Rexburg council approves Headwaters for police-station CM/GC, advances annexation and LID assessment, votes to enter executive session

Rexburg City Council on Feb. 5 authorized staff to pursue a contract with Headwaters Construction to serve as construction manager/general contractor (CM/GC) for a new police station and advanced several calendared ordinances before voting unanimously to move into executive session to discuss acquiring real property.

The council’s approval followed a procurement process in which the city received five CM/GC proposals and a roughly 10-person review committee (including elected officials and legal oversight) narrowed those to three finalists and interviewed them. CFO Matt Nielsen told the council the committee recommends Headwaters Construction and asked the council to authorize negotiations. An on-floor motion to approve Headwaters for the police-station CM/GC was made, seconded and adopted by voice vote.

Why it matters: selecting a CM/GC is a key step in moving the police station project from design toward construction; the recommendation will allow staff to begin contract negotiations and continue architect selection and project planning.

On other business, the council considered calendared ordinances under the city’s three-reading process. The body voted to proceed with the second reading of ordinance 13-27, which would annex properties described at approximately 1076 West Main Street, 5th West, University Boulevard and Eagle Park into the city. The mayor explained the three-reading requirement and the council recorded a motion and second to consider the second reading, which carried by voice vote.

The council also moved forward with the third reading for ordinance 13-26, described as the final assessment rule for Local Improvement District (LID) 53. A council member moved and another seconded consideration of the third reading, and the council approved the motion by voice vote; the action was recorded as advancing the LID final assessment per the ordinance process.

Earlier in the meeting, CFO Nielsen reviewed the FY26 planning calendar and key dates: a council drive-around was proposed for April 9, department-level budget meetings were tentatively scheduled May 5–16, and Nielsen recommended July 16 as the public-hearing date for the budget. Public Works Director Keith Davidson told the council that bids for a parks-department building came in approximately $78,000 over budget; he said staff are evaluating construction alternatives and internal work (demolition/excavation/backfill and sprinkler repairs) that could reduce costs, noting demolition/excavation by city crews could save roughly $10,000.

The council approved the consent calendar, including minutes from the Jan. 22, 2025 meeting and payment of city bills. Toward the end of the public portion of the meeting, the council voted by roll call to enter executive session under Idaho Code §74-206(1)(c) to discuss acquiring an interest in real property not owned by a public agency; all members recorded votes in favor and the public meeting was cleared while the council moved into executive session.

What’s next: staff will begin CM/GC contract negotiations with Headwaters Construction and continue architect interviews for the police station; the council will return from executive session and reconvene only to adjourn, with follow-up items to appear at future meetings as staff bring budget and project recommendations forward.