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Council reviews amendment to South Central Regional Airport 208 agreement and places project on hold pending further action
Summary
City staff presented proposed changes to the city’s 208 agreement for the South Central Regional Airport that reflect an Iowa Supreme Court ruling, remove Mahaska County references and formally place the airport project on hold; no formal vote was taken and council asked staff to return with the amended language for formal consideration.
City staff presented a proposed amendment to Pella’s 208 agreement for the South Central Regional Airport, explaining the changes are intended to reflect a recent Iowa Supreme Court ruling and to put the project on hold until the Federal Aviation Administration provides further direction. Staff said the amendment removes references to Mahaska County, reduces the airport board’s meeting frequency while the project is dormant, and would require written approval from both city councils before any land acquisition or construction could proceed.
Why it matters: the SCA owns roughly 368 acres and carries outstanding federal grant obligations (staff estimated $5–$6 million in federal grants related to the property). The amendment aims to clarify governance and financial responsibilities if the project resumes or if property is liquidated.
Staff member Mike summarized the principal changes, saying the amendment “reflects the Iowa Supreme Court decision” and that explicit city approvals would be required for future land acquisition or construction. He also told council that operational subsidies, if any, would be split equally between the two cities now that Mahaska County is removed from the agreement.
Public commenters challenged the amendment during the public-comment period. John Banra urged council to “think seriously about that section” that could expose the city to lawsuits and asked whether the city would assume police or road-maintenance obligations if the SCA were treated as a political subdivision. Alicia and Nick Ryan also urged Pella to reconsider involvement and suggested pursuing a ballot petition or withdrawing support.
Next steps: staff said the amended agreement has been reviewed by legal counsel for the cities and that the item will likely return for formal consideration at a future meeting, probably in December. No formal council vote on the amendment was recorded at this meeting.
Sources: presentation and Q&A from staff; public comments recorded during the public-comment period. The discussion was technical and procedural in nature, and council requested further review before taking action.
