Kalona pays for concrete; appoints new council member

By Mary Zielinski
The Kalona City Council Monday approved a $292,439 payment to All-American Concrete of West Liberty for paving of the west parking lot at the Kalona Community Center. The project, part of the city’s downtown revitalization plan, is nearing completion. The second phase, dealing with alleyway improvements and drainage for A Place, continues.
In a related matter, the council also approved a Professional Services Agreement with MMS Consultants, Inc. of Iowa city for construction surveying and layout staking for $33,000 and Project Administration services, not to exceed $30,000. MMS is the designer and planner for the revitalization project.
The council appointed Mark Robe, currently a member of the Planning & Zoning Commission, to fill the council vacancy created by the resignation of Dave Kempf in April. The term runs through December, 2011, and the seat will be on the November, 2011 ballot. Robe will also remain with P & Z until a replacement is found, although he will abstain from voting.
Council member Steve Lafaurie noted that “not many were interested” in the council vacancy despite the city’s advertising of the opening. Robe will join the council at the next meeting, June 14.
In other business, the council:

• learned that the legalities for the city’s purchasing of the post office property are nearing completion;
• learned that the city hall remodeling should be done this month, including having new facilities for the city offices in the former council chamber;
• were told that the newly remodeled municipal pool had more than $1,200 in revenue last weekend and that the new recreation superintendent is seeking grants for repairs to the tennis courts;
• told home owners from the Harvest Hill subdivision, who have experience repeated water line breaks, that the lines from the main to the home are the home owners responsibility, not the city’s. However, the city has looked into the matter and city building inspector Jim Pope said “we could find no specific cause.” However, he suggested it may be possible that the copper used in the lines by the contractor was faulty. There as concern that the breaks, which were described as lines “blowing out,” could have been from electricity from the underground electric lines. City Administrator Ryan Schlabaugh said Alliant inspected the area and soil samples showed there was no conductivity, that the soil is neutral. A repair/replacement project for the lines would be about a six to eight week project and cost home owners from $4,000 to $5,000, he noted;
• learned that Kalona which is to meet with Vision Iowa in Grinnell Wednesday could receive funding for the downtown project this month;
• approved closing of 5th Street and B Avenue for Kalona Days June 19; and
• approved replacing the west air condition in the Community Center for a cost of $3,788. It will be placed in a fenced, sheltered area. Payment will be from the 2010-11 building fund.