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Chaffee County approves taxiway contract, rejects fuel‑farm bids and accepts $450,000 state grant for airport
Summary
The county awarded a contract for Salida Airport’s Taxiway A extension to the low bidder, voted to reject fuel‑farm construction bids and directed staff to negotiate with the low bidder, and approved a $450,000 Colorado Aeronautical Board grant to help fund the fuel‑farm project.
Chaffee County commissioners voted April 1 to award a construction contract for the Salida (Salida Airport) Taxiway A extension, reject bids for a separate fuel‑farm project and accept a $450,000 discretionary grant to help fund the fuel‑farm work.
The county’s airport staff said four bidders responded to the taxiway solicitation and Pyramid Construction submitted the lowest bid. “The low bidder … came in just below where they need to be,” airport staff said during the meeting. Commissioners approved the contract award by voice vote.
County staff reported that bids for the fuel‑farm construction came in substantially higher than budgeted. Commissioners voted to reject the submitted bids and direct staff to negotiate with the lowest bidder to see whether the price could be reduced to meet available funding. Staff noted volatile material prices, especially for stainless steel piping, as a factor complicating bidding.
Separately, the board approved Resolution 2025‑14 to accept a $450,000 discretionary grant from the Colorado Aeronautical Board. Staff said the award supplements earlier grant funding (including an FAA AIP grant and a DOLA discretionary grant) and that the state grant typically must be spent within two years.
Airport staff and commissioners emphasized timing and coordination between the taxiway work and any civil site work for the fuel farm to reduce mobilization costs if contractors are on‑site for both projects. Commissioners also discussed the county’s capital improvement plan and the influence of federal and state grant cycles on scheduling.
The motions passed with unanimous voice votes. The taxiway contract will proceed to the Salida City Council for their approval on April 15 as required by intergovernmental process; the fuel‑farm negotiations will be led by county staff with the goal of getting the project within the available budget and progressing toward purchase of long‑lead items.
The county did not provide a firm construction start date; staff said procurement and price volatility will shape next steps.
