Waukon City Council tours sites and discusses development and other matters during special session


Bresnahan property development ... The Waukon City Council and other City officials and community leaders toured the area known as the Bresnahan property in the northwest corner of Waukon west of the retention basin during a special council session Monday, July 27. The group discussed the possibility of apartment, duplex or single family housing that could be part of a residential development project in that Bresnahan property area. Standard photo by Joe Moses.

Plaza update ... The Waukon City Council and other City officials and community leaders toured the Plaza area in downtown Waukon during a special council session Monday, July 27. Pictured above, Waukon Economic Development Corporation Director Ardie Kuhse presents some development plans to the council and others in attendance that would further enhance the Plaza area. Standard photo by Joe Moses.

The former Tierney building ... The Waukon City Council and other City officials and community leaders toured the former Tierney building in downtown Waukon during a special council session Monday, July 27. The group examined both the exterior (above) and interior (below) of the building and discussed interest that has been expressed in renovating the building into a dining establishment that could possibly benefit from the plaza area adjacent to the building. Standard photos by Joe Moses.

by Joe Moses

The Waukon City Council met in special session Monday, July 27 at the Waukon Wellness Center to address a short agenda of items including a tour of development sites, discussion of development issues and approval of a resolution for the proposed disposition of interest in a property.

The meeting was called to order at the Waukon Wellness Center with the consent agenda including routine financial transfers being approved by the council. Mayor Pat Stone recused himself before the next agenda item with Mayor Pro-Tem Gayle Decker assuming leadership of the meeting for that item.

That item included discussion of a resolution proposing disposition of interest in real property - Lot A of vacated Fremont Street, now known as Fourth Avenue SW, in Scott Shattuck’s Third Addition to the City of Waukon. Decker questioned City Manager Gary Boden about the bidding process with Boden indicating that only one bid was received, which was from Stone. Stone discussed the specifics of his bid, advising that $200 was the bid amount with the agreement that WS Investments, a company Stone is associated with, would assume all costs associated with the sale up to $1,500. The council approved the resolution.

The council then toured development sites in Waukon, the first of which being the Plaza located at the downtown stoplight intersection. Director Ardie Kuhse of Waukon Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) discussed options available to further enhance the Plaza including tables, benches, planters and a source of shade. Kuhse suggested that a pergola, an outdoor structure with columns supporting a roofing grid, may be an option to provide shade. Kuhse presented and discussed concept drawings showing a variety of seating, table and shade options.

Prior to touring the former Tierney building adjacent to the Plaza, Stone and Kuhse briefly mentioned that there has been some early discussion with a party that has expressed interest in renovating the former Tierney building to be operated as an eatery, which would also benefit from space and seating available in the Plaza. Stone and the council toured the three levels of the former Tierney building while discussing the renovation process, grant opportunities and funding options that may be available to the party that has expressed interest in the building.

The tour of development sites continued to the former Bresnahan property near the City’s water retention basin between Fifth Street NW and Ninth Street NW. Boden discussed options available for the former Bresnahan property indicating that the location could be used for two new apartment buildings with the addition of a street from Third Avenue NW and extension of water and sewer from Fifth Street NW as an option. Boden also discussed potential locations for duplexes and single family housing in this area.

Upon returning to the Wellness Center, Boden provided an overview of the City of Waukon’s Treasurer’s Report while discussing revenue and budget specifics relating to capital improvement project funding. Boden discussed the importance of developing a five-year plan for capital improvement projects and suggested that in the next few years there may be an opportunity to address multiple projects and improvements without increasing the tax burden on residents and that a dialogue with the school district and community will be necessary in communicating those plans and tax funding options.

Boden later presented street project cost estimate information from Senior Project Manager Lyle TeKippe of Fehr Graham Engineering, who was also in attendance at the meeting, relating to mill and overlay, hot mix asphalt (HMA) and Portland cement concrete (PCC) rigid pavements. TeKippe discussed cost estimates for a storm sewer project and provided an overview of a map showing the area relating to this proposed project including First Avenue NW between Second Street NW and First Street NW.

The council identified and discussed specific streets in need of improvement, with council member John Ellingson providing additional feedback relating to the evaluation of streets in need of resurfacing. Ellingson discussed public versus private benefit in looking at traffic counts and whether streets are being used as a thoroughfare or being primarily used by property owners with residences.

Boden and the council discussed the financial impact of assessments as being minimal and the importance of being consistent if used. Council member Arvid Hatlan added that he has received feedback from several residents indicating that a tax increase would be preferable instead of assessments with many realizing that a tax increase may be necessary for extensive street improvements to be made.

Boden provided the council an overview of a Waukon Visioning and Strategy Planning handout relating to goals for various areas including street, sidewalk, public buildings, housing and recreation opportunities. Boden requested that council members rank the need to address and current progress of each specific topic in the plan and return their answers to him with the results to be used for further discussion and planning purposes.

The council also discussed a variety of topics prior to adjournment including water retention measures available in addition to the current water retention basin in the northwest part of town, nuisance abatement measures, sidewalks and potential restrictions for semi and large truck traffic on specific streets with an exception for delivery trucks.