Community News

Monday, July 14, Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird visited Mosaic’s Waukon location. Mosaic is a non-profit organization that serves individuals with disabilities and helps them achieve their goals. Pictured above, Attorney General Bird was joined by Waukon Police Chief Paul Wagner, Mosaic’s leadership and staff, and a Mosaic home provider and a Mosaic client. She heard first-hand how Mosaic pairs home providers and individuals with disabilities and how this system has shown great success. They also discussed the resources that enable Mosaic to continue providing these services. Submitted photo.
 

More than 30 area military Veterans from all eras and branches of service were honored during a Birth of America event hosted Sunday, July 6 at the Sweeney Shelter in Waukon City Park near the Allamakee County Freedom Rock. The event was hosted by Midwest Veterans of America in honor of the Independence Day holiday celebrated July 4 each year and it included a cook-out meal and each of those honored Veterans receiving a plaque and small American flag, in addition to rounds of applause and gratitude from the dozens of family members, friends and other individuals in attendance, for their years of service to their country. Many of those honored Veterans, or representatives from their family, are pictured in the photo above, along with retired U.S. Army Master Sergeant Kevin Herman, a 1984 graduate of Waukon High School who served as emcee of the event.

by Joe Moses

The Allamakee County Board of Supervisors met in regular session Monday, July 14 to address a full agenda of matters including the County Treasurer’s Semi-Annual and Annual Report, consideration of a bid for the lease of the Irish Hollow Quarry property, and consideration of the Allamakee County Sheriff’s K9 Scholarship award.

The meeting was called to order by Board of Supervisors Chairperson Pro-Tem Dennis Keatley with Supervisor Tom Clark present. Chairperson Dan Byrnes was not present due to a scheduled absence.

Monthly on the second Wednesday, Robey Memorial Library in Waukon offers Grab & Go activity bags on a first-come, first-serve basis for area youth to take part in. Bags include instructions and supplies for at-home activities; are new monthly; and include age appropriate activities for kids and teens.

Contact Robey Memorial Library at 563-568-4424 or www.waukon.lib.ia.us for additional information.
 

Robey Memorial Library’s “Level Up at Your Library” Summer Reading Program 2025 is underway as of Tuesday, July 1 and runs through Thursday, July 31. Activities include Reading Challenges with prizes for all ages, Kids and Teens Grab and Go Activity Bags, craft events and fine forgiveness, as described below:

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 a reader participates, the more prizes they will receive.

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

by Brianne Grimstad

The Veterans Memorial Hospital (VMH) Board of Trustees started off its monthly meeting June 22 with a public hearing on an amended budget for the hospital’s 2024-2025 fiscal year. There were no written or verbal comments offered during the hearing

The reason for the amendment was to add a little more expense to the budget to cover the annual IPERS (Iowa Public Employees’ Retirement System) adjustment. VMH Administrator Michael Coyle explained that there is fluctuation in the market and the hospital wanted to be sure it accounted for any issues on identifying IPERS on its cost report.

by Joe Moses

The Waukon City Council met in regular session Monday, July 7 to address a full agenda of matters including the consideration of a bucket truck purchase for the Street Department, the consideration of computer purchases for City Hall and the consideration of changing meeting dates in September.

The meeting was called to order by Mayor Arvid Hatlan with council members present including Steve Wiedner, Nicholas Engrav, Dave Blocker, Tim Smedsrud and John Lydon.

Hatlan made note of the removal of two agenda items including discussion relating to Fiscal-Year 2026 (FY26) General Fund expenditure and revenue projections in addition to the Closed Session relating to the purchase or sale of real estate. He also made note of a correction to the consent agenda relating to the Park, Recreation and Wellness Board term renewal for Julie Rotach which was incorrectly listed as a term renewal with the Library Board.

by Joe Moses

The Allamakee County Board of Supervisors met in regular session Monday, July 7 to address a full agenda of matters including the approval of the Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26) Appropriations Resolution, the consideration of the Resolution for the Destruction of Noxious Weeds, and consideration of the resignation of a jailer/dispatcher. The meeting was called to order by Board of Supervisors Chairperson Dan Byrnes with Supervisors Dennis Keatley and Tom Clark present.

During Public Comment, Byrnes noted that the Firecracker 5K Run/Walk held Saturday, July 5 in Harpers Ferry had 247 participants with the Harpers Ferry Boosters and volunteers deserving recognition for this well-run event and the high level of public participation. Clark and Byrnes both made note of the busy weekend in Harpers Ferry.

Midwest Veterans of America will be hosting a Birth of America celebration event this Sunday, July 6 at the Sweeney Shelter near the Allamakee County Freedom Rock in the Waukon City Park. The free event will begin at 11 a.m. and will honor more than 30 area Veterans with a cook-out meal followed by an awards presentation that will feature some special awards.

Among the special recognition will be the honoring of the five “most veteran” Veterans still living in Allamakee County. Those “most veteran” Veterans being honored for their service and their longevity on Earth will include:
• Osmund Quandahl, Waukon
• Gladwin Anderson, Waukon
• James B. Klenske, Waukon
• Cyril Larkin, Waukon
• Emmett Larkin, Waukon.

by Joe Moses

The Allamakee County Board of Supervisors met in regular session Monday, June 30 to address a full agenda of matters including the review and signing of watershed inspection reports, the discussion and consideration of signing a letter in support of Iowa’s Community Action Agencies, and discussion of the proposed Local Workforce Development Area merger. The meeting was called to order by Board of Supervisors Chairperson Dan Byrnes with Supervisors Tom Clark and Dennis Keatley present.

During Public Comment, County Auditor Denise Beyer noted that the Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) from the Federal government was received in the amount of $22,504. Byrnes clarified that this amount was received as an annual payment in place of property taxes for Effigy Mounds National Monument, a non-taxable Federal land.