Community News

by Joe Moses

The Allamakee County Board of Supervisors met in regular session Monday, July 8 to address a full agenda of items including a Public Hearing for a construction permit for Gruber Ridge LLC, consideration of bids for concrete pavement patching and the acceptance of a letter of retirement from a County Sheriff’s Department deputy. There were no comments from the public in attendance during the Public Comment portion of the meeting.

The Public Hearing for the Construction Permit Application for the Gruber Ridge LLC confinement feeding operation was opened. Troy Peterson, Manure Plan Manager/Agronomy Sales, with Waukon Feed Ranch discussed that Daryl Gruber intends to add two barns, one for farrowing and the other for gestation, which will add 2,900 head to Gruber’s swine operation and as a result will require the addition of eight employees in the future.

Allamakee County residents are encouraged to participate in “A Universe of Stories,” Robey Memorial Library’s summer library program, from July 8 to August 3. Readers of all ages are invited to explore the wonders of the universe and learn about the solar system. Patrons are invited to try something new: learn new facts about space, read a new book, try a new craft, meet new people, and much more.

Special events this summer will include:

The Allamakee Democrats recently donated food items and money to the Allamakee County Relief Office. These contributions were made by members of the Allamakee Democratic Central Committee as their community service project. Rebecca Hawes, Direct of the Relief Office, accepted the donations stating, “Supplies of food are extremely low this time of year yet the problem of hunger is year-around. Donations of food and money are definitely needed and appreciated.” Pictured above, left to right, are Allamakee Democrats Co-Chairperson Karen Pratte, Allamakee County Relief Director Rebecca Hawes and Allamakee Democrats Co-Chairperson Lori Egan. Submitted photo.
 

by Joe Moses

The Waukon City Council met in regular session Monday, July 1 to address a full agenda of items including the renewal of the Veterans Memorial Hospital loan, the Waukon Industrial Sidewalk Project and appointments to the Park and Wellness Board.

Two public hearings were individually held with City Clerk Lana Snitker indicating that no written or verbal comments were received. The first public hearing involved the proposed change in zoning district classification for a property at 105 Ninth Street NW owned by Brian Sweeney and the second public hearing involved the proposed disposition of interest in real property for the West Side Development Subdivision, Lot 3 in Lot 2. Both public hearings were opened and closed without comment from the public attending.

Waukon Veterinary Service has a new veterinarian that recently joined its staff. Dr. Laura May is new to the Waukon area but is not new to the Midwest having grown up in rural Indiana, not far from where she would later attend college in West Lafayette. Although she did not grow up on a farm, her interest in veterinary medicine began at a young age and continued with her involvement in 4-H and FFA in her elementary and high school years.

Northeast Iowa Community Action Corporation (NEICAC) Transit Dispatch Manager Natasha Wilkes of Waukon was recognized recently at the National Community Transportation Association of America (CTAA) conference for completing the 2018/2019 Emerging Leaders Academy. This one-year program gives participants the opportunity to advance their management and leadership skills within the transit industry through support of mentors, peer groups and consultants, while completing a real-world situation project.

Wilkes manages the scheduling and dispatch staff and functions for EARL Public Transit, a program of Northeast Iowa Community Action Corporation. For more information about EARL Public Transit, visit www.neicac.org/transit, follow EARL Public Transit through its social media presence or call 866-382-4259.
 

In a project that took place over the past month, the City of Waukon water tower located on the north side of town within the Allamakee County Fairgrounds was sandblasted, sealed and repainted by K&W Coatings of Elkader both on its interior and its exterior as a maintenance measure. The photos above show the transformation from prior to any exterior work being started (left photo), to having its riveted seams sealed following sandblasting and preparing the exterior for sealing and painting (center photo), and the finished exterior with new lettering and more of a matte finish (right photo).

by Joe Moses

The Allamakee County Board of Supervisors met in regular session Monday, June 24 to address a full agenda of items including discussion relating to the future plans for the English Bench Watershed Site #9, discussion of the Allamakee County Courthouse as a public shelter and the consideration of a new vehicle purchase for the Secondary Roads Department.

During Public Comment, Executive Director Val Reinke with Allamakee County Economic Development (ACED) advised that the Allamakee Energy District is currently being formed with the next meeting to be held at Robey Memorial Library at 6 p.m. July 24 and steps being taken that include the creation of bylaws for the organization.

Veterans Memorial Hospital Ambulance Service and the Waukon Fire Department participated in a training June 18 offered by GundersenAIR regarding landing zones and helicopter transports. The training provided an opportunity for everyone to learn the important points of establishing landing zones away from the hospital when an emergency situation warrants. The group also learned about special considerations when connecting patients with the most appropriate resources in emergencies. Submitted photo.

Waukon Broadband Committee seeking public input

Some time ago, the City of Waukon formed a Broadband Committee to investigate opportunities for providing improved broadband services within the city. The committee is comprised of representatives from the Waukon City Council, local businesses and homeowners.
In the course of the committee’s work, they were approached by representatives of Allamakee-Clayton Electric Cooperative about the possibility of providing such services. The Cooperative has been involved in providing broadband service within the rural areas around Waukon for the past several years and has built out a fiber and wireless infrastructure to support those areas.