Doug Lindner

SOLON– The vehicle counts are growing.
Time for another traffic light.
At a March 21 meeting, Solon City Council members authorized City Engineer Dave Schechinger to proceed with an application for state funds to assist with the construction of stoplights at the intersection of Highway 1 and 5th Street.
The intersection was the subject of a recent study by the Metropolitan Planning Organization of Johnson County (MPOJC), which measured traffic flow in April and again in September of 2017.

CEDAR RAPIDS– Tom Malatek just wanted to say thank you.
Malatek, 67, a lifelong resident of Ely and a longtime member of the Ely Fire Department and Solon American Legion, was having trouble with his right leg as he underwent treatment for multiple myeloma at area hospitals.
Mark Divoky, owner and operator of Mark’s Auto Body in Solon, heard of Malatek’s difficulty and offered the use of a wheelchair-accessible van he had recently purchased.

SOLON–Ben Krutzfeldt, Luke Ira and Jack Stahle spent part of their Solon childhood in the back of the end zone at the old high school football field.
There was one athlete they looked up to with awe.
“James Morris,” the three seniors said in unison.
Morris led the Solon Spartans to three consecutive Class 2A football championships and continued as a linebacker with the Iowa Hawkeyes.
“Whatever sport he was playing, he was dominating,” Stahle said.

SOLON– Tax incentive, yes. Parking lot?
Maybe.
Solon City Council members approved close to $50,000 in tax breaks for the redevelopment of an existing Main Street building, but were cautious regarding a proposal by the developer to lease an adjacent property for public parking.
At a Feb. 22 meeting, council members considered a request from Ryan Wade seeking $147,000 in Tax Increment Finance (TIF) funding from the city to help offset $719,550 spent remodeling the former Solon Station into a new restaurant.

SOLON– “There’s a lot going on on Main Street right now,” City Administrator Cami Rasmussen said, introducing a concept plan to remodel 112 N. Iowa St., the third different downtown development on the agenda for city council members at a Feb. 7 meeting.
Al Wells, representing UpTown Main, LLC, proposed rehabilitating the building, a two-story structure directly east of City Hall, and reopening a ground level commercial space.