Port awards hangar job to Spokane contractor

The Port of Whitman County awarded a $259,979 contract to Genesis Construction of Spokane to build a new hangar at the Colfax airport, officially known as the Port of Whitman Business Air Center.

The firm had the lowest bid from among seven submitted by contractors.

Debbie Snell, port properties and development manager, said the notice of award of contract was set to go out this week.

The port is building a new 4,800 square foot hangar along the airport’s taxiway, east of existing hangars.

The hangar will be occupied by Mader Farms, who will use it as a base for agricultural spraying of their land.

Snell said a lease is soon to be finalized with the Maders. Construction costs will be recouped through lease payments.

Port commissioners at their last meeting, Feb. 17, gave Snell permission to award the contract upon confirmation of the lease.

The Genesis bid came in well under the port’s estimated $300,000 cost and was the lowest of the seven firms to bid. Bids were opened Feb. 3.

Also bidding were ML Albright of Clarkston, $309,909; Uphus Construction of Spokane, $318,186; Palouse River of Colfax, $334,045; Blews Construction of Spokane, $334,768; Moffit Bros. of Lostine, Ore., $344,960, and Western States of Spokane, $412,874.