Council selects Ayres WWC for EPA brownfields assessment; pauses decision on 422 E. Main (Brown Sugar)

City staff told council that Riverton received a $500,000 EPA brownfields assessment grant (no local match) for an area from Main Street south along the Federal corridor. Two proposals were received; a three‑member panel recommended Ayres WWC as the consultant to inventory, characterize and develop a redevelopment plan for targeted properties. Council voted to select Ayres WWC and authorized staff to begin contract work.

On a separate property matter (422 East Main), staff reviewed the deed conditions imposed when the city sold the parcel to Brown Sugar Inc. in 2019 under an economic development reverter clause: initial deadlines for building permit and certificate of occupancy (18 months) were extended multiple times (including a 36–48 month extension) and expire in February 2026. Staff noted utility constraints (limited water supply restricting sprinklered buildings to <5,000 sq ft) and that the lot is subject to EPA regulatory considerations. The property representative (Miss Henry) explained current architectural plans, contamination remediation obligations (annual EPA fees), higher construction and financing costs, and that title restrictions complicate using the lot as collateral. Council debated exercising reversion rights versus further extensions or conditions; a motion to waive time/performance requirements was made but council ultimately voted to table that motion until the next regular meeting to allow other interested parties to participate and for staff to prepare options.

Next steps: Staff will return with additional information and the item will be on the next regular council agenda.