KALONA

The Kalona City Council met Wednesday for their regular meeting, congregating at City Hall with a bag of Hershey Miniatures passed around as is their custom, but that is where business as usual ended. It isn’t every day that the city accepts a million-dollar gift, as happened Feb. 19.

“On behalf of the City of Kalona, we would like to formally thank you for your generous donation of $1 million for the development of the walking and biking trail between the Kalona City Park and the Southtown Recreation Area,” City Administrator Ryan Schlabaugh said, reading a prepared statement.

The funds were given to the city by the Shiloh Committee.

Steve Rich attended the meeting, representing Shiloh.

“We’re excited for that,” he said about creating a trail that would connect the two parks. “There was a lot of support from the congregation and from the city, and that was something that stuck in our minds that people really wanted, and I think it’s an asset for the community, for the schools, for businesses.”

The total cost for a connecting trail is in the $1.7 to $3.5 million range, Schlabaugh told The News, depending on whether a bridge would need to be constructed over the English River. The Shiloh Committee was aware the donation would not cover the full cost; the hope is that it would “spark some energy to create more funds to get that done sooner rather than later,” Rich said.

The city will now begin putting together a trails committee of community members that will spearhead the project, which will eventually involve a capital campaign.

However, that was not the end of Shiloh’s generosity toward the Kalona community. The city also received $25,000 for the food pantry, $60,000 for the student-built home project, and an endowment was set up with the Mid-Prairie Foundation that will go toward trade scholarships in honor of David Tornow, the city’s late building inspector.

“Your support for the food pantry and student-built house project reflects a shared commitment to strengthening our community’s resources and investing in the next generation,” Schlabaugh said in his statement. “The endowment in honor of Dave Tornow will ensure that his legacy continues by supporting students pursuing careers in the trades, an area of critical importance to our local workforce and economy.”

Council members also voiced their gratitude and thanks for the financial support.

“It shows just how much small-town community means to everybody,” Mayor Mark Robe said. “I think it’s awesome.”

Other Business

The council set a public hearing for the FY25-26 proposed budget tax levy for Monday, April 7 at 6:30 p.m. Schlabaugh noted that no major comments have been submitted to the city regarding the budget, however, they have heard some comments on the proposed increase to water and sewer rates.

“Nobody loves it,” he said, but “they understand.”

At the conclusion of the meeting, Mayor Robe noted that Washington County Emergency Management Coordinator Marissa Reisen had submitted her resignation effective March 28. He noted that she has served in that position since July 2017, and that finding a new coordinator would be “kind of a lengthy process” as those qualified for the role don’t often go on the job market.

The Kalona City Council will next meet on Monday, March 3 at 7 p.m. at City Hall.