The Mahaska County Board of Supervisors has voted again to leave the 28E Agreement for the Regional Airport Project.

A vote was held at their meeting Tuesday on a resolution that removed the language asking the Cities of Pella and Oskaloosa for permission to leave the agreement, which passed 2-1. That amendment passed in Mahaska County this past January was shut down by both city councils the next month.

At the meeting, Board of Supervisors Chair Mark Doland said the county’s independent legal counsel drafted the resolution, which claims permission to leave the agreement is not required.

Board member Willie Van Weelden, who voted against the resolution, says the first time he saw the amendment was when he walked into the meeting. Van Weelden was critical of the language of the amendment as well, asking Supervisor Doland for a letter from the county’s appointed attorney supporting the claims made in the agreement. Supervisor Mark Groenendyk had Doland add an amendment stating the South Central Regional Airport Agency (SCRAA) Board failed to adhere to the 28E Agreement by planning to disconnect 220th Street without a clear plan to replace it.

“The SCRAA board has failed to comply with provisions of the agreement,” Doland wrote. “When asked to address the issue of 220th street relocation and runway length, they have continued to violate the contract. I met privately with Mayor Krutzfeldt and City Manager Michael Schrock last winter to discuss an amicable exit strategy. They refused to negotiate any type of a resolution. I explained to them my next course of action so this is no surprise to them.”

The contract that was entered by former supervisors is bad for the landowners and citizens of Mahaska County. The voters knew exactly where I stood on this issue when they elected me twice. I will continue to fight with every tool at my disposal to make sure that this airport is not crammed down the throat of the super majority of my constituents who oppose it.“

According to a statement posted Wednesday, Doland contacted the county’s SCRAA board representative Joe Warrick and relieved him of his duties after the measure passed.

The board also voted 2-1 to direct their attorney to arrange a meeting with representatives from the cities of Pella and Oskaloosa. The next SCRAA board meeting is Tuesday, June 27 at 6 p.m. in the Council Chambers of Oskaloosa City Hall.