Pre-4th in Afton grows again

AFTON - Every year, Afton’s Pre-4th Celebration seems to grow, a tradition continuing into 2026.

The Pre-4th Celebration, which will take place this year on Sunday, June 28, will expand as the event received approval for road closures. The site will expand further east on Kansas Street to the lumber yard east of the park square. This will allow for the event to place an archery booth for demonstrations from the local archery team.

Every year, the Pre-4th Celebration holds a car show, with vehicles surrounding the park square, and a grab bag of family-friendly entertainment. Inflatable bounce houses, a mechanical bull, a petting zoo and water fights sponsored by the Afton Volunteer Fire Department.

Afton organizations contribute all weekend for three days of patriotic celebration, including the Afton Lions Club hosting Sunday’s main event. The Afton Community Club will host the Kansas Street Boogie on Saturday, June 27 for the midpoint of the weekend.

The weekend grew last year after the Afton Community Club expanded festivities to the Friday with a fireworks show and outdoor movie at the city’s rec field near the Union County Fairgrounds and East Union Schools.

Afton’s council, in a show of incredible faith in the new event, increased their originally budgeted $500 for the fireworks to $2,500, with recognition excess funds will be spent on additional community events such as the Kansas Street Boogie, Tuesday Night in the Park, the outdoor movie and other local events.

The community club said the fireworks would cost $4,000, but also noted they have already raised $2,000 for the show. After not breaking even on the show last year, the additional funds for this year have already prevented a repeat outcome.

The club met with Afton City Council last Tuesday to discuss these events. The club received approval for street closures on the day of the Kansas Street Boogie street dance, including a fenced alcohol area on the titular street.

In other Afton city council news...

The council held their first reading in vacating a handful of small streets and alleys in Afton to nearby property owners. These include an alley on the property of Alex and Taylor Pettit, a portion of West Washington Street and two portions of East Polk Street. Each conveying portion is absorbed into neighboring lots.

These vacancies, in connection with their appropriate ordinance, will be subject to a second reading and likely to be approved during next month’s regular council meeting.

Unexpected repairs to a dump truck and sewer led to a public hearing Tuesday which amended the 2026 budget to add $41,000 in expenses. Cameras were also a part of the added expenses, the installation of which cost more than previously approved. The council approved the amendment.

A first reading was held for changing the sewer user charge. The base rate of $7.60 for a minimum charge remains, but, based on information provided by an Iowa Rural Water Association study, the per-additional-thousand-gallons rate is proposed to increase from $3 to $7.26. The increase came partly due to costs for sewer maintenance increasing, as shown by the budget amendment.

The council reviewed bids for repairing the roof of the Greenlawn Cemetery chapel. The back room of the chapel was noted to be heavily damage from mold and foul odors, furthering damage to the drywall and carpet. Interior repairs will need to be made in future meetings. A metal roof will be installed at the chapel.

The city’s walking trail fund will be used to pay for a $3,600 engraving of donor bricks on the city’s walking trail. The engraving will be performed by Bryce Hull on the walking trail sign close to the city rec field. The donor bricks honor those who helped fundraise for the walking trail.

Zach Huddleson’s bid for clearing vegetation around power lines at seven locations in Afton was approved. The council noted the bid, $1,700, was much lower than the next closest bid of $5,040, leading the council to contact Huddleson to confirm the bid, which he did.

An alcohol permit was improved for Lucky Wife Wine Slushies, a business which will appear in the park square during adult Tuesday Night in the Park events.