The Kalona City Council approved the use of American Rescue Plan Act funds during their regular meeting Monday.

After holding a work session before their meeting on October 18th to discuss possible projects to use ARPA funds, the council decided on Monday to move forward with three water treatment projects. The projects include the cleaning of the Well One well lines and water lines from the wells to the plant and removing and replacing the media in filter system one. City Administrator Ryan Schlabaugh says they hope to begin the work after Thanksgiving with the projects taking two to three weeks to complete. He explains why the council decided to move forward with these projects, “The staff made a priority recommendation, if you will, where we felt that these projects rose to the top of the level. As we really discussed those other projects, we still have some time. We felt it appropriate at this time to look at that funding mechanism to help pay for a good portion of them through the rescue funds act. Along with leveraging some of our reserves through local option sales tax and reserves through our proprietary accounts, water and sewer. 

Estimated cost for the media replacement came in at $70,000 with the Well One and water plant line cleanings coming in at $20,000 and $7,500. Schlabaugh adds that 50% of the project will be funded by the Rescue Plan funds with the remaining 50% financed by the city’s local option sales tax and water and sewer reserves. The city will receive around $387,073 over the next two years as a part of the federal COVID-19 stimulus package signed into law last March.