Community News

by Joe Moses

The Waukon Police Station remodeling project is moving forward with extensive improvements and renovations taking place this fall at its current location in the 100 block of First Street NW, with project completion anticipated for mid-December this year. Initial interior demolition got underway this past week by the project contractor.

Waukon Police Chief Paul Wagner said that the first phase of this project essentially began with the replacement of the Waukon Police Station’s concrete driveway earlier this summer, which also improved some storm water drainage issues at the northeast corner of the building. Wagner also said that a pre-construction meeting took place just over a week ago with Dave’s Complete Construction, Inc. of Delhi, one of seven contractors to bid on this project and the contractor with the lowest bid for the project of $372,694.00 and an alternate bid of $14,923.00 for the inclusion of additional options.

Due to a remodeling project that has just gotten underway with the start of this week at its current First Street NW location, the Waukon Police Department has temporarily relocated its headquarters to its one-time former location on the lower level of Waukon City Hall. The temporary location is accessible through its First Avenue NE entrance on the west end of the building (white door pictured here at right). The Waukon Police Department’s mailing address remains the same, 104 First Street NW, and the department’s telephone numbers and email addresses are all unchanged as well. Standard photo by Joe Moses.
 

by Joe Moses

The Waukon City Council met in regular session Tuesday, September 8 following the observance of the Labor Day holiday and closure of City Hall on the council’s usual meeting day Monday, September 7. The council addressed a full agenda of items including a request for reimbursement from the Iowa COVID-19 Government Relief Fund, consideration of Waukon Wellness Center HVAC repairs and City Code amendments based on State Code changes.

Students from Waukon High School will join thousands of other youth and any others who may be interested on athletic fields across the nation Wednesday, October 7 to share their Christian faith with fellow students and the general public for this year’s Fields of Faith event. The local event is now in its ninth year and will start at 7 p.m. at the Waukon High School football field that Wednesday evening. Attendees are encouraged to bring a lawn chair or blanket to sit on.

by Joe Moses

U.S. Senator Joni Ernst continued her annual 99 County Tour with a planned stop Wednesday, September 2 at WW Homestead Dairy in Waukon.

Tom Weighner, a co-owner of the business, provided a tour of the production facility and retail store and discussed a variety of industry trends affecting WW Homestead Dairy and the dairy industry in general during the COVID-19 pandemic. Weighner said the recent purchase of a milk truck has made the company more self-sufficient relating to transportation by reducing dependence on outside trucking companies to distribute their products.

J Nails & Spa has opened its doors within the past month in the newly renovated building at 7 Spring Avenue in downtown Waukon. The building that most recently housed Spring Avenue Pub in Waukon has now been renovated both inside and outside and, as of August 5, is home to the new business owned and operated by the husband and wife team of Tommy Ta and Yen Thu Nguyen.

The couple originally came from California and has also lived in Illinois and Wisconsin. They have three children that include two boys and one girl.

The two say that building owner Dick Sullivan inspired them to open their business at its new Waukon location. They describe their new venture as an “upscale nail salon” and offer both manicures and pedicures within their line-up of services.

Robey Memorial Library in Waukon is beginning a Reader of the Month program during this month of September. Anyone can sign themselves or their child up for consideration to be featured as a Robey Memorial Library Reader of the Month.

Any Robey Memorial Library reader, whether reading or listening to books, can participate. Library staff will select a new Reader of the Month to post on the library’s website and social media platforms monthly. Readers may share a little about themselves and books they love to read. The Reader of the Month feature will also have a link to the library’s catalog of the featured reader’s booklist.

Stop in to the library or complete the consideration form online at www.waukon.lib.ia.us/services/programs/RoM. Contact Robey Memorial Library at 563-568-4424 or visit www.waukon.lib.ia.us with any further questions.
 

by Joe Moses

The Allamakee County Board of Supervisors met in regular session Monday, August 31 at the New Albin Public Library as part of the board’s annual tour of county libraries. The board addressed a variety of agenda items including a resolution requesting reimbursement from the Iowa COVID-19 Government Relief Fund, the Second Reading of an amendment to the Allamakee County Zoning Ordinance and an update relating to the New Albin Public Library.

During Public Comment, Executive Director Val Reinke of Allamakee County Economic Development (ACED) discussed the Eitzen, MN Lions Club’s Fall ATV/UTV Ride that took place Saturday, August 29 as a scholarship fundraiser for students at Caledonia, Kee and Waukon High Schools in Minnesota and Iowa.

The Waukon Inn, owned and operated by Roberta Palmer, has recently opened for business once again at its new location. Following the sale of its long-time building location on Rossville Road in the southern part of Waukon, Palmer relocated the Waukon Inn within the kitchen and dining facility at the Northeast Iowa Equity Sales Commission located at 1645 State Highway 76 North approximately two miles north of Waukon.

Palmer has been self-employed in the dining business since 1997. She and her husband live in Luana but have been involved in the business for the past 23 years. “We’ve really been looking forward to seeing everyone again,” Palmer shared in regard to opening at her new location.

Six new metal hitching rails have been installed in the Creekside Equestrian Campground at Yellow River State Forest near Harpers Ferry. The rails were purchased in a cooperative effort between Friends of Yellow River State Forest, the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR)/Yellow River State Forest,  the Iowa Horse Council and Palmer Repair of Waukon. Five additional hitching rails have been ordered, with plans for more cooperative financing to replace all the hitching rails in both equestrian campgrounds over the next several years in Yellow River State Forest. For more information about Friends of Yellow River State Forest check out the group’s social media presence. Submitted photo.