The Waukon City Council met in regular session on June 16, 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, Dave Blocker, Tim Smedsrud, Nick Engrav and John Lydon. Others present: City Manager Gary Boden; Police Chief Paul Wagner; Water/Sewer Superintendent Jim Cooper; The Standard – Joe Moses; Fehr Graham – Sam Ertl; Street Superintendent Keith Burrett and citizens.
The mayor called the meeting to order. Consent item regarding approving a lease agreement with Southside Rentals was pulled for discussion.
Moved by: Lydon | Seconded by: Wiedner
To approve the consent agenda with that change.
Approval of Agenda
Minutes of June 2, 2025, regular meeting
Resolution – approving salary and wages for non-union employees and the public works union contract. The clerk assigned number 25-44 to the resolution.
Resolution – agreeing to the transfer of $9,533.22 form the Gundersen Med Clinic Debt Fund to the General Fund; and to close out the Gundersen Med Clinic Debt Fund. The final rental payment was received from Gundersen Clinic, LTD., and transfer is being made per resolution 25-34. The clerk assigned number 25-45 to the resolution.
Resolution – agreeing to the transfer of $134.92 from the Sewer Revenue Bond Sinking Fund to the Sewer Revenue Bond Surplus Fund as set out in Section 9 of the Sewer Revenue Bond, Series 2019. The clerk assigned number 25-46 to the resolution.
Approval of the purchase of a 12’ Monroe snowplow not to exceed $13,000. This equipment is a budgeted item in the Street Department.
Approval of tobacco license renewal for Quillins, Huba Huba and Kwik Trip
Approval of Class C Retail Alcohol License for Lids Bar and Grill (pending dramshop approval)
Approval of City Clerk/Treasurer’s Report May 2025
Approval of claims
| Payment of Claims for: | June 16, 2025 | |
| AC Skyways | Internet | 99.99 |
| AC Skyways | Internet | 99.99 |
| Airgas | Cylinder Rental | 52.66 |
| Allamakee Clayton Electric | Electricity | 120.60 |
| Allamakee Community Schools | Crossing Guard | 2,024.00 |
| Allamakee County Recorder | Services | 39.00 |
| Benjegerdes Machine | Repairs | 101.32 |
| Black Hills Energy | Services | 701.55 |
| Bruening Rock Products | Supplies | 104.64 |
| Century Link | Telephone | 143.79 |
| City Laundry | Uniforms | 864.45 |
| Croell | Ballfield Project | 1,895.25 |
| Cunningham Hardware | Supplies | 51.28 |
| DSG – Dakota Supply Group | Supplies | 1,075.56 |
| Fehr Graham Engineering | West Street SW | 1,025.00 |
| Fehr Graham Engineering | City Parking Lot | 745.00 |
| Fehr Graham Engineering | Bresnahan / 4th Avenue NW | 8,574.25 |
| Finger Publishing | Services | 568.95 |
| Hach | Supplies | 619.00 |
| Hausladen’s | Repairs | 527.78 |
| Hawk’s Full Service | Fuel | 2,158.66 |
| Iowa DOT | Supplies | 1,650.00 |
| Iowa One Call | Locating | 76.20 |
| Karl Emergency Vehicles | 2025 Squad Car Outfitting | 19,803.51 |
| Karl Ford | 2025 Ford Squad Car | 43,648.00 |
| Kerr Electric | Repairs | 190.89 |
| Keystone Laboratories | Water Testing | 107.25 |
| Kwik Trip, Inc. | Fuel | 1,504.46 |
| Mathis Field Services | Services | 2,000.00 |
| Metering and Technology | Supplies | 796.90 |
| Plastic Recycling of Iowa Falls | Park Equipment | 10,241.13 |
| Quillin’s Food Ranch | Supplies, Shipping & Fuel | 238.51 |
| River City Paving | Supplies | 294.50 |
| Storey Kenworthy | Supplies | 76.32 |
| Tilson Defense | Equipment | 1,652.86 |
| Torkelson’s | Repairs | 48.83 |
| US Cellular | Telephone | 134.65 |
| US Cellular | Telephone | 435.21 |
| USA Bluebook | Supplies / Repairs | 2,314.03 |
| Village Farm & Home | Supplies / Repairs | 1,477.97 |
| Paul Wagner | SimpliSafe monitoring | 337.84 |
| Natasha Wilkes | Reimburse – Postage | 18.65 |
| Wright Way Computers | IT Services | 177.60 |
| Wright Way Computers | IT Services | 2,274.80 |
| PAID CLAIMS: | ||
| IPERS | Withholding – May – Police | 7,706.69 |
| IPERS | Withholding – May – Regular | 24,481.09 |
| Treasurer-State of IA | State Withholding – May | 4,873.20 |
| Vantagepoint Transfer | ICMA Retirement – May | 1,082.10 |
| Regular Payroll | May 25 – June 7, 2025 | 66,048.12 |
| EFTPS | Federal Withholding | 5,457.06 |
| EFTPS | SS/Medicare Withholding | 12,863.42 |
| AFLAC | Insurance – June | 739.56 |
| EBS | SafeT Fund – June part #1 | 9,750.73 |
| Paymentech | Credit Card Processing – May | 209.61 |
| Skyline Construction | City Parking Lot – Pay #4/Final | 12,375.91 |
| Treasurer-State of IA | Sales Tax – May | 3,004.72 |
| Treasurer-State of IA | WET Tax – May | 1,985.09 |
| WSB-CC-Iowa League of Cities | Conference – Finance | 260.00 |
| WSB-CC-Iowa League of Cities | Conference – Clerk | 260.00 |
| WSB-CC-Nextiva | Telephone — Police, Finance & Street | 467.22 |
| PAID MUSIC IN THE PARK CLAIMS: | ||
| JR Brink Band | Entertainment | 350.00 |
| PARK TRUST CLAIMS: | ||
| Brown Forestry | 5 Bridge Project | 7,760.00 |
| Casper Plumbing & Heating | Pool Heater | 926.75 |
| WELLNESS CLAIMS: | ||
| Alliant Energy | Electricity – May | 3,639.09 |
| Black Hills Energy | Services – May | 686.09 |
| Elan Financial Services | Supplies | 181.47 |
| Epic Wear | Printing | 15.00 |
| Fastenal | Supplies | 610.27 |
| Mediacom | Services | 89.57 |
| Pop’s Produce | Landscaping | 266.60 |
| PARK~REC~POOL CLAIMS: | ||
| AC Skyways | Internet | 111.97 |
| AgVantage FS | Fuel | 949.61 |
| Alliant Energy | Electricity – May | 2,376.94 |
| Black Hills Energy | Services – May | 1,263.76 |
| Bodensteiner Implement | Repairs | 249.26 |
| Bruening Rock Products | Supplies | 178.84 |
| Carrico Aquatic Resources | Water Chemical Agreement | 3,075.00 |
| Cunningham Hardware | Repairs | 217.82 |
| Elan Financial Services | Supplies/ Concessions | 3,686.56 |
| Epic Wear | Printing | 120.00 |
| Gillette – Pepsi | Concessions | 1,185.40 |
| Hall Roberts Son | Supplies | 126.75 |
| Dajian Mitchell | Soccer Official | 180.00 |
| Oden Sign Service | Hideaway Park Signs | 750.00 |
| Palmer Repair | Repairs | 184.00 |
| Quillin’s Food Ranch | Fuel / Supplies | 347.91 |
| US Cellular | Telephone | 231.85 |
| Village Farm & Home | Supplies/Repairs | 748.26 |
| General: | 89,532.78 | Hotel Motel Tax: | 12,136.38 | |
| Library: | 6,377.85 | Capital Equipment: | 63,451.51 | |
| RUT: | 17,815.65 | Wellness: | 6,442.02 | |
| Employee Benefits: | 20,824.05 | Park Trust: | 8,686.75 | |
| T & A Insurance: | 9,738.95 | Music in the Park: | 350.00 | |
| West Street SW Improvement: | 1,025.00 | Water: | 20,259.24 | |
| City Parking Lot: | 13,120.91 | Sewer: | 14,830.78 | |
| Bresnahan / 4th Avenue NW: | 8,574.25 | FUND TOTALS: | 293,166.12 |
Yes: Wiedner, Lydon, Blocker, Smedsrud, Engrav | No: 0
The mayor declared the motion carried.
Under Public Comments: Val Reinke noted that the Yellow State Forest has an open house this Saturday from 3-5pm and a free concert at 5:30pm.
Under Reports: Hatlan reported on behalf of Strub noting there have been some mechanical issues at the pool and the wellness center. Cooper stated they are doing the jetting program right now and hope to get half the town done. Burrett stated it is anticipated that the prices for dump trucks will rise to be more than $25,000 in the next year. Wagner mentioned they will be working on updating the agreement the city has with HSNEI for holding dogs. Clerk Snitker noted that Waukon was selected as a finalist for the Thriving Communities designation process with a presentation to be made in Des Moines on July 8th. Boden noted an upcoming meeting he would have. Hatlan gave another reminder about mowing and weed eating grass and that the notification process is the ordinance and the city council discussing it at meetings.
There was discussion about the possibility of building a storage facility in the future so as not to need to rent space.
Moved by: Smedsrud | Seconded by: Engrav
To approve the lease agreement between the City of Waukon and Southside Rentals.
Yes: Lydon, Smedsrud, Blocker, Engrav, Wiedner | No: 0
The mayor declared the motion carried. The clerk assigned number 25-47 to the resolution.
The mayor opened the public hearing on amending the current budget for the City of Waukon for the Fiscal year Ending June 30, 2025. The clerk noted there were no oral or written comments. The mayor closed the hearing.
Moved by: Blocker | Seconded by: Lydon
To approve the resolution amending the current budget for the City of Waukon for the Fiscal year Ending June 30, 2025.
Yes: Lydon, Smedsrud, Blocker, Engrav, Wiedner | No: 0
The mayor declared the motion carried. The clerk assigned number 25-48 to the resolution.
Moved by: Lydon | Seconded by: Wiedner
To approve the 1st ordinance repealing and replacing Chapter 50 “Nuisance Abatement Procedure”, Amending Chapter 151 “Trees and Vegetation” and Repealing Chapter 51 “Junk and Junk Vehicles” of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Waukon, IA.
Yes: Blocker, Lydon, Smedsrud, Wiedner, Engrav | No: 0
The mayor declared the motion carried.
Moved by: Engrav | Seconded by: Smedsrud
To approve waiving the 2nd and 3rd readings repealing and replacing Chapter 50 “Nuisance Abatement Procedure”, Amending Chapter 151 “Trees and Vegetation” and Repealing Chapter 51 “Junk and Junk Vehicles” of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Waukon, IA.
Yes: Blocker, Lydon, Smedsrud, Wiedner, Engrav | No: 0
The mayor declared the motion carried.
Moved by: Lydon | Seconded by: Blocker
To adopt the ordinance repealing and replacing Chapter 50 “Nuisance Abatement Procedure”, Amending Chapter 151 “Trees and Vegetation” and Repealing Chapter 51 “Junk and Junk Vehicles” of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Waukon, IA.
Yes: Blocker, Lydon, Smedsrud, Wiedner, Engrav | No: 0
The mayor declared the ordinance passed and the clerk assigned number 859 to the ordinance.
Boden noted the request is to increase the annual water rate increase to 3% to match the sewer percentage.
Moved by: Lydon | Seconded by: Wiedner
To give direction to draft an amendment to the water rate ordinance with an annual 3% increase.
Yes: 5 | No: 0
The mayor declared the motion carried.
There was discussion regarding the NEIRHTF home demolition program and creating a boiler plate transfer agreement and noting comments from the city attorney.
Moved by: Blocker | Seconded by: Smedsrud
To approve the NEIRHTF home removal application at 301 2nd Ave. NW and the transfer agreement with inclusion of rebuilding a rental unit on the property as per the application.
Yes: 5 | No: 0
The mayor declared the motion carried.
Concerns with driving on 10th Street NW during school hours was discussed with questions of making the street one-side parking. Chief Wagner noted he would like to be able to view the street when school is in session to make a recommendation.
No action taken.
Moved by: Engrav | Seconded by: Smedsrud
To approve the change order #2 and pay estimate #2 of $83,361.67 to Skyline Construction for 4th Ave. NW Addition.
Yes: 5 | No: 0
The mayor declared the motion carried.
Moved by: Lydon | Seconded by: Engrav
To approve waiving penalties and writing off adjustments for listed utility accounts.
Yes: 5 | No: 0
The mayor declared the motion carried. The full list is permanently filed with the minutes and available at city hall for inspection.
Moved by: Smedsrud | Seconded by: Lydon
To approve the estimate from Sweeney Builders for $2,860 for the curb and gutter work by Waukon State Bank in conjunction with their parking lot project.
Yes: 5 | No: 0
The mayor declared the motion carried.
Hatlan noted that he, Blocker and Engrav interviewed two firms regarding the City Manager search. Blocker recommended hiring Hinson & Associates and Engrav recommended hiring Helena Long. All three agreed that both firms were very capable.
Moved by: Lydon | Seconded by: Wiedner
To approve moving forward with hiring Hinson and Associates for the City Manager Search.
Yes: 3 | No: 2 (Engrav, Smedsrud)
The mayor declared the motion carried.
Moved by: Blocker | Seconded by: Smedsrud
To approve the resolution approving public statement regarding the closure of the investigation into the teamster’s vote of no confidence against the City Manager.
Yes: Lydon, Smedsrud, Blocker, Engrav, Wiedner | No: 0
The mayor declared the motion carried. The clerk assigned number 25-49 to the resolution.
Hatlan read the public statement, “The City investigated the concerns reported by the union in its March 24, 2025, non-confidence vote against the City Manager. Mayor Arvid Hatlan and Council Member Dave Blocker met with the union representative and union members and separately with the City Manager to explore the concerns. The city expects that all employees should be heard and respected in the workplace. The City expects that employees and management will work collaboratively to continue to provide excellent service to those who live in Waukon. To that end the City will seek to set up a labor management committee to hold meetings as needed to address workplace issues outside of the formal collective bargaining process or grievance procedures. The committee’s goals will be to improve communications; enhance working relations; and to support creative solutions, efficiency and productivity. The City appreciates the opportunity to work with both sides to come to this resolution.”
Under Public Comments: a resident on West Street SW noted some concerns with work still needing to be addressed along her sidewalk.
Moved by: Lydon | 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. (x2)
Yes: Johnson, Wiedner, Blocker, Lydon, Engrav | No: 0
The mayor declared the motion carried. Roll call was taken: Blocker, Johnson, Wiedner, Lydon, Engrav
Moved by: Blocker | Seconded by: Lydon
To exit closed session.
Yes: Johnson, Wiedner, Blocker, Lydon, Engrav | No: 0
The mayor declared the motion carried.
Moved by: Smedsrud | Seconded by: Lydon
To enter into closed session per Iowa Code Chapter 21.5 (1)(i) to evaluate the professional competency of an individual whose appointment, hiring, performance, or discharge is being considered, when necessary, to prevent needless and irreparable injury to that individual’s reputation and that individual requests a closed session.
Yes: Johnson, Wiedner, Blocker, Lydon, Engrav | No: 0
The mayor declared the motion carried. Roll call was taken: Blocker, Johnson, Wiedner, Lydon, Engrav
Moved by: Blocker | Seconded by: Lydon
To exit closed session.
Yes: Johnson, Wiedner, Blocker, Lydon, Engrav | No: 0
The mayor declared the motion carried.
Moved by: Blocker | Seconded by: Lydon
To approve the resolution directing the mayor to take confidential personnel action pursuant to the discussion held in closed session and pursuant to Iowa Code Section 22.7 (11)(a).
Yes: Johnson, Wiedner, Blocker, Lydon, Engrav | No: 0
The mayor declared the motion carried.
Moved by: Engrav | Seconded by: Smedsrud
To adjourn the meeting.
Yes: 5 | No: 0
The mayor declared the motion carried.