Waukon City Council approves planned bond issue to help fund several projects, discusses other street and sewer matters
by Joe Moses
The Waukon City Council met in regular session at City Hall Monday, August 1 to discuss a full agenda of items including the Northwest Detention Basin, vacancies on Boards and street repair projects.
During the Public Comments portion of the meeting, Janelle Clark addressed the City Council regarding the possibility of a dog park and prairie restoration. Cheri Turner discussed that a tree was lost on the boulevard near her home due to high winds during a storm a few weeks ago. Turner was asking for the City Council’s approval to replace the tree. Mayor Duane DeWalle and Councilman Dewey Jones both suggested working with Trees Forever to get the tree replaced.
During the Departmental Reports, Water/Sewer Superintendent Bob Campbell reported that he will be part of a meeting regarding the proposed water treatment facility and will be discussing some of the limits placed on the project. Street Superintendent Keith Burrett discussed that four sections of sidewalk adjacent to the City parking lots have been replaced and street signs have been returned to their original locations.
Park, Recreation and Wellness Director Jeremy Strub commented that the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has added bass and catfish to the Indian Springs Pond but bluegills may or may not be added this year. Strub is working with the DNR to control the algae in the pond. The new concession stand under construction near the City Park ball diamond is progressing. Strub commented on ash trees being a hazard once they are dead and that there are 28 ash trees in the City Park and campground. The Council discussed that ash trees are a concern citywide and that cost versus benefit needs to be weighed in whether to treat or cut down affected trees.
Under Regular Business, seven sealed bids for excess Street Department equipment were opened and read aloud. Pat McMillan was the high bidder at $2,190 for the used truck and trailer. McMillan’s bid was accepted and approved by the City Council. An additional reserve police officer was discussed and approved. One of the previously approved reserve officers has a schedule conflict and is being removed from the list of reserve officers who are contacted when needed to assist with events.
The Council discussed the vacancy on the Park, Recreation and Wellness Board. Dennis DeBuhr was approved by the Council to fill this vacancy. The vacancy on the City's Planning and Zoning Board was discussed. This board typically meets six times a year but can meet monthly during times of multiple construction projects. This agenda item was tabled with no action at this time.
Lori Brockway with Upper Explorerland Regional Planning Commission addressed the Waukon Reuse Plan. This plan involves the Northeast Iowa Regional Housing Trust Fund Program, matching funds and grants. These funds can be used for housing rehabilitation projects, emergency repairs or new construction benefiting low to moderate income households. The Northeast Iowa Housing Trust Fund agreement was approved by the City Council for the funds that have been allocated for Waukon.
The Airport Land Lease Renewal was discussed. City Attorney James Garrett advised the Council that allowing the current renter to continue may be the best option. To allow the current rental agreement to continue, there is no need to do anything. No action was taken at this time. Garrett also discussed the next agenda item, the Bresnahan Land Lease Renewal, saying that terminating the lease to renegotiate the type of crops allowed to be grown on the property may be advisable. The Council approved the termination of the lease with a re-offer to the renter as hay crop only.
The bond for the Northwest Detention Basin, Rossville Road and Seventh Avenue Storm Sewer, Short Term Loan and Final Bresnahan Land Payment was the next agenda item discussed. Senior Project Manager with Fehr-Graham Engineering Lyle TeKippe advised that the Northwest Detention Basin project will be completed at less than $300,000. The storm sewer repairs and relining between Rossville Road and Seventh Avenue SE will be completed at a conservative estimate of $520,000. City Clerk Al Lyon discussed that $1.45 million is in the proposed bond for these projects, along with $110,000 due for the final payment on the Bresnahan property and $510,000 due from a short-term loan in December. The bond issue was approved by the Council.
TeKippe provided an update on the Northwest Detention Basin. The project is close to completion. The area needs to be seeded and the metal casting over the control structure needs to be added. TeKippe addressed the 2016 PCC Street Repair Project which will be started in late September or October. The 2016 HMA (Hot Mix Asphalt) Street Project received one bid from River City Paving of Decorah at $36,400.05, which was approved by the Council.
The Northgate Sanitary Sewer was the next item discussed. TeKippe advised that he is putting together cost estimates based on the findings using the Visu-Sewer camera used to inspect the storm sewer. There are some limits in moving the camera around in certain areas due to irregularities or the need for physical spot repairs.
Kristi Campbell, a resident of Countryside Estates, addressed the Council regarding concerns with the proposed Countryside Estates Sanitary Sewer. Campbell is supportive of having the homes in the Countryside Estates development hooked up to the City’s sanitary sewer system. This would alleviate issues with septic systems, leech lines and run-off which have increased as more homes have been built in this development. Ken Lampman, also a Countryside Estates resident, was also present and expressed that he is opposed to being required to hook up to the City’s sanitary sewer system. Councilman John Lydon requested to view the properties in the Countryside Estates development before the next Council meeting.
The Rossville Road and Seventh Avenue SE Storm Sewer was discussed. Attorney Garrett is waiting on three easements before improvement work can begin. As routine accounting measures, resolutions to transfer funds from the Hotel/Motel (Park Improvement) Fund to the 2013 Flood Fund and from the Sewer Operation Maintenance Fund to the 2011 Capital Improvement Fund were combined into one measure and approved by the Council. The C-Mart/West Side Development properties were discussed with no action taken at this time.
The Indian Springs Pond Project was discussed. TeKippe advised the Council there is currently a $6,000 difference between what the City has offered and what the contractor believes is owed for work at the Indian Springs Pond. There has been no counter offer to settle made by the contractor. The dispute involves the exact quantities of soil removed from the pond. TeKippe advised that a certain percentage of what was removed was water as this was highly saturated soil. With the possibility of litigation being imminent, the City Council went into closed session to discuss strategy with legal counsel under Iowa Code 21.5 (1)(C).
