Waukon City Council meets to discuss variety of matters July 5
New officer joins Waukon PD ... Officer Kole Northland, pictured above at left, is sworn in by Waukonk Mayor Pat Stone, pictured at right, at the Tuesday, July 5 Waukon City Council meeting. Northland, a certified officer with eight years of experience, started with the Waukon Police Department the week prior to the July 5 City Council meeting. Submitted photo.
by Joe Moses
The Waukon City Council met in regular session Tuesday, July 5, 2022 following the closure of City Hall in observance of the Independence Day holiday Monday, July 4.
The meeting was called to order with the removal of one agenda item relating to discussion of the Police Department Training Contract. There was no Public Comment and the meeting moved into Department Reports with Water and Sewer Superintendent Jim Cooper providing an update. Cooper indicated that a cement wall has been placed as an improvement for sludge storage at the Wastewater Treatment Plant and that fencing has been completed. Cooper advised that he was present overnight at the Wastewater Treatment Plant as the result of an equipment communication problem requiring observation of systems and processes with a repair performed remotely fixing the issue later that morning. Cooper discussed the scheduled trade-in of a Toolcat utility work machine through a program every two years. Cooper advised this is a piece of equipment used daily by the Water and Sewer Department.
Street Superintendent Keith Burrett indicated that a portion of a storm sewer on Logan Street has fallen in with City Manager Gary Boden advising that he will discuss this repair with Fehr Graham Engineering.
Police Chief Paul Wagner indicated that Officer Kole Northland has started with the Waukon Police Department as of last week. Northland, a certified officer with eight years of experience in law enforcement, was sworn in by Mayor Pat Stone following Wagner’s update.
City Clerk Sarah Snitker and Assistant City Attorney Luke Meinholz both indicated that they did not have anything to report.
Boden provided the City Manager Report and advised that a Planning and Zoning training session has not been set but is tentatively being planned for late August. Boden added that this training session at $750 will be a cost-shared event with other cities. Boden indicated that he will be meeting with Allamakee-Clayton Electric Cooperative relating to the progress of the fiber optic installation in Waukon.
There was no update from Mayor Stone or from City Council members with the meeting moving into the Waukon Force Main Relocation Project agenda item. Engineer Paige Pierce with Fehr Graham Engineering provided an overview of recent project changes relating to wastewater management including the addition of a bend to be added to the force main due to the amount of bedrock being greater than originally anticipated in the path for this relocation. Pierce indicated that the resulting cost increase can likely be made up in other divisions of the project with Boden providing further feedback relating to funding potentially available in reserve if savings are not possible in other divisions. The council approved Change Order #1 for $46,498 for the Force Main Project. The council approved other associated matters including Pay Estimate #1 $85,760.30 to Aaron Crane Construction LLC, Pay Estimate Final $4,513.70 to Aaron Crane Construction LLC, the Resolution Accepting Work covering the Waukon Force Main Relocation Project and the Resolution transferring $85,760.30 from the Pladsen Property Project Fund to the Water Resource Restoration Fund for Pay Estimate #1 Force Main Relocation and for the Water Resource Restoration Sponsored Project.
The meeting moved into the review of the Agreement with T&W Grinding. Snitker indicated that this contractor has increased their charges due to increased costs related to inflation and the impact of emerald ash borers. The council approved the agreement with T&W Grinding at $12,000 per year.
Discussion took place relating to the City’s loading zone ordinance and business-related parking and unloading downtown on State Highway 9 near the stoplight intersection. No action was taken with further research on the matter to take place.
Prior to adjournment, the council moved into 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.
