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Council affirms airport maintenance deal, clarifies fuel-farm ownership and approves a lease swap
Summary
Town staff defended a six-month maintenance agreement for the airport's FuelMaster point-of-sale system, saying City Services bought the fuel farm from Hawthorne Ascension and the town holds a lease; the council approved the Syntech Systems maintenance agreement and later approved a tenant's lease swap at the airport.
The Stevensville Town Council approved a six-month maintenance agreement for the airport's FuelMaster point-of-sale system and addressed questions about ownership of the airport fuel farm, saying a private company, City Services, purchased the fuel infrastructure from Hawthorne Ascension and has leased it to the town.
Brian, the airport manager, recapped the transaction and asked the council to approve an extended maintenance agreement with Syntech Systems Incorporated for the FuelMaster pedestal at the airport. He said the six-month agreement would cost $850 (Syntech normally offers one-year terms but agreed to pro-rate because the town expects a permanent tank later in the year) and "covers technical support and parts for that point of sale system." He also told council members the town had already incurred roughly $130 in service charges getting the system running and that the maintenance agreement would be cost-effective for an older system.
Why it matters: The fuel farm (tank, dispenser, pump and FuelMaster pedestal) is central to airport operations and revenue. Questions about ownership and account access had left the point-of-sale account temporarily frozen, which could disrupt fuel sales to aircraft.
History and ownership: Brian summarized that Hawthorne Ascension had owned the tank for years and that, in April, City Services entered into a purchase agreement and paid Hawthorne Ascension for the Stevensville fuel farm. City Services then offered to lease the fuel infrastructure back to the town. Staff said the meeting packet included documentation (an invoice/receipt and email confirmation) showing the sale and the account release. Brian stated that FuelMaster had frozen the account during an earlier dispute but released it after confirming City Services' purchase and the town's lease.
Councilors asked whether the town attorney had reviewed the paperwork; staff said the attorney had been involved throughout. After discussion and public comment, the council approved the Syntech Systems maintenance agreement; the transcript recorded the vote as passing 4-0.
Related airport action: The council also considered and moved to approve a proposed lease swap at the airport. A current leaseholder asked to exchange Block 3, Lot 4 for Block 1, Lot 13; both lots were undeveloped dirt parcels. Staff proposed vacating the existing lease and drafting a new 20-year lease at the current rate of $0.14 per square foot (the lessee's existing lease was at $0.06). Staff recommended waiving an infrastructure fee because the fee had already been collected on the existing lease. Councilors discussed square footage and approved proceeding with the swap; the renter indicated he planned to begin construction this summer.
What remains: Staff said documentation about the purchase, lease and account release is in the agenda packet. The council directed staff to proceed with the Syntech contract and to draft the new lease documents for the airport swap; the transcript did not record additional contingencies beyond staff and legal review.
