The Oskaloosa Early Childhood Education and Recreation Center project moved closer to becoming reality Monday (3/16).  The Oskaloosa City Council at its regular meeting awarded a $27 million contract to Rochon Corporation to build the center, accepted deeds from several land-owners for land to build the center, and approved a letter of intent for the Mahaska County YMCA to operate the center.  Oskaloosa Mayor David Krutzfeldt says he’s excited about these developments.

“We have been working on this thing for years, trying to get things stretched out.  What are we going to do as far as funding the thing…getting those agreements in place.  Then getting the thing designed.  Then once we got it designed, ‘Gee whiz, can we afford this thing? ‘ And so then getting the bids back, ‘By golly, we can.’

“All the pieces are falling in place now .  And so we’re very excited to be able tonight, to be able to say ‘Yes, we’re going to go ahead and borrow the money.  Yes, we have all the financing lined up.  Yes, we’re going to be able to construct this thing, so let’s get started.'”

Krutzfeldt says ground should be broken on the project in April.  The timetable is for the Early Childhood Education Center to open in July of 2021 with the new YMCA to open in September of 2021.