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It’s been a month since repair work began on the visitor information kiosk on the square in Pella’s Central Park, and a great deal of progress has been made on the exterior of the 36-year-old windmill. Pella Parks and Recreation Foreman Loren Van Gorp says all of the siding has been put on, along with the first coat of primer. Van Gorp adds that the new “cement board” siding should last substantially longer than the previous siding on the structure, which was waterlogged, rotted, and filled with ants when it was pulled off.

“We’re lucky we got to the project now while there’s something left,” said Van Gorp, half-jokingly.

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Pella resident Clarence Hettinga has headed up work on the project, which Van Gorp says will cost approximately $6500 when complete. The cost of repairs is being split between the Pella Chamber of Commerce and the interest from the Van Gorp Trust fund that was established when the windmill was erected in 1973.

Van Gorp says they hope to take advantage of the weather and have the railing around the top installed soon, along with the green paint on the siding and adds that the Visitor Information windmill will be in top shape in plenty of time for the 75th Anniversary Tulip Time Celebration in the spring.

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