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Airport manager reports fuel‑sales gains, upcoming fuel‑farm bid and Sterling hangar lease progress
Summary
Airport manager reported a roughly 5% increase in overall fuel sales for 2025 versus 2024, outlined encumbrances for fence and fuel‑farm projects, previewed a March bid timeline for the fuel farm, and said the Sterling Foundation lease has been agreed in principle pending site plans and permits.
Airport Manager Justin Ward presented the airport's finance and operations report at the Michigan City Board of Aviation Commissioners' Jan. 15 meeting, saying fuel sales grew about 5% in 2025 compared with 2024 and that staff are preparing for multiple capital projects.
Ward reported December volumes and year-end trends, listing 571.4 gallons of Avgas (100LL), 436.5 gallons of Jet A and 28.5 gallons of UL94 for December. "We finished up the year with a 5% increase in fuel sales from 2024 to 2025," the manager said while distributing multi‑year spreadsheets that show a nine‑year average of about 67% self‑service for Avgas.
Ward outlined encumbrances for perimeter fencing repairs and a separate SRE fence project; he said encumbrances will be removed as projects are completed. He also said the fuel‑farm project will follow a traditional design‑bid‑build process, that plans are expected to be ready to bid by March, and that some IIJA funds are expected to support the project.
On tenant development, Ward said a previously conceptually approved land lease with the Sterling Foundation had been reviewed by attorneys and that requested language changes were resolved. "Now that the lease is good to go with both parties, the foundation's gonna be able to move to a site survey work and get their drawings and site approved by the board," Ward said; after local planning and FAA Form 7460 height review are complete the lease will be signed and the foundation will remit its first annual land‑lease payment.
Flight operations updates noted FlightSaga's restructuring and reduced 2025 fuel purchases (2,249.3 gallons, a 48% reduction from 2024 after instructor turnover) and Skydive Windy City's increased Jet A purchases (about 5,112 gallons in 2025, a 53% increase). Ward described these items as part of normal operations and said weather had reduced flight activity since November.
Board members asked clarifying questions about specific repairs and fuel pricing; the meeting record does not show detailed budget reallocation beyond the $40,000 transfer from the airport fuel fund into the operating fund that staff said helps offset operating costs.
