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Commission approves $256,757 FAA increase for county airport reconstruction
Summary
The Broadwater County Commission unanimously approved an FAA grant amendment to add $256,757 to an existing airport reconstruction grant after a consultant said eligible asphalt tolerances and other overruns left the project underfunded; a final, smaller flight‑check charge may require another amendment.
The Broadwater County Commission voted to approve an amendment to the Federal Aviation Administration grant for the county airport reconstruction project, adding $256,757 to the award.
Lance Bowser, an airport engineering consultant with Robert Pesch & Associates, told commissioners the original FAA award ($3,805,885) was underfunded when it was issued and that construction overruns — primarily related to asphalt thickness within federal tolerances — accounted for the shortfall. He said the amendment would raise the grant to $4,062,642 and cover those eligible overruns.
"The original grant was actually underfunded when it came out," Bowser said, explaining that different FAA funding pools and Montana's apportionment created the gap. He also warned the county may need a separate, smaller amendment once the FAA finalizes a flight‑check invoice, which he estimated would be under $20,000.
The motion to approve the amendment (AIP 3‑30‑017‑78‑2024) was made and seconded by county commissioners and carried by voice vote after a consultant correction to the AIP number. The commission chair thanked Bowser and the airport board for their work and said the improved runway has elicited positive feedback from local pilots.
The consultant said the FAA had completed a flight check several months earlier and the county is awaiting the final charge from FAA facilities; any additional charge will be processed through a subsequent grant amendment.
What happens next: The commission chair said she would sign the necessary paperwork and forward it to the consultant the same day so the amendment can be processed with the FAA.
