Community News

by Joe Moses

The Allamakee County Board of Supervisors met in regular session Monday, March 23 to address a full agenda of items including the Public Hearing for the proposed Fiscal-Year 2021 Allamakee County Budget, setting the level of County support for libraries and the approval of compensation increases for elected officials. There was no Public Comment.

The Public Hearing for the proposed Fiscal-Year 2021 Allamakee County Budget was opened with Allamakee County Auditor Denise Beyer indicating that no comments have been received. Beyer and Chairperson Larry Schellhammer each briefly commented on the proposed budget with both indicating that the budget process went well. The Public Hearing was closed.

As this country comes together to make decisions to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus, connection to the internet is more important than ever. With the current State-recommended school closings in mind, AcenTek announced Wednesday, March 18 that the company will offer free broadband and WiFi internet access until June 1 of this year to students and teachers who do not currently have internet service with the company.

Installation fees will also be waived for the new customers living within the service area. Students (K-12/college) and teachers facing the effects of the shutdown, will now have access to free internet to learn, work and communicate remotely. Contact the AcenTek office at 888-404-4940 or visit AcenTek.net to learn more.
 

Water and Sewer Departments from all local communities are urging citizens to not flush anything but toilet paper down their toilets. Items such as disinfectant wipes, baby wipes, napkins, paper towels and tissues have been clogging up community sanitary sewer systems, and may very likely do the same to individual residential or business sewer systems as well. Many of these products are labeled “flushable” or “septic safe,” but have proven not to be.

Because they don’t break down and decompose the way toilet paper does, disposable wipes clog homeowner and municipal sewer pipes, put stress on community wastewater collection and treatment equipment, and cause cities to spend thousands on premature equipment repair and replacement, according to local Water and Sewer authorities.

Black Hills Energy recently presented a check to the Waukon Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Association to support the purchase of a new defibrillator for use in serving the community. “Engaging with the communities we serve, where our employees and their families live, work and play is important to us at Black Hills Energy,” said Ivan Hackman, Black Hills Energy operations supervisor. “Safety is always a top priority at Black Hills Energy. This new defibrillator will allow for treatment in life-threatening cardiac emergencies.” Pictured above at the check presentation are, left to right: Black Hills Energy Service Technician Arvid Hatlan, Waukon EMS Association President Dave Martin and Black Hills Energy Operations Supervisor Ivan Hackman. Submitted photo.
 

Waukon volunteer firefighter Brad Krambeer was recently recognized for reaching the 25-year milestone of active service with the Waukon Area Fire Protection District. Pictured above, left to right, Krambeer receives a watch in honor of his 25 years of service from Waukon Fire Chief Dave Martin at the District’s annual Wives Appreciation Supper held in January. Submitted photo.
 

by Joe Moses

The Allamakee County Board of Supervisors met in regular session Monday, March 16 to address a full agenda of items including the discussion and consideration of coronavirus actions, setting a letting date for gravel resurfacing and the consideration of a Health Insurance Committee recommendation.

Before moving into Public Comment, Board Chairperson Larry Schellhammer and Supervisors Dan Byrnes and Dennis Koenig agreed to move agenda items relating to health insurance matters to later in the meeting to allow for the arrival of Benefits Consultant Brian Huinker of Midwest Group Benefits, Inc., who was delayed due to a schedule conflict. The Supervisors added an emergency agenda item relating to the discussion and consideration of coronavirus actions.

by Joe Moses

The Waukon City Council met in regular session Monday, March 16 to address a full agenda of items including the Public Hearing for the Fiscal-Year 2020-2021 Budget, the hiring of two new City employees and discussion of the mayor’s and council’s decisions relating to the St. Patrick’s Day Parade.
Mayor Pat Stone called the meeting to order with the council approving an amended agenda. The council moved into the consideration of two new hires. Natasha Wilkes was approved as Police Department Administrative Assistant with a start date of March 17, 2020 at $17.29 per hour. Kelby Moose as Water/Wastewater Treatment Maintenance Worker with a start date of March 23, 2020 at $15.96 per hour was also approved.

March 8-14, Girl Scouts are celebrating their groundbreaking accomplishments throughout the organization’s history. In 1912, Girl Scouts founder Juliette Gordon Low, created an organization for girls to find their leadership potential before women could even vote. Since, millions of girls have developed into leaders of businesses, government, organizations, and most importantly, their own lives.

Today’s Girl Scouts travel the world, go on extreme outdoor adventures, sell millions of cookies online, learn about advanced technologies from STEM professionals, and improve their communities with innovative projects. Some examples of those activities experienced by local Girl Scout Troops are pictured in the surrounding photos submitted by local Troop leaders.

According to the Girl Scout Research Institute, Girl Scouts are more likely to:

by Joe Moses

The Allamakee County Board of Supervisors met in regular session Monday, March 9 to address a full agenda of items including the consideration of a road embargo resolution, a cooperative agreement for a new federal competitive highway bridge program project and a review of the County’s insurance coverage.

During Public Comment, Jack Knight briefly discussed several matters including the fact that the community of Clermont is exploring the potential use of traffic cameras, Fayette County has spent more than anticipated on gravel and that the Postville City Council will be discussing planning and preparedness relating to the coronavirus.

The Supervisors moved into the Liquor License Renewal for the Old Rossville Store with Board Chairperson Larry Schellhammer and Supervisors Dan Byrnes and Dennis Koenig approving this request.

Those who are heading out to a St. Patrick’s Day celebration this year need to make sure they have more than just the luck o’ the Irish on their side. This holiday, dated as March 17 but often celebrated the weekend prior or after as well, is one of the biggest drinking holidays of the year and this, unfortunately, means more impaired drivers on the roads.

Drunk driving accounts for nearly one-third of vehicle related fatalities in the United States. Nationally, in 2018 alone, 73 people (39% of all crash fatalities) were killed in drunk-driving crashes over the St. Patrick’s Day holiday period and 33% of the pedestrians aged 16 and older killed in crashes had a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) at or above .08. In 2019 in Iowa, there were two crashes over the St. Patrick’s Day holiday which killed four people.