Kris Miller
Hiawatha World
Two City of Hiawatha employees were recognized for their years of service during Monday’s city commission meeting. City Commissioner Brian Shefferd attended the meeting via Zoom call.
Mayor Becky Shamburg began the meeting with, “We have two employees we would like to recognize.” These employees were Hiawatha Fire Department member Don Koontz and Public Works employee Chad Goben.
Koontz was recognized for his 20 years of service while Goben was recognized for his five years of service. Koontz was awarded a ceremonial fire ax on a plaque while Goben was awarded a certificate.
Discussion of property located at 1101 Miami Street
Shefferd made a motion to solicit bids to have a contractor demolish the house located at 1101 Miami Street, stating that, “I feel like its a safety concern. The lower two foot of sidings sidings [are] missing off of it and I don’t want to wait seven or eight, nine months before we can get that torn down.”
Commissioner Toni Hull and City Administrator Brad Scott agreed, with Scott commenting that, “I noticed that the house seems to lean more than it did before.” Hull seconded the motion and all commissioners voted to approve soliciting bids to demolish the property.
Other items of discussion
• City Commissioner David Middendorf was voted in again to serve on the Hiawatha Land Bank for a three-year term that will begin on Jan. 4, 2025 on a 4-0 vote, with Middendorf abstaining.
• All commissioners voted to authorize the publication of the amended budget setting a public hearing date for adoption of the 2024 amended budget on Dec. 9 at the regular commission meeting at 5:35 p.m.
• All commissioners voted to sell the city’s Asphalt Zipper to Brown County at a price of $43,000.
• All commissioners voted to adopt Resolution 2024-11 and authorize a project to replace the water meters in the City of Hiawatha.
• All commissioners voted to adopt Ordinance 2132 to designate First Street and Oregon Street as main traffic ways in the City of Hiawatha, as well as adopting Resolution 2024-12 authorizing improvements to certain main traffic ways within the City of Hiawatha.
• All commissioners voted to adopt Resolution 2024-13 which authorizes the sale of General Obligation Bonds, Series 2025, of the City of Hiawatha.
• All commissioners voted to discuss potential improvements to the Hiawatha Fire Station, after a brief presentation by HFD Chief Patrick Sheldon.
