SANDPOINT — After an attempt to receive a lower bid amount for construction of a snow removal equipment building at the Priest River airport, Bonner County commissioners approved the second-lowest bid after rejecting the lowest bid in the first bid cycle.  

The bid will be awarded to Idagon Homes LLC for $797,384.35, approximately $140,000 more than what airport officials projected the project to cost.  

Commissioners approved the bid in a 2-1 vote, with commissioners Asia Williams and Brian Domke in favor and Commissioner Ron Korn in opposition. Korn has voiced strong opposition to the proposed snow removal equipment building since its original proposal and voted against the bid to remain consistent with that opinion.  

“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,” airports manager Dave Schuck said. 

A county match of $20,000 is required for the Federal Aviation Administration to grant the remaining cost of construction for the SRE building. According to Schuck, the Priest River airport budget can cover the $20,000 match.  

The project went out for bid earlier this year, where bids received were higher than the anticipated $650,000 project cost. Due to the higher-than-expected estimates, Schuck asked the project to be sent out for a re-bid after noting that slight changes in the project's scope could significantly lower construction costs.   

However, after receiving only one viable bid before the deadline, airport officials were forced to recommend approval of the second-lowest bid. The lowest bid was approximately $737,000, according to Schuck, but was declined with hopes of finding a cheaper contractor to perform the construction.  

The project includes the construction of an approximately 2,000-square-foot building to house snow removal equipment at the Priest River airport, according to a memorandum submitted to the board. Plans to construct the building were approved last November, along with acceptance of a Federal Aviation Administration grant to cover 97.5% of the project.  

A notice to proceed for the project is expected to be sent to Idagon Homes LLC on or after Sept. 15, 2026.