The Cities of Pella and Oskaloosa have filed a legal petition in Mahaska County District Court against the Mahaska County Board of Supervisors in relation to the regional airport project.

According to the 94-page filing, the cities are seeking the Board of Supervisors’ cooperation in a 28E Agreement originally signed in 2012 for all three entities to act in good faith when acting on behalf of the South Central Regional Airport Agency. The cities are challenging an attempt by Mahaska County to leave the 28E Agreement, which was developed as a measure to ensure all parties worked together for the length of the airport project.

The Mahaska Board of Supervisors attempted to vote themselves out in June, and relieved their board representative Joe Warrick from his duties. Both Pella and Oskaloosa voted to not allow the county to stop participating in the project, citing Mahaska County cannot leave the agreement unless both cities support any amendment. Board of Supervisors President Mark Doland said at the June vote that independent legal counsel advised that wasn’t the case.