Public Bidding Authorized for Decorah Airport Renovation Project

DECORAH -- The Decorah Municipal Airport Commission authorizes public bidding to begin by Friday, March 15 for an exciting terminal and hangar renovation project. According to Travis Goedken, Decorah City Manager, the renovation plans are extensive. "The renovation will include demolishing the existing maintenance hangar and replacing it with a larger hangar that is sufficient to hold all aircraft based at the airport, with an attached terminal building," he explained. "The current terminal requires people to walk across the apron to enter. The new terminal building would allow people to access directly from the parking lot and avoid walking through the apron in front of existing hangars and near the fueling area." Solar panels will also be included in these renovation plans through assistance provided by McClure Engineering, a Midwest-based civil engineering firm. "We are planning to install a 38.6 kilowatt roof-mounted array on the new terminal and hangar buildings," Goedken said. "These panels would supply enough solar energy for the new terminal and hangar circuit." The Decorah Municipal Airport has received a number of grants toward the completion of these projects, including a $448,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation's Airport Infrastructure Grants program. Decorah was one of 20 Iowa airports selected to receive portions of a $15 million program aimed toward updating aging airport infrastructure and ensuring safe, quality air travel. Other secured funding includes the Airport Improvement Program (AIP), the Federal Aviation Administration's Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) improvement initiative, Iowa DOT Aviation Bureau General Aviation Vertical Infrastructure (GAVI), and BIL's Airport Terminals Program. The renovation project, originally included in the city's FY24 budget and estimated to take place over two years, had been put on hold due to the initial bid being higher than the city engineer's estimated cost. Goedken is optimistic about bidding interest this time around. "Last time we received only one bid," he said. "Contractors weren't as hungry last year. We're hoping for at least three or four bids on these projects." Goedken and the Decorah Airport Commission plan to directly invite local bidders Decorah Electric, Massman Construction, Perry Novak Electric, Wicks Construction, Cresco Building Service (Cresco, IA), Larson Construction (Independence, IA), and Point Builders (Cedar Rapids, IA) as potential bidders attached to the project. The Airport Commission will open bids on April 8 and a subsequent City Council vote to move forward with the proposed bidder will take place at a public hearing held on April 15.