By Sam Parsons

The Oskaloosa City Council held a regular meeting last night and had a discussion about the 8th Avenue West Reconstruction Project. The project’s plans and specifications were first rejected in the city council’s meeting on July 7, and then again on August 18. Last night, the council was asked by city staff to set guidelines for a new design for the project, including whether the road width should be reduced, and on which side of the road, if any, a sidewalk should be constructed.

After a lengthy discussion, the council directed staff to reduce the width of the road from 31 feet to 27 feet and to construct a sidewalk on the south side of the road only, as per the recommendation of the staff. The motion was passed on a 5-2 vote, with council members Lisa Ossian and Ronda Almond voting “no”.

The council also discussed the city’s Comprehensive Park System Vision Plan. The city’s current Parks Vision Plan was accepted on July 1, 2024, and included an item with the “most desired updates” by the community. City staff said that, based on prior community engagement, residents were most likely to support various improvements to Edmundson Park, including a splash pad, expanded natural habitats, and improvements to existing structures and restrooms; as well as improvements to the City Square Park, including restrooms and additional landscaping. The council ultimately directed staff to conduct a survey of residents to further pinpoint their most desired improvements to city parks.