Commissioners approve airport contract amendment, add $1.44 million to airport budget and appoint new board member

The Alamosa County Board of Commissioners on Feb. 12 unanimously approved Amendment 6 to an airport engineering contract, passed Resolution 2025‑F‑1 to increase the SLV Regional Airport Fund appropriation by $1,442,772, and appointed Jacob Bridal to the SLV Regional Airport Board.

County Controller Maricruz Mora read the resolution and said the fiscal‑year 2024 appropriation for the SLV Regional Airport Fund “is increased by $1,442,772 from $4,475,000 to $5,917,000.” She added the increase is “offset by revenue.”

The board discussed concern about a nationwide pause on some federal funds and whether the county could be held liable if it paid contractors before federal reimbursements arrived. A county staff member who had worked with the airport projects said the FAA’s local Airport District Office had assured staff that current grant funding and pending grant applications for the county’s airport projects were not affected at this time: “none of the funding avenues are changing for us at this time for the projects that we currently have a grant for.”

Commissioners and staff agreed to add or require contract language, where practicable, that conditions county obligations on the receipt of federal funding. County staff also described administrative steps the county uses to stagger payments so reimbursements arrive close to contractor payment dates.

Commissioner Ben Wright moved to approve the Amendment 6 contract; the motion passed on a roll call vote with all commissioners voting yes. The board then approved Resolution 2025‑F‑1, which the controller said increases the airport fund appropriation and will be filed with the state Division of Local Government and Department of Local Affairs.

The board also appointed Jacob Bridal to the airport board after a recommendation from Commissioner Lasky. Commissioners asked the clerk to notify Bridal of the appointment and provide meeting details.

Votes at a glance: Amendment 6 to airport contract — approved (unanimous). Resolution 2025‑F‑1 (appropriation increase) — approved (unanimous). Appointment of Jacob Bridal to SLV Regional Airport Board — approved (unanimous).

The board’s discussion stressed that the airport project covered by the amendment already has federal appropriations in place and that the county’s exposure under normal operations is limited. Commissioners requested future agreements include express conditions tying county obligations to federal appropriations when federal grant funding is involved.

Planned next steps: county staff will file the certified resolution with the state as required and follow up with the appointed board member about meeting logistics.