Waukon City Council holds special session to discuss West Side Development, needs of Fire District, City Manager consideration

by Bob Beach

The Waukon City Council met in special session Monday, May 13 to discuss ongoing developments and capital improvement projects, principally the proposed closure of the Town and Country Trailer Court on West Main Street. Councilman Joe Cunningham reported that he had done some research regarding the relocation of the residents who will be displaced by the closure.
Cunningham suggested that a program should be developed to assist with relocation of the residents. The Council agreed that residents should be current on their rent payments in order to be eligible for the City’s assistance.
Cunningham also suggested that someone should be hired to administer the relocation program, primarily to determine what the needs of the residents are, but also to assist in finding places for them to go and determining reasonable relocation costs. The goal, he said, should be to get the people into safe housing, adding that the relocation program should be for residents of the trailer park and not for the owners of trailers who are renting them to third parties - landlords could be dealt with separately, perhaps by making a cash offer in exchange for the title of their trailers.
Councilman John Ellingson cautioned the Council about “enabling” people and allowing those who are looking for a hand-out to become dependent on the City. Cunninham responded that some of the residents are going to expect something, and that it would not be unreasonable to assist with direct moving expenses.
Ellingson also cautioned against “adding another layer of bureaucracy” by hiring someone to administer the relocation program. He suggested that a community meeting be scheduled in order to meet with the residents and determine what their intentions are and what their needs may be.
The Council agreed and scheduled a meeting for Wednesday, May 22 at 7 p.m. at the Waukon Wellness Center. Letters will be sent to residents of the trailer park as notification of the meeting, along with a form to fill out beforehand regarding their relocation needs. Residents will also be notified that rent payments should be made to the City beginning June 1, assuming that the City takes possession of the property as planned, and will also be given 60-day notices of the termination of their leases.
The Council will review a resolution to borrow the necessary funds to acquire the property and to cover reasonable relocation costs.

FIRE DISTRICT NEEDS
The Council then turned to upcoming capital improvement projects, including a new fire station and trucks for the fire department. Councilman Trent Mitchell said the cost of the construction of a new fire station in the industrial park would be approximately half a million dollars, and that adding the cost of a new pumper truck and tanker truck would bring the total cost to approximately $875,000.
Ellingson pointed out that this project is “exactly what GEO bonds are for,” but City Clerk Diane Sweeney pointed out that the City is currently at 65% of its borrowing capacity.
After discussion of current projects and how they will be paid for, the Council determined that it would be comfortable with additionally borrowing to fund the construction of the new fire station and the purchase of equipment.

CITY MANAGER CONSIDERATIONS
Cunningham then asked the Council to give serious consideration to hiring a City Manager, noting that he, himself, currently spends 25 to 30 hours per week responding to citizen inquiries and addressing problems. He said that there is no one to turn to with problems, and that he would not be able to continue to function in the capacity of the City’s problem solver.
Ellingson noted that it is frustrating to see simple personnel and management problems continue simply because it isn’t any particular person’s job to address them. He estimated that a City Manager would save each department approximately 10 percent of their total budgets, just through better management. Ellingson agreed that things could not be allowed to continue as they are, saying that “we’re one bad decision from a major screw-up.” He said that the alternatives included either changing to a full-time council or a full-time mayor, neither of which would be as cost effective as hiring a City Manager.
Mitchell said that he has no problem with hiring a City Manager, but would like to feel assured that the money could be found to pay that person’s salary and that funding for the position would continue to be available. Cunningham replied that, “if you really want it, you can make it happen.”

THIRD STREET NE
Cunningham also updated the Council on the planned removal of trees for the Third Street NE construction project. He said that trees marked with a blue “X” would be removed starting next week.