Council approves second reading of landfill ordinance

Tuesday evening, the Thermopolis Town Council approved the second reading of an ordinance regarding fees for construction and demolition trash and the disposal of tires. Prior to approving the second reading, the resolution was amended to include language stating an appropriate permit must be paid for in advance. The fee schedule was also revised, to $3 for car tires, $5 for truck, $10 for semi and $15 for tractor.

Mayor Mike Mortimore also brought up the point of including in the resolution the penalty for those found dumping tires elsewhere, such as in dumpsters or ditches, and language was added to the ordinance stating no tires shall be dumped in dumpsters or left abandoned.

It was indicated that those caught leaving tires outside dumpsters or other locations could be subject to littering charges and penalties.

In other action, Council approved a catering permit for Debra Lackey and Shorty’s Liquor, for the Pheasants Forever Banquet event October 29 from 4 p.m.-12 a.m. at the fair building.

Also approved was a change regarding the dispensing room at One Eyed Buffalo, which is going from a 10-foot by 12-foot room to 10-foot by 22-foot. According to a provided layout plan of the One Eyed Buffalo, the front of the dispensing room has a wall structure that goes from floor to ceiling. A post and half wall railing separate the hallway and dispensing room.

A request from the H.O.P.E. Agency was approved, to allow the organization to attach purple ribbons to the black lampposts in recognition of Domestic Violence Awareness Month in October. Council was also invited by H.O.P.E. Agency to a fundraiser the evening of Wednesday, Oct. 12.

A pay estimate, certificate of substantial completion and change order with regard to the recent chip seal project were approved. Town Engineer Anthony Barnett noted the project has been completed, with a final pay estimate of $68,375.03.

Though there was an increase of $3,375.86 on the change order, Mayor Mortimore noted the project still came in substantially under budget.

Barnett also presented regarding the million-gallon water tank painting bid, explaining the time has passed for the initially-approved bidder, M&M Tank Coating Company, to get under contract with the Town, and there has been no communication from them in the past couple weeks. Council approved rescinding the award from M&M, and going with the second lowest bid, $218,208.50 from Wyoming Power Wash.

A third topic addressed by Barnett and approved by Council is the resolution supporting a Wyoming Water Development Commission (WWDC) grant request for replacement transmission lines. This includes lines near the water treatment plant, along Riverside Drive, East Park Street, South Seventh, South Fifth, South Fourth and Warren.

Mayor Mortimore noted approval of the resolution is just to get the ball rolling, acknowledging there are other options in coming months.

Police Chief Steve Shay spoke to amending a resolution that would allow for a per diem reimbursement of police officer meals taken outside of town, when their duty unexpectedly calls them away.

Shay explained there are times when officers, who generally try to eat at home, might be called away to render services outside of town, and then they are expected to “pony up” for meals that are much more costly.

Shay further noted the need for officers to provide service outside Thermopolis is only a few times per year. A resolution concerning the matter is expected at the next Council meeting.

Shay also expressed concern about open burning. “We have a town ordinance that basically says we can’t have open fires in town,” Shay said, “except with a permit by the fire chief.”

However, he noted, that ordinance was written in 1980, at a time before the Rural Fire District, when the fire department was a little bit more than an extension of the town.

Shay said the issue came about due to people abusing the resolution, creating large fires but not tending to them. He suggested adding a modification that allows for responsible open burning.

Director of Public Works Ernie Slagle brought forth a concern regarding the transmission on a track loader at the landfill, and requested $40,000 to have it sent out to be torn down, fixed and put back together. A motion to approve the request failed, however, over concerns about items such as cost, other parts of the loader possibly breaking down and whether repair was necessary as the landfill permit is scheduled to expire in a couple years.

The subject will be addressed again at the next meeting.