At the Warsaw Board of Aviation Commissioners’ meeting on Tuesday, April 12, at Warsaw City Hall are from left: Warsaw Airport Manager Nick King, Board President Jay Rigdon, Board Vice President John Yingling, Board Secretary Gene Zale and Board Member Dan Robinson. InkFreeNews photo by Leah Sander.

By Leah Sander
InkFreeNews

WARSAW — Fuel sales are good at the Warsaw Municipal Airport so far, but that could change.

Warsaw Airport Manager Nick King gave that information to the Warsaw Board of Aviation Commissioners at its meeting on Tuesday, April 12.

That’s due to changes in fuel prices, said King.

“I’m happy to say we’re up almost 7,000 gallons year over year from last year where we are for jet fuel,” said King. “We’re down about 1,500 gallons in avgas (aviation gasoline for smaller aircraft), but that was to be expected with the bad weather that we had last month. … But we have been very busy the last week and so I expect that number to go up.”

“I will say with fuel prices doing what they’re doing I just don’t even want to guess at what it’s going to look like for the rest of the summer,” he added. “Avgas has stayed fairly stable as far as pricing is concerned; it’s fluctuating 20 cents or so here and there. …  Jet fuel is up and down upwards of a $1.40, $1.50 a gallon just kind of depending on what the week is.”

“There was 10 days of trading I think we saw a 97 cents change up and down … so it’s been a pretty volatile quarter so far, but hopefully that comes down and is pretty flat,” he said.

Power line project

The board also heard an update on preparations for a project lowering power lines near the airport.

CHA Consulting Inc. Deputy Project Manager Robert LaFayette talked about the project as part of his report provided electronically. CHA Consulting handles engineering for the airport.

He noted a signed agreement for it is being reviewed right now.

“We’re still targeting May 9 … (as) the official start of project design, we haven’t changed that yet,” said LaFayette. “And so that keeps … November 2023 (for when the project will be finished).”

Campers at the airport

LaFayette also noted a land use audit at the airport mentioned that campers are there where they shouldn’t be.

He said for insurance purposes those campers should be moved.

Board President Jay Rigdon asked King how many campers were at the airport.

“Three, that I can see,” he responded.

In other business, the board:

• Heard from King that initial exhibits for hangers had been completed so that lessees know the exact square footage they have for them as part of their lease. That was due to the Federal Aviation Administration pushing the airport to classify hangars by square footage instead of more general size classifications. Lessees are to provide some feedback before exhibits are finished.
• Approved the sale of Hangar 16 and 17 from Jon Blosser to PWI, a welding company from Nappanee.
• Approved a 30-foot easement on the east side of the airport for Tippecanoe and Chapman Lakes Regional Sewer District to install an underground sewage pipe within airport grounds. At the suggestion of Warsaw Mayor Joe Thallemer, the easement will next go before the Warsaw Board of Public Works & Safety.
• Approved updating the software related to airport fuel sales. King noted the previous software was unsupported. The cost for the new software is $595 a month plus an about $5,200 setup free. The Warsaw Board of Public Works & Safety is to consider the purchase next.
• Heard a reminder that the May meeting was moved from the second Tuesday to the fourth Tuesday due to the schedules of those involved. It will be at 5:15 p.m. Tuesday, May 24, at Warsaw City Hall.