Council Packs In Plenty in Recent Meeting

Oskaloosa City Hall

Oskaloosa, Iowa – More than half of the 90-minute Oskaloosa City Council meeting, which took place October 19, dealt with detailed discussion of the proposed changes and options for the Fire Station construction project. The Council had learned in September, bids for renovations were nearly $1 million higher than estimated. At a study session on October 5, the Council met with the Architect to determine what measures might be taken to bring costs more in line with the bonded funds for the project.

But before the fire station discussion took place and following the approval of their consent agenda (items considered routine and acted upon by one motion), a public hearing was held on the execution of a Development Agreement “by and between the City of Oskaloosa and Oskaloosa Downtown Development, L.L.C.” which “contemplates the city provides $500,000 in the form of a grant using Tax Increment Financing revenue funds for the reconstruction of the former Swim’s building.” No one from the pubic spoke, but Councilman Tom Walling asked for clarification regarding the $64,000 impact on the General Fund over two fiscal years. City Manager Michael Schrock explained that was essentially the City’s share to cover the shortfall TIF grant. The council voted unanimously to approve the agreement.

Representatives from Rohrback Associates PC Architects then presented proposed changes and options for the Oskaloosa Fire Station renovation project. For nearly the next hour, discussions involved roof line options (hip-gabled to single-slope), the number of bays, installed just an elevator shaft but not the cab, paring down third floor training and community room renovations, addressing second floor living quarters renovations, the block connector, HVAC systems, overhead doors, historical integrity, and what the public voted for in November of last year.

Ultimately, it was determined the Council needed to decide on the roof line which would allow the architects to make their redesigns for the next bid letting. It was pointed out the public had clearly identified a preference to the hip-gabled roof but going with the single-slope roof was going to be a more cost-effective option. The architects pointed out the function of the building would not change because of the roof. They also stated going from four bays to three would not impact the program which is sufficient to meet the needs of the community.

Councilmen Ver Steeg and Van Zetten felt the voters should be allowed to revote on the project because design elements could change significantly. Van Zetten moved to take the redesign project to the voters, a motion which failed 2 (Van Zetten and Ver Steeg) to 5 (Jimenez, Moore, Walling and Yates.)

Moore then made the motion, which was seconded by Jimenez, to direct the city manager to proceed with the redesign of the Fire Station Project with a single-slope roof. That motion passed 4 (Jimenez, Moore, Walling, and Yates) to 2 (Van Zetten and Ver Steeg). The Architects will work up the new designs and provide alternatives and options for when the bid letting takes place in January 2016.

The final 15 minutes of the meeting, Council members received an activity report from Kandis Klyn, MCRF Activities Director; heard a presentation on the Downtown Market Analysis Study from Main Street Director Karen Hafner, MCDG Director Andrew Jensen, and Dylan Mulfinger, Management Analyst for the City of Oskaloosa; and voted unanimously on the second reading to increase the number of Water Utility Board of Trustees from three to five members.