Mahaska County Supervisors Hear About Shooting Range

Mahaska County Courthouse

Oskaloosa, Iowa – The Mahaska County Supervisors started their session by taking initial steps to approve bonds to pay for the new emergency radio system to be used by first responders.

At 9:15 am, the Supervisors held a public hearing in regards to Black Oak Clays, a clay target facility on the western side of Mahaska County.

Mahaska County Attorney Andrew Ritland brought forward law regarding the improvements that were made at the facility, which included the improvements made to the facility.

The question because would the alleged lack of government approval for those improvements in rural Mahaska County close the facility.

For neighbors, the sound of the clay target shooting was disrupting their quality of life and was concerned that disruptions would impact their property values and quality of life.

The third floor of the Mahaska County Courthouse was filled to beyond capacity and spilled out into the hallway and down the stairs as people came to hear the discussion, and many participated by sharing their experiences and viewpoints.

The board deferred any action on the matter, which allowed the range to continue operation until the entire hearing process has completed.

The board then discussed the qualifications for Farm to Market roads.

The subject has been brought forward, as Mahaska County and the South Central Regional Airport are working to find a solution on the closure of 220th Street.

The SCRAA Board points towards an agreement made with the previous Mahaska County Supervisor Board, while the current board disagrees with what the SCRAA Board is presenting.

The Board invited Mike Rodwell with the Mahaska County Secondary Roads to discuss the qualifications for a farm to market road.

“So I would say, by the way the Code of Iowa reads, it would have to be a contiguous road that is under our ownership,” said Rodwell. “Being on their property and being gated, I don’t believe would qualify for the Farm to Market status.”

“That’s the way I understand it too,” added Mahaska County Supervisor Chair Mark Groenendyk, who said that the SCRAA Board has never formally asked the Supervisors if they would accept the proposed road across airport property as a replacement for 220th Street.

The Supervisors voted to not accept the replacement road for 220th Street.

The road in question has been accepted by the FAA in an environmental study and has become a sticking point in the legal proceedings between Mahaska County and the South Central Regional Airport Agency (SCRAA).

Groenendyk said, “My question of it is, how in 2012, how can this body who was different members then, force us to close or modify one of our roads. That’s an open-ended statement. I just want you to understand where I’m coming from.”

The next vote was if the county would be financially involved in relocating 220th Street.

Mahaska County Supervisor Steve Wanders said that according to the 28E agreement with the cities of Pella and Oskaloosa, they would have no financial obligation for the regional airport.

The Supervisors voted saying they were not financially obligated to relocate or rebuild 220th Street.