Waukon City Council hears of Veterans Memorial Hospital plan to move to County ownership status

by Joe Moses

The Waukon City Council met in regular session Monday, March 21 to address a variety of matters including discussion on a referendum for Veterans Memorial Hospital (VMH) to move to countywide ownership status, an update relating to the Storm Water Quality Improvements Project and discussion of Waukon as a RAGBRAI pass-through community in late July of this year.

There was no Public Comment and the meeting moved into Department Reports with Park, Recreation and Wellness Director Jeremy Strub providing an update. Strub noted that summer staff will be hired at the monthly meeting taking place Thursday morning with Park staff starting April 4. Strub advised that there is a shortage of baseball and softball coaches and that, like last year, adult volunteers will be needed.

Strub advised that there is also a shortage of lifeguards this year. In comparison, Strub estimated that three to four years ago there were lifeguard numbers in the upper 20s, last year there were 17, and currently there are only six certified lifeguards hired for this year. Strub then discussed staffing levels required for operation of the swimming pool and plans to seek additional applicants for these positions.

Water and Sewer Superintendent Jim Cooper discussed a recent water main break and repair with some assistance from the Street Department, with a new jackhammer being used to access the water main. Other repairs discussed by Cooper included a fire hydrant by Waukon High School which will be addressed early next week and a small residential water leak located in a yard to be addressed as frost thaw allows.

Cooper reported that two quotes have been received for a replacement pump by the City Park and that camera work is finishing up relating to upcoming street projects. Cooper further advised that the City will have finalized quotes relating to replacement water meters by the next council meeting.

Street Superintendent Keith Burrett noted that street sweeping is taking place and that, weather permitting and as thaw takes place, street patching will be started.

Police Chief Paul Wagner advised that he did not have anything new to report. Assistant City Attorney Kevin Stinn noted that he will be sending information to council members relating to the industrial user manual. Stinn recommended that the industrial user manual matter listed later in the meeting agenda be tabled until the April 4 council meeting.

City Manager Gary Boden requested that the scheduled town hall meeting be pushed back a couple weeks to Monday, April 25. Boden noted that invitations to several community leaders will be made for the town hall meeting open to the public in-person and via Zoom webconferencing. Boden advised this will be an opportunity to review ongoing projects and planning for the next few years and will be an opportunity for communication and interaction with the public.

Mayor Pat Stone and the City Council did not have anything to add for their respective reports.

The meeting moved into the Resolution approving detailed plans and specifications, notice of hearing, notice to bidders and form of contract for the 2022 Street Improvements Project and the Public Hearing scheduled for April 4, 2022 at 7 p.m. The Resolution was approved by the council.

Engineer Paige Pierce of Fehr Graham Engineering provided an update relating to the Storm Water Quality Improvements Project. Pierce had discussed several project categories at previous council meetings including a wetlands area, permeable pavement, water retention area, anti-erosion prairie grasses, among other potential projects within the Waukon City Park and subdivision area to the north.

At the March 21 council meeting, Pierce advised that two grant opportunities have been approved with $1.25 million in funding being available. Boden and Pierce discussed that the $1.25 million in funding exceeds the funding needs projected for the proposed projects and allows for some contingency.

The meeting moved into discussion on the Referendum for Veterans Memorial Hospital (VMH) to go to Countywide Status. CEO Michael Coyle of VMH advised that the hospital’s Board of Trustees has voted in favor of filing a petition to go from a City-owned to a County-owned hospital. Coyle advised that five percent of the number of voters from the last general election, approximately 372, will need to sign the petition which will be submitted to the Allamakee County Board of Supervisors in mid-August.

Coyle noted that public forums will take place in the fall to provide information and receive feedback relating to this change. He discussed that the move to being a countywide hospital will provide long-term sustainability and allow for continued growth.

Coyle discussed that VMH will be opening a clinic in Postville and that the first anniversary of the VMH Medical Clinic in Waukon is approaching. He advised that services are expanding relating to the Behavioral Health Clinic addition to the VMH Medical Clinic and that VMH is currently recruiting an OB-GYN provider, with a midwife scheduled to start soon and plans for that program to grow in the coming years. Council member Arvid Hatlan expressed his support of VMH’s conversion to a countywide hospital to provide greater long-term sustainability for the facility.

City Clerk Sarah Snitker addressed the next matter relating to the Des Moines Register’s Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa (RAGBRAI) Pass Through Towns. Snitker noted that Waukon is being considered as a pass-through community on the RAGBRAI route on its way to the event’s ending town of Lansing in late July, and she provided a brief overview of planning and committees that would be necessary in preparation for this event.

Announcement of this year’s full RAGBRAI route, including pass-through communities, is scheduled to take place this Sunday, March 27 by the Des Moines Register and DesMoinesRegister.com. Daily map releases will also be found on RAGBRAI.com and RAGBRAI’s social media channels. Executive Director Val Reinke of Allamakee County Economic Development (ACED) and Hatlan discussed RAGBRAI and tourism in general as an introduction to northeast Iowa for many.

Boden discussed the next agenda item relating to new Code of Ordinances preparation. He noted that a company is being solicited to perform these updates to City Code and Ordinances to better reflect the operations of the City’s government.

Discussion on the Industrial User Manual was tabled per a request from Stinn with additional information to be provided to council members prior to official action.

Prior to adjournment, the council moved into Closed Session relating to two separate matters.

Closed Session: Per Iowa Code Section 21.5 (1)(c) to discuss strategy with counsel in matters that are presently in litigation or where litigation is imminent where its disclosure would be likely to prejudice or disadvantage the position of the governmental body in that litigation.

Closed Session: Per Iowa Code Chapter 21.5 (1)(j) to discuss the purchase or sale of particular real estate only where premature disclosure could be reasonably expected to increase the price the governmental body would have to pay for that property or reduce the price the governmental body would receive for that property.