Kalona votes to proceed on building inspector shared

By Ron Slechta
Posted 5/17/22

The Kalona city council Monday evening, May 16, approved a budget amendment for the current budget by $904,147 to total expenditures of $4,802,512 without any increase in property taxes. There were …

This item is available in full to subscribers.

Please log in to continue

E-mail
Password
Log in

Kalona votes to proceed on building inspector shared

Posted

The Kalona city council Monday evening, May 16, approved a budget amendment for the current budget by $904,147 to total expenditures of $4,802,512 without any increase in property taxes. There were no written or oral objectors to the budget adjustments at the public hearing prior to the vote.

City Administrator Ryan Schlabaugh explained that budget amendment is to account for water & sewer projects that include the use of American Rescue Plan funds (water filter project, sewer extension on north 6th street, generator installation, tower cleaning, etc.). 

“We have also allocated “low to moderate funds” to be expended yet this fiscal year for property at 721 6th street for School / Home Builders Association / City project (See separate Story),” Schlabaugh noted.

“As always the budget amendment is just cleaning up the budget to reflect expenditures and revenue streams that were not anticipated,” he explained. “ The ARPA funds were not budgeted and we are adjusting our revenue and expenses to reflect the approved uses.”

In addition, the council told Schlabaugh to proceed working with the city attorney and the City of Riverside  on a 28E agreement for the hiring of a shared building inspector. Schlabaugh said details still need to be evaluated with the inspector dedicating 70% of his time to Kalona and 30% to Riverside.

Currently Dave Tornow is the Kalona building inspector on a part-time basis.  If both cities approve, there will be a job posting for a full-time building inspector.

The city rescheduled the public hearing on the city’s sidewalk improvement project  from May 16 to 7 p.m. June 6.

“We budgeted $170,000 in capital projects,” Schlabaugh noted.  “The sidewalks would be on the west side of 7th Street from H to J Avenue,  as well as on the north side of D Avenue from 6th all the way to the city park.  This is a mix of remove and replace and new, all 5 feet in width.”

Schlabaugh said bids that have been received are in line with projected costs and contracts would be awarded after the public hearing .

The council approved a resolution approving the use of city funds to make payments  to nonprofit groups  for public benefit in the 2022-23 city budget.

The groups include Wellman Senior Dining, Paws & More of Washington, WEDG, Washington County Mini-bus, Kalona Historical Village, and the Kalona Area Chamber of Commerce.

Sharon Hill Cemetery deeds were approved for Roy Carney, Timothy Britton and Merre Mahan.

Tobacco permits were approved for Casey’s General Store, Dollar General and Westside Petro.

Class C liquor license renewals was approved for the Tuscan Moon.

The council also went into closed session to review property acquisition. No action was taken when the council came back into open session and adjourned. 

In his comments to the council, Schlabaugh said he would be pursuing   discussions with interested parties about potential childcare services.

He also noted city crews are working on getting the Kalona City Pool open by June 2. It will be managed by the YMCA again this year.

Due to the success of the Kalona Farmers Market, Schlabaugh said other street vendors are interesteds in setting up on the on downtown city streets.  He said it would be up ;to the council to allow vendors who are in competition with  downtown brick and mortar stores.