SCRAA Thanks Mahaska County For Their Work On Communication Tower Sites

Oskaloosa, Iowa – The South Central Regional Airport met in regular session on Thursday, September 12th, 2019, inside the city council chambers of Oskaloosa City Hall.

Oskaloosa resident John Bandstra spoke during public comment, questioning, among others, if a study had been done on the new radio towers for emergency services and how they may impact the airport. He was also curious if a noise study had been done on how the new airport would impact the new hotel being constructed on the west side of Oskaloosa. “Because if you are somebody sitting in a motel, would you want to stay in a motel under the flight path of an airport?”

Bandstra also questioned the Board as to where and how the agenda for the June 21st, 2019 meeting had been made public. Bandstra said the agenda wasn’t posted through the normal channels.

The Board then heard updates from Jerry Searle, HDR Engineering, in regards to an FAA grant agreement, and that the FAA will be sending it via FedEx sometime in the near future, and will have to be returned quickly to the FAA.

“Typically, when the FAA makes its first commitment to funding projects, I’ve never known them not to see it through,” explained Searle of the significance of the grant.

“Probably more significant is that it lays the groundwork and establishes the funding cycle for the next fiscal year,” Searle explained.

In regards to the release of land for the existing Oskaloosa Airport near Fremont, Iowa, the release was published in the Federal Register.

The FAA has authorized the city of Oskaloosa to dispose of 330.88 acres of ground from the old airport to help fund the new airport.

Searle also said that an archeological investigation was to have the current Oskaloosa Airport listed on the National Register of Historic Places, “but SHPO [State Historic Preservation Office] made the determination that it was out of context. There was nothing of significance and did not meet the eligibility criteria for inclusion on the National Historic Registry. So we don’t have to do anything more.”

A resolution approving Amendment #2 to Task Order #2 for the Oskaloosa Municipal Airport (OOA) Federal Land Release.

This resolution approves Amendment #2 for Task Order #2 with HDR Engineering, Inc.

On December 13th, 2017, the SCRAA approved Resolution No. 22, Task Order #2, with HDR Engineering to complete all procedural requirements for the release and disposal of federally obligated land.

Amendment #2 in the amount of $6,258.15 is for additional costs incurred by Wapsi Valley for additional environmental work for the Oskaloosa release. The additional work was triggered by requirements of the Iowa State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO).

The motion passed unanimously.

A motion directing Jerry Searle, HDR Engineering Inc., to compose a letter on behalf of the SCRAA to Mahaska County concerning
communication tower siting locations.

Jerry Searle, HRD Engineering Inc. was recently contacted by Mazitello Professional Services regarding the proposed 350 foot Mahaska County 911 tower under consideration by the County. A location that has been under consideration for the project is the Mahaska County Secondary Roads facility located at 2074 Old Highway 163 or Highway 432 in Oskaloosa.

As discussed during the most recent SCRAA Executive Committee meeting, the Committee recommends the SCRAA Board approve a motion directing Jerry Searle to draft and submit a letter to Mahaska County objecting to the Secondary Road location, as well as any other location that may adversely impact approach minimums for the South Central Regional Airport project.

Oskaloosa City Manager Michael Schrock said that with the cooperation with Mahaska County Board of Supervisors, “it appears that the communications group that’s working on the project has, in fact, found a location that would not be adversely impacting the flight path.”

The SCRAA board and staff expressed their appreciation to the County for their work on the communication system and work with the SCRAA on tower locations.

The SCRAA Board then went into a closed session.

Upon their return, they had no motions on anything that was discussed in closed session.

The next meeting date of the Board is yet to be determined.