Bonner County approves airport pavement and obstruction‑removal work; questions about local match noted

Bonner County commissioners on June 23 approved a notice to proceed for pavement maintenance at Priest River Airport and accepted an additional‑services addendum for obstruction removal work at Sandpoint Airport.

Airports Director Shook told the board the Priest River pavement maintenance project — awarded May 19, 2026 — is fully funded through an Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) grant, is scheduled to begin July 13 with an initial phase complete by July 27, and will finish by Aug. 27 with final striping. The board voted to issue the notice and allow the chair to sign administratively.

On the Sandpoint obstruction removal project, the director presented an addendum for reimbursable services (flight checks of navigational aids, coordination, railroad‑right‑of‑way tree removal and drafting an amendment). He said the addendum is accepted by the FAA project manager and is reimbursable under the existing obstruction‑removal grant; the county’s local match was described in the meeting but commissioners asked the director to amend the memo to show the local match increase in the record. The board approved the addendum.

During airport item discussion, public commenter Wayne Martin questioned the county’s acceptance of federal grant funding and whether the county should always take grants that include local matches. Commissioners explained that rejecting grant funding can create long‑term obligations to maintain airports; the director said he seeks grants to reduce county taxpayer burden while maintaining safety.

Next steps: Director Shook will amend the Sandpoint memo to show the local‑match percentage for the record and proceed with required project coordination.