Price City council approves $215,000 Horrocks contract modification to finish Upper Price River EIS

The Price City Council voted to modify an engineering-services agreement with Horrocks for $215,000 to complete the Upper Price River plan and related environmental impact study on July 9, 2025. The council approved the change by voice vote after discussion of funding options.

Council members and staff said the modification was needed after the city learned federal NRCS funding was not available as expected. City staff said they had pursued other grants without success and decided to use internal money reserved from irrigation water lease proceeds to keep the project moving.

The funding change was discussed as part of a multi-year effort to complete an EIS for a proposed reservoir above the former Loudermilk property. Miles (public works/staff) told council the NRCS grant request was “frozen” at the federal level and the city would move forward using internal funds; he also said NRCS may be able to provide staffing help if federal support becomes available.

Mayor and council members noted Horrocks had previously reduced its estimate for the EIS work from about $900,000 to roughly $200,000 in order to help the city finish the EIS. The agenda item formalized a $215,000 contract modification with Horrocks; staff said additional design funding would be sought later and that the city is coordinating memoranda of understanding and a watershed agreement with irrigation partners and other stakeholders.

The council approved the motion (moved by Council member Willis, seconded by Council member Jesperson) by voice vote; no roll-call tally was recorded in the public portion of the meeting.

Council members said finishing the EIS is important to advance options for water storage and watershed management and that using the irrigation lease reserves would allow the work to continue while the city pursues additional partner funding and federal help.