The Idaho Falls City Council approved purchases to replace and add municipal fleet vehicles from Smith Chevrolet under a State of Idaho cooperative contract, and also approved a set of six purchase orders staff had issued before formal council authorization.

Municipal Services Director Pam Alexander told the council that six separate purchase orders were issued to Smith Chevrolet to secure vehicle delivery slots; together they totalled $301,071.19. Alexander said the individual requisitions were processed separately and the combined total exceeded the threshold that ordinarily would have required prior council authorization. “What happened was is we actually issued 6 POs, separate POs to Smith Chevrolet,” Alexander said, explaining the administrative error and the agency’s need to get vehicles ordered to replace aging or damaged equipment.

Councilor Guy Larson moved to approve the six purchase orders for $301,071.19; the motion passed on a roll‑call vote. The council heard that five of those vehicles were planned parks and recreation replacements scheduled for the fiscal year and one was to replace a fire department vehicle that was totaled in an accident.

Separately, councilors approved staff’s request to purchase additional replacement vehicles and two additions to the parks and recreation fleet from Smith Chevrolet under State contract SBT018200325 for a total of $345,407.68. Alexander said those purchases were part of the adopted budget and included one horticulture vehicle and one irrigation division vehicle among other replacements.

Councilors emphasized the value of centralized purchasing oversight to consolidate orders or confirm state‑contract pricing before issuing orders. Councilor Francis praised the municipal services staff for timely responses when council members raised questions.

Both measures passed by roll call with all recorded votes in the affirmative.