SCRAA Suspends Regional Airport Development Indefinitely
The South Central Regional Airport Agency board met on July 3rd, 2024 in Pella, Iowa.
Pella, Iowa – July 3, 2024 – The South Central Regional Airport Agency (SCRAA) has officially put a pause on its current airport project, citing the inability to complete necessary land acquisitions. This decision was confirmed during the recent board meeting held at the Pella Public Safety Complex on July 3rd, 2024.
The SCRAA Board approved Resolution No. 72, which acknowledges the project’s current status and notifies the cities of Oskaloosa and Pella about the decision. “The intent of this resolution is to provide notice to the cities of Oskaloosa and Pella that the South Central Regional Airport Agency is unable to complete the necessary land acquisition for the Regional Airport,” stated Mike Nardini, Pella City Administrator. He further clarified, “The resolution states that the project will not be pursued unless instructed by the cities of Oskaloosa and Pella.”
Chairperson Jim Hansen emphasized that the resolution is essentially pressing a pause button on the development of the replacement airport. “This is basically pressing a pause button on the development of this replacement airport until such time as the cities wish to raise it again. You’ll note in the resolution that we intend to hold on to the real estate for a period of time,” he explained during the meeting.
The resolution was moved and seconded, followed by a unanimous vote from the board members, effectively suspending any further actions on the airport project until further notice from the cities involved.
In addition to the resolution on the airport project, the board also addressed other significant items on the agenda, including the approval of an informal resolution of complaints filed with the Iowa Public Information Board (IPIB). The complaints, filed by John Bandstra and others, accused the SCRAA of conducting business in private, particularly concerning farm leases. Amy Beattie, SCRAA Legal Counsel, recommended approval of the informal resolution, which was subsequently approved by the board.
Furthermore, the board accepted the audit report for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023. Mike Nardini presented a detailed walkthrough of the audit, highlighting that the financial statements were prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and that the agency has no findings attributed to its operations.
The meeting concluded with the review of SCRAA’s financial statements through May 31, 2024, which showed a positive fund balance within budgetary parameters. The board decided to hold off on scheduling the next meeting until further information becomes available.
