Earlier this week, the Pella City Council denied the Mahaska County Board of Supervisors from attempting to leave the Regional Airport 28E Agreement for a second time.

City Administrator Mike Nardini says the city’s legal counsel advised the council that Mahaska County did not have the ability to alter the agreement without consent, including an attempted departure.

“Any amendment, or if there’s any proposal to terminate the agreement, it takes unanimous approval from Mahaska Count, the City of Pella, and City of Oskaloosa,” Nardini says. “The reason why we have those requirements in there, is because it relates back to the significant financial investment for the project.”

The move was prompted after the Mahaska County Board of Supervisors voted to leave the 28E agreement, with Board Director Mark Doland claiming outside legal counsel said they did not need permission to leave. Nardini says Mahaska County signed the document in 2012, binding them to the terms for the life of the potential airport project. Hear more about the latest with the Regional Airport on today’s Let’s Talk Pella.