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Park County airport board awards Gardiner maintenance contract, shifts capital plan
Summary
The Park County Airport Board voted to award the Gardiner maintenance construction contract and approved related engineering work, then revised the airport capital improvement plan to defer some large projects and prioritize pavement maintenance and revenue-generating t-hangars.
The Park County Airport Board voted to award the Gardiner airport maintenance construction contract to Hard Drives Construction and approved two engineering task orders to support design, bidding and inspection. Lance, the airport consultant, told the board the Montana Aeronautics grant together with FAA funding would cover the maintenance cost.
"The Montana Aeronautics funding ... the grant would fully encompass a 100% of the share of that maintenance cost," Lance said while outlining the funding package. He later estimated the overall maintenance project, including construction and engineering, "could be $381,000," with FAA covering roughly 95% and a local share estimated at about $19,500.
Why it matters: the board's decision moves short-term maintenance into contract execution while pushing several higher-cost items farther into the CIP timeline. Board members debated which projects to prioritize given limited FAA nonprimary entitlements (about $150,000 per year) and the timing of FAA grant offers.
The board also approved an engineering contract for Robert Pacia and Associates to perform design, bidding administration and on-site inspection tied to the Gardiner work. The engineering task orders total roughly $25,670 and were described as covered within the aeronautics grant.
On the broader capital-improvement plan, the board accepted Lance's recommendation to remove the snow-removal tractor from the CIP, move the apron expansion and wildlife fencing to 2032, keep the terminal-building rehabilitation in 2029 and retain pavement maintenance in 2031. Board members emphasized that large reconstruction projects require additional justification to secure FAA or discretionary funds and that inflation should be considered when pushing projects forward.
A motion to "execute the CIP as articulated by Lance" was moved, seconded and approved by voice vote. The board directed staff to await the formal FAA grant offer before forwarding signed construction contracts to the county commissioners.
Next steps: staff will finalize contract paperwork pending the FAA grant offer, complete engineering task orders, and update the CIP to reflect the agreed schedule. The commission will receive the notice of award and contract documents for final execution once federal funding is confirmed.
