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The updated Codes of Ordinances of the city are now on file in the city clerk's office for public inspection.
City Clerk Karen Christner pointed out that one significant change would be the raising of the illegal parking fee from $5 to $25. This applies to illegal parking in both the residential and business district.
The council discussed the need to be better prepared for another natural disaster, but expressed appreciation of all the hard work by firemen, first responders, city workers and employees of Slabach Construction as well as other volunteers during last week's ice storm.
City officials praised the firemen for going door to door to tell people of the shelter being provided by the city at the Rec Center and also scouting the town for people needing help and clearing tree branches from power lines. Employees of Slabach Construction and other volunteers helped to remove downed trees and branches. Barry & Robin Michaelis did most of the cooking for the shelter.
Water was provided by the county disaster center. The National Guard provided cots for those seeking shelter. Boy Scouts helped too. Food was donated. The Red Cross was scheduled to bring in food on Monday, but the shelter was closed when electricity was restored to most of the city.
Mayor Jerry Kauffman stated that the city needs to do a better job of participating in emergency management planning. He noted that the city was lucky to have not lost any power at the Community Building or at the water plant. He noted the city needs to be prepared to have a generator that can be hooked up to the city center in case of an emergency. It was also suggested that some pots and pans, paper plates and utensils be stored at the city center in case of another emergency. Last weekend citizens had to bring in their own cookware. Paper plates and utensils, left over from their pancake supper Thursday evening, were supplied by the Kalona Optimist Club.
Playground Fence Tabled
The council postponed until the March 19 meeting a request by Paula Buckwalter of A to Z Preschool to erect a four ft. high fence around a grassed in area north of the Rec Center for use as a playground for the some 47 youngsters in her pre-school.
Buckwalter said she had received a $1,450 grant from Washington County Empowerment to pay for the fence.
Council members said they wanted clarification as to ownership and liability for the fence once the fence is erected on city property. Buckwalter noted that the preschool had received the grant to pay for the fence. Council members said that the fence would become the property of the city (for liability purposes) once it is placed on city property. Council members also questioned if the fence was high enough. Council members said Buckwalter would be welcome to remove the fence should the city renovate the Community Center and eliminate the space for a daycare center.
Project AWARE
Rec Director Todd Fitzsenry announced that there would be a public presentation at 6:30 p.m. on Monday, March 12, at the Kalona Public Library by Brandon Harland, Natural Resource Biologist, and Project AWARE.
Harland will show a short film about the local clean-up done on the English River during the summer of 2006.
Harland will also be available with information on the Fifth Annual Project AWARE (A Watershed Awareness River Expedition) to be held on June 16 to 23, 2007 on the Middle and North Raccoon River. He noted that the volunteers recovered over 24 tons of trash and 78 tires from the English River.
Fitzsenry noted Kalona had been recognized for providing an overnight campsite for the volunteers who cleaned up the English River last summer.
Fitzsenry also told the council that he would be making a request to purchase $5,000 worth of equipment for the Rec Center including items for the weight room and another treadmill plus an elliptical machine (combination of stepper and treadmill).
Fitzsenry said interest in the weight room and treadmill machines have increased with an average of 20 to 25 using the Rec Center exercise area every day.
