RIVERSIDE

Riverside’s City Council is stepping up again to help finance the operations of the Kalona Public Library.

The City Council approved a Fiscal Year 2026 contract with the library that increases the agreement to $40,000, an increase of $5,000 from the current fiscal year, which ends June 30, and an increase of $15,000 from Fiscal Year 2024.

The library, which is located on C Avenue in Kalona and has two full-time City of Kalona employees, also serves Riverside. Residents of Riverside can obtain patron memberships at the library and kids storytime programs are also designated for Riverside.

“I had a great time getting to know the kids of Riverside,” said library director Olivia Kahler, who runs several programs in both cities and made a presentation to the City Council on Monday night.

“You just have a lot of energy and great ideas,” City Council member Lois Schneider told Kahler at Monday’s meeting.

The library’s staff features Kahler and Samantha McGuire, circulation librarian.

The library opens six days a week at 9:30 a.m.

Pickleball Plans

Following a public hearing Monday, the City Council approved final plans for three pickleball courts to be installed at Hall Park and released the project for construction bids.

The pickleball courts have been designed by Axiom Consultants of Iowa City, and will be installed on the north side of Hall Park. The design documents are on the city’s website, agenda packet, at riversideiowa.gov.

Another public hearing has been set for March 3, when contracts will be awarded for the project.

Cherry Lane Extension

A public hearing was also held for the Cherry Lane Extension project, with no public comment. The project will extend Cherry Lane, south of Highland Elementary, to improve traffic flow and safety around the school.

The City Council approved plans for the project and releasing the work for bid. The construction work would be done in the summer, after the completion of the 2024-25 school year.

As with the pickleball courts project, another public hearing was set for March 3 to award the construction contract.

A similar public hearing on the project is set for next Monday at the Highland School Board’s monthly formal meeting.

Council Action

The Council heard a presentation from Mary Audia, Executive Director, Washington Economic Development Group.

The Council tabled action on repair work to generators at several lift stations, the wastewater treatment plant and the fire station.

The Council set a public hearing for February 18 for the Security and Access Control project.

The Council approved a request by City Clerk Stephanie Thomann to attend a number of Iowa Muncipal Professional Institute sessions at Iowa State University in Ames, at a cost of $2,142.

The Council approved a request by City Administrator Cole Smith to attend the 2025 Iowa Municipal Management Institute session in Iowa City, at a cost of $350.

Next board meeting: The City Council’s next regularly scheduled meeting is at 6 p.m. February 18. City Hall is closed February 17 for Presidents Day.