Afton makes early prep for Halloween

AFTON - The city of Afton looked ahead to October for early preparations for the Halloween season, starting with the date and times for candy hunting.

Prepare your costumes and candy for Oct. 31 for trick-or-treating, with a start time of 5:30 p.m. and end around 7:30 p.m.

Oct. 31 will also bring the return of Katie’s Trunk-or-Treat, a yearly tradition which will continue in its eighth iteration this year without the participation of Katie Hamilton, the namesake of the event. The south side of the Afton park square will be lined with decorated cars to give candy to trick-or-treaters.

The event started as a 4-H project, but following Hamilton’s departure from Afton to the University of Northern Iowa, the event will continue under a new organizer.

Janelle Hamilton, Katie’s mother, presented to the council this year, receiving permission to close a portion of Kansas Street from Highway 169 to Webster Street for the event. Janelle said a few potential organizers, such as the Afton Community Club, were looking to take over the event.

Setup for the event will begin at 5 p.m., Oct. 31, with an end around 7 p.m.

The Afton park square will also see updates to their trash cans, with two bins replacing the standard trash cans. City Maintenance Head Jesse Shade said the change will improve cleanliness in the park and limit extra litter which might occur when the standard trash cans were full.

In other Afton city council news...

Crystal Thomas gave her oath of office during Tuesday’s meeting, officially sworn in as the city’s utility clerk. Thomas was chosen out of a pool of four interviewed applicants.

A resolution was made for how city warrant/checks would need to be approved by two of four specified members of the Afton city government. Resolution 2024-20 designates the four members, Mayor Michelle Burger, City Clerk Kayla Lacina, Utility Clerk Crystal Thomas and Councilmember Steve Kinyon, as able to sign and approve the activity.

An additional restriction is also in place. The first signature would need to come from either the city clerk or the utility clerk, and the second signature would need to come from the mayor or council. For example, the utility clerk and the mayor could sign. The city clerk and the utility clerk would be unable to sign together, nor could the mayor and the council.

The council completed their second reading on two ordinances and approved both of them. The first ordinance, No. 271 amends and adds provisions pertaining to livestock regulations, now requiring yearly renewal and a yearly fee of $25. The second, No. 272, closes and vacates an alley between lots 266 and 267, located south of West Union Street. A third reading of both ordinances was waived by the council.