Town approves WYOLink funding

The Thermopolis Town Council approved spending an additional $9,123.50 on an updated WYOLink dispatch console for the Law Enforcement Center.

WYOLink is a statewide digital network that connects police, fire, other agencies and emergency agencies.

The current system is being replaced because it is out of date compared to most of the rest of the state, but the new system should last the town 15 to 20 years according to information from Motorola, who maintains the equipment.

The board also approved the renewal of the IT contract with Mike Mortimore for the towns computer network. That contract is $300 a month. The council extended the contract until December 31, 2016.

Mortimore was not present at the meeting to vote.

Emergency management coordinator Bill Gordon also explained the river flow levels during the meeting.

"The river is running right now at 5,500 cubic feet per second," Gordon said. "This weekend we could see it go to 6,500."

The usual speed of the river is less than 1,000 cfs during the year, but Gordon said residents shouldn't have cause for concern.

"We have seen 7,000 and houses didn't go away," he said.

The council also approved Angie Guyon as the replacement for a seat that came open on the Hot Springs Travel and Tourism Board.

Guyon finished a term and was replaced by Carl Leyba before being appointed to the new open position.

The town also approved their 2015 to 2016 budget on second reading.

The proposed budget has to pass a third reading at the council meeting June 16 before it is accepted as the budget. The full text of the budget as it was during first reading is available online at thermopir.com.