21). The Clerk assigned number 22-190 to the resolution.
  • Approval to schedule public hearing on January 9, 2023 at 7PM for filing an application with the USDA Rd for financial assistance for Street Department Utility vehicle purchase
  • Approval of $100 contribution to Helping Services.
  • Approval of claims

Yes: Lydon, Johnson, Hatlan, Sires, Wiedner | No:  0

The Mayor declared the motion carried.

 

Under Public Comments: No comments

 

Under Department Reports: Water & Sewer Superintendent Jim Cooper noted that the water meter project is going well. Council Member Hatlan mentioned he received a call from a resident who said the installers were very professional and did a good job. Park, Rec & Wellness Director Jeremy Strub mentioned he met with MSA last week and the park survey to the public should be going out in the next couple of weeks. Also, they plan to start advertising for lifeguards for the pool in December as he heard other cities have had success getting staff by advertising early.

 

City Clerk Snitker noted that there was a housing committee meeting last week for the rural housing assessment and there were 180 people who completed the housing survey. There will be information that will be forthcoming to the council for their decision and the survey information will be shared once ISU has completed the report.  Snitker also noted that she heard from the contractor regarding the building cleanup at 9 & 11 Allamakee Street and he hopes to be onsite the week of December 12th to remove some unstable parts of the front wall, but they are still working on a couple of other projects.

 

City Manager Boden added onto the housing meeting discussion and noted that those in attendance were split into groups for discussion on different items that were brought up by the housing survey results.  There will be discussion with council in the future regarding the Pladsen Subdivision due to project costs.  Lastly, the Hop & Shop and Holiday Parade are happening on December 8th. Sam Ertl from Fehr Graham discussed designs for the parking lot on 1st Ave. NW and checking council’s thoughts on keeping the lot one-way parking or changing to a one-way & two-way parking with council stating they would like to keep it the way it is.

 

Assistant City Attorney Stinn discussed options that could be put into ordinance if there is anyone who would not allow the City to replace water meters. Council noted they want to list that water will be shut off after a certain amount of notice for those who do not allow water meter replacement.  Stinn was going to check further into required notice time and an ordinance would be brought back.

No action taken.

 

Boden discussed the Development Agreement with Runyan Brothers Construction regarding housing development off the east side of the 500 block on 9th St. NW.

Moved by: Hatlan | Seconded by: Johnson

To approved the Development Agreement with Runyan Brothers Construction with the inclusion that there will be no eligibility for tax abatement.

Yes: 5 | No: 0

The Mayor declared the motion carried.

 

Boden discussed a few items regarding the conversion of Veterans Memorial Hospital from City to County.  Discussion topics included City’s thoughts on waiving utility bill fees, the insurance costs for the Gundersen Clinic, what to do about the helicopter pad and the 28E Agreement. Council would be okay with waiving the utility fees for a short period, they want to discuss the insurance costs when the lease for the Gundersen Clinic is up, they want to look further into the helicopter pad and 28E Agreement and bring both items back at the next council meeting.

Moved by: Hatlan | Seconded by: Lydon

To waive the water/sewer bill for Veteran’s Memorial Hospital until June 30, 2024. After that date VMH would need to start making the payments.

Yes: 5 | No: 0

The Mayor declared the motion carried.

 

Upper Explorerland RPC Planner Michelle Barness gave a presentation on electric vehicles and charging infrastructure planning for cities.

No action taken.

 

UERPC Planner Barness and Allamakee County Emergency Management Coordinator Corey Snitker discussed the County Hazard Mitigation Plan and asked for council’s thoughts on what is currently in the plan and what they might want in an updated plan. The current plan was only good for 5-years and expires in May so it needs to be updated by April.

No action taken.

 

Moved by: Lydon | Seconded by: Wiedner

To adjourn.

Yes: 5 | No: 0

The Mayor declared the motion carried.

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