Although open burning in Kalona is not completely banned, there are restrictions, and Monday the c…

By Mary Zielinski (free-lance)

Although open burning in Kalona is not completely banned, there are restrictions, and Monday the council agreed enforcement of those restrictions will be done.

Following complaints from residents about neighbors burning trash, furniture and other items, City Administrator Doug Morgan told the council that the police will be instructed to issue tickets to violators.

Violation of the city ordinance carries a $100 fine.

“It is listed as a simple misdemeanor,” said Morgan.

Ordinance

Specifically, the ordinance bans open burning of everything except yard waste. Exceptions are permitted following a disaster, when the community has been ruled as such an area; recreational fires such as for cooking, heating or ceremonies (provided they comply with limits for emission of visible air contaminants established by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources), and training fires (those set by the fire department).

For yard waste, the ordinance specifies that it is just that: yard waste. Even more, all fires must be at least 50 feet from a structure or building, adult supervision must be present at all times, a working garden hose must be available for immediate use and all fires must be extinguished before dark or in the event of any complaints from other citizens about the smoke generated by the fire.

No fire shall be maintained if weather conditions are not favorable or if the fire chief has directed that it be put out.

Morgan stressed that a complaint from a resident is sufficient to warrant extinguishing a fire.

Highway by-pass

Morgan also reported that Amish in the area have indicated support for a possible by-pass around Kalona as part of the Highway 1 project. The suggestion has arisen as part of the initial study by the Iowa Department of Transportation (IDOT) to convert the stretch of Highway 1 from near Washington to near Iowa City to a Super Two-Lane.

“They really are in favor of anything that would reduce traffic on Highway 1,” Morgan explained. In fact, some favor a by-pass that would also take in a large section of Highway 22 west of Riverside.

“I never saw a by-pass around a town that did not kill the town,” said councilman Ken Herington. Pointing to Pella as an example “where the by-pass put some places out of business,” he said that a by-pass in Kalona would not help tourism or regular businesses.

Morgan said that the IDOT meeting set for June 20 in the Kalona Community Center is where concerns should be taken.

An informal session, it will be staffed by IDOT planners and engineers who want input from residents about the possible move.

The staff will be at the Center from 5 to 7 p.m. to take comments, Morgan noted. He suggested that Kalona council members meet with the officials.

In other business, the council:

•approved authorization of a loan agreement and issuance of $55,000 in General Obligation bonds to purchase a street sweeper. The arrangement calls for $12,000 annual payments for five years. The new sweeper arrived last week.

•agreed that white lines and a stop notation should be painted on B Ave. at the intersection of 4th St. Motorists have run through the stop signs at the intersection.

•adjourned before 7 p.m. to permit attendance at the Washington County Safety Center Citizens’ Committee meeting at the Kalona Chamber of Commerce building.