PELLA, Iowa — At a council meeting on Tuesday, the City of Pella revealed it has learned that plans for the controversial South Central Regional Airport are not moving forward. The airport would have been located between Pella and Oskaloosa.
The organization overseeing the project, the South Central Regional Airport Authority (SCRAA,) has already secured about 368 acres of land for the airport.
However, the SCRAA would have needed additional acreage from four different landowners.
“Earlier this fall we received notice from the SCRAA that they are unable to move forward with this project,” Pella city administrator Mike Nardini said.
One of the landowners, Jack Rempe, is tired of talking about the proposed airport. He owns Stevenson Farm, which has been in his family since 1881.
“Over the past several years we've been in court with three lawsuits that I've been personally involved in with the other landowners,” Rempe said.
Pella City Council discussed potentially entering a new agreement with the SCRAA. Under it, the Pella and Oskaloosa city councils would need written notice from the SCRAA before it uses eminent domain to secure additional land.
Both city councils would also need notified before construction begins. The SCRAA would need to notify the city councils if it is changing the location of the proposed airport as well.
The City of Pella believes the new agreement would officially hit the brakes on the project.
“This formally puts the project on pause pending direction from the Federal Aviation Administration,” Nardini said.
Longtime landowner Rempe isn’t so convinced.
“They just don't want to get away from it yet,” Rempe said. “The council is leaving the door open just a little bit.”
The city also mentioned that the changes could make it easier to sell the already secured land in the future.
“Depending on the direction we receive from the Federal Aviation Administration, if we have to liquidate the property or sell the property, it would be much easier to do so under the new agreement,” Nardini said.
Groups like the “Stop The Airport From Being Built In Mahaska County” plan to continue pushing for the SCRAA to officially abandon plans.
“I just want it to go away,” founder of the group Alicia Helm said. “We don't need it. We've already said, ‘No, there's an overwhelming amount of people in the county against it.’”
The new agreement will need to get approval from both Pella City Council and Oskaloosa City Council before taking effect. Pella City Council is expected to make its decision at its next meeting on Dec. 3.
Local 5 reached out to SCRAA chair Jim Hansen for comment multiple times on Tuesday, and was told he wasn’t available to speak.