Waukon City Council hears updates on library opening and Park & Rec programs; Options being looked at to make credit card payments

by Joe Moses

The Waukon City Council met in regular session Monday, June 1 to address a variety of matters including an audio/visual technology upgrade for the City Council Chambers, the purchase of Police Department vehicle radios and the option of utility and other payments by residents to the City being made by credit card.

During Public Comment, Allamakee County Fair Board member Tyler Plein requested feedback from Mayor Pat Stone and the Waukon City Council relating to their opinions of having the Allamakee County Fair this summer with COVID-19 precautions as a consideration. The mayor and council were supportive of having the event. Plein further discussed that grandstand events could be allowed at 50% capacity, food stands would not be part of the event to help promote social distancing, children would be allowed to show animals and sanitizing would occur regularly.

Under Department Reports, Street Superintendent Keith Burrett provided an update for the Street Department reporting that projects are moving forward well with a new street patcher likely to be delivered Wednesday of this week.

Water and Sewer Superintendent Jim Cooper advised that a damaged fire hydrant near the former Shopko building has been replaced and that work on the north water tower is finished and that it is back in service. Cooper also provided an update on a digester lid which has been repaired and is functioning again.

Police Chief Paul Wagner reported that the Waukon Police Department’s cell phone service has been switched over to FirstNet, a communications platform for first responders and public safety personnel. Wagner advised that several applicants have successfully passed testing and will be considered for interviews to fill officer vacancies.

He also discussed radio training that took place in May to utilize upgraded radios now on the State of Iowa system.

Park and Rec Wellness Director Jeremy Strub shared that the Waukon Wellness Center reopened last week with classes to be offered again starting Monday, June 8 with limited numbers of participants to allow social distancing. Strub reported that Monday, June 15 is a tentative start date for youth baseball and softball. Strub indicated that sixth and seventh grade teams will likely have limited travel due to some communities choosing to cancel youth programs for this year. Strub advised that home practices will take the place of some travel games for sixth and seventh graders. Strub also said that adult slow-pitch softball will begin Monday, June 22 and Music in the Park is scheduled to begin Thursday, June 18.

Library Director Cate St. Clair of Robey Memorial Library reported that June 1 was a soft reopening of the library with 15-20 patrons in total. St. Clair advised that hand sanitizer was acquired through the Waukon Fire Department and that four free standing hand sanitizer units have been ordered. She said that face masks will be available for library patrons but are not required and that social distancing will be practiced.

St. Clair also discussed that summer in-house programming has been canceled until school starts in the fall with the summer reading program to continue through online means and through materials that can be picked up at the library. St. Clair further reported that study rooms will remain closed with the community room to remain available, and that public computers will be available to one person per two-hour period of use. St. Clair also discussed cleaning and sanitizing that is taking place as a COVID-19 precaution.

City Manager Gary Boden provided a report by discussing a recent meeting with a health insurance consultant. Boden reported that a projected 40% employee health insurance premium increase to take place January 2021 due to an Affordable Care Act (ACA) requirement is being pushed back another year with an eight-percent increase currently being projected instead. Boden discussed options available for property tax revenue earmarked for increased health insurance expenses, with buying down a portion of next year’s rate increase being discussed as a possibility.

Boden also advised that three of four property owners in violation have been contacted by Police Chief Wagner relating to grass mowing with the fourth individual currently not residing within the state. Boden advised that grass mowing violations will involve a notice before the weekend with Monday morning being the deadline for compliance before the City mows the lawn and bills the property owner. Boden also advised that a property owner on the northeast side of town has been notified by letter regarding a dead or dying tree that has become a hazard.

Boden further reported a pitbull dog issue and options available to the council. Following discussion, the council was in agreement to reject the dog owner’s request for a public hearing on the matter with the City ordinance to be followed and a letter to be sent to the owner. Boden also discussed an anticipated decrease in road use tax (RUT) revenue and provided an update on utility bill collections. Boden lastly provided an update relating to proposed duplex construction and fiber optic installation in Waukon.

Mayor Stone gave an update by mentioning a new restaurant opening in Waukon. He also advised he had heard that the Dick Sullivan property on Spring Avenue (which formerly housed the Spring Avenue Pub) has now been sold and is anticipated to house another business.

Before moving into the next agenda item, council member John Lydon indicated that 24 residents have asked him about potentially using the swimming pool for swimming lessons following the Park and Rec Wellness Board’s decision to close the pool for this year as a precaution in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Strub indicated that three weeks of preparation would be required to open the swimming pool, even if it were to be used on a limited capacity for swimming lessons. Concerns relating to social distancing and young children were also discussed.

The council moved into the review of several resolutions. The Resolution agreeing to commit fund balances in accordance with Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB) Statement No. 54 27th payroll in Fiscal-Year-Ending 2022 was approved.

City Attorney Jim Garrett provided an overview of the Resolution proposing disposition of interest in real property by the City of Waukon – West Side Development. Garrett indicated that Waukon Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) has requested that the City sell the organization another building lot for the school district to use for constructing another house in the coming school year. The council approved the resolution.

The Resolution for the conveyance of a vacated alley was also discussed by Garrett, who explained that Bill and Kathryn Campbell have requested a quit claim deed from the City. The council approved the conveyance of the vacated alley.

The Resolution agreeing to close the extension of Highway 9 and Highway 76 for the Allamakee County Dairy Days Parade was approved. That parade is scheduled for 7 p.m. Monday, June 15.

The council moved into the next agenda item, Considerations/Requests for Direction, with the form of contract for the Hidden Creek Lift Station Improvements project being approved. The Performance and Payment Bonds for the Hidden Creek Lift Station Improvements project was also approved. The council also approved the Floodplain Ordinance replacement.

City Clerk Lana Snitker provided an overview of the next agenda item relating to the marketing agreement with Utility Service Partners Private Label, Inc. Snitker indicated that this agreement is coming due relating to a sewer line warranty and provided a recommendation to discontinue this service with the council approving that recommendation.

Snitker also provided a report relating to the use of credit cards as a means of payment to the City. Snitker discussed options available for citizens to make utility payments, paying parking fines and lawn mowing/snow removal fees by credit card. The council approved to have Snitker move forward in pursuing the credit card payment option.

Chief Wagner discussed the Police Department’s vehicle radios upgrade purchase and sale of previously used radios. Wagner indicated that this was an unexpected but necessary expense to be billed after July 1. Wagner advised that the quote received was for $4,239.50 for each radio at $12,718.50 in total for the department’s three patrol vehicles with the previously used radios to be potentially sold. The council approved the purchase of the three radios.

Boden addressed the awarding of contract for the First Phase design for the duplex dwelling on the former Bresnahan property in northwest Waukon. Boden discussed the three bids received ranging from $22,000 to $5,000 for the preliminary plat and design of underground infrastructure but do not include the final design or permitting.

Boden indicated that this initial planning will be used in a grant application. The council approved to move forward with Roger Mohn of Mohn Surveying, Inc. as low bidder at $5,000.

Manager Mike Day of RC Tech, a technology firm based out of Mt. Vernon, discussed options available for the City Council Chambers and equipment necessary for doing live stream meetings and teleconferencing. Day indicated that firmware updates could be accomplished remotely and discussed the longevity of this type of equipment.

The council approved to continue to move forward with the audio and visual upgrade for the City Council Chambers with RC Tech.