Oskaloosa -- Oskaloosa City Councilmember Ronda Almond voiced serious concerns at a recent Pella City Council meeting over a proposed 911 dispatch services agreement between the cities, saying she and four other council members were caught off guard by the proposal. Almond's statements raised questions about communication and transparency within Oskaloosa's leadership.

Almond, who represents Ward 3 in Oskaloosa, addressed Pella council members directly. "It's a little weird for me," she said. "I usually sit on your guys' side of the table." In an unscripted speech, Almond detailed her frustration over learning about the proposed agreement just the night before an Oskaloosa council meeting. According to Almond, she and four other council members only became aware of the dispatch services proposal.

"We're having trouble," she admitted. "I'm not gonna lie, it's been a struggle the last three years." Almond expressed her frustration with how the proposal was presented to the Oskaloosa City Council, emphasizing a lack of prior information that left several council members feeling "blindsided."

She noted that the situation sparked a flurry of activity, as she fielded calls throughout the day from concerned parties in Oskaloosa's police, fire, and other departments. "I just looked at 17 phone calls today between police, fire, cops, city," she said, explaining the challenges of gathering details about a proposal she had not been briefed on.

Lack of Transparency Sparks Concerns

Almond highlighted the perceived lack of transparency in the process, saying she felt embarrassed and upset over the proposal's handling by Oskaloosa City Manager Amal Eltahir. She stressed the information gap faced by her and several Oskaloosa council members.

Almond clarified that she believed the majority of the Oskaloosa council was not represented in the discussions leading to the current proposal.

Almond told the council that she would be open to further discussions on the proposal, emphasizing that her concerns centered on the process rather than the concept of a partnership. "I just wanted you guys to know that this is not a rep...this is not a representation of five of the council members in Oskaloosa," she said.

Calls for Collaboration and Improved Communication

Almond ended her address by reiterating her commitment to transparency and to the residents of Oskaloosa, calling for better communication between the cities. She expressed hope for future work sessions to ensure that decisions are made with full council involvement and emphasized her willingness to remain involved in ongoing discussions.