January 9, 2023 City Council Minutes

The Waukon City Council met in regular session on January 9, 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 (via zoom), Arvid Hatlan, John Lydon and Steve Wiedner.  Council members absent: Andy Sires. Others present: City Manager Gary Boden; Police Chief Paul Wagner; Street Superintendent Keith Burrett; Assistant City Attorney Luke Meinholz; Park, Rec & Wellness Director Jeremy Strub; Standard- Joe Moses; Fehr Graham –Sam Ertl; Library Director – Cate St. Clair; FEH – Kevin Eipperle and citizens.

The Mayor called the meeting to order.

Moved by: Lydon | Seconded by: Wiedner

To approve the consent agenda.

  • Agenda
  • Minutes of December 19, 2022 regular session
  • Approving update of ownership for Hy-Vee Waukon Dollar Fresh, 819 11th Ave. SW
  • Approval of Police Officer hire of Brent Parker starting January 16, 2023 at $27.53 per hour until completion of FTO; then moving to $28.72 per hour.
  • Approval of Farm Lease to John Byrnes – 1 year term renewal
  • Resolution – Agreeing to the transfer of $1,963.23 from the Sewer Revenue Fund to the WWTP Construction Fund fort engineering costs for the Wastewater Treatment Plant Project.  The Clerk assigned number 23-01 to the resolution.
  • Resolution – Agreeing to the transfer $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 23-02 to the resolution.
  • Resolution – Agreeing to the transfer of $85,760.30 from the Water Resource Restoration Fund back to the Pladsen Property Project Fund for pay estimate number one, Force Main Relocation, for the Water Resource Restoration Sponsored Project. The Clerk assigned number 23-03 to the resolution.
  • Resolution – Agreeing to the transfer of $4,513.70 from the Water Resource Restoration Fund back to the Pladsen Property Project Fund for pay estimate number two, final retainage, Force Main Relocation, for the Water Resource Restoration Sponsored Project. The Clerk assigned number 23-04 to the resolution.
  • Resolution – Agreeing to the transfer of $16,824.77 from the Wellness Center Operation Fund to the General Fund for the Wellness Center employee share-reimbursement for the December, 2022 payroll salaries. The Clerk assigned number 23-05 to the resolution.
  • Resolution – Authorizing Internal Advance to Tax Increment Subfund not to exceed $640.50. The Clerk assigned number 23-06 to the resolution.
  • Resolution – Agreeing to change the mileage reimbursement allowance for use of private automobile on City Business from sixty-two and one half ($.625) centers per mile to sixty-five and one half ($.655) cents per mile, beginning January 1, 2023. The Clerk assigned number 23-07 to the resolution.
  • Resolution Approving Depositories of City Funds as follows: Waukon State Bank, Waukon ($10,000,000); FreedomBank, Waukon ($8,500,000); Kerndt Brothers Savings Bank, Lansing ($8,500,000); Luana Savings Bank, Luana ($10,000,000); Decorah Bank & Trust, Decorah ($8,500,000). The Clerk assigned number 23-08 to the resolution.
  • Set date, time and place for regular meetings: 1st and 3rd Monday of the Month at 6:00 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: Mayor Pro Tem, Kevin Johnson; Police Chief, Paul Wagner; City Attorney, Jeff Swartz; City Clerk, Sarah Snitker; Zoning Administrator, Gary Boden
  • Approval of Changes for Updated Code of Ordinances: Chapter 137 Section 137.03, add subsection 5 pave up to sidewalk; Chapter 141, no change; Chapter 147, no change; Chapter 150, no change; Chapter 151 section 151.02 (6B) remove Tree Board and change to Street Superintendent; Chapter 155 no change; Chapter 165 section 165.24 (2)(D) remove from the first sentence in the preliminary conference “the Mayor and any others judged necessary by the Mayor.”; Chapter 165 section 165.27 (2) add City Council; Chapter 165 section 165.10 (2)(A) change fee from $25.00 to $50.00; Chapter 165 section 165.11 (2) change fee from $25.00 to $50.00; Chapter 165 section 165.12 (2) Change fee from $25.00 to $50.00; Chapter 165 section 165.29 (7) change fee from $25.00 to $50.00; Chapter 166 section 166.26 change the last sentence to The Zoning Administrator shall confer with the City Engineer when additional review is needed.
  • Approval of City Clerk/Treasurer’s Report – December, 2022
  • Approval of claims

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

The Mayor declared the motion carried.

 

Mayor Stone administered the Oath of Office to Police Officer hire Brent Parker.

 

Under Public Comments: No comments

 

Under Department Reports: Street Superintendent Keith Burrett noted that the new dump truck arrived last week and the light heads for replacement by Fareway have come in but the vendor will only warranty the faulty lights, not the labor to replace them. Council Member Hatlan stated we should utilize a different vendor if they are not going to warranty material and labor on a faulty product.  Park, Rec and Wellness Director Jeremy Strub noted that the ice-skating rink is open and a survey is available for the public to complete regarding park & rec future amenities. Police Chief Paul Wagner commented that they received a free drone from Axon and said he spoke with the High School Industrial Technology Instructor Caleb Ferring about building lockers for them and is waiting back on a quote for the metal.

 

Fehr Graham Engineer Sam Ertl discussed the plan/concept for the Pladsen Division and has been in discussion with Alliant Energy regarding street light poles.  Wood poles were discussed with Council Members Hatlan, Wiedner and Lydon stating they think aluminum poles would look better.  There was discussion on checking with Alliant on if they would install aluminum and rent those to the City; Sam said he would check further into that and costs. It was noted that this was not included in the initial cost of the project so it would be an additional cost.

 

City Clerk Snitker noted that the contractor for the clean up of 9 & 11 Allamakee Street mentioned they hope to schedule that work with the City in January; they were completing other projects first.

 

City Manager Boden mentioned that he has been working with Finance Director Lana Snitker on the budget and that will be getting discussed at the next meeting.

 

The Mayor announced that this was the time and place for the public hearing on applying with USDA Rural Development for financial assistance for the purchase of a utility vehicle for the Waukon Street Department.  The Clerk announced there were no oral or written comments received.  The Mayor declared the hearing closed.

 

City Clerk Snitker noted that we are potentially eligible for 35% of grant funds through the USDA Rural Development for the Street Department Vehicle purchase but that it is a competitive grant and the award will not be known until possibly summer.

Moved by: Lydon | Seconded by: Hatlan

To approve agreeing to apply for financial assistance with the USDA, Rural Development to finance replacement of utility vehicle in the Street Department and authorize Mayor Pat Stone and City Clerk Sarah Snitker to sign documents relating to the USDA Rural Development Grant.

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

The Mayor declared the resolution passed. The Clerk assigned number 23-09 to the resolution.

 

Moved by: Lydon | Seconded by: Wiedner

To approve the 2nd reading of the ordinance amending the code of ordinances by changing commercial meter information and adding shutoff procedure for residential meter replacement.

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

The Mayor declared the motion carried.

 

Moved by: Wiedner | Seconded by: Johnson

To adopt the ordinance amending the code of ordinances by changing commercial meter information and adding shutoff procedure for residential meter replacement.

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

The Mayor declared the motion carried. The Clerk assigned number 824 to the ordinance.

 

Moved by: Lydon | Seconded by: Hatlan

To approve the 2nd reading of the ordinance amending the code of ordinances by changing the beginning time of regular City Council Meetings.

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

The Mayor declared the motion carried.

 

Moved by: Lydon | Seconded by: Hatlan

To adopt the ordinance amending the code of ordinances by changing the beginning time of regular City Council Meetings.

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

The Mayor declared the motion carried. The Clerk assigned number 825 to the ordinance.

 

FEH Engineer Kevin Eipperle discussed the agreement for the phases of design on the Street/Park & Rec Garage. Council members asked to have this as a discussion item at the next meeting due to wanting to review the agreement.

No action taken.

 

Snitker discussed a City Façade Improvement Application received from Cunningham Hardware regarding work for brick replacement and tuckpointing. Total project cost is $24,400 and they have been approved through the County program already.

Moved by: Lydon | Seconded by: Hatlan

To approve Cunningham Hardware & Rental’s City Façade Improvement Application for grant funds of $10,000.

Yes: 4 | Absent: 1 | No: 0

The Mayor declared the motion passed.

 

Snitker discussed Ordinance sections 69.15 regarding special parking permit in business district and section 75.02 regarding snowmobile hours of operation. Chief Wagner noted there have not been issues with snowmobiles lately.

Moved by: Lydon | Seconded by: Wiedner

To approve the change as discussed for the special parking permit in business district but to keep the snowmobile hours of operation the same and have that added to the updated code of ordinances.

Yes: 4 | Absent: 1 | No: 0

The Mayor declared the motion passed.

 

Mayor Stone asked to table the discussion on a chicken ordinance.

No action taken.

 

Snitker noted that Water/Sewer Superintendent Jim Cooper gave her some numbers from a couple of companies regarding what they would pay for the old water meters. The council members stated they would like to put the old water meters out to bid once the Water Meter Replacement project is completed.

No action taken.

 

Moved by: Lydon | Seconded by: Hatlan

To adjourn.

Yes: 4 | Absent: 1 | No: 0

The Mayor declared the motion carried.

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