Randalia formally unincorporates and is no longer a city

Randalia, Iowa – Even though it has a population of approximately fifty people, Randalia is no longer considered to be a city at all. Randalia is one of the smallest cities in Eastern Iowa.

According to the Board of Supervisors of Fayette County, it has always been the responsibility of the remaining few citizens of Randalia to operate the entire city. Additionally, they were required to construct their very own wastewater treatment facility, in addition to serving on the city council and maintaining the roads and streets. Part of the reason the city made the decision to unincorporate was because it was difficult to find individuals and money to fill those jobs. On June 30th, Randalia was officially declared to be unincorporated.

Katrina Lane has spent the majority of her life in Randalia, where she served as the city clerk during the time when the city was not established.

“It kind of means I worked myself out of a job,” Lane said.

Randalia held an auction to sell off the city’s properties, which included a creamery, city hall, and the park, in order to pay off the liabilities that were still outstanding for the city. Despite the fact that the playground equipment was sold, Lane stated that it was difficult for her two young girls to watch it go.

“That was a tough day for all of us,” Lane said.

Andy Lane, Lane’s eldest kid and her son, who is now a teenager, stated that despite the fact that Randalia is no longer a city, he continues to reside there.

“I think it just means that we won’t be able to call it Randalia, but that doesn’t change the fact that we still live in it,” Andy Lane said.

The Fayette County government has announced that it will now be responsible for Randalia, which includes snowplowing and maintaining the roads in the area.