City council recognizes Aaron Ver Steeg
Aaron Ver Steeg closes the book on his time on the Oskaloosa City Council.
by Charlie Comfort
Oskaloosa, Iowa- At Monday’s meeting, the Oskaloosa City Council recognized retiring first ward council member Aaron Ver Steeg, who did not seek re-election in this year’s city council elections. Ver Steeg served on the council for 12 years, first winning election in 2005.
“I’ve only lost one city election in my life. That’s the guy that beat me,” Krutzfeldt jokingly said of Ver Steeg.
Krutzfeldt said that if you are on the losing end of an election, you stop and reflect on the winner of the election and if they can do a better job than you.
“I believe Aaron, over the years, has reflected the interests and advocated for the first ward in ways that I don’t think could have been done any better,” Krutzfeldt. “I appreciated over the years his passion, his dedication, commitment, and then as we will mention in our resolution of appreciation, an awful lot of other involvements,” he added.
Council members Doug Yates, Tom Walling, Scottie Moore, and Joe Caligiuri all thanked Ver Steeg of his service, his guidance, and his wisdom after they were all first elected. The council also voted unanimously to approve a resolution of appreciation thanking Ver Steeg for his service. A framed copy of the resolution was presented to Ver Steeg at Monday’s meeting as well.
On Monday, the council also considered a resolution approving a task order to proceed with a request for federal release of the Oskaloosa Municipal Airport. City Manager Michael Schrock said that the release was a necessary part of the regional airport planning and construction project. Schrock anticipates the release taking a year before it is acquired. He noted that the release of the airport will allow the city to have cash upfront when the land acquisition process begins, which is expected to slowly begin within the year.
Schrock said he will be meeting with the Oskaloosa Airport Commission within the next month to go over the request, and the city will also be meeting the owner of the lease agreement with the Oskaloosa Airport Commission for farmland not used for the Oskaloosa Municipal Airport. Prior to voting, council member Doug Yates said that he was happy to see forward moving progress with the airport project.
“It’s good to see things project forward. It’s important of our region,” Yates said of the task order up for approval.
The council approved the release request unanimously.
In other action Monday, the council:
Heard an update from City Development Services Director Andrew Jensen on the Oskaloosa Rental Housing Program.
Approved a resolution accepting the completion of the Oskaloosa Fire Station Addition and Renovation Project.
Received a report from Oskaloosa Water Department General Manager Chad Coon on the status of contract operations for sanitary and storm sewer services provided by the Oskaloosa Municipal Water Department.
The next regular meeting of the Oskaloosa City Council will be on January 2 at 6 pm, in the city council chambers. Oaths of Office are expected to be administered to Mayor Dave Krutzfeldt and City Council members Doug Yates, Scottie Moore, and Tom Walling, all of whom were re-elected in November. City Councilmember-elect Diane Ottosson will also be sworn in. Ottosson was elected to 1st ward city council seat.
