Looking back on 2022 and ahead to 2023, the City of Kalona has accomplished much and anticipates more exciting projects to come.

Over the past year, the city has worked to improve the infrastructure it has. 

American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds were used to upgrade the water plant, which included filter and pump replacements, well cleaning, and bulk chemical distribution.

Sidewalks were also improved: portions of 7th Street and D Avenue saw both new and replacement concrete poured.

In terms of residences, the city issued 15 remodel permits, and facilitated one housing remodel itself: the widely recognized and applauded Student-Built Housing Project.

“That’s probably one that would go higher up on the list of projects that I’m most proud of for the city,” City Administrator Ryan Schlabaugh said.  “The public’s heard me say it enough times: the council and the public took a leap of faith on the project, and it went well.  It probably exceeded most of our expectations and it allowed us to have some momentum to do some additional projects.”

“It’s rare to get a project that is publicly as well-received as it was when it’s new,” he commented.  “This one was one that kind of touched a nerve on the positive side with most people that I talked to.”

The city is also preparing for new growth.

The 54 acres of city-owned land between Highway 1 and the Kreekside subdivision that was purchased mainly for flood water retention (the Yoder property) is being prepared for development.  Soil sampling is being finished up and the pre-engineering should be ready for review in early 2023.  The hope is that developers will present proposals and a vision for the property by mid-year.

The storefront that previously housed the Kalona Bakery is also being prepared for new ownership.  Extensive damage remaining from a 2016 fire and the steep cost to rehab it has been a deterrent for businesses interested in the property, which is currently co-owned by KCTC and the City of Kalona. 

The two parties are currently working on a Community Catalyst Building Remediation grant from the state that would allow for repairs to the shell and roof of the building, and Sara Gruenwald is assisting with creating marketing materials that will help attract a new business to the property.

KCTC and the city council have “really wanted to try to target something that will have the downtown’s best interest and be a replacement to what was there with a gathering point with food,” Schlabaugh said. 

“I don’t know if a bakery is in the cards,” he added, but the hope is that breakfast, lunch, and some home baked goods would be available in that space.  Making that happen in 2023 is “a real, solid goal for us.”

Of the building permits issued in the last year, 22 were new home “dwelling” permits, and 2 were new commercial permits.  39 total permits were issued, with a valuation of nearly $2.4 million. 

For 2023, “We are looking to update our comprehensive plan,” Schlabaugh said.  “The comprehensive plan is kind of our road map for the public and council.  And the previous road maps really didn’t take into account an opportunity to go south.  So, we want to revisit that.”

“We’re going to look to partner with ECICOG [East Central Iowa Council of Governments] to do a Kalona-specific housing study that will help drive some of the things we’re doing with new home construction, with what that development looks like, with what we foresee in the Iowa City market and Johnson County market as it looks to go south, where that fits in with what we’re looking to do,” he explained.

“It will also give us an idea on low to moderate income housing, some of the things that we’re starting to tackle.  Are we doing enough?  Do we need to do more?  What does more look like?  Those are things we’ll look for in that housing study.”

Perhaps the most significant growth to look forward to in 2023 will be in recreational opportunities: 90 acres of the former Shiloh property are set to become publicly accessible, and “we’ll take ownership of probably two-thirds of that in 2023,” Schlabaugh said.  Dedication is expected early in the year, and the land should be open to the public in the spring. 

The city is working with the Washington County Conservation Board to manage the land.  The WCCB has already worked toward native prairie restoration and trail grooming, and “they planted 200-plus oak trees out there, and they’re starting to restock some of the ponds,” according to Schlabaugh.

“We’ll have probably about three miles of trails that are publicly ready,” he said.  “[Shiloh] had a pretty solid master plan and a trail plan.  So, we were able to, with the assistance of County Conservation, go in and reclaim those trails, those natural trails that they had established, and bring those back to life.”

In addition, “I think the council and the committee’s goal is to have some different fishing opportunities,” Schlabaugh said, ranging from entry-level fishing for bluegill to more serious angling for larger fish.

“It’s a really special piece of land,” he notes.

Kalona’s superpower: a passion for collaboration

When reviewing where the city has been in 2022 and where it plans to go in 2023, the City Administrator sees great strength in the staff and council’s eagerness to collaborate with others. 

The city partners with the YMCA, which has had a very successful year; it is working with the Washington County Conservation Board to develop and manage the Southtown recreational property; it is working with KCTC to bring a new community gathering point to the Kalona Bakery storefront; it worked with students, contractors, and multiple other organizations to bring the Student-Built Housing Project to fruition; and it works with Goodwin Dining in Wellman to deliver meals to seniors in Kalona.  Wherever the city administrative staff and city council look, they find good people to work with to utilize each group’s strengths and produce the best outcomes.

“Collaboration is a big thing for us,” Schlabaugh acknowledges.  “We feel really, really good that we can partner with other groups and let them do what they’re really good at and let us help manage that.”