The Mahaska County Board of Supervisors voted to remove themselves from a 28E Agreement between the City of Pella and City of Oskaloosa to build a new regional airport.

A proposal submitted by board member Mark Doland passed on a 2-1 vote after extensive public comment at their meeting this week.

According to the 28E Agreement passed in 2012, the three entities agreed in good faith to complete all necessary procedures to build a new regional airport in northern Mahaska County to replace the Pella and Oskaloosa municipal facilities, and formed the South Central Regional Airport Agency (SCRAA).

Doland tells KNIA/KRLS News he voted to leave the agreement because he feels the county has not been represented well throughout the process, and that many Mahaska County voters are in opposition to the airport.

In order for Mahaska County to be removed from the agreement, the Pella City Council and Oskaloosa City Council would have to approve the amendment. Doland says if they aren’t granted a release, there are two ways to proceed.

“I think that there can be a change of the appointee to the [SCRAA] board, such as a supervisor representative from the Mahaska County Board of Supervisors be appointed to the SCRAA board, rather than our current appointee, or another private individual who has interest and better represents the attitude of Mahaska County,” he says.

“Right now we’re asking for permission to leave the 28E. The other way we can move forward is we can just say we are out, we can unappoint our official to the board who is there, and have no appointment.”

Doland says at that point, the board would possibly face legal action, but he’s hopeful the cities of Pella and Oskaloosa will hear out their argument at when they consider the release. The Pella City Council plans to address the proposed amendment at their February 7th meeting.