Written Communication

The purpose of written communication is to express an idea or an opinion to other people. The basic layout is to have a strong thesis that will help other people to understand your idea. This selection is an argument about how big companies should not be able to push other people out of their homes and that a historical landmark should not be torn down so that these companies can make a little more money. I will talk about the fact that the alternative building sites are a better selection than the place that the large companies want to build at.

The Cost of an Airport
There have always been disputes over land and the government. In the towns of Pella, Iowa, and Oskaloosa, Iowa, companies need a larger runway so that they will be able to land their jets. They asked the city council to approve the building of a new airport. The sites that were selected for the building of this airport come into conflict with fertile farmland and other historical landmark. The people that want the airport are calling for eminent domain to be called so that this airport will be able to be built. The need for a larger airport will affect many people, but the economic benefit is not worth the loss of history.
This debate involves 3 multi-million dollar companies- Pella Corporation and Vermeer Manufacturing based in Pella, Iowa and Musco Lighting Corporation located in Oskaloosa, IA. These three companies have the need for bigger jets. The new jets would allow these companies to take longer flights and be able to accommodate a larger party of people on them. This need for bigger jets comes with the need for a longer runway. The local airports will not be able to accommodate these needs. Authorization to land the larger airplanes that these industries need may be revoked because of certain safety issues at that current airport. A research committee was commissioned to do a study and find the best economical solution to this problem, and they resolved that a new airport should be built to accommodate this need. The airport would also be much safer for all aircrafts and will be able to operate in more demanding weather conditions than the old one. (Aviation Review Committee)
Many people in the community of Pella have been looking for alternative solutions to this problem to avoid the building of a new airport. The first thing that would come to mind is to expand and update an existing local airport. This is not possible at the Pella airport because it is between a major golf course and some other buildings. The nearby town of Oskaloosa has an airport that is located in Cedar which is a 40-45 minute drive to Pella and they see this as being too far for them to drive. The only option that is available is to build a new airport. This airport is said to be able to draw people to the town and to help give an added incentive for larger companies to move to the area. For instance, more people would be able to come to the major races at Knoxville and Newton. (Aviation Review Committee)
There are two locations that a committee has determined to be the most economical. The two sites that are being pushed for are a local township called Black Oak and a city named Otley. (Woodhouse) The township that the council is now considering putting on the contingency site is located in Black Oak. The reason why the council suggested this area is because this place is between Oskaloosa and Pella. The companies in Pella agree that this would be the best spot because a major company that is pushing for this airport is located in Oskaloosa. This area would put the airport in between the major companies. This site would take many people’s homes away and many acres of farmland. (Supervisors delay airport decision) In order to obtain these lands, there would have to be an eminent domain declared so that the Council could take these lands for a price that is determined by an appraiser. One woman that would lose her land says, “It’s a century farm that’s been passed down for years, and we want to keep it that way.” (Kappelman) This site also has a farmstead that has been registered in the National Registry of Historical Places. The farmstead is said to call attention to the movements of the 20th century of rural life. (Kappelman) Some of the better farmland in the region and the symbol of
history would be lost if we tore down the historic farmstead. Even though it is not the most economical decision it would do the least harm to the history of our region and to the rich farmland that is at the proposed site.
The other proposed site is in Otley, IA. This region has now become the frontrunner for the airport. Since this is a new proposed site that has just occurred lately there are not any responses from the landowners at this region. (Woodhouse) Some of the land that is needed for the airport has gone up for sale, which means that less people would be forced to sell their land and that there aren’t any historical landmarks in this area. The drawback of this site is that the airport would be located in the northwest corner of Marion County. This would make the company in Oskaloosa drive an extra 15-20 minutes to reach the airport. This is why the company in Oskaloosa is trying to get Mahaska County to let them build over the historical landmark. There are 4 or 5 other sites but all of these would require the moving of cell phone towers, which would be a much greater cost and hassle. (Woodhouse)
Though the Otley airport would cost the company more money it is still the best choice of sites. Even though it is not the most economical decision it would do the least harm to the history of our region and to the rich farmland that is at the proposed site. The argument of the major businesses and the research committee may be the most economical solution but there are other costs we need to think about. Are we willing to give up prime farmland and a landmark that represents the history of this region in an effort to save a few dollars? The loss of this farmland and the history is not worth the result of saving a company few dollars.

Works Cited
Aviation Review Committee. Aviation Review Committee Report to Mayor and Council. 15 November 2007 .
Kappelman, Wes. Pella looks at two sites for new airport. 30 October 2007. 15 November 2007 .
Woodhouse, Steve. Otley is likely airport site. 22 October 2007. 15 November 2007 .