City farming operation lease plan up for council review

The future of the city’s contentious farming operation could be decided Tuesday as members of the Porterville City Council consider a lease agreement set to begin almost immediately.

City staff is recommending that the council award a five-year lease to Rick Perigo Roadsiding of Terra Bella to manage the city’s reclamation area.

Perigo was one of three bidders for the work.

The reclamation area is the site where treated effluent from the city’s sewer treatment plant is disposed of in accordance with state requirements. The vast majority of the area — totaling 693.94 acres, is leveled and under irrigation for farming. The site also includes ponding areas.

Perigo is proposing to pay the city $130 per acre, or $90,212.

The current contractor, Nuckols Farming or Porterville, forwarded a bid of $28.82 per acre, or $20,000. The bid also included a proposal to complete two construction projects at the site with an estimated value of $50,000.

The third bidder, J.C. Sheets Farming of Terra Bella, proposed charging the city between $14,000 and $41,000 to manage the operation.

All the proposals were reviewed by members of the Reclamation Area Subcommittee and rated by staff members. Perigo was the top-rated bidder, followed by Nuckols and then Sheets.

The proposed start date for the new lease is Wednesday.

The meeting will take place at 7 p.m. in the Council Chambers at City Hall, 291 N. Main St.

-- Contact Glen Faison at 784-5000, Ext. 1040, or gfaison@portervillerecorder.com.