Initial Site “A” Airport Layout Plans Released
Mahaska County Board of Supervisors for July 1, 2013
by Aaron Riggs
Oskaloosa, Iowa – The development of the proposed regional airport is moving forward. This week the Mahaska County Board of Supervisors voted to say it is willing to uphold its end of the deal. Namely, closing county roads that the new runway will cross.
Snyder and Associates consultant, Jerry Searle, presented the supervisors with a draft version of the airport development concept. Searle says the plan is subject to change, but currently it looks like this.
The area shown here is the property line for land that will eventually be owned by the South Central Regional Airport Agency, which is responsible for the development, construction and operation of the airport. About ten different property owners will be affected. No homes will be demolished or relocated as the property line goes around existing homes. The proposed runway is 6,500 ft long and 100′ wide. A crosswind runway is shown on the map, but it won’t be constructed right away.
“I would anticipate it would be constructed sometime within a 10-20 year timeframe,” says Searle.
“From the time of opening or…?” says supervisor Doland.
“From the time of opening,” says Searle.
Searle says the FAA requires that plans show a crosswind runway. The terminal area for the airport will be close to an existing water tower. Access to the terminal will be from 220th St. which the proposed runway goes through. The 1/4 mile stretch of road is what the supervisors said they are willing to close so long as the supervisors agree on plans for where to direct traffic that currently uses the road.
County Engineer, Jerry Nusbaum says that the road is currently a “trucker’s shortcut” to Hwy 63, acting as a bypass around Oskaloosa to head north on Hwy 63.
Nusbaum will have to develop a plan on where to direct that traffic. The Iowa Department of Transportation said earlier this year it’s adding a Northwest bypass around Oskaloosa to its 5 year plan. Nusbaum says both the airport and Highway 63 projects could tie into one another to reach a similar goal.
“And so suddenly it’s time to bring these two together,” says Nusbaum.
SCRAA Chairman Jim Hansen says that according to the 28-E sharing agreement, all reasonable expenses the county incurs for constructing or improving roads, as a result of the airport, will have to be reimbursed by the cities of Pella and Oskaloosa. This includes the cost to pave the access road from highway 163 to the terminal, currently it’s gravel.
And while the supervisors said they are willing to close the portion of 220th St– once the airport project reaches the point to actually close the road, it could cost the taxpayers $250,000 if the supervisors decide not to. Thats because of a clause in the 28-E sharing agreement.
It says that…”In the event one or more of the parties… significantly delay the… construction… the party will be liable to the other [entities] for liquidated damages in the amount of $250,000.”
That expense may deter some from hindering the airport’s development.
The resolution to support the airport project passed two-to-one with Mark Doland voting against. Doland opposes the possibility of using eminent domain to acquire land for the airport. On July 15th, Doland is expected to introduce a resolution to the board of supervisors that will initiate a first step in an attempt to remove the regional airport agency’s ability to use eminent domain.
