During the May 6, 2025 Lake Wales City Commission meeting, officials passed multiple items on their consent agenda pertaining to the Lake Wales Municipal Airport.
First on the docket was a purchase of a fuel trailer for $50,265. The action would execute necessary documents to facilitate the purchase. The City originally budgeted for a whole truck, but price increases scaled that plan down to just a trailer. The trailer holds 500 gallons of fuel. The reason for the purchase is to increase convenience for airport tenants (decreasing trips to the fuel farm), which would theoretically increase sales of fuel.
Despite this scaled-back purchase, the city still had enough money for a more pricey investment. A JetA fuel truck costing $75,000 was approved for purchase. The Municipal Airport had been renting a similar fuel truck for $1,000 per month since February 2024; this arrangement dramatically increased the fuel sales for the airport.
Other substantial items were discussed as well, as 24,239.52 square feet (or 0.56 acres) of airport ground space were approved for leasing to Jump Florida Skydiving. This lease leaves the tenant responsible for all costs associated with the land (utilities, survey costs, etc.). The lease runs for 30 years and cost $0.29 per square foot (or $7,029.46 per year).
172 square feet of office space were approved for a leasing renewal to Fun Flight Training. The lease has been running since September 2020 at a rate of $0.23 per square foot, or $474.72 per year. Fun Flight Training will also pay the city $5 per hour of flight instruction as a fee, and an aircraft ferry fee of $50 per ferry. This lease will run for 12 months with a renewal clause for two 12-month periods after agreement of both parties.
Like the rest of the consent agenda, these items were readily passed with no comment or concern from the public.
