As Kalona residents have been receiving their new recycling and non-recycling containers, the Kalona City Council discussed the residents’ service rates at their recent meeting.

The council approved a five-year contract with Johnson County Refuse to begin July 1 and end June 30, 2023. The council also passed a first reading of the ordinance for the new service rates of $16.50 per month for those with both the 65-gallon recycling and non-recycling containers and $15 per month for those with a 65 gallon recycling container and 35-gallon non-recycling container. If residents exceed the amount of the container they can purchase a $3 sticker for a 50-gallon bag.

Council member Greg Schmidt asked City Administrator Ryan Schlabaugh and City Clerk Karen Christner about feedback they’ve received since the initial announcement of the waste collection change, and they said there was a lot of confusion at first but it has since calmed down. Schmidt suggested the council wait to approve the service rates until their next meeting, after more residents have received the bins. Schmidt said, “My point is that if the bins are going to be more clarifying, that not everybody here has actually received that clarification. We’re just giving them more opportunity to see it if that have any further questions, and at this point I don’t really think there’s going to be much that we’re going to do or change, it’s just going to let people have that opportunity.”

The new waste collection trucks that will be using these containers will be running after July 1.