Grosse Ile airport commissioners say lease decision for Island Athletics will be guided by finances as residents plead to keep gym open

Grosse Ile Airport Commission members heard multiple public pleas to keep Island Athletics operating at the airport during a meeting where commissioners described their role as financially stewarding airport property rather than subsidizing recreational services.

Residents testified that the gym provides a unique community resource and asked commissioners to seek ways to keep it open while staff and commissioners said any lease decision must balance community value with the airport’s financial obligations.

The issue drew the largest public turnout during the meeting’s public-comment period. Richard Labar, who gave his address as 25408 Fourth Street, told commissioners, “I just wanna support for the island athletics. It seems like a really good thing. Once it’s closed, there’ll be nowhere on the island to go to.” Several other residents echoed that concern.

Mary Leone of 8449 Matthias Drive described why the facility matters to her family: “I have a 30 year old high functioning autistic son...He wanted a place to go work out, so he went and joined Island Athletics. ...If that closes, I will not let him go to Planet Fitness. I don’t trust that place.”

Commissioners and airport staff described the decision as primarily a business one. Janelle, the airport manager, told the commission that the current tenant’s lease is “almost 5 years” in length and that the office had sent a letter to the tenant roughly six months before the lease expiration to learn whether the tenant intended to renew. She said the airport would need time to run a request for proposals (RFP) if the tenant does not stay: “The only reason that we’re 6 months out of when the lease is expired is because it takes that long for us to get the RFP out.”

One commissioner, who identified himself as John and said he had served on the commission for decades, framed the issue as a fiscal duty: “We are not the recreation department. We are not charged with having to subsidize any kind of activity...We don’t take any taxpayer money to run this airport. All the funds that we put into that building and other buildings are generated by user fees and rents that we charge.” He noted recent capital spending on the facility, including a $160,000 roof investment, and an earlier estimate that demolition would cost about $700,000.

Residents asked whether the township recreation department might operate the facility; commissioners said they had earlier tried that option and found the recreation department unwilling to take on operation. Commissioners repeatedly said they would not negotiate lease terms in public and that any renewal or replacement would follow normal procurement practice.

Clarifying details discussed during the meeting included:

- Current fiscal context: the airport’s annual budgeted revenue and expenditures are both listed at $1,587,694; year-to-date revenue was $240,807 (15% of budget) and year-to-date expenditures and encumbrances were $197,191 (12% of budget). The commission reported $777,775 in capital reserves and $12,198 in past-due rent. (From the manager’s finance report.)

- Facility history and costs: commissioners cited a 35-year history of tenant cycles at the building, a roughly $160,000 recent roof investment, and a demolition estimate of about $700,000.

- Lease timing and process: staff said an RFP process typically requires months to prepare and advertise; the commission sent a renewal-status letter to the tenant about six months before the current lease expiration.

Votes at a glance

- Motion to approve the meeting agenda: Motion by Mr. Bridal, supported by Mr. Loftus. Outcome: approved (recorded as “motion carries” in the meeting minutes). No roll-call vote tally was recorded in the public remarks.

- Motion to approve the May 2025 financial report: Motion by Mr. Bridal, supported by Mr. Manns. Outcome: approved (meeting record: “motion carries”). The finance report lists year-to-date figures and noted pending federal grant funding for taxiway projects.

- Motion to adjourn: Motion by Mr. Lexus, supported by Mr. Folarski. Outcome: approved.

What happens next

Commissioners said they are open to continuing private discussions with Island Athletics and will pursue formal procurement (an RFP) if the current tenant does not renew. The commission reiterated it will not negotiate lease terms in public and that any replacement operator would be selected through the airport’s standard leasing process.

Several residents urged the commission to consider community funds or private support to preserve the gym, with one resident saying private donors had discussed contributing $50,000 to $100,000 toward a solution.

The commission did not take a formal action on the Island Athletics lease at the meeting; commissioners directed staff to continue communications with the tenant and to prepare for the normal RFP process if necessary.