Sewer, waste rate increase starts Nov. 1

Tuesday night at the Thermopolis Town Council meeting, with Mayor Mike Mortimore absent, the council approved the third and final reading of an ordinance increasing sewer and solid waste collection rates for users with and customers of the Town of Thermopolis by revoking Ordinance 826, Resolution 500 and Resolution 493. The ordinance has an effective date of Nov. 1

Under the resolution, the base rate includes 2,000 gallons of what people put in their sewers. For in-town residential users, the current base rate is $25, and under the new ordinance it will be $27.

Also during the meeting, council heard from Kelly Andreen of People for People regarding a street closure on Dec. 9 along the north side of Broadway between Fourth Street and Sixth Street, and north Fifth Street from Broadway to the alley. The closure would be for the Tiny Village of Campers event being put on this year instead of the Holiday Tour of Homes.

The tour of campers itself would be 3-7 p.m., Andreen said, but to allow time for people to set up prior to the event and move their vehicles after the requested closure would be from 9 or 10 a.m. until 8 or 9 p.m.

People for People has been in touch with the Chamber of Commerce, the downtown Christmas committee, Main Street and other groups to coordinate several events to draw the community downtown during the holiday season. There was no formal action on the request.

Ray and Belinda Moore again implored council to address issues with water on Upper Fremont Street. Belinda said the new city water line was installed in the area and the groundwater found it. Their home is at the end of the cut, so the water is backing into their house. In addition to previous problems, such as their property being devalued and their having to buy a sump pump, the water has killed their crabapple tree.

Ray said there was some discussion of putting a leech line going into the storm drain, but he was unaware of anyone even taking measurements. From his own measurements, he said, it looks like the drain would take a lot of the water. Ray further noted he looked in the valve box for the water main and the water in there was 15 inches from surface. If it ever froze and there were an issue down the street, it could require water to be turned off for the whole street.

Director of Public Works Ernie Slagle said the area where the water goes into the pipes was cleaned, but the water table is so high there’s been groundwater in the valve box, even to the point of overflowing. Slagle explained there used to be a natural spring in the area years ago, so it’s basically now a bog.

Belinda said everyone keeps saying the area is a bog, and questioned why, when the contractors came in, the job wasn’t done properly. “You tore that street up six times, at least, in front of my house,” she said. “Maybe one of those times while you had it torn up you might have leeched on over to that storm drain on the other side of the street and avoided the situation.”

Ray added though the area is a bog, in the 23 years they’ve lived in their house they've never had water in their crawl space until the water line project.

“You brought the water to our house,” Belinda said, “whether you want to believe it or not.” The matter will be looked into further, to determine what can be done to remedy it.

Engineer In Training Lisa Johnson presented to council the first pay order and reconciliation change order with regard to the recent chip seal project. The pay order is $84,764.50. The change order is to increase the total contract amount for extra project materials, with a total of $1,728.78. Council approved the change order as the pay order was previously approved.

The sweeping for the chip seal project was reportedly completed yesterday, and Johnson noted there would be a check to make sure it’s all done before the second pay order for project is approved.

Johnson also provided an update on the 12th Street project, noting a leak was found while the sewer line along Johnson Avenue was being dug up and town crews were chasing it. Johnson said it looks to be quite substantial and possibly the cause of the issues on 12th Street. The sewer pipe along Johnson has been replaced and in service, Johnson noted.

Mayor’s Assistant Fred Crosby reported the salesman for the new playground equipment at Bicentennial Park said there’s been a delay and the equipment might not get here until December. Crosby said he informed the salesman of the various downtown activities during the holiday season, and the salesman planned to take that information to the company to see if anything could be done.