The Bonner County Board of County Commissioners voted Nov. 25 to accept engineering work orders for two Priest River Airport projects: a snow removal equipment (SRE) building and a runway/ramp seal-coat and markings update.

Airport Director David Shook recommended the projects and told commissioners the SRE building is expected to cost roughly $650,000, with 95% covered by FAA grant funds, a 2.5% county match of $16,500 and the remaining 2.5% from an ITD aeronautics grant. He described the building as a 1,600-square-foot pre-engineered metal shop with three roll-up doors, concrete pad and heating for de-icing equipment. "This is a grant that's funded by the FAA, anticipated to be $650,000 95% funded by FAA, 2.5% county match totaling 16,500," Shook said.

On the runway work, Shook said the engineering work order covers bidding, design, contract administration and limited construction administration for seal coating and repainting runway markings. He said the project will update runway numbers to reflect magnetic declination changes: "Right now, they're noted as Runway 1 And 19. We'll be changing that to Runway 2 And 20 because of changes in the magnetic declination." The board also heard a public question about winter runway use; Shook said Priest River is less active in winter but federal grant assurances require keeping it open.

Board action and context: the board approved both work orders. Commissioners debated the local share, federal procurement costs (including Davis-Bacon wage rules) and long-term operational impacts. Supporters said the modest county match protects county-owned equipment and reduces contracted snow-removal risks; a skeptic questioned the need to spend the grant funds on a structure when equipment can be left outside.

Next steps: staff will administratively sign the work orders and advance bid and procurement processes per FAA/ITD grant requirements. Construction and use are projected to extend into the following budget cycle.