Library expansion, street and sewer projects part of full agenda for City Council

by Dwight Jones

The Waukon City Council met in regular session the evening of Monday, April 19 to address a 16-item Regular Business agenda.
Before addressing those issues, Water and Sewer Superintendent Bob Campbell explained that there was a small stretch of sidewalk near the former C-Mart property that needed to be replaced, and the Council encouraged him to move forward with the work.
Moving on to Regular Business, Ken Olson with the Waukon Trees Forever chapter was in attendance to give details on an upcoming tree planting scheduled for May 1. Olson explained the areas where the trees were scheduled to be planted, and encouraged anyone interested in helping with the morning project to meet at the Pamida parking lot at 8 a.m. May 1. Following the information received, the Council approved its annual $2,000 donation to assist the group with expenses.
Next, a representative with Upper Explorerland Regional Planning gave the Council the results of a housing survey that was done last year. The survey addressed a number of issues, including salary, household size, current housing situation and future housing plans.  The numbers received would be beneficial should the City decide to move forward with grant applications for housing rehabilitation, first time home buyer incentives, etc. Based on the numbers presented, the City would be eligible for assistance at the government level for such programs, and the Council thanked him for his presentation.
Councilmen John Ellingson and Joe Cunningham then gave the rest of the Council some information they had received regarding the use of inmates at the Luster Heights Facility near Harpers Ferry for labor workers by cities such as Waukon. The workers, who can do any work that doesn’t require a driver’s license, can be hired for $5 per day plus transportation costs. Other cities have found success with the program for work such as mowing, painting, etc., and Ellingson explained that they would not suggest allowing them to work unsupervised. Concerns were addressed, but following a lengthy discussion, the Council approved to move forward with developing a 28E agreement with Luster Heights to at least make the project possible should the Council decide to move forward with it.
City Engineer Lyle TeKippe then updated the Council on the 2010 SW Storm Sewer Project, which addresses repairs near RW Pladsen, Inc. and the Waukon State Bank drive-through office. The Council approved the contract and performance and payment bonds for this project, along with the 2010 Street Improvement Project for work being done near the hospital and golf course.
The Council then approved a change estimate and payment of $43,046.72 to Skyline Construction for the 2009 SW Utility Improvements Project for work running along Second Street SW. TeKippe explained that except for a small amount of street repair and seeding yet needed, the project was pretty much complete. The Council then approved the third and final reading regarding downtown snow removal.
The Robey Memorial Library Board was in attendance to follow-up discussions from the previous meeting regarding the possibility of grant dollars that were available to assist with a long-wanted expansion project. The Board provided the Council with preliminary numbers and a rough idea of what the project would consist of, including a basement below the expanded portion for meeting rooms and storage.
Cunningham explained that, though he was only playing the devil’s advocate, he questioned if it was the taxpayers’ responsibility to provide more public meeting areas when there are possibly several already available throughout the city that may very well be underutilized.  In addition, he explained that his experience with the original construction of the library reminded him that basements and libraries aren’t always the best combination due to moisture and weight issues.
Linda Groe, who did a majority of the speaking on behalf of the Board, agreed that these were legitimate concerns and encouraged the Council to consider a work session for further discussion. Cunningham and Ellingson encouraged the Board to consider reviewing the plans for the possibility of an expansion that would allow the library to remain as a single-level facility, and all parties agreed that though there is support for the project as a whole, there is more research and discussion needed before they can begin even the pre-application process.
City Attorney Jim Garrett then explained that there is a strip of land that needs to be brought into the Southeast Urban Renewal (TIF) district to allow infrastructure work to be completed for the Innovative Ag annexation project.  In order to proceed, the City would need to receive consent from the Allamakee County Supervisors, and following the Council’s approval, Garrett will be sending them a letter asking for such approval.
The Council then made quick order of several closing issues. These included approving a property exempt application for Dick Sullivan, approving a street closing for the Memorial Day parade and setting Saturday, May 8 as spring clean-up. An ad will be placed in this newspaper explaining what can and cannot be thrown. Following three additional fund transfers, the meeting was adjourned.