Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Infrastructure Projects topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Buhl council authorizes bids for City Hall, water-tower work but declines Memorial Drive move
Summary
The Buhl City Council approved soliciting bids for City Hall repairs (up to $100,000) and for a $754,000 water-tower site improvements project, but a motion to solicit bids for Memorial Drive improvements failed amid funding concerns and a competing culvert emergency.
The Buhl City Council on Nov. 18 authorized staff to solicit bids for multiple 2026 infrastructure projects while declining to advance one roadway plan. Councilors unanimously approved moving forward with developing a scope of work and soliciting bids for City Hall repairs tied to a $100,000 state appropriation and for a City of Buhl Water Tower Site Improvements project estimated at $754,000.
Administrator Tony Jeffries told the council a Nov. 18 meeting with USDA and staff from Congressman Pete Stauber's office clarified that Congressionally Directed Spending administered by USDA can now be used for a broader set of infrastructure activities. "An earlier interpretation of restricting CDS funding administered by USDA to drinking water-only related activities was re-interpreted on a broader scale, and now includes drinking water, domestic wastewater, municipal stormwater, and other associated infrastructure activities," Jeffries said, adding that previously solicited bids may need to be re-bid to comply with USDA bidding protocols.
Councilor Kealy moved to authorize selecting a scope of work and soliciting bids for City Hall improvements in an amount not to exceed $100,000; the motion was supported by Councilor Loeffler and carried unanimously. Council discussion focused on safety concerns about deteriorating front steps, and staff warned that concrete/masonry costs could consume most of the appropriation.
Separately, Councilor Towner moved to direct the city engineer to complete the scope and solicit bids for the Water Tower Site Improvements, which include interior wet coatings, exterior dry coatings, pumphouse improvements, structural spot repairs and a backup generator and controls; Councilor Teska-Erickson supported the motion and it passed unanimously.
A related proposal to solicit bids for improvements to (west) Memorial Drive between Pennsylvania Avenue and Roberts Street — a project estimated at $350,000 to include pavement, curb-and-gutter and stormwater upgrades — drew questions about funding sources. Because the council had not identified a clear funding source and because a potentially collapsing culvert on Grant Location Road may take precedence, a motion by Kealy to solicit bids failed unanimously.
The council’s actions advance planning steps for projects that will still require contract awards after bid solicitation and budget alignment. City staff indicated further budgeting work and possible re-bidding may be necessary depending on USDA procurement requirements and final cost estimates.
