The City of Kalona has formally approved the voluntary annexation of the Shiloh property into city limits. That’s an addition of more than 600 acres to the city’s footprint. A public hearing was held on Monday to gather any questions or concerns from board members or the public about the next steps of the annexation process. Concerns from the public at previous public hearings included the overall timeline of the annexation, the long term usefulness of the property, and whether or not to postpone the annexation to a future time due to the COVID-19 outbreak. 

City Administrator Ryan Schlabaugh tells KCII News how most individuals might see the new addition as useful, “I do think there is going to be some amenities out there that will have some public purpose and some public benefit sooner rather than later. Through developers agreements and so forth that at a minimum would get people engaged and excited about what potential this property has. Even somebody who might never own a home out there, they might be able to go out and utilize trails, ponds, opportunities to fish with the family. That’s really the exciting thing, we craft that partnership with county conservation because that’s really in their wheelhouse. That’s what they’re really good at. We just have the opportunity to be able to, in the near future, provide them an asset that they can really shine with. That’s where the majority of the public are going to see their usage out there is recreational.” 

Schlabaugh says the city will send maps and documents to the county and secretary of state and could see the annexation be made official by early May. CJ Moyna and Sons currently has the land under contract, and once they gain ownership, can present a subdivision application to begin development plans of a new subdivision.