Council approves audits, rezoning, code changes and multiple contracts in omnibus session

The Town of Florence Town Council on Jan. 21 voted to accept multiple audits and financial reports, approved a rezoning for a 110-acre industrial site, adopted local code changes and approved several contract amendments and construction agreements.

The approvals included acceptance of annual audits for Merrill Ranch Community Facility District (CFD) No. 1 and CFD No. 2, the town’s Comprehensive Annual Financial Report for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2024, and a series of consent items including minutes and a board appointment. Auditors from Fester & Chapman presented the reports and described them as clean, with no reportable deficiencies.

Council also adopted Ordinance No. 745-25 to rezone approximately 110 acres known as Bowling Industrial 110 to Light Industrial with staff-recommended stipulations; approved an amendment to local technical codes that removes a local sprinkler requirement and reverts to the 2018 International Fire Code threshold for Group E occupancies; and approved an amendment to development code timing and protest language to conform with recent state statutory requirements. In addition, council approved a change-order and contract package for water and wastewater system projects and ratified a construction change order for a public works block wall.

Key votes and outcomes - Acceptance of fiscal year 2024 annual audits for Merrill Ranch CFDs No. 1 and No. 2: approved after presentations by auditors from Fester & Chapman. (Motion and second recorded; voting was by voice aye, no roll-call tally recorded.) - Acceptance of the town’s Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, FY 2024: approved. Auditor Ben Hurr told council the financial statements were “presented fairly in all material aspects in accordance with GAAP,” and the town had "no deficiencies reported." - Ordinance No. 745-25 (Bowling Industrial 110 rezoning to Light Industrial): approved with four staff recommendations and the developer’s stipulation (see separate article). - Ordinance No. 749-25 (technical codes amendment removing local sprinkler trigger): approved, reverting the local amendment so the 2018 International Fire Code threshold (sprinklers required for Group E occupancies larger than 12,000 sq. ft.) applies. - Ordinance No. 750-25 (amendments to Title 15, land use/development code) and Resolution No. 1926-25 (regular meeting schedule and locations): approved (first/only readings or resolution action as recorded). - Consent agenda and appointments: consent items A–E approved; item F (appointment of Reggie McKay to the Board of Appeals, term to 12/31/2028) approved (Vice Mayor recused from that vote and the council recorded the recusal). - Contract and change-order approvals: increased job order contract for water resource treatment services (MGC Contractors) to an amount not to exceed $500,000 (approved); cooperative contract with Wilson & Company for transportation planning services in an amount not to exceed $170,730 (approved); ratification of Amendment No. 1 for the T-117 public works block wall project in the amount of $82,683.73 (approved); Change Order No. 3 with Sunrise Engineering for additional environmental work at the North Wastewater Treatment Plant for $119,558.59 (approved); Amendment No. 1 with WaterWorks Engineers for a chlorine contact chamber design at the South Wastewater Treatment Plant ($254,252, approved); CMAR Guaranteed Maximum Price (GMP 1) to Aiken Gardner Construction LLC for North WWTP abandonment (SU-98) in the amount of $1,461,108.16 and authorization to order long‑lead items (approved).

Why it matters The package bundles capital, public‑works and land‑use actions that shape near‑term public works spending and long‑term development patterns. Audit acceptance signals the town’s financial statements met professional standards and highlights available federal‑grant reporting (single audit) that affects compliance with American Rescue Plan/SLFRF funds. The transportation‑planning and wastewater contracts fund studies and construction tied to multi‑year infrastructure plans that can affect fees, right‑of‑way needs and future capital projects.

Council and staff said next steps will include posting the revised meeting schedule, starting Tuesday meetings in March, returning final construction bids and GMP phases to council as specific construction work proceeds, and continuing coordination with County and ADOT on regional transportation priorities.

Ending Council adjourned the public session and moved to executive session on legal matters as noticed. Several items approved tonight will return to council later for contract phases, construction authorizations or recording where required.