Sump pump and meter inspections to begin after Council approval

by Dwight Jones

The Waukon City Council met in regular session the evening of Monday, August 16 with the full council in attendance.
Under Departmental Reports, Zoning Administrator Al Lyon informed the Council that he was continuing work on the nuisance warnings that he had recently started on, mainly addressing unkept properties (junk cars, long grass, etc…).  Also, Water and Sewer Superintendent Bob Campbell updated the Council on ongoing infrastructure work currently being done as part of the Innovative Ag annexation project.  Campbell explained that the water line is now connected and is currently being tested.  Work on the sewer portion of the project still needs to be completed.
Moving on to Regular Business, Mayor Loren Beneke again addressed the issue of noise concerns near the Waukon Wellness Center. Beneke explained that he and Lyon had visited the site and spoke with representatives from another company that may have a possible fix, but they were still awaiting details to be provided.
Next, the Council approved the temporary closure of 13th Street NW for a Duathlon being put on by the Waukon Wellness Center. The street will be closed from approximately 8-11 a.m.
Laura Olson with Allamakee County Economic Development and Lori Brockway with Upper Exploreland Regional Planning were in attendance to discuss the Northeast Iowa Regional Housing Trust Fund, and were requesting some financial assistance from the City to go toward the fund.  No action was taken, and the Council will address the issue at its next regularly scheduled meeting.
The Council then approved the hiring of Stuart Bloxham as a full-time police officer, with a start date of August 17 at the starting rate of $12.90 an hour, per the union contract.
Next, City Attorney Jim Garrett gave the Council information following up on recent conversations regarding the possible home and business inspections by Water and Sewer Department personnel looking for illegal sump pump hook-ups and/or ill-functioning water meters. Though Garrett had been asked to draft such an ordinance, he explained that after reviewing what is already in place, he felt the City could move forward with the inspections without needing additional action to be taken.  The Council then gave Campbell the go-ahead to begin the inspections.

In taking care of a couple of “house cleaning” type issues, the Council approved the Iowa Byways Program signage agreement, in addition to an amendment to the current city budget.
The Council then addressed and approved the annexation of a parcel of property owned by Brad and Linda Winkie, along with two more minor pieces, all being taken as part of the Innovative Ag annexation project. Moving on, the Council approved the payment of $243,937.54 to Skyline Construction for work on the Ninth Street SW Utility Improvements Project. Work on this project is done as part of the above listed annexation.
Following a few more minor issues, the Council asked Councilman Joe Cunningham to investigate having a TIF financial report produced by an outside source, and the meeting was then adjourned.