It’s a group effort to overhaul the County’s comprehensive plan and a number of area stakeholders have been working toward that end. Allamakee County is currently partnering with Upper Explorerland Regional Planning Commission (UERPC) to develop a new comprehensive plan for the County.
According to Allamakee County Zoning Administrator Tom Blake, the County’s current plan has been in place since 2002. He said although counties are supposed to review and update their plans about every 10 years, it usually takes 15-20 years for that to happen.
“The Planning and Zoning Commission refers to this plan any time there is a request for a change in zoning,” said Blake.
The process to conduct the first statewide post-election audits in Iowa history began Wednesday morning following the November 6 General Election. The Iowa Secretary of State’s Office randomly selected precincts in all 99 counties to conduct a post-election audit. County auditors and staff began the process of hand-counting ballots in those precincts to ensure the vote totals are accurate in comparison to those tabulated by the voting machines used in this year’s election. The post-election audits were completed throughout the state of Iowa this past week.
“Post-election audits add another layer of integrity to the election process,” Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate said. “We want every Iowan to know that your vote counts, and it will be counted correctly.”
Tuesday, November 13, the Waukon Police Department received a report of vandalism to signs celebrating the Waukon football team posted along 13th Street NW south of the Waukon High School. The vandalism was reported to have happened Friday, November 9.
Officers reviewed camera footage from the area and were able to identify the vehicle involved, and the driver of that vehicle was located in Waukon Sunday, November 18. As a result of that continued investigation, 18-year-old Kaleb Lawson of Elkader was arrested and charged with fourth degree criminal mischief, reckless driving, and failure to obey a traffic control device.
He was booked into the Allamakee County Jail. A criminal charge is merely an accusation and defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
At the monthly meeting of the Waukon Area Fire Protection District held Monday, November12, 17 local firemen were recognized for their years of service to the Waukon Fire Department. Gene Evans and Roger Carr, Vice Presidents of the Iowa Firefighters Association (IFFA), presented a plaque and figurine to all of the living members with more than 35 years of service to the department. Carr commented that the total years of service of those 17 members honors added up to 814 years, and he noted that is the highest number of years of service they have scene while handing out these awards throughout the state of Iowa.
The Allamakee County Board of Supervisors met in regular session twice within a week’s time, meeting Tuesday, November 13 following the closure of the Allamakee County Courthouse Monday, November 12 in observance of Veterans Day, and meeting again Monday, November 19 in regular session. Coverage of both meetings appears below.
NOVEMBER 13
Following approval of the current agenda and minutes from their November 5 meeting, the Supervisors opened the Public Comment portion of the meeting with several residents living along Heytman Drive discussing concerns. Jim Dyer advised that a short section of that road near his home should be straightened to improve safety and reduce the frequency of accidents. Pat Murphy added his safety concerns on Heytman Drive.
The Waukon City Council met in regular session Monday, November 19 to discuss a full agenda of items including the Walk-On Waukon sidewalk project, a delinquent utility bill and a new Waukon Police Station. There was no Public Comment and the council moved into Departmental Reports.
Waukon Police Chief Phil Young discussed the recent resignation of an officer due to accepting a position with the Allamakee County Sheriff’s Department. Young discussed the recent vandalism of Waukon High School football signs placed near the street. Young indicated that video footage was reviewed and the vehicle involved was recognized with charges filed against the driver.
Water and Sewer Superintendent Jim Cooper discussed work on well number 5 and the lift station. Cooper indicated that 12 applications were received for a vacancy in the Water and Sewer Department.
The Allamakee Community School District (ACSD) Board of Directors held its regular monthly meeting Monday night, November 19. Under personnel matters, the board approved staff for the after school programs, Melissa Ward as the head varsity softball coach, John Papp as a volunteer boys basketball coach, and Katrina McCabe and Wyllena (Billie) Ross as West Elementary paraprofessionals. The board also accepted the resignation of Jani Promnitz from her assistant varsity volleyball coaching position.
In other matters, the board approved Sunday gym usage requests for girls basketball open gyms. The board also approved two open enrollments and the Wellness Policy.
Equity Cooperative Livestock Sales Association is off ering ten $1,000 scholarships for the 2019 academic year to college students pursuing careers, as well as two $750 scholarships specifically for students earning degrees from technical colleges.
“Equity Livestock is proud to help students further their educational endeavors by offering scholarships,” says Chuck Adami, president/chief executive officer (CEO). “The rise in tuition isn’t making it easy for today’s youth to earn their degree, so if our scholarship program can slightly reduce their financial worries, then by all means, we should support their efforts.”
To be eligible, applicants must be a member or the son or daughter of an Equity Cooperative Livestock producer pursuing higher education from an accredited college, university or technical school. Scholarship winners are selected based on their scholastic achievements, extracurricular activities, application essay response and dedication to a career.
The Waukon High School Music Department is seeking donations for new high school marching band and concert band uniforms through an “Adopt a Uniform” campaign. The current band uniforms were purchased in 1997 and are in need of replacement following years of usage and alterations.
The Allamakee Community School District and the Allamakee Music Boosters will each be providing one-third of the funding for the uniform replacement project, leaving a final third of the total cost to be raised through the “Adopt-a-Uniform” donation drive. Donation levels for specific pieces of the uniforms being sought are listed on donation forms available from Waukon High School, but any donation amount would be welcome.
Waukon High School band members have reviewed numerous styles and sample uniforms and voted on orange and black uniforms. The concert band uniforms selected are black tuxedos and formal dresses.
An event held during the final two weekends in September helped raise more than $7,200 for the future of local farming and a local farming family, and those funds were recently distributed to those respective benefactors at check presentation events. Waukon Feed Ranch created a corn maze for the public to try and navigate at its agronomy center located west of Waukon along Old Highway 9, taking a freewill donation the weekends of September 22-23 and 29-30 to help raise funds for the local FFA chapters of Waukon High School and Kee High School, along with the family of Brogan Gavin, son of Tom and Alana Gavin of rural Lansing who is undergoing treatment for leukemia. Along with the corn maze proceeds, the Allamakee County Cattlemen hosted a grilling event, WW Homestead Dairy sold cheese curds and the Allamakee County Dairy Promotion Board had its dairy wagon on site, with additional proceeds from those offerings also being added to the donated funding.
