The Kalona City Council Monday agreed to spend up to $1,700 to help clean up Kalona during a citywide Cleanup Day May 8.

The amount would cover the cost of four rolloff units from Iowa City Clean Up & Transfer, the city’s sanitation services contractor. The additional funds would cover landfill tipping fees ($48.50 per ton). The Cleanup Day is a Chamber of Commerce project that also will have help from the Kalona Rotary Club, as well as from the city.

In outlining the plan, City Administrator Doug Morgan stressed that “no garbage” will be collected. Garbage is regularly collected weekly, provided it has the proper stickers attached. He also noted that other municipalities have paid more than $5,000 for cleanup, largely in tipping fees when residents “hauled in everything.”

Furniture and appliances can normally be left curbside for weekly pickup, Morgan explained, as long as the proper stickers are purchased. For example, a chair requires one $8 tag, a sofa, two. A water heat will be picked up for one $10 tag, but a refrigerator requires two.

During Cleanup Day, Iowa City Clean Up & Transfer will give discounts for car tires: $l rather than the usual $2.50 and appliances will be half-price. However, all have to be brought to the rolloff site. There will be no curbside pickup for the special clean up effort.

Trees

The city also will have trees for sale, starting at 8 a.m., in the west parking lot of the Kalona Community Center. The program, part of the Trees Forever and Branching Out (from Alliant Utilities), offers residents an opportunity to obtain 10 foot saplings at discounted prices. Cost will be $60 per tree or two trees for $110. Only 30 trees will be available.

“There’s a large market for trees right now,” said Morgan, referring to last summer’s storms that took down numerous trees throughout the area.

“There just are not as many this year,” he said.

Computer

Morgan provided details for a new computer system that would greatly increase memory capacity. Depending on the extent of training needed, as well as some options, cost would run from $4,080 to $11,500. After discussion about Y2K compliance and other upgrades, including facilitating monthly water billings, the council authorized Morgan to upgrade the computer system.

However, councilman Dave Droz, in his motion asked that the upgrade be to a Pentium three rather than a two.

Contract

For the last several years the city has had a contract for its backhoe that essentially provides a two-year warranty, then replacement of the unit on a lease agreement. The program amounts to paying an initial fee plus $10 per hour, all which, noted councilman Steve Reif, is considerably less than buying a unit. The council unanimously voted to continue with the contract program.

Reif added that the arrangement essentially gives the city new equipment that is always under warranty.