First reading of rate increase ordinance approved

Tuesday evening, Thermopolis Town Council, with council members Tony Larson and Dusty Lewis absent, approved the first reading of an ordinance which increases the sewer and solid waste collection rates for users with in and customers of the Town of Thermopolis by revoking Ordinance 826, Resolution 500 and Resolution 493, and establishing an effective date.

According to the ordinance, wastewater charges for commercial or nonresidential users outside corporate limits of Thermopolis shall be the same factor/multiplier multiplied by the charge to the residential user outside the corporate limits. Each month, all residential and commercial users will also be charged $1 per thousand gallons of treated water used based on an average of the monthly treated water usage in he preceding months of December, January and February, with a minimum per month charge of $2.

In addition to the wastewater usage charge, in the corporate limits of Thermopolis and East Thermopolis the base rate for residential units shall be $25 and the base rate for residential units outside the corporate limits shall be $36.50. The base rate for commercial users will be a multiplier of the residential in-town or out-of-town base sewer rates found in the schedule on file with the town clerk.

New utility accounts without a history of treated water usage during the months of December, January and February will be charged the city-wide average of 4,000 gallons for a monthly wastewater usage charge, until an average usage history has been established.

As for solid waste collection, the monthly charge schedule is as follows: one-fourth container or less, $32 minimum; one-third container, $36; one-half container, $55; three-fourths container, $83; one container, $110; two containers, $207; three containers, $265; four containers, $356; and more than four containers, 75 percent of $110 per container.

Mayor Mike Mortimore reminded council that there was discussion of raising the rates, but they chose to wait until the actual end of the fiscal year to look at actual expenses and profit/loss. He noted Sewer wound up with $13,500 loss and Sanitation had a $9,936 loss.

Some figuring was done to get the numbers into the black, Mortimore said, and he tries to have almost a 10 percent profit because it makes it so they don’t have to raise rates as often.

Mortimore also pointed out the overall total increase is $4, and Mayor’s Assistant Fred Crosby said the minimum utility bill comes in at $75 for a residential unit, up from $71.

In other action, a motion was approved to shut down the intersection of Broadway and Highway 20 from 10:45-11:30 a.m. on Sept. 29 for the Homecoming parade.

A motion was approved to do Police Chief Steve Shay’s suggestions regarding Canyon Hills Road and the 14th Street bypass. The streets have been a topic of much discussion, as residents brought forth concerns of people speeding and ignoring stop signs, the multitude of semis and other large vehicles using them and the economic impact of drivers using the route and going around the whole town.

Many of Shay’s suggestions have already been implemented, such as the removal of signs that read “stop for children in crosswalk” under stop signs, as some might think they only have to stop if someone is in the crosswalk. Crosswalks have also been repainted, existing stop signs are being replaced with high intensity reflective signs and flashing lights were ordered for stop signs on 14th and the “No Thru” truck traffic signs for 14th at Broadway and Shoshoni at Canyon Hills.

Other suggestions Shay presented include reducing the speed limit from 30 mph to 20 and installing radar feedback speed signs.

A motion was approved to close the 500 block of Amoretti during the deconstruction/construction of the Maverik Country Store. Ray DeVries, owner of R&C Trucking had made the request to shut down the street from Sept. 7 to about Oct. 15, though the termination date could come sooner.

DeVries would like to use a lot owned by Mike Enis, across the street from the work site, to stage materials that will be used when the new gasoline tanks are installed. A conveyor could then be used to move the materials, as it would be safer and easier on the existing street than running trucks back and forth.

Barriers would be placed so as not to interfere with parking lot access to neighboring businesses, and Brenda Barnes and the Enis family have stated they’re fine with the closure. Other residents will retain access to their properties via Fifth Street.

Also at the meeting, Town Engineer Anthony Barnett reported work continues on the water line replacement project, and the recent chip sealing project was completed. Barnett said the hope is there will be some moisture soon to sweep away debris, as it is more effective than crews spraying down the streets.