With airport bids in, funding request filed

Over the past 30 days, local offiicals have worked with Interstate Engineering to advance the airport rehabilitation project.

On April 18, the bid opening was held at city hall. The city received five bids for the project, which was estimated by engineers to cost $2.38 million.

The result was favorable, with one bid rising to the top of the list.

The bid submitted by Fargo, N.D. -based Border States Paving came in $500,000 under the estimates. The total, which includes all the improvements as proposed, came to $1,875,875.87.

The four other bids came in at budget or higher.

With the bids in, commissioners moved to the next step in the process. At their regular meeting on Monday, May 6, they passed a motion to make a formal request for funding to the N.D. Aeronautics Commission. The request will be reviewed and acted upon by the state agency later this month. Once the amount of the grant award is known the city commission will make a final decision about whether to accept a bid.

Also at Monday's commission meeting, officials approved several permits for activities happening this summer. Eagles Aerie 2923 requested permission to shut down 8th Street for the Dakota State Aerie Convention, to be held June 5-8 in New Rockford. This event is expected to bring hundreds of Eagles members to downtown New Rockford.

The commission also approved four special event permits for Hanson's Bar, all taking place in the coming months, as well as a license for the American Legion post to sell on-sale beer.

Commissioners learned that the new street lights on Hwy. 281 are failing. As they are under warranty, Otter Tail Power Company will pay for the new heads, and the city will split the cost of labor 50/50 with the NDDOT.

The next regular meeting will be held on Monday, June 3 at 9 a.m.