Council supports becoming certified local government

Tuesday evening, Thermopolis Town Council, with Mayor Mike Mortimore absent, approved providing support for Thermopolis to become a Certified Local Government (CLG).

Mari Ann Rush, who was present at the meeting, said among the benefits of being a CLG is additional federal and state funding options. She noted they are not going out and getting the money, but being certified allows them to pursue those options as needed.

She was not asking for a resolution or ordinance to be a CLG, simply for the support to move forward in becoming a CLG.

Rush also noted she has received support from the Town of Kirby and the Hot Springs County Commission, and will go before the Town of East Thermopolis on May 2. She noted having the support of all four entities helps to eliminate some of the red tape that might come up with some projects.

In other action, the board approved Mayor Mortimore to sign a WYDOT utility access permit. Town Engineer Anthony Barnett explained they have to put in for the permit, to encroach into Broadway across from the museum. The main reason for the encroachment is to hook up a couple pipe stubs.

Bill Malloy was designated as the voting delegate for the Wyoming Association of Municipalities convention business meeting in Gillette on June 2.

A contract was approved for JLA Services to provide spraying for weeds in the alleys, and a contract with Jadeco was approved to convert 27 nonworking streetlights over to LED lights, which would cost a little over $4,000. Crosby noted one of his goals is to convert all of the lights over to LED, as there are fewer problems with them.

A right-of-way agreement was approved for a property at Second and Clark, to allow for a privacy fence.

Barnett also provided an update on his and Mayor’s Assistant Fred Crosby’s recent trip to Cheyenne to visit with the Wyoming Water Development Commission with regard to the water line replacement project. Barnett noted there were additional dollars for forgiveness of the $1.3 million State Revolving Loan for the project, and indicator that funding was cut from other projects in the state.

Also during his report, Barnett said last week at the sewer plant a couple guide rails on one of the smaller lift station pumps twisted off, and they are in the process of looking to have the rails redone. It doesn’t look like a major fix, but removing the sewage and gas so people can work on it safely is turning it into a big project.

Also at the meeting, Gene Pederson brought up his concerns about not having a town law which allows for division of lots. Pederson previously explained in the past city lots were 30’ by 140’, which is not much to build on so people would buy two lots. He noted when he bought his home, he wanted to divide the additional lot and sell part of it but found he couldn't. He’d like to see a law which allows lot division, but also something in place that might protect buyers.

Pederson was also concerned he would not be able to use part of his property for a commercial business. He was advised to go before the zoning board with his proposal so they can look it over and possibly grant a rezoning request.