By Sam Parsons

The Oskaloosa City Council held a regular meeting last night and officially approved a resolution supporting a development agreement with One West, LLC for an $11.2 million 3-story mixed-use development on a 3-acre site on Coal Mine Loop.

The project is set to include commercial space on the ground floor and residential apartments on the upper two floors.

The resolution had been tabled in the previous council meeting on August 4 due to a tied 3-3 vote. Council member Janet Hermsen, who had made one of the 3 “no” votes in that meeting, was absent from last night’s meeting.

Council members Lisa Ossian and Ronda Almond, who also voted “no” on August 4, attempted to remove the item from the agenda until a full council could vote on it; that motion was voted down, 3-2, and the resolution itself was approved 3-2, with council members Abu Ibrahim, Joe Caligiuri, and Andy Holmberg voting “yes” both times. Council member Bob Drost abstained from these votes.

During the discussion, Almond alleged that the developer behind the project gave her an unsolicited call, which turned into combative conversation.

The resolution is non-binding, but it provides support for the agreement and the proposed tax incentives for the developer. The official development agreement will be the subject of a public hearing at a later date.