What's too small to maintain a town? An Iowa town just moved to unincorporate

Randalia, an Iowa town of roughly 50 people, is no longer classified as a city after its residents moved to unincorporate.

Randalia will join Fayette County's other unincorporated villages including Oran, Eldorado and Donnan.

The Fayette County Board of Supervisors addressed the city's request over the course of multiple meetings, including having discussions with the state's City Development Board, according to the board's meeting minutes.

In June, the state's City Development Board approved the city's request, which is known as a discontinuance. The move became official on June 30, according to KCRG.

Where is Randalia, Iowa?

Randalia is located in Fayette County in northeastern Iowa. It is nearly a three-hour drive from Des Moines and about an hour and a half north of Cedar Rapids.

Why did Randalia residents want to unincorporate?

The responsibilities of running a city became too much the dwindling population of Randalia, said Fayette County Supervisor Janell Bradley.

"After 128 years as a small city in Fayette County, Randalia has absolved itself from worrying about nuisance dogs or cats, assuring its streets are kept plowed of snow, and electing a city council, among other responsibilities," Bradley said in an email to local media and the Register.

The town hosted an auction that brought in roughly $60,000 to pay off the remainder of a loan for the wastewater treatment plant. The funds will also cover the sewer plant's water monitoring by the DNR. The auction sold the old city hall building and a brick shop that was once a creamery. The playground equipment was also sold from the town park.

What will happen to city services?

The village will no longer need to maintain a city council. Randalia's wastewater treatment plant will be overseen by a sanitation district established by local residents.

Fayette County will now manage Randalia's roads. Snow plowing and maintaining roads will all be taken on by the county, according to Bradley.

Kate Kealey is a general assignment reporter for the Register. Reach her at kkealey@registermedia.com or follow her on Twitter at @Kkealey17.