The Pella City Council denied a measure allowing Mahaska County to leave a 28E agreement for a proposed regional airport at Tuesday’s meeting.

A resolution to deny passed unanimously in response to an amendment approved by the Mahaska County Board of Supervisors to leave the agreement approved between the county and cities of Pella and Oskaloosa in 2012.

From the city’s perspective, the original plans were made to be long term to ensure the entities would work together over the duration of the planning and possible construction process.

Staff recommended denial prior to the vote. Mayor Jim Mueller echoed the staff’s comments, saying the new regional airport is needed and the 28E agreement was made in good faith in 2012.

Last month, the Mahaska County Board of Supervisors approved an amendment to leave the agreement, with Chair Mark Doland citing what he called a lack of adequate representation with the South Central Regional Airport Agency (SCRAA) board, opposition to the use of eminent domain for land acquisition, and a lack of local support for a new airport.

In an interview prior to the Pella City Council meeting, at the time Doland told KNIA/KRLS he was unsure of how the Mahaska BOS was planning to proceed, but did have some options in mind.

At the meeting, the council was given an update as to the status of the project, with the Federal Aviation Administration reviewing an environmental assessment of land selected for the proposed airport. If approved, it would be eligible for federal grants, which would pay for the majority of the $30 million project.