With mowing season beginning, Oskaloosa residents are asked to avoid blowing grass clippings on the street. Grass clippings and other yard wastes deposited on the roadway can plug the storm drains and create a blockage of the sewer system. Once the storm drain or sewer is blocked, street flooding and household sewer backups can easily occur. Keeping the clippings out of the street helps reduce the cost of sewer maintenance and street cleaning.

Property owners are required to keep their property orderly and clean, including mowing grass and removing noxious weeds on a regular basis. Oskaloosa Municipal Code limits the maximum grass height to twelve inches tall. Yards with grass or weeds over twelve inches high are classified as a nuisance subject to civil citation.

If a property is found to have grass or weeds over twelve inches on the following dates; April 15, May 15, June 15, July 15, August 15 and September 15, respectively, the public works director or his designee may cut the weeds or grass at the owner’s expense. Also, the city may cut all weeds or grass on a lot or parcel of ground within the city that exceeds twelve inches in height after providing seven calendar days’ written notice to the owners, agents or occupants of the property. Notice shall be given by posting the property. The city council shall by resolution, fix a time for passing on the matter of levying a special assessment against private property for such weed or grass cutting. City council shall give the owner of the property affected notice of the time and place fixed for considering the matter of levying a special assessment against the property concerned.

OSKALOOSA — After providing basic medical services in Oskaloosa since 1994, advisory board members of the Oskaloosa Free Clinic announced that Tuesday, May 3, would be the free clinic’s last day.

“It’s really brought out a lot of mixed emotions,” said Dr. Matt Whitis, volunteer medical director of the Oskaloosa Free Clinic (OFC) and longtime
volunteer physician. “But at the end of the day, everyone involved in making this clinic possible can feel great pride in knowing that we have fulfilled our mission.

“We started the Free Clinic as a way to better serve patients without insurance or other means of health coverage. We had a fairly substantial number of people falling between the cracks and healthcare services were not accessible, so we felt a real need to help. Many on IowaCare insurance had a lack of transportation but were forced to get their services at Broadlawns or Iowa City, which means they could not access medical services locally without a free clinic. However, as the healthcare landscape nationally and in the state has changed in recent years, we came to realize that we have fulfilled our original mission,” Dr. Whitis stressed.

“With the creation of the Health Insurance Marketplace, there is now easier access to healthcare and no exemptions for pre-existing conditions. We also have Medicaid expansion coverage which allows patients to seek care closer to home; so the volume of individuals seeking the service in Oskaloosa has been greatly reduced.”

As a frame of reference, in 2012 the OFC had 269 visits. In 2013, total visits equaled 191; in 2014, that number dropped to 80; and in 2015, the clinic
had only 30 visits.

“From our standpoint, this is very good news because it means people are connected with a primary care provider and able to obtain their medical care on a more regular basis,” Dr. Whitis said.

Given the reduced number of patients needing its services and the limited number of volunteers available to staff the clinic, the board determined that
the OFC no longer has sustainability.

Dr. Whitis said volunteers are doing their best to make sure the few remaining patients of the OFC have their medical needs met in this transition.

“We sent letters to our patients encouraging them to have their on-going prescriptions refilled. Our volunteer provider will extend, as appropriate, a prescription for needed medications,” he said.

According to Dr. Whitis, refills will be available for patients per the prescription provided, although those filled after May 31 will be at the patient’s
expense.

“It’s important to remember that most all of the prescriptions provided through the free clinic are from the reduced cost, generic medication list as an
effort to keep costs reasonable. Patients are encouraged to seek out a primary care provider with whom they can establish an on-going relationship.”

In their mailing to patients, volunteers from the OFC included a list of other members of the Free Clinics of Iowa Network that are nearby in Pella, Knoxville, Grinnell and Ottumwa in the event the patient is not able to get established with a new provider right away.

“We had volunteers attend our clinics to help inform patients about the healthcare marketplace, and there are currently Certified Healthcare Marketplace Specialists at Mahaska Health Partnership who can assist anyone for free with researching the best healthcare plan for them and their
families,” Dr. Whitis stressed.

As one of the earlier volunteer physicians and a driving force behind the OFC, Dr. Whitis said its greatest strength has always been the volunteers who made the clinic possible.

“We were able to get volunteer doctors and nurse practitioners, as well as nurses, clerical and other volunteers who worked all day at their jobs and either stayed or came back to work several more hours on their own time to help those in need,” he explained.

“While many free clinic volunteers worked at MHP, it has never been affiliated with the hospital and remained part of the Free Clinics of Iowa. However, MHP strongly supported our mission and through their support, our clinic was stronger. We are thankful to everyone, including those who made financial contributions to the free clinic, for helping us achieve our long-term mission,” he concluded.

Story provided by the Oskaloosa Herald