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Crook County designates low bidder for runway notice of intent amid busy summer at Prineville airport
Summary
County staff recommended and the board agreed to publish a notice of intent to award the runway rehabilitation contract to Taylor Northwest to secure a window for an expected $4 million FAA grant; commissioners also heard an extensive airport update noting record July fuel sales, increased firefighting activity and new hangar development.
Crook County commissioners voted to publish a notice of intent to award the Airport Runway 1533 rehabilitation and precision‑approach engineering contract to Taylor Northwest so the county can start a seven‑day protest period and move toward contracting while an expected $4,000,000 FAA grant is processed.
Staff told the board two bids came in this spring and both were below the engineer's estimate. The county has been holding off to ensure the grant funds arrive; Taylor Northwest agreed to honor its quote until Sept. 30, and staff recommended issuing the notice now to protect the price and begin the protest window. A motion to designate Taylor Northwest as the lowest responsive, responsible bidder was made and the board authorized publication of the notice of intent.
Why it matters: securing the notice and beginning the protest period preserves the county's position while the FAA grant completes, which officials said is needed to move the runway rehabilitation forward during the current construction season.
Airport operations update
The board also received a lengthy update from the county airport representative. Highlights included a record‑level July fuel month for recent years (33,655 gallons sold in July), which under the county's 10‑cent‑per‑gallon flowage fee produced roughly $3,400 in fee revenue for the airport. County staff and commissioners connected higher fuel sales to heavy firefighting operations this season, when multiple single‑engine air tankers and federal retardant operations operated out of Prineville, increasing activity and turnaround at the field.
The county described the Fixed Base Operator transition to Hood Aero Services, ongoing hanger compliance inspections, the arrival of Pathfinder Aviation (a contractor leasing a large hangar and stationing helicopters for maintenance and winter operations), and two large new hangars nearing completion. Staff said the airport secured about $159,000 in state pavement maintenance work (crack patching, repairs and restriping) through the Oregon Department of Aviation's PMP program at no charge to the county.
Commissioners raised parking and future funding questions related to a separate, larger Redmond Airport terminal expansion project that could affect regional travel and parking demand; county staff offered to invite Redmond Airport staff for a formal presentation.
What happens next: staff will publish the notice of intent to award the runway contract and manage the seven‑day protest period; the board expects a follow‑up contract authorization after the protest period and final FAA confirmation.
