[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6543510,"mediaKeyId","3517002-77a2f8c7bb4cdfbf6cc9ef16ea30c572","parentId",3517002,"title","Bonner County approves FAA grant amendment after debate over engineer estimates; county match rises","audioSeconds",2159,"startMs",1486390,"endMs",3646040,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3517002-77a2f8c7bb4cdfbf6cc9ef16ea30c572&start=1486&end=3646","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3517002-77a2f8c7bb4cdfbf6cc9ef16ea30c572/thumbnail_1486390.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6543510/Bonner-County/Idaho/Bonner-County-approves-FAA-grant-amendment-after-debate-over-engineer-estimates-county-match-rises","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6543510-fd8a4bf0408d19816b4a7c6f8f705507/orig.mp4?Expires=1773725047&Signature=gXP~lOtdSZq~NLQ9wnhtCa-I3i4viBboWjydJ0ki66qWuY9jRTAcdcs26dzKeWbNGgIzOeSV~WOzy-Pv8sJFmVJuIPRzGRuXfyGmwD8twYTHkNg8ySn4UZdD7p7QMFAeIPVIh5tg5eZUOBBH8yHxBQttQQscbmFnOXuJrF0r6zCcLmxVI1aT-paecyoek7UZUQs6esYbAWyw7ayaKsnCmv5yhdb9-YMZEq~mnb4~PBIQkAYSo4darRTIY4ttcQjLrDovh8pp3yReRlpnJ6AfHPudsxq1uyYZ2nl10zI5yyi0iDeQfma~POrVJD5bdR5RxgZXGKO6O5lY-e1Ts7oZDQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Bonner County","date","2025-05-27T15:57:23Z","article","Bonner County commissioners voted to approve an amendment to a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Airport Improvement Program grant that raises the grant by $202,276 to a total of $432,749 and increases the county match to $21,637.

The amendment, for AIP 3-16-0033-024-2025, funds clearing and slope‑stabilization work tied to tree removal and construction of an access road at the county airport. Airport staff said the higher cost reflects a larger-than-anticipated number of trees and the need to build a road the project team had not counted on; the FAA has concurred with the increased costs.

County airport director Director Shuck told commissioners the additional costs are primarily the result of two issues identified during design and bid phases: an access route into the work area that proved unavailable and a much larger number of trees that must be removed and either ground or grubbed out. “The FAA does concur with these cost increases,” Director Shuck said. He said engineers’ early planning‑level estimates can vary from final bids and that this project’s final bids were significantly higher than the initial estimate.

Why it matters: the work is tied to FAA safety standards for runway approaches and, if not completed, could leave the airport out of compliance with federal obstruction requirements. The change obligates the county to cover a larger local match; commissioners pressed staff for options to recover some of that local cost if the engineers’ materials or scope created the discrepancy.

Board deliberations focused on accountability and timing. Several commissioners asked whether the county should rebid the work or seek to hold the engineering consultant financially responsible for errors or omissions in the planning estimate. County legal counsel Bill Wilson cautioned that it was not immediately clear the engineers were at fault, saying, in part, “On its face, the fact that the...bids came in much higher does indicate that an error was made, but it's not clear that it was actually the fault of the engineering firm.” Wilson recommended investigating the change in scope between the planning estimate and the final bid documents before assigning blame.

Public commenters urged the county both to preserve the grant and to press consultants for accountability. Dan Welling, a resident, suggested the county could construct the access road with county forces to reduce contractor costs: “Is there a way through Bonner County auspices...that Bonner County build the road as opposed to having the engineering company bring in their people and they build the road?” Wayne Martin, another resident, urged the county to pursue any available recovery from the consultant if the discrepancy proves to be an error.

Director Shuck said the project drew seven bids (two nonresponsive), and that the contractor now being considered was the second-lowest responsive bidder; the lowest responsive bid had been judged nonresponsive. He told the board that the engineering firm’s early estimate was derived as a planning‑level figure and that the bid‑level work required more detailed field accounting of trees and access than had been included earlier. Director Shuck said the work is time‑sensitive because the FAA requires the amendment be submitted by June 3.

Motion and conditions: a commissioner moved to approve the $202,276 amendment (for a total grant of $432,749), to have the chair sign administratively, and to direct the airport director to pursue an explanation of the variance and recovery of any appropriate local share from the consultant should an error or omission be found. The motion passed on roll call with two votes in favor and one abstention; the board instructed staff to report back at the next meeting with the results of the consultant conversations and any recovery efforts.

The board emphasized that, absent a feasible way to reduce the federal scope (the FAA had indicated the work meets its safety standards), rebidding would likely not lower the cost because the bids showed the market price for the defined scope. Commissioners said they wanted to protect the grant funding while investigating whether the consultant should absorb part of the increased local obligation.

What happens next: airport staff will (1) submit the amendment to the FAA, (2) follow up with the engineering consultant to clarify how the planning estimate differed from the final bid documents and to seek recovery if appropriate, and (3) report an update to the board at a subsequent meeting.

Members of the public and commissioners asked staff to explore whether county forces could perform some work, such as the access road, to reduce cost, but staff said the project’s federal scope and contractor requirements limit options to change the scope without jeopardizing FAA concurrence.

Ending: With the FAA’s concurrence and the board’s approval, the county will proceed while pursuing greater clarity on the estimate‑to‑bid gap. The airport director and county legal staff were directed to return with findings and any recovery outcomes at a follow-up meeting.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Bonner County Board of Commissioners Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","Bonner County commissioners voted to approve an FAA grant amendment adding $202,276 to an existing airport improvement grant, bringing the total to $432,749 and increasing the county match to $21,637 after staff and the FAA said tree removal and an unanticipated access road raised final bid costs.","taxTitle","Bonner County, Idaho","taxId",49415,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6543505,"Votes at a glance: Bonner County commissioners approve claims, surplus vehicles, equipment purchase, marine agreement, dog‑beach maintenance cessation and two A",3447,266540,3714130,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3517002-77a2f8c7bb4cdfbf6cc9ef16ea30c572&start=266&end=3714","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3517002-77a2f8c7bb4cdfbf6cc9ef16ea30c572/thumbnail_266540.jpg","/articles/6543505/Bonner-County/Idaho/Votes-at-a-glance-Bonner-County-commissioners-approve-claims-surplus-vehicles-equipment-purchase-marine-agreement-dogbeach-maintenance-cessation-and-two-A","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6543505-627a8438c6ca95d15a09876e1a0a737e/orig.mp4?Expires=1773725047&Signature=b0QhyO71yXXqVaTTDOO~~dJgQbw7OqrWaWJyTerc9hfp8nM6N2xwGr0bnQY7mWjCbum1cF3dGeLYLLH0c1roejVc9dFdGx3jgOaX~a3hz-S3KLR5LgJYfpSlxYwnrgCOKj1eXp1AWpVk4Um7QTxvW9dSdKTSjIt32~-7nLfYU33HcJ5U4o8ekIx-gb8ojDHChysXJv8vE5Z1Zf7Dfei-zZGSdQ9gv9Wix1n9A1CPF8WDSzLvJFsP6UFVgLjDifTD~-0um2aUePhNeP2hlxqcVqpNHss34VuLIjXsfRWK8saS5v4XcvDFwzo2JxbtIfOOC96dAr75ciLpaic53I2NuA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Bonner County commissioners handled a set of routine and substantive measures during the May 20, 2025 morning meeting. The board voted on claims payment, surplus of sheriff’s vehicles, an equipment purchase for Road & Bridge, an extension for a sheriff’s marine agreement, a recommendation to cease county maintenance at Dog Beach, and two airport grant matters (a larger amendment and a smaller Airport Layout Plan grant application). A chart of outcomes follows; the board recorded motions, seconds and roll‑call votes on each item.

Votes and key details

1) Motion: Amend order of agenda to remove the prosecutor item (Westlaw renewal)
Outcome: Approved by roll call (unanimous recorded as “Yes” in roll call)
Motion text (as recorded): “Based on the information before us, I move to amend the order of the agenda by removing the prosecutor item Westlaw renewal.”
Mover/Second: not specified in transcript
Public comment: None recorded

2) Motion: Approve fiscal year 25 claims, batch number 33, totaling $362,390.47
Outcome: Approved by roll call. Recorded votes included “Mister Doppen? Yes.” “Mister Williams? Yes.” “Mister Ford? Yes.” (all recorded as yes)
Motion text: “Based on the information before us, I move to approve payment of fiscal year 25 claims in batch number 33, totaling $362,390.47.”
Clarifying details: large line items reported by clerk included roughly $150,000 for medical insurance and pharmacy, $78,000 and $22,000 for other accounts, and approximately $24,000 for technology.

3) Motion: Approve Resolution 25-35 — Sheriff’s Office fleet vehicle surplus (19 enumerated vehicles)
Outcome: Approved by roll call (unanimous as recorded)
Motion text: “I move that the county approve resolution 25-35, Sheriff's Office fleet vehicle surplus for the vehicles enumerated in the same resolution.”
Notes: Sheriff’s office staff said many vehicles had been cannibalized for parts and several were totaled; plan is to offer vehicles via an online public auction and, if unsold, to salvage/scrapyard.

4) Motion: Approve and sign agreement extension with the City of Sandpoint for sheriff’s patrol vessel moorage at Windbag Marina (no‑cost extension)
Outcome: Approved by roll call (unanimous as recorded)
Motion text: “I move to approve and sign the agreement extension with the city of Sandpoint to moor the sheriff's vessel at the Windbag Marina during the 2025 season.”
Notes: County legal review completed; only change is assigned moorage space.

5) Motion: Approve purchase of a 2019 HAM double drum roller from Pape Machinery for $49,500 (Road & Bridge capital heavy equipment line)
Outcome: Approved by roll call (unanimous as recorded)
Motion text: “I move to approve the purchase of the 2019 HAM double drum roller for the sum of $49,500 from Pape Machinery.”
Clarifying details: director said renting a roller would cost $33,000 for five months; purchase funded from capital equipment budget line 29520.

6) Motion: County to cease maintenance at Dog Beach (a BNSF Railway right‑of‑way)
Outcome: Approved by roll call (unanimous as recorded)
Motion text: “I move for the county to cease maintenance at the dog beach.”
Clarifying details: Parks and Waterways said it has no agreement with BNSF; staff will notify the railroad and suggest signage be placed by BNSF to clarify liability and maintenance responsibility.

7) Motion: Approve FAA AIP grant amendment for airport obstruction removal (AIP 3-16-0033-024-2025): increase of $202,276; amended total $432,749; county match increased to $21,637
Outcome: Approved on roll call; recorded as two yes votes and one abstention (motion passes). See separate in‑depth article for fuller debate and follow‑up direction to pursue consultant review. Motion text recorded in transcript moved to approve the amendment and direct staff to pursue understanding of estimate/bid differential and recovery from consultant if appropriate.

8) Motion: Apply for Priest River Airport ALP (Airport Layout Plan) update, phase 3 (AIP 3-16-0058-200-2025); total grant $57,332; county match $1,434
Outcome: Approved by roll call (unanimous as recorded)
Motion text: “I move to apply for this grant and that the chair sign administratively.”

Context and next steps

- Several items were routine and passed with little public comment: claims batch, marine agreement extension, fleet surplus, equipment purchase and the Priest River ALP grant application.
- The FAA AIP amendment (item 7 above) prompted extended board discussion and public comment about a substantial variance between the engineers’ planning‑level estimate and final bid pricing; the board approved the amendment while directing staff to pursue an explanation and potential recovery from the consultant. The FAA has concurred with the cost increase and the project is time‑sensitive due to an FAA submission deadline.
- Parks & Waterways will notify BNSF Railway that the county will cease maintenance at the Dog Beach right‑of‑way and will suggest signage to clarify liability and stewardship.

Ending: The board passed the items above and asked staff to return on the AIP amendment with findings about the estimate/bid variance and any recovery options for the county.","A roundup of formal motions and roll‑call outcomes from the May 20, 2025 Bonner County Board of Commissioners meeting, including claims payment, sheriff's office vehicle surplus, an equipment purchase for Road & Bridge, a marine agreement extension, cessation of maintenance at Dog Beach, and two airport grants.","actionData","errors"]

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Bonner County approves FAA grant amendment after debate over engineer estimates; county match rises

Votes at a glance: Bonner County commissioners approve claims, surplus vehicles, equipment purchase, marine agreement, dog‑beach maintenance cessation and two A