At its monthly meeting Wednesday, the Gary/Chicago International Airport Authority board updated its minimum standards for businesses.
Members also heard multiple comments about an Indiana House bill targeting the makeup of the board.
The airport’s minimum standards are requirements that must be met by businesses to provide services at the facility, according to the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association.
“We advertised changes in the way that feeds are collected for landing and parking at the airport, and standardize how it’s done, no matter where you are on the airfield,” Executive Director Dan Vicari said, adding that airport staff recommend for standard changes to be accepted.
Five members were present at the board meeting, with all approving the new standards. Changes include the definition of a based tenant, how fees will be assessed and how monthly fees are calculated.
Based tenants now include those who park their aircraft in an area leased by the authority to approved fixed-based operators that the Federal Aviation Administration considers “validated inventory,” according to information from GCIA.
Aircraft that arrive at the airport will also now be assessed a landing fee, and if there for more than four hours, will receive a parking fee. Based tenants will not be assessed parking fees. GCIA will collect landing and parking fees.
Original minimum standards had operators pay a monthly fee by the 10th day of each month, but the new standards removed the deadline for monthly fees.
Airport board member Philip Mullins said the new standards keep GCIA competitive.
Multiple Gary residents also expressed concerns with House Bill 1001, which includes language that shifts appointments on the GCIA authority board, according to Post-Tribune archives. If passed, two appointments would be shifted from the Gary mayor to mayors of Crown Point and Hammond.
Four board members are currently appointed by the Gary mayor and governor, and Lake and Porter counties both appoint one person each.
Residents are concerned that Gary will lose representation and don’t believe it’s fair for the city. Bruce Curry said during public comment that if appointees will be taken from the mayor, two new board positions should be added.
“To take away is unacceptable in my eyes,” Curry told board members. “What we’re starting to see is that everybody wants to take things once they start going in the right direction.”
Curry believes circumstances are improving for Gary, including lower crime rates, so he doesn’t understand why state officials would take away from the city.
Curry asked board members to tell state officials that the changes are unacceptable.
“If they want to add a couple and give us more funding in the budget, that’s fine,” he said. “But to take away is unacceptable.”
Robert Buggs also said he’s concerned about House Bill 1001, and he said he’s concerned appointees will be taken away when the airport is in a TIF district.
“This will be a financial hub,” Buggs told the board. “We don’t need anybody to come in and change the configuration of the board.”
Vicari was unable to comment about the bill following the board meeting. GCIA spokesman could not immediately respond to request for comment.
