Kalona residents approve larger community center

KALONA (GTNS) ? Residents approved a $3.9 million bond issue to finance an enlarged community center in a special election Tuesday.

The project found solid support among those voting in the election, with 400 residents voting for the project and 204 casting votes against it. For passage, a margin of more than 60 percent was required. Just over 36 percent of the city?s registered voters turned out for the election.

Kalona City Manager Ryan Schlabaugh was understandably pleased with the outcome.

?The community came out and showed their support for a great project. Now we can rally around a facility that will provide better recreation and social opportunities for everyone,? he said. ?This facility will be used by our youth, new families, seniors and those with small children.?

The present community center complex includes city offices, a 1930s era gym, racquetball courts and an exercise area. The center is located near Kalona?s downtown business district.

The expansion project has three components: the demolition of the existing gym, construction of a new gym with a walking track, and the remodeling of the current city offices.

Keeping the complex at a central location is important, city officials have said. Not only does it repurpose an existing building, but it provides a convenient location for the community?s youth and others who would bike or walk to a recreation center.

It also enhances the newly renovated downtown area, they say.

Schlabaugh said the next step is for the city to work with the project?s architect to produce a bid document for contractors.

?We?ve developed a framework for the facility, now we need to get the details down on paper,? he said.

Schlabaugh estimated that the project?s plans could be ready by midyear. Breaking ground on the project would depend upon the timeliness of contractor bids and the city?s oversight process.

In the Ainsworth city election, Dawn Stewart was elected to fill a vacant council seat. About 26 percent of the registered voters went to the polls.

There were three candidates on the ballot. Stewart was first with 48 votes, Douglas Donald was second with 24 votes and Michael Sypherd Sr. was third with 14 votes.

The election became necessary after Ainsworth council member Troy McCarthy, who previously held the vacant council seat, was appointed to the mayor?s position. The previous mayor, Theresa Hazelett, resigned late last year.

The term is scheduled to run to the end of 2017. Stewart had been appointed to fill the council seat, but a resident had submitted a petition to the auditor?s office for the special election.