By Sam Parsons

The Oskaloosa City Council met last night and they recognized the awarding of a 2023 Brownfields EPA Grant to the city of Oskaloosa in the amount of $300,000. This grant brings the total amount of assessment grants received by the city to over $1,000,000 since 2014. The assessment grants do not require a local match and are 100% federally funded by the EPA.

The council also passed the first reading of an ordinance amending the city’s zoning code, changing the “Downtown Residential” land use type to “Mixed Use Residential,” and allowing the type to be used in all business districts. The new arrangement allows for developments that have mixed use, such as a proposed 3-story building with commercial/office/retail on the ground floor, indoor parking on the lower level, and residential apartments on the upper floors. The ordinance was passed by the council unanimously.