Marquette County approves Avfuel contract for Sawyer Airport amid public concerns over pricing and service

Marquette County staff recommended the board proceed with an Avfuel Corporation agreement to supply aviation fuel and support operations at Sawyer (Marquette) Regional Airport. After extended public comment and commissioner questions about truck availability, fuel ownership and retail pricing, the board approved the staff recommendation in a roll-call vote.

County staff told the board it reviewed proposals from Avfuel, Aero Energy (a Phillips 66 vendor) and Titan Fuels and recommended Avfuel because it would provide transitional support, including temporary use of up to two fuel trucks for up to 90 days and access to experienced lead personnel to assist the county during the transition. "Staff is recommending that we proceed forward with the approval of the Avfuel Corporation contract to provide us fuel service for the Sawyer Regional Airport," staff said when introducing the item.

Commissioners probed whether Avfuel would own fuel inventory under the proposed model and who would decide retail markups. Staff said the county would set retail fuel prices and that Avfuel offered temporary trucks and labor to help bridge delivery gaps caused by procurement and logistics. Public commenters and stakeholders urged caution. Jesse Bell said the takeover effort had been "built on a mountain of mistruths" and asked the board to pause and extend Cubic Aviation's contract while the county reviewed Cubic's financial records. Several commenters warned that higher fuel prices would drive pilots to other airports.

The board approved the motion to proceed with Avfuel in a roll-call vote; the chair announced the motion carried.