Pilots and community urge Marquette County to pause plan to operate Sawyer Regional’s FBO

Several pilots and airport users urged the Marquette County Board of Commissioners on Jan. 20 to halt the county's plan to terminate the FBO contract and have the county assume FBO operations at Sawyer Regional Airport.

"General aviation totaled just over 4,100," said Matthew Block, a Sands Township resident, placing FAA Air Traffic Activity numbers in context and arguing that general aviation and charter operations together make up the bulk of itinerant activity at Sawyer. Block asked the board to "stop and think this through or reinstate the current contract that was terminated." He also warned about after-hours service gaps if the county does not maintain consistent staffing.

Eric Sibley, who identified himself as director of aviation for BP Capital and a frequent Sawyer user, said the change is "not a minor administrative change. It's a significant operational change that affects safety, service cost, and the county's liability." He offered an example of high repair costs for damaged aircraft and contested county profit estimates by pointing to differing fuel-price calculations.

Jesse Bell urged the board to "pause or reverse" the decision, saying advisory boards performed inadequate due diligence and raising a procedural concern that a termination letter was sent Oct. 27 before the board's Nov. 25 vote. "Who authorized legal counsel to send that letter?" Bell asked, adding that the sequence created the "appearance of a decision being set in motion before this board formally acted." He asked the commission to clarify whether appropriate approvals and notices occurred.

Other speakers — including a resident who said a lawsuit is being prepared and Abby Schierholtz, a certified flight instructor who called in — reinforced concerns about training, staffing and the operational risks of a county-run FBO. Schierholtz urged the board to explain plans for recruiting and training competent, safety-focused employees and stressed the community services Cubic Aviation had provided without charge.

The board heard public comment but did not take further public votes on the airport during the meeting. Commissioners acknowledged the comments during the meeting's commissioners' remarks but did not announce a reversal or procedural action by the end of the session. The county administrator and counsel were present as staff sources for follow-up questions; the record shows public requests for additional documentation and clarification of the termination timeline.