Bonner County commissioners have approved a construction contract valued at $797,384.35 for a snow removal equipment building at Priest River Airport, moving forward with a project that has faced cost pressures since its initial bidding cycle.
The board voted 2-1 on August 12 to award the bid to Idagon Homes LLC, with commissioners Asia Williams and Brian Domke supporting the measure. Commissioner Ron Korn opposed the award, citing his continued objection to the building project itself.
Second Bid Cycle Yields Single Viable Option
County officials initially anticipated the project would cost around $650,000. When the first round of bidding concluded, all submitted bids exceeded that projection, prompting commissioners to reject them and reopen the bidding process.
The rebid cycle produced limited competition. The lowest bid received in the second round came in at approximately $737,000, which commissioners declined. Idagon Homes’ bid of $797,384.35 became the only viable option available before the deadline, according to Dave Schuck, the county’s airports manager.
“This one in the rebid cycle is the second lowest of all that we received and is the only one that’s able to be awarded at this time due to our rejection of the bids in the first cycle,” Schuck told the Bonner County Daily Bee.
The final approved bid exceeds the original cost estimate by roughly $140,000. However, the financial impact on county taxpayers is minimal due to the project’s funding structure. The county is required to provide a $20,000 local match, while a Federal Aviation Administration grant covers 97.5 percent of the total project cost.
Project Details and Timeline
The proposed structure will measure approximately 2,000 square feet and serve as a dedicated facility for storing and maintaining snow removal equipment at the airport. Building plans received formal approval in November 2025.
Construction is expected to move forward expeditiously. The county anticipates issuing a notice to proceed to the contractor on or after September 15, 2026, positioning the project to begin in the coming weeks.
Korn’s opposition to the project reflects a broader disagreement about airport priorities rather than a specific objection to the bid itself. His dissenting vote maintains a consistent stance on the building initiative, though it proved insufficient to block approval given the 2-1 majority supporting the measure.
The equipment building represents part of the county’s ongoing management and operational improvements at Priest River Airport, which serves general aviation needs in North Idaho.