The Oskaloosa City Council met at 6 pm on Tuesday, January 19, 2016 instead of Monday, due to Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.
The big topics of the night were the Mahaska Community Recreation Foundation (MCRF), and signage for the new business on the corner of A Avenue West and South D Street.
MCRF Executive Director Sherry Vavra presented what has been happening with the organization over the past year. Vavra explained to those in attendance that the Drost Soccer Stadium had opened last spring for play, as well as the new maintenance shop.
A concern Vavra and MCRF has is roads entering the Lacey Complex. She said that this past year, over 70,000 people came through the complex, and during peak season, which is around May, 3,500-4,000 vehicles travel the roads in and out.
Vavra ended her presentation thanking the council for support, as well as everyone that donated to MCRF. She also mentioned that there were nearly 9,000 volunteer hours over the past year, which is twice as many when compared to the year before.
There was then conversation over signage for the new pharmacy on the corner of A Avenue West and South D Street. At-Large Council Member Tom Walling was concerned with the pharmacy putting up a new sign, concerning Chapter 17.30 Sign Regulations.
At-Large Council Member Joe Caligiuri considered the wording to be a bit vague. Caligiuri said what he considers a new sign is “tearing down the old and putting up new.” He said that to him, the business is just putting up a logo on the existing pole.
Walling said that when the corridor plans start to happen, the existing sign at the location will get taken out. Walling also stated that all he was trying to do is help out a new business in town.
The meeting kicked off with the Consent Agenda, but the council returned to it towards the end of the meeting. There was a resolution to schedule a public hearing to amend the zoning ordinance of the City of Oskaloosa, by rezoning properties located at 416 North 11th Street, 1201 C Avenue East, and 1265 C Avenue East for the next meeting during the Consent Agenda. The next meeting is on the night of the Iowa Caucuses, and in order to ensure the council meeting gets over in time for the caucuses, the council voted to move the public hearing to February 16th, 2016.
The next scheduled meeting for the Oskaloosa City Council is set for Monday, February 1st, at 6 pm in the Council Chambers in City Hall.
Story provided by George Henry
