Waukon City Council hears updates on Third Avenue SW project and pond at City Park; approves documents for Bresnahan property

by Jason Meyer

The Waukon City Council met in regular session Monday night, December 21 at 7 p.m. with all members in attendance. Beginning the meeting in typical fashion, the Council approved the evening’s agenda, as well as the minutes of the December 7 meeting, the November Clerk/Treasurer Report, and the claims to be paid.
Hearing no public comments, the Council opened the floor to the Departmental Reports. Jeremy Strub, Director of the Parks, Recreation and Wellness Department, reported he had met with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (IDNR)  regarding the creation of fish habitats and the stocking thereof in the Indian Springs Pond next spring in Waukon City Park. Strub noted the IDNR will provide bluegill the first year, and bass and catfish the second. He continued by saying the project will be completed at no cost to the City.
Strub also reported bids for the dredging of the pond are scheduled to be opened January 8, 2016; and, that through donations to the Department they’ve been able to establish an endowment fund for continued financial support of department projects.
In regular business, the Council approved a real estate contract and settlement agreement on the Bresnahan property in northwest Waukon. Upon closing, the seller will receive the balance of $100,000, plus interest, previously awarded through the City’s condemnation process. However, with the purchase of additional property, the City will enter into an installment agreement for $460,000 to be paid in three installments from closing to January 3, 2017.
The Council heard from Lyle TeKippe of the Fehr Graham Engineering and Environmental firm regarding the 2016 Street Project on Third Avenue SW, as well as an update on the wastewater treatment plant project.
TeKippe prepared for the Council’s review a comparison of the currently-proposed process of three-inch asphalt overlay on rubblized concrete versus new seven-inch concrete over an eight-inch stone subbase for the 2016 Street Project. The asphalt overlay is estimated at $13,787.40 per 100 foot by 30 foot segment, a savings of $10,299.60 over new concrete in a comparably-sized segment.
The proposed project is approximately 3,000 feet in length by 30 feet in width. With the estimates provided, if the City would choose concrete instead of the asphalt overlay, the cost of the project would be approximately $722,610.00 - not including sidewalks and other planned improvements; or, approximately 75% more than the suggested asphalt overlay, with a portion of the costs assessed to the property owners along the project route.
With the outpouring of citizen concerns at the prior council meeting, TeKippe suggested holding an informational public meeting prior to any official action or public hearings. The Council agreed, taking the suggestion into consideration.
TeKippe also presented a tentative schedule of events that would bring the City’s wastewater treatment facilities in to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and IDNR compliance.
The preliminary schedule aligns with an earlier estimate and EPA allowance of four years, with the City achieving compliance on or about January 2020.
In other business, the Council:
• opened three bids for the sale of the Police Department’s Dodge Durango, ultimately awarding the sale to McMillan Auto for $426. Funds from the sale will go to the Police Capital Fund.
• approved a subdivision plat for Justin Sweeney across from the Allamakee County Fairgrounds.
• approved subdivision plats for Mary Bresnahan in northwest Waukon.
• entered in to a professional agreement with the Fehr Graham Engineering and Environmental firm of West Union for the City Park Pond Improvements Project.
• modified Chapter 40 of the City Code, Section 3, Subsection 8, disallowing any disturbance to the public peace within 1,000 feet of a funeral or memorial service; prior to the modification the limit was within 500 feet.
• approved compiling and codifying the supplemental record of resolutions passed in 2015, amending the City Code.
• approved transferring $1,675.79 from the Hotel/Motel Fund (Park Improvements) to the 2013 Flood Fund.