Community News

by Joe Moses

The Waukon City Council met in a special session prior to a regular session Monday, October 1 to address a variety of matters and agenda items. Mayor Pat Stone called the special session to order at 6 p.m., which began with discussion of the 28E agreement between the City of Waukon and the Allamakee Community School District.

Park and Rec Wellness Director Jeremy Strub discussed short-term and long-term maintenance at the Wellness Center with the boiler and rooftop units being issues in the next 10-15 years which he recommended be planned and budgeted for as future expenses. Strub discussed the school district’s maintenance agreement with Winona Controls which he recommended would be advisable for the Wellness Center as well and that budget planning for 2019 should include ongoing maintenance and a separate fund for future capital expenses.

Work has begun on the First Avenue NW resurfacing project taking place from Allamakee Street up through its 500 block to Sixth Street NW in Waukon. From the Allamakee County Courthouse up through the block housing East Elementary School, preliminary work began the week of September 19 with some initial manhole cover adjustments and cement cutting as an early step in the resurfacing project, as pictured above. Waukon City Manager Dean Hilgerson advised The Standard that the project has an anticipated October 25 completion date with River City Paving handling the resurfacing. Hilgerson indicated that a total of five blocks, with the 100 block being skipped due to recent storm sewer work and resurfacing, will be milled and resurfaced with asphalt and that Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliant sidewalk work will be done at intersections with some curb and gutter removal and replacement to also take place.

Robey Memorial Library in Waukon will celebrate Teen Read WeekTM October 7-13 with special events and programs spotlighting all the great resources and activities available at the library and to encourage teens from around the area to read for their enjoyment. Thousands of libraries, schools and bookstores across the country will hold similar events centered on this year’s theme, “It’s Written in the Stars: READ!”

Teen Read Week is a time to celebrate reading for fun while encouraging teens to take advantage of reading in all its forms - books, magazines, e-books, audiobooks and more. It is also a great opportunity to encourage teens to become regular library users.

The commitment of Iowa’s rural electric cooperatives goes far beyond ensuring safe, reliable, affordable and environmentally responsible energy for their member-owners. Cooperatives actively create strategic partnerships and provide technical and financial assistance to support business growth and community vitality.

Annually, Iowa Area Development Group (IADG) presents Impact Awards to utility partners who were involved in significant economic development initiatives the prior year. Allamakee-Clayton Electric Cooperative was recognized for its extraordinary economic development accomplishments and commitment to local communities during the cooperative’s Annual Meeting held in Postville September 10.

by Joe Moses

The Allamakee County Board of Supervisors met in regular session Monday, September 17 to address a full agenda of items. Included on that agenda were a discussion of Irish Hollow Road dust control and safety issues, the Proclamation of National Voter Registration Month and Day and reappointments to the Planning and Zoning Commission and the Historic Preservation Commission.

District Manager Terry J. Beek with Washington National Insurance provided an overview of the company’s supplemental policies covering accidents, cancer and short-term disability. Beek proposed that County employees be given the opportunity to enroll in Washington National’s policies on a voluntary basis, allowing County employees the option to take advantage of group rates through their employer. Supervisor Dan Byrnes advised that the matter be revisited in February or March when a meeting takes place to review County employee health insurance.

by Joe Moses

The Allamakee County Board of Supervisors met Monday, September 17 in regular session at the Waterville Community Center, formerly the Waterville Elementary School, as part of the Supervisors’ annual tour of county libraries during its meeting sessions. The board addressed a full agenda of items, including the introduction of the new Main Street Lansing Director, the Canvass of the NICC Special Election and consideration of an amendment to the Sheriff’s Office Collective Bargaining Agreement.

Royal Car Wash, located at 501 Rossville Road in Waukon, is under new ownership as of the end of August. Kyle Bugenhagen of Luana took over ownership of the 24-hour car wash, noting that he would like to make some changes to the business, which first opened in 2008 and is scheduled for a grand opening under new ownership this Saturday, September 22 (see advertisement below on this same page for additional details).

“I would like to make a lot of changes based on customer reviews,” Bugenhagen said. “Better soap, wands, hotter water, etc. These will be done before our open house. Hopefully by spring, we would like to add a dryer to the automatic bay and a credit card reader to the manual bays.”

by Joe Moses

The Waukon City Council met in regular session Monday, September 17 to address a full agenda of items, including a presentation from the Walk-On Waukon group, an update regarding Aveka noise and odor, and reappointments to the Planning and Zoning Commission. There was no Public Comment.

Under Departmental Reports, Police Chief Phil Young discussed the upcoming auction of unclaimed bicycles and a generator. Young indicated that a vehicle has been ordered for the Police Department.

Water and Sewer Superintendent Jim Cooper discussed problems at a lift station and that repair estimates will be provided soon. Cooper discussed the trade-in of a Toolcat and provided an update on water leaks that are being repaired.

The Waukon Feed Ranch has created a corn maze at its Agronomy Center location along Old Highway 9 west of Waukon, and the next two weekends will feature events involving that maze that will benefit some local causes. For the next two Saturdays and Sundays, September 22-23 and 29-30, the public can navigate the corn maze for a freewill donation that will then be disbursed between the two FFA programs at Waukon and Kee High Schools, as well as to the family of five-year-old Brogan Gavin, son of Tom and Alana Gavin of rural Lansing who is currently undergoing treatment for leukemia.

Allamakee County 4-H had four different teams competing in the Dairy Judging Contest at the 2018 Iowa State Fair held August 9-19 in Des Moines. One of the two teams from Allamakee County competing in the Junior division of the contest topped all teams in that division.

In dairy judging, youth evaluate classes of dairy cows and heifers and then defend their placings through oral reasoning. Youth learn the dairy cow unified scorecard and major breakdowns, anatomy of the dairy cow, along with dairy judging terminology.

Allamakee County had 12 individual 4-H’ers taking part in the State 4-H Dairy Judging Contest held at the Iowa State Fair. They made up two teams in the Junior Division and two teams in the Senior Division.