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Contested wastewater farm lease ends in tie; commissioners ask staff for more information
Summary
A vote to award the City of Canyon wastewater treatment and irrigation farm lease to Darren Johnson failed on a 2–2 tie after public testimony and questions about the RFP process; commissioners asked staff to return the item with additional information, including reference checks and soil remediation details.
Commissioners debated whether to award the City of Canyon wastewater treatment and irrigation farm lease to Darren Johnson after staff presented two RFP responses and recommended Johnson based on reviewers' scores. Purchasing Manager Beau Boyer said two submissions were received and presented average reviewer scores and proposed annual lease payments; staff recommended awarding the lease to Darren Johnson.
Wade Davis, owner of Davis Farms and a competing applicant, addressed the commission and said "none of his references had even been contacted," questioning the evaluation. City staff confirmed references had not been contacted; City Attorney Chuck Hester and staff emphasized that the site is an effluent farm requiring remediation of high soil sodium and that the RFP was used to provide fairness though it was not mandatory. A motion to approve the lease (moved by Commissioner Robyn Cranmer and seconded by Mayor Gary Hinders) failed in a tie—the record states "Voted failed due to a tie with Mayor Pro-tem Jones and Commissioner Lyons voting against." The commission instructed staff to return the item with more information before a final decision.
