Idaho Falls City Council approves $2M grant for underground power line project

The Idaho Falls City Council convened on April 17, 2025, to address several key agenda items, beginning with the call to order by Council President Burton Shaw. The meeting commenced with the Pledge of Allegiance, followed by a brief public comment period, which concluded without any contributions from attendees.

The council then moved to the consent agenda, which included five items. Notably, the municipal services report highlighted the treasurer's report for February 2025 and two significant agreements related to Idaho Falls Power. The first was a trade agreement with Shell, the Energy Authority, Heberlight Power, and Brookfield Renewable, amounting to $2,598,902. The second item involved a purchase request for a Ford F-550 bucket truck, estimated at $210,604. Additionally, the council reviewed minutes from previous meetings and noted the issuance of 55 new business licenses and 20 renewals for March 2025. The consent agenda was approved unanimously.

The meeting progressed to the regular agenda, where Josh Roos, CFO of Idaho Falls Power, presented a grant proposal. He explained that the Idaho Governor's Office of Energy and Mineral Resources had awarded funding through the Infrastructure Investment Jobs Act. The city applied for and received a $2 million grant aimed at undergrounding power lines in downtown Idaho Falls, which would enhance infrastructure resilience and reduce costs for local businesses. The project requires a 35% cost share from the city, which Roos confirmed would be covered by the grant, alleviating financial burdens on commercial customers.

Councilor Francis inquired about the source of the funding, confirming it was federal money distributed through the state. Following the presentation, a motion was made to approve the downtown electrical services underground project, which passed with unanimous support from the council.

The meeting continued with further discussions led by Chris Canfield, Assistant Director of Public Works, indicating additional topics would be addressed in subsequent sessions. Overall, the council's decisions reflect a commitment to improving infrastructure and supporting local businesses through strategic funding initiatives.