The Board of Commissioners confirmed continuation of KLJ as the airport’s engineering firm, authorized staff to proceed with an automated weather-observation system (AWOS) procurement and accepted a contractor for surface maintenance work.

KLJ representatives told commissioners the firm’s five-year selection window remains open and offered the county the option to re-solicit; commissioners voted to retain KLJ for airport engineering services for the next period. KLJ staff said they will support land-acquisition work related to runway extension plans, appraisals and required federal environmental steps if the county elects to use federal entitlements or to fund purchases directly.

On AWOS and lighting projects, KLJ staff said task orders and environmental work are complete and bid opening for AWOS was scheduled for July 2 at 2:00 p.m. (hosted virtually from KLJ); KLJ staff said they had submitted the necessary frequency requests and planned to oversee site work, power connections and fencing. Staff indicated federal/state grant funding will cover most project costs (they cited a 95/5 FAA/state split for current grants) and that they will manage grant amendments if needed. KLJ also said supply-chain lead times remain a potential risk for lighting equipment.

Commissioners also accepted a bid from CR Contracting of Bend, Oregon, for a pavement maintenance package covering multiple Eastern Montana airports; the contract was presented as the low responsive bid and commissioners authorized execution of the owner–contractor agreement so work can begin. KLJ said several airports in the region were coordinated under the pavement work to achieve better pricing.

Ending: Staff will finalize contracts, host the AWOS bid opening and continue design and grant administration for airport projects. The commission asked staff to circulate bid-opening links to commissioners and to return with executed documents and grant paperwork.