Waukon City Council tables decision on Third Street NE project after further discussion at regular session

by Dwight Jones

The Waukon City Council met in regular session the evening of Monday, April 2 with the full council in attendance. The council room was at standing room only capacity with the large crowd gathered to discuss the proposed Third Street NE replacement project.
The meeting started with a public hearing regarding a “resolution of necessity” for the project. Attorney Mary Jane White spoke, stating that she was representing 20 of the 51 affected property owners. She then presented a packet of roughly 50 pages titled a “Notice of Objections by Property Owners.” The document included names and addresses of those she was representing, a detailed list of their concerns, information from similar cases that had recently been ruled upon via the legal system, and more. Based on those rulings, White was suggesting that the Council reconsider the amount of the assessments down to 5.5% for the property owners vs. the 60/40 split currently being proposed.
Several others, including Steve Paul, Nona Sawyer and Ray Burroughs, spoke in support of the project, though some had individual concerns that they expressed. Others then spoke against the project for a variety of reasons.
Councilman Joe Cunningham then addressed the group. Following a question and answer scenario, it was determined that everyone that lives in the area agrees that the street needs to be replaced. But there are questions that need to be further addressed, mainly on the widening of the street, the loss of many of the areas trees and the above-mentioned cost-sharing ratio.
Following that sharing of information, the Council addressed the issue under the first item of Regular Business and voted to table the issue so they could, as Mayor Loren Beneke stated, “try to get a foundation based on facts.” The issue will undoubtedly be addressed again at a future meeting.
Dave Schultz with Luana Savings Bank was in attendance at the meeting with Bill Nelson, an engineer, regarding ongoing sewer issues at the former Billy Gordon property. Schultz was questioning the ability to hook on to a sewer line in the area, but was informed by the Council that the line he was attempting to connect to is not owned by the City. Schultz asked what could be done to remedy the situation, to which he was told that he would need to get the owner of the line to agree to the connection, along with attaining easements to run a line across an adjoining property owner’s lawn. Such a hook-up would not be allowed under current city code, but the Council seemed willing to discuss the situation further if Schultz could attain the above-listed agreements, which he stated he would do. No action was taken.
The Council then approved and adopted an expansion of the SE Urban Renewal (TIF) district to include the Robey Memorial Library property. The change would allow the City to use TIF funds to pay for its portion of the library's proposed expansion project.
Next, the Council approved and adopted an ordinance changing the zoning classification from B-2 to B-1 for a parcel of property on West Main Street across from the Waukon Post Office and owned by Richard Sullivan. The Council then approved and adopted an ordinance changing the zoning classification also from B-2 to B-1 for the property that currently includes City Hall, the Vet’s Club and the Allamakee County Courthouse Museum along Allamakee Street.
The roadway maintenance agreement between the City, the County and the State was then re-approved for the upcoming fiscal year. The Council then approved the renewal of its solid waste disposal contract with Town and Country Sanitation. A spring clean-up date was discussed and will likely be announced in the near future.
Three appointments were approved prior to adjournment and included Larry Gelo to the Airport Board, Anne Blocker and Corey Shelton to the Park and Recreation Board, and Patty Fosaaen to the Waukon Wellness Center Board.