The Mahaska County Board and Oskaloosa City Council held a joint work session Monday (8/17) about a possible new road that would link US Highway 63 and State Highway 23 on Oskaloosa’s south side.  The goal is to have truck traffic headed for businesses on 23 not go through the downtown area.  60 to 70 percent of the project’s cost could be paid for through a federal RISE grant, with Mahaska County and the City of Oskaloosa picking up the rest of the tab.  A civil engineer hired to work on the project told the Council and Supervisors that declaring land north and south of 23 a certified site would make it easier for the City and County to receive a RISE grant.  Mahaska County Economic Development Director Tom Flaherty says making that land a certified site would help attract new businesses.

“If we want to attract anything, if we want to set ourselves up for the next 20 years, something like this would be helpful.”

The process of declaring that land as a certified site would take about a year.  Oskaloosa City Manager Michael Schrock said he’s in favor of the idea…and it’s a matter of the City and Mahaska County working together to make it happen.