February 20, 2023 City Council Minutes

The Waukon City Council met in regular session on February 20, 2023 at 6:00 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, Arvid Hatlan, John Lydon, Andy Sires and Steve Wiedner.  Council members absent: None.  Others present: Police Chief Paul Wagner; Street Superintendent Keith Burrett; Assistant City Attorney Luke Meinholz; Water/Sewer Superintendent Jim Cooper; Park, Rec & Wellness Director Jeremy Strub; Standard- Joe Moses; Fehr Graham –Sam Ertl; and citizens.

The Mayor called the meeting to order. The Mayor requested that consideration of city hall entrance flooring estimate be removed from the agenda.

Moved by: Wiedner | Seconded by: Lydon

To approve the consent agenda with that change.

  • Agenda
  • Minutes of February 6, 2023 regular session and February 15, 2023 special session
  • Approval of Class C Liquor License (LC) Commercial with outdoor service for Allamakee County Agricultural Society, 705 Allamakee St (Pavilion)
  • Approval of paid time off for City of Waukon staff who attended Mark Benda’s funeral
  • Approval of library board member – Amanda Winter, filling a vacancy term to 6/30/23
  • Approval to give Drew Hager permission to put a waste holding tank on his property at 850 Allamakee St. following State and County Guidelines
  • Resolution – Agreeing to the transfer of $1,300 from the Sewer Fund to the Water Resource Restoration Fund for engineering for the Water Resource Restoration Sponsored Project. The Clerk assigned number 23-22 to the resolution.
  • Approval of Claims

 

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

The Mayor declared the motion carried.

 

Dedicated moment of silence was held for Mark Benda

 

Under Public Comments: No comments

 

Under Department Reports: Water & Sewer Superintendent Jim Cooper mentioned that Mark Benda was a hard worker and will be greatly missed. Park, Rec and Wellness Director Jeremy Strub noted they will be having a meeting with MSA next Monday night and that over 200 survey responses were completed regarding the park plan. Street Superintendent Keith Burrett noted there are a lot of stumps at the compost site and they plan to do a control burn. He also noted there was a small community interested in the old sander; council was okay with selling that. Chief Wagner mentioned there was damage to a squad car due to a road hazard and also, they will be having an open house at the police station on March 2nd from 4-7PM.

 

Fehr Graham Engineer Sam Ertl noted that a proposal agreement for West Street SW will be on the next agenda. Also, Alliant has completed their work on 4th St. NW except for moving the poles which will occur after Mediacom has completed their work.

 

City Clerk Snitker mentioned a few more ordinances will be brought forward for changes and then Simmering-Cory should have what they need to complete the code update.  She had communications with the contractor hired for the building removal of 9 and 11 on Allamakee Street and noted he said they were waiting for a week of warm weather.  Council would like discussion of that on the next meeting’s agenda if no work has been started by then.

 

Assistant Attorney Luke Meinholz stated their office will start adding council, mayor, city manager and city clerk on email responses. Meinholz noted he handles the ordinance violations and generally corresponds with the Police Chief. He wondered if council wanted to be included on those responses. Council said if there was not direction needed, they did not need to be copied, but Snitker asked if she could be copied on the correspondence if it is anything that needs to be kept at the City for record purposes.

 

Council Member Hatlan wanted to echo Cooper’s sentiments on Mark Benda being one of the hardest workers and that he will be missed.

 

The Mayor mentioned he has concerns on how the City is running and the City finances. He feels there is room to improve on how council works with the City Manager position. He provided examples of frustrations including the handling of the police station and that the architect on the project did not check the final work before signing off and we let that go; how the council gave direction multiple times to the Assistant City Attorney and the City Manager to proceed with cleanup at 9 and 11 Allamakee Street due to the fire and instead they went through ordinances to try to give more power and duties to the City Manager in order to deem a building emergency; the development agreement for the Pladsen Addition has not been followed by the City and when Stone pointed it out to the Assistant Attorney, he drafted a revised agreement that changed language and would put the City at more risk. He thinks Council and the City Manager need to stand up for the good of the City. A special meeting was called four days before the regular meeting due to the City Manager contacting three council members and asking if they meant their motion from the previous meeting in a different manner. He would like council to look at the City finances in a manner as if it were their own money and look more closely at the bills to confirm what payment is for. Stone stated he would like to be involved and possibly have a council member involved with any dealings the City Manager has when he’s negotiating deals or when he’s representing the council. Stone mentioned he’s concerned with the lack of knowledge with the budget; he was informed by the City Manager there could be no higher raise given this year than 3% as there isn’t funding, but the numbers weren’t figured so Stone is wondering how we can pass the budget when there’s not a dollar amount. Stone wants council to verify the information they are voting on is accurate. He feels there will be long term affects if we keep moving forward without knowing the numbers. Stone stated there are decisions being made by council when they aren’t getting the full information; such as sending back grant funding for a shelter in the park and approving paying for a park survey, where had council known about the grant money, they might not have moved forward with the park survey.

 

Moved by: Lydon | Seconded by: Wiedner

Authorizing and approving an amended Loan and Disbursement Agreement and providing for the issuance and securing the payment of $1,006,000 Sewer Revenue Improvement and Refunding Bonds, Series 2023.

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

The Mayor declared the resolution passed. The Clerk assigned number 23-23 to the resolution.

 

Snitker stated she was contacted by someone wondering if they could park their food truck in the City parking lot on Allamakee Street possibly once a week starting in May. Council agreed they thought that area would be too congested but still encouraged them to set up somewhere in town.

No action taken.

 

There was discussion on the façade improvement application for 3 W. Main St. with council mentioning concerns with the weight and support of solar panel awnings as well as concerns with having those hanging over the sidewalk. They would prefer to see the solar panels installed on the roof and have funding be utilized in a different manner.

Moved by: Lydon | Seconded by: Wiedner

To deny the façade improvement application of installing new solar panel awnings at 3 W Main Street.

Yes: 5 | No: 0

The Mayor declared the motion carried.

 

Ertl provided information on the Storm Water Quality Improvements project regarding changes and payment.

Moved by: Lydon | Seconded by: Wiedner

To approve Contract C, Change Order #2 for the Storm Water Quality Improvement Project.

Yes: 5 | No: 0

The Mayor declared the motion carried.

 

Moved by: Hatlan | Seconded by: Sires

To approve Storm Water Quality Improvements Project Contract B, Pay Estimate #3 to Skyline Construction in the amount of $23,824.10.

Yes: 5 | No: 0

The Mayor declared the motion carried.

 

Burrett spoke with the Iowa Department of Transportation regarding plowing snow in the center of the street downtown. IDOT informed him that there would be no parking allowed on the streets due to street width requirements and a contract would have to be put in place. It was also discussed that sidewalk snow removal should be enforced all winter and that a revision of the policy on sidewalk removal should be addressed to provide more clarification.

No action taken.

 

Ertl gave an update on the Pladsen Addition project and development that has been completed and what is remaining. Also, a meeting will occur to discuss how the invoicing is being sent out and options moving forward.

No action taken.

 

Moved by: Wiedner | Seconded by: Johson

To enter into 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:  Hatlan, Johnson, Lydon, Wiedner, Sires | No:  0

The Mayor declared the motion carried.  Roll call was taken: Hatlan, Johnson, Lydon, Wiedner, Sires

 

Moved by: Sires| Seconded by: Wiedner

To exit closed session

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

The Mayor declared the motion carried.

 

Moved by: Sires| Seconded by: Wiedner

To enter into open session.

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

The Mayor declared the motion carried.

 

Moved by: Lydon | Seconded by: Sires

To adjourn.

Yes: 5 | No: 0

The Mayor declared the motion carried.

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