Public Hearing Set For Regional Airport 28E Agreement

Oskaloosa City Council

by Charlie Comfort

Oskaloosa, Iowa – The Oskaloosa City Council is moving nearer to a joint regional airport with the City of Pella. At their meeting Monday evening, the city council set the March 19th City Council meeting as the date of a public hearing relating to the approval of a 28E agreement with Mahaska County and the City of Pella to jointly own and operate a regional airport. At the onset of the meeting, Oskaloosa resident Jimmy Carter spoke during public comments. “We the people went to the polls and voted on this issue. You remember very well, and it has been said throughout this period of time until now that new information has arisen and there’s new information about the topic. If that be the case, bring it to the table so the entire public would know about it and we can go back to the polls and vote again,” Carter said. Carter also said that he believed that based on the way he interpreted the agreement, a tax would be able to be levied. City Manager Michael Schrock indicated at the end of Carter’s comments that no tax would be levied. In the end, the council passed the resolution setting the March 19th City Council meeting as the date of a public hearing relating to the 28E agreement for the regional airport.

The Council also passed a resolution adopting the annual budget for fiscal year 2013. However, this came after the deletion of around $100,000. During discussion Council member Doug Yates noted that the money marked for the early childhood center would not be necessary as that group was not in need of the money at this time now. The city had previously allotted $89,331 for the community childcare center. Yates’ motion to withdraw the money from the budget was unanimously approved. The money that was withdrawn will be added into the general fund. The City Council unanimously approved the amended budget for fiscal year 2013 with a tax levy of $14.00060. In other business, the City Council:

• Unanimously approved a resolution amending and certifying the fiscal year 2012 budget amendment.
• Unanimously approved a parking lot rental agreement between the City of Oskaloosa and the Oskaloosa Hy-Vee
• Unanimously approved a resolution for preliminary approval of plans, specifications and estimated cost and to seek bids for the North Green Street Paving Project
• Unanimously approved a resolution prohibiting on street parking on both sides of North Green Street from M Ave West 2,950 feet north
• Unanimously voted to receive and file the city manager’s report on the Carbonado sanitary sewer discussions.

The next meeting of the Oskaloosa City Council will be on March 19th, 2012 at 6:30 PM in the City Council Chambers.