City Of Oskaloosa Delinquent Paying 911 Bill
The City of Oskaloosa will soon be approximately 1 million dollars in the hold to 911 if their bill isn’t paid soon.
Oskaloosa, Iowa—As of today, the City of Oskaloosa owes 584,979.45 for 911 services rendered. As of July 1st of this year, an additional $500,000.00 or more will be added to that bill, making it more than one million dollars that the City will be in default.
This deficit came to light at recent 911 Board meetings highlighting the issue.
At the start of 2024, Mahaska County Emergency Management and Mahaska County 911 were once again separate entities.
Mahaska County 911 Director Cheryl Eklofe spoke about the meeting held on March 12th, 2024, with the budget hearing on April 2nd, 2024.
Eklofe shared that no answer was provided regarding why the City of Oskaloosa’s outstanding balance wasn’t paid when it was discussed at the meeting.
In correspondence between Mahaska County 911 and the City of Oskaloosa, the only acknowledgment from the City regarding this outstanding balance is that they received the email from Oskaloosa City Manager Amal Eltahir.
“We’re going to continue to try to get the payment, but at this point, we don’t have a plan in place,” said Eklofe, who explained that it would be an issue that would have to go before the 911 Board.
According to Eklofe, she’s communicated with Eltahir, and the City of Oskaloosa wants to examine all the books. “They want to make sure the spending was correct. They want an audit done on the accounts.”
“And then after the audit, they will make the payment,” Eklofe added.
Eklofe shared that they have contacted auditing firms looking for one willing to take on the task.
In a conversation with Mahaska County Supervisor Mark Groenendyk about the future of the agreement, he says that an agreement between Mahaska County and the City of Oskaloosa hasn’t moved forward, “and so it’s staying under the same 28E since it has since 1988 or 1990”.
Code of Iowa Chapter 28E provides the ability for governmental entities to enter into contracts with one another.
Groenendyk went on to say that other issues are being worked on. “There’s still talk; it’s just not as serious,” he said, adding that those talks would not be finished before a July 1st deadline.
Oskaloosa News reached out to Oskaloosa City Hall to comment on the situation, but City Manager Amal Eltahir isn’t available this week as she’s on vacation.
Oskaloosa News then contacted Oskaloosa Mayor Dave Krutzfeldt for a comment about the outstanding balance.
“My preference would be to wait until Amal is back from vacation and then you can meet with both of us,” said Krutzfeldt in an email response to Oskaloosa News.
Oskaloosa News then reiterated that we would publish something soon and would like the City’s perspective.
Krutzfeldt replied, saying, “Looks like you’ll have to.”
Published City of Oskaloosa Budget for the fiscal year 2024-2025. This was published on the City of Oskaloosa Facebook page, with comments turned off to the public.
We then searched the City of Oskaloosa’s published budget and noticed a line item titled “Support of Local Emergency Mgmt. Comm.” for this coming fiscal year, amounting to $494,090.00.
This is the same amount in the budget as the previous year. Our research indicates this published budget is similar to a “Max Levy,” indicating the max the city may levy in the coming year to pay its bills.
The Oskaloosa City Council just recently paid their amount to Mahaska County Emergency Management for $283,644.94 in February of 2024.
Their reasoning for the delay in paying the funds was that there was no formal agreement between Mahaska County EMA and the City of Oskaloosa. Hence, a resolution had to be drafted authorizing the payment.
Regarding the $494,090.00 for Mahaska County EMA by the City of Oskaloosa, Mahaska County pays for EMA to the tune of $216.000.
The $494,090.00 is also on the levy, which a district court judge ruled was improper. The ruling came out of the lawsuits between Mahaska County and Mahaska County Emergency Management.
In a phone conversation between Oskaloosa News and Mahaska County Supervisor Mark Groenendyk, Groenendyk says that Mahaska County is using its cash balance to keep 911 operational.
Groenendyk says that the county doesn’t have the resources to keep paying the difference, and hopefully, Oskaloosa and Mahaska County will continue to discuss the situation. “They’re not saying no,” says Groenendyk about Oskaloosa paying their outstanding balance.
“I’m planning on them fulfilling their word,” added Groenendyk. “So, I guess, until we have to deal with it, I’m gonna continue just talking with them.”
The budget situation for the City of Oskaloosa will get even worse beginning on July 1st. If the past balances aren’t paid and the next fiscal year charges come in, the City of Oskaloosa will be in default by more than one million dollars to Mahaska County 911.
Editors and reporters from the Oskaloosa Herald and Oskaloosa News collaborated in the reporting of this story. Visit the Herald online at www.oskaloosa.com and Oskaloosa News online at www.oskynews.org.
Oskaloosa Herald staff writer Channing Rucks contributed to this report.
