Waukon City Council discusses need to fill pending vacancies on various boards and possibly City Council, will resume in-person meetings May 17

by Joe Moses

The Waukon City Council met in regular session Monday, May 3 to address a full agenda of items including a presentation from a real estate agent relating to the sale of City properties, discussion of a Police Department squad car purchase and discussion of City Hall operations in relation to the COVID-19 safety response.

There was no Public Comment and the meeting moved into Department Reports with Park, Recreation and Wellness Director Jeremy Strub providing an update. Strub said that there is a lot going on at the City Park and that the swimming pool is being cleaned and filled for the summer season with lifeguard training to begin soon. Strub advised that City Park employees will be preparing the tennis courts for use in the next few weeks in addition to starting the fountain in the City Park pond.
Strub also provided an update on youth sports programming with the soccer  season having a couple of weeks remaining and Little League to start as the school year ends. Strub suggested that a couple more fields for Little League are possible by the school district bus barn with a move to more evening activity in an effort to better allow volunteers to assist with coaching.

Water and Sewer Superintendent Jim Cooper advised that hydrant flushing has been completed with additional water line locates taking place as construction projects are increasing. Cooper noted that a progress meeting will take place next week relating to the new Wastewater Treatment Plant with a switch-over date possibly to be set at that time for the new plant to go live. Cooper also discussed the start-up and testing of pumps at the new plant.

Street Superintendent Keith Burrett provided an update, noting that street maintenance is ongoing with the street patcher in operation as of last week.

Police Chief Paul Wagner had some audio technical difficulties during the Department Reports portion of the meeting. Later, City Clerk Sarah Snitker relayed Wagner’s update which he provided by text chat messaging, an option available within Zoom web-conferencing which has been used to facilitate City Council meetings virtually during the COVID-19 pandemic. Wagner reported that a STEP grant has been awarded to the Waukon Police Department in the amount of $6,500 with $4,500 designated for a squad car camera purchase and $2,000 designated for overtime.

City Clerk Snitker reported that she and City Manager Gary Boden recently met with program administrators from Upper Explorerland Regional Planning Commission (UERPC) to further discuss the administrative plan to be used for Waukon’s owner-occupied housing program. Snitker advised that UERPC will be meeting with the Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) later in the month to receive clarification on exterior specifications. She said that six homeowners have been approved for the program with four applications currently on the waiting list and the program projected to move forward in the next month or two.

Assistant City Attorney Kevin Stinn provided an update advising that a purchase offer for the Allamakee County Fairgrounds property has been signed by the Agriculture Association and that other paperwork necessary to allow this sale is being prepared. Stinn said that he has attempted to contact Town & Country Sanitation but has not been able to reach anyone to discuss the company’s recent decision to bill an additional charge of $60 per ton for the disposal of recyclables, a charge not part of the company’s current contract with the City of Waukon.

City Manager Gary Boden provided an update relating to some information technology (IT) matters and a service provider contract. Boden discussed a specific issue with his email software with some delays in messages being sent; the problem is being monitored.

Boden advised that he and CEO Michael Coyle of Veterans Memorial Hospital have had recent conversations about the State of Iowa Legislature not currently moving forward with designating ambulance service as an essential service. Boden advised that this will continue to create difficulties for townships to fund capital improvements relating to ambulance services. Boden said that activity in June is likely relating to the development of a 28E agreement for ambulance services.

Mayor Pat Stone discussed that there will be two vacancies on the Board of Adjustment and two vacancies on the Planning and Zoning Board yet to be filled. Stone said that he welcomes any feedback and suggestions by email relating to individuals with interest in filling these vacancies. Stone also discussed that four City Council seats may be changing in the next term. He encouraged some thought and consideration on the matter by those who may be interested in running for City Council or those up for re-election.

Council member John Ellingson provided the City Council Report and discussed some recent questions and feedback received from a couple of residents expressing some interest in running for City Council. Ellingson said that he encourages residents to reach out to council members with any questions relating to serving on the City Council. Ellingson also advised that the Planning and Zoning Board would be a great place to serve and gain some additional background prior to running for council.

Ellingson further discussed a water discharge on Eighth Avenue NW from Aveka Nutra Processing which he indicated has taken place the last two weekends for hours at a time. Ellingson advised that this is similar to the water discharge that has created ice accumulations during the winter on that street.

Ellingson said that the matter needs to be addressed with the discharge to the street being an unknown that is clear to cloudy and potentially destroying curb and gutter over time. Ellingson also noted that he has received a lot of negative feedback relating to the potential siting of a meat processing facility in the Waukon area.

The Public Hearing relating to the Police Department Grant Application through the USDA for funding for a new squad car was opened and closed with Snitker indicating that no written or verbal comments have been received.

The Trees Forever annual allotment of $3,000 was discussed by the council. Stone advised that this funding could be used for the City’s tree replacement program. Boden and council members Gayle Decker and John Lydon were in agreement that representatives of Trees Forever should be invited to participate in this discussion at a future meeting. No action was taken with the matter being tabled.

The council moved into the next agenda item relating to a real estate agent presentation regarding the sale of City properties. Stone advised that three local real estate companies have been invited to present information with a representative of one company in attendance at Monday’s meeting. John Sweeney of Sweeney Real Estate provided an overview of services offered in advertising and marketing City properties. Sweeney discussed advantages of working with a Realtor® as part of state and national Realtor® associations providing opportunities to market properties statewide and nationally. This network of Realtors® working cooperatively and sharing commissions at no additional cost to the City was discussed in addition to the use of third party websites for marketing properties. Stinn agreed to further research any legal restrictions upon marketing City properties through a Realtor®. No action was taken by the council, with this being an informational matter.

The Town and Country Sanitation agenda item was tabled with Stinn agreeing to continue to contact the company relating to its decision to bill an additional charge of $60 per ton for the disposal of recyclables, a surcharge not currently part of the company’s contract with the City.

Shiloh Green and Kolby Martin of Waukon discussed their request to keep a pit bull mix dog at their residence as a service animal. Green and Martin provided an update on the dog’s service training relating to diabetes with three different seven-week classes being completed and individualized training currently taking place. Green and Martin discussed the training program at a location in Decorah leading to the dog’s certification as a service animal. The council discussed the difference between an emotional support animal versus a service animal.

Ellingson advised that the burden of proof is on the animal’s owner with Federal law and the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) allowing service animals within city limits. Ellingson added that certification will need to be presented to City Hall and the Police Department in order for the dog to live at a residence within the city.

Wagner discussed the next matter relating to a new squad car purchase and Police Department grant application through the USDA. Wagner provided a recommendation to order a 2021 Chevy Tahoe without an agreement to purchase to ensure availability with a nationwide vehicle shortage being a consideration. Wagner added that this model of vehicle is currently available at an Ankeny dealership with the USDA grant potentially providing a 20% match for this purchase. Wagner discussed a vehicle rotation plan with a replacement vehicle every other year within mileage ranges that provide safety and reliability. The council approved to move forward with the grant application.

Cooper discussed a lab equipment purchase from Midland Scientific in the amount of $16,726.42. He advised that initial plans were to include the purchase of necessary lab and testing equipment in the new Wastewater Treatment Plant construction budget but he has since been informed that this purchase will need to be taken out of the old Wastewater Treatment Plant’s operational budget. Cooper said that funds are available in that budget with limited maintenance taking place as the old Wastewater Treatment Plant will be ceasing operation. The council approved the purchase of lab equipment as recommended by Cooper.

The council reviewed the Perpetual Easement Agreement for Lot 1 in Lot D, an area behind Elliott Jewelers, adjacent to the municipal parking lot. The council approved the Perpetual Easement Agreement for Lot 1 in Lot D.

The Council tabled the next matter relating to the Services Agreement with Wright Way Computers.

The council discussed City Hall operations in relation to the COVID-19 safety response. The council agreed that the plexiglass barrier should remain at the City Hall office area as a safety and health measure. The council was in agreement to resume City Council meetings at City Hall for the next scheduled meeting, Monday, May 17, with precautions including social distancing encouraged. The council discussed tentatively keeping Zoom web-conferencing available for viewing council meetings.

Boden and the council discussed preparations for the City Manager evaluation. Boden and the council were in agreement to hold a closed session for Boden’s performance review. Council members will be submitting performance review forms to Stone within the next two weeks. The closed session for Boden’s performance review is planned for June 7.