Kalona

  Ten Kalona residents expressed their frustration about the flooded basements and sewer backups caused by the rains on September 19 and 20 to the Kalona City Council on Monday night.

  The council recognize that Governor Kim Reynolds has declared Washington County and Kalona disaster areas, with residents being victims of the flooded basements and sewer backups, eligible for limited state assistance. 

  Many in the crowed made their frustration known of losing much of what they had in the basements including washers, dryers, furnaces and more. Some said they even lose everything every five to seven years. 

  Some residents were emotional about their love for Kalona only to lose everything in the disaster. Roy Wilson said he he does not want to hurt Kalona but wanted answers to why this continues to happen. He also asked why the city has not addressed the problem. Others asked for transparency and resolution of the continued sewer backups. One person said she had sewage flow out of her toilet for over 13 hours straight.                

   Those expressing their concerns and asking for answers and action were Katie Ford, Zach Hardman, Natalie Hardman, Roy Wilson, Sandy Marner, Stacy Speas, Janet Goss, Mitchell Blackburn, Melissa Kaufman, Wendy Mayer. 

Kalona City Administrator

    Kalona City Administrator Ryan Schlabaugh said after the meeting, “At the direction of the City Council, City staff is partnering with three engineering firms to evaluate Kalona’s sanitary sewer and stormwater systems. Garden & Associates offers its knowledge of the City’s existing infrastructure, Eocene Environmental is exploring new mitigation projects and potential FEMA funding, and Axiom Consultants is conducting the hands independent review of the systems.”

   Axiom will look to present a written report with recommendations to the City Council in November, Schlabaugh noted. 

   On Monday, October 5, Wesley Sapp of the Disaster Case Advocacy program held in-person sessions at the Kalona YMCA to help residents navigate the available relief programs.

   Schlabaugh said the City will coordinate with Washington County Emergency Management Coordinator Nathan Schmucker to determine whether additional sessions with Sapp are needed. Residents who have not yet reported damage are encouraged to do so through the State’s self-reporting portal.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

  The city also made a one page report on the actions the city has for flood mitigation.

Other action

   In other action, the council approved application for $750,000 grant through Great Outdoors. Foundation for the Yoder Property Wetlands project.  

  They also discussed the Eocene Environmental Group contract for preliminary flood mitigation options for lagoon cell No. 1.