The City of Wautoma Common Council voted unanimously to pass Resolution #2021-04 for the 2022 Operating Budget which contains no tax increases or adjustments in water and sewer rates. Within the budget, the large scale item proposed was a new snow plow that would replace the current one that is over 20 years old. The Council also voted to hire an additional officer to help reduce overtime costs and alleviate staffing issues in order to continue 24/7 coverage of the City.
“With what is seemingly a light at the end of the tunnel to a post-pandemic world, the City has proposed resuming an aggressive Capital Improvement Program with the goal of leading this municipality at an optimal level,” said Tommy Bohler, City Administrator.
“We hope to have another tremendous year in the City of Wautoma, and I am as proud as ever of the community I get to serve each and every day and this Council that has stuck together with me over the last seven years, in addition to the new members we have welcomed aboard,” Bohler added.
“The Wautoma Police Department is facing staffing shortages like many of our area businesses. Additionally, interest in law enforcement is down with record low police academy enrollment. With the reduced academy numbers, most new graduates seek full-time employment options and do not apply for part-time positions. The Wautoma Police Department has hired six part-time officers in the past two years that have already left for other opportunities. A lack of part-time officers has increased agency overtime costs beyond the annual hourly wage cost of an additional full-time officer. An additional officer will fill the scheduling gap created by the loss of part-time officers. I hope the full-time position will be met with a higher number of job candidates and look forward to the increased professionalism that a career employee will bring to this community,” Chief Paul Mott reported.
City Administrator Tommy Bohler voiced frustration with the adjustments of the trash pickup services from Waste Management, who recently bought out Advanced Disposal. There was a shift from Thursday to Wednesday on the weekly pickup times that ended up being delayed a week after reminders had been published in the Argus and on the City Facebook page.
The Common Council voted to approve a development agreement with Duane Detjens and D&K Land Development to offset assessment costs for a proposed 35-unit apartment complex on the corner of Century Drive and Plaza View near the Lake Ridge Subdivision. Administrator Bohler said that Wautoma currently faces a housing crisis where a significant amount of the City’s workforce commutes from other areas due to a lack of living areas, causing increased employee turnover for several employers. He stated that he had been working with Wautoma School District Administrator, Tom Rheinheimer, to address the issues with housing and that this is a step in the right direction.
The Council also voted to donate $750 to go towards the Wautoma Christmas Meal Initiative that would provide meals for a family of four to anyone in need. The event will take place on December 22nd at the former Shopko parking lot area.
