Kalona commissions fire and EMS facilities study

The city of Kalona is looking to the future regarding its fire department and EMS facilities.

At Monday’s meeting, the City Council approved a contract with Carl A. Nelson and Company for a facilities study for both the fire station and EMS building.

“We’re looking at the short-term and long-term goals for the fire station and EMS,” City Administrator Ryan Schlabaugh said. “It’s a collaborative effort to see what everybody’s needs are.

“We are trying to be proactive.”

Schlabaugh emphasized that the city has no immediate plans for any projects on either of those buildings.

“We have no plan to do anything,” he said. “We’re not building anything right now.”

He described the scope of the study as a “road map” to determine future needs for the facilities.

“It’s a study to take us into the future and work with the departments,” Schlabaugh said. “The timing is right to look at doing a study.”

The study will look at what could be done in regards to renovating existing facilities or building new ones and present preliminary numbers as to what it would cost to meet those needs.

The city has worked with Carl A. Nelson on a number of projects in the past.

“Carl A. Nelson has done great work for the city,” Schlabaugh said. “They will be a non-partisan party looking at what could be done.”