Waukon City Council addresses wide variety of issues at regular session

by Dwight Jones

The Waukon City Council met in regular session the evening of Monday, May 21 to address a relatively short 11-item Regular Business agenda. The full council was in attendance.
Dennis DeBuhr was present to discuss a sewer line at the trailer court he owns in south Waukon. He explained that he owns the line but it was his understanding that due to the fact that multiple lines were connected to it that it was out of City code and was interested in turning the line over to the City. Water and Sewer Superintendent Bob Campbell explained that he had videoed the line and it was in “rough shape”.
Discussion between Campbell, DeBuhr and the Council continued with the idea being brought up of abandoning the line and hooking those currently using the DeBuhr line to another line in the area. However, it was agreed that more information was required before the Council could make an educated decision. Discussions will continue at the next council meeting.
Lori Brockway with Upper Exploreland Regional Planning Commission was in attendance and updated the Council on additional steps needed to move forward with the Owner Occupied Housing Program grant. These steps included approval of a housing committee, approval of policies and approval of administration contracts.  The first step was approving the six-member board, which the Council did, and those board members will now be contacted to begin discussions/decision making on policies, etc.
Councilman Joe Cunningham then briefed the Council on a plan to possibly “loop” the existing trail near the Waukon City Park. Waukon Economic Development had retained a portion of land from the Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT) land purchase that would allow for the trail to turn back east, but had not done so with the Brodahl Vet Clinic property. However, Cunningham explained that the Brodahls had expressed a willingness to grant an easement to allow for the loop to be completed. City Attorney Jim Garrett had drafted an easement agreement that the Council then approved, pending approval by the Brodahls.
The Council then approved a small change to the current Tax Increment Financing (TIF) district to add the property currently being considered for purchase next to the Robey Memorial Library to be used for parking as part of the expansion project there. The Council approved the change pending the finalization of the purchase agreement between the library board and Jason Brink, the current property owner.
Campbell, Garrett and the Council then discussed an antenna that ACE Communications was proposing to place on the water tower in south Waukon. Campbell had some concerns that were mainly based on a lack of information about ACE’s plans, including how they were intending to attach the antenna, what exactly they were needing for ground space, etc. Garrett agreed that the project was “more involved than originally expected”, and no action was taken to allow for the questions to be answered.
Garrett then asked the Council for clarification on how it wanted to proceed at the former C-Mart property on West Main Street. At a previous meeting, Garrett had explained that even though the site is currently undergoing ground contamination testing, it is possible for the City to allow the site to be developed with the understanding that a well would not be dug, which likely would not happen anyway. Garrett will use the information provided to draft the required paperwork to address the proposed change.
Garrett and the Council then had a lengthy discussion regarding the proposed condemnation of sewer line and storm water drainage area involving the Bresnahan property. Lyle TeKippe with TeKippe Engineering had proposed that the sewer line itself be taken over by the City but the drainage area be addressed with an easement. However, Garrett thought it would be much cleaner for both areas, totaling roughly 1.5 acres, to be acquired by the City. Garrett had spoken with one appraiser interested in working on the project and was hopeful to speak with at least one more. Discussions and action will undoubtedly continue at upcoming meetings.
Next, the Council discussed the use of public property by private parties, such as fund raisers wanting to sell food on a sidewalk downtown, etc. Currently, the Council has to approve such requests but it’s been discussed that turning over such authority to approve to someone else, possibly the Zoning Administrator, may make more sense because oftentimes approval is overlooked until just before the event and time doesn’t allow for Council approval. No action was taken.