The airport authority voted to approve a one-year fuel-management agreement with JetAccess to operate fuel sales and manage fuel-quality procedures at Sheridan Airport.

The agreement, presented by Sean White, Jet Access representative, calls for a $1,500 monthly management fee; JetAccess will charge wholesale cost plus $1 per gallon as its margin and remit the remaining revenue to the airport. JetAccess will also charge a $100-per-day trip fee for on-site fuel-quality checks when staff travel to Sheridan. “We’re not trying to make money on this really,” White said, describing the fee as compensation for travel time and documented checks.

The board said the arrangement will remain under review and that the county plans to hire a part-time maintenance employee who, after training, would perform daily checks and reduce JetAccess’s trip frequency. Sam (airport director) told the board the county council approved a part-time maintenance post in its budget hearings and the HR department will post the job in the coming weeks.

Why this matters: Fuel quality checks and documentation are required by fuel providers, the FAA and insurance carriers; without them an airport risks losing fuel-service agreements or facing liability. Under the contract JetAccess will also remit the state excise tax on fuel and absorb credit-card processing fees, simplifying the airport’s administrative burden.

Details of the agreement and oversight

- Structure: JetAccess manages the fuel system, the point-of-sale software (QT Pod), receives receipts, performs weekly/monthly/quarterly and annual quality checks, and returns a monthly net revenue payment to the airport.
- Fees: $1,500 per month management fee; JetAccess margin = wholesale price + $1 per gallon; $100 per day trip fee for on-site checks when required.
- Term and renewal: Board discussed adding language to require annual review and reauthorization rather than an auto-renewal; the draft will be revisited annually.
- Taxes and fees: JetAccess will remit state excise tax on aviation fuel and pay credit-card fees so the authority does not need an aviation fuel permit.
- Transition: JetAccess offered to train county staff in fuel-quality procedures; once trained, the part-time county employee could perform most daily checks and JetAccess would reduce trip-frequency accordingly.

Board members pressed for monitoring: Board member Bill Bier said he wants to review the fuel revenue after several months to determine whether to continue the arrangement or change course. Justin Clevenger asked whether a county employee would be covered by county liability insurance; Sam and David (legal counsel) said a county employee would be covered if hired as a county employee and that proof of certificate training will be required by insurers.

Context and early performance

JetAccess reported Sheridan pumped about 700 gallons of fuel between Aug. 21 and the meeting date, projecting roughly a 1,100-gallon monthly pace — close to the airport’s early expectations. The company said the agreement mirrors an arrangement it has at Hendricks County Airfield. The airport board approved the agreement by roll call vote.

What’s next

The authority will execute the contract, incorporate an annual review clause and track fuel sales, costs and the effects of hiring the part-time maintenance employee. The board agreed to reassess the arrangement after deployment of a trained county staffer and several months of fuel sales data.