November 4, 2024 City Council Minutes

The Waukon City Council met in regular session on November 4, 2024, at 6:00 P.M. in the council room of City Hall, 101 Allamakee Street and via Zoom technology. Mayor Arvid Hatlan presided. Council members present: John Lydon, Nick Engrav, Kevin Johnson, Dave Blocker, and Steve Wiedner. Council members absent: none. Others present: City Manager Gary Boden; Street Superintendent Keith Burrett; Water/Sewer Superintendent Jim Cooper; Police Chief Paul Wagner; Assistant Police Chief Mason Kwilinski; Park, Rec & Wellness Director Jeremy Strub; Finance Director Lana Snitker; City Attorney Jeff Swartz, Fehr Graham – Sam Ertl; The Standard – Joe Moses; and citizens.

The mayor called the meeting to order. The mayor asked to remove the closed session, the discussion on engineering services, to move the item of hiring a police officer under reports and to move the appeal regarding dog removal near the bottom of the agenda before the public comments.

 

Moved by: Lydon | Seconded by: Blocker

To approve the consent agenda with those changes.

  • Approval of Agenda
  • Minutes of October 21, 2024
  • Resolution – Agreeing to transfer twenty-five percent of the total ($11,923.36) (Hotel/Motel money received in September and October 2024 and deposited into the General Fund) from the General Fund to the Hotel/Motel (Tourism/Economic Development) Fund in the amount of $2,980.84. The clerk assigned number 24-135 to the resolution.
  • Resolution – agreeing to the transfer of $8,638.75 from the Street Improvement/Local Option Sales and Services Tax Fund to the General Fund, as part of the Northwest Street Internal Advance (Resolution 24-132) to fund a portion of the Northwest Street Blight Alleviation Project. The clerk assigned number 24-136 to the resolution.
  • Resolution – proposing disposition of interest in real property by the City of Waukon, Iowa Modifying prior resolution number 24-52. The clerk assigned number 24-137 to the resolution.
  • Approval of application for assistance for $4,441 from WTED for staff training activities totaling $8,882.
  • Approval of Annual Urban Renewal Report, Fiscal Year 2023-2024.
  • Approval of claims

Yes: Wiedner, Lydon, Johnson, Engrav, Blocker | No: 0

The mayor declared the motion carried.

 

Under Public Comments:  none

 

Under Department Reports: Water/Sewer Superintendent Cooper noted they will be installing a new roof on one of the buildings near the south water tower as it has collapsed. Street Superintendent Burrett mentioned they are still doing leaf pick up. Police Chief Wagner stated October 21st-25th the Allamakee Community School District held several safety talks throughout the district. Park, Rec and Wellness Director Strub mentioned the park is closed and has been winterized.

 

Clerk Snitker noted the LMI surveys have been tabulated and Waukon is eligible to apply for a CDBG. City Manager Boden shared he attended a city manager’s meeting last week and they discussed the city’s responsibility on sidewalk maintenance. Council member Blocker attended the Economic Development training put on by IEDA. Mayor Hatlan reminded everyone that with winter coming up the shoveling of sidewalk enforcement will be in place.

 

The mayor opened the public hearing on the Code of Ordinances of the City of Waukon, Iowa, by changing rates for service and rates of storm and surface water drainage system services. The clerk stated there were no oral or written comments received. A resident spoke about concerns residents might face with raising the rates of the storm and surface water drainage system services. She understood the need for needing to raise costs to fund infrastructure and mentioned residents can only absorb so much cost. She also noted that if we are going to raise costs for infrastructure then we should make sure that semis aren’t driving on the roads they aren’t supposed to. There were no other comments, and the mayor closed the hearing.

 

Moved by: Engrav | Seconded by: Lydon

To amend the ordinance regarding changing rates for service and rates of storm and surface water drainage system services to double the commercial rates for the surface water drainage system services and to republish the hearing for November 18th.

Yes: Lydon, Johnson, Wiedner, Engrav, Blocker | No: 0

The mayor declared the motion passed.

 

Moved by: Blocker | Seconded by: Johnson

To approve the 1st reading of the ordinance amending the Code by changing the city elections procedure.

Yes: Lydon, Blocker Johnson, Wiedner, Engrav, Blocker | No: 0

The mayor declared the motion carried.

 

Moved by: Engrav | Seconded by: Wiedner

To waive the additional readings of the ordinance amending the Code by changing the city elections procedure

Yes: Lydon, Blocker Johnson, Wiedner, Engrav, Blocker | No: 0

The mayor declared the motion carried.

 

Moved by: Lydon | Seconded by: Engrav

To adopt the ordinance amending the Code by changing the city elections procedure

Yes: Lydon, Blocker Johnson, Wiedner, Engrav, Blocker | No: 0

The mayor declared the motion carried and the deputy clerk assigned number 852 to the ordinance.

 

Moved by: Lydon | Seconded by: Wiedner

To approve the hiring of Luke Schulte for police officer at $20.78 per hour starting on November 24, 2024.

Yes: 5 | No: 0

The mayor declared the motion carried.

 

Blocker spoke with Chamber of Commerce that downtown businesses will need to have their snow shoveled out by 4am. A committee of the mayor, city clerk, street superintendent, police chief and council member Blocker was set up to meet to discuss the street parking during the winter.

No action taken

 

Chief Wagner mentioned they applied for and will receive grant funding of $3,750 for a flock camera with his budget to cover the $750 that is remaining of the cost.

Moved by: Blocker | Seconded by: Lydon

To approve a 1-year lease with flock safety.

Yes: 5 | No:0

The mayor declared the motion carried.

 

Finance Director Snitker compared the city health insurance rates from last year to this year.

Moved by: Wiedner | Seconded by: Engrav

To approve the city health insurance renewal with Wellmark for January 1, 2025 – December 31, 2025.

Yes: 5 | No: 0

The mayor declared the motion carried.

 

Ertl discussed the cost estimates for 4th Ave. NW Addition and 7th St. NW Extension and the 9th St. NW sidewalk Addition noting that street lighting is not included so that would need to be added. It was mentioned that if the 9th St. NW sidewalk project were to be done it would have to wait until spring for a bid letting due to the drafting of the plans needing to be done still.

Moved by: Engrav | Seconded by: Blocker

To approve moving forward with the 4th Ave. NW Addition project phases 1 and 2 and 100 feet beyond.

Yes: 5 | No: 0

The mayor declared the motion carried.

 

Janet Wallin discussed that her dog makes her feel safe and she does not think he should be labeled vicious. Chief Wagner noted he served Janet with a notice to remove the dog due to it meeting the code regarding vicious animal. Wagner provided statements from neighbors and the veterinary office which confirmed a bite had occurred. A neighbor also spoke about his concerns.

Moved by: Blocker | Seconded by: Johnson

To deny Ms. Wallin’s appeal regarding her dog’s removal from the city.

Yes: 5 | No: 0

Wagner will serve a letter to Ms. Wallin regarding the denial and necessary removal of the dog.

The mayor declared the motion carried.

 

Under Public Comments: A resident thanked the street department for their work on leaf pickup.

 

Moved by: Lydon | Seconded by: Engrav

To adjourn the meeting.

Yes: 5 | No: 0

The mayor declared the motion carried.

Payment of Claims PDF
City Council 2024 Minutes
All Meetings & Minutes