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Marquette County authorizes staff to finalize aviation fuel deal with Avfuel Corporation amid public pricing concerns
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Summary
Marquette County commissioners authorized staff to proceed with finalizing an aviation fuel supply agreement with Avfuel Corporation for Marquette Sawyer Regional Airport, after staff reviewed proposals from three suppliers. Public commenters raised concerns about fuel pricing and transparency; commissioners said the county will purchase fuel and set retail pricing.
Marquette County’s Board of Commissioners voted unanimously on March 26, 2026, to authorize staff to proceed with finalizing an aviation fuel supply agreement with Avfuel Corporation to support fueling operations at Marquette Sawyer Regional Airport.
Administrator Duane DuRay summarized staff work to evaluate aviation fuel suppliers as part of the county’s transition to a county-operated fixed base operator (FBO). DuRay told the board staff reviewed proposals from three suppliers — Avfuel Corporation, Arrow Energy (a Phillips 66 branded program), and Titan Aviation Fuels — and provided a summary of services and support offered by each.
Commissioner Numinen moved to authorize proceeding with the finalization of the fuel supply agreement with Avfuel Corporation; Commissioner Alholm seconded. The board took a roll-call vote: Numinen, LaLonde, Nordeen, Alholm and Chairperson Joseph Derocha voted aye; there were no nays. The motion to proceed was adopted 5-0.
Several members of the public spoke against selecting Avfuel as the supplier, citing concerns about how the choice would affect fuel prices at the FBO and the transparency of the selection process. Public commenters included Craig Coccia of Gwinn, Jesse Bell of Marquette and Eric Sibley of Negaunee. After the vote, members of the public reiterated requests that staff share facts and figures about expected retail fuel prices and that the County clarify membership of the Airport Advisory Board.
Commissioner Nordeen clarified that the county will purchase fuel and then apply its own retail charge; Commissioners AlLhom and LaLonde said staff-provided information helped make the decision easier. The meeting minutes do not include specific contract pricing, term length, or the final markup structure; those details were not specified in the meeting record and are to be finalized during agreement negotiations.
The vote authorizes staff to finalize the agreement with Avfuel; the board did not record contract terms or a price schedule at the meeting. Further details and any formal contract will be announced once negotiations are concluded and the agreement is executed.