By Sam Parsons

The Oskaloosa City Council met last night and received a presentation on the status of the city’s 3-lane conversion on A Avenue and Market Street, as well as the traffic signal installation on the intersection of North Market and C Avenue. The presentation showed that in the first four months of 2023, there were 11 accidents on A Ave, down from 20 in the first four months of 2022. Meanwhile, the C Ave traffic signal has not led to a major shift in data yet, but city officials say that the intersection has seen a 13% increase in traffic without seeing an increase in collisions.

The council also awarded the contract for the Edmundson Park Playground Improvement Project to Caliber Concrete for approximately $560,000, or about 7% lower than the previously estimated cost. Work on the project will begin immediately and is expected to be completed no later than September 1st of this year.

And the council passed the 1st reading of a new ordinance for vacant buildings, implementing a vacant building registration and inspection program. The program would require registration, payment (including a registration fee of $100), and an annual inspection to ensure a building is secure and compliant. City staff estimated that less than 200 buildings would need to be registered with the program.

The next regular meeting with the Oskaloosa city council will be held on June 5.