Community leaders hear project concerns from residents
Carole Kelderman (left), on Saturday shared her opinion about Oskaloosa branding efforts currently underway.
Committees formed to pass, defeat LOST
Oskaloosa- Citizens and community leaders came together Saturday morning for Eggs and Issues. However, unlike normal sessions that focus on state issues with local state legislators, Saturday’s session of Eggs and Issues focused on local issues. Mark Willett, spokesperson for One Mahaska, Aaron Riggs and Andrew Jensen, spokespersons for the Oskaloosa Brand Leadership Team, and Dave Sedivec and Linda Fox, spokespersons for the Mahaska County Conservation Board, all presented on proposed projects for the Mahaska Community.
Willett spoke to the proposed early childhood development center. Willett gave a brief rundown of the timeline of the project, noting that a couple of years ago, the Oskaloosa YMCA approached the Mahaska County Development Group for assistance in finding a solution to infrastructure and financial issues facing the YMCA. Willett said that from that meeting came an idea for the early childhood development center. Willett said that the center will be built near the Oskaloosa Elementary School to better assist parents. He said that the proposed close proximity to the elementary school will allow parents to drop children off at school and daycare without having to go to more than one location. The proposed childhood center will also feature a competition style swimming pool with eight lanes and a recreation swimming pool. Willett said that the purpose of the competition pool is to better accommodate Oskaloosa area students who are members of the swimming teams. The cost of the proposed childhood center is $24 million and, if approved by voters, will be funded by the Local Option Sales Tax (LOST).
Riggs and Jensen spoke to the ongoing Oskaloosa branding project. Riggs noted that branding project is being speared by the brand leadership team, which is a committee composed of Oskaloosa citizens who represent a wide cross-section of the community. Jensen stated that the community has already seen some parts of the branding implemented, with a new city logo being unveiled on banners, t-shirts, and other merchandise. Jensen also stated that the Chamber of Commerce has hired an events planner and coordinator to plan community events related to the brand. He also stated that an idea currently being considered is sprucing up the alley adjacent to Smokey Row and creating an outdoor patio area for residents.
Sedivec and Fox spoke to the proposed Environmental Learning Center at Caldwell Park. Sedivec said that the idea for the Environmental Learning Center at Caldwell Park predates him. Sedivec said that he was hired as Mahaska County’s Conservation Director in 2010 and that when he had arrived here, plans for the project were already underway. He said that since his arrival, plans have changed as a result of the discovery of the Mahaska Mammoth bones. Sedivec said that the project is currently on its fifth design. Fox said that the Environmental Learning Center is important because it would provide many opportunities for children to learn about nature. She noted that she learned during her time as a children’s librarian that children learn things in a more hands on fashion. Sedivec and Fox both noted that having the mammoth bones in the Environmental Learning Center could attract visitors from all across the region to Mahaska County.
After presentations were made, the public was allowed to ask questions of the presenters. Carole Kelderman, a vocal critic of the branding project, expressed concern that the downtown square would be “obliterated” by the proposed brand. She also stated that a group she is apart of, Save the Oskaloosa Bandstand, had been in contact with a Washington DC lawyer who stated that the words “Simply Brilliant” could not be used for the brand because they were already trademarked. In response to Kelderman’s statement, Andrew Jensen, director of MCDG and member of the Brand Leadership Team, stated that the brand leadership team had been in contact with an attorney themselves and that they were in “strong legal standing” in regards to the Simply Brilliant brand. Aaron Riggs followed up on comments made by Kelderman regarding the city square stating that there was no plans to largely alter the downtown square or remove the bandstand. He also stated his personal opinion that he would like to see the bandstand stay in its present location.
Mark Willett fielded several questions regarding the Early Childhood Development Center. One of those questions was posed by Jodi Steinlage, of Oskaloosa. Steinlage expressed her support for the branding project and the early childhood development center. However, she expressed concern as to what would happen to the YMCA if the early childhood development center is not approved. Willett stated that it was likely that the YMCA would close if the early childhood center is defeated at the polls. Willett was also asked about the future of the Edmundson Pool if the childhood center were to be approved. He stated that he was not aware of any plans to close the Edmundson Pool if the childhood center is approved by the voters.
Another concern expressed by residents was that rural roads were not being given enough support. It was noted that rural roads in Mahaska County are in serious disrepair and are in need of attention. Willett agreed with residents that rural roads in Mahaska County need attention. He noted that currently, the statewide gas tax provides Mahaska County with hundreds of thousands of dollars for roads. Willett also stated his belief that road improvements in Mahaska County are important but that the road improvements should lead residents to amenities in Oskaloosa, and not to areas out of town such as Des Moines.
Mahaska County voters will be asked to renew the Local Option Sales Tax in a countywide special election on May 3rd. Currently, two groups have filed campaign organizational papers with the Iowa Ethics and Campaign Disclosure Board. One Mahaska filed organization papers on January 12th. Mark Willett is listed as the chairperson of the organization. Linda Crookham-Hansen is listed as the committee treasurer. The purpose of the committee is listed as working “to to pass a Local Option Sales Tax referendum in Mahaska County if it supports recreation, environmental learning, early childhood development and roads.” No bank account is listed for the committee.
Rural residents for Better Roads filed organization papers on February 18th. Mahaska County Supervisor Mike Vander Molen is listed as the chairperson and treasurer of the organization. The purpose of the committee is listed as “defeat of local option sales tax.” Rural Residents for Better Roads has a bank account at Leighton State Bank in Pella.
