The Kalona City Council met in regular session on Monday, September 18.

After receiving the Sheriff’s report, the Council discussed and approved the 2023 Community Awards. These six recipients will be announced at the Fall Festival at the end of the month.

The Council then moved to approving the 2022-23 Annual Urban Renewal Report. Every year, the City is required to file the report with the State. City Administrator, Ryan Schlabaugh, shared its current status. “We finished out 2023 with just shy of $72,000 in that. The positive thing that I look at, if we look at two and a half years ago, we were sitting on a pretty sizable amount of funds in there and we’ve been able to bring that down because we’ve had some successful development agreements. The student-built [house] had kind of reinvigorated being able to bring down some of that balance with acquisition and rehabilitation of properties with the goal of having individuals purchase those that are of low-to-moderate income needs. I’m really proud of how we’ve been able to expend those in a very purposeful way.”

The Council also approved four asphalt projects to be completed in the fall, including a stretch of D Avenue between 4th and 5th Streets. The remainder of the meeting was devoted to discussion on the Southtown Recreational Area with Jake Huck of MSA Engineering. The Council viewed several drafts of a playground and splash pad which will be included in the development. No action was made, however initial plans are to have bids opened prior to Thanksgiving.

Kalona’s City Council will meet next on Monday, October 2.