Carter County commissioners accepted the base bid for a new Automated Weather Observing System (AWOS) and an alternate for additional sensors, rejecting a separate expensive bid to construct a gravel access road. The board directed staff to proceed with award paperwork and to explore county-led options for access, easements and land acquisition related to a future runway extension.

What the board approved: The board voted to accept the low responsive bid from Boundary Electric (Bonners Ferry, Idaho) for the AWOS base package and accepted Additive Alternate 2 (a precipitation and thunderstorm sensor) while deleting Additive Alternate 1 (an approximately $121,000 gravel access road) and Additive Alternate 3 (a non–FAA-eligible annual service agreement). Project staff said the base bid plus the selected alternate put the project about 9% over the engineer's estimate but within FAA flexibility.

Why the access road was removed: Project consultant Justin Lindel (TLJ) told commissioners the access-road bid — roughly $121,000 — was driven by high unit prices for gravel and the fact the one responsive bidder was an electrical contractor rather than a heavy civil road contractor. Lindel and FAA staff recommended awarding the AWOS base system and the sensor alternate but not the gravel road; they said the county could either perform limited site-preparation work itself or negotiate a later change order for access once easements and final approach considerations are settled.

Land acquisition and easement discussion: Commissioners and staff discussed the easement footprint, the parcel owners involved (the Young family and others were mentioned), and whether the county should pursue acquisition independently of FAA funding to speed the process. Justin Lindel said a federally funded acquisition can take up to three years because it requires appraisals and may require eminent-domain readiness; staff recommended county-led negotiations to shorten the timeline if landowners are willing to sell.

Schedule and contractor notes: Staff said it will prepare a notice of award and obtain FAA concurrence; work is likely to begin in late August or early September, depending on contractor scheduling. Lindel noted the AWOS hardware faces tariffs because some equipment is manufactured abroad and added that survey and staking would help visualize the site for stakeholders.

Next steps: Staff will generate an award recommendation letter and the sponsor-contractor agreement for signatures, seek FAA concurrence, pursue negotiations or reuse of existing access where feasible, and coordinate land-acquisition or easement strategy with county planners and the landowners.