advertisement

New Waukegan Port District chief pursues new waterfront business

The new general manager at the Waukegan Port District still is settling in, but he already has ambitious plans.

Restarting commercial shipping to Waukegan Harbor, improving and attracting businesses to the marina and extending the runway at the Waukegan National Airport are on the agenda for Randy Rogers, a West Coast transplant. He was chosen from nearly two dozen candidates to lead the agency that operates a harbor and marina on Lake Michigan and the inland airport.

Rogers served in the Navy for 11 years. He spent the next 21 years with the U.S. Maritime Administration, an agency of the U.S. Department of Transportation, in various posts and locales. He started a consulting firm in 2013 and joined the port district in November. His arrival ended a yearlong vacancy and reinvigorated what is now a $100 million plan to extend the main airport runway from 6,000 to 7,000 feet.

Variations of that plan have been around for decades. A version floated about 15 years ago that would have involved changes to Green Bay Road and potential acquisition of Lake County Forest Preserve land went nowhere.

"We believe it will better support the current clientele and attract other aviation interests," he said of the runway extension. "It involves several stakeholders on several levels. We have some challenges."

On the water, Rogers said, the Army Corps of Engineers will dredge the outer harbor and approach channel, which would allow commercial shipping operations to resume after two years. That effort is focused on National Gypsum, Lafarge and St. Mary's Cement Group, which have facilities nearby.

Changes also are expected at the 850-slip marina.

"We want to offer more amenities to our boaters," said Jorge Torres, chairman of the district. That will include Wi-Fi and improved television service.

"We are pursuing some exciting opportunities to bring some business to the waterfront," according to Rogers.

But the longer-range and bigger-ticket item is the 535-acre airport on the north side of Waukegan bordered by Green Bay, Yorkhouse and Wadsworth roads and Lewis Avenue. It's home to about 200 aircraft, including 55 corporate jets, and logs about 100,000 takeoffs and landings a year.

Extending the runway would better support current tenants and attract other aviation interest, Rogers said. For example, a longer runway would allow aircraft to take off fully fueled for international flights.

"We believe the extension of the runway is important to the county and an important economic engine for the region," Rogers said.

County officials acknowledged the importance of the airport but didn't directly addresses an extension.

"The airport now helps us be competitive," said Michael Stevens, president and CEO of Lake County Partners, the county's economic development arm.

  Randy Rogers is the new general manager for the Waukegan Port District, which oversees Waukegan Harbor and the Waukegan National Airport. Steve Lundy/slundy@dailyherald.com
Waukegan Regional Airport Courtesy of Waukegan Port District
Waukegan Harbor Courtesy of Waukegan Port District
Article Comments
Guidelines: Keep it civil and on topic; no profanity, vulgarity, slurs or personal attacks. People who harass others or joke about tragedies will be blocked. If a comment violates these standards or our terms of service, click the "flag" link in the lower-right corner of the comment box. To find our more, read our FAQ.