TAKOS, Peter Joseph

TAKOS, Peter Joseph. (Waterloo, IA,--Dubuque, IA, Jan. 7, 1987). MAYOR. Takos, a member of the city council beginning in 1958, supported the Real Estate Board for inaugurating a tax study group which would serve as "watchdogs" on city government. He charged that local and county governments had become the "racehorses of budget appropriating and spending in the country." It was ironic, he believed, because it was at these levels that the public had the greatest power. (1) He was a member of the Iowa League of Municipalities legislative committee in 1964 when he proposed five changes in laws that would aid city government. First, he proposed "genuine property tax relief" but did not specify any method or make any recommendations. Second, he suggested a "terminal tax relief on improvements made to properties." Once improvements were made, the property owner would be given a specified number of years before the assessed value on the property was changed. Third, Takos proposed that voting machines be unlocked ten days after an election if there was no challenge. The present system of keeping them locked had resulted recently in officials finding enough machines that could be used. Fourth, Takos believed registration should be closed fourteen days prior to an election instead of the current ten days. Lastly, he wanted a clarification of the law on making appointive bodies, such as an airport commission, responsible to the city council in budgeting. (2)

Takos served as the mayor of Dubuque in 1960 with the intent of establishing a "Capital Projects Program," a system of evaluating various projects and completing them in the order of their importance. (3) In his first official act as mayor, he introduced an investigation of the city manager. Two of the most controversial actions of his term were the dismissals of City Manager Laverne SCHILTZ and City Solicitor Thomas Nelson.

In 1970 Takos threatened a court suit if the reappraisal of Dubuque caused city property owners to bear an unfair share of county and school taxes. (4) While the reassessment was in progress, he expressed his opposition to the renovation of the DUBUQUE COUNTY COURTHOUSE in 1971 in an editorial. (5)

Takos was president and an honorary life member of the Dubuque Junior Chamber of Commerce and the Dubuque Board of Realtors. He owned and operated the Peter Takos Company, Antiques and was associated with Market Realty.

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Source:

1. "Dubuque Officials Favorable to Citizens' Budget Queries," Telegraph Herald, June 30, 1958, p. 2

2. "City Proposes Law Changes," Telegraph Herald, March 15, 1964, p. 3

3. "City Council Elects Takos as New Mayor," Telegraph Herald, January 2, 1960, p. 1

4. "Threat to Reappraisal," The Telegraph-Herald, May 10, 1970, p. 1

5. "Letters," Telegraph Herald, June 16, 1971, p. 3

"Fulfilling Dreams...One Home at a Time," Dubuque Board of Realtors, Inc. 1913-2013, May 30, 2013, p. 11