Community News

The Waukon City Council met in special session Monday night, January 11 to accept the resignation of Jeff Snitker, Assistant Director of the Waukon Parks, Recreation and Wellness Department, who was placed on suspension a week earlier after closer observation of his job performance revealed personal use of a City-owned work computer, according to City of Waukon administrative leaders. Snitker, who resigned Friday, January 8, will be paid out his accrued vacation hours, 554.72, at a total of $9,186.16, subject to taxes.
Also on the agenda, the Council heard updates on the recovery of data from a Waukon Police Department computer drive. Waukon City Clerk Allen Lyon noted that Seagate, the manufacturer of the drive, would attempt recovery at an estimated cost of $3,200.

by Brianne Eilers

Students from Brenda's School of Dance have been selected to perform on television as part of the 62nd Annual Eagles Cancer Telethon being broadcast on KTTC Channel 10 in Rochester, MN this weekend. The telethon is scheduled for this Saturday and Sunday, January 16 and 17, with the Brenda's School of Dance students scheduled to perform during the live broadcast Sunday morning at 10:28 and again at 10:38. The students are collecting donations to take with them to present at the telethon and would appreciate any donation amount. Pictured at right are the members of Brenda's School of Dance who will be performing live as part of the telethon broadcast. Left to right - Front row: Katherine Bruening, Alexi Svestka, Liza Hotvedt, Zaida Bockman and Jaydon Snitker, with Brenda's School of Dance owner/instructor Brenda Kurth. Back row: Kari Tangen, Marissa Engelhardt, Lydia Hotvedt and Sidney McQuade. Not pictured but also performing are Maddie Putnam and Elizabeth McQuade.

Northgate Care Center is proud to announce that it will host the Quilts of Valor Presentation Thursday, January 7, 2016, at 2 p.m.
The Quilts of Valor program is a national foundation whose mission is to cover service members touched by war with healing Quilts of Valor. The foundation is staffed entirely by volunteers who donate their time and talent to this very special program. Each quilt is handmade especially for the veteran who is to receive the quilt.
Northgate Care Center’s Administrator, Lou Ann Wikan said, “We are excited to honor the veterans who have served our country”. She went on to say, “It is especially important to have this program brought to our care center in order to recognize those men and women who reside here who have helped to keep America safe”.

by Jason Meyer

The Waukon City Council met in its first session of 2016 Monday night, January 4. Calling the meeting to order at 7 p.m. was newly-elected Mayor Duane DeWalle.

First point of regular business, the Mayor appointed the Mayor Pro-Tem as newly-elected councilor Dwight Jones. The Mayor also appointed Police Chief, Asst. Police Chief, Police Officers, City employees, City Attorney, Asst. City Attorney, City Health Officer, and appointed the Council Committees. All officers and employees retained the positions held at the closing of the 2015 council. Likewise, the Council retained their meeting time and place, and reappointed The Standard as the official newspaper. The Council also retained Waukon State Bank and Farmers & Merchants Savings Bank as the City's official depositories, with a maximum balance of $8,000,000 per institution.

Despite financial set back, other positive attributes noted for month

by Brianne Eilers

The Boy Scout Troop 64 of Waukon will conduct it's annual city-wide Christmas tree pickup Saturday, January 9, 2016 as a service project.   Trees will be used to provide shelter for animal habitat in rural Waukon.
Residents are requested to place their 'live' trees curbside before 7 a.m. the day of the pickup.
Be sure to remove all ornaments and garland. Wreaths, artificial trees, and other decorations will not be accepted.
For more information, contact Maura Jones at (563) 568-1126.

Northgate Care Center in Waukon is proud to announce that it will host the Quilts of Valor Presentation January 7, 2016, at 2 p.m.

The Quilts of Valor program is a national foundation whose mission is to cover service members touched by war with healing Quilts of Valor.  The foundation is staffed entirely by volunteers who donate their time and talent to this very special program.  Each quilt is handmade especially for the veteran who is to receive the quilt.

Northgate Care Center’s Administrator, Lou Ann Wikan said, “We are excited to honor the veterans who have served our country”.  She went on to say, “It is especially important to have this program brought to our care center in order to recognize those men and women who reside here who have helped to keep America safe”.

The Northeast Iowa Regional Housing Trust Fund (NEIRHTF) is accepting applications for housing rehabilitation\improvement projects. Applicants can be low-moderate income homeowners, landlord/for-profit organizations or non-profit organizations to promote and create affordable housing activities.
Applicants must be in one of the four counties of Allamakee, Clayton, Howard and Winneshiek. Eligible projects include rehabilitation and repair of existing housing, including, but not limited to, roofs, windows, siding, plumbing electrical, energy efficiency, lead paint issues, and handicap accessibility.
For more information or to see if funding is still available, contact Upper Explorerland Regional Planning Commission at (563) 864-7551, ext. 111 for Mary Huinker. An application can also be obtained online at www.uerpc.org under Housing and Northeast Iowa Housing Trust Fund links.

by Jason Meyer