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Home My WebLink AboutCouncil Minutes - May 7, 2025 (208) 359-3020 35 North 1st East Rexburg, ID 83440 Rexburg.org | Engage.Rexburg.org City Council Minutes – May 7, 2025 Mayor Jerry Merrill Council Members: Bryanna Johnson Eric Erickson Robert Chambers David Reeser Colin Erickson Mikel Walker City Staff: Spencer Rammell – City Attorney Matt Nielson – Finance Officer Keith Davidson – Public Works Director Alan Parkinson – Planning & Zoning Administrator Scott Johnson – Economic Development Director Deborah Lovejoy – City Clerk 6:30 P.M. Council Member Johnson said the prayer. Mayor Merrill led the pledge. Roll Call of Council Members: Attending: Council Member Johnson, Council Member Chambers, Council Member E. Erickson, Council Member Reeser, Council President Walker (via zoom) and Mayor Merrill. Council Member C. Erickson did not attend the first part of the meeting; however, he attended the meeting during the executive session. Council Member Chambers moved to amend the agenda as per Idaho State Statute §74-204(4)(b): Amendment to include reason for executive session §74-206(1)(c) (1) in Agenda Item 11; Council Member E. Erickson seconded the motion; Mayor Merrill asked for a roll call vote: Those voting aye Those voting nay Council Member Johnson none Council Member Chambers Council Member E. Erickson Council Member Reeser Council President Walker The motion carried. Welcome New Employees: Terry Rackham – Streets/Sanitation Driver; Straton Morton – Street Department Mr. Rackham and Mr. Morton introduced themselves. Public Comment: Items not on the agenda; limit of 3 minutes; issues may be considered for discussion on a future agenda. Please keep comments on point and respectful. Mr. Taylor explained the challenges, history, and plans regarding the development and relocation of the city/county airport. He emphasized the increasing costs of about $100,000 per year and expanded responsibilities such as maintenance, hiring, and infrastructure support that come with a larger airport. He highlighted that while the FAA funds much of the upkeep, the city/county would still incur expenses for the airport. Mr. Taylor made the following key points regarding the city/county airport: Growth Justification: The community's growth necessitates a larger, more modern airport, with benefits to local entrepreneurs and businesses. Long-Term Effort: This airport project has been discussed for decades; When Mr. Taylor’s father was Chairman of the Airport Board 30 years ago, and the need has persisted. City Commitment Needed: Mr. Taylor stressed the importance of getting formal commitment from city officials to move forward with the relocation and expansion of the airport. Economic Opportunity: A new airport would allow Rexburg to compete with the nearby Idaho Falls Airport for business and aviation activities. Current Challenges: The uncertainty around the airport relocation has led to hesitancy from potential hangar builders and has even driven some to invest elsewhere. Next Steps: Hiring someone to manage the project and coordinate with multiple agencies is crucial to avoid remaining in “airport purgatory” or give up on the relocation of the airport. Vision and Legacy: Mr. Taylor urged long-term thinking, acknowledging that the payoff may benefit future generations more than the current one. Staff Reports: Finance: - Matt Nielson Budget Adjustment Approval for Pickleball Projects at Nature Park and Smith Park Action Item Finance Officer Nielson explained there is a change order for the work needing to be completed on the tennis courts at Smith Park. An additional $10,600 is needed to replace the court fabric. The poles also need to be replaced because they are leaning significantly. He received feedback from the pickleball community asking if there could be gates for each of the courts to not interrupt play. He received a bid for the items mentioned. Finance Officer Nielson said he asked the contractor who originally installed the pickleball courts at Nature Park to assess the conditions of those courts, they said the courts have larger and smaller cracks. After evaluating, they determined that it would cost just over $34,000 to complete the necessary work. This would include fixing all the cracks, level work, repainting and resurfacing of the courts. Finance Officer Nielson reviewed the Budget Adjustment for the Parks Department regarding the Pickleball Court Projects. Council Member Johnson moved to approve the Budget Adjustment for the Pickleball Projects at Nature Park and Smith Park; Council Member Reeser seconded the motion; Mayor Merrill asked for a vote: Those voting aye Those voting nay Council Member Johnson none Council Member Chambers Council Member E. Erickson Council Member Reeser Council President Walker The motion carried. Public Works: - Keith Davidson Approval of surplus of 2007 Chevy Trailblazer from the Recreation Department -Action Item Public Works Director Davidson reported that the Recreation Department would like to surplus the 2007 Chevy Trailblazer, they no longer have a need for this vehicle. Council Member Reeser moved to approve the Surplus of a 2007 Chevy Trailblazer from the Recreation Department; Council Member Chambers seconded the motion; Mayor Merrill asked for a vote: Those voting aye Those voting nay Council Member Johnson none Council Member Chambers Council Member E. Erickson Council Member Reeser Council President Walker The motion carried. Bid Approval of Heat Exchanger Equipment for the Wastewater Treatment Plant -Action Item Public Works Director Davidson said he received bids for the heat exchanger for the Wastewater Treatment Plant; it will help increase the capacity of handling the bio-solids. He reviewed the three bids received. Owens Pump & Equipment had the low bid. Mayor Merrill asked for clarification regarding the Heat Exchanger Equipment for the Wastewater Treatment Plant. Public Works Director Davidson explained the Wastewater Treatment plant processes bio-solids by running them through a pasteurization process. As the bio-solids move into the tanks, they pass through heat exchangers, which preheat the solids. This shortens the time the waste is in the tank and reduces the amount of heat needed; however, to process more bio-solids, the heat exchangers need to be expanded to handle the increased volume. Council Member E. Erickson moved to approve the low bid of $163,000 from Owens Pump & Equipment for the Wastewater Treatment Plant Heat Exchanger Equipment; Council Member Johnson seconded the motion; Mayor Merrill asked for a vote: Those voting aye Those voting nay Council Member Johnson none Council Member Chambers Council Member E. Erickson Council Member Reeser Council President Walker The motion carried. Bid Approval of Wastewater Repairs 2025 - Action Item Public Works Director Davidson said he received the bids for the Wastewater Treatment Plant repairs today; he would prefer more time to review the bids before making a recommendation to the City Council. He said he will present the bids at the next City Council Meeting. Mayor’s Business: Proclamation 2025 – 02 Proclaiming May as Frontline Worker Appreciation Month - Action Item Mayor Merrill read Proclamation 2025 – 02 Proclaiming May as Frontline Worker Appreciation Month. Council Member E. Erickson moved to ratify Proclamation 2025 – 02 Proclaiming May as Frontline Worker Appreciation Month; Council Member Chambers seconded the motion; Mayor Merrill asked for a vote: Those voting aye Those voting nay Council Member Johnson none Council Member Chambers Council Member E. Erickson Council Member Reeser Council President Walker The motion carried. Proclamation 2025 – 03 May 15th, 2025, as Arbor Day - Action Item Mayor Merrill asked Council Member Johnson to read Proclamation 2025 – 03 May 15th, 2025, as Arbor Day. Council Member Johnson moved to ratify Proclamation 2025 – 03 May 15th, 2025, as Arbor Day; Council Member Reeser seconded the motion; Mayor Merrill asked for a vote: Those voting aye Those voting nay Council Member Johnson none Council Member Chambers Council Member E. Erickson Council Member Reeser Council President Walker The motion carried. Mayor Merrill reported people often wonder, "What is Flow-Bor Day?" Well, it’s a combination of planting flowers and trees. On that day, lots of volunteers come out to plant flowers all along Main Street and Center Street. This event will take place next Thursday, May 15th, at 4:00 P.M. He asked the City Council if any one of them is available to join him and the other volunteers. It’s always a fun event. He said most of the time, they simply walk up and down the street, supervising and making sure that the flowers are being planted correctly. They do not have to do a lot of hard work or get down on their knees to plant the flowers, as there are many younger volunteers who help with the planting. Item of Consideration: NONE Calendared Bills: Second Reading: Those items which have been first read: NONE Third Reading: Those items which have been second read: Ordinance No 1330 Creation of Local Improvement District 54 (LID 54) – Keith Davidson Action Item LOCAL IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT 54 CREATION ORDINANCE ORDINANCE NO. 1330 AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF REXBURG, IDAHO, CREATING LOCAL IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT NO. 54; DESCRIBING AND SETTING FORTH THE BOUNDARIES OF SAID LOCAL IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT; PROVIDING FOR THE IMPROVEMENTS TO BE MADE THEREIN; APPOINTING AN ENGINEER TO PREPARE THE NECESSARY PLANS AND SPECIFICATIONS FOR THE WORK; AUTHORIZING THE ADVERTISING FOR BIDS FOR SAID WORK AS AUTHORIZED BY LAW; PROVIDING FOR THE PAYMENT OF COSTS AND EXPENSES OF SAID IMPROVEMENTS TO BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE PROPERTY WITHIN THE DISTRICT BENEFITTED THEREBY AND THE METHOD OF ASSESSMENTS; PROVIDING FOR THE ISSUANCE OF LOCAL IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT BONDS AND WARRANTS; PROVIDING FOR RELATED MATTERS; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE. Council Member E. Erickson moved to approve Ordinance No 1330 the Creation of Local Improvement District 54 (LID 54) and consider third read; Council Member Chambers seconded the motion; Mayor Merrill asked for a vote: Those voting aye Those voting nay Council Member Chambers Council Member Johnson Council Member E. Erickson Council Member Reeser Council President Walker The motion carried. Consent Calendar: The consent calendar includes items which require formal City Council action, however, they are typically routine or not of great controversy. Individual Council members may ask that any specific item be removed from the consent calendar for discussion in greater detail. Explanatory information is included in the City Council’s agenda packet regarding these items. Minutes from April 23, 2025, Meeting Approve the City of Rexburg Bills Council Member Chambers moved to approve the Consent Calendar containing the minutes and city bills; Council Member E. Erickson seconded the motion; Mayor Merrill asked for a vote: Those voting aye Those voting nay Council Member Johnson none Council Member Chambers Council Member E. Erickson Council Member Reeser Council President Walker The motion carried. Roll call vote for motion to move into Executive Session as per Idaho State Statute §74-206(1)(j) To consider labor contract matters authorized under section 74-206A(1)(a) and (b), Idaho Code and (c) To acquire an interest in real property which is not owned by a public agency Action Item Council Member Reeser moved to enter into Executive Session as per Idaho State Statute §74-206(1)(j) To consider labor contract matters authorized under section 74-206A(1)(a) and (b), Idaho Code and (c) To acquire an interest in real property which is not owned by a public agency; Council Member Johnson seconded the motion; Mayor Merrill asked for a roll call vote: Those voting aye Those voting nay Council Member Johnson none Council Member Chambers Council Member E. Erickson Council Member Reeser Council President Walker The motion carried. Executive Session Started at 7:16 P.M. Executive Session Ended at 9:29 P.M. Adjournment 9:30 P.M. APPROVED: ________________________________ Jerry Merrill, Mayor Attest: ________________________________ Marianna Gonzalez, City Deputy Clerk