City Manager Says DOT To Start Repairs On A Avenue

Highway 92 or A Avenue Rehab 2019

Oskaloosa, Iowa – The Oskaloosa City Council met in regular session on July 1, 2019.

In reports from the City staff, City Manager Michael Schrock announced that the Iowa Department of Transportation will start a “Mill and Fill” project along Highway 92 through Oskaloosa.

The project will begin at the intersection of Highway 92 and Highway 163 and will move east through town to just past the city limits.

“It will help address some of the issues we’re seeing in town,” said Schrock.

The project will go from July 15th through August.

The Council heard from Sherry Vavra, Director of Mahaska County Recreation Foundation. She informed the Council that they would be hosting the state tournament for Little League.

MCRF also has trail tram tours still available for those that are interested.

MCRF continues to disperse play it forward items to youth in need of equipment.

The Sun Dome was also painted this week, and there will be a presentation by Joe Crookham and Tony Rivera will be giving a talk about the Sun Dome on July 9th at 6:00 pm at the Oskaloosa Public Library.

The soccer fields are adding a concession and bathroom building which was made possible by a gift from Oskaloosa Food Products.

The Oskaloosa Municipal Code Chapter 10.24 will be changed to allow stop signs at the following locations due to development within the City. This was the first reading of the proposed changes.

Those developments include the Marge Addition and the Gateway Commercial Park

The locations of the new stop signs are listed as follows:
• Stop sign for the eastbound and westbound vehicles at the intersection of South 2nd Street & Marje Court/Greenbelt Drive.
• Stop sign for the eastbound vehicles at the intersection of 17th Avenue East & South 5th Street.
• Stop sign for the westbound vehicles at the intersection of 17th Avenue East & Greenbelt Drive.
• Stop sign for the eastbound vehicles at the intersection of Gateway Drive & Coal Mine Loop.

The Council also approved changes to the Oskaloosa Urban Renewal Plan initially adopted in 1978 and has been amended many times since then.

The general scope of the urban renewal activities under consideration with the amendment would be to promote the growth and retention of qualified industries and businesses in the Urban Renewal Area.

The amendment would also address rehabilitation, conservation, and redevelopment of land, and other improvements through the elimination and containment of conditions of blight.

In order to help facilitate the amendment to the Urban Renewal Area, special financing activities may include, but not limited to, the making of loans or grants of public funds to private entities under Chapter 15A, Code of Iowa. The City also may reimburse or directly undertake the installation, construction and reconstruction of substantial public improvements, including, but not limited to, street, water, sanitary sewer, storm sewer or other public improvements.

The amendment provides that the City may issue bonds or use available funds for purposes allowed by the Plan, as amended, and that tax increment reimbursement of the costs of urban renewal projects may be sought if and to the extent incurred by the City. The amendment initially proposes specific public infrastructure or site improvements to be undertaken by the City and provides that the amendment may be amended from time to time.

The Council lastly approved a resolution approving and authorizing the execution of a Development Agreement by and between the City of Oskaloosa and Oskaloosa Gateway Hotel, LLC.

Approval of this item provides the developer with an opportunity to capture a maximum of $850,000 of tax increment over ten years for the purpose of constructing the hotel project outlined in the Development Agreement. During the term of this Agreement, the increment above the current value from the project will not be received by the taxing entities.

The minimum requirements for the City mean the construction of a building to be used as a hotel, with approximately 76 guest rooms, including 24 suites, also a meeting room, an indoor pool, a business center, along with a breakfast area.

Oskaloosa City Manager Michael Schrock had his evaluation during a closed session and was offered a contract extension that goes through 2023, with a 2.6% pay increase.

The Oskaloosa City Council will next meet on July 15, 2019, at 6 pm inside the Council chambers at the Oskaloosa City Hall.