By Sam Parsons
The Oskaloosa City Council held a regular meeting last night and formally rejected the plans, specifications, form of contract, and estimated cost for the 8th Avenue West reconstruction project. The project was a source of some contention among the council dating back to a meeting in July when the plans were first rejected via a 6-1 vote, after residents spoke in opposition of the construction of sidewalks on either side of the road. In the council meeting on August 4, the project was brought back to the agenda, where it was tabled on a 3-3 vote. Last night, more residents of 8th Avenue West spoke to the council, again in favor of re-paving the road, but 6 of the 9 property owners on the street were in opposition of the construction of sidewalks. The project was officially nixed on a 4-3 vote, with council members Joe Caligiuri, Bob Drost, and Abu Ibrahim voting “yes.”
Public Works Director Sean Murphy told the council that the rejection of the plans means that the project won’t be returning to the fold until at least next spring. With the city’s existing complete streets policy stating that any road construction must be accompanied by sidewalks on either side, as long as the sidewalks are not prohibitively expensive (i.e. making up for at least 20% of the overall cost of the project), the project’s future is uncertain.
The council also approved a 28E agreement with the Oskaloosa Community School District to fund a second School Resource Officer (SRO). The district agreed to fund 60% of the costs for both SRO positions and they approved the 28E agreement from their end in their board meeting last week. The 28E agreement was approved unanimously, and officer Jenna Stengel will officially be joining the district as an SRO this fall, along with current SRO Logan Nord.
And the council approved a resolution calling for a city special election on the possibility of creating a continuing capital improvements reserve fund and levying an annual tax for that fund. The matter will be brought to the ballot during the city and school election this November.
In other business, the council tabled a resolution to support an agreement for private development between the city and One West LLC. The development project would feature the construction of an $11.2 million, 3-story mixed-use building on a 3-acre site on Coal Mine Loop. The council originally approved the site plan, which includes first-floor commercial space and up to 36 apartments on the upper floors, in June 2023. One West LLC had applied for city financial assistance through Tax Increment Financing; ultimately, however, the proposal was tabled with a 3-3 vote from the council. Council members Joe Caligiuri, Andy Holmberg, and Abu Ibrahim voted “yes,” while council members Lisa Ossian, Ronda Almond, and Janet Hermsen voted “no.” Council member Bob Drost abstained from the vote.
