Four Oskaloosa Employees Recognized At City Council

Posted on December 6, 2017 by Rick Watts

A special acknowledgement presentation occurred during the Monday, December 4th, City Council meeting. Spearheaded by Mayor David Krutzfeldt, four Oskaloosa employees were recognized for their dedication to the city and community.

“We talk about longevity and the importance of it,” said Mayor Krutzfeldt. “The institutional memory of the people that have been our employees for five years 10, 15, 20 plus years, how that affects the culture and how the city works.” Krutzfeldt continued to say that it goes just beyond the years, it also deals with the way to train younger employees and changing with technology. Stating that there are continuous changes and thus continuous improvements.

First to be recognized was Susan Hasso, the Administrative Assistant of the Oskaloosa Public Library for 20 years.

Amy Miller, the City Clerk and part of the Finance Department, was awarded for 25 years of service.

Police Chief John ‘Jake’ McGee was recognized for 30 years of service to the city of Oskaloosa and the Oskaloosa Police Department.

Finally, David Christensen Fire Captain with the Oskaloosa Fire Department, was recognized for 35 years of service.

Mayor Krutzfeldt continued to make comments regarding the instrumental individuals in this community. “These are the people that become the backbone of the culture of Oskaloosa.” Krutzfeldt continued, “So, over the years, they’ve had to take the values, what we are trying to do as a city – especially in administration – but also in the services that people see. ‘This is what we want to do, we want to give the very best service we can.’ So the people of Oskaloosa can be proud and appreciative of the efforts thats coming from the city.”

Facade Improvements May See Second Phase

Posted on October 23, 2017 by Rick Watts

Construction on the Downtown Facade Improvement Project began in May of this year, while the discussion on the project is dated back to September of 2015. This project has made leaps and bounds to improve the presentation of the downtown square.

At the October 16 City Council meeting, Development Services Director Andrew Jensen, presented an update to the council about the facade improvements. Noting the direction of improvements being made as Christner Contracting Inc. moves east across North Market Street.

Soon the contractors will be rounding the corner of N. Market and High Avenue East, starting at the ReMax Office.

The contractors will continue down High Avenue East and turn north on South 1st Street to finish up the 16 building facade project.

With the current project set to wrap up by June of 2018, so far the contractors have spent $434,351.33 of the over $1.13 million that was awarded to the project, according to Jensen.

The source of funds for this project are allocated from a variety of different areas including a Block Grant through the IEDA; Tax Increment through the City of Oskaloosa; a percentage from the property owners involved with the project; and the George Daily Family Trust.

In the council meeting, the idea of pursuing a second phase was also discussed. This second phase would begin on North Market street along the corridor including Brown’s Shoe Fit, Smokey Row and Bridal Dreams. From there, this anticipated project will diverge onto First Avenue East and touch Big Ed’s BBQ and Tropical Rayz Salon.

The funds for the second phase will also come from similar sources. During the second phase, Jensen noted that approximately 10 to 14 buildings will be included on the next installment. That number, however, will be dependent on how many businesses wish to be involved and the amount of funds that can be accumulated.

Local Community Groups Looking to Work Together

Posted on August 8, 2017 by Rick Watts

An item on the agenda at both Mahaska County Board of Supervisors and City Council meeting yesterday included the discussion of the business plan for the Mahaska Development Partnership. The Chamber of Commerce, the Mahaska County Agricultural and Rural Development (MCARD), the Mahaska Community Development Group (MCDG) and Main Street Oskaloosa are four separate entities that have a desire to begin an appropriate partnership.

As the Board of Supervisors discussed this intended economic partnership for Oskaloosa and Mahaska County, it was a swift approval and acceptance of the memorandum.

Beth Danowsky, MCDG, approached the podium to speak about the organizations.

“The way we work right now, as economic development groups each group sets its own strategic plan, its own vision. And the idea behind this is, if we don’t take this first step to begin to work together then we’re going to continue to work in silos,” stated Danowsky. “And we don’t want to do that anymore, we want to begin to plan together; begin work together; begin to allocate our resources.”

A chair of each organization and a designee of the respective organization board would meet quarterly. There would be 8 members total on the board. After very little discussion, it was approved by the Board of Supervisors. The City Council, later in the day, discussed the business plan and the desire to work together

At-Large City Council member, Tom Walling, sat through the presentation of this plan.

“I strongly support the [plan] but there were several of us there that felt they still got a long way to go. I mean there’s some things to be worked out in our community about this and how we share and don’t duplicate, but grow it together,” Walling said. “They seem willing to work on that.”

With approval from both the City Council and Board of Supervisors, the partnership can now begin to move forward.

ALTERATIONS TO DOWNTOWN PARKING RULES IN THE WORKS

Posted on July 10, 2017 by Rick Watts

On Thursday evening, the Oskaloosa City Council met in a study session prior to the intended agenda meeting to follow. The council discussed many parking rules, ordinances, and fines that are in place now; including the 2-hour parking rule around much of the Oskaloosa downtown square. Some of these parking restrictions are due to traffic and parking availability issues during the day, as well as the city street sweeping on certain mornings. The square in downtown may soon see a change in parking restrictions within the next few months. These changes could include restricted parking — the Monday-Wednesday-Friday no parking restriction from 2 AM to 6 AM — as well as restrictions on business owners taking parking in the square.

Another topic of discussion during the study session of city council included that of new stop signs spawning around the downtown area to make a few intersections a little safer.The intersections of High Avenue and N. 2nd Street; High Avenue and N. 3rd Street; 1st Avenue and S. 2nd Street were the three main intersections discussed as being hazardous. The proposal of taking out parking spaces was on option that the council considered. But Akhilesh Pal, Director of City Works, had address the council of his concerns for eliminating already scarce parking in the downtown area. Rather, the council agreed the intersections may soon be changed into four-way stop intersections.

Unconventional Invocation Evokes Comments at City Council

Posted on July 7, 2017July 7, 2017 by Rick Watts

There was a large voice from the public and even a few council members last night at the city council meeting.

“Tonight, as many of you have figured out,” Scott began. “I will not be invoking a higher power. Instead I will be pointing out some powers all of us have thanks to the wonder of human evolution. To do the most good, for the most number of people right here in beautiful Oskaloosa. I encourage everyone to harness these powers in every discussion invoked tonight.”

Justin Scott laid out the power to empathize with those different than you, taken a different path than you or experienced different struggles; power to embrace diversity in the community and seeing it as an opportunity to grow; to strive for inclusion in city government who works for all citizens; human power to demand justice within your city because we are all in one way minorities.

Scott noted that the chamber should not operate as merely a group of individuals looking out for themselves, but rather relying on one another while celebrating all that makes us different, yet all the same.

In Scott’s words, “Human power of attempting to do the most good, for the most number people is the best power any of us have.”

Scott’s invocation received many opinions from the public who address the council. Jim North stood at the podium and supported Scott, “it takes a brave and courageous person to speak in a hostile environment, and shed light on the hatred and fear that others experience when confronted with something they were taught to fear or hate.”

Another public member, Jimmy Carter, wanted to give the council and attendees a simple reminder of the Pledge of Allegiance noting that in the reciting it states we are “One Nation under God.” Carter also displayed a twenty-dollar bill and referenced that on the back of the bill was written, “In God We Trust”.

Council member Tom Walling also made his comment heard at the conclusion of the meeting: “I’ve already talked to Michael, [Schrock, City Manager] but I think he should have come to us and talked to us about who did our opening today.

Many public members had left the city council meeting as the agenda got underway. Scott also left before a comment could be made.

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