Community News

The Waukon Chamber of Commerce is seeking volunteers to assist with the serving of the meal associated with the annual Waukon Corn Days celebration scheduled for August 2-3 this year. The meal portion of the event is scheduled for Friday, August 2 from 4-8 p.m., and volunteers are being sought to help with serving the meal or handing out drinks during any of a trio of hour-and-a-half time-slot shifts of approximately 3:45-5:15 p.m., 5:10-6:45 p.m. or 6:40-8:10 p.m., with volunteers also needed for a clean-up shift following the street dance, from 11:15-11:45 p.m.

Those wishing to volunteer their time can either call the Waukon Chamber of Commerce office at 563-568-4110 or email waukonchamber@gmail.com.

The Allamakee County Engineer’s Office is replacing a large box culvert on Lansing Harpers Road (County Road X42) approximately 0.8 miles north of its intersection with Lafayette Ridge Drive, about four miles south of Lansing. The project will involve a full road closure (as outlined in orange in the map at right) at the project location (between Columbus Road/Doehler Drive to the north and Lafayette Ridge Drive to the south). The project began Monday, July 22 and is anticipated to end August 23 of this year at 5 p.m., depending upon weather. There is a signed detour in place (as highlighted in red in the map image) that will include the use of Lafayette Ridge Drive and Great River Road (County Road X52). Map image courtesy of the Allamakee County Engineer’s Office.
 

The Waukon Quarry location for Bruening Rock Products, Inc. and all the operations that stem from that location throughout Allamakee County are now under new management following a recent leadership transition. Brandon Mahr, a 2005 graduate of Waukon High School, brings his 19 years of experience with Bruening Rock to that management role.

Mahr said he began construction work right out of high school with Fred Carlson Co. out of Decorah, working with that company for about one year before he got a call from Bruening’s Decorah headquarters offering him a job. It was shortly after his employment began with Bruening Rock that he was then transfered to his home county of Allamakee, working out of the Waukon Quarry location.

by Joe Moses

The Allamakee County Board of Supervisors met in regular session Monday, July 22 to address a full agenda of matters including the consideration of the Resolution establishing a County Compensation Board, discussion and consideration of the deposit of returned Allamakee County Extension Office funds, and the opening and consideration of bids for the CAT6 and camera project for the Allamakee County Courthouse. The meeting was called to order by Board of Supervisors Chairperson Dan Byrnes with Supervisors Mark Reiser and Dennis Keatley present.

Robey Memorial Library’s next installment of its ongoing Live & Learn series will be In Case of Emergency. This engaging and informative session, designed to enrich lives through monthly learning opportunities, takes place Thursday, July 25 at 5:30 p.m. in the lower level Community Room of the library in Waukon.

Preparedness for emergencies, evacuations, and disasters is paramount in safeguarding local communities. To address this vital need, the library is pleased to host Allamakee County Emergency Management Coordinator Corey Snitker. With his expertise and experience, Snitker will lead an informative discussion and Q&A session aimed at equipping attendees with essential knowledge and practical tips to navigate various emergency situations confidently.

The Allamakee County Sheriff’s Department has been called upon by the communities of Lansing and New Albin to assist in providing temporary law enforcement coverage in those two communities following the recent resignation of Chief of Police Conrad Rosendahl, and more recently, the resignations of the two remaining officers in the department, Darby Stone and Troy Riehm. Chief Rosendahl’s resignation became effective June 26, as he began a new job as Chief of Police for the City of New Hampton July 1.

by Joe Moses

The Waukon City Council met in regular session Monday, July 15 to address a full agenda of matters. The meeting was called to order by Mayor Arvid Hatlan.

During Public Comment, Ian Zahren, an Independent candidate running for the Iowa House of Representatives District 64, discussed being an advocate for small communities like Waukon. Zahren requested feedback from the council for follow-up in Des Moines with council member Steve Wiedner discussing the need for stronger enforcement relating to illegal drugs. Assistant City Attorney Hattie Frana discussed the need for more resources beyond court-ordered mental health related treatment. Zahren noted the approximate 3.5 million dollar statewide opioid settlement with options available to apply for that funding as a city and as a county.

Anyone who has ever wanted to enter something they made into the county fair but who is not sure how to do it should attend the Open Class Workshop Wednesday, July 10 at Robey Memorial Library for a short “how to” with a county fair board member and fair judge on open class exhibits. The Allamakee County Fair starts July 17, so there is still time to complete an exhibit project.

Wednesday, July 10 at 5:30 p.m. Robey Memorial Library is hosting an Open Class Workshop in partnership with the Allamakee County Fair. This mini workshop is good for adults and youth alike who are not in 4-H or FFA but would like to participate in the county fair.

Example projects might include arts/craft, horticulture, woodworking, textiles, antiquities, flowers, baked goods, food preservation, photography and many more. Contact Robey Memorial Library at 563-568-4424 or www.waukon.lib.ia.us with questions.
 

Robey Memorial Library’s “Read, Renew, Repeat” Summer Reading Program 2024 begAN Monday, July 1 and runs through Wednesday, July 31. Activities include Reading Challenges with prizes for all ages, Kids and Teens Grab-and-Go Activity Bags, craft events and fine forgiveness. This summer’s activities are further described below.

For Kids: Infant-6th grade (completed)
The 4-Week Reading Challenge: Register at the front desk, pick up or print from the library website a reading log that features reading and activity challenges. Earn prizes and books by completing the tasks assigned to the squares. The more readers participate, the more prizes they will receive.

Participants can display a “Library Champion” sign in their yard. Watch for these while driving around town.

Upper Explorerland Regional Planning Commission (UERPC) is conducting an update to the Long-Range Transportation Plan (LRTP) for the five-county region consisting of Allamakee, Clayton, Fayette, Howard, and Winneshiek Counties in northeast Iowa. The Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT) requires that the region’s LRTP be updated every five years. The current plan was adopted by the Upper Explorerland Transportation Policy Board in September of 2019.

The LRTP has a 20-year planning horizon and is intended to guide transportation investments in the five-county region in support of a transportation system that is safe for all transportation system users, and that facilitates the efficient movement of people and goods. The plan includes a description of the region’s existing conditions; identifies current transportation challenges; anticipates potential future needs; and explores various strategies for addressing those challenges and needs.