KALONA
At their Jan. 22 work session, the Kalona City Council looked at a few of the larger projects on the city’s horizon: plans for the Yoder property, water system, and wastewater treatment …
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KALONA
At their Jan. 22 work session, the Kalona City Council looked at a few of the larger projects on the city’s horizon: plans for the Yoder property, water system, and wastewater treatment facility.
The city has met with five developers regarding the Yoder property on the north side of town, two of which “have really gone above and beyond” in their responsiveness. All are interested in creating higher density residential areas, which could include duplexes and apartments, with the later potentially located along Highway 1. The city has placed few restrictions on developers, aside from requiring five acres be set aside for park space.
A turn lane on Highway 1, both north and southbound, will be required once the development starts taking shape; for now, an access road is the primary concern.
Building inspector Dave Tornow had been involved in the project, and his unexpected passing at the end of 2024 means the city will have to adapt.
“I feel pretty good with everything where we’re at right now and how the plans are coming together,” City Administrator Ryan Schlabaugh told the council.
Water
The city is also adapting to the retirement of long-time city engineer Jack Pope, however this they had time to prepare for. New city engineer Rick Teed, of firm Garden & Associates, attended the work session to discuss water and wastewater.
Needing to improve the water system is “a good problem to have,” Schlabaugh said; upgrades were always in the city’s plan, but “growth has been probably two years ahead of schedule,” thus prompting the city to act now.
Kalona has two water plants, one north and one south, the southern plant being older and less capable. The city aims to upgrade the system in two phases: first it will connect the north water tower to the south side, then it will upgrade the northside plant, which will include drilling an additional well. The southern plant will be taken offline.
The city has no water debt at present, but the updates won’t be cheap: about $1.2 million for the first phase and $2.3 million for the second.
“It could be a few years down the road when we really start to explore that borrowing and everything,” Schlabaugh said, but the council needs to look at consumer rate increases in anticipation.
“This existing water treatment plant has lasted 30 years,” Teed noted. “We usually design out 20 years, so you’ve got a little extra life out of this existing treatment plant.”
The goal is to put the project out to bid at the end of 2025 and begin work on the first phase in early 2026.
Wastewater
Among the city’s crappier business is the task of revamping the wastewater treatment lagoons to meet DNR requirements for ammonia nitrate levels. The city plans to convert the southeast corner of the existing lagoons to a SAGR system, which removes ammonia from wastewater by promoting the growth of beneficial bacteria on a submerged gravel bed, allowing for efficient nitrification even at near-freezing temperatures.
Fiscally, the city has already borrowed $400,000 for engineering of the project; it comes with a $7 million total price tag. Schlabaugh said he will seek grant funding, although it is unlikely the city will qualify for state Community Development Block Grant programs, which principally serve those of low to moderate incomes.
“Our rates are going to have to see a pretty substantial increase to be able to support being able to service the debt for 30 years on a $7 million loan, worst case scenario,” Schlabaugh said.
The city expects to accept bids for the project in late 2025; the new system must be online by March 2027.
“We’re on schedule right now,” Teed confirmed.
As this was a work session, no action was taken; Schlabaugh aims to propose new water and wastewater rates for the council’s consideration in the near future.