KALONA

The Kalona City Council arrived early Monday night for a public hearing on the proposed property tax levy for FY2026-27. The proposed levy of $10.36973 per $1,000 of assessed value is unchanged from the current fiscal year. The proposed agricultural land levy rate of $3.00375 per $1,000 of assessed value also remains unchanged.

City Administrator Ryan Schlabaugh noted that residential property owners may see an additional benefit from a change in the state’s residential rollback percentage, which drops from 47.4316% to 44.5345% for the coming fiscal year. This means the taxable portion of a home’s assessed value is smaller, resulting in a reduction in the city’s portion of a property owner’s tax bill.

During the regular meeting that followed, the council set a public hearing for the FY2026-27 budget for April 20 at 6 p.m.

Downtown Plantings

The City is moving forward with plans to install decorative concrete planters at the corner of 5th Street and C Avenue, filling the spaces left by the removal of trees lost to disease. The planters, which are size-appropriate for the intersection and consistent with the aesthetic of the city square, are expected to arrive within four to five weeks of ordering and will be in place in time for the summer season.

As part of this year’s beautification effort, the City will also transition the upper hanging baskets along the square to drought-resistant plant varieties. This change will allow staff to evaluate how well those plantings hold up throughout the summer and into fall with reduced hand-watering demands. The city’s irrigation system, originally installed in 2009, will not be replaced at this time due to the costs associated with removal and replacement of the underground infrastructure.

Water Updates

The council acknowledged 2025 annual water quality reports at its April 6 meeting.

It then set a bid hearing for the wastewater treatment facility construction project for Tuesday, May 12, at 11 a.m. at City Hall.

Solicitor Permits

Solicitors have descended on Kalona homes and businesses following the April 2 storm that resulted in hail damage to properties. The council discussed the ordinance on door-to-door emergency solicitor permits to allow city offices to issue permits more quickly. Door-to-door solicitors after a storm are supposed to have permits.

The Kalona City Council will next meet on Monday, April 20 at 6 p.m. at City Hall.