Airport project delayed

Alexis Barker
NLJ News Editor
 
A project in the Mondell Field Airport’s master plan has been delayed because bids came in over the anticipated price. The project consists of an expansion to the hangar development. 
Airport projects are funded 90% by the Federal Aviation Administration, 6% by the Wyoming Department of Transportation Aeronautics Division, 2% by Weston County and 2% by the city of Newcastle, according to Laura Bourne, a Morrison Maierle airport engineer. The Weston County Airport Board hired Morrison Maierle, of Gillette, to complete the master plan update, as required by the state and the Federal Aviation Administration. 
Included in the master plan are projects to expand the hangar development, at an estimated cost of $500,000, and an update to the wildlife fence and airport access, also estimated to cost $500,000. 
On Aug. 5, airport manager Tuff Streeter and Bourne attended the Newcastle City Council meeting to inform the mayor and council members of the delays in the project. 
“We are currently working on getting together the funding and bids for the hangar extension area,” Streeter said. 
Bourne said that the project was put out to bid but that only one bid was received. That bid was “substantially over budget,” he said. 
“We have been fighting with the FFA to use WYDOT permits because it is not a high traffic area, only serving general aviation and smaller plans,” Bourne said. “There is no need to have an overdesigned asphalt section. They have insisted until we opened the bids that we use their specifications.” 
The recommendation of both Bourne and Streeter was to reject the bid, after trying to negotiate the price, until more grant funding can be secured. 
“We plan to go out to bid in the spring and revise the bidding process so it meets WYDOT specs instead of the FFA specs,” Bourne said. “I think this will attract more bidders.” 
Bourne said the rebidding would be the best use of the money and in the best interest of the airport.