Gary airport authority hikes fees on tenants

Despite pleas from tenants to delay fee hikes while the coronavirus pandemic ravages their industry, the Gary/Chicago International Airport Authority unanimously approved fuel and l a ndi ng fee i ncre a s e s Wednesday. The new rates go into effect next month.

Airport authority members didn’t discuss the increases in a 6-0 vote. New Porter County representative Wes Kotys abstained, saying he wasn’t familiar enough with the recommendation from airport executive director Duane Hayden.

Last month, officials from three tenants asked authority members to delay increases because the pandemic has throttled the aviation industry. The tenants who voiced concern were B. Coleman Aviation, the Gary Jet Center and Sage-Popovich Inc. All maintain hangars at the airport and have expanded corporate and business aviation operations in the past decade.

The fuel fee will increase 10 cents a gallon, up from 15 cents and the landing fee increased from $2 per 1,000 pounds to $2.50.

John Girzadas, president of B. Coleman Aviation, a t t e nded Wednesday ’s meeting and issued a statement afterward:

“We are very disappointed that they moved this forward, especially without discussion, during this pandemic. To us it does not seem like the right time to raise fees on the users of the airport when all travel is being hurt by the current health and economic crisis. We hope that they will reconsider this at the next meeting.”

Meanwhile, the authority renewed the contract of Hayden through 2021. His salary remains at its present level. Officials didn’t disclose the salary but Indiana Gateway, a public database, reported his 2019 c o mp e n s a t i o n at $148,799.88.

The board also renewed the consulting contract of Dan Vicari, executive director of the Gary Sanitary and Stormwater District. No amount was disclosed.