Council Sends Sidewalk Ordinance Back To Planning and Zoning
Oskaloosa City Hall
Council also approves sanitary sewer system rate increase.
Oskaloosa, Iowa – The Oskaloosa City Council started off the new year by repealing one of its most contested ordinances of 2016, when it became apparent that the City Council could not serve as an Appeals Board, which instead should be with the Board of Adjustment.
During the debate about the ordinance, Council members expressed that they voted on the measure because they assumed that the Council would be the venue for appeals. The city staff recommended that the current ordinance be repealed and replaced “with satisfactory language.”
Councilor Tom Jimenez made a motion to send the language back to Planning and Zoning, with recommendations that the “appeal process be removed and (to) remove the sidewalk part in the residential.” Councilor Tom Walling supported the motion and, after lengthy discussion, the measure passed 7-0.
Also approved was a resolution to levy a special assessment against property located at 115 South M Street in Oskaloosa. The assessment was put in place because the property had been deemed a nuisance by order of the Mahaska County District Court. The special assessment was passed by Council in a 7-0 vote.
The Council also approved scheduling a public hearing to vacate an unused section of right-of-way located between 815 and 901 South F Street. This was referred to the Planning and Zoning Commission by a vote of 7-0.
Sanitary sewer system rates will be rising to help pay for the mandated work to the city’s sewer system. The costs are projected to be 11 million dollars to bring the sewer system up to DNR expectations.
The minimum charge for all contributors shall be an additional $13.10 per month. In addition, each contributor shall pay a user fee for operation and maintenance, including replacement and debt retirement, of $6.26 per one hundred cubic feet of water. The current minimum charges are $10.91 and $5.21 per one hundred cubic feet of water. Proposed increases of the rates to cover state driven mandates would include a $16.60 minimum charge and $7.93 per one hundred cubic feet of water by 2020. The rate increase would take effect on April 1, 2017, once the measure has passed three votes from the Council. The measure passed 7-0.
The Council also approved a three-year agreement with 4 Seasons Yard Care in a 7-0 vote.
The council will next meet at 6pm on January 16, 2017 in the council chambers at city hall.
