KALONA

“That’s huge,” City Administrator Ryan Schlabaugh said following the Kalona City Council’s awarding the construction contract for Vista Park Phase 1 to C.J. Moyna & Sons at their Feb. 20 regular meeting. “Great project.”

The contractor’s bid of $2,092,604 came in under engineering estimates, and the engineer and architect for the project both supported that the contractor is “capable and able to do the work as outlined.”

Vista Park is part of the SouthTown Recreation Area, located at 133rd Street and Vista Drive. A dog park, naturescape, and public restrooms are among the planned amenities. The council approved the plans, specifications, and estimated costs of the park development prior to awarding the contract.

Part of the $2 million project will be funded by grants, including a $554,300 Riverboat grant the city was awarded last spring. The city is continuing to solicit grant funding, Schlabaugh said, and will consider bonding for the remainder at a later date.

Building codes and permits also were considered by the council Monday night. The council passed the first reading of an ordinance amending building codes, which Schlabaugh said “really brings us up to the [2018] International Buidling Code that we’re using.”

Following, the council passed a resolution raising fees for building permits that should provide $15-17,000 in additional revenue. Building in the city has increased, and building inspector Dave Tornow has moved from part-time to full-time city employee. The additional funds “help supplement Dave’s salary [and] help do everything we need to do,” Schlabaugh noted.

In other council action, council member Greg Schmidt was appointed to a 2-year term on the Washington County EMS Advisory Board.

A work session was set for Tuesday, March 12 at 5:30 p.m. to meet with the city engineer to discuss city projects.

The Kalona City Council will next meet on Monday, March 4 at 7 p.m. at City Hall.