City council approves new airport operator contract after heated public comment

The Freeport City Council voted 5-3 to adopt Resolution 20 25 1 17, awarding an airport management agreement for Albertus (Albers) Airport to the lowest responsible bidder and authorizing the city manager to execute the contract effective Oct. 1.

The vote came after more than an hour of public comment in which hangar tenants, pilots and aviation professionals urged council to retain the current airport manager, Angie Jansen, and several speakers accused staff and a review committee of poor process and unauthorized disclosure of bid details.

City Manager Rob Boyer told the council the city issued a request for qualifications and that three timely proposals were reviewed by an operator review committee. "The lowest responsible quote was submitted by Mr. Jeff Modica of Freeport, Illinois at $157,500 per year," Boyer said, and staff recommended awarding the operator agreement to Modica to avoid a gap when the current operator's contract expires Oct. 1. Boyer said approving the committee recommendation would "ensure continuity of operations and minimize cost to the city."

Tenants and other members of the aviation community spoke at length in public comment, offering written letters and in-person remarks. Several written correspondences read into the record described decadeslong experience working with or observing Angie Jansen’s stewardship; Dr. Glenn Smith said hangar tenants want "a professionally run facility that we can use all year round" and urged transparency in the bid review. Kirk Appell, Lynn Pease and other writers recounted Jansen's role securing federal and state grants and improving facilities.

Multiple speakers who addressed the council in person emphasized operational details they said require a full‑time, experienced manager. "Managing an operation like Albertus Airport requires full time attention and full time availability during off hours," Joe Green said. Tenants also warned that losing confidence among the aviation community could cause hangar tenants to leave and reduce airport revenue.

Others raised concerns about procurement and committee procedures. Attorney Cox reminded the council of rules limiting public comment slots and explained how written and spoken comments would be handled. Several council members and public speakers questioned how bid amounts and application details reached neighborhood and internal channels. Alderman Cecilia Stacy asked who had access to the proposals and why the information appeared to be distributed unevenly; Alderman Linda Johnson said she had gone to city staff and read all three applications directly.

Alderman Sanders pressed for more oversight and for council to consider an extension of the current contract so the full council could review the process. "I'd like to extend an apology to the public for the acknowledgment of the lack of duty and responsibility and the accountability of council as a whole," Sanders said, urging the council to "go back and review how we got here."

Attorney Louise Isles warned the council that not following procurement standards could expose the city to a legal challenge. "If you do not approve this bid, you're gonna be a violation of those standards," she said, arguing the city’s airport rules (dated Jan. 12, 2012) allow the manager to designate an alternate and that the existing operator has employees on staff.

After discussion the council called the roll on the resolution. In the recorded roll call Sellers voted yes, Sanders no, Shadle yes, Stacy no, Parker yes; the council recorded a 5-3 approval. The motion to adopt the resolution was made by Alderman Clem and seconded by Alderman Sellers.

Earlier in the meeting the council approved the agenda (6-2) and rejected a proposal to suspend the rules to allow everyone present to speak (a 4-4 vote that failed to reach the two-thirds threshold required for suspension).

The resolution directs the city manager to execute the operator agreement in substantially the form attached to the RFQ; Boyer told the council the recommended annual cost is $157,500 and that the recommendation was intended to avoid a lapse in airport management on Oct. 1. The record does not show the signed contract or any amendment language; details about performance metrics, insurance, lessee‑management responsibilities and delegated duties under the new agreement were not specified in the meeting record and will be matters for the executed contract and any future council report.

Public speakers repeatedly urged the council to consider tenants’ views and the airport’s operational continuity; several said they would prefer the council to extend the existing arrangement while the city addresses concerns about committee formation and transparency. The council did not adopt an extension and the resolution approving the new operator passed.

The council did not provide additional schedule dates for post‑award oversight or follow-up reports during the meeting.