SCRAA Holds Public Hearing On Environmental Assessment
Community members had an opportunity on Tuesday to have their comments entered into the record for the environmental assessment before the FAA makes their decision if a proposed regional airport will move forward.
OSKALOOSA- Residents filed into the George Daily Auditorium Tuesday evening for a public hearing on the environmental assessment for the proposed regional airport project. The public hearing is a required step, in order for the FAA to consider final approval or denial of the project. Tuesday’s public hearing was moderated by attorney Greg Miliani of Centerville. In addition, a court reporter transcribed the proceedings. South Central Regional Airport Agency Chairman, Jim Hansen, said in an interview prior to the public hearing, that the entire transcript will be sent, along with other pertinent materials, to the FAA, as they consider the project. Individuals were limited to speaking once, for up to three minutes.
Beth Danowsky, of MUSCO, was the first speaker. In her public comments, Danowsky expressed strong support for the regional airport from MUSCO. She said that airport and aircraft facilities are vital to MUSCO being able to conduct business.
“If we want to maintain our position as a leader in industry, then we need to invest in facilities we need to succeed,” Danowsky said.
She noted that the MUSCO jet had traveled many hours and miles over the past year for the business. She also added that it would take, on average, five times as long to travel commercial, saying that travel time to the Des Moines or Cedar Rapids International Airports, check in time, layover times, and stayover times, all had to be taken into account when flying commercial. She ended her comments by saying that MUSCO cannot reach its customers without an aircraft to utilize.
Speaking after Danowsky was Jack Rempe, of Leighton. Rempe has spoken at past meetings of the SCRAA and spoke in opposition to the airport project at the public hearing. Rempe said that he and other farmers affected felt that the 28E agreement, which put the project into motion, had been done secretly, and without the knowledge of the landowners affected. He also stated that the public had previously been opposed to the project. Rempe also mentioned the 2005 Oskaloosa Airport vote, in which Oskaloosa citizens overwhelmingly passed a proposed city ordinance that would not allow the city to partner with another community on airport project.
“Did any of you ever say or think once, ‘maybe we don’t need this airport’,?”, he asked.
Also speaking was Dave Krutzfeldt, who indicated he was speaking in his capacity as Mayor of Oskaloosa. Krutzfeldt noted that the vote which put the 28E agreement into place came in 2012, and after numerous discussions, came to the conclusion that the Oskaloosa airport was not functional for the needs of citizens. He also said that by the time the 2012 vote occurred, Pella was not able to expand their airport to fit their needs. Krutzfeldt characterized the project as a win-win. He closed his comments by noting that in 2013, he and four city council incumbents were challenged by a slate of city council and mayor candidates who were opposed to the regional airport project. All were soundly defeated at the polls.
Former city councilman Jimmy Carter also spoke Tuesday evening. Carter has long been an opponent of the regional airport project, going back to the proposed airport in 2005 that died after the Oskaloosa vote. Carter started off his comments by expressing frustration with the time limit, saying that it was not fair for time to be limited to three minutes per person for a project of such a magnitude. He also expressed his belief that the Oskaloosa airport is functional and could be expanded at the existing location. Carter went further, saying that farmers near the Oskaloosa airport would be willing to sell land to expand. Carter did acknowledge, however, that Pella airport is not likely able to expand in its present location. He said it was time for Pella to “step up to the plate” and fix their airport.
“I think this is a Pella problem, not an Oskaloosa problem,” Carter said.
Mahaska County Supervisor, Mark Doland, who has been a vocal opponent of the regional airport since his election in January 2013, also spoke. Doland indicated that he did not feel the incoming Board of Supervisors would be supportive of the project. The new board of supervisors for 2017 will be Supervisor-Elect Mark Groenedyk, replacing Mike VanderMolen, Willie Van Weelden, and Doland. Doland said that he intends to introduce a resolution sometime in the coming months for Mahaska County to withdraw from the 28E agreement. He acknowledged, however, that Oskaloosa and Pella must vote to approve the withdrawal of Mahaska County from the agreement. He ended his comments by expressing a need for there to be a vote of the people on the airport issue itself.
One of the last speakers Tuesday evening was Gary Dickey, an attorney for Des Moines law firm, Dickey and Campbell. Dickey stated that he is representing several of the landowners affected by the proposed airport. He also stated his belief that the environmental assessment is “deficient” in that it does not include an economic impact review, nor does it include any review or reference to the Otley site. Dickey said that if the regional airport does not go through, Pella has indicated their intention to build a new airport on land near Otley, and that that should have also been studied in the environmental assessment.
All comments from Tuesday’s hearing, as well as previously submitted written comments, will be bundled together with the pertinent documents and sent to the FAA in Washington D.C. for their review. If the FAA issues a finding of no significant impact, it will clear the way for the SCRAA to begin land acquisition for the airport.
