Lansing City Council discusses electric franchise, results of housing survey

by Macie Hill

The Lansing City Council met in regular session Monday, March 19 at Lansing City Hall. Discussion centered around renewing the electric franchise contract, Allamakee Housing Survey review of results, summertime city mowing positions being available, hiring a part-time police officer, an open position for a full-time patrol officer and the City Clerk's office being closed Friday, March 30.

Craig Clefesch and Keith Sherman with Alliant Energy were present at the meeting to answer any questions about renewing the 25-year electric franchise with the City of Lansing. Clefesch, Sherman and the council had discussion about adding a franchise fee to the electric bills, although no final decision was made on that proposal. The topic will come up again during a future meeting.

Allamakee County Economic Development Executive Director Val Reinke and Ashley Christensen with Upper Explorerland Regional Planning Commission were present at the meeting to discuss the results of the Allamakee Housing Survey completed earlier this year. The two discussed how there were many community members who participated in the survey and they shared some of the results as they pertained to the Lansing community. Since completion of the survey, they have been sharing results with the communities in Allamakee County. Those results will also be shared at a Housing Task Force Meeting scheduled for April 4 at the NICC Waukon Center, beginning at 5:30 p.m. From there, they will be going back and holding additional community meetings to share where those communities are thus far, and the steps suggested to take to improve housing development.

The City is taking applications for lawn mowers for the summertime season. The Lansing/New Albin Police Department is also accepting applications for a full-time patrol officer, and those applications will be accepted until the position is filled. The police department has also officially hired Luke Inglett as a part-time officer. Inglett was a full-time officer for the department but recently took a similar position in Waukon.

The City Clerk's office will be closed Friday, March 30 in observance of Good Friday.