Community News

Northeast Iowa Behavioral Health (NEIBH) is asking for input on service and program development for individuals addressing issues around mental health and substance use disorders. Information gathered through the survey will assist in planning for future programs in northeast Iowa and addressing treatment barriers.

The survey is anonymous and voluntary and will be available in English and Spanish. The public’s participation is appreciated. The survey will be available through March 20.

The survey can be found at the following link: http://bit.ly/NEIBHSurvey, or the QR code accompanying this article can also be used to access the survey.

Northeast Iowa Behavioral Health (NEIBH) is also offering listening sessions for in-person public input at the following locations, dates and times:

Planner Shannon Gapp of MSA Professional Services (pictured in the top left corner of the above photo) met with the Waukon Park and Recreation Board, members of the Waukon City Council and City Administration Monday, February 27 to provide an update relating to MSA’s comprehensive planning services for the City of Waukon. MSA Professional Services is continuing to accept online surveys from the public relating to Waukon City Park, recreation programming, trail system and facilities needs in Waukon. Those surveys can be accessed at https://arcg.is/0bnq0C or through the QR code below. Gapp provided an overview of the comprehensive planning process, with the Park and Rec Board and representatives of the City of Waukon providing feedback relating to their recommendations for City Park and facilities improvements and additions. Standard photo by Assistant Editor Joe Moses.
 

Upper Explorerland Regional Planning Commission (UERPC) is updating the Passenger Transportation Plan (PTP) for the region consisting of Allamakee, Clayton, Fayette, Howard and Winneshiek Counties in northeast Iowa. The Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT) requires that this region’s PTP be updated every five years. The current plan was adopted by the Upper Explorerland Transportation Policy Board in Spring of 2018.

by Joe Moses

The Allamakee County Board of Supervisors met in regular session Monday, February 27 to address a full agenda of matters including the review of the County’s insurance policy and renewal, discussion of the Maximum Levy hearing date for the Fiscal Year 2024 (FY24) County Budget, and consideration of the Resolution to add a Secondary Road Project to the Construction Program. The meeting was called to order by Board Chairperson Dan Byrnes with Supervisors Mark Reiser and Dennis Keatley present.

During Public Comment, Carolyn Clark, a member of the Allamakee County Historical Society Board of Directors, noted that work has begun relating to the genealogy research area in the basement of the County Veterans Museum, the former Vet’s Club location.

The Allamakee County Veterans Museum will be hosting a special presentation Thursday, March 16 at 6:30 p.m. at the new museum in the former Vet’s Club on Allamakee Street in Waukon. The program was rescheduled from February 23 due to a winter storm.

Area native Craig Timmerman will be giving a public presentation titled “Harley Davidson Goes to War” where he will detail his efforts to locate and restore an authentic World War II Harley Davidson U.S. Army motorcycle, model WLA (pictured in the submitted photo above).

Timmerman is an experienced WWII collector who will explain the training, experiences and contributions of this modern “cavalry” to the war effort. He will also introduce a documentary from the U.S. Army Quartermaster School where motorcycle troops trained. His restored Harley Davidson WLA with maintenance tools and manuals will be on display.

“Find your Voice” is the theme of Robey Memorial Library’s 2023 Adult Reading Challenge, which is now underway and runs through December 31. Robey Memorial Library challenges everyone to read something new or different this year.

Participants can receive a prize drawing entry for reading from one of each of 12 categories: Author’s First Book; Author/Genre Never Read; Autobiography/Memoir; Community Themed; Epistolary (Letter or Journal); Featuring a creative activity; Featuring social change; History; Magazine; Poetry; Recommended; and Religious, Spiritual or Inspirational.

The Allamakee County Veterans Museum in Waukon will be offering one final encore video presentation to the public in the meeting room of its new museum in the former Vet’s Club building at 105 Allamakee Street, Waukon. The video presentation will take place Saturday, March 4 at 10 a.m. and feature Carl Johnson, U.S. Army Veteran who served in Vietnam.

There is no admission charge for these video presentations, and the museum is wheelchair accessible. Museum winter hours include tours provided each Saturday from 9 a.m. until noon, and the museum is available by appointment for groups.
 

The Waukon Police Department will be hosting an Open House for the general public to tour its remodeled police station located at 104 1st Street NW in Waukon Thursday, March 2 from 4-7 p.m. The open house will give potential police officer applicants and the general public an opportunity to tour the facility and view patrol vehicles, with officers also in attendance to answer questions and provide demonstrations of equipment.

Featured during the open house will be the police station remodeling completed in 2021 that provided employee safety upgrades, increased individual officer workspace and created a conference/training room. Also on display will be the new Taser 7 and Axon 3 body cameras acquired in 2022, as well as a new drone acquired by the department just this year.
 

Upper Explorerland Regional Planning Commission (UERPC) is updating the Passenger Transportation Plan (PTP) for the region consisting of Allamakee, Clayton, Fayette, Howard and Winneshiek Counties in northeast Iowa. The Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT) requires that this region’s PTP be updated every five years. The current plan was adopted by the Upper Explorerland Transportation Policy Board in Spring of 2018.

by Joe Moses

The Waukon City Council met twice within a week including a special session Wednesday, February 15 and regular session Monday, February 20. Coverage of both meetings follows.

FEBRUARY 15
The February 15 special meeting of the Waukon City Council was called to order by Mayor Pat Stone with council member Steve Wiedner attending in person and council members Arvid Hatlan, Andy Sires and John Lydon attending through Zoom web-conferencing or by phone. City Manager Gary Boden and City Clerk Sarah Snitker were present in person for this meeting taking place in the City Council Chambers within Waukon City Hall.

The meeting moved into the approval of payment to S&M Development for Pladsen Subdivision invoices. The council approved the payment of bills in the amount of $176,806 relating to the Pladsen Subdivision project.