Agenda Items Focus On City Appearance
Oskaloosa, Iowa – The Oskaloosa City Council met in regular session on Monday evening, July 15, 2019, inside the council chambers at City Hall.
The first order of business for the Council was four resolutions levying special assessments against property owners for items such as snow removal, and three for nuisance abatements.
Kelly Schultz spoke during the public hearing in regards to the property located at 910 6th Ave West. Schultz was the deed holder, but the property had been sold on contract.
Schultz stated she didn’t believe she should be responsible for the $1200 bill for the emergency abatement that was performed. The former owners of the property should be the responsible party.
Several options were discussed in regards to the issue, but ultimately, the Council decided to move forward with the abatement and assess the $1200 to the property on a 4-3 vote. Drost, Ottosson, and Caligiuri were the three who were in opposition.
The city council waived city assessment and liens against the property located at 423 North 3rd Street. The city of Oskaloosa is now the property owner, and removal of those assessments was needed in order to move forward with any future development at that location.
The Council also approved the amendment to the final plat for the Marje Addition.
The Council then considered a resolution amending the Oskaloosa Housing Trust Fund First Time Homebuyer Program Plan.
One of the major changes to the program will be a switch from a $3500 loan to a $2500 “forgivable grant” with no expectation of repayment if the home is not sold for five years.
If the home was sold within those five years, the grant would be repaid on a pro-rated basis.
The program would be in place for one year only for the fiscal year of 2019 – 2020, and would then be reviewed for modifications, continuance or termination.
The Council then approved the final plat for the Ironwood Place Subdivision that is being developed just north of Edmundson Park and its pond.
The Council heard reports on the current status of the Oskaloosa Rental Housing Inspection Program, which has now completed its second full year.
In other reports, the Council heard a report from Oskaloosa Code Enforcement officials. Dustin Hook is the Nuisance Code Official, and he updated the Council that there has been a focus on dilapidated structures in the city.
Hook said that he’s recently written up 21 properties for dilapidated structures, and seven of those properties were brought back into compliance.
The next scheduled meeting of the Oskaloosa City Council would be August 5, 2019, beginning at 6 pm inside the Council Chambers of Oskaloosa City Hall.
