The Kalona City Council approved the first reading of the amended city precinct map and approved the final reading of the amended city no parking sign ordinance at their meeting on Monday evening, March 21.

City Administrator Ryan Schlabaugh said the modified legal boundaries for the city of Kalona election precinct need to be expanded to include the annexed area from original city limits south to include the Southtown addition.

The third and final reading of the amended “no parking” ordinance was approved following concerns expressed by Pam Hochstedler, 512 8th Street, about school buses maintaining speed limit. She thanked the council for listening to her concerns. She was assured by council members her concerns would be noted in the meeting minutes and the city would be open to hearing further concerns.

Schlabaugh said the Washington County Riverboat Foundation’s quarterly allocation to the city of Kalona totaled $54,769.13.  In a thank you letter to WCRF that Schlabaugh read to the council, he noted that Kalona has received $2.4 million in municipal funds since 2006.

In his city administrator comments, Schlabaugh said letters will be going out to property owners about planned sidewalk improvements next week and an open house detailing the project would be held April 4.

Washington County Deputy Lieutenant Randy Tinnes introduced Noah Schlabaugh (son of city Administrator Ryan Schlabaugh) and Robert Stewart (a 25-year law enforcement veteran formerly from Phoenix, AZ) as new deputies, bringing the Sheriff’s Office to full staff.