Kalona turns down Riverside request

KALONA ? The city of Kalona has turned down Riverside?s request for a part-time clerk. Kalona City Administrator Ryan Schlabaugh said he informed Riverside of Kalona?s decision Monday afternoon.

Schlabaugh met with the Riverside City Council Saturday morning to talk about sending a Kalona clerk to the Riverside City Hall, where the clerk would work from 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Riverside will not have a full-time clerk after Friday because City Clerk Missy Carter is stepping down. Deputy City Clerk Teresa Sladek has also resigned, and her last day was July 6. Carter has agreed to continue doing the payroll and to attend the council meetings until a full-time clerk is hired.

The Riverside City Council told Schlabaugh it was looking for a staffer who could work up to 30 days filling in as a part-time clerk. The council hoped a Kalona staffer could start as soon as Wednesday.

Schlabaugh said he discussed the proposal with his city staff Monday morning. He talked to Kalona Mayor Ken Herington about it, too. The staff decided that it was not in its best interests to assume the additional responsibilities in Riverside. Schlabaugh said it would have been possible for Kalona to send a clerk to Riverside in the afternoon but it would have put a strain on the other city employees.

Carter announced her resignation during a city council meeting July 2. Sladek announced her resignation the same day. Neither of them offered to comment on why they resigned.

The Riverside City Council will talk about how to replace Carter and Sladek at a special council meeting tonight at 5:30 p.m.