Community News

by Brianne Eilers

The month of May ended on a positive financial note for Veterans Memorial Hospital (VMH) in Waukon, with a net income of $259,036. VMH Administrator Michael Coyle noted that the hospital had $200,000 more income in comparison to the month of May last year, according to information shared at the June 22 meeting of the VMH Board of Trustees.

Expenses were at $1,644,468, compared to $1,318,860 last year. Coyle explained that the expenses for this year are being impacted by the wages, salaries and supplies for the medical clinic. The increase in revenue is also tied to the medical clinic.

The Allamakee County 4-H County Council is sponsoring a school supplies drive to benefit the Allamakee County Relief Office at the 2021 Allamakee County Fair. The council encourages all 4-H clubs and community members to participate by purchasing school supplies to be donated during the fair. Monetary donations will also be accepted during the fair as well.

There will be a special community service booth in the 4-H exhibit building to display the donations during fair. Donations can be made anytime throughout the fair, which is scheduled for July 21-25 in Waukon.

For further information about the Allamakee County 4-H Program, contact Marissa Foels, Allamakee County Youth Coordinator at the Allamakee County Extension and Outreach office at 563-568-6345.
 

by Joe Moses

The Waukon City Council met in regular session Monday, July 19. The council addressed a full agenda of items including a Public Hearing relating to a sewer revenue loan and disbursement agreement, approval of an amendment relating to notifications for the removal of junk vehicles on private property and discussion of capital improvement planning.

There was no Public Comment and the meeting moved into Department Reports with Park, Recreation and Wellness Director Jeremy Strub discussing the repair of the large air conditioning unit at the Waukon Wellness Center  which took place in the last week. Strub said that Wellness Center attendance and memberships are at normal levels for the summer season and that the early summer recreation programs are finishing for the season, with archery and tennis taking place the next few weeks before starting flag football and volleyball.

A total of 16 Allamakee County 4-H youth recently showcased their talents and skills by competing in various communications and clothing events during the Expressions Day Program and Style Show held at the Allamakee County Fairgrounds Pavilion in Waukon Monday, June 28. Several youth received top awards, and some received the honor of representing Allamakee County at the 2021 Iowa State Fair in Des Moines, scheduled for August 12-22 this year. Participants are pictured in the surrounding photos, with special mention of the 4-H’ers advancing on to the Iowa State Fair who are highlighted below.

Some younger participants in the Expressions Day event are not yet age-eligible for State Fair advancement.

by Joe Moses

The Waukon City Council met in regular session Tuesday, July 6 following the closure of City Hall Monday, July 5 for the observance of the Independence Day holiday.

Mayor Pro-Tem Gayle Decker called the meeting to order in the absence of Mayor Pat Stone. The meeting moved into Public Comment with Director Ardie Kuhse of Waukon Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) briefly discussing the June 30 press release from the Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) relating to the $100,000 Community Catalyst Building Remediation Grant award to benefit the former JCPenney/Tierney building renovation and transition into a steakhouse restaurant.

Robey Memorial Library in Waukon is hosting a table game event Saturday, July 17 with games suitable for the whole family. Join staff and patrons at Robey Memorial Library for the event Saturday, July 17 from 10 a.m.-12 p.m. in the lower level Community Room of the library. Register for door prizes and play (or learn) beginner-friendly, non-competitive, casual table games.

Learn to play Boss Monster. Inspired by classic video games, Boss Monster challenges players to become a villain, build a dungeon, lure adventurers and destroy them.

The Transportation Policy Board for Upper Explorerland Regional Planning Commission (UERPC)/Regional Planning Affiliation 1 (RPA-1) will hold a public hearing at its upcoming meeting to receive comments on the draft RPA-1 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) for federal fiscal years (FFY) 2022-2025. The meeting will take place Wednesday, July 21 at 11 a.m. at UERPC’s offices in Postville, 134 West Greene Street.

The RPA-1 TIP document identifies the multimodal transportation projects - street, transit, highway, bridge, planning, and pedestrian and bicycle facilities - on which State and Federal funding will be used over the next four years within Allamakee, Clayton, Fayette, Howard and Winneshiek Counties.

A new round of workforce training agreements between businesses and Northeast Iowa Community College (NICC) will help employers remain competitive and hire new skilled employees in the next year.

These agreements, as part of the 260E Iowa Industrial New Jobs Training program, will offset training costs for businesses seeking to upskill their workforce. Training can include hard skills such as welding, industrial maintenance, heavy equipment operation, workplace safety and computer skills, as well as human resources, management and leadership training.

The 260E program allows NICC and its business partners to enhance the region’s workforce through employee upskilling and education. Businesses also participate in the program to retain employee talent.

Robey Memorial Library’s “Reading Colors Your World” Summer Reading Program began Monday, July 5 and runs through Saturday, July 31. Activities include Reading Challenges with prizes for all ages, Kids and Teens Grab and Go Activity Bags, craft events and fine forgiveness.

Although rain was very much needed in the local area as drought conditions prevailed through most of the month of June, the early Saturday morning, June 27 storm that passed through the area brought too much of it at once for creek beds and many roadways to handle in southeast Allamakee County and the Yellow River State Forest specifically, as pictured above with rushing water crossing roadways and causing wash-outs in many locations. Amounts hovering on either side of the seven-inch mark have been reported for rainfall totals from the storm in the vicinity of Harpers Ferry and the State Forest area, with that storm dumping reports of as much as nine inches of rain just across the Mississippi River in Crawford County, WI, resulting in the National Weather Service issuing a Flash Flood Warning for southeast Allamakee County and in northeast Crawford County in Wisconsin from 6-9:30 a.m. that Saturday morning.