Council approves airport grant, lease, equipment purchases and multiple contracts

The Pocatello City Council approved a string of administrative, capital and procurement items during its meeting, including a federal airport grant amendment, an airport lease, equipment purchases, grants and multiple bid awards.

Airport: Council approved an amendment to the FY2024 FAA airport grant to increase funding by $83,284, bringing the total amended grant to $1,187,749 to cover final costs for a taxi lane. Airport Manager Alan Evans also described and the council approved a 5-year lease (with an automatic three-year renewal) for three acres at the airport with Cruiser Industrial LLC for a mobile sand-blasting operation; the lease starts at $875 per month and can be canceled if higher-priority airport uses arise. Council asked about environmental protections; staff said the tenant will employ containment and media-reclamation measures.

Equipment and donations: Council approved piggyback purchase of a Pierce heavy-duty hazmat/rescue vehicle for $1,279,871 (state military funding to support the purchase). The council accepted donation of an inoperable 2009 school bus from Pocatello-Chubb School District 25 for police tactical training and authorized eventual disposal after training use.

Infrastructure and contracts: Council awarded the 2026 sanitary sewer rehabilitation contract to Vortex Services LLC for $255,955 (cast-in-place pipe lining to rehabilitate ~4,000 ft of sewer at an estimated $61/linear foot versus $300/ft for full excavation). The council also accepted bids and authorized contracts for Pocatello parks tree removal and pruning (Advantage Tree Care and Top-Notch Tree were the low bidders on multiple option sets), funded by a U.S. Forest Service urban community forest grant.

Zoning/Ordinance: Council read and passed a final ordinance rezoning 3780 Filman Road from Light Industrial to Residential Commercial Professional.

Each item was approved by motion and a verbal roll-call; staff confirmed funding sources for grant and purchase items and said legal review is required for contract execution.