KALONA

“I started as a clerk when I was 15; it’s about time!” Olivia Kahler laughed when Ryan Schlabaugh recommended the city council approve her as the Kalona Public Library’s new director at the Kalona City Council meeting on Feb. 5.

The council did approve, and the current Director of Youth Services will take up her new role effective March 1. Outgoing director Trevor Sherping will be leaving full-time employment at the library to become a stay-at-home parent.

Kahler’s appointment and Sherping’s departure were not the only personnel changes noted by the City Administrator Monday night; maintenance supervisor Devon Young, “a great employee,” gave his notice to the city as he accepted another position locally. The city will begin seeking applications to fill the vacancy.

In other action, the council considered a resolution adding observed holidays to the Kalona Personnel Manual. Proposed was adding observance of Presidents Day and a half-day afternoon on New Year’s Eve.

Presidents Day is “a big one,” City Clerk Sarah Chmelar said, noting that the February holiday falls at bill collection time, and people are upset to find they do not have that day of grace, as the city remains open for business. As for the afternoon on New Year’s Eve, Schlabaugh noted that “it is absolutely dead” at the city offices and it makes sense to close.

Council member Craig Spitzer supported the resolution, albeit with an addition: that the city also observe Martin Luther King Day.

The amended resolution, adding all three holidays to city’s calendar, was approved by the council 4:1. Council member Greg Schmidt opposed the addition of MLK Day.

The council also approved a street closure on the north side of the YMCA building for the Kalona Home Show to be held March 22-23.

“Closing to through traffic will allow for some exterior vendors and a little bit of ease getting across that area, not unlike what we did in front of the library for Christmas in Kalona,” Schlabaugh noted.

Four bids were received for the Southtown Recreation Area trailhead project, which includes amenities such as restrooms, a dog park, and a splash pad. Schlabaugh anticipates the council will award the contract at the next meeting, and also approve a funding package for the project, which will include Riverboat grant funds.

Supervisor solicits thoughts

Bob Yoder, a Washington County Supervisor, attended the meeting Monday night, and used time during public forum to ask the council what they thought about the proposed wind ordinance the county is considering. A wind farm has some interest in establishing windmills in the county.

When Iowa County considered allowing wind farming, the issue “tore that county up” and “two supervisors lost their seats over it. It went down very poorly,” Yoder said. Thus, he was seeking input from the community he represents.

Yoder and the council discussed the issues surrounding wind farms: taller and taller windmills that people don’t want to look at; difficulty crop dusting around them; composite blades that would need to be recycled or would end up in landfills; six-figure costs to dismantle a windmill; advancing technology that quickly makes existing windmills obsolete; disruptions in the routes of migratory birds; devaluation of nearby farmland and residences; and who actually benefits financially.

“Tomorrow when we’re discussing it, can I say you as a group are not really keen on this?” Yoder asked at the conclusion of the discussion.

Spitzer clarified the council’s position: “Absolutely against it.”

The Washington County Supervisors were expected to consider the wind ordinance at their meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 6.

The Kalona City Council will observe Presidents Day on Monday, Feb. 19. They will next meet on Tuesday, Feb. 20 at 7 p.m. at City Hall.