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OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD

Record of Proceedings

City of Murphy Regular City Council Meeting – March 3, 2026

City Council — Tuesday, March 3, 2026

BodyIdaho Falls, Idaho

SessionCity Council

DateTuesday, March 3, 2026

StatusFILED

Video Record

0:00 / 54:08

Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it

0:02

All right.

0:02

Welcome as I call to order the March 3rd City of Murphy regular city council meeting.

0:08

Time is 6 p.m.

0:09

Rise with me as I provide the invitation to leave the budget legions.

0:15

Heavenly Father, bless us as we consider the agenda in front of us tonight.

0:18

Give us the wisdom to act with compassion and vision for what is best for our community.

0:24

Bless us and uh watch over our public safety officers and the community they serve.

0:28

Watch over our military as they enter a new engagement.

0:33

In your name we pray.

0:34

Amen.

0:36

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America.

0:40

And to the Republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all.

0:50

I will turn the time over to the City Secretary for roll call and certification of point.

0:55

Mayor Scott Bradley here.

0:56

Mayor Pro Tim Elizabeth Abraham?

0:58

Here.

0:58

Deputy Marion.

0:59

Mayor Pro Tim Janay Willem.

1:01

Here.

1:01

Councilmember, please two Scott Smith.

1:03

Here.

1:04

Councilmember, please three injured chase.

1:06

Here.

1:06

Councilmember place for Ken Oldman.

1:08

Here.

1:09

Councilmember please five Laura Dew?

1:11

Here.

1:11

Mayor certified the presence of a plan.

1:13

Thank you.

1:14

Item four public comments time we set aside on an agenda to allow residents to address council on an item not on the agenda this evening.

1:22

If you have a um some uh some rules of engagement as elected officials, we are here to listen to you.

1:28

We recognize you, the people have a First Amendment and Texas statutory right to speak at public meetings.

1:35

The city is consistently placed an agenda on the City Council and Planning and Zoning Commission meetings, agendas for public comments.

1:42

The city its officials and his employees will act upon and consider only objective, non-discriminatory reasons and factors for compelling government purposes in all city business, including land use issues.

1:53

The city, its officials and its employees will not consider any discrimination anyway, including religious discrimination.

1:59

The city, its officials, its employees will treat all persons and property owners equally.

2:05

With that, I am going to I have one public comment form tonight.

2:09

Mr.

2:09

Maynard Little.

2:16

Hope you're having a good day today, Mr.

2:18

Little.

2:21

Maynard Little, 1004 St.

2:23

Mark Drive.

2:25

Good evening.

2:27

Some of you may recall that in both of the last two council meetings.

2:35

I'm asking each of you to explain why you voted to increase the stormwater fee and create yet another financial burden for all ratepayers.

2:44

I am merely seeking clarity.

2:49

Please raise your hand if you've contacted me to set up a meeting.

2:56

Not regarding this, but nonetheless, uh you have been pretty good.

3:01

Well, I'll meet with you either.

3:03

None of you have about this, but I'm happy.

3:11

None of you have.

3:12

Why have none of you contacted me?

3:17

I have sent follow-up emails to you to four of you.

3:26

Only one has responded.

3:29

Isn't responding to the con to the concerns of residents one of the responsibilities of a council member?

3:36

I believe that it is.

3:38

Consequently, I will again request a meeting to obtain all of the data and logic you used to approve the stormwater fee increase.

3:50

I look forward to hearing from each of you to obtain this information and your opinions as to why it needed to be increased.

3:59

And I um want to thank you for your attention to this matter.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting

Fiscal Sustainability██████████████████████████████████████38%

Public Engagement███████████████████████████27%

Procedural████████8%

Public Safety███████7%

Engineering And Infrastructure███████7%

Historic Preservation█████5%

Parks and Recreation███3%

Youth Programs██2%

Water And Wastewater Management██2%

Summary of Proceedings

City of Murphy Regular City Council Meeting – March 3, 2026

The City of Murphy City Council held a regular meeting on March 3, 2026, at 6:00 PM, concluding at 7:25 PM. Key actions included approval of the annual comprehensive financial report, authorization of engineering services for a water tower rehabilitation, approval of an interlocal agreement for water line relocation, and appointment of a new member to the Historic Resources Advisory Committee. The meeting also featured a public comment on stormwater fees and a CERT graduation ceremony.

Consent Calendar

The consent agenda was approved unanimously without any items removed.

Public Comments & Testimony

Maynard Little (1004 St. Mark Drive) addressed the council regarding the recent stormwater fee increase. He asked each council member to explain why they voted for the increase and requested a meeting to obtain the data and logic used. He expressed frustration that only one of four council members had responded to his follow-up emails. The Mayor stated he would address one of the questions in his report.

Discussion Items

Mayor's Report: The Mayor reported that staff is working to make presentation documents available online within 24 hours of council meetings, starting with this meeting. He also noted attending the Young Men's Service League (YMSL) North Star chapter to discuss civic responsibility.
City Manager Staff Reports: Announcements included upcoming events: Food Truck Fridays (March 13 and 27), Hopp and Hunt (April 2), Good Friday closure (April 3), Spring Cleaning Green (April 11), Drug Take Back (April 25), and Murphy's Backyard Barbecue (April 25).
CERT Graduation (Item 6A): The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) held a graduation ceremony for four new graduates (John M., Kathleen Cox, Ahmad Sheikh, Jessica Weeks). The program trains residents to assist during emergencies.
Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (Item 9A): Brent Young of Weaver presented the audit for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025. Total governmental revenues were $23.8 million (13% decrease from prior year due to ARPA grant expiration). Total expenditures were $24.6 million (9% decrease). Governmental fund balances totaled $25.5 million, with an unassigned general fund balance of $11.6 million (58% of expenditures). The audit received an unmodified (clean) opinion with no material weaknesses or significant deficiencies. A new accounting standard (GASB 101) required a beginning net position reduction of $1.1 million for compensated absences. The council discussed transparency and financial health; the auditor confirmed Murphy is transparent and financially sound. The report was approved unanimously.
Water Tower Rehabilitation Design (Item 9B): A resolution authorizing an engineering services agreement with Neil Schaefer Inc. for design of the million-gallon elevated storage tank at 1300 Rodeo Drive, not to exceed $107,200. The scope includes blasting, repainting, corrosion repair, and antenna relocation. Design is expected to start in March 2026, with construction in December 2026–February 2027. Approved unanimously.
Interlocal Agreement with NTMWD (Item 9C): Resolution authorizing an interlocal cooperation agreement with the North Texas Municipal Water District to relocate a 14-inch potable water line that conflicts with the FM 544 pedestrian bridge project. Approved unanimously.
Historic Resources Advisory Committee Appointment (Item 9D): Appointment of William Dickinson to fill a vacancy on the committee. Dickinson was recommended by committee members; the council noted the ongoing interest in board appointments and agreed to fill the position promptly to achieve a quorum. Approved unanimously.

Key Outcomes

The consent agenda was approved unanimously.
The annual comprehensive financial report for FY 2025 was accepted unanimously.
Engineering services for the water tower rehabilitation design were authorized (up to $107,200).
An interlocal agreement with NTMWD for water line relocation was approved.
William Dickinson was appointed to the Historic Resources Advisory Committee.
An executive session was held from 6:52 PM to 7:24 PM regarding litigation and land use matters (no action taken).
No future agenda items were requested.

Meeting Transcript

All right. Welcome as I call to order the March 3rd City of Murphy regular city council meeting. Time is 6 p.m. Rise with me as I provide the invitation to leave the budget legions. Heavenly Father, bless us as we consider the agenda in front of us tonight. Give us the wisdom to act with compassion and vision for what is best for our community. Bless us and uh watch over our public safety officers and the community they serve. Watch over our military as they enter a new engagement. In your name we pray. Amen. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America. And to the Republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all. I will turn the time over to the City Secretary for roll call and certification of point. Mayor Scott Bradley here. Mayor Pro Tim Elizabeth Abraham? Here. Deputy Marion. Mayor Pro Tim Janay Willem. Here. Councilmember, please two Scott Smith. Here. Councilmember, please three injured chase. Here. Councilmember place for Ken Oldman. Here. Councilmember please five Laura Dew? Here. Mayor certified the presence of a plan. Thank you. Item four public comments time we set aside on an agenda to allow residents to address council on an item not on the agenda this evening. If you have a um some uh some rules of engagement as elected officials, we are here to listen to you. We recognize you, the people have a First Amendment and Texas statutory right to speak at public meetings. The city is consistently placed an agenda on the City Council and Planning and Zoning Commission meetings, agendas for public comments. The city its officials and his employees will act upon and consider only objective, non-discriminatory reasons and factors for compelling government purposes in all city business, including land use issues. The city, its officials and its employees will not consider any discrimination anyway, including religious discrimination. The city, its officials, its employees will treat all persons and property owners equally. With that, I am going to I have one public comment form tonight. Mr. Maynard Little. Hope you're having a good day today, Mr. Little. Maynard Little, 1004 St. Mark Drive. Good evening. Some of you may recall that in both of the last two council meetings. I'm asking each of you to explain why you voted to increase the stormwater fee and create yet another financial burden for all ratepayers. I am merely seeking clarity. Please raise your hand if you've contacted me to set up a meeting. Not regarding this, but nonetheless, uh you have been pretty good. Well, I'll meet with you either.

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