Ryan Schlabaugh

Last year was a strong year for the city of Kalona, according to City Administrator Ryan Schlabaugh.

Schlabaugh pointed to the building permits issued within the city limits as one indicator.

“In 2018, the city issued 35 building permits, while in 2019, we issued 38 permits,” he said.

The big difference, though, is the valuation of the projects the permits covered.

Schlabaugh said that there was $3.4 million of construction done in 2019, compared to $1.6 million in 2018.

“That shows we’ve had more residential construction in 2019,” he said.

He expects that trend will continue, with the city expected to enter talks with developers for the acreage the city owns on the north side of town, as well as the anticipated development and annexation of the Shiloh property south of town.

Also in late 2019, the City Council gave the go-ahead for a project to extend city water and sewer service eastward along Highway 22.

“The businesses there will be able to connect to city services,” Schlabaugh said. “It will also open the door for potential new development there.”

The city also completed a number of projects that have been in the works.

Schlabaugh listed the C Avenue repaving project and the library frontage project, as well as the 12th Street repaving project and the water main replacement on H Avenue.

The YMCA at Kalona Community Center continues to post strong numbers.

There was a surge of memberships when the center opened in the summer of 2018. Schlabaugh said those numbers continue to remain strong.

“We’ve got more than 1,600 members,” he said. “Forty percent of Kalona residents are engaged in the Kalona YMCA.

“Nationally, the YMCA’s gold standard is 20%, so we’re doing really well.”

The city also completed a number of projects with Washington County Riverboat Foundation money.

Those include the quilt block banner upgrade, batting cages, pool furniture and new concession stands at the ballfields.

In 2020, the city will put up a new message board between the U.S. post office and the Kalona Fire Station.

The $50,000 project is expected to be completed in the spring.

The city conducted a sidewalk inventory survey to gage the public’s priorities on where sidewalk improvements and additions should be done.

The data is still being compiled, according to Schlabaugh.

“We hope to present that in February when we have a full council,” he said.

Another project is the restoration of the unknown soldier monument at Sharon Hill Cemetery.

“We’ve removed the granite and cannonballs up there,” Schlabaugh said.

The monument has been sent to Dubuque for refurbishing, while the cannonballs are being redone at MaxCast in Kalona.

A mild late fall and early winter allowed the concrete pad to be poured.

“We hope to be able to have some sort of ceremony this spring when everything is finished,” Schlabaugh said.