Supervisors approve 11 projects for Allamakee County Facade Grant Program funding, hiring of legal counsel to assist with ownership transition for VMH

by Joe Moses

The Allamakee County Board of Supervisors met in regular session Monday, December 12 to address a full agenda of matters including the consideration of the Weed Commissioner 2022 Report, consideration of a Resolution to hire Attorney Katie Cownie of the Dorsey & Whitney Law Firm as counsel relating to the Veterans Memorial Hospital (VMH) transition to a County hospital, and the review and consideration of Allamakee County Facade Grant Program awards.

During Public Comment, Executive Director Rachelle Howe of Upper Explorerland Regional Planning Commission (UERPC) presented Board of Supervisors Chairperson Larry Schellhammer a plaque in recognition of his years of service as a member of the UERPC Board of Directors.

Executive Director Val Reinke of Allamakee County Economic Development (ACED) provided an overview of recent events within the county including Waukon’s Holiday Hop local shopping promotion held Thursday, December 8, which she indicated was well attended. Reinke also noted Waukon’s Lighted Holiday Parade held that same evening with coordination and planning by members of First Presbyterian Church in Waukon resulting in a successful event with more than 40 parade entries.

Reinke further noted that the New Albin Improvement League’s (NAIL) holiday lights contest took place Sunday evening, with live music in Lansing that afternoon, Sunday, December 11, being another attraction within the county. The Holiday Craft Show held Saturday, December 10 at the Allamakee County Fairgrounds was noted by Reinke as another popular event. It was also noted that the State Housing Trust Fund application for 2023 has resulted in $392,000 in funding for area housing projects.

Allamakee County Engineer Brian Ridenour discussed gravel road maintenance during the winter weather season. As a reminder to the public, Ridenour advised that per the County’s Ordinance, icy conditions on gravels may not be addressed by road crews during weekends except in emergency situations in contrast to pavements, which will be sanded or maintained during the weekend.

The meeting moved into the consideration of the 2022 Weed Commissioner Report with Allamakee County Environmental Health Director/Weed Commissioner Laurie Moody providing an overview of the matter. Moody, Ridenour and Supervisors Dan Byrnes and Mark Reiser discussed information from the report relating to weed maintenance. The roadside spraying program, Japanese knotweed, thistles, wild parsnip, among other topics were discussed. The 2022 Weed Commissioner Report was accepted and placed on file.

Allamakee County Attorney Anthony Gericke addressed the next agenda item relating to the consideration of hiring Attorney Katie Cownie of the Dorsey & Whitney Law Firm as counsel relating to the Veterans Memorial Hospital (VMH) transition from a City-owned to County-owned hospital. Gericke discussed a recent meeting held with Cownie and attorneys with Baird Holm Law Firm, legal counsel for VMH. Gericke recommended the approval of Cownie as counsel for a maximum of 100 hours of legal services relating to the VMH transition. Gericke further noted that a meeting will be taking place later this week with Cownie.

Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Roxane Schleich of VMH discussed guidance received over the last week and a half relating to the handling of payer contracts as part of VMH’s conversion process. Via Zoom web-conferencing, VMH Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Michael Coyle advised that all legal counsel involved in this process are working well together with work relating to the hospital’s conversion taking place in an expedient and timely manner. Following discussion, the Supervisors approved the Resolution to hire Katie Cownie from Dorsey & Whitney Law Firm as counsel regarding the VMH transition from being a City-owned to County-owned hospital.

Allamakee County Auditor Denise Beyer discussed the next agenda item relating to the review of the Allamakee County Election website usage. Beyer provided an overview of the County’s election webpage and the analytics illustrating its increased use by the public leading up to the November 8 General Election. As a comparison, Beyer noted that the election webpage in June 2022 had 364 unique visitors with 1,818 page views and that in November 2022 the webpage had 1,736 unique visitors with 10,836 page views.

The meeting moved into the review and consideration of Allamakee County Facade Grant Program Awards. Executive Director Andy Kelleher of Main Street Lansing noted that there were initially 14 applications with two applications later withdrawn by the applicants. Kelleher noted that the ACED Board determined that one project was ineligible due to its classification as a residential space with this grant program being only open to commercial properties. Kelleher added that the ACED Board has provided a recommendation to fully fund the remaining 11 applications with the exception of one project to be reduced by $500 from its application amount due to a portion of the project not being visible to the public as part of the building’s facade and therefore not falling within the intended parameters of the program.

Kelleher reported that the total grant funding to be allocated would be $42,836.12, which would leave $7,163.88 remaining in the program balance to allocate in the future. Kelleher noted that some of the projects are less than $10,000, which has allowed for more than 10 projects to be funded under this program allowing for 1:1 matching funds up to $5,000 for projects meeting or exceeding $10,000 in total. Kelleher added that the total being spent on these projects by property owners applying for these grant funds is $133,643.63, with the County’s investment more than tripled when the projects are completed. Kelleher also noted that these projects are spread out throughout Allamakee County and include one project in New Albin, two in Postville, three in Waukon and five in Lansing.

Kelleher provided an overview of each recommended project, including the following:

1. Applicant Elissa Shepard has submitted a project budget of $11,500 for the Driftless Gypsy Boutique at 221 Main Street, Lansing to include masonry repair on the facade, exterior painting, door replacement in addition to a new business sign. A grant recommendation of $5,000 is being made. Kelleher noted that this is the facade portion of a building rehabilitation with this project receiving a perfect score from the ACED Board.
2. Applicant Josh Dreps has submitted a project budget of $35,000 for the City Meat Market at 199 Railroad Avenue, New Albin to include a new awning, repainting of business name and the installation of new signage. A grant recommendation of $5,000 is being made.
3. Applicant James Seibert has submitted a project budget of $10,909.99 for a yet to be named antique and lawn ornament store at 318 South Lawler Street, Postville to include the replacement of windows and the repair and painting of wood trim. A grant recommendation of $5,000 is being made.
4. Applicant Maryann Baldwin has submitted a project budget of $8,000 for Lansing Office Works at 274 Main Street, Lansing to include power washing and repair of stucco, trim repair, painting of facade, second-story awning repair, replacement of second-story access door and the replacement of exterior lamps. A grant recommendation of $3,000 is being made.
5. Applicant Kari Smith has submitted a project budget of $4,435.27 for Mississippi Suds Laundromat at 241 Main Street, Lansing to include the replacement of a storm door and a transom window, repainting trim and the addition of a logo to windows. A grant recommendation of $2,217.63 is being made.
6. Applicant Jason Manning has a submitted project budget of $5,436.99 for Jalapeno’s Mexican Cuisine at 142 South Lawler Street, Postville to include the replacement of a broken window. A grant recommendation of $2,718.49 is being made.
7. Applicant Brian Houlihan has submitted a project budget of $6,850 for Lansing Housing Products at 331 North Platt Street, Lansing to include the installation of a lighted sign to highlight the new walk-in store portion of the business and improve visibility from Main Street. A grant recommendation of $3,425 is being made.
8. Applicant Mike McMullen has submitted a project budget of $24,000 for Cunningham Hardware at 41 West Main Street, Waukon to include tuckpointing in addition to brick repair and replacement. A grant recommendation of $5,000 is being made.
9. Applicant Tom Weighner has submitted a project budget of $3,950 for WW Homestead Dairy at 850 Rossville Road, Waukon to include replacement of damaged signage, repair of lighted signage and the addition of lighting under a front awning.
10. Applicants Mike and Linda Ferring have submitted a project budget of $10,911.38 for New Look Hairstyling at 702 West Main Street, Waukon to include door repairs, installation of soffit and fascia, facade painting and the replacement of windows. A grant recommendation of $4,500 is being made. The applicants requested $5,000 in grant funding for this project. The ACED Board determined that most of the project is eligible with some aspects of the proposal involving portions of the building that are not visible to the public and therefore not eligible for this grant.
11. Applicant Lesya Ryzhenkova has submitted a project budget of $12,250 for The Good Life Gallery and Frame Shop at 249 Main Street, Lansing to include the replacement of a window and door. A grant recommendation of $5,000 is being made.

Kelleher further noted that applicants must complete this work within a year of the funding award date and submit receipts prior to reimbursement with grant funds taking place. The Supervisors approved the Allamakee County Facade Grant Program awards as presented at Monday’s meeting.

Under Department Head Updates, Moody discussed a scheduled absence to take place in late December. Allamakee County Emergency Management Coordinator Corey Snitker advised that School Safety Assessments have been completed at all of the schools within the county with work continuing relating to the submission of grant applications and other associated matters.

Snitker also noted that work also continues relating to a request for proposal (RFP) for the replacement of security cameras and related upgrades at the Allamakee County Courthouse. Snitker provided a recommendation to use CAT5 or CAT6 cables as part of the security camera upgrade with this matter to be discussed at the next Courthouse Security meeting.

Snitker advised that the fob on the west door of the County Courthouse needs repair with this possibly being an item to be added to the list of building repairs funded by the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). He said that some minor changes will be made to the County Courthouse Safety Plan prior to review and approval by the Supervisors. Snitker also provided an overview of the weather forecast for the remainder of the week.

Prior to adjournment, Beyer reported that work continues in the County Auditor’s office relating to tax increment financing (TIF) as part of the valuation process. She noted other ongoing work relating to the budget process.