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County approves $1.42 million hangar rehabilitation at Little Falls airport; federal grants cover most costs
Summary
The county awarded a bid to High‑Tech Construction to rehabilitate two aging public hangars at the Little Falls–Morrison County Airport. The total project cost is estimated at $1,519,700; most eligible work is expected to be federally funded, leaving a local share of about $37,992 split between county and city.
Greg Gibbons, city engineer and public works director for the City of Little Falls, asked the county to award a bid and sign project funding paperwork to rehabilitate two older airport hangars that are leaking and have failing doors and deteriorating blacktop floors.
Gibbons told the board the city opened bids on April 1 and received five responses. The low bidder on both the base bid and alternate was High‑Tech Construction of Brainerd, with a low bid of $1,420,000. Gibbons described the total anticipated project cost as $1,519,700 and said roughly 95% of eligible items are federal‑share AIP (Airport Improvement Program) items.
Funding details disclosed on the record: the city and airport currently have several pools of federal entitlement and bill funds available, including $505,080 in bill funds, $137,000 in future bill dollars, and an AIP entitlement balance of $613,817.96. Gibbons said Ely (Eley) Minnesota had agreed to transfer some entitlement dollars to the county for use on this project with a plan to transfer entitlement back in subsequent years. With those transfers, Gibbons said the county expected approximately $1,505,897.96 in federal funds available for eligible costs, leaving a local share of $37,992.50. Gibbons said the county’s portion of the local share would be $18,996.25 and that the city has funds set aside to cover its portion.
A motion to award the project to High‑Tech Construction for $1,420,000 was made by Commissioner Casper and seconded by Commissioner Wintour; the motion carried on roll call. Commissioners asked for confirmation that the county’s local share was already budgeted in the airport improvement fund and Gibbons said the county allocation has been built up for the project.
The board recorded the award and authorized signature on related project paperwork; officials said the city and airport commission must also complete approvals and that federal and state grants will be used to reimburse eligible costs.
