KALONA, IOWA
CITY HALL
February 3, 2025
7:00 PM
Regular meeting of the Kalona City Council with Mayor Robe presiding. Motion was made by Spitzer, and seconded G Schmidt, approving the agenda.
Council members present: J Schmidt, G Schmidt, Spitzer, and Beisheim. Bender was absent.
Motion was made by Spitzer and seconded by J Schmidt approving the meeting’s minutes on January 6, 2025. With all voting yes, the minutes were approved and published.
On a motion by Beisheim and seconded by Spitzer, the following bills were allowed with all voting yes. (See below list of bills)
Acco, Water Chemicals/Pool Grates 700.13
Acme Tools, Student House Trailer - Grant Funds 29,780.94
Alliant Energy, Monthly 22,070.41
Amazon Capital Services, Shop Supplies 46.48
Armore Equipment, Street Sweeper Parts 2,697.58
Blake Hershberger Enterprises, Rock Hauling 600.00
D.I.A.L./Elevator Safety Group, Annual Rec Elevator Inspection Fee 175.00
Dakota Supply Group, Snow Plow Blade 680.00
Frytown Trailers, Student House Trailer - Grant Funds 11,769.60
Garden & Associates, Engineering 26,739.07
Hach Company, Water Chemicals 77.09
Hills Bank Kalona, Payback General - Water (Payroll Taxes) 2,473.08
Hills Bank Kalona, Payback General - Water (Budget) 34,659.55
Hills Bank Kalona, Payback General - Sewer (Budget) 16,533.98
Hills Bank Kalona, Payback General - Water (Payroll) 6,249.93
Iowa Department of Revenue, Tax Withholding 1,691.99
Iowa Department of Revenue, Water Excise Tax 1,980.36
Iowa Department of Revenue, Sewer Sales Tax 289.73
Iowa One Call, Water/Sewer Locates 42.30
Iowa Public Employee Retirement System, IPERS 10,632.07
Jackie Etheredge, Office Cleaning 200.00
Johnson County Refuse, Garbage/Recycling 16,545.10
JW’s Foods, Supplies 58.39
Kalona Coop Technology, Monthly 2,177.28
Kevin’s Concrete, Water Main Concrete Repairs 8,195.20
Library Doors, Rec Door Repairs 787.00
Martin Equipment, Monthly 324.50
Michael Martens, Weekend Grave Closing 50.00
Reserve Account, Postage 800.00
The News, Publications 609.07
YMCA of Washington County, YMCA Agreement 4,500.00
Zippy’s Salt Barn, Salt/Sand 15,162.38
WITHDRAWALS:
Transfer funds $ 59,916.54
General Fund 20,441.47
Washington Co. Riverboat Fd 41,550.54
Library Board Fund 3,465.90
Garbage Fund 16,545.10
Road Use Fund 20,204.90
Trust & Agency Fund 3,710.14
Water Fund 36,639.91
Sewer Fund 16,823.71
DEPOSITS:
Transfer Funds $ 42,973.95
General Fund 3,251.69
Library Memorial Fund 100.00
Library Board Fund 122.05
Local Option Sales Tax Fund 44,103.06
Water Fund 16,105.46
Sewer Fund 5,121.25
Public Form:
JJ Johnson, a resident of Richmond, IA was present to share his concerns regarding illegal immigration deportations.
Tonia Poole with the Kalona Chamber of Commerce was present to share the planned events for 2025
Consideration of Selling Sharon Hill Cemetery Plots and Nutmeg Cemetery Plot to the following:
Derek and Melissa Bachman – Sharon Hill
Miriam Hilton – Nutmeg
Elizabeth Kelly and Jasen O’Brien – Sharon Hill
John P and Julie H Gingerich – Sharon Hill
Gilbert and Susan Troyer – Sharon Hill
Ronald and Patricia Harland – Sharon Hill
Mary J. Feeney and Brian L. Gingerich – Sharon Hill
Randy and Patricia – Sharon Hill
Larry and Colleen Hart – Sharon Hill
A motion was made by Spitzer and seconded by J Schmidt, to approve. With all voting yes, the motion carried.
Consideration was held by the council to open an account with Hills Bank and Trust for a future agreement of donated funds designated for trails. Funds would be kept in the new interest-bearing account until the future trail project that would go from Kalona City Park to Kalona Southtown Vista Park. The funds would stay in the new account until the beginning of the project at which time the funds would be transferred to the Kalona General account to cover trail expenditures. A motion was made by Beisheim, seconded by G Schmidt, authorizing city staff to start the process. With all voting yes, the motion carried.
Discussion to establish a Trails Committee was held by the council. The committee would create ideas and plans that would be presented to the council when ready for review. A motion was made by Spitzer, and seconded by J Schmidt, with all voting yes. The motion carried.
Consideration of the Iowa Alcoholic Beverage Division License for the following:
Kalona Historical Society – Special Class B Retail Native Wine License.
A motion was made by G Schmidt, and seconded by Spitzer, with all voting yes. The motion carried.
The Council reviewed the Washington County Riverboat Fund distribution for 2025-2026.
The projects are as follows: Kalona Community Center Debt, Kalona Historical Village, Fire Department – Equipment Fund, Kalona Parks, Community Events, Student Build House, and C Avenue Lot. The total of the projects will be $235,000.00. A motion was made by Spitzer, and seconded by G Schmidt approving the proposed projects. With all voting yes, the motion carried.
Staff shared with the council the preliminary 2025-2026 Budget Review. The council reviewed the information and asked staff questions. Outlined for the council were the changes to the water and sewer rates. The increase will have to come into effect starting July 1, 2025, with a plan for increases above the normal operation increases for the next 3 years. The council voiced concerns regarding the rate increases, but all agreed that due to new DNR requirements and water-plant updates that are needed, there were no other options. The council directed staff to work with Eocene, with which the city has a grant-writing contract regarding grant options or other options for funding assistance.
The meeting was adjourned.
SARAH CHMELAR, City Clerk
MARK ROBE, Mayor
Published in The News, Thursday, February 13, 2025 L-171
