Waukon City Council discusses Aveka noise and odor matters, approves hiring of additional police officer and considers grant for vacant Main Street building

by Joe Moses

The Waukon City Council met in regular session Monday, January 15 to address a full agenda of items including the catalyst grant application for the former Tierney Building on Main Street, an additional officer for the Police Department and the ongoing Aveka noise and odor concerns.

Mayor Pat Stone called the meeting to order with approval of the current agenda and meeting minutes of January 2. The council agreed to move the City Budget agenda item to being the last item for discussion under Regular Business and opened Public Comment. During Public Comment, City Attorney Jim Garrett used the opportunity to introduce the newly appointed Assistant City Attorney, Nicole Winke Gentes, who was in attendance.

Under Departmental Reports, Water and Sewer Superintendent Bob Campbell discussed that interviews have taken place for a job vacancy in his department and that broken water mains have required attention. Park and Rec Wellness Director Jeremy Strub discussed the tennis court project, grant opportunities and the heating and ventilation system at the Wellness Center. City Manager Dean Hilgerson provided a brief update by phone indicating that he is looking forward to returning and will provide thorough updates on projects at that time.

The council moved on to Regular Business with discussion of the Aveka Nutra Processing facility, with council members Arvid Hatlan and Gayle Decker providing an update. A recent meeting with Kevin Welsh, a homeowner living near the Aveka facility, was discussed, with Welsh providing feedback including recent noise level readings. Hatlan indicated that open communication with Aveka is a goal as noise and odor issues are to be addressed.

Decker indicated that Welsh has expressed that the noise issue should be a top priority and that during 2017 there had not been progress on that matter by the council. Decker discussed that the 25-decibel noise level recommended by the council last year was not realistic or attainable and that noise level readings need to be made around town at various locations to assist the council in establishing a realistic noise level requirement that does not penalize businesses.

General Manager John Anderson of Aveka provided an overview of his 20-plus year history with the company and discussed his current role at the Cresco and Waukon facilities, with Waukon being a new responsibility as of June 2017. Anderson discussed that the temporary noise panels were a good faith effort to begin noise reduction with the building constructed around the fan being a more permanent measure to reduce noise. Anderson advised that the smoke stack extension, a measure to reduce both noise and odor, has been delayed by the curing process for the concrete base and that there have been issues with the smokestack extension and eight-foot silencer due to vibration, with repairs and modifications to be made with the assistance of a metal fabricator.

Anderson indicated that the steps taken thus far regarding noise would be the initial recommendations of any acoustic engineer and that dampening other noise sources at the facility will be explored. Anderson discussed odor levels and that additional measures may be needed to address this matter, including chemical treatment or diffusion technology.

Waukon Police Chief Phil Young discussed the next agenda item involving a request to hire an additional officer, a measure Young indicated would provide cost savings in the long-term by eliminating much of the overtime required of the current officers. The council discussed that an additional officer is advisable to reduce overtime costs and increase retention. The council approved to advertise the officer position both in-house and in The Standard newspaper (see advertisement on Page 3A of the print and e-edition).

The council moved on to discussion of the Hotel/Motel Tax and the distribution percentages used from the revenue. The increase in the Hotel/Motel Tax from four percent to seven percent was approved by voters in November 2017 and represents a small tax increase affecting visitors staying in a hotel, bed and breakfast or other short-term housing. The council discussed the disbursement of the revenue with the State requirement at 50% for cultural and recreation use and the current ordinance for Waukon set at 75% for this purpose. Hilgerson discussed his previous recommendation to change Waukon’s required distribution to 50%, allowing greater latitude or flexibility in prioritizing funds.

The council further discussed the matter, opting to leave the distribution percentage at 75% for cultural and recreation purposes and the remaining 25% to be disbursed for other prioritized budget items by council decision. The council agreed the distribution percentage may be revisited at a later time. The council approved the seven percent Hotel/Motel Tax rate change with additional readings waived and adoption approved.

Community Planner Nathan Thompson with Northeast Iowa Resource Conservation and Development (RC&D) discussed the former Tierney Building catalyst grant application. Thompson indicated that through a program with the Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA), a grant of up to $100,000 can be applied for to improve the building, with Waukon as an applicant. Thompson recommended that a dollar-for-dollar match from the City would improve the chance of the grant’s approval. Thompson indicated that he hopes to have estimates from contractors soon that will aid in the pre-application process to be started yet in January with the full application to be submitted in February if the City decides to move forward with the process.

Thompson and the council discussed various uses for the building and that the first floor could be integrated with the downtown plaza for a destination-style business. The council discussed concerns including parking availability and funds that have been used in the repair of the building’s roof. Coordinator Ardie Kuhse with Waukon Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) and WEDC Board Member Joe Cunningham discussed the grant as an opportunity to make the building appealing to potential businesses. The council agreed that Thompson will continue with the pre-application process, which does not commit the City to the project. Further discussion will take place regarding the full application and a commitment from the City.

The council discussed the Vetoed Ordinance 768 involving city council regular meetings. The council discussed the possibility of alternate meeting days and times with further discussion likely to take place in the future. The council agreed that the scheduled meeting time of 7 p.m. the first and third Monday of each month will continue. The Liquor License refund for Susan Grotegut and the Vet’s Club was approved by the council.

The WEDC Park Place Court paving project was discussed. Cunningham provided a history of the project and the City’s agreement with WEDC. Under the terms of the agreement, WEDC will provide the reimbursement of $5,000 per lot sold towards the paving project cost of $25,000 and the necessary moving of a manhole cover. The council approved the agreement at $31,020 with WEDC to include the cost of the moving of the manhole cover.

The Green Valley Bridge project was discussed and approved. This is a joint project between the City of Waukon and Allamakee County also utilizing State funding.

The next two agenda items involved financial matters and were combined and approved with a single vote. A total of $1,862 will be transferred from the TIF Fund to the Administrative Costs Sub Fund and $14,706.26 from the General Fund will be transferred to the Storm Sewer Improvement Fund for project improvements.

The council moved on to discussion of the City Budget with Campbell discussing the request to purchase a sewer jet for cleaning and viewing sections of sewer. Street Superintendent Keith Burrett discussed the request for a new dump truck to replace a 2001 model-year dump truck. Campbell and Burrett discussed equipment that is shared between departments as needed. The council discussed its next budget work session, which will take place January 25.

Under Other Matters, council member Ben Rausch discussed fiber optic options for the City and there was some brief further discussion of the former Tierney Building project before the meeting adjourned.