Presque Isle has approved a detailed procedure to recommend its next Essential Air Service carrier to the U.S. Department of Transportation.
The City Council also voted Wednesday to allow Presque Isle International Airport Director Scott Wardwell to pursue federal funding for an $8.3 million expansion to an airport maintenance garage.
The eight-day carrier recommendation process, presented by the city’s Airport Advisory Board, will include deliberations, public comment and a jointly written letter to the federal agency from the Presque International Airport director and the city manager.
The method would be a marked departure from the council’s August plan to choose its favored carrier in a closed-door executive session. The Bangor Daily News questioned that procedure, and experts declared it illegal and a violation of Maine public meeting laws. City councilors later rescinded the plan.
The Airport Advisory Board approved the new schedule earlier this month, the board’s president, Granville “Junior” Lamb, said.
“It’s an opportunity to be able to work together, streamline it, to cut back so there’s not so many meetings, and be able to do it in a way so everybody’s got a chance to be able to put input into it,” Lamb said.
Presque Isle is one of four Maine airports to fall under the Essential Air Service program, which exists to provide air service to smaller, more remote locations. Bar Harbor, Rockland and Augusta/Waterville airports are also served by the program. While communities can state preferences for air carriers, the U.S. Department of Transportation makes the final decisions.
Two years ago, the advisory board and council each favored different airlines, and public opinion was sharply divided over the two choices: United and JetBlue. The Department of Transportation ultimately appointed JetBlue, which started service in September 2024.
The council in August suggested the closed-door procedure, which it said would cut down on debates that could make the area unattractive to potential carriers. City attorney Richard Currier recommended they rescind the action, which they did Aug. 20.
The Essential Air Service Program requires a new contract every two years. The Department of Transportation issued requests for proposals on Feb. 11 and airline companies must submit their information by March 18, Lamb said. United is no longer part of the program.
The advisory board recommended a specific four-stage process.
First, Airport Director Scott Wardwell will email the bids on March 19 to the advisory board members, City Manager Sonja Eyler and city councilors.
Second, the advisory group will meet March 19 to discuss the bids, but will not vote. Airline representatives will not attend. Community members may attend but no public comments will be accepted.
The public will have a chance to comment during a joint meeting of the board and City Council, slated at 6 p.m. on March 25, at the council chambers. Airline companies who have bid to serve the airport will present, followed by public comment and discussion between city leaders and the advisory board. City Council will then vote to recommend one airline.
As the last step, Wardwell and Eyler will issue a letter of recommendation to the Department of Transportation on March 27. The letter will include any waivers that are required for airlines that would offer fewer than 12 flights, two per day, as specified under Essential Air Service guidelines.
JetBlue took over the city’s air service with a waiver, because it offers one flight per day, seven per week.
With no discussion, councilors approved the recommended procedure 7-0.
Wardwell asked the council for permission to seek Federal Aviation Administration funding for the maintenance building project.
Built in 1993, the building no longer meets FAA requirements for height and width between vehicles, Wardwell said. The 15,500- to 16,000-square-foot expansion would bring it into federal compliance, and would include only what the federal rules require.
The building stores seasonal maintenance vehicles and equipment, including those used for snow removal. The FAA requires at least 6 feet between vehicles and the wall, 8 feet between vehicles and 5 feet between vehicles and bay doors, he said.
The project would require no local property tax funding, Wardwell said. The FAA would pick up 95%, or $7.9 million, of the cost. The Maine Department of Transportation and the airport would each contribute 2.5%, or $207,500.
The design, permitting and construction bidding, to be completed this year, would cost $800,000. Construction in 2027 would total $7.5 million.
Councilors voted 7-0 to authorize Wardwell to pursue the project, which will include contracting engineering services with Manchester, New Hampshire-based Hoyle Tanner and pursuing funding from the FAA and Maine Department of Transportation.
In other business, councilors held the first of two public hearings on a revised vacant building ordinance, which would levy fees to landlords with long-empty buildings that pose safety and sanitation risks. They set the second hearing for April 1.
