Waukon City Council addresses large agenda

by Dwight Jones

The Waukon City Council met in regular session the evening of Monday, October 4 with the full council in attendance. The agenda was lengthy with 25 Regular Business items addressed.
The only comment under Departmental Reports came from Street Superintendent Randy Murphy, who informed the Council that the annual leaf pick-up throughout the city would be beginning soon (see advertisement below on this same page for details).
Moving on to Regular Business, the first agenda item involved the second reading of the proposed ordinance change prohibiting certain breeds (with limited exceptions) for Pit Bulls, Rottweilers and variations of each. There were many in the crowd, all of which had strong opinions on both sides of the issue. Those who owned such dogs stated the case that they are great pets and those that create problems are the victims of bad owners. Others, clearly opposed to them, explained the significant differences in a bite from a “vicious” dog and one from another breed, while others gave stories of feeling threatened by such animals, even while in their own yards. Following a 30-plus minute discussion, the Council approved the second reading. The third and final reading will be addressed at the next regularly scheduled council meeting.
Moving on, the Council again addressed the request by Marilyn Clark on behalf of the St. Pat’s Thrift Store (formerly St. Vincent DePaul) and her request for a sign that would extend out over the sidewalk.  Clark was not in attendance, but the Council discussed the issue and determined that the sign ordinance itself needed to be reviewed and is going to ask the Planning and Zoning Board to review it and make suggestions on how its language could be cleared up and improved. No additional action was taken.
Next, Christine Enyart was in attendance to ask the Council for approval for herself and other downtown business owners to display merchandise outside of their stores on the sidewalk during the “holiday” season, from November 1, 2010-January 31, 2011. Enyart was agreeing not to extend the merchandise beyond 33” from the storefront, and such items would only be displayed during business hours. The Council agreed to allow the concept, but should issues arise, mainly currently unforeseen concerns or complaints from the public, the issue would need to be revisited. Keeping with a similar subject, the Council then approved the third and final reading of the ordinance allowing temporary signs to be used in front of businesses with certain restrictions.
The ongoing issue of air conditioner noise from the Waukon Wellness Center was then again addressed. Councilmen Steve Wiedner and Dave Sanderson gave updates on products and/or proposed fixes they had investigated. Mayor Loren Beneke then explained that a list of the many suggested options had been put together, and it had grown quite extensive. Additional information will continue to be received and, at some point in time, a work session will likely be needed to review, discuss and formulate a plan of attack.
At the request of Waukon Wellness Center director Dani Bucknell, the Council then approved an annual “license” to ASCAP in the amount of $305 to permit the playing of commercial music at her facility and all other city properties (swimming pool, library, etc…). Playing music through multiple speakers at such facilities without a license is illegal.
The Council then set a public hearing date of October 18, 2010 (the next regularly scheduled council meeting) to address zoning change requests for proposed home construction at 705 2nd Street NE and a condominium project by Dick Sullivan at 116 West Main Street. The Council then approved a variance request by Russell Roth for an addition to his home.
Moving on, the Council updated the list of trees approved for planting within the City of Waukon. The Ash tree, with its well-documented struggles with infestation, was removed from the list due to anticipated costs to remove them in the future.
The Council then had a lengthy discussion on a major proposed street project for 2011 involving 3rd Avenue NW. City Engineer Lyle TeKippe gave the Council some information, including a very rough estimate of $460,000 to replace the street from 2nd Street NW to 9th Street NW. To do the entire length of the street could cost more than $600,000. The Council asked TeKippe to begin putting together plans, leaving the first two blocks from Allamakee Street to 2nd Street NW as “optional”. More discussion will undoubtedly be occurring in the future regarding this extensive project.
The always interesting issue of assessments was then discussed. With some street and curb and gutter work looming, the Council revisited the concept of assessing part or all of such costs to adjacent property owners. Though the conversation was lengthy, the issue was far from resolved and/or decided upon with more discussions forthcoming.
City Attorney Jim Garrett then explained a proposed fiber optic cable from the high school to the hospital to be used by Veterans Memorial Hospital to connect to a statewide ICN. The State will pay for 80% of the cost, with the hospital paying the remaining 20%. The Council approved the line, necessary because some of it will run through City property.  The State will need to approve a similar agreement.
Garrett then gave the Council some recommendations for the annual city code update, often done at the suggestion of the State of Iowa for changes at the higher level that would filter down to cities. The Council gave Garrett a list of suggested changes that will be added in the future.
The Council then approved a number of quick items, including payment to Skyline Construction for several ongoing projects, two internal “advances” and a property tax exemption application from Steve and Mark Pladsen.