Rexburg business owners, residents press council over LID delays and road construction communication
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Summary
Business owners and residents told the Rexburg City Council this week that Local Improvement District work and other road projects have disrupted access and raised concerns about timelines, curing concrete and contractor delays; staff said paving is scheduled for Oct. 20 and offered to meet with affected owners.
Steve Okey, owner of a business on First South and First West, told the Rexburg City Council on Sept. 17 that ongoing Local Improvement District (LID) construction has effectively cut off access to his business and hurt revenue, and he asked the city for help with payment timing for the improvement assessments.
"If you don't ask, the answer is always no," Okey said, explaining he had supported the LID to get street and gutter improvements but now faces steep losses while his driveway and sewer work block access. "My business is down probably 75, 80%." He asked the city to consider allowing a one- or two-year, interest-free payout rather than paying the assessment up front or accepting a 10-year financed option.
Public works staff member Keith Davidson told the council that staff can meet with Okey and take the matter back to the council because such a one-off repayment arrangement would be a council decision. "We can meet with them, staff," Davidson said. "Ultimately, it's gonna come back to the council. That's not a decision necessarily that staff can make." Council members agreed staff should follow up.
Resident Gail Hawkes raised related concerns about project timing and concrete quality for street work near the university, saying crews began work late and left excavated areas idle for days. "I'm concerned about whether or not the concrete's going to cure," Hawkes said, referring to prior repairs the city had to replace after poor curing.
Davidson explained contractor scheduling and site conditions can delay work; for Park Street, he said, milling and availability of the contractor's crews were factors. He also described mitigation used for cold-weather pours: "There's blankets that go on the concrete, things of that nature to help with that curing." He cautioned that such measures do not always prevent later replacement if conditions force it.
Davidson told the council that paving for several projects is currently tentatively scheduled for Oct. 20 and that crews were finishing a sewer line on First West. He also said crews hit an unmarked fiber line during work and staff were investigating ownership before repair, which had slowed progress.
The meeting also included a staff suggestion to form an LID advisory group with a cross section of property owners and business representatives; Davidson said the mayor and public works would solicit volunteers and share a link for sign-ups.
Council members and staff discussed ways to improve public communication about construction. One council member asked staff to ensure the city's project map and street construction web pages are kept current so residents can find timelines and status updates more easily.
No formal council action was taken at the meeting on Mr. Okey's payment request; staff said they would meet with him and bring options back to the council for consideration.
