Community News

Pictured left to right, Waukon Area Fire Protection District Chief Dave Martin presents proceeds from this year's annual fireman’s pancake breakfast held in early August to retired firefighter Randy Sweeney and his wife, Diane. Sweeney joined the department in February of 1973 and has had to retire due to health ailments. Department officials say this year's breakfast was the largest they have ever had, both in the number of people served and the amount of money collected, and they appreciate the public's support of the event. Submitted photo.
 

by Joe Moses

The Waukon City Council met twice within a week with a special work session Wednesday, September 13 and a regular session Monday, September 18 to address a variety of matters. Coverage of both meetings is included below.

SEPTEMBER 13 WORK SESSION
Mayor Duane DeWalle called the September 13 work session to order with Travis Squires, Managing Director in the Public Finance Group of Piper Jaffray, an investment and asset management firm, conducting an hour-long presentation detailing the funding options that could be utilized by Waukon in financing the construction of a new wastewater treatment facility at a preliminary estimated cost of $8.6 million. The presentation focused on financing options including sewer revenue bonds, general obligation bonds, a combination of these two types of bonds and other alternate revenues.

Abraham Lincoln portrayer Kevin Wood will present “A New Birth of Freedom: Abraham Lincoln’s Abiding Call” Monday, October 2 at 6 p.m. in the Community Room at Robey Memorial Library in Waukon. This program is free to the public and sponsored by the Allamakee County Historical Society and Robey Memorial Library.

One hundred and fifty years after the American Civil War, it is still important today to remember those people and events which had a great influence on the development of this nation.  And whom better to hear that story from than that period’s greatest protagonist, Abraham Lincoln?

Adults and children alike will enjoy hearing a portrayed first-hand account from Mr. Lincoln's perspective of the history of the USA, from its establishment in 1776 through the end of the Civil War in 1865. This was a time of new ideas, tremendous change, and exciting growth in this young country.

by Joe Moses

The Allamakee County Board of Supervisors met in regular session Monday, September 18 to address a full agenda of items including the Public Hearing for the Social Host and Civil Cost Recovery Ordinance, Consideration of LP gas bids and the Acknowledgment of the Secondary Roads Department Annual Report for Fiscal-Year 2017.

Chairperson Larry Schellhammer called the meeting to order and the current agenda and the meeting minutes of September 11 and 15 were approved. There was no Public Comment.

Members of the Executive Committee and Advisory Board of the local RAGBRAI Waukon organization put some more specific finishing touches on the RAGBRAI event that made its first venture into Allamakee County in four decades and its first-ever overnight stop in Waukon just over a month ago. Those local leaders sat down for a final review with RAGBRAI Director T.J. Juskiewicz and Assistant Director Scott Garner Wednesday, August 30, and members of the Executive Committee also recently distributed shares of the $32,000 profit Waukon RAGBRAI realized from RAGBRAI's Friday, July 28 overnight stop in Waukon.

Both Juskiewicz and Garner had extremely positive comments to share with local leaders in regard to a final review of the overnight event. "Waukon should be absolutely proud of hosting that many people for a first-time event like that," Juskiewicz said. "You guys hit it out of the park!"

Being able to make a difference in the lives of business owners she knows and loves is what Katie Danover of newly-established Evergreen Marketing in Waukon sees as the most rewarding aspect of owning her own business. Started just last month, Danover has established Evergreen Marketing as the only marketing agency of its kind in Allamakee County.

“I wanted to help local mom and pop businesses utilize agency-style marketing resources at an affordable price,” Danover says. "We customize every social management plan to each individual customer in order to help them get the best bang for their buck."

Danover recently moved to Waukon when her husband was transferred to Fareway’s Waukon location. The two were married earlier this year. “It was only natural for me to invest in the Waukon community alongside him," Danover said.

by Joe Moses

The Waukon City Council met in regular session Tuesday, September 5, following the Labor Day holiday. The Public Hearing for the First Avenue NW and Second Street NW Storm Sewer Improvements Project was opened and closed without written or verbal comment.

During Public Comment, Coordinator Ardie Kuhse with Waukon Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) discussed the scheduled tour of the Aveka Nutra Processing facility to take place September 14, inviting the Mayor and City Council to attend.

Under Departmental Reports, Water and Sewer Superintendent Bob Campbell discussed recent tours of wastewater treatment plants in preparation for the planning of Waukon's new wastewater treatment facility. Campbell recommended the oxidation ditch wastewater treatment example as being a good fit for Waukon's needs. Campbell discussed the purchase of a replacement pick-up, which will be added to the next meeting agenda.

The Allamakee County Veterans Services has contracted with Greg Clark, M.A. to provide counseling services to the veterans of Allamakee County since 2007. Clark, a combat-wounded Vietnam Veteran and Licensed Mental Health Counselor, has worked with veterans since 1981. The following is Part 2 of a three-part informational series Clark wishes to share with veterans, their families and the community at large about PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) and his counseling services to veterans.

by Greg Clark, M.A.
Licensed Mental Health Counselor

Ah, September. Kids are back in school, Labor Day weekend has already come and gone, fall school sports are upon us, college football and the NFL are starting to hit the airways, and for those in the Emergency Management Field, September also is Preparedness Month.

In recognition of this, Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds has proclaimed September as Preparedness Month in Iowa in conjunction with National Preparedness Month, which was created by the Federal Emergency Management Agency in response to the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, in an effort to educate the public on how to prepare for emergencies.

“This past summer’s severe weather and flooding are a reminder that disasters can, and do, happen in our state and that is why I have proclaimed September as Preparedness Month in Iowa,” said Reynolds. “I am asking Iowans to take steps now to prepare themselves, their families, their places of business, and their communities for any emergency.”

Identity theft is a significant problem and if it has not happened to an individual directly, then they likely know someone who has been victimized. While identity theft can happen to anyone, there are some things that can be done to reduce the risk. Proper disposal, at the right time, of documents and items that contain personal, confidential information is key to protection.

Waukon State Bank offers a free shredding service once a month to help community members safely dispose of their confidential information. Some of the following items that may contain personal information should be considered for shredding, once their recommended retention has passed, including bank statements, expired credit or debit cards, credit card offers, paycheck stubs, canceled checks from years past, medical or legal information, along with anything that contains financial information or personal identification, such as social security number or signature.