Oskaloosa City Council Split Over City Manager Amal Eltahir’s Contract Extension
Oskaloosa City Manager Amal Eltahir
OSKALOOSA, Iowa – In a closely contested vote, the Oskaloosa City Council has decided to extend the contract of City Manager Amal Eltahir. The decision was finalized during the council meeting held on July 15, with a 4-3 vote in favor of the extension.
The vote saw council members Bob Drost, Janet Hermsen, Joe Caligiuri, and Abu Ibrahim voting in favor of the extension, while Charlie Comfort, Ronda Almond, and Lisa Ossian opposed it.
After the meeting, Council member Charlie Comfort shared a statement regarding his vote on the city manager’s contract extension. “I have serious concerns about the direction and priorities of the City at this time.”
Eltahir’s tenure in Oskaloosa has been controversial at times, with concerns about residency being one of those.
The council’s meeting, presided over by Mayor Dave Krutzfeldt, began with an invocation from Adam Kyle, pastor of Lifehouse Community Church, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance and a roll call. Public comments included a discussion on local dog parks, with resident Karen Graham voicing concerns about maintenance issues such as pea gravel displacement and a leaking water fountain.
The council also addressed several public hearings, including resolutions on nuisance abatements and the conveyance of property for a proposed housing development by Oskaloosa Family Flats LLC.
Council member Lisa Ossian raised significant concerns about aggressive dog breeds following a recent personal incident. Ossian called for revisiting the city’s dog ordinances to address public safety concerns more effectively.
The meeting concluded with a closed session to discuss a matter of litigation strategy. Mayor Krutzfeldt announced the closed session’s intent as per the Iowa Public Information Board requirements.
