Council accepts airport site‑preparation bid, authorizes grant application for 90% state match

McCormick County Council approved accepting a construction bid for airport site preparation and authorized the county administrator to pursue a 90% grant from the South Carolina Aeronautics Commission.

Council reviewed a low bid (presented as from a site‑preparation contractor) for the airport site‑preparation project for $1,295,863 and authorized staff to apply for a 90% grant award. Council members discussed where the county’s 10% match would come from; county staff and finance representatives said the match would come from the economic development fund and available bond proceeds (finance staff noted roughly $250,000 from prior bond proceeds earmarked for this project is available to apply toward the county match). Council discussed the timing of the aeronautics commission meeting and bid validity; staff said the bid was recent and the county would appear before the commission in January, with procurement and funding contingent on the grant award.

Council also approved a professional services/task‑order for construction administration related to the airport site project (the council approved a task order presented for construction administration). Members noted that the National Guard has offered to move significant earthwork at low cost, and several councilors said state support and in‑kind contributions make the project feasible for the small county. Votes on both the bid acceptance (contingent on grant approval) and the construction administration task order passed by voice vote.

Councilors reiterated that work would proceed only if the 90% grant is awarded and that the county would not proceed if the state funding were not approved.