KALONA

Over the past two years, the City of Kalona has made significant investments in expanding its parks and recreational spaces, improving equipment in Kalona City Park, and ensuring that residents of all ages have access to high-quality outdoor amenities. This growth continues into 2025 with the much-anticipated ribbon cutting and open house for Vista Park—the newest addition to the SouthTown Recreational Area—set for Spring 2025.

Vista Park: A New Hub for Recreation

Vista Park will offer a diverse range of features designed to enhance outdoor experiences for individuals and families alike. Amenities include a 2+ acre Dog Park, providing a spacious, secure area for both small and large dogs to run and play, and a

playground with ADA access, featuring modern play equipment with accessibility features, including ADA-accessible play structures (ramps, adaptive swings, and ground-level play areas); poured-in-place fall surfacing (a smooth, rubberized surface that improves mobility for wheelchairs, walkers, and strollers); sensory play elements (interactive panels, musical instruments, and tactile features for children with different sensory needs); and inclusive play areas (activities designed for all children, regardless of ability).

Additionally, there is a splash pad – a fun, family-friendly water feature perfect for warm summer days; walking and biking trails – the North Ridge Trail Loop, an aggregate trail system, will offer a scenic route for walkers, joggers, and cyclists; the 9-Hole Black Locust Disc Golf Course, and a new restroom facility with wash station and family restrooms, ensuring convenience and accessibility for all visitors.

This growing park network, combined with Kalona’s commitment to outdoor recreation, continues to provide new opportunities for community members to enjoy the outdoors.

Future of Trails & Community Connectivity

Looking ahead, Kalona has the unique opportunity to develop a trail network that connects existing and future parks with surrounding recreational areas. With 70 acres of city-owned woodland ground along the English River, the potential for expanded hiking, biking, and nature trails is substantial. These efforts will create a multi-use park system that accommodates a wide range of recreational activities, each with a unique goal.

To help shape this vision, the Kalona City Council on Monday night directed city staff to establish a Trails Committee—bringing together city staff, community members, and key stakeholders to plan, fundraise, and implement an interconnected trail system. This committee will also guide efforts to develop a trail linking Kalona City Park to SouthTown Recreational Area, an important step toward improving community walking and biking opportunities and outdoor access.

Community Involvement

The success of Kalona’s parks and trails depends on community involvement. At the council’s direction, a dedicated savings account specifically for trail funds will be established. This will allow for residents and businesses to contribute to the upcoming Kalona Trails capital campaign, ensuring that resources are available to support these projects.

We invite interested individuals to join the Trails Committee, provide input, and participate in upcoming community discussions. We are in the early stages, and more details about committee structure, goals, fundraising efforts, and trail development updates will be shared in future meetings. We will also dedicate a tab on our cityofkalona.org website to provide data used by the city and the Trails Committee throughout the planning process.

For more information on Vista Park, the Trails Committee, or ways to get involved, please contact City Hall to volunteer or express interest by emailing rschlabaugh@cityofkalona.org.

Together, we can continue building a vibrant and connected outdoor recreation system that benefits Kalona residents for generations to come.

2025/2026 Kalona Budget Plan: Focus on Stability and Growth

On Monday night, city staff and the finance committee presented the 2025/2026 budget synopsis to the Kalona City Council, outlining a plan that balances fiscal responsibility with necessary investments in infrastructure, public safety, and community services. With a projected revenue of $1,258,414 and expenses of $1,245,997, the budget reflects a $12,417 surplus.

As the community prepares to take on infrastructure debt to replace its sewer lagoon—to comply with new federal ammonia and nitrate regulations—and to upgrade and expand its 35+ year-old water treatment facility and add a well, a three-year rate increase will be implemented. This phased approach will ensure Kalona meets state debt service requirements while maintaining essential water and sewer services. To see the proposed increases, we have a utility rate tab at cityofkalona.org that will outline the 3-year rate proposal.

Property Tax & Levy Update

Kalona’s property tax levy will remain steady at $10.36935 per $1,000 of valuation, maintaining stability for taxpayers. Property tax revenue is expected to increase by $37,630, with an overall taxable growth of 5.85%. The city’s debt service levy will decrease from $0.57616 to $0.50548, marking the lowest debt service levy in the past eight years.

Investments in Public Safety and Services

Sheriff’s Contract: The city’s contribution for law enforcement services will rise from $295,498 to $337,562, allowing for an additional 0.5 deputy to enhance coverage to bring our uniform patrol in the county to 15 deputies which help provide consistent law enforcement coverage county wide.

Kalona Volunteer Fire Department: A 3% increase in funding, with plans to establish a $10,000 yearly equipment fund for life safety purchases to be paid out of Local Option Sales Tax (LOST) and the Washington County Riverboat municipal funds.

Kalona First Responders: Funding will also increase by 3%, ensuring continued volunteer emergency response support.

Community and Economic Support

Kalona continues to benefit from strong partnerships with organizations that support economic growth, community engagement, and essential services. The city's ongoing collaboration with these groups ensures that Kalona remains a vibrant, welcoming place to live and work.

Kalona Chamber of Commerce: The Chamber plays a key role in promoting local businesses, tourism, and events that strengthen Kalona’s economy. From supporting small businesses to organizing community celebrations, the Chamber remains a vital advocate for the growth and sustainability of the local business community.

Washington Economic Development Group (WEDG): WEDG has been instrumental in fostering economic development throughout Washington County, helping attract new businesses, create jobs, and provide resources for entrepreneurs. Their continued partnership with Kalona ensures that our local economy remains strong and that businesses have access to the support they need to thrive.

Kalona Historical Village: A cultural and historical centerpiece, the Kalona Historical Village preserves and shares the rich history of our region with residents and visitors alike. From its well-maintained exhibits to annual events like the Kalona Fall Festival, the Village enhances tourism, supports education, and keeps the past alive for future generations.

YMCA of Washington County: The YMCA’s Kalona facility has become a hub for health, fitness, and community connection. With record-breaking membership numbers, the YMCA provides opportunities for youth programming, senior wellness, and family fitness activities, strengthening both physical and social well-being in our community. The city’s partnership with the YMCA continues to yield positive results, ensuring affordable access to recreation for residents of all ages.

Washington County Mini Bus: Providing essential transportation services, the Washington County Mini Bus helps ensure mobility for Kalona residents who rely on public transportation for medical appointments, shopping, and daily activities. The service is especially important for seniors and those with limited transportation options, helping to maintain their independence and quality of life.

Paws & More Animal Shelter: As an important resource for animal care and adoption, Paws & More provides shelter, medical care, and adoption services for animals in need across Washington County. The city’s continued support helps ensure that stray and abandoned pets receive the necessary care, and that responsible pet ownership is encouraged through spay/neuter programs and community outreach.

Each of these organizations plays a critical role in making Kalona and Washington County a better place to live, work, and visit. The city remains committed to supporting these groups as they provide valuable services and opportunities that benefit both residents and the broader region.

WCRF Municipal Grant Funds

The Washington County Riverboat Foundation continues to be a vital funding source for Kalona’s infrastructure, public services, and community projects. For the 2025/2026 fiscal year, WCRF funds will provide $235,000 in support of various initiatives aimed at enhancing public spaces, safety, and community engagement. The funding allocations include:

Community Center: A $95,000 allocation will continue supporting Kalona’s Community Center debt service on the 2017 borrowing.

Kalona Historical Village: $15,000 in funding will support the preservation and enhancement of this cultural and historical landmark, which plays a key role in tourism and education.

Fire Department Equipment Fund: A $5,000 contribution will help equip the Kalona Volunteer Fire Department with essential life-saving tools and safety gear.

Kalona Park: Shelters, Walking Paths, and Trails – With $78,000 in WCRF funds will improve local parks by adding new shelters, walking paths, and trail enhancements to support outdoor recreation.

Community Event: $7,000 will be allocated to support our local events that our sponsored by our library, chamber and Kalona Historical Village.

Student Built House Project: The 2025 Student Built House at 502 A Avenue will receive $30,000 in WCRF funds, with an additional $18,000 balance, helping fund this hands-on educational project that provides workforce development opportunities while addressing housing needs.

C Avenue Parking Lot: A $5,000 WCRF allocation, matched by $5,000 in Local Option Sales Tax (LOST) funds, will support parking lot improvements, helping to enhance the space with the goal of making it a food truck destination with public amenities.

These targeted investments demonstrate the continued impact of WCRF funding in improving public amenities, supporting local organizations, and ensuring long-term community growth.

Infrastructure and Utility Planning

Kalona is preparing for over ten million in infrastructure projects over the next three years, including as well as some three-to-five-year improvements for new meters and main replacement with reserve borrowing:

New SAGR Lagoon System (2026- online by April of 2027) – $7 million (Mandated by the Iowa DNR to meet all federal ammonia and nitrate levels)

Water Transmission Line & Filter Rehab (2025) – $1.2 million

Water Plant Expansion & New Well (2026) – $2.35 million

New Water Meters & Real-Time Reading – $500,000-$600,000 (Income reserve borrowing)

Water & Sewer Main Replacement (2027/2028) – $1.2-$1.5 million (Income reserve borrowing)

These projects will require a three-year rate increase starting in July 2025 to meet the state's debt service requirements. The city is actively seeking grant funding opportunities, and any funds secured will help lessen the financial impact on residents by reducing the need for larger rate increases.

2025 Student Built House Project

A new student-built house project will break ground at 502 A Avenue in the fall of 2025. The one-story slab-on-grade home will provide 1,775 square feet of livable space, featuring two separate family units. Each unit will offer a three-bedroom, two-bathroom layout, contributing to the city's housing stock while providing students with hands-on experience in residential construction. This project continues Kalona’s tradition of investing in workforce development and providing real-world learning opportunities for students interested in the skilled trades.

Balanced Approach to Growth

Council has stress that staff present a balanced approach, supporting vital city services while maintaining fiscal responsibility. As a city we have strived to keeping taxes stable, investing in public safety, and working to implement the necessary infrastructure improvements that will benefit Kalona for decades to come.

The 2025/2026 budget will be reviewed and finalized in the coming months, with opportunities for public input. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out at 656-2310 or via email at rschlabaugh@cityofkalona.org.