A resolution approving the transfer and assignment of the Kalona cable television franchise from T…

By News Dept.

A resolution approving the transfer and assignment of the Kalona cable television franchise from Triax to Mediacom LLC was approved 4-0 by the Kalona City Council meeting Monday evening, September 13.

City Administrator Doug Morgan pointed out that if the resolution was approved, the agreement would automatically go into effect if the city took no action.

Rec Center roof

The council voted 4-0 (councilman Jerry Kauffman was absent) to accept a bid by Barthelman’s Roofing, 909 9th St., Kalona, for $8,160 plus $25 a sheet if any plywood has to be replaced on the central portion of the Rec Center (Community Building).

RUT funds

The council approved the annual Road Use Tax Funds report for the Iowa Department of Transportation. That report showed a balance of $109,000 was in the RUT account as of June 30.

Morgan noted that about $73,000 of those funds will be paid to R.L. Pelling Co., North English, to resurface C Avenue from Highway 1 to 6th Street. That project will be completed this week.

Pelling Co. will also resurface 3rd Street at a cost of $42,000, but that project will be financed out of Tax Increment Financing (TIF) funds. Morgan said 3rd Street will be done in two sections so that there will always be an open entrance to Mercy Kalona Medical Clinic.

Pre-school contract

The council voted 4-0 to approve the lease agreement with Mary Beth Sammons, d/b/a Kalona Pre-School Center, for use of the lower level of the Community Building. Cost is $250 or $2,250 for the 9-month contract. This is a $15 a month increase.

Pool/campgrounds

Both Morgan and City Clerk Karen Christner reported that Kalona had a good year at both the pool and campgrounds. Christner said she wasn’t sure about the numbers, but pool revenues were up in part due to fee increases. Morgan said he thought attendance was up because there were very few days that the pool was closed because of bad weather.

Morgan also noted that the city has received numerous complements about the city campgrounds. He added that he’d like to see the city build a shower house for the campgrounds. “We need to build a nice shower house or nothing at all,” he noted. “I think the campgrounds help bring people to the community,” he added.

Christner noted some people stayed at the campgrounds while they attended the Old Threshers Reunion in Mt. Pleasant.

Supervisors letter

City councilmen expressed some concern about a letter from the Washington County Board of Supervisors concerning the proposed new county Law Enforcement and Communications Center. The letter noted that the City of Washington and Washington County were putting in an additional $200,000 for the communications equipment and the rest would be financed through a local option sales tax, if voters approve in November.

Council members expressed concern that the letter was “greasing the skids” so the council would be receptive to a higher law enforcement contract with the county sheriff’s office. Currently Kalona pays $95,000 annually. However, there are expected to be additional costs for transporting prisoners to out of county facilities during the construction period. Some councilmen questioned if the cost wasn’t getting high enough for the city to consider having its own police force.

Other action

In other action, the council:

•approved a cemetery deed for Velma Milford.

•received a report that Kalona Plastics, Inc. had obtained a building permit to construct a 270 x 150 ft. and a 50 x 50 ft. building, total of 43,500 square feet, at a cost of $2.3 million.