By Sam Parsons

The Oskaloosa City Council held a regular meeting last night and held a public hearing revisiting the 8th Avenue West Reconstruction Project. Plans for the project were initially rejected by the council in their meeting on July 7 after property owners expressed opposition to the addition of sidewalks, saying that they were unnecessary for a dead-end road with no immediate sidewalk connections, in addition to citing concerns that the sidewalk would take a significant portion of the property owners’ front yards and leave no room for driveway parking. The project was brought back to the agenda after a vote on July 21.

City staff said that they are planning a project to connect the sidewalk along South M Street to the recreational trail next calendar year, pending the completion of this project, and that the sidewalks were designed to fit entirely within the existing right-of-way. The estimated project cost is $192,138.

At the public hearing, three property owners who reside on 8th Avenue West spoke, two of whom expressed concerns about the project, and one of whom expressed support.

After a lengthy discussion by the council, the vote on the plans, specifications, form of contract, and estimated cost was split down the middle by the council, 3-3. Council members Joe Caligiuri, Abu Ibrahim, and Bob Drost voted “yes.” Council members Ronda Almond, Andy Holmberg, and Lisa Ossian voted “no.” As a result of the split vote, the matter will be revisited at the city’s next council meeting.

The council also approved a new lease agreement with Mahaska County for the Mahaska County Law Enforcement Center. The lease agreement replaces the old 28E agreement and requires the city to pay a flat $50,000 annual rental fee. The length of the lease agreement is 5 years. The agreement was approved unanimously by the council and was also approved by the Mahaska County Board of Supervisors earlier in the day.