Acknowledging that “it’s a pretty good service,” City Administrator Doug Morgan advised the Ka…

By Mary Zielinski (free-lance)

Acknowledging that “it’s a pretty good service,” City Administrator Doug Morgan advised the Kalona Council Monday that staying with the Washington County Sheriff’s Department is a good idea.

Aware that an increase in the law enforcement services contract is coming, council members Monday reviewed the idea of Kalona returning to its own service.

“It would really be a headache,” said Mayor J. D. Boyd, pointing out that it is not just hiring police officers, but also providing equipment, insurance, communications and then paying the sheriff’s department to house any prisoners.

“Then, do we have to have a magistrate and any kind of court,” he asked.

Morgan said that he had talked with officials in Wayland “which has its own department. They have population of 838 and a budget of $71,000 which they told me was barely covering. In fact, they know they are going to have to increase it.”

At present Wayland has two officers because it received a grant from the COPS program, “but what they will do after the grant runs out is uncertain,” explained Morgan.

Kalona’s present cost of law enforcement services is approximately $95,000. At present no one knows what the increase will be, except that the Washington County supervisors have notified the council one is likely.

Council members then discussed possible parking problems that may result during construction at Kalona Auto at Highway 22 and 5th St.

The major project at the auto service will result in a large parking area and probably the end of the double parking that has occurred on 5th St., the council members noted.

The city’s Board of Adjustment last week recommended approval of a variance to permit the new construction, provided that there is no storage on the side of the new building. In addition, the project will finally resolve a half-century encroachment problem.

The north segment of the building has long occupied a 100-foot long and 12-foot wide part of city land near an original alleyway.

As a method of resolvement, Kalona Auto will purchase the 100- ft. by 16 ft. area.

Morgan explained that a situation that has existed for more than 50 years, “gives them some rights.” However, an easy resolution will be the sale of the city land.

“We will proceed with a legal description, a contract to buy and a public hearing,” said Morgan.

Exactly what the price will be is not yet decided, but the city will use a similar formula as it did to resolve another encroachment problem with Kalona Oil company.

In other business, the council:

•learned that the roof repairs on the Community Center are done and approved payment of $4,405, which includes eight sheets of plywood to replace the sub-roof.

•approved Frank’s Construction, Inc. bid of $2,635 to repair the hardwood floor in the racquet ball court that was damaged by the Center’s leaking roof. There also will be repairs made to the wall and ceilings.

•learned that work has started on the 3rd St. paving project.

•learned that Washington County Chief Deputy Jack Dillon is retiring at the end of the year and a retirement dinner is set for December 17 in Kalona. Dillon has been with the Department for 22 years.