Oskaloosa City Council Debates sanitary sewer charge reductions

The Oskaloosa Planning and Zoning Commission added a new member to it's board at the March 21st city council meeting. Charlie Comfort, a local High School Senior and also Political Editor for Osky News (left), poses with Mayor Dave Krutzfeldt (right). Comfort was appointed by the Mayor and Oskaloosa City Council to an unexpired term that ends April of 2015. (photo K.Allsup)

The Oskaloosa City Council met in regular session this evening. To start out the meeting, the council considered a request from Jim DeWitt for a reduction of sanitary sewer charges in the amount of $594.66. The request came after the home owners discovered that vandals had smashed their mailbox and turned on the water faucet outside of their home. The homeowners had been out of town for about two weeks and came home to find the vandalism. The city council has previously passed an ordinance that no longer allowed home owners to request reductions in sanitary sewer charges. “I think that this might be the exception that we were talking about when we made this agreement.” said Councilman VerSteeg.

VerSteeg was known for pushing for the initial policy that does not allow for sanitary sewer reductions. He was, however, open to one time exceptions in drastic cases. Councilwoman Blomgren, who opposed the tougher ordinance, had this to say “A one time only is not in the policy. I think that if that’s the direction that the council wants to take, then I think the policy needs to be changed.” In the end, the council voted 3-4 to deny the request from Jim DeWitt. In other action, the city council:

• Approved an ordinance establishing  flood plain management regulations to the Oskaloosa Municipal Code
• Approved an ordinance to vacate and sell alleys to Central United Methodist Church
• Approved an ordinance amending the city code to accommodate a skate park
• Approved the final plat for a Harvest Point Subdivision to be owned by Jeff and Lori Smith
• Approved a resolution adopting a revised fee schedule for the City of Oskaloosa