Waukon City Council discusses snow removal and WEDC agreement

by Dwight Jones
 
The Waukon City Council met in regular session the evening of Monday, December 7. Councilman Steve Wiedner was absent from the council table.
The first two items on the agenda addressed the proposed purchase of property near the Waukon High School and Waukon Wellness Center for sports fields to be used by the Waukon Park and Recreation Department for their sports programs, including soccer. However, City Attorney Jim Garrett explained that he had sent a purchase agreement to the property owner Friday but had not heard back so there was not much else to report until those documents had been approved and returned.
Councilman Trent Mitchell expressed concerns about ongoing expenses for the property. Councilman Joe Cunningham, who has spearheaded the project, explained that for now he only sees a small amount of grade work and seeding as immediate expenses, and expects mowing to be the only ongoing expense.
Next, Mayor Keith Schroeder explained that there were funds that had been paid to Waukon Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) from the purchase of property by the Iowa Department of Transportation (IDOT) that he wanted turned over to the City. WEDC President Dennis DeBuhr was in attendance and explained that per the agreement between WEDC and the City, WEDC would pay the City net proceeds, but that there were bills and expenses that had not yet been paid or received and that they were just following “normal procedures” as they had with similar purchases in the past, and that they were simply following the agreement agreed to by both parties.
After much discussion, it was determined that WEDC would address the issue at its next meeting, which would be happening soon. If the Board agreed, they would cut a check to the City but retain $5,000 to help cover ongoing expenses and then make a second payment sometime in the future once all expenses have been paid.
Once that issue was resolved, the Council approved using the funds, once received form WEDC, to pay the non-TIF portion of the water and sewer infrastructure work done, approximately $118,000, recently completed along Second Street SW.
Talks then turned to some additional work, including grading and a manhole that is needed as part of the above mentioned IDOT maintenance shed project. This is expected to be a cost for the City and/or WEDC, but the State was offering to accept bids for it. The Council agreed to have them get initial bids, and once received, they could determine if those costs look acceptable or if they could have the work done for less through another option.
The ongoing talks regarding snow removal at business properties was again discussed.  Schroeder explained that he continued to receive requests from other business owners, most recently from Mike Quillin with Quillin’s Food Ranch and Jack Sweeney with Sweeney Real Estate, that everyone be treated the same. For clarification - the discussion is not about snow plowing, but rather the removal of piles of snow once it has been plowed.
The City has historically removed snow from some downtown areas to clear congestion, but according to Schroeder, this “shows favoritism, and you just can’t do that”. Both Cunningham and Mitchell expressed that they would find it difficult to make a drastic change without having had a chance to talk to those with concerns, and encouraged such individuals to contact council members or preferably to attend a council meeting to discuss the matter further.
Schroeder continued expressing other concerns he had, moving on to select sidewalks within town that the City currently clears snow from. There were certain properties he was most concerned with - including property owned by LeRoy McCabe near the city park, and other McCabe property that runs along Second Street SW.    Cunningham suggested leaving things “as-is” and reviewing the issue next year.
Focus then turned to the safety sidewalk that runs along Third Avenue NW. Some time ago, Schroeder had expressed concerns about the fact that the City was clearing the snow from it and the councilmen in attendance followed his lead and voted to cease the snow removal. However, Tom Kerndt, a property owner along the route, was in attendance and provided a letter he had received from the City several years ago that clearly stated that the city would do maintenance, “including snow removal”. The Council quickly reversed its decision and approved resuming the snow removal along that route.
Schroeder next explained that K&S Plumbing and Heating was requesting the $3,000 it felt it was due as part of the City’s business incentive program. However, Cunningham explained that “two wrongs don’t make a right”, and explained the City had made a mistake by implying that they would definitely receive it, stating that K&S had not met the job creation/retainage needed to qualify for the funds, and if the City paid them, they would be doing so against their own policy. The Council agreed to ask K&S to provide documentation showing that they, indeed, qualified and, once received, would review and likely approve their request.
The Council then agreed to renew its medical health insurance plan.
Next, Schroeder explained that the standing committee/board member terms throughout the City need to be cleaned up by providing a start and finish date, then went on to explain that Dennis Lyons’ term on the Waukon Wellness Center Board was ending, and he was suggesting a change.
Schroeder explained that roughly four months ago he had spoken with Lyons and he had expressed an interest in continuing, but Schroeder felt that “sometimes new blood is needed”, and was suggesting another candidate be appointed. Several in attendance, including Waukon Wellness Center Director Danielle Bucknell, expressed support for Lyons and felt that based on his hard work and dedication to the WWC project from its inception that he should, at the very least, be asked and, should he want to continue serving on the board, the new appointment should wait.
Mitchell made a motion to have Mayor Schroeder speak with Lyons to determine his interest in continuing and the issue will be revisited at the next council meeting.
Schroeder then explained that Waukon Zoning Administrator Jim Hager was resigning at the end of the month, and steps to replace him would be starting soon.