In a unanimous vote Tuesday, Washington County supervisors approved a letter of support for the voluntary annexation of slightly more than 600 acres into the city of Kalona, most of it which had been part of Shiloh church. 

The property is contiguous to Kalona and the move received council approve at its March 23 meeting. A public hearing on the voluntary annexation is set for 7 p.m., April 6 at Kalona City Hall.

Plans for the property involve a housing and recreation development in two phases involving a total of 123 lots for single and multiple family dwellings. 

Additionally, 95 acres will be designated for recreational use and 117.25 deeded to the city of Kalona.

Using current figures, with no provision for any property taxes increases, the annexation is expected, within a 15-year period to add $5,249,861 to tax revenues; specifically, $1,571,733 for Kalona, $2,191,234 for the Mid-Prairie school district, and $1,306,385 for the county.

The annexation area includes a fully functioning water treatment system, cemetery and plot with a house and maintenance building.

Future possible plans include further recreation development, including a trail from Kalona.

In considering the support letter, Chairman Jack Seward Jr. said it was a plan “that would be difficult to deny,” and that “everything is going the way it should go,” referring to the steps toward annexation and the planned development.