Gary Mayor Bids Farewell to Airport Authority, but Influence will Linger
The Gary/Chicago International Airport Authority paid tribute to Mayor Karen Freeman-Wilson at its final meeting of the year Tuesday, as she prepares to exit office after two terms.
Mayor-elect Jerome Prince takes office Jan. 1.
Freeman-Wilson’s four authority board appointments, however, will remain on the job because their terms haven’t expired yet.
Her appointments to the seven-member authority include Denise Dillard, Alesia Pritchett, Shontai Irving, and Stephen Mays.
“It’s been a distinct pleasure to move the airport forward over the past eight years,” Freeman-Wilson told the board.
Under her watch, the airport finally completed the extension of a $175 million main runway. At just under 9,000 feet, it’s the second longest runway in the Chicago area after O’Hare International Airport.
“It’s not where we want it to be … but we have seen exponential growth,” she said.
There’s still no commercial passenger carrier at the airport, but its two fixed base operators — B. Coleman and the Gary Jet Center have made significant investments and expanded operations.
Earlier this year, the airport built and leased its own corporate hangar on the east side of the airport. Long-time tenant Sage-Popovich Inc. is leasing the hangar.
A new customs facility also opened last year and is poised to welcome its 100th flight by the end of the year, according to airport executive director Duane Hayden.
Also under Freeman-Wilson, the authority inked a contract with AvPorts to manage the daily operations of the airport. About one-third of the 30 employees are Gary residents, Hayden said.
Freeman-Wilson said she hoped the city could bring the Gary Air Show back to its beachfront at Marquette Park. Financial struggles forced the city to cancel the air show in 2018 when it couldn’t find enough sponsors to finance the estimated $350,000 two-day event at Marquette Park.
“This airport has the potential to be a tremendous economic engine for Gary ... and all of Northwest Indiana,” she said.
Finally, the mayor alluded to future projects.
“There are a number of opportunities on the horizon that you haven’t announced or talked about. I am looking forward to watching this unfold,” she said.
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