By Sam Parsons

The Oskaloosa City Council held a regular meeting on Monday and discussed a collaborative housing project with the Oskaloosa Community School District. The district had shared on social media that their building trades program typically constructs a new single-family home each year, but they currently have only three buildable lots remaining, which threatens the long-term sustainability of the program.

Oskaloosa superintendent Mike Fisher was present at the meeting and explained some of the challenges that the program currently faces.

Oskaloosa city staff drew up a proposal for an agreement in which the city would pay a total of $945,000 to relocate the storm and sanitary infrastructure on the school’s lot, reconstruct I Avenue, and build a new coul-de-sac south of I Avenue; meanwhile, the school district would make a direct payment of $400,000 to the city and provide the deed for the 14 acre parcel south of 3rd Avenue West to the city. This agreement would create 16 buildable lots for the school district.

The proposal was neither official nor considered for approval by the council; in the end, the council directed city staff to begin negotiations with the Oskaloosa school district to finalize the terms.

The next regular meeting for the Oskaloosa city council is scheduled for April 20.