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Pocatello council votes to send 90‑day termination notice on Chubbuck inspections contract
Summary
The Pocatello City Council voted to notify neighboring Chubbuck that its contract for electrical and plumbing inspections will be terminated in 90 days unless the city returns with a proposal covering Pocatello’s costs. Council framed the move as a way to protect Pocatello inspection capacity amid rising local construction demand.
The Pocatello City Council voted to send a 90‑day termination notice to the City of Chubbuck for the contract under which Pocatello performs electrical and plumbing plan review and inspections for Chubbuck.
Council said mounting work inside Pocatello and an increase in multifamily permits mean the city cannot continue to subsidize inspections for another jurisdiction without a different financial arrangement. Building Official Richard Bigelow told the council the contract brought in roughly $60,000 in revenue the prior year and about $40,000 so far this year, with June and July payments of about $9,000 and $5,000 respectively, but that adding more inspectors would cost about $125,000 per employee when benefits are included.
“Right now, we’re setting records on revenue and building permits,” Bigelow said, and staff “would be stretched” if Pocatello continued Chubbuck work without covering full costs. Council members repeatedly raised the risk that inspection timelines could trigger third‑party inspections and associated fees if Pocatello cannot meet state timelines.
Councilmember Cheatham moved to send the notice with language allowing Chubbuck to return within the 90‑day period with a proposal to continue under different terms; Councilmember Mangum seconded. Roll call votes were recorded as Yes from Cheatham, Mangum, Bates, Lurek, Nichols and Paulson; the motion carried.
Councilmembers said the vote was not intended to abruptly end cooperation but to force a frank renegotiation: either Chubbuck agrees to terms that cover Pocatello’s administrative and inspection costs or Pocatello will end the arrangement at the expiration of the notice.
If Chubbuck seeks to continue, council members said they expect a proposal that would bring Pocatello’s net revenue closer to covering staffing and overhead. If the two cities cannot agree, Pocatello will cease providing the inspections after the 90‑day period.
Notes: The council asked staff to send the termination notice and to be prepared to evaluate any proposal Chubbuck submits during the notice period.
