Bonner County approves Priest River airport work orders, including federally funded snow‑equipment building
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Summary
The board approved engineering and work orders for two Priest River Airport projects: a federally funded snow-removal equipment building (FAA funding with a county match) and an ITD-funded runway/pavement maintenance engineering work order. Commissioners questioned long-term utility and maintenance costs before approving the contracts.
Bonner County commissioners approved work orders for two projects at Priest River Airport, including a snow‑removal equipment (SRE) building funded primarily by federal grants and a separate pavement maintenance engineering work order.
Dave Shook, airports director, said the SRE building is anticipated to cost about $650,000, with 95% funded by the Federal Aviation Administration and a county match of roughly $16,500; an Idaho Transportation Department aeronautics grant will cover the remaining local share. "Almost every airport has a snow removal equipment building to store the snow removal equipment," Shook said, and noted federal requirements such as Davis‑Bacon wages add to project cost.
Commissioners pressed on the long‑term operational costs for a new heated building, asking whether utilities and maintenance had been budgeted. Shook said the building likely would not be completed until the next budget cycle and that any interim utility costs could be absorbed or deferred until funding was available.
Shook also presented an ITD‑funded pavement maintenance engineering work order covering bidding, contract administration and design to seal and reseal runway and ramp pavement and to update runway markings (including changing runway numbers because of magnetic declination). The board accepted the engineering work order and authorized the chair to sign administratively.
A member of the public, Elisa Gross of Sandpoint, asked whether the Priest River Airport sees heavy winter use; Shook replied usage is lighter than at Sandpoint but that accepting federal funds carries grant assurances to keep the airport open when feasible.
Why it matters: the projects use substantial state and federal aviation funding to maintain and protect county airport infrastructure. While the federal share limits the county's local cost, commissioners examined tradeoffs between short‑term utility/maintenance responsibilities and long‑term operational readiness for winter operations.
Both work orders were approved by the board.