PELLA, Iowa — The City of Pella unanimously voted to enter a new agreement with the South Central Regional Airport Authority (SCRAA) on Tuesday night. The city claims the agreement will pause plans for the airport which is set to be located between Pella and Oskaloosa.
“What we’ve done with this project is it’ll officially put the project on hold,” city administrator Mike Nardini said. “To proceed with the project it’ll need approval from Pella and Oskaloosa City Council.”
For more than a decade, the City of Pella and City of Oskaloosa have been working with the organization overseeing the project, the SCRAA.
The SCRAA has already secured 378 acres, but hasn’t secured the additional 220 needed. That acreage is owned by four landowners unwilling to give up their land.
Alicia Helm runs the “Stop the Airport from Being Built in Mahaska County” Facebook page. She told Local 5 this latest decision isn’t cause for celebration because it isn’t quite the final farewell she hoped for.
“I'm very disappointed they've been he-hawing around for so long now, just trying to pause the project, because I know they want it to go through,” Helm said.
The City of Pella said it is still waiting on guidance from the Federal Aviation Administration on what to do with the already secured land and $5 million in grants.
“It’s imperative that we have direction from the Federal Aviation Administration, particularly on the land secured,” Nardini said.
It's unclear when the Oskaloosa City Council will discuss whether to approve the new agreement. Regardless, Helm plans to continue keeping tabs on council agendas.
“We need to stay vigilant, because if we, for once, let them think that we're not interested, that's when they go behind us, and then sneak an airport in,” Helm said.
Local 5 reached out to SCRAA chair Jim Hansen multiple times Tuesday, but he didn’t respond to requests for comment.