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Walcott council approves TIF amendment to help pay for new well; hires officer and OKs Halloween, park repairs
Summary
The Walcott City Council on Sept. 15 approved an amendment allowing up to $750,000 in tax-increment financing for a new municipal well, approved personnel wage resolutions including a new police officer, and authorized community Halloween events and $6,300 in park restroom repairs.
The Walcott City Council voted Sept. 15 to amend the Consolidated Walcott Urban Renewal Area to permit use of up to $750,000 in tax-increment financing to pay part of the cost to construct an additional municipal well, Councilmember Jacob Puck said after the roll-call vote.
City Clerk Lisa Rickertsen told the council that the Scott County Board of Supervisors had sent a letter opposing the use of TIF for public infrastructure. "The Board does not support the use of TIF for public infrastructure," Rickertsen said; she also said the city was proposing the well to meet peak water demand and to lay groundwork for future economic development in Walcott.
Councilmembers voted 4-0 to adopt Resolution 2025-51 approving the amendment; Puck moved and Everett Bieri seconded the motion. The amendment allows the city to allocate up to $750,000 in TIF proceeds toward the well project, though the council did not adopt a final construction contract or detailed funding schedule at the meeting.
The council also approved routine consent items, including vendor invoices, minutes from Sept. 2, 2025, and the August 2025 financial reports. The consent agenda included two personnel resolutions: Resolution 2025-49, establishing an hourly wage increase for the Building Official upon certification, and Resolution 2025-50, establishing the hourly wage and vacation leave for the city's new full-time police officer, Lance Wilden. The consent agenda passed on a roll-call vote with ayes recorded for Knutsen, Bieri, Puck and Koberg.
Financial documents presented at the meeting list a vendor subtotal of $54,397.43, payroll of $30,960.41 and grand total expenditures of $170,460.02 for the period reported. The clerk also presented fund-level revenue and balances for August 2025, including General, Road Use Tax, Water Utility and Sewer Utility funds.
Laura Martin, representing Walcott Women, asked the council to approve community Trick-or-Treating on Friday, Oct. 31 from 6 to 8 p.m. with a Halloween Parade beginning at 5:30 p.m. (parade lineup at 5:15 p.m.). The council approved the event. The council also approved a Park Board recommendation to purchase new stall doors for the Victory Park restrooms at an estimated cost of $6,300.
Police Chief Adam Hill introduced Officer Lance Wilden and Mayor John Kostichek administered the oath of office. The officer's wage and vacation terms had been included in the consent agenda resolution adopted earlier in the meeting.
The meeting opened at 6:00 p.m. and adjourned at 6:15 p.m.
