By Sam Parsons

The Mahaska County Board of Supervisors held a regular meeting yesterday morning and formally approved a new lease agreement with the city of Oskaloosa for the Mahaska County Law Enforcement Center. The agreement replaces the old 28E agreement between the county and the city, which had been in effect since 1996. The board approved measures to terminate the old 28E agreement and replace it with a lease agreement; the old 28E agreement required the city to pay $35,000 a year, plus a share in operating and maintenance costs. The new lease agreement requires the city to pay a flat $50,000 a year. Board chair Mark Groenendyk and Oskaloosa City Manager Shawn Metcalf both thanked those who worked on the language of the agreement and said that it will streamline the process in future years.

The next regular meeting for the Mahaska County Board of Supervisors will be held on August 18.