Waukon City Council discusses proposed ordinance amendment realigning authority over police chief/police department from mayor to city manager; hears variety of public comment concerns in regard to Waukon City Hall

by Joe Moses

The Waukon City Council met in regular session Monday, May 4 to address a full agenda of matters including the National Police Week Proclamation, consideration of a Facade Improvement Grant application and the First Reading of the Ordinance Amending Chapters 15, 19, and 30 of the City’s Code of Ordinances. The meeting was called to order by Mayor Arvid Hatlan with council members present including John Lydon, Cassie Handke, Nic Engrav, Tim Smedsrud and Steve Wiedner.

Hatlan reminded the council and residents present that the Public Comment portion of the meeting is a time designated for members of the public to address the mayor and council directly relating to matters of concern or items on the agenda with a three-minute time limit per person. Hatlan added that no official action will be taken by the council during the Public Comment portion of the meeting. Hatlan further explained that the council is to listen only, without comment or discussion, during the Public Comment portion of the meeting with no comment from the public allowed during the council’s discussion of agenda items later in the meeting.

During Public Comment, Pat Stone addressed the council relating to the Ordinance Amending Chapters 15, 19, and 30 of the Code of Ordinances - First Reading. Stone questioned why the council is moving forward with this Ordinance update which transfers the supervision, hiring and firing of the Police Chief from the Mayor to the City Manager without public discussion or input prior to the First Reading of the Ordinance which was scheduled later at the same council meeting. Stone  described the role of City Manager as being advisory or informational with his recommendation to not approve the ordinance update. Stone also requested an update relating to the status of the Waukon City Hall building and storm sirens that remain non-operational.

Lynn Sorensen inquired about the timeline for the public release of the engineering report relating to the condition of the Waukon City Hall building.

Amy Bresnahan provided a recommendation to have Public Comment at both the beginning and end of each council meeting. Bresnahan noted that the second Public Comment agenda item was previously commonplace on meeting agendas and has since been removed without explanation. She added that this addition would be beneficial with follow-up comments from the public being made at the end of a meeting in timely fashion and not having to wait until the next council meeting.

Josh Miller discussed the need for a new Street Department building with the Park and Recreation Department in need of additional storage space in addition to current concerns relating to the structural integrity of Waukon City Hall. Miller recommended that the former R.W. Pladsen buildings could easily be converted to replace these city buildings and should be considered as an option rather than spending money on studies to determine replacements or options relating to these dilapidated city buildings.

Bruce Palmer provided a recommendation to not repair or renovate the City Hall building. Palmer noted concerns relating to the age of that building with new construction being the best option in his opinion.

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