The Oskaloosa City Council met for a very brief meeting to start 2016 on Monday night.

The night began with community comments, where Beth Danowsky, who is a leader of the efforts to support the Recreation and Early Childhood Education Project, spent a couple of minutes thanking the City Council for its efforts in helping move the project forward.

Next was the oaths of office, as new council member Steve Burnett was sworn in. Burnett is the new 4th Ward Council Member. 2nd Ward Council Member Tom Jiminez and At-Large Council Member Joe Caligiuri were both sworn in again as well, as both won re-election in November. Mayor David Krutzfeldt was also sworn in again after winning his own re-election contest.

The consent agenda was passed as well, with a large sum of bookkeeping items, mainly involving appointing council members to various boards and committees. This passed unanimously.

The lone item on the regular agenda was a public hearing for a resolution approving the plans, specifications, form of contract, and estimated cost for the Fire Department Renovation and Expansion Project. There was no one there to speak, and the resolution passed unanimously.

Finally, City Manager Michael Schrock reported more news regarding the Mahaska County Board of Supervisors and their thoughts on the Local Option Sales Tax for the county and their support for the Recreation and Early Childhood Education Facility. He said there are appears to be two supervisors against it, and council members and members of the public should reach out to the Board of Supervisors within the next two weeks before the Supervisors meet again to finalize the language of the tax on the ballot.

The next regular meeting of the Oskaloosa City Council is scheduled for January 18th at 6 PM in Council Chambers in City Hall.