Kalona Council approves budget amendment, street closings for events

By Ron Slechta
Posted 5/19/21

The Kalona City council approved an amendment to the current fiscal year budget and approved the temporary closing of streets for Kalona Day and Kalona Fall Festival at the May 17 council …

This item is available in full to subscribers.

Please log in to continue

E-mail
Password
Log in

Kalona Council approves budget amendment, street closings for events

Posted

The Kalona City council approved an amendment to the current fiscal year budget and approved the temporary closing of streets for Kalona Day and Kalona Fall Festival at the May 17 council meeting.

City Administrator Ryan Schlabaugh explained that the amendment was necessary for expenditures paid for out of grants and other non-tax revenues. No additional property taxes were involved.

The Council approved the closing on C Ave from Highway 1 to 9th street from 2 to 5 p.m. to allow for a 4 p.m. parade on June 19. The parade will line up on A Avenue from 9th to Highway 1 and travel east of C Avenue and disperse at 9th Street.

The council also approved the closing of B Avenue from 6th Street to 7th Street from 5 a.m. until 9 p.m. on June 19 to allow for Kalona Day activities on B Avenue and on the KCTC open lot.

The Council also approved closing of 9th Street between E and D Avenues and D Avenue between 7th and 9th Street during the Kalona Fall Festival Sept. 24 and 25.

The Council also informally agreed to leave it to the city staff to approve routes for a couple of tractor rides and a car cruise during the summer months.

A request by the Kalona Public Library request to submit an application to the Washington County Riverboat Foundation for $10,000 for electronic upgrades was also approved. There is to be $2,000 of in-kind funds from the Library.

At the request of Washington County Auditor’s office, the council officially designated the YMCA/Community center as the official polling location for the Kalona Precinct.

Schlabaugh announced that L.L. Pelling has postponed the resurfacing of 5th Street between Highway 22 and J Avenue until mid-June due to weather. He said property owners will be notified before the project begins, but they would have access to their driveways during the project.

Pelling will also be doing other street patching projects in the city while they are during the 5th street project.

Schlabaugh said the city swimming pool should be ready to open on schedule Memorial Day weekend. The YMCA of Washington County will operate the pool again this summer.

Schlabaugh also notified the council that the two filtering tanks at the water treatment plant will probably need to be repaired or replaced this year.

A Class C Liquor license renewal for the Tuscan Moon was approved by a 4-1 vote (council member Jenelle Bender voted no).

Schlabaugh also reminded the council that the Citywide Cleanup Day would be held at the West parking lot at the City Park from 8 to 11 a.m. Saturday, May 22.

Washington County Sheriff Randy Tinnes reported light activity for Kalona in April with 43 calls. There were 32 cars stopped, but no arrests. Tinnes also reported that the Sheriff’s Department had hired City Administrator Ryan Schlabaugh’s son, Noah, as a deputy and he would be attending the law enforcement academy soon.