Waukon City Council holds special informational session with residents in regard to Third Street NE improvement project

by Dwight Jones

The Waukon City Council held a Special Informational Meeting the evening of Monday, March 19 at 5:30 p.m. to explain its plans for the replacement of Third Street NE.  As with last year’s Third Avenue NW project, this project is expected to be partially funded by property owner assessments. The Council addressed the nearly 50 individuals in the audience in a structured presentation, followed by a time for discussion and questions.
Councilman John Ellingson started the meeting briefly introducing the project and then turned the floor over to Lyle TeKippe with TeKippe Engineering, who will be preparing the plans and overseeing the project. TeKippe explained that unlike Third Avenue NW, there are portions of Third Street NE that do not have adequate base to allow for an overlay, so this project will involve a full replacement with Portland cement, which causes the costs to be higher but is necessary if “we want to do it right.”
Ellingson then gave a detailed description of the overall costs of the project, which were estimated at $1,108,235.  The City would “buy down” approximately $138,300 of that amount to cover infrastructure work not directly related to the street replacement itself.  That would leave an assessable amount of $969,935, of which the Council is proposing to split 60/40, with property owners paying the smaller share, roughly $387,794, and leaving the City’s portion at $720,261.
TeKippe then explained how each of the 49 property affected property owners were assessed, which involves a calculation of frontage, lot depth and other variables. A similar calculation has been used in other assessments both here in Waukon and in other cities.
Ellingson went on to explain that the City is currently responsible for maintaining 26 miles or 250 blocks of streets.  Funding repair projects solely by using Road Use Tax and local option sales tax monies simply falls short, or according to Ellingson, “way short.”
Ellingson explained that the Third Avenue NW project was the first in a 20-year plan the City has developed to help ensure that the street plan continues. In order to complete the plan, the City needs to significantly repair or replace nine blocks per year, which is impossible without the assistance of assessment dollars.
Attorney Mary Jane White then spoke, stating that she was representing “a number of people” that had concerns about their assessments. White also had provided hand-outs that, in her opinion, showed that Iowa Supreme Court rulings ruled that the council should be offering “wiggle room” in the assessments, such as “can the 60/40 become 75/25 or 80/20?”. She stated that the individuals she was representing were asking the members of the Council to come to their homes and visit with them to discuss the “special benefits” that the assessment would provide them. According to White, “folks want to talk about the sticker shock.”
Next, resident Steve Paul, who has a proposed assessment of $7,300, spoke in support of the project. Pam Delphey, who has a proposed assessment of $9,500 was in support of the project as well, but had concerns that the plans to widen the street to 31 feet throughout would require the removal of many of the street's mature trees that she felt provided character to the area.
Resident Nona Sawyer explained that they had the largest assessment on the street at $18,000. She, too, questioned if widening the street was necessary due to concerns about the trees, and wondered if their property, which includes a vacant lot, could be reassessed.  Several others spoke with concerns involving the need to widen the street, concerns about the trees and the need to assess at such a high dollar amount.
Councilman Joe Cunningham explained that the 31-foot width is currently considered “standard”, but the meeting was being held to “try to determine a tolerance on where people are.”
Ellingson wrapped up discussion on the meeting by explaining that the Council has the authority to set the payback schedule for those unable to pay in full, sets the interest rate, etc. He then encouraged all concerned citizens to contact all members of the Council with their questions and concerns. A public hearing regarding the future of the project will be held at the next regularly scheduled council meeting April 2.