11-04-2025
Stop the Airport group files ethics complaint against Drost, Krutzfelt
OSKALOOSA — A city council member's proposed appointment to the Southeast Regional Airport Agency triggered an ethics complaint from a citizens' group.
In its ethics complaint, Stop the Airport targeted Councilmember Bob Drost, Mayor David Krutzfelt and Musco Sports Lighting general counsel Jim Hansen.
Hansen is the chairman of SCRAA. Drost and Krutzfelt are recommended to be appointed to SCRAA by the city council.
Specifically, the group said in its complaint that Drost's employment by Musco — which, along with Pella Corp. had been a primary advocate for the airport — coupled with his position on the city council, made it "impossible for Mr. Drost to make impartial decisions on behalf of Oskaloosa residents."
The complaint also singled out Drost's vote on Dec. 16, 2024 to approve an amended 28E agreement with Pella that kept SCRAA alive, even if just barely. Drost voted in favor of the agreement, which passed 4-3. Had it failed, it would have effectively ended SCRAA.
Drost shouldn't have voted at all, the complaint alleges.
"Mr. Drost has already voted on critical related issues concerning the airport, including the 28E agreement, without recusing himself," Alicia Helm, a member of Stop of Airport, told the city council at its Monday meeting. "His continued involvement, and now this proposed board appointment, raises serious ethical and possibly legal questions."
Helm asked the city council to pause Drost's appointment to the board. She also asked for an independent legal review and for the city to withdraw from SCRAA.
'This isn't political. It isn't personal," Helm said. "It's about the principals of transparency, fairness and public accountability. It's about ensuring that city leadership serves the citizens of Oskaloosa, not corporate interests.'
Krtuzfelt tabled the item to appoint Drost and himself to SCRAA. Two council members — Charlie Comfort and Joe Caligiuri — were absent from the meeting and Krutzfelt said he wanted all members' input.
Drost later denied he has acted unethically.
'I take my position as a city council member of Oskaloosa very seriously," Drost said. "And I treat that position with a lot of respect. And I will not jeopardize my employer or my family to do something unethical.
'My official response to the ethics complaint is there's no merit,' Drost added.
Krutzfelt declined to comment. He said the complaint was still being evaluated by the city attorney.
SCRAA was tasked with securing land for the regional airport and then building it. Last July, SCRAA announced it was unable to get enough land for the project and that it was on indefinite hold.
Pella, and then Oskaloosa — the two entities that make up SCRAA — revised the 28E agreement governing SCRAA, effectively stripping it of decision-making powers unless both Pella and Oskaloosa agree to them. In effect, SCRAA's main function is to manage the 379 acres of farmland it already owns for the proposed airport.
The group sent the complaint to the Iowa State Ombudsman, Iowa Ethics and Campaign Disclosure Board, Iowa State Auditor, Mahaska County Attorney and the Iowa Attorney General.
Bert Dalmer, the senior deputy ombudsman, said his office receives thousands of complaints each year, several dozen of which are ethics complaints. The office has 11 investigators.
But filing the complaint is one thing. Getting results is another.
'Anyone can file a complaint. The act of filing a complaint doesn't necessarily mean there's merit to it," said Mahaska County Attorney Andrew Ritland. "There could be merit to it.'
Dalmer confirmed on Wednesday that his office has received the complaint, but said it has not been assigned to an investigator. "It's not even on anyone's plate yet. It's sort of in a holding pattern.'
Dalmer said before investigating a complaint, they try to determine whether it meets certain thresholds — namely, has the filer tried to resolve the issue before making the complaint, and is there a chance for a viable solution.
'We don't investigate every complaint that we get,' Dalmer said.
Mahaska County Attorney Andrew Ritland said his office doesn't investigate ethics complaints unless there's a suspected crime involved.
In its ethics complaint, Stop the Airport also opposed Krutzfelt's nomination to, and Hansen's position on, SCRAA because it created a conflict of interest.
In Krutzfelt's case, the complaint stated it's because Krutzfelt's responsibility as mayor is to protect the public interest of Oskaloosa residents, and that may not always be compatible with SCRAA's interests.
In Hansen's case, the complaint cited Iowa law which prohibits board members from taking part in decisions where there is a financial or organizational interest.
The SCRAA board is made up almost entirely of elected officials or representatives from Pella Corp. and Musco. Kevin Gaul is the director of operations at Pella Corp. and vice-chair of SCRAA. Pella Mayor Don DeWaard and Pella Councilmember Mark De Jong also sit on the board.
