Waukon City Council hears City Engineer's plan for Third Street NE

by Bob Beach

Prior to its regular meeting Monday night, August 4, the Waukon City Council met in special session with City Engineer Lyle TeKippe of TeKippe Engineering (a division of Fehr Graham Engineering), who presented the Council with plans to address drainage problems on Third Street NE, which was recently paved. TeKippe's plan to correct the drainage problems between Second and Fourth Avenues involves the excavation of soil between the street and the sidewalk and replacing it with open stone, which would allow drainage to an existing ten-inch drainage tile. He emphasized that he would meet in person individually within a week with property owners in that area of concern before any of the proposed work is done.
The Council authorized TeKippe to move forward with the plan, but at least one property owner was not satisfied. Former Waukon Mayor Keith Schroeder, who resides within that area of concern, pointedly asked TeKippe why a "drastic change" was made in raising the street and why the Council allowed the street to be raised above the level of the sidewalk, which he said is a violation of City Code. No one seemed to have a direct answer for those questions, but Schroeder was told his concerns could be addressed during TeKippe's individual meetings with property owners.
Schroeder said that he had never had water in his basement prior to the paving and raising of the street, but since the project was completed he has spent over $4,000 repairing damage from water in his basement and will spend another $6,700 to prevent further damage. "I'm coming after you," Schroeder remarked.
During its regular meeting, the Council agreed to authorize payment of $75,005.16 to Skyline Construction for its work on the Third Street NE project (Councilman Steve Wiedner voted "no") and payment of $14,610.75 to Fehr Graham Engineering for its work on the project (Wiedner and Councilman Don Steffens voted "no").
Also during the Council's regular meeting, City Zoning Administrator Al Lyon presented the Council with a plat for the planned subdivision of the former Town and Country Trailer Court, which includes building lots that the Allamakee Community School District (ACSD) will use for its home building program that is currently part of the curriculum for its Construction class and other vocational programs. Lyon said that to move forward with preparing the lots, survey pins would need to be placed, easements would need to be approved for utility access and the street would need to be set to grade. Lyon suggested that a development agreement with the school district be drafted.
ACSD Superintendent Dave Herold told the Council that the district is interested in finding "strategic partners" to provide the initial funding for the construction of the homes, with a return on their investment after the homes are sold. He told the Council that the City would be considered such a partner in the project and would receive payment for the building lot after the first home is sold. He estimated a sale price of $180,000 to $190,000.
Waukon High School Principal Dan Diercks told the Council that any profits gained by the school district would be reinvested in the district's vocational programs in the hope that those programs would one day become self-sufficient.
Councilman Wiedner agreed to work with City Attorney Jim Garrett and the school district to draft a development agreement.
The Council also approved hiring Zoning Administrator Al Lyon as a full-time Deputy City Clerk starting Tuesday, August 5 at $19.50 per hour. City Clerk Diane Sweeney said that his duties as Deputy City Clerk should allow Lyon to continue with his part-time duties as Zoning Administrator.
In other business, the Council held a public hearing regarding a tax increment debt obligation not to exceed $240,000 for an economic development grant to Innovative Ag Service. There were no public comments and the Council approved the debt obligation.
The Council also reviewed the City's investment policy, which is done every three years, and approved the expenditure of $6,000 to seal four manholes and a lift station to help prevent ground water infiltration.