The Waukon City Council met in regular session on June 2, 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, and John Lydon. Council members absent: Nick Engrav. Others present: City Manager Gary Boden; Police Chief Paul Wagner; Water/Sewer Superintendent Jim Cooper; Parks, Rec and Wellness Director Jeremy Strub; The Standard – Joe Moses; Fehr Graham – Sam Ertl; Street Superintendent Keith Burrett and citizens.
The mayor called the meeting to order.
Moved by: Lydon | Seconded by: Blocker
To approve the consent agenda.
Approval of Agenda
Minutes of June 2, 2025, regular meeting
Resolution – closing the city parking lot/alley capital project fund. The clerk assigned number 25-40 to the resolution.
Resolution – agreeing to the transfer of $8,638.75 from the General Fund to the 4th Ave. NW Improvement Fund, as part of the Northwest Street Internal Advance (Resolution 24-132), to fund a portion of the Northwest Street Blight Alleviation Project. This was originally transferred from the Street Improvement (LOSST) Fund to the General Fund (Resolution 24-136). The transfer will be put in place and effective September 17, 2024. The clerk assigned number 25-41 to the resolution.
Resolution – agreeing to transfer twenty-five percent of the total ($3,182.64) (Hotel/Motel money received in May 2025 and deposited into the General Fund) from the General Fund to Hotel/Motel (Tourism/Economic Development) Fund in the amount of $795.66. The clerk assigned number 25-42 to the resolution.
Resolution – agreeing to the transfer of $20,750 from the Road Use Tax/RUT Fund to the Street Improvement/LOSST Fund. This is to reverse a portion of a prior transfer made for chip sealing in the current fiscal year. The funds were not utilized. The clerk assigned number 25-43 to the resolution.
Approval of hiring Ryland Egan for temporary summer help in the Water/Sewer Department starting June 3rd at $15.70 an hour.
Approval of tobacco license renewal for Casey’s, Family Dollar/Dollar Tree, Quillins, Huba Huba and Dollar General
Approval of claims
| Payment of Claims for: | June 2, 2025 | |
| Acentek | Internet | 99.90 |
| Allamakee County Sheriff | Answering Services | 750.00 |
| Alliant Energy | Electricity | 17,617.45 |
| Badger Meter | Network Fees | 532.43 |
| Benjegerdes Machine | Repairs – Sewer | 116.48 |
| Gary Boden | Hotel & Mileage- Conference | 623.56 |
| Bruening Rock Products | Supplies | 148.11 |
| Carquest Auto Parts | Repairs | 374.27 |
| Clark Tire Pros | Repairs | 156.02 |
| ClearSpan – Farm Tek | Supplies | 451.44 |
| Continental Research | Supplies | 303.44 |
| Cunningham Hardware | Supplies | 39.97 |
| Dusty’s Cleaning Service | Services | 435.00 |
| Pat Egan | Meals – Training | 45.14 |
| Matt Hawkins Southside Rentals | Rent | 1,000.00 |
| Iowa DNR | Operators Certification Renewal | 480.00 |
| Iowa DOT | Supplies | 2,605.26 |
| MARC- Mid American Research | Supplies | 556.50 |
| Mediacom | Telephone/Internet | 81.34 |
| Northeast Iowa Auto Body | Repairs | 200.00 |
| Or-Tec | Supplies | 3,480.00 |
| Otting Water Treatment | Services | 93.75 |
| Stryker | AED Supplies | 736.00 |
| TASC | COBRA Admin Fees | 116.91 |
| Test America | Sewer Testing | 952.00 |
| Tri-State Business Machines | Maint. Agreement | 62.00 |
| Tri-State Business Machines | Maint. Agreement | 245.63 |
| T W Grinding | Compost Services | 3,000.00 |
| PAID CLAIMS: | ||
| Regular Payroll | May 11 – 24, 2025 | 53,680.25 |
| EFTPS | Federal Withholding | 5,479.57 |
| EFTPS | SS/ Medicare Withholding | 10,805.92 |
| EBS – Employee Benefits Systems | Admin Fees -June | 236.64 |
| EBS – Employee Benefits Systems | Safe-T Fund – May | 5,920.91 |
| Iowa Finance Authority | WWTP Loan #1 – Principal /Interest & Fee | 601,210.95 |
| Iowa Finance Authority | WWTP Loan #2 – Principal /Interest & Fee | 57,327.16 |
| Iowa Finance Authority | WWTP/Water Resource #3 – Princ/Interest/Fee | 39,500.00 |
| Alyse & Joshua Achwiesow | Deposit Refund | 150.00 |
| US Cellular Waukon | Deposit Refund | 150.00 |
| Daryl & Sandra Gruber | Deposit Refund | 150.00 |
| Marshal Lyons | Deposit Refund | 150.00 |
| Skyline Construction | Pladsen Storm Sewer – Pay App #4/Final | 12,298.65 |
| Skyline Construction | 4th Avenue NW / Bresnahan – Pay App #1 | 39,913.11 |
| Hester Swart | Deposit Refund | 150.00 |
| Wayne Topel & Bernice Watt | Deposit Refund | 150.00 |
| Town & Country Sanitation | Services | 19,777.50 |
| Waukon Postmaster | Postage – Section 7 | 328.86 |
| Waukon State Bank | 2021 GO Bond = $ 5K – Principal & Interest | 418,563.00 |
| Waukon State Bank | 2022 GO Bond = $2.5K – Principal & Interest | 218,063.20 |
| Waukon State Bank-CC-Amazon | Repairs | 219.98 |
| Waukon State Bank-CC-Amazon | Printer Ink | 197.79 |
| Wellmark BCBS | Insurance – June | 28,178.64 |
| WELLNESS CLAIMS: | ||
| Crexendo | Telephone | 181.49 |
| PARK & REC CLAIMS: | ||
| Bodensteiner Implement | 6,000.00 | |
| Carrico Aquatic Resources | Pool Light | 1,102.51 |
| Finger Publishing | Advertising | 204.00 |
| Joe & Matt’s Plumbing | Repairs | 2,581.76 |
| Ken Kerr Electric | Repairs | 120.00 |
| Kol-Gol | Repairs | 330.00 |
| Ness Pumping | Services | 295.00 |
| General: | 87,090.77 | Pladsen Storm Sewer: | 12,298.65 | |
| Library: | 5,779.82 | Wellness: | 231.27 | |
| RUT: | 14,503.19 | Water: | 18,306.00 | |
| Employee Benefits: | 21,044.68 | Sewer: | 32,125.38 | |
| T&A Insurance: | 5,920.91 | Debt Services: | 1,321,505.71 | |
| West Street Improvements: | 39,913.11 | FUND TOTALS: | 1,558,719.49 |
Yes: Wiedner, Lydon, Blocker, Smedsrud | Absent: Engrav | No: 0
The mayor declared the motion carried.
Under Public Comments: None
Under Reports: Strub noted the pool opened and music in the park started last week. Cooper stated they are going around checking lawns and mowing if they do not meet code and there are still issues with the heating at the treatment plant. Burrett stated he will be bringing an estimate for curb and gutter work that will need to be done in conjunction with Waukon State Bank having their parking lot re-done. Smedsrud wanted to thank the Police Department for a job well done with the trial happening last week. Hatlan noted he met with the attorneys and there will need to be some amendments to some nuisance abatement codes.
Michael Coyle and Beth Schaffer spoke on the Veterans Memorial Hospital façade improvement grant application and noted the new signage is to help with customer confusion on which entrance to use.
Moved by: Lydon | Seconded by: Wiedner
To approve the city façade improvement application of for Veteran’s Memorial Hospital for new signage. Total project cost is $22,770 and $10,000 was approved for the city grant.
Yes: Lydon, Wiedner, Smedsrud | Absent: Engrav | No: Blocker
The mayor declared the motion carried.
Ertl asked the council how they want to proceed with the yard work along the West Street SW project.
Moved by: Wiedner | Seconded by: Lydon
To direct Sam Ertl to reach out to the city attorney about reaching out to the bond attorney.
Yes: 4 | Absent: 1 | No: 0
The mayor declared the motion carried.
The previous change order #1 for the 4th Ave. NW Addition project was brought up with Hatlan and city staff noting they had not heard from the developer. The contractor has been informed that the cost of removing the trees is the developer’s responsibility.
No action taken.
Hatlan noted the costs received for the two estimates received for various storm sewer projects.
Moved by: Blocker | Seconded by: Smedsrud
To approve moving forward with Ethan Koehn Construction for the total cost of $17,780 for the storm sewer work at 1st Ave. SW by Kwik Star, 1st Ave. SW by The Blend, 6th Ave. NE & Allamakee Street and the handicap ramp approach at the corner of West St. SW & 2nd Ave. SW.
Yes: 4 | Absent: 1 | No: 0
The mayor declared the motion carried.
Snitker noted the city ordinance regarding fireworks is required to be changed due to recent State Code changes.
Moved by: Lydon | Seconded by: Smedsrud
To approve the 1st ordinance reading to amend provisions related to fireworks.
Yes: Blocker, Lydon, Smedsrud, Wiedner | Absent: Engrav | No: 0
The mayor declared the motion carried.
Moved by: Lydon | Seconded by: Blocker
To approve waiving the 2nd and 3rd readings to amend provisions related to fireworks.
Yes: Blocker, Lydon, Smedsrud, Wiedner | Absent: Engrav | No: 0
The mayor declared the motion carried.
Moved by: Lydon | Seconded by: Smedsrud
To adopt the ordinance amending provisions related to fireworks.
Yes: Blocker, Lydon, Smedsrud, Wiedner | Absent: Engrav | No: 0
The mayor declared the ordinance passed and the clerk assigned number 858 to the ordinance.
Under Public Comments: A resident thanked Blocker for his comments regarding the VMH façade application.
Moved by: Blocker | 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 | Absent: Engrav | No: 0
The mayor declared the motion carried. Roll call was taken: Blocker, Johnson, Wiedner, Lydon
Moved by: Blocker | Seconded by: Smedsrud
To exit closed session.
Yes: Johnson, Wiedner, Blocker, Lydon | Absent: Engrav | No: 0
The mayor declared the motion carried. Left closed session.
Moved by: Blocker | Seconded by: Lydon
To adjourn the meeting.
Yes: 4 | Absent: 1 | No: 0
The mayor declared the motion carried.
I, Gary Boden, am requesting a closed session under Iowa Code Section Iowa Code 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.”