Waukon City Hall to be vacated until building’s structural integrity can be assessed
Concerns with the structural integrity of Waukon City Hall that have been points of discussion over the past several months have now resulted in a recommendation to vacate the property until the building’s structural integrity can be fully assessed, according to an announcement made late last week. A media release issued Thursday afternoon, January 22 by Waukon Mayor Arvid Hatlan and the Waukon City Council on behalf of the City of Waukon explained the concerns with the building originally constructed in 1902 and a call for action more specifically, as follows:
In October (2025), EMC, the City of Waukon’s insurance provider, conducted a regular inspection of the City Hall building. As a result of that inspection, the City was provided with several recommendations to address various building-related concerns. One of those recommendations was to hire a licensed structural engineer to evaluate the building.
The City’s engineering firm, MSA Professional Services, subsequently engaged a structural engineer to perform this inspection. Based on the findings, MSA determined that additional and more invasive investigation would be necessary to fully assess the building’s overall structural integrity.
This level of inspection would require partial demolition of certain building components. Until that evaluation can be completed and the building’s true structural condition is fully understood, MSA has recommended that the City Hall building be unoccupied.
MSA identified several areas of significant concern during the initial inspection. These include, but are not limited to, large cracks in the former elevator shaft, notable movement in multiple walls (particularly the east wall adjacent to the current office space), separation between the roof and the east wall, a visible bulge in the south wall, and an outdated electrical system (some of which are evident in the photos below).
In accordance with these professional recommendations, and in the interest of protecting the safety of City staff, elected officials, and the public, City Hall will be vacated as soon as possible and until further notice. Once vacated, access to the building will be restricted to authorized personnel only, and all entrances, along with certain adjacent sidewalk areas, will be secured and barricaded.
The temporary location of the Waukon City Offices will be shared with the public once that information is finalized.
The safety of our residents, employees, and elected officials is of the utmost importance. While this action is disruptive, it is a necessary and responsible step given the circumstances. At this time, answers regarding the long-term future of the City Hall building remain unknown.
The City recognizes that this relocation may result in disruptions or delays. We appreciate the public’s patience and understanding as staff work to continue delivering essential municipal services during this unique and challenging transition.
We understand this is a significant change for the community. Please know that the City is taking this matter very seriously and remains fully committed to serving the residents of Waukon. Updates will be provided as more information becomes available.
(Editor’s Note: Discussion of temporary City of Waukon use of office space within the Allamakee County Courthouse and other nearby county buildings took place at the Monday, January 26 Allamakee County Board of Supervisors meeting (see Page 4 in this week’s edition for further details on that discussion). City of Waukon officials could not be reached for further comment following that meeting discussion prior to press deadline for this week’s edition of The Standard.
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