Commissioners defer fuel-supplier decision for Sawyer Airport after public concerns

Assistant Airport Manager Nia Takurio presented staff’s evaluation of three proposals for the airport’s fuel supplier as part of the county’s planned transition to a county-operated FBO. "We are recommending Afuel," she told the board and explained Avfuel’s proposal would let the vendor retain ownership of fuel while the county provides fueling service and capital equipment — a structure intended to reduce early financial exposure.

Several public speakers and commissioners said they needed to see the three written proposals to compare pricing and operating models. Jesse Bell urged the county to "pause the takeover operations until you have financial projections that reflect real-world conditions and a complete operational plan." Multiple aviation operators warned that Avfuel’s pricing historically had been high in regional markets and that surrendering fuel ownership could cut the county off from a core revenue source. The board voted to defer the decision and add item 10f to a special meeting scheduled for Thursday, March 26 at 5 p.m., instructing staff to circulate proposal packets to commissioners ahead of that meeting.