Lots Of Talk On Lots Dominates City Council

Oskaloosa City Hall

Oskaloosa, Iowa – One agenda item accepting the bid and approving the conveyance of city-owned property located at 1212 1st Avenue West dominated the conversation at Monday night’s Oskaloosa City Council meeting.

Before the land sale conversation began, Oskaloosa welcomed it’s newest police chief, Benjamin Boeke. Oskaloosa Mayor Dave Krutzfeldt swore in the Rockford, Illinois officer.

Boeke began work the next morning.

The public hearing for 1212 1st Avenue West began when Rick VandeStroet spoke, saying he had put in an equal bid for the lot he had expressed interest in acquiring for some time. VandeStroet’s home, located at 1208 1st Avenue West, is adjacent to the lot for sale. VandeStroet explained that he wanted the lot to expand his current yard, making a place for a garden, shed and maybe a gazebo and allowing the neighborhood kids a place to play.

The original plan in place was to sell a five-foot section to VandeStroet and the two larger lots to Mahaska County Habitat for Humanity.

The lot nearest to VandeStroet, which was being discussed, has a fifteen-foot portion of the lot that will have a sewer easement through the middle of it.

The lot was laid out to include that strip to help the home meet city building code, which would then help the next lot, which is also being designated for Habitat for Humanity, meet building code.

City policy on the sale of city-owned lots gives priority to new residential home construction, and the ultimate assessed value of the property when completed.

Since VandeStroet and Mahaska County Habitat for Humanity had both bid $500 for the lot, the policy dictated that the lot be sold for what would bring in the most in property taxes for the city.

The conversation then began on finding a way that would allow the construction of the two homes, while giving VandeStroet access to the 15-foot-wide sewer easement to have the garden and green space he desired.

The compromise gets the VandeStroet’s the 5-foot section plus 15 foot of sewer easement to extend their yard, while making it possible for the two Habitat for Humanity homes to be constructed.

The home lot was sold to Mahaska County Habitat for Humanity for $500, while the remaining space was sold to VandeStroet for $300.

Michelle Purdum with Mahaska County Habitat for Humanity told Oskaloosa News, “we will continue to partner with the city to improve neighborhoods by creating housing for Oskaloosa families who qualify for Habitat Mortgages.”

Purdum said that she’s already met with building officials with the new home plans to get the needed permits, so that construction can begin as soon as the city attorney completes the necessary paperwork for the sale of the lot.

In other business, the council approved a resolution for a Creative Placemaking proposal by McClure Engineering Company. The Creative Placemaking plan could take up to six months to complete for an estimated cost of $55,000. The project plan is to help the city of Oskaloosa by collecting community input, consider existing planning and development efforts while creating a plan.

Creative Placemaking is a people-centered approach to building communities, says McClure Engineering. “Our goal is to learn your community’s needs, help address your challengers, and provide a comprehensive strategy.”

“It helps communities achieve economic and population growth through cultural and enterpernurial amenities, concepts, and catalytic projects.”

The council also approved a development agreement for the Marje, L.C. agreement that will help to bring new infrastructure into the development to spur housing development with the Oskaloosa City Limits.

In other housing news, the council also approved an agreement with private developers Bob and Amber Burrell for a 60-unit apartment complex to be located at 1315 B Avenue West in Oskaloosa.

The Burrells are working with Curtis Architecture and Design along with Garden and Associates.

When fully built out, the complex will contain five buildings, each with twelve two-bedroom, market-rate rental units.

According to the City of Oskaloosa, the apartment complex “would fill a key need identified in the 2017 Comprehensive Housing Needs Assessment, which states that the Oskaloosa housing market could support 113 market-rate rentals.”

Oskaloosa city staff estimates the complex will have a completed assessment value of 4.5 million dollars when finished.

The City of Oskaloosa has agreed to provide the public infrastructure needed, including up to $58,438 for sewer needs, as well as $108,269 for street improvement costs to the complex.

The city council also paid TK Concrete for the completion of their work on the 2018 Storm Sewer Intake Repairs Project in the amount of $6,150.00.

The final payment of $21,777.88 for completion of work on the 2018 Pool Slide Rehabilitation Project was also made.