Community News

by Joe Moses

The Waukon City Council met Monday evening, April 16 to discuss a variety of matters, including business driveway access during the Green Valley Bridge replacement, a controlled burn of the retention basin and the hiring of a Park, Recreation and Wellness full-time employee. The Public Hearing for Amendment #1 for the City Budget for Fiscal-Year ending June 30, 2018 was opened and closed without any written or verbal comment.

Waukon Trees Forever will hold its annual spring tree planting Saturday, May 5. Volunteers are asked to gather at the Waukon City Park at 9 a.m. for tree planting within the park. Shovels, rakes and work gloves are about the only tools needed. Work will consist of planting trees and mulching them. Everyone is invited to help with the project. For more information contact Kenneth Olson at 563-568-4612.
 

Robey Memorial Library in Waukon will be hosting a film about country schools and the “days gone by” in educating youth in Iowa and the Midwest Tuesday, April 24 at 7 p.m. The film “Country School: One room, one nation” is being presented by the Allamakee County Historical Preservation Commission. Light refreshments will be provided after the showing. Submitted image.
 

Allamakee County libraries, including Delores Tillinghast Memorial Library in Harpers Ferry, Meehan Memorial Lansing Public Library, New Albin Public Library, Postville Public Library, Waterville Public Library and Robey Memorial Library in Waukon, along with Allamakee County Economic Development, are hosting a new, fun activity for the whole community, entitled “Allamakee Libraries Rock” (ALR).

ALR is a fun way for individuals and their families or groups to share their creativity in the community by painting/decorating rocks with a positive message or image. Once a rock is decorated, it can be placed in a park, wayside, playground, nature trail, etc. for someone else to find. Follow the @Allamakeelibrariesrock Facebook page to post about rocks that have been hidden or found, and to see what others in the community are posting.

Waukon High School and Allamakee County Substance Abuse Prevention (ASAP) are working in collaboration with Allamakee County’s emergency services of fire, law enforcement, EMS, etc. to host a mock vehicle accident Wednesday, April 18. The event is scheduled to be held at approximately 2 p.m. near the Waukon High School parking lot and is being held prior to the local high school Prom celebrations as a reminder to students and parents to make good choices and be safe in their celebrations.
 

by Brianne Eilers

The Allamakee Community School District (ACSD) Board of Directors met Tuesday morning, April 10 for public hearings on the proposed budget for the 2018-2019 school year, amending the 2017-2018 budget, consideration of the 2018-2019 school calendar and a public hearing on the sale of the Waterville Elementary School property.

There were no written or oral comments on the proposed budget for the 2018-2019 budget, nor on amending the 2017-2018 budget. No written or oral comments were received on the 2018-2019 school calendar either.

There were no written comments received regarding the sale of the Waterville Elementary School property, but Waterville Mayor Dave Monserud was present to address the board regarding the sale of the property. He asked that the board members consider the difference between a buyer who has community interests in mind as opposed to a buyer who may only see the property as personal gain.

Members of the Waukon Park, Recreation and Wellness Board are making preparations for a busy summer, and as they begin the hiring process for summer employees, they are also making a list of things that need to be readied for a busy summer season. Recalling all the work that inmates from Luster Heights accomplished in the past and knowing that these employees won’t be back any time soon, if ever, due to State budget cuts and the closing of that facility in Allamakee County, the board hopes to get additional assistance for the current volunteer base.

The Boy Scout Troop 64 Spring Omelet Breakfast will be held Sunday, April 8 at the St. Patrick Catholic Church hall in Waukon. Scouts, such as those pictured above, will be serving made-to-order omelets, hash browns, homemade cinnamon rolls, coffee, juice and milk from 7:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. this Sunday. Plates of cinnamon rolls are also available for a donation, with donations going to a charity chosen by the Scouts. Tickets may be purchased at the door, or in advance from any Boy Scout or second year Webelo Scout. The Omelet Breakfast is the Troop’s main fundraiser to support the purchase of new equipment, sending Scouts to summer camp and other troop activities. Troop 64 appreciates the community’s support of this event for over 25 years. For more information on the Omelet Breakfast, call 563-794-0403. Submitted photo.
 

by Joe Moses

The Waukon City Council met in a pair of sessions this past week, including a Wednesday, March 28 special session and its regular Monday, April 2 session. Coverage of both meetings appears below.

- MARCH 28 SPECIAL -
The Waukon City Council met in special session Wednesday evening, March 28 to discuss sewer rate increases, clarification of City duties and a city council member’s resignation. Mayor Pat Stone called the meeting to order with a capacity crowd in attendance in the City Council Chambers of Waukon City Hall.
City Clerk Al Lyon provided an overview of three different scenarios on sewer rate increases in regard to helping finance a new wastewater treatment plant in Waukon and how each would affect a sampling of residential, commercial and industrial customers. Lyon used a projector to display information from his laptop computer to a screen in the corner of the council room.

At a Wednesday evening, March 28 special session of the Waukon City Council, the council accepted the resignation of council member Dwight Jones. The resignation notice emailed by Jones to fellow members of the Waukon City Council, Waukon Mayor Pat Stone, Waukon City Attorney Jim Garrett, Waukon City Manager Dean Hilgerson and Waukon City Clerk Al Lyon Monday morning, March 26 simply stated, “Please accept this as my official resignation from the city council effective immediately. Good luck. Dwight.” There was no further explanation offered at the March 28 special session, which Jones did not attend.

The Standard reached out to Jones to offer the opportunity to further explain his resignation decision. His reply follows:

“Eighteen years ago I received some parking tickets from the Waukon PD that I felt were unjustified. I took out my frustration by running for mayor, and no one was more surprised than me when I won that first election.