The closing of 9th Street during the Kalona Historical Society’s Fall Festival was requested by so…

By News Dept.

The closing of 9th Street during the Kalona Historical Society’s Fall Festival was requested by society president John Walllerich at the August 9 Kalona City Council meeting.

Wallerich explained that due to the space requirements for the Fall Festival, September 24 and 25, the society needs to place more displays on the lot east of the 9th Street entrance.

“We are asking you to let us close and fence across 9th Street from Highway 22 South to D Avenue for the two days of the Festival,” Wallerich told the council.

Since the request came in the public forum section of the meeting and was not an official agenda item, the council deferred action until the August 23 meeting. City administrator said he would make the request part of the same resolution to make 7th Street one way and D Avenue between 7th and 9th restricted for bus and handicapped parking.

Wallerich said that in the past 9th Street was made one way south and used for bus unloading. He said people will have to park a little further away at the City Park and Kalona Sales Barn parking lots. He said buses will now be unloaded on D Avenue. He also noted that due to the construction of the new welcome center/quilt museum on the lot west of the Grout Church, displays of machinery, etc. will be on the lot east of 9th Street.

Council members indicated they would be supportive of the request, but suggested that there be proper signing to let people know that 9th Street will be closed.

Triax sale

City Administrator Doug Morgan reported to the council on the sale of Triax to Mediacom according to information received from Municipal & County Management Services (MCMS) consultants.

Representatives of eleven cities in Iowa obtained 34 references regarding Mediacom. Based on a 4.0 scale, Mediacom received a 2.8 grade point average from the cities ranging in size form 268 to 11,000 throughout the United States. Fifty per cent of the cities said they would gladly renew the franchise with Mediacom while only two cities said they would deny franchise renewal. The remaining 44 per cent would renew with reservations.

“I think that we would probably rate Mediacom as a “B” company and Triax as a “D” company,” stated Patrick Callahan, MCMS consultant, in a letter to the cities.

Callahan noted that Brian Grogan is going to recommend that cities approve the transfer request from Triax to sell the cable systems to Mediacom. A check of the financial condition of Mediacom revealed that it is a new company with a huge debt, but a good cash flow.

Triax has agreed to pay Grogan’s legal fees and the cities will not be billed for the services. Grogan will provide a model resolution regarding the transfer of the cable system. It is recommended that the cities adopt this resolution in late August or early September, Callahan reported.

Morgan noted that because of the new resolution being prepared by Grogan, cities are asked not to sign the resolution provided by Triax Midwest. A copy of the Mediacom survey results is available from Morgan.

Safety Center/Jail

Morgan reported that Harvey Holden, chairman of the Washington County Public Safety Center Study Committee had requested that the council table action on a resolution calling for a Local Option Sales Tax (LOST) until the next meeting. Morgan stated that Holden said the resolution was being reworded slightly.

The county supervisors are scheduled to meet on the LOST issue at 9 a.m. on Thursday, August 12.

Bikes

Councilman Dave Droz expressed concern that youngsters are riding their bicycles on downtown streets. He noted that recently a shopper was struck by a biker, causing him to drop and break an antique purchase.

Councilman Steve Reif noted that sidewalks are not clearly marked “No bikes”.

September meetings

The first meeting in September will be held on the second Monday, September 13, because of Labor Day falling on the first Monday. The second meeting will be held the third Monday or September 20.