[{"_1":2,"_109":-5,"_110":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,74,86,98],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":44,"_46":47,"_48":49,"_50":51,"_52":53,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":59,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":65,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},"mediaId",6551659,"mediaKeyId","5330435-abe095a4f0d0863c4ad782206cd862b7","parentId",5330435,"title","Votes at a glance: Oskaloosa council approves consent items, consultant amendments and advisory engagements","audioSeconds",0,"startMs",2488000,"endMs","viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5330435-abe095a4f0d0863c4ad782206cd862b7&start=2488&end=2488","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5330435-abe095a4f0d0863c4ad782206cd862b7/thumbnail_2488000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6551659/Oskaloosa/Mahaska-County/Iowa/Votes-at-a-glance-Oskaloosa-council-approves-consent-items-consultant-amendments-and-advisory-engagements","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6551659-fbb50a77d816b06e17570a1b89f4b0c3/orig.mp4?Expires=1775206734&Signature=kczGvQ3PQzxpcvu3EQUvglejRK4Am9GeDQ98pUjIc1GuBc0XkMXE3dFLwx7HdgGuc8BSPR4jdOI-aWdAji2dmnxUNDO6EoMqNN7csBo27wH7WuAAwODdhzqX3KoI3cYgKelC3O7hz~Lys17VuMoasUiaemwmjw8BGDV6-T~Jx9C6MRIoldEsAhAzccruU73kFEITyK4oXa6H~u60zwgyszUo7~MD9AE5QEaUQnmxJnl0nS7m0S5FuLX1eltvuSIgAatKxONi7RjikD4F-8tMXbxKYDgCvPbTzw5V4hy2uABC7KzV~6gRi1~o3EjJTQJDtto7fGWr~xqFeN0O0WTNzQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Oskaloosa","date","2025-07-08T18:43:44Z","article","The Oskaloosa City Council approved a set of routine and contract items on June 2, including a consent agenda, a contract amendment for wastewater facility design, and engagement letters with a financial advisory firm.

Consent agenda: Council approved the consent agenda by roll call. The consent items included a resolution setting a public hearing for the plans and specifications and authorizing advertisement of bids for the Eighth Avenue West reconstruction project; that public hearing was scheduled for July 7, 2025.

Wastewater design agreement amendment: The council approved Amendment No. 4 to the task order with Foxtrand (master agreement task order 704015) to increase design services beyond the 60% phase and advance toward 90% final design. The amendment adds design services scope and increased expenses; staff reported a total contract increase of $1,295,000 to reach the 90% design phase. The 90% work will include final specifications, drawings, architectural plans, HVAC controls and regulatory tasks.

PFM engagement letters: Council approved two engagement letters with PFM Financial Advisors LLC. The first updates PFM’s engagement as financial advisor for planning services, including an annual retainer not to exceed $8,000 covering items such as debt service levy calculations and sewer cash-flow projections. The second engagement authorizes PFM to serve as financial advisor for future debt obligations (general obligation bonds, revenue bonds, SRF loans, etc.), with transaction fees payable upon closing.

Nut graf: These approvals advance the city’s capital planning and project design work (wastewater plant) and secure financial-advisory services to support ongoing budget, cash-flow modeling and potential debt issuance.

Ending: Staff said additional task orders will be necessary to continue design to final phases; the city manager and finance staff will work with PFM and the design team on next steps and future council actions to appropriate funding as required.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","2025 June 2 City of Oskaloosa, Iowa","oneSentenceSummary","On June 2 the council approved the consent agenda (including a July 7 public hearing for Eighth Avenue West), an amendment to the wastewater facility design contract and two engagement letters with PFM Financial Advisors; all items were approved by roll call votes recorded as passing at the meeting.","taxTitle","Oskaloosa , Mahaska County , Iowa","taxId",52335,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":79,"_46":80,"_48":81,"_50":82,"_52":83,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":84,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":85,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6551664,"Oskaloosa council narrows 2024–26 strategic-plan priorities and asks staff for consolidation",482,2612000,3094000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5330435-abe095a4f0d0863c4ad782206cd862b7&start=2612&end=3094","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5330435-abe095a4f0d0863c4ad782206cd862b7/thumbnail_2612000.jpg","/articles/6551664/Oskaloosa/Mahaska-County/Iowa/Oskaloosa-council-narrows-202426-strategic-plan-priorities-and-asks-staff-for-consolidation","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6551664-98f2ef8ba5aa33b29a016ff26d3f0943/orig.mp4?Expires=1775206734&Signature=TUhqwGk~dUiDT9LuVx-6FhSdfnzmlqknmT8Tt4HM6kcfLNGdvDNnOE0FRcyh~YgG5WRYzG4Pu5TAcxbefvM34F9iAoK8BaY7Ba4TkNomi6TXzguU1PmD6MlU27RBWX6IrnTMg6BkAd3FpCfDz8-MavRLQGzaENYX07r4queJi1nTMAhKeh53THyhTqMnD8J0yBdyF3OaaFeX2E7vu4d1K3gm34RW7s960pELeURzh4ioV~ab2UkKH8WjHopkDc4O0-SIoKnTvZGTuKZiw-LEFZKmUnO-JFJs3Usmj54JIPWkX-01yUWdPSRGAU1cr0TkNOxxNi9dc~5KmNLvd-9tlQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Oskaloosa City Council continued work on updating its 2024–2026 strategic plan on June 2, reviewing survey results and a demonstration of planning software staff said should help the council simplify and track priorities.

City manager Sean Metcalfe told the council the plan currently includes 76 strategies; a recent survey of councilmembers showed 42 items the majority wanted retained, 18 items split 50/50, and 16 items suggested for removal. Metcalfe demonstrated the ActionStrategy software that staff has populated with goals, assignments and status indicators to help the council visualize progress and prioritize work.

Nut graf: The council spent much of the discussion on strategies that split the vote, seeking to consolidate overlapping items (for example, multiple downtown-related initiatives that staff said are already contained in the downtown master plan). Councilmembers and staff identified several items they considered city-led versus those better handled by partner organizations such as the Chamber or Main Street.

Councilmembers agreed staff should return with a tightened list: items the council wants to keep, consolidated language for split items and proposed removals. Examples discussed included implementing downtown outreach and event strategies (likely to be coordinated with the Chamber/Main Street), curb-appeal and gateway projects, certified-site marketing with a five-year review term, broadband access initiatives carried out countywide, and targeted workforce/compensation reviews for city staffing.

The council did not adopt a final version at the meeting; Metcalfe said staff will present consolidation suggestions and further edits at the next council meeting.

Ending: The strategic-plan software demonstration was intended to improve transparency and tracking; the council asked staff to pare down the list and return with clearer, measurable goals for council review.","Councilmembers reviewed survey results on the city’s 2024–2026 strategic plan, directed staff to simplify and consolidate items, and saw a demonstration of strategic-planning software; staff will return with consolidated recommendations at a subsequent meeting.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":91,"_46":92,"_48":93,"_50":94,"_52":95,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":96,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":97,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6551669,"Oskaloosa council weighs repairs and replacement options for Edmondson Park pool",753,1616000,2369000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5330435-abe095a4f0d0863c4ad782206cd862b7&start=1616&end=2369","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5330435-abe095a4f0d0863c4ad782206cd862b7/thumbnail_1616000.jpg","/articles/6551669/Oskaloosa/Mahaska-County/Iowa/Oskaloosa-council-weighs-repairs-and-replacement-options-for-Edmondson-Park-pool","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6551669-31789d5ca9223c1aedc49e67ede2938d/orig.mp4?Expires=1775206734&Signature=gCJ3RYw8NKeVRHQRk9F4QxuJNIEuFKqxU846JJxRieCWd-40Cj7LwjTGEmwyq~~qC-pfah1jFFHi80A6Momh~SxKF8WjaOx3E9mJ2-uBlV7B1q57yigZ38JBMRwk~wIaN7K6~UsEk5JOsEK0yJbpTbfSbxkUPQMLOUsAREoyVCi4o4TVSZYnZ7Klw1JlY~pYa3z4jcZRWRufCacmFFbwwMmQ-2RRXQ6nlb4eGEUEf7-PJ9meoUm2v5XsGfVjzdsPMgT-d9-KsgV9XOpxAIkl8k-yrkEPNV0Y~FqQC6xpfd1PONfq5kGsy18XG4Ydf1nlaJ0VZq7K1B~RtbBkbzW7Lg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City staff on June 2 asked the Oskaloosa City Council for direction on long-term plans for the public pool at Edmondson Park, presenting a range of repair and replacement options and cost estimates.

Sean Metcalfe, the city manager, told the council the pool has experienced leaking in the shell for several years and that a 2017 ISG report identified coating delamination and spalling that would require a larger project. Staff outlined five options: minimal roof repairs (estimated at $90,000); roof repairs plus pool-shell rehabilitation (additional $140,000, total about $230,000); shell rehabilitation plus investigating process piping (televising ~$10,000; likely repairs ~$50,000); full reconstruction (estimated upward of $2,000,000 depending on scope); and separate handling of water slides (replacement cost estimated $200,000–$500,000 or closure/removal at minimal cost).

Nut graf: The council discussed near-term costs, the pool’s capacity to remain open in the coming season, and possible funding approaches. Staff noted a $150,000 hotel-motel-tax allocation available that could be applied toward a mid-term repair package. Members expressed a consensus to pursue the repair-and-investigate approach that would extend the pool’s life and buy time to evaluate longer-term options.

Councilmembers asked about the annual cost of water loss from leaks and learned staff had seen a recent spike while preparing the pool for the season but that loss had returned closer to prior years’ rates. Metcalfe recommended televising the piping to assess hidden leaks and warned that selective roof repairs would be difficult for contractors to guarantee.

Several councilmembers said the historical significance of the pool house argued for repairing that building’s roof and masonry; members also raised the possibility of fundraising or sponsorships to fund new slides. One councilmember suggested using hotel-motel tax funds plus capital programming to cover midterm repairs and estimated that preserving the pool for another 10 years would require an annual subsidy on the order of $22,000 per year if spread across that timeframe.

The council did not adopt a formal ordinance or appropriations at the meeting. Instead, the council expressed general direction for staff to pursue the prioritized repairs (roof, shell rehabilitation, and investigation of piping) and to return with refined estimates and funding recommendations.

Ending: Staff will proceed with the investigative work (televising piping) and prepare a capital programming recommendation and funding options for a future meeting.","City staff presented options ranging from targeted roof and shell repairs (about $230,000) to full reconstruction (estimated $2 million+); council gave staff direction to pursue repairs aimed at extending the pool's useful life roughly 10 years and explore fundraising for slide replacement.",{"_33":99,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":100,"_41":101,"_43":102,"_45":90,"_46":103,"_48":104,"_50":105,"_52":106,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":107,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":108,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6551673,"Oskaloosa council appoints Andy Holmberg to fill vacant seat",773,843000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5330435-abe095a4f0d0863c4ad782206cd862b7&start=843&end=1616","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5330435-abe095a4f0d0863c4ad782206cd862b7/thumbnail_843000.jpg","/articles/6551673/Oskaloosa/Mahaska-County/Iowa/Oskaloosa-council-appoints-Andy-Holmberg-to-fill-vacant-seat","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6551673-93e605c7feece97e8e27051e3acdab12/orig.mp4?Expires=1775206734&Signature=dS81KJ6u4R4OxqBv01n9I3IPdZ1G3tRReyFFm-DR8ZnKq4ihOgBvwFewxf6ks1BRP6eTXdiPSb2mD5dnipt2XTlQK~qRqRvnqNDWFLYu-NY2Q5kkKkVibtDxyIs4yR8aEkLpg~HoU59~FsxLgH0SPSxlqIYHgpm2xcZ5RlT1sJfFoY2DygAc28Kc1jitXhBSKlguw90a88~Pr9zfemJqrzsJCiP5s51vPe3Sosj3ZLat1nd5Jqx8uE4YjlAnzt-7rvunvKZKSeYWHPGfQkipVvcBRv4c7ihh6bPSLFw5laQ7RkHQUihYT3sNwZGe16i0taYX5GXYg1bTPN5aPasqWg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Oskaloosa City Council on Monday appointed Andy Holmberg to fill the council seat left vacant by Charlie Comfort, voting 4-2 after hearing brief presentations from three candidates.

Council members said they considered five applicants and then asked the candidates present to speak before making a nomination. Andy Holmberg, who described himself as a lifelong Oskaloosa resident and long-time volunteer, told the council he sought the appointment to continue serving the community.

The appointment fills the remainder of Charlie Comfort’s term through the end of the calendar year 2025. Council members had received five applications by the posted deadline; those applicants were listed in the meeting record as Wendell Campbell, Manny Garcia, Andy Holmberg, Nicholas Ryan and Cheryl Benson.

Nut graf: The council moved directly from public comment into considering the vacancy. Candidates who attended were given a brief opportunity to explain their interest. Council members asked about candidates’ approaches to conflict and whether they intended to run for election after completing the interim term.

Holmberg told the council he has lived in Oskaloosa for more than five decades and cited volunteer work and civic service as motivation for pursuing the seat. Manny Garcia and Nicholas (Nick) Ryan also addressed the council during the candidate presentations. Garcia said he had moved to Oskaloosa four years earlier and wanted to serve the community; Ryan emphasized his prior civic engagement and urged the council to consider his record.

After the presentations, a councilmember made the motion to appoint Holmberg and another councilmember seconded it. The council recorded a 4-2 vote in favor of the appointment and the mayor announced the motion carried.

The council did not establish additional conditions or amendments to the appointment at the meeting. The clerk recorded the outcome and the mayor said the newly appointed member would be contacted about next steps.

Ending: Council members thanked all applicants for putting their names forward. The newly appointed council member will serve the remainder of the year and may, as several candidates indicated, run in the regular election cycle if they choose.","The Oskaloosa City Council voted 4-2 on June 2 to appoint longtime resident Andy Holmberg to complete a vacant council term through the end of 2025 after five applicants were considered.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Votes at a glance: Oskaloosa council approves consent items, consultant amendments and advisory engagements

Oskaloosa council narrows 2024–26 strategic-plan priorities and asks staff for consolidation

Oskaloosa council weighs repairs and replacement options for Edmondson Park pool

Oskaloosa council appoints Andy Holmberg to fill vacant seat