Community News

by Joe Moses

The Allamakee County Board of Supervisors met in regular session Monday, March 19 to address a full agenda of items, including a presentation and discussion on the Upper Iowa Drainage District Alternative Levee System Modifications, a presentation and discussion of the Sidewalk Improvement Project and consideration of the Collective Bargaining Agreement for the Sheriff's Department and County Road Crew.

Chairperson Larry Schellhammer called the meeting to order with approval of the current agenda and meeting minutes of March 12. The current agenda was amended with the removal of two items involving subdivision plats, which will be added to next week's agenda for review.

by Joe Moses

Senator Mike Breitbach of Iowa's 28th District, Representative Michael Bergan of Iowa House District 55 and Representative Kristi Hager of Iowa House District 56 hosted a legislative forum Saturday, March 17 at the Allamakee County Farm Bureau office in Waukon. The event was an opportunity for the public to have discussion with State of Iowa legislators representing their area.

A scene not so familiar to Main Street in Waukon played out as pictured above Thursday morning, March 8 just before 8 a.m. near East Main Street's intersection with First Street SE in Waukon. According to an accident report filed by the Waukon Police Department, the 2013 Chevrolet Traverse seen on its top in the above photo was being driven westbound down East Main by Donald Denk, age 72, of Waukon when he experienced a medical situation that caused him to lose control of his vehicle and veer to the right into the rear of an unoccupied 2011 Chevrolet Silverado pick-up truck (center of the photo in background) parked along the north side of East Main Street and owned by Marc Otting of Waukon. The impact forced Denk's vehicle to overturn and also further forced Otting's vehicle into the back end of an unoccupied 2009 Chevrolet Silverado pick-up truck (pictured at left in the above photo) also parked along East Main Street and owned by Marilyn Clark of Waukon.

by Joe Moses

The Allamakee County Board of Supervisors met in regular session Monday, March 12 to address a full agenda of items, including a Public Hearing for the Fiscal-Year 2019 Allamakee County Budget, the third reading of the E-Cigarette Ordinance LIX and a discussion and presentation regarding medical and mental health services for the Allamakee County Jail.

Chairperson Pro-Tem Dennis Koenig called the meeting to order with Chairperson Larry Schellhammer to join the meeting later. There was no public comment.

The Public Hearing for the proposed Fiscal-Year 2019 Allamakee County Budget was opened with Allamakee County Auditor Denise Beyer indicating that no written or verbal comments have been received. The Public Hearing was closed.

Youth Mentoring at Helping Services for Youth & Families is hosting its annual bowl-a-thon fundraiser Saturday, March 24 at Arrowhead  Lanes in Waukon. This event aims to raise $5,000 to connect youth in Allamakee, Howard and Winneshiek counties with a mentor.

Currently, 111 people are involved in Youth Mentoring at Helping Services. Proceeds support those already in mentoring relationships and will also help connect even more youth with a positive role model. Interested parties can be involved in two important ways: register to bowl and/or donate to the cause.

“This fundraiser is a great opportunity for community members to gather with their co-workers, friends and neighbors by raising money for a worthy cause and have fun bowling together,” states Kathy Schwartzhoff, Mentoring Coordinator.

by Joe Moses

As part of their Unleashing Opportunity Tour, an opportunity to hear directly from Iowans on how to build a better Iowa and how to increase opportunities throughout the state, Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds and Lieutenant Governor Adam Gregg hosted a capacity crowd at the S&D Café in Waukon Friday morning, March 2. The visit had not been well publicized, a question posed to Governor Reynolds' media relations office but not yet having an answer provided as of press time Tuesday morning, March 6.

by Joe Moses

The Waukon City Council met in regular session Monday, March 5 to address a full agenda of items. Mayor Pat Stone called the meeting to order and advised that the meeting agenda will need to be amended due to absences from weather-related road conditions. Stone indicated that the City Manager’s Report would need to be removed from the agenda with City Manager Dean Hilgerson not being in attendance, and that the Public Art Project design and contractual agreement would need to be tabled. The Council approved the amended agenda.

The Public Hearing for the Fiscal-Year 2019 Budget was opened and closed with City Clerk Al Lyon indicating that no written or verbal comments have been received on the matter. There was also no Public Comment during that portion of the meeting.

Black Hills Energy has received customer reports of late bill payment scams with customers being told that they are past due on their account, and without immediate payment, their service will be disconnected.

“Individuals claiming ties to the utility may threaten to disconnect service if they are not paid immediately or may say you’ve overpaid and must provide personal bank account or credit card information for a refund,” said Tracy Peterson, Vice President of Iowa Gas at Black Hills Energy. “If your account is at risk of service disconnection or you’re due a refund, we will issue advance written notices by mail. Beware, as perpetrators are becoming more sophisticated, manipulating caller ID or leaving a call-back number with a recording that mimics a utility’s phone system message and options.”

by Brianne Eilers

The month of January ended on a positive financial note at Veterans Memorial Hospital (VMH) in Waukon with a profit of $49,136. VMH Administrator Mike Myers noted that looking at year-to-date statistics, the hospital is financially "about break-even."

He noted that they are still under budget by approximately $10,000 to $15,000. "Considering what we ended at last year, I feel pretty good about that," Myers said.

Acute patient days were up and skilled patient days were also up over last January. Deliveries were the same as last January. Total surgeries were also up, as was overall radiology department patient volume. Myers did note that Emergency Room visits were down some over last January, further explaining that outpatient revenue was 6.9% above budget.

World Day of Prayer is an ecumenical celebration of informed prayer and prayerful action. Area residents are invited to join in the prayer service written by the women of Suriname, which invites the exploration of Genesis 1, the story of Creation, with the theme “All God’s Creation is Very Good!” Concepts of climate change, natural disasters, pollution, and human abuse of the environment will be explored. Those interested are invited to take part in a provided lunch and prayer at St. John’s Lutheran Church, located at 8 Fifth Street SW in Waukon, Friday, March 2 from 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. All people of all faiths are welcome to attend. For more information, call 563-568-3623. Submitted image.