Waukon City Council awards contract for Northwest Detention Basin project
by Joe Moses
The Waukon City Council met in regular session Monday night, April 18, beginning the meeting with a public hearing in regard to the Northwest Detention Basin project planned for the far northwest corner of the city limits in the area more commonly referred to as the Bresnahan property. The hearing was closed without any comments being received from the public, and the Council later approved plans, specifications and form of contract for the project, along with the awarding of the project contract to Rusty Berger Masonry, who submitted the low bid for the project of $294,850.00, with completion of the project planned for early September.
Additional bids received on the project were from Skyline Construction, $359,338.19; Ray's Excavating, $388,429.55; and Egeland Tiling, $391,408.50. Berger's bid was also below the project engineer's original estimated cost but did include all facets of the project.
In addition to no comments during the public hearing, there was also nothing heard during the public comment portion of the meeting. During departmental updates, Water Superintendent Bob Campbell informed the Council that the Department Natural Resources has completed the City’s permit for a new wastewater treatment plant and will be sending it to the City for further consideration.
Keith Burrett with the Streets Department advised the Council that John Byrnes, a property owner adjacent to the City’s compost pile location, has suggested that he would allow temporary use of an acre of his adjacent property for the City to expand its compost/yard waste site during periods of heavy use. Waukon Park, Recreation and Wellness Director Jeremy Strub mentioned that the first weekend of his department's youth soccer program went well. His department is also preparing for its summer recreation activities.
Under regular business, the Council approved a three-year tax abatement for the new home constructed by Bob and Lori Johnson in the Park Place Development in southwest Waukon, according to the City’s tax abatement program for new construction. The Council also approved the use of a downtown sidewalk on Main Street May 23 by the Allamakee Cattleman's Association for its annual grilling event in celebration of May as Beef Month. Approval was also given to a one-year agreement with the Iowa Department of Transportation for road maintenance on the sections of State Highways 9 and 76 that run through Waukon.
A public hearing date of May 16 was set for a public hearing on an amendment to the fiscal year 2016 City budget. Approval was also given to a resolution approving the option to purchase the former C-Mart property by Northeast Iowa Community Action Corporation for the purpose of building a low- to moderate-income single-family home on the property.
Long-term bond financing that will tie in several major projects within the city was discussed at length, including the newest project that involves the collapsing storm sewer that runs from Rossville Road southeast to under Seventh Avenue SE. City Attorney Jim Garrett advised the Council that no action be taken on that bond financing until easements from the six property owners adjacent to that privately-installed storm sewer have been granted in writing to the City, so as not to strap the City with a stringent timeline. Part of that bond financing includes repayment of a $500,000 interim loan used to help finance current projects and coming due in June, with Garrett recommending the City ask for an extension of that short-term loan until the specifics of the bond financing can be finalized. It was agreed that a six-month extension of that interim financing be pursued, with no other action taken on the bond financing at this time.
Burrett then presented the City Council with a prioritized list of 16 street blacktopping projects that could be addressed this summer. The Council agreed to move forward with the first four projects after evaluating funding for street projects, with Burrett suggesting a fifth project in close proximity to some of the others. The remainder of the prioritized list will be considered should there be enough funds available to pursue additional projects following completion of those initially approved.
In one final regular business agenda item, a transfer of funds was approved by the Council in the amount of $598.97 from the Hotel/Motel (Park Improvements) Fund to the 2013 Flood Fund.
Under other matters, City Clerk Al Lyon advised the Council that technicians will be at City Hall this week installing the software that will be used in the conversion of City documents to an electronic format from their current paper format. Councilman Ben Rausch proposed looking into different garbage containers for the downtown area. Examples in other communities were mentioned that are attached to light poles and are more visually appealing. Rausch will research and supply Council members with photo examples.
