BROWN COUNTY – At its July 15 meeting, the Brown County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved the Austin Straubel Airport entering into a new management deal with Vantage Group, an international airport development firm.

Under the five-year contract, Vantage will assume authority over airport operations with goals of increasing passenger load, providing commercial upgrades and economically developing the airport.

Brown County will still retain ownership over the airport and have the option to extend the contract for another two or five year term.

Notably, the deal includes the dismissal of three airport leaders: the airport’s director, assistant director and communications director. These personnel will be replaced by Vantage, while all other airport staff will remain county employees.

Community concerns

Several supervisors and members of the community expressed concerns over the terms and transparency of the deal.

“These conversations have been happening for months in closed session,” said Supervisor Rachel Maes. “I understand the sensitivity, especially when personnel is involved, but having no opportunity to provide coverage or inform the people of Brown County… I think it’s a disservice to the public. For future projects, we really need to be more intentional about transparency.”

Two community members delivered public comments on the deal. Joey Roscoe expressed concern over having Vantage employees assume leadership positions at Austin Straubel, as this could make it difficult for the airport to manage itself if it leaves the contract.

“This is essentially making us dependent on a private corporation,” Roscoe said. “We are having them manage this project for us, meaning that if we don’t want them to manage this project for us, we need to have talent lined up to fill those management positions. If our problem with how the airport was being run was the management, it’s just kicking the can down the road.”

As part of the agreement, Vantage Group will receive an annual fee of $950,000 from the county, as well as a one-time mobilization fee of $350,000. They may also be compensated more for growing ridership and increasing airport profitability.

Supervisor Thomas Lund reported that Vantage Group representatives will be attending Brown County’s Planning, Development and Transportation Committee on a monthly basis, adding that this partnership will allow Austin Straubel to compete with the Appleton International Airport.

“We will have knowledge of what’s happening over at the airport, and we’ll have reports every month. If we don’t like what’s going on, we always have an out in the contract to look another direction,” Lund said. “I think this is going to be a win for the county. We have to compete with [Appleton], and we’ve fallen behind. I’m hoping we catch up in the next few years and everyone can be very proud of the airport and what we’ve done.”

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