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Council renews Mory Airplane Co. FBO contract after narrow 4–3 amendment vote on fuel language
Summary
After hours of debate over fuel flowage-fee language and how to encourage unleaded aviation fuel, Middleton’s Common Council approved a five-year renewal for the Mory Airplane Company FBO, adding finance-committee language requiring market analysis; one proposed market-cap amendment failed 6–1.
The Middleton Common Council unanimously approved a five-year renewal of the fixed-base operator (FBO) contract for Middleton Municipal Airport with Mory Airplane Company, subject to city attorney review, after extended debate and two roll-call amendment votes.
Councilors spent significant time on proposed language that would constrain how the city or operator could change the fuel flowage fee (an 11-cent-per-gallon charge discussed in the meeting). Alder Lurman proposed amending the contract to require that any new flowage rate “not exceed the highest rate within a 50‑nautical‑mile radius” and to require a comparative market analysis. That amendment failed on a roll-call vote (Lurman: yes; Shaver, Kish, Nelson, Myers, Haneiro, Crow: no), 1–6.
The council then considered a substitute amendment (the redline language supported by the finance and personnel committee and by Alder Myers) that preserved flexibility for market-based pricing while requiring comparative-market justification for changes. That amendment passed on a 4–3 roll-call vote (Schaefer: yes; Kish: yes; Nelson: no; Myers: yes; Haneiro: no; Lurman: yes; Crow: no).
During the discussion, council members and airport representatives argued over two goals: preserving the airport’s ability to adjust rates in a volatile fuel market and preventing deliberate price manipulation that could harm users or the airport enterprise fund. "Markets behave the way markets behave," Alder Myers said in defense of flexibility. Alder Lurman argued the change would add a reasonable check for comparative context and require supporting analysis before rate increases.
An airport representative and operators explained technical constraints tied to unleaded aviation fuel (UL94) and certification requirements for aircraft that use it, noting past problems with availability and tank issues. The council also added a reference to the city's voluntary noise‑abatement policy in the contract’s right‑of‑flight section.
Staff summarized the approved contract: a five‑year term through 2031 with a possible mutual 10‑year extension upon agreement; the city may pursue an RFP at the end of the five‑year term if council chooses. After the redline amendment passed, the council voted to approve the contract as amended and subject to city attorney approval; the final contract vote passed unanimously by voice vote.
What was decided: the FBO contract was renewed as amended; the record shows one amendment (market-cap language) was rejected and an alternate amendment requiring comparative-market justification was adopted. The contract will be subject to city‑attorney review and includes a five‑year term to 2031 with a mutual option for an additional 10 years.
Next steps: city staff will complete attorney review; the council retains discretion to issue an RFP at or before the contract’s 2031 review point.
