By Sam Parsons

The Oskaloosa City Council has their first meeting of the new calendar year scheduled for tonight. The council will be swearing in the officials who were elected, or re-elected, in November.

On the agenda is the first reading of an ordinance relating to animal control. According to city staff, the proposed ordinance would correct superficial errors in the previous code and eliminate registration requirements for domestic animals within city limits, in addition to instituting a minor fee for dangerous dog appeal requests. The ordinance would also allow for alternate enforcement action penalties for certain violations of the code, including animal leash law and animal at-large violations, nuisance animal noise, animal immunization violations, and other violations of the dangerous dog ordinance.

Another ordinance on the agenda for tonight deals with abandoned or “junk” vehicles. The ordinance would add additional alternative steps for the city to remove abandoned or junk vehicles from public roadways and impound them, granting expanded powers and authority to the Oskaloosa Police Department in addressing these vehicles.

Additionally, the council will consider an amendment to the city’s CORE Downtown Improvement Grant Program and a 28E agreement with the Iowa Department of Revenue. Towards the end of the meeting, the council will be reviewing the results of the community survey that was conducted by the city in December.

The meeting will begin at 6pm this evening in the Oskaloosa City Hall Council Chambers.