KALONA

Responding to the increase in cremations in recent years, a new 48-vault columbarium will be added to Sharon Hill cemetery this spring. Anticipating its arrival, the Kalona City Council considered rates for the compartments as well as cemetery plots at their regular meeting Monday night.

City Administrator Ryan Schlabaugh reviewed the current rates for plots at Sharon Hill and Nutmeg cemeteries, as well as rates charged in nearby Washington and Iowa City for comparison. Plots in Kalona cemeteries currently range from $175-$250; in Washington, $650; and in Iowa City, $900 for residents and $1350 for nonresidents.

Schlabaugh proposed raising the price for all Kalona plots to $300 and charging $500 for columbarium compartments, however, council members questioned that rate structure.

“Why did you go $200 above what a plot would be?” council member Jenelle Bender asked of the columbarium pricing. “That looks like it will discourage people, and I think what we want to do is encourage.”

“I think I feel a little bit more comfortable if the fee was the same,” council member Greg Schmidt said. “That way the families have the option of, hey, for this price you can either do this or do that, because they’re going to be considering what they’re going to do.”

The council debated what the universal fee would be, conscious of both wanting to pay for – although not necessarily profit from -- the columbarium and serve those of lower financial means, ultimately settling on $400 as the price point for both plots and columbarium compartments. Schlabaugh said he would consult with local funeral homes and present a resolution to the council at a later date.

Student-Built House

A fair chunk of the Jan. 6 meeting involved a discussion of the student-built housing project expected to be completed this summer. Students involved with this year’s project have completed a proposal, which the council reviewed, for a duplex to be built at 502 A Avenue. The plans include two 3-bedroom, single-level, fully ADA units with 2-car garages.

“This hits a lot of the marks,” Schlabaugh said.

Jeremy Statler/Statler Construction is expected to help the City with the bid process; the goal is to get “the most cost-effective groups to come in and work with students.” The City hopes to sell the units for up to $200,000 each, keeping the price within the low-to-moderate income housing range.

The council also discussed the purchase of a 20-foot job trailer that would be onsite and kitted out with all the tools needed for building. The City hopes to begin ordering equipment now to be ready for a March/April start to construction. The job trailer is being funded by a WCRF grant.

Other Action

The City received $51,749.79 in fourth quarter municipal grant funds from the Washington County Riverboat Foundation; a note of appreciation will be sent.

The council approved The News as the City’s official newspaper for public notices.

The council approved committee designations: council members Joe Schmidt and Craig Spitzer will serve on Recreation and Streets and Alleys; Jenelle Bender and Greg Schmidt will serve on Finance; Bender and Hank Beisheim will serve on Water, Sewer, and Solid Waste; Beisheim and Greg Schmidt will serve on Building and Grounds; Bender will continue as Mayor Pro Tem; Washington County Public Health is appointed Health Officer; and Lynch Dallas PC/Steven Leidinger appointed City Attorney.

The council approved appointments to the Planning and Zoning Commission: Larry Geno, Cooper Tonning, Larry Christenson, Ron Slechta, Sylvan Schlabach, Andrae Naraine, and Chris Swart; to the Board of Adjustment: Clair Yoder, Aaron McGlynn, Zach Hardman, and Myron Ropp; to the Tax Increment Finance Board: Abby Yoder, Danielle Johnson, Karen Christner, Tina Hershberger, and Chuck Gustafson; to the Building Code Board of Appeals: Steve Reif, Merlin Kauffman, Merv Miller, Lewis Payne, and Susan Heitman; to the Parks and Recreation Board: Joe Green, Marcus Hall, Megan Hardman, Taylor Yeggy, and Kelby Bender; and to the Library Board of Trustees: Karen Stalter, Kyle Askling, Frank Slabaugh, Jim Miller, Shirlene Seale, Christina Grier, and Donna Jones.

The Kalona City Council will next meet on Tuesday, Jan. 14 at 5:45 p.m. for a work session; their next regular meeting will be Wednesday, Jan. 22 at 7 p.m. at City Hall. Please note the date change due to the Martin Luther King Jr. Day holiday.