Mayor’s Newsletter: American Falls

(American Falls Mayor’s Newsletter, November 12, 2026)

First off, I owe everyone an apology for not getting a monthly update out for the past few months. Between my personal business, family commitments, and everything else going on, I just haven’t had the chance to sit down and put one together like I had hoped. I know how important it is to keep everyone informed about what’s happening in our city, and I appreciate your patience. One thing is for sure, even though the updates have been quiet, things around American Falls certainly haven’t been!

Starting with our water infrastructure project, I’m happy to report that we’re still running ahead of schedule! Crews have been busy replacing waterlines throughout town, and I’m really pleased with the progress they’ve made so far. This is a major undertaking for our community, and I know just about everyone has been affected by it in one way or another.

With the colder weather and shorter days, construction has slowed down a little, which we expected. The plan is to keep crews working at a slower pace throughout the winter for as long as weather and ground conditions allow.

I know the construction has been frustrating at times. Between torn-up streets, limited parking, and the occasional hassle of getting in and out of driveways, it hasn’t always been convenient. I appreciate everyone’s patience as we work through it. These are improvements our city has needed for a long time, and they’re going to benefit American Falls for many years to come.

As far as the city’s finances go, we finished fiscal year 2026 in the black overall. That’s good news, especially considering some of the challenges we faced throughout the year. Not every department finished in the positive, but as a whole, the city ended the year in a good position.

Our street department has had a particularly challenging couple of years. State funding for streets has been reduced for two years now, and I can’t stress enough how important that funding is for small communities like ours. We don’t have the same tax base or financial resources as larger cities, but we still have miles of streets to maintain and repair. When that funding gets reduced, it makes an already difficult job even harder.

We’ve had to shift some money around to help cover those shortfalls, but that’s not a long-term solution. We’re aggressively pursuing grant opportunities and other funding sources to help get our streets into better shape. Between the water infrastructure project and the fiber projects happening around town, some of our streets have really taken a beating. I know their condition is a concern for residents, and it’s a concern of mine as well. Finding ways to make meaningful improvements to our streets is going to remain a priority.

Our water and wastewater departments faced some unexpected expenses this past year as well. Major repairs at the wastewater treatment plant, waterline breaks, and other necessary repairs contributed to both departments finishing fiscal year 2026 a little in the red. Thankfully, we were able to use money from our capital improvement funds to help cover some of those costs. Unexpected expenses are never ideal, but they’re also a reminder of why it’s important to plan ahead and have funds available when things go wrong.

There was plenty of good news throughout our departments, too. Our golf department finished the year on a really high note after a great season. Things are starting to slow down with the colder weather, but they’re already looking ahead and making plans for next year. Our golf course employees put in a lot of hard work throughout the season, and I appreciate everything they do.

Public safety has been another busy area for the city. Our police department has experienced unusually high call volumes over the past two years, and from what we’re seeing, those numbers aren’t likely to come down anytime soon. That puts a lot of pressure on our officers and administrative staff, but they continue to do an outstanding job. I truly believe we have some of the best people working in that department. A lot of what they deal with never gets seen by the public, but their work makes a real difference in our community, and I’m grateful for what they do every day.

Our fire department also had an extremely busy fiscal year 2026. The high number of calls brought additional expenses, which resulted in the department finishing the year in the red. Fortunately, things have slowed down a little over the past month or two, giving them a much-needed break after a demanding year. The time and dedication our fire department gives to protecting this community doesn’t go unnoticed, and I’m thankful we have people willing to answer the call when they’re needed.

Our parks and recreation department also finished the fiscal year in a great position. Between maintaining our parks and our ball fields and providing opportunities for families throughout the community, they do a lot that sometimes gets overlooked. I’m grateful for the work they put in and the positive impact they have on American Falls.

Looking back on the year, I’m proud of our city employees across the board. Every department has its own challenges, and some years are tougher than others, but we have a lot of good people working behind the scenes to keep this city running. They don’t always get the recognition they deserve, and I hope they know how much their work is appreciated.

I also want to say that The City is aware of the lawsuit recently filed against us. The allegations contained in the complaint are being disputed, and the City intends to address those allegations through the appropriate judicial process. Because this matter is pending litigation, I have to refrain from commenting on the specific allegations or the underlying facts. The City remains committed to serving its residents and protecting the interests of the community and its taxpayers.

As we head into the winter months and continue through fiscal year 2027, there’s still plenty of work ahead of us. My focus will remain on improving our infrastructure, managing our finances responsibly, and making sure we’re providing the best services we can with the resources available.

One area I’m going to put a stronger emphasis on moving forward is cleaning up our town. That includes addressing abandoned vehicles, properties with excessive junk or debris, both residential yards and commercial properties that aren’t being properly maintained. I take a lot of pride in American Falls, and I know many of our residents and business owners do too. This isn’t about expecting everyone’s property to look perfect. It’s about taking care of what we have, addressing ongoing problem areas, and making sure our community is a place we’re all proud to call home. It’s going to take cooperation between the city, property owners, and residents, but I believe we can make some real progress.

I appreciate everyone’s patience, support, and understanding. I know we don’t always get everything right, and there are always things we can do better. But I care deeply about this community, and I’m committed to doing what’s best for American Falls.