Doland Grills County SCRAA Representative

Oskaloosa, Iowa – On Monday, March 2nd, the Mahaska County Board of Supervisors held a public hearing on the fiscal year 2016 budget estimate.

There were no written or oral comments from the public, so the public hearing was closed. Mike Vander Molen moved to approve the 2016 budget and Willie Van Weelden supported that motion. The 2016 budget was approved.

The Supervisors heard from their South Central Regional Airport Agency (SCRAA) representative. Joe Warrick, who serves as the county’s representative, updated the board on where the project is at this point, currently.

Warrick indicated that the airport master plan, which has several chapters to it, was submitted to the FAA for approval and has been accepted. The final chapter in that Master Plan, which is the financial plan, has been submitted to the FAA and has met their approval. “Having met the different criteria,” said Warrick, “this is going to allow the Environmental Assessment to take place.”

The Environmental Assessment is slated to be completed by the end of 2015. Warrick said that after the steps that are needed to complete the Environmental Assessment are completed, the process of land acquisition will begin.

The process of acquiring land could take 3 years. “That’s just a rough time-table,” says Warrick.

The regional airport could potentially be open by 2021 or 2022. “Once they open it up, then the Oskaloosa Airport and the Pella Airport will be sold,” said Warrick.

Supervisor Mark Doland asked Warrick how the airport was going to be paid for. Warrick explained that 4 different entities will be involved in the funding of the airport. “You will have the FAA, who will fund a lot of this. You will have the state, who will have money that will invest in this. You will have the airport commission, who’s funding comes from the other two entities, the City of Pella and the City of Oskaloosa. And then there will be some private money that will come in, primarily in the hangars that will be built there for their own personal use.”

Doland continued to question Warrick about FAA approval for funds on the project. Warrick said that once the financial plan has been approved by the FAA, they will fund as long as the project remains within the outlined scope.

Doland asked Warrick, “Is it your opinion that Mahaska County’s position on the use of eminent domain is that we don’t want to use eminent domain for this project?”

Warrick replied, “Eminent domain is the last resort.”

Doland, “I understand that.”

Warrick, “Eminent domain is when two entities cannot get together on a particular price, and then you move forward with a set situation to go through the condemnation process.”

Doland, “If that plays out to the worst case scenario, that where eminent domain is going to be used, is it your opinion that Mahaska County’s position is that we do not want to use eminent domain for this project?”

Warrick, “Well, we hope that we’re able to negotiate a figure with the individual land-owner, so that it does not have to be used.”

Doland, “But if it is? Is it your opinion that…”

Warrick, “Do we have an option? Do we have an option?”

Doland, “Mahaska County voted in a 3-0 resolution last year to remove eminent domain from the 28E agreement. The other two city entities voted to leave it in. However, our position, and you are our representative on that board, is we don’t want to use eminent domain for that project.”

Doland, “I would expect for you to reflect the will of the board.”

Warrick, “Is there a resolution from this current board that I should vote no on eminent domain in the airport agency?”

Doland told Warrick that the boards resolution last year “should guide your decisions on use of eminent domain.”

If Warrick was to vote no on eminent domain, the other two entities could hold Mahaska County responsible for holding up the progress of the airport, resulting in a $250,000 fine from the SCRAA.

Doland then opened up the floor for questions of Warrick. This item was not listed on the published agenda.

The final item on the agenda was to hear from Mahaska County Engineer David Shanahan in regards to inspection services for the Dakota Access Pipeline. Mahaska County will host the third most miles of the proposed pipeline, with just over 33 miles bisecting the county.

Shanahan stated, “There is a tremendous amount of inspection that has to be done. The inspection people have to know about all of the agreements the pipeline company has with the individual landowners to make sure that’s followed.”

Shanahan said that when the process of installing the pipeline is completed, drainage lines, roadways and even driveways are installed and repaired in an effective manner, documented before and after.

“Are we going to put procedures in place to make sure we document all of that on our end, how much work we do?” asked Vander Molen.

“We’d have to,” said Shanahan.

The Supervisors have asked that a representative from ISG come in and talk with the board.

Posted by on Mar 4 2015. Filed under Local News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. Responses are currently closed, but you can trackback from your own site.

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