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minutes meeting date 2026-04-16 · fetched 2026-09-17 · 10115 characters · official file · plain text
MINUTES
RIGBY CITY COUNCIL
THURSDAY APRIL 16, 2026
7:00 PM
Mayor Nichole Weight called the meeting to order.
The Pledge of Allegiance was given by Councilman Espinosa.
The prayer by Councilman Howe.
ROLL CALL ATTENDANCE:
Councilwoman Melanie Allen Present
Councilman Kevin Bradshaw
Absent
Councilman Alex Espinosa Present
Councilman Timothy Howe Present
Councilman Reed Stone Present via Telephone
Councilwoman Tonya Hillman Absent
ALSO PRESENT-
Public Works Director, Mitch Bradley
Police Chief, Allen Fullmer
Planning and Zoning, Ione Hansen
Wastewater Treatment Plant Supervisor, Scott Humpherys
PUBLIC COMMENT –
Agenda Amendment
Councilman Howe moved to amend the agenda to add Action Item 10: Repeal of
Resolution 232-2026 due to incorrect fee amounts, and to renumber adjournment as
Action Item 11.
Motion carried unanimously.
ACTION ITEM - CONSENT AGENDA
The following business items may be approved by one motion and a vote. If any one
member of the Council so desires, any matter listed can be moved to a separate
agenda item.
A. Council Minutes – April 2, 2026
B. Accounts Payable- April 2026
Councilman Howe made the motion to Approve Minutes with those three changes
and Accounts Payable as written. seconded by Councilwoman Allen.
Motion carried, with Councilman Stone Abstained.
ACTION ITEM: Bid Opening – 2026 Chip Seal Project
Mr. Bradley opened four sealed bids for the 2026 Seal Project. All bids were
time-stamped upon receipt and reviewed for required documents.
Bids Received:
•
H&K Contractors – $193,011.50 (Bid packet complete.)
•
Intermountain Slurry Seal (Salt Lake City, UT) – $243,011.50 (Bid packet
complete).
•
TMC Construction – $222,489.62 (Bid amount clarified during reading; bid packet
complete.)
•
American Road Maintenance (Tucson, AZ) – Bid amount not read (Bid packet
received with all required documents except the bid sheet, which was not
included.)
Staff noted that H&K Contractors has performed quality work for the City in the past.
Council discussed the bid line items, including mobilization, and confirmed that the
scope of work was comparable among the complete bids.
Councilman Howe moved to award the 2026 Seal Project to H&K Contractors in
the amount of $193,011.50, contingent upon verification that all bids were
evaluated on comparable scope and services. Councilman Espinosa seconded.
Roll-Call Vote:
•
Espinosa – Yes
•
Howe – Yes
•
Allen – Yes
•
Stone – Yes
Motion carried unanimously.
ACTION ITEM: Special Event Permit Request – Fundraiser for
Shwachman-Diamond Syndrome
Mary Alice, accompanied by Sophie and her father, presented a request for a special
event permit to hold a nonprofit fundraising fair. The event would include various
activities accessible by wristband and a separate bake sale. Proceeds would benefit the
American Cancer Society and the Shwachman-Diamond Syndrome Foundation. The
applicants explained their personal connection to cancer and their desire to support
patients and reduce mortality.
The proposed event location is South Park, with setup beginning at 10:00 a.m. and the
event running from 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, June 27. Staff will verify park
availability and confirm scheduling.
Councilwoman Allen moved to waive the special event permit fee for the
nonprofit fundraiser. Motion seconded by Councilman Espinosa.
Motion carried unanimously.
ACTION ITEM: Headworks Upgrade – Wastewater Treatment Plant
(WWTP)
Mr. Humphries presented an overview of the current headworks limitations at the
Wastewater Treatment Plant. The plant was upgraded approximately six years ago, but
the headworks structure was not included in that project. New screens were installed
two years ago; however, the existing channels are too narrow to handle peak flows.
When the two town lift stations and the onsite process-water lift station run
simultaneously, the channels overtop and allow debris to bypass the screens.
Mr. Humphries explained that if the City’s average daily flow reaches 2.59 million
gallons per day for two consecutive months, the Idaho Department of Environmental
Quality (DEQ) will require the City to submit an upgrade plan. Recent flow data shows
significant increases: the 2022 average was approximately 560,000 gpd, last year
averaged 890,000 gpd, and current flows—combined with recycled process water not
captured by the inflow meter—are approaching levels that could trigger regulatory
action. Bob Evans contributes between 350,000–500,000 gpd, and continued growth is
expected to increase overall flows.
Two upgrade options were presented:
1. Headworks Expansion Only Wider channels, additional or larger screens,
building expansion, and a redundant grit separator. Estimated cost:
approximately $5 million.
2. Upstream Equalization and Headworks Expansion Equalization basins upstream,
building expansion, and a metered onsite lift station. Estimated cost:
approximately $8.1 million.
Mr. Humphries noted that the project could potentially be funded using existing reserves
and the approximately $1 million per year depreciation allocation without raising rates.
He also discussed potential grant opportunities, including DEQ’s annual grant cycle in
January and possible USDA/RD funding, though no grant is guaranteed.
Council discussed the need to explore grant funding before committing City reserves.
Staff confirmed that downstream plant components are adequate and that the proposed
project addresses headworks capacity only.
Councilman Howe moved to Table the item until the next meeting to allow staff
time to explore funding sources, including grants, and to prepare related
wastewater budget items prior to October. Councilwoman Allen seconded.
Motion carried unanimously.
ACTION ITEM: Ordinance No. 2026-663 – Amendment to City Code
Regarding Alcohol Service Hours
The Mayor introduced Ordinance 2026-663, then turned the discussion over to Chief
Fullmer. The Chief explained that the proposed amendment would align the City’s
alcohol-service rules for Memorial Day and Thanksgiving with Idaho State Law. He
stated that enforcement would be manageable and noted that the City’s previous
expansion of Sunday sales had not created issues.
Council discussed concerns related to Memorial Day safety and whether Christmas Day
should remain closed to alcohol service. Chief Fullmer expressed a preference for
keeping Christmas Day closed and confirmed that State Law allows cities to adopt
stricter local rules.
Mayor Weight read Ordinance No. 2026-663 in full.
Councilman Espinosa moved to proceed with the second and third readings of
Ordinance 2026-663 at future meetings. Councilwoman Allen seconded.
Motion carried unanimously.
ACTION ITEM: Resolution No. 231-2026 – Declaration and Disposal of
Surplus Property
Mr. Bradley reported that several culvert sections were removed from the former county
rodeo grounds after the associated ditch was abandoned. The culverts are 30-foot by
30-inch sections and remain in good condition. He estimated a fair value of $500 per
section.
Multiple individuals have expressed interest in purchasing the culverts. Mr. Bradley
requested clarification on whether he may sell all six sections together for $3,000 under
the City’s surplus-property policy, or whether they should be held for a future auction.
He also noted that proceeds could be directed to the rodeo grounds fund.
A separate surplus item, an old golf cart valued under $1,000, was also disclosed for
transparency.
A resolution declaring the listed items as surplus and authorizing disposal was
presented. The Council approved reading the resolution by title and summary only.
Councilman Howe made the motion to Adopt Resolution No. 231-2026 as written
and to be read in title and summary only. seconded by Councilwoman Allen.
Motion carried unanimously.
ACTION ITEM: Resolution No. 233-2026 – Revising the Water and Sewer
Connection Fees
Mr. Bradley presented the updated water and sewer connection fee study, with Jaden
Jackson from Keller Associates assisting in the analysis. The study identified
recoverable costs supporting maximum in-city connection fees of $7,078.63 for water
and $10,804.16 for sewer. Mr. Bradley recommended setting both fees at $6,000
instead.
Council discussed the proposed amounts and the methodology used to calculate the
recoverable costs. Mr. Bradley requested that the item be tabled so the resolution could
be revised with his recommended totals.
Councilman Howe made the motion to Table Resolution No. 233-2026. seconded
by Councilman Espinosa.
Motion carried unanimously.
ACTION ITEM: 2026 Arbor Day Proclamation
Mayor Weight presented the 2026 Arbor Day Proclamation, noting that the proclamation
qualifies the City for additional funding to support tree planting. The Mayor read the
proclamation into the record, declaring May 2, 2026 as Arbor Day in the City of Rigby
and encouraging residents to participate in tree-planting and conservation efforts.
ACTION ITEM: Repeal of Resolution 232-2026
Council reviewed the connection fees adopted at the previous meeting and clarified that
the fees constituted new fees and increases of more than five percent. Because of this,
they cannot be adopted by resolution and must instead be enacted by ordinance.
Councilman Howe moved to repeal Resolution 232-2026 due to the fees exceeding the
allowable threshold for adoption by resolution. Councilwoman Allen seconded.
Motion carried unanimously.
Action Item- Adjournment
Councilman Howe made the motion to Adjourn. seconded by Councilman
Espinosa.
Motion carried unanimously.
APPROVED__________________________________
Nichole Weight, Mayor
Attest__________________________
Kiesha Keller, City Clerk
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