To All Media regarding a lawsuit filed against The County of Marquette.
The suit calls for an injunction to halt the county taking over as the Fixed Base Operator at Sawyer. The suit requests this reckless action be halted until a proper due diligence process can be completed (6 months). There is also a document that was submitted to the County Board that requests the immediate cancellation of the termination of Kubick Aviation as the Fixed Base Operator at the airport.
This document also asks for the resignation of Chairman Joe DeRocha. Attached you will find a 12-page document detailing the lawsuit filed by Mark Hangen vs. The County of Marquette regarding the termination of the FBO agreement with Kubick Aviation. Kubick provides aviation related services to the County and users of the Airport, including Inspection and maintenance of fuel storage facilities, fuel delivery, vehicles, capacity, inspections; fueling services, aviation line services, aircraft maintenance and repair services, collection of aircraft landing fees, pilot/crew services and escort services through secured areas.
A group of local aviators are concerned that poor management by the county if they take over as the Fixed Base Operator could greatly jeopardize the future of The Marquette County Airport. See enclosed attachments of the lawsuit and a document (a copy of a letter submitted to the editor of The Mining Journal) containing some of the items covered by Mark Hangen at a recent County Board meeting.
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Mark Hangen’s Letter to the Editor
Sawyer Regional Airport Is at Risk
The Marquette County Commission has once again made a mockery of due process. In mid-2025 it came to light that commissioners had illegally awarded themselves raises ranging from 50% to 125%. After being caught, they quietly rescinded the increases
On October 27, the County Legal Counsel sent a letter terminating the contract of Kubick Aviation, the company that provides aircraft services at Sawyer, including fueling the airlines that serve Marquette County. This decision carries serious consequences for residents.
First, when a government entity takes over a private aviation business, the FAA can revoke federal funding and demand repayment of recent grants. That could cost taxpayers millions.
Second, operating a for-profit aviation business removes the liability cap the county currently enjoys. We’ve presented real-world examples where counties faced $13 million judgments following aviation accidents caused by employee error. Without that cap, taxpayers could be responsible for the difference. Aviation is inherently risky, which is why outsourcing that risk is standard practice.
Third, county officials claim this takeover will generate $1.8 million in profit. Our analysis shows it is actually a $400,000 loss once a clear spreadsheet error is corrected — an error that tripled the projected fuel margin. That fact has gone unchallenged. Proceeding anyway would double the airport’s existing $450,000 annual loss to taxpayers.
There is also a very real chance airlines could pull out. Sawyer is not subsidized like Iron Mountain or Escanaba. If jet fuel prices rise — and airlines consume roughly 85% of it — ticket prices rise, passengers shift to other airports, volume drops, and eventually the airlines leave.
How did we get here?
It starts with a structure that lacks checks and balances. The County Commission voted on Nov 25th to approve the termination WHICH HAD OCCURRED A MONTH EARLIER! The Commission says it relied on input from the Airport Advisory Committee and the Airport Finance Committee. Yet the Commission and both committees are chaired by the same individual, Joe DeRocha. That concentration of authority eliminates meaningful oversight.
Chairman DeRocha continues to assert that a thorough review was conducted and that the county stands to profit $1.8 million. Multiple FOIA requests have produced no documented analysis to support that claim. At least one committee member resigned in protest, stating he felt misled.
We have sued to halt this takeover until a complete and transparent analysis is performed.
If Marquette County residents want to avoid being forced into court simply to obtain basic due process, the Commission must be restructured to restore real checks and balances. Taxpayers deserve careful analysis, honest numbers, and accountable leadership — not rushed decisions that put millions of dollars and essential air service at risk.
Mark Hangen
mhangen@gmail.com
678-541-4474
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